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THRIVE As we enter the busiest time of the year, it's vital that we all remember to slow down and center ourselves in the Gospel, so that we can truly thrive. It’s our goal that as you get cozy with your decorative pillow and fill your space with the autumnal aroma from your reed diffuser, you will continue to accept this invitation to a thriving life.
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“Overwork is unbelief.” —Priscilla Shirer It’s interesting that a God who does not sleep values the rhythm of rest so much that Sabbath was set into motion from the beginning of time. The word Sabbath in Hebrews means stop. Sabbath rest is a gift from God. It’s a reminder to stop. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” Exodus 20:8-11 Sabbath isn’t just a day in the week; it is a rhythm of life. But rest doesn’t just happen. It takes discipline, intention, and practice. John Mark Comer says, “The solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.” He further explains, “To walk with Jesus is to walk with a slow, unhurried pace. Hurry is the death of prayer and only impedes and spoils our work.” Rest is a way for our bodies, hearts, and minds to remember that we are not God. Rest is saying we believe that God will provide what we need—that it is okay for us to take a break from work. Our lives aren’t dependent on our hard work as much as they are on a God who works on our behalf. This month, may your ethically-made Fair Trade Friday items remind you that rest is good. Stopping, taking deep breaths, slowing down, thanking God for who He is and what He has done is often the best work we can do.
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"gather and be grateful" decorative throw pillow $28 MADE BY ZIYADA IN INDIA
sandalwood + ginger apple reed diffuser $16 MADE BY LOCAL HOPE IN THE USA
bonus digital bundle $12
"gather and be grateful" decorative throw pillow MADE BY ZIYADA IN INDIA Your “Gather and Be Grateful” throw pillow enhances the warmth and charm of your living space while making a positive impact on the lives of artisans in India. Its neutral color palette complements any interior style or season. Your pillow’s message serves as a beautiful reminder to appreciate life's blessings. Place it on your sofa, bed, or favorite armchair to remember to pause, reflect, and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Spot clean only.
Ziyada Ziyada (Zee-yah-duh) means more—more hope, more help, more happiness, more health—for you and for our world. Ziyada exists to provide meaningful employment in a safe, loving environment for people caught in the devastating cycle of extreme poverty in North India—and in the process—to bring you more quality and beauty through each item they create. This pillow order for Fair Trade Friday created 1,248 collective hours of work for Ziyada’s team of 24 artisans. More work for them means more children in school, more nutritious food on the table, more savings, and more hope for the future! Your order is a blessing that has ripple effects in Ziyada’s entire community, so thank you for choosing to change the world while you shop! Fair Trade Friday members can receive 15% off any regularly priced item at ziyada.org. Just use the code FTF15 when you check out!
Indu Indu is one of the masterful sewists behind your new pillow. The work provided to Ziyada by this project has allowed Indu, a new mother, to take a full maternity leave. As she embraces the beautiful journey of motherhood, the Ziyada community is here to support her every step of the way. With six months of paid maternity leave and comprehensive healthcare, together, we are all ensuring that Indu, and artisans like her, don't have to choose between family and work. Here's to celebrating new beginnings and fostering a community where every family thrives!
sandalwood + ginger apple reed diffuser MADE BY LOCAL HOPE IN THE USA The captivating blend of your Sandalwood + Ginger Apple Reed Diffuser from Local Hope encapsulates the essence of autumn—the gentle rustle of leaves underfoot, the cool breeze in the air, and the warmth of a crackling fire. The fragrance delivers crispness from the top notes of green apple and mandarin, warmth and spice from the middle notes of ginger and clove, and a rich, woody base of sandalwood. Our high-quality diffuser oil slowly releases the fragrance, ensuring a lasting and consistent scent for weeks. To use: Uncap the fragrance jar and place the reeds inside. The intended aroma will result when the fragrance oil flows upward and evaporates into the air, creating a long-lasting scent. Allow 48 hours for the reeds to fully absorb the fragrance on first use. Flip the reeds upside-down about once a week to refresh the scent. Flipping the reeds more often results in a stronger scent, but will also cause the oil to evaporate more quickly.
local hope Mercy House Global is located just outside Houston, Texas, a city of more than 70,000 refugees, one of the largest populations in the USA. MHG employs about ten women who have resettled in Houston. This group of artisans called Local Hope creates candles, spa products, and home decor for the MHG fair trade line. In addition to job creation, MHG provides programs to support the local refugee community, including ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) and empowerment luncheons that offer fellowship and skills training.
Sanu Originally from Nepal, Sanu now lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two elementaryaged children. She makes soap and reed diffusers for Mercy House Global’s spa line. Sanu and her family like to experience new things together like fishing at the coast and going on carnival rides in downtown Houston. With her money from this order of reed diffusers, she was able to purchase her children new clothing. Sanu’s dream is to one day have a new car and a beautiful house.
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Club Member Exclusive In 2023, each month we will bring our club members exclusive content. In your Fair Trade Friday booklet, you’ll see a QR code linking you to fun digital extras that you can download. Just use your phone’s camera to scan the codes. Follow the link to find your collection of bonus content. In addition to the floral art to print or use for your phone's lock screen, we've included a digital download with detailing how rest really does help your whole body, mind, and spirit.
FAIR TRADE FRIDAY
a fair trade subscription clu WHAT IS FAIR TRADE? Fairly-traded products are made by artisans who work in safe conditions, are paid a fair wage, and work fair hours. No child gave up his education to produce your new favorite item; no mom was laboring in a sweatshop for 80 hours a week. We ensure that all of our Fair Trade Friday club items are fairly traded. HOW IS FTF DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS? We are not a for–profit company, or even a profit-for-good company — Fair Trade Friday is operated by Mercy House Global, a nonprofit. All profits from FTF directly support our maternal rescue center, Rehema House, in Kenya. You can learn more at mercyhouseglobal.org. FTF PARTNERS WITH FAITH-BASED ARTISAN GROUPS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? While we are a faith-based ministry and partner with other faith-based ministries, religion is not forced upon artisans, nor is it a requirement for employment. Many women & their families have different religions than us, and that is okay. Our belief in Christ calls us to love, serve, and help others, regardless of their personal belief systems.
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