Will You Sponsor a Child?

 

One of the joys I have been priviledged to experience over the past six years is sponsoring a child through Compassion International.

Leading mission trips to Ecuador for my church for the past several years, I had the opportunity to see Compassion at work in a Compassion Center located at a church where we helped conduct a Vacation Bible School in 2013.   I was impressed to say the least.   At this center, the children were fed a nutritious meal each day.   These meals smelled wonderful, and I’m sure were a blessing to these kids!    Upon coming back home, I felt led to sponsor a child from Ecuador.

Child sponsorship has been a blessing for me.   During the past six years I was able to meet my child twice while on my annual mission trip to Ecuador.   I’ve been able to volunteer with Compassion through Compassion Sunday, and at events like concerts as a table volunteer helping to recruit new sponsors.  I have recently joined a group of Compassion Bloggers, and we have a goal this month (7 days of June left!) of 50 children being sponsored!   Would you help us reach this goal?

You might ask – “How does sponsoring help a child?   First and most important, they are taught about Jesus through a relationship with a local church (Compassion Centers).  Sponsored children receive LOVE,  health care and supplements to help with malnutrition, education,  and recreation-   Here are the specific benefits:

  • The opportunity to receive an education:In some cases, this means providing the cost of school fees, clothing and supplies. In other cases, it means providing tutoring, help with homework, encouragement and, if necessary, participation in a literacy program outside the classroom. Your sponsorship will allow one special child to stay in school longer if formal schooling is an option and get the most out of his or her education.
  • The opportunity to be healthy:The health of the child you sponsor will be monitored and care will be provided as needed. Children are taught about hygiene and how to maintain personal health. In addition, and according to their needs, many of the children we assist receive supplementary food.
  • The opportunity to develop self-confidence and social skills:The child you sponsor will be part of a church-based program where Christian adults offer love, guidance, personal attention, guided recreation and safety.
  • The opportunity to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus:Most important, your sponsorship provides the child you sponsor with regular Bible training and encouragement through a local church committed to Christ and the children in its community.

Children can be sponsored through Compassion for $38 monthly.   One of the wonderful things about sponsoring a child is writing your child letters, and receiving letters from your child!   Would you like to share the love of Jesus with someone?   Through writing letters, you can share what Jesus has and is doing in your life with the child.   You can encourage them with Bible verses, and letting them know that you care specifically about them.   Just sharing your life with them makes a huge difference in their lives!

Please prayfully consider sponsoring a child today!   Here’s the link again if you feel led to sponsor!    I would love to hear from you if you decide to sponsor a child.   Email me or comment below.   Thank you for considering this opportunity to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus!  Below are some pictures from 2013, where we taught VBS at the church with the Compassion Center that first began my sponorship journey.

Threads of Encouragement – Looking for the “Big” Turtle

 

Design by Red Gremlin Design

 

Our theme verse this year for our mission trip to Ecuador is Ephesians 3:20.  Several months back, I heard a devotion from Habakkuk 1:5  “Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded!  For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.  In verses 1-4, the prophet Habakkuk is questioning God’s judgements, and verse 5 is God’s answer.   When I heard this verse it reminded me of Ephesians 3:20, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  

A couple of weeks ago I was taking my Grandaughter, Gracie to school when I saw a big turtle in the road.  Not far from our home, there are a couple of good size ponds beside the road, and the turtle was in the road beside the ponds.  So I stopped in the road (not much traffic on our road), and was trying to show Gracie the turtle.   However, Gracie just couldn’t seem to see the “big” turtle.   She kept saying “I don’t see it”.   I even opened the sliding door so she could see from her car seat easily, and she still said “I can’t see it”.    See, I think Gracie was looking for a small turtle, and overlooking the “big” turtle while looking for a small one.   Isn’t that so much like us to be looking for the ordinary things God might do, or ways we think God might work, or  people we think God might work through.   So many times God works in ways we can’t imagine.   More often than not, we don’t even ask Him to work in “big” ways because we limit His works to what we think possible.   Folks let’s be “utterly astounded” by what our Awesome God wants to do in our lives, through our lives, others lives, and for some of us, a mission trip to Ecuador.   Let’s not only be looking around for the small ordinary works, but let’s look for those “immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine” works our God has to show us.     Why? –you might ask– to give Him glory!  To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Ephesians 3:21.

Gracie did finally see the “big” turtle!


The Daily Grace Co. $5 Sale

The Daily Grace Co. is having a $5 sale right now, but hurry before the sale ends!   They have highlighters, Bible Studies, Mugs, Be Still Magazines, Journals, and more available for $5.    Here’s the link to shop, or you can also click on the pictures for the link.  This sale only happens a few times a year!

(This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase by clicking through my links, I will be compensated at no cost to you. Threads of Encouragement uses affiliate links and ads to help support this site.)

Threads of Encouragement – Elohim, The Supreme Creator

 

“so that all may see and know,
consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.”   Isaiah 41:20

I have been so continually amazed this spring at the beauty God has created.   Our Loving, Glorious, Creator God (Elohim) blesses us daily with the beauty He as created!  His creation is full of splendor and majesty.   Artists and creators down through the years have created wonderful masterpieces of art, but none compare to what our Supreme God (Elohim) has created, creates each day, and continues to create.   He creates with such detail, such brilliant colors, and such beauty that we cannot even begin to comprehend.  God reveals His glory to us through flowers, sunrises, sunsets, plants, trees, water, mountains, animals, the smile of a child, and through so much more of His creation.   I thought I would share some photos of the beautiful creation He has created this spring, and I encourage you to look daily for His glory through His creation!   Hope you enjoy!

PHOTO CREDIT:  MIRANDA RAMSEY

 

PHOTO CREDIT:  JOAN PRICE

 

PHOTO CREDIT:  PONZA MILLAWAY

 

Ultimate Homemaking Bundle 2019

Ultimate Homemaking Bundle 2019

Hey everyone!  I wanted to share a resource with you that I have really enjoyed for the last 3-4 years.   If you’re like most women, your plate is full. And caring for your home, your family, and – especially! – yourself can be overwhelming at times.

If only there were something to make it a little easier…

I am here to tell you, there is!

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle has been selling since 2012, and over 127,000 women have purchased a copy to learn practical strategies for decreasing stress and making a home (and life!) they love.

Despite being sold every year since 2012, it’s not the same old, same old. No way. The curators behind the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle (the team at Ultimate Bundles) cook up a fresh, new bundle each year. That way, they’re able to create a collection of the most inspiring and helpful resources out there… all to help YOU make the best of the season you’re in.

When you buy the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle you’ll get access to:

    • 27 eBooks
    • 30 eCourses & videos
    • 25 printables
    • 16 workbooks
    • 3 summits
    • 2 membership sites

The creators behind these resources are 100+ women who have struggled with the same things as you, but have learned (and will teach you) how to simplify their homes, declutter & organize, put healthy meals on the table, nurture strong family relationships, and practice good self-care.
Best of all, you can get it all for just $29.97.

One last thing (for now)…Along with your Ultimate Homemaking Bundle purchase, you’ll have the chance to get an additional mini-bundle that will help you in your walk with Christ for just $7! If you want to invest in your faith this year, check it out after your Homemaking Bundle purchase.
I’ll be back over the next few days to tell you more details about this bundle sale, but for now…

Check out the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle right here:https://ultimatebundles.com/sale/uhomb2019-main?a_aid=5cc26f73b7a09&a_bid=36418a60 

***SIGN OFF***
P.S. If you buy by midnight tomorrow, you can also get a free online class from The Nester called “The Cozy Minimalist Embraces Summer – a $29 value. Get your home ready for summer, impress your guests, and delight your family with some Nester-inspired encouragement. Check it out here: https://ultimatebundles.com/sale/uhomb2019-main?a_aid=5cc26f73b7a09&a_bid=36418a60 

(This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase by clicking through my links, I will be compensated at no cost to you. Threads of Encouragement uses affiliate links and ads to help support this site.)

Front Porch Sitting

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”    Mark 12:30-31

Spring has arrived in the South!   My favorite season full of flower blooms, budding trees, grass becoming green again, birds chirping, Sunday afternoon walks, and “front porch sitting”  is here!   I love porches- front ones, side ones, or back porches!  When spring arrives, it’s time to spruce up the porches, and start enjoying all the beauty of the spring season from a porch chair or swing!    Also, when I think of “front porch sitting” family and neighbors immediately come to mind.    My front porch is one of my favorite places to have some quality quiet time with God-   a great place for me to slow down, and just spend time in the Word or in prayer.  My porch is also a great place to spend time with family and neighbors.   “Front porch sitting” is one avenue to love on family and neighbors.   Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.   How do we love our neighbors?   Who is our neighbors?    Of course there are our physical neighbors, but actually we have neighbors all over the world.    We have neighbors we have never met on our roads and streets, and all around the world.   Loving our physical neighbors can be as simple as inviting them to some “Front porch sitting” for some sweet tea or coffee, or dropping a meal by, running an errand for them, or just providing a listening ear.   Loving our far-away, never-met neighbors can be harder.  Just knowing how to love them can be a challenge because we don’t have first hand knowledge of their needs.   Sometimes we need to rely on others or different ministries to give us knowledge and opportunities to love on our far-away neighbors.   One great ministry that I have to come love over the past six years is Compassion International.    Compassion focuses on releasing children from poverty in Jesus Name.   I have seen their work first-hand on more than one occasion.   They do a fabulous job of helping children in poverty while sharing the love of Jesus with them.   I want to mention two ways you can become involved with Compassion right now.   First, is through sponsorship of children.   For $38 a month you can sponsor a child helping Compassion to share the love of Jesus with your sponsored child along with helping the child with basic needs, such as food, hygiene, and education.   Second, during the month of April, Compassion has a fundraiser going to help provide mosquito nets to children in Tanzania.  For a one-time $18 donation, these insecticide-treated bed nets will help a child living in proverty be protected against Malaria transmitted by mosquitos, and provide medical support where needed.  Compassion shares that 3000 children die daily as a result of Malaria.   However with the proper tools such as these insecticide-treated nets, healthcare, and education, Malaria is preventable and treatable.  Please consider one of these options to love on some Tanzania neighbors!   Here’s the link for the mosquito/Malaria prevention nets.   Also, take some time this spring to enjoy some “Front porch sitting” with your family and close-by neighbors!

A Mountain Quiltfest – 25th Anniversary

 

I had the opportunity to go to A Mountain Quiltfest last weekend with my Mom, Daughter, and new granddaughter.   We’ve been going to Pigeon Forge, TN for this wonderful quilt show for years.   This year happened to be the 25th anniversary of A Mountain Quiltfest.   This quilt show has won numerous international awards through the years, and has been chosen as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Festival & Event Winner for 2019.   A Mountain Quiltfest is held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge which provides over 232,000 square feet of exhibition and classroom space to house the quilt show, vendors, classrooms, lecture areas, and a dining area.   I always think each year is the best, but I REALLY think this year was the BEST!    The quilts were fabulous as well as the vendors!   Pictured below, are some of my favorites…


Goal Setting Course

One of my favorite blogs is MoneySavingMom.com.  I have learned so much from Crystal Paine over the years!  Right Now you can get Jesse & Crystal Paine’s Goal Setting Course  Make Over Your Year for 50% off making the course $8.50!  This is a great opportunity to try one of their courses.   Not only is it 50% off, but they are also offering a 15 day money back guarantee.

(This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase by clicking through my links, I will be compensated at no cost to you. Threads of Encouragement uses affiliate links and ads to help support this site.)

Threads of Encouragement – Cast Your Cares

 

 

Something about the warm weather and sunshine makes me want to do some Bible coloring pages or journaling!   Yesterday was a perfect evening to set on my porch and enjoy the new Daylight Savings Time by coloring and meditating on Scripture!  My time was limited yesterday evening, so I knew it needed to be a quick page.   I’ve been in 1st & 2nd Peter some lately so I decided to look there first.    I chose to color 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”    How wonderful it is that we can give God all our cares because He cares for us!    I don’t know about everyone else- but seems that our cares are many in the time in which we live!   I’m so glad that we can give Him the little cares and the BIG cares we have!  He’s still in control- He can handle our cares and concerns, and not only can He handle them-  He wants us to bring them to Him!

Weekly Threads of Encouragement – True Love

 

(Shared by 106.9 The Light FM)

 

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”   John 3:16

The Light FM (106.9) shared a great graphic for Valentine’s Day this week on their Facebook page, and I wanted to share it with you all. Yes, you all are probably thinking that I’m way too late with a post about Valentine’s Day.   But truly, this is a post of Encouragement for Every Day Living.    It’s great to celebrate Valentine’s Day – I certainly enjoyed celebrating with my little granddaughters this year!  My sweet husband knows the way to my heart with a sampler cheesecake, some really sharp cheddar cheese (anything cheese, and I’m happy!), and flowers.  I had a great time putting together my valentine tree for my family to enjoy also!    But, love is not Valentine’s Day.   True love is that God so loved us!   That He gave His One and Only Son as a sacrifice for us.   That whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting Life!   Everlasting Life with Him in Heaven!   That’s something to get excited about!   It’s truly something to celebrate each and every day!