On Writing Well: The Revelation

The Revelation:

I don't have to know what to write to be a writer.

I have to be willing to be used by God...

willing to write what He gives me to write...

willing to exchange the fear,
the worry,
the anxiety
that someone might not like what I write,
the memories of red and green ink all over my papers
that I worked so hard at writing in college,
the rejection of my youth,
my natural focus on me me me.

I have to be willing to give,
willing to be a channel for God's blessing to flow through.

My source of what to write is God himself
and what His Holy Spirit reveals to me.
In His Word,
in His Presence.
All life flows from Him.

A Refreshing Afternoon at Morris Patch of Heaven Homestead

Oh what a refreshing afternoon I had! I visited my dear friend Joyce of Morris Patch of Heaven Homestead. We've been friends for years and have raised our kids together. Our visit was punctuated with her wonderful young children bringing adorable baby animals right into the house for viewing and enjoying. New life is always such a joy. Bottle lambs bring back memories.

I met Joyce through a homeschool group that met in a little house, at the other end of my block, that was owned by a local church. We enjoyed many years of mom meetings, homeschool field trips, pray and plays, park days and activities together. For a few years, we also had the pleasure of being church members together and participating in home groups that our children were welcome to attend. Ah, good memories.

Friends on a long ago field trip. Laura left, JuLinda center, Joyce right

While we were together this afternoon, the first since the distancing order, I felt refreshed by talking with my dear friend. We are kindred spirits, and it has been wonderful to talk over all that is going on and our personal and family responses to it.

We also talked of homemaking things and homesteading things as we always do. One of the things we agreed is that we need to make soap together again soon. Last time, she made it for her YouTube channel. She made an easy goat milk soap. I want to share that video with you here and ask you to give her some comment love and subscribe if you like what you see.




As usual, I always love to receive your comments here as well. How are you holding up these days?
Any great make do ideas to share? Any prayer requests? I'd love to hear from you. Please make sure to leave your email address if it's not part of your Google account or hit follow so that I can respond.

I hope y'all have a wonderful evening, morning, or day!

2020 is still the year of optimism!
Blessings,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

What Do You Have in Your Hand? Doing With What You've Got!

Are you content?

When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He asked Moses, 

"What do you have in your hand?"

 That's a good question for us, too. Often we think of all the things we need that we don't have. This can lead to whining, discouragement and discontentment.
It's a slippery slope that can lead to depression.

So what can we do?

Look around your home.

Make a list of what you DO have to work with.

What can you do with it?

• Make an inventory list of food in your pantry, your fridge, your freezer. What can you make from it?

• Make an inventory list of the fabrics, trims, notions, and craft supplies on hand. What can you make from them? Think birthday, wedding, baby and Christmas gifts.

• What do you have on hand that could be sold on Ebay, Etsy, Craig's List, another online site, at a consignment store, or at a yard sale?

The key to not being discouraged 

by circumstances is to

think about possibilities 

not impossibilities. 

So, look at what you have in your hand, then ask God to show you what you can do with it. Ask Him for wisdom. Believe that He will give it to you.

He's waiting for your questions. Do not doubt it. He has promised to supply all your needs, but he expects you to use what you have in your hands.

God bless you all!

Still working on it myself,

Laura

This article was published in issue #128 of 
The Christian Home Magazine.

~~~~~


*Do what you can quote is from President Teddy Roosevelt.

Read more...

• Be Anxious for Nothing
• Spiritual Truth from an Open Door and a Little Dog
• My Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Repost from 1/25/17

Thrifty Things Lately #153

Hello ladies,

Here are a few things I've done lately to save money. But first....

Thank you JoeyLea for the gift you sent me this week! It was so very thoughtful. ~smile~

Thank you Gail for the gift you sent me this week! I will open it on the 12th for my birthday. ~smile~

Now onto the thrifty things.

I've been reworking my wardrobe a bit for my part-time work. I'm trying new combinations and making a few adjustments to things I own. I haven't bought any new clothes, but I may need to. A stay-at-home mom's wardrobe can get a bit dowdy if she doesn't shop for three years. I haven't really shopped since I found the lump. No energy then no money. ~smile~

I put a little shampoo in a squeeze bottle and filled it water. It makes my shampoo last so much longer with better suds.

Teddy bear mush with Farina (Cream of Wheat) for a couple of breakfasts. We add brown sugar and milk.

I made more masks using only what I have on hand.

I've been turning my fabric clutter into blessings for others.

I've also used up thread, elastic, seam binding, and clothes line!

I turned a cardboard mailing envelope inside out and put masks in it to mail to my father.

I made homemade laundry soap a few times.

Thrifty Woman's Real Estate Investment 3 cubic feet

At Mrs. Sherman's suggestion, I cut my son's hair.

I made ant poison. I'm going to have to make another batch. The critters came back.

I ordered a wig at a discount company. When I get brave, I'll have a photo taken and share it with you. My hair just never grew back fully after the chemotherapy.

A new wig sister sent me some wigs. I will use what I can and donate the rest. I have someone in mind.

We baked a chicken last night and ate what we wanted of it. I then picked the bones and put enough chicken in a bag to make a casserole. The carcass and skin etc went into a freezer bag.  I put both bags into the freezer for later use. When I get another carcass, I will make bone broth for soup.

I sewed a button on my husband's suit coat.

I listened to the New Testament on Bible.com. I'm in Luke right now.

I've been reading and listening to a couple of books on Scribd. I received a month free because someone used my referral code. She got two free months. It's only $8.99 after that for unlimited ebooks, audio books, sheet music, podcasts and more.

I haven't concentrated on being thrifty so much lately. I'm thrown for a bit of a loop over all that's going on, too. Combine that with working part-time, and you'll see that I'm trying to find my new normal.

So, I'm going to write down a few goals for next week! Maybe I'll have a bit more to report to you.

Blessings to all of you!
Remember... keep busy.
This too shall pass.

Have a homemade, handmade, heartmade thrifty week! 

Laura

P.S  I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 210 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too. Cancel at any time. My daughter uses it, too.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2020  15 Finished Books

Goal 50

HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com 

Six Benefits of Blogging

6 Things to Love About Blogging
Harvest Lane Cottage

I've been feeling a bit reflective lately. Some thoughts about blogging:

I love the creative freedom to write without the approval of a few elite publishers. 

Making new friends surely would top the list as well. 

The ability to reach readers around the world still bloggles boggles my mind. 

I can encourage others through sharing my own trials, struggles, blessings, and thrifty ideas.

I can share the hope that I find in JESUS even when life seems too hard.

Encouraging others builds me up as well.

Writing my thrifty week posts and  bucket lists really help me keep doing.

Truthfully, there are so many things I love about it, it's hard to choose! Sharing my faith and encouragement with others is my passion.

ஐღLauraღஐ 

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a short shoestring budget!

~~~~~


You might also enjoy...

• God's Perfect Timing
• Sometimes Life Isn't Very Happy
• Saving Money With Jars... Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Shared at:
 Wonderful Wednesday