I'm not sure why, but early this morning as I was sipping my coffee quietly, an out-of-the-blue question came to my mind: "What's the benefit of being a Christian?" Within 10 seconds, I came up with 5 reasons why I have chosen, by grace, to walk this daily path.

Read and rest in these truths with me:

Benefit 1: I have a place to "put my junk." So much of the time, the things I think, say, or do are just plain wrong, and I know it. The cross of Christ is the place I can pour out my mess, and then walk away clean. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9

Benefit 2: I have a Wise Counselor. And, boy, do I need Him! The wonderful thing about Jesus is: He's always available, He's always right, and He's always free. Truly, His Word is flawless. With Him are wisdom and might; to Him belong counsel and understanding. Job 12:13

Benefit 3: I have a bigger purpose than myself. God wants more for me than this culture's unending, life-draining rat race. Instead, He desires to fill me with His incomprehensible love, and then in turn, He asks me to pour it out all over others. THIS is the true, adventurous, fulfilling life! Get yourself up on a high mountain... bearer of good news. Lift your voice mightily… bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to (the people), "Here is your God!" Isaiah 40:9

Benefit 4: I have hope. When, not if, but when, life doesn't make sense, I can trust that God knows what He is doing. If I allow Him to work, then my trials can become the fertile soil of His blossoming glory so those around me will marvel and wonder why I have inexplicable strength, peace, and even joy. Now may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Benefit 5: I am going to live forever. This life is a passing vapor compared to what is ahead for those who call Jesus Savior and Lord. For those who doubt eternal life, let me ask you this: If even man desires to end most of our entertainment with a "happily ever after" closure, why would God, creator of man, end life with disease, death, and decay? No, He is a much more redemptive Author than that! Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. I Peter 1:3-4

Believer or non-believer, ponder these God-breathed blessings and then consider agreeing with each one with a praising shout, "Amen!" Yes, today and tomorrow and forever, let us all rejoice in His rich benefits.

Culture has given the biblical phrase “wives respect your husbands” a negative connotation. We have been told that if we don’t fight for the leadership position, then we are in the “lesser than” role.Depreciating one’s identity is not what God intended for wives AT ALL, so this kind of “respect” is not what I am talking about in this post. I’m referring to God’s best way for both husband and wife to receive what they long for most from each other. God knows women desire LOVE and men want RESPECT. He designed husband and wife to give them to each other. Love and respect hold hands.Over the years of my marriage, which has certainly had its ups and downs, I have learned that respecting my husband Mac has opened the door for him to love me. Some characteristics of respect are: listening to him, praying for him, encouraging him, not shaming him, and following him. These choice actions soften his heart toward me. When I have had a willing spirit to follow him, he in turn asks me what I think about an important decision. The opposite is also true, if I’m snappy with my words and stubborn with my plans, things don’t go well for either of us.I have not lost my identity over these three decades. Actually, Mac has helped me learn to “fly” in ways I never would have on my own. (See my 2 minute video, Tip #9, about this on my Facebook page at Respite for the Weary.Wives, I encourage you to respect your husbands in the way that God is talking about in His word. When you do this, you are giving him the best opportunity to love you. Turn the knob of respect to open the door of his heart. In doing so, the two of you will hold hands as you walk through life together.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16

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‍The verse above is a familiar one to many of us when referring to prayer. It encourages us to pray often and effectively, and because we are declared righteous in Christ, we can lift up our requests with boldness. The passage that follows James 5:16 speaks of Elijah, who prayed for the rain to stop (and it did) and then three and a half years later, he prayed for the rain to start (and it did). Now that’s effective praying! Also, the above verse was penned through James, the half-brother of Jesus. It is said that one of his nicknames was “Camel knees” because he developed callouses on his knees from hours he devoted to daily prayer. These two men of God, Elijah and James, would want us to know the Lord the way they knew Him, both personally and powerfully through prayer.

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After thinking about the above verse, I made a broad list of how prayer has accomplished much in my own life. These are things I have learned over the years in my growing walk with the Lord:

1. Prayer replaces my worry with His peace.
2. Prayer helps me focus positively on others rather than negatively on myself.
3. Prayer keeps me from trying to manipulate or control situations.
4. Prayer keeps me from overly talking to people, about people.
5. Prayer provides me a free ongoing session with my Wise Counselor.
6. Prayer opens my eyes to the movement of God.
7. Prayer touches hearts in ways my words cannot.
8. Prayer increases my faith and causes me to worship.
9. Prayer makes me thankful rather than ungrateful.
10. Prayer makes my relationship with God personal and intimate.

What about you? How has effectual prayer accomplished much in your life? Make a list and thank Him for the privilege of having access to Him at all times concerning all things. Lift your requests and receive all the benefits.

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Pray much and accomplish much...every day.

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‍Dear Lord,

‍Prayer is an unending gift! Thank You! May we talk to You morning, noon, and night. Accomplish much in us and through us as we humbly lift our praise and petitions to You. Amen.

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