Send A Letter

By Rose H.

Persecution for Christians didn’t end a thousand years ago. Christians are still being persecuted today. All over the world Christians are being imprisoned, tortured, and harmed for Christ’s name.

It’s a far cry from what we think of as persecution. Voice of the Martyrs has been a huge help me remember what real persecution is. With real stories, news flashes, and books they help you to the big picture. It always sends me into prayer for my fellow believers who are being tortured for Christ.

But there is something you can do. On their website [link here] you can send letters to prisoners. Voice of the Martyrs will let you choose what goes into the letter and then they print it out and send it to someone who has been imprisoned because of Christ. It’s a great way to send a little encouragement to their lives. And language is no barrier because VOM translates all letters and lets you see what the finished letter will look like.

This a simple way to encourage the persecuted in other countries.

It’s also a wonderful website to go to for news on the Church all over the world. For more information go to http://www.prisoneralert.com/       

Summer Camp

By Rose H.

During the summer most kids don’t stay at home. They are off to camp or go on vacation.

We do our best to make summers fun and interesting. We want to make time off enjoyable and constructive.

This summer why not have camp at your house? Instead of going somewhere, get the kids together and do some fun projects every day. Buy some fun food and enjoy some relaxed time together.

Or if you don’t have kids of your own yet, get together a group of kids and offer to do a week long day camp for them. Plan out crafts and activities and share Christ with them wherever you can. If you get overwhelmed, pull your friends in to help. It makes a great team project.

It’s a great way to strengthen and encourage those around you. Plus it helps build great friendships with others.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start planning, summer vacation will be here before you know it. 

New Ministry: Threads of Love

A nationwide effort to help preemie babies in the name of Christ. Check it out on the Ministries page!

The Story

 Since we celebrated the 2^nd Birthday of Homemade Ministry earlier this spring, I thought that you would like to hear a little bit about how Homemade Ministry began. Here goes …

            When I was getting ready to graduate high school, I knew that I wanted to do more ministry work when I finished school. I had always loved making things with my hands and wanted to use these talents to help others.

            The only thing was I didn’t know any ministries that took handcrafted items. I wanted make blankets to give to babies in the hospital, but I was clueless as to where to give them.

            Then one day as we were talking to some ladies that work at our library they started talking about a charity that they gave to called The Linus Connection. They made blankets, and then they would give them to this charity, that would then give them to kids in need. It was perfect. I had found a place to make blankets for.

            So I began working. I would make blankets and then give them to the ladies at the library, who would give them to charity. It was so exciting. I now had a place to make blankets for.

            After a while, I wanted to find other ministries that would take things for preemie babies since I had a heart for babies. So I did some research on the internet. I did find several really neat ministries and charities, but I had to do a lot of research to find the good ones. I became frustrated with dead ends or ministry links that were no good.

            So two years ago I started this blog called Homemade Ministry. It’s a blog where you can find out information about charities that need homemade things. I check out all these charities and then post a little bit about them with a link back to them. The idea is that you will find ministries quickly and easily, and to save people the trouble of having to do the research that I did.

            Since then I continue to keep crocheting and blogging. God continually helps me. I continue to work and write. There always seems to be things to do and new ways to serve.

            But for each new task God always provides strength. He helps me continue in my Homemade Ministry.

            Rose

Song

Sometimes we get so caught up in work that we forget we forget the reason why we do.

Let the words of this song take you back to the reasons, and let it remind you of your eternal reward.

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I have done
For love's rewards
Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness
That you found purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and in heaven after
For you've joined me at my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone.

Photo is copyrighted by Christina Hastings Photography 

MP3 Fun

Okay this is a just for fun post. 

Here’s something fun that you can do to keep yourself entertained. Put your MP3 Player on shuffle and then answer the following questions below. It’s so much fun. Here’s what I got.

If someone says "this is okay" you say:  Deep In Love With You (Love fixes everything)

What would best describe your personality? Theophilus (Whoever he was anyway)

What do you like in a guy/girl? Adore (Preferably me)

What is your life's purpose? Attempting The Impossible (Maybe it’s more like mission impossible)

What is your motto? Bumpy Encounter (Yep I’ve certainly had enough of them in my life)

What do your friends think of you? Undeniably You (Yeah, they look and no one doubts it’s me)

What do you think about very often? Meet The Author (I wish you could me, o wait the only window I have open is in two weeks, O wait a minute I forgot I’m writing that day)

What is 2+2? It’s A Beautiful World

What do you think of your best friend? Doctrine, Truth, and Love (That’s her all right)

What do you think of a person you like? Where (Yes, where are they?)

What is your life story? First Love (Now if I could only keep it)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Symphony #3 (I’m not sure whether this means I’m going to have a musical career or whether I will turn into the Symphony #3. We’ll see.)  

What do you think when you see a person you like? How Great Thou Art (Well they may not be, but it’s the thought that counts.”)

What do your parents think of you? Not Too Young To Die (Please, please I’m not all that bad)

What will you dance to at your wedding? Mercy Saw Me (As the old spinster and gave me a husband)

What will they play at your funeral? The Last Supper (I guess it was.)

What is your hobby/interests? Joy To The World (I’m a very optimistic person, most of the time.)

What is your biggest secret? Find Us Faithful (What does this mean? That’s the secret.)

What do you think of your friends? Going Home (I hate it they are always going home just when I want them to stay. Agh, I hate it. :P)
What's the worst thing that could happen? Call To Worship (Okay.)

How will you die? Trust (Obviously I trusted someone I shouldn’t have.)

What's the one thing you regret? History (There was always too much of it to learn.)

What makes you laugh? Free Man

What makes you cry? Battling Depression (It always brings me to tears.)

Will you ever get married? Completely (Yeah!)

What scares you the most? I Know You Know (I know you what I wanted to keep you from knowing, so now you know. Bummer.)

Does anyone like you? Hinds Feet On High Places (Only the book seems to like me.)

If you could go back in time, what would you change? Fill My Heart (The question is fill my heart with what?)

What hurts right now? Through Heavens Eye’s

What do you most often exclaim? Intro (At least I warn everyone that I’m coming.)

Where is paradise? There Is None Like You

What did you first say as a baby? Giants In The Land (Wouldn’t you say that if all the people you saw were bigger than you.)

If you had a pet, what would you name it? Prince Of Peace (Hopefully he would live up to his name.)

What is your favorite sight to see? Joseph’s Dream (The problem is he never seems to sleep long enough for me to see his dream.)

What makes you gag? The Secarii (Yeah, I hate those guys, even though I haven’t met them yet.)

What are you best at? Can’t Live A Day (If that’s what I’m best at I would hate to see what I’m bad at.)

If you wrote a book, what would you call it? Jesus Is Life (That sounds good.)

What did you wish for last? Safe and Sound

What would your superhero name be? Handsel and Gretal (why just have one superhero name when you could have two)

How soon will this be over? Miracle of Mercy

Where are you sitting? Dance With Me (I’m a very active person. What can I say?)

What do you most hate? I’ll Lead You Home (I guess the person that’s leading me home is the one I hate. I think.)

What do you most love? Stay Strong (Okay.)

What do you not care about? Falling Down (Agh I hate it when that happens!!)

What is your secret name? Away With The Summer Days

What will you post this as? Wresting With Love And Justice (Doesn’t that sound good?)

A Prayer

Lord,

            I am just a vessel. Fill me with your light. Illuminate me with Your presence.

            May this not be for my own pleasure. May it be for You. After all I am just a vessel. I can do nothing on my own. Fill me with You, so that You may receive the glory.

            Your Child, 

                              Rose