I am no longer anxious . . .

“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient.”

-Hudson Taylor

A Little of This and a Little of That

 

Yield Not to Temptation

 

Yield not to temptation,

For yielding is sin--

Each victory will help

you Some other to win;

fight manfully onward,

Dark passions subdue

Look ever to Jesus, He

will carry you through.

 

To him that o'recometh

God giveth a crown,

Through faith we shall

conquer, Though often

cast down; He, who is

our Saviour, Our

strength will renew,

Look ever to Jesus, He

will carry you through.

 

Ask the Saviour to help

you, Comfort,

strengthen, and keep

you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry

you through.

 

--Horatio R. Palmer

 

lllllllllll

 

Greetings of love in the name of Jesus!

 I hope this finds you all well; my trip to Pennsylvania was full and refreshing . . . the perfect kickoff for school. As the Ghanaian saying goes, I have had much to go home and chew on--meaning the messages were very thought provoking and deserve much reflection. The weekend's speakers taught on the forgotten messages of Christ  starting from the Beatitudes on down to Biblical finances. I love how the Lord meant for the Sermon on the Mount to be taken literal, to be walked out in our lives.

 

My trip (at least 36 hours) was alot of fun. The family I rode with were so gracious . . . my! the young men raised the standard of chivalry one-hundred fold! My sweet sisters in Christ were fun companions as made-up words began to describe all things fast-food and corny jokes became the fashion.

 

And now, I am home. Classes began earlier this week; how glad I am to be entering my third year and to be taking specific elemantary-focused classes. How fun it will be to observe actual classrooms and read piles of children's books.

 

Spiritually, I find the Lord pointing His kind finger in areas where I have compromised. Questions about movies, music, and attitudes are flying about my mind and, sometimes, I can get so overwhelmed! But God is good in gently diciplining areas where I have sinned and in cleansing areas that are unclean.

 

I am reminded of the sweet promise:

 

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

 

What's going on in your life? Are you toting books to crowded classrooms? Preparing your fall-cleaning lists? Trying yummy recipes? I'd love to hear from you!

 

Your sister in Christ,

Frannie

 

 

 

 

As Smooth as She Gets

Photo Credit Here!

 

She ran up, glibly, leaning backwards over the line of burgundy chairs before me.

"Here ya go," my little sister in Christ said. "This pebble is for you; it's smooth because we learned that God often makes us go through tough places in order to become smooth." She handed me a small, penny-sized charcoal colored pebble. It was smooth. She smiled as I gave my thanks.

How could she have known such a small, worthless stone could mean so much to me? And that was weeks ago. How did she know that I would have needed the encouragement that little pebble gave me today? She didn't; but God knew.

I thank God for using the storms in life for His glorious and good purposes. I thank Him for molding, shaping, and sometimes opening the flood gates upon me so that I can be conformed closer and closer into His image.

I thank Him for small, smooth, charcoal colored pebbles. 

My New Red, White, & Blue

This past week I did something remarkable, something unusual. I bought fabric and finished my project by the end of the week. Yippee!  This is certainly an unusual feat! The best, most remarkable part?: I didn’t even cry!

Aha! Truly my not crying over a sewing machine is a miracle; for years my Momma (and a few good friends) have patiently taught me how to measure, cut, and sew all while putting up with my fits of frustration and tears. And finally, by God’s grace, all their work has paid off.  Thank you Mom for being so patient with me (and for snapping my pictures!). :)

 

 

 

 

What thinkest thou?

  Dear friends, if you are one of my kind (you know, the clumsy-fingered, yardstick challenged, get-your-bobbin-all-tangled-up kind of seamstresses) take heart! It will get easier although it may take time. Trust me.

Happy sewing to you all!

Frannie

Falling for Fall

I know, I know . . . there’s still lots of time before the leaves begin their annual change and the weather turns frosty but how can I help it? The weather is 5 degrees cooler than normal, we’ve had rain the last two days, and the whole land seems to be calling out for Fall time pleasure.

And so, I begin looking at autumn crafts and DIY projects. I am especially interested in crafts and decoration that are easy to make and affordable. I have spent too much of my youth (doesn’t that make me sound old?) drooling over adorable JoAnns décor or yummy holiday foods without trying to reproduce.

So my #1 place for all these adorable pictures and ideas? Happy Home Fairy—my mom stumbled across Julie’s site recently and since then various phrases like “oh, isn’t that cute?” or “uh! We could make that!” and of course a few “ooo’s” have been escaping our mouths.

For example, this craft from Woman’s Day magazine is super easy and adorable. All that’s needed? Styrofoam wreath, hot glue gun, black duct tape, candy corn, and ribbon. How easy (and affordable) is that?

Find it here

I’m also going to try and leave (Hee hee, indeed, the pun was intended) leaves around for certain special members to find. The Happy Home Fairy did this for her hun and received a great response!

You should visit this link to read her story . . . . what a thoughtful way to show your love! :)

Finally, one last fall-ish desire of mine? To bake cookies . . . lots of cookies. I am super excited to be attending a Bible camp sometime next week. In celebration of such a long drive (MO to PA) and in order to carry my load I am *planning* on baking 8 dozen cookies. Perhaps for all you bakers and mommies out there 96 cookies is kid’s stuff; however, for me, the ready-to-be-done-two-dozen-cookies-ago baker, this will be a job. Therefore, I am so glad to be using two reliable recipes which seem hold well and disappear quickly!

But to get those recipes? Well . . . you’ll just have to come a visitin’ sometime later this week! God bless you, dear friends in Christ!

Wishing you an early, colorful, and wonderfall August!

Frannie

August 3rd

Friday, August 3^rd 2012
Outside my window... This sun is rising and peeking its face over a land soaked with rain. Many are struggling with drought like weather and so we are very grateful for the storm which came through last night.

I am thinking... The world is a beautiful place in the morning hours, this day shall be full (and hopefully successful)

I am thankful... For a day off, sweet brothers, little chiweenies named Chloe J

(This is an older picture but she is still as cute as a bug!)

In the kitchen... I shall set out some sort of roast (I won’t tell you that I cheated this morning and bought a Casey’s breakfast pizza this morning . . .)

I am wearing... A brown, soft skirt, blue ¾ sleeve shirt, a brown/blue Ghanaian head-covering, bare feet, and morning eyes

I am creating... A dress! Yes, my big plans for the day include cutting out the liner for my dress and trying to piece together a red, white, and blue floral jumper.

I am going... to follow the advice I’ve been reading in Stepping Heavenward and do the simple but needed chores of the day with faithfulness (why is this so hard to do?)

I am wondering... how difficult my dress will be . . . . oh dear.

I am reading... Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss, Discipline by Elizabeth Elliot

I am hoping... many beautiful hopes and that I will learn the lessons being taught!!

(There I am! Middle row, first on the right)

I am looking forward to... My trip to Pennsylvania (13 days!), finishing my memory work, visiting with teammates from Ghana, beginning school

Around the house... a brother under a large black-and-white blanket, mist covered windows, a kitchen island covered with mail and cups, and a large pile of laundry needing tackled

One of my favorite things... Rising early in the wee morning

A few plans for the rest of the week… Playing seamstress, our family finding a special for Sunday, planning Sunday School lessons

What are your plans for the day?

God bless you, dear!

Frannie