Sunday Blessing

Easy Peasy Doily Pumpkins

Super Easy Doily Pumpkins

These Vintage Doily Pumpkins are the perfect way to decorate for the fall.  Decoupaged with vintage lace doilies in various colors, this no carve pumpkin decorating idea is great for Fall tablescapes, Weddings, Thanksgiving, and even Halloween.  You can use some black lace to add a more festive Halloween touch, or dye crocheted doilies various fall colors for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Materials:

Vintage doilies in shades of white, cream, and ecru
Dried real gourds or craft store faux pumpkins and gourds
Mod Podge for Fabric (make sure to get made for Fabric- the traditional one used for paper decoupage won't stick properly)
Paintbrush or foam brush
Spray paint in an off-white or ivory
Tin foil
Wax paper


Instructions:

1. The only prep work I did prior to painting was covering the gourd stems with tin foil.

2. A couple light coats of paint with drying time in between was adequate to give the pumpkins an even color.

 
3. I selected just the right doilies to fit each pumpkin. I cut some of them apart into smaller shapes that were easier to fit onto the pumpkin.  For the two small pumpkins, I just used one whole doily which I slipped over the stem to create a slightly different look.
 
4. I usually cover my work table with wax paper when I work with Mod Podge.  I followed the directions on the bottle when applying the Fabric Mod Podge to the doilies.

5. After coating one side of the doilies, place them on the pumpkin and tap all the edges down with your fingers.  Once the pieces are adhered to the pumpkins, wait for two hours while the initial coat dries.  Then a topcoat of Mod Podge can be applied to the entire piece.

That's it.
Didn't I say it was super easy?

Scripture Post

 

Luke 6:28 NIV
" bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you"

Rest Well, Robin Williams

 

 

John 11:25-26 (NKJV)

" Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Sunday Blessings

Picture Post

Scripture Post

Picture Post

Sunday Blessings

Picture Post

Sunday Post

Blessed Sunday

Continually

King David said in Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

 

" Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God"

You know ... it's so easy to Praise God when everything is going good and your life is just sailing along with the sweetness -  but throw a monkey wrench into the thick of things and it becomes a little more difficult.

 

I often ponder on these powerful words when I am feeling down, overwhelmed or just generally out of sorts. It helps to bring things back into proper focus.

 

The next time you feel like your life is spiraling out of control; hang on to the words of David and Praise God. Know that He is continuously working out your life in a manner that is not only good for you but will bring Him Glory. In it's due time you will see the evidence of that fact.

 

Picture Post

Sunday Post

Picture Post

Acorn to Oak Tree

From an Acorn to an Oak

Isaiah 61:1-4 NKJV

" The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And th...e opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations"

A miracle is in progress when we look at a tiny acorn. The miracle in progress lays there totally unnoticed - which makes me wonder how many times I have stepped on one of God’s miracle’s in progress.

It takes spiritual eyes to see a tall oak tree when you are holding a tiny acorn. There is an oak tree inside of every acorn and no one but God can pull that oak out of the seed.

Isaiah 61 says that God’s children grow up and become “oaks of righteousness.” I am so glad that in my early stages of Christian growth that those around me looked at me as an acorn and saw the miracle that God was creating in me and didn't trample me down under foot.

Think about that when you are surrounded by new Christians (and those we hope soon will be) and don't trample on an acorn that God puts in your path. Pick them up gently when they fall and speak life and you will soon see the miracle unfold, the tiny acorn will become a magnificent oak tree for Christ.

 

Picture Post- Verse of the Day

Picture Post

Picture Post

Count The Cost

Giving - the Cost
 
2 Samuel 24:24 NIV
 " But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

I believe that in God's economy, nothing cheap is worth having. God gave His only Son to free us, and while we can never equal that sacrifice, we must give back to Him in a way that means something. King David said he would not give God something that cost him nothing. And I have learned that true giving is not giving until I can feel it.

Giving away the clothes and household items I'm finished with may be a nice gesture, but it doesn't equal real giving. Real giving occurs when I give somebody something that I want to keep.

I'm sure you've had those testing times when God asks you to give away something you like. But when you consider how He gave His only Son for us because of His love for us, doesn't that make you want to give of yourself too?

The simple truth is this: We must give to be happy, and giving is not true giving if it doesn't cost us something.

Prayer :
God, I want my giving to be meaningful. Tell me what and when You want me to give to help or just bless someone else. I want to give to others like You have given Your love to me.  (continue to add your own prayer thoughts here)

 

Daily Prayer

Picture Post

Picture Post

Don't Worry

♪♪ Don't worry .. bout a thing ♪♪ 
 ♪♪ Coz every little thing ... ♪♪
♪♪ go'ne be alright ♪♪

Proverbs

Sunday Picture Post

Worth

Individual Worth

I Peter 2:9-10 NKJV
" But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy"

People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments. But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as His very own, and we have been called to represent Him to others.

Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.

Trust In the Trails

Trust God Through Trials
 
Luke 22:42 NIV
" “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Growing into a mature Christian who follows the Holy Spirit is not something that happens overnight, it is a learning process that takes time. Little by little, one experience after another, God tries and tests our emotions, giving us opportunities to grow.

God allows us to go through difficult situations that stir up our emotions. In this way, you and I are able to see for ourselves how emotionally unstable we can be and how desperately we need His help.

Jesus exemplified this for us. The night before He died for our sins, He was in great emotional turmoil. He didn't want to die, but He moved past His emotions and prayed to God, "Not my will, but Yours be done." Things certainly didn't get better immediately, but in the end Jesus emerged victorious through the greatest trial possible.

You can make it through your emotional trials. Jesus wasn't led by His feelings, and you don't have to be either. When God lets things affect you emotionally, seize the moment and view it as an opportunity to step into a place of absolute trust in God.

Prayer:

Lord, I know that I can trust in You when emotional trials come my way. With Jesus as my example, I say, "Not my will, but Yours be done." You know what's best for me and I trust You completely. (complete by adding in your own prayers here)

 

Sunday Picture Post

It's Sunday! Y'All Ready For Church?

Picture Post

Conversations with the Lord

Woman

Maybe Old and a Little Cranky

What do you see? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?

A cranky old woman, . . . . . .not very wise,...
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?

Who shuns medical care .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With her body and soul . . . . Her long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes. you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I act at your will.

I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another

A young girl of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover she'll meet.

A bride by age Eighteen . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.

At Twenty, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.

A woman of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.

At Forty, my children .. .have grown and are gone,
But my Lord is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more, .. ... Grandbabies 'round my knee,
Again, I know children . . . . My loved ones and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . My body half dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.

I am now old . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . A young woman still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells

I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.

So open your eyes . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old woman.

Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Scripture

Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV
" Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen"

Wisdom

Praise

Picture Post

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.'

Picture Post

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.

Picture Post

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!