Kendal Brooke Emery. That’s the name that Marc and Jill gave their newborn daughter in July of 1984 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since that moment in time Kendal has grown, explored, learned and dreamed. In fact, she has developed into a beautiful young woman that God has, and is using.

At present, Kendal is in Grand Rapids , Michigan. She, along with other very capable and committed family members, are getting ready for her wedding day, which is only two days away. On Sunday, July 23rd, Kendal will walk down the aisle of the Vos Chapel at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids and will officially and permanently connect her life to her husband.

As you would suspect, Kendal has worked diligently to get ready. In fact, she’s spent her life getting ready. Her tenderness, compassion, spirit, faithfulness, beauty, and passions are a gift that she will give her husband. She has made herself ready, and she has done so generously and genuinely. Her life itself is the gift that her husband desires, that he longs for, that he has prayed for, that he too has waited for, and that he has readied himself for.

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready. ~ Revelation 19:7 (ESV)

We, the followers of Jesus, are Kendal. We are the exuberant, prepared, toned, tuned, and triumphant bride. Every sacrificial deed we have done, every ounce of discipline that we have exerted, every dream we have crafted, has been worth it. For the groom, Christ Himself, is worth whatever it has cost us.

Sunday, July 23, 2006, Kendal Brooke Emery changes her name. She becomes our third daughter, our seventh family member, the bride of our son, Erik… and as you can tell, she’s taught me a lesson in the process… a powerful lesson about the Church, and the love of Jesus.

Let the celebration begin!