The Proper Response of Unbelief

      Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.  And He asked them," What are you discussing with them?"  And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.  I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it."  And He answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?  Bring him to Me!"  They brought the boy to Him.  When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.  And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening?" 
And he said, "From childhood.  It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything,  take pity on us and help us!"  And Jesus said to him, " 'If  You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." 
 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again."  After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, "He is dead!"  But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up. 

Mark 9:15-27

"What kind of promise is this?" you may well ask. This is a sweet passage of hope and comfort to the Christian in that Jesus both points out the remedy and enables those who trust Him to grasp it. The father's agony for his son, and the final granting of his request by the Lord Jesus is so sweet in times of distress and uncertainty.  The cry of "I do believe; help my unbelief!" is a frequent prayer of my heart.  May the Lord use it to minister to yours today too. 


Blessings,
Alana

Spring

"Come, let us return to the Lord.  For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.   He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.  So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth."

Hosea 6:1-3

Isn't is so gracious of the Lord not to turn His back on us when we turn away from Him?  He is faithful even when we are faithless.  Thus we have hope in the Lord Jesus.

Side note: Two of the ewes who are expecting lambs in just a few weeks: Mary is the lighter of them, and Mara the darker.

A Reason for Courage and Tatting Pictures

 Fear often prevents us from doing what we know we ought, but how are we to fight the inclination to be lazy and disobedient?  What does the Lord say?  When we are seeking to be obedient to His revealed will, He commands us to be courageous and full of hope!

 "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

Be cheerful and do your duty, shrinking heart of mine!  The Lord your God knows what is best, and He will not let the waters overwhelm you. 

(The earrings are, Lord willing, going to the Victorian Emporium next week...  More pictures coming soon!)

Blessings!

~Alana Tatter

Bramblewood Fashion is hosting a Giveaway for me! (Closed)

Ashley is kindly hosting an Earring Giveaway for me!

To enter, simply leave a comment on her blog 

For more chances to win, "like" my Facebook page, and leave two more comments (on her blog!),

add my vintage style lace shop to your Etsy favorites and/or circle, and leave a comment,

follow Bramblewood Fashion, and leave a comment,

and finally if you share about the giveaway through your blog, tumblr, twitter, pinterest, facebook, google+, email, etc., then leave 2 comments on her blog telling what you did!

It is so encouraging to see pretty fashions, and especially when they are as wearable as the outfits that Ashley puts together. I would encourage you to follow her blog anyway!

Blessings! 

~Alana

Congratulations to Nancy!  Enjoy your earrings!

Hope for Those who Seek

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

Luke 1:77-79

Of course, this passage is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ (it is taken from the record of His birth).  Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life and die on the cross, not for His own sin, for He had none, but for the sins of those who are called by His Name.  This wonderful gift is freely offered to all the world!  

There is no thirst of the soul so consuming as the desire for pardon.  The sense of its bestowal is the staring point of all goodness....  To be able to look into God's face, and know with the knowledge of faith that there is nothing between the soul and Him, is to experience the fullest peace the soul can know.  Whatever else pardon may be, it is above all things admission inot full fellowship with God.

~ Charles H. Brent