"The King's Blooming Rose" magazine

Have you ever heard of "The King's Blooming Rose" magazine? You will definitely want to know [more] about it! You can just go to their website by clicking here.

I've received two of their magazines as a gift from my bosom friend and have thoroughly enjoyed reading them. They are filled with encouraging articles, fun recipes and you'll find yourself laughing and crying till the very last page.

It is published quarterly (4 times a year) and is free, unless you feel led to make a donation (which I know they would appreciate!). Read more about it on their website.

Blessings,

Happy Thanksgiving!

The past couple of weeks, all the bloggers, whose blogs I follow, have been writing posts about the things they are thankful for. So, I wanted to write a post about all the things that I am thankful for too. But while I was making up my list, God revealed something to me. It was almost as if He was telling me, "Raquel, you are thanking Me for all the good things I have given you. What about the trials I have sent your way? Don't I tell you, in My Word, to 'rejoice in trials' and 'be thankful for tribulations'? Haven't you seen the 'good' that I have worked out of all the bad - like I say in Romans 8:28?" Yes, LORD. I have.

Unfortunately, I can't go into detail about the hardships that He has sent our way, but let's all try to remember to thank Him for the trials and hard times, because if you *really* think about it, you will see that something good has *always* come out of it. I have been blessed with new friends, stronger relationships, wonderful times to remember, stronger faith in God and more trust in Him, because of the 'bad' that has been in my life.

But, in this post, I will post at least ten things I am thankful for. Believe me, the list can go on and on, but I'm short of time here, so... :)

I am thankful for...

1. ~My Savior and my God

2. ~My life

3. ~My family

4. ~My friends (especially my bosom friend :)

5. ~My Home

6. ~All our farm animals

7. ~The money that we have - enough to make a huge Thanksgiving meal! :)

8. ~My blog that I am able to have

9. ~Music (my songs, instruments, my voice, etc.)

10. ~Books (that have encouraged me, inspired me, helped me in my spiritual walk. And ones just for pleasure too :)

and just two extra ones, for good measure :)

11.~All the home-making skills that my dear Mother has taught me

12. ~How much God has blessed my efforts on The Homeschool Society and how many Christian homeschoolers are finding it.

Like I said...the list can go on and on!! :)

So what are some things (list at least three) that you are thankful for this year?

Blessings,

P.S. All these photos getting you hungry for all the good food tomorrow? :)

~HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!~

The engagement of a couple who courted...

For awhile now, I have been following the blog of Tara and Kelly Riddell. Tara has been courted by Stephen Craig for some time now, and I was SO blessed and excited to go to her blog recently and find this picture awaiting me:

God is SO good!! Please visit Tara's blog and wish her a congratulations on her engagement! Daughters of Vision

Blessings,

I've been awarded!

I've been awarded by a sweet friend of mine, Lucia, at "A Princess in God's Kingdom". Thanks so much, Lu! That meant a lot to me.



So, the rule of this award is, after you've been awarded, to pass it on and award four of your favorite bloggers/friends' blogs. You must write a little something about each of them (i.e.: why they're special to you, how long you've known them, etc.) Since I only have one bosom friend, I shall award her, but the others...please take this award as a way of saying "you are a sweet, dear friend"! :)

Danielle K. Hahner at "Living At Home": My dear, bosom friend!! We've been through so much together, but we've always stood side by side. I love you for who you are, what you mean to me, and the wonderful, Godly example to all those around you. I love you, dearie!!

Paulina Prieto at "A Set Apart Life": Paulina, you have encouraged me more than you can ever imagine! I admire your loyalty and love for our God. The articles you write are inspiring and, yes, challenging. Thank you for being my friend! I pray that the LORD will use me to encourage you as well.

Andrea at "God is writing my love story!": Andrea, you have encouraged me tremendously by your testimony to remain pure! I am SO excited about you and Billy - I truly hope and pray that the LORD blesses your lives together. He already has, so I don't know why He would stop now. :) Blessings to you, dear!

and

Lauren and Mikaela (twins) at "One Bright Corner": I know these twin girls personally, and they've always been a great encouragement to me. We need to get together soon, girls!! :) Keep up your lovely blog!

Blessings!

The Next Sherwood Movie is...

It was finally announced!! The next Sherwood movie is:

About:

"Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they face danger every day. Yet when tragedy strikes close to home, these fathers are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives.

With action, drama, and humor, the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures embraces God’s promise to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers." Souls will be stirred, and hearts will be challenged to be ... courageous!

COURAGEOUS. Honor begins at home!"

Check out more about it at: www.courageousthemovie.com.

I don't know about you, but I am SO excited about this next Sherwood production!!

Blessings,

P.S. I know I haven't update all you faithful followers, but I will as soon as I can! Love to you all!

The Power of Music

I have felt led to write a post on the power of music. Many of you know about and enjoy reading my "Song For the Day Tuesday" posts, where I choose a favorite artist/group and post the lyrics to a favorite song by them. Now, I would like to make one thing clear...just because I post about them, doesn't mean that I fully endorse all of their songs, CDs, concerts, etc. Some artists/groups, I know a lot about and do, indeed, endorse their ministry, whereas, others I have only heard one (at the least) songs by them. Please do not think that I endorse something by them that you may come across while researching them, that you don't, particularly, agree with or like. I am a very picky person when it comes to music. When people ask me what my favorite type of music is, I can't honestly say because if I said "Contemporary Christian", that covers a few different styles of music - some of which I don't enjoy. And, sadly, most contemporary "Christian" music isn't as "Christian" anymore. Groups, nowadays, think that they need to get a little off the narrow way to have their albums sell well and to be in the top charts of the best/most popular music. That's another reason why I'm so careful about saying what kind of music I like, because I never know if I'm talking to an unbeliever or even a baby Christian. If they find a radio station that plays contemporary "Christian" music and hear something that isn't Godly at all, what will they think of me?

Here is a quote from "Guidelines for Christian Music" that I heartily agree with:

“With all the different styles of music in the world today, the question will arise concerning what types and styles of music are appropriate in the local New Testament Church for the Christian today. We realize that this subject is a sensitive one in which people indeed have different styles and tastes in music they prefer. The Christian must therefore look to the Word of God for principles for music used to praise and worship the Lord, especially the music and performers we place before our people and set as role models to our children.”

But, even though I don't always listen to the music of a song, the words are really what matter!! Sometimes I'll come across a song that the music, I don't really like, but the words are amazing and totally what I'm, either, feeling at the moment or just really speak to me. At other times, I catch myself liking the music, but the words, either, don't make sense or aren't what I would list as "Godly".

So let me ask you something...are you listening to music just because the sound is pleasing to you, or are you listening to it because the words are God-glorifying, worshipful, praise words, your prayer to your Savior, etc. Many times we let ourselves listen to music that is pleasing to our flesh, but is it the kind of music that God would want us to be listening to? It is glorifying Him or you?

Music is a powerful thing. Don't let it get a hold of you. Be sure you control what you are listening to. Music and songs will stay with you for the rest of your life. Don't scar your mind with songs that you will later regret listening to.

When you sing the popular praise song: “Lord, I lift your Name on high. Lord, I love to sing Your praises! I’m so glad You’re in my life. I’m so glad You came to save us…” are you really meaning it? Is that your prayer? I hope so...because it's going straight to God's ears...He'll know if you're sincere or not.

So, just for future reference, some artists/groups that I post about, I may not agree with other songs by them, but the song that I do post, I mean as my prayer, my cry to my Savior...my song of praise.

Blessings,

God is good...I'm feeling happy!

The beginning of this week has gone well. God has blessed me with peace and the right perspective to start out my week fun and fresh! :) I did quite a few things already today...thus the reason "I'm feeling happy".:) I thought I would share them with my dear followers...

• I had a wonderful time at church last night...wonderful message and good fellowship afterwards
  
• I rearranged my bedroom today...it seems that I have more space now!


• school is done for the day (at least...most of it :) the rest I can do tonight before going to bed


• the house is clean


• the laundry is washing


• tonight is movie and dessert night - yay! :)


• the house (at the moment) is quiet and calm...most everyone is napping


• God gave me an inspiration for an essay the other day, and I shall go work on it as soon as I'm done with this post :)


• my "Zoila's Creations" bazaar went extremely well last Saturday!


• I have one of my favorite songs running through my head at the moment...but I shan't tell you what it is because it is going to be the "Song For the Day Tuesday" tomorrow! :)

Hope everyone is enjoying their day today and counting God's blessings!

Blessings!