A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #8 Big Sister

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.

As big sisters we are faced with decisions about using our time. We can use it wisely with our siblings and a wee bit of me time or we can use it for ourselves and have a wee bit of family time. We often focus on ourselves instead of others which leaves us with cranky siblings. We are then withholding good from our siblings. When we show the love and kindness they are more ready to listen. This will be short, sweet and to the point. I'm not going to elaborate as usual. If you are able to do anything for or with your siblings: do it! 

I challenge you to do something like what I'm about to do. I'm about to go play a board game with my sisters. I've found when I do something like a board game they are happier, focused and in a way more willing to listen. Serve your siblings a slice of your time now.

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #7 Daughter of the King

Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Walk with wisdom towards outsiders. We need to do be doing this regularly. We may or may not have a lot of un-churched friends but we do need to reflect God. For example if you go shopping and your Mom asks you do to do something, she doesn't like what you picked out or you end up with a grumpy cashier: smile and accept life graciously. They may not be having a good day until that smile. Make the best of your time. If you use the computer of the phone several times through the day, use it to uplift and encourage. The internet is so susceptible to arguments and idleness. These thing are tough and I will say I'm struggling through these. There is also the other extreme of using your time for EVERYTHING except God. This is a trap that we girls fall into as we are busy with family, school, friends, work and more. That is why I always use the end of my day to pray to and praise God. Let your speech always be gracious. Oy that tongue is dangerous. I feel slightly hypocritical as I write as I was just arguing with my sister. The tongue is dangerous and can hurt someone's heart in a snap with a judgmental or argumentative remark. Season your day with salt, compliments, courtesy, kindness, and gentleness. Just drop a kind word or two. Use these things so you can answer anybody with a smile. Do these regularly so others know who you serve and shine.

I challenge you to smile at everyone you meet & to say something nice and uplifting to everyone in your house. 

Heirloom Afghan

I was asked to repair an heirloom afghan. I finished it today! :)

The lady's sister's dog used it for a dog blanket so there was atrocious holes in it! It is now all set to go back to her family and is not to be used as a dog blanket or I'll cry from the thought of fixing more holes! ;) 

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #6 Prayer Warrior

Pray without ceasing. 1st Thessalonians 5:17

This is tough. Praying without ceasing. Sounds difficult.....it is in a way but not really. When we see verses like this we tend to over think things. I know I do. And when we over think things we make it harder to do something as simple as praying. Praying is simple: talking to God! A couple years ago I never prayed. I'm growing up in a prayer filled Church yet I couldn't pray. I didn't think I could make a difference. About that time I started a prayer journal. I kept it for about 2 months and then forgot about it. I got discouraged and prayed here and there. I would pray for people after I heard the prayer request but never thought about them again. One day quite recently I got on my knees and prayed. I prayed for what felt like forever, just praying about what ever was on my heart. I had a clarity of thoughts and remembered prayer requests. I'm not saying praying on your knees will make you a super praying hero but it does allow you to focus on God and him alone. Since then I have grown in my prayer walk. I'm telling this you girls to encourage you. I'm not perfect and I don't always pray without ceasing but I'm getting much better at it. To pray without ceasing means to pray for the day. During free time, when wisdom is needed, anything! Most importantly praise God! This can be tough so ask, pray, that God will help you. He will! Keep persevering! 

I challenge you to get on your knees and pray. Pray about anything on your heart, make a habit of this so it will come as a natural, regular thing for you. Keep persevering & pray without ceasing. 

Check out my business! :~)

I've started up a page for my toy business! :~)

From baby hats to playfood sets to shaker eggs and more, there is a lot of fun in store! :~)

Grab a cup of tea and check it out, I'll be posting more toys and baby items over the next 2 weeks.

TreeHouse Creations

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - Recap of Part 1

#1 Prayer Warrior 

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

#2 Daughter of the King

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

#3 Big SisterLet all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

#4 Woman of Faith

Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

#5 Homemaking

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

How are you doing? I've had several people tell me that they needed these during the past 2 weeks, and I must say I have too. I unfortunately haven't "followed" my words 24/7 but it has given me insight. I will be starting the next part on Monday. :~) 

Fishing for a good book!

Runway Fashions!

Who says homeschooling isn't fun? :~)

T-bug reading her Highlights Hello.

L-Jo and Lil'G reading library books about music, dancing and songs.

T-tot's Social Studies book. 

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #5 Homemaking

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Unless you get something out of the deal we tend to slack on our daily duties and chores. We partially work on something or make it look like we did it all. When we do that we are nothing more than lazy homemakers. Sure our house may not be sparkling clean all the time but it should be kept nice. God placed us on Earth to be stewards of his land, of his world. When we take care of the things God gave us with laziness that shows others that we are indifferent with what He has blessed us with. For example: I see a bib on the floor. I can leave it there or pick it up. The bib is a gift from God for messy babies and toddlers. Leaving it shows others that we don't care about our blessings. Picking it up shows it is considered a blessing. The bib itself becomes another blessing as now we can use it.When you pick it up it can feel like work. And it is in a way. When we pick it up we are picking it up for the Lord. I am working for the Lord. Now this may be a slightly cheesy illustration but we do need to be working for the Lord. When others see that we care enough about our things to take care of them they will see a difference because we are working for the Lord. We should be doing this all the time and someday He will reward us. It may not be today and may not be tomorrow, but someday he will reward us. We are his servants and we should be bringing Glory to Him.

I challenge you to do something productive today, whether it be laundry or dishes or cleaning. Do it with a happy heart! You are working for the Lord of all creation, you are serving your family, you will lift the spirits of your family's hearts and cheer them with your sunny smile. Go, work, smile and know that all you do is for the Lord.