“Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.” 1Ti 4:15 NLT

What's good for the goose...

In the world of geese, the aged, very young, and infirm are kept protected in the rear of the formation. But they aren’t isolated, discounted or considered useless; they fulfill a vital role. They become the honking section and cheer for the leaders. Inevitably bad weather threatens the mission. The going gets tough and the tough are struggling. From the rear of the formation a lone honk sounds, initiating a goose chorus honking encouragement to the point goose.

Another Pretty bedroom!

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

Isn't this a pretty girl's room!

New today on eBay....

Richard Mylander writes: “On my way to a conference in Colorado I was driving uphill along a major interstate, when I overtook a freight train going the same direction at a slower speed. The train was being pushed uphill by two locomotives that sounded as if they were straining at full power. I’m a flatlander from the mid west. ‘Is this how trains move in mountainous terrain?’ I wondered. I gradually came alongside the front of the nearly mile-long string of cars. There I found five more locomotives pulling the train. Seven engines in all! Where I come from, I rarely see more than two or three. That train was a lesson for me. I had been under serious strain for some time. I was feeling tired and was wondering whether I could persevere under the pressure. How like God, I thought. When I am pushing a load uphill with all the strength I have and feel like my energy level is depleted, He wants me to know that He is in the lead, pulling with power far greater than mine.”

Fresh Fabric just makes me happy!

I'm cutting into these for a fresh mermaid summer set coming soon!

Two Kinds of Faith

One says, "If everything goes well, if my life is prosperous, if I'm happy, if no one I love dies, if I'm successful, then I will believe in God and say my prayers and go to church and give what I can afford." The other says though: though the cause of evil prosper, though I sweat in Gethsemane, though I must drink my cup at Calvary -- nevertheless, precisely, then, I will trust the Lord who made me."

God Will Take Care of You!
Gladys Aylward, missionary to China more than fifty years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yuncheng. With only one assistant, she led a hundred orphans over the mountains toward free China. During the journey she grappled with fear. After passing a sleepless night she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A thirteen-year-old girl in the group reminded her of their much-loved story of Moses and the Red Sea. “But I am not Moses,” Gladys sighed in despair. “Of course you aren’t,” the girl said, “but God is still God!” When Gladys and the orphans made it through they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can still trust Him.

Visit Allegro Fabrics for the best variety on the web!

Sharing, not owning things, brings lasting satisfaction and joy!

Choose ye this day...

A television news announcer recently quipped, “Speaking of the economy, if it weren’t for bad news there’d be no news at all!” Each time we face a downturn we tend to forget we’ve “been there, done that” and got through it by God’s grace. Like ancient Israel we anticipate doom, spread discouragement, join those who gripe about the government, and long for “the good old days.” How does the God who brought water from the rock, manna from the sky and ravens to feed a hungry prophet expect His people to respond to tough financial times?

He expects us to choose who we will serve- the economy of the world or the economy of God. Choose God's economy! God rules and reigns, owns all resources and dispenses them generously to meet His people’s needs, independent of global economic conditions.. In God’s upside-down kingdom the rules are reversed. He says, “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:9 NIV).

Feed on God's Word Each Day

A woman bought a parrot, took him home, and then returned him to the pet store the next day. “This bird doesn’t talk,” she told the owner. “Does he have a mirror?” asked the owner. “Parrots love mirrors. They see themselves and start up a conversation.” So the woman bought the mirror. Next day she returned. The bird still wasn’t talking. “How about a ladder? Parrots love walking up and down a ladder. A happy parrot is more likely to talk.” The woman bought a ladder. Sure enough, she was back the next day; the bird still wasn’t talking. “Does your parrot have a swing? If not, that’s the problem. He’ll relax and talk up a storm.” The woman reluctantly bought a swing and left. When she walked into the store the next day her countenance had changed. “The parrot died,” she said. The pet store owner was shocked. “I’m so sorry. Tell me, did he ever say a word?” he asked. “Yes, right before he died,” the woman replied. “He said, ‘Don’t they sell any food at that pet store?’”

The moral of this story is: You can spend your life on mirrors, focusing on appearance; on ladders, focusing on career success; on swings, focusing on entertainment - and starve to death spiritually.

Our attitude toward unplanned and unpleasant experiences determines our growth.

Steve Penny, head of S4 Leadership Network in Australia, observed, “Life is full of unforeseen detours. Consequences happen which seem to completely cut across our plans. Learn to turn your detours into delights. Treat them as special excursions and learning tours. Don’t fight them or you will never learn their purpose. Enjoy the moments, and pretty soon you will be back on track again, probably wiser and stronger because of your little detour.”

Thoughts on Experience....

When the new bank president asked the old one the secret of success he said, “Making good decisions.” “How do I do that?” he asked. The old one replied, “Experience!” Puzzled, the new one asked, “How do I get experience?” The old one replied, “By making bad decisions.”
Experience is a tough teacher; it gives you the test first and the lesson later.
Experience isn’t what happens to you, as much as what you do with what happens to you.

I liked this sentiment...

De-clutter your mind by giving yourself permission to have a not-to-do list: Not to feel guilty for saying no to something that may be good, but not right for you. Not to worry about how well-adjusted your kids will be as adults. Not to hang something new in your closet without giving something away. Not to feel over-responsible for everybody else’s well-being. Not to answer the phone after a certain time each night. Not to say yes just because you’ve been invited. Not to schedule busy activities on Sundays and family days. Not to buy something just because it’s on sale. Not to think you have to make a meal requiring more than three ingredients, do laundry, clean the house, and spend quality time with your family all on the same day. Not to ruminate over your own, or other people’s mistakes. Not to compare yourself. The more you give yourself permission not to do, the more you free yourself to live a centered, abundant life.