AND THE WINNER IS . . . . .

Thank you to each and every person who visited my blog.  I truly appreciate it.  It is great to get to "know" my new friends.  And I look forward to exploring YOUR blogs!!!

And now, I'd like to announce the winner of my giveaway of these gorgeous cross measuring spoons:

And the winner is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

19

Comment #19, EvalinaMaria at This and That.

Congratulations EvalinaMaria!  Please contact me so that I can send your gift to you.

Thanks again to all who visited my blog  I look forward to visiting each one of you and becoming a follower of your blog!!!

Blessings to you!!!!!!

WELCOME TO DOWN ON THE FARM!!!!

In honor of all of my visitors from the Grow Your Blog Party hosted by Vicki at 2 Bags Full, WELCOME!!!!!

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to read my blog.  What do I blog about you might be asking yourself??  Well, I blog about a little bit of everything.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ, saved by His grace.  I blog a lot about my faith in God.  Sometimes I ask my fellow bloggers to pray for me, or about a situation in my life or the life of someone I know.  And I pray for everyone who reads my blog.

I blog a lot about my family.  My husband and I have been married for 27 YEARS!!!  And we have two kids.  A son in college and a daughter in high school.  I am so very proud of them.  Aren't they cute??  So you'll be reading a lot about my kids and what's going on in their lives.  We live just outside of the same small town I grew up in, and my kids attend the same High School where I graduated.  Small town America!!!!!

We live on a working farm.  My husband raises turkeys, and commercial beef cattle, and he farms full-time.  So there are stories about cows and turkeys and drought and mud.

I live in a 1968 ranch style home, and we have done some remodeling since we've been living here these past 15 years.  But don't worry, there's still LOTS more that needs to be done.  You can follow along with my redecorating/remodeling adventures ON A BUDGET right here!  Here's a sample of my bathroom remodel a year and a half ago!  

Before:

 

After!!

We're getting a new roof this spring (hail damage = insurance claim!), so we'll be doing some work outside and inside.  The ceiling leaks around our fireplace, so once I get the new roof, I can fix the ceiling and MAYBE put some life into a very tired, outdated looking brick fireplace!  (Suggestions welcomed)!!

I also love to cook.  A GOURMET CHEF I AM NOT!!!  But I love to share my recipes for cooking and canning!!

So there you have it, a little slice of my life here at Down On The Farm.   I would love for you to be a regular follower of mine as I share my life on this blog.  And whether you do or don't follow me, I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for visiting.

To show you just how much you mean to me, I am giving away these gorgeous cross measuring spoons!

I have these same spoons at my house and use them all the time.  They are beautiful, but I USE them.  So, to enter, it's easy, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT.  You don't have to follow my blog, ALTHOUGH I SURE HOPE YOU DO.   Leave a comment below and you're entered.  If you aren't a fellow blogger, be sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment so I know how to contact you. 

So blessings to you my friends!!  And I look forward to your visits here at Down On The Farm!!!!

Our Bedroom

A couple of months ago I decided to jazz up our master bedroom a little bit.  You might remember THESE beauties . . .

Well they are GONE and THIS is hanging in their place!

SUCH A DIFFERENCE I can't even begin to describe.

This is what our bed looked like BEFORE:

And this is what our bed looks like with the addition of some new pillows!

Trust me, the difference in person is unbelievable.  Now I need to get something new to hang on the wall above the bed, AND I need to replace the fabric on my cornices and that room will be done.

Really, it is amazing what a difference a little time and effort can make!!!  I am enjoying this room so much more.  So if you have a room that's looking a little "tired" remember that it just takes a little change to make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

How Christians Should Live

I am participating in a Bible study at my church.  And these words are jumping out of the book at me:

"As Christians, what we live daily really matters because it reflects what we believe, and what we believe is crucial to the witness of our lives.  Our daily life should be the acknowledgement of what our heavenly Father has provided for us through His Son.  And our lives should attest to the fact that the Holy Spirit's work is vital.  But without these truths showing forth in the lives of believers, indivudually and corporately, all is futile.  Nothing is more damaging to the cause of Christ than for people to say they are Christinas and then not live as if they are."  (LeRoy Bartel)

If you are going to SAY you are a Christian, then you must live like a Christian.  ALL THE TIME.

If you are going to "talk the talk" then you HAVE to "walk the walk."

If you aren't going to live it, then please don't talk it.

It breaks my heart when I read a Facebook post from someone talking about the Lord, and how much He means to them.  But the next post contains a picture of them at a bar surrounded by bottles of alcohol.  What kind of a witness is that?

It saddens me when people I go to church with, who profess to be believers,  post inappropriate jokes on Facebook.  Do you really think your non-Christian friends who read your dirty joke will take you seriously when you try to share the Gospel with them?

We live in a world that teaches it is our own business what we do in private.  Nothing could be further from the truth, Biblically. You may hide your actions from your friends or family, but nothing is hidden from God.

Right is right and wrong is wrong. 

If you are straddling the fence in your words, or in your actions, I urge you to step back and ask yourself "Is _______ (insert your language or behavior) glorifying God?" 

Does the way you talk or the way you act draw you CLOSER to God, or farther from Him??

Folks, we get ONE CHANCE on this earth to make a difference for Christ.  You know that old saying "you only get one chance to make a good impression?"  Well, sometimes you only get one chance to be a witness to someone.  Either they see something different about you, something that makes them want what you have, or they see you just the same way they see themselves.

So this year, take a stand for Christ.  No, none of us are perfect.  All of us make mistakes.  But be INTENTIONAL about your life.  Think before you speak.  Think before you join in with the crowd.  And if you have ANY DOUBT about whether what you want to say or do is pleasing to God, always err on the conservative side.

Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.   You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?   Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.   A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.   Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them."