Evening Song - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Philippians 3:8-9  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Sew Happy Friday - Jenny's Super-Duper Easy Hourglass Quilt Tutorial

Another fun quilt tutorial from Jenny Doan at the Missouri Star Quilt Co. - The Super-Duper Easy Hourglass.

You could make a really colorful and scrappy quilt with this method by using up your 5 inch squares (charms).  You could also make it bigger by using larger size squares, but remember that the first block will be larger to cut diagonally, so there might be limits as to how big you want to go with that. :-)

Tennessee Memories - Day Lily

Luke 12:27-28  Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Little Blue Ribbons - A Poem by Austin Dobson

"LITTLE BLUE-RIBBONS"

"Little Blue-Ribbons!" We call her that

From the ribbons she wears in her favourite hat;

For may not a person be only five,

And yet have the neatest of taste alive?—

As a matter of fact, this one has views

Of the strictest sort as to frocks and shoes;

And we never object to a sash or bow,

When "little Blue-Ribbons" prefers it so.

Continue Reading.

Why We Are not Quiverfull - Part 4 - Reasons 4-6

Here is Part 4 of the series on why we are not Quiverfull.   If you have not read the introduction or Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 you may wish to start with those by clicking on the respective links.

This part includes three new reasons covering the subjects of nature, as God created it; how Quiverfull can affect the sexual relationship in marriage; and the problem of poor parenting.

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Excerpt:

Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Various animals have a basic, God-given instinct to survive.  Some will abandon their young when there isn't enough food available for them to survive - during a drought perhaps. (I'm not suggesting infanticide, so don't even go there!)  Some animals will have fewer offspring when there is a shortage of food.  I have heard that wolves will not even mate if there is not enough food.  So we see that limiting or reducing population is a basic instinct in wild animals to ensure survival and promote healthy offspring.  They cannot reason as we can and do not even have a free will as we do.  How much more responsible should humans be in such decisions?

I am not talking about the typical humanist idea of reducing the world population.  Generally speaking, that is promoted for self-serving and greedy reasons.  However, since God built this mechanism into at least some of His creatures, it would be folly for us to deny that it has a useful place in creation!  I realize this will probably rub some people the wrong way, but I have come to realize that there are things we take for granted as "good, godly" beliefs which we did not get from the Bible or the reality of how God made this world.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Must I Go and Empty-Handed?

A young man who was dying after only being a Christian for a  very short time said these heart-rending words, "No, I am not afraid [to die]; Jesus saves me now. But oh! must I go, and empty-handed?"  The words inspired the pastor, C. C. Luther to write this poem which was later put to music.  

Matthew 9:36-38  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

FREE Scripture Graphic - Micah 6:8

Here is another free graphic for you.  This is one of my recent edits of a vintage graphic that I found somewhere online.  This is not a very big one, but perhaps someone will find a use for it.

Click on the graphic and then on "Save image as..."  Select a file on computer and save it there.
Enjoy! :-)

If you would like to make your own graphic using these daisies, here is blank copy for you.

Tennessee Memories - Blazing Azaleas

Evening Song - It Is God that Gives the Increase

1 Corinthians 3:6-8  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Feel Good Friday - An Explanation and A Link

Our internet access has been very flaky lately.  They installed a new cable for us today, but now we have to wait for AT&T to come out and disconnect the old line and connect the new one - sometime next week, hopefully.  Anyway, if you don't see a post from me or if I don't participate in a link-up that I usually am part of, this may be why.  Or it could be the extra health stuff going on.  Or it could be the continued battle with the fleas (ARGH!  More?!?!).  Or (wonderful thought!) we might be having a thunder storm!  (We need rain badly at the moment.)  Or....I could just be AWOL.  (I have been having a lot of fun cleaning up vintage graphics lately, among other things.)
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Having gotten that out of the way, here is a lovely page with a lovely hymn accompanied by some lovely photos of hollyhocks, from the lovely Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose.  Please take a look and get a little blessing to carry with you through the weekend. :-)

He Hideth My Soul

Photo property of Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose.

The Thousand Word Project - Lantana

Thoughts from the Past – A Family Resemblance

This week has been very busy and challenging, so I'm sharing an old post with you again today.  This was from my old blog and was copied here in April 2011.  It is still a good reminder, and something I need to think about.
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Dec. 3, 2005
A Family Resemblance

In family Bible reading this week we read 1John 2:29, If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

The thing that struck me is that doing righteousness is a "family trait" of those that are in God's family. We know that ...we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 But, in Christ Jesus and through Him, we can do the righteousness of God. In this there should be a family resemblance.

We expect to see similarities between parents and their offspring in looks, actions, and attitudes. As spiritual children of God, joint-heirs with Christ, we should be showing a resemblance to Him. But, it is not possible unless we are born of Him for it is a family trait, a resemblance that is passed on only through blood relationship. Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

It is also our calling.

1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We should ask ourselves these questions regularly: Do I resemble Jesus Christ?  Would others know from my life that I am related to Him?

Evening Song - Be Thou My Vision

Proverbs 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Monthly Challenge – August 2016

"Tea Leaves" by William McGregor Paxton
Wikimedia Commons

Things have been rather “exciting” here to start off the month of August.  We have a lot of irons in the fire, as the saying goes.  Consequently, I decided to make the challenge this month something a little easier again.

Here it is:

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Invite someone over for a meal.

And/Or

Share a good recipe (that you actually use) with a friend.

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Inviting someone for a meal might not seem all that easy to some, but I’m not going to put any limitations on it.  It can be family members or friends for whom you don’t feel any need to do extra clean up. :-)  Just extend some hospitality to someone.  Make it a super easy meal if you like, even make it a joint effort where they bring part of the meal.  Enjoy some fellowship and friendship.

I am making a limitation on the recipe by saying that it should be something that you use.  My reason for this is that we see so many recipes shared on Facebook these days that we know the person didn’t try before they passed it on to others.  So, the idea here is to pass on something that you use, something that is actually a part of you and your life, not just something that sounds and looks good on a computer screen. :-)  It’s more interesting to make a recipe that you know your friend uses regularly.  It gives us a connection that internet recipes never will give.

I hope this adds some joy to your life this month, and that you add some joy to someone else’s life through it.

Hebrews 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

1 Peter 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Tennessee Memories - Wild Iris

I think these irises came from the Smokey Mts.