Day 23 - Ministry Monday...

The final stretch of The First 25 Days of 2012...and I'm going to spotlight Cherith Bible Institute today on Ministry Monday.

I found this correspondence school online in 2008 or 2009, and started taking their classes to get some more in depth Bible knowledge in a structured coarse. I enjoy the workbook set-up for the classes...however, I'm contemplating going to online because it is taking me an extremely long time to complete one workbook. The online class would give more concrete deadlines...but I guess I'll decide on that later!

For now, I'd like to introduce you to Cherith Bible Institute...

Who We Are

Cherith Bible Institute is a correspondence Bible training program offered throughout the world through the internet and mail. The Program is Baptistic in nature and reflects the doctrine and distinctives of Independent Baptist beliefs.

The course of study is a thirty unit Diploma of Biblical Studies program designed to help local church pastors, workers, missionaries, church planters, and Bible teachers. The program advances from basic Bible survey courses to selected subjects concerning personal and local church development.

Cherith Home Bible Institute provides a wealth of both theological and practical information contributed by a group of sound Bible preachers, teachers, and writers.

[I also have a constant link on the left side bar if you need to use it in the future :)]

This is a great way to increase your study and knowledge of the Bible...and it's Free!
(Donations are always accepted and there is a nominal fee...I think it's $25...at the end for the diploma.)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

We can never study the Bible too much. Studying it helps us found our beliefs in the truth and keeps us from swaying when we may be tempted to drift.

Study more! [and as always, needing to take my own advice :)]

Amanda

Day 22 - Singing Sunday...

Our final Sunday 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 Once Upon a Cross on Singing Sunday.

I listen to this song sung by the Grace Baptist College Tour Group from a few years back. I could not find the CD, Once Upon a Cross, for sale on the website anymore, nor a good YouTube video of the song...so this week will just be the words - which, really, are the most powerful!

Once Upon a Cross

Once there was a King who sat high upon His throne
The ruler of the Universe, God, and God alone;

But His heart was broken by the world held captive by their sin
Ransom must be paid to redeem them back to Him

So, God in His great wisdom revealed His master plan
He'd send the Son of God to become the Son of Man.

Once and for all the sacrifice for sin would finally be Christ,
The perfect Lamb upon the cross of Calvary...

Chorus:
One single act of matchless grace brought hope to all man kind
One drop of sinless blood erased our guilt for all of time

One monument of mercy stands proclaiming to the lost
The way was made, the price was paid, Once Upon a Cross.

Verse 2:
Once the world could only wait for a promise held by faith
Til once in lowly Bethlehem, Messiah came to live with them

And once upon Golgotha's hill, He bowed beneath His Father's will
to satisfy redemption's cost, Once Upon a Cross...

Chorus:
Just one single act of matchless grace brought hope to all man kind
One drop of sinless blood erased our guilt for all of time

One monument of mercy stands proclaiming to the lost
The way was made, the price was paid, Once Upon a Cross.

The way was made, the price was paid, Once Upon a Cross.
Once Upon a Cross, Once Upon a Cross.

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them,

He was received up into Heaven,

and sat on the right hand of God.

Mark 16:19

Amanda

Day 21 - Show, Show Saturday...

The last Saturday for The First 25 Days of 2012...and I'm gong to show you what I made TODAY!

These cute little cases are a condensed version of the Quilted Book Saver Clutches I showed on Wednesday. The size of these are made for keeping gift cards or appointments cards in them...ooh, business cards would fit great in here...
They do need a few more kinks worked out of them...but they are adorable.

I made the red flower one first, and it was going to be part of the giveaway I'll be hosting to finish off The First 25 Days of 2012... BUT...

It had some issues on the sewing, especially where the hook for around the button is attached. I need to reconfigure my approach for that.

So, since that one was kind of a flop, I decide to make another one without the closure hardware...

This pretty green one is a little bigger and is useful for a few more things...still can hold gift/appointment/business cards, but can also do a contact case and drops, or a standard flip phone. However, my issue with this one is that it won't stay closed on it's own. So, here it is with the other one keeping the flap down.

I thought about sewing snaps on each corner of the flap, but depending on the use of the case, the one side of the snap would need to be place either father up or down the pocket part of the case. Now, what to do?

I'm still planing on adding a Mini Clutch to my giveaway...but I still have a couple of days to work on it :) Hope to see you on Wednesday [and everyday in between :)] for the last bit of The First 25 Days of 2012 Celebration.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellency of the power may be of God,

and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

We are only 'earthen vessels' made out of the dust of the ground. In and of ourselves we can only muddle our way through life...I feel that way sometimes, but God CAN use 'dust'. We have to remember...sometimes more often than others...that our lives are to be lived through Him, to glorify Him, and to show His power. We can do nothing in and of ourselves.

Needing to lean more...

Amanda

Day 20 - Fabulous Friday...

Another weekend is upon us...our last for The First 25 Days of 2012! So, here again are some of the things that caught my pinning fancy for this Fabulous Friday post. You can check these and more out on my  boards... [remember, to see any of these directly from here, just click on the picture :) ]

Starting this week is the Spectacular Spaces...
Like this great kitchen!

And this great kids room. Someday I think this might be great for the girls, especially if they share a room.

I've always liked benches at the dinning room table, and this week I found some cute ones, here is my favorite...

I must have been house dreaming this week because I seemed to see alot of great spaces...

But now we need to eat, right? So, how about some great looking pretzel rolls...

This looks great...hope I can remember to make it before Liz eats the last banana :)

And who doesn't love a good dessert...especially BROWNIES!!!

And a warm one in 2 minutes, ohhhh... by the way, it was really good!

The bad thing is that they are very easy...I'll have to practice self control :()

Now that we've dreamed and ate...lets craft!

I really should learn to crochet, this shrug would be great for the winter.

This quilt block was on Quilt Story yesterday, I just loved it and had to pin it...

And lastly for this edition of my pick-o-pins for the week, this great star block - with tutorial - from Lee at Freshly Pieced.



So much to see, so little time!

Glad you stopped by...



For the LORD is good;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:5

Amanda

Day 19 - Teaching Thursday...

It's the last Teaching Thursday of The First 25 Days of 2012...and I'm going to share a tutorial for a mug rug.

I made this Fan Mug rug as a gift to one of Chad's coworkers. I found a picture of one...but no tutorials or directions to make it. So, I took what I saw and made this:

I thought it turned out nice and was glad I took a bunch of progress pictures so I could write up the tutorial...did that this morning. So, here is the PDF tutorial of the Fan Mug Rug.

Now, I need to go add the merchadise shown yesterday to the Etsy store...alot of computer time today! I may need another cup of coffee :) and I can't wait to sew some more...while typing up the tutorial, it made me want to make another one. When I get to it, I'll probably add it to the store too!

Also, I'll be adding this to the great linky parties...there is so much to see on blog land!

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,

and he pondereth all his goings.

Proverbs 5:21

God is always paying attention to us, even when it doesn't feel like it.

Amanda



Day 18 - Working Wednesday...

And boy, have I been working! Which makes today's post SUPER late...almost into tomorrow - YIKES...but I need to do one today to keep up on The First 25 Days of 2012!

My work has been steady over the past week, working on the bookkeepers I mentioned in last Wednesday's post...I completed a small collection of a variety of them, and I'm labeling them as different types of Quilted Book Saver Clutches... I also made another Simple Bag from my own tutorial, however, with some different structuring...but using the same basic design. I'm hoping to get most of these items posted to my Etsy store tomorrow. Also, hope to set up a link from here on the blog to the store, too.

But, now on to the pictures of my work...

This first one is a beauty...to me, because it's the one I made for me! ;)

 Pretty star patchwork on the front, with great pinks and greens surrounding it....ooohhhh! Makes reading even more fun. I'm looking forward to making another on for my new Bible... a slight tea accident caused the hunt for a new Bible :)

Now for the Etsy products...

The Black and White Quilted Book Saver Clutch (Plain)

with a matching bookmark.

Next is a blue and green, subtle and earthy tones...

The Blue and Green Quilted Book Saver Clutch (Plain)

with a matching bookmark.

The following two items are what I was working on today...along with taking a lot of pictures and taking care of the girls :)

The Peach and Blue Quilted Book Saver Clutch (Ruffled)

with a matching bookmark.

This clutch turned out a little smaller that the other clutches...a little more square than rectangle.

And a matching bag...(however, they will be listed individually at the store)

The Simple Peach and Blue Ruffled Tote Bag. 

And last, but not least...

The Black and White Quilted Book Saver Clutch (Patchwork)

with a matching bookmark.

Hope you have enjoyed this showcase of merchandise! Again, you can see them in my store :) I'll also try to keep things posted on the Facebook page if anyone is interesed in following there.

I'll be sharing my accomplishments with a few of the great linky parties, too.

UPDATE: I'm also adding this to Finish it up Friday...because I got most of them done this week :) and a great task done for me...I finally got items stocked on Etsy!

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me,

for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1 Timothy 1:12

When I first read this verse tonight it made me think about being faithful, so that God can use us where He wants us, when He wants us there. But as I was typing it, it also struck me as a thankful verse just for the abilities God gives us. I am thankful for the ability to sew and the joy that comes with seeing it all come together.

Amanda

Day 17 - Tasty Tuesday...

Today's Tasty Tuesday of The First 25 Days of 2012 also lands me on my 100th post...COOL! When I first started formulating the idea for The First 25 Days of 2012 I didn't even realize that it would also include this bloggy milestone...but it's a great place to include it!

Now for today's recipe...

It is technically named Mexican Relish, but around here the vegetables are a little chunkier and it is eaten on tortilla chips as salsa! So,

Mexican Salsa

6 large ripe tomatoes                               ¼ cup salt

12 green peppers                                     3 cups vinegar

4 cups chopped onions                            3 cups sugar

1 Habanero peppers                                5 Jalapeno peppers

Chop all the vegetables, add salt, and drain overnight. Boil vinegar & sugar for 5 minutes. Add the drained mixture of vegetables and bring back to a boil. Pour relish into 5 pint jars and seal in a water-bath canner for 35 minutes. [The Habanaero and Jalapenos add some heat to the mixture...however, this many still made it only a medium salsa - to me :)]

Chad loves this and did a lot of the work for it this past canning season...he even grew the Habanero and jalapeno peppers for in it. We still have enough vegetables in the freezer to make some more...except the onions :) So, soon we may make some Mexican 'winter' salsa - almost would fit this winter since here in northwestern PA we are having a very mild winter! Only 2 snow storms so far...and it warms to above freezing in between - even rain last night!

This recipe is from one of the best selling Pennsylvania Grange Cookbooks ever...the one first printed in 1972.

It's a great cookbook that I remember using when I began cooking around the age of 12 [however, I'm not using that copy - that one fell apart years ago!]. The only thing I dislike is that it has no index of the recipes...so, if you know which one you want, but don't remember the page its on...start flipping pages! It does, however, have a Table of Contents for the sections in the book. Oh, and no pictures :) but this has classic home style recipes!

I have set the LORD always before me:

because he is at my right hand,

I shall not be moved.

Psalm 16:8

Today, I was reading in Psalm 14, but noticed the pink highlighted verse on the other page... Psalm 16:8. It made me think about how we need to be - putting the LORD first! When we do this we can rest assure that we will not be as easily deceived or drawn away from the truths of our faith...

For me, some of those truths include: 

* Jesus was born of a virgin (Luke 2:27-32)  *

* died as a sinless man (that was also God) - through a sinners death -

to pay my penalty of sin (the Gospels) *

* He rose again and lives in Heaven...

and He is the only way to Heaven! (John 14:6) *

* the Holy Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) *

Amanda