Lowell Lake Lodge 2013 – Part 1

Since I have so many pictures, I am going to do a couple of posts on our trip up to Lowell Lake. It was a time of laughter and fun. Of fishing and swimming, boating and sports. Of singing and reading, or playing games and eating together. Of campfires and relaxing, of discussion and scary stories. Of spending time with old friends and learning to know new ones.

It was a good week, and I think everyone who went up would agree!!! WE CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!! :)

And now… let me take you up the lane and to the lake….

 

 

Part 1 – The lake

 

These last ones were taken early Friday morning… and I can’t take credit for them. They are my dad’s. I have to say, they are gorgous!! :)

  

Feminine Wiles - Part 1

We all have seen the little girl who places a pout on her face and a pathetic look in her eyes just so that she can get her way. And what about the girl on the verge of becoming a young lady that only addresses her Father as 'Daddy' when she wants something. And then there is the young lady who flirts and flaunts and giggles, and may or may not be as blond as she appears to be, simply to capture the attention of the young men around her. And then we have the thirty-year-old business woman who uses what she can to shift her opinions and ideas around so things fall her favor.

These are all negative uses of feminine wiles. Here is my question, can our feminine wiles be used in a good way?

We all know that as females, we can have a huge influence on the individuals around us. In particular, men. Boys, guys, whatever you want to call them, you know who I am talking about.

Look at Genesis chapter three with me. Who used her wiles to not only cause mankind to fall into sin (I am not entirely blaming Eve, her husband didn't have a proper view of authority, and certainly didn't practice it either!!!) and pass the blame onto others?

And then we have Tamara in Genesis 38. Yes, Judah and his sons were also at fault, but it was her wiles that ultimately caused the incest.

Judges chapter 4 and on reveals to us another woman who used her influence to do great things. Deborah effectively leads the people, but doesn't take the leadership out of the hand of a man. Barak is still in charge, Deborah simply gives him advice and inspires him to lead. \

In I Kings 25 we read of another woman who uses here influence to change the hearts of men around her. Abigail, the wife of Nabal, effectively uses her words to alter the actions and attitude of David, and is rewarded for here faithfulness in the end.

A son of David, King Solomon speaks of the influences of a woman in the book of Proverbs. He compares an adulterous woman who uses her wiles to cause men to stumble to the woman of wisdom. In contrast to the first woman, she uses her wisdom to  change the lives of men for good. She humbly teaches and encourages men to stand up, to lead, to follow God, and to do good to all.

The prophets and apostles speak of other such women, some who use their influence for good, others for bad. We see many, many examples of how us, as women, are used to influence those around us. As we look throughout history, we are able to view many, many more examples of this. Look at where the use of feminine wiles has led us to where our culture is sitting today.

Are we using our influences wisely? Next time I want to focus on the HOW part. How can we uses our feminine wiles for the good of others?

October Fog – October 10/2013

The only morning that I had to leave early that week as the foggiest one yet!! At 6:00-6:30 I could hardly see anything in front of me, and by 11:00 the fog still hadn’t been completely melted away by the sun. I took these shots then.

God creates something wonderful with His fog!!!

A Summers’ Worth of Snapshots

So… now that I finally have a computer again I am back to blogging and editing pictures. That means that I have A LOT of pictures to go through and share!!! That is… 5 months of pictures to share.

Here is a glimpse of our summer:

Some friends’ Wedding and a Gillespie Class of 2012 (minus John G.) reunion

 

Stormy Nights

 

A fun-filled holiday with friends both old and new at Lowell Lake Lodge

 

  

We learned new things and turned another year older.

 

And then school started, and the Embro farm show came and went… and fog began to take over the early mornings and the garden had to be processed… and I just kept on sewing….

 

And now it is almost November and life keeps on flying past!!! Looking back at everything we did this past summer makes me smile.

God is GOOD!!!

The Sword of the Spirit

Something that hit me during tonight's sermon on the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-20, esp. vs 17):

Ephesians 6:10-20:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I think the general understanding of this passage is that we called to wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in fighting temptation and sin. I know this was my understanding of it until now. 

What hit me tonight is the fact Christ also wields this Sword in out hearts. He uses the Sword to cut down our rebellion and sin, and triumphantly saves us from sin and death. He uses the Sword in the act of Salvation. 

And, here is where our use of the Sword comes in. Once Christ has saved us from sin, we are called to wield this Sword against the tactics of the Devil. 

We can't wield this Sword effectively without the help of Christ though. Only through Him do we have the strength to fight the devil's tactics with the Word of God. 

What an amazing God we serve!!! A God who gives us the tools to fight the fight of faith!!! A God who helps us fight when we are to weak to fight ourselves!!

Gift Wrapping on Pennies -Pintrest Version

Last time I shared with you a couple of my thrifty ideas when it comes to making your gifts look lovely. Here are a number of ideas I have found on Pintrest and want to try sometime. :)

{Click on the pictures to follow the links}

Using burlap to wrap your gifts - This does cost a bit, unless you use left-overs from another project. :)

 I always thing these little jars are super cute!!! And I love the hot-chocolate-in-a-jar idea too. 

Making your own gift bags.... and what about using newspaper to make them too?!?!

 And gifting baking... Here are some more cool ideas.

Using an old foil box, all decorated up. Or using an old Pringles container for cookies

And you can add tags to any gift, no matter what it is, or what it looks like. Here are a couple of ideas I found, but the possibilities are endless!!! 

 And here are a couple other really cute ideas. 

Using a paper lunch sac and decorating it to look like an animal. Or making chocolate bars look like snowmen.

And these are just a few of the ideas I have found. The possibilities are ENDLESS!!! And, like I mentioned in the previous post, they don't even have to cost you anything extravagant!!! :)