What About the Refugees? Part 3 – The Missionfield Next Door

(Painting:  "In Cairo" by Joseph Farquharson)

There has been a lot of worry and fear in various places about the possibility of Syrian refugees (to say nothing of “illegals” from Mexico) arriving “here.”  Stories of their alleged evil intent, of possible “terrorists” among them and other horrors have spread.  Some things that have actually happened somewhere have been represented with doubtful accuracy as “normal” behavior for “those people.”   But, what is the mind of Christ?  What does this mass migration mean to the child of God who is entrusted with the precious words of life?

Continue Reading.

Evening Song – In My Heart

This old John Peterson song came to mind recently and I hope it blesses someone else too. :-)

Card Making: Save the Used Christmas Cards

I like card making.  I haven't done nearly enough of it for a long time now, so this year I want to try to get back to it.  It is very enjoyable and refreshes my creativity, I think. :-)  Plus, they don't have to take very long and when you're done you have a handmade card to give someone.

Since we're just past the holiday season, I wanted to talk about recycling holiday cards into other greeting cards.  Even those of us who don't celebrate Christmas sometimes receive cards that are recyclable, so this applies to everyone.

First of all, check the envelope. Sometimes they are lined with really nice gold or metallic paper that can be used to cut out smaller pieces.  Also check both the envelope and the card for background prints that could be used for another purpose.  Then notice if there are features, parts of or whole pictures that you can cut out which won't be necessarily "Christmassy".

The card above is one that I made by cutting out just one section of a Christmas card and an edge.  I trimmed along the graphic to give it the flowing look and then added a strip from the edge of the card. Finally, I added hand drawn art work that would compliment the recycled graphic.  This card made a nice winter birthday card (and it was one of my favorites, too, I might add).

This card was made from a Christmas card also, as far as I can recall.  I cut out the picture of the pine trees and added it to a blue card.  The decoration along the bottom was made by cutting white paper or velum on both edges with decorative scissors.  As you can see I had a little trouble with it, but this is a recycle project, and isn't about being perfect. :-)  You can make different looks depending on where you place the scissors as you start to cut.

I also made the snow sparkle by "painting" glitter glue on just the snow areas of the picture, which you can see better in this picture.

One thing I do recommend when making cards from recycled photos is that you write on the back that it is a "recycled design."  This way people will know that you are using someone else's photography. I'd also be careful about reselling things like this.  It would be good to check about laws and rules relating to copyright before selling much like that. :-)  I'm not familiar with such things myself as I never sell my cards - so far.

Australian Memories - Cocoa Tree

An interesting sight at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha was the cocoa tree.  This was inside a glasshouse (green house).  We visited Australia in 2013.

Monthly Challenge – January 2016

“A Pleasant Corner” by John Callcott Horsley

Well, this marks our second year of monthly challenges.  I had enough positive response here and on Facebook to convince me that we should go on, and since I’d written around 24 ideas down, it looked like we should be able to make it through another year.  Of course, I may add some new ones along the way as well. :-)

We emphasized reaching out to others in November and December, so this month we’re going to do something more personal.

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Do a craft project with someone else - or alone.

And/Or

Read a book you’ve been meaning to read.

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The craft project can be anything you enjoy.  I recommend doing something with at least one other person if you can, just for the fellowship and growth that comes from working together.  But, if you prefer to work alone, that’s OK too.


The book can be any type – entertainment, educational, spiritual, etc.  The point is to pick something that you really want to read.  There is a satisfaction in reading something that you have been putting off and this month may be a good one in both hemispheres – here because it’s generally colder outside, and in the south because it so hot.  :-)


[Photo: My mom years ago when we lived in Arizona.]

Evening Song – I Will Give My Life

 

Psalms 96:7-9  Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Arizona

"New Every Morning" - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

This is a good reminder for beginning the year.  The old problems, the new ones; the old joys, the new ones - God's compassions and mercies are new every single day for whatever it is we have to face this year.  Every. Single. Day.  Let's take this with us as the constant promise that He meant it to be.

"New Every Morning"

Yea, "new every morning," though we may awake,
Our hearts with old sorrow beginning to ache;
With old work unfinished when night stayed our hand,

With new duties waiting, unknown and unplanned;
With old care still pressing, to fret and to vex,

With new problems rising, ours minds to perplex;
In ways long familiar, in paths yet untrod,
Oh, new every morning the mercies of God!

His faithfulness fails not; it meets each new day
With guidance for every new step of the way;
New grace for new trials, new trust for old fears,
New patience for bearing the wrongs of the years,
New strength for new burdens, new courage for old,
New faith for whatever the day may unfold;
As fresh for each need as the dew on the sod;
Oh, new every morning the mercies of God!

By Annie Johnson Flint

Lamentations 3:22-24  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.