Vision For a Godly Home

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

2012-01-16T11:17:00.005-06:00

Once again, I am re-posting this article I wrote for a dear friend's magazine in 2010. I once again present to you:

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

(This article I have written here was recently published in an online publication, I was going to post in increments but decided to post it in entirety and simplify a bit.)

The year? 1967.

There she was, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Fischer. The typical 60s flip hair-do, orange dress with white polka-dots, matching shoes, a sunshine face was Mrs. Fischer. It was spelling test day and we first graders were attentively listening to each word as the sun streamed into the bright classroom, you could hear a pin drop.

The spelling word at that moment? "Baby".

She said the word, baby with a smile so radiant as she placed her hands upon her stomach, discreetly yes, but yet to me? A most sensitive and perceptive little first grade girl? I knew exactly what was up. Mrs. Fischer was going to have a baby. Yes! I just bet she's having a baby! Sure enough, the end of our first grade school year was ended rather tumultuously with one substitute teacher after another and I was never to see Mrs. Fischer again...she was home with her baby. She chose the best thing, to stay home with her baby. Even though it was hard for me as a little girl and I missed Mrs. Fischer greatly, I knew she was doing the right thing, enjoying motherhood and saying phooey with the rest.

The moral climate of those years were changing; just the year before, we Kindergartners all said our prayers with little bowed heads over saltine crackers and orange juice for snack time.

"God is great, God is good, thank you for our daily food. Amen."

I remember the children, us little girls in our sweet cotton dresses, I remember the little boys in their cotton button up shirts tucked in trousers with leather lace up shoes, hair parted on the side neatly. No matter what economic class we were from, we were neatly, modestly and sweetly dressed.

As that first grade year progressed, it was noticeable to me that the prayers over our food had mysteriously vanished. Time was changing and things seemed to be darkening to this little girl, I could feel it in my bones and most sadly in my innocent heart.

I remember sitting in front of my grandparents' home they ran their fishing business from, sitting upon the steps on a large, vast pier as the sailboats and shrimpboats would come in on the sparkling bay for the evening, In my little girl solitude, I would hear clanging at the shipyard not far away. My Italian grandma enjoyed reading and she usually had some Life and McCall's magazine around....Finding those Betsy McCall paper dolls in the McCall's magazine was a huge treat, kind of like finding a really good treasure in the bottom of a Cracker Jacks box....Every now and then I'd look over her Life magazines as I'd sip on my soda and quietly munch chips as my bare feet felt the texture of those wooden steps...There in those magazines I would see in living color the culture changing for the worst, the waif-look model, Twiggy, presented as the norm for body types, the brash fashions with go-go boots and fishnet stockings, me thinking my legs didn't look much like Twiggy's and where was Shirley Temple? Stories about members of that band called the Beatles...and I knew. I knew. I knew in my little girl's heart that things were going down fast and a darkness was coming over our country, and what was worse, this great country, America the Beautiful was letting the darkness pour in. This country of ours who had lent it's hand to my Italian and German immigrant grandparents who were now proud American citizens, my father and my uncle and great uncles who proudly served this country and made something of themselves. But Joltin' Joe had left and gone away, it was most apparent to me back then.

Years would go by and in the liturgical church our family attended I was surprised to see the new priest walking down the hall with a Hawaiian shirt on one Wednesday afternoon as I attended a catechism class...He was so different than the sweet priest who braided my long hair just the year before in his white collar whose resemblance and mannerisms were something of a Bing Crosby to me. Sadly, The Bing Crosby priest had left and gone away too. Now we had the mod guy with the long hair and the Hawaiian shirt. The same mod guy who had our church sing "Imagine" by John Lennon in a Sunday service. The song that starts with... Imagine there is no Heaven.

The years were eking by, man's knowledge was ignorantly being placed over any knowledge of the Lord in this new modern era this country seemed so proud of. The tower of Babel was once again being built it seemed.

The year. 1973.

Man had been on the moon, and I was sitting in classes with those very astronaut's kids, some of them later becoming friends of mine. Nixon was becoming president and our junior high looked like the gates of hell had been turned loose in it. Long gone were the sweet dresses and little boys with lace up shoes and neat hair. In place of it all were mostly hip-hugging jeans, guys with brushes stuffed in their back pockets to brush their long hair with and some dating at the age of 12 and all that went with that. I had found a small group of sweet girls to be friends with, we would spend our time drawing people, horses, animals and the like in our quiet world away from the hellish life we were surrounded by.

That year, 1973. There was no teacher saying the word, baby with such sunshine smiles. No. That was the year the country decided it would start seeing the babies as "choices". It was the year of Roe verses Wade. It was the year they turned the baby, the innocent child into a choice.

But where was the baby's choice in the matter?

Life went on and the hellish atmosphere didn't stop much, in fact, it intensified into high school, heavy kissing in the halls, smoking was fine and allowed as long as it was outdoors, you could smell an occasional whiff of marijuana in the breeze as you walked outdoors to class. And now it wasn't just the students who were in the mire but many of the teachers too as they tried to impose liberal beliefs on us in what most would think was a model high school. For many, those who had no Christian training at home, the liberal agenda quickly stuck and entrapped. For few of us, we fought it like mad trying our best to hold on to what was right and good. We tried so hard to hang on to the beliefs we were brought up with as contraception was brazenly taught to us in mixed coed classes adding to the confusion. Joltin' Joe had left and gone away. Where was the real choice? Where was my choice to live a Godly moral life free and with honor as these liberal ideas were being forced? How many little unborn babies were murdered at the core of this new "freedom" - on the altar of "choice"?

Those who were supposed to be open minded, were they really open to the choice of the baby? Are they now really open to Christian principles and moral absolutes? Perhaps the lack of absolutes is really an absolute they say they don't believe in?

Let's think...

At the very least, if prostitution is illegal, and that involves a person's body shouldn't that help us to see abortion for what it is, that there is another body involved? A most innocent body? If a pregnant woman is murdered and it's considered double homicide, shouldn't that help us to see what is transpiring here and the wickedness and cruel torture involved in these barbaric acts? As suspecting tests are administered as to the unborn baby's health, do we to play God and say who is worthy to live and who is not? Heaven forbid!

Where was the outcry then and now? Perhaps part of it was the fact some of us then were so embarrassed by what was going on we didn't tell our parents what was transpiring in the schools. Perhaps we noticed our parents on the passive side when Roe vs. Wade transpired and people seemed more interested in Watergate than living babies. Perhaps we were becoming some pretty mixed up kids. Who wouldn't be? Some of us were desperately trying to hold that rope while double standards were at play. Our relatives coming back from college never the same with lost convictions. Our teachers who we were taught to respect, shoving liberal ideas contrary to the Bible down at us.

What happened to me? By the time I graduated high school, of course I had been marred in various ways by it all, we can't place our kids in Alaska and expect to grow a palm tree. Please don't be deceived on that, be careful where you place your children and under whose authority whether it be the school or the church, be careful of the companionship that surrounds your children no matter what the age. I don't think the Bible is kidding when it reads, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20. Homeschooling is a wonderful option by the way, we've homeschooled for over 20 years and it has been a huge blessing to us.

A year or so after high school I was to meet my husband to-be at an Italian wedding, he had recently dedicated his life to the Lord. We've been married for almost 32 years now, serving the Lord together. We've been blessed with four lovely daughters.

The year. 2011.

What happened to "Jane Roe"? Her real name, Norma McCorvey; a Christian now, she is a vocal anti-abortion advocate. She never had the abortion fought for in Roe vs. Wade giving birth to a baby girl, giving the baby life choosing adoption.

She said:

"I think abortion is wrong. I think what I did with Roe vs. Wade was wrong, and I just have to take a pro-life position on [abortion]" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

McCorvey was . . . haunted by simple things like empty swings in a playground. "They were swinging back and forth but they were all empty. And I just totally lost it, and I thought 'Oh my God. The swings are empty because there's no children, because they've all been aborted'" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

~ "Jane Roe" Norma McCorvey

One thing I knew when I turned my life completely to Christ and started understanding scripture more; and that is that I wanted to be serious about my walk with Christ. God forbid that my children would see passivity or compromise in me, when it came to a loving Christian walk or when it came to our stand for the babies. The babies who have no choice.

Our kids know, I hope they know and see what is important by our actions by what we do. Do we stand for what is right? Or do we play it safe and not rock the boat forgetting that what we do for the least of these we have done it unto Him? Do we put them in the same environment some of us were placed in? ...God forbid.

What can we do? Be educated on the facts. When allowing a doctor or any medical professional whether it be a midwife, surgeon or nutritionist to attend to your needs ask them where they stand on abortion. This will reflect on their ethics in how they will treat you. It amazes me, the people who say they believe in what they call choice (the prodeath agenda), but fail to think about the end result of it when carried through. What they may perceive as inconvenience will affect them in old age. Just look at the people who were passive about the healthcare bill, ignoring the abortion portion of it but then suddenly when they noticed euthanasia in the bill, they became most concerned.

Prayerfully participate in the life marches. Vote prolife! Support prolife candidates! That is the very least we can do. Take that stand. There are simple things you can do such as display a life bandor wear a precious feet pin, committing to pray over the lives of these little unborn babies. If you are a stay at home mom, be the best stay at home mom and wife you can be. Put your all into your home and make that home a peaceful place where the Lord dwells, make your home a peaceful sanctuary and refuge. Give your children the real deal, not synthetic Christianity...If you give them the real deal they will recognize the counterfeit easily. As a stay at home mom you can also write letters, and have your children write letters on behalf of the unborn to the proper officials. Pray together daily as a family for the unborn that the scourge of abortion would end.

There are many prolife pregnancy centers that would greatly value your time depending on your season of life, there are many in need of counselors, people to organize their maternity and baby clothes rooms, just do simple cleaning. Most clinics will appreciate gently used maternity clothes or baby items. Perhaps monetary gifts to keep those clinics running with supplies etc. And remember, many lobbyists are fighting the fight, many organizations fund these lobbyists working hard for the rights of our unborn.

Commit to living a godly life. Shine light to others, don't marginalize the Christian walk with compromise allowing darkness in. Let's be found blameless as we stand for the unborn.

That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. ~Philippians 1:10

As I trod this highway of life, our entire family has participated in prayerful pickets, counseling and general support of our unborn babies. Our daughters are active in prolife activities as well. My oldest daughter at 29 (age updated) is a counselor at a prolife clinic as she also shares a message on abstinence and the gospel of Christ to those who come into the clinic. She is well qualified to do so, a living testimony at 29, she's single, saving her first kiss for the altar. Parents, expect much! Pray hard, do hard things for Christ! He is Faithful!

Please remember. It is a Child not a Choice. I believe little unborn babies should also have the choice of what to do with their bodies. One day as you grow older there may be others who take your choice away. Remember, your thinking now, your stand now for the unborn and all innocent life, may affect you when you grow older. It may affect you in less than ideal situations.... Just ask Terri Schiavo's family. See her timeline here.

If only wombs had windows and we could hear the silent screams of the babies. Some are worried about torture when abortion is the ultimate torture, and to an innocent baby! Oh please don't be as the church once was in Nazi Germany as the schools changed and indoctrinated the students and most said nothing. Please don't be like the churches then as the boxcars with innocent Jewish grandparents, parents and children were on the way to the death camps screaming desperately for help, and the churches sang their hymns all the louder to cover what they perceived as uncomfortable noise. Please hear the screams of the unborn with your heart!

If you have been deceived and have been affected by this atrocity and holocaust this country calls choice, please know God will forgive a repentant heart and He is there arms open wide. He can make beauty out of ashes.

One day your little grandchildren or great grandchildren may ask:

"Where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?"

What will we say about the year 2012?

What will you say on judgement day as the Lord asks you what did you do to the least of these?

Hear are some facts and helpful links about the unborn:

Partial Birth Abortion

Diary of an Unborn Baby starting at Day 1.

National Right to Life (a wealth of information)

Who is Funding Abortion? Let's be aware of who we are giving God's money to.

Precious Feet

Do Precious Feet Save Lives? (very interesting testimonies)

Get the pin

Get a life band

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

~Proverbs 24:11-12

Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. ~Matthew 25:40b

You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139

...................

This week of 1.2012. may we also remember the words of President Ronald Reagan:

"I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born."

Pray for our nation, please in the name of Jesus, vote prolife! Isn't that what should be of the utmost importance in showing true Christian character? The proof will be in voting records. ( How could anyone be trusted to run our country and be blessed by God if they do not even stand behind these little ones!

Black and White. How can we not be black and white on this issue?

Love to All, ~Amelia

God Knows no Strangers, He Loves us All,

2012-01-09T17:17:00.000-06:00

God knows no strangers, He loves us all,
The poor, the rich, the great, the small ...

He is a friend who is always there
To share our troubles and lessen our care ...

No one is a stranger in God's sight,
for God is love and in His light
May we, too, try in our small way
To make new friends from day to day ...

So pass no stranger with an unseeing eye,
For God may be sending a new friend by.

(Helen Steiner Rice)

I especially love the part:

May we, too, try in our small way to make new friends from day to day... So pass no stranger with an unseeing eye, For God may be sending a new friend by.

My husband and I were talking yesterday morning after hearing a great sermon warning of slander and how slander murders a reputation. Some of us have seen it, felt it, right? And then couple slander with jealousy and covetousness and boy howdy. The enemy must double over laughing. If they did it to Jesus they will do it to us too if we are worth our salt. (Take notice on who did it to Jesus too.)

As my husband and I talked, I quickly and briefly shared my heart on some things and it was so refreshing what my husband said...

Who are our friends? Our friends are Joe the yardman, Fred the mailman....Your buddy in the wheelchair at the nursing home? He is your friend! : )

...It's Carolyn who took the trouble looking you up after several years to wish you a Happy Birthday. Many times it is our very families...

I agree! So many times those right under our very noses are the best friends ever! And you know what else? They do not have to be exactly like us either. : ) Let's not forget our fur angels, they are truly loves. Talk about unconditional love!

One thing I taught our daughters is it's wonderful to have friends of all ages and walks of life. Nursing home, nursery or pound, they can be the best friends and treasures this side of Heaven!

Jesus did not play the popularity game. : ) (It's hard to believe it when I see grown women or men play that game.)

One of our BEST friends ever at the nursing home below with me. Looking for a great place to make friends? The nursing home is a great place!

Me and three of our oldest daughters, some of my best friends on earth... Michelle, Lea and Marianna taken last year, our youngest, our "baby", Rebecca our resident photographer (who misses out being in the photos bless her heart!:

Take care now, let's be Jesus with skin on to others. The blessing will be ours. I really like the "Have a Good Day" tracts from Rod and Staff Publishers. They are sweet tracts about Jesus to share with others.

Let's make sure and not pass up new friends, they are all around, the grocery store and everywhere... Have a Good Day! : ) Love, ~Amelia

Live Pretty Not Hot

2011-12-30T18:27:00.002-06:00

"Most girls don’t want to be pretty anymore even if they understand what it is. It is ironic that 40 years of women’s liberation has succeeded only in turning women into a commodity. Something to be used up and thrown out...

...When a girl retains and lives pretty, while eschewing hotness, the bulk of men who cannot appreciate the virtue behind pretty will move on to more fruitful hunting grounds in the pursuit of immediate gratification. Pretty requires too much energy to overcome. While there are some who relish the challenge of destroying innocence, pretty attracts the noble, the good, like a magnet."

Entire Article Here

Dear Readers,

One last personal thought this most beautiful December day I am celebrating...as I am celebrating my femininity as well.

I thank God for Brothers in Christ who will take the time to encourage women who are living pretty and not hot.

Thank you.

Love, ~Amelia

Godly Womanhood by Peter Marshall

2011-12-28T10:37:00.001-06:00

“Godly womanhood ... the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter.We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern.

The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.” ― Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall

Marshall became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. in 1937 and was appointed twice as U.S. Senate Chaplain, serving from January 4, 1947 until his sudden death just over two years later.

Quiet Hearts at Christmas as Well as Fun and Sweetness

2011-12-24T15:47:00.002-06:00

Excerpts from today's Streams in the Desert devotional, my daily devotional.

He went out to the field one evening to meditate. (Genesis 24:63)

We would be better Christians if we spent more time alone, and we would actually accomplish more if we attempted less and spent more time in isolation and quiet waiting upon God. The world has become too much a part of us, and we are afflicted with the idea that we are not accomplishing anything unless we are always busily running back and forth. We no longer believe in the importance of a calm retreat where we sit silently in the shade. As the people of God, we have become entirely too practical. We believe in having "all our irons in the fire" and that all the time we spend away from the anvil or fire is wasted time. Yet our time is never more profitable spent than when we set aside time for quiet meditation, talking with God, and looking up to heaven. We can never have too many of these open spaces in life - hours set aside when our souls is completely open and accessible to any heavenly thought or influence that God may be pleased to send our way...

...We should have intervals of time when we do nothing, think nothing, and plan nothing but simply lie on the green lap of nature and "rest a while" (Mark 6:31 kjv)...

More of these quiet time photos and everyday uncooked rambles and recollections at one of my other blogs: MyForestCathedral

A Christmas Prayer in Song at Christmas or anytime, enjoy and be blessed:

I think this is one of the most beautiful songs and prayers ever.... Enjoy and be blessed this Holy season of Christmas.

Are you feeling a bit hurried this Christmas? Company's a-coming?

Being a creative merciful messie : ) ...I thought this was very helpful:

How To Whip Your House Into Shape in Two Hours.

"We expect too much at Christmas. It's got to be magical. It's got to go right. Feasting. Fun. The perfect present. All that anticipation. Take it easy. Love's the thing. The rest is tinsel."

~Pam Brown

(From my flip calendar in my kitchen)

As flylady has said...It's enough.

Rest now. Keep smiling and laughing for your families...That's what the family will remember most of all. The Victory is in our prayer closet wherever that place may be for us.

Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling.

...My prayer is that the viewer will be struck, as I am, with the amazing way that God chose to send His Son into this world — in pure humility. ~Morgan Weistling

Blessings and Merry Christmas to All! Love and Peace, true Peace, the Peace that passeth all understanding.....

Love, ~Amelia

Beware of the Heelots!

2011-12-14T15:47:00.003-06:00

Feeling overwhelmed this Christmas? I found this post on Money Saving Mom Celebrating Christmas on a 0 dollar budget refreshing, I wish I would have had this support when my girls were little. It's never too late though. : ) I'm handmaking some gifts this year, things are very tight for this Realtor's family but that's okay. It helps keep me in that holy season of wonder. I was so very proud of our oldest daughter Lea this week. The prolife clinic Lea is a volunteer counselor for was having a Christmas party with a $10. gift exchange. She was going to go ahead and bring a very nice laptop cover (an un-needed gift) that was intended to be taken back to the store for refund. In our family $10. is a bit pricie for a casual office gift exchange. Most parties are to visit and eat and have fellowship right? Lot's of good eats, talks and laughs? A lot of laughter and sister hugs? Sharing the season together? Marianna, our second born asked Lea, "Why don't you take a stand and tell them you won't be able to participate in the gift exchange, but you would still like to come and enjoy the fellowship just the same, bringing some good food of course to share?" (My version)

Lea called the director and the director was so sweet, she just wanted Lea to come and be a part of the fellowship of course! Lea went and had a wonderful time sharing food and fellowship and yes, enjoying observing the gift exchange. Just a little encouragement for someone who may be facing the same quandry this season. And ya know? I think it may encourage others too if they see folks like Lea willing to just be honest about impersonal gift exchanges.

This has been on my heart to re-post the following blog entry this Christmas season, this holy season. I've edited it ever so slightly. I hope you enjoy it and will be touched by the message.

First Posted December 2009:

Beware of the Heelots....

Before you buy that boat, car, or fancy-phone....think about the "Heelots"...

Beware... You may be in danger...

The Heelots may get ya and if you're not careful you may turn into one yourself...Before ya know it! Yes indeed. I've heard reports that the Heelots are especially aggressive this time of year.... Beware. ; )

"Heelots" ...From Meet John Doe.

When they got ya, you've got no more chance than a road rabbit...You're walkin' along, not a nickel in your jeans, you're free as the wind. Nobody bothers you. Hundreds of people pass you by in every line of business. Shoes, hats, automobiles, radios, furniture, everything, and they're all nice loveable people. They let you alone...Then you get ahold of some dough and what happens? All those nice, sweet, lovable people become heelots. A lotta heels! They begin creepin' up on ya, tryin' to sell ya something. They get long claws and they get a stranglehold on ya and ya squirm and ya duck and ya holler and ya try to push 'em away, but you haven't got a chance. They've got ya. The first thing you know, you own things - a car, for instance. Now your whole life is messed up with a lot more stuff. You get license fees and number plates and gas and oil and taxes and insurance and identification cards and letters and bills and flat tires and dents and traffic tickets and motorcycle cops and courtrooms and lawyers and fines - and a million and one other things! And what happens? You're not the free and happy guy you used to be. You've gotta have money to pay for all those things. So you go after what the other fella's got. And there you are - you're a heelot yourself.

(You may want to mute the music at the player at the bottom of the page before viewing clips)

To watch Meet John Doe see Part I in the following clip. All parts are there on youtube in a nice quality...

You can also see the movie in entirity here as well, you may decide what picture quality is best for you.

...Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And he's kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He'll go on keeping it alive for ever and always - for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That's why those bells are ringing...

~The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

Lighthouses, John. Lighthouses in a foggy world.

~ The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

What will we be? A heelot? A John Doe? A lighthouse in a foggy world? I hope we will be a John Doe...that Lighthouse in a foggy world. I especially hope we will be a Christ Bearer...

Remember...We are the Christ Bearers this season...Let's take the time to be that Christ Bearer to others....The malls, stores and hospitals are full of those thirsty for Jesus...They are looking for the blessed Hope...Let's take the time, be prepared to share Jesus, smile, keep it real (never canned)...Love, use words and a hug if necessary...Take the time to share Jesus...It's one of the most valuable lessons our children will ever learn...And in some cases it may just be the most valuable lesson our children may teach us.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season, remember it's Christ-mas not Me-mas. : )

Enjoy. Be blessed. Be that Christ Bearer...The World is waiting... Keep the bells ringing......

It's a true and living relationship with Jesus, not a religion. : )

Love, ~Amelia

Do You Feel Invisible?

2011-12-10T20:57:00.000-06:00

As life goes on and moves on, we moms can feel invisible surely so. Every season has it's challenges.

I hope you are ministered to by this poignant and sometimes funny video as I was and still am. I can hear the accolades of many women as I type this as well as the silent tears. God sees it all honey, He knows you, He knows me, He sees you, He sees me and He thinks we are lovely when we are serving Him quietly in our homes. He sees the behind the scenes stuff I assure you, I have to tell myself that many times. Trust me, there are days in this present day society when we feel like chopped liver. Many times it's the culture we are in and the culture is incorrect. The enemy of our souls wants us feeling unappreciated. People around us are affected by the culture's attitudes and there we go floating out into the cosmos on our own it seems.

This video was on my heart so I thought I'd post it this wintery eve. I hope you are blessed by this as well.

Love to All, I hope you are having a most blessed Holy Season. I should be back on this blog soon to repost "Beware of the Heelots". ~Amelia

Steve Jobs: Glad He Didn't Become a Victim of Abortion

2011-11-28T21:35:00.001-06:00

A must read.

Steve Jobs Was Glad He Didn’t Become a Victim of Abortion

Washington, DC | 11/25/11 12:49 PM

Are You Feeling......REALLY BUMMED?

2011-11-21T16:47:00.002-06:00

So you're feeling bummed today? I dislike using too much modern terminology but I figured we can all relate to being "Bummed Out".

This is wonderful, beautiful, excellent and I think it may encourage many today. I pray the Lord Jesus will use this to bless your heart as it blessed mine. Just look at this sweet lady's face on the below link, it shines Jesus. Meet Evelyn Christenson who crossed over to the other side Nov. 1.

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus.

Facing Life's Final Season: Remembering Evelyn Christenson

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: As Evelyn Christenson entered the final season of her life, her heart was set on one goal.

Evelyn Christenson: My goal has been to be like Jesus, to be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. I have worked at that for most of my adult life. That has been my goal, to be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son, and when I see Him . . .

I hope everyone will have a sweet, peaceful Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here with my two oldest daughters (26 & 29) getting ready to color. Yes. Color. We like to color in coloring books, it's relaxing. We are listening to Fernando Ortega's Christmas cd. Beautiful.

xxxooo Love, ~Amelia

The Fear Of The Lord: Malachi's Resurgence

2011-11-06T15:27:00.005-06:00

MUST-HEAR sermon we heard this morning in Homechurch. I pray it will be a blessing for you. Let us hear these words. One of the best sermons we've heard in a long while.

From the late Leonard Ravenhill's son. Photo above of the late Leonard Ravenhill from Sermonindex.net.

The Fear Of The Lord: Malachi's Resurgence
by David Ravenhill

Description: Here we are confronted by one of America’s foremost, modern, “prophets” as he deals with several of church’s most fundamental truths: the fear of God, and the Holy Spirit—and we find his message greeted largely with silence. He crosses all denominational lines, and spares no one. Yet, when he is finished, and we look at ourselves and the North American church one cannot but wonder what will become of us if, as the brother points out, the church doesn’t get its act together. Can we really hope to survive, as a nation and as a people, if we continue to prefer our denominational dogmas, in the place of Scripture? The ramifications of this sermon are devastating.

We thank the Lord for Sermonindex.net. Sincerely so. My husband receives their podcasts and they are a blessing to us.

I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday. Thank you so much for the most encouraging comments on the last entry, they blessed my heart and are appreciated more than you may ever know or realize. ~Amelia

Booger Men and Small Rebellions

2011-10-20T10:47:00.009-05:00

Small Rebellions...
You may ask what in the world are small rebellions? Well....They are small but powerful acts of kindness. In Christianity today we do not hear about plain old kindness much anymore.

Could it be the "Booger Man of Busyness" the need for approval of man? The status quo of I'm so busy - so poopular (spelling intentional) I have no time to be kind?

(Please feel free to mute music at bottom of page)

Last Sunday we visited my 81 year old dad...
...and the above song was playing as we crossed the bridge trekking over a lovely sparkling bay, the drum were powerful the words to the song even more powerful. This song is by the Christian group, Jars of Clay. There is something about this song...My little family will agree. When we hear this in the car it's as if "This is our mission for the Lord!"

Our visit with my dad included going out to eat, talking about the old days and at one point I held my dad in my arms as he wept real tears as he recounted his dying mother, my real grandmother who I am named after... He was a blonde curly headed little boy visiting his mommy in the hospital in her last days, Christmas time 1940. She had been poisoned by the very treatment that was supposed to have cured her cancer back in 1940, passing away two days after Christmas. She was delirious and shook my dad as a wee little boy telling him, "Talk to me! Talk to me!" He sadly recounted so pitifully...I told her "But I am talking to you Mommy..."

What child deserves that?

Daddy wept and I walked slowly to his side of the room and sat smack next to him squeezing into his easy chair with him as I put my arm around him as he cried. Our four girls quietly came around and my dear husband was there next to us. I'm not sure where I'm going with this but sometimes we need to weep with those that weep, it speaks louder than words. There is a powerful solace in wiping the tears away from someone's eyes.

Every day there are small rebellions against the "Booger Man" of busyness.

When my 81 year old mom comes to visit I have decided it's much better for me to sit with her and visit instead of trying to do a million other things. She usually comes once a week. I'm an only child. (enough said on that). But I have noticed when I do this she is much more cheerful.

And it goes for grandparents too, many are so busy in social, political and church activities they don't have time for grandchildren. That is so very sad, they sell out, they cave for cheap poopularity too. And then many wonder what happened? Same things for moms, they are so busy blogging they are ignoring their children at times. I learned my lesson on that one several years ago.

People know how they feel when they are around you even when they don't remember what you said.

Do you ever visit new churches and you feel as if you are an outsider in a private club? I have and it's one of the loneliest feelings ever. It's the Booger Man of busyness, the Booger of status quo many times, those big fish in their very small ponds.

This Booger Man steals time from our children, our homes even the way we eat and think. So many hurting people around us even at the grocery stores, we can be the changers! We can be that small rebellion the slayers of the Booger Men of discouragement! Joy Givers for Jesus!

Many Booger Men today.... Booger Men of busyness, manmade religion, pride and materialism and many more. Booger Men of blogging too. And let's not forget the much esteemed Three-Headed Booger Man of multi-tasking!

Why do people try to impress people they don't even like? People they do not even know?

Do you know of any Booger Men you have slain this week with acts of kindness? Small rebellions?

Some of our best friends are in the nursing home, do you know people of all ages live at nursing homes?

This is me with my buddy, he can't hear well and is learning to speak, a darling, if he doesn't touch your heart, no one will. And Michelle, one of our daughters with another sweet buddy friend. Joy givers to (us).

They are some of our very best friends, these guys are angels. They in fact are the very Booger Man slayers for US many times!

Just yesterday we were there with our buddy-friend-angels and a beautiful black woman, a resident there, a woman who dresses so very tastefully, she tells me her sister is much like a Martha Stewart and picks her clothes for her, her name is Teresa. She cries, she is so touched by the praise and worship...I have the privilege of wiping her tears. There is something about that. Just something about wiping someone's tears... It slays the Booger Man. a small rebellion of KINDNESS. JESUS. Human touch is so very, very important, it's like a soothing balm that heals...it heals to the innermost being.

My Greatest Friend by John Drysdale
(I love this print, I saw it in a hippie pizza restaurant bathroom in an old two story house in midtown.)

This print to me shows what can happen when we perform those small rebellions, those small but great acts of kindness for JESUS.

Let's remember to slay that Booger Man of Busyness. Say NO to the Booger Man of Busyness poopularity, status quo and his partner the evil multi-tasker!

Don't let the Booger Man of Busyness steal from your family and the lonely right around you! He might be masquerading in your church! Only YOU can see him!

What Booger Man are we hiding from or refusing to see hiding in our homes, in our lives? What Booger Man are we playing or flirting with and who are we trying to impress? Slay the Booger Man!
Reach out in small rebellions for JESUS. Be Jesus with skin on to others...Let's be a slayer of busyness, be a Knight of Goodness and CARE for others. You may say you are not a sensitive person? Pray to be a sensitive person. Use words when necessary. It's freedom.

Amen. ~Amelia

The Question of Kosher Meat

2011-10-17T12:57:00.001-05:00

Philip Schein's Story:
The Question of Kosher Meat

"...I grew up eating meat, not protesting it. I am Jewish and I was always told that kosher meat was humane. I was told that how we treated those beings in our power mattered greatly, that it was what defined us as human beings. It was a way of approaching daily life that made me proud to be Jewish.

Today I have conducted more than ten undercover investigations at major kosher slaughter facilities from Nebraska to Uruguay. This firsthand experience on kill floors quickly shattered any naive hopes I held out that kosher meant humane.

In South America, which supplies a large percentage of kosher beef to Israel and the United States, the standard method of kosher slaughter is the "Shackle and hoist" technique, in which cattle are chained, tripped, and restrained on the ground while their throats are cut, and then they are hoisted immediately into the air to be bled out while still conscious and struggling. In the U.S., at what was at the tie the world's single largest kosher slaughter facility, I've seen workers systematically hacking out the tracheas and esophagi of conscious and wide-eyed cattle. I've seen workers shock animals in the face with electric prods and let animals languish for minutes as the result of sloppy religious slaughter techniques. All these violations are a matter of public record now and they were widely reported on in the media. You can see the videos at www.humanekosher.com. These practices are not standard and certainly not required by kosher law,but I'm ashamed how many other examples I could give of egregious cruelty at kosher facilities. And even more shameful than any of these abuses is the response to them by kosher certification authorities.

I expected these violations of the Jewish principle of compassion to animals to be condemned. I also expected that the meat from these slaughterhouses would be declared unkosher, but that is not what happened. Many in the Jewish community protested, but the leadership of the kosher industry insisted and still insists that the flesh of animals who die torturous deaths - even animals dismembered while conscious- can be perfectly kosher. It's not that the situation is necessarily worse in kosher slaughterhouses than conventional slaughter facilities - the problems with cruelty at mainstream slaughterhouses are arguable worse overall. But I expected kosher production to reflect a higher ethical standard. Sadly, what I witnessed in both kosher and nonkosher facilities is that suffering and cruelty is systemic in all forms of industrialized slaughter.

And regardless of what happens at the slaughterhouse, almost all the animals killed for kosher meat re supplied by the very same cruel factory farms that supply animals for conventional slaughter..."

"...(Vegetarianism) is my protest against the conduct of the world. To be a vegetarian is to disagree - to disagree with the course of things today...starvation, cruelty - we must make a statement against these things. Vegetarianism if my statement. And I think it's a strong one."

Did you know?

The vast majority - over 95 percent - of animals are raised in factory farms and not on the old-fashioned family farms of memory.

All of the above are excerpts from the book, Veganist by Kathy Freston.
~ Photos on this blog entry from Robert Stock

This blog is not liberal or conservative. This is a Christian blog, these issues are issues of mercy and justice, issues very dear to my heart. Yes, as you will most likely agree the Father cares very much how we treat animals. I don't understand the blind eye and seemingly cold calloused hearts at times...It blows my mind...But it is also very encouraging to me to know there are others who see this cruelty for what it is and take a stand for these innocent creatures. ~Amelia

P.S. Here is a very good sermon recommendation:
Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead

This is a deep sermon you may want to listen to more than once. One of the most listened-to sermons on sermonindex.net. Oh that we as Christians would be consistent.

See it! The Movie: Courageous & Another Golden Oldie

2011-10-10T00:17:00.011-05:00

~Robert Stock
I'm not one to jump up and down when a new movie comes out, and I've been guilty I suppose of not being that excited when Christian movies come out...I tend to be a bit on the passive side of excitement. I think maybe I've been so disappointed in people and things in typical lukewarm Christiandom or should I say Churchdom, and the system, I tend to think okay, maybe so...maybe so...

Now please know this has no bearing on my personal relationship with Jesus. He is the same always with me, my sweet Jesus is who upholds me, He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own and and the joy we share as we tarry there.. no other has ever known. And I know there are good churches out there but we may have to drive over an hour to get to them or have homechurch, and we do both.

But I must say the new movie Courageous is a MUST SEE!

Our family went to go see it last Saturday afternoon and oh my, oh my, oh my! You will be on the edge of your seat! This movie will make you laugh and cry and bite your nails in suspense the entire time! You will NOT be bored!

I do have one warning though. The previews at the particular theatre we went to were HORRIBLE. At our particular theatre it would have been much better to arrive 15 minutes late and bypass the previews. My hubby and I were livid. I looked at our girls and they had their heads down thank God. Our daughters are ages 17 to 28 by the way so hopefully that tells you something.

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And for the at home movie watchers such as us?
As many of you know we love, love, love, old black and white movies. They are so much and full of character than the stuff out there now with the exception of wonderful Christian movies like Courageous above.

Our family recently enjoyed:

The Catered Affair (1956)

Many, many life lessons in this movie. Serious poignant stuff here...We were so touched by it. We've viewed this one several times.

You will see how comparing and keeping up with the Jones will affect families. So very sad but so rich in lessons.

We just love Ernest Borgnine in most all movies we've seen with him. Betty Davis is in her later years, and what a part she plays, so different than what we are used to when we hear the name, Betty Davis. There is a darling Irish uncle in the small apartment too...and of course I'm partial to the Bronx...That is where my step dad was from. We loved him so.

At the end of the movie, I looked at our 28 year old daughter and she had tears in her eyes...If you see the movie you'll see why...

Life lessons, life lessons, life lessons, oh that we would learn sooner than later and sometimes movies like this will keep us in line.

"This story uncovers real feelings in a real world." ~Ernest Borgnine

See this wonderful trailer HERE:

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For a good entry: Abhor that Which is Evil by guest writer and friend see our daughter Michelle's blog HERE.
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Take care all, as mothers we can make our homes a haven with our attitudes, we can make everyday a party and every simple meal a feast!

I have two last suggestions in the way of books that may help with that for us parents:

I may not agree with every teensy thing in these books but all in all, they are delightful. Mrs. Sharp's is a idea packed book of simple monthlyVictorian celebrations in the home. All very do-able. Beautiful book. Last Child is a life changer, a real eye-opener in this age of electric plugs and gadgets, the Lord used this book in our journey back to the country.

Mrs. Sharp's Traditions
and Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Let's not forget the B.I.B.L.E yes, that's the book for me.

My favorite devotional: Streams in the Desert

Time's a-wastin' so I better get going! Enjoy your families! Blessings! ~Amelia

Everyday happening in our home will be found at MyForestCathedral.blogspot. For recipes and additional old great movie suggestions you will see updates soon on thats-italian.blogspot.

The Story of Will Rogers, a Bible Study and a Blessing!

2011-09-09T14:47:00.007-05:00

At our house we are always looking for a good ol' movie. We love 40s movies at our house because in the 40s it was a bit more of a God fearing time in our country for the most part. WWII had everyone in their place and their knees so to speak. Sometimes we'll see some nice movies from the 50s too. This is one of them!

Story of Will Rogers (1952) A wonderful movie for the entire family!

This was very enjoyable, Will Rogers is played by Will Rogers Jr. and it's in color to boot! Our family loves black and white but a good wholesome movie in color is a nice rare treat these days.

This film is not only good entertainment, it is a look at American society from 1920 to 1935. Definitely should be seen.

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The Lord put in on my heart to do this Bible Study with my four daughters, ages 17 to 28. They are here at home, when not working or doing ministry for the Lord. We homeschool (life lessons never end!) and what a delight it is to sit around the kitchen table over some tea and cookies and enjoy this study. The book has been in our home for many years and the time is now to really sit and enjoy it with all of our girls. : )

The Joy of Womanhood, The Keepers at Home Series, Keepers of the Faith

Our daughters? You can see some fun shots of late on our daughter, Marianna's blog:
The Musings of Marianna

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And I received such a blessing!
The Liebster Award

from Maria Morgan at:

Life Lessons

Thank you Maria! You made my week and probably my month too! God sure knows what He is doing in the encouragement department and when we need it. Y'all go visit Maria, she is a new blogging friend and freelance writer with wonderful articles on walking the Christian walk. It is such a pleasure getting to know her. I know you too will enjoy her blog.

I'm not very good at giving awards but I would like to say, the comments I receive here and my other blogs are such a blessing, and if you take the time to give encouraging comments than I think you are a love. Isn't that what it's all about in blogland at least for those who call themselves Christians? Encouraging and lifting each other up? : )

Praise God for people like Maria and those who are willing to take the time to encourage!
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I have a really good really Italian soup recipe on my thats-italian.blogspot along with some more old movies etc.

Also don't forget to meet my buddy at My Forest Cathedra l, the nursing home is a blessing for meeting new friends, talk about the best godly socialization around for our children no matter what the age.

Have a nice weekend to all, be friendly to folks at church. Be Jesus with skin on! People don't care what you know or have to say until you show how much you care. : )

~Amelia

SO GOOD! EVERYONE SHOULD HEAR THIS LIFE CHANGING MESSAGE!

2011-09-01T10:27:00.007-05:00

Once again, Elisabeth Elliott has it right-on. This could change your life! : )

Some of my most cherished things are two postcards handwritten to me by Elisabeth Elliot with comforting words on them as I was carrying our last little baby girl, Rebecca now 17. Elisabeth told me God was already with me.

I was on bedrest with complications and a threat of premature delivery at 5 months; I was a bit frightened and apprehensive with something new to me at the time...a birth center delivery. Do you know Dr. Ron Paul would have delivered my baby girl if I were transported to the hospital?

Our baby girl was delivered at the birth center by a praying team of midwives, a robust nine pound healthy sweet baby girl!

Elisabeth Elliot would also later read a letter I wrote to her over the air, I cannot tell you what a blessing she was and still is to me. I'll never forget that morning putting my makeup on and out of the blue, I hear Elisabeth Elliot reading my letter over the radio... Sometimes we need things like that. Encouragement goes a long, long way.

The Courage to Be a Woman

Series: A Conversation with Elisabeth Elliot

Leslie Basham: Elisabeth Elliot says, “If a woman gets married she is going to marry . . .

Elisabeth Elliot: . . . sinful person. There isn’t anything else to marry. I say that to women all the time. You’ve got to remember, whomever you marry, he’s a sinner. There isn’t anything else to marry.

To read or listen in entirety: HERE
Have a blessed day, everyday is a journal page what will we compose?
~Amelia
My blog on everyday life, My Forest Cathedral Come meet my buddy! : )

My recipe and old retro thoughts blog: thats-italian I have a playful blog up now and will be posting a wonderful easy-breezy soup recipe today!

Shocking Ruling!

2011-08-31T16:37:00.003-05:00

“In a shocking move, an activist federal judge dismissed our amicus brief submitted to the court in defense of our new Texas Sonogram Law,” she said. “The well-known pro-abortion judge claimed that he’s not going to allow politics in his court. I guess what he really meant was any politics that differ from his own.”

Full Story Here

Well, if I've said it once I'll say (write) it again...As long as I have a blog I will stand for the unborn.

Homeschooling is important yes, but we have little babies being murdered in their mother's wombs, these little babies should be in the safest place ever but instead it is now the most dangerous!

And isn't this real homeschooling for Life? Or if you don't homeschool isn't keeping our youth and young adults abreast of the war within our country of utmost importance?

Have you ever noticed so many people seeming so lulled to sleep on this? It makes me ill, people seem to care more about their pocketbooks or McChurch than they do little unborn babies. It ought not be!

It's an interesting time we live in, more politicians are speaking out on abortion than many pastors...Sometimes it would just be nice to see some passion in people who say they follow Jesus Christ. It would just really be nice.

It starts in our homes, I hope our children see a passion in us.

Otherwise one day our grandchildren may ask us:

"What did you do or say when they were killing babies?"

Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter! Proverbs 24:11

Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:4

I wanted to share a couple of neat books to celebrate fall but it will have to wait after hearing of this most unjust and horrifying ruling.

Let's lift our country up in prayers. And remember, saying there will always be abortion is like the abolitionists saying there would always be slavery!
A helpful site: Wallbuilders

"...I Cling to Jesus" Must See Video

2011-08-25T14:17:00.003-05:00

My daughter Marianna sent this to me the other day, I just watched it. I hope you will be touched by this as I was. Be blessed. ~Amelia

This was grace - short film from Andrew Laparra on Vimeo.

And while I'm sharing about things and people who touch our hearts and bring us closer to Jesus, would you like to meet My Buddy Calvin?

He is a sweetheart in my life, on My Forest Cathedral blog.

These blogs are the everyday goings on in the life of a 50 year old young lady as myself homeschooling for going on 22 years....our daughters are ages 17 to 28 and we all love Jesus.

And that's it...because what am I without Him?

When I Hear the Praises Start, This Ministered to Me Today

2011-08-20T10:57:00.007-05:00

This ministered to me this morning. Sometimes things look bad in the world, sometimes our hearts are hurt, other times we rejoice to tears seeing the Lord's goodness. I hope this ministers to your spirit too today and throughout the week.

(Feel free to mute the music at bottom of page)

Hubs and I saw Keith Green in concert in 1982. He was killed that summer in a small plane crash...I was expecting my first baby, Lea. Melody Green, Keith Green's wife was also expecting. Lea is now 28 serving Jesus. We've homeschooled for going on 22 years now. We have four daughters ages 17 to 28, all serving the Lord in some capacity. May Jesus be engrained in them throughout their lives. May God be the glory. May we hold on to Him in these last days.

If you do homeschool remember the reason. The outcome will usually reflect the reason and heart in which we homeschool.

What have you been up to? Here is my blog, My Forest Cathedra l for updates at the Forest Cathedral with our family's goings ons.

Healthy guiltless recipes, easy sewing projects and old fashioned movies the entire family can watch? You may like my thats-italian blog.

Take care all, may we keep our eyes on JESUS.

For an audience of One, ~Amelia

MAKE DO OR DO WITHOUT

2011-08-18T09:47:00.005-05:00

I thought this was great! My dad and my grandfather always said...

"Make do or do without"

I remember when I was young my mom and dad drove their car and truck til they fell apart. They would pay cash for a nice sensible vehicle and drive them and drive them. They did not buy new cars every two years to hold some imaginary insecure image EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE MONEY TO DO SO IF THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED. Praise God! PRAISE GOD!

Our home was a sweet home, a Thomas Kinkade type of home in the older part of our town. It had been built for my Uncle Wesley and Uncle Wesley had died in the home when he was in his 20s. He had attended Rice University, he and his bride had settled into the little home town on the bay. I can guarantee you when that gorgeous young man was dying he did not wish he had a a larger house, newer car or a boat. It was the Eternal that mattered, in fact I bet he could have cared less about a college degree he never would have used!!!

My German grandfather's home was next door, a beautiful red brick home that looked like it could have been transported from the beautiful museum district. The red brick home was not larger than needed though it was nice and it was adequate. Each home sat on four lots, only our two homes graced the block.

Now that I look back this was the better but the people who moved in with NASA coming in had the new homes and I can remember my mom wanting a new home. My dad would say,

"No, this home is paid for."

There was not a thing wrong with our sweet white siding home with storybook green shutters, except perhaps the kitchen was very small, but nothing that could not be remedied. My dad would also reiterate how the newer homes were so close together you could jump from rooftop to rooftop. He was right.

I enjoyed the saying at the top image from The Finer Things in Life

Do you want to read something good? Check her entry out here:
There's Beauty in Your Ugly Stroller

The above article could be fill in the blank, There is Beauty in Your Ugly (fill in blank). Car, coat, couch, coffee pot etc.

Don't be a part of The Emperor's New Clothes. If it takes going with only one car just do that little thing. I did when our girls were little tots for a year or so when my hubby was making a job change. And when we finally were able to afford a car for me to run around in we paid cash at the price of $450 dollars for a great sturdy little station wagon, it needed a new transmission and we found a reasonable mechanic to do the job.

Who wants to go to work leaving our children somewhere so we can have a dumb car? Think about that one. Custom curtains and fancy cars will rot one day, what will our children remember?

Our time with them! The ETERNAL!

Make everyday a sweet day, let's concentrate on Christian character and relationship with JESUS.

Don't go with the herd, go with the precious Word of God and His loving Presence, talk with Him, walk with Him and to heck with the rest. And for fellow homeschoolers, that goes for outclassing and college too. What are you doing all of that for if it is not practical or necessary? Could it be a pride issue? A popularity-with-other-mom's issue? (I still can't believe grown women play that game) And that's another blog...

Amen.

That Was 1938...Why Not Now?

2011-08-10T10:47:00.003-05:00

I won this pattern yesterday on ebay....It is from 1938. This is a day dress, what the ladies wore everyday.

Notice the handwritten note from the pattern company; thoughtful and polite... thankful as well.

I'm going to try my hand at making this dress, I love dresses and think this would be so much fun to wear at home and out as well.

Lately when I see women of all ages and young girls wearing jeans everywhere I can't help but think to myself...This is so un-lady-like. Why, jeans aren't really even flattering. They add bulk and show every little thing, it reminds me of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' story. Lately so many things do!

Is it any wonder the poor young girls have such a warped sense of what a normal figure should be?

Let's get back to the sweet things when men were men and women were women.

I enjoy skirts a great deal, how about you? Here is one of my skirt adventures and my favorite skirt pattern on My Forest Cathedral blog. An easy versatile top to make? I have one here on my thats-italian blog.

By the way ladies, Hobby Lobby has Simplicity patterns for 99 cents this week! So that would include my favorite skirt pattern above! : )

Have a great day in Jesus! ~Amelia

An Enemy of Christ a Friend of the World? Encouragements for a Peaceful Happy Home

2011-08-04T11:57:00.008-05:00

18.For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19. whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things. ~Phillippians 3:18-19

They set their mind on earthly things. Their delight is found in the things of this world.

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ~James 4:4

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My husband was reading the above scripture to us last night for family devotions. It is very appropriate in these last days wouldn't you agree? For us homeschoolers, what do we seek? The Lord's wisdom? Or fear of and the approval of man? Do we wear academic achievements as a badge of honor ignoring true integrity and godly character?

What is our delight? What upsets us and grieves our hearts? What takes our time? Our money? Who are we trying to impress? Do we have mercy on others? Do we have mercy on God's creatures? It blows my mind the apathy in people at times, I don't understand a living faith in the Lord that turns the head to abuses of any kind at all. Do we have care one for another? Care even outside of church walls?

A good book worth reading: Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill

That's very much the wrap for today. Take care all, the way is narrow. He will guide us if we listen to Him and not carnal people.
I've homeschooled for going on 21 years and sometimes I can't help but be grieved as I have seen the homeschool movement move away from the Lord. It's very difficult for my heart to grasp sometimes how people will do things away from the Lord's guidance.
Brethren (Sisters) do not be deceived. That's what the Bible warns.

If you think you may want to see more on Leonard Ravenhill you may like this site. The late Leonard Ravenhill will also be found on youtube as well.

If you (or I) feel discouraged today we must remember the Lord never changes, sometimes the walk is a lonely one because of what has become of churchdom etc. but He is with us I can assure you (me) of that. Let's mind our own business working quietly with our own hands as the Bible says living blamelessly with a cheerful heart for our families. Many times we tend to overlook the fellowship right before us.

We are having cowboy day today at our house and cooking cowboy food for supper with a sweet old Roy Rogers and Trigger movie for tonight. My Pal Trigger (1946)

My dad always says...

Everyday's a party and every meal's a feast!

Sometimes in our country's moral climate I just want to sing....

There'll be Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover....

That is a good old 40s movie by the way...White Cliffs of Dover. (1944)

Okay, there you have it, Bible truths and hopefully encouragements from me to you for both you and me. You see I need encouragement in these last days just like the next mom. Enjoy your day, Good day! (As the late Paul Harvey used to say it) ~Amelia

P.S. Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments on the last entries. I thank God for sweet brothers and sisters in the Lord here online.

Open Casket Funeral of Late Term Aborted Baby

2011-07-27T15:37:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking about the state of affairs around our nation and especially in our area.

Interestingly I hear many so grieved about a dismembered body of a young mother found lately. I too am very grieved and most disturbed on these things but where is the outcry on innocent little aborted babies? Are they not dismembered and burnt alive!?

I've said more than once, the problem in the country is because of the dead pulpits and the theological games people play. Prideful debate. Certainly not Jesus. It's sickening.

Where are the preachers crying out?! In our last church the pastor seemed almost embarrassed to announce a Life Chain in our town our family was helping with. This was a civil prayerful and peaceful chain many churches participated in.

Do you know what our former church did that Sunday of the Life Chain? They planned a baby shower that day in the same time slot of the Life Chain for one of the mothers in the church. The mother in law of the young woman being honored was horrified when she learned of the scheduling of events and how the unborn were being ignored for the sake of a baby shower, her grandchild's! Oh how twisted and political...It told the tale indeed of the hearts of leadership there.

If only wombs had windows...I must speak out won't you? I think this little baby should have a choice too.

Open Casket Funeral for Late Term Abortion Baby

So many things lately are very telling of hearts lately. So very telling.

My blog. My voice for Jesus.

And for those who deny that abortion is the taking of innocent life, we ask only that you look closely at the photo, and as you examine this image, examine your heart.

The Practice of the Presence of God

2011-07-25T15:57:00.002-05:00

A view from our front door on a most beautiful summer eve...

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God: those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive; it is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.

~Brother Lawrence (1614-1691)
From The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence

What About Leather?

2011-07-15T15:07:00.007-05:00

I've also been questioning leather products as well as the Holy Spirit has been making me sensitive in some areas. It started when I noticed mink coats and such and then my own leather coat...I hoped perhaps the leather was the byproduct of humanely treated cattle but unfortunately I'm probably very wrong on that.

I recently found the following excerpt from a message board. It's horrible what is done for the sake of "leather" "fur" or any other "fill in blank". And from another video that is out, the horrible torture is confirmed there as well. And yes, this is happening in this country.

Some may say: Oh but those are the environmentalists or they believe in global warming etc.

If I worried about others' philosophies on everything and never learned to cross bridges when needed I never would have delivered my baby girl with midwives at a birth center saving the life of my baby! I never would have obtained a Family Herbalist certification or studied nutrition. I never would have homeschooled...I certainly wouldn't be an artist if I would have looked at the stereotype of the Arts, I guess I would have had to hide my natural talents since the Arts is considered a liberal camp?

I hope we can see things clearly as what they are and not worry about this camp stereotype or that one. I love Jesus Christ and I will do what is right no matter what camp that any particular conviction may be popular in.

Here is the excerpt, and no you won't enjoy it, you most likely will be grieved by it, I was going to post something else, about injustices and rude people who hurt others but when I re-read this excerpt attached from the very kind reply from my sweet daughter I said...This will be posted today.

"At the slaughterhouse, more horrors await. A Washington Post investigation found that animals are routinely skinned and dismembered while they are still alive. Some examples: According to the Post, federal inspectors found live cattle dangling from an overhead chain at a plant in Texas. Videotape from another plant shows hogs kicking and squealing as they are lowered into a tank of scalding water, which is used to soften their skin.

You know, I had never thought about that...I just looked into a site to see if animals were treated cruel for their skin and they are. Personally I don't have real leather because I don't want to pay that price....but now that I see they are treated just as bad as they are for food consumption...no maam I won't wear it or buy a car that is lined in it again....thanks for opening my eyes to another world...so yes, it is hypocrisy..."

What can we do? I think writing letters is always a good way to start. And of course taking the time to find alternatives when shopping for an item. We can re-post these videos and excerpts and learn from others. We can ask the manager of the store questions and be ready to politely inform when shopping. And pray, pray, pray! The Father above cares about His creatures!

My husband calls me, Saint Amelia of Assisi. ; ) And I must tell you the other night we were coming down a country road in the black of night and my dear hubby did turn around so we could feed a poor scared dog. I had my restaurant leftovers, we had some store bought dog food in the car too, and we placed it so the scared dog could get it, he was so frightened he had run into the woods. My husband said the next morning on the way to work he would pick the dog up if he was out in daylight. Pray for that dog, I would love to help him. We have four doglets, two were rescued from the street and one was rescued from the pound, my baby girl used her birthday money several years ago for our pound puppy, Charlie.

Blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the Merciful.

I don't care if the whole world is going to hell and on dope, I'll stand alone for what is right no matter what camp it may be popular in.
This is my 26 year old daughter, Marianna with Muffie, (Muffin) (Muffie-Huckabee) our little rescued dog from the street. Marianna saw him as she was going to vote in the primaries, the little bewildered guy was in the street his collar was rusted shut. She looked through her rearview mirror; turned around and gently put him in her car and brought him home. We all love this little guy so very much, he's an angel.

The Truth Behind Meat Production

2011-07-11T16:07:00.010-05:00

PLEASE WATCH TO BE INFORMED.

For me? I cannot eat meat knowing how God's creatures are being treated. Would we let our family dog or cat be treated like this? I've really been looking into things these past weeks and I'm horrified and grieved by what is going on in this country. There is also torture involved with leather products. Little calves being skinned alive. The look in their eyes...it will stick with me forever. As Christians I think we should be the first in advocates for these innocent helpless creatures. Any slaughter house according to a Rabbi is hideous to an animal. It seems the very least we could do is to stand against this cruelty by not giving money to this industry. That's my heart. Amen.

"Animals are God's creatures, not human property, nor utilities, nor resources, nor commodieties, but precious beings in God's sight." ~Rev. Andrew Linzey

"If we really love and care about animals, we shouldn't pay people to raise them in inhumane conditions and then kill them.
Fifty billion land animals are killed worldwide each year, and no country has ever tormented and killed more animals than the United States today. If sin is whatever separates us from God, is not cruelty to God's creatures and unnecessary damage to God's earth a sin? For many Christians, a plant-based diet constitutes mindful and faithful eating." ~ Stephen R. Kaufman

"Factory farming tortures God's animals. When we consume of the products of factory farming, we are sending a clear message to factory farmers: I approve. Do it again." ~Rev. Frank L. Hoffman

"...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" ~Micah 6:8

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." ~Luke 6:36

"A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast," ~Proverbs 12:10

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

For more very helpful informative info, helps, recipes, sermons etc. See:
Christian Vegetarian Society

ChooseVeg Mercy for Animals

Please allow me to also share an excerpt from a letter that was publicly posted on the Christian Vegetarian board by a member. This is also very eye-opening.

...Last but not least is the reality that each glass of milk, each slice of
cheese, each spoon of ice-cream comes from an unseen world of literally
unimaginable suffering, pain and torture. A dairy cow lives a mere four
or five years (of a possible 25-year life span) and is kept perpetually
pregnant. All her calves are yanked from her within hours of birth. She
stands in her own poop for those miserable years of her life and
consequently becomes lame from having developed foot rot. She is
constantly dosed with antibiotics to combat the persistent infections
that come from the conditions in which she is kept and almost always
develops mastitis - a raging infection of the udder. At the end of those
miserable four or five years she is emaciated, a caricature of a once
sentient living being and a psychological wreck. Her life ends when she
is taken to a feed lot where she is fed - among other things - animal
feces, the chopped up bodies of other cows, ground up chicks, road kill,
plastic for roughage, and yet more antibiotics. Then, at the killing
place, she is dragged, shocked and prodded up the chute to the "knock
box" where she is stunned, hung up by a rear leg, has her throat slit
and moves down a processing line where she is dismembered piece-by-piece
- quite often still alive - and ultimately ground up into hamburger so
that everyone who "agrees" can enjoy a cheap quarter-pounder with double
cheese. If you remain unconvinced then take a few minutes out of your
day to watch the following short videos. Farm to Fridge is only 12
minutes long and can be viewed at http://www.MeatVideo.com Calf Farm
Cruelty is a mere 3 minutes long and can be viewed at
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/calves

~Stephen Augustine

PLEASE WATCH:

2011-07-05T13:27:00.004-05:00

Please watch this most important video.

I will let the video speak for me...

Please mute the music at the bottom of my blog page to hear video more clearly.

Don't Be Discouraged!

2011-06-23T09:27:00.011-05:00

"Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged"

(Deuteronomy 1:21)

My favorite excerpts from the Above Rubies weekly devotional are as follows. Be careful of assimilation!

Assimilation keeps us from possessing the land.
Leviticus 20:24-26 says “Ye shall inherit their land and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people… And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

"Assimilation is one of the greatest temptations of the enemy. It is so easy to want to be like everyone else around. In fact, you can assimilate without even realizing it. God’s plan for you is to be separated from the world--not from the people of the world of course, but from the deception, evil and materialistic spirit of the world.

God does not want mixture in His land. It is not like other lands. Do you feel an oddball in the area where you live? Or even in your church? Are you the only one who is homeschooling? Don’t feel inferior. You are saving your children from being another statistic that is indoctrinated with humanism and socialism. Do you have more children than anyone else in your street? Don’t be ashamed. You are walking in the perfect will of God as you embrace God’s children for His purposes and glory. Do you have a holy standard in your home, different to the worldly-minded around you? You don’t have to apologize! You don’t have to be similar to everyone else. On the contrary, you are called to be uniquely different. Hold on to your difference and refuse conformity." ~Nancy Campbell, Above Rubies

Entire message: Above Rubies Weekly

Will we stand alone? I hope and pray so. Have a sweet week in Jesus, He alone is worthy, His name is the sweetest name I know... I was thinking this morning of this old hymn... Tell it to Jesus.

Who and what are we living for? Oh friends, there is such Peace in Jesus, His ways are best, may we rest in His ways. Jesus, the sweetest name I know. ~Amelia

My other blogs; on everyday happenings at My Forest Cathedral and a wowee recipe & old movie review,' The Stranger' (1946) and others too on Thats-Italian

The Applause of Heaven

2011-06-22T13:27:00.004-05:00

A MOST TIMELY MESSAGE: The Applause of Heaven ~Leslie Ludy

Short but on target message. Leslie hits the nail on the head on the approval of man verses the Lord. My husband and I often see the same problem in the homeschool movement, in the church etc. Oh that men and women would march to Christ's beat only and shun the voices of the world and the approval of man!

GO to my other messages:

HOW TO ENCOURAGE A WARRIOR POET

IS JESUS REALLY ENOUGH

THE GOSPEL & SINGLENESS

PUTTING EMOTIONS IN THEIR PLACE

WHITE AS SNOW

SOMETHING WORTH WAITING FOR

STANDING FOR THE LEAST

...living for God’s approval alone, rather than pining after the applause of this world, re-evaluating our motives and priorities for the decisions we make.

Will you and I be willing to stand alone? Jesus is truly all we need.

Today's Home Church, Sermon by David Wilkerson

2011-06-19T18:07:00.005-05:00

Who or what are we living for?

This was a great message that ministered directly to our hearts. Don't let the name of the sermon fool you...It goes far beyond what you may think and in many cases this may answer some questions for many of us as this age becomes worse and worse.

One of the names that I think would be fitting for this message is a quote from Brother Wilkerson:
When you no longer need Human Applause...

My husband says: When you no longer need accolades from men.

Click on the following link to hear this great message!
Full Time Ministry by David Wilkerson

More quotes I quickly jotted down are as follows:

A man or woman who has been alone is a reproof to many...

If there is one drop of apathy...Run to Jesus I beg of you...

Stir up your family! Wake up! That apathy can destroy you and send you to Hell.

Mothers get your kids awakened!

If I sound loud it's because there is a fire, jump!

It's life or death as far as I'm concerned.

Do you feel alone? God will see you through!
Isaiah 28:16:

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

For an Audience of One, ~Amelia

My other blogs; on everyday happenings at My Forest Cathedral and an old movie review,' The Stranger' (1946) on Thats-Italian

Home Church. Following Jesus: The Straight Gate

2011-06-12T18:27:00.006-05:00

This is a photo of three eldest of our four daughters this morning listening very intently in our Home Church, the morning light was so beautiful there in our living room and the girl's faces were so very intent and contemplative as this must-hear message was playing. I'm not sure if I captured it just-so but I did try to quickly capture the mood without being a hindrance to the wonderful message.

Let those who have an ear to hear, hear. This blog as all my blogs are the Lord's blogs.

The sermon from this morning truly is as my husband would put it, A MUST HEAR from SermonIndex.net

ONLY 25 MINUTES LONG:

Following Jesus: The Straight Gate Hans R. Waldvogel Topic: Following Jesus
Description: Brother Hans Waldvogel shares powerfully that salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ. Not in sects, denominations or specific doctrines or theology. But in the blood and work of Christ and His indwelling us by the Spirit. May God bring us to a place of reality in our walk with Jesus.

We personally do home church these days because in our area there are no churches within a well over-hour radius that we know of that would be safe for our family to attend. We are prayerfully looking as we have moved to a different area so we shall see.

It wasn't always this way, my husband and I both were Sunday school teachers in adult Sunday school, my husband is licensed and ordained for prison ministry and still is...

But in these last days things are a bit different. There will be times we must walk alone as most churches become more and more apostate dancing to the culture and less in love with Christ conforming to loving His image.

We've never seen such a great falling away as the Bible warns! Not to mention the many empty headed theologians talking babble with no seeming relationship of Jesus.

Here is an excerpt from Streams in the Desert yesterday's devotional:

"...We must die to ourselves before we are turned into gentleness, and our crucifixion involves suffering. It will mean experiencing genuine brokenness and a crushing of self, which will be used to afflict the heart and conquer the mind.

...Today many people are attempting to use their mental capacity and logical thinking to obtain sanctification, yet this is nothing but a religious fabrication. They believe that if they just mentally put themselves on the altar and believe the altar of sanctification, they can then logically conclude they are fully sanctified. They then go happily on their way, expressing their flippant, theological babble about the 'deep' things of God." ~G.D.H

Jesus. The sweetest name I know...When was the last time you heard His precious name?

May God be glorified through these typing fingers. If you like you may enjoy my journey at MyForestCathedral.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

2011-06-06T16:47:00.006-05:00

This is Esther our toy poodle and I taken last week on our front porch.

(This is an edited re-post of my last blog.) The edit is in bold below as you read on.

This blog was originally published two days ago 6.04.11.

The Grapes of Wrath, the movie (1940)

"This is it! This is the movie to show to your preteen children to give them an understanding of what it means to struggle for something, for the barest of necessities.

John Steinbeck and John Ford did America proud, allowing us to look inward to discover solutions for our social problems. As a country we would do well to do the same again."

~JP Wheeler

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) one of my husband's favorite movies. This is such a much needed movie to be seen today by older children and suburban moms and dads...not to mention new grand-moms and grand-dads too...It is made from the Pulitzer prize winning novel by John Steinbeck. It depicts what it was really like for many families during the Depression and Dust Bowl.

EDIT 6.06.11

I do need to say here that the movie has no profanity in it or obscene material. From what I am understanding from a documentary, the actual book is rather racy. The movie is not racy but real and sobering. We are very careful of what we allow in our home as I'm sure you are too. We have four stay at home daughters, ages 17 to 28, my husband and I are very particular that we not watch anything that would hurt the Lord or damage our family spiritually.

In this age of folks who think they must have the latest and greatest cell phone and car, kids who think they must have certain name brands, young women and their moms maybe even now-grandmothers who don't even know the difference between a needle and a straight-pin, this is a much needed view.

Anyone who doesn't remember or know how to make-do or do-without should see this movie.

For those of you who do know how to make-do or do-without you will appreciate this film.

The Grapes of Wrath
(Wikipedia Article)

The Grapes of Wrath
Article and trailer, very interesting trivia such as the caravan of trucks being the real deal in the movie...Real families migrating during the Depression.

"While filming the Joads' car traveling down the highway, John Ford wanted to add a shot showing the large number of caravans heading west, so the film's business manager stopped actual cars making the trek and paid the drivers five dollars to escort the Joads' jalopy for the cameras."

"Prior to filming, producer Darryl F. Zanuck sent undercover investigators out to the migrant camps to see if John Steinbeck had been exaggerating about the squalor and unfair treatment meted out there. He was horrified to discover that, if anything, Steinbeck had actually downplayed what went on in the camps."

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

This is ultimately a movie about hope and the human spirit. ~RHKLWK

Of course you will be able to find clips on youtube as well. Most libraries will have copies of this classic movie and it's available for purchase from various sources.

If you get the druthers you may also enjoy my personal blog of life here in the country at:
My Forest Cathedral.

Til the next time.... ~Amelia

P.S. If you are enjoying or gleaning from these blogs please leave a comment if you have time to do so, I appreciate comments greatly and consider them a blessing and encouragement. I'm feeling under the weather thus I'll be laying low this week.

Modesty, Entertainment and Busy-Bodying

2011-05-31T12:47:00.002-05:00

Just a quick link to an AMAZING READ.

There are articles here that are EXCELLENT and MUCH NEEDED!

An article on MODESTY will be found here, by the way would you wear a typical bathing suit to the bus stop? Isn't it true that the typical bathing suit is nothing more than underwear?

An article on BUSY-BODYING and ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES.

Mrs. Leslie Ludy tells it like it is!

MAGAZINE HERE:
SET APART GIRL

I hope we won't be too busy to take the time to glean from this great online material, the articles are so very, very needed today...

The spirit of busyness is alive and well.

B.U.S.Y. = Being Under Satan's Yoke

We just moved to a new area and the one thing that seems to keep people from even being hospitable, grateful and gracious is BUSYNESS. Busyness is a trap! It hurts others! It keeps us from the better, sweeter things of the Lord. Beware!

I hope you enjoy the refreshing read!

Have a great day, reach out and touch someone in Jesus! : )

Reflect...Take Notice...Be Still

2011-05-26T17:17:00.000-05:00

Me and our daughter Michelle on Mother's Day.

Much of what is sacred is hidden in the ordinary, everyday moments of our lives. To see something of the sacred in those moments takes slowing down so we can live our lives more reflectively. ~Ken Gire

Many times I have to stop and reflect on God's blessings in my life, there are so many. My family is one of the most huge blessings ever.

Lately I've been so blessed to enjoy the countryside here where we recently moved. It's like going back in time for me and there are evenings as I walk on our property and I see God's greatness and handiwork in the sweet solitude, I have to throw my hands up and praise Him for what He has done!

Before you think oh she is so spoiled please know, our home here isn't finished, closets are filled with tools as my hubby is working on our old home for resale still working on this one in between times. Things I took for granted in the city, now are things we say prayers over...our water well, our ill septic system, etc. But through the little inconveniences and the newness but yet wonderful familiarity I appreciate the beauty and solitude here so very much. It gives me time to think and appreciate and it really puts things in perspective...

The beauty of the little town and the elderly people there as I watch widows and widowers with such sweet hearts and such great attitudes on life as I notice them at the store shopping for the necessities of life slowly pushing their carts...But very quick to give me a loving smile...Oh how I love that!

Many days it's the whir of my sewing machine, the delight in creating my own clothing while listening to sweet music, lately the soundtrack to The Best Years of Our Lives (1948)...

Many a blessed evening it's the laughter of our four daughters...Watching Hubs on his old tractor...Knowing that the years of homeschooling has been and is a privilege and never ever to be taken for granted...

Watching the clouds go by in the evening...

Our four doglets and their sweet smiles, yes our dogs do smile...They are perfect examples of unconditional love...

Perhaps these are the best years of our lives if we will allow them to be and shun the busyness of Babylon...It's funny, sometimes people will look at me so very seriously and ask this gal...

"How do you like it there?"

I smile...and tell them how I do like it very much...

The only regret that I have is that I ever left here in the first place. Perhaps I'm a little older and a wee bit wiser now...

Be still and know that He is God.

Blessings to All, may we lift our country up in prayers.

Until the next time... ~Amelia

Jump Into Motherhood with Your WHOLE Heart

2011-05-13T14:37:00.007-05:00

This afternoon I took the time to read this devotional in my inbox. It is so encouraging, I hope you enjoy it too...

Jump In!

Lately I've seen so much compromise and lack of integrity even in the homeschool realm. People may talk the talk but what are they spending time on? Who are they spending time with? Time is our currency, what are we teaching and what we spend our time on tells the tale. What are we stressing in our homeschools and homes? What is the end to what we are stressing?

Is it a quiet and peaceful life? Are we following the herd or are we following the Word? Shallow, immature popularity or Peace and Contentment with God? A true living relationship with the Lord Jesus or a Religious Groupie?

I hope we pick the better. It may not be the popular thing, no, you may not have a cheap junior high following but the higher road is usually not the popular road. I will say there is a sweet Peace there though, it's a Peace and Sweetness that money cannot buy, it's a sweetness of the Lord's Presence. He is our All.

Give us Father Knows Best again! With the Lord we can have that! Oh give us churches that will stand behind us! Give us grandparents that will stand for righteousness! Godly pastors once again. Homeschool families that love Jesus and not the world or it's system. Sweet true blue young women void of flirtations and forwardness, young women and men who will be faithful friends, not looking desperately as if they are starved for the approval or need of people or peers! Godly young men who recognize a sweet young lady when they see one not stupidly falling for Jezebel like a lamb led to slaughter. Parents who teach and warn their young people! Of course parents must have hearts right themselves to do this!

Sometimes when I see what is happening around us I ask outloud...

Where are the parents?

Oh may we stay on top of things! We do not have to participate in the system! We must stay in prayer and close fellowship with the Father in these perilous times. We must!

I loved this sweet photo of this darling young lady... It says so much. So very much.
Robert Stock

I hope everyone is having a sweet week in Jesus. Please feel free to check my thats-italian.blogspot for simple sewing and an easy breezy company meal. I also hope to have an old 40s movie recommendation very soon there as well. : ) Blessings to All!

The Passing of a Legend. A Call to Anguish. David Wilkerson

2011-05-04T16:37:00.003-05:00

My heart often longs for the “glory days” – those days when the lives of epic men of God once roamed this earth. Such men nowadays are rare and seemingly impossible to find. ~NRJohnson

As many of you know, Brother David Wilkerson passed into Eternity last week, April 27th 2011.

I thought you all may enjoy this tribute to him on the Ellerslie Training site.
You will find, two video sermons there, I Will Veil Myself in You, and A Call to Anguish. Please take the time to listen. These are powerful and life changing.

You may also glean so many sermons from David Wilkerson from sermondindex.net.

Sermonindex is featuring A Call to Anguish on their front page.

Please feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page.

David Wilkerson Dies in Tragic Car Crash

2011-04-27T20:54:00.004-05:00

Our family is shocked and grieved to hear of David Wilkerson's death less than an hour ago.

His last blog today.

He was and is extrememly instrumental in our family's walk with the Lord. His book, "Set Thy Trumpet to Thy Mouth" was huge in our lives.

Many a Sunday we listen to his sermons from Times Square Church.

Brother Wilkerson, we will so miss you. We will see you again on the other Side.

The Emancipation of Womanhood

2011-03-30T14:27:00.004-05:00

Catherine Marshall author of "A Man Called Peter", in her inspiring personal story, "To Live Again" shares an excerpt from one of her famous husband's most popular sermons. Her husband was of course the late Peter Marshall, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate.

"The emancipation of womanhood began with Christianity and it ends with Christianity. . . .

When women in this country achieved equality with men it was accomplished only by stepping down from the pedestal on which Christianity, chivalry, and idealism had placed her. . . .

So she copied the vices of men---in the name of progress!
But it is not progress to go in a downward direction.
It is not progress to lower moral standards and to
lose ideals!
No woman ever became lovelier by losing her essential
femininity.

There is no substitute for goodness . . .
nothing can take the place of purity.
To be sweet is far better than to be sophisticated.

America needs young women who will build true homes, Whether they live in two rooms---or ten . . .
whether starched white organdy curtains hang at the windows---or silk damask.

We need homes where harassed husbands may find peace
understanding
refreshment of body and soul . . .
where children may find the warmth of love . . .
where friends may find hospitality
graciousness
and joy.

Only out of such homes will go men with strength and courage to help the United States build a new and a better world.

To make such homes is therefore, any woman's supreme contribution to her country and to her generation. . . . "

Classic Trends and Traps

2011-03-09T20:20:00.011-06:00

An excerpt from one of the books I'm reading at present, Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

"...I'm referring to the classic trend we see in many middle-class families today: Mom serving as the taxi, and the kids being carted around from every official activity the family can afford, be it Boy Scouts, violin practice, Little League, or even a simple playdate. Kids in today's generation have nowhere near the amount of free time their parents and grandparents enjoyed in their childhood. Climbing trees, building forts, and lazy days reading a book have been replaced with improving talents for that lofty college application. I wonder what our children's memories will be when they reflect on their upbringing-an innocent time full of play and exploration, or the booster seat on the way to ballet practice?"

I wonder too. Lately my heart drops when I notice fellow homeschoolers and what all their schedules now entail, lesson upon lesson, class upon class. It seems Babylon has entered into the homeschool realm in many areas...

Beware of Busyness. So much of it is worn like a badge of honor. Perhaps a Badge of Babylon? What is this teaching our children?

The real goal should be that sweet contentment in Christ knowing our steps are gently ordered by Him. Wait and pray. Pray and wait for His answers. : ) Is our schedule His schedule? Or are we making our schedules and then asking God to bless them instead of asking God His plan first? Are our schedule books more important than our Bibles and prayer? Accolades of men or women? So many things come to play in the world of Babylon. Babylon can be anywhere, any town, any place, it could even be at church. It's a place of the heart.

May we be part of a higher, sweeter Kingdom of the Lord where our sweet Jesus reigns.

This song always puts things in perspective for me, enjoy and be blessed as we keep our eyes on Jesus. Feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page.

Have You Heard of Baby Joseph?

2011-03-02T17:47:00.010-06:00

Baby Joseph has captured the heart of millions

This is a case very similar to Terri Schiavo, the unbelievable murder in our own country several years ago.
(Please feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page in order to hear video)

Has this culture of death sunk to such evil lows? Do doctors in the medical establishment think they should have this power, against the parent's wishes never the less? Can you imagine what the parents of Baby Joseph are going through? The mother of Baby Joseph recently said..

"I feel like they are taking my baby away from me."

I'm just not understanding the silence on this in the general media.

This scenario is coming to a hospital near you. It already has in our country. The shameful Terri Schiavo story. Every day babies are murdered in the womb. There are prolifers being squelched now. It's so true what Laura Ingraham said this morning on the radio in respect to the hypocrisy of liberals wanting prolife billboards shut down:

"Liberals are not very liberal."

Read more about Baby Joseph HERE on LifeSiteNews

Read more on how Fr. Pavone is trying to bring Baby Joseph to the US from Canada: HERE

For our family? In our area? We have not heard a thing about Baby Joseph. Just as we did not hear of the Gosnell report two entries down.

I'll be transparent, I have thought of taking the image of the poor little baby from my site on the Gosnell report entry. I thought maybe it's too much. But I thought "no!" If I do that I am no better than anyone else shelving anything uncomfortable just as the church did during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Just as the liberals are doing trying to shut down prolife billboards! My blog is God's blog and as long as He gives me strength to blog and the inspiration of what to share, I will blog what He would want me to blog. God made me who I am.

If that means an old black and white movie that touches the depth of my heart and speaks lessons from the Lord, so be it. If it means God's people from various Christian faiths are used to touch my heart as they serve for Christ, God bless them. God bless them. Being a Christian is a personal relationship with Christ, making Him Lord, not to mention the most loving Father ever.

Something to think about:

What will we tell our grandchildren when they ask what we did to stop the babies from being killed?

This age we are in is going to picture much like the Holocaust to future generations...People will ask how could that have happened?

That Was Then, It's Still Now, But So is Hope

2011-02-28T10:27:00.011-06:00

Our family was so intrigued after once again watching this riveting Oscar winning movie from 1954. "On the Waterfront" We watched it closely and saw and felt so much...just so very much. So many life lessons. Some of them are heartbreaking, just the lesson of the companionship we keep. The lesson of so many people with beautiful gifts within them not being seen, some of the gifts have even been somehow squelched. The cruelty of exclusive groups, cliques, prejudices...Talk.

There are no curse words in this movie. It is rated PG for violence.

There is a kissing scene that was a bit intense for us, made us a bit uncomfortable and there is a morbid scene in the end, very typical of cruel organized crime but certainly no Godfather movie...but be ready for it. Our youngest is 17 but if we had little ones there are some things I would use caution about and save this for youth and adults. It would be a good idea to preview the movie privately simply because of some of the subject matter. I will say sin is portrayed for what it is, it certainly isn't glorified in this movie.

I grew up on the waterfront in a small town, and so much of the surroundings of the water, the seagulls, the shrimpers ring very familiar in the way of scenery and sounds of a shipyard, although our waterfront was much more picturesque and certainly not mob ruled, but entrepreneurial. There was no organized crime on our waterfront that I was ever aware of. Both my mother and father's families were waterfront business owners and workers, very, very hardworking people. Much of the clientele was that of other shrimpers, and on the weekends... city sailors who would come in and boat on their sailboats and luxury boats enjoying our family businesses. You may see a short light hearted bio of my family here in the middle of a blog on my thats-italian.blogspot. The waterfront makes for a special kind of people...Very real people, very non-materialistic people for the most-part, people who were just content with their gardens and businesses and corner grocery stores...They didn't need a movement to be that way, they just were. There was never talk of what kind of car or truck a person drove...Never talk of what jewelry a person owned. At least years ago that's the way it was in that little town... before the space program came in with liberal thinking in opposition to Christ that infiltrated our schools there. It was years before I saw the shallow side of materialism when I would delve into the city as an older youth. It was even more years later that I realized the foolishness, vanity and shallowness of many of those ways. Oh thank God I was delivered from that.

The following clip is so very powerful, we loved it, and I so pray we will also be Father Barrys in this life on earth.

"What you did for the least of these you have done unto Me..."
(Music may be muted at bottom of page for better listening of clips)

It may not be the love of money but sometimes it seems it's the love for accolades from men or women, for that grasping of acceptance that we see so many times. Whether it be for the love of money or pats on the back, or to be "well-liked" it equates so many if not all the times to a cowardice to stand for righteousness when things are sticky. I have a feeling many will understand exactly what I am saying.

Such a sad but powerful clip from "On the Waterfront" (1954)

At the end of the clip you will see this priest on the rise with the body of this man who would have testified the next day.

You will also see a lovely blond headed girl and her father, they recently lost their son- brother, Joey in the same fashion...Oh what chords this movie strikes.

The jacket presented to the girl in this clip? It was her brother's jacket. Her father had recently given the jacket to Duggan, the victim in this clip so he would have a nice jacket to wear.

This film has so much to chew and contemplate upon...

One of the most powerful and touching scenes is Marlon Brando telling his corrupted brother, "I could'a been somebody..."

It's many times the way people feel on this earth.

This very wayward unfair life on earth so many times...Times of misunderstandings, prejudices of many kinds and yes.... crucifixion. A crucifixion many times of character, it may be silent, it may be vocal...

What love is this?

I trust we will all love and speak the truth, standing for justice and the Lord's ways this week despite what others may think.

And if you feel as you've been sent to "Palookaville"? God has a plan for you...Yes He does. He can give you Beauty for Ashes. He is Faithful. It is never too late in life. The answer is Christ Jesus. The Cross. Victory at that Cross. Will you make Him Lord today?

Blessings to All...

Since You Went Away, 1943.

2011-02-21T13:57:00.002-06:00

A new entry on the wonderful old movie, "Since You Went Away" (1943)

at thats-italian, my recipe and story blog.

Enjoy and God Bless.

Grand Jury Report on Kermit Gosnell, Abortionist-Murderer

2011-02-02T09:27:00.004-06:00

The grand jury report on Kermit Gosnell is one of the most shocking and revolting abortion reads ever. http://bit.ly/fnxYJ0

It's interesting the response I've received, or should I say the disturbing lack of in my personal email inbox to this report. Reminds me of the stories I've heard from Nazi Germany as the church people sang their hymns all the louder as the trains full of Jewish people heading towards the death camps passed. The church people would sing all the louder to cover the sound of the screams.

Are people so very entrenched in their worlds, their church schedules, their circles of friends they so try to impress that they are not moved by the horrible deaths, murders of these little innocent ones?

Are people THAT hardened? Has our society and especially the church come to this point? Have we become that barbaric? I sent this out to personal contacts and received very little response as in ONE.

What a horrible apathetic attitude those silent adults are truly teaching their children and youth.

It. Is. Shameful.

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

2011-01-20T10:17:00.005-06:00

This is a re-run of an article I wrote for a dear friend's magazine last year. I present to you:
Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

(This article I have written here was recently published in an online publication, I was going to post in increments but decided to post it in entirity and simplify a bit.)

The year? 1967.

There she was, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Fischer. The typical 60s flip hair-do, orange dress with white polka-dots, matching shoes, a sunshine face was Mrs. Fischer. It was spelling test day and we first graders were attentively listening to each word as the sun streamed into the bright classroom, you could hear a pin drop.

The spelling word at that moment? "Baby".

She said the word, baby with a smile so radiant as she placed her hands upon her stomach, discreetly yes, but yet to me? A most sensitive and perceptive little first grade girl? I knew exactly what was up. Mrs. Fischer was going to have a baby. Yes! I just bet she's having a baby! Sure enough, the end of our first grade school year was ended rather tumultuously with one substitute teacher after another and I was never to see Mrs. Fischer again...she was home with her baby. She chose the best thing, to stay home with her baby. Even though it was hard for me as a little girl and I missed Mrs. Fischer greatly, I knew she was doing the right thing, enjoying motherhood and saying phooey with the rest.

The moral climate of those years were changing; just the year before, we Kindergartners all said our prayers with little bowed heads over saltine crackers and orange juice for snack time.

"God is great, God is good, thank you for our daily food. Amen."

I remember the children, us little girls in our sweet cotton dresses, I remember the little boys in their cotton button up shirts tucked in trousers with leather lace up shoes, hair parted on the side neatly. No matter what economic class we were from, we were neatly, modestly and sweetly dressed.

As that first grade year progressed, it was noticeable to me that the prayers over our food had mysteriously vanished. Time was changing and things seemed to be darkening to this little girl, I could feel it in my bones and most sadly in my innocent heart.

I remember sitting in front of my grandparents' home they ran their fishing business from, sitting upon the steps on a large, vast pier as the sailboats and shrimpboats would come in on the sparkling bay for the evening, In my little girl solitude, I would hear clanging at the shipyard not far away. My Italian grandma enjoyed reading and she usually had some Life and McCall's magazine around....Finding those Betsy McCall paper dolls in the McCall's magazine was a huge treat, kind of like finding a really good treasure in the bottom of a Cracker Jacks box....Every now and then I'd look over her Life magazines as I'd sip on my soda and quietly munch chips as my bare feet felt the texture of those wooden steps...There in those magazines I would see in living color the culture changing for the worst, the waif-look model, Twiggy, presented as the norm for body types, the brash fashions with go-go boots and fishnet stockings, me thinking my legs didn't look much like Twiggy's and where was Shirley Temple? Stories about members of that band called the Beatles...and I knew. I knew. I knew in my little girl's heart that things were going down fast and a darkness was coming over our country, and what was worse, this great country, America the Beautiful was letting the darkness pour in. This country of ours who had lent it's hand to my Italian and German immigrant grandparents who were now proud American citizens, my father and my uncle and great uncles who proudly served this country and made something of themselves. But Joltin' Joe had left and gone away, it was most apparent to me back then.

Years would go by and in the liturgical church our family attended I was surprised to see the new priest walking down the hall with a Hawaiian shirt on one Wednesday afternoon as I attended a catechism class...He was so different than the sweet priest who braided my long hair just the year before in his white collar whose resemblance and mannerisms were something of a Bing Crosby to me. Sadly, The Bing Crosby priest had left and gone away too. Now we had the mod guy with the long hair and the Hawaiian shirt. The same mod guy who had our church sing "Imagine" by John Lennon in a Sunday service. The song that starts with... Imagine there is no Heaven.

The years were eking by, man's knowledge was ignorantly being placed over any knowledge of the Lord in this new modern era this country seemed so proud of. The tower of Babel was once again being built it seemed.

The year. 1973.

Man had been on the moon, and I was sitting in classes with those very astronaut's kids, some of them later becoming friends of mine. Nixon was becoming president and our junior high looked like the gates of hell had been turned loose in it. Long gone were the sweet dresses and little boys with lace up shoes and neat hair. In place of it all were mostly hip-hugging jeans, guys with brushes stuffed in their back pockets to brush their long hair with and some dating at the age of 12 and all that went with that. I had found a small group of sweet girls to be friends with, we would spend our time drawing people, horses, animals and the like in our quiet world away from the hellish life we were surrounded by.

That year, 1973. There was no teacher saying the word, baby with such sunshine smiles. No. That was the year the country decided it would start seeing the babies as "choices". It was the year of Roe verses Wade. It was the year they turned the baby, the innocent child into a choice.

But where was the baby's choice in the matter?

Life went on and the hellish atmosphere didn't stop much, in fact, it intensified into high school, heavy kissing in the halls, smoking was fine and allowed as long as it was outdoors, you could smell an occasional whiff of marijuana in the breeze as you walked outdoors to class. And now it wasn't just the students who were in the mire but many of the teachers too as they tried to impose liberal beliefs on us in what most would think was a model high school. For many, those who had no Christian training at home, the liberal agenda quickly stuck and entrapped. For few of us, we fought it like mad trying our best to hold on to what was right and good. We tried so hard to hang on to the beliefs we were brought up with as contraception was brazenly taught to us in mixed coed classes adding to the confusion. Joltin' Joe had left and gone away. Where was the real choice? Where was my choice to live a Godly moral life free and with honor as these liberal ideas were being forced? How many little unborn babies were murdered at the core of this new "freedom" - on the altar of "choice"?

Those who were supposed to be open minded, were they really open to the choice of the baby? Are they now really open to Christian principles and moral absolutes? Perhaps the lack of absolutes is really an absolute they say they don't believe in?

Let's think...

At the very least, if prostitution is illegal, and that involves a person's body shouldn't that help us to see abortion for what it is, that there is another body involved? A most innocent body? If a pregnant woman is murdered and it's considered double homicide, shouldn't that help us to see what is transpiring here and the wickedness and cruel torture involved in these barbaric acts? As suspecting tests are administered as to the unborn baby's health, do we to play God and say who is worthy to live and who is not? Heaven forbid!

Where was the outcry then and now? Perhaps part of it was the fact some of us then were so embarrassed by what was going on we didn't tell our parents what was transpiring in the schools. Perhaps we noticed our parents on the passive side when Roe vs. Wade transpired and people seemed more interested in Watergate than living babies. Perhaps we were becoming some pretty mixed up kids. Who wouldn't be? Some of us were desperately trying to hold that rope while double standards were at play. Our relatives coming back from college never the same with lost convictions. Our teachers who we were taught to respect, shoving liberal ideas contrary to the Bible down at us.

What happened to me? By the time I graduated high school, of course I had been marred in various ways by it all, we can't place our kids in Alaska and expect to grow a palm tree. Please don't be deceived on that, be careful where you place your children and under whose authority whether it be the school or the church, be careful of the companionship that surrounds your children no matter what the age. I don't think the Bible is kidding when it reads, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20. Homeschooling is a wonderful option by the way, we've homeschooled for over 20 years and it has been a huge blessing to us.

A year or so after high school I was to meet my husband to-be at an Italian wedding, he had recently dedicated his life to the Lord. We've been married for almost 30 years now, serving the Lord together. We've been blessed with four lovely daughters.

The year. 2011.

What happened to "Jane Roe"? Her real name, Norma McCorvey; a Christian now, she is a vocal anti-abortion advocate. She never had the abortion fought for in Roe vs. Wade giving birth to a baby girl, giving the baby life choosing adoption.

She said:

"I think abortion is wrong. I think what I did with Roe vs. Wade was wrong, and I just have to take a pro-life position on [abortion]" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

McCorvey was . . . haunted by simple things like empty swings in a playground. "They were swinging back and forth but they were all empty. And I just totally lost it, and I thought 'Oh my God. The swings are empty because there's no children, because they've all been aborted'" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

~ "Jane Roe" Norma McCorvey

One thing I knew when I turned my life completely to Christ and started understanding scripture more; and that is that I wanted to be serious about my walk with Christ. God forbid that my children would see passivity or compromise in me, when it came to a loving Christian walk or when it came to our stand for the babies. The babies who have no choice.

Our kids know, I hope they know and see what is important by our actions by what we do. Do we stand for what is right? Or do we play it safe and not rock the boat forgetting that what we do for the least of these we have done it unto Him? Do we put them in the same environment some of us were placed in? ...God forbid.

What can we do? Be educated on the facts. When allowing a doctor or any medical professional whether it be a midwife, surgeon or nutritionist to attend to your needs ask them where they stand on abortion. This will reflect on their ethics in how they will treat you. It amazes me, the people who say they believe in what they call choice (the prodeath agenda), but fail to think about the end result of it when carried through. What they may perceive as inconvenience will affect them in old age. Just look at the people who were passive about the healthcare bill, ignoring the abortion portion of it but then suddenly when they noticed euthanasia in the bill, they became most concerned.

Prayerfully participate in the life marches. Vote prolife! Support prolife candidates! That is the very least we can do. Take that stand. There are simple things you can do such as display a life bandor wear a precious feet pin, committing to pray over the lives of these little unborn babies. If you are a stay at home mom, be the best stay at home mom and wife you can be. Put your all into your home and make that home a peaceful place where the Lord dwells, make your home a peaceful sanctuary and refuge. Give your children the real deal, not synthetic Christianity...If you give them the real deal they will recognize the counterfeit easily. As a stay at home mom you can also write letters, and have your children write letters on behalf of the unborn to the proper officials. Pray together daily as a family for the unborn that the scourge of abortion would end.

There are many prolife pregnancy centers that would greatly value your time depending on your season of life, there are many in need of counselors, people to organize their maternity and baby clothes rooms, just do simple cleaning. Most clinics will appreciate gently used maternity clothes or baby items. Perhaps monetary gifts to keep those clinics running with supplies etc. And remember, many lobbyists are fighting the fight, many organizations fund these lobbyists working hard for the rights of our unborn.

Commit to living a godly life. Shine light to others, don't marginalize the Christian walk with compromise allowing darkness in. Let's be found blameless as we stand for the unborn.

That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. ~Philippians 1:10

As I trod this highway of life, our entire family has participated in prayerful pickets, counseling and general support of our unborn babies. Our daughters are active in prolife activities as well. My oldest daughter at 28 (age updated) is a counselor at a prolife clinic as she also shares a message on abstinence and the gospel of Christ to those who come into the clinic. She is well qualified to do so, a living testimony at 28, she's single, saving her first kiss for the altar. Parents, expect much! Pray hard, do hard things for Christ! He is Faithful!

Please remember. It is a Child not a Choice. I believe little unborn babies should also have the choice of what to do with their bodies. One day as you grow older there may be others who take your choice away. Remember, your thinking now, your stand now for the unborn and all innocent life, may affect you when you grow older. It may affect you in less than ideal situations.... Just ask Terri Schiavo's family. See her timeline here.

If only wombs had windows and we could hear the silent screams of the babies. Some are worried about torture when abortion is the ultimate torture, and to an innocent baby! Oh please don't be as the church once was in Nazi Germany as the schools changed and indoctrinated the students and most said nothing. Please don't be like the churches then as the boxcars with innocent Jewish grandparents, parents and children were on the way to the death camps screaming desperately for help, and the churches sang their hymns all the louder to cover what they perceived as uncomfortable noise. Please hear the screams of the unborn with your heart!

If you have been deceived and have been affected by this atrocity and holocaust this country calls choice, please know God will forgive a repentant heart and He is there arms open wide. He can make beauty out of ashes.

One day your little grandchildren or great grandchildren may ask:

"Where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?"

What will we say about the year 2011?

What will you say on judgement day as the Lord asks you what did you do to the least of these?

Hear are some facts and helpful links about the unborn:

Partial Birth Abortion

Diary of an Unborn Baby starting at Day 1.

National Right to Life (a wealth of information)

Who is Funding Abortion? Let's be aware of who we are giving God's money to.

Precious Feet

Do Precious Feet Save Lives? (very interesting testimonies)

Get the pin

Get a life band

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

~Proverbs 24:11-12

Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. ~Matthew 25:40b

You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139

Streams in the Desert, Christina's World...

2011-01-13T13:57:00.017-06:00

I am so enjoying the beautiful new leather bound devotional my daughter, Marianna gave me for my 50th birthday. (I can't believe I'm 50, just yesterday I was 21 with my first baby girl)

Such is life.

Speaking of life, one of my favorite things to do as a young girl was to take an armchair trip. What is an armchair trip? I would take one of our World Book encyclopedias and look up a country, state or many times take a trip right there in our fluffy recliner to the world of famous paintings, I would sit there for over an hour reading and learning and browsing...As I would browse the famous paintings, there were several that would stand out to me...I've always remembered this painting, Christina's World....

Today I feel like the 1948 painting Christina's World, oh the world we are in is just becoming incredibly cold. Incredibly cold.

The woman crawling through the tawny grass was the artist's neighbor in Maine, who, crippled by polio, "was limited physically but by no means spiritually." Wyeth further explained, "The challenge to me was to do justice to her extraordinary conquest of a life which most people would consider hopeless." He recorded the arid landscape, rural house, and shacks with great detail, painting minute blades of grass, individual strands of hair, and nuances of light and shadow. In this style of painting, known as magic realism, everyday scenes are imbued with poetic mystery.

I've seen good Christian families, families who we thought to be rock solid go off into an almost cult-like behavior worshiping some odd doctrine that doesn't even resemble our Jesus who welcomes all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior. I'm seeing the churched so cold at times, not really caring about much of anything if it doesn't bother them in their particular "colony". I see young people from other families who will ignore you as a parent one minute to turn around and smile when they need a favor. Do their parents know they do this or are do the parents also do this very same thing? I'm hearing reports of young men at Bible studies that won't even offer to give up their seat for a young lady, a young lady with a skirt on... Just this morning I donated over a dozen bags to an organization. There were several boxes, clearly filled with breakables and a lamp on it's own. One of the workers callously threw the breakables to the back of the truck football style as the items crashed into the truck... People who hurt others, slandering others over doctrine, behaving as if nothing was done wrong.

So many times these thorns can hurt us but they also make us strong and more discerning.

The devotional our daughter Marianna gave me is entitled: Streams in the Desert and it is wonderful so far. If you are looking for a time-tested devotional I would recommend this one, it really is truly wonderful in my opinion and rock solid from what I have read. It is written by L.B. Cowman and first published in 1925.

A noted scientist, observing that the early sailors believed the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great reefs of the Atoll Islands in order to protect themselves in the inner waterway, has disproved this belief. He has shown these organisms can only live and thrive facing the open ocean in the highly oxygenated foam of the combative waves. It is commonly thought that a protected and easy life is the best way to live. Yet the lives of all the noblest and strongest people prove exactly the opposite and that the endurance of hardship is the making of the person. It is the factor that distinguishes between merely existing and living a vigorous life. Hardships builds character.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Streams in the Deserty 366 Daily Devotional Readings by L.B. Cowman, updated by Jm Reimann

I also have a new series of my decluttering adventures and epiphanies on my thats-italianblogspot if you would like to join in on the fun and encouragement.

A Sweet Song for You & a Party Too!

2011-01-06T20:37:00.003-06:00

Sweet Sleep to All, enjoy...

(Please feel free to mute the music at bottom of page)

My husband and I love Fernando Ortega's music very much. This is one of the prettiest and most ministering songs ever... We recently saw him in concert and his words and wisdom were right on target. Our four daughters spoke with him after the concert and relay that he was very kind indeed. We don't hear much about kindness do we? Whatever happened to kindness? Just plain kindness & consideration?

Sometimes my heart aches when I observe what is surrounding our world, our community... So much division and even rudeness and ungratefulness at times....But when I hear this song...It puts things right into perspective. No one is fooling the Lord. All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him and keep our hearts clean. We can reject the rudeness, thanklessness and the busyness. It may mean standing alone in this world but that's okay. Because we are not alone, we have the Lord. The alone times are the very best when it comes to walking with the Lord...

I'm decluttering lately, it's a slow drip-drip system for me and it's taken a long time to grasp what my clutter has kept me from. It's very difficult for me. My grandma tells stories of waiting for the chicken to lay an egg to make an egg sandwich for my mother during the 30s to take to school. Oh how far this world has come... But are we better off spiritually?

I prefer to live a more simple life, as much as possible.

We are a self employed family, not a wealthy family. So it's very difficult for me to let go sometimes. But I'm learning.

If you like you may enjoy my declutter-party post over at thats-italian.blogspot.com to see what I am letting go of day by day. Any of you on this journey to simplify?

Blessings & Sweet Sleep!

A Sweet Gift for You to Enjoy!

2010-12-01T16:07:00.027-06:00

I am always so blessed listening to these old radio programs...

I hope you enjoy them as I much as I do...They have a way of putting things into perspective and how the world has changed don't they? I love the feel of these and in our family we really, really appreciate these and try to instill the sweet old time flavor in our home.

Just because the rest of the world is spinning on a turnstile of busyness we don't have to do we?

I'm trying so hard to reflect on Jesus as I commune with Him in a special way this advent season. He reminds me often:

Amelia I am the same Father who was who was with you when you were a little girl...

As I reminisce to my grandparent's home, and especially my little home as an only child with my sweet parents back then....
...so many sweet memories, maybe some not so perfect but still... prayerfully creating our own sweetness in our homes this Christmas.

I bring to you to also enjoy this most precious Bing Crosby Christmas program. I hope you and your entire family will enjoy this! Grab yourself some, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, something downright delectable and enjoy! This is wonderful for children of all ages to adults, sweet old fashioned but timeless music selections, also a precious, precious story of a sweet donkey as well...I love the sweet spirit of this Christmas story of one very special donkey...

(You may mute the site music at the bottom of the page)

Have you all read any nice books so far this season? I'm reading (read) several:

* The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

* A Simple Christmas, Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit by Mike Huckabee

These so far have been such a blessing, I sent the audio version of A Simple Christmas to my 80 year old dad, my dad has macular degeneration and sometimes it's hard for him to read. He loved that book and listened to it all in one day! I hope to be able to send him the audio of The Christmas Sweater as well. I read several chapters of The Christmas Sweater to our girls while they were cooking and my dd17 read the entire book the next day! It is a fascinating book with multiple life lessons!

Another dandy that is very practical but really helps put things in perspective as the rat race revolves around us this season is:

* Hundred Dollar Holiday, The Case for a More Joyful Christmas by Bill McKibben

I saw Hundred Dollar Holiday on LifeAsMom. The author of the book has a sweet way of putting things in perspective in a nice way if you know what I mean...I highly recommend this book!

Some sites snubbing any gift at all for Christmas almost make me bristle...They almost seem to be into a cynical reverse snobbery but I have found this book to be very nice.

I love Christmas and love the wonder of it but would like things to go back to a bit of a more simple time, perhaps that WWII era? At least when people had more of a normal perspective and value of material possessions.

Have you ever heard the old WWII radio ads about saving ration coupons for Kraft cheese spreads for entertaining in your home and how the nation was saving milk for our soldiers so they could have ice cream? I actually have an original magazine ad I believe from Carnation milk company about that, it's on the back of a Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon movie ad...It is fascinating.

One thing we always love doing as a family is reading...
* Reminisce magazine, you can read and be inspired by some wonderful Christmas stories of how things were for little children in more simple times in our country. Those children knew the wonderment of Christmas because fruit, candy and the like were something not taken for granted. Let alone toys.

One story in an old Reminisce I read was of a little girl young in the early 60s and even then, a more modern time this little girl's daddy, a farmer would make sure and buy she and her siblings some fruit so they would be like the other children. If he had a good crop the children would share one nice new toy for Christmas, they would flip a coin to see if it would be a boy's toy or a girls toy between she and her brothers. And if her daddy's crops were not good, they would go to the electric company's Christmas party and pick a used gift from the employee's donations. The story was so touching to my heart.

I have tried to keep things within a simple budget this year and so far so good. : ) I really prayed and asked God to help me and guide me. The Lord gently guided me to Walmart online and that was a great help! If you do go to Wallymart make sure and browse from lowest prices to high, otherwise you might blow a gasket. ; )

I so enjoy the wonderment of Christmas and am amazed at how the Lord helped me! Books are nice gifts too...decorating books, Bible study books, historical reproduction books, new or used as long as the person will enjoy them and they are in respectful condition. Last year I bought my dd25 a neat beautifully worn, old hardcopy of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Please feel free to go back to my blogs from last December, I have similar thoughts, encouragements there too. : ) Just grab some coffee! lol I don't know about you, but I need encouragements this time of year and others blogs help me so many times.

Hope you are enjoying this sweet season as we meditate upon our sweet Savior, Jesus.

Hope to get some new recipes or something of the sort pretty soon on thats-italian.blogspot. Maybe even some homemade gift ideas...Who knows? ; ) Right now I have a neat jar gift recipe posted and just some good ol' practical gift ideas from a George Bailey wife.

Edit 12.03.10: I now have some great vlogs our 25 year old daughter did a couple of years ago on making some wonderful homemade natural fragrance gifts along with a wowee Molasses cookie recipe at my thats-italian.blogspot.
I want to thank each one of you for the sweet comments from the last post, you all know who you are who took the time to encourage me. Thank you.

Let's pray for one another this Holy Season. Let me know what you are doing this Christmas to keep things sweet at your house if you get a chance... Hugs and notes of encouragement are always welcome here. I appreciate it greatly and perhaps could use it on certain days. ~Amelia

12.03.10 I'm starting to leave some great old 30s & 40s movie suggestions here in the comment section for Christmas viewing or anytime.

Our Words DO Matter & Say YES to home!

2010-11-04T19:07:00.013-05:00

Yes Our Words DO Matter. The Bible speaks so much about this, be careful how you speak to others and how you even speak to yourself.

Would you be friends with yourself if you had a person speak to you the way you speak to yourself?

Both my husband and I remember words that stuck to us that were spoken years ago. Let's lift one another up, WORDS MATTER...

This is a fascinating video. Please feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page.

Fall is here, I love the pic below it reminds me of our sweet little doglet, Minnie Pearl who passed away several years ago this time of year. I loved her and still do. She looked very much if almost exactly like this sweet doggie.
~Photo by Classicstock

I hope you all are enjoying this most beautimous fall weather....My daughters and I had a delightful day today, they took me out to enjoy desert and coffee at the historical district. Wowee! So fun!

We now shall dine on Chicago pizza artfully made by my 27 year old daughter, hope to post that recipe one day on thats-italian.blogspot.com along with my 25 year old's molasses cookies and just all kinds of goodness. Yes indeedie.

Edit: 11.10.10 I haven't been able to seize that Molasses cookie or the pizza recipe yet, but I do have some sweet do-able gift ideas there. : )

Enjoy your families and enjoy your homes. Be content in Jesus. Remember ladies, despite popular rumor even by some who are labeled "conservative" ... No we cannot do it all. God did not make us that way. I cannot believe feminists would have us to believe they are liberated? Liberated? Looks like bondage to me. Oh the lies of the enemy of our souls to so many women! Just. Say. No.

It is NOT neanderthal to know a mother's place is in the home! Heaven forbid!

I think many of the lies started during WWII....Women buying the Rosie the Riveter Lie going to the factories to work leaving their children at home. I recently watched a secular series on Turner Classics station, and even back then, the secular documentary was sharing major concerns of latchkey children during WWII as mom left to work. So sad. It's interesting that back then, the secular media had more sense than much of the church today.

~Photo by Classicstock

Speaking of wives and moms at home. Here is a recent series on Time Management. The author is featured on Dave Ramsey. She and her husband have been married for 8 years, have 3 children and lived on $35. weekly for groceries while her husband was in law school, having babies in diapers.

One of my favorite mom blogs is Life As Mom. The author of the blog is very nice, and gives many opportunities for moms to share their thoughts and ideas along with a wealth of recipes and money saving ideas too.

One thing I realized years ago....No lack of a vehicle was worth me leaving my precious little girls to work. What for? To have a car? Ridiculous.

Let's see, some think we are supposed to go to work to afford the nice car to get to work to pay for the upper end house they never are home to live in; leaving their children in part-time orphanages.

Just some serious food for thought. : )

This is all said to encourage moms to think and not buy the lie...it's not ever meant to bring any condemnation to single mothers.

Here is an encouraging site that will encourage single moms, an amazing testimony and ebook: here. This lady was a single mom making only $500. per month.

Be blessed be good! You are made to be wonderful in Christ! ~Amelia

It's a Battle Between Life & Death

2010-10-06T10:27:00.012-05:00

It is a battle between life and death... What side are you on? ~Gianna Jessen, Abortion Survivor.

Please feel free to mute music at the bottom of the page.
Part I

Part II

We have removed our emotions and become harder...

Will you be willing to be hated? ...Or at the end of the day is it all about you ...

~Gianna Jessen, Abortion Survivor

Election day is coming, Sunday's coming too if you know what I mean.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ~Romans 8:6

Let's pray for our nation and vote our Christian conscience. Please remember the innocent babies in the womb who should have reproductive rights and a chance to live without an unjust death sentence. Even a criminal receives a trial.

~Amelia

For my blog with old 40s retro movie suggestions, bargains, old fashioned thoughts and recipes you may enjoy: thats-italian.blogspot

A Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Time

2010-09-27T09:47:00.005-05:00

The Second Coming Compilation by David Wilkerson & Others

This is a most important 15 minutes. Some things to ponder for your soul. Please feel free to mute the music here at the bottom of the page.

BibleTube.tv

.............................................................................................................................................

A Morning Ponder....

Are we free to celebrate our feminity in a God glorifying way? I hope so. The following poem I found this morning. Enjoy and be blessed, may we be free indeed in Jesus. Blameless in our Father.

That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. ~Phillipians 1:10

Free Indeed

The Adornments

Written by Krislyn Shank (age 17)
From: TrousseauChest.net

You say you are free;
Yet you are bound

To pleasure,
To hate,
To the opinions of your peers.

I say I am bound;
Yet I am free
For service,
For love,
For submission to the will of my God.

And in this my bound liberty,
I am far more free
Than you are
In your liberated bondage.

..................................................................................

Hoping to have a wowee ravioli recipe on thats-italian.blogspot.com soon.
: ) Have a sweet week friends. Be blameless, in and out.

Is Our Life a Peaceful Protest?

2010-09-23T13:27:00.021-05:00

Our daughter Marianna...

~Marianna

Photo taken by our daughter, Rebecca

...Marianna showed me this neat site, and one of the articles was:

To Set a Standard or Not

This is really good. What is our standard, what is our foundation? So many these days will follow a herd but not the Word, the Father's love letter to us.

The herd may be going after something that looks good, and it may make us feel included to be included in that herd, but all of that can dissipate if we are not firmly rooted in our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes the herd can recite the Word but it is cold, not in love or concern. It's rules with no relationship with Jesus.

I've noticed that some families who used to look so conservative now look like the mod squad. I wonder if they followed a herd mentality instead of the Word? That is so sad to me when I see that...

Are we following the Lord Jesus, our anchor, and spending time with Him? Do we know the Lord, our Father? Have we strayed from our Father? Much like drifting far away, little by little as we go into the water at the beach. Before we know it, we can't even spot our starting point....how far we drifted without realizing it.

How do we know the Lord? We spend time with Him. We read His love letter to us, the Bible daily. If you know someone, you spend time with them and listen and share with them your intimate feelings and thoughts, our questions and problems in life and our praises too!

Here is a wonderful blog entry by our daughter Michelle on prayer, a much needed message for today.

I ask this question.... Are our very lives a peaceful protest to a crazed world? Does our very life and our demeanor represent Christ?

The way we dress, the way we talk, the spirit of things we watch and listen to, how we treat others...

Oops! Your philosophy is showing!

My daughter Marianna will share at times on modesty. She uses this picture of this celloist playing his beautiful music in the midst of war ruins as a peaceful protest. Pictures paint a thousand words...

We too can be a Peaceful Protest by our lives showing what our philosophy is by the way we dress and act...What picture are we painting?

From the blog of Chris Rice...

Sara (Groves) continued to introduce the song with the story of Vedran Smailovic, a cellist with the Sarajevo String Quartet. In 1992, in the middle of the war in that country, Smailovic witnessed a bomb attack that took the lives of 22 of his neighbors standing in a breadline at a bakery. In protest of the chaos, hatred, killing, and stupidity of war, the cellist immediately brought out his cello, sat in a chair in the middle of the crater, and filled the air with beautiful music for 22 days (one day for each person killed on that spot).

As Sara told this story every night, she emphasized the importance of BEAUTY as a protest in the face of all that is wrong in the world. While bombs were still exploding and sniper fire rang through the street, a lone cellist risked his own life, and protested the ugliness by holding up beauty in its face.

The ideal still matters, even when reality does not reflect it. Love conquers hate. Light pushes back dark. Beauty matters.

Some people can't see God unless a Bible verse is included. They are blind.

~Chris Rice

Here is the song Sara Groves wrote about this Peaceful Protest:

Why it Matters ~Sara Groves

Sit with me and tell me once again
Of the story that's been told us
Of the power that will hold us
Of the beauty, of the beauty
Why it matters

Speak to me until I understand
Why our thinking and creating
Why our efforts of narrating
About the beauty, of the beauty
And why it matters

Like the statue in the park
Of this war torn town
And it's protest of the darkness
And the chaos all around
With its beauty, how it matters
How it matters

Show me the love that never fails
The compassion and attention
Midst confusion and dissention
Like small ramparts for the soul
How it matters

Like a single cup of water
How it matters

Show and Tell Time...

We really enjoy the Duggar Family and purchased their book after two of our daughters had checked it out from the library. This is such a great book, there are cute recipes, their house plans and most of all, poignant thoughts of how the Lord has dealt with them in their personal lives. For me, it has been a bit of a support group in a book. So refreshing to me. My husband and I were reading it and it was such a renewal for our souls....

The book:

The Duggar's: 20 and Counting

Christian Books.com has nice pricing for a new copy as well.

Here is a question in the book the Duggar family is often asked:

Q: Seeing how you all dress so much alike, I'm wondering how the children in your family are allowed to expres their individuality.

A: We always laugh when a question like that comes in! As one of my sisters said, "Mom, when we go out to an event somewhere, we often see groups of teenagers who are all dressed alike -- sometimes they're all in black, or they're all wearing jeans, or they're all wearing the same kind of T-shirt. Sometimes they all have nose rings and tattoos!" We're just like them; all of us Duggars wear similar kinds of clothes. But instead of being influenced by peer pressure, we're guided by our family's standards of modesty and what we read in the Bible.

~Jessa Duggar, age sixteen

Let's Wrap it Up...

I would like to add to the Beauty how about you? : )

I hope you enjoy this additional Sara Groves song as well...
(feel free to mute the music on the bottom of this page)

Let's add to add to the Beauty...

May our lives be a Peaceful Protest unto the Lord.

Hope to add to beauty on thats-italian.blogspot.com soon, maybe a new recipe or something? Have a blessed week! ~Amelia

P.S. For a nice booklet that hits the nail on the head on the subject of modesty, we suggest this booklet: The Look: Does God Really Care What I Wear?

Just Give Me Jesus

2010-09-09T13:47:00.012-05:00

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

~II Chronicles 16:9a

In this day and age even in the homeschool realm, it can be grievous when examining what has happened through the years. Many Homeschool Hearts for the Lord have been traded for the arena of academia, a badge of busyness, the world and selfish gain for many.

It's our choice, which path will we take? Every day is a journal page. What will we compose? It's so easy to become immersed in what is around us, and not check in with the Father on things.

Many have even moved to pet doctrines instead of the simple gospel.

There may even be times when we say the lovely, sweet name of Jesus and we are looked upon as a fanatic by the Pharisaical.... This is a frightening reality and symptom today of what has happened to hearts.

Will we stand for Jesus?

Who do you say Jesus is?

What is our heart? Are our hearts divided?

The Lord's eyes search to and fro....Looking for a perfect heart.

I just loved this video with Anne Graham Lotz and others....I thought it was so beautiful. I was looking for the words to her talk last week, Just Give Me Jesus and I came across this beautiful video. I hope you enjoy it too, the conference is over and done with but I think you will be ministered to just the same.

Just give me Jesus...

(Please feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page)

I can't get Him out of my mind....And I can't get Him out of my heart...

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but found they couldn't stop Him...

What are you looking for?
Who are you looking for?

As Mary said to the gardener....
Just give me Jesus and everything will be alright....

Just Give Me Jesus.

And now for a good old retro sermon, just as timely for today as it was then in the 50s.

Billy Graham Retro Sermon from the 1950s.

Even in the 50s only eight missionary candidates out of 100 were spending daily prayer time. I doubt very seriously it would be any better today. It's interesting that the Communists have more dedication to their "gospel" than many Christians.

Let's remember our homes are our first ministry. : )

We listened to this sermon a couple of weeks ago in our homechurch. You can find wonderful sermons like this on SermonIndex.net. My husband subscribes to the sermonindex weekly podcasts. This Billy Graham sermon was one of those podcasts.

It's been a while since I've been able to blog much, we are terribly overloaded lately trying to build a house in the country. Thank you for the kind comments on past posts, I appreciate them so.

God bless you all, ~Amelia

P.S. I do hope to put a wonderful recipe up soon our oldest daughter made for us on thats-italian.blogspot.com

Time To Wake Up Compilation

2010-08-23T19:13:00.007-05:00

Excellent Message, 10 Minutes.

BibleTube.tv

"Even if you have to bury your theology Sir, just bury it tonight and get right with God"

Please feel free to mute music at bottom of page.

An Important Message for All...

2010-07-14T11:57:00.012-05:00

Yesterday hubby and I were getting ready to leave to go out for a date and we had the radio on....Focus on the Family came on and lo and behold the guest was one of my all time faves, Dr. Richard Swenson! I jumped for joy like a child when my favorite Christmas special was coming on! Dr. Swenson is the author of Margin. If you haven't read Margin I would definitely recommend this book.

Dr. Swenson is a medical doctor who has a message of simplicity and truly enjoying life to the fullest for the Lord. His book has helped me greatly in the past decade in keeping the proper perspective in life in general.

So many are bolting here and there, seeking this and that, the things they seek can even be good things...But even too much of a good thing is not always a good thing. I doubt many people on their deathbeds will say,

"Wow, I wish I had that new boat, or I wish I had caught those shoes on sale or.....

I'm so joyful my children saw that my focus was on academics before the sweet things of the Lord so everyone will know how smart we were..."

NO. We will be concerned or should be considered with the Eternal and how much quality time we spent with our families.

If nothing else you must hear this message, make sure it's the broadcast for July 13, 2010
Living with the End in Mind.
By Dr. Richard Swenson

(Please feel free to mute the music on my player at the bottom of the page)

I noticed this is part II. So obviously there must be a Part I on the 12th. : )

Hope you all will enjoy this series as much as I am. If you think you are too busy to listen to this message then you probably especially need to listen to it. ; ) Everyone please take the time to listen, you won't regret it. : )

Have a blessed week, stay sweet keep that margin in place. Let's measure things by Eternity.

Feel free to visit me too at thats-italian.blogspot for poignant thoughts that represent Dr. Swenson's message pretty well from my life as well as a wonderful Swedish cake recipe from an old friend. Hope to be adding a new entry there soon.... I'm pondering posting my mother in law's Italian Wedding Ring cookie recipe. We just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. : )

This is an Emergency...Father We Will Lead Them Home.

2010-06-24T19:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday my daughter (16) and I were riding in the car together sharing buddy time on the way to her pointe lessons...and this song came on, a cd she likes by Leeland. This song just struck my heart in a major way like never before. I feel like our country is in an emergency from so many angles...

What is our passion? Is it Jesus?

From our Father flows living life. We must be connected with the Father to receive that life....spending time with Him. To know His heart we must spend that time with Him. In order to keep focused on the Father without distractions being totally tuned into Him and His spirit we must be focused on Him, listening to Him. Say no to busyness, say yes to Jesus and the Peace He so freely gives us...Share the peace and love with others, the checkers at the store etc. and please don't forget your local nursing home, the nursing home is just one place that is a much forgotten and very important mission field.

(Please feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page.)

After her pointe lesson our daughter gave the cd to her Christian ballet teacher to consider songs such as this one for the upcoming recital.

Loving others making our religion true religion as the Bible describes...that is the best homeschool ever. : )

For some light hearted happenings, along with poignant recipe reminisces, and a genuine recipe for an oldtime Swedish Cake, you may enjoy one of my other blogs at: thats-italian.blogspot.com

Hope everyone is having a sweet week. Keep looking to Jesus! : )

Need Parenting Encouragement?

2010-05-29T10:07:00.019-05:00

Great Encouragement for stay at home Moms...

The sermon I have posted here was on this week and I thought it was wonderful.

Moms, we have a high calling. Let's not allow the culture and society to dictate to us what is important, don't buy the lie. We may have to stand alone even in the church at times. I would venture to say even in homeschool support groups where convictions are very different we may have to stand alone many, many times. Make sure and remind your children that they too may need to stand alone at times.

You are not alone though, you have the Lord by your side.

The most beautiful hands are not the well manicured, they are the hands who have loved their children and with joy and contentment washed the dishes, in joy and contentment showed by example the art of homemaking, eager to learn homemaking skills and pass these skills and traditions on to their children no matter how imperfect their skill may be.

To listen with kind listening ears and heart, this is the calling of a mother. If you're not a sensitive person by nature please pray you will become one in order to hear with your heart the needs of your children. Oh Lord give us sensitive parents, sensitive to their children's hearts. Sometimes I will notice young people who seem so cold, so full of themselves and many times I will observe one or both of the parents are also full of themselves as well.

The gift of homemaking and mothering are the best things, certainly not the least even though the world may say otherwise. Whose voice are we listening to?

Remember the narrow less trodden path to the Lord, let's always view things in perspective to the Lord not popular opinion.

Enjoy, and please be encouraged and blessed:
Biblical Principles for Parenting

For some wonderful wholesome entertainment suggestions very appropriate for this week feel free to come visit my other blog at: thats-italian.blogspot

EDIT 6.29.10: I have a great recipe for a Swedish Pineapple cake on the above link as well. : )

You may also enjoy this book as an interesting encouragment: The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

Be blessed, have fun making beautiful music in your home... ~Amelia

Remember our wonderful vets who gave their all. God bless America. God bless our vets and soldiers and may God be with them always. May we hold our country up in prayer.

Seek. His. Face.

2010-05-24T17:07:00.003-05:00

God wants a people who... Seek. His. Face.

Well, well worth the listen...

Seek My Face by Richard Owen Roberts
Description: Richard Owen Roberts speaks of the lofty and majestic God that we are to seek with all our hearts. He paints a tremendous picture of man and how seeking after God is an humbling task. This is an all important subject and worthy of a listen. "God dwells with those who are broken and contrite." "God holds the proud in heart at arms length."

This sermon-great classic is found from recommended sermons on sermonindex.net

Precious- Red Skelton on The Pledge of Allegiance

2010-05-14T11:47:00.011-05:00

This is delightful...and sobering, oh my how far we have gone as a country.
Oh American Church, awake from your slumber. Some may say or think..."Oh I love God but I love the world too." Let's love God and hate sin. Some may think they may know better and try to defy God even in seemingly small ways but that is like jumping out of a window, thinking they may defy gravity.

Let's love God and others.

I received this dandy from media causes.

Edit. 5.21.10: I have a an easy family Italian recipe posted on thats-italian.blogspot Enjoy!

God is in the Arts, and Manners too!

2010-05-03T19:27:00.017-05:00

Recently our youngest daughter, Rebecca attended a class for photography, one of which she greatly enjoyed and gleaned so much from by the way...A Christ centered photography class. Praise God for those sweet young teachers who lived their faith out before the students. Oh that we would have more Christians in the Arts today, those who will stand for faith, modesty and what is right and good unabashedly. We do not have to compromise our faith. God made the Arts. We should glorify Him in the Arts!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom right? That is what my Bible tells me and from watching and living life, I can testify to the truth in that! : )

The week before Rebecca left for her classes, my dad had sent her a notebook she had left at his home....To me? A thank you note was in timely and swift order before Rebecca was to leave for her classes out of town. My dad is 80 years old and really can't see as well as he once did. Those sparkling blue eyes have macular degeneration and I know it was a labor of love for him to promptly get to the post office with her notebook.

My dad has written a handwritten note in response to Rebecca's little thank you letter to him... And I just loved it. I loved the respect he exhorted her to have.

Here is a very small excerpt of the letter as follows....

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for the letter. Are you going to San Antonio by yourself?

If you go to the Alamo remember it is still a church and I think it was 187 men died there in 1836 fighting...

I was so blessed by the respect my father exhorted Rebecca to have at the tourist filled mission. In this age of baseball caps at the dinner table... The national anthem being sung, many times we are hardpressed to find a hand on a heart. Even when the American flag goes by in a parade, it's very few who even know to put their hand over their heart...I find his loving grandfatherly exhortation refreshing.

You know, social graces and manners are very important as I'm sure you'll agree and it has been said, that good manners are simply putting other people first and making them feel at ease and valued. As Christians, shouldn't this be the most important thing in teaching our children besides the utmost importance of a personal relationship with the Lord?

Manners are important, they help others to feel appreciated and give us self confidence in a good and godly way.

I hope to share soon some of the tips from my father's manners book I now have from when he was in private military school... Oh the tales he tells of those days! The young military school men crossing the Missippi river in dress uniform, white gloved to attend the party at the girl's school there. Oh my.

I also look forward to seeing the wonderful handwritten correspondence that will start between Rebecca and my dad.

Let's expect much in the way of courtesy and do much, let's put others first, let's not allow people to feel used, let's bless them with appreciation without motive. Isn't that what Jesus would do? Sounds simplistic? It is. : )

People may not remember what you said but they will remember how you made them to feel. ~My Dad

A nice tried & true recipe plus easy cotton napkins you can make on my thats-italian.blogspot
Feel free to stop by...Stay sweet, remember...Our actions or lack of, will affect others good or bad. Let's be found blameless. : )

'Made For Each Other' (1939) In Entirety...

2010-04-20T13:37:00.024-05:00

Oh goodness, I see the clips of Made For Each Other (1939) from my previous entry have been deleted...However, I have found it in entirety on another site! Here it tis, I do hope you will enjoy this sweet movie.

Here is the direct site for Made For Each Other in entirety. Enjoy!

Many of these old movies are so wonderful, these old wholesome movies are what our entire family, including our four daughters, ages 16 to 27 enjoy and are used to. In our family we appreciate the older movies greatly. Now days, most of the movies are not fit for a Christian to see as I'm sure you would probably agree. : ) Give your family a treat, what they deserve, take your family back to the better days. Just because our present society dishes out their sin so brazenly doesn't mean we have to take it and be defiled by it. As I'm sure you'll agree, we don't have to buy into the ....They just do that now a-days.... way of thinking. : )

For recent sentimental thoughts, easy crafty ideas, and 'Change Begins at the Dinner Table' feel free to visit too at:
thats-italian.blogspot.
Keep it sweet, blessings to all. ~Amelia

Made For Each Other (1939)

2010-04-06T10:07:00.023-05:00

I love this movie, this was one of the first old movies I purchased years ago and it's still one of my favorites, Jimmy Stewart plays the new father. This scene depicts the new couple as their baby boy is in the hospital fighting for his innocent life. Shown here is the mother and her mother in law sharing such a sweet moment after being at odds that are many times very typical. At the end of the clip, the mother in desperation as she sees her sweet baby laying in an oxygen tent...she asks quietly, desperately within herself what can she do....

EDIT: Videos posted here were discontinued. Please see above entry (April 20) for a direct site with entire movie! : )

You will hear this mother call upon God to help their little baby...

Most parts of the movie are not that sobering but lighthearted, so many moments in this young married couple's life I can relate to as the couple struggles financially, my husband is in business for himself and oh how I can relate to so much of their struggles.

No matter what Christian faith you are this should touch your heart. I try not to claim any particular Christian faith, I try to stay with the Bible, and prayer time in communion with the Lord. In our particular area of the country the division can be disheartening. There are so many 'religious experts' it seems, blogs being done etc. touting theology instead of Jesus. Oh it ought not be.

The greatest commandment of all:

Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

I hope everyone is having a sweet day and week.
If you're in the mood for sentimental thoughts....you may enjoy my thats-italian.blogspot too. Blessings!

Beware of Busyness. God's Plans? Your Plans?

2010-02-15T19:07:00.000-06:00

I was recently asked to write a prolife article for an online magazine...in the article the Lord gave me the words and memories of my life as the moral decline began in my little girl's world back in 1967. I'm hoping to post it here soon.

As I wrote the article I realized something, something very frightening.

What? I see the same moral decline in homeschool and church settings. It's not easy to find homeschoolers or church goers sold out to the Lord.

Not all homeschoolers are like my friend who lives in another area of the country...She enjoys her children, taking turns reading in front of the fireplace and enjoying cooking together and living life for Jesus in every day life settings.

One of the saddest and most disappointing days in recent years was sitting alone at a large Christian homeschool support group activity several years ago as I observed and listened to a number of moms talking of dissecting little animals, college transcripts and how wonderful it was that homeschoolers were more open-minded and they thought perhaps Ayn Rand was a Christian...

Not one mention of a personal Lord was heard the entire time.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quiet and and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, "No, we will get our help from Egypt." ~Isaiah 30:15-16a

For homeschool and church going moms, dads or anyone calling themselves a Christian...

May I humbly warn that if your zip-up planner has become of more importance than living the Bible, there may be a problem of the heart. If you are doing the planning and asking God to bless your plans instead of asking Him for The Plan it will be all in vain.

If excellence in essay writing is more important than teaching your children to take the time to write a sweet, heartfelt thank you note than perhaps the mark and goal of a Godly homeschool has been missed. If you as a mom are too busy to personally wish an ill friend well, to offer prayers and let them know you have offered prayers and care for them, I would venture to say, something is wrong.

Perhaps you are so busy running to church services you have no time for "menial" things as encouraging people that don't attend your church. Is your churchianity a busy-ness that only mimics holiness, in reality, a pharisee-ism?

One of my greatest regrets is not spending more time with my aging grandmas, not bothering to write them a sweet thank you note or letter that they would have treasured. Yes, I did write some but I was not near on top of things as I should have been. I see things my grandma gave me that I did not respond to, and my heart breaks, it breaks. Yes, I was busy, I still am with things here in my home, but I am learning I had better sit myself down and do the things God would have me to do.

How many times did I miss out on visiting my grandma when she was ill because of Sunday church service. Now I live with that sad regret. How lonely my two grandmas must have felt and how unappreciated they must have felt when I didn't thank them for little things they would send my way, it breaks my heart to this day. Do you know that some of my Italian Grandma's most prized possessions were those little drawings and shadow boxes I had made for her as a little girl??? Given to me, still carefully wrapped in clear plastic as she did her most precious things...they were given me...after she passed away.....After she passed away.

Guess what? I wrap my prized possessions now in plastic wrap too....I do the same things...

How do you treat those you consciously and sub-consciously deem as unimportant at the moment? Are ministry opportunities only for the resume' for the National Honor Society or for ministry school credentials? Where is the heart in your home or homeschool? Would people want to attend your church by the way you are treating them? Is Jesus and intimate relationship with Him lifted and stressed? ...Or do you lift up pet doctrine to the point of ugliness. The same ugliness that put Jesus on the cross.

I like what David Wilkerson eluded to in his recent blog... Do you really think your light is going to shine in your exclusive church cliques?

Soon to come, I hope to share in incremental pieces, the article the Lord graciously gave to me...Roe Vs. Wade and What Has Become of Us?

It's time for me to sign out...I have an email I need to get off soon to respond to a lovely young lady, I'm learning to see these things as a most important privilege from the Father. Can I be trusted to minister to her and lift her up in Jesus? I hope and pray so. I hope and pray so.

You may not read perfect blogs here but they will be from the heart. I can guarantee you that. : )

Until then keep things real, focus on the home and what is truly important for Eternity and that goes for me double in this blogging world. Live with no regrets. Come on over and visit me at my other abode too, thats-italian.blogspot, and enjoy some coffee over yonder....Plenty of smiles and wholesome entertainment coupled with a pretty good recipe or two, all kinds of stuff to make ya smile. : )

Elisabeth Elliot has it Right...

2010-02-14T22:47:00.000-06:00

Once again Mrs. Elisabeth Elliot has it right...

Are Three Hearts Better Than Two? ...Me thinks YES! : )

(You may pause music at bottom of page)

Oh this is my heartcry! We have four daughters, ages 16 to 27. Believe me, according to our life journey so far, the protection offered and given even through heartache at times... Elisabeth has it quite right.

Remember, anything great and glorifying to God is so worth the sacrifice of going against the culture.

May God be glorified...

Our four daughters....Ages 19, 24, & 27...Photography is usually done by our youngest age 16, pictured in bottom photo. You may enjoy her photography blog here: Poetic Capture.

If you would like, please feel free to also check out our daughters' online store and blog: Bellissima Modesty Boutique.

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became,
And that same object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass and white and red morning glories, and white and red clover,
and the song of the phoebe-bird,
And the Third-month lambs and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal and the cow's calf.....

~Walt Whitman

Hope you enjoy my thoughts and ponderings here...As you may see, I love my family.

Take care all. Signing out from your blogging friend, wife and mother...that hopeless romanticist and merciful artist whose heart becomes grieved many a time in this ol' world, but knows where her trust remains...The Lord Jesus Christ.

P.S. Please visit my other blog too: http://thats-italian.blogspot.com/ ...For fun tips, good ol' 40s movie suggestions and little somethings that will make you smile, perhaps make you cry but will encourage you. : )

A Call to Christian Men (And Women)

2010-02-01T19:07:00.000-06:00

I thought this was a nice sampling of some of some of our favorite preachers. You can also find these men on http://www.sermonindex.net/ as well as the site mentioned, http://www.loudvoice.org/ ...which seems to be a nice site I recently discovered with many wonderful and edifying resources.

Please feel free to mute the music on my player at the bottom of the page here before listening.

Our day is a time of desperation and a tremendous need for revival. When we look at the condition of the so called "church" it is a fearful reality...

Many of you may see the moral climate we are walking in, I think you'll agree, it's truly the Eternal that truly matters. Does this thing or that thing have anything to do with Eternity? In our homes, in our everyday sphere of life, what we talk about is what concerns us....What concerns us today? What has our heart?

What are we putting before our eyes? What are we allowing into our homes, and into our hearts? Is this thing lifting us up? Is this thing pulling us down? Does this thing bring Peace to our home, an atmosphere of praise to the Lord? Or does it add confusion?

Let's care about what may offend God and let's make sure and do what He loves, loving others. Let's show care for each other. Brothers, sisters, if we cannot even show common courtesy, compassion and thoughtfulness for others. If we cannot even thank people or show gratitude... What has become of us?

Let's not be found anywhere or doing anything where we would not want to be found or doing when Jesus comes back.

What frets our heart today? What excites our hearts today?

And let's remember, people may not remember what we say, but they will remember how we made them to feel.

Blessings to All,

~Amelia

I have a favorite soup recipe, an oh-so-fun slipper craft and oh-so-magnificent 40s movie selections and more you might enjoy on my other blog, come on over, enjoy! thats_italian.blogspot

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

2010-01-22T09:37:00.000-06:00

This is a re-run of an article I wrote for a dear friend's magazine last year. I present to you:
Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

(This article I have written here was recently published in an online publication, I was going to post in increments but decided to post it in entirity and simplify a bit.)

The year? 1967.

There she was, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Fischer. The typical 60s flip hair-do, orange dress with white polka-dots, matching shoes, a sunshine face was Mrs. Fischer. It was spelling test day and we first graders were attentively listening to each word as the sun streamed into the bright classroom, you could hear a pin drop.

The spelling word at that moment? "Baby".

She said the word, baby with a smile so radiant as she placed her hands upon her stomach, discreetly yes, but yet to me? A most sensitive and perceptive little first grade girl? I knew exactly what was up. Mrs. Fischer was going to have a baby. Yes! I just bet she's having a baby! Sure enough, the end of our first grade school year was ended rather tumultuously with one substitute teacher after another and I was never to see Mrs. Fischer again...she was home with her baby. She chose the best thing, to stay home with her baby. Even though it was hard for me as a little girl and I missed Mrs. Fischer greatly, I knew she was doing the right thing, enjoying motherhood and saying phooey with the rest.

The moral climate of those years were changing; just the year before, we Kindergartners all said our prayers with little bowed heads over saltine crackers and orange juice for snack time.

"God is great, God is good, thank you for our daily food. Amen."

I remember the children, us little girls in our sweet cotton dresses, I remember the little boys in their cotton button up shirts tucked in trousers with leather lace up shoes, hair parted on the side neatly. No matter what economic class we were from, we were neatly, modestly and sweetly dressed.

As that first grade year progressed, it was noticeable to me that the prayers over our food had mysteriously vanished. Time was changing and things seemed to be darkening to this little girl, I could feel it in my bones and most sadly in my innocent heart.

I remember sitting in front of my grandparents' home they ran their fishing business from, sitting upon the steps on a large, vast pier as the sailboats and shrimpboats would come in on the sparkling bay for the evening, In my little girl solitude, I would hear clanging at the shipyard not far away. My Italian grandma enjoyed reading and she usually had some Life and McCall's magazine around....Finding those Betsy McCall paper dolls in the McCall's magazine was a huge treat, kind of like finding a really good treasure in the bottom of a Cracker Jacks box....Every now and then I'd look over her Life magazines as I'd sip on my soda and quietly munch chips as my bare feet felt the texture of those wooden steps...There in those magazines I would see in living color the culture changing for the worst, the waif-look model, Twiggy, presented as the norm for body types, the brash fashions with go-go boots and fishnet stockings, me thinking my legs didn't look much like Twiggy's and where was Shirley Temple? Stories about members of that band called the Beatles...and I knew. I knew. I knew in my little girl's heart that things were going down fast and a darkness was coming over our country, and what was worse, this great country, America the Beautiful was letting the darkness pour in. This country of ours who had lent it's hand to my Italian and German immigrant grandparents who were now proud American citizens, my father and my uncle and great uncles who proudly served this country and made something of themselves. But Joltin' Joe had left and gone away, it was most apparent to me back then.

Years would go by and in the liturgical church our family attended I was surprised to see the new priest walking down the hall with a Hawaiian shirt on one Wednesday afternoon as I attended a catechism class...He was so different than the sweet priest who braided my long hair just the year before in his white collar whose resemblance and mannerisms were something of a Bing Crosby to me. Sadly, The Bing Crosby priest had left and gone away too. Now we had the mod guy with the long hair and the Hawaiian shirt. The same mod guy who had our church sing "Imagine" by John Lennon in a Sunday service. The song that starts with... Imagine there is no Heaven.

The years were eking by, man's knowledge was ignorantly being placed over any knowledge of the Lord in this new modern era this country seemed so proud of. The tower of Babel was once again being built it seemed.

The year. 1973.

Man had been on the moon, and I was sitting in classes with those very astronaut's kids, some of them later becoming friends of mine. Nixon was becoming president and our junior high looked like the gates of hell had been turned loose in it. Long gone were the sweet dresses and little boys with lace up shoes and neat hair. In place of it all were mostly hip-hugging jeans, guys with brushes stuffed in their back pockets to brush their long hair with and some dating at the age of 12 and all that went with that. I had found a small group of sweet girls to be friends with, we would spend our time drawing people, horses, animals and the like in our quiet world away from the hellish life we were surrounded by.

That year, 1973. There was no teacher saying the word, baby with such sunshine smiles. No. That was the year the country decided it would start seeing the babies as "choices". It was the year of Roe verses Wade. It was the year they turned the baby, the innocent child into a choice.

But where was the baby's choice in the matter?

Life went on and the hellish atmosphere didn't stop much, in fact, it intensified into high school, heavy kissing in the halls, smoking was fine and allowed as long as it was outdoors, you could smell an occasional whiff of marijuana in the breeze as you walked outdoors to class. And now it wasn't just the students who were in the mire but many of the teachers too as they tried to impose liberal beliefs on us in what most would think was a model high school. For many, those who had no Christian training at home, the liberal agenda quickly stuck and entrapped. For few of us, we fought it like mad trying our best to hold on to what was right and good. We tried so hard to hang on to the beliefs we were brought up with as contraception was brazenly taught to us in mixed coed classes adding to the confusion. Joltin' Joe had left and gone away. Where was the real choice? Where was my choice to live a Godly moral life free and with honor as these liberal ideas were being forced? How many little unborn babies were murdered at the core of this new "freedom" - on the altar of "choice"?

Those who were supposed to be open minded, were they really open to the choice of the baby? Are they now really open to Christian principles and moral absolutes? Perhaps the lack of absolutes is really an absolute they say they don't believe in?

Let's think...

At the very least, if prostitution is illegal, and that involves a person's body shouldn't that help us to see abortion for what it is, that there is another body involved? A most innocent body? If a pregnant woman is murdered and it's considered double homicide, shouldn't that help us to see what is transpiring here and the wickedness and cruel torture involved in these barbaric acts? As suspecting tests are administered as to the unborn baby's health, do we to play God and say who is worthy to live and who is not? Heaven forbid!

Where was the outcry then and now? Perhaps part of it was the fact some of us then were so embarrassed by what was going on we didn't tell our parents what was transpiring in the schools. Perhaps we noticed our parents on the passive side when Roe vs. Wade transpired and people seemed more interested in Watergate than living babies. Perhaps we were becoming some pretty mixed up kids. Who wouldn't be? Some of us were desperately trying to hold that rope while double standards were at play. Our relatives coming back from college never the same with lost convictions. Our teachers who we were taught to respect, shoving liberal ideas contrary to the Bible down at us.

What happened to me? By the time I graduated high school, of course I had been marred in various ways by it all, we can't place our kids in Alaska and expect to grow a palm tree. Please don't be deceived on that, be careful where you place your children and under whose authority whether it be the school or the church, be careful of the companionship that surrounds your children no matter what the age. I don't think the Bible is kidding when it reads, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20. Homeschooling is a wonderful option by the way, we've homeschooled for over 20 years and it has been a huge blessing to us.

A year or so after high school I was to meet my husband to-be at an Italian wedding, he had recently dedicated his life to the Lord. We've been married for almost 30 years now, serving the Lord together. We've been blessed with four lovely daughters.

The year. 2010.

What happened to "Jane Roe"? Her real name, Norma McCorvey; a Christian now, she is a vocal anti-abortion advocate. She never had the abortion fought for in Roe vs. Wade giving birth to a baby girl, giving the baby life choosing adoption.

She said:

"I think abortion is wrong. I think what I did with Roe vs. Wade was wrong, and I just have to take a pro-life position on [abortion]" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

McCorvey was . . . haunted by simple things like empty swings in a playground. "They were swinging back and forth but they were all empty. And I just totally lost it, and I thought 'Oh my God. The swings are empty because there's no children, because they've all been aborted'" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

~ "Jane Roe" Norma McCorvey

One thing I knew when I turned my life completely to Christ and started understanding scripture more; and that is that I wanted to be serious about my walk with Christ. God forbid that my children would see passivity or compromise in me, when it came to a loving Christian walk or when it came to our stand for the babies. The babies who have no choice.

Our kids know, I hope they know and see what is important by our actions by what we do. Do we stand for what is right? Or do we play it safe and not rock the boat forgetting that what we do for the least of these we have done it unto Him? Do we put them in the same environment some of us were placed in? ...God forbid.

What can we do? Be educated on the facts. When allowing a doctor or any medical professional whether it be a midwife, surgeon or nutritionist to attend to your needs ask them where they stand on abortion. This will reflect on their ethics in how they will treat you. It amazes me, the people who say they believe in what they call choice (the prodeath agenda), but fail to think about the end result of it when carried through. What they may perceive as inconvenience will affect them in old age. Just look at the people who were passive about the healthcare bill, ignoring the abortion portion of it but then suddenly when they noticed euthanasia in the bill, they became most concerned.

Prayerfully participate in the life marches. Vote prolife! Support prolife candidates! That is the very least we can do. Take that stand. There are simple things you can do such as display a life bandor wear a precious feet pin, committing to pray over the lives of these little unborn babies. If you are a stay at home mom, be the best stay at home mom and wife you can be. Put your all into your home and make that home a peaceful place where the Lord dwells, make your home a peaceful sanctuary and refuge. Give your children the real deal, not synthetic Christianity...If you give them the real deal they will recognize the counterfeit easily. As a stay at home mom you can also write letters, and have your children write letters on behalf of the unborn to the proper officials. Pray together daily as a family for the unborn that the scourge of abortion would end.

There are many prolife pregnancy centers that would greatly value your time depending on your season of life, there are many in need of counselors, people to organize their maternity and baby clothes rooms, just do simple cleaning. Most clinics will appreciate gently used maternity clothes or baby items. Perhaps monetary gifts to keep those clinics running with supplies etc. And remember, many lobbyists are fighting the fight, many organizations fund these lobbyists working hard for the rights of our unborn.

Commit to living a godly life. Shine light to others, don't marginalize the Christian walk with compromise allowing darkness in. Let's be found blameless as we stand for the unborn.

That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. ~Philippians 1:10

As I trod this highway of life, our entire family has participated in prayerful pickets, counseling and general support of our unborn babies. Our daughters are active in prolife activities as well. My oldest daughter at 27 is a counselor at a prolife clinic as she also shares a message on abstinence and the gospel of Christ to those who come into the clinic. She is well qualified to do so, a living testimony at 27, she's single, saving her first kiss for the altar. Parents, expect much! Pray hard, do hard things for Christ! He is Faithful!

Please remember. It is a Child not a Choice. I believe little unborn babies should also have the choice of what to do with their bodies. One day as you grow older there may be others who take your choice away. Remember, your thinking now, your stand now for the unborn and all innocent life, may affect you when you grow older. It may affect you in less than ideal situations.... Just ask Terri Schiavo's family. See her timeline here.

If only wombs had windows and we could hear the silent screams of the babies. Some are worried about torture when abortion is the ultimate torture, and to an innocent baby! Oh please don't be as the church once was in Nazi Germany as the schools changed and indoctrinated the students and most said nothing. Please don't be like the churches then as the boxcars with innocent Jewish grandparents, parents and children were on the way to the death camps screaming desperately for help, and the churches sang their hymns all the louder to cover what they perceived as uncomfortable noise. Please hear the screams of the unborn with your heart!

If you have been deceived and have been affected by this atrocity and holocaust this country calls choice, please know God will forgive a repentant heart and He is there arms open wide. He can make beauty out of ashes.

One day your little grandchildren or great grandchildren may ask:

"Where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?"

What will we say about the year 2010?

What will you say on judgement day as the Lord asks you what did you do to the least of these?

Hear are some facts and helpful links about the unborn:

Partial Birth Abortion

Diary of an Unborn Baby starting at Day 1.

National Right to Life (a wealth of information)

Who is Funding Abortion? Let's be aware of who we are giving God's money to.

Precious Feet

Do Precious Feet Save Lives? (very interesting testimonies)

Get the pin

Get a life band

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

~Proverbs 24:11-12

Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. ~Matthew 25:40b

You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139

Feel free to visit me also at thats-italian.blogspot for family friendly movie classics, many are gems from the 40s and sweet recipes to make you smile.

Today - A Real March for Freedom, for Innocent Lives

2010-01-18T12:14:00.000-06:00

Planned Parenthood is seeking to provide the 2nd largest abortuary in the world in Houston, Texas.

Tiny Human Feet
(10 weeks after conception)

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page to hear the video clearly.

http://bound4life.com/ Join in prayer. Get a life band, make the covenant for the unborn.

The story of the tiny feet pin. Get the tiny feet pin to share your care for the unborn.

Do the Precious (tiny) feet pins save lives? You betcha! Read testimonies here.

Houston We Have a Problem.

http://www.massmediamail.com/durarealidad/ WARNING: This contains graphic images so be aware of that and make sure children are out of the room. Eduardo Verastugui the star of Bella also gives a most beautiful testimony.

http://www.prolife.com/ This site is a wealth of information.

http://www.nrlc.org/ What is partial birth abortion? This site will answer your question.
See illustration here. These illustrations are medically accurate.

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? ~Proverbs 24:11-12

Will our grandbabies ask, where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?

May our children know we were and are standing for the unborn by our physical actions as well as on our knees in prayer. And then we will see our young people also standing for the unborn marching as true Soldiers of Christ for the little innocent babies.

Then we can say as parents, all is well. Homeschooling at best. At best.

Here is a current photo hot off the press: A beautiful sight!

If you like you may stop by my other blog: thats-italian for a rather swell family movie night suggestion. One of the very best ways to serve the Lord is to give our all in our homes, keeping our homes that peaceful sweet haven unto the Lord.

Beware of the Heelots...

2009-12-12T14:07:00.000-06:00

Before you buy that boat, car, or fancy-phone....think about the "Heelots"...

Beware... You may be in danger...

The Heelots may get ya and if you're not careful you may turn into one yourself...Before ya know it! Yes indeed. I've heard reports that the Heelots are especially aggressive this time of year.... Beware. ; )

"Heelots" ...From Meet John Doe.

When they got ya, you've got no more chance than a road rabbit...You're walkin' along, not a nickel in your jeans, you're free as the wind. Nobody bothers you. Hundreds of people pass you by in every line of business. Shoes, hats, automobiles, radios, furniture, everything, and they're all nice loveable people. They let you alone...Then you get ahold of some dough and what happens? All those nice, sweet, lovable people become heelots. A lotta heels! They begin creepin' up on ya, tryin' to sell ya something. They get long claws and they get a stranglehold on ya and ya squirm and ya duck and ya holler and ya try to push 'em away, but you haven't got a chance. They've got ya. The first thing you know, you own things - a car, for instance. Now your whole life is messed up with a lot more stuff. You get license fees and number plates and gas and oil and taxes and insurance and identification cards and letters and bills and flat tires and dents and traffic tickets and motorcycle cops and courtrooms and lawyers and fines - and a million and one other things! And what happens? You're not the free and happy guy you used to be. You've gotta have money to pay for all those things. So you go after what the other fella's got. And there you are - you're a heelot yourself.

(You may want to mute the music at the player at the bottom of the page before viewing clips)

To watch Meet John Doe see Part I in the following clip. All parts are there on youtube in a nice quality...

You can also see the movie in entirity here as well, you may decide what picture quality is best for you.

...Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And he's kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He'll go on keeping it alive for ever and always - for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That's why those bells are ringing...

~The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

Lighthouses, John. Lighthouses in a foggy world.

~ The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

What will we be? A heelot? A John Doe? A lighthouse in a foggy world? I hope we will be a John Doe...that Lighthouse in a foggy world. I especially hope we will be a Christ Bearer...

Remember...We are the Christ Bearers this season...Take the time to be that Christ Bearer to others....The malls, stores and hospitals are full of those thirsty for Jesus...They are looking for the blessed Hope...Take the time, be prepared to share Jesus, smile, keep it real (never canned)...Love, use words and a hug if necessary...Take the time to share Jesus...It's one of the most valuable lessons our children will ever learn...And in some cases it may just be the most valuable lesson our children may teach us.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season, remember it's Christ-mas not Me-mas. : )

For encouraging tips to help us with our homes you may enjoy, and especially if you feel invisible at times? You will be blessed!: http://www.thats-italian.blogspot.com/

Enjoy. Be blessed. Be that Christ Bearer...The World is waiting... Keep the bells ringing......

~Amelia

Teach Us Lord...A Peaceful Protest

2009-12-07T09:27:00.000-06:00

As I went through our bags and boxes of cards and Christmas things I ran across this card, it was a simple Christmas card, one I loved and still do. The verse is simply:

Little baby on the hay,

born to us on Christmas day,

Show us how to live the way

that brings us peace and love.

Merry Christmas

Now contrast that simple little verse to what we have now......Parties for children, youth and even adults with what is supposed to be a simple, fun, white elephant game-gift to trade, priced at 10 dollars and up....Oh my. For our family, that is the price of one normal gift that we as parents may bestow on our children . Oh friends... what has happened?

I wonder what my grandmother would think of that? She often shared of her one doll she would receive for Christmas.

I wonder what my friend who was raised in the 50s is thinking? She had a lovely childhood and shared how a normal Christmas for her was usually a nice robe, a pretty doll and perhaps a neat game or other toy on Christmas morning.

When I was a little girl, stocking stuffers consisted mostly of candy, oranges, and if you were very fortunate, perhaps a skipper doll or a puppet. Now I hear of Chanel...

I wonder what my dad would think?
Roll back your watch to the 1930s...a small town....

Daddy shares of the family that lives in a train caboose during the depression in his little town....The fragrance of orange peel gently warmed by candles on the huge tree at the big log community house as the children there put on a Christmas program... He tells of the young lady with the beautiful voice anointing the atmosphere as she sings....O Holy Night..... My dad as a darling curly blond headed little boy thinks she is the most lovely being ever as he hears and treasures her angelic voice as she stands in her simple cotton dress.... The young lady? She lives in that caboose. These families don't even know they are poor. They have joy and the love of family and friends...They know and understand the wonderment and joy of Christ in that Holy Season.

...What do we have now? What are we hearing? What is this world demanding and dictating of and to us?

...I wonder what Jesus feels and thinks?

I wonder if we should get little Susie the new iPhone now or wait for the second generation to come out with more features?

Oh folks.... Please don't fall into the trap this Christmas. As I see the out of touch price suggestions being suggested for party gift game exchanges and such....oh my heart is grieved. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

What is this excessive spending and wanting, teaching our children and youth?

I don't know what your area of town is like in the way of values, but apparently our area is slipping into the world of bondage when it comes to the excessive consumerism and what is viewed as the normal.

Please be careful.

I'm not writing about taking the wonder or generosity of Christmas from our families...I love Christmas more than anyone, and yes, I love the surprised faces as our daughters open their gifts. But when I see suggestions of ipods and iphones and such for a normal gift, as if it was a bottle of aftershave or cologne it grieves my spirit....When I see white elephant gift price suggestions, being the normal price of a gift that a parent might be giving their children....Or a cherished gift a child may give to their sibling....I have to take a second look and wonder what burden this is putting on families and teaching children and young people.

What happened to the way Christmas used to be? Sitting by the fire, simple, more normal gifts, gifts given and wrapped with love, thoughtfulness and care....Let's get back to a Peaceful Christmas filled with wonderment as we mediate on Christ.

And let's not forget those who are less fortunate this Christmas season, not only in material possesions but those heavy of heart, perhaps those who have lost loved ones, those who need encouragement. It may be in the form of a sweet thoughtful gift or perhaps a tender hug and meaningful conversation...Perhaps both. We can ask God what He would have us to offer Him. Let's be Jesus with skin on to others.

May our homes be a Peaceful protest to the world....

Jesus is the Prince of Peace...

~Amelia

P.S. For more Christmas suggestions please see my other blog with fun & helpful flylady videos and a mighty sweet movie suggestion. My other blog? It can be found here: thats-italian.blogspot.com.

Take a Deep Breath...Simplify

2009-12-01T15:18:00.000-06:00

We all need a portal through which we can find a quieter life, at least occasionally. For too many of us, Christmas is a nightmarish revolving door in which we're spinning faster and faster. But the wiser among us find it a sort of time-warp portal, rotating us from the hustle and bustle of twenty-first century life to the sedate world of a quieter time.

So this year, slow down, look up, breathe deeply, spend less - and simplify, simplify! The way of a calmed Christmas - simplicity.

The 12 Ways of Christmas by David Jeremiah

I hope you enjoyed this quote from what is quickly becoming one of my Christmas book favorites.

Let us all keep Our beautiful, precious Savior first and foremost in our hearts and lives...Sweet Baby Jesus, the greatest Gift of all... His yoke is easy and His burden is light...He is the Savior of the World. He is my glorious Savior; I hope He is yours today too. Pour out your hearts to Him. He is worthy to be praised and adored.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. ~Psalms 62:8

Please see my other blog, http://www.thats-italian.blogspot.com/ for a most wonderful old movie, Meet John Doe. (1941) Enjoy, be blessed! Speaking of our sweet and dear Savior, this movie has a most wonderful unique ending that will have you on the edge of your seat...we most likely would never see or hear the Lord Jesus being glorified in this beautiful manner in the modern secular movies made today.

Blessings to all! ~Amelia

Home Church Sermon: "Right Song, Wrong Dance"

2009-11-22T12:15:00.000-06:00

May I suggest this sermon our family enjoyed just this morning:

Right Song, Wrong Dance by David Wilkerson

November 15, 2009 - Anybody can praise the Lord after the victory is won but there is a song that God is yearning to hear on the testing side. We must get to the point where we say Lord I am not going to allow the devil to harass me and put me into a pit of fear and despair. We must fix our minds on Jesus and take a stand to trust God in every impossible situation. This generation is demanding a song of hope. We are the song of hope in these last days. The song we sing is that God is faithful and He is able to take us through every trial!

You can join Time Square Church LIVE every Sunday at 10 am ET

Also....I have found David Wilkerson's blogspot very encouraging.

See: God's Great Concern Nov. 20. 09.

An interactive timeline of David Wilkerson's life; very interesting and inspiring. This is the man who was called from a small mountain town to the streets of New York City.

"What's the matter with me?" I wondered, impatiently brushing away a tear. Then I looked at the picture more carefully. The boys were all teenagers. They were members of a gang called the Dragons. Beneath the picture was the story of how they had been in Highbridge Park in New York when they brutally attacked and killed a fifteen-year-old polio victim named Michael Farmer.

The story revolted me. It literally turned my stomach. In our little mountain town, such things seemed mercifully unbelievable. Yet I was dumbfounded by the next thought that sprang into my head. It came to me full-blown, as if from somewhere else: Go to New York and help those boys." ~David Wilkerson (1958)

May God be glorified. May we be challenged to be the hands and feet and mouthpiece of Jesus. The heart of Jesus should shine from us. It may not be to gang members but it may simply be to those right around us....Wherever that place is...May God be glorified in my life and yours. We need to be quiet and listen...we must be quiet and listen to hear the voice of God....It's very important that we do that... We must spend time with the Lord to know Him...There is around a 12 inch difference between our heart and our heads...Oh that we might know Him with our hearts.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving week as we enter into the Holy Season.

For holiday entertaining, homemaking & family entertainment suggestions don't forget to check my other blog, thats-italian. Blessings to all!

You Can't Take it With You!

2009-11-15T17:17:00.000-06:00

Oh what a delightful movie this is! You Can't Take it With You. 1938.

Another wonderful movie directed by my fellow Italian, Frank Capra. Frank Capra was born in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy...The exact place my Italian grandfather immigrated from. Actually, the two bear a resemblance to one another and were born several years apart as well, both being immigrants. My grandfather came here to America around 1915.

You have got to enjoy those poignant and meaningful Frank Capra films...It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe, Little Shop Around the Corner and many other movie greats. Frank Capra was conservative in his politics, a very patriotic and proud American and was actually part of an anti-communist movement even later in his life.

This is one of our personal family favorites and as I see the materialism that many are tempted by as the Christmas season approaches, not to mention the misplaced priorities that have swept into our society...Please allow me to suggest...Can't Take it With You (1938) ... Laugh and listen to the heart of this movie. I think you too will be blessed and refreshed.

One of the recurring themes of the movie is:

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin... Matthew 6:28

A very valid life question given by Lionel Barrymore...What are you doing that for?

I too would like to ask many... What are you doing that for?

Part I "You Can't Take it With You"

Part II....I have to laugh and laugh when I see this part, it so reminds me of our home in various ways. Ballet dancing in the background, music studio, mom typing up her book manuscript with their family kitten ever so innocently multi-tasking as a "paper weight"....This movie is wonderful stuff indeed.

I'll let the movie speak for itself....As far as I can tell all parts are on youtube at this time.

Please feel free to mute the music on the bottom of the page here.

Enjoy, be blessed and remember.... K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple sweetie!"

Have a wonderful week, ~Amelia

P.S. I have Esther's Marmalade Cake recipe from the heartwarming Mitford book series by Jan Karon as well as the great Nelson Brothers dance routine on: thats-italian "Fred Astaire once called this performance 'the greatest dance number ever filmed.'"

How Will We be Remembered?

2009-10-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

~Princess Grace of Monaco

I was recently watching Turner Classic Movie channel, many of you who may know me know I love 40s movies....At that time in the 40s there was a love for country and a healthy fear of God as our country went through WWII.

Between two old delightful movies there was a short bio on Grace Kelly by her son. It was so heartwarming to me to hear him tell of his mother sitting next to him as a little boy as they would watch her movies that she had made as a beautiful American actress. She shared as a mother to her little boy, what she was thinking....how she felt during each part in each movie...

Her son quoting the poignant words by Jimmy Stewart touched my heart:

Everyday I saw her it was a holiday of my own....

~Jimmy Stewart, from the eulogy he delivered at the funeral of Princess Grace.

I hope we as mothers or fathers will be remembered much in the same affectionate way in our homes.

Hoping sons and daughters are appreciating loving parents, and remembering not all children or young people have the luxury of living in a loving, Godly home. Hoping parents are appreciating their children and young people realizing not every adult has the luxury of having children.

May we as parents be alert to the character of our children...and never become sleepy to that character nor our own character in our responses to them or others. Let's take time to share our thoughts, our feelings, what we remember....how we felt, how we feel now...how the Lord was used and is used in these times, happy or sad...

Are we reflecting Christ and a true love for others? Real Christianity? Or synthetic churchianity? Is our passion for Jesus or for proving points that don't matter in Light of Eternity? Do our children see us care for souls? Care for people?

One of the most beautiful things I've seen lately is when I see compassion and genuine care shown for others...Images of a younger brother in Christ's hand reaching out to his sister in Christ's heart that is broken or perhaps a little discouraged in a bewildering journey in her life...A most pleasant picture in this mother's mind... That is what it's all about and then couple that with the power of Jesus behind it....There are no words adequate to describe it. That's where it's at. Jesus is there.

Christian tracts are wonderful to give to clerks with a smile and a care... One night this week, I gave one to a clerk, a sweet but very tired woman in a coffee bar and she held it against her chest, she told me I was an angel. We hugged each other and I had that knowing in my heart that the Lord was so happy in this situation...This is not to boast on anything I've done but just to encourage that people are so very thirsty for the Lord! She told me the tract was a confirmation to her. All day Tuesday at the mall, I would give a tract to the various clerks as I paid for my items from store to store...Every single clerk was so glad to get that tract, it was very evident, the need and hunger for Christ in people.

Once I was at an event, and a checker from Walmart came up to me as she sweetly, humbly pulled a card from her pocket, showing me the Jesus card I had given her at the checkout months before, the front of the little card had a painting of Jesus holding a grieving and broken man, the back had a sweet message of salvation....She carried it with her wherever she went...Don't underestimate God's power and our hand to carry it through with love. A loving smile, a sincere heart, I simply say..."I would like to give this to you today." We can leave the rest to the Father...

The tract I've used this week is entitled, "Have a Good Day" by Rod and Staff Publishers. 606-522-4348

More than just a good day, God wants us to have a good eternity, a wonderful eternity with Him.

I've also have started a new blog entitled: thats-italian A fun-perky carefree blog with poignant reminiscing, recipes, encouragements and life. LIFE...and more LIFE.

I am so enjoying a new cd by David Lanz, entitled Christmas Eve, a most beautiful and peaceful instrumental for your holiday season even now....I've been very pleased with the music, so very peaceful.

Let's make our homes a peaceful haven, a peaceful protest to this world. ~Amelia

Vision For a Godly Home

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

God Knows no Strangers, He Loves us All,

Live Pretty Not Hot

Godly Womanhood by Peter Marshall

Quiet Hearts at Christmas as Well as Fun and Sweetness

Beware of the Heelots!

Do You Feel Invisible?

Steve Jobs: Glad He Didn't Become a Victim of Abortion

A must read.

Steve Jobs Was Glad He Didn’t Become a Victim of Abortion

Are You Feeling......REALLY BUMMED?

The Fear Of The Lord: Malachi's Resurgence

Booger Men and Small Rebellions

The Question of Kosher Meat

See it! The Movie: Courageous & Another Golden Oldie

The Story of Will Rogers, a Bible Study and a Blessing!

SO GOOD! EVERYONE SHOULD HEAR THIS LIFE CHANGING MESSAGE!

The Courage to Be a Woman

Shocking Ruling!

"...I Cling to Jesus" Must See Video

When I Hear the Praises Start, This Ministered to Me Today

MAKE DO OR DO WITHOUT

That Was 1938...Why Not Now?

An Enemy of Christ a Friend of the World? Encouragements for a Peaceful Happy Home

Open Casket Funeral of Late Term Aborted Baby

The Practice of the Presence of God

What About Leather?

The Truth Behind Meat Production

PLEASE WATCH:

Don't Be Discouraged!

The Applause of Heaven

Today's Home Church, Sermon by David Wilkerson

Home Church. Following Jesus: The Straight Gate

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Modesty, Entertainment and Busy-Bodying

Reflect...Take Notice...Be Still

Jump Into Motherhood with Your WHOLE Heart

The Passing of a Legend. A Call to Anguish. David Wilkerson

*David Wilkerson Dies in Tragic Car Crash*

The Emancipation of Womanhood

Classic Trends and Traps

Have You Heard of Baby Joseph?

That Was Then, It's Still Now, But So is Hope

Since You Went Away, 1943.

Grand Jury Report on Kermit Gosnell, Abortionist-Murderer

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

Streams in the Desert, Christina's World...

A Sweet Song for You & a Party Too!

A Sweet Gift for You to Enjoy!

Our Words DO Matter & Say YES to home!

It's a Battle Between Life & Death

A Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Time

Is Our Life a Peaceful Protest?

Just Give Me Jesus

Time To Wake Up Compilation

An Important Message for All...

This is an Emergency...Father We Will Lead Them Home.

Need Parenting Encouragement?

Seek. His. Face.

Precious- Red Skelton on The Pledge of Allegiance

God is in the Arts, and Manners too!

'Made For Each Other' (1939) In Entirety...

Made For Each Other (1939)

Beware of Busyness. God's Plans? Your Plans?

Elisabeth Elliot has it Right...

A Call to Christian Men (And Women)

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

Today - A Real March for Freedom, for Innocent Lives

Beware of the Heelots...

Teach Us Lord...A Peaceful Protest

Take a Deep Breath...Simplify

Home Church Sermon: "Right Song, Wrong Dance"

You Can't Take it With You!

How Will We be Remembered?

David Wilkerson Dies in Tragic Car Crash