Glorifying God Midst the Brevity of Life

Tomorrow is the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. In light of that, please watch the following video about little Elliot Mooney and how his life, a life that could very well have been snuffed out because of Roe v. Wade, has done much for God's glory.


Life is short - a vapor James says. As Christians, we do well to remember that we are here ever so briefly. I just turned 70 recently and thoughts of my parents came to mind, remembering that my they didn't live long past their own 70th year. My father died at age 80 and my mom at 82. It was quite sobering to think that I may not even be here as long as they were. 
But it's good to consider our mortality. To help with that, Tim Challies wrote a post entitled "Ponder the Brevity of Life". You can find his article here. 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Glorifying God Midst the Brevity of Life

on January 21, 2010 0 comments

Aprons for My Girls

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For Christmas, I made aprons for my granddaughters. From left to right: Melissa, Courtney, Isabella and Joy.

Several years ago I also made aprons for my daughters, out of a surplus of pink and white ticking I had on hand. With so much of that fabric leftover even after making my daughters' aprons, I went ahead and made aprons for my four granddaughters for this Christmas. Each one had a different companion print for pockets and trim that complimented the pink and white ticking, as you can see in the photo. I choose those prints according to the girls favorite colors and personalities.

They looked so cute all lined up ready to bake. The photo just does not do the girls justice. Well, being a somewhat partial grandmother, I don't think there ever could be a photo that did capture their charm and character.

Anyway, a friend of mine recently sent me a little blurb about aprons. I also wrote a poem about the lowly apron when I gave my daughters theirs. I offer these two pieces below. First the salute to aprons from my friend. Thanks Jann!

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few and it was easier to wash aprons than dresses. Aprons used less material also.

But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying childrens' 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 kids. 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 folks 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. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I never caught anything from an apron but love!!!!!

 And now for the poem I gave to my daughters along with their aprons:

 The Humble Apron

I wear my apron – it’s a friend,
To help me cook and clean and tend.
It takes the brunt of splats and stains
And saves my clothes from laundry pains.
It helps me sense my duty clear,
To cook and clean for loved ones dear.

Yes, in my apron I become
A servant to the ones I love.
Yet under all the apron’s stains
My clothing bright and clean remains.
Then when removed it hangs unseen,
And I am crowned the household queen.

 SKK

Hail to the humble, protective and useful apron! Melissa, Courtney, Isabella and Joy...may you wear your aprons in good health and good heart. 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Aprons for My Girls

on January 18, 2010 6 comments

No-Guilt Bible Reading Plans for Any Year

Happy New Year!!! It's a bit late for this salutation. But I guess the old adage has some truth to it: "Better late than never", which is almost what my posting on In awe of Your grace has come to. Since my surgery and very long recovery, then with my mother's unexpected death and the holidays, it seems I just haven't been able to get back into the grove. For that, I apologize.

Anyway, since this is the first post of the new year, I would like to plug you into some options for Bible reading plans. I find that if I do not follow some kind of plan, I end up being without direction and motivation. Click here to access a link that will provide you with many choices.

Most of these are plans for reading through the entire Bible in a year. I really like the one that's called Read Through the Bible Program for Shirkers and Slackers. It assigns no specific dates for reading, just what to read on the days of the week (Sunday through Saturday). So if you miss a day, just pick up where you left off. There will be no catching up to do. It will most likely take you more than a year to read, but that's really okay. Where in the Bible does it tell us to read through the book every year, covering it entirely in one year? There's no guilt-trip if you miss one reading or more on this plan. (Note: If you want to print this plan, you will need to set your page options for your printer on "landscape" instead of "portrait".) (Another Note: Check out the other plans you find at this link as well. You may find one you like better than the one I've suggested.) 

The other plan I like is called The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan. It gets you into different parts of the Bible every day. But the thing I really like about it is that you only read for 25 days out of the month, which leaves five or six days to do catch up readings for the days you missed. That's a great feature! This is the one I will follow for this year.

But overall, whatever reading plan you follow, it is important not to put yourself on a guilt-trip if you miss days. That's exactly what I've done in the past and I've always become discouraged and given up. Relax your goal of making it through the Bible in a year. So what if it takes two years or even three? The important thing is to continue reading and to take delight in God's Word. Take up where you left off and meet with the Savior through His Word.

It may be that God uses just one verse to really hit home with you. Many times that is the way it's been for me. God can reach us with just one verse! That verse can continue to carry you throughout the day, stunning you with His glory and compassion, holiness, etc. I love it when that happens. But because I focused on just that one verse, the rest of the assigned reading for that day went by the wayside. Instead of being bummed out about it, I have resolved just pick up where I left off and continue on!

"...His (her) delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he (she) meditates day and night." (Psalms 1:2)

So here is to a joyful time in God's word throughout the year. Be delighted! Be encouraged!

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

No-Guilt Bible Reading Plans for Any Year

on January 13, 2010 3 comments