the Stone and the Oak

Worship Songs at Midnight: Powerful Tools for Battling Anxiety

thestoneandtheoak

July 8, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. You are never required to use my links, but by doing so, you will be supporting my blog at no additional cost to you.

This is Vicki.

Her drink is a lady grey tea like a proper Brit.

And I can’t go any further without pointing out Vicki’s adorable mug. She was gifted this mug which comes from a smallshop called I Am So Many Things. And if you look at the detailed picture here, it is filled with beautiful affirmations to take in as you sip.

Christian mug with beautiful affirmations from the shop I Am So Many Things — Mug from the shop I Am So Many Things

Vicki is from Scotland, which means I have now had two Sips & Scripts in a row with women who have the most enchanting accents (I recently chatted with Aimee Walker from New Zealand on “Discerning One’s Life Season”).

And before the end of our chat, Vicki and I decided that we are kindred spirits, because as we chatted along, we realized just how much we type-A, anxious-types have in common.

VICKI IS NO STRANGER TO ANXIETY

“I wrote a piece recently for The Joyful Life Magazine about finding peace of mind in the midst of anxiety and fear, but once I was faced with some unsettling health problems, I fell back into an anxiety spiral and felt like I failed my own test. How can I sit here and offer advice on anxiety and then not take my own advice in the midst of the anxiety?

But I felt the Holy Spirit answer: of course you can talk about it. All humans approach anxiety from a place of weakness. You need to talk about this because you need to show people that My strength is needed in order to overcome these things.

No matter how much I know about anxiety in my brain, it takes God to help me along through my spirit.”

BREAKING THE PATTERN

“I’m becoming very aware of the generational pattern of anxiety and the self fulfilling prophecy that can result. When you constantly hear yourself described as an anxious person, it’s easy to believe it—and allow yourself to be defined by it. Subsequently I grew up with the understanding that I was an anxious person, and there was nothing I could do about it.

As a mum myself now, I am very aware of the words I use regarding my daughters’ identity and mental wellness because of the impact they can have.

My daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was four. Though she is high functioning, anxiety is a common symptom for many with an autism diagnosis.

As her mom, I want to model to her how we can manage (as best we can) the symptoms of anxiety. She is old enough now to be able to see when I am struggling.

For instance, when we received the diagnosis, I felt myself starting to spiral: what will this diagnosis look like for her life? What will happen to her when she is an adult?

An anxious experience for me is like being caught in the whirlpool of water as it empties from a tub. The spiral of thoughts gets tighter and tighter until I am literally circling the drain. This is the point in which I get the physical symptoms of anxiety like panic attacks.

When I hit this point, I reach up my hands to God and say, ‘Heavenly Father, I can’t get fully on top of my own anxiety, and I need your help. Help me and, also, help me help my girl.’”

RECOGNIZE, REFRAME, RELEASE, REFOCUS

Last summer, I did a great Bible study on stopping the spiral of toxic thoughts called Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen. From there, I started to adopt a process to help me manage my anxious thoughts which can be summed up in four parts:

recognizing the thoughts I am frequently having
reframing these thoughts in light of the gospel
releasing these thoughts to God
refocusing my attention on worthy thoughts and actions

The book Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen — Click image to browse

STEP 1: RECOGNIZE

“Jennie Allen suggests that we make an inventory of the thoughts we are having in a given length of time, and then examine them, which becomes the first step in the process of managing anxious thoughts. So I asked myself: What are the thoughts that I am thinking? What are the patterns? What am I noticing in these thoughts?

So, really, what we are doing in step 1 is capturing our thoughts for examination, just as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:5:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it to obedient to Christ.
NIV

In doing this exercise, I was able to identify the triggers to these thoughts. I would look at a social media post and spiral, or I would find myself comparing myself to other mothers.

The key is to keep the thought captive and not allow it to take hold. Similarly, Ruth Chou Simons has a book based on the premise that we become what we behold (Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship). What we pour into our senses become the things that begin to seep into our souls.

The book Becoming and Beholding by Ruth Chou Simons — Click image to browse

This practice of capturing thoughts really allowed me to take stock of what ideas I was feeding myself on a regular basis.”

STEP 2: REFRAME

“Next, I take the captive thought and reframe it. I am afraid of X,Y,Z can be reframed in the light of our Savior: I have nothing to fear because God is in control.

I am not enough can be reframed as He is enough.

Reframing takes strength, and another line from Allen’s companion study guide to her book that is revolutionary to me is this one: As God’s children, filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ already in us. The issue is whether we are using it to think the thoughts that Jesus would think.

God has given us the tools we need by His power, by His spirit. And so, if I have His spirit inside of me, I can choose to think the way Jesus would think.”

STEP 3: RELEASE

“The next step is releasing that initial anxious thought.

Because, in truth, I can reframe the thought in my brain, but I really need to release it from my heart. Some fears and thoughts are so heavy that we can’t even reason with them; we can’t carry them on our own. We have to give them over.

Often, in my attempts to find peace of mind, I sometimes still slip into the practice of seeking peace by the world’s definition (i.e. Googling symptoms for reassurance). But in fact, He is the source of our peace. We can only attain that peace if we are surrendering that which we can’t control to the One who has control over all of it.

One of the best examples of the need to surrender is my daughter’s diagnosis. I was very active in getting my daughter evaluated and advocated for her in light of her diagnosis, and my involvement was a means of asserting some semblance of control. If I am actively working towards something, then the anxiety is kept at bay, but only for so long.

I just had to release her, and her diagnosis, to God: I cannot carry this, God. I know you created her, and this is part of your plan for her life—whatever that looks like.

When I release these things to God, I can literally feel the tension leave my body.”

STEP 4: REFOCUS

“There is a beautiful verse on refocusing our minds on God:

Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.
Philippians 4.6-9, NLT

This verse becomes the guidebook for lessening anxiety.

It reminds us to offer up our fear in prayer (both big things like a child’s diagnosis, but also the small things). And that the type of prayer matters. I need to forego the prayers of Why? Why me?! Make it stop! and instead ask God for His supplication, His provision.

I often pray about the big things, but I am guilty of neglecting to release thousands of small things to Him. The small things are the ones that idle in the corner of my mind and eventually build up in a big way.

The verse also implores us to thank Him for all he has done so far and to praise His name.

Intentional gratitude, especially when it manifests in the act of praise, forces us to take our eyes off what is making us fearful and fix our gaze on Him instead.

Another part of the verse spoke to me in light of my recent backslide into an anxious spiral:

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me… then the God of peace will be with you
Philippians 4.9, NLT

These words act as a reminder that the skill of managing anxiety is like any other skill: it takes practice.”

THE POWER OF PRAISE

“My daughter experiences intense night terrors. If any parents have gone through night terrors with their children, they know how troubling they can be. The child is very distressed, but they are not fully awake nor responding to typical methods of soothing.

The only thing that has worked to bring her out of her night terrors is to recite scripture over her or sing worship songs until she slowly and steadily comes out of it.

Here are some of my favorite songs to sing to her

‘The Battle Belongs to You’ by Phil Wickham
‘By the Grace of God’ by Bethel Music
‘It is Well’ (so many versions but Kristene DiMarco has a powerful one)

There is power in praise.”

WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT CHANGE

“It is important to mention that there are definitely genetics at play when it comes to anxiety; not all anxiety is a reflection of a poor prayer life. What we don’t hear enough from Christians is that it is perfectly ok to use medicine to solve the chemical imbalance while still putting the powerful spiritual tools into play. Though I am not currently on medication, it is always an option for me should I need it.

I simply don’t know how nonbelievers navigate fearful and trying times. At the end of the day, I can have all the anxiety tools in the world, but I still need God. No matter my circumstances, He is the ultimate Source of my peace.”

In listening to our recorded chat, I discovered just how many times I jumped in to agree with Vicki; all that she describes about anxiety I have experienced myself.

It’s amazing how when we open up about our struggles we realize how much we all have in common.

with His love,

Adelaide

CONNECT WITH VICKI

Click here to connect with Vicki on Facebook

Click here to connect with Vicki on Instagram

Click here to see Vicki’s Work on The Joyful Life Magazine blog

Click here to read Vicki’s post on “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Celebrating the Children God Gave Us”

REST THE SOIL AFTER HARVEST: NAVIGATING A POST-BUSY SEASON

thestoneandtheoak

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June 3, 2021

This is Aimée.

Her drink is a strong black coffee made from freshly ground beans (she says it is the Turk in her).

I met Aimée through The Joyful Life Magazine, but I got to know her through the launch team of her first book, But I Flourish. Aimée and a few of the gals from the team and I hit it off so well that we now schedule regular Zoom meetings to chat and laugh and encourage one another.

Though Aimée lives continents away in Auckland, New Zealand, her warm personality always makes me feel like she is just round the corner and about to pop in for a coffee.

Listening to the recording of our Zoom chat brought me such a smile because of how many times Aimée and I laughed at the Kiwi-American differences. Aimée taught me what it means to “shout someone a coffee” (buy it for them), and we giggled about what it is like for her to try and edit American writing when she is used to British-based, New Zealand spelling.

Frivolous topics aside, Aimée knew exactly what she wanted to share, and in true writer form, she wove in verses beautifully, and left very little work for me to do as the curator of her powerful and important truths.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW SEASON

“God gave me the word filled at the beginning of the year. I heard Him tell me ‘I am going to fill this year: you, your family, and your home.’ And what immediately followed was a stark juxtaposition to filling: opportunities changed or were stripped away.

But my book was about to launch, so I assumed the filling He promised would occur from the harvest of my labor on the book. The book launched in March, and it was such a high! I am incredibly proud of the book, and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm on the launch team and the words of encouraging people.

Aimée holds her first book But I Flourish — Image from Aimée’s Instagram

But come April, I was exhausted and discouraged. The book sales had slowed and I had no energy to continue the level of marketing that I was undergoing.

Confusion followed: wasn’t I supposed to feel filled?

I expected a season of harvest after all that work. I expected bounty and joy, and I was met with tiredness and discouragement.

In my time in the Word during this period of discouragement, I felt my attention directed to Psalm 1.3:

(the person who meditates day and night in God’s word) is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither whatever he does prospers.
context added by Aimée

In season.

God reminded me through the words ‘in season’ of the importance of recognizing our seasons and leaning into what that season looks like and being faithful in it.”

RECOGNIZING MY CURRENT SEASON

“There is a little-known passage in 1 Chronicles about the sons of Issachar who discerned the season and knew what to do in it:

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
1 Chronicles 12:32, NLT

Understanding the signs of the times to determine one’s course…

This verse gave me pause to whether I had truly considered my current season. Having just completed the “harvest” of my novel, I decided to Google what occurs immediately after crop harvest in terms of farm life, and what I found gave me such wonderful insight: after harvest, the soil is fed with nutrients and allowed to rest.

God had given me a beautiful picture: harvest is about both fruitfulness and rest. It was such a live-giving, ‘Aha’ moment.

In the busyness of getting the book launched, I hadn’t allowed for any rest. I hadn’t factored in any down time. I worked on my book and on editing another book throughout our entire summer holiday (January and February here in New Zealand).

God reminded me that energy and capacity only goes so far without rest. Of course I was exhausted–I had neglected one entire half of the season.”

WHAT DOES A POST-HARVEST REST SEASON LOOK LIKE?

“The kind of rest to which God is leading me doesn’t mean shirking my responsibilities or abandoning my commitments, but rather an intentionality in protecting my down time. I have begun to implement several different ways to rest, post-harvest:

HOLISTIC REST

“Rest is so much more than taking breaks from the hustle.

True, it means lightening my workload, but it also means to institute rest in other areas like going to bed earlier and eating nutritious food. During the book launch, I was so frantic during each and every day that I would just grab a slice of cake for lunch. I wasn’t putting nutrients into my body like the farmers do with the soil.

I need to create a routine that allows the Holy Spirit to minister to me and to refresh me and to help me tend to this soil of a good heart that God has given me through Jesus.”

I need to tend to this soil of a good heart that God has given me through Jesus.

LETTING GO OF MARKETING MY BOOK AND LETTING GOD

“God has invited me to rest. He is helping me recognize when I have done my part just as Paul writes to the Corinthians: one plants, one waters, and God brings the growth (1 Corinthians 3.6). So in terms of the book, I have done everything in my capacity and now I have to rest and let God do what He is going to do with it from here.

If I am faithful to what he asked me to do, then I don’t need to worry about all the other things. God’s Word will accomplish what He wants it to: “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11 NLT).

Now, naturally, I would like the book to sell so that it can fund the next book, but the Amazon numbers are not what this project is about. I wrote But I Flourish because I felt so alone in those difficult seasons of my life and I wished for someone further down the path to come alongside me and speak the truth that I needed to hear. I want to reach women who don’t have a spiritual mentor around them.

If I am tending to the soil of my heart and keeping it healthy, surrendered, and yielded to Him, and planting myself in the Word and in His living water, then I can rest just knowing that He will cause that seed to accomplish what He intended. It’s not actually my job to work around the clock trying to accomplish everything myself.”

PROTECTING MY DOWN TIME BY PULLING BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA

“Part of holistic rest means giving myself permission to not perform all the time—especially when it comes to social media.

I had gotten into a pattern of posting on social media simply because I hadn’t posted in a while, not because the Holy Spirit prompted me. I am no longer forcing myself to post on social media just for its own sake or because I know the algorithms favor that kind of activity.

In fact, when we rush out a post, we sometimes share things prematurely before God has fully worked it out in our own hearts and our own lives—it’s like picking fruit before it is fully ripened. I am asking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in knowing what to share, when to share it, and how to share it.

In fact, some nights, I delete my social media apps around dinnertime, and I am far less likely to pick up my phone. The goal is to not add them back onto my phone after until the kids are off to school the next day. This practice gives me greater margin for abiding in Him.”

THE REST REVEALS WHAT IS NEXT

“Reducing time spent in marketing and social media means that I can make the time to go deep in the Word and listen to what He wants next for me.

In these reflection times, He has reignited in me the drive to write Biblical content rather than try to master social media. He reminds me that my “lane” and my gifts are writing things like Bible studies and ministering to smaller groups, in-person.

In this age of social media where value is often assigned to numbers of likes and followers, I worry that we undervalue what can grow in small groups and the conversations that can happen over coffee with a friend. These are small harvest fields with small seeds, but often where the truly meaningful stuff occurs.”

Have you discerned your season, been reminded of your gifts, and recognized what God is asking you to do in it? Aimée provides such a beautiful example of the permission we need to give ourselves to rest after a busy season. If we are not taking time to “tend to the soil of our own hearts” as Aimée puts it, then we don’t have a fertile foundation to grow good fruit for Him.

I am so grateful for Aimée’s wisdom here, and in our friendship, as she continues to offer me holy guidance when I need direction.

When Aimée does make it to the states at some point in the (hopefully not too distant future), I am going to give her a hug and the coffee will be my “shout.”

With His love,

Adelaide

To connect with Aimée:

Father’s Day Gifts that Support Christian Families

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May 31, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. You are never required to use my links, but by doing so, you will be supporting my blog at no additional cost to you.

The older I get, the more I pay attention to where my dollars are spent.

Yes, there was a time in my life when I relied on the dollar store for cleaning supplies, and I am not trying to discourage people from shopping at big box stores like Wal-Mart— especially those who rely on it for their livelihood.

But for those of us who have just a little extra in the budget each month for things like Father’s Day gifts, we can choose who we support with each dollar we spend.

I have always wanted to put my dollars towards Christian small businesses, because the more resources we get into the hands of Christians, the more we can do for the Kingdom.

And since I became a Christian small business a few months ago, I am painfully aware of how hard the role of small business owner can be.

So if you have a Christian father (or are married to a Christian man), pour yourself a cup of coffee and browse these six options to see if there is something he would love!

1. BRITT+CO: LEATHER BIBLES

Britt has a “My Story” tab on her site that introduces her as a Jesus-loving gal who comes from a handy family and how she started this company using her leather-working talent to create quality items with God’s glory as her why. Click here to read her story!

Father’s Day Gift Idea for Christian Dads: Brit and Co Leather Bible — From top to bottom: Dark Willow, Sienna, Aspen

The three Bibles shown here are standard text Bibles wrapped in her hand-tooled leather, but she also offers the service of Bible restoration! If your dad’s Bible is falling apart, you can ship it to her and have her bind it with her gorgeous leather so that it is good as new. Click here to be taken to her Bible restoration services.

Father’s Day Gift Idea: Leather Keychain from Brit & Co — These are the Adler mini keychains for $15

If you are on a tight budget, I find her leather keychains to be a simple token that every dad could use and love.

Britt tells me that you can get 10% off your order between now and Father’s Day by using the code FATHERSDAY at checkout, and that orders placed before June 13 will arrive in time for Father’s Day.

2. THE STONE AND THE OAK: CHRISTIAN APPAREL

Hey-o! This is my shop!

I created His Wear in response to Luke 9.26: “if anyone is ashamed of me or of my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of him.”

My response? We are His, and we are not ashamed.

The His logo is written in my handwriting, and I feel very passionate about proudly pronouncing our relationship with our Lord. To read a bit more about the creation of His Wear, click here to be taken to the blog post I wrote on it.

Though some of the items in my shop are more female-oriented, but I do have unisex items as well.

In fact, I pulled the two items favorited by men and created a Father’s Day bundle at a deep discount:

The Aaron hat has a genuine leather patch and trucker-style adjustability; the Jordan hoodie is a medium weight with soft fleece lining.

Individually, the Aaron leather-patched hat runs $36 and the Jordan hoodie in saddle tan runs $38, which makes for a $74 value. But from now until Father’s Day, you can get both for $45 with flat-rate shipping ($29 off!)

Click here to shop the Father’s Day bundle.

3. SPARROW SOAPS: MEN’S COLLECTION

Sparrow Soaps is a family goat farm in Connecticut that uses raw goat’s milk to create the most beautiful bars of soap I have ever seen.

When I featured Sparrow Soaps in the Mother’s Day Gift Guide, I took advantage of their Earth Day sale and bought three bars of soap.

Let me tell you that their soap is so nourishing and luxurious.

My husband’s and my favorite bar of soap was from their men’s collection: Mountain Man. I steal some every time I shower!

Father’s Day gift idea for Christian dads: Sparrow Soaps Men’s Collection

Though they are running low on Mountain Man stock, they have 11 manly scents that are great for dads:

Rugged
Hunter
Brew
Tobacco and Bay Leaf
Kentucky Bourbon
Sportsman
Shave & a Haircut
GT350
Hickory Suede
Sandalwood
Elements

Father’s Day gift ideas for Christian dads: Sparrow Soaps Men’s Collection

Sparrow Soaps will be running a Father’s Day special on their gift sets of four! Click here to be taken to their Instagram page to be notified when the sale hits!

4. TWO CITIES COFFEE: BAGS OF BEANS & COFFEE SUBSCRIPTIONS

If your dad or husband is a coffee lover, why not treat him to some of the best around?

Two Cities coffee is a local (Fresno/Clovis) coffee company owned by the Reeves family, and having met Rick and Yoli I can tell you that they are really great people.

Father’s Day gift idea: gift card to local coffee shop Two Cities

Check out their mission as listed on their site:

We give a portion of the proceeds from every bag of coffee you purchase to Medical Ministries International (MMI), a local non-profit organization in Clovis, CA that sends medical supplies and equipment to those in need in communities around the world. MMI also runs short-term medical clinics, constructs long-term clinic facilities in various countries, and meets some local medical needs right here in Fresno County

LOCAL OPTION

Two Cities has a sweet little shop in downtown Clovis, and when it’s time to get myself a treat, I absolutely love their spicy chili mocha! I have even used Two Cities for the drinks during my Sips & Scripts conversations last year:

L to R: Sips & Scripts with Jade, Sips & Scripts with Amanda and Alex, and Sips & Scripts with Kelly

So if you are local to the area, consider stopping by for a gift card for Dad.

SHIPPED OPTION

For those who aren’t local, Two Cities offers flat-rate shipping on their high-quality bags of coffee, and they even offer the gift that keeps on giving: a monthly coffee subscription!

Father’s Day gift ideas: gourmet coffee from Two Cities Coffee Roasters

Click here to be taken to the ordering page for the bags and the monthly coffee subscription.

5. MYST: Men’s Essentials

Newly-opened, Myst is owned by a young married couple, Daniel and Caroline Williams. I met Caroline through the Joyful Life magazine, and she is a boymom like me— and just such a sweetheart.

And check out their showstopper, the Element Watch, which in the completely inappropriate French of my husband, “this watch is bad***!”

Father’s Day gift idea: the rustic Element watch that can be used outdoors — Coming in at $89, the Element Watch is rustic and polished all at once

This watch is classy enough for a night at a nice restaurant, but it can be worn in outdoor adventures as well, because it’s WATERPROOF! Game changer.

Father’s Day gift idea : genuine leather wallet from Myst

Or if your guy needs a slimmer alternative to a bulky, overstuffed wallet, check out this sleek leather card carrier, the Kearney.

I have a feeling this company is only getting started! Click here to be taken to the Myst Instagram page.

6. DAVID RUTHERFORD: THE G.I. JOE OF GENESIS BOOK

Lead Pastor David Rutherford at our church, CrossCity Christian Church, has just released his first book, the G.I. Joe of Genesis.

Father’s Day gift idea: a book on Joseph

This book is written in a folksy, easy-to-read style, but don’t let the folksiness fool you. It is packed with Biblical truth as Pastor David unpacks the trials of Joseph, exhorting us to follow his examples. And he includes his own personal trials which makes reading this book feel like you are sitting down to coffee with a friend/mentor. An inspirational read at a very reasonable price.

ORDER ON AMAZON

The quickest way to get your Dad a copy of the G.I. Joe of Genesis is to click here to place an Amazon order (or even get him the Kindle edition if he’s a Kindle guy!)

But if you are interested in having me wrangle up a signed copy, send me an email at thestoneandtheoak@iCloud.com by June 10th and I will see what I can do!

I hope you found something that will delight dad while simultaneously giving a Christian family a boost.

I will be doing stories over on my Instagram account to spotlight each of these shops over the next two weeks, so click here so we can become Instagram friends and I can notify you if any of these shops have additional discounts!

We love because He first loved us, friends.

with His love,

Adelaide

I’ve been busy! Recent work roundup

thestoneandtheoak

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May 5, 2021

Has my blog seemed quiet lately? I know it seems like that, but I have been a busy little bee this month! (Emphasis on little— you guys know I am 5’2” if I stand up really tall).

Here are some of the projects and articles I have been working on (with links!)

TWYLA FRANZ’S GRATITUDE SERIES

I was able to be a guest writer over at Twyla Franz’s blog The Uncommon Normal. She has been doing a beautiful series on year-round gratitude called Begin Within, and I was able to contribute some thoughts on lessening anxiety with gratitude. Click here to read my article on Twyla’s blog.

THE SPRING/SUMMER LINE OF HIS WEAR LAUNCHED

As the weather warms, out come the tees— the supersoft tees that claim our identity in Christ. His Wear was born out of my love for clothing and Luke 9.26.

The message is simple: we are His and we are not ashamed.

The shop now has three new items for sale, and purchases come with a free reclaimed wood keychain (while supplies last).

Click here to access the shop, and for being a blog reader, go ahead and use the code STOAKED25 to take 25% off your purchase.

READING PLAN

The books on the docket for spring are the four of the Torah that I have not yet read. My goal is to thoughtfully consider these four books before June 22nd.

A MOTHER’S DAY DIY AND SERVING LIKE JESUS

The definition of a mother is “one who nurtures life.” There are likely many people in your life who don’t fit the traditional definition of mother, but who work hard to nurture life (super aunts, moms of furry babies, and gardeners). These mothers deserve some recognition on Mother’s Day as well.

Over at the Joyful Life Magazine’s blog (click the image or here) I wrote up a piece on how to serve these nurturers like Jesus by making a lemon rosemary sugar scrub and maybe even treating her to a foot washing.

OUR PASTOR’S BOOK LAUNCH

Earlier this month, Pastor David Rutherford released his first book, The G.I. Joe of Genesis about how the life of Joseph can inspire us to hold fast to God during trying times.

Written in a folksy, easy-to-read style, Pastor David presents deep, impactful truths about the character known as the Jesus of the Old Testament.

In unpacking Joseph’s incredible faith in the midst of God’s complex plan, he also weaves in stories of his own life to exemplify the way the hero of Genesis relates to all of us.

Click here to order The G.I. Joe of Genesis on Amazon.

All caught up! Typically, I send out updates via email, so if you are interested in getting my monthly newsletter (it comes with early access into the giveaways), drop your email here:

with His love,

Adelaide

_{Amazon link disclaimer: As an Amazon affiliate, any links to products on Amazon may earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note: you never have to use my links, and I do not recommend anything that I don’t endorse 100%.}

Let’s Support Christian Small Shops this Mother’s Day

thestoneandtheoak

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April 12, 2021

I first put together this guide in April of 2020 when small shops were hit hard by the pandemic. And I found myself enjoying the process of curating creative Christian products so much (say curating creative Christian 3x fast) —- in fact, I even got to know some of the shop owners.

And though I had no idea of it then, but I have since become a Christian small shop owner myself.

So I will present 8 wonderful, faith-based shops with items mom will love, and then I’ll introduce my spring line of items in the Stone & the Oak shop.

WHICH SHOPS WILL PROSPER?

I will never try to convince you that you need to accumulate more things on this earth. Jesus reminds us to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy.

That being said, when we do purchase items—say, a gift for mom—we can be mindful of where our dollars are going.

Where we place our dollars is like casting a vote for what companies will prosper.

If we put our money towards Christian-based shops, we are helping those Christian shop owners prosper which will give them more resources to do good works for our Lord.

Am I saying that we should never shop at big-box stores? Not at all. I am fully aware that many consumers have limited budgets and options when it comes to their purchases. Big box stores are a blessing in those cases.

But if you do have the resources to shop small, consider buying your Mother’s Day gift from a Christian small shop this year..

I’ll tell you a little more about each one of the nine I’ve included here:

1. Hills and Valleys Studio: hand-embroidered gifts

Kelleigh is a fiber artist in Mesa, Arizona, and I have been blessed to get to know her better through Instagram! We even did a joint giveaway with one rainbow and a crewneck sweatshirt from my shop.

Each piece that Kelleigh makes is unique, and you can tell by the pictures that she has been focusing on rainbows in her recent work.

If you know a mom who has a rainbow baby (a baby born after a pregnancy loss), these beautiful hand-embroidered hoops are a sweet way to celebrate God’s faithfulness.

Mother’s Day gift for rainbow babies — From Hills and Valleys Studio on Instagram

She does have an ETSY shop (click here to access) but she says most of her inventory is listed on her Instagram page @hillsandvalleys_studios (click here). Head over to her account, and find her story highlight that says “for sale.”

from @hillsandvalleys_studios on Instagram

Be sure to purchase by Friday, April 23rd to get your handmade item by Mother’s Day.

2. Pretty Little Pots : handmade ceramic gifts

Canadian friends, here is one for you! Kerri hand-makes all of her mugs, bowls, and planters in her Canadian shop. But American friends, she’s got you covered as well with shipping to the US.

I love this bowl from her spring line that includes that sweet French Country pattern… so darling!

French Country Pottery for Mother’s Day Gifts — Click the image to shop

And if you have a mom who loves the farmhouse aesthetic, maybe she needs this mug for her morning coffee:

Farmhouse Mug for Mom — Click the image to shop

Kerri says the last day to order for delivery by Mother’s Day is April 25th in America, and the last day to order in Canada is April 30th.

Click here to follow Kerry on Instagram, and click here to be taken to the Etsy shop with the rest of her inventory.

3. She Pens Truth: watercolor gifts

Maggie Greenway really does it all: writing Bible studies, painting beautiful watercolors, and running her She Pens Truth shop.

Last year, I did Maggie’s study on Philippians, and we have been Instagram pals ever since (click here to follow her on Instagram).

She creates beautiful prints and gifts from her watercolors, and one of my favorite items in her shop is a set of stationary cards with encouraging verses:

Click the image to shop this notecard set

But you are getting a sneak peek here at her special Mother’s Day gift series:

Original watercolors in the Floral Encouragement series. The painting is 4×6″ and comes in these lovely floating frames.
The Floral Encouragement series is also available in a set of prints with wooden holder (perfect for a desk).
For a budget-friendly option, she is launching a couple new sticker designs from that same series (great for mom’s refillable water bottle)

Starting Thursday (the 14th) at 4pm PST, Maggie will be launching this special Mother’s Day line via her shop. Click here to be taken to her shop.

Want 15% off? Click here (and scroll all the way down) to get on Maggie’s email list to get a coupon for her Mother’s Day Market (Thursday the 15th after 4pm through Sunday the 18th).

All of her items will be ready to ship, so she can accept domestic orders until May 1st.

4. Dandelions in December: pressed floral jewelry and gifts

Shiela is an artisan who uses resin to preserve treasures from nature. She is known for her preserved floral jewelry items that come in several different casings.

Sheila likes to include references to scripture in her works as well. She has several pendants that include a mustard seed to represent Jesus’ reminder that even a little bit of faith can change everything.

Last year she collaborated with Natalie, from Vintage Porch, to create a necklace inspired by the verse: “Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move” Matthew 17.20

If you find her on Instagram (click here), you will see she has been playing around with making pressed flower cottages and churches!

Send her a DM on Instagram to inquire about purchasing one of those adorable new creations.

Sheila tells me that all orders placed by April 23rd will arrive in time for Mother’s Day.

5. Birch Fine Tea: gourmet loose-leaf teas

As a tea-drinker myself, I would love to have a specialty loose-leaf tea gifted to me (hello lavender earl grey).

And if your mom is a tea drinker, this makes deciding what to get her really easy!

Based out of North Carolina, Birch Fine Tea offers gourmet specialty teas in 2oz increments. Most bags run between $9-$15 Check out their collection of teas on their website.

Imagine a bag of special tea paired with a sweet little tea steeper. Steeper? Ok, I just looked it up — tea infuser.

And give them a follow on Instagram as well (click here).

6. Antique Candle Co: hand-poured soy candles

I don’t think I can state enough just how much I love this company! I have been a customer of Antique Candle Co for a few years now, and I was drawn to it because the company keeps Christ at the center of its narrative.

The founder of the company, Brittany, started this company with $200 worth of candle making supplies and faith. Six years later, she employs a team of 30+ employees who hand-pour each candle in Lafayette, IN. They use domestic soybeans and non-toxic fragrance oils to ensure a quality product.

I use the candles in almost all of my giveaways, and I have a rotating selection of my own favorites.

They are seasonally-driven, so expect fresh, fruity scents in the spring and summer and warm, cozy scents for the fall and winter.

They recently launched lemon eucalyptus and pink grapefruit which both sound so incredibly refreshing!

Click the image and select “new fragrances” to shop Lemon Eucalyptus and Pink Grapefruit

On their website they do run occasional sales, and they offer 15% off your first order if you subscribe to their email list.

The antique part of their name comes from their practice of finding antique treasures (tins and copper vessels) and filling them with soy candle goodness. Each antique find runs more than the mason jar prices above, but you may just score a tin that strikes nostalgia with your mom:

Find the full collection at Antiquecandleco.com and click here to follow their Instagram where they keep Christ at the center of their mission.

7. Sparrow Soaps

Sparrow soaps is a family goat farm in Connecticut that uses the raw goat milk to create the most beautiful bars of soap I have ever seen.

They are always posting pictures of their cute kids and friendly goats over on their Instagram page: @sparrowsoaps.

Image from their Instagram (click to be taken there)

Individual bars run $7 a piece plus shipping, but they have lots of sets for sale at a great deal:

Click the image to shop this set of 6 for only $18

And did you know goatsmilk soap is incredibly nourishing for the skin? Another gift to pamper mom.

Here’s a link to their website for ordering. Orders placed by May 2nd should be delivered in time for Mother’s Day.

8. Jenna Makes Jewelry: handmade earrings

Locals to Clovis and Fresno, this one hits home! I met Jenna through my church (she has even babysit my little ones before), and she makes the most lovely statement earrings which I find to be well below market value.

I have purchased one set for a friend, but I have my eye on that yellow pair (shall I get a Mother’s Day present for myself?!)

Click image to shop these yellow beauties

The guiding verse for Jenna’s shop is “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you” (Song of Songs 4.7).

Click here to shop Jenna’s Etsy site, and click here to give her a follow on Instagram.

Jenna says you can order online until April 30th and until May 5th for local pick-up orders (hello last minute gifting!)

9. the Stone & the Oak: Christian apparel

It would be weird to create a smallshop guide and not include my own smallshop, right?

I started the line of His wear to funnel my love of clothing into something fruitful for Him. The line is based on Luke 9.26, and if you want to read more about how the shop came to be click here to read the blog post about the origin.

I am thrilled that I have been able to create items for the warm spring and summer seasons!

Though the professional pics are coming, here is an early look at the items:

The Lucca tee (white V neck) and the Landyn tee (the sea mist crewneck)

I test the shirts before I order them because I am only interested in super soft, comfortable shirts— no scratchy shirts here!

The Anne (circle patch) and the Aaron (square patch) are trucker-style caps with hand-stitched leather patches

If you are interested in become a His Wear promoter, click here to be taken to my Instagram and DM me to get 50% off the new shirts and 40% off the new hats in exchange for promotion on social media.

If you want to sneak into the shop and snag some spring items before the official spring launch (4/26), click here.

Orders placed by May 1st should arrive in time for Mother’s Day.

I hope this list inspired you to get your mom something special while also supporting a Christian smallshop.

Love hard on those mamas this year— especially those you haven’t seen in person in too long— like my own.

with His love,

Adelaide