Cheryl Barker's Blog, page 14

Do It On the Basis of Love

“. . . I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love.” Philemon 9 NIV

Have you ever been asked to do something that the world might call crazy or naïve? Many times as believers we are called to do just that.

The apostle Paul’s words of appeal above come from a letter he wrote to his dear friend and fellow worker Philemon. Philemon’s slave Onesimus had apparently stolen from him or wronged him in some way and then run away. After that, Onesimus met Paul and became a Christian and was then ready ...

Fun Wedding Cake Design: A Word Search Cake!

Mother of the Bride, if your daughter is looking for an unusual and fun wedding cake idea, show her this Word Search cake! It’s possible she’s never seen one. I hadn’t until I ran across this photo several years ago.

Just think of all the ways a Word Search cake can be customized to fit the couple. They can have it done in one of the colors of their wedding, their names will make it one of a kind, the other words they choose to have highlighted can be special or memorable to them in some way, an...

Rustic Wedding: Ring Bearer Pillow and Flower Girl Basket

Mother of the Bride, if you’re helping your daughter plan a rustic wedding, why not add an extra touch of rustic by using burlap for the ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket?

Chances are you’re already using burlap in some of your décor so a burlap pillow and basket will fit right in. They’ll add the perfect complementing touch, in fact. Like with any color or décor decision, featuring burlap in a variety of places will really help pull the look together.

The photos above and below show how...

God’s Countless Outfits of Beauty

Outfits of Beauty

Beauty dresses in countless ways
With outfits never the same.
Sometimes she sweeps across the skies
With heaven’s own hues unfurled,
Other times she drapes the landscape
In breath-taking mountains majestic.
But sometimes beauty comes up close
Approaching on butterfly wings,
Granting a glance at her delicate side
Displaying miraculous design.
No end can be found
To the outfits of beauty
They’re as infinite as their Creator,
And he shares them all
With all of us—
His gift dresse...

Our Exalted God

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 NIV

I like to look at a verse of scripture and focus on one tiny word from time to time. In the past, I’ve suggested we consider the words us and let in specific verses. Today, let’s turn our attention to the word will in the verse above.

Most often when we read Psalm 46:10, we focus on the first half of the verse. One time when I read it, however, the last two phrases ...

Providing Photo Booth Fun for Wedding Guests

Mother of the Bride, if your darling daughter and her soon-to-be husband are looking to step up the fun element for their wedding guests, how about providing a photo booth at the reception?

Not only would a photo booth provide a diversion while the guests are waiting on the bride and groom to arrive at the reception, but it would offer a fun entertainment addition to the dining and dancing going on later during the party as well. Plus, what a fun memento for your guests to take home as a reminde...

Guard and Gift Acrostics: 2022 Theme Words Refresher

**I will be taking a blogging break the rest of this month. See you back here in early August!

Half the year is gone now so it’s time to give more thought to my 2022 theme words for the year—guard and gift. For me, the creative exercise of writing acrostics is an excellent way to go deeper in my consideration of my theme words each year. Doing so helps me think of different aspects of the word.

As I remind myself of and reflect on guard and gift, I pray you are encouraged and inspired to apply ...

Wedding Planning Help During My Blogging Break

Mother of the Bride, I’m taking a blogging break during July but first let me leave you with some help. Below you’ll find a variety of ideas and links that will be sure to help you and your sweet girl with your wedding planning.

So here you go—hope you find tons of ideas that will really help!

Four Resources Especially For You

Look through the list of Favorite Posts  on the sidebar  and click the links to the ones that spark your interest. (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of th...

Believers of Jesus Standing in Grace

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand . . .” Romans 5:1-2 NIV

The apostle Paul, who wrote the above words to first century believers in Rome, could sure power-pack a sentence, couldn’t he? Just look at the topics he touched on: faith, justification, peace with God, our Lord Jesus Christ, gaining access, grace. Wow, what crucial and life-changi...

Wedding Photo: Flower Girl with Bride’s Shoes

Mother of the Bride, want some super-cute photos of the flower girl on wedding day? Grab the bride’s shoes and ask your photographer to take a couple of fun shot shots like those pictured here.

Not only does the photo above with the shoes standing back to back creatively feature an article of the bride’s attire, but it captures a precious flower girl’s dream of one day being a bride herself. Such a sweet shot.

The shot below shows off every little girl’s love of wearing high heels—and not just a...