"Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!" -Psalm 135:3
Let us sing all the time thanking the Lord for His blessings He gives us everyday!
Hey everyone!
Yesterday I was browsing some thrifting videos on youtube and came across this great video for sewing up those drapey cardigans that were all the rage this past winter. I really wanted one and never bought one because they were expensive and I did not have the money to spend. I just so happened to have some stretchy jersey laying around that was going to be a skirt, but I wanted this cardigan more. :) This gal gave me the inspiration to sew one up! The music is loud, so you might have to turn your volume down. Just a friendly warning! :)
So I did exactly what this gal did in her tutorial for the sleeveless one, and then I added my own sleeves. I just measured around my arms and used that measurement to draft the sleeves. It was so so easy! Now I have a great go to cardigan for wearing with most anything. I have tried it with a dress and 3 different s kirts shown below and love it! I don't think its frumpy at all with skirts or dresses. Just pairing it with the right thing makes all the difference. If you have some knit fabric you don't know what to do with as I did not have any clue what to do with, try this tutorial! Maybe even add some fun rosettes to the neckline or go with a bold color. Its fun to wear! :)
First outfit consists of the sweater, thrifted belt, thrifted flats, thrifted floral skirt( I believe its handmade!) , garland of grace headband, and beaded necklace from forever 21
Second outfit consists of the drapey cardigan, same accesories and top, but different denim skirt from New Creation Apparel and it has a embroided floral on the bottom
And last, but not least, I call today's outfit winter meets spring. It might be hard to tell, but the polyester skirt has vine looking flowers on it. It was a gift from my friend Laura and she found it at one of my favorite thrift stores! :) She is so sweet! she knows what I like. I miss you Laura!
The headband from garlands of grace is amazing!! It goes with so many of my things I already have in my closet and it was a smart purchase I believe with some of my birthday money. :) The rest is being saved though. :) You can see their etsy shop here-http://www.etsy.com/shop/GarlandsOfGrace?ref=pr_shop_more
I was inspired by them and also made one headband so far myself. I plan to sew up some more sometime soon! Will be sharing the latest quilt I am almost done with soon!
Hey everyone! My sister and I and some friends of ours went to Longwood Gardens in PA about 2 weeks ago and we enjoyed ourselves despite the weather. It poured down rain for most of our time there, but we had fun indoors and out of doors. We danced in the rain and did lots of photos among all the laughter. It was a blessed time!
Pretty flowers and all of us will be in this post! :)
having fun smelling all the flowers and getting all of us organized for a photo. :)
Here is the whole gang! We went into the childrens gardens and we were all too tall except for My sister and two other friends below. I could not even stand up straight in there! :)
My favorite flowers that I saw there above! They were called Rose of sharon and I love that story! I remember my mom reading it to my sister and I when we were little. Its a great story! Here it is available on amazon, its great for all ages! Its called the Little Rose of Sharon though-http://www.amazon.com/Little-Rose-Sharon-Nan-Gurley/dp/0781430313/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303840985&sr=8-2
Have a blessed tuesday! More photos coming tomorrow of my latest sewing endeavors! :)
Hey everyone!
I am rejoicing because my Lord is my redeemer, my Savior, and the one who paid the price for our sins! I was talking to a friend over the phone the other day and we both recollected that many a time many don't realize that Christ died on the cross, which was so painful! But what they don't realize is that for three days he was in hell in our place! He endured what we should endure so we don't have to! His love is that great! His grace and power are that awesome that He could die and endure hell and become alive again and save His people! Praise God for that. I am so thankful!
This song above written by Kristyn Getty really describes how thankful I am! She must have written this when she was still single! what an inspiration that is to me. :) I also found a great arrangement and this guy has some piano skills. Enjoy and I pray that they lift you up!
But the words I want to remember even more than these songs are His Word! These verses have gotten me through these trials this past week of not knowing what the Lord's will was, but now I am sure that He will reveal it to me in His timing.
Because He says," 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present timeare not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8 is full of truth and comfort to me! Its always been a favorite passage of my father and He has taught especially Romans 8:28 to us many a time and it came to me this morning when I felt lost and unsure of what the Lord wanted me to do. I have been saying daily to the Lord whatever is your will I am all for it! I just want to do what you want me to do in this time of my life. But I can't wait for the life to come with you in your arms!
Also 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 also came to mind and I realized that I should be rejoicing even in trials and even in times where I don't want to smile. Then I smile because God puts one on my face because He is such a selfless God! He died and went to hell for me! Wretched me! That puts a smile on my face and a new song in my heart of praise to our good God! " Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
All things work together for those who love Him! As it says in Romans 8:28 and thats a comfort. Even trials are good because we learn to trust God even more with each one. :) So ladies pray without ceasing and He will give you comfort! These verses from the Psalms have also been a comfort to me.
"1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." -Psalm 34:1-5
He makes me radiant! No make-up or exercise or life circumstance can do that except for the Lord God above! He gives joy in the morning! Praise Him for His blessings to us each day.
Sorry Miss Linda, I just got to add these thoughts to this post. I had wanted to when I first posted it, but did not get to till now.
I admit it to the world, I don't have this life figured out. God really threw a curve ball at me today when I did not pass my clep exam. I am not sure why it happened, except that I know it was His will for me to realize that once again I can't do anything alone! Also I am pondering if this college thing is His will. If you think of me please pray that the Lord will show me what I can be doing for His glory. I have so many things I want to do! So many things that can bring Him glory, but I have to see which ones He wants me to do.
This song definately is my anthem for today, even through trials the Lord gives blessing!
I thought I would share some gifts I was given for my birthday from my parents. They are all thrifted except for the books and the wool felt hat from Colonial Williams-burg.I adore the cookbook! The egg salad sandwiches were a hit with my family! :) I can't wait to learn to knit socks as well! I also have learned how to darn socks! Pictures coming soon!
My mother found these lovely plates and suprised me with them! They are a set of 7, one of them was missing. I believe the 2nd green one, but I still love them! They are german. The bread pan was also a great find! I can't wait to try it out. These will all be in my hope chest in case you are wondering.
I love this scarf! Its so warm and goes with a lot of things I already own.
I will wear the hat for colonial/ american revolution and french and indian war reenacting. I can't wait to add my own ribbons to it.
This belt as well was thrifted and I adore the beading! I can't wait to have a nice occasion to wear it to! It goes well with my two black thrifted dresses.
Hello everyone! I realize I have not been posting frequently at all! Life has been so full and God is so good to me and my family! My grandparents were able to come to visit us for my 20th birthday on the 6th of april! I was so excited! We got to see D.C. and stay in the Baltimore National Harbor on the water for my birthday. Below my sister and I on a lunch cruise we did on the Potomac in D.C.Above my grandmother and I strolling in Baltimore National Harbor.
My parents on the cruise as well. It was a lot of fun! We got to see everything in D.C. from the boat. :)
My grandparents and my sister and I together. We were excited to get good old glory in the photos too!
My birthday, they even put 20 candles on the cake. :) I was suprised we did not set off the fire alarm in the hotel! lol
Above sunset in Baltimore harbor. It was such great weather the whole time we were there! No rain at all. lovely! Below tulips I photographed in D.C. when we got to see the American history museum and DAR museum( daughters of the american revolution).
One of my favorite b-day gifts from my parents. A thrifted beaded purse! It carries as many as 6 big books and its great for over night trips as well. I believe they paid only $15.00 for this designer bag! I was excited. You can get great gifts at thrift stores and yard sales and you would never know unless the giver told you. :)
A friend of mine suprised me and met up with us at the american history museum. I was in the old glory exhibit and she suprised me! I had no idea she was going to get to come up for my birthday. We got to see the cherry blossoms and enjoy chatting and seeing D.C. together. My sister really does have a goo nack for suprising me. I am so easy to suprise! I am always clueless. :)
We got to go and see the national aquarium another day while my grandparents were here as well. I had never been before and it was great! I got these two decent photos of the critters. :)
I was really excited to get the above photo of the sea turtle I believe thats what he is. :)
My grandmother also suprised me with this lovely 1940's purse that was her mothers for my birthday! I was just so excited and could not believe she would give me her mothers purse. But she knows I love vintage things and will take care of it. Lord willing I can use it for a formal occasion someday. Its in mint condition! Its so special to have something that was my great grandmother and then my grandmothers and now its mine. I will be cherishing this family heir loom.
I am so blessed to have grandparents and parents that love the Lord our God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength! It was encouraging to hear them tell about their being called to Christ and how they have served Him through the years. I learned a lot about our family heritage as well while they were here. It was great having them even if it was only a short week.
I have been studying as well for a clep exam I will be doing on thursday the 21st. Please pray for me if you can that I would pass this exam with flying colors only because the Lord got me through it!
Hope you all enjoyed seeing what I have been up to these past 2 weeks. More photos of another adventure coming soon! :) And I refashioned that dress I told you all about in my thrifting video. Photos coming soon.
In Christ,
Rebecca
these verses! they are so so encouraging to me right now! The Lord really put it on my heart last week that I was not serving others well! I read the verses in James 1 that says. "22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
My grandparents came last Tuesday from Texas to visit us for my birthday and just because we had not seen them since last December/November for my dads birthday. It was so encouraging to have them here! Therefore I did not get any blog posts in. :) I was too busy serving them and the rest of my family and having a good break with them. I took off from my studies and other projects until today. :) They left last night and I cried my eyes out, not because I won't see them again possibly, but with tears of joy because they really taught me a lot while they were here. I learned a lot while they were here to be selfless as our Savior was selfless dieing on the cross for us!
I learned to do things even when I did not feel like it with joy so that others in my family would be filled with joy. That is my prayer for this new year of my life that I would serve others with joy! That I would do more things and be blessed by doing things for others. I have gone through a lot of depression in my life, no I don't take meds, I am not ill. :) I just go through times when I feel so discouraged that I can't do anything without grumbling or complaining. But I believe the Lord had convicted me of this sin and now I can be joyful even in times of uncertainty that this new year brings.
I read the verses below in 2 Corinthians and I was once again convicted! Am I being a good ambassador for my Savior?! Which means am I being joyful and loving towards others because I am so joyful because I am alive and a new creation in Christ!?? I should be! But sadly I am not joyful all the time. Ladies I cannot say that this joy comes easily, you have to give up everything that you own, were, and are! You have to reconcile yourself to Christ! Give up your sins, possessions, gifts, talents, and give them all to Him! I confess that right now when I was a teen I thought I would be out of the house, have a job in in Nashville,Tennessee recording christian music with my band for the Lord! It was a selfish endeavor I dreamed about as a teen, I wanted to be in the spotlight and just add in the Lord to my music to make it seem alright. I love many christian artists, but I believe I was wanting to become one for selfish reasons. Now I am writing music almost every day! I have about 15 songs almost complete and I am in a much better place. I am where the Lord wants me! Serving my church, family, and friends and not spending all my time for myself. So ladies give it all up! The Lord may suprise you and give you your desire of your heart back! He has done this with me! I stopped writing music when I was 17 and now I am 20 and writing again! But this time with the Word of the Lord as my focus! Its so comforting and worth while and I know its only of the Lord. Praise God He turned my music writing into a way for others to hear His Word preached and not my thoughts preached. :)
Our Heavenly Dwelling
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Have a lovely wednesday! I hope this was encouraging! More photos from my birthday week coming soon.
Please do go over to the Thrifty 15 challenge over at http://lavieisbeautiful.blogspot.com/2011/04/winner.html to see my winning photos. I was so suprised to be featured! Exciting! See more about my totally thrifted and homemade outfit over at La vieis beautiful blog.
the Lord will come back! I have been pondering a lot lately that this life is so short! As my sister said the other day, its but a breath of air as it says in James. It passes away so quickly! I have been remembering how I used to be a child in the Lord, how I used to believe that Jesus was my Savior, but His letter to His bride was not so sweet to me as it is now! When I am weary, as I have been this week I have had the best communion with Him in prayer and reading His Word. Its so comforting in this changing world, where sin and evil seem to be so rampant. But then I remember this is only for a short time! All too soon we will be in our Savior's arms singing praises to Him for the rest of our lives. I can't wait for that a lot of times because I am weary of all the college exams and other complicated things in my life. But Praise God He sustains the weary!
I read this the other day was very much encouraged! 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 " Who will sustain you in the end, guiltless in the day of our Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
I am reminded of a song I learned this new year and one of the lines is " rest, rest for the weary, peace, peace to the soul, though life may be dreary, earth is the goal, oh lay down thy burden, oh come unto me, I will not forsake thee, though all else should flee."
He gives us rest in His arms! That has been my comfort these past few days. Also these verses also point to an eternal life that we have not a hope for, but a sure and guaranteed assurance that we will be forever with the Lord our Savior because of Christ's death on the cross and if you are in Christ you have this assurance! Praise God for that! " 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 victory in Christ!" - 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
So ladies if you are discouraged as I have been this past week or weary physically, spiritually, mentally, or anything that has been really getting you down go to the Lord in prayer and in His Word and He will give you rest! Find rest in His strong and mighty arms! its definitely sustaining even in pain!
Have a lovely Sabbath resting in Him and remembering His saving grace which was given to us by His unselfish love for us by Him dieing a painful death on the cross and then being raised to life again. Also remember that the Lord is going to have you live with Him forever in a place that has no tears or sorrow or pain! Its coming soon! praise the Lord!
