Zoe Threads Christian Clothing for a More Abundant Life

Sponsor a Native Missionary

2011-07-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

I've been very impressed with Gospel for Asia's work lately. They focus on proclaiming the Gospel throughout Asia, but they do it with native missionaries. This is more cost effective and the native relates to the culture, people, and language.

It's only $1 a day, or $30 a month to help sponsor the movement of the Gospel. I really encourage you to sign up and sponsor one today!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

A verse that's been on my mind lately

2011-06-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I have been thinking a lot about being both Christian and rich. If you make $30,000 a year in America, you are the in the top 10% of the world. So technically, with $30,000 per year, you are considered to be rich.

With that in mind, I've been thinking about the verses in I Timothy 6:

6Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7for we brought nothing into the world, and^c we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

We are to content with whatever we have, but if we are rich, to not set our trust in riches, but in God alone. If we trust in God, then we feel the freedom and joy of giving to the poor and orphans, which greatly pleases God. (James 1:27)

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Rooted and grounded

2011-06-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

In Ephesians 3:17, it says, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love..."

My brother-in-law had this to say about it, which I thought was fantastic.

"Just the other day, I was watering our garden, and as the water fell on a tomato plant, it just toppled over. This was because it hadn't sent down a strong root system to bolster itself. It already had the weight of its own structure coupled with the weight of the new tomatoes. When put under more pressure, it just couldn't hold up anymore. We can compare ourselves to that tomato plant; the weight of the tomatoes can be likened to the stress and the cares of our daily lives, and the added weight of the water to additional trials, temptations, or afflictions. If we don't root ourselves firmly in Christ, being toppled is a very real danger."

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Hope you all had a great Easter!

2011-04-26T07:19:00.001-07:00

We sure did! We read the beautiful account of our Savior's death and resurrection. Praise to God for the sacrifice He gave for our sake!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Jesus saves

2011-04-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

Romans 10:13:
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"

Amen! Thank you Lord for saving us from sin!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Victory in Christ

2011-04-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

So blessed

2011-04-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how God blesses us and gives us wisdom when we need it. On Sunday I lost my wedding ring and destroyed the whole house looking for it. Finally, realizing my own strength was failing, we prayed and tried to stay peaceful. Then we felt we needed to call some church leaders to ask them to pray also. Bob, one of the leaders, said, "First, pray. Then, check the bed. Wedding rings fall off all the time in the bed."

I thought to myself, yeah right it's not in the bed - I lost it in the office, only to pull back the covers and find the ring in the middle of the bed!

God is so good and praise be to our Heavenly Father who blesses us and give sus the wisdom we need in times of distress!!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Psalm of the Week

2011-04-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Psalm 81

81:1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Flip Event

2011-04-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

On June 18th, we'll be at Flip. It will be a Christian skate and music event in Fremont. Mickey Cho, Saylah, and DK and Guirae will be there! So join us on June 18th from 12 to 8pm!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Trust in the Lord

2011-04-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about trusting in God, seeing as it was something I was very weak in. I would not invite God into my life and when problems arise, I would try to figure it out myself.

It made me think of Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.

I thought that acknowledge meant, "I know you are over there Lord and I acknowledge it, but I'm going to be down here solving my own problems." What I've learned that it really is is that when problems and issues arise, I bring it straight to God. Like a small child, I ask Him what I should do.

I've been really blessed truly putting EVERYTHING in His hands. The awesome this is that He really cares and want sto bless and help us in every situation in our lives. God is so brillant - why not trust Him with our problems? He will surely provide a wonderful solution!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

2 New Designs!

2011-04-04T20:03:00.001-07:00

We just released two new designs! A redo of Hope Glasses and a brand new One Another! Check them out at www.ZoeThreads.com!

Today Only! Hope t-shirt 50% off!

2011-04-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

For today only, Zoe Threads' Hope Glasses T Shirt is 50% off. It's too good to be true! Better hurry on over!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Psalm of the Week

2011-03-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

Psalm 32
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
²Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
   my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
                         Selah

⁵I acknowledged my sin to you,
   and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
   and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
                         Selah

⁶Therefore let everyone who is godly
   offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
   they shall not reach him.
⁷You are a hiding place for me;
   you preserve me from trouble;
   you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
                         Selah

⁸I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
   which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
   or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
¹¹ Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

T Shirt Sale

2011-03-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Did you know that four t shirt designs, Eyeman, Lily, More than Conquerors, and Spirit Army Knife are only $10!

Check them out today!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Brand new website!

2011-03-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

We finished our web site today! Check it out!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

So blessed today

2011-03-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today started as a rotten day. The dog wouldn't obey my commands and embarrassed me by making me call out her name for 30 minutes at the dog park. Then her crate wasn't working and it cut my hand. Then my website had a lot of issues.

But God is a source of peace and of joy. Thankfully He helped me out of the rut and back into happiness!

Praise the Lord!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

New website coming soon!

2011-03-22T08:22:00.001-07:00

Standby for an awesome, new and improved Zoe Threads + Earthen Vessels website!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Pray for other countries and their leaders

2011-03-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; " - 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Pure religion

2011-03-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

Giving and caring for those who need it is something very big in God's heart. In fact, it is one of two things that is considered to be pure religion in His eyes.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Keeping yourself pure from the world and caring for widows and orphans is considered to be pure religion before God's eyes. We can see that caring for the poor has always been on God's heart. Jesus spoke of it quite a lot.

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Rest is Important

2011-03-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

One thing that I have been learning is that rest in God is extremely important.

“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!”Psalm 46:10 ESV

Finding rest in God will allow us to find the strength, peace and joy that He also freely gives. Let us learn how to be still and find God in peace.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse of the Day!

2011-03-03T08:47:00.001-08:00

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9

Amen to that! God is so great and wise!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse of the Day!

2011-02-16T13:12:00.001-08:00

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” - 1 John 3:11

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

God Loves the Righteous

2010-12-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

I was reading this section of scripture and was so blessed to see how God loves the righteous.

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:22-33 ESV)

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threadswww.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Only 8 Days Left!

2010-11-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

There are only 8 days left of our super $12 shirt sale! Be sure to get your Christmas shopping in early, because this is a one-time deal!

Visit www.ZoeThreads.com today!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

The Lord will Save

2010-11-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

I waited patiently for the LORD;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the LORD

and put their trust in him.

Blessed is the one

who trusts in the LORD,

who does not look to the proud,

to those who turn aside to false gods.

Many, LORD my God,

are the wonders you have done,

the things you planned for us.

None can compare with you;

were I to speak and tell of your deeds,

they would be too many to declare. - Psalm 40:1-5

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffering - Part 5

2010-11-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

Number 4: Hope

There is a great section of scripture that really sums up the steps mentioned in Romans 5.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. - II Corinthians 1:3-10 (ESV)

Suffering produces patience, patience experience, and experience hope. These are the things we need to think on when we are presented with trials and burdens. God never forsakes us, but instead grants us great joy, peace, hope, and strength.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffering - Part 4

2010-11-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

Number 3: Experience

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

First, suffering finds us. With peace and joy, we patiently endure. The third step is character. Character is another word for experience, proof, or trial. When we overcome tribulation with God's strength, it builds experience.

A great example of this is in I Samuel.

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. (1 Samuel 17:31-39 ESV)

David did not need the armor because he did not test them. Instead, he had proved God to be more reliable that armor and weapons. God delivered him from the lion and the bear - David was certain God would do it again.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

All ZT Shirts are on Sale!

2010-11-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

All of our Zoe Threads designs are on sale for only $12!

Be sure to get your early Christmas shopping in!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffering - Part 3

2010-11-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Number 2: Patience with joy and peace

It is interesting to see how God always balances suffering with patience, joy, and peace. In the midst of pain, He never leaves us without comfort and hope.

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, - Col 1:11

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. - James 5:7-11

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Phil 4:7

Peace is a shield to our hearts. If we are peaceful, there is nothing the devil can do to knock us off of our game.

In fact, God tells us to consider trials a joy!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-4

How many people to you know say "Hurray! Difficulties! Trials! Suffering!" Yet God wants us to think that way because He wants us to prove to ourselves that He will help us through our sufferings.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - II Cor 1:3-4

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threadswww.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffering - Part 2

2010-10-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

Number 1: Suffering

Suffering is not an uncommon thing in the Bible and in the world. We can see what the Bible says about suffering.

"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." - I Peter 3:14-17

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." - I Peter 4:16

The reason the world persecutes us is because we have an adversary.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - I Peter 5:8-11

This world will give us suffering, pain, and persecution. But we can trust in our God and stand firm in peace and love. When we stand in that, the devil cannot shake us.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threadswww.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffering - Part 1

2010-10-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I taught at our little home fellowship. I spoke about how as Christians we would experience suffering, but God never forsakes us. In fact, God always balances suffering with peace and joy.

There is an interesting section of scripture in Romans that lays out the way to overcome hard times.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This week we will look into each part of the process:

Suffering = Compression, trials, affliction
Endurance = Patience
Character = Experience, proof, trial
Hope

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threadswww.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse of the Day!

2010-10-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Final Part: Love

2010-10-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

Finally, I Corinthians 13 sums up what the love of God truly is:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love truly is the greatest of these, and as we can see from our research before, it is probably the most important thing we should do as a disciple of Christ.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Christ's Commandments - Part 4

2010-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

When we love and walk in Christ's commandments then we abide in God.

Our greatest example in love is Christ – let us try to walk in his footsteps. It was interesting to study and see certain patterns of God's love that is unlike any other love:

Love has no judgment - John 12:47b “for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” Even Paul did not judge himself – 1 Cor 4:3-5
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Even forgave those who killed him – Luke 23:34
Love has no enemies – Luke 6:27-3
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
His Love had no regulations - Matthew 12:9-13 healed the man on the Sabbath in from of the Pharisees
His love had no boundaries – Died himself for all sinners – Romans 5:7-8
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
5. Love of Christ surpasses all knowledge – in Eph 3:19

1 John 5:1-3

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Loving one another is not burdensome. Let us love how Christ loved because then we will walk with God, prove ourselves to be true disciples, and fulfill the law of Christ.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Christ's Commandments - Part 3

2010-10-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

God tells us that when we act out on the love of Christ, we make our calling and election sure and that we will never fall. Not only this, but when we abide in love, we walk with God.

John 14:21

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 15:1-11

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 John 3:23 – 24

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1 John 2:1-6 – Christ's commandments

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

It is impossible to be walking with God is we don't walk in love. God is love! How can we walk in God without love? We simply cannot.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Christ's Commandments - Part 2

2010-10-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

We looked yesterday at how when we walk in love, we fulfill the law of Christ. In fact, we not only fulfill the law of Christ, but we have the promise that we will never fall.

II Peter 1:3-10

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

God tells us that when we supplement all of those aspects into our life, we make our calling and election sure and that we will never fall.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Christ's Commandments - Part 1

2010-10-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

We can clearly Christ's commandments to us when we study through the Gospels and Epistles:

Matthew 5:42-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us.20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Matthew 22:37-40
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Old Testament lived under the law of Moses. Under grace, we live under a new law: the law of Christ, the law of love. Christ and God commanded us to do one thing, and the one thing we do fulfills the law.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Think on Love

2010-10-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

God exhorts us to think on lovely things. Honestly, the only thing that is lovely is love and God's Word.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

We can learn more about love in I Corinthians chapter 13.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

The Meek will Inherit the Earth

2010-10-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
   be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
   and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
   dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
   and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
   fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
   Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
   though you look carefully at(V) his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
   and delight themselves in(X) abundant peace.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Rock of Ages!

2010-10-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

We had such a blessed event! Check out some of the pictures!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Rock of Ages tomorrow!

2010-10-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

Zoe Threads, Earthen Vessels, and MSE Skateboards will all have a booth at Rock of Ages Festival tomorrow. We really hope to see you there!

ROCK OF AGES 10.02.10 (10AM - 8PM)

1435 N Oak St, Calistoga, CA 94515 (Napa County Fairgrounds)

Tickets will cost $20 at the gate.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse of the Day!

2010-09-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,”- Philippians 1:9-10

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Jesus is Our Lord

2010-09-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

My husband did a teaching yesterday at our home fellowship about how Jesus is our lord and how we are to be disciples. For example, did you know that Jesus is called lord 600 times in the New Testament and only 16 as Savior? Did you know out of all the names that Christians are called in the Bible, disciple is the most frequently used?

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in my name, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

We are his disciples by the love we show to others.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35

Let us walk out in Christ's love and prove to others that Christ is lord over all!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Beautiful Proverb

2010-09-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

While working through Proverbs yesterday I came across the most beautiful section.

A word fitly spoken
   is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
   is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
   is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
   he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like clouds and wind without rain
   is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
   - Proverbs 25:11-14

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

God is our strength

2010-09-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

I have been recently been considering how God is our strength. I feel that I constantly pray for strength, not realizing that I am asking God to strengthen me so I can deal with whatever problems I have. But the truth of the matter is that God does not only want to grant us strength, but BE our strength.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. - Psalm 28:7

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. - Psalm 59:16

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. - II Corinthians 1:8-9

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. - Ephesians 6:10

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse for this Fall

2010-09-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful verse to start your week.

“Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”- Joel 2:23

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Living Godly Lives

2010-09-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

I haven been critically thinking about the way we live our lives as Christians. All too often, I see a big push in churches to get people saved, but then do not follow up with how one should live their life. God cares for us to be saved, yes, but He also cares that we walk according to His Word.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, - Ephesians 4:1 (ESV)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. - Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

When we walk according to God's Word we become living examples of Christ.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. - James 3:13 (NIV)

Although the slogan, "What Would Jesus Do?", was over used in the 90's, it was a good question to ask. Jesus always did what pleased the Father. So, what does God want us to do? How does God want us to live? We should ask ourselves that daily and ask God to show us what work He would like us to do for the day. Our lives will be so fruitful when we walk by the Spirit.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

God is love

2010-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Remember that song asking, "What is love?" I always tend to sing out "God is love!" It is true. God did not just create love, but is love. The only way for us to be what God wants us to be is to dwell in His love.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. - I John 4:12-17

Brothers and sisters, let us dwell in God's love so that we may have confidence on the day of the Lord!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Suffer for doing good

2010-09-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

There is a certain section of scripture that always blesses and strengthens me as I read it. It is in I Peter chapter 3, regarding how to be a witness for God.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. - I Peter 3:8-9, 12-18a

To be good examples in Christ, we are to:

Live in harmony with one another
Be sympathetic
Love
Be compassionate
Be humble
Not fear
Set our hearts on Christ
Always be prepared to answer anyone, but gently and with respect
Be prepared to suffer while doing good

Those nine things are no easy task. Just the first three alone can be more difficult than one would think!

But it is something God has asked us to do and because of that we must take work diligently with boldness and strength in Christ. It is hard to forgive. It is difficult to be meek. And it is a challenge to suffer for the good we have done.

But if we do those things the love, patience, and joy of Christ will shine. People will ask us why we have such hope and joy - we will be able to answer with confidence, "Jesus Christ."

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Verse of the day!

2010-09-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! We hope you had a blessed week. Here are two verses for you to dwell on over the weekend.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
- Psalm 98:7-8

Let us rejoice today and always for our God is so great, merciful, and loving!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Learning Peace

2010-09-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

As God's children, we have the ability to be peaceful when the rest of the world is in turmoil. Psalm 37 explains this beautifully.

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Blessed to be a child of God

2010-09-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." - Romans 8:12-17

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Unity

2010-09-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

So I have been reading a few books (Son of Hamas and The Heavenly Man), both focus on love and unity in the One Body. Division, especially within the Church, is so destructive! We can not think negatively towards our own Brothers and Sisters! It must pain God so much to see our quarrels and division.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. - I Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)

Let us all walk worthy of our calling. Let us all strive to show unity in the Body and to shine our light to the rest of the world so that they may know Christ's love.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Constantly learning Trust

2010-08-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

I feel that I am always struggling with trusting in God. I know what His Word says, and I know (from experience!) that God always follows through. Yet somehow I put all the pressure on myself and feel that I need to solve whatever problems arise.

This is so deceiving because we (especially me) are not perfect. We can not solve our own problems. We are weak and at most times unwise. Yet Christ is our strength. In every place where we feel inadequate, Christ makes us whole.

Paul struggled with this too. He spoke of it in II Corinthians:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

We must learn to put on the strength of Christ in our lives in order that we may stand with joy and peace

Brother Yun, a Chinese Christian (and an amazing one at that!) said in his book, "We shouldn't pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power."

Christ is our strength and God is our sufficiency. We can be sure to look to Him in time of trouble, stress, and distress. God will strengthen us when we ask Him, so let us ask Him boldly and without fear! Let us trust in His strength, wisdom, and peace!

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. - Psalm 9:9-10

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threadswww.ZoeThreads.com | www.EarthenVessels47.com

Jesus is our Bread

2010-08-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

I just read this section of scripture today in John 6, and I thought it was beautiful.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Back to School Sale!

2010-08-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

All Earthen Vessels and Zoe Threads clothing is 25% off from Aug. 23 - Sept. 6. You can also get free shipping on all orders over $50. Don't miss out on this opportunity for discounted shirts and be ready for the new school year!

Visit www.ZoeThreads.com or
www.earthenvessels47.com today!

Big News!

2010-07-28T08:17:00.001-07:00

So we have some big news to announce: Zoe Threads has joined up with another startup Christian t shirt company, Earthen Vessels! We now have over 26 designs and offer dozens of different kinds of styles for Christian men and women. We are so excited to have this joint venture and we hope all of you are too!

Please check us both out at:

www.ZoeThreads.com

and

www.EarthenVessels47.com

God bless!

Lauren Ellis

So many new designs!

2010-07-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

We now offer more packs of 8 notecards, single occasion cards, and boxes of stationery. There are dozens of new designs and artwork. Be sure to check it out at www.MustardSeedExpressions.com

Congratulations!

2010-05-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Sally in TX, Emily in FL, Jessica in AZ, Eddie in IL and Melvin in WI! You have all been randomly selected to win a free shirt because of your hard work in submitting your comments on our designs! We hope that you all enjoy your free shirts!

God bless!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

New Designs!

2010-05-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

We just released 6 brand new shirt designs on our site! They are really fun, unique, and awesome. Check them out at www.ZoeThreads.com!

Vote and Win!

2010-03-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Vote for your favorite design and have a chance of winning a free shirt! Go to Zoe Threads today to tell us what you think about our new designs!

Here's how it works. Pick one of the options to tell us whether you like/dislike the design. You can also write in what you like/don't like about it. Then, fill out your name, address, shirt size, etc. Once everything is tallied, five lucky people will be randomly drawn and will win a free shirt out of the options we decide to produce. Only one entry per e-mail address.

Hurry! This vote ends April 10, 2010, so vote soon!

We going to Spirit West Coast!

2010-03-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

We will have a booth in Monterey at Spirit West Coast. It is a massive Christian event of music and fun! We really hope too see you there!

God bless!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Now Offering Free Shipping on Every order!

2010-02-23T21:11:00.000-08:00

We love free shipping and thought you might too. From now on, Zoe Threads will offer completely free shipping on every order. Even if you did not get the right size and need to return the shirt, we will ship the new shirt back to you for free. It does not get any sweeter than that!

Check out www.ZoeThreads.com today!

Wisdom Illustrated

2010-02-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Dictionary states that a fool is one who despises wisdom, one who mocks when guilty, one who is quarrelsome, and/or one who is licentious.

Bullinger’s The Companion Bible defines a fool as one with a lax or careless habit of mind and body.

Joseph Caryl, a puritan preacher during the 1600’s defined this word in his work on the book of Job as, “one who acts without counsel, and whose will is too hard for his understanding; he hath no reason for what he doth, but because he hath a mind to do it.”

We find an illustration of foolishness in Rehoboam recorded in the Old Testament:

1 Kings 12:12-14

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Another illustration is found in the Athenians in the first century:

Acts 17:18, 32

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of thismatter.

The Jews and Greeks provide yet another illustration of foolishness recorded in I Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 1:18, 22, 24

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Have a wise and wonderful day!

Michelle Kamrath

Mustard Seed Expressions' Artist
www.ZoeThreads.com

Free Christian Backgrounds

2010-02-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines' Day everyone!

We love you all so much that we made some awesome Christian backgrounds for your computer desktop. Check them out at www.Zoethreads.com today!

Much love in Christ,

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

One of my Favorite sections of Scripture

2010-02-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share one of my favorite sections of scriptures in our blog this morning. I hope it blesses you and strengthens your walk with our loving Father.

Romans 8 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Who Do You Love More?

2010-01-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

So it looks like I have been promoted from occasional proof-reader to occasional blogger. This is my first time blogging, but I'm looking forward to it. What could be better to write about than God's matchless Word? I'm not sure if anyone reads these, but if you do, I hope they bless you.

This morning I spent a little bit of time studying Genesis chapter 22, the one where God tests Abraham's commitment to him. The chapter opens:

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
Genesis 22:1-2

The book of Hebrews sheds some more light on this record.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
Hebrews 11:17-18

Now first, let me clear up a little bit of controversy that has been attached to this verse. Some have found an apparent contradiction between this record and one of the attributes of God that James reveals to us, namely

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
James 1:13

Now, the word "test" in Hebrews and "tempt" in James are the same Greek word. So we have an apparent contradiction: James says that God tempts/tests no one while Genesis and Hebrews say that "God tested Abraham." This is all cleared up when you actually look at what James is trying to communicate. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one [with evil]." The next two verses makes this clearer.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 1:14-15

This is clearly talking about being tempted to do evil things, i.e. break God's commandments. God will not tempt you to do that. There is more than enough temptation to sin inherent in our old man nature. God may, however, test someones commitment to himself. He may test whether we love money more than him, whether we love pleasure more than him, whether we love comfort more than him, or in Abraham's case - whether we love family more than him. The most important thing for us to do in life, as quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ, is found in Deuteronomy chapter 6:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

If we love anyone or anything above God, we have our priorities wrong.

Truman Ellis
www.ZoeThreads.com

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

2010-01-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

Just a little reading today from John 14 (ESV).

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Christ's Importance

2010-01-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

All too often people see Christ as just a prophet, philosopher, or a great teacher. To Christians, he was more than that. He died and was raised to cover our sins so that we may receive spirit and become part of God's family.

My father-in-law, a born again Christian, was working on a new kitchen and the woman of the house began to talk about philosophy, and eventually, Jesus Christ with him.

"It is too bad Jesus died," she said.
"Why is that?" replied my father-in-law.
"Because he was shaping up to be such a good philosopher."

Christ's role to us is not that of just a prophet or a philosopher.Although he was both of those titles, but his real role was a propitiation of our sins.

I John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Romans 5:7-9
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Christ was the lamb whose blood made us whole unto God. So if anyone tries to tell you that Christ was only a great man, you can know that he is much more than that.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Be Imitators

2010-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

So often you hear of friends gushing over their role models and wanting to follow in their footsteps. Regardless of how awesome their role model may be, we all have the greatest role model in all the earth: God and His son, Christ Jesus.

God exhorts us time and time again to walk according to His Word and live like Christ lived.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”- Ephesians 5:1-2

^"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." - 1 Peter 2:21-24

God gave us the greatest example of love, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Salvation

2010-01-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Many different churches say you need to fulfill certain things to become born again. Romans 10:9-10 shows us the two requirements for us to receive spirit:

"... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

Our salvation rests on our completion of two things: Confessing and acknowledging Jesus as Lord over us and believing that God raise him from the dead.

We no longer have to earn our salvation through works, like the Old Testament believers had to do under the law. Galatians 3:13-14 says:

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

How wonderful is our God? His Son paid the price so that all we do is believe Romans 10:9-10 and we can receive his spirit, as well as be in the Family of God and inherit eternal life.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T08:58:00.000-08:00

We just wanted to say Happy New Year! This year has been trying, but we always have our Lord to strengthen and guide us. Regardless of how 2010 will be, remember that the Lord is your strength. We found these scriptures, and our New Years Resolution is to be more like this righteous man:

Psalm 112
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

JJ Heller is an Awesome Artist!

2009-12-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

So I normally don't do this kind of thing, but my husband recently discovered JJ Heller, an acoustic Christian artist. Her lyrics and music is extremely edifying, and we are always so blessed to listen to her.

Check her out at www.jjheller.com. The latest CD, Painted Red, is excellent.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you have a happy and safe holiday this year!

Much love,

The Zoe Threads Team
www.ZoeThreads.com

Awesome Truth in God's Word

2009-12-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.- 1 John 3:1a

We so love this verse. We are part of God's family. We are His children.

We encourage you all to think of yourself as God's child throughout the day. We are greatly loved by the greatest Father, the most powerful God. There is nothing that can bring you down when you have God on your side.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

Much love,

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Psalm 125:1-4

2009-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

¹Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
³For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
⁴ Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

Last Days to Ship

2009-12-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

December is a busy time for shipping packages. Plan ahead with your shipments in order to guarantee that you will your gifts by Christmas.

Here are the last ship dates. Keep in mind that Ground shipping varies on your location.

Ground - Wed 17
Express Saver - Mon 21
2Day - Tues 22
Standard Overnight - Wed 23
Priority Overnight - Wed 23
First Overnight - Wed 23

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

In and Our of Season

2009-12-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

I was reading 2 Timothy this morning, and were especially blessed by this:

4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

I thought this was very interesting because we should be ready to preach God's Word whether we are in or out of season. As stewards of God's Word, we never have an "off switch," nor should we take vacations from God's Word. We are to be ready to preach the good news of Christ at all times.

1 Peter 3:15-- "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. "

We should always be ready to make a defense to everyone! And when we can, we not only represent God in a respectful way, but we bring others closer to God.

Let us all be ready to speak the wonders of God whenever we are asked.

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Only 5 days Left!

2009-12-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! Just a quick reminder: there are only 5 days left of free shipping.

Visit www.ZoeThreads.com and use the coupon code: freeship09 to get your free shipping. Remember, you must spend $40 or more to get this discount.

God bless!

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

Give Thanks!

2009-11-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

Here is a verse that really blessed us this morning:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Col 3:16-17

We have so much to be thankful for. Let us truly give thanks to God this Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

So Thankful

2009-11-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving nears, I am always reminded by all the things that I am thankful for. God has blessed us with so much, it is so hard to live life without being the least bit thankful to Him.

In Ephesians 1, there is a short section that seems to list off many things that God has given that we can be thankful for:

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. - Eph 1:3-9

Many thanks and praise be to God! We are so blessed to be called by Him!

Have a very joyful Thanksgiving everyone!

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

Designs now available

2009-11-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

Our new designs, Eyeman and Pour Out, are now available. Bibleburger and Fishers of men is currently be produced, but you can preorder them if you would like.

Also, get
free shipping
when you order
over $40 of products!
Code: freeship09

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

Delay in shirts

2009-11-18T18:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry everyone - our silkscreener was too busy and our new designs will not be available until this Friday.

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

I Love God's Love

2009-11-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13
¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

New Designs - Coming Soon

2009-11-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

This next Wednesday, the 18th to be exact, we at Zoe Threads will be releasing four new designs. You can preview them at www.ZoeThreads.com .

We are so excited to be expanding our line so quickly and hope that you enjoy the new shirt designs!

God bless!

Lauren Ellis
Owner of Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

A Great Example of Believing in God

2009-11-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

There is this wonderful record in 2 Kings 4 about Elisha and the Shunammite woman. This woman was unable to bear any children, but Elisha told her she would have a son. She did and the rest of the record picks up in 2 Kings 4:18:

^{2 Kings 4
18}When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. ¹⁹And he said to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother." ²⁰And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. ²¹And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. ²²Then she called to her husband and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again." ²³And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath." She said, "All is well." ²⁴Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you." ²⁵So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite. ²⁶Run at once to meet her and say to her, 'Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?'" And she answered, "All is well." ²⁷And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me." ²⁸Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'" ²⁹He said to Gehazi, "Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child." ³⁰Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her. ³¹Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."
³²When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. ³³So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. ³⁴Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. ³⁵Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son." ³⁷She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

What is so remarkable about this is that the woman told her husband that all was well. She could have freaked out about her son's death and coming wailing to him. But she gathered her bearings, kept a positive outlook, and went to the once source for answers: God.

I always find myself thinking of this woman when I become troubled with circumstances. I have to remind myself of God's strength, love, and willingness to care for His children. We hope that you will do the same.

God bless,

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

A Psalm That Blessed Us This Morning

2009-11-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

Psalm 33

1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

Lauren Ellis - Zoe Threads - www.ZoeThreads.com

Trusting in God

2009-11-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

In times of uncertainty, it is wonderful to know, lean against, and rely upon something so certain and steadfast as God. Time and time again David in Psalms calls God his rock, his fortress.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. - Psalm 62:2

Whenever trouble or danger is presented to us, we have one of two options. We can look to God, or we can look to the world. There is a wonderful, literal example of this in Matthew 14.

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." ²⁸And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." ²⁹He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Here, Peter asked to walk out on the water to Jesus. Now, this is not something every ordinary man can do alone. God's power allowed him to walk on the water. When Peter had his eyes straight on Jesus, he walked on the water. But when he looked around and saw the wind, he became afraid and began to sink.

Regardless of what is going on in the world, if we keep our eyes straight on God and to not become overcome with fear of the world, we too will walk tall and strong. We encourage you to remember this and be strengthened by God and His might.

God bless,

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

He Will Not Forsake His Saints

2009-11-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

This morning I as I read through the Psalms, I was especially blessed by this section of scripture:

¹ Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
²For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
³ Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

This is so refreshing because all too often I find myself stressed. Any little thing stresses me - the future, my business, health, growth, etc... Those verse though, say to delight ourselves in the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart. We are to commit our ways to Him and He will act. We are to be still and wait, and the Lord will bless us.

I hope this blesses and refreshes your heart as it did mine.

God bless,

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

The One Body

2009-11-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Lately in our fellowships we have been studying the One Body. One of our goals at Zoe Threads is to bless and strengthen this Body, so it is always exciting to research it. This magnificant Body is spoken in great detail in 1 Corinthians 12:

¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
¹⁴For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²²On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

This One Body exists, regardless of denominations. It is so important as Christians for us all to love and build each other up.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. - Colossians 3:15

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Why our products are special

2009-10-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

When I look around to see both the things of this world and the Christian things that copy the things of the world, I get terribly discouraged. It has been up and down with the start of our business - mostly because I talk myself out of it.

But when I revisit my purpose for starting this company, I become refreshed.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:3

For many years I have struggled to discover a way for me to do graphic design to praise God. I have finally found a way to do that with my shirts and I am so excited.

Our products are so special because the designs are simple and edifying. They are unique because people take notice and ask what your shirt means. We feel that this is a great opportunity to talk about God and His wonderful Word!

We really hope that you will be blessed by our products and share the Word with many people.

Much love,

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Zoe Threads is open!

2009-10-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

After many months of hard work, Zoe Threads is finally open! We are starting with five designs, but will be adding more every month. We are so excited and hope you will visit our site soon!

God bless!

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Update: July 25, 2009

2009-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

We are doing very well in starting our business. Not only will we have our unique Christian t shirts available, but we will have Mustard Seed Greetings' cards! The cards are beautiful watercolor designs by Michelle Kamrath who has been an artist for many years. We are very excited about this partnership and are looking forward to blessing all of you!

Much love,

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads

Zoe Threads is Growing

2009-05-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

We at Zoe Threads have been thinking (and praying) about expanding. We currently upload our designs to a company called Spreadshirt, where they print, make, and ship the shirts for us. As wonderful as their service is, there are significant limitations on how we can expand our business.

We are planning within the next few months to start making Christian t shirts privately. They will be the same quality as before, if not better. This will also allow us to expand our designs, business model, and customer service. It will also allow us to reduce the production cost of the shirts, thus reducing the price of the overall product.

Because we will be spending time working on our company, we will not be producing new designs for a few months. We hope you all understand.

We are very excited to be taking on this new venture and we hope that all of you can be with us every step of the way!

Thank you for your support!

Lauren Ellis
Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

New Shirt Design: What if the Whole Body Were an Eye?

2009-05-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

We added another shirt design! We took the inspiration from 1 Corinthians 12:12-20:

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

We had to ask, what if the whole body were an eye? How ridiculous would that be?

Check out the design at: www.ZoeThreads.com.

Two New Shirt Designs: Romans 12:2

2009-04-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well we seem to be on a roll. We published two more shirt designs this week based off of the Romans 12:2 verse.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

The word "transformed" is the Greek word "metamorphoō" which means "change into another form, to transform, to transfigure," much like metamorphosis.

Check out the new designs at www.ZoeThreads.com.

News Designs for the Week: Spirit Army Knife & Balloon

2009-04-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well we did it again! We uploaded two fresh designs to Zoe Threads!

The first is an illustration comparing Holy Spirit to a swiss army knife. One tool, many functions. One Spirit, nine manifestations."Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

The second design is a happy "joy" with balloons tied to it.

Feel free to comment on them!

Thanks and God bless,

Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

New Product: Women's Heavyweight Shirt

2009-04-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been asking for a heavier shirt than the AA slim fit tee. I took the time to design at least one heavyweight shirt for each design. You can view them in each design category.

I hope you ladies like the choices!

God bless!

Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Now on Twitter!

2009-04-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like to use Twitter to receive announcements, you can now get updates on Zoe Threads. We will post what is new every week on Twitter, as well as any new announcements.

You can find us on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/zoethreads

Also - we have had 1,002 visits for our first 10 days in business! Thank you everyone for all of your support and excitement. We hope that we can provide Christian clothing that will really bless and encourage you.

God bless!

Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com

Now on Flickr!

2009-04-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

So we decided to add pictures of our designs on Flickr.com. Feel free to go and comment on any of the photos.

You can find us at: www.flickr.com/photos/laurenellis.

Thanks everyone! God bless!

Zoe Threads
www.ZoeThreads.com