Three!

Its amazing how much has happend in just a few months. I can remember way back in November thinking "March 19th is so far away." I can remember thinking "well now its December, we have our engagement pictures, but I dont want to give away to much of my heart too soon." I can remember January, thinking "we still have a long time till we are married." I can remember February, and people telling me its just around the corner, and in my heart I would think "it still seems far away". I have spent all these months guiding my heart and Samantha's. Setting a pace to make sure our hearts stayed emotionally and physically pure. I remember having a wonderful Valentines day, but still thinking "keep protecting her heart and yours. Not to much to soon."

Again the goal is to slowly give your heart so that the peak of giving the heart will be on the wedding day (NOT the peak of romance...thats just begun!), to much to soon will create a case for defrauding, to little, to slowly will create a cold legalistic feeling. It's a balance. 

And now I look at the calendar and see that in three days, I will for the first time ever give 100% of heart to one and only one person, my bride Samantha. This is a choice that I made before I asked Samantha to marry me. I purposed in my heart that I was going save my heart for my bride and no one else. Some have said "but your engaged already so its ok to give all your heart." But as I have told them, I tell you, if someone said, "your engaged already so that means you can be immoral with each other." You would say NO YOU CANT! And very much the same way with the heart, once the heart is given it wont be long before the body, thats the way God designed it. 

For a long time God has been working in my heart in many areas especially that of marriage and the home. Through this process God has molded and changed some of my convictions and has helped me to have made the decision that I was going to make 'purity a priority' this time in my life, no matter how strange it seemed to others. I decided to give this gift to Samantha, not just the gift of physical purity, but emotional purity. 

Samantha and I can both tell you, it has not been easy to lead your heart, but it has been worth it.  Throughout out this post are the rest of the pictures from our engagement session with Bro Estevan Montoya.

http://www.estevanmontoya.com/

I have heard people say that Christian engagement pictures always look so awkward because you cant touch. But I have looked at them as both a Christian and a Photographer, and I have learned that Purity is BEAUTIFUL. Yes its true, if you "feel" you cant touch then it will be awkward, but if you have made the choice "I want to wait to touch" it will give your heart a peace. I know it did for me. Yes it was strange to be in a photo-shoot, but we were at peace knowing that we were following our God given convictions.

 We as Christians ought to be excited to show the world through our pictures (life), "hey we are doing something different over here!" To show the world that there is a biblical way of doing things. God has dealt in my heart and said 'Adam if you can do things pure, what a wonderful chance your wedding will be to present the plan of salvation to your lost family and friends.' If just one person could be saved at our wedding what an amazing blessing that will be to an already sacred day.

Before I finish, lest anyone think I am being prideful, I must say I havent always done things this way so I am so grateful that God has given me a chance to do things right. Only a wonderful Saviour could do that. I still feel unworthy to be in the position I am, and yet at the same time so grateful. I know from whence I came. And I am grateful for everyone who has invested in my life and Samantha's life to get us to where we are now.

"Stick with me!"