by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 2 }
As you begin receiving Christmas cards, set them aside and pray for the sender(s) during dinner that evening. Ask God to bless them as they bless others (and any other way the Holy Spirit leads!)
you
also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be
given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through
the prayers of many. – See more at:
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Intercessory-Prayer#sthash.F7IDBpZz.dpuf
…whoever
refreshes others
will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
How do you display the Christmas cards you receive?
you
also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be
given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through
the prayers of many. – See more at:
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Intercessory-Prayer#sthash.F7IDBpZz.dpuf
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Welcome to the first day of our Christmas series!
If you’re searching for a place to find one simple way to bring more meaning to your Christmas season, I hope you’ll find it here.
Each idea in this series will be brief. Some may relate to you more than others. That’s okay! If it doesn’t relate, feel free to forward it to someone else.
{ Day 1 }
Many cashiers will find themselves weary from a hectic Black Friday weekend. Be extra patient today. A kind smile will encourage them more than you know.
**If your budget allows, consider purchasing a handful of $5.00 Starbucks or Dunkin Donut gift cards to share with cashiers and other people God will place on your radar this holiday season.
Who have you shown an extra dose of grace to this morning? Share it here!
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
If you’ve attempted to balance simplicity with trying to create Christmas memories for the loved and lonely, maybe you’ve found (as I have) that it’s not as easy as it seems. We’re all wired differently, but for me, intentionality is the game changer.
As mentioned in a 2008 Christmas post, we kept a Nesquik® Chocolate yellow box nearby when our boys were growing up. If they behaved, they got to pick one, sometimes two, activities from the box that afternoon. We never knew exactly what we’d be doing that evening but we were intentional about it—and our family created some meaningful memories as a result.
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| The blue hand painted tray is a fave of mine. |
Our boys are now adults with families of their own. Life changes, but wherever we find ourselves this year, it’s never too late to embrace the season in all its beauty and simplicity as we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth.
In this same spirit, beginning Monday, December 1st, I’ll be posting one brief, simple way to infuse a meaningful moment into your day during this wondrous season.
I’m excited about this journey! I hope you’ll make plans to join me.
[I know, I know. After this post
from a week ago, it may seem a bit odd that I’m writing about a new Christmas series when we’ve not yet celebrated Thanksgiving, but I’m
taking a blogging break next week. And December will be here before we
know it!]
So from my home to yours, I pray you and yours will have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100: 5, 6
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Okay, so Monday mornings may not be the most ideal time to share a creative idea but I know we can do it! Especially if there’s an extra shot of espresso involved.
You know I’m a huge fan of Myquillyn Smith’s blog, The Nester. Her mantra immediately won me over:
It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Okay, back to crafting. Can you believe this wreath consists of cone-shaped book pages? Visit Myquillyn’s post from 2011 to see the tutorial. I’m blown away that she created this 36″ marvel in less than an hour. I may host a DIY wreath time at my house next year, but in the meantime, let’s find a book, remove the pages, and start curling those babies.
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| The laurel wreath on the right was created from plastic spoons. |
If you have your own wreath ideas to share, you’ll enjoy linking up on Myquillyn’s blog, The Nester, December 2nd. Hundreds of creative beings will share their beautiful {imperfect} masterpieces. Read more about it here.
I’d love to see yours there. Me? I’ll simply be scouting for ideas. You’re welcome to join me.
So, how does your {imperfect but beautiful} creativity find its own way to flow?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
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| A basket of truth for our Bible Study friends. |
by Cathy Baker
Searching for a way to put your Fall apples to good use?
Here’s one idea to throw in the hat:
Remind someone how special they are in God’s eyes by placing one apple in a clear cellophane bag, tying the top with jute or a ribbon and adding a card that says this:
You are the apple of my eye.
Love, Jesus
Psalm 17:8
It’s a little something I made for the ladies in our most recent bible study, “Do You Think I’m Beautiful?” by Angela Thomas. I’ve also made these on other occasions because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t be encouraged by this truth?
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| A simple but powerful reminder! |
The term “apple of my eye” refers to something or someone one who is cherished above all others. David, the author of Psalm 17, was confident of God’s love for him. Yes, he had his share of doubts and insecurities, but he always returned to this foundational truth.
I don’t
know where you are today, or what you might be facing. Maybe it’s a
health issue, financial woes, or just a plain ol’ rough day, but know this: You are
cherished by the King of Kings.
May we walk in this truth together, confident that there is nothing we could do or say to make Him love us more, nor is there anything we could do or say to make Him love us less. Now if this doesn’t put a giddy up in our step today, I’m not sure what will.
How does it make you feel to know that you are the apple of your heavenly Father’s eye?
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 17:8
P.S. I happened across the apple note tags at Cracker Barrel, 75% off, but I’ve used plain white tags as well. It’s the message that counts.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
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| Encouragement Wrapped in a Bow |
by Cathy Baker
Remember this post from 2008?
- Starbucks has the Pumpkin Spice Latte
- The Beacon has the Hash-A-Plenty
- My late grandmother, Elsie Knighton, had her egg custard pie
Like those “signature” dishes, my other grandmother, aka “Ma-Ma”, was well known for her pound cake in Fairforest,
SC, back in the day. For as long as I can remember, she baked at
least one pound cake a week. She sliced it into thirds, wrapped each section in
wax paper and added one last shiny wrap before delivering her thirds to the sick, lonely, and elderly.
Unfortunately, I didn’t pay close attention to either grandmother’s mad cooking skills. In fact, years ago, I bought a rubber stamp that said, Don’t worry. I didn’t bake it myself, in hopes of putting the recipient’s mind at ease. I saw no hope in sight until I received my shiny red Kitchen-Aid mixer. It revved up my baking engine as well as my interest to find my own “signature something.” You know, the kind of recipe that comes to mind as quickly as your firstborn’s name.
I’ve tried several pound cake recipes (including MaMa’s)
only to have the pans sabotage my efforts. Yes, it was the pan. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
However, I’m confident that a day is coming when I’ll say goodbye to the rubber stamp and say hello to a tag that reads, Baked with Love, by Cathy.
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Update!
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| My “Signature Something” baked in vintage Pyrex |
Score! I may have discovered my signature something this weekend—pumpkin bread with a brown sugar glaze. The only obstacle? The glaze is so yummilicious you’ll want to ditch the drizzle and smother your bread like it’s a blanket. Brian called it “the kind of dish that makes you want to scrape the plate clean.”
And yet—where both grandmother’s were concerned—their signature somethings were far more than a delight to the palate. Each cake and every pie was baked with one thing in mind: other people, the best ingredient of all.
Do you have a signature something? A go-to dish that you share with others? I’d love to hear about it and if you’d like to share the recipe, I’d be honored to include it on my blog in the near future, along with my signature something.
Whatever you do,
work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your
reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23, 24
