The SG Notebook

We’ve been doing some renovations at the site, and have been running into some technical difficulties. We’re working our way through them, however, but I thought I better let you know. Please disregard anything that isn’t where it should be (or is missing). You know how you have to move things around when you do renovating work in your home? Well, that’s what is happening here and the tech problems have not helped! But, by the grace of God, we’ll have it back together again soon, along with a few of the changes and additions in the product line.

In the meantime, may you and your family enjoy a blessed and joyous Resurrection Day. HE LIVES!

Lovingly,

Maxine

Yes, we are still dedicated to helping children grow! However, as we’ve hinted, we are expanding the scope of our services to you. We feel that the name of our newsletter needs to reflect these changes. When you receive your next newsletter in your inbox, it will be titled, “Helping Families Live & Give.” We’ll talk more about why we’ve changed the name in our upcoming newsletter.

Hope you are enjoying Spring,
Beverly

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
This I tell you brother
You can’t have one without the other

Love and marriage, love and marriage
It’s an institute you can’t disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say it’s elementary

Try, try, try to separate them
It’s an illusion
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like the horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You can’t have one, you can’t have none, you can’t have one without the other!

This is one secular song that I have to say I do like the words. This was a popular song at one time; its catchy little tune was heard in many stores and restaurants and, of course, on the radio. But are its lyrics, which were probably memorized by many folks, still believed in the day and society in which we live? And how are they believed? What truths are applied to them today?

Well, I would purport here that these words are certainly believed by God. Love and marriage definitely go together. And in speaking of the kind of love that is resident in a marriage, you can’t have one without the other. Now notice that I did not say which of these necessarily comes first, but that they go together. There is an important concept which I have believed for a while now, and here quote from my Companion to Aunt Jane’s Hero (still yet to be published): “Let us see if they learn in the pages to come what many of us have had to learn: that it is not their love which must keep their marriage dwelling intact, but it is the marriage itself, and their commitment to it, that must sustain their love.” Hopefully, you understand what’s at the root of that statement. I think you probably believe it too, because the statement that immediately follows is that “we all know Who must sustain the marriage.”

That is the nature and heart of the Christian marriage; it’s sustained by God. And when both husband and wife love God and Christ is the focus, that which naturally follows is love for one another. It’s a beautiful thing; actually you’ll have to look hard and far to find anything in this earthly journey that so closely resembles the relationship of Christ and His church. Actually, marriage is the ONLY relationship that does. So, if it is truly sustained by God, then love will be there, because it flows from Christ.

Everyone loves a wedding. Well, almost everyone does. That’s because it’s known to be one of the happiest events of life. In my opinion, what makes it truly special indeed is the fact that it begins a marriage. And if the two people involved love and belong to the Lord Jesus, it is an event of great magnitude indeed. It deserves celebration. Even our Lord has attended at least one such celebration. But, for years it has been impressed on my heart, and I know others who feel the same, that it’s not the size and fanciness of a wedding that sets it apart, but the strength of the commitment of the couple to be a blessing to their families, and to bring glory to God. We have been to a few like this, and I hope as time goes on, in a world which has less and less regard for matrimony, or else distorts it, we will see more and more couples who hold it in high regard, and who seek to be a blessing as they enter into it.

Here at SG, we are taking some steps in the direction of the Christian bride, with a hope that we can provide some gifts and favors which might help her and her groom to be the blessing I just spoke about. We’re moving along in that direction now and hope to introduce a few items soon to get started. In the meantime, bookmark this page on our site and check back with us soon.

Lovingly,
Maxine

In celebration of spring and for a limited time, we’re offering the Bright Gems for His Crown book at a special discount rate to churches which sell books. Churches only have to buy six or more books to get a 45% discount off the list price. So, if your church sells to its members by means of a book shelf or table or has a book room where you can purchase books, it would work to your advantage to have them take us up on this offer. They could then pass the savings on to you! So whoever is in charge of this ministry in your church–let them know and tell them to call us! The information is here, so you can send them the link to the offer page.

March is here, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for Spring! Here at Speakable Gifts, we are working on some new products. We’ll feature them in our March newsletter, so be on the lookout for that to come. We may send our mailing out a little later than usual, as we are putting finishing touches on our ideas.

We hope you are all well.

In Him,
Beverly

We, or should I say the Lord, has chosen a winner for our latest giveaway. Whenever I put names or anything else in a little basket or bag and someone “randomly” chooses one of them, I always feel the Lord is deciding, since nothing happens by chance! And He has decided that Cheryl, one of the commenters, would be our winner. She had indicated in her comment that if she were to win, she thought she might use this lovely wall art as a giveaway at their church women’s ministry. Now wouldn’t that be nice! So I will be writing Cheryl soon to get her address to send her our gift, praying that it will eventually fall into the hands of that person whom the Lord wants to bless in a special way. Thanks for participating, Cheryl, and thanks to all of you who took part.

Also, we will be sending the extra gift of the little promise box to my friend Laurie, who was the first person to place an order with one of our affiliates. We KNOW this little box of encouragements from God’s Word will be a special blessing to Laurie, who has already been a blessing to us here at SG.

So, thanks again! And come back on a regular basis to see what we have cooking here. There will be more giveaways in the future and we have some new products being introduced soon. Also, we still encourage you to go often to our special offers page to see what’s posted there.

Blessings to you and your household!

Beverly and Maxine

We’ve had to make a few adjustments on our shipping rates, even though we still feel our economy rates can’t be beaten. Unfortunately, postal rates keep creeping up on all of us and we haven’t been keeping up. Thanks for understanding.

We’re making a few changes to our website, so if you see anything askew, you might be able to attribute it to that. Stay with us; we have other changes coming as well. Hope you think they’re good ones.

It’s been a pretty tough winter for much of the country. We’re wondering how things are in your neck of the woods. Hope you’re staying safe and warm.

God bless,

Maxine

Just a quick note about the devastation from the huge earthquake in Haiti. We’ve talked before about World Vision and how sponsorship through them is a great way to help a needy child. But whenever there is a disaster anywhere in this world, World Vision is there to help and they have always been, at least so far, an organization that can be trusted. If you are looking for a place where you can give and want to feel assured that your money will be put to good use for this specific purpose, you can go here to make a donation.

Praying for Haiti,

Maxine

Well, wishing all who stop by a very Happy New Year and many blessings from the Lord in the year 2010. We’re off to a slow start here with much going on and not enough time in the days. So, already we are behind in much that we need to be doing. New publications are coming, but writing projects are going slowly, as is the newsletter. But we are determined to press on with God’s help! I, like many others, hesitate to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, partly due to worrying that I can live up to them. But I sure am “hopeful” that we can be more faithful this year in keeping our friends and customers updated on what is happening and what is going to be happening at SG.

The home (particularly the children in it) is the primary emphasis here, as those of you who know us are already aware, so we sure do like to help out in the home when and where we can. As a stay at home mom, Beverly prioritizes helping out her husband by saving money, and she has even encouraged me along those lines. There are quite a few ways that this can be accomplished, but we have to give our time and attention to it. I was thinking recently that having more time aids in saving money, and that being more organized helps to save the necessary time. Hope that makes sense?

Well, I just recently came across a site that I love which is helpful in both areas and wanted to pass it along. After all, any time and any money which you save will reap bountiful blessings to you and your household. (Proverbs 31:27) Go see Molly and see what you think. I have a hunch that you will be bookmarking her site. I sure am:

Again, hope blessing will abound in your home the coming year!

For His Glory,

Maxine