FREE Vintage Scripture Graphic - Pleasant Love

Here is another vintage graphic that I found somewhere online and made some changes and added the verse. You can save the image from here, but it will not be very high quality.  You can get it in higher quality if you go over and download it here. (Use the download button on the left.) This particular graphic is smaller than some I've posted, so hopefully it will print well for you. Be sure to do a test run.

If you wish to use this online, please do not link to the graphic from either of my locations. Save it to your own computer and then upload it to the place where you store graphics online for your own use. Thank you.

[Note: It's OK to link the graphic from here only if you are sharing the link to this specific post on my blog - either on your own blog or in social media.] :-)

Enjoy!

Thoughts from the Past: Absalom – Marks of An Usurper

In reading 2 Samuel, I came to the notorious story of Absalom's conspiracy to take the throne from his father, David. This all starts in chapter 15 where we are given a description of his initial tactics and then verse 6 says, And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:6 A look at his methods might prove profitable to us today when there are so many who would usurp the Lord and the authorities He has set in place in the New Testament.

1. His first step was to make himself appear important - actually more important than he was. 2 Samuel 15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. Beware of men and women who make themselves more important than they really are.  There are many "experts" these days who want us to think that they are essential to our understanding because they are very important people with a very important message.  Self-aggrandizing behavior is not the basis for real usefulness or respectability.  Doug Phillips, recent leader of the late Vision Forum, is a prime example of this.  He put himself often into the place of honor, when in reality he was making himself an alternate authority, usurping the authority of Jesus Christ and God's word.  Psalms 49:16-20 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

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First published here July 2014.
(Artwork by John Steel?)

Evening Song - All the Way My Savior Leads Me

John 10:2-3 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Psalm 73:23-24 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 

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How to Get Up Off the Floor - A Tutorial

Here's a useful video on how to get up off of the floor if you fall when you are alone. This will not work in every situation. Lack of strength or carpeting would make it much harder. I do recommend having a chair in every room of your house if there is space for that since it would make this easier.

My mom fell around 6 times last year. Because of her limited mobility we had to call the emergency services a number of times to get her up when my husband wasn't home. I really encourage trying to keep some muscle tone and flexibility through intentional exercise as you go into your mid to later years of life. I want to work on this more myself after watching my Mom's difficulties with this. Anyway, it's something I think about because I never know when I'll get the next call that she's down nor how bad it will be. Her last fall was quite bad because she hit her head on a side table.

A Pool In the Wilderness

Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

A Pool in the Wilderness
by Sarah Lynn Jackson

The Lord Everlasting,
The Creator of All,
Giveth strength to the weary,
And lifts them that fall.

Thy God is e’er with thee,
So be not dismayed;
He will uphold thee
When thou art afraid.

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Evening Song - There Is A Fountain

Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Beginner Watercolor Greeting Card Tutorial

Here is a tutorial for a simple watercolor card done by Sharon Cullen. One way to make this easier would be to use watercolor greeting cards that are already pre-cut and folded and just paint directly onto the card, skipping the torn edge look. Also, you could do this with cheap watercolor paints and still get an acceptable result. Be adventuresome and mix your colors for more interest.

This project is easy enough that some kids would enjoy trying it. If you don't have a stamp to use for the greeting on the front, these cards will look pretty without, or you can write one on a bit of card stock and glue it on the front.

As I like to mention as a reminder - I do not have any control over the ads that may show up on these videos, or over the "suggested" links offered at the end. :-)

Why Do the Women Look and Sound Alike? - Some Signs that A Group May View Women Strangely

Have you ever been in a group of Christian women and noticed that they all look alike, sound alike, and maybe even think alike? Have you felt like you were the odd one out in the gathering, even though you may have been dressed conservatively yourself? A friend and I had this experience once in a very marked way when we went to an event sponsored by women in a "Biblical Patriarchy" "Family Inclusive" type church group. We were wearing dresses/skirts. We were dressed very conservatively by most standards and neither of us were "styled" heavily in any way. Neither of us have really short hair, nor was our hair really long at the time. But, I felt like we were almost weirdos among them. It was an odd feeling to me at the time. The only other women there who didn't fit in were some unsaved relatives of someone. They had super short hair, heavy make-up, pants, bright orange hair, etc. It seemed strange to be among the outsiders in this group.

What was this about? I had questions and thoughts.

Of course, I'd seen similar things before. The Mennonites, Branhamites (followers of William Marion Branham), Gothardites, various Pentacostals and Church of God, and others exhibit similar behaviors. It's hard not to notice their weirdness sometimes, even when you want to not notice and to be compassionate or kind.

But, what does it mean? What does it potentially show about the group's view of women?

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Evening Song - It Is Well with My Soul

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 

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Berry Fun Friday - Strawberry Pincushion Tutorial

Here is a tutorial for a cute and easy strawberry pincushion brought to us by the Gourmet Quilter of New Zealand. A simple hand sewn running stitch can be used to do the gathering around the top. Another option would be to zigzag over a bit of string, yarn or fishing line.

I used a different pattern to make similar berries. Instead of using felt for the tops I made yo-yos from green fabrics and sewed those over the opening.

This would be a great way to use up scraps of reds and pinks.

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Evening Song - I'll Live On

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

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