27 January 2011
…a little girl was born.
Time has flown by since my parents welcomed Breezy into the family. Little did they know then, while holding a precious daughter in their arms, how much would happen in their lives over the next two decades.
None of you can truly understand how thankful I am to the Lord for my sister, Breezy, who has been such a rich source of encouragement, conviction, and inspiration throughout my life.
I pray the Lord blesses you, dearest Breezy, in the coming year with strength and inspiration to persevere with excellence in all that He places before you! I admonish you to fear the Lord, love His law, and keep His commandments in everything you do.
[You can head over to her blog
to give her birthday greetings!]
May this birthday be filled with joy and delight!
I love you, sweet girl! Onward!
Your ever-affectionate sister,
18 January 2011
Yes, it is true. The Lord, my great Savior Jesus Christ saved me last month, December 2010.
How thankful and grateful I am for the boldness and humility of a friend in sharing his testimony. The Lord used that in my life as one of the final breaking points of my conversion.
Yes, I did believe myself to be a Christian beforehand. Yet the course of my life I would describe now as three years ignorant; thirteen years in false assurance; a year and a half in miserable uncertainty; and then a day that changed every day, month, and year that would follow.
God showed me through the wonderful passage in Romans 2 that I had spent my life as a “self-seeker,” (Romans 2:8) following me. He showed me my utter brokenness and helplessness before Him. He showed me that my faith up until that time was inadequate—a relying on my own faith and ability to trust, not on the Lord and His strength.
It was painful. But, my friends, “joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Never before had I rejoiced as I did that day. Never before had I understood true peace, true joy, true love. That Someone had laid down His life . . . for me.
Me. The one who is a sinner, the one who was self-seeking, the one who resisted Him.
Undeserving me.
But that, in itself, is one of the beauties of Christ’s love. He takes the weak and makes them strong. He takes the proud and makes them humble. He takes the clay, He molds the clay.
“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” —Romans 6:5-7 [emphasis added]
I lay this before your feet, dear ones, desiring the Lord to use my story for His glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom. My pride got in the way from seeing what I truly was. But He changed me.
I beseech you, friends, to work out your salvation with fear and with trembling. (Philippians 2:12-13)
8 January 2011
An old, painted crate from a rummage sale has made the perfect home for our handmade soap, making a cheerful display in our kitchen (especially with the little “sunshine” decoration).
Every batch of soap we’ve made in our home has been unique, but each and every bar of soap makes for a smooth, refreshing, and bubbly wash.
Crate: Inexpensive yard sale find
Soap: Homemade – plain & oatmeal
Decoration: Handmade and easy to make
(for a closer look, see them in a tree or basket)
P.S. You can find the recipe for this kind of soap on the Homestead Blessings: The Art of Soap Making DVD.
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4 January 2011
The NCFIC Love the Church Conference was held in Asheville, NC December 9th-11th. It was a time of rich teaching, precious fellowship, wonderful memories, much singing, and priceless workings of the Lord for which we are forever thankful.
Below are just a few of the photographs from the conference:
Morning landscape in Indiana while traveling.
Myself, Emily, Lauren, & Breezy. (Photo by Mum)
Taking notes during the Men’s Leadership Luncheon.
A priceless moment.
Two of the dear Kendall ladies.
Mr. Phillips speaking.
The Kendall family sang from their hearts. God has blessed them with beautiful, harmonizing voices.
To see the rest of the post with more pictures, click here!
