Like a Bubbling Brook

From Clay Pits to Flower Beds

Jaime — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:57:08 +0000

By Contributing Writer, Rachel Coltharp

“Lovely flower-beds.” That's what my husband told me this clay and rock-infested patch was. Lovely worm pit was more like it. I looked with suspicion into the eyes of The Great Fisherman (also known as Husband Dear) as I poked at it with my finger. Was this a ruse to start a free bait farm? "Just close your eyes and imagine it filled with roses," he said, and then he whispered some of my favorite words, “Which I will gladly purchase for you."

I closed my eyes and sure enough there before me was a rose bed filled with fragrant flowers. Many a happy hour was spent pouring over the Jackson & Perkins rose catalog. Ahhh, how lovely it was going to be. At last spring arrived; I purchased a book on roses and was surprised at how fragile the little boogers can be. Till in the soil amenities, check the ph balance, dig a humongous hole, use gravel for drainage, take care of the root ball, spray for bugs, watch for leaf mold, water only in the morning, and on and on the list went.

Undaunted, I began the work of turning the clay pit into a rose home. Let's just pull the curtain of mercy over the actual amount of work and money and pain that went into it. A word to the wise... use gloves. The thorns are not there to add textural interest. And NO, you are not careful enough to prevent getting snagged. Another word to the wise... don’t do your tilling or digging with sandals on.

It took us three years to get it all right. Too little fertilizer and they are puny. Too much fertilizer and they burn up. Too little water and they burn up. Too much water and their roots rot. It’s a constant fight between you, the leaf mold, the bugs, and the thorns. But at last, at long last the rose bed is filled with fragrant roses. They climb up and over and around the deck beams and are a thing of beauty. Mission accomplished. But the most beautiful thing about it was not the roses... it was the labor that went into getting them there, for by my side each laborious step of the way was my daughter.

At the tender age of 3 she helped to dig in the sand and soil amenities. She helped pick out the plants. She shared my disappointment as they promptly wilted and died. The next summer she helped weed, plant, and prune new ones. Together we sheltered them from the winter winds with rose cones she learned to anchor. The following summer, as we dug up the ones that didn't make it, she insisted on funerals and burying them with dignity. Finally, by summer #3, we enjoyed the fruits of our labors and celebrated the fact that they all survived and even thrived. And we did it all... planning, planting, pruning, digging, weeding, de-bugging and finally cutting bouquets... together.

A Christian life is like a rose garden, for it is a constant work in progress. It begins with the Master Gardener walking around looking at barren clay pits thinking “That is a lovely flower bed,” for He doesn’t see us as we are; He sees what we can become.

He pitches the idea to us: the trade of abundant life from our infertile existence. And step by step, together, we work to make that vision a reality. We dig out the old infertile clay of self and sin and add in life-producing soil of God's Word. We carefully plant good works and deeds, weeding out old habits and sinful human desires that tend to rear their ugly heads daily. Through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study we guard against any fungal growth of bitterness and mold of pride.

We prune, cutting out self-will, selfish ambition, and non-productive growth from our lives. When chilling, killing winds blow our way, as they certainly to do for everyone faces winters of the soul, we are sheltered under the protection of God's promises.

Some things die in our lives, and we are faced with the ugly bare branches of failure. Sometimes it was for reasons beyond our control, but sometimes it is through our own actions. The valuable lesson to be learned is in facing the failure and determining what, or if, we can circumvent it from happening again. Some of life's most valuable lessons are learned through failure. Some of the most beautiful things in life are direct results of learning what didn't work the first time.

And when our seasons have drawn to a close, when we look back over our years of toil, our seasons of planting, pruning and growth we won't glory in our efforts. The beauty of our accomplishments will pale in comparison with the beauty of working with Him. While we are indeed a work in progress, there will be a harvest day for us all. Then, transplanted into the Heavenly garden, we will bloom free of all the pains and toils of earth, forever to bloom beside the Rose of Sharon.

Rachel Coltharp is a pastor's wife of one and mother of four. She is fluent in four languages: Infantese, Toddlerspeak, Teenlingo, and Husbandism. She is a writer and public speaker who shares from her real life experiences, mostly mistakes and do-overs. She is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and an avid disciple of the the Apostolic doctrine. Find her sharing devotions at The Write Word and all things domestic and re-purposed at Galaxy Coltharp.

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Oh, My Darlin’, Valentine

Jaime — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:56:17 +0000

By Contributing Writer, Lori Wagner

Cards. Candies. Flowers. Sure! Bring them on! Let’s celebrate love. Love is, after all, the greatest virtue. As February 14 approaches and we prepare to remember the special ones in our lives—somewhere between the cherubs and chocolates let’s take a moment to look at the obscure yet fascinating beginnings of what we know as Valentine’s Day.

THEN

The origins of Valentine’s Day are shrouded in mystery. Three notable men in history were named Valentine. One was a priest who was said to have secretly performed marriages in Rome after Claudius II outlawed marriage to “improve” his crop of soldiers. Valentine was reportedly discovered and put to death—a martyr for love’s sake. Another version of his story suggests that Valentine was executed for his efforts to help Christians escape the tortures of Roman prisons.

A second man named Valentine is a party of a legend with a surprising twist. In this tale of old, the first-ever Valentine card was said to have been sent by Valentine to himself while he was in prison. He fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and allegedly sent the note in hopes that he might have a visit from her before his death. It was signed “from your Valentine,” a phrase popular on cards today.

Little is known about the third man, Valentine, except that he was buried on February 14. Although unproven, the legends of Valentine’s Day appeal to our senses of nobility—to heroism and romance. Of course we love this stuff. What woman doesn’t appreciate a romantic hero?

NOW

Like lovers of days gone by, today people exchange notes and tokens of affection on Valentine’s Day. Did you know an estimated one billion Valentine cards are shared each year? And God only knows how many boxes of chocolates and stuffed animals.

As I was thinking of the river of affection flowing on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t help but reflect on the most wonderful Valentine of all time. Still preserved in integrity, even after all these years, this “Valentine” is more than a card, but an entire love story written by a groom for his fiancé. It’s so intricate and involved that it begins with the details of the bride’s birth and watches as she grows from infancy to maturity and prepares for her wedding day. You might have guessed, but I’ll make it plain: I’m talking about Jesus and His bride. His message of love is written for all to read in the Bible.

When I look at the Bible, I really do see a love story. During Creation, God stretched out a canopy over the earth (Genesis 1:6; Isaiah 40:22). Canopies aren’t just set up anywhere and for no good reasons. The Earth was established as a special place, and God was preparing to do something wonderful beneath the starlit covering. This makes me think of a Jewish wedding and the canopy (chuppah) the bride and groom stand beneath for the ceremony.

Now, back to the beginning. Just imagine the flowers and beauty this incredible Groom presented in the Garden of Eden. It was surely a riot of color and glorious blooms. And we’re not talking stuffies, here—a plush teddy bear to squeeze at bedtime. No. He gave them live animals! Those were some exotic gifts.

Things were going along great. The lovers were having nice walks and talks in the Garden in the cool of the day, and they were chilling with the critters; but then this outsider got involved and planted seeds of discontentment. You know what happened next. Adam and Eve, the first “cells” of God’s “Bride,” became contaminated by disobedience. But God loved them so much He couldn’t just write them off and look for another. Oh no. He’s faithful, even when people like us mess up.

After Adam and Eve sinned, well, a lot of things changed, but not God’s love. He made a way for the contaminated to be in relationship with the holy, and He did it through a covenant—that’s also a part of a Jewish wedding (the ketuba, or contract). There, outside Eden, even knowing his beloved’s warts and failings, God made a covenant with them. Throughout time, He’s renewed and expanded that covenant with Noah, Abraham, Israel, etc. As His Bride grew and developed, she had some wayward teenage years—some rebellious, selfish times—but through it all, her Lover never gave up on her.

In God’s love story, we are now in a chapter of developing maturity. The “Bride” has grown from a sacred “mitosis” that began with Adam, then split off to Eve, and has continued to grow throughout the pages of time. There’s way too much to cover in one short article, but I just wanted you to get a glimpse into the sacred love letter of the ages. From Genesis to Revelation, the story unfolds. It is a story of a wedding all set to take place…and we’re all invited!

Throughout the Bible, God uses the analogy of a bride and groom to give people a picture of the relationship of Jesus and the church. In the same way a groom pledges love to his fiancé, Jesus made a commitment to His beloved—and that promise is extended to you and me. When we answer “yes” to Jesus, we become His betrothed—we enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord of glory. How cool is that?

RSVP

Like the origins of Valentine’s Day, the Bible has its mysteries, to be sure. But there is no mystery in its overarching theme—it’s central message. God made the earth. God made you. He wants you for His own.

He’s issued His invitation. It’s up to us to RSVP. The way to do that is found in the Bible, too. It’s like those cards that come pre-stamped and self-addressed when you get a wedding invitation in the mail. The person extending the invitation makes it easy to respond.

When Peter was asked “What shall we do?” he gave the answer in Acts 2:38. Think of it as the language on the RSVP card: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” When I read this verse in the Amplified version, I came up with a little acronym.

Repentance = Receiving deep inside ourselves God’s beautiful plans for our lives, allowing them to supersede our own limited ideas and motivations.
Surrender = Living our lives in agreement with God’s plans instead of our own agendas and desires, knowing that His ways are best and in our best interest.
Vision = Understanding our value, our hope for the future, and accessing new spiritual life now. After all, eternal life includes today!
Purpose = Determining to do whatever it takes to be ready for that great wedding day (Revelation 19:7).

When we truly understand our value, our worth, God’s purpose and plans for our lives—our hearts just might warm up enough to melt a box of Valentine’s chocolates. Mmmm. We can sweeten up our world with a heart full of oozy love! And that’s my prayer for you today: that your heart is warm and full, overflowing like a chocolate fountain with joyful songs of love, acceptance and purpose.

Did you RSVP yet?

Mrs. Lori Wagner is a gifted author, communicator and speaker. In 2006, she founded Affirming Faith to provide resources that educate, entertain and encourage Christians of all denominations. In the past six years, she has published twelve books, including the record-breaking "The Girl in the Dress." In addition to Affirming Faith activities, Lori also serves as the Michigan State Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer and as an elected precinct delegate in her community. She loves to worship and share with others the goodness of God and rich treasures found in His Word. She and her husband Bill live in Michigan with their children and one spoiled dog.

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top image credit :: second :: third

Enter to Win Accordance 9 Bible Software (Library Introductory Level)!

Jaime — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:53:51 +0000

Whether you're a minister, student of the Word, homeschool mom, or lifelong student, you and your family will love Accordance Bible Software!

It's designed for Mac, but you also use it with a PC if you download the Mac Emulator for PC.

Why Accordance?

Accordance is the program of choice among top Bible scholars since it was first released in 1994. Features which are now commonplace among high-end Bible programs, such as graphical searching, statistical analysis of search results, instant parsing, and diagramming were all pioneered by Accordance.
Accordance was also the first Bible program to offer grammatically-tagged editions of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Mishna, Aramaic Targums, Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Inscriptions, and other Ancient Near Eastern texts.
Accordance is remarkably easy to use (remember, it was designed for Mac!). The Accordance interface has been designed to help you focus on the text of the Bible without getting in your way. Whether you need advanced research tools or basic Bible study help, Accordance makes it easy to deepen your study of the Bible.

Their Library Introductory Level is the perfect tool to get started! If you were to purchase all of the resources in print, this would cost you over $1400 --- but they package it into their introductory package for only $149. And one blessed LABB reader will win it FREE in this giveaway! What a generous gift they are giving to one of our readers!

Here's what Accordance has to say about it:

"The Library Introductory Level contains everything you need to begin studying the Bible with Accordance. Priced at just $149, the Introductory Level includes 11 Bibles and a collection of study aids worth more than $1400 in print. Includes such best-selling resources as the New Living Translation, KJV with Strong's, Unger's Bible Dictionary, Life Application Study Bible, Experiencing God and Experiencing God Day by Day, and much more. When you're ready to expand your Accordance library, you can add more Bibles or upgrade to Standard or Premier level simply by purchasing unlock codes."

Lastly, if you have an iPhone or an iPad, you can go to the Apple app store on your device and type in "Accordance" to get a free download of their mobile device (iOS) engine and a number of free books right now!

Would you like to enter to win Accordance 9 Bible Software, the Library Introductory Level? Here's your chance to enter the generous giveaway!

Giveaway time!

Accordance has generously offered their Accordance 9 Library Introductory Level Bible Software one LABB reader!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Comments on this post will not be counted as entries.

If you have not yet signed in to the new Rafflecopter forms, use either your Facebook account OR your name and email address to sign in. Click “Do It” for instructions on how to complete each entry.

*The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!*

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Enter to Win an Embellished Hoodie by Evy’s Tree!

Jaime — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:48:58 +0000

If you haven't been introduced to Evy's Tree yet, you're in for a treat today!

Evy's Tree specializes in creating fun, embellished hoodies that have garnered quite a loyal customer base. I especially love the shop owner, Amy --- she is a sweet friend and you'll find her a pleasure to get to know! She's married to a minister, understands the importance of femininity, and has worked hard to build this quality clothing brand from her home with little ones underfoot. God has blessed her efforts and her shop! When you take a peek around, you'll understand why.

Here are just a few of her beautiful things:

And, my favorite one of all, the Black Night Brilla:

*sigh*

And now for the exciting news: one LABB reader will get to win a free in-stock Evy's Tree hoodie of their choice!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Comments on this post will not be counted as entries.

*The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Enter to Win a Red Letter Words Cafe Mount Print!

Jaime — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:45:17 +0000

I love decorating my home with Scripture!

Red Letter Words creates gorgeous faith-inspired art that fits in well with just about any decor style.

Their Cafe Mount prints are printed on matte velvet archival fine art paper, using pigment ink, and is mounted onto a 3/4 inch standout mount board with black edging. They are quality products that your family will treasure!

And I have exciting news: one LABB reader will get to win a free 12x12 Cafe Mount Print of their choice!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Comments on this post will not be counted as entries.

If you have not yet signed in to the new Rafflecopter forms, use either your Facebook account OR your name and email address to sign in. Click “Do It” for instructions on how to complete each entry.

*The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*No custom orders and no international shipping, please.

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Enter to Win a $50 Credit to DaySpring.com!

Jaime — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:40:48 +0000

I've accumulated several DaySpring products over the years, and especially enjoy their faith-inspired home decor. I have items from their Life to the Full Collection, a gorgeous wooden utensil caddy, a mango wood wall hanging, and now this beautiful carved mango wood "Blessings of God" bread bowl.

It's large, durable, and looks amazing with a crusty loaf of bread wrapped in a cloth napkin and placed on top of the bowl. It's perfect for use at home or for bringing your famous homemade breads, muffins, or cookies to family gatherings or church potlucks. I love it!

It would also make a great centerpiece for your dining table or kitchen island. Pile a few red apples and citrus fruits into it and you have an easy, useful piece of decor for your kitchen.

It's one of my favorite pieces, for sure. I get many compliments on it!

Right now, you can take an additional 15% off on all gift purchases. Coupon code: 15OFFGIFTS. You might want to browse their sale and clearance section, too --- there are many items they are marking down right now and you can catch a great deal between the clearance and the additional discount code!

Would you like to enter to win a $50 credit to spend on anything you like at DaySpring? Here's your chance to enter the generous giveaway!

Giveaway time!

DaySpring has generously offered a $50 credit to one LABB reader!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Comments on this post will not be counted as entries.

*The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Books I Completed Last Month: The Prodigal God, EntreLeadership, and Share Jesus Without Fear

Jaime — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:31:42 +0000

The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

This book was given to me by a friend, and I enjoyed the author's fresh perspective of the prodigal son. What about the older brother in the story? Keller makes a compelling case that he was just as much at fault as his younger brother, if not more so. Is this parable really about the prodigal son, or is it about the irreligious versus the moralistic? What of the older son's attitude when his younger brother returned home? How does that relate to Christianity today?

This was a short book and easy read with a thought-provoking message.

EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

This is a long book (about 300 pages) but reads well. Ramsey gives excellent, practical advice for leading and managing your organization, including thoughts on hiring, firing, morale, vision, sales, finances, and more. Just when you think he's covered everything, he goes on to say that there are more chapters available online for further reading. Highly recommended!

Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay

Written by a former mafia leader and multimillionaire who came to Jesus and has a powerful testimony, you'll find this book changes everything you thought you knew about sharing the gospel. He reminds us that it's God who converts hearts, not us. It's our mandate to share our faith, in obedience to the Word, but He is the one who does the work. You'll find simple, practical steps for opening conversation, asking questions, sharing the Bible, and letting others know who Jesus is to you. Yet another book that I highly recommend!

What did you read last month? Any books you'd like to share?

***Don't forget --- the Love Around the Block Facebook Party is Tuesday, February 7th! This is the week! If you missed the post about it, you can find out the details here. We're going to have a wonderful time of fun and fellowship, and there will be many prizes from our generous sponsors!***

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Please Welcome Our New Contributors & Sponsors

Jaime — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:07:49 +0000

Please join me in taking a moment to welcome our new 2012 featured contributors here at LABB!

Mrs. Wanda Fielder has over thirty years of experience as a pastor's wife, published author, and conference speaker. Over the years she has led many ladies ministries, events, and conferences. She is an excellent Titus 2 mentor and she shares inspirational articles, recipes, ministry ideas and more at her site, Tea-Lightful Inspirations.

Mrs. Rachel Coltharp is a pastor's wife of one and mother of four. She is fluent in four languages: Infantese, Toddlerspeak, Teenlingo, and Husbandism. She is a writer and public speaker who shares from her real life experiences, mostly mistakes and do-overs. She is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and an avid disciple of the the Apostolic doctrine. Find her sharing devotions at The Write Word and all things domestic and re-purposed at Galaxy Coltharp.

Mrs. Lori Wagner is a gifted author, communicator and speaker. In 2006, she founded Affirming Faith to provide resources that educate, entertain and encourage Christians of all denominations. In the past six years, she has published twelve books, including the record-breaking "The Girl in the Dress." In addition to Affirming Faith activities, Lori also serves as the Michigan State Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer and as an elected precinct delegate in her community. She loves to worship and share with others the goodness of God and rich treasures found in His Word. She and her husband Bill live in Michigan with their children and one spoiled dog.

Mrs. Faye Henry has been married to her sweetheart for over 41 years and together they own a lovely shop in New Brunswick, Canada. She also leads many young ladies, wives, and mothers in "Keepers of the Home" classes that she facilitates in the local community. She has a heart for mentoring younger women and fulfilling the Titus 2 mandate! Won't you pop over and visit Mrs. Henry at The Blessed Hearth? Pour yourself a nice hot cup of tea and stay for awhile. The fire is lit and burning brightly and the candles smell heavenly. Biscuits are in the oven...

Also, please welcome our new February sponsors. What a blessing they are to our readers and this site!

Red Letter Words specializes in creating gorgeous, high quality faith-inspired art. I love decorating with Scriptures, and Red Letter Words has prints that look stunning with just about any decor style.

LPC Survival/Directive21 is the perfect resource for Berkey Water Filtration and more. They have one of the top Berkey sellers of all --- the Big Berkey. These aren't only for filtering tap water, but also for filtering raw water from lakes and streams. The Berkey systems are great tools for missionaries, outdoorsmen, campers, and more.

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Maple Granola With Raisins (Updated Recipe)

Jaime — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:24:13 +0000

Some of you might remember this recipe.

This is a recipe I shared nearly two years ago now, and it's morphed a bit over the course of time. I've made a few updates to the recipe and taken new pictures. It's a classic; I love the light maple flavor, the nuts, the raisins, and that it's easy to make. It's versatile, too --- if you have different items in your pantry, it's easy to modify and make it your own.

Several readers have told me this is one of their favorites. *smile*

Granola + yogurt = match made in heaven. Really. Have you tried it?

Feel free to pile it high on a big bowl of homemade yogurt.

Here's what you'll need:

4 cups rolled oats
3/4 c oat bran
1/2 c chopped almonds
1/2 c chopped pecans
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1 tsp salt
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c honey
1/2 c melted coconut oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c raisins

What to do:

1) Preheat the oven to 325. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2) Combine oats, bran, and nuts in large bowl.

3) Stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, then pour over oat mixture and stir to coat.

4) Spread the mixture evenly over the baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through.

5) Cool, then stir in raisins and store in airtight container.

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Bubbling Brook Tip: Here's a fun limited time offer (through February 5th; great for Valentine's Day!) from The Card Store: 20% Off Valentine’s Day Cards plus Free Shipping. Code SHOPHOME20

:: also shared at homestead revival and healthy home economist

10 Ideas for Praying for Friends and Family

Jaime — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:31:47 +0000

Sometimes, it's easy to pray the more obvious prayers for our loved ones: "Lord, please move in their financial situation," or "Lord, I pray for healing in their body." We can quickly find ourselves in a bit of a prayer rut!

At our church's ladies meeting this past month, I asked each of our ladies to draw a name from a bowl. Each lady's name was in that bowl. I asked them to look at the name they'd pulled and pray for that lady this week; really pray. Not just the obvious prayers, not half-hearted prayers, but pray that God works in them and through them, changes who they are to glorify Him.

If you desire a deeper prayer life and more meaningful prayers for your friends and family, consider adding more to your prayers.

Here's the list I shared with our ladies...

Pray that:

They understand God’s will
They gain spiritual wisdom
They live a life pleasing and honoring to God
They do kind things for others
They know God better
They are given strength
They endure in patience
They stay full of joy
They are thankful
They remember how much God loves them

I've seen God move in many ways, in many lives, and I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer! He is able! Your prayers DO make a difference!

How do you pray for your loved ones? Have you ever felt that you were in a prayer rut or had fallen into complacency in your prayer life?

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photo credit

:: also shared at holy spirit led homeschooling, a wise woman builds her home and women living well