Be Alarmed

a

If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, 

any book better than the Bible, 

any house better than the house of the Lord,

any table better than the Lord's table,

any persons better than Christ, 

or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven--

be alarmed.

-Thomas Guthrie

Hat tip to Mrs. Pamela Leding

(this is Miss Jen's mom and we will feature an interview 
with her in the near future!)


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Spring Is Here! Decluttering the Large Family

I am so happy that spring is finally here! The longer days, the birds singing, new life budding their heads in the garden, the fresh air----oh, what is there NOT to love about spring?

I have been getting around to spring cleaning, running around the house like a mad woman with trash bags and asking myself one key question:

"Do I want to take care of this for the next 10 years?" 

Ha! That got things going pretty quickly! Let me just say I threw away bags and bags of things that I no longer had interest in or wanted to take care of. I remember as a young wife I was busy trying to do the opposite-- to collect items for our home and to fill it.... or even being sentimental about certain items that I though I could not part with,--but now I am more than willing to give/throw them away today! Why? Because in order to live a more simpler life that is rich with true living I can't confine myself to caring for a lot of material possessions which actually take away from the real living that I desire to do!

I think having alot of things can imprison a person to some degree. American's have so much, we really need to teach our children the value of having little and getting with much less. I remember hearing of a missionary family that would feed their children on occasion a meal of plain potatoes to teach them how to survive on a simple meal if they ever became missionaries  and eating on leaves instead of plates. They knew if they became missionaries they would have to survive on much less, they did not want to raise discontented consumers but instead desired to raise children that could be content and live on the simple things in life if they would share Jesus with a lost world.

Simpler living can be achieved without the responsibility to the many unneeded items here on earth. We must protect that precious commodity that we can never get back:  TIME! Precious time to do the things we really want to do and share with those we love  because we only live once. Let's not spend it tirelessly taking care of the endless unneeded earthly possessions we own so that we can spend time on the ever important eternal.

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Need help decluttering or some motivation?

Here is my all time favorite book that gets right to the point and had me throwing things out

our home like you would not believe!

The Incalculable Impact of One Woman

Love this!

Ladies, 

know that your work is not in vain,

 and remember the Lord is pleased with your sacrifice to Him

 and He knows all your trials, pain and suffering.

Do not grow weary in serving our Mighty King!

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Mothering Through Trials, Heartache and Diversity

God walks with mothers through heartache....

"The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water,

 whose waters do not fail.

 Isaiah 58:11

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:18-1

God walks with mothers through adversity...

And He said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you,
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

God comforts mothers as they learn to handle spiritual trials...

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened to you;
but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed,
you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13

Found these in a little devotional book for mothers this morning--I pray that sharing it with you brings you
 HOPE AND COURAGE
 if you are going through hard times.



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The Domestic Artist: Loveliness with Paper and Yarn...

Spring is around the corner and our lovely contributor,  Miss Jen of Blessed Femina is sharing a wonderful craft idea that will brighten up your home for the new season:

Alluring rain drops have been falling continually where

we are and I am enjoying these last days

with beautiful music, rich Bible verses and

busy hands.....

I am happily taking up

my crochet hook again...

remembering its many sweet benefits and delights.

A fresh new ball of crisp, silky blue

yarn... put to good use...

Paper Bouquets abound...

Here is a Short Tutorial for the

~Lovely Delights~

~What You Will Need~

-Sharp Scissors

-Beautiful Colored Tissue Paper

-Green Stem Wire or Green Pipe Cleaner

-Green Flower Tape or Satin Ribbon

Cut a few pieces (about 4-6) of tissue paper (crepe paper)

about 8 x 10 inches (the exact size doesn't matter).

Put the paper in a pile and fold it like an accordion.

Cut the edges straight or to add a special touch

scallop the edges prettily. ;)

Tie the center of the folded paper with green stem wire,

green pipe cleaner (or twist tie).

Gently pull each piece of paper towards the top center of the flower,

separating each sheet of paper from the others (forming the petals of the flower).

Once you have made your desired amount of flowers (4-6)

simply clump into a bouquet and wrap with green flower tape

and a satin ribbon (if desired)

And...

...you have just made a Lovely Paper Flower

Arrangement indeed!

Enjoy your....

Bouquet!

These lovely paper flower

arrangements are ideal for...
 

Table centerpieces, festive parties,

wedding~rehearsal bouquets, ;)

and gorgeous atop special presents.

Hope all of you are having a Beautiful Week...

~Many Blessings~

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever

you do, do it all for the glory of God"

-I Corinthians 10:31

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Enrich Your Home

"Encourage one another daily." Hebrews 3:13

God has blessed us as women with the ability to be sensitive to the needs around us. We sense when those in our family are in low spirits or need lifting up and encouraging. I believe this is one of the special privileges and responsibilities we have as a wife and mother---to be an...

Encourager--encouraging your husband and family each day.

Your husband is desperate for encouragement. He thrives on it. Encouragement will change his life and even his attitude toward you. Your children need encouragement. It is the rich soil in which they grow to heir full development. We must give it daily, and even more than once a day. It should become a habit that flows from our lips. But more than an encourager, you are also an...

Enricher--making your home richer each day.

This word means, "to make richer." Is you home filled with love and joy of the Lord? Make it richer with more love. Perhaps there is no loving atmosphere in the home. Start filling it up with love. It won't happen unless you do it. You are the enricher, remember? You are the one who makes your home richer with all good things.

As you catch the vision to be the encourager and enricher of your home you can also become an..

*Enabler-enabling your children to reach their full destiny.

*Endearer-endearing your family to one another.

*Enhancer-enhancing the atmosphere of love and joy in your home.

*Enlarger-enlarging your heart to the needs of your family--and maybe an orphan or two.

*Enlightener-giving understanding and enlightment of the ways of God to your children.

*Enlivener-making your home alive with the presence of God.

*Enobler-training your children to be honorable and noble in all things.

*Enthraller-enthralling your children with new ideas, creativity and the wonders of God creation.

*Enthuser-enthusing your children to be ardent for God.

*Entertainer--keeping your children happy and productive.

*Enticer-enticing your children into the joy and prayer and reading God's living Word.

*Enveloper-wrapping your children around with protection and love.

*Envisioner-giving vision and hope to each  member of the family.

*Energizer-releasing the spirit of work and creativity in the home.

*Engraver-engraving the names of your children upon your heart in prayer. (Exodus 28:29-30)

*Entreater-entreating your children to keep a straight course in the ways of God.

What an amazing vocation you have in your home!

Prayer:

"Lord, please show me ways that I can make my home richer in love and in the joy of your presence. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am making my home richer each day, not with material goods, but with lasting qualities.

by Nancy Campbell,
100 Days of Blessing: Devotions for Wives and Mothers

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Getting The House In Order for Spring

Spring is around the corner and in a blink of an eye it will all be here too quickly!

We are writing out the lists,
  examining the home repairs,
pulling out the paint,
tackling overdue projects,
sewing for future events,
looking through gardening catalogs
 and packing away some of the winter items.

Most importantly we are dreaming about warmer weather!

I don't like waiting for spring to do alot of the indoor projects because I would rather be outside enjoying the weather then and find it much harder to commit to doing things inside when I would rather be basking in the sun somewhere working in the yard.

We are thinking far ahead--what do we want this spring/summer to look like?

Who do we want over? How can we reconnect with old friends? It is nice to have online friends, but don't forget to cultivate the ever important real life relationships too. Look at opening your home as a ministry and even think about people you wouldn't normally invite over.

Don't worry about your home looking perfect. Mine never does. I have a home with eight children---I think that says it all! There are imperfections everywhere, but we do not invite people over to impress them, I used to think that everything had to be perfect--that just comes from pride. Most people just appreciate the act of love that you opened up your home and overlook those sorts of things. Don't get me wrong, I like a clean, orderly home because I think that is right, but really just want to be realistic about the whole thing.

I am praying about how God might use our home this year. I am not sure what He has in mind, but I am preparing and want to be ready.

How about you?

How are you preparing your home for spring?



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T

When Life is Hurried

The sun is down and the moon is up, little teeth are brushed and jammies are on. Bible story is read, prayers are said, and off they go, shuffling down the hall.

Do one thing, then the next, and the next, then off to bed.

Kiss on the forehead and turn out the light.

 

I find myself hurrying through our routine. It's my time to get evening chores done, and the sink needs scrubbing, coffee pot needs setting, email needs checking.

But there's a quiet voice from a sleepy boy who is standing in the doorway: "Mommy, can I sleep with you?" he whispers.

"Not tonight, honey," I reply. I look into his eyes; they are turned down, he feels rejected. It pierces me.

"Come here and let me hold you for awhile," I say.

He crawls up into my arms.

I rock him, sing softly to him... remembering what it was like to hold him when he was so much smaller, just a baby, with wrinkled skin and rosy cheeks and clear eyes. He's not a baby anymore, he's six, but he's still my baby and always will be.

As he begins to fall asleep, I nudge him. "Let me carry you to bed and I'll lay with you there for a little while."

We crawl into his bed and I draw up the covers, snuggling in. I kiss his little boy cheeks, rub his head, trace my finger on his nose.

After awhile, when his breathing is steady and slow, I inch to the edge of the bed and gingerly, gently, slip one of my legs out from under the covers. So much to get done…

His little hand clenches my shirt.

"Don't go," he whispers.

And so I stay awhile longer.

***

Time with our loved ones slips by so quickly; Lord, help us to treasure, savor, embrace every moment.

Will you make a special effort to be fully present and linger with those dear to you today?

Jaime is a daughter of the King, minister's wife, and homeschooling mother. She writes about biblical womanhood, homemaking, and whole foods at Like a Bubbling Brook. 
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