Dear Christian, do you feel a lack in your Christian walk? Do you read about the Christian life and know what this life should look like, but find it wanting when you examine your own life? Has your heart sunk within you as you feel that the best you can expect from your Christian life is one of alternate failure and victory?
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Spending is Not Saving
“I went to the grocery store and saved $68!” Have you ever said someting like that to your husband or friend? I have on numerous occasions. It’s a thrilling thing to get a great deal! Quite frankly, it’s one the reasons I love shopping so much! You could liken it to men and hunting. They hunt for animals, we hunt for bargains. It’s really the same concept…the thrill of the chase. It can be a lot of fun!
Local Harvest
With the quickly passing signs of spring, we are headed full steam into summer. With summer comes lots of sun, and fresh air, and the opportunity for fresh fruits and vegetables. For some that means planting a large garden, for others it means visiting the local, pick-your-own farm for fresh strawberries and blueberries, and for others, it means visiting the local farmer’s market.
This Too Shall Pass
This too shall pass. Always remember, this too shall pass. Tired, weary wife and mother surrounded by never-ending tasks and never-tiring children, this too shall pass.
Tenacity – Hezekiah’s Heartbeat
I came across a few verses about Hezekiah that show us something very special about him. Read them and let’s reflect together about this great Man of God.
Seeded Wheat Baguette
I’ve recently been baking breads and experimenting with some different recipes. I’ve never owned or used a bread machine. I do believe that they are probably very convenient, but I also know that there’s nothing like mixing up some dough and kneading it by hand. It sounds like a big chore, but honestly, it takes a very small amount of time to mix some flour, yeast and a few other ingredients and knead them for less than 10 minutes. Yes, there is that rising time and forming time, but I just put on the timer, and forget about it until the buzzer tells me it has risen. Bread really is very simple…
Scrumptious Seeds
Last month, I wrote about the many nutritional elements of tree nuts. This month I would like to touch upon seeds. Nuts are actually the seeds of trees with a hard shell, so many of the same benefits of tree nuts will be found in the similar nuts of plants. Pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds are all very well known. You may already be enjoying them as snack or as an ingredient of your baking or cooking.
Voices
We hear: “You can’t do it! You are all alone and there is none to help. You Fool, you Fool! If you were going the right way, the way would not be so steep, so sharp; so very, very hard.”
Our God says: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:4-6
Substitute to Save
We are planning a little excursion for our family and we leave soon, so I just have a few quick tips for you this month. Some unique ideas of ways things you already have on hand can “double” for another purpose. So without further adieu, here are a few ways to use what you have on hand to stretch your cents!
Santa Fe Chicken and Rice
You know one of those recipes that you clip out of a magazine, then make some changes for yourself, pass it on to a friend who makes some more changes, and you end up with a recipe that is similar to how it started, but so much better? That is the kind of recipe we have today. Santa Fe Chicken and Rice was clipped by Kristin Hammett from a website (now forgotten!) and modified by her, then modified a bit more by Rachel, and then… Well, I’m sure we could go on. This is a one-pot, quick & easy dish that will be loved by adults and kids alike!
Nutritious Nuts
Most people either love or hate tree nuts such as pecans, walnuts, cashews or almonds. We really enjoy them at our house and primarily eat them as a healthy, afternoon snack. There are many different kinds of nuts, and they all contain similar benefits to a person’s health. When most people think of nuts, the first thing that comes to mind is fat. While it is true tree nuts contain fats, they are primarily mono saturated fats, also known as good fat. Instead of causing you to gain weight, eating nuts will actually help you lose weight and keep it off!
Book Recommendations
To the residents of England’s countryside, the fairgrounds had a singular attraction, and the caravans were watched for with expectancy. Many a young person sighed with envy as they observed their apparent carefree and happy lifestyle. The actors led a life of never-ending parties! I can see it all now, the gilded cars, stately horses and riders, and the awe-struck crowd.
How Much is Too Much?
I love shopping! If you asked my Mom, she would tell you that I have always had the shopping bug since I was a little girl. I like numbers and mental math, so shopping and me go way back! However, there is a tendency when you are “born to shop” to go overboard in the spending department. How much is too much?
Crock Pot Italian Stuffed Meatloaf
Gina Hall enjoys crockpot cooking, and she also enjoys the ease of making and serving this meatloaf recipe for guests. The recipe came from a friend , who had gotten it from a magazine. Gina has made some changes and converted it to a crock pot recipe. She prefers to use 90 percent lean ground beef, which keeps it from getting too greasy. Gina also does not skimp on the cheese and she has tried several different types of ham. Pick what you prefer and the rest is up to you!
Jisela’s Spicy Savory Salsa Chicken
One night after coming home from work I was in a hurry to make dinner and couldn’t figure out what to make, being as I’m not in the habit of meal planning (shame on me!). I threw these items together, and Mike enjoyed the dish so much, that I’ve continued to make it. Necessity is the mother of invention? Is that how it goes?
Recommendations
Eight Cousins, written by Louisa M. Alcott, is one of my favorite stories. There are 24 chapters, each several pages long. Its style is enjoyable for the teenager. A young person under the age of 12 might find it a challenge because, I’ll admit, it’s not one of those attractive, easy-read stories that capture your attention entirely by the fifth line. Mom is now reading it aloud to Grace (age10) and she is thoroughly enjoying it.
Do You Really Need It?
Contentment. What comes to your mind when you think of someone or something that is content? I think of a fat cat asleep on a sofa, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind! 🙂 Isn’t contentment a hard character trait to cultivate in our materialistic society? Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with commercials, billboards, banner ads on our computers, sale flyers, catalogs, with messages communicating our need to buy more, have more. We couldn’t possibly have a successful or even normal life without the advertised item. To this I say, nonsense! All we need are the basic essentials of life to survive and thrive.
Avocados
Avocados are a wonderful fruit that contain a powerhouse of health. Typically grown in the southern hemisphere, avocados are also grown in California and Florida. The two types of avocados are Haas avocados, which have dark, bumpy skin, and the Fuerte avocado, which is larger and has a smooth green skin. They have a pale, greenish-yellow fruit with a single stone, and a delicious buttery rich taste.
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Organic Labeling
Organic items are hugely popular in stores right now and product lines are continuing to expand and grow. Big companies want to get in on the money-making band wagon that the organic craze has produced. But what exactly does “organic” mean and is it truly better than non-organic?
New
As an encouragement to youth, Andrew Carnegie once said, “Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!” On this early morning, I encourage you, dear reader in the summer, fall or winter of your life: “Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled victory. A whole, clear, glorious, new day lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!”