Singing in His Name

Let the Waters Rise by Mikeschair

2012-01-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

I found out about this band from hearing the song called "Someone worth dieing for" on the radio a few months ago, bought their latest album and I was not disapointed! Their music is uplifting and encouraging while I read the WORD, drive to my mothers helper job, or doing music theory work for my teaching certificate. Ladies even when the waters rise in your life God is going to swim the waves next to you!

In Christ,
Rebecca

Sola Gratia Music

2012-01-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I have been doing a mothers helper job this week and won't be posting very much, but I wanted to share this lovely music groups music with you all. Sola Gratia came into my life by a friend of mine named Ana when I saw her share their music on facebook. I recieved their CD in the mail last week and love love love it!

This music video by them is such a heart wrenching video for me to listen to! Especially as here in D.C. the March for Life occured yestserday and I am pro life and believe that abortion is definately killing many innocent lives. I was amazed to hear this song and how wonderfully they put into music the sanctity of life from a Christ centered perspective.

God bless!
Rebecca

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart!

2012-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

I found this group when I was looking at the local club in my towns upcoming artists who would be playing. I love this song and it was so comforting to all asleep to last night! Wish I could attend their gig but I already have plans to go swing dancing with friends. Maybe I will get to see them play another time.

have a lovely monday!
Rebecca

Life and hair care video

2012-01-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It took me 2 hours to upload this so I hope you love this video!! :) I am glad it finally worked. :) I am hoping this video is informative on natural hair care for curly girls and you are encouraged by my life update.
If you have any questions about my hair or the changes the Lord has brought forth in my life please comment below or email me at ra.stricker@gmail.com
God bless!
Rebecca

Be Honest and Bear Each Others Burdens

2012-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

found this via godsgracefulness.com love it so much! I had to share.

We can be joyful in trials- We will be made beautiful like gold

2012-01-15T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hey ladies,

I have been following Courtney's blog for a little over a few months now and have really been encouraged by her blog posts. Definately have a look at her blog for encouragement to walk with the King as she so wonderfully phrases it. ;)

I have struggled with trials this past year of 2011 and still have in this new year of 2012! So I thought I would share some verses and thoughts about this issue. As Courtney says in her video about trials and James 1 our culture says please yourself, its all about your happiness! But that is a lie ladies and don't believe that lie! Your life is not your own, You have been bought with a price and that price was death and you did not have to die because Jesus Christ the author and perfector of your faith died for you! What a living hope we have in Jesus as I was reminded when we read through 1 Peter 1 this morning at my church in discipleship hour. What a wonderful living hope we have in Jesus Christ now! So pursue Him and not your flesh desires. Pursue Gods desires and His path and pursue Him instead of facebook or novels, or TV, or movies, or being beautiful with makeup and clothing like the world says beauty is. Instead make yourself filled with the WORD, good conversations with other sisters and brothers in Christ, watching good movies/documentaries about people of the faith, or reading books that will help you puruse Him and instead of facebook encourage a friend with a real conversation or phone call or letter in the mail!

James 1:2-6 says," Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your fith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like the wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."

These verses caught my eye as I read James the other day again for probably the tenth time reading this book all the way through or may even 12 times! I love this book so much, as a friend told me this week, " Rebecca isn't James so practical in his writing! He writes with precise thoughts telling us how to pursue Christ."

I believe that the book of James is so encouraging to the person that has a hard time being joyful as I do many a time. The Lord has been gracious to me these past few weeks into the new year giving me joy! I asked Him to help me be content and joyful and He is been helping me with that. Praise the Lord alone for His Spirit dwelling in me giving me contentment and joy. :)

I read these verses as I have been studying the book of Job and I actually finished reading it this morning and was encouraged. " But he knows the way I take; when he tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps, I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandments of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food." Job 23:10-12

So when we go through trials we are being renewed and refined like gold in a fire, we are being made more and more into the image of gold of beauty! But its more beautiful than outward beauty like the fashion industry says we must have in order to be truly beautiful. Its a beauty that is eternal!!! We have the Holy Spirit of the Most High God dwelling in us! We are the temple of the Holy Spirit as it says in Romans 12:12. Praise the Lord we are being refined and made more and more into the image of the most High God who is eternally beautiful and mighty.

I love this song by Laura Story called Blessings and she talks about how the trials of this like are Gods mercies in disguise! What a truth! Gods trials are blessings in disguise refining us into gold. What a hope in Christ Jesus!
So take joy my sisters and face the trial knwing that as Job says He knows the way I take!! When I come out of the trial I will be beautiful like gold and renewed and made holy!

God bless you and walk with the King!

Rebecca

Starting a braided rug and contentment and joy in suffering

2012-01-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies, I know I have been remiss of late not telling you all whats going on in my life. Lots has happened since I did a proper update! The Lord is good and His faithfulness stilll reaches the clouds, its never ending and I am thankful for that! What a comfort. I have been pondering contentment and joy lately. They have been two things I have struggled with my whole life as a born again christian. I always heard the sermons as I grew up that were filled with fluff and really did not tell me that there would be times of suffering in my life as a follower of Christ. I did not start realizing and reading, and hearing that this was not the reality until I was a teenager. I came to realize that life was filled with tough times and joy and contentment started to become a difficult character trait for me to instill in myself. I came to realize that joy and contentment come only from Christ and when we are leaning on Him and His truth instead of our false perspectives.

I have read 3 blog posts today about contentment and I received the book called Contentment A Godly Woman's Adornment by Lydia Brownbackand have really been challenged and encouraged by her devotionals in there. She said in the devotional today why are we always focusing on the negative, (which is what I tend to do! ) instead of focusing on the little blessing and wonderful things God has in our life right now? Why are we reaching for something we do not have when we should be contentment and joyful for what we do have right now?!

The verse for the devotional I read today was, "Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said," Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt thaat cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Numbers 11:4-6

WOW! The people of God were so content weren't they?! They had food and the Lord was promising them a land just for them where they would not have to be in slavery anymore and it would be filled with milk and honey! But they were not content with the mana he had provided and the promise of a land filled with even more were they?! I think I am like the Israelites so many times! I say God oh I have to eat crackers and cheese and an apple again today for my lunch, that is boring and I have had to eat this every day this week. Is that being content?! No! God has provided nourishment for me that is good for my body and I am scoffing at it. These verses really made me think about am I content? I in America, the" land of plenty" and I am not content with all that God has provided for me. This made me get a reality check big time!

I have also come to realize that joy is needed even in suffering these past years. I will admit to you all that I struggle with lonliness and depression. Its not chronic or a big state of depression and no I am not taking meds for it, because I have the best meds on the earth! I have Christ my Lord! Every time I feel lonely and I give into my depression of feeling alone and like if I had more friends I would be content and joyful I have to say, " Rebecca you have the best friend you could ever have! A friend that will never leave you nor forsake you! He is the best lover you could ever have, He will never leave you when hes fed up with you or throw you in the ditch when hes tired of you! He gave up his life by being tortured and killed on a cross for you! Look at the cross and remember that your best friend died for you and He's right here with you always!" Then I read my Bible and pray and ask God to help me not give into the temptation from the evil one to give into my self pity or depression. With Christ I can be joyful even when I feel like I have hardly anyone who understands me or also loves my Lord that is in my life. Even when I feel discouraged or not joyful, I can turn around and be joyful because Christ has conquired my sin and conquired death! So I praise God that these past months even though sometimes I have sinned by giving into my fear of lonliness and given up sometimes and just cried. God has triumphed even when I failed Ladies!!! He has conquired my sin when I could not, He has thrown it as far as the east is from the west. So I would encourage you if you are experiencing lonliness or depression or discontentment or lack of joy go to the Father who in the same room as you and embrace Him in prayer and reading His WORD! This always points me to the truth that I have a best friend right there with me that will always love me and He will be there for me when I am down.

Some verses that have comforted me I was at breaking point are
," God is our refuge and strength,
  a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
  though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
  though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
  the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;  God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
  he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
  how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
  he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
  he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
  I will be exalted among the nations,
  I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

(Psalm 46 ESV)

So remember that He is our refuge and our strength!!!! We have no refuge in computer time, texting a friend, crying our eyes out, or yelling at others when we have given into the temptation of depression because of lonliness! There is no excuse for this because Christ is our refuge. If we just go to Him He there and He able to take our burden and take away that sin of giving into depression!

"Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who redeems my life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103: 2-5

I was reminded by these verses above yesterday that we should bless the Lord all the time and forget not his benefits! Do not forget that He forgives our iniquities and crowns us with steadfast love and mercy! How beautiful and encouraging is that! That gives me joy! :)

Please email me if you need someone to talk to or if you enjoyed this post please comment or email! I just thought I should not keep my struggles under the table. I am not a perfect person and I struggle daily with the sin of lonliness and discontentment and lack of joy. But praise God He is able to give us joy even in suffering and pain!

I have been working on a rag rug the past few days in my spare time when I just have to do something with my hands. I love how its turning out and will post more pictures when I get more progress. I think its going to take quite a while to do! I hope to finish it by spring and put it in my room. Well may God bless you this lovely weekend! Its 50 degrees farenheit here! I cannot believe it! Its like fall and my sister and father and I enjoyed it by walking around the neighborhood while we still can without the bitter cold weather.

A new gadget and fun projects

2012-01-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! So I am the blessed new owner of an ipod touch! Yes I am so excited and am amazed at this little gadget, I keep having to tell myself to back away from it more than not, but its much better than my ipod mini from 2008 that died recently. I am happy to have this!

I made a crocheted temporary case for it before my otter case came in the mail from amazon.com today. I think I will still use the cute crocheted case just for fun when its not in use. I am loving this otter case! Its my favorite color and its definately going to keep my new gadget from getting broken I think. Thanks to my dear friend who told me about this great new case! I am definately not tech savy and had no idea it existed. It was $30.00 of my Christmas money well spent. :)

I just finished this scarf for my grandmother, yes better late than never. It was to supposed to be her Christmas gift and it still is, but its not getting in the mail till tomorrow. There was so much going on I did not get it done till today. I love the way it turned out! I am not sure its easy to tell, but I strung glass clear beads on the yarn and put them into my crocheted handiwork randomly. She saw me make a scarf similar to this one for some friends for Christmas years ago and loved it. So I made her one too. :)

I thought I would model it for you all too. :)

My music stand today, I was working on my concone exercises and The Lass With the Delicate Air, which I sang for my vocal exam in December as well as a new song I love called The Lord is My Shepard. I adore that song! Its so comforting to sing and beautiful. I will post more photos of my song writing progress and some other music I am working on soon.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Gluten free Breakfast Cookies

2012-01-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe for Breakfast cookies at Gluten Free Goddess. My sister loves them and so do I! Ever since we found Karina's blog we have been loving her cookie recipe and pumpkin pie recipe over the holidays. I might also add that I did change the recipe a little for us. We can have milk, so I used organic raw milk in our cookies instead of rice milk. I also used regular old nestle chocolate chips instead of making our own, hey it won't hurt us one bit. :) Might as well have the real chocolate in my opinion! :) I also used the first measurement of flour as white rice flour and the second measurement of flour as sorghum flour and it tasted great.

I made these cookies again for like the 5th time in the last few months Saturday. My sister Bethany is now trying not to eat gluten, but of course she still loves a good cookie, so this recipe is perfect. I love them too and I can have gluten! These cookies are so yummy, so if one person in your family can't have gluten those who can don't be disapointed! You will love these and be able to eat them too, maybe even 2 or 3 will pop into your mouth. :)

Have a lovely Tuesday!
In Christ,
Rebecca

Featured in Girlhood Home Companion

2012-01-02T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

Yes we have been awefully busy but I have not gotten around to telling you all till now the great news! My sister Bethany and I are our 3 friends Lindsey , Stephanie ,and Ginny were featured in the magazine Girlhood Home Companion for their December issue. Bethany and I carted a Christmas tree, chairs, and many decorations to an old house near our friends from around 1730 and we took pictures for a Little Women photoshoot. We all were protraying the March sisters for the issue in our Civil War attire. All photography was done by our friend Lindsey and is all her work. Please do swing by the website here and have a look. I wish this magazine existed when myself and my sister were girls. I am so glad for the girls of this generation though who are pursuing Christ that will be encouraged by it.
And many thanks to Jill Novak the owner of the magazine for this opportunity and many thanks to Lindsey our amazing photographer! We could not have done this without the both of you.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Song Writing Progress People!

2012-01-01T15:26:00.000-08:00

hey friends!

I have been writing up a storm today, I had finished the melody line for my first song I wrote over a year about a month ago, but I have been finalizing it today. I am still changing around notes and lyrics to make it perfect and I wrote the piano part today as well. God is good! He has brought me to the stage where I can hear a melody in my head and figure it out on the piano. A year ago I could not do that, so His grace is so good to me! So if you all don't hear from me a lot its because I am playing around with my new toy I got for Christmas Finale Songwriter 2010. Its a great program if you are writing music and want to create lead sheets and MP3's of your music. Oh and by the way this photo was taken with my new Ipod touch I also got for Christmas. I am so excited that I can take photos with it as well as listen to music! So don't worry I will keep you updated on my songwriting progress. Maybe I will even do a video of me singing and playing a finished song in the future. I can't wait what the Lord holds in store for this new year! May God bless you all as you pursue Him!

In Christ,

Rebecca

Operation Write Home

2011-12-29T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

My sister, mother, and I found out about this great thing called Operation Write Home a few months back from Stephanie Ann over at WorldTurnedUpsideDown. We wanted to contribute to this great cause so we made some cards Tuesday. This organization has people send in homemade cards which are shipped to our heros overseas in the war. Then they can send cards to their families, as there are no Hallmark stores over there unfortunately. You can also send them letters of encouragement too.
Here are some photos of us making some Valentines for them to send to their friends and family. You can get in on the fun by going to their website Operation Write Home.

I hope you are having a lovely day and please do make some cards if you have some supplies and send them their way! I know the soldiers would appreciate your support!

In Christ
Rebecca

A Belated Merry Christmas

2011-12-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Merry Christmas 3 days late! I hope your Christmas Spirit filled and once again you all realized as I did the need for the real meaning of Christmas to be preached, Jesus Christ was born to die for us!

My family and I had a quiet Christmas, just the four of us together. It was lovely! Here are a few photos of Christmas morning and Christmas day.

As is tradition in our home, my mother and I made monkey bread for breakfast Christmas morning. She did most of work getting up real early to get it together and I just put sugar all over the dough and put it into the pan and she put it into the oven. She also made a breakfast casserole pictured below that morning. Its also traditon for us to eat this dish Christmas morning.

" The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."

(John 1:9-18 ESV)

Then for lunch mother also made enchilladas and mexican rice and Beth and I put together a fruit plate. I love all the colors!

Here are a few pictures of our home. I am not sure I have shared what it looks like really. But here is the kitchen and living room where we spend most of our days. Mom puts all the Christmas cards around the doors to decorate every year as is another Christmas tradition of ours.

We decided to not go through all the trouble of having a huge tree this year and we got a nice small one. Mom put it atop the piano and we were all pleased. We decorated our tree 1860s style with period ornaments we had made at living history events. So this year we had a historical tree. :)

And lastly here is the rest of the kitchen where we made cookies and all the Christmas food this year as we do every year. I love how the sunlight always pours into the kitchen each day. Praise the Lord for another year almost done! I have been pondering as of late how time is so short and how God is still faithful no matter what. Praise God for Jesus His Son coming to earth that we might be saved. John chapter 1 is a favorite chapter of mine lately and I posted if above for you all.

Merry Christmas and God bless all of you!
In Christ,
Rebecca

Becca's Bakery Winter Flyer

2011-12-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine named Lindsey W. designed this flyer for my bakery, I love it! I also am now shipping bread and fudge and caramel corn in the USA. So if you are out of state, just email me and I can tell you shipping prices if you can't come to my front door, but still would love to order.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Weekend Fun

2011-12-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

Ready for the Dance and fancy italian dinner

Hi friends! Its been quite busy recently with Christmas upon us! So many things going on! On Saturday two of my dear friends came up to celebrate a birthday, so we went out to eat at Macaroni Grille and then on to a Swing dance to celebrate. It was great fun and filled with much laughter and encouragement.

Since my dear sister Bethany could not come to celebrate with us we brought her along anyway, we brought her stuffed owl instead. So every time we took a picture she would be in it too. :)

We did not get any photos except for this one at the swing dance, it was so much fun! I love dancing and it was fun to hear christmas music swing style! From God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to White Christmas and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas were played by the live band. They even had two singers who sang during each song as well and they were dressed up in 1940's attire as well. I wore my circle skirt my sister made me and had fun twirling on the dance floor.

On Sunday we had friends come after church for a christmas social at our house, it was great fun, but again bethany was not there so we had owl be there to remind us to take pictures and document all our fun with the video camera.

We sang christmas carols and played music to praise the Lord for the miracle of His Son coming to earth in form of a man to die for our sins and praised Him that he did not die permanently, but rose on the 3rd day releasing all who believe in Him from their sins.

Here above is Bethany and me, its funny because my personality is definately a puppy and she is definately the owl. Aunt Ann you were so right when you sent us these and said they reminded you of us! :)

Me with Owl while we chatted and talked about christmas and caught up with friends.

Mom missed Beth too and here she is with little owl. :)

And after all those fun hours with friends even Oscor and Felix were a little tuckered out. ;) So that was the weekend! Oh and Bethany came home Sunday night in time to spend a little time with some of our friends before they went home. We were glad she came in time to see them! Its been busy every day and I could write a long book on all the adventurees, but for now I will end.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Christmas Season thoughts

2011-12-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

"I reduce who I can be as a wonderful creation of God when I limit myself to what others think I should be."- Mark Brown
The quote above was posted on the WORD facebook page tonight, I thought it was so convicting! Yes I am reducing who I am when I change myself to be what others want me to be instead of who God wants me to be! I am His creation, I am supposed to be a child of God, not a child of this world. Thanks for the reminder Mark!
Hope you all are having marvelous month of December! Its flying by for my family and I! This is a photo from a Christmas gathering last December at dear friends house. I love the Christmas season, I have not been taking as many photos as I would like of all the festivities around here, but hey life goes on even if blogging does not. :) We had a christmas recital today, I played duets with my mother and 3 piano solos, my sister and mother played harp duets. I have a vocal lesson and am once again inspired to sing for the Lord and His glory alone. My teacher always inspires me to sing for the Lord every time I have a lesson. The Lord kept me safe as I drove in the rain without my eye glasses. I am getting a new perscription tomorrow Lord willing. We are driving to another state thurday to get our beef order from friends and visiting friends. Then saturday we have a ladies christmas tea at our church and a swing dance that evening and Sunday church and a Christmas social at our house. The Lord is good to us I am realizing even in the all the busyness. I praise Him that He speaks to me even in the crazy season of Christmas. Praise God He has helped me to realize that even in a busy world we still need to stop and ask for help from the God of the universe.
This verse range through my head today, " I lift my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth." Praise God that whenever we ask for His help he is there, the God of the universe, the creator is there! He says whoever crys out to Him He will answer, yes he answers prayer, he always does, even if its no or wait. These are my thoughts today even through all the hustle and bustle of the season. Praise God for our Savior who is gracious to us even if we may forget him for a few minutes, He does not forget us.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Homemade Crackers( Recipe now included!)

2011-12-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

It all started a few christmas's ago when a friend of ours made homemade crackers, yes you Jennifer dear. :) My mother said," I want to do that!" She dreamed of making crackers from scratch for years, but did not get around to trying it until yesterday. :) I helped her make the doe and roll out the crackers. We cut them out with christmas cookie cutters just because it was fun! :)

We baked them and ta-da! We had gluten free crackers that my sister, mother, and I could all enjoy for our lunch. We ate them and said," That was too easy and these are so much better than crackers from the store!" My mother told us we should make these when we have friends over for christmas. We might just have to make a few hundred more crackers soon as we ate most of these yesterday. :)

Gluten-Free Herb Cracker Recipe
Ingredients- 1/2 cup arrowroot starch or cornstarch ( we used cornstarch)
1/4 cup almond meal ( we did not have any so we used fresh almonds ground up in our Vita Mix, you could also grind them up in a food processor)
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons of herbs ( we used 1 tablespoon rosemary and 1 tablespoon thyme)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt to sprinkle on crackers ( we omitted this)

This recipe makes 5 dozen small crackers
What to do-
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit
2. Place dry ingredients in bowl. Blend. Add oil and water to form a dough ball. If dry, add more water to moisten.
3. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes or cut w/knife into even squares. Prink crackers with fork and sprinkle with kosher salt. Transfer crackers to non greased cookie sheet or stone.
4. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn crackers over and bake 5-7 more minutes until golden brown.
5. Cool and store in air tight container.
Tip- If crumbly, add water to moisten. A 5" by 3" rectangular sheet of dough makes nice flat-bread crackers.

Enjoy your gluten free yummy christmas crackers!

So that was part of our day yesterday in between me sewing a bonnet to sell next monday as my family is going to be speaking in Washington D.C. about the history of the American Civil War, and in between my mom accompanying me on the piano as I sang my songs for my vocal exam and my dear father was my audience. Then that night I went and had my vocal exam and scored an A-! I am so happy! God is so so good to me and I am reminded as I might have said yesterday in yesterdays post, I am so not steadfast in love, but He always is! It boggles my mind at how amazing our God is.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Baking, baking and more baking

2011-12-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

As you can see I have been baking up a storm this past month. I got a few customers now that I have started my own home bakery. Lord willing I will get my parents consent to start selling at local farmers markets. I would appreciate the prayers about that decision! Its a lot of work, but I believe the Lord is leading me in the direction of starting my own business instead of college.

Tuesday I made a cherry pie for my dad as an experiment to see how it tastes and how easy it would be to sell. I believe its a winner! I love the way it looks and I can't say for the taste yet, but will be trying it with a cup of tea tomorrow. I had a vocal exam today, so I have not had a chance to sit down with a good book and read and eat a peice of pie. :) My mother told me how her mother always made a cherry pie for christmas, so this pie will be the special christmas pie for Becca's Bakery.

Hope you all are having a great first day of December! I must say the Lord is blessing me beyond measure, I am sitting here in a warm comfy bed with heat and am just in awe of his provision. He is from everlasting to everlasting a God who is faithful I have been reminded with all the little things that have come into place these past months. I got an A- on my vocal exam today! I sang well according to the deans of the college and my vocal teacher was pleased with my singing. All I had to say was praise God! He is faithful and so many people have been praying for me and of course God answered those prayers. :) He has also helped me to start getting my baking business going despite some road blocks and more doors as my dad says that will need to be pushed on to see if God will open those doors.

In Christ,
Rebecca

He is Our Present Help in Times of Trouble!

2011-11-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

I was just so desperate this morning, gasping for breath, after crying for over a half an hour, I opened my Bible and said God I can't do this alone! Lord give me your strength to get through this trial! He spoke through His WORD as He always does each time I open His Book. Praise the Lord that He gives strength to the needy, even me!

Psalm 46
"God is our refuge and our strength,
a very present help in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make me glad
the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High!
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter,
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
"Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."

God I am poor and needy, but you comfort me, you are my very present help in times of trouble. Ladies he is not just our help in times of trouble, He is our very present help in times of trouble!!! He is very present! He is not just present, he is very present and real and living. He is Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and the father to the orphans and widows and to His sons and daughters. I am His daughter! He holds me in his hands and I drink from His cup. He is the God of the nations! The only living and true God. Give your troubles and worries up to Him! I did and He has given me great joy today! He is my King and my Father and my friend! He is my redeemer and rescuer from sin! He rescued me today twice! Satan may try to make me feel defeated, but I am not because Christ lives in me! He reigns in my being, he reigns! Not death nor life nor anything in all creation can seperate me from the lover of my soul! Praise the Lord!

Give your worries and burdens to Him today ladies! He will give you peace that surpasses all understanding. I am just so in awe of the answers to prayer and the life He is giving me. He is helping me to keep breathing when I thought I would not be able to.
In my God forever,
Rebecca

All I Need Is Something Outside of me

2011-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

Pies, pies and more pies plus bread

2011-11-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Dear readers, I realize I have not been posting as much, but I have good reason. :) First of all I am spending less time on the computer and more time with the Lord and my family and last of all more time baking. :) I am starting my own home bakery! Its so exciting! So here are some photos I have taken for the brochures that a friend of mine is making for me to start my business.

The pie above is a gluten free pumpkin pie, which I love love love! I can eat gluten, but I even loved it. My sister needs to eat lesson gluten so I am trying out lots of gluten free recipes.

This pie above is a whole wheat pumpkin pie, which is the recipe I have used since I was 12 and I made my first pumpkin pie. To tell you the truth I did not make it correctly the first time. :) I put in a whole cup of salt instead of sugar and a teaspoon of sugar instead of a teaspoon of salt. Ooosp! :) But thank goodness I had time to make another one before thanksgiving dinner that day. ;)

Whole wheat bread rolls, which are just so yummy! Even if we make them not for holidays we use them as sandwhich rolls or just to grab and go for a quick snack. Yum!

Whole wheat apple pie I believe is my favorite! I just love it! This one has honey instead of all the sugar and I could not really tell the difference, did not miss the sugar. So yes I am doing sugar free options as well as gluten free options for my customers. Lord willing my business will be off to a good start this week for thanksgiving customers. If you get a chance please pray that the Lord would be the center of my business and that I would not get discouraged if I do not get much interest at first. thanks!

In Christ,

Rebecca

Homemade Pretzels

2011-11-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

Back in October readers I was very very busy baking and I still am! I am starting my own in home baking business. So you will be seeing lots of photos of things I have made. So keep your eyes peeled. I will be posting recipes as well from the best baking blog-heavenly homemakers.

This mouth watering recipe was so so good that my sister and I were eating them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner literally! Lots of butter and salt and you got a yummy nutricious for us snack or meal. :)

They did not turn out too pretty compared to the ones over at Heavenly Homemakers, but they sure did taste so good! I had trouble doing the pretzel twist method, this was my first time making pretzels, so I made some in heart shapes as well. I got tired of doing the twist. ;)

The pictures are not the best, but I thought it was about time I shared them. I am still trying to get back into the swing of things with the time change and having been gone from home for 9 days straight. I can't believe its November!

In Christ,
Rebecca

Our Mighty God

2011-11-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

I have seen the awesome deeds of the Lord God over and over again in the past months in my life. I have seen Him over and over again not just come through for friend and family but be there every step of the way answering prayers and needs. He is working and He is working faithfully. I have seen a pattern in my Bible study and experiences and prayers that has kept leading me to 3 attributes of the Lord the past few months; He is faithful, He is steadfast in love, and He performs mightly deeds(answers prayers and works miracles).

I believe this song really speaks about these 3 attributes, whenever we speak His name mountains move! Whenever we pray to our God, do good for our God, or are faithful to our God He is working! This is such an encouragement to me. As the verse below states he has heard my prayer over and over again and answered me in his saving faithfulness and steadfast love. Its because of these three attributes, faithfulness, steadfast love, and mighty deeds I can see more and more He is worthy of my praise and trust and will never waver in loving me.

" But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness."
(Psalm 69:13 ESV)

These verses below tell of His faithfulness because whenever we see His mighty deeds, the miracles and wonders he does in our lives, we have a clear and sure promise that He is faithful. This afirms His faithfulness reaches to the clouds by His over and over again watching out for us and moving in our lives. How can God hearing our prayers and doing wondrous works not prove that he is faithful?

Psalm 77

"I cry aloud to God,

aloud to God, and he will hear me.

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;

my soul refuses to be comforted.

When I remember God, I moan;

when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

You hold my eyelids open;

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I consider the days of old,

the years long ago.

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;

let me meditate in my heart.”

Then my spirit made a diligent search:

“Will the Lord spurn forever,

and never again be favorable?

Has his steadfast love forever ceased?

Are his promises at an end for all time?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

Then I said, “I will appeal to this,

to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

(Psalm 77:1-15 ESV)

You may be asking what has he been doing in your life Rebecca?

Well first I would say he has reminded me over and over again that this life is so short and that we need to use the time to the best we can for His glory. I have found that by serving others and really digging deep into the Word and praying daily I find fulfillment in Christ even in this short life. There has been many a time where I did not say the right thing in a conversation or take the initiative to start a conversation to share the Gospel of Christ these past months; but God has been gracious and I have seen my family and friendship relationships growing in the Lord. I have seen that many times I feel as though I have to rush through my Bible study and then God says slow down I am always here! Over the weekend, I spent a long time just pouring over the Psalms and was not sorry I did not get some other things done so I could spend more time in Gods love letter to His bride.

I found that I kept reading about his mighty deeds happening over and over again. I kept reading about how each generation was able to share Gods faithfulness with the next because of the mighty things he had done which proved His faithfulness.

"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
  incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
  I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
  that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
  but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
  and the wonders that he has done."
(Psalm 78:1-4 ESV)

I pray that my generation would not hide what the Lord has done from their children! May we all be able to recount the mighty deeds the Lord has done in our lives to the next generation to tell them of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a need! So many do not realize God is real I believe because many of us who follow the Lord are too scared or proud to recount to them what He has done. I am writing this for myself, Rebecca recount the Lords mighty deeds and works to others to share his steadfast love and faithfulness is real.

Then you may go on to read chapter 78 of psalms and you realize when it says that Gods people were not faithful, it says that God was faithful, these verses below prove this truth!

"With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with a skillfull hand!"-psalm 78:72

Many times in the scriptures it talks about Gods people being faithful or not being faithful. I have seen many passages over the past few weeks talking about faith. I read these today that talk about how we are justified by faith as well. God is faithful to forgive us and justify us through faith! What an encouraging truth!

" What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
(Romans 3:3-4 ESV)

We see in these verses above that even if we are unfaithful that does not make God unfaithful to us! What a promise and what a relief! Even when we are in sin God will wash us and cleanse us and through faith justify us of our sin.

"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
(Romans 3:27-28 ESV)

I have also been reminded by the above verse that we also still are to be faithful to God! So when we are not faithful to God we are to repent of our sin and then strive to be faithful! Just because we might fail in being faithful does not mean we should not try, because I have seen that the more I stumble the more I rely on God to help m put my faith and trust in Him alone.

And last but not least, besides His might deeds and works showing me God is real and loves me and his unending and unwavering faithfulness proving me to He is the God of the universe; His steadfast and unwavering love proves He is the true bridegroom and lover of my soul.

I have read many verses over the years, especially from the Psalms that talk about our Gods undieing and unfading love, but here is one passage I will share with you.

" Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by.

I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions;

I lie down amid fiery beasts—

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

They set a net for my steps;

my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my way,

but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody!

Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!"

(Psalm 57 ESV)

I am so grateful for this Psalm, its really just so encouraging and empowering to me! My God's steadfast love reaches to the heavens and His faithfulness to the clouds. Its never ending! Its never wavering! He will never cease from loving me even though I am a sinful wretch who many a time is ungrateful for His sacrifice on the cross for His bride! So many times I forget all he has done, but in this post I want to focus on Him, not me. God is steadfast in love and never wavers from hearing our prayers and petitions and pleas for His help. Praise God God alone is our Savior and friend.

In Christ,

Rebecca

Ceder Creek Reenactment

2011-11-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know I have not been posting pictures and posts consistantly for the past few weeks. I got a call last Sunday night from a dear family friend and ended up being able to help them take care of their 13 year old daughter and meet their new adopted 2 week old son. We went to the hospital last monday to pick up their son and it was really a miracle that he has gotten into their arms. You can be praying for them, the birth father could show up at anytime. But for now he is theres.

Before all of that happened and I was with them till wednesday helping we went to a reenactment. My sister and I and our friends all went dressed up but we did not camp. Usually our family does camp at events, but my parents could not go, so all of girls went for the day.

So we were able to watch battle on Saturday for the first time in 3 years for my sister and I! We usually are encamped and have plenty of cooking, teaching, and sewing to do, but we had no encampment to go to so we did all the things spectators usually get to do. It was a wonderful relaxed day.

The whole group is us watching as the battle got going. It really was a sight, considering it was on the original battlefield! That makes it even more amazing!

With all the smoke from all the weapons we had to cover our faces in order for our eyes not to hurt. :)

The one picture I have with me in it. :) I was taking so many photos I was not thinking of getting myself in them. :) Thanks to Hannah I think for the photo. I have a new shawl that is my mothers I wore this event that I quite like with my silk gown. :)

Taking off their hats in respect for the dead. :) Now of course no one was actually hurt in the depiction of the battle. :)

All of us barely fit in our SUV! All 7 of us were very squished. :) But that is ok because we love each other. All those petticoats barely fit. :)

Then Sunday we got a better earlier start than saturday and went down to a lovely creek and had a picnic together under the old trees.

It was beautiful and very picturesque! I bet that the trees have been here since the civil war or before that. They were so old!

I have pictures from recipes I have made and pictures of another reenactment we did encamp at 2 weeks ago. Coming soon!

In Christ,
Rebecca

The Christian life is a battefield

2011-10-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Ceder Creek reenactment 2011 from this past Saturday

I am not saying this lightly, a friend of mine reminded me of this with her blog post today. So many times the enemy Satan tries to get us to believe that God is not winning the battle! He wants us to believe that he has triumped when we sin or when we get discouraged. ladies dont' believe it!!! God the God of the universe has triumped with Christs resurrection from the dead! What a hope, we are still alive, not dead, we are still fighting and fighting strong, but not strong in our own strength, only in the strength of God alone!

" If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus- in His presence- ripened by the sunshine of His smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him!"- Morning and Evening October 20th by Spurgeon

Ladies we must hold sweet communion with Christ, then only then can we have victory! Death is swallowed up in victory through Christ! Oh death where is thy sting?! We have victory praise God in Christ! Fight the good fight and don't do it in your strength, rest in Christs strength.
I am trying, I might fail sometimes, but Christ never fails, He will always prevail.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV)

In Christ,
Rebecca

What has been under my fingers?

2011-10-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

The start of a penny rug has been under my fingers these past 2 days. A friend of mine told me about this frugal and useful thing that you can do with old wool scraps and peices of old wool coats and pants and dresses. During the Civil War and even before the civil war women made these penny rugs out of scraps as useful items for their families. They recieved their name Penny rug because they would use pennies as templates to cut out the wool circles. They also were penny penching projects that took little money and were useful.

They used these rugs as decorative table runners and cloths as well as cushions for chairs and also as floor rugs. I read one account online of a women making a new rug usually once a year to go in front of the front door in their home. This way they could wipe their feet before entering the home. They were also used as mats to put on the table underneath your candle stick holder or lantern so that wax would drip onto the penny rug instead of your lovely table. Mine will be decorative as well as useful at civil war events and at home to put hot dishes on top of, or a lantern, or just look pretty.

My penny rug is made out of circles of old wool from many garments we have made over the 3 years we have done reenacting and also from modern wool projects. I barely even dented the wool scrap bag and I have a wool penny table runner. :)

I am currently doing a blanket stitch around each circle on each penny. This will take a few more evenings and then I will attach them to an old peice of canvas for the backing. Its been documented they used old feed sacks or canvas or any other old peice of material for the back. They did not waste precious wool for the backing because it was precious and would only be used for things to be seen on the penny rugs.

I got all my documentation and information from the following sources.Early Style Penny Rugs and Penny Rug crafts history of the penny rug and A Story book life blog and few other places I could not remember. There were no actual pictures of antique penny rugs, just pictures of reproductions that I could find. But I am sure that many ladies would have done any design they had enough wool for or fit there fancy. So I cannot say my design is 100% accurate for the 1860s time period.

Well I am off to do more blanket stitching on my penny rug to finish it in time for saturdays reenactment as a sample of what these would look like while I demonstrate how to make one. Thanks to Mrs. Wilcox for sharing with me this wonderful craft!

In Christ,
rebecca

Making dinner at my house

2011-10-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have been experiementing a lot I believe my family would say in the kitchen lately. i decided to make homemade hamburger buns a few months ago, but never got the photos up until now. I found the recipe over at heavenly homemakers blog. It was fun to cut them out almost like cookies, with a glass jar. I made sliders as i call them, they are mini hamburger buns, instead of the ginormous ones most people eat.

I even made strawberry lemonade and it was delicous! Its making me want summer to come back looking at these photos from August. :)

The fruit of our labor below. It was perfect with fruit salad. My dad was so pleased, he keeps on saying to everyone whenever the subject of hamburgers comes up that my daughter Becca makes the best sliders. ;) Glad you liked them Daddy! I can always count on you for an honest opinion, truly! Whenever something does not taste good he tells me. :) Which actually happens more than not.

Next I will be post pictures of cookies and bread. Coming soon! Baking is a favorite past time of mine and I plan to now actually take pictures of the food after I make it. Usually we love how it tastes we eat it all before I remember to take pictures. :)

In Christ,
Rebecca

My Colonial outfitt

2011-10-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Now that I finally have access to all my pictures since they have been transfered to my new laptop I thought I would do a proper post about my colonial(1771-1776) outfit. I have worn it many times for french and indian and american revolutionary war reenactments as well as volunteering at a historical 1771 farm. Last time I wore it was in August volunteering at the local farm which has reenactors live like a family would have in 1771. I made this outfit I guess in august and september of 2010, but never got around to doing a proper photo shoot of the garments. So here you go! :)

I used white linen for the gown which I dyed lavendar for the gown using the J. P. Ryan Pattern. I could not find any linen online that was the color I wanted, so I dyed it myself. They would have done this anyway, so I did. But yes its not a period dye, its rit dye, but hey it works. :)

I sewed the whole dress by hand except for the indside seems, so all those pleats in the skirt are by hand. The neck kerchief is cotton, but I plan to make a linen one soon when I volunteer again or have another event to attend. The grey petticoat is also linen and I did not use a pattern for it, I just pleated the skirt into the waist band. A good book about this can be found here, it has diagrams and drawings of all kinds of garments form the period. When my sister and I and are friends and family went to Williamsburg for our graduation in 2010 we were also able to study many garments. We found the book on that trip as well.

My cap was made by the lovely Sarah Jane over at Romantic History. She was having a sale of many of her own garments she had made for living history and I jumped on the cap because I was running out of time before an even to make one actually. In the future I will probably make a second one to have one hand if I volunteer more at the farm.

The apron is also linen and I just made it up. :) I saw pictures and drawings and just cut out a rectangle and sewed it into a waist band. Its pretty easy. I am not wearing shoes as I do not have period shoes yet. I have been using my civil war boots to tell you the truth. I don't do much colonial reenacting so I was not willing to invest the money in a nice pair yet. I got a thrift store pair for the farm since we do a lot of messy work.

I will be posting photos of my new regency gown as well soon once I can do a photo shoot. I finished it in September in time for us to do the Defenders day reenactment at Fort McHenry. So pictures coming soon! You will see lots of stripes and lots of blue! Blue is my favorite color. :)

In Christ,

Rebecca

Don't Curl Up in a ball.....

2011-10-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

when you don't want to deal with conflict whether it be inside your soul against the flesh or with other people! This picture reminded me of the many times these past years that I have just sat in the corner curled up in a ball and given up instead of dealing with the conflict. When someone asks you whats wrong trying to help don't say nothing, deal with it.

"God's highest purpose is not to make you comfortable, wealthy, or happy. If you have put your faith in him, he has something far more wonderful in mind- he plans to conform you to the likeness of His Son! He began to change you the day you put your trust in him, and he will continue this process throughout your life. Coflict is one of the many tools that God will use to help you develop a more Christ-like character. To begin with, he may use conflict to remind you of your weakness and to encourage you to depend more on him(2 Cor. 12:7-10). The more you rely on his grace, wisdom, and power, the more you will be imitating the Lord Jesus(Luke 22:41-44)." - from page 37 in The Peace Maker by Ken Sande

In Christ,
Rebecca

The Story of my Laptop and some Links

2011-10-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Inspired by another blogger I will be doing a post with some favorite links. You see my old computer has been slowly but surely dieing for some time now. It is about 7 years old. It was my first ever laptop and first ever computer when I was 13, so my dad has been slowly since yesterday getting all my files and pictures transfered from the old computer to the new laptop he bought me yesterday. Yes I have a 2011 laptop!! I must say its awesome and I never thought I would have a modern computer anytime soon, the Lord blesses us and surprises with these things sometimes. :) My old laptop had some funny quirks, such as the k key was missing, so I always had to copy and paste a k from somewhere on the internet whenever I wanted to use a k in a word! lol! I knw I should have called dell and gotten it fixed, but I lived with it for about year or 2. :) It also seemed to be like an older person, since it was old it breathed real heavy like an older person would like it was going down real soon. haha So I had to get a fan for it to keep it from heating up too much and then exploding.

So long story short, I am typing to you on my HP pavilion g series laptop. So once all my photos are transfered from my old laptop to this one I can start sharing more photos from the past few months with you all.

One thing I have been doing a lot of is baking! Some of you might have seen my statuses on fb that I want to start my own baking business out of my home. I have been experimenting a lot ad found that I have a bread recipe I beieve would work for selling bread. I also have been making a lot of gluten free recipes because my sister has finally found out her allergy to gluten is what has been making her not feel great for a while now. So here are a few recipes I will share with you I have tried and loved these past few weeks. Sorry there are no photos of my food I made, but it got eaten too fast!

First, I love this ladies blog for gluten free foods, she has everything you could imagine that would not be gluten free, but it is gluten free.

We absolutely loved these chocolate chip cookies and these breakfast cookies. I also made these cupcakes, except with cream cheese frosting and into a round layered cake instead of cupcakes for my sisters birthday in september. I also put strawberries on top to decorate it with a friends help. It was too much fun! :)

I discovered this blog a while ago when I posted about those bagels I made, which was my first recipe I tried from this blog. I love love love all her stuff, because it all whole grain and focused on putting real foods into your mouth. :)

The recipe I really really love from this blog is her honey whole grain bread recipe ! Its the best bread recipe I have ever used, it never comes out bad! It always rises nice and high and the dough is easy to knead. But let me tell you a secret a friend recently told me about kneading bread by hand, don't use flour to put underneath the dough and on your hands so it won't stick, use olive oil! I never would have thought of this, but since you are not adding more and more flour your bread then can rise better because it won't be too heavy from all that extra flour. So do try it, its really helped me in my bread making! :) I plan to use it for my baking business bread and of course I will be asking her permission as its her recipe. Hoping she won't mind. :)
I made 12 loaves this past week and gave 8 of them to friends and we kept the other four. I also made parmesan bread sticks using Sue gregg's recipe in her baking with whole grain cookbook. But instead of using her bread recipe I used the heavenly homemakers recipe and did what sue gregg said for topping the bread sticks.

I am still knitting away on that nubia for the reeactment this saturday and Sunday. I will post pictures when its finished.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

I have been singing these verses yesterday and this morning in my head. " Search me O God and know my heart, try me and see if there is any grievous way in my me, and lead me in the way everlasting. " Psalm 139:23-24

In Christ,
Rebecca

Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down!

2011-10-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was reading through the next Psalm as I have been reading a Psalm or two each day for my Bible study along side 1 Chronicles and Acts. I read Psalm 95 and the song Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down came into my head. This song is so soothing and comforting! I just had to share it with you all.

Psalm 95

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us fmake a joyful noise to gthe rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

3 For the Lord is ia great God,

and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

7 For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

9 when your fathers put me to the test

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

10 For forty years I loathed that generation

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,

and they have not known my ways.”

11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

A view into my day

2011-10-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I have been sorting through photos from the past 4 months June through September and realized I have some catching up to do. So from now on I will try and post a few times a week until I can catch up on all that you all have missed. :)

For today here are some photos of one of days this past week. I had seen another lovely blogger Miss Linda do this and I enjoyed seeing what her day was like. So here is a sort of diary of my life on a typical day.

I forgot to get more photos in the evening so you will have to be content with just commentary. :)

In the morning I love to get out of "photo album" which I have turned into a memory verse card holder. I put all of verses in there I want to memorize on index cards. I have to say that I have not been doing this lately, but I have been going over verses I have memorized in the past in the mornings. This method is handy to bring with you anywhere as well!

" So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of Wisdom."-Psalm 90

I have been reminded more and more by the Lord and friends and my family that we need to remember that this life is but a vapor and so short. The Lord is at hand and He is coming again soon. Its reminded me as well to get a heart of wisdom, but not earthly wisdom that comes from myself or others, but the wisdom of the Lord.

Then I glanced over at my dresser and realized even more that I am an adult now and really have grown in the past year. I have the responsibility of getting things from the store for my mom by driving. I also have a cell phone of my own now, it updated this of the weather before I started my Bible study. Its a great feature as I am always wondering about the weather.

The red journal underneath my phone is my prayer/Bible study journal which I use each morning to write down verses I am memorizing or really want to ponder throughout the day. I have always had a journal ever since I was 13 I guess and now I love writing in them. I hope someday my children and their children will be able to glean some wisdom from the Lord from my scribbling. :)

Acts 18:9-10 " Do not be afraid but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."

Then I studied chapter 18 in Acts and chapter 19, I have been just really loving reading Acts. Its so encouraging and challenging!
In chapter 18, Paul was afraid to share the Gospel for fear he would be abused and persecuted again, but God said to him in a vision do not fear! How much more then should we not fear as we are not getting beaten and put in prision in the US as Paul was in Rome and other provinces. The Lord has shown me more and more that I need to share the Gospel because the days are coming when the Lord will come again. We should not hide and not tell of the hope that is in us. I must say many a time I do not share the Gospel because I am afraid, but God says do not be afraid, and we have many Christians in our cities in the US, probably more than Paul had, but he still preached the Gospel. How much more should we? These were my thoughts all day yesterday. I felt as though I really have not been doing what I should do as a christian, I have felt as though I have not verbally shared the Good News enough.

Then I also read from Psalms 92:4-5 " For You Oh Lord have made me glad by your works; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are you works Oh Lord! Your thoughts are so deep."

I read this and remembered that yes I should be joyful always because My God's works are so so great! His thoughts are so deep, too deep for me even to understand, but He wants me! His steadfast love never ever wavers for me His child. He loves me with a love no one else can ever love me with! That is a promised hope, its not a hope that is unsure, its sure!! My God loves me with a steadfast love. He will never forsake His bride!

Then I went on a run, I tend to pray while I run now. I used to listen to my ipod, but it has basically died. So now I use the time to pray and remember my God who is always with me. I feel more at peace this way and remember that He will protect me while I run through the neighborhood. Yes I do wear pants when I run, I have found its easier and warmer in the winter months. I could wear a skirt, but it gets in my way, so pants it is. I wear loose sweat pants, not so pretty, but warm and great for exercise. I have been convicted by the Lord in the past few years that its definitely not a sin to wear pants and for some things its necessary.

When I came in from my run I was cold, but at the same time hot, I hate that. But it was worth it to get a good 30 minutes of exercise. I love earl grey tea, ever since I went to England in 2009 with my sister and Jennie Chancey on the England tour I have fallen in love with the taste of tea. I have it most every day in the fall and winter months. Earl grey is my favorite type!

For my early meal I wanted some scrambled eggs made in my cast iron skillet, but I had neglected to clean it the previous day. So I thought I would do a little tutorial on how to clean your cast iron in this post. Yes this post will be a little long. :)

I clean my cast iron with sea salt, I was actually reading a magazine called Reminisce and it has stories and things that lots of elderly people send in about how they lived in the 30s-70s when they were children and young people. One lady did an article about cast iron and I tried what she said to do, which is use no soap or water to clean your cast iron! I had never heard of this, I was always using water, but no soap with a scrubber to clean it. But she said that salt has properties that are great for cleaning, so its great for clean cast iron.

So what I do is I get a dry paper towel, pour some sea salt in the dirty pan and scrub. If you have a lot of stuff that is stuck on use some sort of scrubber to get it off, but no water or soap, just the sea salt.

And here you have it! I beautiful and clean cast iron pan. :) Not using water or soap helps it to stay smooth and that way you have an anti stick coating on your pans. Its lovely isn't it! :) Cast iron just is so fun to me! I love using it and taking care of it. :)

Now if you are not going to use your cast iron pan after you clean it up, then re-season it, this means re-oiling it. I use coconut oil to oil my pans, but you can also use canola oil or vegetable oil. But coconut oil is the best I believe health wise. We only buy extra virgin, here a photos below. :)

We get it in a huge bucket way bigger than the one in the photo. We use this little bucket for storing small amounts in the house. We store all of our bulk foods in our garage. If you want to know more about getting different whole grains and other organic foods in bulk shoot me an email here- ra.stricker@gmail.com

I only use about half a teaspoon full of the coconut oil and then you melt it in the pan. Its a solid at room temps, but is a liquid at higher temps.

Here is photo of what the coconut oil does when it melts, it was hard to get a photo for some reason. But its basically a clear liquid. Then you can whatever you want, I did eggs.
My tea and my bread and eggs, yummy! Then I practiced piano for church on sunday, I am one of the pianists for the services at our church. I did not get photos of that, but I did get photos of my music for my voice practicing and from my lesson. I had to drive to my lesson as well, so I listened to my favorite group Selah in the car.

Above, on of the songs I am studying for my college vocal lessons. Its so beautiful! This song can be found in the Celtic Woman songbook. Its my favorite song I am learning right now.
Here are some photos from my lesson, the exercises I must do daily to become a better singer. They are difficult, but fun! :)

These are from the Little Book Cocone exercise book. I also do the Big Book Cocone exercises as well. I have also been using Italian Arias as well to sing the song Alma Del Core, which is my most difficult exercise right now I believe! There are some high notes in it. :)

This one is my favorite I believe because its easier than number 8! Its funny that 8 is harder than number 9 for me. :)

I always write out a to-do list for each day or else I am lost not remembering what I need to do.

After I do some more things on my to-do list I read this lovely book Womanly Dominion. Its so good!!! I can't put it down, its so good. I read about Abigail and how she was a woman who did not just sit and knit she was intentional for the Lord. She did not say oh the Lord will do that, she got up and moved in order for the Lord to do what He wanted to do in her life. We as women should not just be sitting around we need to be active in our faith pursuing God's will for our lives!

I also uploaded this wonderful program to my parents computer, because the family computer is right next to the piano. So I can just scoot on over to the computer and type of the music after I compose it. I believe this will be better than having to go up to my room upstairs when I have a tune that needs to be written up. So I uploaded that before I went to my lesson and after I did some music practicing and reading. I also heaped up more compost outside and remembered the gardens need tending today. Then I helped with some more chores in the house before leaving for my vocal lesson.

My sister made us all chocolate milkshakes after dinner. It was so yummy!

In the evening Dad taught us from the WORD from Ecclesiastes and I learned a lot. I wore those earrings as well.


I changed into my princess night gown I call it since it has elaborate embroidery all over it and its red.

I did some knitting on my nubia which is a type of scarf they wore in the civil war in the fall/winter months. We have a reenactment in a week or so and I want to get it finished in time. I do that while we watched The Polar Bear king, a great movie from my childhood. It was instant on netflix which is always a plus not having to wait for it to come in the mail. My sister did some sewing a civil war dress she is sewing for a customer and my mom watched as well. Then we all went to bed. So that was my day! Sorry this is so long, but I thought it would be fun to give you glimpse into my day. :)

In Christ,
Rebecca

When We Speak Your Name

2011-09-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

I was praying and really just pouring out to God my cares and worries and things I need Him to do. I can do nothing, only He can move mountains. A friend in a prayer group I am apart of shared this song and its my hearts cry right now. I have decided to stop doing College Plus and now am really just wanting God to reveal His will to me right now for what I should do with my life. There are so many opportunites, but I need Him to show me what His will is and what I should do for His glory in His time.
So that is why this blog has been silent for almost a month, its been a trying month, but God is faithful and He is moving mountains in my life! :)

In Christ,
Rebecca