Cheryl Barker's Blog, page 24

Lift Up Your Eyes: Guest Post by Gail Goolsby

Gazing out of the window on my first airplane trip to Afghanistan in 2004, I’d thought the scenery depressing. The decades of war, the desperate need for heating fuel, the years of drought, and the desert climate all contributed to the missing trees and grass. It is all so drab, so lifeless. Where is the green in all this khaki? Yuck.

The dusty, colorless environment fit my overall mood those first few months after my arrival in 2005 to serve as the principal of the soon-to-open International Sc...

No Beauty By Accident

[image error]During a visit to Mom and Dads several years ago, I woke early one morning and looked out the bedroom window. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I took a few moments and basked in the beauty of their then-backyard in the lush woodland hills of Missouri. The photo above shows part of what I saw, but my camera and photography skills dont do it justice. They had a gorgeous view that was not only a treat for the eyes but for the spirit as well.

My thought that morning as I feasted on the scene...

Turn Ordinary Wedding Items Into Keepsakes

[image error]Mother of the Bride, why not turn a few of the ordinary every-wedding-and-bride-must-have items into something more? Why not transform them into keepsakes that will remind the newlyweds of precious wedding day memories for years to come?

For instance, instead of picking up a set of standard wedding garters (one to keep and one to toss) at your favorite craft and hobby store, ask a family member or dear friend who loves to sew if she would be willing to make garters for your precious girl.

My...

Love Anyway

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You may remember that my theme word for 2020 is love. Im so grateful that God extends love to me daily and sets the perfect example for how he wants me to love. May this latest poem of mine meet you at a point of need today. Be blessed, my friends!

Love Anyway

Thank you, Lord, for loving me
For understanding that Im but flesh
For knowing Im only human,
For realizing that I indeed will fail
And for graciously loving me anyway.
Now help me, Lord, to love like you
Knowing that others are only...

Mother of the Bride Pep Talk: Encouragement for You

[image error]All mothers of the bride need some encouragement from time to timeand never more so than now. Some of you are helping your daughters navigate the disappointment and stresses of a postponed wedding during the current COVID-19 crisis while others of you are weathering the frustrations of delays in your wedding-planning timetable. Nothing like making a challenging job even more challenging, huh?

So Mother of the Bride, heres an acrostic designed especially for you. Think of it if youd like as...

Jesus’ Prayer for Unity

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. . . Christ Jesus, who diedmore than that, who was raised to lifeis at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 NIV

Can you believe it? The One who conquered death is right next to the Father interceding for us. Thats a pretty incredible thought, isnt it? As incredible as it is, sometimes we forget that Jesus is praying for us. Think about it a moment. Picture it in your minds eye. Do you wonder what hes saying? Would you like to hear his words?

One of the prayers...

Deciding On a Wedding Guest Book: Ideas to Get You Started

[image error]Mother of the Bride, have your daughter and her beloved decided on what kind of guest book theyd like the wedding guests to sign yet? Years ago (when we got married!), there werent a lot of options where guest books were concerned, but today the guest book decision isnt as straightforward as it once was.

Yes, MOB, the choices for wedding guest books have broadened considerably. Why not brainstorm some possible approaches with your bride-to-be?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

The...

Wedding Cake Idea: Combine Your Favorite Elements

[image error]Mother of the Bride, has your daughter started her search for the wedding cake of her dreams yet? Taste testing is always a highlight of wedding planning, but sometimes deciding on a design can be difficult. There are so many great ideas out there.

If your bride-to-be is having trouble deciding on what style she likes best, maybe you could suggest a cake that combines several different elements. The cake pictured above is a great example of this. Just look at all its featuresflowers,...

Growing in a Hard Place

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Last summer while on vacation with my husband, I witnessed one little flower after another growing in hard placesin the nooks and crannies of rocky formations above tree line in Colorado.

I spotted the flowers pictured above in the Mount Evans Wilderness area. The flowers found there (and in other alpine regions throughout the world) display a delicate but hearty beauty that seems to cry out, Look at me! I made it! Im growing in a hard place. Ive survived harsh conditions and my beauty is...

Marching Orders to Strengthen You

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March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21 NIV

I saw this verse years ago in one of Beth Moores blog posts. She was sharing scriptures about marching since it was the month of March, and I instantly fell in love with these simple yet powerful words: March on, my soul; be strong!

Just reading or saying those precious words from the Word of God seems to infuse my soul with his encouragement and strength. I think most of us probably feel the need for such encouragement on a daily basis as we...