I (Miss Antoinette) was reading my devotions this morning and felt the need to share what I read with my dear mother, which in turn we now wish to share with y’all as we feel this would be an encouragement to those who are in the same boat! It is from Oswald Chambers book “My Utmost for His Highest”.  I pray that the Lord would give you rest and comfort as you tread the rugged path in the strength of the Lord!

God bless:

Mark 6:45-52

“We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process – that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterwards. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end.

God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”

Love in Christ,

What I thought would be neat is to every other week on Tuesdays to share a song that I love and that I find might be of encouragement to all our dear readers!  Some of these songs I share are also songs the rest of my family loves as well!  The reason I say “some” is because some members of our family do not care for certain types of music that I and my mother might enjoy!

So, to start off here is one hymn I find myself singing often:

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters still, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis his hand that leadeth me.
(Refrain)

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
(Refrain)

And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
(Refrain)

You can listen to the song below as well

I hope this song encourages you and blesses you as it has for me!  This verse in Psalm seems to fit perfectly:

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel,  and afterward you will receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

~Psalm 73: 23-26~

Love in Christ,

“If you were born female, you may as well embrace it with all your heart and live your femaleness to the full. To do anything less is to shortchange the destiny of your life!

________________________________________

…As you catch the vision to be the Enricher of your home, you will also be an…

Enabler – enabling your children to reach their full destiny.

Encourager – daily encouraging your husband and each one of your children for who they are and for the little things they do for you.

Endearer – endearing your family to one another.

Enhancer – enhancing the atmosphere of love and joy in your home, making it richer day by day.

Enlarger – enlarging your heart to embrace the poor and needy.

Enlightener – giving understanding and enlightenment of the ways of God to your children.

Enlivener – seeking to make your home alive with the presence of God.

Ennobler – making your children honorable and noble in all things.

Enthraller – enthralling your children with new ideas, creativity and the wonders of God’s creation.

Enthuser – enthusing your children to be ardent for God.

Entertainer – keeping your little children happy.

Enticer – enticing your children into the joy of prayer and reading God’s living Word.

Enveloper – wrapping your children around with protection and love.

Envisioner – giving vision and hope to each member of the family.

Energizer – releasing the spirit of work and creativity in the home.

Engraver – engraving the names of your children upon your heart in prayer. (Exodus 28:29-30)

Entreater – entreating your children to keep a straight course in the ways of God.”

-Nancy Campbell Quoted from AboveRubies.org

This, and more, is the calling of a Keeper of the Home.

This high calling cannot be accomplished by half-hearted women –

This calling takes total commitment and thoroughness. It cannot be accomplished through our own human strength –

This calling takes tenacity and resolve. It cannot be accomplished through our human knowledge –

This calling takes a thorough study of Scripture.  This calling takes women of faith, ladies of purpose, and daughters of vision.

Obsessed? Possibly.

Passionate? Absolutely!!

We need ladies that are passionate about their roles as women in the home.  Biblical Womanhood is not about cleaning bathrooms, feeding ten (or 20) kids and weeding our gardens and baking cookies (which is really not a bad thing to make! lol). Biblical Womanhood is a mindset, and the Scriptures have been given for our instruction on this subject.  As daughters and future Homemakers we must be committed to the study of the Scriptures. Our teenage and single years are only as productive and eternal as we make them, and unfortunately, most of us live these single years as though it were a curse to be rid of.  No, but sadly the truth, if we think this way then we know not the Scriptures.

“And his (or her) interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.”

1 Corinthians 7:34

We must care for the things of the Savior and as we dedicate our life to the Lord, we will be preparing ourselves to dedicate our life to our husband and children in the future. Our effectiveness to carry this out today will affect how we will respond in the future. The Christian life works like a beautiful circle – each phase of our life prepares for the next.

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 11:18, 19

We cannot teach until we have first laid up His words and bound them upon our hearts (Prov. 6:21). We must study to know the doctrines of Christ, how we are to live our lives, and defend our faith and we must be doing this now. Here is a quote from Jonathon Edwards from one of his sermons on the importance of redeeming your time (I really like this one!):

“…time is very precious, because when it is past, it cannot be recovered. There are many things which men possess, which if they part with, they can obtain them again. If a man have parted with something which he had, not knowing the worth of it, or the need he should have of it; he often can regain it, at least with pains and cost. If a man have been overseen in a bargain, and have bartered away or sold something, and afterwards repents of it, he may often obtain a release, and recover what he had parted with. —But it is not so with respect to time. When once that is gone, it is gone forever; no pains, no cost will recover it. Though we repent ever so much that we let it pass, and did not improve it while we had it, it will be to no purpose. Every part of it is successively offered to us, that we may choose whether we will make it our own, or not. But there is no delay. It will not wait upon us to see whether or no we will comply with the offer. But if we refuse, it is immediately taken away, and never offered more. As to that part of time which is gone, however we have neglected to improve it, it is out of our possession and out of our reach.”

Time is always ticking, never to be gained ever again. What are we doing that is worthwhile? Are we cherishing each moment Christ has given us here on earth, or do we desire to do something else instead?  Let’s quote Mrs. Campbell again in her blessed words:

“If you were born female, you may as well embrace it with all your heart and live your femaleness to the full. To do anything less is to shortchange the destiny of your life! We must passionately and without reserve give ourselves over to Christ and the study to know Him. We don’t need someone crazy.

But one step short of crazy, what do you get? Passionate!”

Love and blessings in Christ our Lord,

What hope chest would be complete without adding a quilt (or two)?!

Quilts have been around for many centuries, and have brought much comfort, love and protection to all who have made and/or own them!  Every handmade quilt has a story and wonderful memories behind every one!   Any time my mom and I (and yes, sometimes my brothers too) are in an antique store and we find an old quilt, I stare intentively at it, wondering: “if you could talk, what stories could you tell, what memories are hidden in your past?” I absolutely LOVE quilts, and who does not!?  My grandmother has made me quilts since I was born and all of them are so very special as I know she poured all her love into each and every one!  My brothers even have what they call “cool” quilts she made them as well and she is so creative with them too, whether it was adding a piece of fabric from a dress I wore as a little girl, or “car tracks” on my brother’s quilts so they could play with their toy cars on them! Each and every one is different and unique to that particular person!  I made my first little patch work “quilt” (it was actually a place mat) when I was 5 ½, and made my first big quilt (a Full sized quilt) at the age of 13, and have made a few since then (and am working on one now!).  My favorite part of making a quilt is putting on the binding!  Knowing that the quilt is almost complete and adding those finishing touches and stitches are so exciting! Of course my least favorite is (like almost anyone else) ripping out seams if I messed up! ARGH!!

Quilts remind me of our relationship with Christ and how he has made each and every one of us so different and unique from each other, like the patches in a quilt!  Each and every one of them is so special to our Creator and He loves each and every one of those “chosen patches” and His love “binds” the quilt together to make it complete!

Colossians 3:1-17

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your  life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:  sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self  with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.   Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,  free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.   And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.   And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“

There are many different kinds of quilts you can make such as: wedding quilts, scrap quilts, baby quilts (especially with flannel), Good Bye quilts (for a dear family or friend moving away), memory quilts, special color themed quilts, and many more that make a quilt so very special to add to any hope chest or give away to friends /and or/ family!

Even if you are not very good at quilting, I would encourage you to try your hand at it, or to have a close friend make one for you who would be willing to do so (you supply the essentials of course).     Here are a few pictures of some quilts I own!

Here is a picture of a special quilt my grandmother made when I was 6 years old!  It is in wonderful condition, just a bit of color fade from it being on my bed often!

Here is my second quilt that I made with a sewing group a few years back!  We joke around at home saying that the quilt is so bright, you need sunglasses to see it!  LOL! J  This quilt is a sampler quilt from Debbie Mum’s web-site! She hosts a new sampler quilt every year giving away a block pattern a month so you finish your quilt in a year!

I made a few months ago a cute boy’s baby quilt with trains galore on it!   It has not been spoken for yet, but is waiting to be given to a baby boy to cuddle up with it in the future for someone special!

A hope chest without a quilt is like tea without honey, it is ok without it, but not quite the same without its sweetness!  Quilts can make many memories that will bring much comfort to a young lady when she is married and getting used to new home, and surroundings, or someone who is sick would love a quilt to cuddle with or keep them warm.   Having a quilt is such a WONDERFUL thing to have!

Here are some good book recommendations on quilts and patterns for them:

The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird

Block by Block to Beautiful Quilts by Thimbleberries

Quilt in a Day Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt by Elanor Burns

I would highly recommend buying this magazine, though you can only find it in your local craft/fabric store:

Quilts and More by Better Homes and Gardens

Well, I hope this has been another wonderful inspiring article to you!  I would LOVE to hear if you have any ideas on future articles, as I would love to write more of them and have a couple ideas! I have gotten so many sweet comments from all of you and feel led to share more of what I know about hope chests!  What would you like to see in future hope chest articles!?

Blessings in Christ,

No, today is not my Birthday (in a sense), or any of my family member’s Birthdays, nor is it my parents anniversary…………

Today is the day I thank the Lord for saving me from the chains of sin and bringing me into His loving arms and calling me His child…..

MY SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Today I am reminded of the day on April 21, 2000 (Good Friday) when I submitted my heart to my Savior and my life would never be the same again.  He has blessed me in so many ways, and I thank Him for the many trials he set on me and my family to grow stronger in my relationship with Him.    I am still learning all of His wondrous ways, even though I know I will not understand them all, I strive to live my life to the fullest, pleasing Him in all I say and do and encourage other fellow believers in their faith.

A verse that has stuck with me for the last few years has been

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

We must always remember that EVERYTHING we do must bring glory to Him alone, that means when we watch a movie, hang out with friends, doing schoolwork, and even how you spend your time, is it being spent glorifying the Lord?   If not, I encourage you to look through the the Bible and see what you need to change, and if it coincides with His word, if not, you most likely will need to be rid of it.

Matthew 18:9

“And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes and be thrown into the hell of fire.”

Our lives need to reflect our Savior, or the world will not recognize us as children of God.  If we do not reflect Jesus Christ in our lives the way we should, we are considered not one of His own and must repent and change our ways.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

1 John 2:15-17

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.  if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Becoming a Christian does not mean our lives get much better and we are happy and care free the rest of our lives.  When the Lord calls us to Himself, we will have trials and many hard times in our lives, but they are to bring us closer to Himself and test our faith.  It is not an easy thing, but with the Lord as our help and our strength, we can accomplish so much in His name to bring glory to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 12:1-17

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.   Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.   In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.   And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?   If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.   Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?   For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.   For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.   Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.   Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.   See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

I pray this has encouraged you and given you some food for thought!   It has been something on my mind as of late and I felt led to share with you dear readers and I thought what a better time to share than on my spiritual Birthday.

Since music is a BIG part of my life (I am always humming/singing  around the house) I thought I would share one of my favorite hymns (thanks to a couple dear friends of mine!)

Here are the beautiful, and powerful words to this hymn:

Stricken, Smitten, and Aflicted

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis he, ’tis he.
‘Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
By his Son God now has spoken:
‘Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like his?
Friends through fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ’s the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.

May you all have a wonderful day!

Love in Christ,

PS. I will be posting the finished hankie I made for our winner Miss Lindsay soon, so keep a look out!

I was blessed to have come across the Long ladies wonderful web-site last year. The Lord surprised me by allowing me to meet them in person at the S.O.S. conference in December (read more about the conference HERE, and HERE)! Since then, I have wanted to interview these lovely ladies for this blog and they have graciously accepted my request! YAY, as you can tell I am quite excited! These ladies have a God given talent for sewing and pattern making as well! I hope you will be encouraged by this interview, and enjoy getting to know these lovely ladies as well! So without further adieu………

Miss Antoinette: First off, how long have ya’ll been sewing? Who taught you?

Long Ladies: Kristie~ I’ve been sewing actively since I made my first quilt top at age 18. I was taught by my mom, who is an excellent seamstress.

Apphia~ I sewed my first garment at age 10, but did lots of handwork when I was younger.

Achaia~ I sewed my first garment when I was 8 1/2, but loved doing little handwork before that!

Nanny (our maternal grandmother) helped us sew our first big projects. We were always doing something with our hands in our earlier years, wanting to do exactly what Mommy was doing!

Abigail~ I got my first sewing machine when I was 7. I basically taught myself by watching Mom, Nanny, and the older girls.

Abiah~ I learned most of my sewing from Mom and Apphia mainly. Apphia and I are a lot alike when we work, so it’s good when we can work together!

Miss Antoinette: For those who do not know about you or your business, could you give your story about how Marie Madeline Studio came about?

Long Ladies: “The idea for our family business was hatched in the winter of 2006, when we girls began sewing one-of-a-kind handbags for friends and family. We officially launched marie-madeline studio in December 2007.” (from our website) Everything has just built on that! We now have a growing line of sewing patterns for ladies and girls apparel, aprons, and bags.

Miss Antoinette: What has the Lord taught (or is teaching) you in your business?

Long Ladies: He’s teaching us to work together all the better and how to work with lots of different personalities! He’s also teaching us to wait– so many things we want to do take time and we have to be patient.

Miss Antoinette: Do each of you have a favorite item you are selling? How about a favorite fabric line?

Long Ladies: Kristie~ I love fabrics and trims– I always have (a trait I’ve passed on to the girls completely!). But, I do have a weakness for Tanya Whelan and Jennifer Paganelli fabrics (Darla, So St. Croix, Dance With Me). Oh, and Flower Sugar!

Apphia~ I love everything we carry, but I especially love the fabrics by Tanya Whelan and Jennifer Paganelli. Dolce and Darla! I also love the new Nashville cottons. Fabrics with a vintage feel really appeal to my style!

Achaia~ Anything by Anna Maria Horner— Good Folks, Garden Party, and Little Folks! Love, Nicey Jane, Darla, and So St. Croix too!

Abigail~ LOVE by Amy Butler– definitely!  I also love Jennifer Paganelli and Anna Maria Horner’s fabrics.

Abiah~ Jennifer Paganelli and Anna Maria Horner fabrics are probably my favorites.

We try only to buy lines or pieces of lines we really love!

Miss Antoinette: Would you have any recommendations for us avid sewers and beginners on a certain pattern you sell? Maybe a fabric line that works great with the pattern as well?

Long Ladies: For beginners our pleated cottage apron or girls emerson skirts patterns are probably the best place to start. Virtually any of the fabrics we sell are great for the patterns we’ve designed!

Miss Antoinette: Do any of you have other hobbies you enjoy?

Long Ladies: We all love sewing related things… collecting old fabric, etc!

Apphia~sketching, designing new patterns

Achaia~ making quilts, vintage fashion

Abigail~ making things up– whether it be baking or sewing!

Abiah~ photography

Miss Antoinette: Most businesses have a mission/vision statement, do you have one? Do you have a Bible verse that goes with it?

Long Ladies: Our mission is to encourage ladies in their God-given role as wives, mothers, and daughters. We want to encourage creativity in ladies and we love providing beautiful and feminine fabrics and clothing for ladies and girls! We love helping others. Proverbs 31:10-31

Miss Antoinette : If any of you are to marry in the future will the business still be around? Do ya’ll have assigned tasks that you would still be able to continue in the business?

Long Ladies: Only The Lord knows what He will call us to do, but we’d love to be able to continue with marie-madeline! Of course, things would change as any one of the girls moved away, but there would still be plenty of jobs we could do long distance (if need be). For instance, Apphia could still draft patterns for us if she moved away. The main base of operation would stay in the family home though. more questions below! J

Miss Antoinette: Would you like to share some encouraging words to someone who is considering taking on sewing?

Long Ladies: Don’t lose heart! It’s not as hard as it may seem. We’ve made plenty of mistakes in our years of sewing— don’t be afraid of failure at first. Sewing is very rewarding and it can be a tremendous blessing to so many.

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to The Lord, and not unto men.”

Well, this was very neat to read myself and I hope you enjoyed it too!

Blessings and have a blessed weekend!

“March 17

The Worker’s Ruling Passion

“Wherefore we labour that…..we may be acceptable of Him.”   2 Corinthians 5:9

“Wherefore we labour…..”  It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front.  It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him”.   It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right.  Once a week at least to take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes.  Paul is like a musician who does not heed approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.

Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways.  Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul says- ” Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it to subjection and keep it under.”                      (1 Corinthians 9:27)  I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation.  My worth to God in public is what I am in private.  Is my master ambition to please him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?”

Grace and Peace dear readers,

I always look forward to spring, especially after the winter we had this year (yes, California did have a winter this year! YAY)!  These changing in the seasons always remind me of the verse Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:   A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to morn, and a time to dance;  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  a time to seek, and a time to loose;  a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;  a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  a time of love, and a time of hate;

a time of war, and a time for peace.”

It was also refreshing to hear Mrs. Botkin reading it aloud as well, while my mother and I where listening to the “Evenings with Victoria Botkin” as it started this Monday!  My mother and I cannot wait till next Monday to hear her speak, it has been so encouraging to both of us!

Also with the changing of the seasons, I will be slowly adding a few things to my web-site/etsy shop!  I have already added one new item:

The crocheted All-Puropse Wash Cloth!

These hand-made crocheted cloths (made by my myself, or my mother)are the perfect cloth for many uses from washing dishes, to cleaning your face and body! Now that I use them, I cannot live without them! I sell them in color-coordinated sets of two and each have a beautiful scalloped edge to give it a pretty look!

Here are a couple photos of them below!

Feel free to stop by my shop HERE or on the side of our blog!

If you do not wish to buy through my shop, or would like to be added to my mailing list, feel free to e-mail me at : mail(at)practicalsimplicity(dot)com!

Blessings in Christ,

Yesterday was an out of the ordinary church day for us! We have about 2 family’s that come regularly, and one of them is out of town while the other was driving back from their trip to the mountains yesterday and so since my dad had no congregation to preach to (other than us and my grandfather) he decided to put in a DVD of a sermon from Mr Paul Washer on “The 10 Indictments Against the Modern Church in America”.  It was so good (as all of his talks are!) I knew I must share this talk with my fellow blogging friends, and sister’s in Christ, and spread this amazing and very powerful message!
May it encourage us to continually become more Christ-like and share our passion for the gospel with others who are lost, and by God’s grace bring them into God’s loving arms and to follow the one true God! The Church is so broken these days with watered-down “neutral” sermons and evangelizing we have lost God’s purpose and understanding of the Church! Mr. Washer speaks so clearly, it is like having a “duh, I should have known that” moment!   Again, may you be blessed!  Now grab your family, take a seat, have a nice cup of your favorite drink, and enjoy!  *This sermon is about 2 hours long, but worth every minute.*

Part 1

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=102308839520

Part 2

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=1030081039409

For more information, please visit his wonderful ministry below!

http://www.heartcrymissionary.com

God Bless!

I have been keeping updated through Mr. Doug Philips blog on the people of Haiti and its millions of orphaned children who desperately need good, christian homes and much needed love, and care!  The most recent video updates on Mr. Philips blog (which you can watch HERE it is worth your time!), it is so disturbing to me, not just because of the catastrophic devastation there, but other organizations trying to stop adoptions and keeping these poor children from having good christian homes and the proper care needed for them! My heart goes out to the Haitian children and the struggling families,  and I pray for them constantly, which is what you can do for them right now as well!  Pray that the obstacles that are causing so many problems and frustrations would dissipate, and that the help and care needed for the Haitian people and their children would come in abundance!  Pray that many would turn to the God who saves and can bring comfort in such hard times.  Pray also for those who are there helping to spread the gospel to the Haitians in this time of harvest, the love and care to the orphaned children that they need, and for the protection of their families back at home!

To help support Mr. Philips and others from Vision Forum in their endeavors to help the Haitian children you can donate at this site if you feel led to do so  HERE.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, Casting all your anxieties on Him, because he cares for you.”                                                                                                                                                                                                              1 Peter 5:6-7

“Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

Blessings in Christ,

Miss Antoinette