Day 16 - Ministry Monday...

In the spotlight today for the Ministry Monday post of The First 25 Days of 2012 is Commonground Baptist Ministries...which is a ministry of Southeast Bible Baptist Church in Penfield, N.Y. [You can also check them out on Facebook.]

I'm mainly going to cover the Summer Junior and Teen Camps that our church kids excitedly look forward to every year. However, they do also have a Bible Institute that has an emphasizes in distance learning, as well as an online store.

But back to camp...Commonground Baptist Camp is a great camp! Here is an excerpt from their website on what the camp is all about...

What is Commonground Baptist Camp?

Commonground Baptist is a local church camp ministry under the direction of Southeast Bible Baptist Church, and it is designed to serve local churches of like faith and practice. The ministry started when it held its first ever Winter Retreat for teenagers in 1995. Winter camps have been held every year since and Genesee Valley expanded to include summer camp in 2000. God has abundantly blessed and I will gladly put you in touch with pastors who will testify of God working in their youth departments because of the ministry of Commonground.

  Camp Philosophy

Christ Honoring: Our goal is to honor Christ in all things. We are not  building a kingdom and we are not entertaining. This is a camp run by a youth pastor who sends his kids too!

Affordable: When registered early, a week of camp is only $88!

Modest Attire: Our camp strives for an atmosphere that does not hinder the working of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching Centered: Plenty of fun times, but there will be lots of Biblical, Balanced, and Boiling Hot Preaching!!!

  What makes it different?

Commonground is a distinctly Baptist camp that has attempted to lift up a standard in the midst of this Laodecian age. Christ honoring preaching is in the center of this ministry. The messages at camp often stress a total surrender to God in every area of your life. Love God supremely, forsake the sins of this world, and serve Him with all your might. A goal for every camp week is to have an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit has free reign to work. To that end we have a code of conduct for our camp that emphasizes modesty.
The spirit of the camp also sets it apart. As the teens respond to the preaching, the games, and the counselors, the camp has a spirit where the teens just don’t want to go home! Camp is a place where you can not only do business with God, but you can really enjoy being a Christian.

  Why is it a ministry?

I have seen camp have such an incredible impact on the lives of teens and adults that I do not want to see it denied to anybody. Many people over the years have argued to me that I should not be concerned about camp costs because teens can get money for the things that they really want. As a youth director, however, I know how the cost of camp can really have an impact on teens signing up for camp. Our enemy will use anything to hinder a teen from going to something that will bless them, including the cost! I want to keep camp affordable so that every teen can go and be blessed. Money that comes in for support goes for expenses and the expansion of the camp ministry. None of it goes to our local church.

  What is the vision?

From a small winter retreat, Commonground Baptist Camp has grown to include multiple teen summer weeks, multiple junior weeks, men’s retreats and sporting tournaments. For futher expansion, it is important for the camp to acquire it’s own property. Will you pray with us to that end?

Pastor Jim Krohn, Camp Director

and his family

I have gone the past three years, twice to teen camp and once to junior camp...they were all wonderful experiences in there different ways! Pastor Krohn has done a great job at making the camp fun, exciting, comfortable, affordable...and SPIRITUAL! Why go to a Christian camp and come away the same as when you went?

This camp is not like that! Pastor Krohn schedules great preachers that share their hearts and challenge the kids (as well as adults) to follow God with everything!!!

I can't wait for camp :)

Let no man despise thy youth;

but be thou an example of the believers,

in word, in conversation, in charity,

in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Amanda

Day 15 - Singing Sunday...

The third of our four Sunday's for The First 25 Days of 2012... and we are going to sing another great song that really touches me...even now, after I've heard it many, many times. Today I'm going to share Here Am I on Singing Sunday.

This song is written by Stephen D. Snider and I listen to the version sung by Sacred Heritage Quartet...you can hear it hear on this YouTube video

It's a great song!

Here Am I

So many lost and dying in this world today.
Have you heard their crying?
Or do you turn away?
The harvest now is plenteous but the laborers are few.
God needs some willing vessels to be used.

Here am I, I will go
I will reach the lost untold.
I will give the Lord control.
I will tell them of the crimson flow.

Is it too late for caring?
Does Jesus really save?
Are we truly praying for the blind to find their way?
Little children are falling into a burning hell.
Will anyone heed the calling to go and tell?

Here am I, I will go
I will reach the lost untold.
I will give the Lord control.
I will tell them of the crimson flow.

For my Saviour died on that old rugged cross;
He thought of me when He counted the cost.
How can I say that I love Him if I don't reply?

Here am I, I will go
I will reach the lost untold.
I will give the Lord control.
I will tell them of the crimson flow.

I will tell them of the crimson flow.
Here am I. Here am I.
Saviour, here am I.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8

Are we willing, truly willing, to GO where He wants us?

Amanda

Day 14 - Show, Show Saturday...

Another weekend for The First 25 Days of 2012... and it's Saturday, so, I'm going to show some Christmas present given during the past holiday season.

Today's topic - Aprons!
My train of thought was to make these this past Christmas...I ended up making 8! All were accepted with great enthusiasm.

These first ones were made from up-cycling some dresses or skirts...

 Added a removable towel to this one...

This is a feminine one with lots of ruffles...I have enough to make another one of these :)

 This is a nice feeling material that dresses up meal time...



These next ones were made from material...

 Three different coordinating fabrics in a classic look...love the button on neck strap.

I made another one from these materials, but forgot to take a picture of it...the materials where flipped around. The orange flowered material was the skirt section with the bib part the green checked material...still trimmed in the leaves.

This next one has two smaller matching ones...but at different homes :) These are the ones I made for the girls, A & A, and me (also an A) for our scene in the Christmas play at church. However, of the other two - one had white trim and one had black trim.

The cow print was some flannel yardage... A & A just loved them :) I still have some of this print left...I think I'll be making matching ones for my girls, E L & A - someday!

Hope you enjoyed this gallery of aprons...I'm going to add it to some of the still open linky parties.

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

Lamentations 3:22

Amanda

Day 13 - Fabulous Friday...

Today's the day I'm going to share some of the things that caught my pinning fancy on this Fabulous Friday post of my The First 25 Days of 2012 celebration. You can check these and more out on my  boards... [remember, to see any of these directly from here, just click on the picture :) ]

First off, some great craft rooms...a girl can dream, right?

Now, some quilting to do in one of these great rooms...

How about some swoon?

I think I'm going to have to try this one soon...the flickr group has really taken off, I still want to peruse the upload photos there!

And some great inspirational pieces to get me excited about what I'll be able to do after Curves Class with Rachel at Stitched in Color...it doesn't start till February 1st, if you still want to join!

And this by an excited classmate...

This looks like a great dip to try on a game night soon...



So, I hope you've had a good week and enjoy your weekend...and as if we need any help with inspiration...there are always some great linky parties - you can check out some on my right side bar!

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:

the mountains and the hills

shall break forth before you into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

I found this to be a nice, soothing verse...and thought that it could be neat to think of the mountains and hills singing...what king of voice would they have? What hymn would they sing in praise to their Creator?

Then the trees 'clapping' their 'hands'...just love that metaphor! There is always a standing ovation for God's greatness!

Amanda



Day 12 - Teaching Thursday...

 Today we are half way through The First 25 Days of 2012...and I have another tutorial to share! Yesterday, I showed the Sewing machine pin cushion I made recently...

Well, today I wrote up a tutorial and am sharing the PDF with you! I hope you enjoy making an accessory for your sewing machine. I'm excited to finally have one...now I just have to get used to using it!
Again, if you make one, I'd love to hear about it!

I'll be linking to some great parties again this weekend!

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all to stand.

Ephesians 6:13

Sometimes when the hard times come and the grass seems greener on the other side, we think it would be easier to give up...but God wants us to realize He is in control and asks us to make sure we are looking to Him to help us do all, in His power, to stand for what is right.

Stand fast in His power,
Amanda

Day 11 - Working Wednesday...

Ah, another Wednesday to show what we are craftily working on...aka WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced! It's also alot like a week-in-review kind of a thing. Today on the 11th day of The First 25 Days of 2012 I'm going to see what I accomplished the past week.

First off, not a whole lot was done last week because the little one was fussy and just wanted to be held (she was recovering from her first fever...pretty good when she's already a year old)...but she is all better, playing again, and squabbling with Liz! In all truth, they really do play together pretty well, most of the time. So, I've been able to do some sewing...

First, I made a Sewing Machine Pin Cushion. I went from the material...

 To this...

In one nap time! One project getting done during nap time doesn't usually happen....and I've been wanting one of these for a while!

Also, finished is a new mouse pad. Although, I may still add ModPodge to the top, the construction is done!

 Chad thought it was kind of big for a mouse pad...but it is also sort of a desk placemat/mug rug :) It measures 15 x 12 inches.

Love the way the embroidery turned out...Just drew it onto the canvas, then added color with floss...so nice!

Once this was done yesterday, I started working on some bookkeepers using, well, more like being guided by, the pattern from Moda Bake Shop. Here is the material I choose for the first one...

I really like this combination...I may make a couple just from this collection.

So why bookkeepers? Well, I started reading a good book...The Christmas Quilt...on Friday. This is the first novel that I've read in years! The last ones I read were the Little House on the Prairie series while I was pregnant with Liz (she's 3 1/2 now). I think I know why I don't read as much as I used to...I get to sucked into just reading [but wait, I do that with sewing too ;)] to see what happens and can't easily tear myself away (unless it's a book I've already read)...I finished the book last night!

But, since starting to read, I decide it would be nice to make a pouch to keep the book in to keep it from curling to much...but since I finish it last night and the pouch is still in the beginning stages, I may need to read this other one, Together Is All We Need ... or, I might just use it as a guide to make the pouch big enough and read later! I do enjoy Christian, Historical and Amish setting, fiction.

But if I want to get my WIP's done, I can't read to much! This weeks breakdown...

New Projects: 3

Completed Projects: 2 [Sewing Machine pin cushion, Mouse pad]
Continuing Projects: 4 [Bookkeeper, Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

Thanks for stopping by!

Commit thy works unto the LORD,

and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3

God cares about us in that He will even strengthen us as we complete our work if we are committing ourselves to Him.

Amanda

Day 10 - Tasty Tuesday...

Ready for another recipe? Today on the 10th day of The First 25 Days of 2012, I'm going to share an appetizer recipe with you. Once a week we have started having a dinner where we have appetizers as our dinner and play games [usually only one :) but it will probably be more (or longer games) as the girls get bigger].

So, about a week and a half ago we had these...

Savory Parmesan Bites

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 (8oz) cans of refrigerator crescent rolls

Soften cream cheese, then stir in Parmesan cheese, pepper and parsley.

Unroll the crescent rolls, separate into four rectangles (per can). Spread cream cheese mixture on each and roll-up from short edge. Cut each roll into 4 pieces. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes.

* Extra's freeze well.

They can be a little 'hot', so for the girls I left out the red pepper flakes...but added crumbled bacon.

On this night we played Through the Desert...around our house - 'Camels'!

It's a placement strategy game that at 3, Liz can play...although she doesn't really get the concept of strategic placement yet :)

Our Appetizer & Game Festival night is still a little chaotic because little hands want the pieces and are not easily distracted from what's going on on the table.

We love this game...Chad and I even had our highest scores yet when we last played - but he still whomped on me, but I think I'm getting used to him winning!

Also, today Chad's parents were married 31 years ago...

so, I'd like to wish them a

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Amanda