Hi Readers,I wanted to let you know that I am doing a short video series called "Two Minute Tips to Encourage a Lifelong Marriage". Check it out by clicking on the Facebook emblem at the top of this page.I knew very little about what I was getting into when I said "I do" almost three decades ago. I thought the bride just rode off into the sunset with her Prince Charming and lived happily ever after. Goodness, I had a lot to learn! These lessons are some of what the Lord has taught me throughout my marriage journey to my husband Mac.No matter what year or decade, all marriages need encouragement to stay the course. Healthy daily choices lead to long-lasting relationships. I pray these tips will be a blessing.In His love,Chris

My friend and decorator Madelaine Singleton and I have put together seasonal wreaths that bear spiritual significance. Feel free to take a look at these on my website: Holiday Wreath of Hope, Winter Wreath of Peace, and Spring Wreath of Grace. Now, we would like to present the Summer Wreath of Life. Each of its elements has a deeper meaning so that when you hang it in your choice spot, it speaks Truth.

1. Start with a grapevine wreath. All the seasonal wreaths begin with the dry and tangled grapevine in order to represent who we are without Christ. Romans 3:10-12 speaks of our predicament: There is none righteous not even one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless. Another way of putting it is found in Psalm 1:4: they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
2. Add grassy moss. This element represents the Life that Christ brings into our souls when we call Him Savior. Because of His great love, He left heaven's throne and came after us. Here is His gift to you and to me: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:2). We, who once were wayward in our sin, are now captured with His love. We are wearing His righteousness!
3. Add bright flowers at the top of the wreath. These can be any vibrant color in order to symbolize the abundant life Christ gives to us. The flowers represent the blessings that we are now crowned with: glory and majesty (Psalm 8:5), as well as lovingkindness and compassion (Psalm 103:4); and this crown is imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:25)!
4. Add colorful ribbons at the bottom of the wreath. These free flowing ribbons represent the powerful, abiding Spirit that works within us. We now have the opportunity to obey the Spirit rather than our flesh. (Remember our bleak condition without Christ). The Holy Spirit provides these blessings for us: wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, and knowledge and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). Also, He gives us His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Now that's ABUNDANT LIFE!

Grab your four creative elements. Make a wreath with some friends this summer. Celebrate together the LIFE that Christ brings to us. Then hang it in a place where you and others can be blessed by its beauty and its meaning.The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

I have to be honest, I try to avoid glitter-based greeting cards and gift bags. It never fails, the glitter ends up all over me! It sticks to my fingers, then I touch my cheek or chin, and sure enough, I'm sparkling in a quite bothersome way. Not to mention, I have the darndest time getting the glitter off my face!Glitter is messy; glory is divine.So often in life, we human beings tend to settle for achieving our human goals for the purpose of elevating our human selves. We race to be the fastest. We study to be the smartest. We climb to be the highest. We diet to be the prettiest. The things we do are not necessarily the problem, it's the motivation of self that makes it messy. When we are all about ourselves, the best case scenario for our achieved outcome merely resembles man-made glitter. It's fleeting; it loses it's luster; it's ultimately unsatisfying.We were made for so much more than man-made glitter! Let's remember who we are: created in God's image, bearing His light. All of us! Yet only some of us realize this incredible truth.The light of Christ in us changes everything: our perspective, our motivation, our purpose.When we ask the Lord to enter into our gifts and abilities and then we do the things we do with all our might as Scripture instructs us (Ecclesiastes 9:10), then our glitter offering transforms into His glory revealing...through us. Remember, He created you in a unique way to shine...for Him!Matthew 5:16 says it perfectly, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (emphasis mine)Glorify not glitterfy!So keep running and climbing and studying and being the very best you can be in the unique way He has created you, but check the motivation of your heart. Thank God for your gifts and talents. Use them mightily, all the while asking Him to change your meager glitter to His awesome glory.So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Over the weekend, I was walking a plush-green-golf course on a great-weather-day. Hole after hole, while my husband and his friend battled together on the course, my friend and I visited and took in the wonderful scenery. One of the holes was set beside a large pond that had a lovely fountain in the middle of it.The Lord gave me this analogy years ago, but it was refreshing to see and speak of it again:THE POND represents God's vast and immeasurable love. Actually, God's love is way more than a pond; it's an ocean, and then some more oceans added to that one. I love how the apostle Paul prays for his church: that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18-19). His love is indescribable and unending.THE WATER PUMP represents you and me. We are placed (rooted and grounded) in the center of His love. We cannot operate on our own. As a matter of fact, we get filled with mud and slime quite often. Thankfully, we are not left alone. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).THE WATER FOUNTAIN represents Jesus. When Christ rushes in with His living water He cleans us up and brings us life, not just for the day at hand but forever! He says it best, but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (John 4:14). Take a moment to look at the picture above. It's so refreshing, so attractive, so freeing.Now for a few questions: What is the condition of your "water pump"? Do you know that you are sitting in the middle of God's vast incomprehensible, yet receivable love? Will you allow Jesus, your Savior, to beautifully push all the muck away and not only fill you with abundant life but also use you to be a beautiful out-flowing picture for many to behold? He longs to do this for you.Just ask Him, "Vast love, Come in. Flow out. Vast love, Come in. Flow out..."

Spring has sprung indeed! New life is everywhere we look, bursting with both beauty and good news. With that being said, Madelaine Singleton and I have our third seasonal wreath to share: the Spring Wreath of Grace. Each element bears a spiritual significance. Here are easy instructions to create a meaningful wreath for yourself:

1. Start with a grapevine wreath. In keeping with all our wreaths, the dry twisted grapevine represents the condition of our hearts. Scripture depicts this well in the valley of dry bones, Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off (Ezekiel 37:11). Without the Lord, we remain dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). However, grace enters in...
2. Add your choice sprigs of spring blossoms around the whole wreath. These blossoms represent the newness of life that Christ brings when He conquered our sin and our death (see Romans 6:4). We were once lost, but now we're found. We were once dead, but now we live! Scripture says, Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? (Isaiah 43:19). New life requires watering...
3. Add a soft green organza ribbon around the wreath. This green-see-through-ribbon represents growth as a result of reading and applying God's Word, the Living Water. So let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth (Hosea 6:3). We are not left to ourselves to obey His word...
4. Add a white organza ribbon and wrap it around the wreath. The white ribbon represents the beautifully-binding-presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. His power lives in us! He is our ongoing Comforter, Teacher, Helper, and Counselor. He is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all that I said to you (John 14:26).

God's grace abounds...from death to life to blossoming growth to His presence within us...forever. All of this is an undeserved gift from our loving Savior Jesus who paid the price for us. May your Spring Wreath of Grace be a blessing to you and all those who see it.

Here is a gentle reminder for the Easter and Wedding season.

Looking for a gift that encourages a loved one in the Word and in their walk?

The Heartbeat of God daily devotional and 25 Years, 25 Lessons in Marriage

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Thank you and be blessed.