If you have a Vision for a Godly Home; are seeking a home of Peace and Joy, where the heart of Jesus is reflected, I pray this blog will be of encouragement to you. Grab a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee...let's reflect and ponder together...
"Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Home-keeping hearts are happiest,
For those that wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hello, Thank you for stopping by. I'm a middle-aged veteran home educator, happily married 44 years, mother of four sweet adult daughters, grandmother of 4 precious little children, three boys and a girl. We live in the forest. I design, sew, write, enjoy art, cook, and take care of our many fur angels. ...I'm also a hopeless romantic who wishes it were the 40s again. Follower of Christ, I cherish my personal relationship with the Lord. A pro-life advocate and ethical vegetarian; think: John Wesley, William Booth, Fred Rogers and Frances of Assisi. I laugh hard and pray hard too! Live, Laugh, Love...And pray hard...That's me.
"Most girls don’t want to be pretty anymore even if they understand what it is. It is ironic that 40 years of women’s liberation has succeeded only in turning women into a commodity. Something to be used up and thrown out...
...When a girl retains and lives pretty, while eschewing hotness, the bulk of men who cannot appreciate the virtue behind pretty will move on to more fruitful hunting grounds in the pursuit of immediate gratification. Pretty requires too much energy to overcome. While there are some who relish the challenge of destroying innocence, pretty attracts the noble, the good, like a magnet."
“Godly womanhood ... the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter.We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern.
The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.” ― Peter Marshall
Marshall became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. in 1937 and was appointed twice as U.S. Senate Chaplain, serving from January 4, 1947 until his sudden death just over two years later.
He went out to the field one evening to meditate. (Genesis 24:63)
We would be better Christians if we spent more time alone, and we would actually accomplish more if we attempted less and spent more time in isolation and quiet waiting upon God. The world has become too much a part of us, and we are afflicted with the idea that we are not accomplishing anything unless we are always busily running back and forth. We no longer believe in the importance of a calm retreat where we sit silently in the shade. As the people of God, we have become entirely too practical. We believe in having "all our irons in the fire" and that all the time we spend away from the anvil or fire is wasted time. Yet our time is never more profitable spent than when we set aside time for quiet meditation, talking with God, and looking up to heaven. We can never have too many of these open spaces in life - hours set aside when our souls is completely open and accessible to any heavenly thought or influence that God may be pleased to send our way...
...We should have intervals of time when we do nothing, think nothing, and plan nothing but simply lie on the green lap of nature and "rest a while" (Mark 6:31 kjv)...
More of these quiet time photos and everyday uncooked rambles and recollections at one of my other blogs: MyForestCathedral
A Christmas Prayer in Song at Christmas or anytime, enjoy and be blessed:
I think this is one of the most beautiful songs and prayers ever.... Enjoy and be blessed this Holy season of Christmas.
Are you feeling a bit hurried this Christmas? Company's a-coming?
Being a creative merciful messie : ) ...I thought this was very helpful:
"We expect too much at Christmas. It's got to be magical. It's got to go right. Feasting. Fun. The perfect present. All that anticipation. Take it easy. Love's the thing. The rest is tinsel."
~Pam Brown
(From my flip calendar in my kitchen)
As flylady has said...It's enough.
Rest now. Keep smiling and laughing for your families...That's what the family will remember most of all. The Victory is in our prayer closet wherever that place may be for us.
Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling. ...My prayer is that the viewer will be struck, as I am, with the amazing way that God chose to send His Son into this world — in pure humility. ~Morgan Weistling
Blessings and Merry Christmas to All! Love and Peace, true Peace, the Peace that passeth all understanding.....
Feeling overwhelmed this Christmas? I found this post on Money Saving MomCelebrating Christmas on a 0 dollar budget refreshing, I wish I would have had this support when my girls were little. It's never too late though. : ) I'm handmaking some gifts this year, things are very tight for this Realtor's family but that's okay. It helps keep me in that holy season of wonder. I was so very proud of our oldest daughter Lea this week. The prolife clinic Lea is a volunteer counselor for was having a Christmas party with a $10. gift exchange. She was going to go ahead and bring a very nice laptop cover (an un-needed gift) that was intended to be taken back to the store for refund. In our family $10. is a bit pricie for a casual office gift exchange. Most parties are to visit and eat and have fellowship right? Lot's of good eats, talks and laughs? A lot of laughter and sister hugs? Sharing the season together? Marianna, our second born asked Lea, "Why don't you take a stand and tell them you won't be able to participate in the gift exchange, but you would still like to come and enjoy the fellowship just the same, bringing some good food of course to share?" (My version)
Lea called the director and the director was so sweet, she just wanted Lea to come and be a part of the fellowship of course! Lea went and had a wonderful time sharing food and fellowship and yes, enjoying observing the gift exchange. Just a little encouragement for someone who may be facing the same quandry this season. And ya know? I think it may encourage others too if they see folks like Lea willing to just be honest about impersonal gift exchanges.
This has been on my heart to re-post the following blog entry this Christmas season, this holy season. I've edited it ever so slightly. I hope you enjoy it and will be touched by the message.
First Posted December 2009:
Beware of the Heelots....
Before you buy that boat, car, or fancy-phone....think about the "Heelots"...
Beware... You may be in danger...
The Heelots may get ya and if you're not careful you may turn into one yourself...Before ya know it! Yes indeed. I've heard reports that the Heelots are especially aggressive this time of year.... Beware. ; )
When they got ya, you've got no more chance than a road rabbit...You're walkin' along, not a nickel in your jeans, you're free as the wind. Nobody bothers you. Hundreds of people pass you by in every line of business. Shoes, hats, automobiles, radios, furniture, everything, and they're all nice loveable people. They let you alone...Then you get ahold of some dough and what happens? All those nice, sweet, lovable people become heelots. A lotta heels! They begin creepin' up on ya, tryin' to sell ya something. They get long claws and they get a stranglehold on ya and ya squirm and ya duck and ya holler and ya try to push 'em away, but you haven't got a chance. They've got ya. The first thing you know, you own things - a car, for instance. Now your whole life is messed up with a lot more stuff. You get license fees and number plates and gas and oil and taxes and insurance and identification cards and letters and bills and flat tires and dents and traffic tickets and motorcycle cops and courtrooms and lawyers and fines - and a million and one other things! And what happens? You're not the free and happy guy you used to be. You've gotta have money to pay for all those things. So you go after what the other fella's got. And there you are - you're a heelot yourself.
(You may want to mute the music at the player at the bottom of the page before viewing clips)
To watch Meet John Doe see Part I in the following clip. All parts are there on youtube in a nice quality...
You can also see the movie in entirity here as well, you may decide what picture quality is best for you.
...Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And he's kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He'll go on keeping it alive for ever and always - for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That's why those bells are ringing...
~The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)
Lighthouses, John. Lighthouses in a foggy world. ~ The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)
What will we be? A heelot? A John Doe? A lighthouse in a foggy world? I hope we will be a John Doe...that Lighthouse in a foggy world. I especially hope we will be a Christ Bearer...
Remember...We are the Christ Bearers this season...Let's take the time to be that Christ Bearer to others....The malls, stores and hospitals are full of those thirsty for Jesus...They are looking for the blessed Hope...Let's take the time, be prepared to share Jesus, smile, keep it real (never canned)...Love, use words and a hug if necessary...Take the time to share Jesus...It's one of the most valuable lessons our children will ever learn...And in some cases it may just be the most valuable lesson our children may teach us.
I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season, remember it's Christ-mas not Me-mas. : )
Enjoy. Be blessed. Be that Christ Bearer...The World is waiting... Keep the bells ringing......
It's a true and living relationship with Jesus, not a religion. : )
As life goes on and moves on, we moms can feel invisible surely so. Every season has it's challenges.
I hope you are ministered to by this poignant and sometimes funny video as I was and still am. I can hear the accolades of many women as I type this as well as the silent tears. God sees it all honey, He knows you, He knows me, He sees you, He sees me and He thinks we are lovely when we are serving Him quietly in our homes. He sees the behind the scenes stuff I assure you, I have to tell myself that many times. Trust me, there are days in this present day society when we feel like chopped liver. Many times it's the culture we are in and the culture is incorrect. The enemy of our souls wants us feeling unappreciated. People around us are affected by the culture's attitudes and there we go floating out into the cosmos on our own it seems.
This video was on my heart so I thought I'd post it this wintery eve. I hope you are blessed by this as well.
Love to All, I hope you are having a most blessed Holy Season. I should be back on this blog soon to repost "Beware of the Heelots". ~Amelia
So you're feeling bummed today? I dislike using too much modern terminology but I figured we can all relate to being "Bummed Out".
This is wonderful, beautiful, excellent and I think it may encourage many today. I pray the Lord Jesus will use this to bless your heart as it blessed mine. Just look at this sweet lady's face on the below link, it shines Jesus. Meet Evelyn Christenson who crossed over to the other side Nov. 1.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: As Evelyn Christenson entered the final season of her life, her heart was set on one goal.
Evelyn Christenson: My goal has been to be like Jesus, to be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. I have worked at that for most of my adult life. That has been my goal, to be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son, and when I see Him . . .
I hope everyone will have a sweet, peaceful Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here with my two oldest daughters (26 & 29) getting ready to color. Yes. Color. We like to color in coloring books, it's relaxing. We are listening to Fernando Ortega's Christmas cd. Beautiful.
MUST-HEAR sermon we heard this morning in Homechurch. I pray it will be a blessing for you. Let us hear these words. One of the best sermons we've heard in a long while.
Description: Here we are confronted by one of America’s foremost, modern, “prophets” as he deals with several of church’s most fundamental truths: the fear of God, and the Holy Spirit—and we find his message greeted largely with silence. He crosses all denominational lines, and spares no one. Yet, when he is finished, and we look at ourselves and the North American church one cannot but wonder what will become of us if, as the brother points out, the church doesn’t get its act together. Can we really hope to survive, as a nation and as a people, if we continue to prefer our denominational dogmas, in the place of Scripture? The ramifications of this sermon are devastating.
We thank the Lord for Sermonindex.net. Sincerely so. My husband receives their podcasts and they are a blessing to us.
I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday. Thank you so much for the most encouraging comments on the last entry, they blessed my heart and are appreciated more than you may ever know or realize. ~Amelia
Small Rebellions... You may ask what in the world are small rebellions? Well....They are small but powerful acts of kindness. In Christianity today we do not hear about plain old kindness much anymore.
Could it be the "Booger Man of Busyness" the need for approval of man? The status quo of I'm so busy - so poopular (spelling intentional) I have no time to be kind?
(Please feel free to mute music at bottom of page)
Last Sunday we visited my 81 year old dad... ...and the above song was playing as we crossed the bridge trekking over a lovely sparkling bay, the drum were powerful the words to the song even more powerful. This song is by the Christian group, Jars of Clay. There is something about this song...My little family will agree. When we hear this in the car it's as if "This is our mission for the Lord!"
Our visit with my dad included going out to eat, talking about the old days and at one point I held my dad in my arms as he wept real tears as he recounted his dying mother, my real grandmother who I am named after... He was a blonde curly headed little boy visiting his mommy in the hospital in her last days, Christmas time 1940. She had been poisoned by the very treatment that was supposed to have cured her cancer back in 1940, passing away two days after Christmas. She was delirious and shook my dad as a wee little boytelling him, "Talk to me! Talk to me!" He sadly recounted so pitifully...I told her "But I am talking to you Mommy..."
What child deserves that?
Daddy wept and I walked slowly to his side of the room and sat smack next to him squeezing into his easy chair with him as I put my arm around him as he cried. Our four girls quietly came around and my dear husband was there next to us. I'm not sure where I'm going with this but sometimes we need to weep with those that weep, it speaks louder than words. There is a powerful solace in wiping the tears away from someone's eyes.
Every day there are small rebellions against the "Booger Man" of busyness.
When my 81 year old mom comes to visit I have decided it's much better for me to sit with her and visit instead of trying to do a million other things. She usually comes once a week. I'm an only child. (enough said on that). But I have noticed when I do this she is much more cheerful.
And it goes for grandparents too, many are so busy in social, political and church activities they don't have time for grandchildren. That is so very sad, they sell out, they cave for cheap poopularity too. And then many wonder what happened? Same things for moms, they are so busy blogging they are ignoring their children at times. I learned my lesson on that one several years ago. People know how they feel when they are around you even when they don't remember what you said.
Do you ever visit new churches and you feel as if you are an outsider in a private club? I have and it's one of the loneliest feelings ever. It's the Booger Man of busyness, the Booger of status quo many times, those big fish in their very small ponds.
This Booger Man steals time from our children, our homes even the way we eat and think. So many hurting people around us even at the grocery stores, we can be the changers! We can be that small rebellion the slayers of the Booger Men of discouragement! Joy Givers for Jesus!
Many Booger Men today.... Booger Men of busyness, manmade religion, pride and materialism and many more. Booger Men of blogging too. And let's not forget the much esteemed Three-Headed Booger Man of multi-tasking!
Why do people try to impress people they don't even like? People they do not even know?
Do you know of any Booger Men you have slain this week with acts of kindness? Small rebellions?
Some of our best friends are in the nursing home, do you know people of all ages live at nursing homes?
This is me with my buddy, he can't hear well and is learning to speak, a darling, if he doesn't touch your heart, no one will. And Michelle, one of our daughters with another sweet buddy friend. Joy givers to (us).
They are some of our very best friends, these guys are angels. They in fact are the very Booger Man slayers for US many times!
Just yesterday we were there with our buddy-friend-angels and a beautiful black woman, a resident there, a woman who dresses so very tastefully, she tells me her sister is much like a Martha Stewart and picks her clothes for her, her name is Teresa. She cries, she is so touched by the praise and worship...I have the privilege of wiping her tears. There is something about that. Just something about wiping someone's tears... It slays the Booger Man. a small rebellion of KINDNESS. JESUS. Human touch is so very, very important, it's like a soothing balm that heals...it heals to the innermost being.
My Greatest Friend by John Drysdale (I love this print, I saw it in a hippie pizza restaurant bathroom in an old two story house in midtown.)
This print to me shows what can happen when we perform those small rebellions, those small but great acts of kindness for JESUS.
Let's remember to slay that Booger Man of Busyness. Say NO to the Booger Man of Busyness poopularity, status quo and his partner the evil multi-tasker!
Don't let the Booger Man of Busyness steal from your family and the lonely right around you!He might be masquerading in your church!Only YOU can see him!
What Booger Man are we hiding from or refusing to see hiding in our homes, in our lives? What Booger Man are we playing or flirting with and who are we trying to impress? Slay the Booger Man! Reach out in small rebellions for JESUS. Be Jesus with skin on to others...Let's be a slayer of busyness, be a Knight of Goodness and CARE for others. You may say you are not a sensitive person? Pray to be a sensitive person. Use words when necessary. It's freedom.
Philip Schein's Story: The Question of Kosher Meat
"...I grew up eating meat, not protesting it. I am Jewish and I was always told that kosher meat was humane. I was told that how we treated those beings in our power mattered greatly, that it was what defined us as human beings. It was a way of approaching daily life that made me proud to be Jewish.
Today I have conducted more than ten undercover investigations at major kosher slaughter facilities from Nebraska to Uruguay. This firsthand experience on kill floors quickly shattered any naive hopes I held out that kosher meant humane.
In South America, which supplies a large percentage of kosher beef to Israel and the United States, the standard method of kosher slaughter is the "Shackle and hoist" technique, in which cattle are chained, tripped, and restrained on the ground while their throats are cut, and then they are hoisted immediately into the air to be bled out while still conscious and struggling. In the U.S., at what was at the tie the world's single largest kosher slaughter facility, I've seen workers systematically hacking out the tracheas and esophagi of conscious and wide-eyed cattle. I've seen workers shock animals in the face with electric prods and let animals languish for minutes as the result of sloppy religious slaughter techniques. All these violations are a matter of public record now and they were widely reported on in the media. You can see the videos at www.humanekosher.com. These practices are not standard and certainly not required by kosher law,but I'm ashamed how many other examples I could give of egregious cruelty at kosher facilities. And even more shameful than any of these abuses is the response to them by kosher certification authorities.
I expected these violations of the Jewish principle of compassion to animals to be condemned. I also expected that the meat from these slaughterhouses would be declared unkosher, but that is not what happened. Many in the Jewish community protested, but the leadership of the kosher industry insisted and still insists that the flesh of animals who die torturous deaths - even animals dismembered while conscious- can be perfectly kosher. It's not that the situation is necessarily worse in kosher slaughterhouses than conventional slaughter facilities - the problems with cruelty at mainstream slaughterhouses are arguable worse overall. But I expected kosher production to reflect a higher ethical standard. Sadly, what I witnessed in both kosher and nonkosher facilities is that suffering and cruelty is systemic in all forms of industrialized slaughter.
And regardless of what happens at the slaughterhouse, almost all the animals killed for kosher meat re supplied by the very same cruel factory farms that supply animals for conventional slaughter..."
"...(Vegetarianism) is my protest against the conduct of the world. To be a vegetarian is to disagree - to disagree with the course of things today...starvation, cruelty - we must make a statement against these things. Vegetarianism if my statement. And I think it's a strong one."
Did you know?
The vast majority - over 95 percent - of animals are raised in factory farms and not on the old-fashioned family farms of memory.
All of the above are excerpts from the book, Veganist by Kathy Freston. ~ Photos on this blog entry from Robert Stock
This blog is not liberal or conservative. This is a Christian blog, these issues are issues of mercy and justice, issues very dear to my heart. Yes, as you will most likely agree the Father cares very much how we treat animals. I don't understand the blind eye and seemingly cold calloused hearts at times...It blows my mind...But it is also very encouraging to me to know there are others who see this cruelty for what it is and take a stand for these innocent creatures. ~Amelia
P.S. Here is a very good sermon recommendation: Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead This is a deep sermon you may want to listen to more than once. One of the most listened-to sermons on sermonindex.net. Oh that we as Christians would be consistent.
~Robert Stock I'm not one to jump up and down when a new movie comes out, and I've been guilty I suppose of not being that excited when Christian movies come out...I tend to be a bit on the passive side of excitement. I think maybe I've been so disappointed in people and things in typical lukewarm Christiandom or should I say Churchdom, and the system, I tend to think okay, maybe so...maybe so...
Now please know this has no bearing on my personal relationship with Jesus. He is the same always with me, my sweet Jesus is who upholds me, He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own and and the joy we share as we tarry there.. no other has ever known.And I know there are good churches out there but we may have to drive over an hour to get to them or have homechurch, and we do both.
But I must say the new movie Courageous is a MUST SEE!
Our family went to go see it last Saturday afternoon and oh my, oh my, oh my! You will be on the edge of your seat! This movie will make you laugh and cry and bite your nails in suspense the entire time! You will NOT be bored!
I do have one warning though. The previews at the particular theatre we went to were HORRIBLE. At our particular theatre it would have been much better to arrive 15 minutes late and bypass the previews. My hubby and I were livid. I looked at our girls and they had their heads down thank God. Our daughters are ages 17 to 28 by the way so hopefully that tells you something.
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And for the at home movie watchers such as us? As many of you know we love, love, love, old black and white movies. They are so much and full of character than the stuff out there now with the exception of wonderful Christian movies like Courageous above.
Many, many life lessons in this movie. Serious poignant stuff here...We were so touched by it. We've viewed this one several times.
You will see how comparing and keeping up with the Jones will affect families. So very sad but so rich in lessons.
We just love Ernest Borgnine in most all movies we've seen with him. Betty Davis is in her later years, and what a part she plays, so different than what we are used to when we hear the name, Betty Davis. There is a darling Irish uncle in the small apartment too...and of course I'm partial to the Bronx...That is where my step dad was from. We loved him so.
At the end of the movie, I looked at our 28 year old daughter and she had tears in her eyes...If you see the movie you'll see why...
Life lessons, life lessons, life lessons, oh that we would learn sooner than laterand sometimes movies like this will keep us in line. "This story uncovers real feelings in a real world." ~Ernest Borgnine
See this wonderful trailer HERE:
.............................................................................................................. For a good entry: Abhor that Which is Evil by guest writer and friend see our daughter Michelle's blogHERE. ....................................................................................
Take care all, as mothers we can make our homes a haven with our attitudes, we can make everyday a party and every simple meal a feast!
I have two last suggestions in the way of books that may help with that for us parents:
I may not agree with every teensy thing in these books but all in all, they are delightful. Mrs. Sharp's is a idea packed book of simple monthlyVictorian celebrations in the home. All very do-able. Beautiful book. Last Child is a life changer, a real eye-opener in this age of electric plugs and gadgets, the Lord used this book in our journey back to the country.
At our house we are always looking for a good ol' movie. We love 40s movies at our house because in the 40s it was a bit more of a God fearing time in our country for the most part. WWII had everyone in their place and their knees so to speak. Sometimes we'll see some nice movies from the 50s too. This is one of them!
This was very enjoyable, Will Rogers is played by Will Rogers Jr. and it's in color to boot! Our family loves black and white but a good wholesome movie in color is a nice rare treat these days.
This film is not only good entertainment, it is a look at American society from 1920 to 1935. Definitely should be seen.
The Lord put in on my heart to do this Bible Study with my four daughters, ages 17 to 28. They are here at home, when not working or doing ministry for the Lord. We homeschool (life lessons never end!) and what a delight it is to sit around the kitchen table over some tea and cookies and enjoy this study. The book has been in our home for many years and the time is now to really sit and enjoy it with all of our girls. : )
Thank you Maria! You made my week and probably my month too! God sure knows what He is doing in the encouragement department and when we need it. Y'all go visit Maria, she is a new blogging friend and freelance writer with wonderful articles on walking the Christian walk. It is such a pleasure getting to know her. I know you too will enjoy her blog.
I'm not very good at giving awards but I would like to say, the comments I receive here and my other blogs are such a blessing, and if you take the time to give encouraging comments than I think you are a love. Isn't that what it's all about in blogland at least for those who call themselves Christians? Encouraging and lifting each other up? : )
Praise God for people like Maria and those who are willing to take the time to encourage! .......................................................... I have a really good really Italian soup recipe on my thats-italian.blogspot along with some more old movies etc.
Also don't forget to meet my buddy at My Forest Cathedral, the nursing home is a blessing for meeting new friends, talk about the best godly socialization around for our children no matter what the age.
Have a nice weekend to all, be friendly to folks at church. Be Jesus with skin on! People don't care what you know or have to say until you show how much you care. : )
Once again, Elisabeth Elliott has it right-on. This could change your life! : )
Some of my most cherished things are two postcards handwritten to me by Elisabeth Elliot with comforting words on them as I was carrying our last little baby girl, Rebecca now 17. Elisabeth told me God was already with me.
I was on bedrest with complications and a threat of premature delivery at 5 months; I was a bit frightened and apprehensive with something new to me at the time...a birth center delivery. Do you know Dr. Ron Paul would have delivered my baby girl if I were transported to the hospital?
Our baby girl was delivered at the birth center by a praying team of midwives, a robust nine pound healthy sweet baby girl!
Elisabeth Elliot would also later read a letter I wrote to her over the air, I cannot tell you what a blessing she was and still is to me. I'll never forget that morning putting my makeup on and out of the blue, I hear Elisabeth Elliot reading my letter over the radio... Sometimes we need things like that. Encouragement goes a long, long way.
The Courage to Be a Woman
Series: A Conversation with Elisabeth Elliot
Leslie Basham: Elisabeth Elliot says, “If a woman gets married she is going to marry . . .
Elisabeth Elliot: . . . sinful person. There isn’t anything else to marry. I say that to women all the time. You’ve got to remember, whomever you marry, he’s a sinner. There isn’t anything else to marry.
To read or listen in entirety: HERE Have a blessed day, everyday is a journal page what will we compose? ~Amelia My blog on everyday life, My Forest Cathedral Come meet my buddy! : )
My recipe and old retro thoughts blog: thats-italian I have a playful blog up now and will be posting a wonderful easy-breezy soup recipe today!
“In a shocking move, an activist federal judge dismissed our amicus brief submitted to the court in defense of our new Texas Sonogram Law,” she said. “The well-known pro-abortion judge claimed that he’s not going to allow politics in his court. I guess what he really meant was any politics that differ from his own.”
Full Story Here
Well, if I've said it once I'll say (write) it again...As long as I have a blog I will stand for the unborn.
Homeschooling is important yes, but we have little babies being murdered in their mother's wombs, these little babies should be in the safest place ever but instead it is now the most dangerous!
And isn't this real homeschooling for Life? Or if you don't homeschool isn't keeping our youth and young adults abreast of the war within our country of utmost importance?
Have you ever noticed so many people seeming so lulled to sleep on this? It makes me ill, people seem to care more about their pocketbooks or McChurch than they do little unborn babies. It ought not be!
It's an interesting time we live in, more politicians are speaking out on abortion than many pastors...Sometimes it would just be nice to see some passion in people who say they follow Jesus Christ. It would just really be nice.
It starts in our homes, I hope our children see a passion in us.
Otherwise one day our grandchildren may ask us: "What did you do or say when they were killing babies?"
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter! Proverbs 24:11 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:4
I wanted to share a couple of neat books to celebrate fall but it will have to wait after hearing of this most unjust and horrifying ruling.
Let's lift our country up in prayers. And remember, saying there will always be abortion is like the abolitionists saying there would always be slavery!
A helpful site: Wallbuilders
These blogs are the everyday goings on in the life of a 50 year old young lady as myself homeschooling for going on 22 years....our daughters are ages 17 to 28 and we all love Jesus.
This ministered to me this morning. Sometimes things look bad in the world, sometimes our hearts are hurt, other times we rejoice to tears seeing the Lord's goodness. I hope this ministers to your spirit too today and throughout the week.
(Feel free to mute the music at bottom of page)
Hubs and I saw Keith Green in concert in 1982. He was killed that summer in a small plane crash...I was expecting my first baby, Lea. Melody Green, Keith Green's wife was also expecting. Lea is now 28 serving Jesus. We've homeschooled for going on 22 years now. We have four daughters ages 17 to 28, all serving the Lord in some capacity. May Jesus be engrained in them throughout their lives. May God be the glory. May we hold on to Him in these last days.
If you do homeschool remember the reason. The outcome will usually reflect the reason and heart in which we homeschool.
What have you been up to? Here is my blog, My Forest Cathedral for updates at the Forest Cathedral with our family's goings ons.
Healthy guiltless recipes, easy sewing projects and old fashioned movies the entire family can watch? You may like my thats-italian blog.
I thought this was great! My dad and my grandfather always said...
"Make do or do without"
I remember when I was young my mom and dad drove their car and truck til they fell apart. They would pay cash for a nice sensible vehicle and drive them and drive them. They did not buy new cars every two years to hold some imaginary insecure image EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE MONEY TO DO SO IF THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED. Praise God! PRAISE GOD!
Our home was a sweet home, a Thomas Kinkade type of home in the older part of our town. It had been built for my Uncle Wesley and Uncle Wesley had died in the home when he was in his 20s. He had attended Rice University, he and his bride had settled into the little home town on the bay. I can guarantee you when that gorgeous young man was dying he did not wish he had a a larger house, newer car or a boat. It was the Eternal that mattered, in fact I bet he could have cared less about a college degree he never would have used!!!
My German grandfather's home was next door, a beautiful red brick home that looked like it could have been transported from the beautiful museum district. The red brick home was not larger than needed though it was nice and it was adequate. Each home sat on four lots, only our two homes graced the block.
Now that I look back this was the better but the people who moved in with NASA coming in had the new homes and I can remember my mom wanting a new home. My dad would say,
"No, this home is paid for."
There was not a thing wrong with our sweet white siding home with storybook green shutters, except perhaps the kitchen was very small, but nothing that could not be remedied. My dad would also reiterate how the newer homes were so close together you could jump from rooftop to rooftop. He was right.
The above article could be fill in the blank, There is Beauty in Your Ugly (fill in blank). Car, coat, couch, coffee pot etc.
Don't be a part of The Emperor's New Clothes. If it takes going with only one car just do that little thing. I did when our girls were little tots for a year or so when my hubby was making a job change. And when we finally were able to afford a car for me to run around in we paid cash at the price of $450 dollars for a great sturdy little station wagon, it needed a new transmission and we found a reasonable mechanic to do the job.
Who wants to go to work leaving our children somewhere so we can have a dumb car? Think about that one. Custom curtains and fancy cars will rot one day, what will our children remember?
Our time with them! The ETERNAL!
Make everyday a sweet day, let's concentrate on Christian character and relationship with JESUS.
Don't go with the herd, go with the precious Word of God and His loving Presence, talk with Him, walk with Him and to heck with the rest. And for fellow homeschoolers, that goes for outclassing and college too. What are you doing all of that for if it is not practical or necessary? Could it be a pride issue? A popularity-with-other-mom's issue? (I still can't believe grown women play that game) And that's another blog...
I won this pattern yesterday on ebay....It is from 1938. This is a day dress, what the ladies wore everyday.
Notice the handwritten note from the pattern company; thoughtful and polite... thankful as well.
I'm going to try my hand at making this dress, I love dresses and think this would be so much fun to wear at home and out as well.
Lately when I see women of all ages and young girls wearing jeans everywhere I can't help but think to myself...This is so un-lady-like. Why, jeans aren't really even flattering. They add bulk and show every little thing, it reminds me of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' story. Lately so many things do!
Is it any wonder the poor young girls have such a warped sense of what a normal figure should be?
Let's get back to the sweet things when men were men and women were women.
I enjoy skirts a great deal, how about you? Here is one of my skirt adventures and my favorite skirt pattern on My Forest Cathedral blog. An easy versatile top to make? I have one here on my thats-italian blog.
By the way ladies, Hobby Lobby has Simplicity patterns for 99 cents this week! So that would include my favorite skirt pattern above! : )
18.For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19. whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things. ~Phillippians 3:18-19
They set their mind on earthly things. Their delight is found in the things of this world.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ~James 4:4
My husband was reading the above scripture to us last night for family devotions. It is very appropriate in these last days wouldn't you agree? For us homeschoolers, what do we seek? The Lord's wisdom? Or fear of and the approval of man? Do we wear academic achievements as a badge of honor ignoring true integrity and godly character?
What is our delight? What upsets us and grieves our hearts? What takes our time? Our money? Who are we trying to impress? Do we have mercy on others? Do we have mercy on God's creatures? It blows my mind the apathy in people at times, I don't understand a living faith in the Lord that turns the head to abuses of any kind at all. Do we have care one for another? Care even outside of church walls?
That's very much the wrap for today. Take care all, the way is narrow. He will guide us if we listen to Him and not carnal people.
I've homeschooled for going on 21 years and sometimes I can't help but be grieved as I have seen the homeschool movement move away from the Lord. It's very difficult for my heart to grasp sometimes how people will do things away from the Lord's guidance.
Brethren (Sisters) do not be deceived. That's what the Bible warns.
If you think you may want to see more on Leonard Ravenhill you may like this site. The late Leonard Ravenhill will also be found on youtube as well.
If you (or I) feel discouraged today we must remember the Lord never changes, sometimes the walk is a lonely one because of what has become of churchdom etc. but He is with us I can assure you (me) of that. Let's mind our own business working quietly with our own hands as the Bible says living blamelessly with a cheerful heart for our families. Many times we tend to overlook the fellowship right before us.
We are having cowboy day today at our house and cooking cowboy food for supper with a sweet old Roy Rogers and Trigger movie for tonight. My Pal Trigger (1946)
My dad always says...
Everyday's a party and every meal's a feast!
Sometimes in our country's moral climate I just want to sing....
Okay, there you have it, Bible truths and hopefully encouragements from me to you for both you and me. You see I need encouragement in these last days just like the next mom. Enjoy your day, Good day! (As the late Paul Harvey used to say it) ~Amelia
P.S. Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments on the last entries. I thank God for sweet brothers and sisters in the Lord here online.
I've been thinking about the state of affairs around our nation and especially in our area.
Interestingly I hear many so grieved about a dismembered body of a young mother found lately. I too am very grieved and most disturbed on these things but where is the outcry on innocent little aborted babies? Are they not dismembered and burnt alive!?
I've said more than once, the problem in the country is because of the dead pulpits and the theological games people play. Prideful debate. Certainly not Jesus. It's sickening.
Where are the preachers crying out?! In our last church the pastor seemed almost embarrassed to announce a Life Chain in our town our family was helping with. This was a civil prayerful and peaceful chain many churches participated in.
Do you know what our former church did that Sunday of the Life Chain? They planned a baby shower that day in the same time slot of the Life Chain for one of the mothers in the church. The mother in law of the young woman being honored was horrified when she learned of the scheduling of events and how the unborn were being ignored for the sake of a baby shower, her grandchild's! Oh how twisted and political...It told the tale indeed of the hearts of leadership there.
So many things lately are very telling of hearts lately. So very telling.
My blog. My voice for Jesus.
And for those who deny that abortion is the taking of innocent life, we ask only that you look closely at the photo, and as you examine this image, examine your heart.
A view from our front door on a most beautiful summer eve...
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God: those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive; it is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.
~Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) From The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
I've also been questioning leather products as well as the Holy Spirit has been making me sensitive in some areas. It started when I noticed mink coats and such and then my own leather coat...I hoped perhaps the leather was the byproduct of humanely treated cattle but unfortunately I'm probably very wrong on that.
I recently found the following excerpt from a message board. It's horrible what is done for the sake of "leather" "fur" or any other "fill in blank". And from another video that is out, the horrible torture is confirmed there as well. And yes, this is happening in this country.
Some may say: Oh but those are the environmentalists or they believe in global warming etc.
If I worried about others' philosophies on everything and never learned to cross bridges when needed I never would have delivered my baby girl with midwives at a birth center saving the life of my baby! I never would have obtained a Family Herbalist certification or studied nutrition. I never would have homeschooled...I certainly wouldn't be an artist if I would have looked at the stereotype of the Arts, I guess I would have had to hide my natural talents since the Arts is considered a liberal camp?
I hope we can see things clearly as what they are and not worry about this camp stereotype or that one. I love Jesus Christ and I will do what is right no matter what camp that any particular conviction may be popular in.
Here is the excerpt, and no you won't enjoy it, you most likely will be grieved by it, I was going to post something else, about injustices and rude people who hurt others but when I re-read this excerpt attached from the very kind reply from my sweet daughter I said...This will be posted today.
"At the slaughterhouse, more horrors await. A Washington Post investigation found that animals are routinely skinned and dismembered while they are still alive. Some examples: According to the Post, federal inspectors found live cattle dangling from an overhead chain at a plant in Texas. Videotape from another plant shows hogs kicking and squealing as they are lowered into a tank of scalding water, which is used to soften their skin. You know, I had never thought about that...I just looked into a site to see if animals were treated cruel for their skin and they are. Personally I don't have real leather because I don't want to pay that price....but now that I see they are treated just as bad as they are for food consumption...no maam I won't wear it or buy a car that is lined in it again....thanks for opening my eyes to another world...so yes, it is hypocrisy..." What can we do? I think writing letters is always a good way to start. And of course taking the time to find alternatives when shopping for an item. We can re-post these videos and excerpts and learn from others. We can ask the manager of the store questions and be ready to politely inform when shopping. And pray, pray, pray! The Father above cares about His creatures!
My husband calls me, Saint Amelia of Assisi. ; ) And I must tell you the other night we were coming down a country road in the black of night and my dear hubby did turn around so we could feed a poor scared dog. I had my restaurant leftovers, we had some store bought dog food in the car too, and we placed it so the scared dog could get it, he was so frightened he had run into the woods. My husband said the next morning on the way to work he would pick the dog up if he was out in daylight. Pray for that dog, I would love to help him. We have four doglets, two were rescued from the street and one was rescued from the pound, my baby girl used her birthday money several years ago for our pound puppy, Charlie.
Blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the Merciful.
I don't care if the whole world is going to hell and on dope, I'll stand alone for what is right no matter what camp it may be popular in. This is my 26 year old daughter, Marianna with Muffie, (Muffin) (Muffie-Huckabee) our little rescued dog from the street. Marianna saw him as she was going to vote in the primaries, the little bewildered guy was in the street his collar was rusted shut. She looked through her rearview mirror; turned around and gently put him in her car and brought him home. We all love this little guy so very much, he's an angel.
For me? I cannot eat meat knowing how God's creatures are being treated. Would we let our family dog or cat be treated like this? I've really been looking into things these past weeks and I'm horrified and grieved by what is going on in this country. There is also torture involved with leather products. Little calves being skinned alive. The look in their eyes...it will stick with me forever. As Christians I think we should be the first in advocates for these innocent helpless creatures. Any slaughter house according to a Rabbi is hideous to an animal. It seems the very least we could do is to stand against this cruelty by not giving money to this industry. That's my heart. Amen.
"Animals are God's creatures, not human property, nor utilities, nor resources, nor commodieties, but precious beings in God's sight." ~Rev. Andrew Linzey
"If we really love and care about animals, we shouldn't pay people to raise them in inhumane conditions and then kill them. Fifty billion land animals are killed worldwide each year, and no country has ever tormented and killed more animals than the United States today. If sin is whatever separates us from God, is not cruelty to God's creatures and unnecessary damage to God's earth a sin? For many Christians, a plant-based diet constitutes mindful and faithful eating." ~ Stephen R. Kaufman
"Factory farming tortures God's animals. When we consume of the products of factory farming, we are sending a clear message to factory farmers: I approve. Do it again." ~Rev. Frank L. Hoffman
"...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" ~Micah 6:8
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." ~Luke 6:36
"A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast," ~Proverbs 12:10
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Please allow me to also share an excerpt from a letter that was publicly posted on the Christian Vegetarian board by a member. This is also very eye-opening.
...Last but not least is the reality that each glass of milk, each slice of cheese, each spoon of ice-cream comes from an unseen world of literally unimaginable suffering, pain and torture. A dairy cow lives a mere four or five years (of a possible 25-year life span) and is kept perpetually pregnant. All her calves are yanked from her within hours of birth. She stands in her own poop for those miserable years of her life and consequently becomes lame from having developed foot rot. She is constantly dosed with antibiotics to combat the persistent infections that come from the conditions in which she is kept and almost always develops mastitis - a raging infection of the udder. At the end of those miserable four or five years she is emaciated, a caricature of a once sentient living being and a psychological wreck. Her life ends when she is taken to a feed lot where she is fed - among other things - animal feces, the chopped up bodies of other cows, ground up chicks, road kill, plastic for roughage, and yet more antibiotics. Then, at the killing place, she is dragged, shocked and prodded up the chute to the "knock box" where she is stunned, hung up by a rear leg, has her throat slit and moves down a processing line where she is dismembered piece-by-piece - quite often still alive - and ultimately ground up into hamburger so that everyone who "agrees" can enjoy a cheap quarter-pounder with double cheese. If you remain unconvinced then take a few minutes out of your day to watch the following short videos. Farm to Fridge is only 12 minutes long and can be viewed at http://www.MeatVideo.com Calf Farm Cruelty is a mere 3 minutes long and can be viewed at http://www.mercyforanimals.org/calves ~Stephen Augustine
My favorite excerpts from the Above Rubies weekly devotional are as follows. Be careful of assimilation!
Assimilation keeps us from possessing the land.
Leviticus 20:24-26 says “Ye shall inherit their land and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people… And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
"Assimilation is one of the greatest temptations of the enemy. It is so easy to want to be like everyone else around. In fact, you can assimilate without even realizing it. God’s plan for you is to be separated from the world--not from the people of the world of course, but from the deception, evil and materialistic spirit of the world.
God does not want mixture in His land. It is not like other lands. Do you feel an oddball in the area where you live? Or even in your church? Are you the only one who is homeschooling? Don’t feel inferior. You are saving your children from being another statistic that is indoctrinated with humanism and socialism.Do you have more children than anyone else in your street? Don’t be ashamed. You are walking in the perfect will of God as you embrace God’s children for His purposes and glory. Do you have a holy standard in your home, different to the worldly-minded around you? You don’t have to apologize! You don’t have to be similar to everyone else. On the contrary, you are called to be uniquely different. Hold on to your difference and refuse conformity." ~Nancy Campbell, Above Rubies
Will we stand alone? I hope and pray so. Have a sweet week in Jesus, He alone is worthy, His name is the sweetest name I know... I was thinking this morning of this old hymn... Tell it to Jesus.
Who and what are we living for? Oh friends, there is such Peace in Jesus, His ways are best, may we rest in His ways. Jesus, the sweetest name I know. ~Amelia
My other blogs; on everyday happenings at My Forest Cathedral and a wowee recipe & old movie review,' The Stranger' (1946) and others too on Thats-Italian
Short but on target message. Leslie hits the nail on the head on the approval of man verses the Lord. My husband and I often see the same problem in the homeschool movement, in the church etc. Oh that men and women would march to Christ's beat only and shun the voices of the world and the approval of man!
...living for God’s approval alone, rather than pining after the applause of this world, re-evaluating our motives and priorities for the decisions we make.
Will you and I be willing to stand alone? Jesus is truly all we need.
So you're feeling bummed today? I dislike using too much modern terminology but I figured we can all relate to being "Bummed Out".
From the late Leonard Ravenhill's son. Photo above of the late Leonard Ravenhill from Sermonindex.net.
...and the above song was playing as we crossed the bridge trekking over a lovely sparkling bay, the drum were powerful the words to the song even more powerful. This song is by the Christian group, 
Our home was a sweet home, a Thomas Kinkade type of home in the older part of our town. It had been built for my Uncle Wesley and Uncle Wesley had died in the home when he was in his 20s. He had attended Rice University, he and his bride had settled into the little home town on the bay. I can guarantee you when that gorgeous young man was dying he did not wish he had a a larger house, newer car or a boat. It was the Eternal that mattered, in fact I bet he could have cared less about a college degree he
