Betrothal ... but WHY?

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

I have been doing some very interesting reading and studying about some things and there is one thing I feel very important to share.  I also have just heard a vital message that I think needs addressing.  It's about the necessity, yes, necessity of betrothal.  I know I posted about betrothal a while back ... but in this post I want to share something I didn't share before, about the vital need to do away with the boyfriend/girlfriend relationships and even the so called 'courtship' practices.

I have seen more and more how courtship has been 'practiced' and how it has resulted in defrauding one or both young people.  These parents that think they are doing the best for their children when they enter into these courtship relationships are just building a faulty foundation for the future marriage, if the marriage even happens. (and so many times, the courtship is called off, anyway)

I have been listening to SM Davis and he has much to say about how to get to the marriage alter.  The Lord has shown him great and mighty truths in the Bible that we all need to hear and understand.  Read I Thess. 4:3-8. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that everyone of you should know even as the gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: Because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but until holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit."

Do you realize that this passage is about how to get to the marriage alter? "How to posses his vessel" is "how to get his wife."

Do you realize that the way that God has given for the men to find and get a wife is by betrothal?  There is no courtship or dating in the Bible. And do you know why? Because when you go into betrothal the way the Lord has shown us in Scripture, it avoids defrauding anyone.

But we have, by leaving Scriptural truth and direction behind, taken on the practices of the world and entered into the practice of defrauding.  I'm talking about the young people that date or go into what they call  'courtship' (which is really just Christian dating if they don't enter into the courtship with a date set for the wedding) and even the parents that condone the dating and courtship relationships.

Do you know what it is to defraud someone?  Defrauding is to cheat or take something wrongly.  We don't think we would do that to anyone, do we?  Well, I think we best think again.

I want to relate to you why God would want us to get to the marriage alter by betrothal.  It is the first and foremost way to protray Christ's relationship with us.  When you see a young man become betrothed to a young woman, you are seeing the same relationship that our Lord and Saviour has established with us, the Church.  We are betrothed to Yeshua, Jesus Christ.  This young man and young woman are a perfect witness to the world of Yeshua and the Church.  Actually, this is the only witness that the world will see.

I hope you will all really seek out to study defrauding.  Jonathan Lindvall and SM Davis have some wonderful messages about the dating game, the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, courting and the the Biblical choice of Betrothal. If our Father planned and created betrothal for our marriage to His Only Begotten Son, how can we choose to go with a different way to get to the marriage alter? (the world's way!)

Go HERE to listen to SM Davis' message on defrauding and betrothal ... and check out his site for more messages he has available on the subject.  I have only touched the surface of his message.  Please, hear it for yourself ... and go HERE to see Jonathan Lindvall's messages on the subject of betrothal.

Grace and peace to you and your homes, ye who sincerely love our Lord.
Remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Ps. 122:6


(Aunt Sally :-)

Apron Survey ~ for both male and female, please

Men, hold on, please ... would you ask your mother and/or sisters to give answers to these questions, even if you don't wear or want to wear an apron? And I would love to have you read the whole post and see the note toward the bottom that would refer just to you! :-)  I would love to have you make comment on that part of the post, even if you don't respond to my questions about the aprons. And by the way, men DO wear aprons!

Who wears aprons anymore?

Or should I ask, who should wear aprons today? Everyone?

Do you wear an apron?

Do you know what an apron is for?

What I really would like ot know is what kind of apron YOU like to wear, or that you would like to wear.
.

Can you describe it for me? There are very few apron patterns out there that really suit my fancy ... how about you?  I like designing my own patterns. What would your ideal apron look like?

What would you like to have as an apron?

~ Long? below the knee?

~ Shorter?

~ A pinafore type? Remember Sarah's aprons in "Sarah, plain and tall"?

~ Tied at the waist or more loose, just secured behind?

~ A half apron? only from the waist down?

~ With straps over the shoulder or more coverage?

~ Strap around the back of the neck or down the back to a waist tie?

~ Full front of just a bib?

~ Do you like the apron to cover just the front of you? ... or ...

~ A bit more around the sides? ... or ...

~ All the way around?

~ Do you feel a pocket is essential? or just for decoration?

~ A Mamasan style? full coverage with sleeves?

~ A cobbler's apron?

~ Would you like a hand towel attached to the apron?

~ Would you like a sewing apron? (to wear while you sew or do handwork, padded with a pin cushion area on the apron)

~ what other features would be your preference?

My Gramma  always wore an apron.  She was Russian and made aprons that had this amazingly Russian look, if only from the fabrics she chose.  I never really liked the pattern she made all her aprons from, but they were Gramma, through and through. My Mama rarely wore an apron.  I love wearing them, but I usually wear pinafores over my dresses and they work for my aprons.  I still have some of my Gramma's aprons but Lizzy wears them more than I do.  She is coming into her own style though, now.  She makes her own and I love seeing her in them.

I saw this on the internet attibuted to an email, but with no other credit given as to the author.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's aprons was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy children.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch,  waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

For women, I think aprons are just so very feminine.  And they are something our children will remember us wearing.  I think they are a wonderful habit to give to your children.  And, they really do protect the clothing!  And I still think it's easier to wash aprons than our day to day clothing!

Bibs are the aprons we put on our babies and growing children.  If we, as mothers wear aprons, the children will think it natural for everyone! :-)

And men, I promised something special for you …

Did you know that it is Scriptural that men help, at least, with washing the dishes.

What say you?

II Kings 21:13

“And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, 

and the plummet of the house of Ahab: 

and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, 

wiping it, and turning it upside down.”

I am looking forward to any and every comment, just to help me know what you all really like.

Grace and peace be unto you and your household.

Remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6

(Aunt Sally :-)

The images in this post are not mine and I make no claim to them.  They are for reference only in the hope that everyone will be able to use ideas from these pictures to make suggestions for the apron selections that they desire. There is no intent of any copyright infringement.

He Giveth Snow Like Wool

Psalm 147:12-20

"Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

For He has strengthened the bars of thy gates;

He hath blessed thy children within thee.

He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

he sendeth forth his commandment upon earth:

His word runneth very swiftly.

He giveth snow like wool:

He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

He casteth forth his ice like morsels:

Who can stand before his cold?

He sendeth out his word, and melteth them:

He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

He had not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, 
they have not known them.

Praise ye the LORD."

Praise ye the Lord!!  It has snowed and it is beautiful.  Beautiful are the Words of the Lord!  Beautiful are His mercies and His commandments!  Beautiful is His creation!

We don't know when our snow will come that will really be the start of our winter snow, but it's wonderful to see this just to be reminded of how much whiter we are when we are washed by the Blood of the Lamb!!

Psalm 51:7-13
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou has broken may rejoice.  Hide they face from my sins, and blot out all mine inequities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee."

Isaiah 1:18-20
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;  though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

I hope you have as wonderful a Sabbath as we are blessed with.
Grace and peace to all you who love the Lord with all sincerity.
Remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6


(Aunt Sally :-)

Happenings on Brown's Farm

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; 

and afterwards build thine house.

Proverbs 24:27

Greetings in our precious Lord's Name, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, Jesus Christ Messiah.

As the Scripture directs us, we must make things ready in the fields.  We have been so very busy around the farm.  We have been butchering chickens.  We are getting ready to have our bull, Top Round, butchered tomorrow morning.  He was suppose to be butchered last week, but the butcher couldn't manage it in his schedule.  It's been a hardship for my dear husband, since we auctioned off our two milk cows and Top Round has been lonely, so to speak. :-)  So, the bull has been going over to our neighbor's farm to see the cows over there.  That isn't good for neighborly relations, but when a bull wants out, he doesn't even notice fences, no matter how strong they are.  He hasn't been out of our field at all! ... until this last week. At least 3 times a day, my husband has been trying to stop Top Round from going over there, or just going to retrieve him.  So, tomorrow the 'visits' will stop, Lord willing. (as long as the butcher shows up this time! :-)

Some of our sheep are suppose to get butchered, as well.  Not sure if this will happen though.  We'll have to see how the time and money goes.  This is Darrin and he will be the first to go.  He is mutton already, so he will be first.  He is so sweet and gentle, though.  I hate to lose him, but we need the meat and then we also won't be feeding him!  That will be a big plus! We still need to build a new sheep house for this winter.  I pray the Lord will give us the time, materials and energy to get it done before the snow falls and sticks.  The 'barn' they have been in is just not going to make it through another winter.

We still have so much to do to get ready for winter, as well.  We've had our first snow fall and more is expected tonight.  But it didn't stick last time and it's not suppose to stick this time either.  I love to see how our Lord gives us these little reminders that we best get busy if we want to be ready.   I think we are coming up with a much better plan for feeding and watering the sheep and horses this winter.  That will be a blessing if it works out.

I've been making Borscht, Butternut Squash soup and more wonderful Cauliflower salad (like potato salad but no potatoes).  I love cooking in the fall and winter.  It's so comforting, soothing and yummy, too! Tonight we are having lamb roast with asparagus.  There was an amazingly great price on asparagus!  Better than in the spring!

We have been having some family issues to deal with that have been taking a lot of prayer, planning and thought.  It's amazing how just praying, thinking and planning can take up so much time and energy. But our Father is in control as long as we don't hold on to the problems and issues and we leave everything in HIS Hands.

So much is going on in our country and in the world.  So many people are getting into a panic about everything around them ... and I sit here, wondering why.  Our Father is All Powerful and we have such a precious place of refuge under His protective hand. We can have total peace!  The peace that passes all understanding! 

Philippians 4: 7-9  "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever thigns are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." 

Psalm 122:6-8 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within they palaces. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee." 

There is much and many things that we can do to make a stand for right and for our Lord.  Let's pay attention to what the Lord brings before us and take whatever action HE wants us to take.  We must be very sure that we don't get so tied up in 'doing' that we don't spend time with HIM and continue to grow in Him to be like Him and transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We must conform to HIS image.

Take heart.  If you are truly in our Messiah's hand, then you are safe in Him.  The only things that can touch you are allowed by Him and He will bring you through. We praise Him for His power and plans for us.  We give thanks to Him in all of it.  Please, we covet your prayers for wisdom and discernment to know what HE wants us to do ... and that all will be as HE sees best for us.

Grace and peace be unto you and your homes, with God's blessing.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6
(Aunt Sally) :-)

Giveaway on Lizzy's Blog!

There's a spectacular giveaway on Lizzy's Blog!! (We can all thank Miss Bailey for this lovely graphic in honor of the occasion, :-) Yes, Thank you my dearest girl!) There are great prizes! From the stand-by of A Great Audio message, to the choice between a Journal and a Pocket Tool Kit! Head on over and check it out! Don't forget to read the rules and enter!!!

Grace and peace be unto you and your homes, with God's blessing.
Please, remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6

(Aunt Sally) :-)