Before and After Challenge

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

Ok we all have them. Nooks and crannies where things have piled up and gotten out of control. I just couldn't stand the laundry closet anymore and decided to fess up. I knew if I told myself that I would show you the before and after pictures something was going to get done about it today!

BEFORE

AFTER

The computer can be such a help. I printed out tags to label the boxes in the closet and also the old white protien powder jugs that I have been saving for such a use as this. I made labels with one of my watercolor roses and viola!

Oh if you are wodnering what the magnet on the washer says it is in German,

it says...

Belive on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

The challenge is now yours...

BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES

and your story.

Please leave me a comment here so I and others can pop over to visit

and see how you "see to the ways of your household".

Before & After Picture Links

HISBELOVED

She worketh willingly with her own hands

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Proverbs 31:24

I don't know about you, but I am not one that can sit and watch a movie. Most of the time it just seems like a waste of time. However, if I occupy my hands with needle and thread, or a crochet neddle and yarn, I have something to show for the time I spent listening to the moive that others wanted to watch. I have found that I work best during these times of rest for others in the household so as to not be a distraction and yet keep my hands busy.

I have set baskets around the house with a project or two from embroidery to crochet to hand quilting, so that when I find myself with a few minutes I can attend to a few stitches. I also keep a bag of projects in the car so that when I find myself waiting in an office or at a coffee shop, I can quicky pull my work out. I don't see many doing this anymore and even looks to to contrary, but so be it. Ladies fill those baskets, keep your hands busy and share your talents with those that are younger than you that they may have beautiful things to adorn their walls or share with others.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:30-31

PS: I have enough partially finished projects to keep me busy for a long time, but if you are looking for a challenge check out Pam's Monthly Finishing Challenge

Safe in the arms of Jesus

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.

I drop my sword and cry for just awhile

'Cause deep inside this armor

The warrior is a child.

~Twila Paris

Memorial Day

Oh Father,

On this the day our country sets aside to remeber those that have fought and died for our freedom, may You remember the families that are left here on earth and hold them tight in Your arms of love. For those of us who have loved ones that are fighting for freedom right now, please protect them and gaurd them with Your angels and Your mighty right hand!

Please answer our prayers and their prayers as we cry out to You. Only You Jesus can satisfy the soul even in the hottest driest desert. Thank you for allowing these men and women in the borders of other countries. You used Paul as a prisoner to share the gospel, please give your children everywhere opportunities to share Your truth as well. Please give our troops the courage and widom and strength that they need to do the things that you set before them, and watch over their families until they return home.

I also thank you Father for giving me the insight to call my own dad,

(a retired Command Seargeant Major)

when he was alive each Memorial Day just to thank him for all his service to his country. I know he always shrugged off the attention and didn't want me to acknowledge it, but I'm glad I did. Because now that he is safe in Your arms I can't pick up the phone, but I can ask You to love Him for me and tell him how much I miss him. These past few years that phone call has been made to my brother who is now retired from 23 years of military service in the army.

Flooding

There are many suffering in China and in Myrmar that many of us are praying for.

Might I ask you to pray for many to the east of us as well. We are seeing the water levels rise here, but it looks like not much damage in the immediate area. Many homes to the east are under water and are looking at a long time before the water receeds.

We went straight from winter and 30-40 degree weather to weather in the 90's for about a week so the snow melted fast and on top of that it began to rain.

The picnic table and trees and bushes used to be up on the bank along the river but are now in a swift running river.

The awesome power of God is so wondrous to see in the raging waters.

I am listening to the radio Program Pastors Perspective as I post this.There seems to be much darkness at work across this world, so Lord help your people to shine the light of your love and grace that the darkness would flee!
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. II Corinthians 4:5-7

Simple Devotion

Imagine my delight when I came across this Simple Devotion Ring at

The Simple Woman.

Sharing the word of God with others online was the entire reason I started blogging here, and low and behold God lets me see there are 7,000 others out there just like you Eljah! :)

Click on over there and jump in!

God is so very good to us!

So for today's Simple Devotion God has reminded me through My Three Daughters down in New Zealand that we believers are just like sheep. Now I wouldn't call you a dumb sheep, but sometimes that is exactly what I am! But you know God loves me anyway! I recognize my unworthiness and yet my God looks at me through the blood of Jesus and sees a pure white sheep in the righteousnes of Christ, instead of a sin laden black one. As long as we stick close to Jesus we are safe in the arms of our Shepherd. Just like the Shulamite maiden who asks where can I find you, the answer comes quickly to anyone wanting to listen...stick close to the flock little one.

Stay in fellowship with true believers and feed upon His word...

for there you will find Jesus and peace and rest for your soul!

I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.

Song of Solomon 1:5-8

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Tea Pots

Every tea pot in their place and a place for every tea pot!

Gracious Hospitali-tea Blog A Thon

May 18 - May 24 The Pouring TeapotThis week is all about sharing about teapots. Do you have one? two? or three? maybe more? Is it for display only or do you use it for tea? What is the tea server you use most? Your favorite teapot (or is it something like a quart jar?). Tell your teapot story, give it's history, and tell what it means to you. You can share more than once if you'd like. Antique, new, Asian, English, or something in between --- we'd love to know!

It is so nice to have several sets to be able to use for different times.

This one comes out polished or not,

along with special goodies to offer with it at the same time.

And for family get togethers, bridal showers, baby showers.....

This ceramic harvest tea pot comes out in the fall to enjoy and celebrate the cooler weather, because with it comes time to begin baking fresh bread after the hot days of summer.

Don't you just love those

tiny little tea infusers shaped like a tea pot?

I've always wanted one. I've also seen the little tea strainer that goes on the end of spout as you pour from your tea set, but have not been able to find one yet. I keep hunting through the antique and second hand stores for these.

This is the old stand by working tea pot. Good and sturdy and I love the look of it through winter spring and summer. We were going to visit Grandma and Grandpa campsite a few years ago and he ended up being sick so we had to bug them out and head back home. On the way back we stopped in a little gas station in Kingston along the river and they had a gift shop. Well I just had to take a minute to look and I found this tea pot on sale for $8.00!

Yummy Mini cheesecake recipe

The grand finale!

The set has been in the family for many years. Originally it came with four tea cups and saucers and belonged to my grandmother who brought it out of East Prussia and gave it to my mom who gave the set to me for our 25th wedding anniversary. It is of great sentimental value being in the family for so long. The set was made in Bavaria.

A heartfelt thank you to La Tea Dah for being such a gracious hostess in our tea time adventures!
It has been such a joy to come to know so many of you. I guess that is just what happens over a cup of tea.

Take the quiz

Take the Quiz here!

The Emergent Church

"Jello" has finally been nailed to the wall...in poster form!

Please....read....your..... Bible

Your reservation in eternity depends on it!

Tea Blog a Thon

Tea Room Refuge...The HOME!

May 11 - May 17

Tea Room Ventures and Venues Share all about one of your favorite tea rooms. Use photos and descriptions to tell about the decor and ambiance, menus, service, and what makes this tea room special to you. Does this tea room have a gift shop? What kind of special treasures does it contain?

This weeks tea Blog a Thon leaves me with no pictures or any memeories to share. As we raised boys to men and not once did it involve a "Tea Room". However, that doesn't mean there won't be one in the future! For now I would have to say that HOME is and has been the most favorite Tea Room refuge there is. Fellowship with friends over tea (or coffee), is absolutley marvelous. It is a wonderful time to encourage one another in the Word of God, in our marriages, to love our husbands and our children, and to share homeschooling ideas and especially to pray for one another.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:3-5

Truth...is there such a thing?

The fool has said in his heart there is no God
They are corrupt they have done abominable works
There is none that doeth good. Psalm 14:1

The fool…the stupid wicked vile especially impious man or woman
Has said…boasted, declared, demanded, desired, or determined
In his heart…feelings, will, intellect
There is no God…no God or gods, and certainly no Almighty God that will judge the living and the dead according to our works one day.
They are corrupt…decaying, ruined, cast off
They have done abominable…loathsome, detestable, abhorrent
Works…exploits, performances, deeds, actions, inventions
None…Not a single existent one that
Doeth good…a good work.

A good work, or a good thought…where do these come from?
Do you really think they come from “SELF”?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2Ti 3:16 -17

God is the very definition of good. Only what is done for God will last. Good works are of a spiritual nature and a carnal man or a man without the Spirit of God within him cannot comprehend the spiritual things of God.

Man, carnal in thought, with an intellect that thinks up nice things to do, with or without ulterior motives behind it, may be helpful for the moment, but can only try to satisfy the emptiness of his own soul, but it is action that will not last.

Man, spiritual in being, with the mind of God, armed with the armor of God, filled with the Spirit of God, guided by the light of God’s word, can accomplish works that are eternal in nature…works that are Good.

How appropriate and relevant God’s word is to our lives today. Unless of course we decide to live in a fantasy world of our own making….Wait!

• “I” think therefore “I” am
• There is no God because “I” think it is so
• “I” don’t think a loving God would create a hell
• “I” think I’m ready for a Quantum Leap into my own godhood
• “I” think there is no such thing as absolute truth

Yup, sounds like much of the world today is stuck in a fantasy land of “I”
rather than bowing in humility to the one and only true Living God, and surrendering “self”, but don't be fooled everyone will bow before God one day by choice with a surrendered heart of love, or a proud defiant self filled heart that will be forced to finally bow to God.

I realize more and more the significance of this particular part of the words that God speaks…

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:22-24

The carnal or natural man will worship anything his intellect considers important to himself….mainly being SELF.

The spiritual man, or the man of God will worship or adore Almighty God, and commune with Him in his spirit, based on the Truth of God’s word.

How odd that must sound to “Christians” that have strayed from the absolute truth of God’s word to the abstract “Jello” world of Relativism.

Consider this...
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

© Monika Hardy

Daddy can you fix it?

I was out at coffee this morning with a friend studying for a test on I Samuel when I heard some words that I spoke loud and clear. As I spoke the words "fix it" the picture above was pulled up in my brain bites. I have looked at this picture repeatedly admiring the smimplicity of the picture, admiring the little children dressed in what would be considered today... their finery.

I thought of the little girl and boy bringing their broken hoop to daddy and asking him to "fix it". I have learned a long time ago to go straight to my Daddy in heaven with my broken things and ask Him to "fix it". And 100 percent of the time He tells me not to worry, if only I believe in Him and trust Him. It must needs be so!

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom 8:24-25

Tea is on!

May 4 - May 10
Set the Table, Tea is On!

Gracious Hospitality Blog a thon

Share a creative afternoon tea table setting. Linens, serving pieces, teapots and teacup, tea accoutrement's and accessories, centerpieces, tea trays or three-tiers, and more. Show one way you enjoy creating a memorable tea experience. This is your opportunity to show the world the fun you have when you create your own special tea experience. Then. . .invite over a friend or neighbor and share some tea together. That way all your work is not for ought.

Well it's not the Ritz but I enjoy setting the table simply.........for friends.

Tea is just an excuse for me to pull out the Bible and share.... my Jesus!

My first Mother's Day as a Grandmother!

What a dear special day it was to be able to spend it with family and most of all the next generation of the family. Flowers always make the day a bit brighter especially when given in love. Our first little grandaughter brings such joy! It is true, If I had known that grandkids would be this much fun, I would have had them first!




It was very special to have three generations of mom's in the home. In honor of Great Grandmother we had her favorite meal...Barbequed Hamburgers, and most importantly chocolate pie. Grandpa (that makes me Grandma, or Omi as I am affectionately called!) prayed a special prayer asking God to bless all us ladies present, including the new little grandaughter who bumped us all up a generation.

To those who have no children at home, may you find blessings and love in caring for the children in your church family! For truly we are one body, with many members and what a joy it is when the brethern dwell together in unity of the Holy Spirit!

Spiritual Birthday

Today is my spritual birthday. It was on May 8th, 1972 that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart and be my Savior! So how many years does that make safe in the arms of Jesus?

A friend remembered this special day and I found on my doorstep a most special gift. A wonderful greeting card from her own line of cards. A tea cup complete with tea bag and two lumps :) an embroidered handkerchief all wrapped in a beatuiful purple ribbon, (it is my favorite color!) I took a pciture of these things along with the Bible my Sunday School Teacher gave me in commemoration of my decision.

Thank you my friend!

From today's Bible reading in regards to wisdom personified...
Proverbs 8 regarding wisdom which was "set up" or poured out" in eterninty past.

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:22-36

In the shadow of your wings

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Hosea 14:7

As we sit under the shadow of our Jesus, we find rest for our weary souls, protection from our enemy, and great delight in His presence where there is joy unspeakable.

The picture God shows me of Israel being revived as corn, reminds me that like a kernel of corn that is planted it must die to produce fruit. We must die to ourselves, deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus, then we will bring forth fruit in our own lives to glorify our Father in Heaven. I am also reminded by the vine of the seasons in our lives. In winter the vine looks dead, no sign of fruit, not even leaves or any sign of life in the branches. BUT, as the branch abides in the vine there is life giving nourishment. As we abide, dwell, remain, hide in the shadow of our God, we are fed by His word watered by the Holy Spirit to come to the spring time of life that begins to bud, to a summer where fruit grows, and to an autumn where fruit is harvested. The scent of the fruit produced in our lives is as the scent of the wine of Lebanon, known for it’s smell afar off, and it’s utmost quality compared to none other.

A life that abides in Jesus, grown under the shadow of His wings, that dwells in the secret place of the most High, will produce fruit that brings glory to our Father, that attracts others because of it’s good smell through the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and points them to our Father.

Love is the fruit of the Spirit which consists of…
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Song of Solomon 2:3

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:1 .

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 17:8

In the secret in the quiet place,
In the stillness you are there
In the secret in the quiet hour I wait
Only for you
Cause I want to know you more

I want to know you,
I want to see your face
I want to know you more
I want to know you
I want to hear your voice I want to know you more

The Perfect Irish Scone

All this talk of Tea brought me in search of a great scone recipe. I stumbled upon a video on how to make the perfect Irish Scone.

Strangers in this land

Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples For you have played the harlot against your God.

You have made love for hire on every threshing floor
Hosea 9:1

There is much to mourn over in this life.
Just as Hosea is called to show us the picture of harlotry on the part of the Jews,
mankind is called to repentance and yet spiritual harlotry runs rampant in the church.
Many have left their first love.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. III John 1:11

We are held captives as sojourners in this land.
As we sow in tears with the prayers, as deep cries out to deep,
as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and makes groanings which cannot be uttered, then God bends down low to hear our prayers, and catches each tear that falls in a bottle.
Those tears, those prayers are precious to our Father, as precious as the ointment that Mary used as she broke the alabaster box to anoint Jesus. Our prayers reach heaven as a sweet smelling sacrifice just as the ointment filled the room with its beautiful odor.

At times we can overlook the incredible honor and glory we can lay at the feet of Jesus when we take part in suffering for Him, rather than trying to just get out of a difficult situation.
I can lay all that concerns me at the feet of Jesus, when I am on my face before Him in prayer.

I can also trust that He is able to take care of everything that concerns me, and cling to the promise He gives me… that one day I shall reap in joy all that I have sown in tears.

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy!!!
Psalm 126:5.

And the 1,500 visitor is...

Welcome 1,500th visitor! So glad you took the time to come and visit. If you would like please leave a comment and let me know what part of the globe you are from. Praying you know the heigth, depth, breadth and length of the love Jesus has for you.

~Domestically Inclined