I grew up in the deep southern woods of Mississippi--lots and lots of pine trees towered over our home. So when I moved "way up here" in Tennessee, the colorful fall season took me by surprise. Year after year, I am mesmerized by the radiant reds, the fiery oranges, and the brilliant golds that are bursting from the trees and bushes--incredible, breath-taking beauty.

I'm sure I am not the first to correlate God's seasons with His love story:

Fall represents His dying for us on the cross.

Winter represents His burial, enclosed in a death that we will never have to endure.

Spring represents His resurrection... a newness of life for all who believe.

And Summer represents the growth and abundance of this new life.

So, here we are again in the seasonal cycle; the glorious fall surrounds us. It's hard to believe these brilliant leaves on the trees are actually dying. But isn't that exactly what happened at the cross? Listen to Jesus' words to His Father, just before He was taken into custody:

Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of Your Son so the Son in turn may show Your bright splendor." (msg, John 17:1)

Come to Me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28Two thousand years ago, the King of Glory hung on a tree, dying. His fiery passion for the world He loved held Him there, not the nails. His perfect crimson blood was willingly shed for you and me. And as our Savior's life was drained from Him, it was the most tragically beautiful gift to behold. Before the darkness of "winter" encroached, the Light of the World triumphantly cried out, "It is finished." Indeed, it was awe-full.

Today, this day, when I see the radiance all around me and watch these colorful trees of the field clapping their hands, I know why they're applauding. I want to join them in honor of the King that gave His life a ransom for many. And I too, just as the trees are "teaching" us in this season, want to die to myself so Christ can live radiantly inside and outside of me, drawing many to His marvelous light.

Yes, as I look all around me, I will praise Him, and thank Him, and worship Him... for His glorious Fall.

Creation reflects the creator. When you see a wonderful work of art, or watch an awesome movie, or read an incredible book, you naturally applaud the one who "birthed" the masterpiece.Now look around you. Whether you're in the mountain range of Colorado, or by the oceanside of the Florida beaches, or in the hills and valleys of Tennessee, a majestic Creator can be applauded. All of His creation praises Him! I love how Scripture attests to this truth: Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy (Psalm 96:11-12)

Let us remember and take to heart that we, too, are His creation. As a matter of fact, we are His crowning glory, the ones fashioned with hearts and souls and minds. He made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5).So if the sun, moon, and stars, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the mountains, hills, and valleys, if all of these things are praising His name, shouldn't we as well? And shouldn't we be leading the way?Choose to praise Him today. Shout "thank You's" and sing adorations to the Creator of your unique and gifted self; because, human being, you were made for this...Arise shine, your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

On July 22, 2017 at 5:30 pm, Maggie Marie Baxter became Maggie Marie Gilmer. Her utmost heart’s desire at her wedding was for all those attending to understand and know that the ceremony that they were witnessing was an acting visual of God and His great love for each one of them.

In Scripture we are called “the bride of Christ.” Here are some of His beautiful promises straight from His longing heart. Allow them to wash over you today. Become His bride all over again. Live in His love.

For your Maker is your husband–the Lord Almighty is His name–the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

photo by Marissa Roberts

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you. Isaiah 61:10

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. Hosea 2:19-20

…Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her… Ephesians 5:25

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2

From the beginning of time and then for all eternity, God has picked His bride, His people. He pursues in steadfast love.

He asks, “Will you say, ‘I do’?”

If so, He changes your name and gives you a new identity, in Christ. You wear His white, His purity. He is faithful and true…forever. Today, let us each rejoice and live securely in the strong arms of our Perfect Husband.

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A bible verse that I revisit over and over again is this one:
...casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)And this one:
Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you... (Psalm 55:22)The word "cast" means to throw forcefully in a specified direction. In these two verses, we are given the simple instruction to throw all our anxieties and burdens off of our hearts and minds, into the direction of the Lord, who will then take them upon Himself. I wish this straightforward instruction was as simple to obey. Why do I hold onto things I cannnot control?
For example, I have four children in their twenties, each with their own set of predicaments, large and small. As their mother, I have a tendency to take on the dangerous attitude of ownership, making their problems, my problems. I then can add my husband's "stuff", as well as both of our aging parents, not to mention my own personal struggles. If I'm not careful, in a matter of only minutes, I've gathered in my arms stressful stones, burdensome bricks, and worrisome rocks. Oh how they weigh me down! In this condition, I'm not only useless to my kids, my husband, my parents, myself, but also to others in my path who may need a helping hand.Therefore, I must continue to develop and strengthen the healthy habit of casting. I must name each worry that I naturally accumulate, and then hurl it in the direction of the One who can not only catch it (He never misses), but also can do something about it (He's always productive). In His hands, each troublesome pebble has the opportunity to become a precious stone, but I must choose to let it go.

So friend, if you are holding a heap of havoc, start hurling it with hope. Throw it forcefully into the direction of your Savior. Your healthy habit of casting is His earnest heart's desire.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. (Psalm 68:19)

Have you ever felt like you have obeyed the Lord by taking a giant leap of faith, and now you're just waiting to land on solid ground? You know you have been called to do something but you just don't know the details of that call; so, you... just... wait... on the Lord... and His... perfect... timing.

Waiting is beautiful to the Lord. It puts us in a place of complete dependence on Him, which pleases Him, because He can then do His work in us.  Yes, while we humanly wait, He supernaturally works.  Hear His promise:

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not become tired, they will walk and not become weary.  Isaiah 40:31

Because I appreciate any kind of athlete in action, these pictures speak to me about the concept of beauty in the waiting. Observe the strength and grace in the mid-routines of the gymnasts. Now take note of your current situation that may be "up in the air." Remember, you may feel completely out of control, but He never is! So in the midst of your waiting, hold on to your invisible God who is beautifully present... in your... present... and... in your... future.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.   Psalm 27:14

July's intense heat made me think about many many years ago (maybe about 15 years ago), when I took my young kids to a water park with a friend and her kids. First, let me tell you, I have an aversion to water parks, so this was definitely an act of sacrificial love on my part! My friend Sharon and I put our kids on the buddy system and off they went to conquer the slides in the refreshing water. There was one particular water attraction in which a HUGE bucket filled up with water and then eventually poured out all over those who were waiting in anticipation underneath. When this powerful diluge finally happened, the whole group of both young and even older people squealed with delight!

Meanwhile, because of my waterpark phobia, I was sweltering in the wretched heat of mid-July. I was miserable... but my childern were free!

Today, I aiso read these particular verses that spoke extra loud to me due to our hot summer days: When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer (Psalm 32:3-4). This verse makes me feel sweaty and miserable just reading it. I don't want to be in this place physically OR spiritually. Thankfully, there's a remedy!

My friend, let us realize that just like the refreshing water poured out all over my own kids and provided immediate relief and joy physically, we too have an outpouring of forgiveness waiting for us every single day spiritually. We have been invited to the waters to confess our sins before the One who can wipe us completely clean! He delights to see us standing at the foot of the cross, waiting to be covered with His unfailing love. No sin is too great for Him to wash away! What freedom! What redemption! What revival!

May His delighted children shout, How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit! (Psalm 32:1-2)

No need to be miserable…stand under the Living Water…and join in the joy of forgiveness.