When pain and sadness darken your doorway what do you do?

Do you sit in the darkness and cry to all who will here?

"It is so-o-o-o dark!"

"Why does it have to be so dark?"

"I wish someone would come and rescue me from this darkness!"

Do you cry and feel sorry for yourself because you can't see anything. You have no idea why your door has been darkened so and you can't see any light to free you from it?

Do you give in to the darkness and just lie down.

Feeling as if you can't see to escape so why bother trying?

Do you grope around in a panic? Screaming and yelling and destructing things that you come across? 

Do you curl up in a ball and ignore the help being offered

because in some way it seems safer and easier to just stay put?

When pain and sadness darken your doorway what do you do?

Do you pray?

Do you ask the One who is light to be your light?

Do you rest in His faithfulness while you wait out the darkness?

Do you remember that He is victorious over the darkness?

Do you speak truth into your own mind and allow Him to bring up what is hidden in your heart?

Do you listen when others remind you of His ways and to trust?

Do you take the hands that are reaching out to you?

 Do you rejoice always and give thanks for all circumstances?

Do you find joy in your salvation?

Do you give Glory to the One who has already rescued you from 

eternal darkness and knows what is best for you now?

Do you carefully manage the darkness while you find the 

source of light that has already been provided for you? 

If I found myself to be in literal darkness-initially the shock might frighten me, but I would not stay afraid. I would remember that I am prepared. That there are numerous flashlights in the house...extra batteries...candles and matches galore. I would know within seconds that the darkness will not last and even if the lights don't come back on..I have a source of light myself.

 I would carefully find my way through the darkness...holding onto to furniture mind you..I would realize it might be a bit precarious..but I would go none the less. I would not sit and cry or feel sorry for myself. I would not yell and scream and make a big fuss. I would not curl up in a ball and feel like all is over. And, if someone offered me their hand to walk me into the other room to get my flashlight-

I would gratefully take their hand and their help.

Why is it then...that in this season of my life, when I find my doorstep has been darkened with pain and sadness,  that I notice a tendency to hide in it. To avoid others who may just want to help. To sit in the darkness and feel sad and just wonder how long it will last but not really getting up or doing anything proactive to change the situation.

It's time. It's time to find my way into the kitchen. Open the drawer and feel around for the flashlights. It's time to shine it brightly-wave it all around and rejoice that the light pushes back the darkness and that the darkness can have no victory in my life! It's time to listen to that still small voice and start praising Him! To let my mourning turn into gladness and my weaping into rejoicing!

Deck the Halls it's time for Shopping!!! Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!!!

Please join It's  A Blessing  and many other lovely ladies who are helping to support their families with home businesses!! 

Do some Christmas shopping at this fun Christmas Market hosted by Heather at

Raising Mighty Arrows

She has gathered up some wonderful on line shopping opportunities for us all....AND....there are lots of great prizes to be won!!!!

Entering the contest is as easy as could be...so please...head over to the

Christmas Market

Happy Shopping and thanks for supporting the home businesses!!!

Guest Post-Beautiful Mommy Feet

What an honor to be guest posting today on Melissa's wonderful blog: 

Beautiful Mommy Feet

Each day this month, Melissa has been featuring a different blog author share about God's AMAZING love...his UNDESERVED mercy....his NEVERENDING compassion.....his PERFECT peace and more!!

Today I hope you will join me as I share about something that initially doesn't seem quite as MIRACULOUS but to me has been one of my 

Twelve Stones

Melissa is a dear, sweet sister in Christ and if you take a few minutes to read my story about rampages and chicken...take a few more to peruse her blog. You will find a true friend in Melissa-an encourager whose posts are filled with the stuff we all need to hear on a daily basis! 

Hope you will join me in rejoicing over our GREAT and MIGHTY God!!!

Mommy and Me Christmas Blessing Bracelets!

What a special duo you and your little girl would be-wearing matching Christmas Blessing Bracelets this season!

You receive an adult sized (7 3/4 inch) and she a child sized (6 inch) but the meaningful beads remain that same.

Take the opportunity as others comment on your lovely bracelet, to model for your daughter how to share Christ's birth and love by explaining the meaning of the beads! You might even get to listen in while she tells a little friend what all the sparkly, pretty beads represent herself!


The beads represent the scripture passages listed below and with the purchase of these bracelets, you will receive the following printed out on pretty cardstock in red and greens.
Thanks for looking and be blessed!

Merry Christmas Blessing Bracelet
Christmas is a great time to remember the birth of Jesus.
Every day is a great time to remember his life-his death-his resurrection and
His gift of salvation to us!

Hearts: It is because of God’s great love for us that we can celebrate Jesus!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Star: Matthew 2:1-2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” The star led the wise men to Jesus. His light shining through you could lead someone to Him!
Clear Heart: Jesus’s life was the perfect example of how we ought to live. Not just at Christmas-but all the time. John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


Red Beads: The red beads remind us that as we celebrate his birth, we remember how he bled and died for our sins. Revelation 1: 5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.”
Cross: Philippians 3:10-11 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Green Beads: A remember of life-new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Jesus: While we yet live on earth, we have Jesus to guide us each step of the way-and still to come we look forward to eternity with him. Revelation 2:20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Silver Oval Heart/Love: Jesus calls us all to love one another and to share his love with others and promises never to leave us. “Matthew 28: 19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Maybe you can't use this adorable set yourself...but I bet you can think of someone who would be blessed by it as a gift!!

Check it out on my etsy site at:

It's A Blessing

It's BACK!!!

IT'S BACK!!!!! It sold out in less than 24 hours so Lilla Rose has brought it back-still in limited quantities and only for November!! If you think it's beautiful in the photo...wait until you see it in person! It is stunning! Brings out all the highlights in light/golden hair and the colors are amazing glittering against dark hair!

Visit my site today at:

Lilla Rose

to purchase yours today!

And..don't forget to enter my contest-you might win one for free!!! Couldn't hurt to have 2-you could give one as a gift! 

To enter the contest go to my Lilla Rose Face Book Page at:

Lill Rose-Face Book-Shannon Ferraby

Happy Fall!!!!

Warming you up!

This news could warm you up in more than one way!!!!

On our etsy shop you will find some beautiful hand made Scripture Scarves with a lovely dangle of beads from one corner-that co-ordinate with various scripture passages.

Like:

The Favorite Verses Scripture Scarf....

The No Greater Love Scripture Scarf

and

The Salvation Scripture Scarf!!

Wearing one on a chilly day could warm you up....giving one as a gift could warm you up....sharing what the beads mean with someone could warm you up and the fact that I just lowered the price on ALL SCARVES BY $10!!!!! could warm you up! 

All scripture scarves are now $15.00 instead of $25!!!!! More to be listed soon. 

Visit us at:

It's A Blessing

for some warm shopping!!!

Let The Fun Begin!!!

 

 

Let the Fun Begin!!!!

Lots of ways to enter this give away for a free Medium sized Fallen Leaf-Exclusive November Flexi Clip! It sells for $16.95 BUT has been sold out since only 24 hours after it was introduced!!! So...this is the only way I know of you could get one!!! And-it would be my gift to you!!

Here's how to get chances to win:

* 1 entry for liking my new Lilla Rose Face Book Page (or saying you already do)

LIlla Rose-Shannon Ferraby

* 1 entry for sharing this giveaway on your facebook page

* 2 entries for sharing on your blog...be sure to leave the link to it. :)

( all comments and entries need to be left on my Lilla Rose Face Book page-not here on the blog. Thanks!)

* 3 entries for visiting my Lilla Rose site at: www.lillarose.biz/greateights
and signing up as a customer (no purchase necessary). It must be my page: Shannon Ferraby. (I would never want to try to take another Lilla Rose Consultants customers..so if you already have a Lilla Rose consultant, I am sorry but you won't be able to qualify for this and the last option.)

* 5 entries for making any purchase on my Lilla Rose site. (note: if you have ever even visited another consultant's site-your computer will remember the address and take you to that consultant. If you are a customer..please stick with your consultant..if not..you will need to erase the address from your computer or use a different browser to get to my page. If it says Shannon Ferraby...you found me!)

For each entry, go back to the give away instructions post on my Lilla Rose Face Book page and leave one comment for each entry. For example..for a purchase you would leave 5 comments ( I made a purchase #1, I made a purchase #2, etc.)

I'm already picturing how gorgeous this clip will look in your hair! I hope you win!!!!

Shannon

New Lilla Rose Face Book Page

I'd like to invite all our It's A Blessing Friends to "like" our new

Lilla Rose Face Book Page 

In the past...our It's A Blessing Facebook page also contained posts and updates on Lilla Rose.

Starting today...we'll be keeping the two businesses separate on Face Book-though you will still find information for both here on the blog.

This beauty...which sold out in less than 24 hours...is going to be the PRIZE in our first Lilla Rose giveaway to help encourage new friends for that page!

Please pass this along to as many friends as you can...the details of the give away will be posted here and on 

Here

later tonight!

Blessings!!

Shannon

Mopping with a new perspective!!

"Don't use that bathroom...I just cleaned the toilet!"

"Wait! You can't go in the kitchen..I just mopped and the floors are wet!"

"Can't you play upstairs? Mommy just straightened the living room."

And so it goes... day after day after day. I clean up. They mess it up. I scrub-they dirty. I organize-they dump!

Some days the race tires me to tears and I run ragged trying to stay ahead of the five blessings that God has given me - whose main purpose appears on some days to just destroy everything I'm working so hard to keep nice.

Eve....it must be her fault. You know, the one that bit the apple!!! I'll have to read Genesis again, but I wonder if I missed a part. I remember the curse on the man...that he would have to toil and slave over the ground to make food grow. I remember the curse on the serpent...to crawl on his belly, etc. And I remember parts of the curse on the woman. Her desire for her husband...pain in childbirth, etc. But, surely, I missed a part. The part where is says, "And you will desire to have a clean and pretty home but will never be able to keep it that way. Just when you think you are ahead, a little one will be sure to put you in your place and set you back ten paces. You will work and work and work but the tasks will never be completed because more always follows."

Poor me. So sad. I wash the dishes...more dishes. I launder the clothes, more dirty. I scrub the floor, mud on the shoes. The list goes on and on. Poor me.

Do you feel sorry for me yet? Are you sighing in agreement because you too have young children and can never keep the house the way you desire it for more than 5 minutes at a time??

Well...MOVE OVER PITY!!!!! Mama's got a whole new perspective!!! I've always thought when God called children a blessing, he didn't mean because they were such a joy 24/7. I think he teaches me a multitude about my sin through them and helps to grow and change me while I try my best to raise them in his ways. 

While mopping up muddy footprints, wiping yogurt off my wall and listening to the toys being pulled out into the "clean" living room the other day I think I finally got it!!!! I think I finally had an "ah ha!" to why God allows us stay at home Mommies to run so ragged and try so hard, but never ever be able to actually do it!!! 

Try as I might...work as hard as I can...I can't ever be who God wants me to be in my own strength. Just when I think I've cleaned up one "mess" (about myself) another one is right there waiting to be worked on. Just when I think I've conquered a bad habit or a sin in my life...another is waiting in the lurches to remind me of who I really am and how desperately I really need Jesus. I can throw all the mess in a closet so when company comes my house looks all cleaned up and proper-but I know the truth-I know what dirt is hidden and even if others can't see it-it's still there.

It's the same with my life. I can put on a good face and say all the right words and on the outside I might look like I've got it all together. But God knows my heart and has given me a peek or two and we both know the truth.

The truth is this. I can work hard night and day. I can try, in my own strength, to clean up the mess of me. I can run ragged doing and doing and doing-and-I might even fool some with an appearance of my accomplishments. But, I haven't fooled me or God. Only he can really finish the work he started in me. Only through him and in his strength will I be changed and the mess of me be cleaned up. Others will come along and mess up parts of my life that I thought were already finished. The worst of me will be dumped out and spread around so that it can be brought out into the light and God can really cleanse me and purify me. No matter how hard or how long I try-I could never do it for myself or by myself. It's really ALL GOD.

Mopping the floor took on a whole new perspective that day.

Loading and unloading the dishwasher for the third time seemed less of a headache. The toys I walked over that the children had dumped seemed not as frustrating. I saw the mess...the continual...never ending...always having to be worked on...job never over...mess from a different perspective. It became me!!! And I am so thankful the the beautiful mess of me that God is sanctifying and promises to finish. 

One day. In His time. For His Glory!!! 

It's ok that I can't do it all-or all at once-or-all on my own. I wasn't meant to and I am so thankful for the 5 little blessings that help keep my house in need of constant cleaning to remind me that God's ways are so much better and higher than mine!

I hope you have a blessed day-enjoying the blessings in your life!

Shannon

 Linked up at:

Far Above Rubies

and

Raising Homemakers