Are Trials Really Good for Us?

Can I grab your hand and take you on a journey to see the remarkable things that God does?  I hope you will allow me to do so because seeing God at work is amazing and awe-inspiring.  When we see God’s faithfulness either in our own lives or in the lives of others, it strengthens our faith and breathes new life into us.  It is spiritually rejuvenating and I think all Christians need to be uplifted from time to time, especially in this economy.

Today, I am going to write on trials because we all experience them in one way or another.  As believers, we talk often of our trials but not all trials are the same.  Some trials we’ve brought on ourselves, and therefore God is chastising us.  When we are in habitual, unrepentant sin, our life is going to be hard and it is going to get painful.  A Biblical example of this would be David and Bathsheba.  We all know the story of this lustful adulterer, who then became a murderer (how would you like to have that as part of your reputation?).  Obviously, because David went outside of the will of God he was disobedient, and therefore he had consequences to his actions.  He was chastised as a result and thus he endured some hard times, aka- trials.  He most certainly was refined in the process because of his poor choices.  Of course, we when are in sin, we need to repent and get right with God.

Then you have others types of trials.  Trials that sift us, refine us, and that take us through the sanctification process as Christians.  When we are walking with the Lord and we are obedient as much as humanly possible, trials still come our way.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Here are some Biblical examples:  Daniel in the lions den, Joseph sold into slavery and then later put into prison, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace and of course our faithful friend, the expert on trials, Job.  Look at those men for just a minute and reflect on their lives.  They were honorable, filled with integrity and committed to pleasing the Lord, yet they lived in some tumultuous storms!  However, God saw it fit to put them through those things or allow them to happen so He could teach us and others to look to these men as an example of faith and trust in the Lord.  When you are in a trial like this one, you need to have the right perspective.

In my prior posts, I would write about what God had done in our lives as we were going through all of our trials, but today I am going to share with you our current situation filled with more uncertainty and hardships.  I would love for you to join me as we watch God together, use His miraculous hand to shut the lions mouth in my own life, if you will.

The last time I wrote you I told you that our dream home, located on Ashbury Lane, was going to be sold on the courthouse steps in April of 2010.  So, in March of that year, we packed up our home and moved to a rental house and lived there for 10 months…until God moved us BACK to the property on Ashbury Lane!  Ridiculous and crazy, I know.  (That’s a story in itself that I will tell at another time.)  We moved back to the home on Ashbury this past January, which is where we live now.

So here we are now, July 10, 2011.  Our home is scheduled to go to sale (again) tomorrow, July 11^th, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.  Now, let me take off my mask.  You know the mask I’m talking about.  I’ll call it the Christian mask that we wear that shows everyone that our lives are perfect. 

Here is our reality.  My husband, being in real estate, has no new clients that he is working with, so in the mean time he has been doing handyman jobs of all kinds.  You name, he does it and we are very thankful for the work that God has given him.  Up until this time, he has had some daily work but even that has died off and he has had no upcoming jobs.  Over the last month his transmission went out in his truck which cost him over $1500 and I ended up in Urgent Care twice, costing us an additional $200.  Here we are with just a few hundred dollars left in our pockets, no new work for my husband and a home that is going to be sold soon and this time, there is no money for us to move to a rental home.  In fact just this past week our phone was disconnected and the gas in our home was going to be turned off the following day.  As my husband shared all this news with me I asked him if he got the mail yet, to see if there was a check in it.  I knew that God was going to provide for us, but I just did not know how.  Soon my husband came in with a mail piece and he said listen to this.  I smiled.  I knew that God was doing something.  He read me the current electric bill which said we had a credit balance.  What?  How do we have a credit balance when we owed them from the last two months?  The bill said we had a credit of $500.  How is that possible we thought?  We never had $500 to give them.  I smiled at my husband and said I am sure the check they received for our bill had Jesus’ signature on it.  Oh and by the way, my husband received work that same day and a day later we were blessed with money for groceries.  Make no mistake about it, that's God's hand my friend!

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  James 1:2-4

We can either become better or bitter.

I never thought I would say this, because when I read this verse as a new believer, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I had read!  Consider it joy?  What?  Why?  How is that possible?  But today, many years later and many trials later, I can say trials are a good thing because they strengthen our faith and trust in God.  As we come out of a trial, we are closer to Christ and perhaps we have a stronger resolve or conviction to follow Him, IF we have chosen to run towards the Cross and not away from it.  IF we have chosen to become BETTER as we look to strengthening our relationship with the Lord and not BITTER because we have a sense of self-entitlement.

The Cross is where we find hope, healing, refreshment, inspiration, encouragement and the strength to endure the path that is set before us.

In our society we often hear about two different perspectives on life.  One mindset being that the ‘glass is half-full’ and the other being the ‘glass is half-empty’.  I want to challenge you today and encourage you to try and change the way you think about your glass, (your life).  Regardless of your circumstances, whether they are financial, marital, health-related, etc., think of your glass as being FULL, full of the Living Water that is!

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."   John 7:38

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  Revelation 7:17

God is doing amazing things in the lives of His princesses, but generally speaking, we are just too busy and too worried, anxious, fearful, consumed with our problems, etc., to stop and take notice of how He works things out in our lives.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

He has a great plan for you and me. 

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

Search for Him with all your heart and trust Him.


Let's go to the Cross together.  I’ll do the best I can in Christ’s strength and through this blog to lift you up and grab your hand when you are down, if you promise me to extend your hand to another when they are down.  That’s how the Body of Christ works.  It is the Holy Spirit working through the King’s princesses.  What do you think?  Do you want to join me on this journey as we tell others of His awesome works?

"A psalm of praise of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds."  Psalm 145:1-6

You can learn more about our journey here at, Not My Will, But Yours Be Done.

Christ-Centered Easter Activities for Your Family

Resurrection Day is right around the corner!  It's probably my favorite holiday right next to Christmas!

When my boys were young tots, I wanted to make sure their eyes were on Christ at Easter and not on the bunny.  I have nothing against bunnies, in fact, I think they are quite cute, BUT there is nothing spiritually profitable in teaching young souls to believe in the bunny during the time when we celebrate our Risen Savior.

So, instead of doing a bunch of traditional activities, I incorporated Christ-centered ones into our home. These activities are hands-on, practical, and easy for the whole family!  I have listed several of them for you to pick and choose based on your time and budget.

Enjoy shepherding your children to Jesus!

Resurrection Eggs

Over the years we have used Resurrection Eggs from Family Life.  We found them years ago at a local Christian bookstore.  You can even find them now at Wal-Mart.  They are a great teaching tool of the Easter story.

Source: bing.com via Jolene on Pinterest

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients:

You need: 1c. whole pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites,
pinch salt, 1c. sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape, Bible.

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. If you have any army men, put them by the oven to act like the Roman soldier.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

The next morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:

1 pkg. crescent rolls

Large marshmallows (1 per child)

Melted butter

Cinnamon sugar

Give each child one marshmallow. The marshmallow represents Jesus.

Dip the marshmallow in butter and then in the cinnamon sugar mixture. This represents the anointing oils and burial spices.

Wrap the marshmallow up in one triangle of dough. This represents the tomb.

Cook according to package.

When you take a bite, you'll notice that the marshmallow is gone. Jesus is risen!

Lamb of God Easter Baskets

My children would use these baskets to collect the Resurrection Eggs each year and they absolutely loved it!!  (I have scoured my picture files and I can't find a one to show you an example, so you'll need to picture this in your mind!) Update:  You can see a picture of them here.

Supplies needed:

1 Gallon empty plastic milk container (1 container per child)

Large cotton balls

White glue

Googly eyes

Black construction paper for lamb ears and a lamb nose

Take an empty plastic milk jug and cut the top of.  Keep the handle attached because that is how your child will hold their Lamb of God basket.

Cover the plastic container with white glue (painting on watered-down glue is best for little ones!)

Place cotton balls all around the container. This is the lamb's wool so you'll want to cover the container real well.

Cut out lamb ears and a nose and glue on to cotton.

Add eyes.

Now you should have an adorable little lamb basket!

Jesus is the Lamb of God Cupcakes

I just found this one on Pinterest recently and would love to make them with my boys!

Source: landolakes.com via Jolene on Pinterest

Easter Garden

We've never done this one either,  but I love the idea as well.  It's a little out of our budget at this time but I thought I would still share it with you!

Source: Uploaded by user via Jolene on Pinterest

Plant an Easter Garden! Using potting soil, a tiny buried flower pot for the tomb, shade grass seed, & crosses made from twigs. Sprinkle grass seed generously on top of dirt, keep moistened using a spray water bottle. Spritz it several times a day.  Set it in a warm sunny location.  Sprouts in 7-10 days so plan ahead.  The tomb is EMPTY! He is Risen!

You can find more Christ-centered Easter activities listed here.

Live a poured out life for the Master,

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After 14 Years, I Still Can't Fit into My Wedding Dress

It was over 14 years ago when I stood in that checkout line with the man I was engaged to be married to.  As we stood there waiting our turn for our groceries to be rung up, my Beloved noticed the tabloid magazines on display.  One had a caption that read, “Why Get Married.”  My godly fiance replied, “So I can get Jolene in bed.”

Dismayed by what I heard, my jaw dropped to the floor and I am certain my face turned several shades of red.  I was completely offended by his callous, unromantic, not to mention, ungodly response as to why he and I should be united in marriage!

Perhaps I said his comment was offensive, (I can’t remember now that so many years have passed) or maybe he saw the look of utter shock on my face, therefore, he proceeded to explain himself.

He, being a direct and straight to the point, kinda man, shared that you can be friends with each other and do all sorts of things together.  You can be emotionally, mentally and even spiritually connected, but one thing you can’t have according to God’s Word, is to be united physically.  The act of marriage, aka, getting me in bed, is ONLY reserved for a husband and wife.

But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.  1 Corinthians 7:2 (NLT)

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.  Song of Songs 8:4

Well, that made complete sense to me.  In a nutshell, the act of marriage is what makes a marriage different from any other relationship.  I took that concept and held onto it for the next 14 years allowing it to change me into a wife.

You see, I grew up as a tom boy.  Competitive sports, ponytails and sweaty clothes.  Certainly not a girlie-girl, and on top of all of that, I was a take charge kinda woman yet, coming to Christ and becoming a wife, changed all of that.  My heart was to learn how to be a God-fearing woman; or should I say, a feminine lady.

14 years ago today, my wedding day was the epitome of biblical femininity.

It was the second best day of my life.

The day I said, “I Do” to becoming his wife.

Surrendering my life into his hands; submitting to him until death do us part.

I expected him to lead me; lead me to Christ.

No, I didn’t walk down the aisle in a wedding pant-suit, rather, I wore a wedding dress.   A white, form-fitted, elegant dress.  Every ounce of it screamed femininity, along with what I wore underneath it. (wink)

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Engle

March 14, 1998

But when my babies came into the world they changed my body.  The girlish figure I retained until I was 30, was now turning into a woman’s.  The widening of my hips made it impossible to squeeze into my most favorite dress!

A dress that symbolized a

romantic love,

a bride,

vows,

the coming together physically,

and when the ceremony was over, the dress symbolized….a wife.

So, today as a wife I am nowhere near the same size I was on the day I got married!  I was a skinny mini thing back then, but I had to starve myself and workout endlessly to get that way.  Yet in spite of all of that, I was oh so self-conscious of standing bare-skinned before my new husband on our wedding night!  I know I am not alone in this, even the Shulamite woman who married Solomon had her insecurities as well!

Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me.   Song of Solomon 1:6

I soon realized on my honeymoon how the negative view I had of my body could hinder my marriage bed.  I didn't want those insecurities to come between us, so I continued to workout and watched what I ate in the years to come.

But when the babies were born, so did the chronic illnesses, the thyroid and hormone issues along with the physical limitations of my body.  Infections took place in my body that ravaged the marriage bed for a long period of time.  Family persecutions happened.  Homeschooling needed to fit into the schedule.  Financial turmoil made life difficult.  And of course there was outside ministry as well.

The weight came on and it didn't want to go off.  My metabolism came to a screeching halt.  More cellulite was added to my body, along with fat rolls, a muffin top, and a big fat baby pooch.  All areas that I wanted to cover up.  Why couldn't my feet get fat instead of my waist?  As well, I've come to realize that I am allergic to standing on my bathroom scale; it makes me depressed and there is no allergy medicine to reduce the reaction, except for working out and watching what I eat!

I am thankful for a husband who did not marry me for my outer appearance and for not complaining about my body over the years.   He married me because of the heart I have for the Lord and he knows that beauty is fleeting.   And when I get depressed about my body, he reminds me that my job is not to be a super model.  However, I know when I walked down the aisle that day, I was not walking down to marry Jesus!  No, I was marrying a man.  A visual, flesh-filled man.  A man who enjoys seeing my hair curled, lipstick on my lips, high heels on my feet, and sweet smelling perfume on my body.   Just like the day I walked down the aisle as his bride!  He's a typical husband wanting to enjoy the beauty of his wife.

So, even if I can't fit into my wedding dress anymore, I am still a wife.  A feminine lady who wants to be pleasing to her husband with her countenance and her outer appearance.  Regardless of how difficult life has been for me, I still try to look and act feminine for my man.

You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace.  How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, and the scent of your perfumes than all spices!  Your lips, O my spouse, drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.  Song of Songs 4:9-11

Here's a few things I have learned over the course of our 14 years of marriage:

1. Maintain a submissive attitude towards my husband.  As a result of this, he feels honored and I feel cherished.


2. The more feminine I become, the more manly he becomes.  Today I wear more lipstick and skirts and less sweatpants now that I am married.


3. I have learned not to over commit myself to outside ministry because it will hinder my marriage.  I just don't have time to do it all!


4. Homeschooling (or parenting, if you happen not to homeschool) is a black hole.  It can swallow me and my marriage up and it can become an idol in my life if I allow it.  Therefore, we will not bow down to the altar of academics.  I can't and shouldn't do everything and it's okay to let some things go.


5. My Beloved is my husband and that means he is my first ministry and comes before all others.  Exercising and eating right is a part of that ministry to him because he is to physically delight in my body, and I don't want to deprive him of that because of my insecurities.  I fail daily in these areas because who in their right would like to eat salad and veggies and limit their chocolate and dessert intake, especially when life gets hard and you start to recognize that you have become an emotional eater?  I'll let you know right now that I  will not be the first one to raise my hand on that one, but, nonetheless, I will keep trying!


6. If my marriage bed is hindered, so is my marriage.  This propels me to work on being physically attractive for my man even with all of my physical limitations, time constraints, or when I don't want to curl my hair because I am lazy!  Yet, I am mindful of keeping a balanced life and making sure my outer appearance does not become an idol as well.

Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?  Proverbs 5:18-20 (NLT)

No, taking care of my body is not easy and I could come up with every excuse in the book...and be justified in using it.  But the last thing I want to do is rob my husband (or myself!)  from the blessings of physical intimacy that we get from being married.  Yes, we have a great friendship, but I want a great marriage as well, and we all know what sets those two relationships apart....it's the act of marriage!

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. Song of Songs 2:6

So, do you struggle with maintaining a pleasing outer appearance for your husband as well?  What do you do to overcome your struggles?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Live a poured out life for the Master,

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When Your Faith is Deeper than Your Husband's

Has there ever been a time in your marriage that you had the faith like the Roman Centurion and your husband had the faith like Doubting Thomas?  When your faith was deep but his was shallow?  Or when you were on one side of the faith pendulum and he was on the other?

What is a wife to do if she finds herself in this situation?

Do you step forward and take over the spiritual things in the family?

Do you nag him about reading his Bible, attending church, doing family devotions,  or fill in the blank?

How do you make the right decisions for your family?

I hear these things often from Christian women; women who have a deep desire to follow the Lord and seek Him in all things, but their man might be distracted, or he's a little complacent, or maybe he's somewhat apathetic in his walk with Christ.  Many times women don't know how to deal with these issues in their marriages seeing how the man is to be the spiritual leader of the home.  So, what is she to do?  How do husband and wife come together spiritually with these differences?

So today I'm going to tackle these issues.

But first, let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about faith.

• We grow in our faith when we  hear the Word of God.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.  Romans 10:17 (NLT)

• God has given each one of us a measure of faith.
  

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Romans 12:3 (NIV)

• Some Believers have been given the spiritual gift of faith.

God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.  A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.  To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.  1 Corinthians 12:6-9 (NLT)

Keep these 3 aspects of faith in mind when you and your man do not see eye to eye.  Perhaps you have more time to dig deeper into the Scriptures or listen to Bible radio programs throughout the day and as a result, your faith is stronger.  Or maybe God has given you more faith than your husband.  If either of these things are the case, then have some humility and self-control and don't rub it in his face.  If you choose to have a sort of spiritual arrogance towards him, you'll push him away and that will cause him to not want to spiritually lead you at all.  Now, this may be soooo very difficult for you because you feel that he is not directing your family very well.

But let me remind you of something, sweet friend...

Because of your desire to know Christ better, your Savior KNOWS your situation!  He KNOWS your man needs to step up to the plate, but maybe, just maybe, the plate is covered by you and your man can't step up to it.  What da' ya think?  Is that maybe a possibility?

If this is an area that you struggle with in your marriage, here are some practical tips to help bridge the spiritual gap:

1. Keep going deep with the Lord.  Don't lessen up your pursuit of Christ just because your husband's faith is not as strong as yours.


2. Make sure you don't condemn, criticize, or nag your man for not having the depths of faith that you have.


3. If God gave you the spiritual gift of faith, my encouragement to you would be to memorize Romans 12:3.  God gave you that beautiful gift to bring Christ glory, not to make your husband feel like a worthless spiritual leader.


4. Learn to become more understanding and gracious when your husband's faith can't move a mountain.


5. Ask him how you can pray for him that day and then ask him if he can pray for you too, (this shows him softness, humility, and vulnerability).


6. Submit to God and surrender all areas of your life to Him....even when it is oh so difficult!  Let the Holy Spirit lead your husband spiritually, rather than you having the attitude that you need to lead your man.  God won't let you down.  He'll protect you and He'll be by your side.


7. Ask him questions with a loving heart!  Ask him how he wants to handle certain situations.  This shows him that you value his opinions and it shows him that you desire his leadership.  Plus,  it also helps him to step forward and lead!  This is a very small thing, but it can make a huge impact in your marriage.


8. Initiate spiritual conversations.  Ask him what he thought about the message given that day at church.  What he got out of it, etc. and be prepared to share your thoughts on it as well.  Ask him about things in the Bible that you don't understand (even if you think he won't know the answer!)  This might encourage him to open up the Bible and find the answers.  This is something you can do together and then discuss your findings.  All these things should be done in a non-threatening and non-judging way.


9. Rest in the Lord.  God has given your husband the grave responsibility of leading his family.  When life here on earth is over, your husband will have to stand before the Lord and give an account of what he has done.  It is better for you to be by your husband's side asking him how you can help him, rather than telling him he is doing it all wrong.


10. If you are married to an unbeliever....you can still do some of these things but you'll need to tailor it to fit your specific situation.  Some husbands are not angry towards God and therefore they may be a  little more open to what you have to share, but others can be hostile towards the Gospel message and a lot of these things you can't discuss with them.  Remember, it is your conduct that will win him over, not your words.

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.  1 Peter 3:1,2

Wise women fear the Lord.  Give honor to Christ by submitting to the spiritual leadership of your husband.

Live a poured out life for the Master,

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15 Tips to Becoming Frugal and Creative in the Kitchen

I don't like to cook.  Never have.  Even as a young girl is was not my thing and it's still not my thing today and now I am in my 40's.  However, because I want to honor the Lord in all that I do, I cook for my family regardless of how I feel.

When I was newly married, I had a rude awakening seeing how I did not know how to cook and yet that was my role. I managed to get by with preparing the basics like pasta or food in a box, but that was about all I knew how to do and quite frankly, that was all I was really interested in doing.  But then I became ill and my Clinical Nutritionist put me on a strict diet of just protein (meat) and veggies.  Say what, Doc?  Um, I don't know how to cook meat!  And where's the sugar and carbs?  But, I didn't have much of a choice seeing how this was for my health.  So I learned and taught myself.... and there where many, many meals of undercooked chicken and overcooked, dry pot roast!

After 1 1/2 years of a diet like that, I moved into the organic-whole foods way of life.  There I had to learn to purchase and cook new and unusual types of foods still because of my health.  Spelt flour?  What is it?  Will it work in chocolate chip cookies?

Where do I find these unique foods? What do you mean I have to drive to a store that is 30 minutes from my home? You mean to tell me these foods are not sold in the market right around the corner from my house?

So I drove the distance so I could prepare nasty, disgusting dishes, nutritious whole foods for my family.  I even learned how and why to sprout grains and nuts.  I felt like a regular pioneer woman!

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A few years later I learned that I needed to eat gluten-free.  You have got to be kidding me!  I was never going to get out of the kitchen.  You might as well just chain me to the stinkin' stove!

But eating gluten-free made me feel so much better so I was willing to cook and eat the dense, dry, and tasteless breads that you could choke on.

My trappings in the kitchen went on for years.  It just became part of my life that I couldn't get away from so I learned how to make all these various types of foods in the quickest way possible so I could get out of prison as fast as I could!  All the while I'm preparing alternate dishes so the rest of my family (husband) didn't have to eat that stuff!  (Nor did he need to.)

Even though my journey with preparing foods has not been easy nor enjoyable, the Lord has been with me every step of 'I can't believe this is my life' sorta way, and I believe because of what I have gone through in my past, it has helped me with my present, anemic financial situation.  After all, I am used to eating unappetizing meals, foods that I don't care for, so I guess it's all in one's perspective. :)

When our finances became an issue, I had to figure out how to prepare some of these foods as inexpensively as possible.  Once again, I needed to learn how to be a creative homemaker for a new stage in our life.

So here are some basic cost saving tips for you and your situation.  Pick and choose what might help you and apply a few tips at a time so you don't get overwhelmed.  For some, this list may seem very basic because you have been doing these things for years.  If that is the case and you have more ideas, please leave me a comment so we can glean from your experience.

1. Have a budget and stick to it.  For those of you that have a husband that is self-employed, I know having a budget is hard because you never know how much money he'll bring in that month (if any!)  I understand and I'm in the same boat, but we still have a set amount and if there is a time when the electricity might get turned off because a bill needs to be paid that day :) hmmm, I have been there as well, I find what I can in the cupboard, and we pay the bill.  And when there is money, I spend as little as possible to feed our family until the Lord provides more work for my man.  Which He always does by the way.  I have yet to lose weight because we did not have enough food in our house!  It may have not been our favorite food, but it is food nonetheless.


2. Plan your menus in advance.  I usually plan mine once a week and get everything  I need so I am not wasting my time and gas heading out the door over and over again.  Plus, it prevents the tendency of grabbing expensive fast food because you were unprepared to feed your family, (if that is even an option for your family).


3. Cut out boxed meals and prepared sauces and learn to make a lot of recipes from scratch.  This will usually save you money plus it's a lot healthier for you.


4. Re-purpose leftovers as much as you can.  In other words, try not to let any food go to waste.  For example, I had a recipe that called for heavy cream the other day (which is quite pricey), but I didn't need to use the full amount in the carton.  So instead of it going bad as it sat in the back of the fridge without a purpose for it, I designated the rest of it to be used for fresh whip cream to go with waffles.  That was a treat for my family!


5. Reduce your amount of meat consumption.  We buy some meat, but not a lot because meat is expensive.  Many of our meals consist of beans and rice which is a complete protein.


6. Start to incorporate soups made from scratch into your menu.  They are nutritious and affordable.


7. Cut out or limit juices and serve your family water instead.  Our children don't need the extra sugar anyways and our bodies probably need more water intake as it is.


8. Cut out or limit sweets and junk food.  This is such a difficult one for us because we LOVE our desserts!  It all depends on how much money we have as to whether there are sweets in our house or not.


9. Portion out your food for your meals.  For example, I usually buy 1 pkg. of turkey bacon per week and with that package I utilize the meat for a morning breakfast or two, and then I save a portion to make BLT's one day for either lunch or dinner.  My family has learned to not consume all of the meat in one sitting because I re-portion the leftovers.  And, no, they have never left the table hungry. :)


10. When it's gone, it's gone-don't buy more.  This can be milk, bread, fruit, etc.  We do without and wait until the following week to buy more.  We have never been in a situation where we had absolutely no food in the house.  On many occasions we've had eggs for dinner and no one has died from this!


11. It's not a big deal if you don't have enough money for a side dish or a salad to go with dinner.  We've had meals absent of these things often!


12. Use coupons as much as you can or shop at bargain discount stores.  I know in my area a few of the large discount stores such as Target and Wal-Mart are now offering a grocery section in their stores and many times their items are cheaper than a regular grocery store.  Know your products and know their prices so when you are out you can make wise, low-cost choices.  But also keep in mind the rising fuel costs, in other words, don't just drive there so you can save $0.20 on tomato sauce.  In my neck of the woods, the price of fuel is well over $4.00 per gallon so I don't drive around town from store to store like I used to because of the additional costs I would incur.


13. Start your own garden.  We have had a few herb plants in the past, but we have moved too often for us to have a large garden.  This is something that I have been wanting to do and hopefully this year we can start one if we have the extra funds.  Having a garden will help you save money on your produce.  Check out Deep Roots at Home:  Planning the Family Garden who has great ideas for starting one.


14. Don't be afraid to fail.  Over the years I have thrown out many inedible meals.  Remember that part of your calling is to care for your family and many women in our society have not been taught the basics of homemaking- let alone how to cook frugally.  Have fun learning and get over your fears.


15. Here's the best tip that I can give you and the one you need to remember the most!  The Lord is with you.  He knows your needs.  He will not forsake you.  He is strengthening you and growing your faith.  Keep your eyes turned towards heaven; this will help you have a grateful spirit, rather than a discontented heart.  Be mindful of the fact that your situation can always be worse, and don't forget to thank Him for the food He has provided for you!

Even though I spent many years in the kitchen as I learned to become a creative homemaker, it is not something that I am passionate in sharing with others.  However, I wanted to address one of my readers questions about keeping our food costs down based on my recent post, A Working Wife, Welfare, or a Wild Faith?  I am passionate about writing on faith, marriage, and deepening your walk with the Lord, and I won't do as nearly a good of job of some others who have a passion for homemaking, so I have included some wonderful sites below that I think you can benefit from.  These are all godly woman who have a heart for what they share, and they'll go much deeper on being a creative homemaking than I will!

Stacy Makes Cents:  10 Easy Ways to Cut Costs in the Kitchen

Stacy Makes Cents:  8 Ways to Use Up Leftover Produce  (This post is written from a guest blogger, The Humbled Homemaker who writes on various homemaking topics.  You can find some good saving tips on her site as well, especially if you have younger children.

Money Saving Mom:  31 Weeks to a Better Grocery Budget Series

Heavenly Homemakers:  Very Limited Income for Real Food Purchases Being that I have health issues that require me to eat healthier, I highly recommend this site!  Even if you don't have health issues today and you can eat a lot of processed food.....just be careful to not take your health for granted.  I realize that whole foods can sometimes be more expensive than processed, but there's a saying and it goes like this:  "You can either pay the farmer now or the doctor later."

I hope what I have shared will help you in your journey!

Live a poured out life for the Master,

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The Good Samaritan Wife and a Marital Oneness Monday Link Up

Sometimes our men get hurt.  They get attacked.  They get beaten and stole from.  They don't know where to turn, they fall, and they don't know how to get up.   Some feel like they are left for dead in their circumstances.

I recently read the story of the Good Samaritan, a parable that I have read many times before, but while I read it this time, the Holy Spirit pressed upon my heart how similar the husband/wife relationship could be to this well-known parable.

Let's take a look:

A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road."  Luke 10:30

A husband can sometimes take the wrong path in life and/or he can travel at the wrong time.  This certainly could've been the case of the Jew as he was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho on that fateful day.

Or maybe the Jewish man traveled the right path at the right time but the Lord allowed those things to happen to him.  The same could be said of our husbands as they have encountered attacks- thieves that have stolen from them, beat them, and left them for dead by the side of the road.

In each marriage, attacks or adversities can all look different.  They can have debilitating health issues, financial hardships, a lost way, a broken or difficult relationship, apathy, and/or spiritual despair, etc. All these things can leave our husbands feeling like they are crippled, laying by the side of the road.

And as each traveler came by in the Jewish man's story, they each responded to the hurt man in a different way.  As I read that verse I thought about how I, as a wife, could respond to my husband when he goes through his adversities.

By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.  A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side."Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.  Luke 10:30-32

The Priest walked by and saw him, but kept on walking.

As my husband goes through his troubles, I can think that he is just fine and he has no need of me, so I move on with my own agenda, to do list, and plans for my day, and in doing so, I represent the Priest's actions in this story.

Then there's the Temple assistant (also known as a Levite, in other versions), he walked over to the man, but then he too, kept on walking.

I can take a look at my husband and see that he is hurting, but then decide that I am too busy to stop what I am doing, therefore, I would be no different than the Temple assistant.

Here's what's so interesting about these guys-- These men were Jews, as was the hurt man- they were their own people.  Furthermore, both these men were known as 'religious'/spiritual people.

Yet, both these men were more concerned with themselves and their selfish pursuits that they did not stop to take the time to minister to this hurting and dying man.

Here's a parallel--I am my husband's wife.  I bear his last name.  I am his family.  Plus, I am a spiritual, God-fearing woman.  From outer appearances, I could look like and respond  just like the Priest and the Temple assistant did.

So, I did a heart check and asked myself a few questions as I reflected on the times when my husband has faced difficulties:

• Are there times in my own life when I feel that my husband can weather the storms without me?


• Are there times when I don't want to physically serve him because I would rather serve my own selfish desires?


• Are there times when I don't know how to help him but he just needs my listening ear, yet I am too busy and distracted to give him my attention and the honor he deserves?


• Are there times when I feel like he has made poor choices and taken the wrong path, and I am critical and condemning towards him, rather than forgiving and gracious?


• Or are there times when he just needs my countenance to be one of thankfulness and contentment rather than a complaining and disrespectful attitude?

"Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.  Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.  Luke 10:33, 34

Then the hero enters in on the scene.....

Yep, you read that right, a despised man; a man that was at odds with the Jews.   I don't know about you but when someone despises me, the last thing I want to do is minister to that person.  In fact, my flesh wants to despise them back!

But what does the despised man do?  He ministers to a complete stranger giving of his own wine to disinfect the wounds, giving of his own oil to bring healing, and then he places him on his donkey and walks him to a nearby inn.  There he leaves the man in good care with an innkeeper, tells him to take care of him, then he pays the bill.

I don't think it was easy for the Good Samaritan to give of himself and his possessions for a complete stranger, but what I love about this parable is that just before Jesus told this story, this was the reason why:

"'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Luke 10:27

I can't help but think about the Good Samaritan Wife in this scenario-- one who can be married to a believer, or a man that is barely believing, or even an unbeliever.  In any of those situations, she can be at odds with her man, so much so that she is losing and/or has lost respect for him (almost despising him), yet she ministers to her husband anyways, showing him mercy, love, and compassion.  That certainly wouldn't be an easy task to do, but what Jesus wants from us is to love our husbands, (which is our neighbor), as ourselves.

When life becomes hard for my man, I can only hope to apply the Good Samaritan Principle with my closest neighbor, you know, the one I share my mattress, sheets and blankets with!  I can't find a closer neighbor than that!

Perhaps you don't know how to bandage up your man's wounds and minister to him.  That's okay, just take him to The Innkeeper; Jesus Christ.  Let the Holy Spirit penetrate your heart and guide you, and even if you don't know what to say, He understandings your groanings.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Romans 8:26

How about you?  Are you willing to do your best to become like the Good Samaritan Wife in your own marriage as you minister to your man?  I do hope so!

Live a poured out life for the Master,

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The Alabaster Jar Out Loud- Radio Show Update

Every few weeks my Beloved and I tape a new radio show, but last week we had difficulties on two separate occasions and we were unable to tape our show.  After some investigation, we found out that the internet was in high use and that is what deterred us from our taping.  Because our phone system is over the internet (free, I might add :)) we are at the mercy of how much or should I say, how little traffic is on the internet in order for our taping to work.  We quickly realized that doing a live show in the future was NOT an option because there is no way of telling how busy the internet would be at any given time.

Therefore, we have made the decision to not move forward on our existing platform.  We will continue to do some research to see what else is available and we might even just tape our own shows as time permits and make them available to you as a podcast.  Don't ask me how any of that works....that's all my Beloved's idea!  I'll just make sure that you get the information and make it as technically easy as possible for you to listen in.

When both my Beloved and myself do a taping, of course those won't be as frequent as a blog post, seeing how it is much more difficult to find the time for two people to sit down, rather than just one.  Plus, my man needs to feed us and keep a roof over our head and that ministry comes first.  I am sure you can understand.

In the meantime, I will continue to write and I might even do a few videos as well.  (I guess now I'll have to do my hair and makeup.)  Even though I was hoping not to go down the video path, I believe doing  a short video from time to time will help me cover some those difficult-to-write-on topics.

I still have some questions that my readers have asked me and I did not get the chance to answer them via the radio program, sooooo I will figure out some other way to address them.  (By the way, my favorite time to write is when a reader asks a question!  I'm not sure why, I guess that's just how I am bent.)

Even though the radio program did not work out they way we had hoped, thanks for journeying with us in this endeavor.  Perhaps the Lord just wanted to see if we would be obedient like Abraham was when he asked him to sacrifice his son.