Inside the Brick House

“...Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it...” Psalm 81:10

Do you have your mouth open wide today? In other words, are you expecting God to fill you and increase you beyond measure? Are you ready for Him to satisfy your needs and desires with good things?

Think about a baby bird. When they are ready to eat, they open their mouths wide. They trust that they will be fed. They expect it. They look for it. They are ready for it. It should be the same way with us. We need to keep our spiritual mouths open by expecting the goodness of God to satisfy us.

Negative thinking is like closing your mouth. A closed mouth can’t be filled. But Jesus is saying today, “Why don’t you take the limits off?” Why don’t you trust and believe for supernatural opportunities? That little bird waiting for food isn’t concerned about where the mother is going to get it from. It isn’t concerned about how she’s going to dig it up. No, that bird just opens its mouth, trusting and waiting. Why don’t you do the same …

Put grandma's (or your own!) springtime quilt to good use—smack dab on the center of the table. Match the rest of your settings and centerpieces around this sentimental tablescape base.

A DIY tin can, moss, and nest place setting with log chargers screams spring in the best, most rustic ways possible. Get the tutorial at Liz Marie Blog.

A vintage flower almanac, speckled egg, and velvet bow make this the easily replicated Easter table setup of our dreams. Get the tutorial at One CrafDIY Girl.

Trust us—nothing will complement your place settings and table centerpieces better than a delicately designed piece of linen. Keep an eye out for tablecloths or napkins with floral embroidery to stay true to the seasonal theme.

Arts and crafts fanatics, this one's right up your alley. Exercise your painting itch to give a sweet nod to the Easter bunny. Get the tutorial at Taryn Whiteaker.

Give your floral centerpiece a rustic flair. To make, bundle a half dozen milk jars with colorful string o…

Celebrate Independence Day with the family by making these creative and patriotic crafts for kids. From festive decorations to bike embellishments, it's easy to start your 4th of July celebration with a bang.

Firecracker Favor
These firecracker crafts will spark some fun at your celebration. Start with mailing tubes that have plastic lids. Cut red, white, and blue paper and ribbon to size; apply them to tubes using Perfect Glue.Trim each tube with a star cutout.Poke a slit in the lids and insert paper "fuses" into each hole.Fill with candy and enjoy.

Star-Spangled Bicycle
Kids will love sprucing up their bikes in star-spangled style (and you'll love using up leftover cardstock and ribbon). Set out some tape, miniature flags, and other red, white, and blue craft supplies such as construction paper and streamers, and let the kids dig in.
Some ideas:
Tuck flags into the bike handles
Tie patriotic ribbons around the bike basket
Cut cardstock stars and tape them to or thre…

Scarves as pillow covers? If there's one thing we love more than a chic design moment, it's one that does double duty.
Set the table for a whole season of festive cookouts by giving it a new summer coat. The wooden slats of a classic picnic table provide a ready-made outline for stripes. Red and white are very versatile -- with blue napkins and flag "bouquets," the table's ready for patriotic gatherings; adorned with bright red, orange, or yellow tableware, it would have "casual barbecue" painted all over it.

Channel the coast with table settings that’d be right at home on Cape Cod.

Save the lovably tacky crepe-paper streamers for July. Opt instead for a star medallion that’s pretty enough to earn a permanent place on the porch.

If there’s one thing that has our all-year allegiance, it’s dessert. So go ahead -- play the flag card on the buffet table. It’s for a good cause.
Fireworks aren't the only thing that's sparkling this summer.  At the start o…