Women's Devotional and Inspirational Stories

It’s almost here! To be released 1/24/12. Watch for details.

Women of the Secret Place

By Ruth Carmichael Ellinger

And others…

A collection of inspirational stories

and personal moments with God

It is in the moments…those significant, never

forgotten moments… that we truly live. And

it is in the quiet times in our secret place with

God that we understand…we can go on.

Forward

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

There is a place, a secret place where women find refuge from

the daily stresses of life, those besetting troubles that often leave

us perplexed and wondering, “Why, Lord?” Women who resort

to the quiet sanctuary of the “secret place” find the strength to

move forward, to meet the challenges of the day with courage

and confidence. We understand that this place belongs to God

alone. He beckons us to come closer to Him, to find all that we

need, all that is truly important, all that is meaningful to our

happiness in life.

In this private and secluded place, we discover the value in

our experiences—good and bad. We see things as they really are:

not disguised, neither distorted by our human reasoning. When

the veil is lifted during our visits to this solitary place, we see

Him more clearly—a God of love and compassion who shows

us ourselves. It is in those moments alone with God that we see

Him as He is: merciful, ready to forgive, an amazing Deliverer

sharing our daily life.

The stories, devotional excerpts, and personal experiences on

the following pages are the reflections of my own experiences

and those of other women who abide under the shadow of the

Almighty, who wish to share what they have learned in the beautiful

sanctuary of the Most High. Some stories will make you

laugh, some may touch a chord of sadness and compassion, and

still others will spark a searching, a desire to discover your own

secret place with God. This is our prayer.

~Ruth Carmichael Ellinger

Gifts of the heart...

Gifts of the Heart…

Musing before the fire Saturday morning, I placed the Christmas gifts from my family on the tea table to take a photo. Looking at the collection, I noted that each gift had been carefully chosen by the giver. Time and thought had gone into each purchase or each hand-crafted item created just for me by loving hands. Each giver had spent not only their money, but also their time, a precious gift in itself.

My heart was warmed to know that to someone else, I was important; I was loved enough to occupy their thoughts, to wander into some moments of their day. I feel so blessed to have family; friends that care about me and what may bring happiness to me. “Do unto others” and “love one another as I have loved you” was spoken by Jesus so long ago, but so evident in a giving spirit. I received far more than tangible gifts this year.

Have I ever mentioned that I love shoes?

Winter potpourri from Katherine, Brighten hair comb from Kendy, beautiful porcelain roses from James, purchased in Sweden, and perfume from my husband. I feel so rich.

Did I ever mention that I love shoes? Well...I do. I saw this pair and fell instantly in love. My sweet husband bought them for me for Christmas...and because he loves me. The comb is from our daughter, Kendy and crafted by Brighten. I am blessed from head to foot!

Among our favorite home made gifts is "pear Jam," especially made by daughter, Katherine and sent to us with winter potpourri which she gathers from the woods in Idaho where she and her family live. It is lovely and smells so wonderful! The jam is marvelous on toast.

My husband makes the coziest fires. A cold snap is expected tonight and we are ready. Even though we live in FL, it can still get very cool in winter, even down to freezing, but mostly, we enjoy the most perfect weather in winter.

New winter boots and my custom made tartan apron

My son, James, who travels widely and knows I love tartan, had this apron made for me. It is reversible and is nice and long. While preparing Thanksgiving dinner, I hastily pinned a tea towel over me while making gravy. He just shook his head and smiled. Hence -- a new apron. I should have done that long ago!

New Year's Eve

Another year…and I am still here!

In my home…a cup of tea, sweetened with honey, a book to read…perhaps to write, and a warm hand tucked in mine. These things delight me; make my home a refuge from all that would trouble me. Beneath this roof, I find a place of beauty and comfort, things that I love, that offer constant joy and inspiration. Over the years, I have carefully created an ambiance that inspires my soul, that gives and gives, over and over—happiness with no attachments.

At my birth, home was the Midwest, valleys and hills, creeks and streams, farmland and village. The soil dried between my toes and never quite washed away, so I am part of it, still. Yet, I have known other homes, other climes, places of majestic mountain peaks and blooming deserts. I have known the sun in its strength and the winter snows with icicles that reached to the ground. In every place, I made my home.

Coming from a legacy of Scottish ancestors, I am endowed with the blood of that race, traits that run deep that form character, personality, likes and dislikes, things in nature that are infused genetically and were nurtured and fostered by family. From my grandparents, came a love of the land, and generations before, a love of freedom, both physical and spiritual. The things I leaned from my parents and grandparents are invaluable and a part of who I am.

As a writer, I strive to be true to my self, to my readers, to all who know me, and most of all, true to God. As a pastor’s wife, I seek balance and wisdom to be a blessing and help to God’s flock, to my sheep. To my husband, I am wife, soul mate, his only love and he…mine.

Although the farm in the Midwest will always be near and dear to my heart, where I now live is the heart-warmth of home this day. As the new year unfolds before me, I will move forward with the times, trusting in God to go before me, to order my steps, to guide me through another year.

With another new year, I will accept the challenges it brings, but I will never forget the past, the things that made me who I am. When I piece together the fragments of my ancestors lives, lived so long ago in a country that rumbles beneath my feet as though calling to a wandering child, I see myself in the people, I understand their struggles, believe in their dreams and know that once, I belonged to them and they are part of me…still…still.

CHRISTMAS JOY AT OUR HOUSE...

All God's children gatta place in the choir!
From my collection of, "All God's Children"

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

Praise be to God for our new camera
Cannon's Rebel T 3

Around the house, the colors of Christmas in a bowl of vintage ornaments

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Like 2:13

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

I'm dreaming of a "Highland Christmas..."

Marmalade, the cat, gets a new hat for Christmas.
She is so easy to care for!

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:1

Many years ago, my husband hand crafted this set for our children. I took it down from the shelf this year and put the little people in their accustomed place. The figures were made from clothespins, and were dressed for the occasion. This crude little crèche brought back so many fond memories. When my son saw the cherished old set, he claimed it for himself. I have so many "claim tags" on the things around the house!

Angel dust falling on us...from that great multitude of angels that sang so long ago;

"Glory to God in the highest and Peace on earth, goodwill to men!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT...JESUS

One Snowy Christmas Eve…

The best 99¢ you’ll ever spend!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109245

One Snowy Christmas Eve…

A Much- loved Christmas story

About this Story

One Snowy Christmas Eve was first published as Challenge at Christmas Time, then as a children’s picture book, Christmas Comes to Ernie, and now as a version for “all ages,” children to grandparents, a story the entire family can enjoy.

One Snowy Christmas Eve is an unforgettable and endearing story for all who love Christmas and the message of John 3:16. Written by award-winning author, Ruth Carmichael Ellinger, this inspirational story is now available as an e-book download to your latest techy device.

DESCRIPTION:

One Snowy Christmas Eve... is the endearing true story of an aging artist, bitter with life and the family he once loved. The vinegary old man and his dog, Rudy, live in a small Canadian village nestled in the heart of British Columbia. Who can change such a bitter, broken heart? The answer comes when Bernie faces himself and his past during a children’s Christmas pageant.

This bittersweet and stirring story is for all ages, for all who believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, God’s gift to the world. If you are looking for spiritual significance during this highly commercialized holiday season and want your family to understand the “true” meaning of Christmas, then this story is for you. What makes the beautifully written narrative so special is that it really happened, not so very long ago on a snowy Christmas Eve.

FROM THE AUTHOR

Some stories are written from a vivid imagination and woven like threads in a tapestry to form a tale alive with color and contrast; some are mere ideas, methodically and carefully framed and put into words. Still others are the true experiences of life lived, of stories more wonderful than fiction could ever produce. This is one of those stories. And God, who is the Master Author, holds the pen.

Ruth Carmichael Ellinger

ISBN: 978-1-4657-9693-6

To purchase, click on link below

ONE SNOWY CHRISTMAS EVE

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109245

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

WINTER PLEASURES IN THE SHEEPFOLD -- BLUE AND WHITE

"BLUE WILLOW"

My earliest recollections of enjoying dishes for the sheer pleasure of their beauty and creative appeal was as a child, I watched my mother organize and display her blue and white dishware. She collected what she could afford of any dishware in shades of blue and white. Now…when I visit the farm, I see blue and white in the homes of my sisters, a reflection of those bygone blue winters. Mary has the “Lochs of Scotland” handed down from my mother and in Laura’s farm kitchen, platters of Flow Blue and white adorn the walls. My personal favorite pattern is, “Late Snow at Riverwood by Bob Timberlake

LATE SNOW AT RIVERWOOD BY BOB TIMBERLAKE

WINTER BLUE IN THE HUTCH

CURRIER & IVES

LATE SNOW AT RIVERWOOD

A FAVORITE TEAPOT

Holiday preparations...

Wherever you live in the world so wide,

We wish you a nook on the sunny side,
With much love and little care,
A little purse with money to spare,
Your own little hearth when day is spent,
In a little house with hearts content.

A favorite time of year...a time of beauty and reflection. With the month of December comes many wonderful times and many memories of good times and winter love.

THANKSGIVING DAY FUN!

Son, James, and granddaughters, Andria, Audry, and Alicia

We celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way with a few Scottish customs thrown in for good measure. Although we realize that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, we celebrate victory over our enemies in the spiritual warfare for truth and right. The recipe below is a reminder of our many battles and many victories won with the help of our Lord.
A multitude of thanksgivings to God.

Scottish Warrior Apple Custard Pie

I

Ingredients:

Crust

½ tsp salt

¾-cup all-purpose flour

¾-cup whole-wheat flour

½-cup cold unsalted butter

Filling

1 large egg

1 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp ground cinnamon mixed with ¼-cup sugar

1/2 cup sugar

3 cups sliced and peeled granny smith apples

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

In a bowl, sir the flours and salt, then cut in the butter until coarse crumbs show. Press on the bottom and up the sides of a nine-inch pie pan. Arrange apples over the crust. In another bowl, stir 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk the evaporated milk, egg, and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Then pour over the apples. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Cut with a sword and enjoy like a warrior!!!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 2Co 10:4

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isa 54:17

Thanksgiving...

A Time To Be Thankful

THANKSGIVING

Throughout the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving Day is an annual legal holiday. It is one of the oldest and most widespread of celebrations. This American holiday commemorates the harvest celebration held by the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Society in 1621. The Pilgrims had come ashore from the Mayflower on Dec. 21, 1620. During the first hard winter, only about half of the original group had survived. Despite such heartbreaking losses, the harvest was very bountiful. The Indians had supplied them with corn seeds and there was corn in abundance as well as barley and plenty of meat, fish, and fowl.

The pilgrims set aside a day of thanksgiving to God for this wonderful harvest. They invited their Indian friends and ninety Indians and their chief, Massasoit, responded to the invitation. They brought five deer to the feast and celebrated with the Pilgrims as they gave thanks to God. The pilgrims often set aside days of thanksgiving whenever they wished to praise and thank God for His blessings and help but this harvest day feast soon became an annual day of thanksgiving. The actual dates varied according to the end of the harvest season but it was soon an established annual event.

Although Thanksgiving was widely celebrated as an annual celebration during the following years, it did not become a national holiday until Oct, 3, 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday. This was during the great Civil War when our nation's very foundations were being shaken. All seemed dark and bleak to President Lincoln but he realized more than ever the need to be thankful. How fitting it is that we should give thanks to God during the time of battle as well as in the time of victory.

To the Christian, every day is "thanksgiving." If we waited until our designated holiday to praise God for His blessings, we would consider ourselves most ungrateful. However, we are glad for the true celebration of Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday. It reminds us all of our nations humble beginning and how God has blessed and preserved our land. We must never take this for granted or feel that somehow by our own strength or merit we have made America the greatest nation on the face of the earth. If God had not been our Helper, then our history as a nation would have been quite different. It is God who has blessed, God who has prospered, and God who has kept us to this present hour.

Words from the Shepherdess...

My antique rose lamp above the table in our cottage

Anything with roses is pure delight!

What is so lovely as a lamp with light streaming through the darkness to show us the way?
The soft glow of lamplight is one of my favorite things. Therefore, I love lamps. I love to see light streaming softly from a window when I walk up to a home. The light speaks of warmth and friendship, a place where I want to visit. With light, there is welcome and love waiting inside.

The shepherdess loves the light and brings the sheep to the welcoming warmth of the sheepfold. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” How lovely is that?

Rearranged…

Rearranged…

What if God rearranges our lives? What if life as we know it now is suddenly turned upside down, turned around and we find ourselves traveling in another direction altogether? I cannot help thinking of my own grandmother, Elizabeth, whose life took a sudden and drastic turn in the road. Her first response was—where are you, God? What are you doing? Where am I going?

My own life has been that way, too. Looking back, I understand that God had a better idea, a plan that was far superior to my paltry attempt to direct my own path. Every bend in the road was for my good.

Thank you , Lord, for ordering my steps…even when I can’t see where I’m going. Still, I feel your hand in mine.

Cover art for “The Wild Rose of Lancaster” book #1 in the Wildrose series.

From the deck at Wildrose cottage...

View from deck at Wildrose Cottage, looking north

Looking east from the deck at Wildrose cottage

SEASONS OF MY LIFE

I cannot return to spring again

To plant when sowing days are gone,

Nor till the still soft earth of spring

When summer suns have come and gone.

Lord, help me know my times on earth

To work the plan Your hand does show,

Oh, let me bring at harvest time

A life made whiter than the snow.

©ruthellinger2000

Ten things about me...

My readers ask about me so here you go...

Ten “Off the Record” facts about myself

1. I don’t Twitter, tweet, or talk on Facebook or other social network sites but I DO answer email from my readers and those who contact me through my website and blog.

2. I don’t watch TV and consider it a waste of valuable time not to mention the moral content is pretty near zero. I do listen to good music and check in on current news and world affairs daily to make sure we’re still okay.

3. I love to write, to be home in the evenings, and nearly always cook dinner. I enjoy going to Panera Bread for lunch.

4. I love my grandchildren, a fire in the fireplace, getting into the spa before bed and listening to audio books until I fall asleep. I value routine when I’m home.

5. I love my cottage up north, love to travel and explore new places. I might have been an explorer had I lived in another age. I am passionate about preserving our American heritage, historic sites, and the US Constitution. I am a member of the Daughter of the American Revolution and feel the rumble of my patriot ancestors in my blood.

6. I love antiquing with anyone who will go with me and love perusing thrift shops for treasures someone else has thrown away and am an avid believer in aggressive rescue efforts for these lost treasures.

7. I love mountains, misty mornings, ocean waves, sunsets, autumn and Christmas time. I love back-roads, bends in the road, brick roads, and country roads. I love driving around and looking at other people’s houses and landscapes.

8. I don’t like sitting at the computer but do so out of necessity. I know I am there too much when my husband leaves notes on the keyboard. I don’t like fast food except MacRib, shopping for groceries or putting them away, unloading the dishwasher or folding clothes. I don’t have a maid but wish for a cook, housecleaner, and servants and gardeners and a chauffeur.

9. I love herb gardens and flowers and am glad my husband does so I don’t have to care for the plants. I can preserve and can food, sew my own clothes, doll clothes, curtains, create and make many useful things, but I choose not to because my family is grown and I find more enjoyable things to do with my time. In earlier years, I managed a myriad of household tasks and was all things to my family. Now I do not stress over such matters. I find new things to stress about.

10. Among my fetishes are antiques, vintage linens, lamps, candles, pictures that tell a story, roses on anything, period novels, lace, feminine clothing, and dishes of all kinds. I love tea and tea things, quaint cottages and towns, porches, and all things Scottish. Most of all…I love Jesus, my Savior, and the knowledge that He knows all this about me and loves me anyway.

Autumn…on the Ohio farm

SEASONS OF LIFE...

I love every season of the year, but I love autumn best. This photo was taken last week on the farm where I grew up, where I experienced life and love and the ties that bind, a place where happy and sad moments are forever etched in my memory. I choose to remember the happy times when autumn arrives with the acrid smells of a smoke-filled hazy days, of drying maple leaves, harvested corn piled high on the wagon, juicy Macintosh apples and golden pears, and always…the familiar and unique aromas of the farm in autumn. I return each season to the place I still call home.

THE RED-BRICK FARM HOUSE

THE BARN AND POND IN THE DISTANCE

My sister lives on the farm with her husband and each year, they sell pumpkins and garden produce which they pile on an antique farm wagon near the road. Customers place money for their purchase in an “honor jar.”

PUMPKINS FOR SALE

By the bend in the road and in the distance, you can see the farm pond and a small cabin made of cherry logs which my father built and spent many happy hours wood-working

LAURA'S HAPPY CHICKENS AND DELICIOUS FARM EGGS

CLOSING WILDROSE COTTAGE FOR THE SEASON
( I am sad )