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When God Says No
You’ve prayed for something, over and over again. You’ve sought to follow the Lord and be submitted to His will. Maybe it looks as if the desired gift is almost within your grasp. Hard as it may be, you’ve tried not to desire this blessing more than you desire the Lord, and to keep your focus on Him and your longings on the altar. And then, finally, you receive the answer to your prayers, and you step back in grief and disappointment. God says “No.” My guess is that you’ve been here at some point (or maybe several!) in your life. A time when, instead of the “yes” answer you…
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Inspiration for Your Week #2
Hello everyone! You are probably wondering why this post is late! We had quite the windstorm sweep through the area on Saturday evening. There were at least 31,000 in our county without power (including us until 7 a.m. Sunday!), and our internet went out as well. Being without electricity comes with some great object lessons…maybe you’ll hear some of those in future posts! 😊 I know that we were mildly affected compared to some other parts of the country. This week is a busy one for our family. I have music lessons to take and teach, the last test of this semester’s Bible correspondence course (delayed because of no internet),…
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Book Review: Nests Above the Abyss
Hello, my friends! This is the book I’m going to stay up late tonight to finish reading (which I’ll probably regret tomorrow morning 😊). Honestly, I had a hard time choosing which of Isobel Kuhn’s books to review. Every one of them is excellent, and I’ve read them all through at least once! Some of these books are a little difficult to find (Christian Book Distributors does sell By Searching, and Thrift Books sells some of the others). I received most of mine due to generous family members on birthdays and Christmas. If you can find them, they are so worth reading! Nests Above the Abyss really reveals the heart…
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Inspiration for Your Week #1
Good morning, friends! I thought I’d do something a bit different today. I love collecting quotes, so at the beginning of each week, I plan to do a short post with an inspirational quote and a Bible verse to think about through the week. I would love to hear your favorite quote, or if the Lord has used a particular verse to encourage you, so feel free to chime in through the comments! This week’s thought: “Waiting always involves the character of our thoughts of the one on whom we wait. Our waiting on God will depend on our faith in what He is. In our text we have the…
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Christmas Music Favorites
Hi all! This is the time of year when we think about how Jesus came to earth as a baby. We also think about why He came–so that we could be redeemed and forgiven! One thing that can help us to focus on Him in this season is godly music about His coming. I’d like to share three of my favorite music cd’s to enjoy: Redemption Dawns by Anna Ferraro. You’ll enjoy this lovely piano cd with beautiful arrangements of hymns such as “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” and “O Holy Night”, arranged and played by talented musician Anna Ferraro. The selection of songs is skillfully designed to help you…
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My Favorite Music Resources
Hymn History: Just As I Am
Tips for Hymn Improvisation
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Peanut Butter Squares
Warning: Sugar overload ahead! These are more commonly known by the undignified name of “Peanut Butter Yummies” at our house. They never last very long around here! Enjoy this delicious, no-bake dessert; it’s perfect if you’re looking to make candy during the holidays. 3 sticks butter 2 c. peanut butter 2 c. graham cracker crumbs 2 1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar 1 12 oz. package chocolate chips Melt the 2 sticks of butter. Mix with peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, and confectionary sugar. It’s easiest to mix with your hands. Press into a 9×13″ pan. Melt 1 stick of butter with chocolate chips (I usually melt them in the microwave as…
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Bloom in the Snow
Temperatures here in New York have been dipping into the 30’s at night and struggling into the upper 40’s during the day–sometimes! Everything is either brown or brown with a scattered coating of white. So I could hardly believe my eyes the other day when my mom called my attention to the concrete planter on our front step. For Mother’s day, my older sister had given my mom gerbera daisies, which bloomed all summer long and then died (or so we thought) when the frost hit. But there, hiding beneath the broad leaves that were still in the planter, its petals drooping and its head hung low, was a yellow…
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Only One Life
Hi everyone! This is not a poem I wrote, but it’s been a blessing to me and I hope will be to you as well! Only One Life has been attributed to C.T. Studd, a missionary to China and Africa in the early 20th century. Studd was a star cricket player in England, heading for fame when the near death of his brother brought him face to face with the realities of eternity. Although he was already a Christian, Studd realized he was not living for what truly mattered. He later said, “I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would…
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Book Review: Shadow of the Almighty
“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.” So wrote Jim Elliot in his journal in 1948. After his death at the hands of the Waodani natives of Ecuador, Jim’s wife Elisabeth compiled many of his letters and journal entries into a book called “Shadow of the Almighty: the Life and Testament of Jim Elliot.” I received this book as a birthday gift and read through it this summer. It’s been one of the most spiritually challenging and…
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Chicken Veggie Bake
This is the way that my mom got me and my siblings to eat our veggies when we were younger (now we do that voluntarily! 😊) It’s an adaption of my paternal grandma’s recipe. This casserole is really easy, making it the perfect recipe for a busy weekday night. It pairs well with the recipe for homemade rolls found in my post, The Gifts of His Grace. Enjoy! Serves about 8. 3 13 oz. cans of chicken breast 5 c. frozen mixed veggies (we buy in bulk at BJ’s) 1 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup 1/2 c. mayonnaise 1 c. shredded cheese (we usually use frozen mozzarella)…
