A Pondering Heart - Homeschool Blogger

Me Hat From England

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:46:00 -0600

"Last year my friend, Page from England, was so sweet as to send us some real English tea and chocolates. Page is one of the sweetest Christian women I’ve met yet. She loves the Lord and is definitely a thoughtful and giving-person.

A month or so ago Page sent me a gift for designing her site, and I was so thrilled to find it was a hat from England. To make a long story short I’ve been wanting a real English hat for some time, and now I have one that suits m......" Read more

A Gentle Word

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:24:00 -0600

Do you ever find yourself speaking harshly and upsetting someone when you could avoided it with a gentle word? I know I have many times, and it is something I am working on and shall be, probably, forever. Sometimes it is so hard to just bit the tongue, swallow pride, and speak a gentle word rather a harsh one, no matter how much it may be deserved.

Gentleness is something everyone could work on. Many times when I answer with a harsh word I only make things worse, and I end up feeling like quite the meanie. Knowing I could have been, not only an example, but ....Read More

God With Us

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:02:00 -0600

"The Prophet Isaiah foretold of his birth, calling him Immanuel - God with us. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies foretold about him through his birth, life, and death. He will fulfill even more w....Read more

�Why Are You So Popular?�

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 23:48:00 -0600

The two most frequently asked questions I receive are “Why are you so popular?” and “How do you get so many comments/readers?” One of my friend’s comment made me laugh too: “I reckon you blog is the trunk of Homeschoolblogger and all the other blogs branch out of it coz everyone has you on their friends list.”

So, I decided to do an entire post about this subject for anyone else that might ask or wonder in the future. I told you in a previous post why I blog. While my blog started out as just a place to journal my homeschoool the Lord soon turned it into a weapon and tool for Him. I believe that in everything you do must have a purpose, glorifying to the Lord. My main mission now is to encourage ladies in the Lord.

As you may notice from reading this or many of my other posts t...Read more

My Cup Of Tea...

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0600

When you think of life in the 1800s what do you think of? Well, there are a few different types of settings I think of…. Pioneers, Easterners, and Victorian England (and of course Pride & Prejudice). Though all of these people live a different way and in different places, they all have one thing in common.. tea.

Back in the Victorian era, tea parties were an event to simply get together with your friends, with whom you shared common interest with, to have an enjoyable afternoon. Today in our century we don’t host “tea parties”, but we do plan events to get together with people and families of whom we enjoy their company. I have always thought very fondly of hosting a tea party, all dressed up, as the Bennett sisters would have been, or even as Anne and Dianna did in Anne of Green Gables (though theirs ended in disaster)...Read more

Awake, My Soul, And The Sun

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 11:18:00 -0600

The Bible calls us to give the Lord our first fruits, and what comes to mind for me, and many, is tithing, but what else are we to give the Lord of our first fruits? Though I fail continually I always try to give the Lord the first of my day in prayer and study of His Word. I start my day with meditating of His commands and His love so I might obey and be a witness for Him even to my family. How often do we skip.... Read More

Week 1 of the Winter Bundle Giveaways!

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:02:00 -0600

Thank you for joining me in this year’s Winter Bundle. As I said before I am so pleased to be able to present these wonderful items to you. There is going to be five new reviews and prizes listed each week, and you’re going have a chance to win some of them! This is the what is in Week 1 of the Winter Bundle Giveaways. You can click on the links below to check the review and how to enter..... Read More

Winter Bundle

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:55:00 -0600

"Welcome to the 2008-2009 Winter Bundle! Last year around this time I decided to put together a big giveaway to bless homeschoolers with items I’ve enjoyed from business all over the internet and world. It is my great pleasure to welcome and invite you to participate in this year’s Winter Bundle. The prizes all together are worth almost $700.00 that will be given away..." Read more

Desires Of Your Heart

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:14:00 -0600

I’ve posted passages from this chapter in Psalms a few times. I think it really is comforting and promising on many accounts, but one that always sticks out for me is these three verses. In the previous verses it talks about your enemies and how the Lord will care for the, and is followed with these words... read more

Life-Size Noah's Ark

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:51:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered just how big Noah’s Ark really was? The Bible says exactly how big it is, but to see it live and in person would be something, wouldn’t it? Well, there is a man, a contractor by trade, named Johan Huibersa Dutch Creationist, who has built a replica of the ark out of cedar and pine. This amazing creation has been visited by more than 300,000 people, and though it’s only half of what the actual Ark would’ve been it usually takes visitors about 1½ hours to walk through.

I must say this is very impressive and would be a sight to see, but unless you’re taking a trip to Holland, the photos will have to suffice for now. You can click on them for a large image, and see Noah’s Ark Replica Schagen Netherlands.

Mr. Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top....Read More

Tweet Me

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:08:00 -0600

I’ve mentioned Twitter a few times here and there, and it’s popularity is growing more and more everyday. I’ve really enjoyed getting to tweet what I do daily and getting to see what some of my bloggy-buddies are doing too. The basic idea of twitter is just to share tidbits of your life with those who you’re following. You wouldn’t write a short blog post to say how you’re feeling or what you’re doing, but with twitter you can “tweet” drinking dr.pepper and have your friend tweet back to you. It’s also an excellent way to social-network news, links, and other info.

So anwyays, still trying to figure out how to make an icon so it will display how many followers you have, but for now I did make some icons for twitter that you can link to your account. Grab the codes from under the icon of your choice and add your username at the end of the twitter.com link so it will go to your account on your own blog!

Tweet Me Icons

There you have them. I think this last one is probably my favourite. Haha, so cute. Can you decide your favourite?

I’ve added this post link under the graphic code so that people can get to these, even though the graphic isn’t linked to this post. If you’re on twitter, please add me to your tweeples (tweeters + people)!

Shalom,

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"You're Judgmental!"

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:43:00 -0600

I have been called many things, but the top two are probably “judgmental” and “legalistic”, and then “naive”. If my readers could really meet me in person they would not feel judged and would know that what I write on my blog is what I feel the Lord leading me to write and is honestly to share and encourage those who want to hear. Jesus taught like this. He had a message and spoke it for anyone to hear. Not all who read my blog want to or are ready to hear what I have to say, but some are and for the sake of my call, to the Lord, I must keep writing.

Many times I have thought about just giving up blogging all together or just giving up my “thinker posts” so I could blog without being sent hate mail, losing friends, or “causing division”. Every time I come back to the same leading in my spirit…which is if I don’t blog what I blog, I will feel as if I am neglecting what the Lord has called me to do.

When I write a blog post it’s not to judge anyone. It’s not directed at anyone. It’s not to look down on anyone. I don’t write it in a manipulative or deceitful way. I do believe, however, that the Christians, especially in America, have become very worldly and are in a state of “Rejection Of Correction“, holding up the “you’re too judgmental and legalistic card”.

judgmental
–adjective
1. involving the use or exercise of judgment.
2. tending to make moral judgments:

Every single, solitary person on this earth is judgmental. They have their own thoughts. Their own beliefs. Their own opinions. If you form an opinion that *I* am being judgmental about a group of people or about an issue *you* are judging me. You are judgmental, and you, and you, and you, and anyone else who reads this. You are judgmental. It’s a fact a life. To live life you must judge situations, traditions, cultures, actions, morals, and, yes, people, in order to be what the Lord wants you to be. Without being judgmental [ie: discerning] you would just be a mindless idiot doing whatever anyone told you to, with no morals, no principles, and no way to please God.

Am I saying that there is no “bad” judging? No, but to call someone judgmental just because they judged a situation or idea is hypocritical. Besides, does anyone really know what “judging” is anymore? I honestly think they don’t. We have been raised in a culture of “Don’t say he has no self-control or is fat, say heavy” because we don’t want to offend or leave anyone out. We’ve become overly sensitive of sin-issues. We’ve become politically-correct and legalistic BECAUSE we don’t openly judge and address sin-issues.

Many times when people say “don’t judge” they give the verse reference to Matthew 7:1, which tells us “Judge not, that ye be not judged”. When I had heard the verse enough I had look up, for myself, to see in what context it was written, and found that the verse is only half quoted.

Matthew 7

1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

People often miss that the Bible says “you will be judged by the manner you judge.” Which means if I have formed my opinion on some issue based on Scriptures, then I would, regardless of self-preservation, hope the Body of Christ will judge me in this manner (based on the Scriptures, not opinion) as well.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The Bible tells us to admonish one another. To admonish someone you have to make a judgment on their character and actions to even begin to think of how to admonish them. It’s not about “judging”. It’s about admonishing the Body of Christ so that we may better serve Christ.

admonish

ADMON’ISH, v.t. [L. admoneo, ad and moneo, to teach, warn, admonish.]
1. To warn or notify of a fault; to reprove with mildness.

Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2Thess. 3.

2. To counsel against wrong practices; to caution or advise.

Admonish one another in psalms and hymns. Col. 3.

3. To instruct or direct.

Moses was admonished of God, when he was about to make the tabernacle. Heb. 8.

4. In ecclesiastical affairs, to reprove a member of the church for a fault, either publicly or privately; the first step of church discipline. It is followed by of, or against; as, to admonish of a fault committed, or against committing a fault. It has a like use in colleges.

I personally have never gone to anyone’s site and told them they are being judgmental. Why? Because I think that anyone who would write and be labeled “judgmental” most likely isn’t and is right, and I can discern when someone is being malicious or loving. When something does strike me as offensive, Biblically, it’s a red-flag that I need to take a deeper look into that they’re saying and do some research of my own. It’s not the cue for me to get offended and post them a comment, with my judgmental opinion. If I disagree, then fine.

Romans 14:3

“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.”

I’ve written on many subjects that people disagree with, but in no way am I going to burn any bridges or despise them because they believe differently. I have had several close friends ask me if I am still able to be friends with them, on several occasions, of which I replied “of course”. If it is a sin-issue in their life, and I’ve written what the Lord led me to, He will use in if it’s His will and if they let Him. Don’t shoot the messenger, and surely don’t discourage them because you didn’t like what was delivered.

Do I believe I’m right on everyything I’ve written on here? No. I have many journeys to take and still many issues to ponder, but what I do write is what I was spiritually inspired to write. I have many things I’d like to write on that I just don’t feel I have been called to, know enough about, or feel is my place.

Jesus judged harshly, but many times it was not the sinners he judged harshly. It was the “holy” people. He flat out told them their sin and said repent! Today, by Christians, Jesus would be called judgmental and legalistic. Interesting article on legalism: Worship In Spirit and In Truth

I will not be harsh with the unbelievers. They first need to know what a loving and forgiving God we serve, and then as they grow they will come under subjection. Unbelievers don’t know God or His rules. You, my sister in Christ, DO. You are who I am to admonish and encourage.

I looked up a bunch of info on what the Bible, people, and our language says on “judging”. I searched quotes, and found most very intriguing ones, but most were by people who are for world-peace and into new-age-thinking. They give the impression that if we just “didn’t have religion everyone could get along because all the rules would be diminished and no one could judge.” Oh Lord, I know a time is coming when this will be reality, but I pray you will use me, here and now, to encourage and strengthen the Body. Do we realize what a world WITHOUT judgment would be like? Don’t tell me to not to judge. Tell me to study the Word, to love my family, to be chaste, discreet, to be a keeper of the home, to admonish my sisters in Christ, and to strive everyday to be more and more like HIM.

“I’m not judging people, I’m judging their actions. It’s the same type of distinction that I try to apply to myself, to judge, but not be judgmental.”

Shalom,

RELATED LINKS:

Rejection Of Correction
Modesty Checklist
“Take Christmas Back To Its Pagan Roots”
Be Bold, Be Strong
Make My Life An Altar
Christ Will Enrich YOUR Life
Magic For Pleasure
>Are You BUSY?
It’s Not Always Light-N-Fluffy
Your Impression?
All Is Lawful, NOT Edifying

Cast Thy Burden

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:03:00 -0600

Casting our burdens and cares upon the Lord, is many a times, very difficult. Our flesh wars with our spirit to just let the Lord handle it, especially when you have righteous cause to bring one’s sin against you or another to the people. It is my daily pray that I would cast all my burdens, heavy or light, on Christ my Saviour and not lean on my own understanding. It is so very hard. The Bible says those who do cast their burdens on the Lord He will sustain. May this be my prayer today.

Psalm 55:21-23

21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Shalom,

Please join me by posting a song or psalm, and do the Saturday Psalm & Praise meme today. Add your SP&P link:

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Of Some Importance

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:29:00 -0600

I’ll be putting together the Weekly on Sunday night to publish for Monday, but there were a few items of some importance that couldn’t wait until then.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Duggar family at least once, but did you all hear that they had baby #18? Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, born yesterday, December 18th, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. We all know the Bible verse that says “Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord”, and certainly they are going to have a wonderful, big heritage with all those beautiful children!

Amanda at the Daily Planet has been having a giveaway all this past week, a winner a day, for A Crash Course on Spiritual Warfare by Cindy Rushton. I’ve attended several of Cindy Rushton’s seminars, and not only are they truly encouraging and in good fellowship, but she is real and doesn’t hodge-podge around issues. If you enjoy my blog you’ll enjoy her seminar, and all you have to do is post a comment to be entered. The giveaway ends Saturday night.

In light of my recent “Christmas” article, and the the fact that I believe if you truly want to celebrate Christ’s birth then do so, without all the pagan traditions, and don’t buy each other gifts. Instead go out and spend your money and time on the widows and fatherless as is true religion per se James 1:27. My friends, The Coult Family, are missionaries in Mexico and are collecting funds to get the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to the children of a small fishing village. Christ said if you love me feed the hungry, cloth the naked, house the poor, and give hope to the hopeless. When I was 11 I collect over $300 to send for the OCC from our church. I remember standing out in the lobby, every Sunday after the service, and collect coins. If you would truly like to remember the birth of Christ this season help to send these Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Lastly, there are those who are seeking to “revive the effort to assemble a modern Constitutional Convention, to rewrite the Constitution. The total number of states that are required to enact the Con Con is 34, there are already 32. With the election of Barack Obama, however, supporters of a Con Con have been emboldened and are now trying to resurrect the momentum.” Read Chuck Baldwin’s letter on this. Act to reject it.

Shalom,

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Fonts, Fonts, Fonts

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:44:00 -0600

I’m a graphic designer. I design things for amusement and skill. Over the past near 3years-olds I’ve gone from designing simply HTML templates to CSS themes. I also went from the standard Paint program to an actually graphics program, Photoshop CS3. I’ve had a lot of fun learning how to use Photoshop.

I’m still mastering Photoshop. I’m not sure if I will ever truly know how to use it to it’s fullest, but I am definitely getting use out of it. It had been a long time goal to set up some kind of web-design business to truly benefit from one thing I especially enjoy doing, and about two-months ago I finally got it set up!

One thing that is vital to a web-designer’s tools are definitely fonts. Depending on what kind of effect you want to give an image, graphic, or site having the right font always helps. I’m a fontaholic, and am always on the lookout for new fonts to add to my collection. I have over 800 fonts, and there are more on both Mother Dear’s and Amanda’s laptops. I’ve stopped downloading them on my personal computer because it’s so slow already. Some of you noticed my new signature. I had a hard time deciding on which font to use! ha! These are some of my other favourites. I like using script ones for signatures on my blog, but I do like some of the other creative ones for icons and designs.

So, which one is your favourite? Can’t decide? Me either. Not only are there thousands of fonts, but different genre, like script, fancy, gothic, basic, funky, dingbat, etc. I make custom, transparent signatures and have plenty of fonts to go around. Come visit me at the Boutique.

Shalom,

"Take Christmas Back To It's Pagan Roots"

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:13:00 -0600

I don’t celebrate Christmas for many reasons, but the main reason is because the actual holiday has nothing to do with the actual birth of Christ nor was it originally about Christ. I am offended as a Christian that so many, Christian or not, call it CHRISTmas and continue to say it’s all about Christ. No, it is not. Perhaps many of you celebrate it because of Christ’s birth, but all the little traditions of giving presents, christmas trees, wreaths, caroling, decorating with mistletoe, garland, and lights, etc DO NOT have anything to do with Christ.

Over the past 5years my family has gotten away from celebrating traditions just because they are traditions, and are not of God. I was looking up different groups on facebook about Christmas, and found this one called, Take Christmas Back To Its Pagan Roots, created by pagans who want their holiday back.

For two thousand years, Christmas has been an essentially Christian ritual where acts such as going to Church is a must, even for non-practicing Christians.

Also, as our society becomes more diverse, there have been numerous attempts by politically correct radicals to stop the celebration of Christmas in its red and green entirety. It is only reasonable that people outside of Christianity have some sense of stock in this incredibly important holiday. Also, in order to protect the festivities from such closed minded radicals as Christmas-haters, reforms need to be made.

Finally, as many of us know, the genuine values we all like to believe in during the Christmas holidays have been overtaken by mass commercialism and stressed out family affairs being combined with end of year work. In many ways, to many people, Christmas is a burden.

However, there is a solution. A little known fact about Christmas is that 90% of the traditions and rituals of the holiday have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. Dec. 25 was a Roman holiday known as Yule and was usurped by the Catholic Church in the 4th Century A.D.

Yule was not only a celebration of the work that was done from the Summer Solstice to the Winter Solstice, but it was also a dazziling showcase of arts and crafts celebrating the fertile cycles of nature. The weekly period of Dec. 25 was a time of immense public celebration where relatives and friends intermingled across lines written by wealth, status, age, etc.

Even enemies were expected to enjoy each other’s company during the week, and no one, except slaves and criminals, were to be excluded. From the mistletoe to giving gifts under trees, this week long festivity, that worked like Chanukkah but on a grander and non-religious scale, engaged the entire community. Besides the x-rated Aphrodite festival and the even more carnal Dyionisian rites of ancient Greece, the Yuletide week was the party of all parties in ancient history.

Its time to bring the Dec. 25 week back to those kind of roots. As such, this group wants to motivate society to re-change the festival of Christmas and bring it back to its pagan roots as Yule.

All the well known traditions would be kept, but reforms would be made. Yule would last a week instead of one day, with Dec. 25 being the final and crowning feast. The social practices of the Yule are to be instituted, which in case you wondering, is everything fun about Christmas, but on a much grander scale. Best of all—no going to Church and no early mornings.

Finally, Yule works on a commercial level but forces the community as a whole, regardless of ethnicity, religious views, wealth, status, etc. to participate. Christmas is no longer working. Its time for a change.

BRING THE YULETIDE FESTIVAL BACK!!!

I agree with everything they’re saying, except the fact that I won’t celebrate it nor will I wish anyone a “happy _______”. This holiday is not about Christ and I’m not a pagan so there’s nothing for me to wish anyone a happy anything. Now, this does not mean I am going to shun or condemn anyone for participating in this holiday. I don’t agree with it, and I am simply presenting you with information that you can do with it as you like.

I encourage you to do some research for yourself. You will be amazed and disgusted at how distorted Christmas truly is and how duped you’ve been into believing it to be something that it is not. I think the main sect of people who are kidding themselves about Christmas are the Christians. If you’re going to celebrate Christ’s birth do it when he was most likely born and without all the pagan traditions that were taken from the pagan holiday, Yuletide Festival/Winter Solstice (December 25th).

Articles of Interest

Please get parental permission to view these links if you are a child. It is not my intention to cause division within families. Please allow your parents to make the choices whether you can view these links about christmas or not.

Merry Paganism
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Grafted in The Magic of Christmas
Celebrating Hanukkah Today
Christmas - originally celebrated by the pagans….To Christmas or Not To Christmas?
Not Your Average Christmas : AKA Why We Don’t Participate
Christmas’ Pagan Origins
Christmas Trees in the Bible
Pagan Christmas Ritual Pressed on Young Kids
Winter Solstice Celebrations of Many Religions (pagan POV)
The Pagan Origins of Christmas (pagan POV)
Indigenous Christmas Origins (pagan POV)
How does the Messianic Community Celebrate Christmas?

On a completely different thought, Lacy brought up an excellent point in her post The Christmas Spirit. The Bible commands us to remember Christ’s death and resurrection, but nothing about His birth. This is yet another part of what is holy and pure that Satan has used to distract Christians and draw them away from God and into traditions of the heathens.

Colossians 2:8
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

I will not be answering comments and please don’t bring up any other holidays. I’m talking, for now, about “Christmas.” You’re welcome to comment, but I’ve stated what I believe and the facts.

Shalom be unto you,

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I Love You More!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:46:00 -0600

We humans are so small-minded. We don’t and can’t see the big picture. We view trails as a punishment from God, many times, rather than viewing it as a lesson or training for our benefit. We shake our fist at God and harden our hearts towards Him. We don’t understand how much He loves us or what we really deserve. We can talk about His love or what kind of horrible punishment we would get if we had to deal with the consequences of our sin, but we don’t understand the height or depth of those things. It’s not humanly possible. The Bible says God’s way are so much higher than ours, and there is no way to understand such a powerful, majestic, holy God. We won’t ever understand how He can watch over and care for us all, but He can and He does.

More
by Matthew West

Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I’m always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I’m spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I’ll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me

And I want you to know
That I’m not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Chorus)

I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I’ll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

Shine for Me
Shine for Me
Shine on, shine on
Shine for Me

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I’ll say it again and again
I love you more

(Chorus)
Than the sun
and the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you, yesterday and today
Through the joy and the pain
I’ll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

And I see you
And I made you
And I love you more than you can imagine
More than you can fathom
I love you more than the sun
And you shine for me

Shine for Him. Shine. He sees you. He made you. He LOVES you. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Don’t accept what curses and clichés the world puts on families, women, men, youth, toddlers, babies, children, large families, homeschooling, femininity, or religion. Shine for Him. Shine!

Shalom,

Please join me by posting a song or psalm, and do the Saturday Psalm & Praise meme today. Add your SP&P link:

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Rosewater Spritzer

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:14:00 -0600

It’s very easy to drive down to your local convenient store and buy some face products, but a lot of times it’s not the safest for your skin. As a frugal homemaker and one who is striving for simplicity I always look into doing the “homemade old-fashioned” way before anything else.

I own a book that is all about being a homestead prairie girl, it’s called “The Prairie Girl’s Guide to Life: How to Sew a Sampler Quilt & 49 Other Pioneer Projects for the Modern Girl” by J Worrick. It’s in the fashion of Laura Ignalls Wilder. However, it is not by a Christian author, and while there is no cursing in there she does use slangs like “heck” and has a feminist world-view. That’s the only thing I don’t like about it. It really is a wonderful guide, full of recipes and nifty ways to save money with little tidbits of info from the 1800s. One activity I found very interesting was one about making a rosewater spritzer. This mixture, which acts as a toner, is both refreshing and genteel. Not to mention is has just a few simply ingredients and supplies.

Supplies:

Glass mason jar
Glass or plastic spray bottle
2/3 cups of rosewater (you’ll need a handful of dried rose petals for this)
1/3 cup witch hazel
6 drops of rose essential oil

Directions:

Before you doing anything you’ll want to place a pot of water on the stove to boil. This will be used to sterilize your mason jar. When the water boils dip the jar into the water and then let it dry. Take a handful of your rose petals and put them into the mason jar and fill jar with boiling water and seal. Leave this sit for 24hours, and then strain all the petals from the water. This is your rosewater. Very easy and simple. When I was researching historical information for my novel I actually found similar recipes for ways to freshen up on the homestead when you really had to spend your money wisely and use what you had or could find in nature.

Doing just as you did to sterilize the mason jar do so with the spray bottle and make sure it’s completely dry before using it. You could actually use a recycled hairspray or body-mist bottle if it’s well cleaned out. After sterilizing the jar pour the witch-hazel and rosewater in and shake well. Next add the rose oil. You have your Rosewater Spritzer.

To apply the toner you simply hold the spray bottle about 6inches from your face and spritz lightly. Or you may spray a cotton-pad or whatever you wish to use. If you stick your spray into your refrigerator between uses it will keep it fresh and last longer. It’d be interesting to research and find out if there are different flowers or herbs to use in a spritzer. I wonder what health-benefits the rose has on your skin.

This Rosewater Spritzer would be an excellent gift for one of your dear friends. An idea would be to put the spritzer into a decorative or fancy bottle, glass perhaps. Make a little 3×3 card that had the ingredients and directions on it and tie it around the top of the bottle with some ribbon. Homemade gifts are always the sweetest and the best!

Blessings!

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Scripture Graphics #1

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 22:42:00 -0600

Awhile back I had decide to make Scripture graphics for anyone to use, like the P31W ones, but I never really got around to posting, or really even finishing them. I only made a few but have so many others to finish, and others I just need to find the right image to reflect the Scripture. Here is what I have so far, which you’re welcome to take and use on your own site.

 <a href="http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=620"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/sillydreamer91/graphics/nahum17.png" alt="aponderingheart.com/blog" /></a>

 <a href="http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=620"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/sillydreamer91/graphics/proverbs426.png" alt="aponderingheart.com/blog" /></a>

 <a href="http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=620"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/sillydreamer91/graphics/Matt1914.png" alt="aponderingheart.com/blog" /></a>

 <a href="http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=620"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/sillydreamer91/graphics/James48.png" alt="aponderingheart.com/blog" /></a>

 <a href="http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=620"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn63/sillydreamer91/graphics/Psalm422.png" alt="aponderingheart.com/blog" /></a>

I personally like the first one the best and the ones after may need some work, but that’s it for now. I’d love to hear different Scriptures that mean something to you personally that you’d like to see on a graphic, or if you have an image you think I could use you’re welcome to email it to me!

You can order personalized graphics, icons, templates, signatures, desktops, backgrounds, and more like the ones above at the APH Boutique “where I’ll measure, design, and dress you in your finest… at least on blogworld.”

Shalom,

Related Links:

My Site, My Right

Modesty Checklist

Fall Favourites

Decoding The P31W Graphics

Rejection Of Correction

Next Generation of Homeschoolers Blogroll

The Aleph Bet

ABC’s, Describing Me

Celebrate Marriage!

GGM Scripture Tags! Snag one, or two, or three

Feelin’ Feminine?

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Trust & Obey

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 00:46:00 -0600

Oh the weak human-flesh. Paul speaks about making your flesh weak and your spirit strong, but to be able to do that you have to trust and obey Him. I need to look every situation in my life as an opportunity, not only to grow, but to trust and obey more in the Lord than before. I’m really having a hard time trusting in Him in certain areas of my life right now, and looking at the big picture instead of what’s happening at this moment in time. Crying, being angry, or ignoring the situation isn’t going to help me grow. I know this. Sometimes it’s alright to cry. Sometimes you have the right to, but to let your flesh take over will only deteriorate the trust you have in Him. I have to simply lay my life at His feet and trust and obey.

Trust And Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

If nothing else remind yourself daily to TRUST in Him and to OBEY. Seeing is not believing, you know. Don’t get antsy and do your own thing. It won’t do you any good in the long run.

Shalom,

Please join me by posting a song or psalm, and do the Saturday Psalm & Praise meme today. Add your SP&P link:

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