Hard Questions - Should You Obey the Government?

This sermon is by a pastor in Australia whose testimony is well known to some of my family. I found this message very encouraging and also such an urgent reminder for this time we're in now. The Lord commands us to obey the powers that be, which He has ordained (Romans 13). In this message Brother Hyland makes it clear from God's own word how much we are to be subject to the governments God has set in place and the limited parameters of when and how we can disobey. It may not be at all what you think. Have a listen.

Evening Song - Zion's Hill

"For Thou Art With Me"

I know not when I go, nor where,

From this familiar scene;

But [Christ] is here and He is there

And all the way between;

And, when I pass from all I know

To that dim, vast unknown,

Though late I stay, or soon I go,

I shall not go alone.

Annie Johnson Flint  [altered]

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Michael Lining Music

Caramel Sauce

Caramel Sauce

1 1/2 Cups sugar
1/2 Cup Light corn syrup
6 Tablespoons margarine or butter
1 Cup light cream or evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 to 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients in a 2 qt. sauce pan. Bring to a rolling boil over medium to high medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for about 3-4 minutes, continuing to stir constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool. If the oil starts to separate, return to the stove and boil longer. Cool to desired warmth before serving with ice cream.

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I don't use corn syrup any more, and I haven't made this recently, so I don't know what the best substitute would be for that. Maybe there is non-GMO corn syrup available by now.

This syrup goes well on cake, pie, ice cream or even on fresh fruit like apples or bananas. 

Random Acts of Blogging - Questions About Writing

I found these questions somewhere online. I'm sorry I don't remember where, nor do I remember if I added any of my own. :-)

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Do you write better at a specific time of day?

That's hard to say. I'm not sure there's a time I write better, but I do have the unfortunate tendency to start writing too late in the afternoon or evening and then end up writing too late. This isn't good for my health. Sigh.

What is something about yourself that you hope will change, but probably never will?

I struggle with self-doubt about my writing skills quite a bit. I also get discouraged about whether I'm doing anything useful.

How much time do you spend writing?

This year, not as much as I should. I have been gradually getting back to feeling like writing just lately, but I had a rather long spell of not feeling motivated to write much. I realize now that this was probably largely due to the stress we were going through dealing with my mom's dementia and failing health.

What is your favorite type of writing?

At present I have been enjoying the epistolary form of writing - the new category at the web page: "Letters to My Friend".

When did you know you were a writer?

Strange to say, I didn't really know it for a long time. I was at least in my late twenties or thirties, I think, before I thought of myself as a writer. This despite the fact that I loved writing before I even knew how to read! 

How did you first get into writing?

One of my earliest memories is one of my mom writing a letter at our picnic table in Ethiopia with 3 or 4 year-old me sitting next to her making marks on a piece of paper. I was "writing a letter" to Gramma Hoover. I never lost the love or fascination for writing. For years it was focused on letter writing and school work, then the occasional poem, diaries and Bible study journals. Later it moved into writing articles for the web page.

Who was the first person to take note of your writing skill?

My fourth grade teacher, Woody Fridae.

How did you get into writing/editing an online journal?

My dad had started a web page for the purpose of ministry and he suggested that I start a section for women. This is the reason we chose the name "The Home Maker's Corer". It was originally a "corner" of his much larger web site. When I married my husband, Peter, he wanted it to be a separate web page of its own, so we separated it and got my own URL and compiling program.

How did you get into blogging?

After we got married in 2008 my husband suggested a blog as something to along side the web page. Coming up with a name was a bit difficult at the time, but we settled on "The Cotton Apron" because I wore cotton aprons a lot. Still do some. I believe I started it in February of 2009.

What writing skills would you like to add to your skill set?

I would like to write edifying fiction.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you?

Starting. Once I really get started, I can usually keep writing. It's the starting that hinders me the most.

What aspect of writing do you enjoy the most?

I think that would be the sense of satisfaction that I was able to get into words something that was on my heart that I wanted to convey to help people, and then to know that it did help someone in the Lord. That is sweet and such a blessing to me personally. 

What motivates you to keep writing?

The desire to help lift others' loads and to teach. To help my sisters in Christ look to God's word for their answers to life's questions. To pass on some of the things that God had taught me. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. I have been given so much, and I know the Lord doesn't mean for me to keep it all to myself. Plus, I just have to write. Even if it never makes it into print, I write and have conversations in my head constantly - c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y!

How has writing made a difference in your life?

It has expanded my view of the world and life. It has forced me to work on my own spiritual needs and life struggles. It has perhaps given me a different view of  scripture sometimes as I read it. It has made me more aware of may issues that women are dealing with in the world and church today.

When you are in ministry to others often times the Lord will let you experience a lot of things so that you can help others, or perhaps you just become more aware of how your life experiences can help others. This can give you a sense of the importance of not letting things go to waste, so to speak. Sometimes it is an attainable goal, and sometimes it is not. Some things are too hard to write about yet, but when you have a desire to help others, you will often times find that at some point the Lord will require you to write about things you never wanted to write about. This is hard. It strips away a lot of pretense. It can be quite painful at times, but it can also be cathartic. 

Another, though less interesting, difference that writing makes in my life is that when I get to writing sometimes chores that needed to be done get delayed or missed. Sigh. Tonight the dishwasher did not get run as it should have.

Do you have any professional help with writing?

No. I have watched some YouTube videos by writers and editors that have been helpful to me, but so far I haven't sought out professional help. My husband proofreads for me often, but we both miss things, as you may notice. 

Have you taken any courses on writing?

I took a creative writing course at the college level right after high school (maybe I did secretly know I was a writer? but I didn't have a real goal in that other than wanting to). It was really more basic English, in my opinion. I wasn't overly impressed, but I did learn stuff from it. 

Is writing your profession or hobby or...?

For me it is an unpaid ministry at present. It is one of the main ways that I serve the Lord outside my home (and yet at home at the same time). Unfortunately, writing does not seem to be very much looked for as a ministry within the body of Christ on the local church level any more. I'm not sure how that could be changed.

I Bring My Sins to Thee - A Poem by Frances Ridley Havergal

I bring my sins to Thee,

The sins I cannot count,

That all may cleansed be

In Thy once opened Fount;

I bring them Saviour, all to Thee;

The burden is too great for me.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - God Will Take Care of You

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

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Lazy Day Peppers

1 pound hamburger (or ground meat of your choice)
1/4 lb bacon, sliced
1 onion, minced
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 - 4 green peppers, chunks (1 inch)
1 28 oz can tomatoes, broken up
1 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs paprika
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
2 cups water

Brown hamburger and bacon with onion. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes (add more water as/if needed) or till rice is tender.

Thanks to Denise, South Dakota

Tutorial for Sharpie Tye-Dyed T-shirt

Photo property of Happiness Is Homemade.

Sharpie Tye-Dyed T-shirt

Letters to My Friend - Thoughts on Unexpected Grief and Being Childless

Mother's Day was really hard this year. I knew it would be because of my mother going to heaven in March. It is so raw and fresh still in some ways. What I didn't expect was the grief I had that I don't have a mother here any more and that I am also not a mother.

After years of dealing with pain of not being a mother, I didn't expect that one to crop back up again. It isn't that I don't know how to deal with it, or that I don't know where to go for help with it. It's more like the feeling of, "Hey, wait. I thought I got off of this train at an earlier station. How did I get back on it?" Somehow losing my mom from this earth brought that old hurt back again.

Life surprises us sometimes...

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - The Great Redeemer

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

 Isaiah 47:4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. 

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acapeldridge.com

Berry Fun - Berries and Chocolate for Breakfast

Early summer or late spring is the time for fresh berries. How about making something simple like pancakes or a bowl of oatmeal into something special by adding chocolate chips and fresh berries on top? These are so good you could practically serve them for dessert, but no one will complain of an extra special breakfast. :-) Make sure the pancakes or cereal are very hot when you put the chocolate chips on in order to get that yummy melted chocolate effect. Besides tasting delicious, this is also a very pretty breakfast!

One Bed Garden - Successive Plantings

Here is a video showing how much food can be grown in one small bed over the course of a growing season by making successive plantings (reusing spaces). This could be done in even a small back yard (garden).

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A Mother Prays - by Martha Snell Nicholson - A poem for mothers who have lost a little one

When something we have held dear is taken away from us, it is important to ask the Lord to show us things we can do for Him to fill our hands and hearts for His glory. We are not meant to be empty-handed or empty-hearted.

A Mother Prays

There is a new lamb cradled on Thy breast tonight;
A sweet small lamb, so lately mine
I scarce can keep my arms from reaching out
As though to snatch her back from Thine.

Read More.

Evening Song - Where the Soul Never Dies

My mom loved the songs from the Redback Hymnal. She is now in that wonderful place where the soul never dies.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

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Michael Lining Music

Creatures Great and Small - The Little Red Hen

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 

FREE Printable Graphics - Mother's Day and scripture

Here are some free graphics for your card making or other crafting projects. :-)

This graphic is my own photography and design work. Please click here to download a larger sized image. The download button is on the upper left of the page.

This is a vintage graphic. I do not know where it originally came from. Please click here to download a larger sized image. The download button is on the upper left of the page.

He's Helping Me Now - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

He's Helping Me Now

He's helping me now--this moment,
Though I may not see it or hear,
Perhaps by a friend far distant,
Perhaps by a stranger near,
Perhaps by a spoken message
Perhaps by the printed word;
In ways that I know and know not
I have the help of the Lord.

He's keeping me now--this moment,
However I need it most,
Perhaps by a single angel,
Perhaps by a mighty host,
Perhaps by the chain that frets me,
Or the walls that shut me in;
In ways that I know or know not
He keeps me from harm and sin.

He's guiding me now--this moment,
In pathways easy or hard,
Perhaps by a door wide open,
Perhaps by a door fast barred,
Perhaps by a joy withholden
Perhaps by a gladness given;
In ways that I know and know not,
He's leading me up to heaven.

He's using me now--this moment,
And whether I go or stand,
Perhaps by a plan accomplished
Perhaps when he stays my hand,
Perhaps by a word in season
Perhaps by a silent prayer;
In ways that I know and know not,
His labor of love I share.

--Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 146:5-6 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

Evening Song - Rejoice In the Lord

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

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