True Love Story

God never moves without purpose or plan When trying His servant and molding a man. Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long; In darkness He giveth a song. I could not see through the shadows ahead; So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead. I bowed to the will of the Master that day; Then peace came and tears fled away. Now I can see testing comes from above; God strengthens His children and purges in love. My Father knows best, and I trust in His care; Through purging more fruit I will bear. O rejoice in the LORD He makes no mistake, He knoweth the end of each path that I take, For when I am tried And purified, I shall come forth as gold. - Ron Hamilton - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,  and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5 & 6 -  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience;...

Happy Wednesday, my friends! How are you on this fine July day? I sincerely hope you are well. Today I have a fun little project to share with you- handmade gift bags. These easy peasy bags are not only a delight to make, they are also quite easy and they make giving gifts even more wonderful. Supplies needed: cotton fabric or burlap fusible fleece lace for handles lace for embellishing shappy roses or fabric flowers pearls satin seam binding Cut the fabric to the desired size of your gift bag. For this burlap one I cut a piece that was  about 20-inches long and 10-inches wide. Cut a piece of fusible fleece that is the same size and iron it onto the backside of the fabric. Also, cut a piece of lining fabric that is the same size as the bag. I used cream cotton fabric for my lining. Pin on some delicate lace to the top edge of the bag and sew into place. Fold the fabric/burlap in half with rights sides together and sew up both sides. You will also do this with the lining fabric, but...

My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me. - Charles Spurgeon - In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save 'Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious ...

She trusts him for the job, but can she trust him with her heart? Men are optional. That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached  and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas.  But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out,  Emma admits they might need a man after all.  A man who can fight - and she knows just the one. Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved  by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad.  Yet when Emma's plea arrives,  he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life.  Only she's not a girl any longer.  She's a woman with a mind of her own  and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve. As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen,  but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive. My Thoughts Karen Witemeyer has done it again. . . she has combined her charm and sense of humor  ...

Oh, the lush berries that spring forth during the summer! Don't you just love the harvest of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries? Mmm. . . such sweetness can be found in these little treasures. Rasberries are by far my favorite berry during the summertime. How about you, sweet friends of mine, what is your favorite berry? Last week I made a blueberry trifle  since the blueberries in our grocery store were perfectly ripe. To be honest, my husband, son, and I aren't crazy about these little blue berries, but the trifle recipe sounded delicious so I decided to give it a go. Here is the recipe, dear friends. Ingredients: 1 angel food cake mix - baked as directed on package {or buy a premade one at the store} Blueberry Filling 3 cups blueberries ½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch ½ cup cold water -divided use Cheesecake Filling 16 ounces light cream cheese or a litte less depending on your taste preference,  softened to room temperature ⅓ cup heavy cream ⅓ cu...

With all that's going on in the world sometimes we need a little beauty in our lives to encourage us. Sometimes we need to take a moment to remember  that we are called to be women of excellence and how that calling can have an impact on what we do  and on the people around us. Sweet friends, take a moment to be still and breath in the goodness of our Lord. Pour yourself a cup of soothing tea  and let us ponder some precious thoughts and quotes. . . The Father and the Child The Father spoke: Come, child, let us journey together. Where shall we go, Father? To a distand land, another Kingdom. So the journey will be long? Yes, we must travel every day. When will we reach our destination? At the end of your days. And who will accompany us? Joy and Sorrow. Must Sorrow travel with us? Yes, she is necessary to keep you close to Me. But I want only Joy. It is only with Sorrow that you will know true Joy. What must I bring? A willing heart to follow Me. What shall I do on the jou...