His Grace in the Journey ~ Letting the Waters Clear

Many years ago I heard a gentleman give his testimony of how he came to accept Christ in his life.

 

He shared his life story and the difficulties he had faced.  Once he accepted Christ as his Savior, he was determined to walk daily with Christ.  However, he also shared about his difficulty in ‘hearing’ God.   

Wanting desperately to understand the Lord’s direction for his life, he often struggled with unanswered prayer, an inability to focus directly on Christ, a feeling that he should hear or feel God’s direction for his life.

Towards the end of his testimony, he gave this illustration and it has always stayed with me.

“Imagine you are walking barefoot through a shallow creek.  The sun is shining, the air is warm, and the creek is moving slowly.  As you step into the creek you notice how clear the waters are.  You can see small fish, plant life, the reflection of the sun and clouds,  and the pebbles that line the creek bed. 

However, as you walk and enjoy the cool waters of the creek, you notice that you stir the waters. As you move faster and splash about, you see that the water is no longer clear.  

The waters are murky and stirred up.   

You can no longer see the fish, the plant life, the sky's reflection, the bottom of the creek bed.

What was once a clear stream has become dull, muddy, murky and disheveled, and disorganized.

Then you stop, you are quiet, you stand still.  Then slowly, after some time, the waters once again begin to clear. It doesn’t happen quickly, you have to be patient, you have to be still.  You focus intently on watching the murkiness of the water slowly settle back down to the bottom of the creek bed and the waters become calm and once again…..they become clear.”

I have applied this story over and over again to my life with Christ. 

Often, I am SO busy, that I can’t hear His direction for my life.  I become distracted with the tasks before me, try to make decisions on my own, try to control my circumstances and plan out my future. 

When I am this busy I also will find myself becoming frustrated that I don’t hear my prayers answered, that I can’t seem to hear Him, that I lack the discernment to make God-honoring decisions, that my life is not glorifying His name in my day-to-day activities.

Then I realize that the waters have once again become so murky.  My busyness in life has caused me to stir the waters so much that it is going to take concentrated effort to once again let the waters become clear.   To take dedicated time out of my day to be still in His word.

Then…..when I become still, when I take time out of my day to be quiet and pray, take time to be in His word, when I lay my burdens at the foot of the cross, when I am still – He reveals Himself to me so abundantly.

I do hear His direction for my life, I see Him answer prayers that I thought He didn’t hear, I feel His presence as I walk through my day.  My daughters and I are constantly in awe of how present He is in our lives and how He does reveal Himself to us. 

While sin has separated us from God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross has reconciled that separation.  Our sins are forgiven through Christ and we are once again connected to the Lord because of what Jesus did for us.  By simply confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness – Christ casts those sins out and they are forgotten.  We are given a new opportunity to live abundantly for Him and do our very best to glorify Him in our daily lives.

When the busyness of life seems to overwhelm and overtake your day – be still, seek Him out, pray, ask for His forgiveness, and be in His word – have quiet time with the Lord. 

Let the waters clear and hear what His plans are for you.  Feel His abundant love and grace in your life.

Experiencing His Grace in the Journey~

So then faith comes by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

Hand Crafted Soap and So Much More!

Naturally Made Products ~

I would also like this page to be an opportunity to share other natural products that you can create at home.

All it takes is a walk down the supermarket/drug store aisle and a brief glance at commercial product ingredients to establish enough reason to 'make your own.'

Not only does this give you the ability to create natural products that are safe for you and your family, you can control the ingredients, they are also VERY economical, and finally you can design products for your personal needs and scents you like.

So, let's start out with something simple that you can easily make at home!

Bath salts! 

Have you tried them??? 

If not, you are missing out on a real treat!

Bath salts are SO economical to create, you can make them with the scents you enjoy and may need, plus they are beneficial to your health.

So what do we need to make bath salts?

• Epsom Salts
• Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils such as Young Living Essential Oils

Epsom Salts can be purchased just about anywhere.  Wal-Mart carries them, drug stores, and even most small grocery stores have them. I am even seeing 'scented' Epsom Salts on the store shelves.  However, don't pay the high price for these salts when you can make your own!!

A 1 pound bag of Epsom Salts generally cost a little over a dollar.

What are the benefits of Epsom Salts?  

• They can ease stress and relax the body, 
• They will relieve minor muscle aches and pains,
• Help muscles and nerves function properly,
• Epsom Salts are believed to help the heart function properly,
• Epsom Salt baths are a good source of magnesium,
• Ever had a long day on your feet and your legs are just aching - take an Epsom Salt bath and you will be amazed at how quickly the aches and pains are relieved!

When you make your own Epsom Salts, you can also add therapeutic-grade essential oils to the salts.  This is an excellent way to create targeted relief for a specific issue.  
I only recommend and use Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils.  

For more information on Young Living Essential Oils, please stop by my my website for more information. 
These oils are pure, have been specifically tested to be safe for personal use and are a high quality essential oil that you can be sure is safe for your family.

Some essential oils you might consider include:

Lavender ~ for relaxing, soothing, relieving stress
Peace & Calming ~ Another great essential oil blend that is excellent for relaxing.
Citrus Essential Oils ~ Can be invigorating, yet soothing. Plus they smell just amazing.

How to make them?  
In a glass or stainless steel bowl, measure out 16 ounces of Epsom Salts.  Add 4-12 drops of essential oils to the Epsom Salts (more or less to suit your desired level of scent).  
Please Note:  When using therapeutic-grade essential oils, they are highly concentrated - usually less is more - so start out with less drops of oils and add more to your liking!
Toss and thoroughly mix the essential oil with the Epsom Salts with a metal spoon. 
Once completely mixed, store in a 16 ounce mason jar and it will last for months!
Use just 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Epsom Salts per bath.

Clean up the bowl and spoon with hot soapy water!

Keep the jar handy next to your bath or put a ribbon around it and give it as a gift!

Enjoy!

Have a great weekend ahead and give this easy, simple bath salt recipe a try.  You will be glad you did!

Tell Me About ... Pure Castile Soap

Each week I would like to share a little information about each of the soaps that are available from Farmhouse Soaps.

This week ~ let's take a look at Pure Castile Soap.

Pure Castile Soaps are no longer easily found in stores.  This soap is made from 100% pure olive oil.  There are no colorants and no fragrances included in Pure Castile.  When you do find a bar of castile soap in a store, be sure to carefully read the ingredient listing as you will usually find other additives.
Castile, a classic soap, comes from the Mediterranean area - more specifically the Castile regions of Spain, where the abundance of olive oil prompted its development in the Middle Ages.  

This is a soap for the individual who has sensitive skin, may struggle with psoriasis or eczema, and is ideal for the elderly and babies!

Pure Castile soap is long-lasting and offers a lotiony, creamy-type lather versus an explosive, bubbly lather.  This gentle lathering soap will moisturize as well as thoroughly clean the skin.

Dorry worry if Pure Castile soap develops light yellowing spots through the soap as it ages and continues to cure ~ this is very characteristic of the soap and in no way inhibits its moisturizing and cleansing abilities. Pure Castile soap only gets better with age.  The soap will become harder and longer lasting!

To care for your Pure Castile soap, always place the bar of soap in a dish that will lift it out of standing water.  Better yet, a bamboo soap dish will aid in keeping it high and dry!

Pure Castile Soap is available in the traditional 5-ounce bar and also Baby Bars!

Baby Bars are just right for holding the soap in one hand while you support your little one in the other.  Baby Bars are Pure Castile soap that are made smaller to fit inside the palm of mom or dad's hand!
Baby Bars, made from 100% pure olive oil, make it an ideal choice for cleaning and moisturizing baby's soft, gentle skin.

Questions about using Pure Castile soap and if it is right for you?  Just email me at buyfarmhousesoaps@gmail.com.

Have a glorious Monday!

His Grace in the Journey - The True Heart of Marianne

Sunday is always a special time of the week for me.  It is a time to reflect on the goodness of God and all the blessings He continually pours out over my family.

I want you to know who the true heart of Marianne is behind Farmhouse Soaps.

It just seems fitting to share this with you today - on Sunday - when I take time for growing my faith and developing my intimacy with Him.

As you may already know I am a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. I always believed in God growing up and through my 20's and 30's.  But it wasn't until 1999 that I chose to be baptized, take the step of obedience, and  publicly proclaim my faith in Christ alone for my salvation.

There has been so much joy in my life, but also trying times, just like so many of you.  Without Christ, I would have been lost - completely.  Only He can provide unconditional love, peace, grace and a calmness in any storm. 
Before you get to know more about me personally - it is my heart that I want you to know the most.

My heart for our loving God, my heart for my family, my heart for those that are closest to me, my heart for those that He puts in my path, my heart for all that I do in my life.
When you carry Christ in your heart - everything else will fall into place.

I am excited and looking forward to sharing my life with you here on this blog.  Here is where I will share about my faith, my family, and my soap making adventures.  What brought me to create and love Farmhouse Soaps.  What inspires me daily.  What failures I can look back on and smile.  What victories I can rejoice in.  I welcome you to my journey and hope you will join me.

It is my deepest desire that you too find Christ and carry Him deeply in your heart as I do in mine.  I promise you that your heart and life will be forever changed when you invite Him in.  You will know a peace that cannot come from this world ~ not from our family, not our friends, not money, not our homes, not our possessions.  It is a peace that only He can provide.

I will be openly sharing my faith here on this page ~ because it is the very heart of Marianne.  I look forward to sharing my heart with you and will cherish the friendship that we develop and share. 

My prayer for you today is that you know Him deeply and intimately.  That during the busyness of our daily lives, that during the tough decisions, that during the happy times and sad times  - that He will be the focus in your life.

Thank you for allowing me the honor of being a part of your day. Let us know His grace during our journey through this life.  Letting Him guide us, walk with us and filling our hearts as only He can.

Thank you for taking some time to get to know the true heart of Marianne.  I pray that I am a light for Him in all I do and that Farmhouse Soaps will also shine and reflect God's goodness and love. 

May your Sunday be blessed and your week ahead be filled with Him!

Experiencing His grace in the journey~

Open House Today!!

Come enjoy the beautiful day and take a drive to the country!
Open House today at Farmhouse Soaps!
Come and enjoy refreshments and 10% off all soaps!

All orders placed online will also receive a 10% discount ~ today only.

Email me at buyfarmhousesoaps@gmail.com

Open House hours are 10:00am to 3:00pm

Farmhouse Soaps is located at 873 Pearl Street Road, Belvidere, IL (If you Google Map or Mapquest - you need all THREE words in the address).
I am about 5 miles south of Rt. 20 in Belvidere or 5 miles north of Rt. 72 in Kirkland.
Call for directions 815-319-0557.

Welcome to Farmhouse Soaps 2015!

As we continue to ease our way into the New Year, I pray that you are finding joy and contentment in your life as we begin this new year.
I am excited for what God has in place for Farmhouse Soaps for 2015!
While the soap shop has been closed these past few weeks, there has been much activity going on behind the scenes.

I am happy to announce that we will be kicking off the 2015 year with an open house - right here in my farmhouse kitchen!
On January 31st, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, I invite you to stop by, shop the many wonderful soap products that will be available and enjoy a 10% discount.  This is just my way of thanking you for your business last year.  Some seasonal soaps will be available at a 20% discount! 
As you may or may not know ~ even though a soap is from last year, the longer it cures the better it gets with age.  Aging makes for a harder, long-lasting bar of soap and the fragrance is still very aromatic!

Come for coffee, tea, refreshment and friendship! 

Desiring to take Farmhouse Soaps in a new, broader direction ~ we will be announcing some new products, soap making classes, and our current schedule of events.

For my friends that are not able to stop by and enjoy the Open House discount, I will be offering the 10% discount on all soap orders placed on the 30th!

Mark your calendar for a great day in the country!
The address of Farmhouse Soaps is 873 Pearl Street Road, Belvidere, IL.
I am 5 miles south of Rt. 20 in Belvidere, and 5 miles north of Route 72 in Kirkland. 
Please email me at buyfarmhousesoaps@gmail.com if you have questions or need directions!


See you then!
Blessings ~ 

With Heartfelt Thanks!

Farmhouse Soaps is now closed for the year.  

This will give me some much needed time to 

spend with family, 

reflect on God's goodness,

and plan for 2015.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported Farmhouse Soaps during this past year.

Because of you, Farmhouse Soaps has grown over 170% during 2014!

With that growth, came a few growing pains.  I extend my deepest thanks to all of you as I worked hard get through some of those growing pains and to keep soap available throughout the year.
I am looking forward to the coming year with so much excitement!

Not only will you see a new selection of fragrances, but also some new products too!

I am working hard to ~ 

• streamline the Farmhouse Soap product line,
• Offer a safe, online shopping experience,
• a new Etsy shop,
• Sample bar pack,
• a new botanical soap line,
• Baby bars, and
• soap making classes here in my farmhouse kitchen!

Most soaps will once again be available by  mid-January.  This will give me time to close out my inventory for the year and prepare for the 2015 soaping season!

I wish you and your family a very blessed Christmas.  My prayer is that you know the immense love and grace of our amazing God and that He richly blesses you in the coming year.

Thank you again, dear friends, for all your support!  Drop me a line and please keep in touch at buyfarmhousesoaps@gmail.com. I love to hear from you and know how you are doing!

With Warm Regards~