fashioned by Grace

2012-02-21T21:48:00.002-06:00

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Faithful

2012-02-05T21:40:00.005-06:00

Wow, sometimes I am amazed at my selfishness. I can so easily get caught up in things in my life that aren't going the way I believe they ought to be. Things that I know and believe God is working out, in His time. However, the even more amazing thing to me is that in the midst of my selfishness and complaining, God is standing right beside me. His love for me doesn't waver or falter. It's unending. It's everlasting. It's always faithful. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
2 Corinthians 9:15

Hoping In Your Love

2012-01-29T15:40:00.004-06:00

There once was a girl who had hope.
At first it was in things~dolls, ponies, and bows,
but they didn't satisfy her.
After all, they didn't talk.
As she became older she decided to hope in people,
which was much better, because they could hug, talk, and love her.
However, during her saddest and worst times, those people were no longer there.
What was wrong?
She couldn't put hope in things, because they couldn't love her back.
She couldn't put hope in people, because they sometimes let her down.
Then one day a King came along and showed himself strong and mighty to this girl.
He promised to love her, in spite of what she had done wrong.
He promised to give her peace, love, joy, and forgiveness but on one condition~
She must put all of her hope in Him.
It was all or nothing.
What could the girl do?
She truly had tried hoping in all other things, but it just did not work.
Why not try this hope the King was offering her?
What did she have to lose?
So she said, yes.
Today she still is saying yes to this King.
Why?
Because never has He once given her reason to doubt His promises.
He has always been faithful,
which gives her reason to continue hoping in His love.

"And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." Psalm 39:7

Hope

2012-01-18T09:33:00.005-06:00

There are a couple verses that came to mind today. They are verses of hope and trust that will help to remind us, God sees our hearts and knows our desires. He has good works and plans for us and will carry those out. They will be for our good and to His praise, because He his good.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:3-5

Christmas Reminder

2011-12-23T21:29:00.003-06:00

This was in an email I received, so I thought I would share. May you all have a Merry Christmas!

'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon His shoulder:
And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do, and in all that we say.
Then - the work of Christmas begins.

by Howard Thurman

Clementine Patterns

2011-12-16T21:44:00.004-06:00

When I was younger, my mom taught me how to do embroidery. I was not wonderful at it, but I tried. I eventually burnt out on the sewing. Now that I am older, I am beginning to appreciate sewing and embroidered work more. I even made some embroidered gifts this year for Christmas! (I will post pictures later.)

Now to the point of my post...speaking of embroidery...I found this really neat Etsy shop that sales embroidery patterns. It is a mother-daughter team. The patterns are creative and beautiful!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClementinePatterns

Check out her blog also if you get a chance...the pictures she takes are wonderful!
http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/

Also (off topic), just wanted to say I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season!

Cookies, Cookies!

2011-12-12T06:44:00.002-06:00

Cookies, cookies, cookies! I betcha can't guess what this post is about. ;) Recently as I was browsing through blogs. I stumbled upon a cookie swap. Being the cookie/dessert lover that I am, I signed right up! Wow, am I glad that I did, because I have received some delicious cookies the past couple weeks!
By the way, if anyone is interested in this swap, there will be another cookie swap next year. Just click on the link for directions.
http://eepurl.com/hsS-Y

I also want to thank those who sent cookies to me. They were truly delicious. In fact, so good...I just had to share pics! You can find the recipes on their blogs.

http://atasteofalaska.blogspot.com
This was called coconut almond macaroon. Wonderful!

Look how these cookies were packed...what a neat idea!!!

http://vaikai-vanile.blogspot.com/
I am not sure of the name of these cookies, but they were great! It was chocolate with fruit on the inside, then powdered sugar was used on the outside.

Now the cookie recipe I used was given to me by a friend. This is a great recipe for shipping long distances! It's name is cowboy cookie. I believe online there are many different variations. I had never eaten them before, but I did enjoy this recipe very much. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did!

Cowboy Cookies

makes dozens and dozens!

2 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups rolled oats
1 package chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

-Sift together the flour, soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
-Cream together the shortening, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy. Add the flour mixture and mix well.
-Add the oats and chips; then add pecans.
-Drop by teaspoon full onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until the cookies are golden.

Giving of Thanks

2011-11-24T08:39:00.005-06:00

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35b

'Tis the season of giving. Beginning with the giving of thanks. How fitting that before we dive into the Christmas season full of hustle and bustle, we stop to reflect on all the blessings we've been given and the goodness of God. It's a time of fellowship with family and friends and enjoyment of good food.
Just think how much sweeter it is when give. Maybe it's a donation to the local Salvation Army. Perhaps it' a donation to the family down the road in need. But maybe, it's giving something that can't be bought. Like giving a smile to someone with a frown, giving an act of kindness to someone whose life right now is rough, or even giving forgiveness to someone who is undeserving. Isn't that what this season is all about? Isn't that what Jesus does for us? We are undeserving of every bit of kindness and love, yet He gives it to us. All because of Love. So this season, let's join together to give before we receive. Then, we will rejoice much sweeter in our blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recipes - Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies - Crisco®

2011-11-09T15:20:00.009-06:00

Happy Cookie

A few days ago, my brother was sitting on the couch, and casually asked me what was for dessert. We had just had a wonderful homemade vegetable soup (deliciously made by my mother), but I suppose he had something sweet on his mind. Since I love to bake, I jumped at the opportunity to get in the kitchen! Looking for something quick and easy, because I didn't
have a lot of time on my hands, I grabbed one of our favorite go-to cookie recipes!

Recipes - Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies - Crisco®

You can not go wrong with these cookies. The are easy, quick, and delicious!
However, I will warn you...if you have three hungry men in your house (ex. two brothers and a dad)...you might want to make two batches of these!
No matter how many batches you make, there sure to leave you with a smile....

Happy Cookie Baking!

The Gift of Giving

2011-10-18T21:40:00.003-05:00

Have you ever felt a need to just give to someone? God just keeps laying it on your heart to give maybe a hug, a kind word, or a material gift? Who knows what God is up to, but I am certain that if God asks us to do something, it'll be for good for us and that other person. (Romans 8: 28) I have felt a need to give before, and after I did it, I began to doubt my decision. Then later, a few minutes or sometimes days or even weeks, God shows that indeed, the decision to give was right! Perhaps the gift God lays on our heart to give is the very same thing this person is praying for.

I recently read a story from Campus Crusades for Christ about a taxi driver who felt God was calling him to drive to a certain shady neighborhood. Stepping out in faith, the man went. While in the neighborhood, his car broke down. Now this taxi driver began to question what was on God's mind here. Soon a stranger appeared in another car, asked what the man needed and amazingly enough had just the right part for the car with him. (Isn't that a God moment?) As the kind stranger fixed the man's car, he asked him if he was a Christian, the taxi driver said, "Yes". The stranger then said, "Tonight, God told me to go out. I didn't know where I was headed, but I met you, and I'm sure you have a New Testament." Sure enough the taxi driver did! The stranger wanted a Bible so much, he fixed the taxi in exchange for a Bible. The driver prayed with the stranger and even helped lead him to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. How amazing! God worked through the faithfulness and gifts of these men, and great rewards came from it!

You may not think your gift of kindness will amount to anything much, but just think...what if God wants to use your gift to brighten, encourage, or just make someone smile. Perhaps just as a reminder that God does love them, has not forgotten them, and desires them!
Let's remember God loves a cheerful giver. In everything we give, let's do it with all the joy inside us, for the sake of God's love and Jesus' name!

2 Corinthians 9:7-Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of neccesity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Contentment

2011-10-05T19:26:00.004-05:00

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

For some reason this verse has been coming back to me the past few weeks. I suppose with Fall in the air and all the changes that come with the season, it makes me feel different. It's like I can almost feel a change in the air, but I am just trying to be content with what God brings our way. Trying not to rush things, but let Him work in His own time. For some reason, as humans, I believe that's a hard thing to do! But in whatever God has planned for our lives this season, let's surround our hearts with His word, remember His blessings, and love the people He has brought into our lives!

May Grace be with you all, until next time...

Who Am I?

2011-09-05T20:44:00.003-05:00

Wow, this is a big question for only three words. It's actually a question asked by many in this world. It's so easy to lose ourselves in such a fast paced world that we live in. We are so many different things to different people. For example: friend, sister, neighbor, daughter, cook, babysitter, teacher, etc., etc. So how do I define myself? The world defines me by the clothes I wear, job I have, or the car that I drive. God defines me by His Son. How's that? Well does God see His Son, Jesus Christ, when He looks at me? Has Jesus' blood covered my sins? If the answer is yes, then who am I? I am a child of the King. My mom sang in church a beautiful old song that said "O yes, O yes, I'm a child of the King. His royal blood now flows through my veins." It truly is beautiful (and not only because my mother sang it), because the words of it are so completely true. To all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are a child of the King!