Let the Waters Rise by Mikeschair

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

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!

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

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

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

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

 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

 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

 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

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!

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