by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Piper’s First Parade
I’m a party-pooper when it comes to parades. Given the choice between watching the Macy’s parade or cleaning crusty breakfast dishes, I break out the rubber gloves.
Funny how a baby changes everything.
One casual mention of Piper attending her first parade and I’m in the car before Brian has the opportunity to pop another piece of puzzle in place. Our fold-out chairs are left in the dust, but we don’t care. After all, what’s two hours of standing when one is dodging missiles hard candy being flung from floating contraptions, or breathing in toxic fumes from “unique” cars when Piper is nearby?
Funny how a baby changes everything.
Two thousand years ago, another Baby changed everything. One day, He will lead a triumphal procession, one in which we’ll no longer be spectators, but participants—victors in Christ!
Funny how a Baby changes everything. Every day. Every moment.
Thank You, Jesus.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Creating holiday traditions is one of my favorite things to do—and this was especially true when the boys were growing up.
Setting up a family puzzle on December 1st and working on it till Christmas was one such tradition. Some years it was a hit, other times, not so much. Brian and I, however, decided to revive the tradition by beginning a puzzle on Thanksgiving night. Since then, we’ve completed two and we bought two more today.
You may giggle at the sight of our puzzle table but it too is immersed in memories. As a little girl, I often cozied up to the corner of my grandparents olive green card table on a Friday night, watching them play Setback with friends and family. Salted nuts, bottled Cokes, and a ton of laughter were served up on a platter.
During the holiday season, the olive green card table now takes its place in our den, bowed legs, peeled paper, and puzzles on top. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Care to share one of your favorite family traditions?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Two must-haves for your Christmas wish list:
Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence, Sarah Young
This devotional is unique in that it’s written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to you, based on the Scripture that day. There will be days—many days—you’ll look up to the heavens after reading the devotion and smile, sensing your heavenly Father inspired those words…just for you. This little book has often reminded me that God has all the details of my life under control. What better gift to share with another?
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, Ann Voskamp
“In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God’s gifts. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we’ve always wanted…a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved–by God.” – Excerpt from the Book Description, Amazon
Both would be ideal for the men and women on your gift list. Don’t let the cover of Ann’s book fool you. It’s not a girlie book (just check out the Amazon reviews if you don’t believe me!)
Do you have another favorite on your Christmas wish list you’d like to share?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Would you talk to your friends the way you talk to yourself?
When Tracy, our Weight Watchers leader, posed this question to our group, an arrow doused in truth punctured the bullseye encircling my heart.
The truth? If I spoke to my friends the way I “speak” to myself at times, I’d be friendless.
I can’t imagine telling someone I care about that they’re overweight, lacking in talent, or less of a person because a degree isn’t packed away in their attic—yet I have no qualms with speaking those things into my own life.
Tracy’s question awakened a reality within me that often dozes off when tested: Words—spoken or unspoken—do but one of two things: build up or tear down.
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:9,10
When we tear down ourselves, speak lies into our being, God’s greatest desires for us can be sabotaged, and what’s worse, we insult the One who made us in His likeness.
Sisters, this should not be.
“Friends, let’s make a promise today not only to cultivate the inner beauty God desires to see in us, but also to search for the beauty in each other. After all, we’re family, and families stick together.” – Vonda Skelton, Seeing Through The Lies
Piper’s First Parade 
