Archives for April 2016

Wedding Cake Topper Idea: Entwined Hearts

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One of the myriad of details that your bride-to-be daughter needs to consider, Mother of the Bride, is what kind of cake topper she’d like to have. Lots of brides opt for fresh flowers these days, but a variety of other toppers can provide the crowning touch as well.

One classy and elegant option is pictured above—entwined hearts. This particular example shows jeweled hearts, but I’ve also seen the hearts in a silver or pearl finish. Other colors are probably available, too. And for a rustic-themed wedding, you might be able to find a pair in some kind of wood finish—or maybe even rope or something else equally as rustic!

The entwined hearts topper is a perfect symbol of what’s taking place on wedding day, isn’t it, MOB? Two lives joined together forever. Why not ask your sweet girl what she thinks of this idea? It may be just what she’s looking for!

*You might also like to read Wedding Cake Topper Idea: The Tiffany Blue Box and Groom’s Cake Toppers for the Hunter

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter comes out next week, and author Suzie Eller has graciously offered to give one of my subscribers a copy of Come With Me, her new book coming out in May. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now is a great time to do so. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Graceful Cake Creations, Creative Commons License

Midweek Morsel: Hanging on His Words

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“…all the people hung on his words.” Luke 19:48b

Not long ago, in remembrance of what Jesus did for us through His death and resurrection, I read through several chapters of Luke’s account of those holy events, starting with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Luke tells us that every day Jesus taught at the temple and then concludes that particular paragraph with “all the people hung on his words.”

I already had that phrased underlined in my Bible, but I’ve got to tell you, those words captured my attention again. I could picture the people listening intently, straining to hear every word, hungry for the life-giving words and wisdom of Jesus.

So let me simply ask today, what about us? Are we hanging on His words? Are we listening intently, straining to hear everything He says to us? Are we hungry for the life-giving words and wisdom of Jesus, for the truth, instruction, and comfort of the Word of God?

In other words, who or what is our lifeline? To whom are we listening? May we be found hanging on His words!

*I hope this slightly revised encore post from April 2011 was a blessing to you today!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter comes out next week, and author Suzie Eller has graciously offered to give one of my subscribers a copy of Come With Me, her new book coming out in May. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now is a great time to do so. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by [derekmswanson], Creative Commons License

Scattering Seeds and Watching God Give Growth

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“He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.’” Mark 4:26-27

As I mentioned in a post earlier this month, Jesus specialized in telling stories from familiar daily life, stories that his listeners could relate to and draw spiritual lessons from. These stories are known as the parables of Jesus.

One of the parables Jesus told was the parable of the growing seed (the first part of it appears above.) He alerted his listeners right away that an important spiritual truth was about to follow when he basically said hey listen up, this is the way the kingdom of God works. I can just see the disciples and others nearby cocking their heads and leaning in to listen carefully, can’t you?

Jesus then reminded the people that once they scatter seeds, the seeds will sprout and grow on their own (compliments of the sun and moisture God provides and his divine design for plant growth, of course.) We are not the ones who cause seeds to grow. God is the one who gives growth.

And since Jesus said that this is how the kingdom of God works, we can see that the power to give spiritual birth and growth does not come from us. That power comes from God alone. The gospel holds power. The Word of God holds power. Our God is all powerful, and he can indeed bring life and change.

So if it’s our responsibility to plant spiritual seeds while trusting God to give them life and growth, how are we doing? Are we fulfilling our role? Are we actively scattering and planting spiritual seeds of the gospel and other spiritual truths from God’s Word? Do we need to be more alert to opportunities or more aware of just exactly how we can do this work of scattering seeds of truth?

Here are a few ways we can scatter spiritual seeds: through family devotions, by sharing scripture verses on our social media sites or in everyday conversations, leaving gospel tracts where they might be found, giving the gift of a Bible or contributing to an organization that distributes free Bibles, teaching Sunday School or VBS, etc., financially supporting missionaries and others in ministry, playing Christian music in our homes or places of business, going on mission outreaches and actively sharing the gospel, and by giving God glory for the blessings of life and answered prayers. And these are just a few ways.

Let’s give some thought to how we might be able scatter spiritual seeds this week, this month, this year. Let’s be aware and then be alert to opportunities. Let’s do our part—and then watch God give life and growth!

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants or he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

*What are some other ways we can scatter spiritual seeds?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out next week. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by –Tico–, Creative Commons License

Engagement Photo Idea: Walking Hand in Hand

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Mother of the Bride, why not help make the engagement photo session of your darling daughter and the love of her life the very best it can be by helping them compile a list of possible shots the photographer can take.

When you see engagement photos you love, just be sure to jot down the ideas (or pin them on Pinterest) before the idea flits away never to return again. You’ve got lots on your mind so ideas can indeed be forgotten. You might like to take a look at my Engagement Photo Ideas board on Pinterest to find some great ideas.

I love the photo above which was taken during my daughter’s and son-in-law’s engagement photo shoot. Walking hand in hand, enjoying private conversation—such a simple shot but oh so precious and meaningful. I love how a shot like this can capture the couple looking so relaxed and natural.

Why not show this shot to your sweet couple, MOB, and see if they’d like to incorporate a similar shot into their photo shoot? If you’re like us, you will all love the outcome—and it’s a great one to frame and enjoy for years to come. I guarantee it!

*You might also like to read Engagement Photo Idea: Sweep Her Off Her Feet, Cute Engagement Photo Idea: Include the Dog!, Engagement Photo Idea: Include Heart Balloons!, Engagement Photo Idea: The Eskimo Kiss!, Engagement Photos: Consider a Night Shoot, Engagement Photo Idea: Bike Fun!, Engagement Photo Idea: Playground Fun, and Engagement Photo Idea: Frame That Moment!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out next week. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Photo by Chris Humphrey Photographer

Wedding Send-Off Option: Flower Petals!

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Mother of the Bride, one of the myriad of details you’ll need to ask the bride and groom is what they want to do for their send-off. Do they want to do it right after the ceremony or would they rather wait until after the reception?

Their send-off decision might be based on which venue will allow them to do what they have in mind, or they might decide based on how many of the guests they want to include. Fewer guests will be on hand when the big party is over, but it might feel more like a real send-off  to do it when they’re heading off to their honeymoon rather than when they leave their ceremony venue.

Whether celebrating the send-off from the ceremony site or from the reception site, one fun and beautiful option is to use flower petals. As pictured above, the flower petals can be put in paper cones, and the shower of colorful petals will not only be a beautiful sight, it will provide a fantastic photo and memory for years to come.

Almost all colors of artificial flower petals are available now, but if you’d like to use fresh, be sure to check with your venue site to see if they’re allowed in the area you want to use them. Some venues might not want fresh flower petals ground into a particular surface as guests walk over them after the petals have been tossed. Always double-check things like this so you’re not surprised by any extra fees later.

So MOB, do you think your sweet couple will like the flower petal send-off idea? Throw it out as an option and see what they say. And if you’re lucky, you can check that detail off your list next!

*You might also like to read Great Send-off For the Bride and Groom: Fireworks! 

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Ryan Smith Photography, Creative Commons License