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

test

I have a necklace that I wear often. Attached to the silver chain is a small cross, as well as a pressed silver pendant that bears the single letter "B" on it. Of course the "B" stands for my last name Baxter. But to me, it has always stood for something more than that. When I put it on my neck, it serves as a reminder for me to Believe and Be Bold.Believe... in who or what? myself? my gifts? No, absolutely not. Believe in GOD...the God that created the universe, parted the Red Sea, rained bread from heaven, came to earth as a Man, and conquered sin and death. I have learned that the more I focus on Him and who He is, the less I have to worry about me and who I am (or who I am not). He is a BIG, BIG, BIG GOD...and I believe in all of who He is...His love, His power, His presence, His purpose. With Him in mind, I have peace of mind. But God does not want me to stop there; He calls me to rise up in my belief in Him......and be Bold. It's one thing to believe in God, but it's a whole different thing to believe and be bold in Him. For example, think of Jonah. He believed in God, but he certainly was not bold... he actually ran away from what God asked him to do. On the other hand, think of David and the giant Goliath. David knew His God, believed His God, claimed His God, and ran boldy to the battleline in order to confront and defeat his enemy. God is asking me to do the same... tobe bold in the gifts He has given me..not missing any opportunity to shine His light, share His love, or spread His word. Do I always succeed? No, but I have found that one little-bold step leads to the next little-bit-bigger-bold step, and then another-slightly-bigger than-that-bold step. And before I know it, I'm running, in His strength. BELIEVE... anyone that comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6AND BE BOLD... Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us... Ephesians 3:20So my friend, write a big "B" across your heart today. Let's you and I both run to our respective battlelines with a BIG BIG BIG GOD working both in and through us.