On Halloween

Tis Halloween ...

On the Eve of All Saints Day
Jack O' Lanterns light the way.

Witches and monsters we close our eyes to
But Lord, open our eyes to those who need You!

All God's children no longer need fear
The ghosts and goblins that gather near.

For evil ghouls with icy breath
Must bow to Him who conquered death.

Send up a prayer with your goodies this year
You never know what seeds will fall near!

A seed that will sprout and soon grow to be
Lord, another ripe harvest made ready for Thee!

Give us words and deeds on this night
That give others peace, not fear and not fright...


Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Believe

Believe in Him - Believe in Yourself
 
John 3:18 NIV
  " Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son"
 
God desires to heal His people from past hurts caused by rejection. He wants you to know He will never reject you. He says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (NKJV). This is referring to those who are laboring at trying to be perfect and then beating themselves down with guilty feelings when they fail.

 Jesus was talking to the people who were trying to live under the laws of the Pharisees. It takes a lot to please a Pharisee, and they're still around today.

I'm sure you know one, someone who conveys to you the message, "I'll accept you if you perform perfectly and please me. I'll reject you and withhold my love if you don't."
 
Jesus isn't a Pharisee. He says in John 3:18 that he who believes in Him will never be rejected. Believe in Him, love Him, cling to Him, rely on Him and trust Him. Then you can truly enter in to the joy of the abundant life He offers you.

Picture Post

Picture Post

Picture Post

Sunday Blessing

Mini Gourd Lovin' Crafts

Basket of Mini Gourds Waxed

Autumn is most assuredly my favorite time of the year. Crisp air, changing leaves and mini gourds. Yeah; gourds. I know; right? Other people are thinking over-sized bright orange pumpkins, trick or treaters, mums and putting their flower beds to sleep for the winter and I am dreaming of little mini gourds.

My (over-zealousness) sheer delight of mini gourds happened quite by accident (as most of the wonderful things that happen in life do) when I was but knee high and decided to try to plant THE great pumpkin patch of all time in our family garden and somehow mixed in a packet of gourd seeds with my pumpkin seeds. When the pumpkins began to grow I noticed oddly shaped ~things~ twisting and growing among the vines. My Grams (father's mother) in her typical no nonsense way eyed them and proclaimed "Mini gourds. Completely worthless. Might as well pull them up and give your pumpkins a better chance to grow"

I could not. I would not! I felt so sorry for them. Colors of dull green, dull yellows and off whites, bent and twisted, so small in the shadow of the great pumpkins. Not big enough to make a birdhouse out of. Poor, precious little mini gourds. Thus began my life long love affair (and maybe a touch of over-protection) of the mini gourds.

Today these little mini gourds have completely ~ caught on ~ in Autumn designing and Fall tablescapes. Your imagination is the only limit on the possibilities of what you can do with them. Wreaths, snowmen, even nestled among the great orange pumpkins somehow makes the pumpkins look brighter by making the orange colors look that much oranger (is oranger a word? well; no matter. Today it will be)

I like to imagine that out there in the great wide world; bent over in the garden, are other people tenderly cultivating these simple, tiny, little odd shaped bits of completely fantastic and falling in love as I did so many years ago. If you simply do not have the space or the time to grow these little gourds then head to your nearest produce stand/farmer's market where you can buy them up by the bushel basket for a fraction of the cost that you'd pay at your local grocers. Then let you imagination run wild creating spots of indoor Autumn. Here are a few ideas to get you started.


Fall Tips!

Harvesting:
 
Leave the gourds on the vine until a light frost or the stems turn brown. If you need to pick a gourd before the frost, the gourd should be very firm to the touch. Cut the gourd with an inch or more of stem. Wash the gourds in soapy water. Dilute household bleach may be added to the water if desired, and may help delay mold formation. A light coat of non-glossy floor wax gives the gourds a natural glow.

Drying:
 
Dry the gourd fruits naturally by placing in an area with good air circulation. Bringing the gourds indoors may help them dry faster, but gourds can be dried outdoors even in cold areas. When the seeds rattle, the gourd is dry and ready for crafting. How long it takes a gourd to dry depends on the drying environment  -- the warmer and the better the circulation, the faster the water will evaporate from the gourd. Light may help to retard formation of mold, but the mold on the outside of gourds is a natural part of the drying process; as long as the gourd remain firm to the touch, do not discard it. Turning the gourds and wiping off the mold on a weekly basis may help the gourds dry sooner. If you don’t wash the gourd off with the bleach mixture, you’ll probably see some mold growing on it.  Don’t be alarmed if it does. Some people prefer it that way because mold gives it an unusual rustic look. While the natural method of drying in time-consuming, it is still the best recommendation for drying gourds.

Cleaning:
 
Once the gourd is completely dry it is ready to be cleaned. Rattling of seed is a good indication of dryness; however sometimes the seeds adhere to the inside of the gourd and in this case the gourd will be very light and sound hollow when tapped. Submerge the gourd in a bucket of warm soapy water and scrape off the outer skin with a plastic mesh bath or kitchen scrubby. Again; bleach may be added to the water, but it is not a necessity.

Using sandpaper or steel wool to clean dry gourds is OK if the gourd is going to be painted -- but there will be fine scratches from these abrasive materials which will show up if the gourd is stained with wood stains or a light coat of leather dye.

Mini Gourd and Faux Leaves Wreath.

Wreath Form (either wire, hay or Styrofoam)
Fake Leaves (any deep green or fall color will do)
Mini Gourds
Hot Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
Optional: Florist Wire (comes in green and brown- use the color that matches your leaves)

Tip! If you use a Styrofoam wreath spray painting it in a deep green (if using all green leaves) or dull brown (if using fall colored leaves) will hide any areas not completely covered by your leaves.

Tip! I have found that simply using a hot glue gun will hold your gourds to the wreath frame securely for one season of use BUT if you have created a masterpiece that you want to use year after year then the florist wire will hold each gourd in place when the glue begins to break down.

In this case I used a Styrofoam wreath, spray painted it a dark forest green and set it aside to dry. In the meanwhile I cut off all of the green leaves from a couple of old faux vines that had stashed away (for who knows what) until I had a nice pile. Once my wreath had dried I then began to hot glue my gourds around the center of my wreath BEFORE adding in the leaves. In the past I have glued the leaves first and then added the gourds but found that the gourds didn't hold very well and I ended up using twice the amount of florist wire than was necessary to hold them in place. Not a very visually appealing look.

Once I had the gourds glued to the Styrofoam wreath I then secured each gourd using green florist wire (so I could use this again next year) Simply wrap a piece of florist wire over the handle of each gourd and then loop it around the styrofoam wreath and twist it in a knot on the back side. (the wire sinks into the Styrofoam so you can't even see it) Then it was simply a matter of glue, glue, glue leaves all along the top and in between each gourd. Make a loop with a piece of florist wire or use a piece of ribbon as a hanger and that's it. Ready to hang.

So easy!

Mini Gourds Painted White/Black and Covered in Cheese Cloth

Sunday Blessings

Sunday Post

Let All That Have Breath Praise The Lord Psalm 150:6

Picture Post

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"