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.

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Thank you and be blessed.

I have to say, Spring is my favorite season! However, when October rolls around, you might find me saying the same thing about fall. It’s a beautiful toss-up between the two.

In the cold silence of the long winter, it seems as if nothing is happening underneath the ground, no life, no fruit; everything is bare and bleak. But now, as the days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and faint shades of color are attempting to make their entrance from the bushes and the trees, a bud appears, and there’s hope! Something was happening underneath the grave silence after all! Once again, God uses His creation to speak words of truth to our hearts…let’s take hope in what God is doing in our lives “behind the scenes”.

Are you in a place of waiting right now? Do you feel like there is no progress in your ongoing quiet struggle? I encourage you to look at the buds on a tree limb or flower. Learn from their beauty. Study how intriguing this stage is: a vessel of expectancy, a compression of hope, a bowl of pending brilliance. The bud is not quite developed enough to make its grand entrance onto Spring’s stage. The finishing touches of growth need to take place in its protective capsule. Underdeveloped, forced blossoming would only rob the flower of its deserved performance. Learn from the bud of a flower. Rest, mature, be patient; your time is coming.

As you wait to “blossom”, hear the Lord speak His truth to you:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

You are not alone in your maturing capsule, my friend. Your Creator is with you and knows exactly the right time for you to blossom.

Trust Him in the waiting, and then flourish in His most glorious appointed time.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.

Psalm 62:5

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I came across a very familiar story in the book of Mark and it caught my interest again, but in a new way.

The disciples were in a boat arguing with each other over which one of them forgot to pack the lunch for the trip; all they had with them in the boat was one loaf of bread…

…and Jesus.

Interestingly, Jesus, only hours before this boat-ride with his buddies, had miraculously fed 4,000 people with a mere seven loaves of bread. All the people ate and were satisfied. Jesus’ questions now to his hungry disciples were as follows,

Why are you talking about having no bread?
Do you still not see or understand?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?
And don’t you remember? (Mark 8: 17-19).

I am convicted by these questions because so often I am like the disciples: grumbling, doubting, not understanding, and forgetting. I’m thankful for the Lord’s patience towards the disciples, and I’m thankful for His patience towards me. Through this true story, He is teaching me to simply “be in the same boat with Him.” Just rest. He’s the Know It All, I’m not.

As I have envisioned this picture, I have found myself worrying less about the problems that  I’m holding in my lap, and contemplating more on the One who is sailing along with me. This One happens to be the Creator of the sun and sky, and the Commander of the wind and the waves. And this One is sitting by my side? How Majestic and Merciful at the same time. With these thoughts, my heart softens, my eyes see more clearly, my ears hear more distinctly, and I begin to understand. Jesus is Lord of All!

As a result, the answers to His questions are met with my declarations:

*To even be in the same boat with Jesus is an honor. It is amazing grace.
*I must not forget who He is, nor forget the great things He has already done.
*I must keep my eyes fixed on Him, not on my problems at hand; because when the Captain of my boat has my heart’s devotion and my mind’s attention, He can then do impossible things through my simple loaf of bread.

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During the holiday season, Madelaine Singleton and I presented a wreath that bore spiritual significance with each of its elements. (See my post: Christmas Wreath of Hope). Now, we would like to share our Winter Wreath of Peace. Our hope is that you can easily construct one for yourself and be reminded every day of God's life-giving truths even in the midst of the cold and barren winter months.

1. Start with a GRAPEVINE WREATH. All our seasonal wreaths begin with the dry intermingled grapevine circle in order to represent the ongoing condition of our human heart. We live in a fallen world that bears thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). We are a messy people, inside and out. Three things that contribute to this truth are: our own sin, our sometimes dire circumstances, and the weariness in our service. But the GOOD NEWS is that we have a Savior, Jesus, that chose to literally enter into our mess! Now, this grapevine wreath bears new meaning: it represents the crown of thorns that Jesus wore to the cross. There, He took on each of our personal burdens.
2. Add LIGHT PINK RIBBON. The soft pink represents the PEACE that Christ brought with Him to earth to give to His people. The Prince of Peace forgives our sins, He holds us in our sadness, and He revives us in our service. The gentleness of Christ is found as He speaks kindly to us in the wilderness (Hosea 2:14), and as He lures us with His words: Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). The soft pink ribbon represents His gentle yoke that holds us by His strong side.
3. Add SPRIGS OF DIFFERING EUCALYPTUS. The soft sage eucalyptus is a plant that bears healing qualities. These branches symbolize our Healer who enters into our hearts, our relationships, and our daily lives. Christ Jesus brings beauty from the barren. Through God's word and powerful Spirit, we then become a display of His lovely work: Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle, the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off (Isaiah 55:13).
4. Finally, add BABY'S BREATH. Interestingly, when researching this snowflake-looking-flower, it represents: "innocence, reconnecting in relationships, the Holy Spirit, and everlasting love". How appropriate to apply baby's breath to our winter wreath! Jesus said, Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid (John 14:27).

After assembling your wreath, hang it on your front door or over your mantle so you can be reminded of God's promises even when times seem both bleak and barren. Allow His gentle and kind Spirit to enter in both your heart and your home and be willing to share His good news with all those who admire your Winter Wreath of Peace. It is your very own memorial to the Lord. Savor the sight, and embrace its truths.

For some reason, I have had a picture on my mind, one that I drew years ago for my kids when they were all "in the nest". I dug it up from a journal and want to share it today in hopes that it is a blessing to you. The verse that goes with this picture is Matthew 23:37:

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Jesus said, "How often I wanted to gather you children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings...".

‍Other verses to visualize concerning "His wings" are these:

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He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

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For You are my help; I will sing of joy in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 63:7

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‍After thinking about these verses, can I just rest in the fact that I am a "little chick in a big barn yard" who has the sweet opportunity to be pulled inside and protected underneath the warm wings of a mighty "mother hen"? There I will find both peace and joy; there the clamor stops and the security starts. Why do I sometimes choose to go chirping about in blind forgetfulness, turning this way and that, anxious for nothing?  What else "out there" could be more inviting than the blessings found underneath His wonderful wings?

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We get pulled out by so many distractions and temptations. Let us refocus out gaze on our Provider, the One that loves us most, even more than we love ourselves. He knows us best, and gives us what we need, when we need it. His best is there for the taking...underneath His wings. The movement with Him is the movement that brings us most life, not the self-scampering we tend to do alone out in the far corner of the barnyard.

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With this image in mind, little chicks, let's choose to chirp out loud a prayer in unison today:

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‍Dear Lord, Thank you for your loving care that is found underneath Your merciful and mighty wings. Cause our hearts to long for You above all else. You move us about with Your loving guidance and sweet freedom. There are so many lures that want to pull us outside of Your protective love, but give us the foreknowledge that these are mere temptations with no end benefits. Pull us inside of Your wings, and become our refuge from this culture, our protection from ourselves, and our shield from the enemy. Give us what we truly long for, which is "Your love that is better than life" (Psalm 63:3). Yes, hide us, sweet Savior, in the shadow of Your wings. Amen