Roses Of Inspiration Linkup #26

Happy Monday, sweet friends, and welcome to Roses of Inspiration.
I am always richly blessed by each one of you and
I appreciate you sharing your lovelinesss with us each week at the party.

Let's start with some beautiful features.

Roses of Inspiration Features. . .

If you were featured than please feel free to take the "I was featured" button.

Simply copy the HTML code and paste it onto your blog.

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<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/6d8b180b-b3b8-4065-9986-dcccb5a9f70e_zpsc65070e5.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please do not pin from my site!

Go to the original source and pin from there IF it is okay with the blog owner!

There was a lot of delicious recipes linked up from last week
and since Canada Day and the 4th of July will take place this week
I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of them with you :)

. . . { Food Inspiration } . . .

Simply Fresh Dinners

shared this incredible balsamic chicken with strawberries, basil, and feta cheese.

A Grandma's Blessings

shared her tasty strawberry cookies.

The Whispering Cottage

shared a wonderful recipe for a fruit trifle.

Parlor Room Ponderings

showed us how to make these yummy berry custard bars.

Hobby Loes

shared her wonderful recipe for a rhubarb tart - yum!

Living The Gourmet

shared this appetizing recipe for orange marmalade marinated steaks.

If you are new to our party than here are the basics. . .

{ 1 }

You can link up anything that your heart desires. . .
{please keep it family friendly}

crafting - recipes - encouragement

Scripture - devotionals - photography

healthy living - gardening - home living

sewing - crochet/knitting - fashion

beauty - tea time - home decor - etc

{ 2 }

You can link up as many posts as you want

and they can be posts you have written today, last week, last month, or last year.

{ 3 }
There will be fun giveaways throughout the year.

I will simply add up the amount of people who participated in one of the link ups,
write the numbers down on paper and draw the number of the winner.
So if you link-up more than one post you will have a greater chance of winning.
These giveaways will be random
so you never know which link up I will choose for a giveaway.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Below is a button available for your sidebar
to let others know about Roses of Inspiration.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/eca034cc-886a-4d9a-8e02-3a4f5bc60e74_zps45b994ad.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you are new to link up parties than please click here

to see how to share your blog post.

Please have fun, my friends!

I am always excited to see what you share 

and will be around to visit each one of your blogs throughout the week.
And speaking of visiting,
please take a few moments to visit at least two of the posts shared-
everyone loves visits and comments.
Have a lovely day!

Take The World, But Give Me Jesus

For what shall it profit a man,

if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

- Mark 8:36, 37 -

Take the world, but give me Jesus - All its joys are but a name;

but His love abideth ever, thru eternal years the same.

Take the world, but give me Jesus - Sweetest comfort of my soul;

with my Savior watching o'er me, I can sing tho billows roll.

Take the world, but give me Jesus - Let me view His constant smile;

then throughout my pilgrim journey light will cheer me all the while.

Take the world, but give me Jesus - In His cross my trust shall be;

till, with clearer, brighter vision, face to face my Lord I see.

O the height and depth of mercy!

O the length and breadth of love!

O the fullness of redemption - 

Pledge of endless life above!

- Fanny J. Crosby -

Worldliness can be described as anything that tends to draw us away from God

and limits us from being all that He wants us to be.

Separation from the world, however, does not mean that we are to live in isolation

from individuals within the world, whether they be saint or sinner.

We cannot represent our Lord if we remain aloof from the needs of those around us.

There must always be that fine balance in our lives between a closeness

and total commitment to Christ and an availability

and helpful contact with those our everyday world.

A Christian's goal in life is to "cease from sin."

Although it is true that we will never achieve a sinless perfection until we reach heaven,

this should never keep us from striving and saying with Fanny J. Crosby,

"Take the world, but give me Jesus."

Like the blind poetess, the goal of someday having a "clearer, brighter vision"

when we see our Lord face to face makes the struggles of this life all worthwhile.

- Amazing Grace - KennethW. Osbeck -

For to me to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.

- Philippians 1:21 -

May your Sunday be extra blessed, dear friends!

Detained - Book Review

A man and his son dreamed of America's freedom,
but the dream became a nightmare
when they ended up at Guantanamo Bay.

Hasan Makari and his son, Najib, both Lebanese nationals, 
have dreamed of the day they would experience the shining freedom of America.
But when they arrive in the US, they are arrested, accused of terrorism,
and incarcerated at the Guantánamo Bay Prison Camp in Cuba, all on false charges.
Suddenly, they face the nightmare of death by execution.

Their only hope is Navy JAG Officer Matt Davis, who has been assigned to the case of his life-
to defend the Makaris in court at Guantánamo Bay.
Matt believes his clients are innocent, but he faces monumental opposition-
not only from powerful federal prosecutors with a huge agenda and an unlimited budget,
but also from the woman he loves who, as a fellow JAG officer,
has been ordered onto the prosecution team to convict the Makaris.

As the drama unfolds in Cuba, Emily Gardner, a top-ranking TSA lawyer,
has just received a larger-than-life nomination
as General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.
While preparing for confirmation by the US Senate,
she discovers a shocking scheme that will turn her life upside down.
Can Emily expose the truth in time to save the lives of those being accused-
and escape with her own life?
Somewhere between the war-torn plains of Northern Lebanon
and the secret torture chamber of Guantánamo Bay lie the keys to justice.

My Thoughts
I have to confess that I was a little. . .okay, very apprehensive about reading this book.

Typically, I don't read many novels that are in the political realm,

but I thought I would step out of my comfort zone and try something new.
Boy, am I glad I did!

Detained is the first book in The Navy JAG Series 
and begins with Hasan Makari and his son Najib who are Lebanese nationals.
We meet these characters in Lebanon where they have come out to watch
the American Ambassador make history in their country,
only things go terribly wrong that day. . .

Years later the memory of what happened to the Ambassador
is still etched into the minds and hearts of Hasan and Najib.
Unfortunately, the event that took place so many years ago
 now becomes a terrifying reality for them as they face accusations of being terrorists.
These two men know Christ as their personal Savior
and they will have their faith put to the ultimate test as they endure pain, heartache,
and the threat of death by execution.
They must rely solely on the Lord Jesus Christ for He is their Rock and Strength.
More than once I had tears in my eyes as I read about what the Makari's faced. . .

"Hasan closed his eyes and remembered the words of Isaiah the prophet:

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them.

But the words of Scripture did not stop the rats from advancing on his body.
They crawled up onto his neck and face and into his hair.
"Take me, Jesus! Take me!"
{ Detained - page 134 }

You will want to buckle down for this book because it will give you a thrilling ride.
The pages are filled with drama, excitement, governmental intrigue, and suspense.
You will walk away from Detained with your eyes open a little wider
to things about the government, the Navy, and the TSA.
It is truly terrifying to see what can happen when someone in a position of power
loses control and it's heartbreaking to see the Constitution of America
thrown out the window because someone has his/her own agenda. . .
an agenda of power and greed.
May we never forget the cost of our freedom and liberty 
and may we continue to fight for it - may we never let out guard down!
Detained is a fictitious book, but it hits oh-so-close to home.
The truth will set you free and in this book there is a battle raging for truth and justice.

** I was given a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers

for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and no other compensation was received. **

About the Author

Don Brown is the author of Thunder in the Morning Calm, The Malacca Conspiracy,
The Navy Justice Series, and The Black Sea Affair,
a submarine thriller that predicted the 2008 shooting war between Russia and Georgia.
Don served five years in the U.S. Navy
as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps,
which gave him an exceptional vantage point into both the Navy
and the inner workings "inside-the-beltway" as an action officer assigned to the Pentagon.
He left active duty in 1992 to pursue private practice,
but remained on inactive status through 1999, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
He and his family live in North Carolina,
where he pursues his passion for penning novels about the Navy.

Learn more at www.donbrownbooks.com

A Worthy Pursuit - Book Review

A teacher on the run.

A bounty hunter in pursuit.

Can two enemies learn to trust each other

before they both lose what they hold most dear?

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas.

He never comes home empty-handed.

So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him 

to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, 

former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, 

will do anything to keep her charges safe,

especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care.

Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away 

from her unscrupulous grandfather,

and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling the pledge.

Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes

who comes looking for them.

When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily's legal guardian,

Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe.

Is she villain or victim?

Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her.

Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart.

Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit:

winning Charlotte's heart.

My Thoughts

A Worthy Pursuit has Karen Witemeyer's signature wit, charm, and romance

and because of her skill in writing a book that captivates the reader's attention

she has become one of my top favorite authors.

I have read all of Karen's books and every single one, including A Worthy Pursuit,

has won my approval and my heart.

This latest book from Karen may be your "typical" Christian romance 

of a rugged and handsome man meeting a beautiful and talented woman,

but there is more to their story than just sparks flying and wedding bells going off.

The characters in A Worthy Pursuit are simply precious.

Charlotte is full of love and kindness for the children that have been left in her care

and she will literally fight with everything she has in order to keep them safe.

Charlotte is beautiful inside and out, but unfortunately she has been deeply hurt in the past

by people in her life so she has a hard time trusting anyone. . .

especially Stone Hammond.

Stone Hammond is. . .incredible!

My, what a delightful character - he is kind, compassionate, and honest

and his very being seems to radiate from the pages of the book;

you can't help but root for him to win Charlotte's heart.

Yes, there is romance in this new book from Karen, but there is also much more. . .

There is adventure and humor, challenges and western excitement,

and there is the reminder that God cares for each one of us

and His love never fails.

I greatly appreciate Karen Witemeyer and her ability to write a pure and enjoyable story.

She writes in a way that always leaves the reader smiling after the last page has been read.

This author is truly phenomenal and her latest book, A Worthy Pursuit, is a must-read.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author
Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award, 
and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, 
bestselling authorKaren Witemeyer writes historical romance 
because she believes in giving the world more happily-ever-afters. 
Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. 
Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Prairie Rose Rhubarb Cake

Hello lovelies!

Thanks to my sweet friend and her yummy baking skills

I have an extra delicious recipe to share with you today.

Over a week ago my church had a breakfast in honor of a sweet couple

that is moving away from the area.

Silly me, I forgot about it until the night before. . .oops!

I remembered my friend shared a rhubarb cake recipe on her Facebook page

and fortunate for me I had the needed ingredients on hand 

including the rhubarb that is growing like crazy in my back yard.

Since this was for a breakfast I decided to add a crumble topping to my cake

and boy was it ever tasty!

Here is the recipe, my friends. . .

SARAH'S RHUBARB CAKE

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda 
{ I used baking powder since I did not have baking soda}

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup milk or buttermilk { I used plain ol' milk}

2 cups chopped rhubarb (fresh is best but frozen works too)

TOPPING:

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. sugar

In a large bowl, blend the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla well. 
Mix dry ingredients together, add to butter mixture along with milk.
Do not over mix.
Stir in rhubarb.

Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.
Top with cinnamon sugar. 

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
Good served warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

For the crumble topping I mixed together:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter.

Mix ingredients until the mixture resembles course crumbs.

Sprinkle over cake.

I sprinkled the cinnamon on after the crumble topping.

My delightful friend has a beautiful Etsy shop called

Prairie Rose Sewing

where she sells lovely handmade items, old books, and sweet modest clothing.

She is offering my readers a coupon code for 15% off any order.

Plus FREE shipping!

When you check out simply enter the code: 

HAPPYDAYS

The coupon is good through July 4th.

She also has a wonderful Facebook page where she shares updates on her shop

as well as delicious recipes and sweet loveliness.

Praise Rose Sewing - Facebook Page

Have a blessed day, sweet friends, and happy baking! :)

Sharing with the lovely Jann at

Share Your Cup Thursday

Roses Of Inspiration Linkup #25

Welcome to another Roses of Inspiration!
It's always a joy and pleasure to have you at the party!
As always, I am very eager to see what you share
and I look forward to visiting each and every on of you.

Let's start with some beautiful features.

Roses of Inspiration Features. . .

If you were featured than please feel free to take the "I was featured" button.

Simply copy the HTML code and paste it onto your blog.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/6d8b180b-b3b8-4065-9986-dcccb5a9f70e_zpsc65070e5.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please do not pin from my site!

Go to the original source and pin from there IF it is okay with the blog owner!

. . . { Letter Writing Inspiration } . . .

Lady Linda

shared some sweet pocket letters that she received

and also sent out to friends.

This is such a cute idea for sending out "happy mail."

. . . { DIY Jewelry Inspiration } . . .

Jewelry Making Journal

showed us how to make these lovely spiral wire earrings.

. . . { Spiritual Inspiration } . . .

She Graces Her Home

shared an incredibly touching post about life being fragile.

If you have an extra minute or two than I would encourage you to read this!

. . . { Patriotic Inspiration } . . .

Pear Tree Lane Farmhouse

showed us her stunning Patriotic porch. . .I could sit out there for hours!

Blue Jeans and Tea Cups

invited us to her delightful patriotic tea by the sea.

. . . { Sewing Inspiration } . . .

Country Crow

gave a great tutorial on how to make this sweet baby rattle.

. . . { Cooking Inspiration } . . .

Simple Fresh Dinners

shared this delicious and healthy summer vegetable tagine.

If you are new to our party than here are the basics. . .

{ 1 }

You can link up anything that your heart desires. . .
{please keep it family friendly}

crafting - recipes - encouragement

Scripture - devotionals - photography

healthy living - gardening - home living

sewing - crochet/knitting - fashion

beauty - tea time - home decor - etc

{ 2 }

You can link up as many posts as you want

and they can be posts you have written today, last week, last month, or last year.

{ 3 }
There will be fun giveaways throughout the year.

I will simply add up the amount of people who participated in one of the link ups,
write the numbers down on paper and draw the number of the winner.
So if you link-up more than one post you will have a greater chance of winning.
These giveaways will be random
so you never know which link up I will choose for a giveaway.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Below is a button available for your sidebar
to let others know about Roses of Inspiration.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com" title="The Enchanting Rose"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t377/peaches525/eca034cc-886a-4d9a-8e02-3a4f5bc60e74_zps45b994ad.jpg" alt="The Enchanting Rose" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you are new to link up parties than please click here

to see how to share your blog post.

Please have fun, my friends!

I am always excited to see what you share 

and will be around to visit each one of your blogs throughout the week.
And speaking of visiting,
please take a few moments to visit at least two of the posts shared-
everyone loves visits and comments.
Have a lovely day!

The Influence Of A Father

Influence - who can estimate its power?

Conscious influence - when we are trying to impress - is very small

but the atmosphere we carry with us is penetrating the lives of those about us.

Childhood is the seed time of life - the season in which everything sown in the mind

springs up readily, grows with peculiar vigor and produces abundant harvest.

In this happy season the garden is fitted by the heavenly Gardener for the best cultivation.

If good seeds are then sown, valuable productions may be confidently expected;

if not, weeds of every rank and poisonous kind will spring up of themselves,

of which no future industry will be able to cleanse the soil.

God gives us the soil - our children, and the seed - the Word of God.

The responsibility is ours to plant and nurture the seed in the soil,

allowing it to take root and multiply.

The seed that is sown in the springtime of life will determine 

the character of the harvest that must be reaped in the autumn.

Without Jesus we fail to be the fathers and mothers that we should be.

In the light of eternity we must patiently, prayerfully

mold the lives of our children for the Master, no matter how difficult the task may seem.

Is our life such as "becometh holiness" so that it will have lasting results in eternity?

A Piece of Clay

I took a piece of plastic clay

And gently fashioned it one day;

And as my fingers pressed it still

It moved and yielded at my will.

I came again when days were past,

The bit of clay was hard at last;

The form I gave it still it bore,

But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay

And gently formed it day by day;

And molded with my power and art

A young child's soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone,

It was a man I looked upon;

He still that early impress wore,

And I could change it nevermore.

- Author Unknown -

This Father's Day I would like to acknowledge a special man - 

a man who has and continues to live out the words that I just shared in this post.

He is a man who influenced my life from the very beginning

with his actions, his teachings, and his love.

He taught with a gentle hand and loves with a fierce protectiveness.

He is quiet in spirit yet loud in kindness and goodness.

He continues to nurture and cultivate my life by being a godly example. . .

this man is my precious Father.

Thank you, Dad, 

for being a man of loving and godly influence!

Our thanks, O God, for fathers who follow in Thy way,

And who, with glad and trusting hearts, exalt Thee every day.

Our thanks, O God, for fathers who show, by word and deed,

Commitment to Thy will and plan, and Thy commandments heed.

Our thanks, O God, for fathers who meet Thee oft in prayer,

And who, for all life's toil and care, find strength and wisdom there.

How blessed are the children who in their fathers see

The tender Father - love of God, and find their way to Thee.

- Lois S. Johnson -

Have a blessed Sunday 
and a wonderful Father's Day!

Patriotic Tissue Pom Poms

It will be celebrated. . .

with pomp and parade. . .

bonfires and illuminations

from one end of this continent to the other.

- John Adams -

Hello, sweet friends!

The 4th of July is quickly approaching {only 2 weeks away}.

I was looking around my home the other day 

and realized I don't have any red, white, and blue out. . .shame on me!

So I went through my craft room and found a few items that would work 

to bring some Patriotic loveliness to my home.

May I show you what I did with some paper straws and tissue paper. . .

First of all these cute red jars were found at Michaels for $1.50 each.

My kitchen is vintage with red and blue accents so I purchased the jars for future use :)

The paper straws were also found at Michaels for $1.50.

Now for the tissue pom poms. . .

I took four sheets of white tissue paper and placed them on top of each other.

Then, I folded all four together in an accordion style - back and forth.

Out of the folded tissue paper I cut three small strips and rounded the edges.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the middle.

Then, I began to very gently pull the tissue out to create a pom pom.

As you pull the tissue out simply "fluff" as you go

so that the pom pom is nice and full.

I cut a small slit at the bottom of the straw.

Next, I applied a dab of hot glue to the bottom of the pom pom

and then slipped the straw onto the fold.

And that's it, sweet friends.

Now the pom poms are ready to be placed into the jars.

Some good ol' red, white and blue charm.

The more tissue paper you put together

the fuller your pom poms will be.

Since mine were small I thought four pieces of tissue paper was plenty.

Then join hand in hand,

brave Americans all

By uniting we stand,

by dividing we fall.

- John Dickinson -

I placed my Patriotic pom poms on my dining room table

for some lovely red, white and blue charm.

Thank you so much for stopping by, sweet friends!

May you have a delightful weekend!

{{ HUGS }}

Sharing with the lovely Jann at

Share Your Cup Thursday