I left town for a short weekend trip and came back to a nice surprise in my backyard: daylilys are a blooming! I wrote a post about them a couple of years ago that I'll reshare today:

Consider the Daylily

Many years ago, I bought some daylily bulbs from a friend of a dear friend. I picked a special place in my backyard near a stone wall to plant them; and then, I waited. The first bloom was a huge celebratory moment for me (I do NOT have a green thumb in the least, so anything that grows in my yard is a minor miracle). Now, every summer I look forward to the re-birthing of these radiant flowers.

What's crazy to me is that this flower's bloom only lasts one day, hence the name day-lily. It's as if this particular plant embraces this fact however, and puts a hundred percent of its beauty into the time it has been allotted. These brick red, butter yellow, and melon orange blossoms splay themselves open unashamedly, shouting "Beautiful!" and "Majestic!" and "Glory!" in the designated place that they have been planted. Scripture uses the blossoming flower as an anology to teach us:

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."  I Peter 1:23-25

So, when studying the temporal flower alongside the above scripture, a wise, yet convicting question can be, What am I doing with my days? Am I shouting "Beautiful", and "Majestic", and "Glory" in my designated place? 

Be challanged by the Creator of both the fleeting flower and your seeking soul. Take inHis word, the imperishable seed, and choose to hear it, and heed it. And then, without fail, you will not only be living in this world radiantly, but also at some point, leaving this world triumphantly, having impacted it for eternity. And this my friend, is a major miracle.

Teach us to number our days, that we may enter the heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Over the past couple of weekends we have had an influx of visitors in and out of our home. From family, to friends, and friends of friends, the beds have been full and the table has been surrounded. Observing the diversity of people and the use of their unique passions fills my cup to overflowing. I love seeing God at work in so many different ways THROUGH His people.

As I was tidying up a bit this morning, I came across a pair of one of our guest’s shoes. I immeditately knew to whom they belonged, and I smiled as I thought of her extraordinary individuality.

From this happy thought, I wrote 5 allegorical tips (some are borrowed) concerning filling the shoes on your own two feet:

1. If the shoe fits, wear it. Be your own person. The world is waiting for YOU.
2. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. Somebody else’s shoes are meant for somebody else.
3. Don’t be afraid of new and different. At some point, it might be time to break in an entirely new look.
4. Also, be content with old and worn. These shoes exemplify perseverance and experience to many.

5. Walk. Be confident in where you are going, but avoid climbing the status ladder in your heart and mind. Keep your feet moving forward on the humble ground. In doing so, you’re less likely to fall.

These five tips were beautifully lived out before me through our different guests these past two weekends. A few artists, an art agent, a knitter, a couple of musicians, a Ukranian advocate for orphans, two doctors, a coach, four turkey hunters, a golfer, a nurse practitioner, a realtor, a Bible teacher, a fellow writer, a PA school graduate, a waiter, a vetinary receptionist, and a couple of business men … all filled their own particular shoes. I marvel at the specified touch of God on each person, not because of their job title, but because of their individual distinctiveness within their choice giftings. No one can fill their shoes.

And my friend, no one can fill yours.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Ephesians 4:1

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Words. Choice words.

Words can hurt, words can heal.

Words can tear down, words can build up.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Pr. 18:21

In heated relational situations, is my tongue like a machete that swings with vast and defining blows? Or is it like a surgeon’s scalpel, that makes a small and accurate incision for the purpose of healing and hope?

Words. Choice words.

Words can destroy, words can restore.

Words can confuse, words can infuse.

Words can deform, words can transform.

“Lord, help me with my words. Make my words, Your words. May I pause and pray and hear Your voice telling me what to say, and what not to say. Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps 141:3). I only want to speak words that heal, build up, infuse, create, and transform.

Words. Yes, O God, I want to speak…

Your choice words.”

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I wanted to let each of you know that my devotional book, The Heartbeat of God, is now being sold at a wonderful boutique called Philanthropy, in these three locations: Franklin TN, Houston TX, and Orlando FL. This store's motto is "fashion with compassion"; with this statement alone, one can see this is not your usual every-day retail store.

See their website's words of description: "Philanthropy is the recognized leader in cause-driven retailing. We curate and design our own apparel, home and gift products with purpose, passion, style, and quality offering our customers a unique platform for giving through our commitment to give a minimum of 10% of every sale to charity through local, national and global opportunities. The cornerstone of every Philanthropy store is the Prayer chapel. Our stores, our brand, our message is all centered around the idea of prayer. Prayers of thanksgiving, prayers for healing, prayers of hope, prayers of despair, loss and pain, prayers to the God of heaven who hears our prayers. We have hope not in the answers to our prayers, but in the one who answers them, in His time and His way. It is because of this hope, that we in turn share the love of Christ with others. We continually strive to be a generous expression of the heart of God in all we do as a company."

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love in words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

I'm thankful that the devotional prayer book, The Heartbeat of God, has found a home.

(the above crown, top AND bottom, says it all)Are you looking for a Christmas Devotional for yourself, personally, or for your family?

I invite you to read Who Is this Jesus? And Why Did He Come? This bookletis a simple, consice 25-day devotional, starting on December 1st, that will point you and your family to the heart of the Christmas Season: JESUS…Who HE IS, and Why HE CAME. Each day holds one truth to ponder in order to keep your Savior on the forefront of your mind and in the center of this season.

Check out this FREE ON-LINE devotional on my website:www.respitefortheweary.com.(See the picture of the devotional cover on the sidebar and click.)

May you and your family be blessed as you choose to cultivate a heart of worship this season for the King of kings, the Lord of lords, our Immanuel.
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Dear Faithful Readers and Friends of mine,

Please consider yourself personally invited to my book signing, The Heartbeat of God. I will be selling and signing books and my brother-in-law David Baxter will be having an amazing art exhibit. This event will take place in a beautifully renovated historic home, so mark your calndars for a meaningful and fun fall outing.

I hope to see you this Saturday, October 22! See the invitation below for more details.

His love, Chris