His Perfect Plan

Hello everyone!
 Having a great spring break? I know I am, even though there was a sharp turn in events this week.
 I have been constantly reminded these past few days that I need to put everything in God's hands.
 Here's what happened...
 Since last fall, my family and I have been looking forward to traveling up to the Carpathian Mountains this spring for a missionary conference. We couldn't wait to see all of our wonderful missionary friends! Everyone was day-dreaming about skiing in the thick snow, hiking in the mountains, and sledding down the steep, white hills.The date was getting closer and closer. I could hardly sleep from all the excitement! It got down to the last few days and I was practically counting the hours. All of my necessities were packed the day before and I was completely prepared, but when we looked at the weather reports, things started to get scary. Nothing but blizzards was the forecast. How could we possibly drive in conditions like this? There was still a small grain of hope that we might just be able to go if the weather cleared up the next day. I prayed as hard as I could. I prayed that we would be able to make it to the mountains and that we would all be safe on the trip. I finally stopped and realized what I was doing. Why am I praying, "Lord, give us this, give us that. Let this trip happen."? No, this was not right. I quickly changed my words.

"Jesus, I know you have a perfect plan laid out for this event. I'm putting everything in Your Hands. If it doesn't work out, teach me not to be disappointed. I love you."

Whatever happened, I knew that God would handle it all.

 The next evening my mother told everyone, "Okay, unpack your bags." I was obviously very sad that I would not get the chance to go on this wonderful trip! Last night I remembered to thank God for his perfect plans, even if they didn't work out the way I would have liked. But what am I compared to the almighty Creator? We tend to forget to thank Him when we don't get our way, but it's always for the best that God makes certain things happen.

Thank you, Lord!

~Naomi

Guest Post: Planting Seeds of Blessings

Spring is just around the corner.  Can you almost smell it in the air? Fresh rain, hints of sunshine and small bursts of flowers are pushing through the ground.  During this time of the year I began thinking about my garden and planning which flowers and herbs I want to cultivate.  Browsing through seed packets at the store is always a delight! 

Have you ever thought that you could plant a garden with out using seeds, dirt, or water?

Yes it is true! The seeds that I am talking about is being a blessing to one another in the small things.  Giving someone you love a small gift or doing a kind act is just like planting a seed.  It may be little but reaps great joy and blessing on those who receive.  The best part of blessing someone else is that it strengthens your relationship with God and the individual, causing both of you to grow! 

There are so many different ways you can bless others in the small things and the best place to start is right in your own home!  It might even be the place where some would least expect it. Just like the delight you get from browsing through seeds at the store, it is exciting to think of different seeds of blessings you can plant in others lives. Here are some ways you can plant seeds of blessing.

1. Write a thoughtful note to someone and list the character qualities that you appreciate about them and pair it with your favorite verse.

2.  Ever seen the trash can cascading with garbage? Take out the garbage and surprise the one who usually does this special duty!

3.  Ask a mother with little ones if you can help watch their kids while at church or come over to play with the kids and do some simple jobs.  I am sure she can think of a few, sweeping, wipe counters, dust, pick up toys : )

4.  Make a latte/cup of tea for someone who loves it(like me!!) and deliver to them.  I love surprising my husband with a creamy latte on his desk.  It always puts a smile on his face to receive this sweet treat.

Don’t know how to make a latte? Here is the recipe:

Vanilla Latte

1 cup of milk.  Heat till steaming on the stove or in microwave.

2 teaspoons of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

1/4 cup extra strong coffee.

Swirl together and enjoy!  You can also use mocha powder or caramel sauce for the sweetener.

So how will you plant little blessings this spring? 

- Ruth Rogers, www.BeautifulForGod.com

Blogs I Reccomend

Hello, everyone!
 I've seen a lot of inspirational, godly, and beneficial blogs lately, so I thought I would share with you my finds.

•  Suko Family

 This is my family's blog. My father, Caleb, is the main one who posts on it. We are missionaries to Ukraine and updates on what's happening in our ministry are sent out if you choose to subscribe!

• Beloved Bluebird

 Run by my lovely cousin and friend, Rachelle, this wonderful blog contains Bible verses, DIY's, recipes, and much more! I'm sure she'd be thrilled if you visited. 

• Beautiful In God's Eyes

This blog is owned by a Christian girl named Alexandra. She posts mainly about modest fashion that pleases the Lord. Photography is also one of her skills! Go ahead and check her blog out.

• One Bright Corner 

 The writers on this fine blog are twin sisters, Lauren and Mikaela. The posts are so inspirational, uplifting, and straight to the point. Focused on what God wants in our lives, this blog has many amazing devotionals and stories.

These are currently my favorite blogs. If you have recommendations for more, don't hesitate to let me know what they are in the comments!

~Naomi

Tips On Being Diligent

Hello, once again!
Today I've decided to write a post with a few suggestions on how to keep up with your tasks and not fall behind. Personally, since my mom is homeschooling my siblings and me, it gets a bit challenging to be diligent and not get distracted with little kids running around the house. (But I do adore them!)
 Now, without further ado, on to the tips:

• Get rid of the distractions

 That's right, you heard me. Close that Pinterest tab... Good. Now the Facebook. You're getting the hang of this! Without distractions, any task you're attempting to complete will take much less time to accomplish without interruptions.

• Get motivated

 Set aside a small, special treat for yourself for once you finish your task. Remind yourself about it during the process to get you motivated.

• Set a time limit

 How long do you think it will take you to complete your task? If you have several chores to complete, set a certain amount of time to do each. This will also keep you motivated to get the task done. Don't be in too much in a hurry! Remember, quality comes first.

• Pray!

Last but certainly not least, ask the Lord for help beforehand. He is always willing to uplift and encourage. Even the Bible talks about working hard:

And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and commandments, seeking God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

~2 Chronicles 31:21

Phew! Doesn't it feel good to have all those tasks of your back? I know I always feel relieved.

I hope that you found this post helpful! If you have any more tips, please comment. It would be greatly appreciated. 

 Posts from a new author and guest posts on Lavender Patch coming soon!

~Naomi

Does God Care About My Wardorbe?

Hello, everyone. :)
 I'm hoping you're all having a great week. The other day, I was out and about and I noticed that a lot of young girls and women were wearing very showy and revealing outfits. As a Christian, I found this to be very disturbing and was saddened at the thought of what God saw in them. Awhile ago, I'd read a lovely and godly book on this specific topic called The Look: Does God Really Care What I Wear? given to me as a gift by one of my aunts. I would strongly recommend it to any young woman. The book, by Nancy Leigh Demoss, shows one that what you wear does matter to God. The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:3-

"Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear..."

This means that we shouldn't strive to be pretty on the outside (by loading on tons of bling or spending hours on making your hair just right), but perceive to be inwardly beautiful, which is most pleasing to the Lord.

 Being inwardly beautiful doesn't mean that one must dress on the outside in a long, limp gray sack and wear your hair in a strict-looking style. God says that our bodies are His temple and we should take good care of it. Try to dress in ways that please the Lord and wouldn't make a person pay too much attention to your physical appearance; instead, act kindly and let your inner woman of faith shine.

  I really enjoyed writing this post for all my readers and hope to blog again soon. :)

 Until next time!

~Naomi