Posted by Posted in Bible, Bible characters, do hard things, faith, God, Living for God, words

If I: The Do or Die Statement

Today I have selected two passages that have a do or die feel to them. Both of these passages have similar wording and I think they have something that we can all learn.

The first passage is found in Genesis 43:14b. It reads like this:

“And as for me, if I am bereaved of children, then I am bereaved.”

As for the second, it is found in Esther 4:16b. It says:

“And if I perish, I perish.”

These might not seem like much but just wait until I give you the background.

In the first passage it is Jacob speaking. Yes, the same Jacob who stole his brothers birthright and blessing, married Leah and Rachel (Labans daughters) and had a son named Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Now Jacob is old, he still thinks Joseph, his favorite son, was killed by wild animals and so he clings even more closely to Joseph’s brother, Benjamin. There is a severe famine in the land, the same one that Joseph, a prisoner in Egypt, had foretold through Pharohs dream.

Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food and they come back with a story. Joseph (although they didn’t know it was him) had been testing them and told them that he would not see them again until they brought Benjamin with them.

This posed a problem. Jacob would not let them take Benjamin. But this turned into a life or death situation. The famine was severe and they had no food. So finally, Jacob said this line: And as for me, I f I am bereaved of children, then I am bereaved. Jacob had lost Joseph, Simeon was a captive in Egypt and he did not want to lose Benjamin. But he knew that this was a do or die moment and he decided to follow God and trust God with his children. And if they died, they died.

The second is spoken by Queen Esther. Esther, a Jew, was chosen as the Queen of Persia. Hamaan hated Jews and came up with a plot to kill all of them. This would be a total wipe out of Jews. Esther was the only one who could stop this plot. But she had to go into the King, without an invitation. If you went into the King without an invitation, he could raise his scepter and you would be killed. Or he could find favor with you and let you enter. It was a risky thing and no doubt Esther was a bit scared. Her words? If I perish, I perish.

Both of these phrases show a choice. This is do or die. These are do-what-must-be-done words. These are complete laying it in God’s hands words. These are words of trust. Jacob didn’t want to give up his childeren but he put them in God’s hands and if God chose to take them away, then He took them away. Esther didn’t want to give up her life, but she laid it in God’s hands and if she died, then she died. So be it. God gives and God takes away. So. Be. It.

What happened to Jacob and Esther? Let’s look at the Bible to find out.

Jacob found out the amazing truth that Joseph was alive. In one fell swoop he had all his children with him. Here are God’s words to Jacob in Genesis 46:4:

“I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again and Joseph’s hands shall close your eyes.”

Esther went in to the King and was successful. The King didn’t kill all the Jews and God used Esther to save His people. Listen to what Esther 8:16 says:

“The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.”

God blessed both Jacob and Esther and He used thier trust to accomplish great things and save His special nation.

So whatever God wants to do with your life, so be it.

Priscilla Joy

Posted by Posted in cool stuff, DIY, Fun Stuff, Projects, ready to adventure, stuff to do

How to Make a Paracord Lanyard

Hey there!
Today I have a really cool project for you to do using Paracord (the survival cord). It is really simple and does not use a lot. A friend had given me some Paracord for my birthday and I wanted to make something really cool with it and this is what I came up with! Hope you enjoy!

How to Make a Paracord Lanyard
image

What you will need:image

To make this sweet lanyard you will need the following:
-lighter
-scissors
-about 4 feet or so of your choice of Paracord
-a key ring

Step 1
image

Fold your cord in half and put the key ring through it. You can kinda measure out how long you want it. You will want to have the point where you put the key ring a little longer than what you want your lanyard to be. Then you want to flip it around so the two loose ends are pointing up.

Step 2
image

This is where you will start doing the “cobra weave”. As in the picture you will want your loop part pointing down and the loose end on the left to be folded over the loop part forming a “backwards P”. You will want the loose end on the right to be straight down over the “backwards P” part. Take the right loose end and put it under everything and through the “backwards P”.
image

Pull to tighten. This is your first stitch. Here is a picture of how it should look.

image

Step 3
Do this on corresponding sides. (Your next stitch will be a “regular P” and the left loose side will go over it and then under and through the “P”.) Tighten after every stitch.

Step 4
image

Once you get to the end of your cord as you see in the picture above you will want to cut the excess cord off (not too much, not too little).

image

Then use the lighter to smolder the edges so it won’t fall apart.

Step 5
Put a key on it and you are done! I think these things look so amazing!

image

Lovely! Practical! Homemade!

Lovely! Practical! Homemade!

Have a fun time making your own DIY Paracord lanyard!

Priscilla Joy

Posted by Posted in Bible, character, God, history, holidays, Living for God, words

Character, Not Color

Martin Luther King Jr. famously said in his “I have a dream” speech that he wanted his children to grow up in a nation where they would be judged not by the color of thier skin but by the quality of their character.

This poses a good question for us. How do we judge people?

Let us not be hindered by what a person looks like but who God made them to be.

My mom gave my sister and I African-American baby dolls when we were little. We loved on them and never thought anything of thier skin color. My parents raised us to look and learn about other cultures, not judge and sneer on them.

You see this is what the Bible says after God created man…

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27

All men were created in the image of God and we all were created for the same reason, to glorify our maker.

We also all sinned. Romans 3 says that “none are righteous, no not one.” And later, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Just as we all bear the image of God, we also all bear the sin nature. But it doesn’t end here.

We are also all saved. Romans 5 says “God shows his love for us in this, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

You see the gospel is for everyone.
Americans.
African Americans.
Hispanics.
Asians.
Europeans.
The disabled.
The fatherless.
The rich.
The poor.
The list goes on.

Just like Martin Luther King Jr. I long for the day (we have made progress, but we are not perfect.) when people judge each other, not by their skin and outward appearance but by their character, love for Christ and thier heart.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7b

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people.”
1 Timothy 4:10a

Priscilla Joy

Posted by Posted in Fun Stuff, Nature and the Outdoors, Pioneer living, stuff to do

Living Like a Pioneer: Why Raise Chickens?

Why Get Chickens?

They provide food.
-Every twenty five hours a chicken lays an egg. With three chickens I get about eighteen eggs a week, plenty to feed a family. These eggs are not just grocery store eggs either. They are fresh (You don’t have to worry about eating eggs that have been in factories and then onto trucks which take them to your grocery store. These are not the freshest.), nutritious (You know what you feed your chickens and you know that they are not being fed chemicals. Remember, what you feed your chickens is going to show up in your eggs!), strong (ever noticed how the yolks and shells of fresh eggs are so much stronger? None of those chemicals on the shell to keep the eggs “fresh”!) and humane (You know that your chickens have laid these eggs in a humane environment. In fact, you are the one who lovingly cares for them!). Also as a bonus, eggs are full of protein!

They provide education.
-Raising chickens are great for kids and young people. The experience teaches you about responsibility in caring for animals and shows you the process of where food comes from and how it is produced. You can learn about hatching, incubation and care for baby animals. It is also very fun to watch the chicks grow from tiny little babies to grown chickens who are producing your breakfast!

They provide entertainment.
-Chickens can be pretty funny and each one has their own personality. You can feed them treats and when you bring their food to them they just flock to you! Also, it is fun to collect eggs, it is like an Easter egg hunt but everyday!

They provide help around the homestead.
-Chickens can provide some practical help for you in ways other than eggs! First of all, they eat your scraps which would otherwise go in the garbage and landfills. They also eat your bugs and keep that bug population low. And thirdly, chicken manure is great for your garden and yard as a fertilizer. So collect that manure and put it on your garden to produce that rich soil that is excellent for growing things!

Hope you enjoyed my four reasons why you should raise chickens!
Look for a post on how you actually raise chickens…. (There is your sneak preview)

Priscilla the farm girl

Posted by Posted in holidays

Committing Your Year to the Lord

It is a new year and many people like to make New Years resolutions. I think that is a great thing to do! Comment below to share your resolutions. Today I want to propose something else for you to do too.

Let’s commit our year to the Lord.

Let’s just say a prayer, write one down if you want, and just thank the Lord for all He has done in your life this past year and ask Him to do great things in you this year.

Be humble and commit 2016 to Him!

Happy New Year!
Priscilla Joy