6 March 2014
When I picked up a little book titled “Free Grace and Dying Love,” I couldn’t help but begin pouring over its pages. The first part is a collection of devotions by Susannah Spurgeon and the second part is a biography on her life.
Charles and Susannah Spurgeon’s story is a beautiful and inspiring one. They came together as one and faithfully served and sacrificed much to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and seek first His kingdom and righteousness. (She’s actually featured in one of our paper doll collections.)
Susannah’s writings in the collection of devotions is beautiful evidence of her great love of and submission to her Savior. While her life was far from trial-free, Susannah saw the goodness of the Lord through the afflictions and trusted in His good pleasure – the One “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” and “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
A couple of my favorite quotes from this volume:
“Lord, You have told me who You are, You have in mercy revealed Yourself to me, I know You to be that blessed ‘gift of God’ which alone can save and satisfy my soul. The depth and compass of heavenly love are manifested in You, and You have shown me, not my need only, but the sufficiency of Your grace and power to meet it. I am an empty sinner, You are a full Christ!”
“The soul that has learned the blessed secret of seeing God’s hand in all that concerns it, cannot be a prey to fear, it looks beyond all second causes, straight into the heart and will of God, and rests content, because He rules.”
—Susannah Spurgeon
I need Christ in all things and I know that He is sufficient. He rules and reigns and I can rest content in Him. How thankful I am that, by the grace of God, I serve a full Christ!
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
—Ephesians 3:20-21
4 March 2014
It is a glorious sight when everything is covered in snow as far as the eye can see.
So fresh, pure, and beautiful.
“Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For He commanded and they were created.
And He established them forever and ever;
He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling His word!”—Psalm 148:5-8
And to think, not a single snowflake falls apart from the decree of the Lord. Wondrous.
To top it all off, back in January we had the opportunity to experience -12°F with a wind chill of -40°F.
We’re thankful for our warm and cozy home!
24 September 2013
It’s the third day of Autumn. The temperatures are dropping, the sun takes its rest in golden skies, and the fields are being harvested. We’re surrounded by reminders that this beautiful season is upon us.
Apples and pears are being picked, friends and neighbors are getting out their scarves and boots, raspberries are ripe, the grape jelly has been put up from this year’s harvest, the trees are well on their way to a full bloom of what is fondly called Autumn colors.
Just as there is a time to plant there is a time to pluck up what is planted. “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
There’s something peaceful and exciting about each new season – as one goes, another comes.
We look back at what God has taught us and brought us through and look forward to what He has in store for the future. We see His merciful hand at work every step of the way, knowing that His works are good and His ways are righteous.
With each new season – and each new day – comes a reminder of the faithfulness of the Lord. “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23)
His promises never fail.
13 June 2013
We’ve enjoyed picking these juicy red beauties from our strawberry patch this week. God has blessed us with an abundant and oh-so-delicious harvest!
P.S. There’s a give-away of Breezy’s “Teach Them Diligently” chalkboard art print and an opportunity to help a family in need!
21 May 2013
The sliced potatoes frying in the skillet looked in need of some fresh chive. I quickly slipped outside to the edge of the garden and cut some of the green beauty that was blowing in the strong Indiana wind.
After a quick rinse and a few chops of the knife, the chives were tossed into the skillet to join the potatoes! It made for a delicious side dish at dinner last evening.
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”
—Proverbs 15:16-17
20 May 2013
Praising God for this new family!
It was a delight to stand and rejoice with this dear couple as they covenanted before God and man to be husband and wife. Looking forward to all that the Lord has in store for this family as they seek Him in all their ways!
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
—Ephesians 5:28-34
26 March 2013
Great joy comes with working together as a family. With businesses born and run in our home, we’ve learned what a blessing it can be to manage cottage industries.
Each part of the family contributes a different skill, giving the rest of us even more appreciation for the various talents God gives people. We’re all working alongside each other towards the same goal, growing in our relationships with one another and in our walks with the Lord. We love it! Whether it’s illustrating a new art print, or writing a note to be shipped off with an embroidery kit, we take pleasure in the work God has given us.
Although it wasn’t necessarily a dream of ours to own businesses, we are thankful that the Lord has directed our steps and laid in our laps many projects and opportunities over the past few years.
We’re certainly not business experts, but a lot has been learned along the way (more than we ever imagined!). There is much, much more to learn and we always find it a great opportunity when we can gain wisdom from wise and experienced entrepreneurs.
14 February 2013
The past couple months have been filled with a great many things! New patterns are in the works for Clementine, wonderful books are being read, coffee is being brewed (and heartily drank), memories are being made, and hearts are filled with gratefulness. (What a wonderful God we serve!)
One of the projects (details still under wraps) involves a good deal of this:
Breezy (left) illustrating and yours truly (right) scanning and editing illustrations. It is such a joy to be able to work alongside my sister. Not only do we share a home studio, but our interests and talents compliment one another, going hand-in-hand.
How wonderfully true this is:
“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” —Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
To top it all off, we all – even our dog Bently – are enjoying every ounce of sunshine the Lord sends.
22 November 2012
Breezy drew this lettering based on Psalm 111:1 with chalk on a framed chalkboard.
In the kitchen, near The Thankful Tree.
“Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is His work,
and His righteousness endures forever.”
—Psalm 111:1-3
Have a most joyous and blessed Thanksgiving!
P.S. I would love to know what you are thankful for – feel free to share with me in a comment!
