If you ever have the chance to hear Carolyn McCulley speak, jump at the opportunity! She is an amazing speaker and woman.

Embracing God’s definition of femininity is a radical choice. Have you considered how feminist ideals have affected your perception of the role of women? Join us as we consider popular ideas of women in the home, workplace, church, and culture, and how these ideas compare to God’s wise and gracious design for women.

If you ever have the chance to hear Carolyn McCulley speak, jump at the opportunity! She is an amazing speaker and woman.

Embracing God’s definition of femininity is a radical choice. Have you considered how feminist ideals have affected your perception of the role of women? Join us as we consider popular ideas of women in the home, workplace, church, and culture, and how these ideas compare to God’s wise and gracious design for women.

Speak, oh Lord, as we come to You to receive the food of Your Holy Word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in Your likeness, that the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, oh Lord, and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory.

~ Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend

Speak, oh Lord, as we come to You to receive the food of Your Holy Word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; shape and fashion us in Your likeness, that the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, oh Lord, and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory.

~ Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend

I've been busy....And I love it...

Obviously, this is a tote bag that I made yesterday. Do I dare admit I went to bed after 1:00 am because I had to finish it? This is my 3rd attempt at tote bags. I'm getting better at it. I used several different patterns and combined them to make this one.

The pocket is off center, however, it was my first attempt at adding a pocket, so I am trying to not to let it bug me too much. I sewed down the middle of it, so it is actually two pockets. Yes, I clipped the thread you see in the picture.

Magnetic snap. No velcro for this bag. :o)

Close up of the cute fabric. I love the sheep. I am not fond of cartoony sheep. Most fabric I find with sheep don't strike my fancy. This fabric was a find...

A new quilt.

Another new quilt. This one has my name on it. :o) I love the robins egg blue color along with the pink.

I've been busy....And I love it...

Obviously, this is a tote bag that I made yesterday. Do I dare admit I went to bed after 1:00 am because I had to finish it? This is my 3rd attempt at tote bags. I'm getting better at it. I used several different patterns and combined them to make this one.

The pocket is off center, however, it was my first attempt at adding a pocket, so I am trying to not to let it bug me too much. I sewed down the middle of it, so it is actually two pockets. Yes, I clipped the thread you see in the picture.

Magnetic snap. No velcro for this bag. :o)

Close up of the cute fabric. I love the sheep. I am not fond of cartoony sheep. Most fabric I find with sheep don't strike my fancy. This fabric was a find...

A new quilt.

Another new quilt. This one has my name on it. :o) I love the robins egg blue color along with the pink.

During my "vacation" I did some sewing. I find it to be relaxing.

My new cell phone purse.

I made one for my Texas friend Sherry.

I didn't get a shot of it finished, but you can get the idea. I made this my Texas friend, Heather in honor of her 16th birthday.

I made this for my Texas friend, Gen Gen, Heather's big sister.

This one went to my Teas friend Sharla, younger sister of Gen Gen and Heather. I used one of the fat quarters I won from Wall Candy.

During my "vacation" I did some sewing. I find it to be relaxing.

My new cell phone purse.

I made one for my Texas friend Sherry.

I didn't get a shot of it finished, but you can get the idea. I made this my Texas friend, Heather in honor of her 16th birthday.

I made this for my Texas friend, Gen Gen, Heather's big sister.

This one went to my Teas friend Sharla, younger sister of Gen Gen and Heather. I used one of the fat quarters I won from Wall Candy.

There is no sin that I have done

This song moved me to tears last night at church. You can listen to it at Reformed Praise.

There is no sin that I have done

That has such height and breadth

It can’t be washed in Jesus’ blood

Or covered by His death.

There is no spot that still remains,

No cause to hide my face,

For He has stooped to wash me clean

And covered me with grace.

There is no wrath that I will know,

No wormwood and no gall;

For though such wounds and grief I earned

My Savior bore them all.

There is no work that I must add

To stand before His throne.

I only plead His life and death

Sufficient on their own.

There is no love that I desire

But Jesus’ warm embrace.

While now I know His love by faith

I long to see His face.

There is no song that I will sing,

No melody but this,

That my Beloved, He is mine,

For He has made me His.

Songwriters

Eric Schumacher & David L. Ward

This song moved me to tears last night at church. You can listen to it at Reformed Praise.

There is no sin that I have done

That has such height and breadth

It can’t be washed in Jesus’ blood

Or covered by His death.

There is no spot that still remains,

No cause to hide my face,

For He has stooped to wash me clean

And covered me with grace.

There is no wrath that I will know,

No wormwood and no gall;

For though such wounds and grief I earned

My Savior bore them all.

There is no work that I must add

To stand before His throne.

I only plead His life and death

Sufficient on their own.

There is no love that I desire

But Jesus’ warm embrace.

While now I know His love by faith

I long to see His face.

There is no song that I will sing,

No melody but this,

That my Beloved, He is mine,

For He has made me His.

Songwriters

Eric Schumacher & David L. Ward

Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking about the body of believers that I am in a covenant relationship with. We all serve and bless each other in unique ways. If any of them were to be gone for a period of time, our body would suffer...I would suffer.

Here are a few examples of what I am learning from those in my church body through their example:

1) How to live in a peaceful and loving home.

2) How to cheerfully and selflessly giving time to people.

3) How to be an encouragement to others.

4) How to graciously forgive.

5) How to extend hospitality.

6) How to walk in the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In short, they help me to be more like Jesus...

Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking about the body of believers that I am in a covenant relationship with. We all serve and bless each other in unique ways. If any of them were to be gone for a period of time, our body would suffer...I would suffer.

Here are a few examples of what I am learning from those in my church body through their example:

1) How to live in a peaceful and loving home.

2) How to cheerfully and selflessly giving time to people.

3) How to be an encouragement to others.

4) How to graciously forgive.

5) How to extend hospitality.

6) How to walk in the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In short, they help me to be more like Jesus...

Where two or three are gathered...there's a conflict waiting to happen.

That very truthful quote, can be found on the back of the book written by Ken Sande called, Peacemaking for Families: A Biblical Guide to Managing Conflict in Your Home. It aptly describes my home for the last few months. A couple of weeks ago, conflict became a full blown cyclone that threatened to destroy our family, thus, I went on vacation. Vacation from blogging and also on a five day trip with my family to Texas, to visit friends to get some distance and to be nurtured by friends who love us. It was a healing time. More on that later...

When the cyclone of conflict hit our home, our pastor spent 5+ hours in two days time, to help us. Think of it as the emergency team that comes to rescue a town after it's been hit by a disaster. The emergency care helps you get your feet on the ground and somewhat stable, but the rebuilding and recovery will take time and lots of it. That's where we are now, in the recovery and rebuilding of our family and home. Pastor Eric put it this way:

There is a serpent in your home. You need to cut its head off.

That startling statement caused my heart to tremble. Sin had taken root in our home. Selfishness, idolatry, jealousy, bitterness, anger, pride, to name a few....It was time to stop being a peacebreaker and time to learn how to be a peacemaker.

With Russ at the lead and me learning to follow, we had our first family meeting time last night. We read and discussed the first chapter of Peacemaking for Families. The first principle we are practicing is overlooking an offense. Many of the conflicts we have had could have been avoided by simply following this simple principle.

Many disputes are so insignificant that they should be resolved by quietly overlooking an offense. "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to His glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11). Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness, and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger. ~Ken Sande

Our God is faithful. He will help us persevere...

Sermon series on Peacemaking by Pastor Eric Schumacher.

Where two or three are gathered...there's a conflict waiting to happen.

That very truthful quote, can be found on the back of the book written by Ken Sande called, Peacemaking for Families: A Biblical Guide to Managing Conflict in Your Home. It aptly describes my home for the last few months. A couple of weeks ago, conflict became a full blown cyclone that threatened to destroy our family, thus, I went on vacation. Vacation from blogging and also on a five day trip with my family to Texas, to visit friends to get some distance and to be nurtured by friends who love us. It was a healing time. More on that later...

When the cyclone of conflict hit our home, our pastor spent 5+ hours in two days time, to help us. Think of it as the emergency team that comes to rescue a town after it's been hit by a disaster. The emergency care helps you get your feet on the ground and somewhat stable, but the rebuilding and recovery will take time and lots of it. That's where we are now, in the recovery and rebuilding of our family and home. Pastor Eric put it this way:

There is a serpent in your home. You need to cut its head off.

That startling statement caused my heart to tremble. Sin had taken root in our home. Selfishness, idolatry, jealousy, bitterness, anger, pride, to name a few....It was time to stop being a peacebreaker and time to learn how to be a peacemaker.

With Russ at the lead and me learning to follow, we had our first family meeting time last night. We read and discussed the first chapter of Peacemaking for Families. The first principle we are practicing is overlooking an offense. Many of the conflicts we have had could have been avoided by simply following this simple principle.

Many disputes are so insignificant that they should be resolved by quietly overlooking an offense. "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to His glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11). Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness, and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger. ~Ken Sande

Our God is faithful. He will help us persevere...

Sermon series on Peacemaking by Pastor Eric Schumacher.