I was cleaning up some files today and found my wedding vows. I wrote my own vows by compiling some vows from here and there. They ended up being pretty long, but they are very significant to us. These were a great reminder to me of the precious gift I have in my wife.
Minister: Greg, I am now going to ask you to make a declaration before God, your family and friends
Greg: I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful reason why I Gregory Allen Dietrich may not be joined in marriage to Michelle Lynn Halsey
Minister: Michelle, I am now going to ask you to make a similar declaration.
Michelle: I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful reason why I Michelle Lynn Halsey may not be joined in marriage to Gregory Allen Dietrich
Minister: Greg, understanding as you do the heart and mind of God concerning marriage do you now covenant before the Lord that you will take Michelle to be your lawful wedded wife, that you will live together with her, forsaking all others, and be faithful to her until the Lord separates you through death or his return?
Greg: I do
Minister: Michelle, do you now covenant before the Lord that you will take Greg to be your lawful wedded husband, that you will live together with him, forsaking all others, and be faithful to him until the Lord separates you through death or his return?
Michelle: I do
Greg: I, Greg take you, Michelle to be my lawful wedded wife. I promise by God’s grace as He enables me to love you as Christ loved the Church, and to daily make sacrifices for you. I will put your needs before mine, and will consider you in all my decisions. I promise to care for you as I care for my own body. I will be considerate as I live with you, and give you honor as the weaker partner and an heir together with me of the gracious gift of life.
I will speak the truth to you in Love. I will encourage you and strengthen you in your walk with God. I will not let the sun go down on my anger, instead I will be gracious to you, tender hearted, forgiving you even as God has forgiven me. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not depend on my own understanding, I will acknowledge Him in everything, knowing that He will direct our paths. I will follow Him where ever he leads us, putting the extension of his kingdom before all worldly possessions and pleasures. I will be peaceful, content, and joyful in every situation we encounter knowing that He is at work for our good and that we can do all things through his strength.
I acknowledge before the Lord my continuous need for his grace in my inability to do all these things, and rely on him alone for the power I need to live in a Godly way as your husband.
Michelle: I, Michelle take you, Greg to be my lawful wedded husband. I promise, by God’s grace, as He enables me to submit to you and to obey you in everything, as I do to the Lord. I recognize you as my head, even as Christ is the head of the church. In so doing I resolve to put my trust in God and not give way to fear. I will cultivate the beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit knowing that this is of great value to God
I will speak the truth to you in Love. I will encourage you and strengthen you in your walk with God. I will not let the sun go down on my anger, instead I will be gracious to you, tender hearted, forgiving you even as God has forgiven me. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not depend on my own understanding, I will acknowledge Him in everything, knowing that He will direct our paths. I will follow Him wherever he leads us, putting the extension of his kingdom before all worldly possessions and pleasures. I will be peaceful, content and joyful in every situation we encounter knowing that He is at work for our good and that we can do all things through his strength.
I acknowledge before the Lord my continuous need for his grace in my inability to do all these things, and rely on him alone for the power I need to live in a Godly way as your wife.
Greg: Michelle, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness and as a token of the covenant made between us this day in the presence of God and before our families and friends. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, all that I have I share with you.
Michelle: Greg, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness and as a token of the covenant made between us this day in the presence of God and before our families and friends. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, all that I have I share with you.
Minister: Since Greg and Michelle have agreed to come together in Christian marriage, and have made their promises before God and this congregation, and because they have declared this openly by the giving and receiving of rings, I now pronounce them husband and wife in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no man separate. You may now kiss the bride
