Home Happiness Depends on the Wife

“In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.” J.R.R. Miller

   It's a heavy burden that Reverend Miller puts upon wives. I've read several things that he has written. Some paint such an ideal picture of a wife, I wonder if perhaps some of his quotes might be discouraging. I think his intention was to encourage women in their high calling. There is truth in his writings, but they can make a woman feel burdened down with perfectionism.

  I know I'm not a perfect wife and mother. I'm not a perfect anything. But God, in His infinite mercy, sent the perfect sacrifice for my sins—Jesus Christ His son. Thank you Jesus! Love covers a multitude of sins. That love is God's love for us, for me, for you.

  God I pray that you will continue to conform me into the image of your son Jesus, and continue to form me into the wife, mother, friend, and daughter you created me to be. Thank you for giving me a husband that loves me anyway— even with all my imperfections and shortcomings. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

  
Laura
Continuing on



Simple Sunday-Fabulous Party

Anxious? Depressed? Stressed? Fear the Future? Fall Deeply in Love!

Dear Reader,

Are you anxious or depressed? Stressed? Fear the future? Some time ago, I wrote a short post about my experience with depression, anxiety, and my runaway feelings.

Recently, I read some of the comments on that blog post, and I realized something. Since January 2012, I have been reading and listening to the Bible a lot. By reading, I can take notes and read previous notes that I've written right in my Bible. By listening*, I can saturate myself with God's Word even while I am doing things around the house.  Saturation has made me aware of many things.  I believe that has been part of my healing. 

God's Word is indeed the answer.

I am more aware of how my sin separated me from God.

I am more aware of how the love of Jesus, the Son of God, kept Him on the cross in punishment for my sins.

I am more aware of how His resurrection cancelled my debt of sin and washed me clean simply because I accepted and received God's forgiveness.

I am more aware of my need to give my life completely to God, and seek Him.

I am more aware that it's all grace not perfection.

I am more aware that it's all about Jesus, about God, about the Holy Spirit.

Draw close to God, dear reader, He will draw close to you. His love for you is everlasting. Jesus is deeply in love with you. Will you fall more deeply in love with Jesus?

Goodness, I've got my preach on this morning. ~smile~
But, you know, when it comes down to it, only one thing is important. 
What will our relationship be with Jesus Christ?

Blessings to you!

Laura



*I use YouVersion and Bible Gateway.

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• Stuck in Its Ways
• Cozy and Comfortable

6 Keys to Defeat Despair

A friend recently asked me what advice I would give to those living in despair. Here is what I told her.

Trust God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone.  I have been through very hard times... death of loved ones, failed businesses, lost homes, lost vehicles, long periods of unemployment, life threatening illnesses, pain, depression, very low income. Now my husband is unemployed again after closing our business. Even though I have failed, my husband has failed, plans have failed, God has never failed me. 

Live in Philippians chapter four.  God does not slumber or sleep. His arm is not too short. He keeps those in perfect peace who keep their minds on Him. Philippians chapter four tells us to be anxious for NOthing. In everything we are to pray, with thanksgiving, and make our requests to God. We have to trust Him. He then will give us peace that passes all understanding. I've got that peace right now even though my husband is unemployed, we have no income, and we are living on our limited savings. I have a peace that somehow, someway, God will take care of us. I am trusting God to bring my husband a good job.

Fill your mind with the Word of God. Saturate yourself with the Bible. Read it, listen to it, speak it, write it and put it where you can see it. YouVersion.com has plans for reading through the Bible. I've read and listened through the Bible several times since I started using it.

Don't isolate. When I feel down, I tend to draw back and isolate. Don't do it. Talk to others. Be involved in church. Call a friend. Spend time with family. Keep talking to God.

Find a trusted Christian friend and talk. Make sure that it is someone who will always point you back to Jesus and pray with you.

Read uplifting and encouraging blogs and books and most of all your Bible.



Read more...
Are You in a Tough Spot?
My Hope is in You Lord
A Simple Devotion 

Thanksgiving 2015

Take a deep breath. 

Be mindful of God. 

Whisper prayers of thanks.

It's going to be alright.

You're going to be alright.

God loves you with an eternal, personal love.

Remember the scripture you chose to focus on.

If you need one, you'll find one in Philippians.

Be kind.

Be thankful.

Enjoy the moment.

The Best Way to Have a Happy Thanksgiving

What do you think of when you think about Thanksgiving?
A Norman Rockwell setting?
A Waltons' Thanksgiving?
A disaster or battleground?

What if you don't feel so thankful about gathering with your relatives or a certain relative? Do you stress over pleasing them or feel irritated by them? Sadly that's the case for more people that we'd like to think. Unfortunately, not everyone has a loving family that serves our Lord. Most would say there is at least one in their family that makes holidays difficult. In fact, if you're a Christian, but you're not from a Christian family, you may be the one that makes the others uncomfortable. 

What if you're totally stressed out about getting a meal prepared and on the table not to mention all the preparations ahead of time? 

May I encourage you to use the preprayment plan? That's praying ahead of time for situations that are coming up. Search your Bible for a verse or two that you can focus your mind and heart on while you're visiting. Make it a verse that will help you keep the Shalom perfect peace of God in your heart. If you're at home, light a candle. Sometimes glancing at a candle flickering or enjoying the fragrance can help you feel more peaceful. Soft worship music playing in the background helps too— if you can get away with it. ~smile~

Keeping our focus on God and our reasons to be thankful can help us through as we pray to hold our tongues or give a hug or an encouraging word. 

Be blessed and don't fret dear ones!

Just something to think about...

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage
Laura
Keeping it simple for our Savior








Homemaker Party   

Little House Thoughts... Ma is the True Heroine

The Little House Books. As a child, I read them over and over and over. They helped to shape how I think. They helped me realize how close a family can be. They helped me learn that I can do with what I've got and get through hard times. 

I've always thought that Laura Ingalls was my "heroine". Just recently, however, I've realized that it is truly her Ma that is my hero. She did what she could with what she had and tried her best to be cheerful about it. She taught her children and made sure they knew God, too. She also loved a wonderful but difficult man. After all, he wouldn't stay put! 

Ma was very resourceful. She could make something out of nothing. She made do with what she had, and didn't complain. She was cheerful. She looked at the bright side... even if there wasn't a bright side! She loved her husband. She loved her children and insisted they be brought up with good manners regardless of where they lived. She was a proper lady, but she got her hands dirty keeping house, cooking, and working alongside Pa when he needed her. She was truly his helpmeet... just as God intended.

Just something to think about....
Blessings,
Laura

~~~~~

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Each Day Had Its Proper Work

~~~~~

This post was featured at Good Morning Mondays.

Living in Reduced Circumstances

I read a bit of a blog a few minutes ago that made me feel rather sad. It was written by a lady living in reduced circumstances. I understand reduced circumstances. They are what our family has lived in since 2004. When it's hard to make ends meet, and you have to go without things you want to give to your loved ones or you cannot do things you want to do, it's tough. I know.

What made me feel rather sad was the gloomy feel to what she had written—the hopelessness. The dependence on the government to change her circumstances. I feel down about our circumstances, too sometimes. But I am never hopeless. 

Why?

My hope is not in a government program, or even in my husband's employment, though I do hope that his work situation improves. My hope is ultimately in Jesus Christ. If it weren't, I don't know how I would cope with life. Being of a melancholy temperament, I'm sure that despair would overtake me. Honestly, sometimes it threatens to. BUT GOD. 

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV

The NIV states it like this, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

So, you and I need to build ourselves up in the most Holy Faith, and 

trust God to do what He says He will do. That's what it all comes down to really. Trust. 

Trust for provision. Trust for love. Trust for salvation. Trust for healing. Trust that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Trust Him.

Laura

Preaching to the Choir 

and

Myself

  

~~~~~

May I suggest?

40 Ways to Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do or Do Without

~~~~~

Thank you for featuring this post Jes!

~~~~~~

Thank you Richella!

Just Waiting All Along

Sometimes I happen to look at the sky and realize that it's been there all along...just being beautiful...while I'm so busy I don't notice. 

It's the same way with God. He's always there just waiting for me to notice.

Blessings,

Laura

Encouragement and Comfort from God

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?" Phil. 2:1

I think that having friends is one of God's most loving ways of giving us encouragement. Friends can give a listening ear, a word of encouragement, an understanding nod, a compassionate hug, a card or letter at just the right moment, a gentle word of reproof, just being there during a difficult time. Our best friends speak our names in prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us be that kind of friends. Speak your friends' names in prayer.




Fabulous Party

Sometimes Life Isn't Very Happy...

Sometimes
... life isn't very happy
... things don't work out the way you want them to
... the world seems to spin out of control
... finances are a struggle
... loved ones are straying
... illness prevails
... prayers seem to go unanswered
... loved ones pass on
... your children are prodigals
...
...
...
.... You could fill in the blank spaces with any number of things.  But God.

God is still on the throne.  God is still in control.  God still loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.  He loves us so much that He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort us.  I don't know all the answers, but I know this.

No matter what I see, 

no matter what I hear, 

no matter what I feel, 

I will yet praise Him.

There is No One else.

No One else to turn to.

No other god is truly God.

My loved ones are safe in His care.

I will continue to pray for them.

I choose to trust Him.

I choose peace.

I praise God in my pain.

I praise God in my sadness.

I praise God in hope.

I praise God in love 

because

He is Love.

Praise the Lord.

Maybe this is not a happy time for you.  Praise God.  Choose to praise Him regardless of your circumstances, regardless of your pain.  I call it defiant praise.  We are defying Satan when we praise God through our pain.  God is glorified, and He takes notice.  

May you draw close to God.  He promises to draw near to those who draw near to Him. James 4:8

I do pray that you will find peace and happiness in God's presence.

God bless you all.

Laura

Choosing peace and praise



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A Simple Devotion 
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This post was featured at Darling Downs Diary.

Anxious or Depressed?

Sometimes I find myself thinking anxious thoughts in an out-of-control way.  Or I feel like the depression cloud is falling in on me. 

The one thing that stops it in its tracks is resisting the devil...he must flee!

I do this by saying loudly, "NO!  or Stop!"  Then I speak the truth aloud.  Sometimes I read scriptures aloud.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  It works because the Word works!  There's something about speaking the Word to myself  aloud, authoritatively that works.  I don't do this perfectly.  I don't always catch it right away.  But I'm improving.  ~smile~

Well, by now you've either decided I'm a little crazy, or you've got something to think and pray about. 

May God bless you richly.  Oh, and one more thing....

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY!

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Be Anxious for Nothing

~~~~~ 

The Art of Homemaking   

A Beautifully Fragrant Spring

All of the flowers are thriving in the garden, both those we planted this year and those that former owners and God planted.  I've seen a rose bush come back to life that I'd thought dead these last two years.  The peonies bloomed at Memorial Day just as they should, filling the house with their intoxicating fragrance.  The wildflowers have been abundant in the meadow.  Vases and jars have been filled and scattered throughout the house.  No need for air fresheners here.

I was enjoying a few moments of quiet on the porch a couple of days ago enjoying the late afternoon breeze.    Honeysuckle vines fragranced the air with their sweetness.  I pondered, what must Eden have been like?  Breathtakingly beautiful, vibrant hues, a heady collection of exquisite flowers and plants that filled Adam and Eve's senses.

How hard it must have been to face a world outside Eden that I imagine might have been like a typical August in Missouri, hot, dry, dusty, dull.  I'm sure the world lacked luster to Adam and Even in every way imaginable.  More importantly, it would have been so lonely.  I wonder if they prayed.  I wonder if God answered.  Certainly not face-to-face.  What sadness and mourning must they have felt?  What torment of regret?  Did every generation feel that sense of loss as they were told the stories of life before?

Oh, thank you God that You made a way for us even prior to that first sin.  Thank you that you chose before the creation that Jesus, by His obedience, death, resurrection and love, would make a way for us to be reunited to God Our Heavenly Father.
Romans 5:19

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  King James Bible

Thank you Lord my strength!

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Why I Love Homemaking
~~~~~

Mommy Moments

Do You Find Bible Reading to be a Challenge?

I completed my first reading plan with YouVersion! 

I started back in January as part of a Professor Horner Bible reading challenge sent by my friend Deb.  It was intended to be a one year commitment to reading ten chapters a day, one in each of ten locations, alternating between old and new testament.  The whole Bible was covered plus some books were read repeatedly.  I found it too confusing for me to just move my bookmarks along; so, when I found Prof. Horner's Bible Reading System, I jumped at the chance to have a check list on-line.  I combined it with the use of BibleGateway.com's audio Bibles.  Listening really made some of the prophets and more difficult books easier for me to understand.  Covering so much Bible so quickly gave me a great overview of Scripture.  I am usually familiar with whatever passage of the Bible Pastor Dan brings up in his sermons.  I look forward to learning more.

I fully recommend YouVersion and BibleGateway.com to help you jump-start your Bible reading.  I'm going to choose another reading plan today.  They range from 2 days for a topic-related reading to several months for a through the Bible plan.  Go take a look.  Both the sites are free. You might just find something perfect for you. 

By the way, this is another post that sounds like a review.  It's not, it's just a hurray for me!  I did it!

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Doesn't Anyone Care?

~~~~~

Linked with:
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JM Home Link-Up

LOST and FOUND!

Late last night, I discovered something that shocked me.
My blog had been removed, lost.
Imagined shocked silence as I stare at the message, "This blog has been removed."

Deep intake of breath, then panic no, not panic!  I actually did not freak out with worry.  I didn't even drag my computer savy husband out of bed to deal with it.  I prayed, I accepted that the nearly five years of memories, devotions, recipes, encouragements, reviews, and friendly comments were just gone.  Mind you, I was not happy about it, I felt a sense of loss, but I didn't get all upset.  I was calm.

First, I thank God that He gave me peace in this situation.
Second, I thank God that He helped me to pray, "Thy will be done", and mean it.
Third, I thank God that it was a Blogger glitch of some sort. They called me with a code, I put the code in, hit continue, and my  blog was found!

This tested me.  I passed the test and did well.  Thank you for changing me, Lord.

Guess what I'm going to learn to do this week?

Yep, I'm going to learn to back up my blog!

If you read this, I do wish you'd leave me a comment.

Laura
Relieved and Blessed


I wrote that early Saturday morning.  As I hit publish, the blog disappeared again!  I got to practice what I preached to myself.  My husband worked and worked and worked on it.  Nothing worked.  I prayed.  I asked God to restore it.  I also asked God to help me to accept it and go on even though it was going to cause some trouble with reviews.  In spite of prayer, I felt a deep sense of loss, almost a mourning.  What I didn't do is give into anxiety.  I actually gave it all to Jesus.  Thank you God.  So, I did pass the test, even if I didn't get an A+. ~smile~

Thank God He doesn't require us to make an A+.  He only requires us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him to be saved.  Saved from Hell, yes, but saved from our own sinful nature as well.  Be sure you know Him so that you, too can weather the disappointments and trials of life.

God bless you!

Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
So very happy to still be here with you

Shared with:
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Overflowing and Overwhelmed?

Even when your life is overflowing and you feel overwhelmed,

Jesus Christ is waiting to meet with you and fill you with His love, His Spirit, His peace.

Take a little time away with Him today.

Have a terrific week.

Blessings!
Laura of Harvest Lane
Happy at Home

~~~~~
May I suggest?
Knitting, Sewing, & Baking Bread
Anxious, Depressed, Stressed?
~~~~~ 

Trusting God for Our Needs in Hard Times

Trusting God for Our Needs in Hard Times

“I have never thought it necessary to save for the future or look out for myself or my family except that we trust God. So, when we see someone in need, an old woman, a sick person, or a helpless infant– I freely give whatever I have at the time. I know that later, when I am in need, God will provide for me. I don’t need to look out for myself in any way other than to trust in Him.”

~George Mueller
1805-1898

Oh for that kind of faith…

a faith that is willing to give it all away for Jesus’ sake knowing that He will provide all of our needs according to His riches in glory,

a faith that trusts Him explicitly without fretting or worrying,

a faith that does not doubt His love or His provision or His timing,

a faith that is strong even when we don’t see answers to our prayers.

Faith is hoping and believing and trusting all wrapped up together. It is a gift from God. The Word says that "…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 This tells me that I need to not only read scripture, but read it aloud and listen to it being read aloud. I want to hear from God from His Word.

I want that Faith that is a gift from God.
How about you?

God bless!
Laura

~~~~~

May I suggest?

Something to Think About... Words Matter

~~~~~

Originally posted 7/23/09

Thankfulness..... Fruits

This morning, I am thankful for fruit.  I received a gift of a case of bananas this weekend.  I'm going to peel them and put them in freezer bags whole.  That way, when I make banana cake like I did this weekend, I'll have them ready to go.  I'm thankful for the bananas; but, I'm also thankful for the fruits of the Spirit which continue to grow in me:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control*.

I've berrated myself over the years.  You see, although I have all these fruits in my life, none of them is fully ripe.  None is perfect, none is complete.  Each of these fruits is growing in me at a different rate.  The key word here is growing.  My fruit isn't ripe.  You know, sometimes underripe fruit isn't very sweet.  Sometimes I'm not very sweet.  Just this morning God revealed to me that this is a process for us just as it is a process for the fruit to first blossom then grow tiny fruits and grow and grow until they are ready to be picked and enjoyed. 

My prayer would be that God would continue to grow and ripen me in these areas.  Would you join me in this prayer?

Father, God, I thank you that by Jesus' Stripes I am healed.
I thank you that He sent the Holy Spirit to teach us and comfort us.
I ask Father that you continue to grow me up and ripen me up in the areas of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I ask the same for my readers.
I ask this in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

*Galations 5:22-23 Some versions say long-suffering instead of patience.  To me, it's basically the same.

~~~~~

May I suggest?

If We Would Just Back Up and Let God Be God....
~~~~~ 

Sharing with:
Taylor House

Revelation to a Writer

God spoke to me tonight at a Releasing Kings Conference.  A business conference... imagine that.  I'm just about as far from business and entrepreneurship as anyone I know.  But, I'm not far from God.  He had a message for me in this unlikely for me place.

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.

Flow through me, Lord God.
So be it.

P.S.  A sweet gal named La Vada just stopped by to share a word with me, "HE is the author and the finisher of our faith."

~~~~~

May I suggest...

Carpe Diem... Seize the Day!

~~~~~