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 on to things I cannnot control?For example, I have four children (2 teenagers, 2 in their early 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 entitlement, making their problems, my problems. If I'm not careful, in a matter of only minutes, I'm a mess. 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, 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.

So friend, if you are holding a heap of havoc, start hurling with hope. Throw it forcefully into the direction of your Savior. He is able...for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matt 11:30)Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. (Psalm 68:19)

For those of you who live in the area, I want to invite you to my home this Sunday evening for:

The 5th Annual Hope Walking

into 2014

 Sunday, December 29th

7-8:30 pm

The Baxter Home

1765 Warren Hollow Rd.

Nolensville, TN 37135

a devotional will be shared

by Chris and her sister Peggy

For those of you who don't live nearby, or are unable to join the party, here is a message of Hope for your New Year:

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those

who fear Him, 

on those who hope in 

His steadfast love, 

that He may deliver their

soul from death and

keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

For our heart is glad in Him,

because we trust in His holy name.

Let your steadfast love, O Lord,

be upon us,

even as we hope in you.

Psalm 33:18-22

A holiday tradition in the Baxter home is for all of us to load up together in the truck and head toward the local Christmas tree lot. A tree is picked from the selection, put in the truck-bed, and then placed in the corner of our living room. All of this is done in cheerful merriment of the holidays. (Ok, not all of us are cheerful all of the time, but it sounded good).

Our tree stood bare for a night and a day before we decorated it this year. The evergreen branches have a stark beauty all on its own. But, of course, a Christmas tree is meant to be decorated! So, three of the six of us decorated it together last night. The other three in the family obviously had had enough merriment during the tree-selection process…bah-hum-bug.

As we decorated, I was reminded of a life lesson that I have taught my kids on different occasions. The lights and ornaments are inanimate, of course, but we can learn something from them. For example, these objects don’t “look” around and about themselves, wishing they were made differently. They just display their own unique creativity. Also, they don’t “fret” over their postition, wondering why “that ornament over on the other side of the tree gets to hang in a higher spot”. No, the lights and ornaments are content to contribute to the work of art as a whole; but at the same time, their individual spot on the tree is beautiful because of them. As I placed each unique ornament on the tree in it’s designated branch, I thought of how the Christmas tree is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ working together.

Just like the ornaments, we are each a beautiful creation. Both time and care were put into the manufacturing of the intricate items placed on the tree. Likewise, we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14).

And just like the ornaments, as well as the lights, we all have a place to rest, a place to display our beauty, a place to contribute to the whole design. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift…for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:7, 12).

So when you look at your tree this year, think of the body of Christ. You have a unique ability in sharing a universal purpose: to shine your light… and to display God’s glory. And you have a specific place in which to do it. Don’t wrestle, just rest. Hear your Creator and Positioner say, “You are precious in My sight…you are honored and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:4). Merry Christmas.

‍

I just got back from Destin, Florida, where my siblings and I, along with their spouses and children, celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary; it was a house full of cousins and aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents and laughter and LIFE. As I observed, as well as participated in the beautiful chaos of 26 family members, I found myself overwhelmingly thankful for my parents' true love.

What is true love anyway? Well, I can tell you what it's not: it's not merely fluttering hearts, pretty or handsome "packages", or the right chemistry. You and I both know what happens when the flutter flies off, or the package starts to wrinkle and roll, or the equation no longer sparks. 

True love happens over time… just like the formation of a pearl in a sealed, protected shell. As I quietly watched my parents and thought of their years together, I saw the priceless pearl emerge...

How many times has he brought coffee to her bedside in the (very) early morning? How many times has she been his faithful companion to habitual restaurants, in watching football games, in serving others at home and abroad? How many walks have they taken together? And how many times have they prayed over their family, mentioning each one of us by name? These are a few of the "small"consistencies in my parents' relationship. But while watching them, I thought of the big picture of marriage as well.  Their 50 years is a living testimony of the true love found in  I Corinthians 13:7:

Love...bears all things. 

 True love looks at the vow "I do" as a holy proclamation made before the Lord; and then the two become one flesh, and they both strive to protect this sacred vow all their life-long days. It's a joint decision between God, man, and wife.

Love...believes all things. 

True love begins with a faith in God that cannot be shaken. When this is the case, husband and wife can declare wholeheartedly in unison, all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) They keep in mind, when man fails, God does not.

Love... hopes all things.

True love looks eagerly forward with great expectation of God-things to happen (not impatiently holding out for the world's "good things"). In doing so, husband and wife can rejoice in the beautiful transformation of their own hearts, as well as the individual hearts that they have influenced over the years. 

Love...endures all things.

True love perseveres through trauma and trial, through heartache and brokenness. During these times, husband and wife cling tightly to the truth that Jesus will once again save the day; for He is their Healer, their Defender, their Peace, and their Redeemer. 

I want to thank my parents for their true love--50 years in the making. Have they lived their days out together perfectly? Well, that's humanly impossible, even for the most "righteous" ones among us. What my parents did do was better than that: they set their marriage before the Perfect One, and allowed His true love to come in. 

So within the walls of a not-so-put-together-house in Destin, Florida, a ragamuffin family united. Rooms were filled, games were played, movies were watched, jokes were told, food was devoured… and true love was celebrated.

the cousins

a painting of the current "golden child"

the ladies of the bunch

mother and her girls

. 

beach football

the first grand "baby"

true love

As we are fast approaching the holiday season, I almost feel the "intensity knob" turn up a notch or two in my thoughts and actions. My to-do list lengthens, and my breathing pattern shortens. I have to remind myself to slow down, and even sit down just for a moment, in order to remember the WHY of the season.So...I stop...and I think...about Thanksgiving:

Because I am a "lover of words", I initially observe thatThanksgiving is not only a noun, being a national holiday, but it's also an action verb:thanks-giving. Hmmm...a question:"Am I living out the name of this holiday?"

To answer this convicting question, I put down my to-do list, and a new-heart list begins:

Thanks Giving to God. With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him.  (Psalm 109: 30)
1. Thank You, God, for your relentless pursuing love.
2. Thank You, God, for your constant abiding presence.
3. Thank You, God, for your daily and eternal hope....on and on and on.
(A helpful hint: if you choose to make a thanks-giving list, start with God's intangible blessings. These spiritual blessings are the true and never changing reflections of His vast goodness.)

Thanks Giving to Man. I...do not cease giving thanks for you...(Eph 1:16).
I ask myself, "Who, this season, has blessed me with her joyful spirit, her words of wisdom, or her steadfast faith?" Three people enter my mind immediately; I smile with gratitude, and write their names on the tablet of my heart.

Who has blessed you? Join me, and let's put our thankful hearts into action:

1. Purchase a small set of thank you notes at the grocery or drug store.
2. Write 3 people, simply thanking them for the way they have blessed you in this season of life.
3. Address it, stamp it, and mail it...this week.

Realize that writing a "Thanks Giving Note"just may be the sweet words your loved one needs to hear in order to change his or her mindset this holiday.Slow down my friend, and even sit down for a moment, catch your breath, and become a catalyst of Thanks-giving this season.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Psalm 105:1

I am in the midst of studying the book of Ephesians with a group of women at my church. Wow, what an awesome book of the bible! From these pages of scripture, I just have to tell you...

We are rich, my friends! In fact, Ephesians 1 goes into detail of just how wealthy we are in Him. The verses in this passage present to the reader all the spiritual blessings we have in our possession TODAY.

In order to illustrate this wealth that's ours, imagine with me that you are wearing a CROWN on your head. (After all, Psalm 8:5 does say, He crowns us with glory and majesty.) And now in this crown, think of radiant jewels of all kinds...the ones that are expressed in Ephesians 1:3-14:

1. The jewel of being HIS. Before the creation of the world...you were God's delightful thought.
2. The jewel of being ADOPTED. According to His pleasure...He and all of heaven rejoiced when you became His child through faith.
3. The jewel of being REDEEMED. Through His blood...you were purchased, "polished", and prized.
4. The jewel of being FORGIVEN. Through His lavish love...yourpast, present, and future sins are gone.
5. The jewel of A REVEALED MYSTERY...which is Jesus Christ Himself, your kindhearted Ruler.
6. The jewel of AN INHERITANCE... which is your eternal hope to the praise of His glory.
7. The jewel of A SEALED PLEDGE...which is the Holy Spirit of promise...in you...to teach, comfort, provide, help, and protect.

Do you feel the weight of this wealth that rests upon your head? Are you wearing this crown with humbled awe and gratitude, understanding that you had nothing to do with this abundant generosity? Your passionate and pursuing God gracefully placed this crown on your head, with pleasure.

I have "seen" this crown on a few friends of mine recently:

One friend has been hit hard with a debilitating physical ailment, but he wears his crown perseveringly. Another young friend has grown up against all odds, fatherless, but he wears his crown valiantly.
And one more friend, has been invaded by the uninvited guest of disease, but she wears her crown faith-fully.

These friends inspire me; they make me KNOW that there is MORE TO LIFE than this physical "seen" life. They make me want to wear my unseen crown with confidence in a loving God who gives jewel after jewel after jewel in every circumstance of life, blessing or trial.

In all seasons, let's hear the encouragement from our Kind King:

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people of God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you our of darkness into His marvelous light. 
I Peter 2:9