We are... because of God

Yesterday morning, Wee One and I walked into school with one of her friends.  The friend immediately shared, "You know what I have been thinking about? Where I come from.  I know I came from my mom, and her mom came from her mother, and her mother came from her mother but where did it all start? Why am I here? This is what keeps me up at night." 

The kid is 5.

Wee One did not comment but took my hand as we peeled away to enter the classroom.  While the friend was busy putting her belongings into a cubby, I asked her how she would have answered the friend's question.  She proudly replied, "From God!"  I was beaming but at the same time, I was a tad unsettled.  In this highly competitive academic environment, parents are always comparing their children and looking for ways to gain the edge.  While I try to stay distant from such behavior, it is easy to get sucked in and worry my own children will somehow be behind.  To my knowledge, my daughter does not ponder such big questions. 

I shared this event with my husband later that evening.  His response was filled with wisdom and eased my mind.  "Maybe the reason she doesn't worry about such things is because she already knows.  She is confident in knowing where she came from and why she is here."

Thank you, God, for blessing our family! My most enduring prayer has been that my children would know the Lord and would confess Him before others.  Thank you, Jason for helping me see we are on the right track. 

Are you looking for a way to find this confidence?  Do you wish to impart it in your own family?  With faith and obedience in Christ Jesus comes peace, true happiness and freedom.  Connect with other Christians. Look for a Church in your area.  Attend Bible class. Study God's Word.  Do not be lured into thinking the ways of this world, or the things it contains, are to be sought after. 

A more meaningful life exists!

Thrive

Lately, my anthem has been Casting Crowns' latest hit, Thrive.

Whenever it airs on K-LOVE radio, I turn it up and sing my heart out.  Check out this chorus.

Just to know You and

To make You known

We lift Your Name on High

Shine like the sun make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more

Than ordinary lives

It's time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

God intends for us to live a life different from others!  He made us for more than merely existing from day to day.  He doesn't want us to get bogged down by the routine, by the mundane.  We were made to THRIVE!  What a beautiful message!!!

Make today different. Get out there and THRIVE!

Valentine Necklaces

Since Valentine's Day falls on a Thursday this year, it did not dawn on me until Saturday night that I needed to have a goodie for the children in my daughter's Bible class Sunday morning.

What to do... what to do?!!

While rummaging through my craft box, I found sheets of felt, ribbon, and embroidery floss.  Valentine Necklaces were born!

Here is what I did...

1.  Gather the necessary supplies.

• Sheets of felt in red, pink, dark pink and white... Your choice!
• Embroidery floss in contrasting colors
• Thin ribbon in colors which match the floss
• Polyester fiberfill, batting or cotton balls
• Scissors
• Paper
• Embroidery needle

2.  Cut a heart pattern from the paper, in appropriately sized for the intended wearer.

3.  Using the pattern, cut two hearts from the felt.

4.  Place one heart on top of the other and begin to stitch the two together with the embroidery floss, starting at the bottom point.  Make sure the initial stitch begins between the hearts and moves to the outside so the "tail knot" is hidden.  Continue toward the top of one side of the heart.

5.  Cut a length of ribbon which can easily slip over the intended wearer's head and tie it into a knot.  Place the knotted end of the ribbon into the pocket of the heart and splay out the loop so each side of the loop can be stitched into one of the two sides of the heart.  Continue hand stitching the heart until a small hole is left.  Fill the pocket of the heart with a bit of the filling to create a puffy heart.

6.  Finish stitching the heart to close it.  Be certain the final stitch is tied off between the heart to hide it.

7.  Package in a cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon or staple closed with a personalized Valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Little Light of Mine... I'm gonna let it shine!!!

Do you know the song, This Little Light of Mine?  It is definitely a favorite of children's Bible classes everywhere.  My Wee One loves to sing it.  In fact, her Bible class has a set of lights they use while they sing.  Wow!  They sure have come a long way from swirling an index finger in the air like I did when I was a kid.

As we prepare to head to Bible camp next week, I thought I would make a set of lights.  I plan to have the pre-campers perform the song at campfire.

Here is the tutorial:

1 - Gather the following supplies:  1 toilet paper roll (could also use paper towel rolls), 1 battery-operated votive, low-temperature glue gun with glue, packing tape, and scissors.  I found the votives at the dollar store in packages of 3.  You can also buy higher quality lights if they better suit your needs.

2 - Cut the tube open from top to bottom.  The votives were a smaller circumference than the inside of the tubes so this is necessary to keep them secure.   Make your cut as straight as possible.   This becomes important when you wrap the tubes around the votives.

3 - Add a notch.  This notch needs to be deep and wide enough so you are able to switch the light on and off once it is inserted into the tube.  (You can also sing Deep and Wide while you do this.) 

4 - Add hot glue around the votive.  I used a low temperature glue gun so as not to burn myself OR the plastic on the light.  Remember, these were dollar store beauties so I thought I better be a bit cautious.

5 - Begin to wrap the tube around the light.  Be certain to make sure the switch is in the window created by the notch AND the top of the light lines up with the top edge of the tube.  Work quickly as the glue will only be warm and pliable for a short while.

6 - Wrap the tube tightly around the votive and secure the end at top with a little hot glue.

7 - Secure the lower portion of the tube with a strip of packing tape.  I cut a longer piece than needed to fold inside and provide a bit more strength.

8 - Go ahead and test out your light.  You know you want to!  Now, you COULD stop here.  In fact, the lights used by Wee One's Bible class look exactly like this.  However, I remembered I had some decorative tape and thought I would put it to use.

9 - Begin to pull off strips of tape and wrap around the tube, covering the bare cardboard.  Be sure to keep the notch area free of tape.

10 - The finished product!  Although the tape is not lined up perfectly, I thought this was a great first effort. (I have two little ones under the age of 3 and they were not terribly cooperative during my crafting session.)  Next time, I may try using pretty scrapbook paper and gluing it to the outside of the roll.

Now get busy and create your own lights to add a little more fun to This Little Light of Mine.

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.