O Taste And See That The Lord Is Good~~A Giveaway!!!

O taste and see that the Lord is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

~~~~~Psalms 34:8~~~~~

 ~~~~~

 Today is the 3 year anniversary of this blog! I 

can't believe I've been blogging 3 years already!

I've met many dear sisters in the Lord, for which 

I am so grateful. I want to give a huge thank you to 

everyone who follows my blog...your friendship is

a treasure, and your comments make my day. :) 

~~~~~

To celebrate my 3 year blog anniversary, I'm having 

a giveaway!!! Since baking is something I enjoy, and 

I know others enjoy it as well, I decided to use baking

as the theme for the giveaway. The theme Bible verse

is Psalms 34:8. :) 

~~~~~

Before I get into the giveaway, I want to share a little 

saying I made up.
~~~~~

Have you been:

added to the family of God,

mixed in with love,

filled with His goodness,

baked in His grace,

cooled with His mercy,

sprinkled with His faithfulness,

&

tasted His kindness?

~~~~~

Now, without further ado, introducing the giveaway! 

Here is what one sweet friend will win:

                        *This baking set which includes a spatula, notepad, and pot holder. 

"Serve one another in love~Galatians 5:13" is printed on the spatula

and notepad, 

*and this scrumptious brownie mix homemade by yours truly.

~~~~~
If you would like to enter this giveaway, just answer this
question by leaving a comment below...
What is your favorite thing to bake?

The giveaway is open to all bloggers and non-bloggers in the U.S. only.
This giveaway will end on May 11th at 10:00 AM EST. 

Thank you all for entering, and may God bless you richly. 
Joyfully His,
Ashley 
Psalms 95:2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Is Your All on the Altar

 Is Your All on the Altar

By: Elisha A. Hoffman

You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase, and have earnestly, fervently prayed; But you cannot have rest, or be perfectly blest, until all on the altar is laid. 

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul. 

~~~~~

Would you walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, and have peace and contentment alway? You must do His sweet will, to be free from all ill, on the altar your all you must lay. 

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul. 

~~~~~

Oh, we never can know what the Lord will bestow of the blessings for which we have prayed, till our body and soul He doth fully control, and our all on the altar is laid. 

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul. 

~~~~~ 

Who can tell all the love He will send from above, and how happy our hearts will be made; Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet, when our all on the altar is laid.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul. 

~~~~~

Elisha Albright Hoffman, who was born on May 7th,1839, in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, is the author of this beloved hymn. His father worked as a minister in the Evangelical Association for over 60 years, which likely influenced Hoffman’s decision to enter the ministry. Hoffman’s musical education was obtained from his parents. While possessing natural musical abilities, Hoffman never attended a school of music. Any musical instruction Hoffman received came from his experiences at his father’s church or at home^. In addition to singing at church, the Hoffman household had a daily family worship time, of which hymn singing was an important part. Hoffman, therefore, became very familiar with the musical and spiritual tradition of Evangelical hymnology at a very early age. It was during these times of family worship that Hoffman developed a love for sacred music and a belief that songs were “as natural a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body.  After graduating from Union Seminary in Pennsylvania, he was ordained in 1868. As a Presbyterian minister, he was appointed to the circuit in Napoleon, Ohio in 1872. In Cleveland, he worked with the Evangelical Association's publishing arm for eleven years. Elisha Hoffman served in numerous churches and chapels in Cleveland and in Grafton in the 1880s, among them Bethel Home for Sailors and Seamen, Chestnut Ridge Union Chapel, Grace Congregational Church and Rockport Congregational Church. Hoffman wrote more than 2,000 gospel hymns during his lifetime including "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," "What A Wonderful Saviour!", "Enough for Me," "Are You Washed in the Blood?", "No Other Friend Like Jesus," and "I Must Tell Jesus." He compiled and edited over 50 song books, two of which were Pentecostal Hymns No. 1 and The Evergreen. On November 5th, 1929, Elisha Hoffman went to be with the Lord in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 90. 

~~~~~
Farewell for now and may the peace of God fill your hearts and minds. 
Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Ashley
Philippians 4:8
 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things 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.

I Surrender All

I Surrender All

By: Judson W. Van De Venter

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; 

I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.  
I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior,
 I surrender all. 

~~~~~

All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow, 
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me, Jesus, take me now. 
I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.  

~~~~~

All to Jesus I surrender, make me Savior wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, truly know that thou art mine. 
I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, 
I surrender all. 

~~~~~

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. 
Fill me with Thy love and power, let thy blessings fall on me. 
I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, 
I surrender all. 

~~~~~

 Someone once said, "Only in the Christian life does surrender bring victory." Judson Wheeler Van De Venter learned that for himself. 

Born on a farm in Monroe Country, Michigan, in 1855, Judson grew up interested in art and music. He was converted to Christ at age 17. After graduating from college in Hillsdale, Michigan, Judson became an art teacher and then supervisor of art for the high school in Sharon, Pennsylvania. In 1885, he toured Europe, visiting art galleries and museums and studying painting. He was also a musician, having studied in numerous singing schools. All the while, Judson was heavily involved in his local Methodist Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir. He found himself especially fulfilled when participating in evangelistic rallies and revivals in which people received Christ as their personal Savoir. Friends encouraged him to resign from the school system to enter fulltime music evangelism, but for five years he struggled with the decision.

Finally falling to his knees, he said, "Lord, if you want me to give my full time to Thy work, I'll do it, I surrender all to Thee." For the next several years he traveled extensively through the United States, England, and Scotland, assisting in evangelistic work, leading the singing for Wilber Chapman and other evangelists, and winning men and women to Christ. While engaged in meetings in East Palestine, Ohio, Judson stayed in the home of George Sebring (whose family founded Sebring, Ohio, and who himself later found Sebring, Florida.) It was there that he wrote the hymn, "I Surrender All," while recalling his own personal submitting to full-time ministry. 

Moving to Tampa in 1923, he began teaching hymnology at Florida Bible Institute. He retired after several years, but still occasionally showed up on campus to lecture or to speak in chapel. In the 1930s, a student at Florida Bible Institute sat wide-eyed, listening to Judson Van De Venter. That student, Billy Graham, later wrote: "One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching was also a hymnist who wrote 'I Surrender All,' the Rev. J.W. Van De Venter. He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late 1930s. We students loved this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing." This widely known and sung hymn still encourages Christians to surrender their lives fully to the Savior, for he's the only one that can bring real peace. 
Taken from "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J. Morgan
 
In Christ's unending love and mercy,
Ashley
Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

The Lord Tries the Hearts

Does God try our  hearts?

***** 

Recently, during Bible one evening, my daddy shewed us something I've never seen before by asking us this question.
"Does God try our hearts?" 
We read 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, and realized God indeed does try our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts" 

*****

If you've ever ridden a horse, you know they listen to you when the reins are pulled. (Alot of horses do, anyway.) After the horse is tamed enough for a person to ride, reins are strapped on the horse so the rider can control him. It's a joy to ride a horse who is submissive to your commands. On the other hand, it is not very pleasurable to ride a disobedient and stubborn horse.

 It's similar to what God does to us. When we become Christians, it's as if God puts reins on our hearts. He tries us by pulling on the reins to see if we are willing and obedient enough to follow Him.

*****

 Like a horse, if we as Christians are submitted to Christ, our Master, we will go where he leads and directs us. And if we follow Him, God will reward us accordingly. But if we refuse to go where He leads us, we will be rewarded according to our actions. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:9 ~ "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." 
As I was digging a little deeper and searching for verses that talked about God trying our hearts, I came across these verses. 

*****


 Psalms 7:9 ~ "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins"

Psalms 26:2 ~ "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." 

Jeremiah 11:20 ~ "But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause."

Jeremiah 17:10 ~ "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." 

 Revelation 2:23 ~ "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." 

*****

When God tries your reins, will he find that you are submitted to Him?

Tea Cup Exchange

 Good afternoon, friends. 

It is time to share with you all the goodies I sent and received from the tea cup and mug exchange. This is the 2nd time I participated in the annual Tea Cup and Mug exchange hosted by Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose, and it was a great deal of fun. :) To read how this exchange works, click here. If you haven't participated in a tea cup and mug exchange before, I do hope you will give it a try. It's a marvellously joyous time as you send and receive a tea cup/mug, and make 2 new friends.

I had the privilege of sending a tea cup to Kaitlyn who blogs at Maidens For Modesty. Here is what I sent her.

 I made this tea cup card.

Lexi, who blogs at Times and Seasons of a Beautiful Life sent me a wonderful box of goodies. Along with the tea cup, Lexi included Honduras coffee, a note, three dark chocolate bars, and a homemade infinity scarf.

 Isn't this large tea cup just lovely? I have been using and enjoying it almost every day.

 Thank you so much for everything, Lexi! 

And a big thank you to Stephanie for hosting this exchange. I enjoyed it so much, and look forward to the next exchange with great anticipation. If you would like to join the next exchange, which will be in September or October, click here, and you'll find all the information you need. And don't worry if you don't have a blog...anyone and everyone can join in! 

I hope you all are having a good, godly, and profitable week. 

Until next time, remained blessed. 

In Him only,

Ashley

1 Timothy 4:8
 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

By: George Duffield, Jr. 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; 

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss; 

From vict'ry unto vict'ry His army shall He lead,

Till ev'ry foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

 ~~~~~

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day. 

Ye that are men, now serve Him against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose. 

~~~~~

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. 

Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls, or danger, be never wanting there. 

~~~~~

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long, 

This day, the noise of battle, the next, the victor's song. 

To Him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be; 

He with the King of Glory shall reign eternally. 

~~~~~

Dudley Tyng served as his father's assistant at Philadelphia's Church of the Epiphany and was elected its pastor when his father retired in 1854. He was only 29 when he succeeded his father at this large Episcopal church, and at first it seemed a great fit. But the honeymoon ended when Dudley began vigorously preaching against slavery. Loud complaints rose from the more conservative members, resulting in Dudley's resignation in 1856.

He and his followers organized the Church of the Covenant elsewhere in the city, and his reputation grew. He began noontime Bible studies at the YMCA, and his ministry reached far beyond his own church walls. Dudley had a burden for leading husbands and fathers to Christ, and he helped organize a great rally to reach men. 

On Tuesday, March 30, 1858, five thousand men gathered. As Dudley looked over the sea of faces he felt overwhelmed. "I would rather this right arm were amputated at the trunk than that I should come short of my duty to you in delivering God's message," he told the crowd. Over a thousand men were converted that day. 

Two weeks later Dudley was visiting in the countryside, watching a corn-thrasher in the barn. His hand moved too close to the machine and his sleeve was snared. His arm was ripped from its socket, the main artery severed. Four days later his right arm was amputated close to the shoulder. When it appeared he was dying, Dudley told his aged father: "Stand up for Jesus, father, and tell my brethren of the ministry to stand up for Jesus." Even though Dudley's death is a sad one to read about, he had the victory through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57  ~ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. George Duffield of Philadelphia's Temple Presbyterian Church was deeply stirred by Dudley's funeral, and the following Sunday he preached from Ephesians 6:14 about standing firm for Christ. He read a poem he had written, inspired by Dudley's word: 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, / Ye soldiers of the cross; /

Life high His royal banner, / It must not suffer loss.

The editor of a hymnal heard the poem, found appropriate music, and published it. "Stand up, Stand Up for Jesus" soon became one of America's favorite hymns, extending Dudley's dying words to millions.   
Taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan
~~~~~

Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

~~~~~
 Have a good and godly week. 
Yours truly in Christ,
Ashley 

A Mud Bog

On Saturday evening, April 9th, at 6:00, my daddy, his friend Dave, my sister, and I attended a mud bog. It was quite interesting to watch as there were a variety of vehicles that raced through the mud. It wasn't quite what I expected, but I'm thankful we had the opportunity to go.  :) The fastest truck made it through the mud in 3.896 seconds, I believe. He took off so fast he almost flipped over. Below are a couple videos from the evening. Sorry the quality isn't the best.

Here's a video of a lady racing her pink truck. :)

If you're viewing this post on your email and don't see the videos, click here.

Have you ever been to a mud bog?

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

By: Ina Duley Ogdon

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do, do not wait to shed your lights afar; To the many duties ever near you now be true, brighten the corner where you are. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear, let no narrow self your way debar; Tho' into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer, brighten the corner where you are. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need, here reflect the Bright and Morning Star. Even from your humble hand the bread of life may feed, brighten the corner where you are. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Brighten the corner where you are! Brighten the corner where you are! Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar, brighten the corner, where you are. 

~~~~~~~~~~

In August, 1874, a Methodist minister John Heyl Vincent organized a Sunday school training camp beside beautiful Lake Chautaugua in upstate New York. Families came for two-week summer camps that combined recreation, entertainment, and Sunday school training sessions. It was an enormous hit, and over the next several decades, the "Chautauqua Circuit" spread to other ares and quickly outgrew its Sunday school origins. Performers, musicians, lecturers, and motivational speakers traveled the country, staying about a week in these summer camps. Enormous audiences gathered to enjoy Broadway hits, popular plays, and stars from the Metropolitan Opera. Speakers like William Jennings Bryan dew thousands, and Theodore Roosevelt called the Chautauqua Circuit, "the most American thing in America." 

1912, Ina Duley Ogdon received an invitation to be a Chautauqua Circuit speaker. Having long felt God's calling on her life, she was tremendously excited by the possibilities of motivating thousands of people for the cause of Christ. But as she was packing for the tour, her father was seriously injured in a wreck in one of the new-fangled "horseless carriages." Ina, deeply distressed, cancelled her travel plans to care for him. 

Though bitterly disappointed, she was able to surrender the disappointment to God and trust His purposes. Making up her mind to be a blessing wherever she was, she concluded that even if she couldn't minister to thousands, she could be a blessing to one-her father-and to those around him. She sat down and wrote: 

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do, / Do not wait to shed your light afar,

To the many duties ever near you now be true, / Brighten the corner where you are. 

After this poem was set to music by Charles H. Gabriel, it was discovered by Homer Rodeheaver, the song director for Billy Sunday's evangelistic campaigns. He was so taken by the song that he made it the theme song of his ministry, and for twenty-two years, "Brighten the Corner" opened ever Billy Sunday meeting. In the process, it became one of gospel music's most popular and uplifting songs. Instead of speaking to thousands, Ina Duley Ogdon has ministered to millions. 

 Matthew 5:14
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."
~~~~~~~~~~
 May your week be filled with the joy of the Saviour. 
Blessings in Christ,
Ashley 

Journey to Love~Book Review

Hello friends,

I was so blessed to review Journey to Love by Amanda Tero. 

About the book: 
Now orphaned, Marie is swept miles away from the only life knew to be sheltered by unknown guardians. Caught in the challenges of a new life, she cannot prevent changes from happening, but she can keep the Bowles and their friends at arm's length. Or can she?  
While things appear to transition smoothly on the outside, Marie struggles against the turmoil she faces on the inside. She sees something in the Bowles and her new friends that she had never experienced before...but should she trust what the preacher is teaching when it goes against everything she had accepted as truth? Is God really a God of love? If He is, then is Marie willing to accept it? Follow Marie as she begins her Journey to Love.  

My review: 5 stars

I thought Amanda did an excellent job of writing Journey to Love, which just came out. I'm so thankful there's Christian writers out there who write good Christian books. 
Through Marie's character, Amanda showed that following a certain ritual, going to church, and reciting a prayer doesn't make you heaven-bound. She also displayed God's amazing love. Just because unfortunate things happen to you, as they did to Marie, doesn't mean God loves you any less. Because of the Bowels' testimony and the christian people's witness of the small town, Marie eventually came to the Lord for salvation. It's an amazing story of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  I liked how almost all of the readers had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and were not afraid to witness to Marie. I also appreciated how Amanda incorporated questions some lost people might have, and how you could answer them with Scripture.  I highly recommend this book to girls and ladies of all ages. You'll love it-I'm sure.
Thank you so much, Amanda, for giving me an opportunity to review your book.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I really appreciate the fact that it doesn't contain any foul language or anything inappropriate. And I liked the surprise ending...I thought it was just going to end with Marie getting saved, but the ending pleasantly surprised me.  ;)
You can buy Amanda's book here-on Amazon.
Amanda's website: AmandaTero.com
Amanda's blog: With a Joyful Noise

Your faithful friend in Jesus, 
Ashley  
1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

By: Thomas Andrew Dorsey

Precious Lord, take me hand, lead me on, help me stand; 

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on to the light, 

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. 

When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near; 

When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall;

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. 

Thomas Dorsey, who is known as the "Father of Gospel Music", was born in a small town in Georgia in 1899. When he was eleven, the Dorseys moved to Atlanta where Thomas was quickly enamored with the blues and began playing piano at a vaudeville theater. Later the family moved to Chicago where he attended classes at the College of Composition and Arranging. Soon he was on stage under the name "Georgia Tom," playing barrelhouse piano in one of Al Capone's Chicago speakeasies and leading jazz bands. 

Thomas was converted at the National Baptist Convention in Chicago in 1921, and began writing gospel songs and trying to get them published. It was discouraging at first. He later said, "I borrowed five dollars and sent out 500 copies of my song, 'If You See My Savior', to churches throughout the country...It was three years before I got a single order. I felt like going back to the blues." He didn't, though, and gradually his reputation grew and his work became known. 

In August, 1932, while leading music in St. Louis, he was handed a telegram bearing the words, "Your wife just died." He rushed to a phone to call home, but all he could hear over the line was "Nettie is dead! Nettie is dead!" A friend drove him through the night, and he arrived home to learn that his baby boy had also died. "I began to feel that God had done me an injustice," Thomas later said. "I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write any more gospel songs." But the next Saturday, while alone in a friend's music room, he had a "strange feeling" inside-a sudden calm and a quiet stillness. "As my fingers began to manipulate over the keys, words began to fall in place on the melody like drops of water falling from the crevice of the rock:

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn..."
Taken from "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J. Morgan

 I hope you all enjoyed learning about this hymn. Here's a video of the song.

As you may remember, my last post was about coffee. So I decided to have a "surprise giveaway," and I entered everyone who left a comment on that post.

I've picked the winner, and am happy to announce that Mehrll from Sharing Simple Things is the winner!  Congratulations, Mehrll!!!! Please email me using the contact form on the right sidebar, or leave a comment with your email. (It won't be published.) 

I hope you all have a good and godly week. Remember to walk with the King and be a blessing. 
Sincerely yours and eternally His,
Ashley
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.