The Thaw God Brings

February 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.”  Psalm 147:16-18 NIV

Our God is able to melt an icy, frozen earth. Can he not also melt a stone cold heart? Yes, God can bring the thaw.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV

*Has God ever melted your heart on a particular issue or towards a particular person? Who can you pray for now, asking God to melt his or her heart?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out yesterday. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*Flickr photo by Muffet, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: change, encouragement, faith, growth, help, hope, miracle, nature, new thing, prayer, salvation, trust, Uncategorized, winter, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

2025 Theme Word: Trust

January 7, 2025 by 2 Comments

What does starting a new year mean for you? For me, it means it’s time to focus on a new theme word. I’ve never been big into New Year’s resolutions, but this is the thirteenth year I’ve chosen a theme word to help guide me through the year. It’s a practice I highly recommend. I can honestly say it has benefited me year after year.

The word the Lord impressed on my heart for 2025? Trust. When the thought of choosing a new theme word first crossed my mind back in November, trust immediately sprang to mind. With all the uncertainties and new things on my horizon, I knew trust in God needed to be my focus. Trust has actually been my theme word before, but that’s okay. I need to keep it at the forefront of my mind again.

Of course, I never know all the Lord has in mind when guiding me to a new word, but this year the uncertainties that my husband’s Alzheimer’s continually colors our lives with will require ongoing trust in God for meeting not only the demands of the day but also the changes that may come. Changes that may require decisions for which I’ll certainly need wisdom and God’s direction.

This year also holds lots of challenges for me as I prepare for the October launch of Christmas For The Heart: 25 Devotions Reclaiming The Beauty And Wonder Of The Season, my new Christmas devotional book with B&H Publishing. I am thrilled and humbled to have the privilege to touch the lives of readers across our nation and perhaps beyond through this devotional, but the responsibility and work that goes along with preparing for the launch and promotion of it can be overwhelming, particularly if I’m relying on myself and my own abilities. Trusting God to guide and provide will be the only way I can handle it all.

So yes, trust in God is what I need right now in extra measure. And as the year unfolds, I may find that God has even more situations in store for trusting him. When it comes right down to it, every day should be an exercise in trusting God, shouldn’t it?

If you haven’t done so yet, why not choose a theme word for 2025? I can guarantee that having an over-arching word—a quality, an attitude, or an action—to focus on will help give you direction and help you grow throughout the year.

You’re welcome to join me in focusing on trust—it gives such freedom and peace when we’re trusting God instead of worrying or relying on our own wisdom, limited as it is. But I encourage you to give it some thought and prayer first. God may have another word in mind for you. Why not ask him? He is faithful to guide!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

*What is your theme word or anchor verse for 2025? I’d love to know!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early February. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*Photo by Ryan Pohanic on Unsplash

Filed Under: challenge, encouragement, faith, focus, free, goal, life, new thing, peace, tradition, trust, word Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Take Time for Wonder

November 19, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Years ago I invited extra beauty into my life by putting a birdbath and birdfeeder in our backyard. Since my office window provides a perfect view of that portion of our yard, I’ve enjoyed moments of wonder ever since that I would never have spotted otherwise.

I took the above photo of a cardinal that first November and was thrilled to capture the shot. In my experience with photographing birds up to that point, I’d found that male cardinals didn’t sit still for long—at least not long enough for me to get a shot centered and focused.

Since then, I’ve also spotted a few new-to me birds, saw a huge bird land in our yard (probably a hawk of some sort), and enjoyed watching not only birds in the birdbath but also  caught squirrels and a cat drinking there as well. I even captured a shot of a squirrel trying to get in on the action at the birdfeeder. I also managed to thwart a neighborhood cat’s attack on one of the unusual birds that visited our yard one summer.

But I wouldn’t have seen any of these wonders or enjoyed their beauty if I hadn’t taken the time to look. I glance out my office window several times a day just to see what special treats God might have waiting for me right under my nose.

Sometimes I’m so busy I’m tempted to ignore anything going on outside of my current task. I’ve stayed at my keyboard or dashed in and out of my office, not taking the time to slow down and savor beauty, not taking the time to try to capture some great photos. I wonder what I’ve missed during those times.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss the beauty. I don’t want to miss God’s blessing. Join me, won’t you? Let’s take time for wonder.

“Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5 NIV

*What wonders have you seen lately?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: beauty, creation/creative/creator, joy, life, miracle, nature, new thing, time, treasure, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Ultimate Guide to Looking Your Best on Wedding Day

October 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, would you like to point your bride-to-be-daughter (and yourself) to a fantastic and comprehensive beauty guide for her wedding day? You’ll be surprised at how much you both can do to prepare to look your best on the big day, starting even six to ten months ahead of time if you so choose.

Théia Aesthetics’ article on essential bridal beauty rituals covers a range of tips and approaches to help brides achieve the appearance they want and feel good about it. It undoubtedly includes some helpful info and tips that will be new to both your daughter and you, MOB.

Some topics included in this guide:
– Setting goals for the wedding day
– At-home skincare essentials
– Personal skincare treatments and Botox
– Recommended schedule for skincare treatment
– More resources for brides who want to look their best

Read all about it and then share this link with your sweet girl, Mother of the Bride – Théia Aesthetics’ article on essential bridal beauty rituals. She (or you for yourself!) may want to choose a few things to try or perhaps follow the entire guide. May both of you thrill in looking your best on the big day!

*You may also like to read Mother of the Bride Beauty Prep: Face Yoga Exercises!, Hairstyles For the Mother of the Bride or Groom, and Mother of the Bride: Spruce Up Your Smile!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Photo from Unsplash 

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, advice, appearance, beauty, body, bride, help, inventory, Mother of the Bride, new thing, preparation, shine, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

God Can Make Our Accidents and Mistakes Shine

September 3, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Sometimes I capture my best photos by accident. I didn’t even realize I caught the cardinal above in flight until I checked the shot later. Woohoo! Gotta love it when accidents shine like that, huh?

Other times while trying to focus a shot, I take the picture prematurely. But every now and then, my mistake looks perfect. Evidently, the camera captures it in mid-focus at just the right moment. I can’t take credit for it, but I sure do celebrate it.

No, it’s not me that makes something good out of my foul-ups. God’s the one who can make my accidents or mistakes shine. And not just where photography’s concerned.

In spite of numerous parenting mistakes, God used my efforts and grew our daughters into the amazing women they are today. When it comes to marriage, God has kept Don and me together through all the ups and downs despite our many shortcomings. He even blesses with shining results in lesser things—like when my baking efforts hit an unexpected snag or when I take a wrong turn.

On a worldwide scale, we’ve all heard about inventions and medical discoveries that happened by accident. The world has benefited by penicillin for years now thanks to one of Dr. Fleming’s petri dishes that got contaminated with mold. God made that accident shine indeed, didn’t he?

Our accidents or mistakes may not have such far-reaching effect as penicillin, but isn’t it good to know that God can take our missteps—and even our sins—and make something good out of them? He is not only a great Creator, he is a great Redeemer as well. He can make us shine. And I sure do celebrate that.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

*When has God made an accident or mistake of yours shine?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early November. Sign-up is FREE. *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: accident, action, celebrate, creation/creative/creator, encouragement, grace, help, life, mercy, mistake, new thing, photo fun, praise, redeem, refresh, shine, success, victory Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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