Song - I'm In the Savior's Hand; Poem - The Double Clasp

The John Marshall Family

The Double Clasp

The Saviour's hand - how close its hold,
That none can loosen, none can break.
No powers of heaven or earth or hell
That loving clasp can ever shake.

And over Jesus' wounded hand
The Father's hand of strength is laid,
Omnipotent to save and keep;
Thus is our surety surer made.

So, one beneath and one above,
Father and Son their hands unite.
How safe, how safe the ransomed are
Within that clasp of tender might!

Annie Johnson Flint

John 10:28-30  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

Evening Song - I Will Give My Life

The John Marshall Family

Sew Happy Friday - Tutorial for Cute Felt-Backed Coasters

Image property of sew4hom.com

These coaster would be a fun way to add some color to a room, or they would make great gifts. One might even fit into a card to be mailed. (Check to see if it needs extra postage.)

They also look pretty easy to make. If you have scraps of felt and some stray quilting patches, these would come together quite quickly. This is also a good way to practice top-stitching if it's something you struggle with. These coasters are not a big project and can be used for awhile and then discarded. This is much better place to learn a new skill than on a garment or a big project. :-) The tutorial is at sew4home.com

Link: Felt and Fabric Coasters

Creatures Great and Small - Winter Friends

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Sparrow

White tail deer

Chickadee

Fade, Fade, Each Earthly Joy - A Poem and A Challenge

(graphic crated at AZQuotes.com)

My husband and I have had influenza this past week, so my post today will be somewhat brief.

Fade, Fade, Each Earthly Joy

Fade, fade, each earthly joy;
Jesus is mine.
Break ev'ry tender tie;
Jesus is mine.
Dark is the wilderness,
Earth has no resting place,
Jesus alone can bless;
Jesus is mine.

Tempt not my soul away;
Jesus is mine.
Here would I ever stay;
Jesus is mine.
Perishing things of clay,
Born but for one brief day,
Pass from my heart away;
Jesus is mine.

Farewell, ye dreams of night;
Jesus is mine.
Lost in this dawning bright,
Jesus is mine.
All that my soul has tried
Left but a dismal void;
Jesus has satisfied;
Jesus is mine.

Farewell, mortality;
Jesus is mine.
Welcome, eternity;
Jesus is mine.
Welcome, O loved and blest,
Welcome, sweet scenes of rest,
Welcome, my Savior’s breast;
Jesus is mine.

-- Mrs. Catherine J. Bonar

I am reminded of my own Gramma, who did celebrate Christmas, but she got to where she did very little in her own house because she realized how much extra trouble it was and that what was done would need undoing later, and she didn't want to commit that much time and effort to it. She didn't need things to prove she loved the Lord, or that He was her joy.

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

What level of vanity have you spent on "the season"? How much time, money, and effort have you spent on things that have little or nothing to do with the actual birth of Jesus Christ and things of eternal value?

May I ask you a personal question? Could you enjoy celebrating Jesus' birth without all the trimmings and decorations, without all the traditions and rituals?

Earthly joys are all going to fade away and not be remembered someday anyway. Only those things of true eternal value will last, and we don't need earthly things to prove our relationship to Jesus.

What will be of lasting value?

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

1 Peter 3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

We can choose to live with less of earthly joys and more of eternal joys now - today - by what we choose to spend our time and efforts upon, but it will take conscious effort and sacrifice. How will you minister Christ in this world today, tomorrow, any day?

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

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Here is a lovely presentation of this hymn by my friend, Stephanie, at The Enchanting Rose.

Fade, Fade Each Earthly Joy

FREE Scripture Graphic for Card Making and Crafts - Snow On the Earth

Here is another remake of a vintage graphic that I did. I'm not sure where I got the original, but I did some work on it before I added the verse, and I'm including both versions for you. You can save the images from here, or you can go over and download the one with the verse or the one without. (Use the download button in the lower right corner.) I am not sure if they will be a good size for printing if you save them from here since these are of a restricted size, from what I can tell.

Please do not link to these graphics from here if you are using them online, but save them to your own computer and then upload them to the place where you store graphics online for you own use. Thank you. [Note: It's ok to link from here only if you are sharing the link to this specific post on my blog on your blog or in social media. :-) ]

Enjoy!

Tennessee Memories - Jeweled Windows

Photos taken at The Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Whitestone Inn, Kingston, Tennessee. My husband proposed to me at this place.