Not by works of righteousness which we have done, butaccording to his mercy he saved us, by the washingof regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Titus 3:5
“I should have photographed your shoes before I started.” Sosaid a shoe shine man at the Washington National Airport. I hadhurriedly left home on church work and had neglected to clean myshoes. While at the airport, I asked about a shoe shine. The manwas not sure he wanted to tackle such an awesome job, but with anagreement to pay a little more, he consented.
He made that comment after he had done a very nice job. Hewas obviously pleased with his efforts. I had to agree, the shoeshad been improved 100%.
I wonder, has my life improved 100% since the day Jesus cameinto my heart and cleansed my soul? I look back at my unsaved,ugly, sin-stained life. The stains were more noticeable than the oneson my shoes. The deliverance and regeneration reaches to this day.How I rejoice at the remembrance of that experience with God andthe difference it made in my mind, my heart, and my life.
Am I allowing God to keep me pure and spotless? Am I carefulto maintain good works? Have I praised God for doing the “shoeshine” on my heart? It is too awful to consider what would havebeen my lot, had God not provided a plan for my soul. I shudder tothink of the calamity that would have befallen me, had I notresponded to His call. When I consider the many failures I havemade because of being in this body, I lift my voice in praise to myGod.
Why be high-minded, as though we are something, when it isGod who has changed us? Iwould be embarrassed if Godhad photographed my lifebefore I became His child. ButHe has cast my sins into the seaof forgetfulness.
Allan Miller, Sarcoxie, MO
Jesus cleanses and makes men holy.
Bible Reading: Titus 3
One Year Bible Reading Plan:
1 Thessalonians 1
Isaiah 50—52
Note: The term *sea of forgetfulness is not in the bible*. God has promised that He will not remember our sins against us anymore, but God never forgets them. There is a big difference between “forgetting” and “not remembering them against us”.J
Ok I promised a few days ago that I would introduce you all to another animal of the property that just seemed to adopt us, but truly I think its the other way around because she is just now getting used to us and will follow us around to see what we are up too on "her land". So without further ado here is our newest adoption....
TRISKET
(we named her that as the sellers only called her pony)
She is quite wet from being out in the rain all day and night, and will only go into her makeshift pen, when we go to feed her, even if we keep the gate open.... such a silly girl...
For give me if someone posted a recipe I missed it but I'm looking for a quick easy recipe to make to sell for the apple/pumpkin fest this weekend.. Thanks
I so enjoy talking with moms about ways they find to be frugal while raising their families. Some topics that come to mind are toys, games, clothes, shoes, curriculum, field trips, chores, art projects, and car schooling. Here are some tips on stretching your dollar with children from my vault.
Kids only require 2 glasses of milk a day. Less if they are eating cheese within the same day. Instead of giving milk every time they ask for a drink (or juice for that matter) give them water. It is good for them; it's FREE; and it creates an excellent health habit for their future.
Next time you make pancakes, make extra. You can freeze these and reheat in the toaster. Pancakes rarely last out the day in our home, unless I make a Pancake Cooking Fest. Why? I have taught my kids to use pancakes for treats. Spread on jam, peanut butter, honey, or fluff. Make chocolate chip pancakes and serve the leftovers later in the day cold.
Fresh fruit and veggies are less expensive than premade processed snacks AND they pack a powerful nutritional punch. Get kids to eat these as snacks by cutting them into small pieces. My kids especially love veggies cut on an angle. Kids, who aren't required to eat fresh food on a regular basis, often don't develop a taste for it.
Buy nuts in bulk at a whole foods or bulk store. These are a great source of protein, and your kids will enjoy the crunch.
Change these nuts into an even more fun snack by baking in the toaster oven with honey or brown sugar drizzled on top.
Make your own granola. It is not only so easy, but it is SOOOO CHEAP! It keeps for a long time, travels well, and is a great source of nutrition.
Make homemade versions of playdoh, glue, and paper mache paste.
Try thrift stores for play shoes. You can often buy a few pairs for the price of one new pair (great if you have a fashion conscious child).
If you don't want the kids to take toys outside, thrift stores again, come in handy for cheap options.
Check your local stores for end of the season items at rock bottom prices. I always go to Old Navy the week after Halloween for really cheap costumes. My kids have a HUGE box full of dress up clothes that probably cost me no more than $20....mind you some of the costumes have been around since my oldest was a littleton (he's 15 now). Oh dear, there are even a couple of costumes left from when I was a kid!
Kids begging for an evening treat, try making smoothies. It's not just a good way to get your kids to eat more fruit; it is an excellent way to use up fruit that is past its prime, thus saving you from throwing it out. Also great for breakfast on the go!
Use old newborn baby clothes for dolls.
Instead of buying toys for gifts, consider making some. I have actually done a few Christmases in which I have made all the toys by hand (i.e doll high chair, horse head on a stick, doll house, blocks, fun pillow cases, puppets, puppet stage, etc) Start by looking around your home for items that you would like to use for a cause and let your creative mind go to work on how to turn them into something special for your children.
Being frugal with children can be difficult at times. Don't fret if you give in and buy a DVD from time to time. Like any other area of saving, if you are keeping your goal and your focus on being a good steward of your money, a splurge here or there is nothing more than that.
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking.
For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visither blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!
I know most people do their 'spring cleaning' in the spring, but I am just in the mood to declutter...I have more 'stuff' than any one person needs...now let me add... this is not stuff I purchased, but when I moved here, to my dads house and they moved to Costa Rica, they did not take everything they owned, the gave it to me...so that meant not only did I have my own things, but I also 'inherited' some of their things...they have really nice things and some I have found extremely useful but some I haven't...I have some of my own things I have not unpacked in the year I have lived here...soooooo this tells me if I can have 'stuff' for a year and never look at it, I must not need it....right?...So over the next few days I am unpacking my boxes, going through cabinets, closets and anywhere else I can find and purge this stuff...Its so freeing...I have in the past tried to do this, but I kept hanging on to stuff...NOT THIS TIME! It all must go...let me give you an example...I had my own coffee pot(bunn brand) when I moved here....They also had one and left it....sooooo that gave me 2...who really needs 2 bunn coffee makers? No one! I had a desk when I moved here, they left me 2, we only have 1 desktop computer so who needs 3 desks??? Again, No one! Well, unless you have 3 people who need seperate desk, but in my case we don't...that is just the very tip of the ice berg here...there is so much stuff...its almost overwhelming...So that is why I am decluttering this week and have a massive garage sale...
I also have some homeschool curriculum for sale I will be listing here in a few days...keep watch if you are looking for something, I may have it!
I know we all must be thinking in the same direction... I mean we are just about a month away from Thanksgiving and 2 from Christmas. I am gearing up towards both and I am sure you are too.
So when you prepare your Holiday meals what are the dishes you always make?
Is there something unusual, something that is not a traditional item? Something you would like to share with other readers?
For our Holiday meals, we have the traditional ham and turkey. Sweet Potatoes, cranberry relish, corn, beans... the usual.
This year, I want to bring something a bit unusual. When I say bring, I have never had a big Holiday dinner at my home... sad, I know. We have always went to my Mom's and my husbands grandmothers for our dinner... Mom fixes the meat and we bring the fixings.
So share with us, what do you make for your dinners?
As usual, I will compile a list afterwards of everyones menu and recipes that have been provided.
From my Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger Heritage Acres Farm
So I gained the advantage yesterday by getting "caught up" on my list-o-things-to-do!
Today I will make a bank dep, run to the library and drop off old books, pick up new ones, make a few phones calls to take care of some business. Come home plant my bulbs, mulch the flower beds, kill the weeds around the trim.
Wa la. The side flower bed will be done.
On to the fruit trees.
I heavily mulched those 2 weeks ago, so they are good for the winter. I need to wrap the trunks, and tie them down so the wind doesn't hurt them.
That won't take but maybe an hour or so to accomplish.
Then to the garden. Poor disaster that it is.
I need to start ripping out the dead stuff.
Before I go totally crazy I am going to take photos of the weeds and figure out 'what they are' and 'what in the soil makes them grow so well' so I can see what is my soil rich in, and what is my soil deficient in, and adjust accordingly. Then I am going to rip them all out and burn them.
I will continue to pick tomatoes as long the weather will allow.
My diary said that last year, Oct 22nd was the first "killing" frost. I lost everything that night. So it's getting close.
I canned 7 quarts of tomatoes yesterday, and will probably do about the same today.
I don't know what to do about the egg plants. They feel very firm, but they have hung on the plants for WEEKS.........I guess I am not meant to grow egg plant. HA HA.
I need to finish mowing the back yard, trim and weed wack. Then get out to the front. This will be the last mow of the season.
I am trying to get the outside finished for the winter.
I need to make a place for fire wood. Something to get it off the ground and let air circulate under it so that it will dry. I just need to figure out what to do.
I have a busy day ahead of me.......so I better get at it.
We are truly blessed! We have many things to be thankful for. This evening good food was on our list of thankful things. My friend is one of the best vegetarian cooks around and she planned a beautiful "Canadian" Thanksgiving dinner for all the people headed to AFRICA. Se, none of us will be home to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, so Jeannie decided to feed all of us a fantastic dinner before we left and it just happens to be Canadian Thanksgiving... and a few us - my family in particular, are Canadian . It was just beautiful and very tasty. There were a lot of jokes going around about this being our "last supper". It was a fun get together.
There was mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, Joe's holiday casserol, yams, gluten steaks, salads, and buns. For dessert there was apple pie and pumpkin pie and birthday cake for Vanessa.
After the meal, while some cleaned up the dishes and others worked on finishing the packing, the kids started to get a little silly...
You wouldn't believe it, but the SOME of the adults couldn't help but join in the fun!!!
And before you know it, there was whip cream everywhere!
I think we might be just a tad tired... or something!
I am a stay-at-home, Christian homeschooling mom. My husband and I have been married for 19 years. We have been blessed with three kids,ages 18, 10 and 8. We live on a family farm and have several animals. I`m just a simple farm gal, who loves her God, family, friends and life.
Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.
