Evening Song – Holy, Holy, Holy

 

Berry Fun Friday – Strawberry Shopping Bags

 

Photo courtesy Ikatbag.com

Here’s a link for a tutorial on how to make these cute shopping bags that “fold” away into one corner of the bag for easy storage.  I have some similar bags that I use for shopping, but they are plain, not decorative.  Still, they are very handy.  I recommend adding an inexpensive carbineer clip to the string to make it easy to clip onto your purse or another tote bag.

Strawberry Bag Tutorial at Ikatbag.com

These would make such cute gifts. :-)

Photo courtesy Ikatbag.com

Australian Memories – Pretty Plants

 

I don’t know what these two plants are, but they caught my eye and lens at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Queensland.

Ten Ways A Wife May Be A Crown to Her Husband

 

Painting by Carl Larrson

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:
but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

• Ask your husband, "What are your goals for the week and how can I help you to accomplish them? Is there anything I can do that would make it easier for you?"
  
• Be organized as much as possible with cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, and cooking.  Try to anticipate his needs and your family's needs so that you can be prepared or have what is needed ready.

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The Mercy and Grace of Prayer

 

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

There are many blessings that we have in Christ, among them is the mercy and grace of prayer.  Do you know the difference between mercy and grace?  Grace is unmerited favor - the blessing and kindness and love of God given to us even though we don't deserve it.  Grace tends to get all the publicity these days.  I think it's because grace tells us we're loved in spite of ourselves while mercy reminds us we're sinners who deserve judgment.  Mercy is the withholding of deserved judgment - although we deserve the wrath and justice of God for our sin, He passes over us because we are in Christ Jesus, who is our passover (1 Corinthians 5:7).

One of the miracles of prayer in the New Testament is that we have direct access to the throne of grace, where we obtain both mercy and grace.  In the Lord Jesus, God has made us kings and priests , Revelation 1:6, and a royal priesthood, 1 Peter 2:9.  Because of that we have access to the very throne of God, to the mercy seat in heaven, through our High Priest.  In Old Testament times only the earthy high priest had access to the mercy seat, but now every believer can go directly before the Lord with his or her requests. Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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Evening Song – I’ll Have A New Life

 

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The Thousand Word Project – Still Life

A Couple Articles On Things that Make House Cleaning Difficult

 

An old picture of me from when we were first moving into our house here.

I guess we all have housekeeping jobs that we dislike and reasons or excuses that we use to avoid doing certain things when we should – or ever.  Patty Gardner at Homemakers Daily posted a couple of useful articles on this subject. [As usual, probably disclaimer on some content of this site.  I’ve actually read very little of it.]

Patty wrote a two part article:

10 Things That Make House Cleaning Difficult, Part 1

10 Things That Make House Cleaning Difficult, Part 2

Some of her observations are so accurate, and some of her suggestions are really helpful.  But, as she seems to make clear, to really overcome the difficulties you’ll have to work out a plan that will help you according to your particular needs.

There are few things I want to emphasize or point out. 

First off, she stresses that if you’re dealing with health issues and that’s a hindrance to your cleaning, not to overdo things when you are able to work.  This is so important.  I have learned this the hard way to my sorrow.  When we feel better and we start overdoing things we’re very apt to cause a new flare up or such.

Secondly, more than once in certain situations she recommends lowering your expectations.  This is something that my mom taught me by example, but I still struggle with it in some areas.  I also know there are some people who really let their expectations rule them.  Be realistic about your situation and decide what is really important and what people will really notice.  I know one person who regularly goes “crazy” when company is coming and will clean things that no one is going to see – and if someone does see them they should probably be rebuked for putting their nose into some place that wasn’t any of their business.  You really don’t need to clean the shower of the master bath when company is coming for dinner.  Close the curtain or hang a towel over the door if there’s a remote chance someone might need to use that bathroom.  If your lady friends are coming for exercise and Bible study and there’s a load a laundry that needs to be folded in the living room carry it somewhere that they won’t be.  It is not necessary to fold it and put it away if you’re already struggling to get things done.  Also, people aren’t likely to look behind your dressers or in your laundry room on casual visits.  (I know some of my readers may wonder at this kind of advice, but I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous behavior – when company was only coming for the afternoon and dinner.  Sorry to say, I’ve done some silly things myself in this line!)

In point No. 7 she recommends if you have kids making them help you with chores, and working together rather than at different times.  This is good advice.  However, one thing she seems to indicate is that certain ones in her household did certain jobs all the time, or their preferred jobs.  I strongly recommend mixing things up and making everyone take a turn at all chores suitable to their age – and, yes, that means the boys too.  Sadly, there are some homes where the boys get away with not learning to do certain chores because it’s “girls’ work”.  One day they may be very sorry or hindered by that, mothers, so don’t deprive them of the full education they may need to run a household if they remain single or “wife” is sick in bed or, even worse, dies.  There are also some homes where certain jobs are considered “men’s work” and so the girls never learn to do them.  This is just as unhelpful for the same reasons.  By having everyone learn all jobs they can cover for each other, and there won’t be holes in your house work when someone is away or leaves home. 

My mom and I experienced this because for some years my brothers were always the ones to clear the dinner table and wipe it after meals and we girls cleaned up the kitchen.  Mom and I both have struggled with remembering to wipe the table because of that.  For me it’s partly an irritation thing because for so long someone else did that and I only had to do it when he annoyingly forgot.  You get the picture.  This is why I recommend sharing the chores around.  Plus, if you share them around the least assertive person won’t get stuck with the most tiresome or tedious chores all of the time that no one else wants to do.  If you had a few siblings or have a few kids you know what I mean.

The Mouth of A Priest – How Does Your Speech Represent the Lord?

 

I hope that I haven’t posted this article before.  I couldn’t find it on my blog, so hopefully it isn’t a repeat. :-)

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The Mouth of A Priest – How Does Your Speech Represent the Lord?

Malachai 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

This is a very interesting passage of scripture. I'm sure some "men of God" would be quick to apply verse 7 to themselves; but then there are verses 8 and 9. :-)  There is a serious responsibility that goes with this.

Peter tells us in his epistle, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1Peter 2:9 We are all of the royal priesthood now, and so this passage applies to every believer, though we know this passage specifically applies to the priests of Old Testament Israel.

Sad to say, many Christians do not know the word of God, so people cannot seek it at their mouth. Many think that "the preacher" or "the pastor" is "the messenger of the Lord"…

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Evening Song – Onward Christian Soldiers

 

 

1 Timothy 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Sew Happy Friday – An Easy Tablecloth

 

The O’Neil sisters at Running with Sisters posted this really easy tutorial for making a tablecloth.  Since fabric wide enough for the average square or rectangular tablecloth is often more expensive and not as common, they came up with a neat idea for using regular 44” fabric (or anything close to that) by cutting it and putting a “runner” down the middle.  I think it looks very nice, and I think this project would qualify for a beginner level too.

This could be done in any fabrics that you think would go in your dining room, and you can easily switch the solid and print around or use two complimenting prints.  An added bonus is that it wouldn’t be hard to size this for smaller or much larger tables.  You’d just need to do the math to know how much fabric to buy.  Wide tables might pose a problem, but the center strip could be cut wider in that case.  I’d like to try this pattern with some strawberry fabric. :-)

One thing I’d do, though, is tuck in the raw edges of the hem so that it would last longer and wouldn’t develop “strings” hanging down around the edges after washing.  The mitered corner would have to be adjusted slightly, but I don’t think it would be that hard to figure out.  If you have a serger, you could just finish the edges with that before hemming.

The Thousand Word Project – Green Leaf

 

Anyone know what this is?  :-)

Only to Know – A Poem by Allie Starbright

 

Only to Know

Only to know that the path I tread
Is the path marked out for me;
That the way, though thorny, rough and steep,
Will lead me nearer to Thee!
Nearer to Thee! nearer to Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, to Thee!
Only to know that the path I tread
Is bringing me nearer to Thee!

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Evening Song – Showers of Blessing

 

Ezekiel 34:26  And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

The Thousand Word Project - Fiery

 

Delicious Roasted Chicken

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes.  I first published in on my birthday in 2009.  I hope you enjoy it. :-)  If you don't like thyme try another herb that you prefer.  It would be good with sage or oregano or basil or other similar herbs.

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Here is a simple recipe that makes great tasting chicken! This is based on a recipe which I altered slightly by Marcella Hazan that was published in AARP magazine.

Roasted Chicken with Lemons

3-4 lb. chicken, washed and patted dry.

Salt

Pepper

Dried Thyme, crushed

2 small lemons

Butter

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cut excess fat off of chicken (Do Not remove the skin).  Rub with a generous amount of salt and pepper both inside and out.

Wash and dry the lemons. Soften by rolling back and forth on the county while pressing down firmly with your palm. Puncture it in at least 20 places with a fork or skewer. Place both lemons inside the chicken.  Close the opening with toothpicks or a trussing needle and string.  (Do not make it airtight.)  Tie the legs in their natural position with string, if desired. (This is mostly useful for making it easier to turn the bird.)

Butter a roasting pan generously and place the chicken in it breast side down. Dot the chicken with bits of butter. Sprinkle lightly (three or four pinches) with crushed thyme. Place it in the upper 1/3 of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn chicken breast side up. Try not to puncture the skin, but don't worry if you do as it will still be good. Sprinkle top of chicken lightly with crushed thyme. (The top should be pretty well buttered with what you used to grease the pan. No need to add more.)

Cook another 30-35 minutes, then increase the temp. to 400° and cook 20-25 more minutes or longer depending on the size of the chicken. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat (the breast) to check for doneness.  It should read 180°. Make sure you are not touching a bone when you use the tester. There's no need to turn the chicken again.

If it seems to be getting too well done on the outside and the inner temp. is not high enough yet, you may want to cover it lightly with aluminum foil to continue baking.

Serve the chicken whole and cut it up at the table. Leave the lemons inside until the bird is carved. They add a wonderful flavor to the broth in the pan.

I recommend serving this with a rice dish and pouring some of the broth over it at the table!  Delicious!

Hard Questions - Is It Biblical for Women to Wear Pants?

 

This is a critique I wrote of an email a reader received some years ago.  It probably will not end the way you expect, so please don’t make assumptions going into it. :-)  This is a long article, but I hope that someone will be helped.

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One of our readers received a letter from a friend in which the friend was giving a lot of excuses as her justification to wear pants. They include what appears to be her own inventions and probably things that someone who has "freedom in Christ" spoon fed her.  Based on the title of this article, you may have come here expecting something different from what you are actually going to read.  The point here is not the "pants on women" issue.  It's a lot bigger than that.  Please don't get sidetracked on that issue and miss the main point.  The main point is that a lot people are messing with scripture, misinterpreting it and actually calling God a liar in order to avoid dealing with the subject of modesty in general.  Please consider carefully where you are getting the justification for you own "liberty" in regards to not only dress, but also any other areas of life.  We may all be guilty at times of redefining scripture to excuse ourselves of sin or carelessness.

My replies in purple Arial font follow the statements made by the woman which are preceded by >>. Her spelling has been left intact for the most part.

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>> How do I explain old covenants and new covenants to you? There are
>> SEVERAL covenants in the bible...did you know that? Each time a new
>> covenant was made, the "rules" changed.

This is not true. If you study the covenants of the Bible you will find that some of them are built upon the others. This is true of the New Testament covenant. It is built on the Old Testament law, for the law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. If we did not have the O.T. law of Moses' covenant, we would not know what sin was. If we did not have the prophetic aspects of those covenants we would not know what it was that Christ came to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

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Evening Song- Follow On

 

Sew Happy Friday – Prewashing Trims

 

Should you prewash trims?  This is something that I think varies depending on the trim and what you plan to do with it. 

Last year sometime I started working on a jumper (pinafore).  It is a light pink with cherries and strawberries on it and I wanted to add some red bias tape trim as a contrast.  When I got the bias tape out I looked at the vivid color, and thinking about how reds sometimes run pretty badly, I decided maybe I should prewash it.  The packaging had a “guarantee” on it to the effect that this bias tape was “colorfast” and if it ran and ruined a project the manufacturer would pay for the materials.  Well, I’m a skeptic on some things and that was one of them.  I decided to prewash that bias tape anyway.

Good thing I did!

Yeah.  That doesn’t look colorfast to me either.

Here’s my bowl of pretty rosy water.

My jumper would have been ruined for sure.  I wonder if their guarantee is as lousy as their “colorfast” dye?  Good thing I didn’t have to find out!

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My previous article on prewashing fabric.