Poor Baby

They say cherish every moment. Even these moments are so precious to me; I want to hang on to them forever. Of course, there’s always the opportunities for humility that I get to hang over his head. I love being a mother. I couldn’t imagine God giving me any other assignment that would bring me this much joy.

Psalm 92:4For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

My New Logo

My latest painting. This will also be my new logo for The Fruit of Her Hands. This picture was actually taken on my dining room table. The cross seen in the back is just the way the light hit the grid in the chair behind it. Once I saw the cross I was confident this was going to be perfect for my logo. Things seem to be coming together.

Goat Milk Soap

We have been trying to utilize all that God has given us. On our humble 5 acres, we have our own little farm. Our milk goat, Milly has been a great blessing. Her milk is delicious and we plan to try our hand with cheese and butter. I have had success with soap and have been using it. I love it and would recomend it to anybody. It is such a creamy lather like no other soap I've used. My skin feels really soft afterward and seems to help my lotion absorb into my skin making a long lasting nourished effect. I plan to sell it once I get a system down so stay connected and I'll let you know when I'm ready to market it. I love all of this stuff and feel like I'm fulfilling God's purpose for me when I'm working in my home with my hands. I am making the most out of my husbands hard work as well. We are experiencing what it is like to reap the direct fruits of our own labor. Now that we've had a taste, it's all we dream of doing.

Proberbs 23:4 Labor not to be rich.

What does that speak to you? Do you think going to work for somebody else at a job you hate and never getting any time with your family is working to serve the Lord? In some cases, some have been called to work for others and some is a blessing but for us, we do it to be rich. We aren't rich in the worlds ways but we have more than we need and we work hard so we can have more. We are now learning that farming isn't going to make us rich but it can make us rich in time with our family, rich in work ethic, enrichen our children's characters and family values. Being rich in the Holy Spirit is more valuable to me than any of the things that money can buy and I think my job outside of my home is robbing me of that richness. Pray for me, I'm struggling.

Packer

Well, I don't make a dime off of sketching my own family but I have to create when I've been inspired.

Steward of Opportunity

We go to God in prayer asking Him to help us be good stewards of all our blessings. Now, when I asked for help in this area, I was referring to stewardship of my home, my finances, my children, my job, and other things that are quite tangible. Have you ever thought of your stewardship of “opportunity”?

A couple of days ago, I was having a discussion about a woman in a book who seemed to have so much opportunity to witness to people in her everyday life. These weren’t people at a seminar or even at a church. These were strangers in need who chose to open up to her. Some of these people learned a wonderful lesson or maybe even accepted Jesus as their savior. Others gave her a chance to learn something from them.

I was sharing how a couple of weeks ago, I had been wondering how this woman has all of these opportunities fall into her lap. Later that day, I was at the grocery store placing my son into the shopping cart. A lady next to me with two beautiful, blond little girls was trying to place the second child into the shopping cart. The little girl was distracted by her doll and wasn’t very helpful in putting her feet into the cart. The mother began yelling at her, “What are you doing?! Put your feet in! Oh, I can’t wait till you guys go back to school!” She turned to me and continued, “Then I get some peace and quiet.” She laughed as if she wanted me to agree with her.

Well, I didn’t show her any support by giving her a courtesy laugh but I also felt the desire in me to share with her that our children should be able to rely on us to always feel wanted, welcome and loved. They do need discipline but making them feel unwanted or unappreciated is no way to teach a lesson. As our children grow, they will feel unwanted and unappreciated plenty by the world. We as parents should be their safe haven. I wanted to ask that woman if she knew Jesus and point her toward a book I’ve been reading “The Mission of Motherhood” by Sally Clarkson knowing it would guide her through scripture in this specific area in her life.

It was then that the question I had been pondering had been answered. The opportunities are all around me but I haven’t had the courage to take them. I dealt with thoughts of it’s none of my business, she could get mad and start yelling at me,I could be completely rejected and made to look like a fool. Yes, any of those things could have happened but what if she was a Christian and God placed me there to encourage her in Godly mothering, reminding her to have the law of kindness on her tongue. Perhaps she was crying out because she was feeling overwhelmed and needed to know she was loved and somebody cared about what she was going through. There are endless what ifs. Bottom line is I was not a good steward of that opportunity so I did not get to find out.

Hebrews 13:2
2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
My friend reminded me that there are angels among us and we never know if we are being tested in how we treat them or don’t treat them.

Are you a good steward of opportunity?

Age with Grace

Today is my mother’s 50th birthday and I wanted to honor her. My mother dealt with all the over the hill jokes last night at her party and it sounds as if she handled it rather well. I was thinking about what it means to grow older and how I want to age and how beautifully my mother always has been and continues to be. Each season is God-given and none should be less enjoyable than any other. Maybe this is easier said than done. I am only 30 but I’ve learned that if I write about something and look back on it later my own advice can slap me in the face at a time when I really need it. So I am taking this opportunity to show my appreciation for my mom, Connie Bogle, and to think about what it should mean to somebody to turn 50. Hopefully, I will look back on this when I turn 50 and see that I’m aging as gracefully as my mother has.

Age with Grace

You have lived for 50 years today
So I choose to honor you in this special way
I ask for God’s blessings on this new chapter of your life
As you continue your journey as Grandma, mom, and wife
Remember there is a time for every season
And for all you encounter God has a reason
I pray that you age with grace
Being most concerned by the beauty of your heart
Magnifying the beauty of your face
Embrace these years to come
Reflect on the glory of your past
And share all your wisdom
Relish every second of grand parenting
And let the Holy Spirit guide you when called upon for mentoring
You are an energetic grandma and a charismatic mom
Take a deep breath and try to remain calm
Your fun is not over
It’s just the beginning
So stop moping around and start grinning
You have become wise in your years
Laboring hard, keeping a clean home, changing diapers, easing tears
I love you Mom and I want you to know
This is also the season for our friendship to grow
Though you are still my mother
You’ve become my dearest friend
And this is a season that will never end
God Bless You Mom and thank you for being who you have been, who you are and who you will always be

Love,
Kimber

What is Your Will for Me

What is your will for me
Open my eyes so that I may see
Your plan that you have in store
Where are the signs I’ve been looking for
I pray for your guidance and seek out your will
And I await your answers still
You’ve tugged at my heart urging a time for change
You’ve painted the future in my mind
But presented no avenue to obtain
Give me the patience and will to follow only your guidance
Do not let me be confused between your will and my preference
I feel discontent with where I am
Oh Lord, I pray
Reveal Your plan

My Husband's Biggest Fan

I love being a cheerleader for my husband. It is amazing how much influence wives have on our husbands. I believe my husband makes it easy for me but you can make it easier on yourself by supporting and praising him. He needs to know you rely on him and have confidence in him to be your rock. In turn, if you have a husband who doesn't make it easy, you will see that he will feel the need to meet the worthiness of your praise if you give it to him anyway.
Proverbs 21:19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.
Proberbs 31:12
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

God's Will in Reproduction

The evening began with a wonderful prayer spoken by the head of the home. In his prayer, he thanked God for our time to fellowship. Well, I just thought we were invited for dinner but I took his invite for fellowship quite literally and joyfully.
As we sat down for desert, we were discussing the children. I asked an open ended question, Are you guys done? The response was apparent that the question itself was comical. My husband looked at me and wanted to know why I asked that, (knowing exactly why I asked). Our host jokingly responded about me,” she wants 10 kids” and my husband joined in saying, “She does.”
I explained that recently, I went to God and asked Him to reveal His will to me and there is no doubt in my mind that He did and he did it very clearly. I talked about the peace and joy there is in knowing that what you are doing is exactly what God wants you to do. This is a new experience to me and now I know I want God’s will in each part of my life. I am surrendering wholeheartedly all of myself to His purpose.
In saying all of that, I will say the statement about wanting 10 children isn’t accurate but a concept has been introduced to me that has been baring a lot of weight. Do you believe God is the Author of Life? Do you believe that all children made by the hand of God have a purpose in God’s eyes? I do believe that and I believe He makes no mistakes in placing a life into any person’s womb. There are many arguments about birth control and it brings up a huge debate. Well, I’m not looking for a debate, I can have that with my husband but open your heart and mind for a moment and think about this. If you are completely submitting to Christ, mind, body and spirit, then why would you not say to God: Dear Lord, my body is not my own nor is anything else I have. You have given me life and a wonderful God-fearing husband. I surrender it all to You. Use me to fulfill Your purpose whatever it may be. I am Your servant and am pleased to be part of Your plan to advance Your kingdom.
So I’ll touch on a couple of debate points because I can’t help myself. God created the people knowledgeable to invent birth control and gave us free will. I have found that whenever people want to deny something to Christ they use the excuse, God gave us free will.
What about the drug addicted people who have many children and can’t afford to feed them and have no means of raising the children properly or giving them love. Why would God do that?
FREE WILL: You have the God-given right to choose whether or not you want to try to have lots of children or no children at all. Ultimately, God is in control anyway. What happens though when you truly give your life over to God’s will? Do you think that means God gives you a bunch of things you don’t want and it makes life on earth harder for you? Have you ever been brave enough to truly surrender in your heart all things without holding back? Try. Want what He wants and find peace. Be amazed at the happiness and blessing brought from surrendering. Like a parent to a child, God knows what is best for us. We are just inexperienced, unknowing children and when we get our way over our Father’s it may seem good for a moment but ends in bitterness.
INCAPABLE PARAENTS: God does teach us lessons the hard way sometimes. Really, who are we to ask? But maybe God is showing us what happens when people try to be Gods of the earth and control when and how many and to whom children will be born. The Christians are being less fruitful and not multiplying like they use to in the days of old and now our world is being overcome by the darkness of lost souls.
So, do I want 10 children? I just want God’s will in my life. He can make that choice much better than I can. I could way pros and cons for the rest of my life trying to decide if I want another baby but I would like to give the decision to God and reap whatever blessings he pours out simply for surrendering.
After the men and children went out on a nature hike, the hostess and I stayed behind and shared with each other. She praised me for seeking God’s will and shared some struggles of her own. I feel I have a new friend in her and have been praying for her and her struggles that they will seek and find the will of God in their lives. What a blessing the evening was strengthening friendships in Christ and enjoying delicious food in the process.

Mr. Tuttles

Here is my latest.

Seeking God's Will

I have been learning through experience that if you truly want to live out God’s will He will show you the way. I’ve done some self examining and learned that when I was praying for God to show me the way, I was actually asking for Him to open a door for me to follow my own desires. I found I tried to sell my desires to God. Lord, give me this gift. It will bring you glory in this way... Perhaps that sounds silly to you or maybe you have also done the same thing.
All I know is that when my heart began changing, I actually began wanting GOD’S WILL. I stopped justifying and worrying. I stopped putting so much emphasis on pros and cons and I started praying and searching scripture. When your heart’s desires are after God, He will reveal His will. Guess what, it’s wonderful! There is peace and joy in your heart when you are following Him which is far more valuable than anything I can come up with on my own.

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

Mediocre Christianity

I fear I’ve been living a life of mediocre Christianity. I have been saved and have believed in God and even have prayed almost daily. But as I would listen to some of the Christian music and some of the speakers on the radio, I realized I did not have the relationship with God that those people had. I began to realize that my love for Christ was lacking. My fear of Christ has always been pretty strong, being aware of God’s power and authority. I decided I wanted more than to just fear the Lord. I wanted to love Him. I wanted a deep love for Him like the Love I knew he had for me.

1 John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

I prayed for God to increase my love for Him. I prayed for passion and excitement for my Lord and Savior. The Lord answered my prayers. I rise in the morning rejoicing in the day He has made. I go throughout my morning routines giving Him praise. I can’t wait for Sundays to come around and I have given up television and replaced it with God’s Word or other literature that brings me back to God’s Word. I can’t stop sharing the truth of the gospel, nor do I want to. I pray about everything! God is working daily in my life and I am overwhelmed with excitement for Him.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Why not pray for an increased love for your God? The more love you have for Him the more you seek His will, the more you seek, the more you find, the more you find, the more doors will open for you. It is much easier to discern God’s will when you are living for Him and loving Him wholeheartedly because your heart is shaping to be like His. Isn’t that what you want? If it isn’t, my friend in Christ, pray for it to be because that should be your desire.

True Woman Makeover

“True Woman Makeover”
I encourage any woman to accept this challenge. It is an in depth study on Proverbs 31. It was so very inspiring to me. I feel like this passage is where women need to begin their Biblical studies because it is such a definitive guide on what a Biblical woman should be. If you set your heart right with Proverbs 31 then all things holy seem easier to obtain and often will just fall into place.

Let me also give you a little challenge of my own. If you do this "True Woman Makeover", approach it with prayer that God will teach you what kind of woman he wants you to be. Then jump in with both feet. For instance, I have a full time job that I leave for work at 2 pm and do not get to bed until 1-2 am. But when I learned that my responsibility is my home and was to make my home a sanctuary for my kids and husband, a glimpse of Heaven on earth, I decided I would not allow my job to be a hindrance. I decided that if God assigned these tasks to me His grace would cover me while I did His will. I began getting up at 7am to begin my housework and breakfast preparation. God has graced me with energy and a joyful spirit as I have been serving Him in my home.

My children are showing heart changes as well as my husband because I am being a faithful servant. I feel torn as I leave for work each day because God has made it clear to me that my place is serving in my home. The Lord has not removed me from my job yet but He is teaching me how to be productive with little time. Thanks to His grace, my home is more organized and clean than ever before and I know that when the time comes for me to be home full time, I will have what it takes to be the woman God wants me to be.

Please take the challenge and I would love to be updated on your story. Just give me your request and I’m always happy to lift you up in prayer.

Matthew 19:26
With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

Proverbs 2:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.