A Winner Plus A Message for the Newlyweds

12893863323_341719a366_zThe day has come—time to announce the winner of the Mother of the Bride Book Launch Giveaway! That lucky winner is . . . drumroll, please . . . Susan Best! Congrats, Susan! I’ll get your winnings to you as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy each and every item and find my book to be super helpful and encouraging.

And now a little gift for the rest of you—a special message you can share with your sweet soon-to-be newlyweds! Perhaps you could share this message with them by reading it at the wedding reception during the time for toasts or perhaps you could mail it to them in a card. It could be a sweet surprise waiting for them as they return from their honeymoon.

Hope you enjoy sharing this with the new Mr. and Mrs.!

For You, Dear Newlyweds

What a joy it’s been to watch
Your story of love unfold,
From dating to engagement to marriage vows
You’ve made the perfect couple.
The wedding may be over now
But there’s still much to celebrate,
A chance to say “I do” again
Each day for the rest of your lives.
Right now that may seem easy
But days of challenge may lie ahead,
Keep saying “I do”, keep choosing love,
The rewards will surely come.
One day you’ll be that older couple
That everyone admires,
They’ll see your lasting mutual love
And decide to work for their own.
But today live life as newlyweds
Enjoy these fleeting days,
And in the process you’ll inspire
Others to choose love again.

Copyright © Cheryl Barker

*When you read this piece or print it out, please give attribution by saying it’s by Cheryl Barker, author of Mother of the Bride. Thanks!

*You might also like to read A Prayer for the Newlyweds and Gift Idea: The Newlywed’s Instruction Manual.

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

*Flickr photo by KerriNikolePhotography, Creative Commons License

Wedding Favors: A Boxed Surprise

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Mother of the Bride, you and your sweet girl may have more important things on your minds right now than wedding favors, but the topic will come up before you know it.

Why not be prepared and jot down favor ideas as you see them. Or if you haven’t done so yet, you could create a wedding board on Pinterest and save your ideas that way. I have one especially for Wedding Favors so you might want to pop over and take a look while it’s on your mind.

One fun idea is offering the guests a boxed surprise. Guests will enjoy discovering the treasure in their individual little gift boxes, and you could even add an additional element of surprise by having multiple possibilities. One guest might find dark chocolates filled with chocolate while another finds milk chocolates filled with raspberry cream, etc. Or you daughter might like to go with something entirely different from chocolate. It’s her party. She gets to choose!

I also love the little boxes pictured above with the various color ribbons and styles of applique rather than bows, but other sizes, shapes, and décor for boxes are available where you find wedding supplies. Again, the bride will have fun making this choice.

What do you think, MOB? Is this an idea your daughter might like? You’ll never know unless you ask—so ask away!

*You might also like to read A Wedding Favor That Pampers: Beigetone Soaps!, Fall Wedding Favor Idea: Caramel Apples!, Wedding Favors That Grow: Tree Seedlings!, and Edible Favors—Yes, Please!

*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 Corey Ann, Creative Commons License

Midweek Morsel: Spiritual Moments in Everyday Life

IMG_4716Does everyday life ever surprise you with unexpected spiritual moments? Sweet connections with our Lord or hearts filled with gratitude, praise, or fresh insights don’t happen only when we are involved in prayer and worship and reading God’s Word. Sometimes God blesses us with such moments in the ordinary business of daily living.

Here’s what Shauna Niequist has to say in her book Bittersweet – Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way about some of her most deeply spiritual moments:

“Many of the most deeply spiritual moments of my life haven’t happened just in my mind or in my soul. They happened while holding my son in the middle of the night, or watching the water break along the shore, or around my table, watching the people I love feel nourished in all sorts of ways.”

Let’s not miss the spiritual feast that can be experienced in the everyday moments of life. Let’s be ready to look at the common with fresh eyes. Let’s be alert to all that God has for us in the everyday.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

*How has God blessed you with spiritual moments in your normal course of life?

*My photo of our grandson Isaiah

Midweek Morsel: God Speaks When He Seems Silent

5771861523_5c38e5529e_zAs children of God, we eventually go through periods when God seems quiet—we might even think of them as desert times. Last fall I shared about just such a period in my life lately. We may wonder why God is being silent, why he is not speaking to our spirits as clearly as in the past.

In truth, God speaks to us even in the silence. For example, at times when I may not hear his voice in my spirit, I still hear him speak through his Word. Also consider what Margaret Feinberg says on this topic in her book The Organic God:

“But as I practice the art of listening to God, I am discovering that he is surprisingly talkative even in the silence. Prayers are not going unanswered as much as he is responding in unexpected ways. . . . His voice is found in the wisdom of friends and spiritual leaders. He whispers through dreams and visions and abundant provision. He speaks through both conscience and conviction and an undeniable sense that some thoughts are more like God-thoughts than my own. He even speaks in the silence.”

So let’s take heart, friends, even when God seems quiet. Let’s listen. Let’s be alert to the unexpected. Our loving Father will indeed speak.

“. . . ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. . .’” 1 Samuel 3:9

*How has God spoken to you even in the silence?

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

*Flickr photo by seyed mostafa zamini, Creative Commons License

A Surprise Audience

17200735_e649e76ce6*It’s been a busy month for me so I’m sharing an encore post today. Hope this September 2009 post blesses you!

Last week as I was indulging in another early morning drink of nature, I did a quick survey of my surroundings (as I always do) and saw that no one else was in sight. Good. I was free to give actual voice to my worship and sing my praise –albeit quietly — to my Creator and King.

Looking heavenward, favorite praise choruses flowed from my lips. After all, it was just the two of us. Just me and the Lord. Or so I thought.

In mid-melody, I glanced down and found, quite unexpectedly, I had an audience. A neighborhood cat had slinked in from behind the bushes and was sitting there on her haunches watching and listening to me as if she had purchased a ticket to a show. I couldn’t help but smile.

So as not to disappoint, I continued quietly singing and found myself watching the cat and wishing I had my camera. I’m not sure how long she would have sat there if I hadn’t broken the concert spell, but I couldn’t help it — I had to try to get a picture. I inched my way into the house, but of course by the time I returned, the moment was gone, and the cat had moved on to a more exciting adventure. Digging under the bush. My surprise audience had slipped away.

My early morning encounter with this neighborhood kitty reminded me that just when we least expect it in our lives, we may discover that someone is watching. We may have a surprise audience.

We, in fact, have people watching us all the time, don’t we? What will these unsuspecting ticket-holders see before they slip away? Let’s hope they see something of our Savior. Let’s hope they see something of Jesus.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

*When might others have opportunity to see Jesus in you when you’re unaware of it?

Flickr photo by fazen, Creative Commons License