Trust

Hebrews 1:2 NKJV
..."  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds ..." 

Jesus was God's agent in creating the world. As followers of Christ, we  may believe that Christ knows and controls the laws of heaven (pertaining to salvation and spiritual growth), but we may act each day as though our financial, family, or medical problems are beyond His reach.

If Jesus could create the universe, then no part of life is out of His control. Do not exclude Jesus' wisdom and the Bible's guidance in your daily problems of life. No expert, professor, doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor knows more about your ultimate security and well-being than Jesus does.

Go first to God for advice. Talk to Him in prayer and listen to Him in his Word. He can sustain you in times of stress. From that perspective you can evaluate all the other wisdom and help He has made available to you.

In other words; Jesus is the only One with the real answers to any problem you will ever have - not the world and the people in it.

Trust Jesus!

Two Paths

Isaiah 30:21 NIV
" Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Praise!

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Words of Wisdom

'Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'

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Not Offended

Easily Offended

“Oh, Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
Psalm 34:3

Have you noticed the increase in the opportunities to get offended? Even after all these years with my man, I sometimes get offended by what he says. As a rational woman, I may know he doesn’t mean something the way I took it, but I still feel a huge pull to get offended. I believe in the day that we are living, the days prior to the return of the Lord, there will be a greater pull than ever before to get easily offended.

Jesus taught us in Mathew 18:7 that offenses will surely come. In Mathew 24, when the disciples asked Jesus what the signs of His return would be, He said in verse 10, “and then many shall be offended…”

So we should not be surprised when we feel the pull to get offended at the drop of a hat. The question is, how fast do you move past an offense? Jesus made it possible for us to be able to move past offenses very quickly.

I must constantly remind myself that we are in “the time,”  of the days before Jesus's returns.  Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, that there would be a great falling away in these days. I believe the falling away is due to being offended. If your love waxes cold according to Mathew 24, you will fall away.

So knowing all this, and being reminded of it as I write, I know when I am offended, I must quickly forgive. Forgiveness is the only answer! It is the way of escape! The quicker I forgive, the quicker I come back into my right mind. When I am offended my soul is in control.  When I forgive my spirit rises up above my soul and takes back over.

I have learned that when I am offended everything is distorted and even my emotions become out of control. When I am offended at a person I will see them in a distorted way. Also I realize that when I am offended at someone, I will become overly focused on them. They become the center of attention, or it's all we talk about for days. Every conversation even goes back somehow to what you are offended about. The more we put our focus on who we are offended at, the more magnified they become.

This is why offenses cause our heart to wax cold and may lead us to sin against God.  He is the only one we are to magnify. When we focus on others and what they did to offend us, we make them bigger than God.

So right now press the minimize button and minimize the person who has offended you. Bring them down to the right size and forgive them, and remember, if it were not for the grace of God you might be the one that is offending others.

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Peace and Joy

Filled with All Peace and Joy

Romans 15:13 NIV
  
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit".

I went through a particularly difficult time several years ago when there was absolutely no joy or peace in my life. Every time I made a mistake, I was quick to condemn myself, angry that I couldn't be the "perfect Christian."

Then one day, I came across Romans 15:13: May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing... That was it. I got it!

I realized that I had plunged into doubt and unbelief, allowing the devil to torment me with negativity, anger, and impatience. In the process, I had forgotten that believing in God and trusting His Word brings peace and hope and overcomes my weakness.

God's Word gave me the answer. Jesus loved me so much that He not only forgave all my sins from the past but also looked ahead and forgave me for those moments of weakness when I'd fail in the future. I don't have to allow Satan to sneak in with questions or unbelief, and you don't either.

Know today that peace, hope and joy are right in front of you. Go to His Word and let it stir up your faith.

He Is Risen!

Be It Unto Me; Lord

Be it unto to me Lord; that I may feel as You feel.


Those things which break Your heart; let them also break mine.


That which humbled You; allow them also to humble me.


Those thing that brought You joy; may my spirit also find joy in them also.


Let the love that was forever in Your spirit; reign in mine.


Give me the grace to turn the other cheek so that I may not live nor die by the sword.


That I might forgive those that are mine enemies and call them brother or sister.


Give me the strength to proclaim the Good News to those that are broken.


Let my light shine a path in the darkness that leads to You.


On this most Holy day of the year let the Holy Spirit fall upon me like Heavenly dew.


Above all I wish that You grant unto me the ability to decrease so that You may increase.


Before man and before God; do these things I pray to You; my love, my breath, my life, my redeemer.

Amen and Amen

Holy Saturday!

Good Friday

Galatians 5:6 NIV
" .... The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love". 

Scripture

Colossians 3:17 NKJV
" And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him".

Proverbs

Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised".

The ~ REAL~ Easter Bunny

Passover

"Should Christians celebrate Passover?"

The celebration of Passover is in remembrance of the time in Israel’s history when the Lord moved through Egypt destroying the firstborn of all people and animals (see Exodus 11 and 12.) This was the final of the ten plagues God visited upon Egypt designed to force Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country and their captivity. The Israelites were commanded by God to take the blood of a male lamb—one without blemish—and smear it on the doorposts of their houses. When the Lord saw the blood, He would “pass over” that house. This is a foreshadowing of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, whose blood would cover the sins of those who believe in Him, causing God’s judgment to pass over them. Ever since that night, Jews have celebrated the Passover in remembrance of God’s grace to them.

There has been an explosion of interest in adapting the Passover festival to Christianity. Various organizations, such as Jews for Jesus, have long promoted Christian Passover services as a means for Messianic Jews to retain their cultural heritage while professing their Christian faith. They have also used the Christian Passover as a means to communicate to Christians the Jewish religious heritage that they value. Many of the rituals associated with the Passover Seder have application to the Christian faith, and a Christian celebration of the Passover provides a unique way to bring the story of salvation to the ceremony.

Whether or not a Christian celebrates Passover would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Like all the Old Testament Jewish Feasts, the Passover Feast was a foreshadowing of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Colossians 2:16-17 tells us that we should “let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (NKJV). Christians are no longer bound to observe the Passover feast the way the Old Testament Jews were, but they should not look down upon another believer who does or does not observe the Passover or other special Jewish days and feasts (Romans 14:5).

While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it and could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. That is something we should celebrate every day of our lives.

Palm Sunday

Let Hosannas ring and joy abound,
For the Lord our God rode a donkey to town!

Matthew 21:8-9 NKJV

" And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

Vintage Christian Easter Pictures

* As Always; Feel Free To Copy/Print/Snag Everything That You Find Here - As You Wander Into ... 
           
                 ~ The King's Garden ~

Pictures to Wood Tag/Plaque Tutorial

Mod Podge Pic on Wood Tag

Mod Podge Pictures to Wood Tags/Plaques

Needed:

Mod Podge
Printed Pictures
Wood Tags or Wood Plaques
*Optional Hair Spray


Instructions:

1.  Print the pictures you want to transfer from your computer to your printer (or copy them to a memory card and take them to a local retailer to be printed).

TIP!

Pictures printed on paper specifically designed for photos works the best (Kodac Picture paper un-glossed works great). If you print on plain white copy paper the Mod Podge will tend to smear the colors when applied.

However; If you're printing photos on white copy paper with an ink-jet printer, allow them to dry completely (at least 8 hours) and then spray your photos lightly with hairspray, after which you must again wait for them to dry completely; this will prevent smudging when using Mod Podge.


2. Cut the picture to fit the wood tag (or wood plaque)


3. Coat the wood tag (or plaque)  with Mod Podge glue.
* Also apply a very thin coat of Mod Podge to the back side of your picture


4. Place the picture on the wood.
* You'll have to work quickly as Mod Podge tends to begin drying pretty fast


5. Cover the entire surface with another coat of Mod Podge glue, painting right over the top of the pictures. Allow the glue to dry over night.


6. Check the corners of the pictures. If they're not securely adhered to the wood plaque, apply another coat of Mod Podge glue.


TIP!

If at any time you begin to notice that there are air bubbles coming up under your pictures; simply take an old credit card (or similar hard plastic object) and push from center of picture out towards the edges until you have a flat photo mounted on your wood. Bear down gently as you press the bubbles out. You don't want to tear your picture.

That's it. Pretty crafty; huh?

Vintage Easter Pictures

Easy Easter Baskets

Easter Baskets

Items Needed:

1/2 peck or 1 peck fruit basket(s)
Ribbon
Spray Paint
Hot Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
Easter Grass

Optional:

Wood Tags (or heavy Card Stock)
Vintage Easter Pics
Mod Podge
String or Twine


Instructions:

I found some super cute fruit baskets while out making my rounds at the Hobby Lobby Store for $3.99 each, and I decided that they were just the right size for Easter baskets. I also picked up some grosgrain ribbon and some wooden tags while I was there. With a little bit of spray paint and hot glue, you too can make some SUPER cute Easter baskets!

TIP!

All of these things you can purchase online should you not be fortunate enough to have a Hobby Lobby store near you. Shipping is cheap and lightening fast in their delivery. Look for the 40% off your highest price item coupon on their website.

Un-Painted Fruit Basket

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/natural-1-peck-bushel-basket-667634/

I spray painted the baskets white and let them dry over night.

I used my hot glue gun to attach a strip of grosgrain ribbon around the basket. I followed the brace in the center of the basket, but you could really put the ribbon anywhere you want.

Grosgrain Ribbon

TIP!

Hobby Lobby currently has grosgrain ribbon on sale for 99 cents a roll (Score!) in more colors than you can stake a stick at.

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/search/?keyword=grosgrain%20ribbon&match=AND&F_Sort=2&perpage=96

Then I tied a cute little bow on one side of the basket for a little more color.

I bought some wooden tags {4/$1 at Hobby Lobby} and with the use of some Mod Podge - covered the wood tag with a sweet little vintage Easter pic - which I then attached to each basket with a bit of string (you could use baker's twine, yarn or anything really that is in a color that coordinates with your basket)

Vintage Easter Pics on Wood Tag

Filled the basket up with green paper Easter grass. Add treats, eggs, toys etc..

All ready for Easter!

TIP!

In place of the wood tag (above) you might want to print out the pic (or pics) of your choice - on heavy card stock (to give it a little weight) punch a hole and tie it to your basket.

I'll be posting some sweet vintage Easter pics next so stay tuned!

A Life of Hope

Hoping?

Zechariah 9:12  NIV 
 "Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you"

I have some questions for you:

What are you hoping for?
What are you expecting in life?
Are you looking for something good to happen?
Are you expecting to be disappointed?
How crooked is your path?

So many people are feeling hopeless these days. However, Jesus did not die for us to be hopeless. He died so that we could be full of hope.

The devil wants to steal your hope and he will lie to you. He'll tell you that nothing good can happen in your life or that the things you care about won't last. If you're struggling with a difficult situation, he'll tell you it will never end. But you have to stay full of hope and remember that the devil is a liar. God can change everything! In snap finger quick time Jesus can turn your whole world around and make your crooked path straight again.

Listen to  these promises:

Isaiah 42:16 KJV
"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them".

Luke 3:5 KJV
"Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth ... "

Isaiah 30:18 NIV
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him"

The Bible is literally filled to the brim with messages of Hope. Here are just a few:

Psalm 119:114, Psalm 31:24, Psalm 39:7, Lamentations 3:24, Romans 8:25, Romans 15:4, Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 43:5, Psalm 71:14, Ephesians 1:18, Hebrews 3:6, Acts 24:15, Colossians 1:27, Romans 15:13, Psalm 146:5, Hebrews 10:23, Hebrews 6:19, Psalm 52:9, Ephesians 1:12, Ephesians 4:4, Psalm 27:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 6:11, 1 Peter 1:3, Isaiah 26:3, Micah 7:7 ...

And that! is just the tip of so, so many Passages that speak of Hope.

Our Father is good, and He has good plans for your life. If you will maintain your hope, especially in the midst of troubled and uncertain times, He has promised you "double for your trouble" (see: Isaiah 61:7) . So refuse to give up hope. Start expecting God to do something. And that "something" is going to be really, really awesome!

Repeat After Me:

Satan is a liar and we as the many membered body of Christ will not listen to him and lose hope. We fully expect the Lord Jesus to do great things in (and with) our lives. Of which we will rejoice and give thanks!


 

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Basic Crocheting - Double Crochet



How To Double Crochet

To begin to Double crochet - you will chain the O train - the same as you did with your Single crochet.

* See How to Single Crochet Here:
http://intothekingsgarden.blogspot.com/2014/03/basic-crocheting.html

About 145 stitches to make a 54" wide afghan

* Remember, you will never work in the first chain from the crochet hook when you double crochet.


Row 1 of Double Crochet

Step 1:  After you have chained the first row of 145 - Turn your work. Bring the yarn over the hook, Skip the first 3 chains from the hook and then insert the hook in the 4th chain.

 

Step 1

 

 

* Then in each of the remaining O chains you will do the following until you get to the end.

 

 

 

Step 2 - A:  Bring the yarn over the crochet hook and draw it through the chain stitch. You now have three loops on the hook  

 

 

Step 2 - A

 



Step 2 - B



Step 2B - 3:  Bring the yarn over the crochet hook and draw through the first two loops on the hook. You now have two loops left on the hook.

Step 3

Step 4:  Bring the yarn over the crochet hook and draw through both loops on the hook

Step 4

* You have now completed your first double crochet and are back to only one loop on the hook. Continue this same method until you come to the end of your train chain and are ready to begin Row 2 



1st Completed Double Crochet

Row 2 of Double Crochet

To work row 2, you need to bring the yarn to the correct height for the next row. To raise the yarn, chain 3 single crochet O's

Row 2

The three chains just made count as the first double crochet of the new row - so skip the first double crochet  you made in Row 1 and work a double crochet into the second stitch.

* Be sure to insert the crochet hook under top two loops of the stitch.

Continue until you get to the end. Turn and chain up 3 and repeat until your blanket is as long as you want it to be.

Example of Completed 2nd Row

Slow Motion Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgA9KSJrgAc