I'm sure you've heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words". Well, I have chosen to share three pictures from my daughter Emmy's wedding this past weekend. She was privileged to marry her "best friend Kyle." I could have picked several dozen different pictures, but these three are the ones I hope will speak to your heart in a deeper way.

THE CELEBRATION. Due to planning a wedding during a pandemic, the guest list fluctuated week to week to week. To say the least, the drama involved around the wedding date was incredibly weighty. It saddened us that due to a virus, many people were unable to attend. Often I thought of the deeper reality of a better day ahead of us: In the end of time, the true Bridegroom is coming to claim his bride once and for all. At THIS wedding feast our Lord promises there will be "no more death, nor mourning, nor crying, nor pain" (see Revelation 21:1-6). The Bridegroom, Jesus, Savior of all mankind, is inviting YOU to be present with HIm, forever. My friend, it's going to be ETERNALLY GREAT, like no other wedding feast on this planet. Don't miss it! The question is, will you come?

Until that day...we grow as a FAMILY. I now have two more sons in the mix! And... how could I leave my precious granddaughter out of this post?! If I can give anything to this growing family, it would be the same thing I've given all along: prayer. I pray for many things, one main thing being that the love of Christ would be present within each heart and that this love would then pour out to the people around them, including each other. As you well know, being unified is not a "given", it's a choice. Differences can divide us if we allow it. My daily prayer is that we would recognize that we are all uniquely created and that each God-designed-person is worth celebrating, together. "And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:14).

ABUNDANT JOY. When Emmy got engaged, I asked her what word I could pray over her and Kyle's wedding day. She quickly responded, "JOY!" Let me emphatically say that God delivered in abundance! Joy resonated within the wedding party as well as throughout the entire celebration, all the way to the bubbly night time exit of the bride and groom. In saying this, my deeper heart's desire for you is to look at this particular picture of Emmy and Kyle and believe with all your heart that Jesus is just as EXCITED AND DELIGHTED with you as Kyle is with Emmy. IT'S TRUE (and even more so!). If we really lived with assurance that Christ LOVES AND CHERISHES US, I think we would be a more confident people of God, spreading the good news with excited fervor.With the last picture in mind I will close with these two complimentary verses. Believe in and walk (or skip) in these truths today:As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and a sound of a melody. Isaiah 51:3

Does our persistence in prayer, our ongoing requests, bother God? I think not. Jesus tells us a parable in scripture (Luke 18:1-8) that actually speaks of just the opposite. The main point He wants to make in this story is stated clearly:

‍"...(we) ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1).

‍Jesus' parable calls attention to the attitude of a widow who continuously asks for justice from a godless judge; and finally, because of her persistence, she receives it. She is one of those people who "knocks and keeps knocking." The good news unfolds as the parable continues, and it ends with this truth: our prayers are met by a righteous God who is not bothered by us; on the contrary, He is pleased with our persistence and answers us with a willing heart.

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Let's continue to pray. God promises to answer us! He hears our cries. He sees our hearts. He knows our needs. He wants us to talk to Him! In the holy conversations with our Savior, we grow in both our intimacy with Him and dependency on Him, which are two reasons that Jesus WANTS us to pray! As we give Him our requests, we must trust that every answer we receive is wrapped in the confines of His steadfast love and faithfulness.

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This past week, I have been in a place of fervent prayer much like the persistent widow in the parable. I have begged and cried and bowed and laid prostrate and claimed God's living word on behalf of my long-time-soul-to-soul friend Sharon Suiter Reyes and her husband Fred who is in the hospital on a ventilator due to the coronavirus. Their family invades my thoughts and takes over my emotions, but I must not stop there. I must run to the God of Mercy, and I must persistently plead. All my worrying and all my weeping must be turned into fervent prayer on their behalf. My tearful eyes of faith are focused on the mighty God who heals. I must believe that my persistence pleases the Lord, and that my faith "fuels" His power. Why else would He call us to pray?

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God will be faithful to do His part in providing His best answer for your prayers, and for mine. What He wants us to do is to be faithful in our part, which is to "pray and not lose heart."Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name, "Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know...Jeremiah 33:2-3 

Did you know that if you are a follower of Christ you are equipped with the power of God? Does this mean that you can part the Red Sea like Moses or call fire from heaven like Elijah? Uh, probably not; but what it DOES mean is this: you are fully equipped to do every good work that God has called YOU to do.

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So, what is God asking you to do today?  Don't make this question too difficult. Just think about today. You don't have to figure out what your life-long mission is by the end of this post. God will accomplish the "big stuff" in you as you obey Him one faithful step at a time. He will give you what you need to obey Him today. Also, do not believe the lie that doing something "great for God" only means reaching the masses, or possessing a incredible gift or talent, or leading a huge ministry. Some people are appointed to do these things for sure; but, these acts are no less powerful than knocking on your neighbor's door while carrying Jesus' love inside of you, or sitting with a hurting friend and pouring His compassion out to her, or listening to a struggling young believer and immediately lifting up quiet prayers on his behalf.

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Again, what is God asking you to do today? Hear Him call your name, choose to obey His voice, and believe He will equip you with His powerful Spirit to do a great thing in what may seem like an ordinary task. Today, I'm going to respond to the Spirit's prompting and walk next door to re-meet my new neighbor. I am not going over there alone. As I socially distance on her front porch, I'm asking God's Spirit to sweetly pour out of me and then touch her with His love. A mighty God in the midst of a one-on-one conversation is no small thing!

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Let's both remember, when we choose to walk forward in faith-filled obedience, there is no doubt that both great things and God-things will unfold in our not-so-ordinary life.

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For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

What is gentleness? Is it a weakness of character when one chooses "to be soft"? I asked the Lord these questions and He gave me an opportunity to learn by experience...

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Last Saturday, I took some newly purchased clothes over to my parent's house for my mother to try on so she wouldn't have to enter stores at this very strange time. As she and I "set up shop" in her bedroom, I helped her in and out of each outfit, one of them being a potential rehearsal dinner dress for my daughter Emmy Baxter's wedding in a few weeks. Due to my mom's ongoing back pain and unsure footing, I had to be very gentle with her as I placed, pulled, zipped and buttoned each outfit. Every touch of mine had tender love within it. (A little history concerning my mother and me: Fifty years ago, when I was 3, 4, 5, and 6 years old, my sweet momma would gently rub lotion all over my little legs because they itched and itched and itched due to being badly burned as a toddler. Her strength was my security in this ongoing healing process). It is an honor to zip her dress.

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Interestingly, only hours later in the day, I went home to the future bride. She too, needed my help as she wanted to try on her wedding gown with her newly purchased jewelry. Again, I carefully repeated the dressing process...another moment in time to cherish.

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After Saturday's hand's-on lessons and also digging into His word, here is what I wrote in my journal:

--Gentleness displays powerful love.

--Gentleness is partnered with wisdom. (James 3:13-17)

--Gentleness is administered appropriately and selflessly.

--Gentleness is not a weak attribute; rather, it is a carefully-distributed-strength.

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Jesus says, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)."

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Isn't it interesting that the same God-Man who had the power to calm a raging storm with three words ("Hush, be still") chooses to describe Himself as "gentle and lowly in heart"? Was He a push-over? No, remember He CHOSE to lay His life down for you and me. He humbled Himself, and emptied Himself, so that He could walk beside us. Like a strong arm around our shoulders, He pours his Spirit inside of us and whispers encouraging words to us as we walk out our days. He has committed Himself to us, step by step.

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I think you would agree with me in saying that our world needs a little gentleness right now. Who knew that 2020 would hold such harsh chaos? First disease, now destruction. Is there someone in your world, or maybe even outside your comfortable world, that you could touch with the gentleness of Christ? Who do you need to put your arm around and walk alongside of for a while? Ask God to put someone on your heart. Allow the Spirit to speak and then follow through today. Do not wait...because great healing can come from the power of gentleness.

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‍You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. Psalm 18:35

Are you in the midst of a storm today? Are you desperate for some peace?

Allow me to direct you to seven short verses in the Bible, Mark 4:35-41. In this passage, Jesus is asleep in a boat in the middle of a storm while his disciples are trying to arm-wrestle the wind and the waves without Him. As things get worse, the fearful disciples shake the Prince of Peace to upright position and plead for help.

In order to make this passage become more vivid in your mind, step into the storm-tossed boat with the disciples. Feel the waves crashing in and the boat filling up with fierce surges of water. Frantically shake Jesus’ shoulders and ask with them, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

(Have you ever felt like Jesus went to sleep in the midst of your storm, and that He simply didn’t care? I have.)

The story continues, and remember, you are still a main character in it. The next words spoken were directed not to the disciples but to the wind and the waves. Jesus, now awake, simply said three words, “‘Peace. Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39). Experience the awe of the God-Man’s commanding peace; like a light-switch, the raging storm changes to placid silence.

(Realize that sometimes the greatest storms are the ones that are within us.)

I think the main point of this story is found in the two follow-up questions that Jesus asks the disciples. Remember, you’re in the boat, and He’s asking you:

“Why are you so afraid?”

“Have you still no faith?”

Pause a moment and answer Jesus.

Goodness, sometimes I don’t like my answers! Why do I tend to be fear-full and faith-less?! Ugh!

Bottom line, we need a change in perspective. Again, we see this in our passage. It says, “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?'” (Mark 4:41). If we could have the “right kind of fear” THEN we would have the right kind of faith. When our focus is on Jesus, our perspective changes from fear of our current reality to awe of His supreme authority. This accurate kind of fear is one that builds our faith rather than diminishes it.

Friends, your Creator and Commander is “in your boat.” Even if your storm continues to rage, be confident that He is not going anywhere. “Wake Him up” with your fervent prayers. He sometimes waits to move through them. Also be certain of this: He does care, and He is in control. For He Himself is your peace (Ephesians 2:14).

I will end with an old but familiar saying that I think sums up what the disciples learned long ago, and what we can hold as true today:

No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.

Dear Lord,

You are the Keeper of the Stars. You are the Creator of the Universe. You are the Sustainer of all that Breathes. You are the Holder of the Wind and Commander of the Waves. And You are in my boat. I am awed at Your power and humbled by Your love. Today, let my soul hear and receive one more time Your personal words, “Peace, be still.” Amen.

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Dumb question, but have you ever been really sad? Maybe it’s now. Maybe you have suffered a loss recently, whether it’s a loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or a dream. When I was thinking about how the Lord describes Himself as the Comforter in Scripture, I prayed, “Lord, please speak. Bring things to mind that help me understand Your role in our times of deep sadness.” Well, here is my brainstorming list, some of which may be heaven sent, but with fair warning, some may be just my blonde-headed-muddled-thoughts:

I have comfy slippers that I wear all day long when I am at home. These slippers are worn with my comfortable daytime-wear. (In this quarantine time, I’m getting them confused with my comfy nighttime-wear). Also, certain foods, such as anything pasta or anything chocolate will forever stay on my comfort-food-list. And of course, as an introvert, I have a specified comfort zone in which three is a crowd. Finally and most importantly, for the sake of my sanity, I have a special spot on my comfortable couch in the mornings where I drink my coffee and have my quiet time. At this moment, I am sitting, looking out into the beauty of nature, meeting with Jesus and writing to you.

So, what do my slippers and other “go-to-things” have to do with the role of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter? I asked the Lord the same question. The simple answer is this: just as our physical bodies crave comfort, so do our souls. I think it’s safe to say we all make time and even insist on meeting our physical longings; likewise, it’s even more important to take time to meet the deep need of our innermost being (which is the home of our mind, will, and emotions). The abiding Spirit of the living God is the only One who can fill this place sufficiently. His intimate love touches us in our intense sorrow.

We see this in Scripture when Jesus comforts the disciples. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had been wrongfully imprisoned and then needlessly beheaded on the whim and the wish of a teenage girl and her mother. The disciples were devastated at this loss of their friend. Jesus says to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while”(Mark 6:21-31). Jesus took them to a quiet place. There, the Good Shepherd gathered them together so He could listen to their bewildered hearts and then speak into their very real sorrow.

What amazes me time and again, is that the same Jesus that sat with the disciples in this scene, is the same Jesus that lives and abides in me this morning. And hear this truth…by faith, He lives and abides in you! He has something to give you right now. He is calling you directly, saying, “Come away by yourself to a desolate place and rest a while.”You may need to weep with Him. No doubt, He will weep with you. Talk to Him like the disciples did long ago; speak to Him about your confusion and sorrow. Pour it all out to Him. Then, stick around long enough for Him to pour into you. Allow His soothing words and His abiding Spirit to move gracefully within you.

We must realize that no comfy clothes or comfortable couches, or slices of pizza, or types of chocolate can truly touch our soul’s desperate need. He knows how to calm us from the inside-out; everything else is from the outside-in.

This blonde-head of mine gets it now: Jesus in my soul is like the slippers on my feet. His Spirt wraps around me, I in Him, and Him in me, an individually molded fit. I can now rest in the comfort of His love.

Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden. And her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of a melody. Isaiah 51:3

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