A Heart Encouraged

I love how the apostle Paul wrote to encourage us to never become weary in doing good…

“Let us not become weary in doing good…”  Galatians 6:9

He was persecuted and imprisoned, yet he never despaired or wearied in fighting the good fight.

Often my heart becomes weary and I feel discouraged in my walk of faith and the path the Lord has given my feet to tread…

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”  Isaiah 40:31

I am weak and tire easily; my faith wavers and my wings begin to lose their strength to soar…

But I believe my cries do not go unnoticed by my Saviour…  He sees how desperate I am for Him to draw me closer to Himself and restore my ability to see through the rain.

When I feel like I just can’t take one step further, He comes and breathes life into my soul…

…maybe through something I read, other times a song of praise…  
Sometimes He sends a fellow sinner redeemed by grace, to reach out and pour water into my thirsty soul!

“I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1-2

It is during times such as these that I long for a light to lead me back to the Path of Life...

I am frail and need the strength of the Lord with every step I take. 

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”  James 1:12

And I love how He sends someone – or something - to be His hand, speaking words of hope and life and transforming a discouraged heart into an encouraged one…

~ In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.  Psalm 86:7 ~

Painting by Charles Curran

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 Heartmade!

For those dear readers who don't know, I have recently started a blog for my little business, Heartmade, and I would love for you to come by and see some of the happenings in my sewing room!

Hope your Friday is a beautifully blessed one!

Love, 

Kelly-Anne 

Thoughtful Thursday

"A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God because she has come to know him to be worthy of her trust.  She exudes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well.  She speaks comfort; she knows that we live in a world at war, that we have a vicious enemy, and our journey is through a broken world.  But she also knows that because of God all is well, that all will be well.  A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become..."

Taken from Captivating by John and Stasi Elderedge

~ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Proverbs 31:30 ~

Praying your Thursday is a truly beautiful one!

...A Bit of Deliciousness

 My sweet younger sisters and I made these yummy little treats together one morning to have at our tea party later that day…   

What could be more delicious and decadent than rose and cranberry coconut ice may I ask? 

I can vividly remember my mom making coconut ice for Nancy and I when we were just wee little girls who still drank tea from a colourful plastic tea set…oh, those precious days of childhood!

….Biting into the sweet, creamy coconut flavour was like taking a welcome trip down memory lane…

Of course we just had to colour them pink and cut them into heart shapes! 

I thought I would share the lovely recipe with you…  It is not necessary to add the dried cranberries or rose water, just simply make the plain coconut ice and enjoy with a cup of tea made in a pretty tea cup and a few dear friends…

Coconut Ice

280g icing sugar

1ml cream of tartar

1 can of condensed milk

270g desiccated coconut

Pink food colouring

Grease a 20cm square baking tin.  Sift the icing sugar and cream of tartar together. 

Add the condensed milk and half the desiccated coconut and stir well. 

Mix in the remaining coconut so that the mixture sticks together. 

Divide the mixture in half and colour the one half with a few drops of pink food colouring. 

Press the pink mixture into the tin first, followed by the white. 

Place in the fridge for one hour, then cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

For the Cranberry and Rose Variation…

80ml chopped dried cranberries

2.5ml rose water or a few drops rose essence

Add the rose water or rose essence to the white part of the mixture and the dried cranberries to the pink part of the mixture.

I hope you are having a very pleasant Wednesday!

~ I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!  Psalm 92:4-5 ~

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That We May Not Live too Fast…

“In the name of Jesus Christ, who was never in a hurry, we pray O God, that You will slow us down for we know that we live too fast.  With all eternity before us, make us take time to live – time to get acquainted with You, time to enjoy Your blessings, and time to each other.”

~ A Prayer by Peter Marshall

I am always struck by my fervent desire to complete my list of chores quickly so that I may be free to enjoy the rest of my day… 

While this is very admirable, yes, it is also sad in many respects…  Shouldn’t I be relishing every passing moment spent in both work and play?

 How many times do I finish my tasks and think “Now – I am through with my work so let me enjoy the rest of my day!”

Dear friends!  This is not how we should live!

We should make it our ambition to enjoy and delight in each part of our day - the chores and the more pleasurable things so that we don’t live too fast…

…Washing dishes may not sound like an activity to ‘delight in’, but it is an important and valuable part of our lives and thus it shouldn’t be done hastily in order that we may move onto the more ‘important’ jobs...

Daily chores are so important – fresh clean clothes are vital for keeping children clean and warm and a swept floor ensures a smooth walking surface for everyone, and if we continue to rush through these jobs, there are wonderful aspects of each one we’ll miss out on!   
Part of the homemaker’s occupation is to accomplish the less enjoyable jobs in her home… 

I love to gaze out the window at the growing flowers and herbs while washing away the grease on dinner plates, or hum the words to a song of praise while chopping vegetables for that evening's meal…

Life consists of both work and play, so let us be encouraged to take time to enjoy each task before us with a renewed appreciation!

And life is about enjoying the journey – oh!  How many times my dear parents have to speak to me about this very thing! 

Why am I rushing to tick each little box?  Why have I ceased to enjoy the important aspects of this blessed life?

Reading a story to a miserable little one who needs a nap…walking through the garden with my precious Mother and admiring the new growth in the vegetable beds…making crusty loaves of bread with the younger girls…

If I persist in rushing through my day, I will greatly miss out and become a woman of many regrets at the end of this life!

Indeed, this is not easy to apply, but I am greatly encouraged to pray the beautiful prayer of Peter Marshall each morning in the hope of slowing down and enjoying the many rich blessings the Gracious Lord has placed before me.

“Drop Thy dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

Thy beauty of Thy peace.”

John Greenleaf Whittier

With love in Christ,
Kelly-Anne

~ Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  Proverbs 16:3 ~

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