Oldest Daughter’s wedding speech

So many wonderful memories of my beautiful girl rise to the surface it's going to be hard to keep this short... but there are other speakers so I'll have to try and keep it together and be concise.

I'll start by saying that, just like all children, you, Elissa, are a miracle walking. You were, in fact, promised by God which is why we named you Elissa, the definition of which is 'Promised by God'.

You have always been and continue to be an inquisitive, smart, and social person.., and a little sassy too. One of my favourite things about you is that you're always willing to share your own personal space with others in a way that puts people at ease and is really infectious, you draw people into your heart. 

One of my favourite memories of you, and this memory just sums up what I just said, is when we were flying internationally one time in late 90's so you would have been 4 or 5 or maybe 6. Mum and I would be dealing with Rosie in the bassinet so you would often sit by yourself which didn't bother you because you'd simply reach up and ring the bell for the stewardess to come your seat. They'd get to you, look down into those  big, beautiful, brown eyes and you'd simply say" How you going?" & you'd instantly make a friend of them and you guys would chat chat chat and then you'd go back to watching a movie or playing games or sleeping. We used to fly over to the USA and see my family often so by the time Elissa was 10 she'd been on a bunch of planes and was an expert traveller. You've actually been our helper sweet girl and I can remember a bunch of times when you, my gorgeous, were the most calm and collected person in the airport. 

Calm and collected is actually your resting position. No surprise that you're able to work in an emergency department as you're naturally calm and collected. 

I'll always be your dad and I'll always love and cherish you and all of our memories together. 

I'll now turn my attention to the new memories that you're starting with this new guy in your life, Brad. 

Now you all know I'm from Texas and we Texans still have a Wild West attitude and,well, you'll never find me backing up or backing down. We're naturally cautious and a tad suspicious I guess due to having to sleep in the desert with rattlesnakes around. You never know when one tries to crawl in your sleeping bag with you to get your warmth. Probably why we're known to pack a gun as well.

Well, I can honestly say to you Brad that, as suspicious and downright mean as I am about my gorgeous daughter, I have a feeling you're no rattlesnake 😀. Julia and I have come to love you and we are so happy that you are now part of our family. We welcome you and all y'all right in to our family. 

If all yall will bear with me a minute, I'd like to finish by praying a blessing over the newlyweds. It's a blessing these girls will know well because I've prayed the same blessing over them for their entire lives... it's this: Dear Lord, please bless this couple with Joy, Peace, Safety, Health, Wealth, & Thankfulness. Amen.

Julia, our whole family, and I bless you both as you start this new chapter of your lives and can I finish by saying it's not just the two of you in this marriage. You see, the wisest man to ever live, Solomon, said in Ecclesiastes 4:12" A cord of three strands is not easily broken" and my unending prayer for you two is that you'll continually invite the third strand of your cord, a person, into your marriage. That person is Jesus.

Death throes

 Here’s today’s poem. It’s called:

Death throes 

I  remember what the throes are like 

I know how slavery felt 

My old self still sits on the shelf 

Curious if his card'll be dealt 

I have the choice, I can deal him in 

I can ply him with food and drink 

If I make him stronger he can live longer 

Why would I is what I think 

My one desire is to starve my old self 

Live in the present, today 

Do away with the member, 'cause I can remember 

Words that the slave would say.

Romans 6:6

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin —

Astonishing angel

 Here’s today’s song. It’s called:

Astonishing angel

Even the first century church was astonished, still astonishing today 

Bold behaviour, Peter's saviour

Freedom still His way 

Emancipation, liberation 

Our Lord's a freedom fighter 

When we open the door to Him 

Our futures always brighter 

We can't imagine what His Light looks like 

We can't start to know His Glory

All we do is open the door 

Astonished in His story 

Emancipation, liberation 

Our Lord's a freedom fighter 

When we open the door to Him 

Our futures always brighter 

Emancipation, liberation 

Our Lord's a freedom fighter 

When we open the door to Him 

Our futures always brighter.

Acts 12:15-16

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

I’m Ananias

 Here’s today’s song. It’s called:

I’m Ananias

I care about optics, though I say I don't 

Weirdly, I love people's praise 

Generous, I'm pretending, my mammons unending 

Fearfully, I see His banner raise

Why, oh why, do I lie 

Why hold back part of the price 

I know the Truth, I've known from youth 

Won't make the same choice twice 

Ananias died, fell right there 

God's a gracious Host 

He leads me to repeatedly repent 

I too will give up The Ghost 

Why, oh why, do I lie 

Why hold back part of the price 

I know the Truth, I've known from youth 

Won't make the same choice twice 

Why, oh why, do I lie 

Why hold back part of the price 

I know the Truth, I've known from youth 

Won't make the same choice twice. 

Psalms 60:4 (KJV)

4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. 

Acts 5:1-5 (KJV)

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whilst it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Be who you are

 Firstly, a bit of context on the literary structure for this poem: an ancient royal treaty . Decalogue = 10 Commandments and a treaty was:

1/ Identify yourself 

2/ Historical prologue

3/ Stipulations

Most people are two:

Pre-Christian then Christian.

I’m three in a way:

Pre-Christian, Christian, then injured Christian (post-stroke)

Here’s today’s poem. It’s called:

Be who you are

Like the decalogue, I'm part of old 

Instead of two, I'm three 

Born male I breathed, my sword sheathed 

Redeemed, my soul set free 

 I'm then hurt, heart hurts brain 

Usually hand in hand

Then that day, come what may 

Changed, three will stand 

Three has rules, three looks up 

Three, at times, seems odd

Three refuses, three says no 

Three only fights for God.

1 Samuel 12:2-3

Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”

Acts 5:34-39

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

sed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”