Archives for May 2016

Last-Half-of-May Blogging Break

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The first half of May has been filled with work for me, and the last half will be filled with family—and some work, too, where I can sneak it in. I’m willing to bet it’s a jam-packed month for you, too, Mothers of the Bride. In fact, some of you may be throwing the event of a lifetime as we speak. Others may be gearing up for a summer wedding. Whatever our situations, I’m willing to bet the month of May is busy for all of us.

And so, dear MOBs, I’m going to apply my 2015 theme word rest to my life this month and declare a last-half-of-May blogging break again. It worked out so well for me last May that I think I’m going to make it an annual blogging tradition. Rest is good no matter what year we’re in, right?

I’ll resume regular posting on June 2, but in the meantime, why not peruse the list of Favorite Posts on the sidebar or use the drop-down feature in the Archives to spot some posts that might be especially helpful to you at this stage in your Mother of the Bride journey. I hope you find just the help and encouragement you need. All the best as you work with your daughter to plan the wedding of her dreams!

*You might also like to check out my Pinterest page. Among other things, it features eighteen wedding-related boards!

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Silvia Sala, Creative Commons License

Last-Half-of-May Blogging Break

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The first half of May has been filled with work for me, and the last half will be filled with family—and some work, too, where I can sneak it in. I’m willing to bet it’s a jam-packed month for you as well. In fact, I think May might be second only to December where the busy factor is concerned!

And so, dear readers, I’m going to apply my 2015 theme word rest to my life this month and declare a last-half-of-May blogging break again. It worked out so well for me last May that I think I’m going to make it an annual blogging tradition. Rest is good no matter what year we’re in, right?

I’ll resume regular posting on June 2, but in the meantime, let me leave you with a beautiful passage from the Word of God. May the King of Glory bless you and be your strength today and always!

“Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10

*How has the King of Glory blessed you this month?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Silvia Sala, Creative Commons License

Midweek Morsel: A Prayer of Thanks for Life Itself

woman-571715_1280 “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5

Our lives, our very next breaths, are in God’s hands. Sometimes I think we forget that. Or we forget to think about it and appreciate our lives as a gift from him. Let’s not forget to do that today. Won’t you join me in the following prayer of thanks?

Father, thank you for life and breath and being. I live from day to day only because you allow it, because you give me the gift of another day. Help me never to take that for granted. Help me remember that you alone determine the length of my life, the beginning and the end.

So Father, thank you. Thank you for another day of living and loving my family and friends. Thank you for another day of enjoying the beauty of your world. Thank you for another day of serving you and giving you glory. Thank you for holding my life in your hands and for being a God I can trust.

Yes, thank you for the days you’re giving me here, Lord. But I thank you even more for the promise of eternity with you because of the salvation you offer us all through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Yes, thank you for life—here and beyond!

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10

*What are you most thankful for today?

*The latest issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

* CC0 Public Domain photo

Most Important Part of the Bride’s Attire

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Mother of the Bride, your daughter’s attire on her big dream-come-true day will most likely be of prime importance to you both and will take center shopping stage until every piece of it is selected and properly rejoiced over. Just the right gown tops the list, with a perfectly complementing veil and/or headpiece not far behind. Finding gorgeous shoes and deciding on jewelry are also important decisions. Even undergarments get special attention.

But the most important part of her attire on Wedding Day—the thing that will really shine—is love. The love she has for her groom shining in her eyes and on her face will be the thing that makes her truly beautiful. Oh, her attire will certainly add to her beauty, but it will be her loving expressions that the groom and everyone else will remember from that special day. This truth reminds me of a truth expressed in 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible—if we have not love, we are nothing. (my paraphrase)

So MOB, remind your sweet girl to, yes, select her attire carefully and with great joy, but to remember to relax and simply love. Then she will truly shine on her big day. And everyone will rejoice with her—and with you all!

*You might also want to read Most Important Part of the MOB’s Wedding Day Attire

*The latest issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Photo by Flowers Photography

Friendship Reclaimed

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It’s happened to all of us. We’ve lost touch with a friend at one time or another. We grew up. We moved away. We changed jobs. We changed churches. Or we may have just drifted away. Unhappily, we might have even had a falling out.

Also, life is busy. And let’s face it, friendships take work—work that quite often we can’t find the time for. Effort that sometimes isn’t returned with equal interest.

Anyone have a friendship that needs to be reclaimed? Take a chance. Reach out. The reward may be rich and sweet. You’ll never know unless you try—take it from me. Here’s one of my stories:

Friendship Reclaimed

Second-hand news of an old friend’s distress
Heard amid a restaurant’s clamor,
Chance meeting with a friend in common
Renews the urge to reclaim the past.
The nagging questions come again
The ones I’ve brushed aside before,
Why haven’t we stayed in touch?
How could I let that friendship go?
It’s time now to take a step with bated breath
Time to build a bridge over the years
And hope my friend desires the same.
When first efforts seem to go unheard
A puzzled sadness settles in
Over something precious lost,
Until one day joy is renewed —
Familiar handwriting in the mail.
What seemed lost was not lost at all —
It just needed to be reclaimed.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

*What are some ways you might try to reclaim a friendship this week?

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

*The latest issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by RowdyKittens, Creative Commons License