Midweek Morsel: Our Help Is in God

April 14, 2016 by 4 Comments

2403346923_be16fd3eee_z“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8

As believers, think of the mighty help that is available to us through our heavenly Father. The very Maker of heaven and earth loves us and stands ready to help us at all times. No better help can be found.

The Bible is filled with passages that describe our God, our divine Helper, but today let’s look at a few more verses from the Psalms. Read and be blessed by these words that David sang after the Lord had delivered him from his enemies:

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.

. . . He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:28-32

Anyone in need of help today? Why not turn to the Maker of heaven and earth?

*When has God helped you in a mighty way?

*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 Paul Weingartz, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: creation/creative/creator, help, light, protection, strength, unfailing, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Winner Plus Food-for-Thought Quote

February 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment

3205277810_8283a3e4b5_zIn today’s Midweek Morsel, I’m going to share a great food-for-thought quote, but first it’s time announce the winner to my One-More-Chance Starbucks Giveaway. That lucky winner is Kristin! Congrats, Kristin!! Since I am headed your way today, I am super excited to get to personally deliver the gift card to you. Fun stuff, huh?!

And now to get us all thinking! Here is a Bob Goff quote from Love Does, one that will make us think not only about what we love and what we leak as a result, but also what can happen when our creativity is paired together with God’s love. Here are Bob’s thoughts:

“. . . [the man] leaked what he loved. He was leaking Jesus. And pretty soon the puddle he made swallowed us all by the lake it formed. That’s the way the chemistry of God’s love and our creativity work together when combined. No reservoir can hold it, no disappointment can stop it, and no impediment can contain it. It can’t be waved off, put off, or shut down. It doesn’t take no for an answer. Instead it assumes yes is the answer even when it sounds an awful lot like a no to everyone else.” Bob Goff in Love Does

So what are we leaking? And in what creative ways are we showing God’s love?

“. . . and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13b

*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 @boetter, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: books, creation/creative/creator, food, giveaway, love Tagged With: , , , ,

An Artist without Limits

January 11, 2016 by 13 Comments

IMG_3582As you feast your eyes on the varied canvases God paints for us day in and day out, are you ever inspired in your own creative tendencies? I am. Words, phrases, or sentences sometimes come to mind as I stop to notice a gorgeous sky or the beauty of a perfect flower.

Below you’ll find my latest poem—one example of just such inspiration. Hope it blesses you. And remember, even though you may not be a writer or an artist, each of us is creative in one way or another. Let God’s beauty spark your own creative juices!

The Endless Artistry of God

Your artistry, O Lord, is endless,
your creativity without limit,
no two skies are ever the same
no two clouds identical.
Even on winter days
when the green of leafy trees
no longer dances with the sky,
you grant us a new view of beauty,
a gorgeous glimpse
of blues and puffs of white
through the dark lace of naked branches.

Never do we need to fear
continual sameness in our lives,
we can simply step outside
and discover the special treats
you craft for us each day.
Varied sights, sounds, smells
all await us as gracious gifts,
gifts of your artistry,
gifts of your unlimited creativity,
gifts of your love and power.
Oh Lord, my Lord, your artistry is endless.

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” Psalm 9:1

*What artistry of God has inspired you recently?

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

*My photo

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, beauty, creation/creative/creator, nature, poem, praise, sky, variety, winter, writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Craft a Bridal Keepsake Box

November 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Bridal Box Teri made for Kristin

*Since the readership of the Mother of the Bride Blog is ever-changing, here is an updated encore post I hope will be helpful to those of you who weren’t MOBs when I originally posted it in January 2014. Also, I’ll be taking a blogging break next week for Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a wonderful week celebrating Thanksgiving with your families. See you November 30th! (In the meantime you might like to read A Mother of the Bride’s Thanksgiving Prayer.)

Mothers of the Bride, for those of you who are crafters—or have friends who are crafters (yes!)—delight your daughter with a gorgeous bridal keepsake box like the one pictured above. I’m not a crafter at all, but thank goodness my good friend Teri is. She made the beauty above for my daughter Kristin when she was a bride-to-be.

Start with an oval shaped box. Right away this makes it special by using a shape that’s not as common. Believe it or not, this box is actually a Harry & David Dark Chocolate Truffles box. And if you don’t happen to have one lying around the way I did (chocolate lover that I am!), go ahead and treat yourself so you can use the box later. That’s as good a reason to eat truffles as you need, MOB! :)

Think about what bridal-themed adornment might appeal to your daughter and cover the box accordingly. Teri and I chose a variety of lace, pearls, and pretty silk rosebuds for Kristin’s box. Teri then styled the box, using her trusty hot-glue gun as her right-hand man.

So why not give it a try, MOB? It’s fairly simple to do (if you’re someone like Teri!) and can be used to store any number of wedding keepsakes. Teri included homemade garters in Kristin’s box. Take my word for it, whatever you do, your daughter will treasure it.

*You might also like to read Knitted Bridal Bouquet and More , Sparkle Up the Bridal Garter, Turning the Ordinary into Keepsakes, and Wedding Decor: Craft It with Paper.

*Photo by Kristin

Filed Under: beauty, bride, creation/creative/creator, decorate, Friend, Gift, memories, Mother of the Bride Tagged With: , , , , ,

My Father’s World

October 12, 2015 by 3 Comments

Fall 2011 284My Father’s world is an amazing place. The wonders of his creation never cease and never grow old. They inspire fresh worship every day. Not only did God create the magnificent world we live in, but he sustains it. And he alone is ruler.

The old hymn “This Is My Father’s World” beautifully expresses the miracle of God’s world. When I sing it my heart swells in worship. And gorgeous fall days provide the perfect backdrop to just such worship.

Let’s step outdoors this week and lift our voices in praise. Let’s sing to our Father about his amazing world!

This Is My Father’s World

“This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!” —Maltie D. Babcock

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Psalm 24:1

*What in God’s creation are you enjoying this week?

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

*My photo

Filed Under: autumn, beauty, creation/creative/creator, music, nature, praise, worship Tagged With: , , , , ,
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