25 January 2012
Our latest embroidery pattern is up in the shop! Mum did a lovely job stitching this one, wouldn’t you say? It is a beautiful and cheerful reminder to…
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!”
—Philippians 4:4
We’re looking forward to rearranging the art, pictures, and handiwork on our walls to make room for some of our latest embroideries.
6 January 2012
A new year. A new slate. A fresh start.
Really?
As I pondered these things, I skimmed over my “growing journal” which contains prayers, Scripture, thoughts, questions, quotes, words on character, etc. that I had recorded over the past year.
Nearly every sentence I read surprised me. For example:
“How often do we lose heart, fear man, worry about the outcome of the current/upcoming circumstances? God is sovereign. We must not fear, but stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. He will fight for us. We need not rattle on, but instead be silent and wait on the Lord — fearing Him all the while. [Inspired by Exodus 14]“
Humorously, it seems strange that I would be surprised since I did write them all. So, what surprised me? It was the realization that a new year does not mean “a new slate.”
The calendar year has changed, but we still have a foundation to work from.
Every area where we grew, reformed, changed, learned, etc. are still there for our benefit. They don’t get thrown out and forgotten when we flip to a new page on the calendar, each lesson needing to be learned over again. But rather we are able to take higher steps from that groundwork that has been done in the past twelve-plus months.
Isn’t the Lord gracious to give us that groundwork? To learn from the past, be sanctified in the present, and reform in the future?
Let us not forget from where we came or where we’re going.
Hello, 2012! (And thank You, Lord, for foundations to work from!)
9 December 2011
“Then I [Wisdom] was with Him, like a master workman,
and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing before Him always,
rejoicing in His inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.”
(Proverbs 8:30-31)
Striving, with the strength of Christ to daily:
- Work diligently in excellence with willing hands
- Delight in the Lord (at all times)
- Rejoice before and in the Lord
- Rejoice in God’s creation
- Delight in those made in the image of God
Oh, how I desire wisdom! These verses are inspiring instruction to be diligently working and evermore delighting in the Lord, rejoicing in the Lord, and loving the Lord and the work of His hands.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
(Proverbs 9:10)“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
(Proverbs 31:30)
24 November 2011
“Give Thanks” embroidery pattern by the Clementine Pattern Co.
Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends, rejoicing in the greatness of our God and giving thanks to Him…
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
—Romans 11:36
31 October 2011
We rose last Thursday morning to find this beautiful landscape in the mountains of North Carolina. A chilly morning, a foggy haze, and a warm cup of coffee made for a peaceful beginning to a weekend filled with delightful fellowship, encouraging and challenging messages, and rejoicing with many about the great work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel-Centered Marriages for a Glorious Church conference was a grand adventure! Photos and notes from the conference are coming soon… stay updated here.
“Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
—Ephesians 5:24-27
14 October 2011
”Every woman, whether rich or poor, married or single, has a circle of influence within which, according to her character, she is exerting a certain amount of power for good or harm. Every woman by her virtue or her vice, by her wisdom or her folly, by her dignity or her levity is adding something to our national elevation or degradation.” —John Angell James
26 September 2011
A peaceful Saturday morning. (See another shot here.)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” —Colossians 3:16-17
22 August 2011
“There would be no joy, no fulfillment in marriage unless it was unto the Lord.”
As unmarried young women, we look forward to the times when – Lord willing – we’ll be the God-given helpmeets to our husbands and the mothers to our young blessings.
What are we doing right now to prepare for this? Are we planning our kitchens, how we’ll organize the home, how we’ll do our hair every morning? Although those things have their place, marriage is about much, much more than how we will keep the home and how we will look.
Last Monday we began listening to the “Marrying Well” webinar which has already provided encouraging practical wisdom on marriage, preparation, courtship, selfless love, prayer, and much more! This five-week webinar (an online conference of sorts) is given by Geoffrey Botkin and his wife Victoria, David Botkin and his wife Nadia, and Benjamin Botkin and his wife Audri. Many self-examining questions have come to mind, which I believe are important for us all to ask ourselves.
What are we doing right now to serve Christ and His kingdom? Every season is a time and opportunity for ministry. Are we missing opportunities to bless others by letting the possibility of a servant’s heart lay dormant? Are we seeking ways to disciple others in obedience to our Lord?
If we are not doing these things now, do we think things will “magically” change after we marry?
Right now is the time to cultivate a servant’s heart. Right now is the time to minister to others. Right now is the time to die to self and love selflessly, setting aside our own wishes.
We must look for ways to bless others, to cultivate a joyful attitude, to be content (no matter what season we’re in, most likely we’ll be waiting for something), and trust in the Lord and His perfect plan. He will never call us to do something that He cannot give us the strength to persevere in.
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Tonight David & Nadia Botkin (above) will be sharing about how the Lord brought them together. Also to be addressed will be how to evaluate suitors and prepare children for marriage from a young age.
Click here to find out more about “Marrying Well” and to register!
(Everyone who registers will have access to the MP3 recordings – including the first session last week – so no worries if you aren’t available on Monday nights!)
11 July 2011
It wasn’t the fireworks that lit up the sky that night, even though they could be seen above the horizon. No, that night there was a greater show, a mightier display. It was a display speaking loudly, declaring the glory of God.
It was a glorious sight to behold the strength of these bolts which lingered oh-so-briefly before our eyes, with nearly blinding shocks of light.
“His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.”—Psalm 97:4
P.S. You can view a closer glimpse of the lightning bolts here.
