Hear His Voice

Tonight I was needing to listen to some new music and just switch off for a while; hear His voice and let my heart think on Him. This is my second post for the day, but I just couldn't not share this song with you all. It's simply stunningly beautiful.

Let it encourage your hearts tonight and in the days, weeks and months to come.

Much love to you all

Elisha

 

 

A Box Full of Testimonies

Last week I was able to begin a project that I have only been wanting to start for uuumm the past twelve or so years! I began a 'testimony box' (Or memory box if you want to call it that) My husband has a beautiful timber bed box which was his grandfathers, that my father restored for us some years ago. Up until now, it has only kept, well, blankets!

The idea of this testimony box is for me to keep all of my own families precious memories and keepsakes all in one place (Previous to this box I had little bits scattered here, there and everywhere ... which was driving me nuts!) All of mine and MR S's childhood/school memories as well as our children's school memories are in a separate box.

This new testimony box is an extra special one. Not because of the 'things' that are in there, things are temporal, but because of what those things represent to us as a family who desires to live this life well and beautifully together for His Name. There are things in there like baby clothes for all four of our children that remind me of just how teeny tiny they were, and how God has richly blessed us with these healthy, beautiful children! (I admit it, there were a few tears shed, but that's to be expected right?!) Their birth stories and baby hospital bands are in there too.

I have my tiara, necklace and earrings from our wedding day. I even have some of the cake flowers in the round tin that are almost twelve years old! There are lots of engagement/wedding cards; baby birth cards too, all reminders of the people we are blessed to have in our lives and that God holds our marriage together. I think one of the most significant testimonies in that box is when our beautiful Little Miss J fell into a camp fire while we were camping at a local damn for the weekend (maybe I'll do a post about it one day). This led to weeks of recovery visits to Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital and it was an exhausting time, but His peace never left us, we knew she would recover well, and she has! Praise our amazing God! I have all the photo's, the whole story written out (unedited), the cast that she was wearing, the I.D. wrist bands etc. All these speak so loudly to our whole family of the healing grace and power of our Saviour.

That's what this box is for me; a testimony, all in one place, of His goodness, faithfulness, protection and provisions in our lives; as well as all the good times we've shared together. I'll be adding my completed journals, my poetry journals, our thankful journals, my children's scrap booking journals that they have done, our holiday sketchbooks, the children's everyday sketchbooks, a book that I am beginning about my husband, their first Bibles and anything else that shouts out the goodness He lavishes on us!

I can picture my grand children and great grandchildren opening this creaky old wooden box, and spending hours pouring over the treasures inside; treasures that testify that God has been what's held and carried and guided and is the centre of this families existence. Here is the way, walk in it!

This is going to be a continual project that is added to over the years, one that I am so excited to do! It has motivated me to be more intentional in journaling God's goodness, in seeking out the testimonies to be added in there as visual reminders for my future generations to enjoy!

I hope I have motivated or encouraged you to do the same for your family! This is just one way we can choose to purposefully remember His blessings in our lives. Our God's mercies and goodness to us are too great to not be remembered! Do you already have a testimony box? Or do you have something else? I would love to see it! Leave a link to your blog below in the comments and I'll pop over and see the good things God's done for your family!!





In His lavishing and perfect love,

Elisha.


For more creative homemaking ideas check out this link , join in the 'hop' and enjoy!

A Brilliant Cynthia Heald Bible Study

On Monday mornings I have been going to a friends place, to join with a beautiful group of ladies for a Bible Study. It has been such a timely study in my life (in all of our lives) and being on a Monday morning, it's a lovely start to the week.  I thought that I would share it with you so that you could enjoy it too if you wanted!
 
It's perfect for individual or group settings. I enjoy group settings the most for a few reasons; one being the accountability to get the 'homework' done so that you experience rich growth, two because it's so good to witness how God is working in all of our lives (and to encourage one another), and three, well, it's always nice to get together with a group of like-minded women to fellowship!
 
The study is called 'Becoming a Woman of Simplicity' and it's written by an amazing Christian lady named, Cynthia Heald. You may have heard of her, if you have you will know how biblically accurate and encouraging, and sometimes (more-often than not!) correcting her Bible studies are! If you haven't heard of her and you are after something to encourage you in the areas of staying focused, removing distractions, not being pressured by deadlines, people etc., then this study is perfect for you. It teaches how we really don't need to be living a stressful, world-driven life, but a life in-step with God; drawing from His strength, guidance, leading and peace. A God paced life. Cynthia states that the key to 'all this' life is to have the focus of our hearts being single-mindedly devoted to knowing and loving Christ.
 
Cynthia gives beautiful teaching from truths lived out over her life; she lives out what she speaks out.
 

 

 

The blurb on the back of the book.

 

 The chapters discussed in the study.

 

A passage that hits the nail on the head.

(Sorry for the poor quality picture. I hope it doesn't hurt your eyes

trying to read it. Let me know if you would like me to type it

out for you more clearly, it would be my pleasure!)

 

 

Cynthia was even kind and gracious enough to reply in person (using our names) to an email that our Bible study leader sent to her letting her know how much growth we have enjoyed through this study! Such a lovely lady with such a beautiful faith.

 

I look forward to learning through the rest of the study in the next few weeks. Thankfully, all of us have decided to go on and do another of Cynthia's studies together after this one is finished! It does us good to challenge and work out our faith, to stretch ourselves a bit and let God do His work in us!

 

I hope that you would consider this study or any of her others to do on your own or with a group of women if you are wanting to grow even more in your faith. (I have also done 'Loving Your Husband' ... ahem ... that study was ... very rewarding!)

 

And Cynthia, if you ever read this post (highly unlikely I know!), thank you so much for your wisdom and for your obedience in using your gifts to bless the lives of women in His Name, I'm sure there have been many.





 

I'd love for you to pop back and let me know if you've done any of Cynthia's studies, or plan to do this study and how it goes for you!