Today Encouragement (31 January 2022)

Greetings in love to my sisters! 

How's things in your life? Hope most of all that you're strong in the Lord standing on His truth. 

Some wisdom for your day... 

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Proverbs 15:16-17

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 16:8

We see what's most important. Of course it isn't sinful to have good food and maybe a lot of variety of it (as compared to just bread and water)...and give God thanks...but it's not our focus even though we Titus 2 women may need to do a lot of it. We sisters know there are more important things in life...seeking first God's kingdom and righteousness. And if some of us sisters got together we wouldn't care much about the food at all but about the godly fellowship and love in the Lord. It is a joy to serve others in their needs of food though. 

We do know about the warnings in scripture of fleshly lusts and we know greed in this area of food is all around us in the world. In fact we can see this... 

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Ezekiel 16:49-50

...some of the sins that God destroyed Sodom for. Does that not sound like much of our world today? God's wrath is coming we know for those who obey not the gospel and know not God.

And we know we saints who are zealous of good works and loving and obey God are often thought of as having a works-based gospel. But in reality we cling to Christ through faith in Him (we can't see Him yet we believe all He has done for us and who He is) which leads to good works. It's impossible to have faith without works (but not the works of the old law no). I believe many use this excuse because there's a work or many (which are God's commands) they don't want to obey. We know wilful sin is not a good thing...remember what happened to the couple in Acts 5 who believed but God killed them. Let us fear. God gave these examples and warnings to us for a reason...many right throughout the whole Bible. 

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Corinthians 10:6

Let us sisters keep being faithful to the Lord, loving what He loves and hating what He hates. 

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

And of some have compassion, making a difference: 

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:21-23

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I share an assortment of things from my simple day in Christ. 

Cute chickies relaxing in the tree... 

Some awesome shell creations... 

...which are former homes to the animals that lived in them and were protected. Reminds me of us sister soldiers having our spiritual armour on too! 

A bit of bread making... 

And some French onion soup... 

Praise God for providing our daily bread!

And I share some of God's beautiful creations from my evening walk on the property... 

Glory to God for creating it all and letting us appreciate and share it all. 




Pretty patterns in the tree left by insects... 

I was watching the sun set so decided to read a psalm about God's creation... 

How peaceful and beautiful. God made it all and gave us the ability to see...to hear...to touch...to smell...to taste..........and to give Him all the glory for it. 

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Hebrews 1:10-12

Thank you sister for these scripture gifts... 

Yes we want the Lord to do that in us. Goes along with this one... 

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Yes He owns it all! 

Yes we must come to God through Christ. We are to deny ourselves and follow Him and His ways and strive in order to enter. 


OK sisters...I must go. We can each do the best we can in each day for the Lord. Hope yours is a good one in Christ. Look to Him for everything you need. And I'm here to encourage you on. 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here. 

Today's Encouragement (30 January 2022)

 

Hello sisters! 

God granted us another day to be in this world shining as lights in the darkness. It is very dark out there in the world...and even oftentimes in what calls itself the church or Christ's people. But we know Christ's true people who have His Spirit that teaches us the same truth are holy and are striving to be spotless and set apart for Him. We know there is no darkness in God! 

I thought of this and how we see today many rejecting truth...religious people too... 

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Acts 13:46-47

 

I'm so glad we have the hope today too! God made the way for us through Christ! How thankful we are. 

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Ephesians 2:13-14

And of course we know that many Gentiles are rejecting truth and living in darkness. But we can be a light to them and everyone. Everyone needs truth as God is not willing that any should perish.

And I was thinking about something else...oftentimes people think of missionaries needing to go far away into dark distant places...and that is true but we know right where we are also and in our own lands there is great spiritual blindness and darkness. 

And we women can be a witness right where we are and also if we have access to technology (if you're reading this you do) there can be many ways to be in reach of many people...even without leaving your home. We all have different lives and callings but also much the same in that we all are about pleasing God first. He is number one in our lives. 

I was thinking about partiality too. We don't want to be partial to anyone...every soul is just as in need of the precious gospel truth, near or far. There's so many ways we can think about where we could find ourselves being partial or we can see it in the lives of others. God teaches us the truth about that all and we want to examine our lives and make sure we are not partial either...for God is not a respector of persons. And in the end we know He's going to judge everyone according to their works. 

What a great God of redemption we have! 

And I share some beautiful creations from my day...all that God made. Glory to Him! 

(You can see the ants and bee on that big flower too.) 

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145:3

 

Let us remember that sisters. 

Thank you sister for all these scripture picture gifts. 

What precious eternal words and truth of God. And I appreciate the love of a sister putting them together and sending them that's behind them too. We can all share and encourage one another in so many ways. It is all centered around the Lord and our love for Him and His Word and each other 

Well that's it from me for today...some simple thoughts which I hope are encouraging and God's Word too. And some of His peaceful creations from my corner of the world too. 

OK, keep fighting on sisters! Stand strong on the truth. Lord willing I shall be back here tomorrow. 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here. 

First Things

Hello sisters! 

The Lord's mercies are new ever morning aren't they! How many He has bestowed upon us, His children! It's encouraging and humbling to ponder on them isn't it. 

Hope you are all strong in the Lord and not growing weary in well doing! If you have to cook or clean or care for children or working in a ministry or any of the things we women may do...and many things you do over and over we don't want to grow weary. Keep holding fast and doing your works unto the Lord sisters, setting your affections on things above. 

I wanted to share some various scriptures to encourage us today. Sometimes some subjects come to you and you ponder on them and see what scripture says about them. I was thinking about some things that the scriptures talk about as being first. 

This should encourage us sisters in what we are seeking which is God first and not ourselves or the world anymore like we used to. 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

This is the first and great commandment. 

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39

This one too..

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

Those encourage me to keep going in what we do in loving the Lord and being about obeying Him and spending our time in His business. Of course we know the commands for women and so obeying those with contentment and thankfulness is part of loving God. And we don't give up reaching out in love to lost souls even if most reject their only hope. 

(What pretty creations our God made too!) 

And we sisters make sure to first look at our own lives and address our issues before helping others. 

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 7:5

And we know to be always making sure our actions are in line with God's ways for us. And having sisters to remind us of so many areas is such a blessing because there's so much to remember! I'm thankful for the sisters in Christ that I know. We learn so much from one another and just living life together in the Lord and sharing. 

 

I love this here also that our Lord told us not to be terrified... 

And we know the world around us may be afraid of all kinds of bad things going on in this sin affected world. We know that must first come to pass before the end!

But remember this sisters on what will come after... 

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Luke 21:28

Praise God...He has it all under control! And we can rest and trust in Him. 

 

This gives us comfort knowing how things will be at the Lord's return...

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Oh and this one tells us what's going to be first...

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Thessalonians 2:3

We have been warned many times haven't we sisters of the deception that will enter. So that also gives us an answer as to why there will so few of the faith in the last days. We know to expect this and keep obeying the scriptures even if not many else want to and they bend God's word and do things He tells us not to and keep their own traditions. 

 

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

1 Peter 4:17-18

Let that stir us to greater zeal in clinging to the ways as taught in the New Testament, fearing God who gave all this truth to us through His Son and chosen men.

A sister shared this scripture... 

We know the eternal destiny of all people will be in either one of the extremes...great joy and peace and light with the Father or great punishment separated from Him in darkness in eternal hell fire. We keep on trying to warn others about that. 

We know the gospel is first and foremost in our lives in how we find eternal life. We cannot just add any 'good works' onto our life and expect to make it to heaven. We need a transformed life through Christ, repentance to Him and His ways, being born by His Spirit washed and made new. Only this will lead to true works of obedience as fruit we are His as He works through and in us as we strive to obey. And we must remain in this faith in Christ enduring in good works bringing forth fruits of righteousness by the Spirit in us until the end. We know to live first for the Lord, loving Him most, denying ourselves is only our reasonable service. He is now our Lord and Master and we obey Him! What a joy to have the hope to come! 

And the Lord provided daily bread for another day of which I share a little of my Titus 2 duties...

And some pineapple chia pudding... 

I love how easy chia puddings are to make because as long as you remember a rough guide of the ratio of chia seeds to liquid as being 1 to 4 you can make up your own variations and such. (I've shared a recipe here before.) 

Well I must go now sisters but I leave with some scripture pictures which are gifts from a sister. (Thank you sister for your love of the Lord and the saints!) 

Jesus gives His peaple peace...what a great gift that is. 

Love to you all, 

Sister Michaela

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here. 

Today's Encouragement (28 January 2022)

Greetings sisters! 

OK, I'm back and glad you are too. The Lord gave us one more day to live to serve and glorify Him. That's the thing...we are not our own but our Lord's. And we want to live like it too and not like the world and the god of it (satan). 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:11-12

I read that and was pondering what the grace of God teaches us and leads us to. What a great gift we do not want to abuse. 

Blessing of a heavy rain shower this morning... 

Some of you that get a lot of rain might think it funny sharing videos of rain...but if you don't get much it's such a blessing and I know you appreciate the blessings of water and how important it is! We women use a lot of water with cooking and cleaning. 

What do you see in that picture? I see tomato vines producing tomatoes...do you? 

What are the fruits of our lives sisters? 

If our hearts have been changed made new by God's spirit we won't be living like we used to. We know He is good and so too will the fruit of our lives be good. They should be! We know it isn't the outward acts that come first. It is a change of heart which then leads to the fruit of righteousness and holiness. Makes me think of this scripture too... 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:2-3

Because we know that to love God and our neighbors are the greatest commands. And we know godly love comes from our changed hearts. 

And it's all we can see...the fruit of people's lives...because we aren't God and can't see inside the hearts. Is the fruit good of those you associate with and fellowship? May we sisters continue in obeying God first even if there's so few who want to live completely for Him. 

Isn't this sunset just beautiful... 

...with all the layers and fluffy clouds? What a great and powerful God we have who put such variety in His creation. And we too are His creatures and we want to be obedient to the roles He made us for. He is God and is over it and owns it all. 

And thank you for this picture sister... 

Amen what a joy it is to know of those striving on steadfast in the faith! Let us keep on in that! And it says order too...that surely would mean us women keeping in our roles we have been created for too. 

Until tomorrow sisters...

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Today's Encouragement (27 January 2022)

 

Greetings daughters of the Lord! 

One more day I have the opportunity to write to you, my sisters, here. We know our life in Christ is not a 'once a week' religious service or anything of the sort but serving Him becomes our whole life! In Christ we know there are no extra special days...because we no longer keep the OT laws...and every day is alike to us! They're all very special to us because we have been made alive from the dead and have the hope of heaven! We ought to exhort each other daily helping us all to stand strong in the Lord and overcome and grow. 

So we sisters aim to do our best at encouraging and edifying each other daily...for God's glory. And my blog here is one way to do that. We know there are so few who truly follow the Lord...but we do our good works unto the Lord no matter what and it's an extra blessing if we have godly fellowship along the way. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

I made an audio with some scriptures here... 

And here's a video of pretty flowers with the sunshine and blue sky and a bird... 

Glory to our Creator to put all that together! 



I finally got all the onions that were drying in the shed (which was sometimes rather hot) safely inside. It was too late for some 🙄 but what a blessing to have all that we got!

I was making these today too... 

...some delicious healthy date balls.

With a recipe that was given to my family which I share here too... 

(Today I used almond flour and butter instead.) 

They don't last long here!

I appreciate quick, simple, and healthy foods...because we godly women have a lot of things to do and as this verse says there's more to life than food. We know we are to be content with food and clothing also. 

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:27

We know we are to live by God's words...which lead to eternal life. It's so much more important to be making sure we are pleasing Him...than living for only the things of this life even if they are good things in themselves. 

More blessings from the garden for the evening meal... 

God didn't only give us a few kinds of foods to keep us sustained...but hundreds and thousands of varieties!! How thankful and content we ought to be! 

Another day the Lord provided our daily bread...and I'm thankful. 



Thought this rose bush was still pretty even though the flowers are fading... 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:8

Fresh green sprouts of grass after the rain we had... 

How refreshing that's is where it's brown, dry, and dusty usually in summer. 

(Thank you sister for adding those scriptures to my pictures:-) Our Saviour has come! So glad we now have the hope of Christ through the gospel. Hope you have all tested your lives and make sure you're truly on the path to eternal life...the narrow road. It isn't 'automatic' that we just get into heaven by 'just believing' in Jesus. We must follow and obey and endure to the end! 

Time for me to go now sisters and sign off here. Other good things I have to do to finish up my day. Let's see if I'm back here tomorrow to share more with you! Keep holding fast to the truth sisters! 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Favour of God...or Man?

Hello to my sisters who love the Lord! 

I do hope your Titus 2 good works have been going well and any other duties you have to do in the Lord. 

I read this scripture today... 

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

And we know it's in the heart of man to look at things that way. Those who are highly esteemed by man with riches, or 'good looks' or polished speech or other 'attractive qualities' are favoured and the others may be viewed as somehow 'lower'. (We know God hates partiality too.) 

This verse says it right...

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

 

I'm sure we've all heard many such comments about what makes someone 'look good'...some kind of clothing, or hair style or other adornment. And it just puffs one up in pride which we know God abhors. But to fear God is truly what matters and as I shared recently a verse from Ecclesiastes about the whole duty of man being to fear and obey God. 

We sisters sometimes share how we see who God used in the scriptures in relation to when we may think that we aren't useful to God in the ways and characters that we have (which is a thought we need to put down and overcome and get on with what we can and do our best in what we are to be doing). We know we sisters may not be much in the eyes of the world (and we don't want to be either!) and that it matters what God sees us as doesn't it. Sometimes we don't know how God can use us but we do know what He calls us to do and it's not to sit around idle but to work and labour in good works and among the saints and with the lost (and the internet is a mission field for sure wherever you are). 

And I was just thinking how humbling it is that God takes pleasure in His people. What a great God He is who is calling to Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. So interesting to see His ways which are not man's ways! 

Mary said it here... 

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Luke 1:50-53 

 

And we know she was a godly woman in favour with God... 

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luke 1:28

We may have to face situations where we will be ridiculed...and we have a decision to make, the favour of God or man. And we know in our flesh it's easier to go with the easier option but those of us who love God and have the Spirit choose the way of pleasing God...unto death!

 

 I love this one... 

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Hebrews 11:24-26

Even though we lose much in this life....it's nothing compared to what we gain and the hope to come! 

Oh we don't want this do we sisters... 

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:43

And we could come across many such instances where we could choose to not suffer the consequences of our faith and standing on truth. But our faith in our great God who has done so much for us, our hope in His promises of eternity with Him and wanting to glorify Him moves us on. 

A sister shared a section of scripture from Psalm 119 today and this verse stood out to me so I made it into this picture. One which includes some things that we turn our eyes away from...and some of the sins they involve. 

So glad to be free from things that have no profit and please not my Lord (that which man highly esteems). What a great privilege and joy to be labouring for that which is eternal, godly, holy, fruitful, pure, biblical, righteous and that is about laying up treasures above...not here on this earth. One where souls are being loved through the gospel and only hope of man, Christ Jesus and His way. 

Like this verse says... 

Thank you sister for that picture:-) His paths are surely good sisters! We may not have many travelling with us...but to have the pleasure of God upon us is more than all the favour of man in the whole world. We remember His goodness and His wrath...and abide in His love by keeping His commandments. 

This was a simple pleasure from my day...picking sun-warmed tomatoes. 

What blessings of good food from the Father!

Time for me to go. You keep holding fast to the truth sisters! Keep enduring through all things for Christ, the trials that we face, the fighting we do in the faith. He is worthy! We are His daughters and He owns us! 

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:20

 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here.