We Adore Him Who Renews - A Poem

As falling snow descending to earth,

Silencing, freshening all the land,

So descends His mercy and grace,

Much more renewing this sinful man.

  What's past, is gone, what's done, forgotten.

  What's old, is new, what's dark, now light.

  Cold hearts turned flesh, the harsh now soft.

  Beauty for ashes, saved from our plight.

No mountain too high, no valley too low,

No darkness too dark for Him not to see.

No ocean too wide, no desert too dry,

No place too far for Him not to reach.

  Oh, fathom this God! That He so loved

  That He sent His Son to take our place!

  That we may come to Him unashamed,

  Renewed and spotless before His face!

If you, dear one, bear a heavied soul,

A weary, burdened, saddened heart,

Look to Him! He soothes all wounds.

Give it to God, where healing starts.

  Let the light of His presence illuminate all,

  The warmth of His love soothe your pain.

  Jesus is right when all is wrong.

  Jesus is real when people are feign.

Jesus is truth when surrounded by lies.

Jesus is rest, we have much to gain!

He is great peace when facing storms.

He is all clarity when life uncertain.

  Jesus is strength when we are weak.

  He is rescue when all crashes down.

  He sees our tears, He counts every one.

  He delights over us with joyful sound,

And He quiets us with His mighty love, (Zeph. 3:17)

He is all things we need each day,

He knows it all; He's always enough.

May you and I continue to claim,

  And live each day with this goal:

  "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24:15)

  May we prove by devotion and love

  That it truly is

    Him we adore.

~Kaylene Yoder~

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Could you use more coffee for your heart?

Click below to be encouraged & inspired!

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25 Last Minute DIY Gifts

Christmas is near and it finds some of us scrambling!

Did you know, I've been sharing lots of gift ideas over on the blog Facebook page? Give me a like and see more every day!


Here are a few of my favorites! Enjoy! >>TWEET THIS<<

1.
Double Braided Scarf Tutorial
from Put Up Your Dukes

{photo credit}

SEE TUTORIAL HERE

2.

Arm Knit Scarf & Cowl

Here are two I've made. In the red and gray one, I added a bit of sparkle by
tying metallic embroidery thread onto the yarn.
For the cowl I used two skeins of chunky yarn and
doubled the yarn as I worked it. The result,
a  very thick, comfy cowl!

Takes me half an hour, and I'm a beginner!

SEE YOUTUBE ARM KNITTING TUTORIAL HERE

3.
Barn wood + Stencils + Paint =
AWESOME GIFT!!!
from 2 Crafty 4 My Skirt


{photo credit}
SEE TUTORIAL HERE


4.
Tea Wreath
from Kojo Designs

All you need for this is cardboard, paper, hot glue and clothespins!
Add tea bags and you are sure to warm the heart
of your favorite tea drinker!



{photo credit}
SEE TUTORIAL HERE


5.
Crocheted Ear Warmer with Flower
from Frayed Knot



{photo credit}
FREE PATTERN and TUTORIAL


6.
Monogrammed Tote Bags
from Sweet T Makes Three

These would make awesome gift bags!

{photo credit}

SEE TUTORIAL HERE

7.

Felt Flower Scarf 

from Watch Me Daddy

I'd have to hot glue a few pearls on this to spice it up.

So cute!

{photo credit}

SEE TUTORIAL HERE

8.

Rice Heating Pad

from The Green Wife

Finally one that keeps the rice in place!

{photo credit}

SEE TUTORIAL HERE

9.
Homemade Bath Salts
from The Idea Room



{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE and TUTORIAL HERE
Bonus: Get FREE PRINTABLE labels when you
'like' The Idea Room on Facebook. (link in post)


10.
Cinnamon Honey Butter
from Tidy Mom

Gift your neighbors with a warm loaf of bread and this stuff....
drooling now....


{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE and TUTORIAL HERE

11.
5 Baked Gifts in a Jar Recipes
all with FREE PRINTABLE labels and baking directions!
from Cul-de-sac Cool

{photo credit}
SEE RECIPES with FREE PRINTABLE LABELS HERE 


12.
Homemade Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub
from Tidy Mom



{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE and FREE PRINTABLE LABEL HERE

13.
Homemade Apple Butter
(crock pot recipe)
from My Baking Addiction



{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE HERE


14.
Snowman Hot Cocoa Mix
from Nothing But Country


A darling twist to the traditional cocoa mix in a jar!



{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE and FREE PRINTABLE TAGS HERE


14.
Printable Names of Christ Ornaments
from Today's Fabulous Finds

Gift a few as a set or a gift topper, keep the rest yourself!



{photo credit}
SEE FREE PRINTABLE and TUTORIAL HERE


15.
Photo Pillows
from A Pocket Full of Whimsy

These are a keepsake, for sure! If you have a printer, freezer paper,
material, a photo and an hour or two...you have a pillow!
Great gift for grandparents!



{photo credit}
SEE TUTORIAL HERE


16.
DIY Mason Jar Soap Pump
and Natural Foaming Soap
from The Homesteady



{photo credit}
SEE TUTORIAL HERE

17.
Personalized Cutting Board
idea from 3D Carving on Etsy

This would be a priceless gift using your own handwriting, then burn over it.
Or scan your mom or grandmothers old recipes and burn into the back of cutting boards.


{photo credit}
No tutorial. Just inspiration!
Could use family surname, initials, bible verse, child's hand print...endless possibilities!


18.
Crochet Boot Cuffs Pattern
from Domestic Bliss Squared



{photo credit}
SEE FREE PATTERN HERE


19.
Simple Crocheted Scarf Pattern
from Make and Takes



{photo credit}
SEE FREE PATTERN and TUTORIAL HERE

20.
Homemade Root Beer BBQ Sauce
and printable label
from A Mom's Take

For the grill master!



{photo credit}
SEE RECIPE and FREE PRINTABLE LABEL HERE


21.
Christmas Candy Trains
from We're Calling Shenanigans

These would be fun gifts or gift toppers for all ages!



{photo credit}
SEE DIRECTIONS HERE



22.
DIY Photo Coasters
from The Frugal Girls



{photo credit}
SEE TUTORIAL HERE


23.
FREE PRINTABLE
from Shanty-2-Chic

{photo credit}
GET FREE PRINTABLE HERE


24.
Button Word Pillow
seen on Etsy

Make or buy a plain pillow cover.
Sew or hot glue buttons on, using any word you please!
Add pillow!



{photo credit}
No tutorial. Just awesome inspiration!


25.
Pizza Money Gift
from Making Memories with Your Kids

Because sometimes it's just easier!
Type up your own sign or just write it on the lid.
Anyone should love this!



{photo credit}
SEE HOW TO HERE



Don't forget to 'LIKE' Faithful Feat
to see more fun gift ideas every day!

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Be encouraged!

Be inspired!

Click below to join a virtual coffee break

for your homemakers heart!

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May be sharing with many of these wonderful blogs.... 

31 Days in Proverbs Devotional Collection

Life gets so busy.

And let's face it...we often become distracted and end up pushing our devotional time to the side in hopes of saving time. We're all guilty of it...we all want to do better...but when we feel this heightening level of tension, we realize God isn't the one who drifted.

We did. 

Yet we have a gracious, patient God, who welcomes us back and provides the rest we need and thrive in. 

Last January, I wrote a 31 Days in Proverbs devotional series. If you missed them, here they are again, all neatly packaged in one place for you to use as a devotional help during this crazy busy Christmas season. 

Consider this me just slapping a bow on top and placing it under your tree! Open as often as you want! God's word never grows stale!

31 Days in Proverbs ~ A Devotional Collection >>TWEET THIS<<

Proverbs 1 ~ Why Proverbs?

Proverbs 2 ~ Answering His Knock

Proverbs 3 ~ My Sister Wisdom

Proverbs 4 ~ A Brighter Light

Proverbs 5 ~ Warnings Against Adultery

Proverbs 6 ~ Trapped By Words

Proverbs 7 ~ Tablet of My Heart

Proverbs 8 ~ Be A Prude

Proverbs 9 ~ Wisdom and Folly

Proverbs 10 ~ Yes, Lord

Proverbs 11 ~ Duplicating Myself

Proverbs 12 ~ Overlooking Insults

Proverbs 13 ~ A Longing Fulfilled

Proverbs 14 ~ Build Your Home

Proverbs 15 ~ Joy Muscles

Proverbs 16 ~ Change Your Plans
Proverbs 17 ~ Bribes

Proverbs 18 ~ He Chose Me

Proverbs 19 ~ Rage Against the Lord

Proverbs 20 ~ No Favortism

Proverbs 21 ~ My Horse, Life

Proverbs 22 ~ Frustrating Their Words

Proverbs 23 ~ Squeaky Dryers and Stuff Like That

Proverbs 24 ~ Broken and Stomped On

Proverbs 25 ~ Mysteries We Grasp

Proverbs 26 ~ A Silver Drossed Heart

Proverbs 27 ~ Quarrelsome Wife

Proverbs 28 ~ One Beautiful Promise

Proverbs 29 ~ Kept In Safety, But Not Safe

Proverbs 30 ~ The Riches We Need

Proverbs 31 ~ A Woman Praised

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Sharing with... Faith Along the Way, Renewed Daily, Sandra Heska King, Juana Mikels, Wake Up Wednesday, Wholehearted Home and MANY MORE HERE

We're all a Bunch of Bumbling Morons ~ Blog Swap with Michelle Lesley

Once again it's time for a blog swap with Michelle Lesley! I enjoy her direct 'give it to me straight' kind of writing.

Today she shares the importance of of extending grace and forgiveness to one another, not just to relieve the offender, but because Proverbs 19:11 says "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

As the holiday's proceed let's use 'good sense' and remember to extend an extra measure of grace to others. We all fail at times, we all do reckless things, we all hurt...let's get our minds off ourselves and our focus out of our little worlds. Let's make an extra effort become the one spreading peace and love in the next few weeks.

Who knows! It just might become us!




Here is an excerpt:

What’s down right unfathomable in this day and age of everybody wearing his feelings on his sleeve, and wanting to absolutely obliterate anyone who causes him the least amount of agitation, is for one human to pass over the failure of another. 

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING


If you are a blogger, you may be interested in Michelle's blog swap. Click the image below to see her guidelines.

Dear Mom, Feeling Less than Qualified

So we are moms...

and it has us baffled more days than it doesn't.

We have these compulsions to run away. Then in terror we scramble to make sure the kids are okay.

We think about throwing a fit right along with the 2 year old. Then look around to see if anyone read our minds.

We want to scream in our pillows...sometimes we do. Then we come up for air and pray no one heard that.

We are sure we are blowing it.

We just know we are scarring them for life.

We wonder if we'll survive them, and sincerely hope they'll survive us.

Dear sweet mom, if you feel frustrated, overwhelmed and less than qualified today,...I get it.

But I also get that you are doing a great job.

You put their needs before yours. You love them fiercely and you nourish their hearts.

It doesn't matter if you are a

stay at home mom, 
a work at home mom, 
a working mom wishing she wasn't, 
a stay at home mom wishing she was working,
or a working mom planning to keep it that way...

your mothering is legit, as long as you are in accordance to God's will for your life and family. >>tweet this<<

So when the crazies hit, just remember...

God gave you those kids because He knows those children will help grow you into the woman He wants you to become. Your humility in seeking His will and His ways, far outshine any amount of picture perfect parenting. >>tweet this<<

He gave them you as their mother, knowing you have the appropriate tools for preparing them to become the people He wants them to be, in the walk of life He knows they will take. >> tweet this<<

He qualifies you.

Now go be their mom, in the best way you can, in the way only you can. 

~~~~~~~

Be encouraged!

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a virtual coffee break for your heart!

SHARING WITH SOME OF THESE BLOGS &... Mom to Mom, A Mama's Story, the Life of Faith, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Teaching What Is Good, Diamonds in The Rough, God's growing Garden, Juana Mikels, Messy Marriage

I Am Woman. I Am His.

I am woman.

I am sweet. I am sassy.

I laugh. I cry.

I hold it together. I lose it.

I have feelings. I have thoughts.

I love. I want to be loved.

I want to be held. I want to be left alone.

I am bold. I am scared out of my mind.

I am smart. I am capable.

I am God's.

My life is chaotic.

My life has purpose. 

My life is divinely orchestrated.

I believe I am what He says I am.

I believe I can do what He says I can do.

I believe I can be what He says I can be.

He says I am woman.

And I am His. >> TWEET THIS<<

"Blessed is she who has believed

that what the Lord has said to her

will be accomplished!"

~ Luke 1:45 ~

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Be encouraged!

Be inspired!

Click below to take

a virtual coffee break for your heart!

~~~~~~~~~

Sharing with.... Cornerstone confessions, Teaching What is Good, Rich Faith Rising, Diamonds in the Rough, God's Growing Garden, Chronically Content, Juana Mikels, Turn It Up Tuesday, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Pig & Dac, Raising Homemakers, My daily Walk in His Grace, Woman to Woman, Messy Marriage, Holley Gerth, Wake Up Wednesdays, Rachel Wojnarowski, WholeHearted Home, What You Wish, Simply Said Mom, 152 insights to my Soul, 7 Days Time, Becoming A Godly Wife, Serving Joyfully, 3D Lessons for Life, Graced Simplicity, Think Tank, Simple Moments Stick, Essential Devotions, Missional Women,Christian Mommy BLogger, A Look at the Book, For the Display of His Splendor, Nancherrow, Family Fun Fridays , Heart Filled Fridays,Thank Goodness its monday, Darling Downs Diaries

Blog Swap with Michelle Lesley ~ Rightly Dividing: 12 Do's and Don'ts for Effective Bible Study

Today I participate in another wonderful Blog Swap with Michelle Lesley. 

Here is an introduction to the post, in Michelle's words:

Bible study. As Christians we want to do it, we know we’re supposed to do it, but have you ever stopped to think that there are right ways and wrong ways to do it? Let’s take a look at a few do’s and don’ts of “rightly dividing God’s word” in Bible study.

Have you ever wanted to study your Bible more effectively? Head on over to Satisfaction Through Christ and check out Michelle Lesley's article: Rightly Dividing: 12 Do’s and Don’ts for Effective Bible Study.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, 

a worker who has no need to be ashamed, 

rightly handling the word of truth." 

~ 2 Timothy 2:15 ~

For more information on Michelle's generous Blog Swap offer, click to image below.