My Mother's Heart

"You're like my mom," a student said to me right in the middle of the Staff vs. Students basketball game, then she put her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder. I felt tears welling & was reminded once again that my mother's heart has not been wasted all these years of being single. I've gotten to use my maternal gifts to love on hundreds of kids and love on my 4 sweet nephews. Thank you, God. ❤️❤️❤️

My Vintage Glam Bridal Shower!

My bridal shower hosted by my maid of honor, Sarah, was the dreamiest most elegant dinner party I've ever had in my whole life!!! I loved the twinkle lights, candles, stunning tablescape, white China dishes, elegant stemware, floral arrangements she designed, gorgeous cloth napkins she sewed herself, a delicious dinner of salmon, risotto, a garden salad with a champagne vinaigrette, French bread with Irish butter, and a decadent strawberry cake from my favorite bakery - Thyme in the Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, a surprise romantic video made by Andrew, a fun filled game of Chick Flick Jeopardy...but BEST of all was being surrounded by sisters & dear friends who I've known since college, high school & even elementary school! The words of affirmation they shared are memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. I felt loved in every possible way and my heart could burst with JOY!!! Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated this glorious joyful season with me!  

"Hang in There vs. Wait on the Lord" by Paul David Tripp

Wednesday's Word

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Hang In There

Have you ever been in the middle of a difficult season and someone says to you, "Hang in there!" Maybe you've said it to a friend just recently yourself.

I think we mean well with phrases like this, and our aim is to encourage our friends or loved ones, but let's be honest: "hang in there" doesn't actually do much to lift our spirits or strengthen our resolve.

If I can be even more honest, sometimes I think we say "hang in there" because we're not prepared to minister to people who share their suffering with us. So what should we say the next time someone opens up to us?

There are many things we can say, and we need to equip ourselves to comfort those in trouble (see 2 Corinthians 1:4). But, for the sake of today's devotional, I want to examine a phrase that has given me much comfort: "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope." (Psalm 130:5)

"Hang in there" and "Wait for the Lord" are similar because they both encourage us to endure difficulty. However, there's a life-changing difference between the two: "Hang in there" hopes in the individual's resolve while "Wait on the Lord" hopes in God.

Why should you tell others to wait on the Lord? Here are four reasons (and I know you can find more in Scripture):

1. Love

The Lord is not simply a loving God; no, he is the definition, the essence, and the source of love (1 John 4:8,16). We can "hang in there" when life gets hard because our destinies are held in the hands of the One who is love. Everything we experience, no matter how hard, is a result of God's love in our life

2. Wisdom

Most people look for answers to life in experiences or research or data, but for the Christian, we find our wisdom for life in a relationship. The Lord is wisdom, just like he is love. That's why Paul tells our hearts to be encouraged in Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

3. Power

It may not seem like it during times of difficulty, but our God is a God of unchallenged rule. We're reminded of this so powerfully in Daniel 4:34-35 (print these verses out and post them in your house). We can "hang in there" when life gets hard because our stories are written by the One who is in absolute control of every element.

4. Grace

Grace, in this context, means God has given us everything we need to be what he wants us to be and to do what he calls us to do in the situation where he has placed us (2 Peter 1:3). We have a new identity and new potential, so we can face the difficulty realities of life without crumbling in fear

So, the next time a friend or loved one shares their suffering with you, don't advance the conversation with "hang in there." No, encourage them to wait on the Lord of love, wisdom, power and grace. Rather than being weakened by difficult circumstances, we can actually grow stronger as we wait!

Now that's a reason to hang in there!

God bless

Paul Tripp

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How can you better equip yourself to be an agent of comfort for others?
2. Who is God calling you to minister to this week? Make a plan of action to speak the gospel into their troubled hearts!

My Prayer Cards

Our Wedding Prayer Party Favors

Party favor prayer cards! It says, "Our Wedding Prayer: Please join us in praying that our guests would be blessed and encouraged and, above all, that God would be glorified through our wedding day." This is what Andrew & I pray together every week. I call it our "Wedding Wednesday" tradition. Thankful that one month from today we will finally be married!!! 👰🏼💍💐🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #lordwilling #weddingwednesday #blushpinkandgold #carolynaweddingfont 

Wedding Prayer Chain Gift Idea

I'm not sleeping these days, but this craft for a bride-to-be I work with came together on a sleepless night. An author I really respect, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, wrote 31 Days of Praying for Your Husband & I took each prayer and put it inside a paper chain link. If you tie each link with ribbon, you can reuse the chain month after month! Just a fun gift idea for my crafty friends since its wedding season! #giftideas #prayer

Prayer Quotes

"Prayer teaches you that there is a greater glory than any glory that you could ever want for yourself. Prayer is meant to help you remember that the deepest, most important motivation for every person who has ever taken a breath is the awe of God. This deep and abiding recognition of the grandeur and glory of God is meant to shape and direct everything in my life. Everything that I do and every request that I make of God is to be done in recognition that everything that exists, including me, was made for his glory ." - Paul Tripp