SURPRISE!!!!!

For my roommate that is :) She has been wanting a wine colored dress for some time now. I bought the material last Tuesday and between yesterday and today I completely made it!! I just hope it fits her because she didn't try it on at all like she did with the last one I made her :)



I am about half way done with a dress for myself, but I have no motivation to do it anymore :) I truly hate hems and that is where I am with my dress. Oh well :) It will get done eventually!

Blessings in Christ,

Put Off - Put On

I found this on-line this past summer and I have gained from it, I hope you can as well.

The part is the sin that we should put off, then there is scriptural insight (the first is the scritpure referring to the sin and the second is the scripture referring to the righteous deed) and following that is the righteous deed to put on.

Put Off - Put On Scriptures

1. Lack of love 1Jo 4:7,8,20 Jhn 15:12 Love
2. Judging Mat 7:1,2 Jhn 8:9;Jhn 15:22 Let God search my heart
3. Bitterness Hbr 12:15 Eph 4:32 Tenderhearted and forgiving
4. Unforgiving Sprit Mar 11:26 Col 3:13 Forgiving spirit
5. Selfishness Phl 2:21 Jhn 12:24 Self denial
6. Pride Pro 16:5 Jam 4:6 Humility
7. Boasting (Conceit) 1Cr 4:7 Phl 2:3 Esteeming others
8. Stubbornness 1Sa 15:23 Rom 6:13 Brokenness
9. Disrespect for authority Act 23:5 Hbr 13:17 Honor authority
10. Rebellion 1Sa 15:23 Hbr 13:17 Submission
11. Disobedience 1Sa 12:15 Deu 11:27 Obedience
12. Impatience Jam 1:2-4 Hbr 10:36 Patience
13. Ungratefulness Rom 1:21 Eph 5:20 Gratefulness
14. Covetousness Luk 12:15 Hbr 13:5 Contentment
15. Discontent Hbr 13:5 1Ti 6:8 Contentment
16. Murmuring/Complaining Phl 2:14 Hbr 13:15 Praise
17. Irritation of others Gal 5:26 Phl 2:3,4 Preferring in love
18. Jealousy Gal 5:26 1Cr 13:4 Trust
19. Strife/Contention Pro 13:10 Jam 3:17 Peace
20. Retaliation (Getting even) Pro 24:29 Rom 12:19,20 Return good for evil
21. Losing temper Pro 25:28 Pro 16:32 Self-control
22. Anger Pro 29:22 Gal 5:22,23 Self-control
23. Wrath Jam 1:19,20 Pro 15:1 Soft answer
24. Easily irritated 1Cr 13:5 Pro 19:11 Not easily provoked
25. Hatred Mat 5:21,22 1Cr 13:3 Love
26. Murder Exd 20:13 Rom 13:10 Love
27. Gossip 1Ti 5:13 Eph 4:29 Edifying speech
28. Evil speaking Jam 4:11 Pro 15:30 Good report
29. Critical spirit Gal 5:15 Col 3:12 Kindness
30. Lying Eph 4:25 Zec 8:16 Speak truth
31. Profanity Pro 4:24 Pro 15:4 Pure speech
32. Idle words Mat 12:36 Pro 21:23 Bridle tongue
33. Wrong motives 1Sa 16:7 1Cr 10:31 Spiritual motives
34. Evil thoughts Mat 5:19,20 Phl 4:8 Pure thoughts
35. Complacency Rev 3:15 Rev 3:19 Zeal
36. Laziness Pro 20:4 Pro 6:6-11 Diligence
37. Slothfulness (Not doing best) Pro 18:9 Col 3:23 Wholeheartedness
38. Hypocrisy Job 8:13 1Th 2:3 Sincerity
39. Idolatry Deu 11:16 Col 1:18 Worship God only
40. Left first love Rev 2:4 Rev 2:5 Fervent devotion
41. Lack of rejoicing always Phl 4:4 1Th 5:18 Rejoice
42. Worry/Fear Mat 6:25-32 1Pe 5:7 Trust
43. Unbelief Hbr 3:12 Hbr 11:1,6 Faith
44. Unfaithfulness Pro 25:19 Luk 16:10-12 Faithfulness
45. Neglect of Bible study 2Ti 3:14-17 Psa 1:2 Bible study/Meditation
46. Prayerlessness Luk 18:1 Mat 26:41 Praying
47. No burden for the lost Mat 9:36-38 Act 1:8 Compassion/Witnessing
48. Burying talents Luk 12:48 1Cr 4:2 Developing abilities
49. Irresponsibility (Family/Work) Luk 16:12 Luk 16:10 Responsibility
50. Procrastination Pro 10:5 Pro 27:1 Diligence
51. Irreverence in church Ecc 5:1 Psa 89:7 Reverence
52. Inhospitable 1Pe 4:9 Rom 12:13 Hospitable
53. Cheating 2Cr 4:2 2Cr 8:21 Honesty
54. Stealing Pro 29:24 Eph 4:28 Working/Giving
55. Lack of moderation Pro 11:1 1Cr 9:25 Temperance
56. Gluttony Pro 23:21 1Cr 9:27 Discipline
57. Wrong friends Psa 1:1 Pro 13:20 Godly friends
58. Temporal values Mat 6:19-21 2Cr 4:18 Eternal value
59. Love of money/Greed 1Ti 6:9,10 Mat 6:33 Love God
60. Stinginess 1Jo 3:17 Pro 11:24,25 Generosity
61. Moral impurity 1Th 4:7 1Th 4:4 Moral purity
62. Fornication 1Cr 6:18 1Th 4:3 Abstinence
63. Lust 1Pe 2:11 Tts 2:12 Pure desires
64. Adultery Mat 5:27,28 Pro 5:14-19 Marital fidelity
65. Homosexuality Lev 18:22 1Th 4:4,5 Moral purity
66. Incest Lev 18:6 1Cr 7:2,5 Moral purity
67. Pornography Psa 101:3 Phl 4:8 Pure thoughts
68. Immodest dress Pro 7:10 1Ti 2:9 Modesty
69. Flirtation Pro 7:21 1Pe 3:4 Gentle, quiet spirit
70. Worldly entertainment Pro 21:17 Gal 5:16 Spiritual pursuits
71. Fleshly music Eph 4:29,30 Eph 5:19 Edifying music
72. Bodily harm 1Cr 3:16,17 1Cr 6:19,20 Glorify God in body
73. Alcoholism Pro 20:1 Pro 23:30 Abstinence
74. Following the crowd Pro 1:10 Pro 3:7 God-fearing
75. Witchcraft/Astrology/Horoscopes Deu 18:10,11 Deu 6:5 Worship of God
76. Gambling Pro 28:20,22 Luk 16:11 Good stewardship
77. Preferential treatment Jam 2:1-9 Luk 6:31 Love neighbor as self
78. Presumption on the future Pro 27:1 Jam 4:14-16 Trust God's will

Blessings in Christ,

Dress Pattern

I have a pattern! Oh boy am I excited :) I still need to alter it a little bit as it is a tad too big for me, but now I can start to make my own dresses! Yes, I am meaning cape dresses. I have been feeling called to wear cape dresses, but I certainly do not believe that it is the only way to dress modestly :) Every once in a while I will still wear a skirt and modest shirt, but I am learning to like my dresses. Kind of different for me since in the beginning I really did not like dresses, I almost felt like I had no bottom on!! Silly feeling I know, but the way the skirts are so loose and the waist are on my dresses I don't feel them -- giving me the feeling of an absent skirt :) My goal for tonight is to finish my roommate's dress so then I can start on one for myself tomorrow!

Blessings in Christ,

Temptations

Many people look at temptations as a bad thing. For the most part I will agree. However, if a person has never experienced temptations, then how will she recognize what a temptation is once she is out from under her parents' wings?

Someone once told me that she would never let a young lady be alone with a guy, ever, because the temptation is too great. My opinion is if we raise our children with such a shelter that they are not allowed to feel the temptation, how are we adequately preparing them to raise their own children? They need to be able to know what the temptations feel like and be able to explain to their own children down the road what the temptations feel like so that they can respond correctly to each one.

Another temptation is alcohol. Some will say to not drink a single drop, ever. There's a saying something to the effect of, those who have never tasted a drop of it will go crazy with it the minute they get their hands on it. In moderation I do not believe alcohol is bad, just like food in moderation is not bad. It is in excess that both are considered sins. We must not so protect our children that the minute they are free they will go get everything we never allowed them to have. I am by no means encouraging to let minors have alcohol, not at all, but I am encouraging to thing before we speak on how "awful" something is.

Another person once told me that we should never encourage others in temptation. For example, if we were to own a B&B, we should not let un-married couples stay in our B&B, nor should we grow tobacco. I stated then we shouldn't grow food because food is a drug to some just as tobacco is to others. She didn't quite see it that way and argued that food is not a sin. Does the Bible not state that over-eating (gluttony) is a sin? It is NOT the responsbility of business owners to prevent temptations from coming to our children!! It is our responsibility as mothers, aunts, future mothers, etc., to teach our children what a temptation is and how to handle it!

A person must know their own limits. Each one of us has different temptations and different limits. If we allow a temptation to overtake us then that is our fault and we must repent. But if we are not allowed to even feel tempted because we were protected or we protect ourselves/our children from temptations, how will any of us realize what temptation feels like? If we do not know what temptation is then how will we say no to it?

Blessings in Christ,

A List to Live By

Found this as I was cleaning out my e-mails. My grandma sent this to me a few years ago.

A LIST TO LIVE BY

The most destructive habit........................................Worry
The greatest Joy........................................................Giving
The greatest loss.......................................................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work...........................................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.......................................Selfishness
The most endangered species................................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource..................................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm".................................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill................................Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease...........................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..................................Love

The most dangerous pariah......................................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer.....................The brain
The worst thing to be without.....................................Hope

The deadliest weapon...............................................The tongue
The two most power-filled words.............................."I Can"
The greatest asset.....................................................Faith

The most worthless emotion.....................................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire............................................SMILE!
The most prized possession...........................Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication........Prayer
The most contagious spirit........................................Enthusiasm

Blessings in Christ,

Lay Hold on Eternal Life

I have really been struggling to come up with something that I feel God would want me to write about, but I may have found something... the sermon that was given last Sunday at church. There is one minister at the church whom I feel is such a blessing to listen to, he truly has his thoughts organized and speaks from the Word of God. The other ministers all speak from the Word of God as well, don't get me wrong, but I feel this minister truly has a gift for Sharing the Word and I love to listen to him preach.

He spoke on laying hold on eternal life -- something that all Christians should be striving for. There were many references given to scripture that shows us what is necessary in order to hold onto our salvation and have eternal life; I have listed them below. But I would like to highlight a few.

1 Timothy 6:6-12, 19 -- We must give up our love for money, why do we love money anyway? Because it will buy us things? Sure it will buy us things on earth, but no matter how much stuff we buy or how much we tithe, money will not get us into heaven! We must grab hold to righteousness, godliness, love, patience and meekness.
Colossians 3:1-2
Philippians 3:10-14
2 Peter 1:5-10 -- We must have faith and virtue and knowledge and temperance and patience and godliness and brotherly kindess and charity. If we have all these things then we shall be frutiful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Luke 13:24-25
Hebrews 12:1 -- Again, we should set aside every weight and sin that beset us in order to run the race that is set before us with patience.
Luke 18:22
Luke 12:15
Luke 8:14
Luke 9:59 -- There is nothing that should come before us following our Lord, not even burying a parent.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 4:22
Ephesians 5:14-20
2 Timothy 2:4 -- If we entangle ourselves in the affairs of our earthly life, our Father in heaven will not choose us as one of His soldiers!
1 Peter 2:1
1 John 2:15 -- If we love the world or things in the world, then we do not love our Father in heaven, for we cannot have both the love of the world and of the Father in us.
Mark 10:45 -- We are children of God, and if the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, then neither should we. We should do as Jesus did, minster to others and give our life to God for the sake of others.
Matthew 11:28-29 -- If we follow the Lord, we shall find rest unto our souls because our Lord's yoke is easy and His burden is light!

It may seem like a lot to take on all at once if we have not truly given ourselves to the Lord, but those of us who have can surely attest to how He guides us in our lives! That is if we allow Him to!! I know myself, I want to be in control of my life so giving up the reins and handing them over to God has definitely been a challenge, but thus far He has provided!

Have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow!

Blessings in Christ,

To trim our hair or not to trim?

I have been thinking a bit lately about what Paul means in 1 Corinithians 11 when he says "6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

What does shorn mean? What does shaven mean? Does this mean that we can never cut our hair? Even a trim?

Great Treasures defines to be shorn as "shearing or cutting short the hair of the head". To me, this reminds me of shearing a sheep -- how the person cutting the wool off a sheep goes as close to the skin as possible. That is what I think of when I hear the word shear. Shaven is also another way to say shorn because shaven is cutting short the hair as well.

Does this mean we cannot trim our hair? I have the position that we can trim our hair. I know this is a debate to women who are new to this passage and those who have been raised with the headcovering passage. My thoughts are that trimming could be taken too far if there was a youth that wanted to cut her hair and instead said she was going to have it "trimmed"; however, generally, a trim means two inches at most...but usually just enough to get the dead ends off. I also look at it as my body is a temple for God, He gave me my body and the hair on my head. I am to take care of my body, so why should I not take care of the hair which He also gave me? We tell people who self-mutilate their body is a temple to God and they should not be harming something God gave them, we cite that as a reason not to get tattoos as well. Why then would we allow our hair to die and neglect to take care of it, not treating it like it is God's temple?

Maybe I take it too far, but this is my personal belief. That if I am to take care of my body because God gave it to me, then I ought to take care of it all, hair included. Yes, this does mean an occasional trim of an inch or so to keep my hair healthy.

Blessings in Christ,