Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Late again!

 

 Late again to the Hodgepodge...  Again this week, we've been out of town for a few days, but I'm still  going to jump in and answer these questions from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.   They look like especially good ones this week.  Here goes!

1. What does the word values mean to you personally? Where did your values come from? What are some of the values that have guided you throughout your life? 

Here's the definition from my computer's dictionary:


I think that some of my values came from my parents: patriotism, loving God; loving one's neighbor; kindness, generosity -- and these have guided me through life.  As a believer in Christ, more of my values come from God's Word, the Bible -- I seek to live my life in a way that is pleasing to Him.  As I look to Him,  He gives the necessary guidance for the large and small issues of life.

Graphic from Baptist Bible Hour

2. Your favorite vanilla flavored something? 

I guess probably homemade vanilla ice cream. 

3. What's something you've seen/done recently that you found to be very difficult, very confusing, very helpful, very interesting, or very special. Elaborate. 

Hmmm ....  I volunteered for a computer task that at first seemed very confusing.  I persevered and figured it out, however, and got it done.  The people I was doing this for found it very helpful.  And I was reminded again that ...

4. Something you own and love that is violet in color? 

I own very few things that color.  I did have a purple chenille sweater that I loved, but it fell apart long ago.  I have a faded purple shirt that I also like a lot, but it probably isn't going to last much longer either.  The wildflowers seen below are much more reliable.


5. Do you have vacation plans on the calendar this summer? Tell us more. 

Not sure that we will go anywhere on vacation, though now that Amtrak has lifted their mask rule, we just might.   But our daughter and family from out West plan to come here this summer.  My daughter and some of the kids came for a brief visit in 2019, but our son-in-law hasn't been here since 2012.  The younger two children have never been to New Hampshire.  The photo below is from that 2019 visit, when we hiked around a nearby bog, and many of the hikers (my daughter included) decided to wear stuffed animals on the walk.  It will be fun to have them here this summer, even if only for a couple of weeks.


6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 These pretty flowers are blooming outside the place we were staying earlier this week while volunteering at a Christian camp to help get it ready for the summer.


  And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?


Monday, April 25, 2022

One New Thing ....

 


 I alluded to this One New Thing in last week's Hodgepodge post.   When Market Basket  came to our town in 2020,  it was a good thing we'd been hoping for, for a long time.  Great prices.  I also knew, having shopped in other Market Basket locations, that they offered reduced prices on ground beef.  They freeze it when it gets close to the expiration date and one buys it frozen.

What I didn't know is that they also offer reduced prices on bakery items, deli meat ends, and even produce!   Only recently have I found the areas where these items are located.

I've found some good buys on reduced price bread and rolls.  In the deli meat ends, I've found turkey and ham that can then be sliced to use in sandwiches or cubed to use in casseroles,  egg dishes, etc.

But the produce section is where I've found the very best deals, like a bag of 4 avocados for 99¢, a bag of vine ripened tomatoes for $1.  And my very best deal so far has been a bag of 6 or 7 Minneolas for $1.45! 


 To be honest, when I picked them up, I thought they were oranges.  I knew navel oranges were running 99¢ apiece, so this seemed like a really great deal.  Was it ever! ๐Ÿ˜Š

These were the absolute best oranges I have ever tasted!   Easy to peel, no seeds, and so flavorful!   So I set out to learn a little more about Minneolas.  Here's what I found; info from Tricia Christensen.

"The Minneola tangelo is a specific hybrid citrus fruit that is made by crossing the Duncan or Bowen grapefruit and the “Darcy” variety of tangerine, also called a mandarin orange. The cross was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, in Florida, and was first released for sale in 1931. The fruit combines the sweetness of the mandarin with the tart flavors of the grapefruit, and it is highly prized for its juiciness and combination of sweet/sour flavors."

I found the information from Tricia Christensen here:  What is a Minneola Tangelo?

 And here's more:  "As tangelos go, the Minneola tends to be pretty large and is usually bell or pear-shaped. Diameter of the fruit averages about 3 inches (7.62 cm), though some can grow a bit larger. The peel is somewhat thin, but like most tangelos and mandarin oranges, it is pretty easy to peel. Many people like the fact that the fruit doesn’t have very many seeds, usually about ten on average, so they’re easy to avoid.". 

The ones I sampled had no seeds at all!

So there is my most recent one new thing!  Have you ever tasted a Minneola?  Does your supermarket offer reduced produce?

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture post!    As mentioned previously, I worked on a Bible study of Ephesians for the month of January 2022 and used that study to write some Sunday Scripture posts for the remainder of the winter.    I posted these through the end of March and still have a few more to share, so I'm going to continue for awhile, making some springier graphics to use with them.

The study I've been working on is the Ephesians Bible study from Good Morning Girls.   For today's lesson, we were to look at Ephesians 5:15-20, but I chose to write out and SOAP verses 15-17.  Here we go:

S= "See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
"Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."  (Ephesians 5:15-17)

O=  These verses are still part of the section titled by Scofield (in the Scofield Study Bible) "The walk of the believer as God's dear child."  Verses 18-20 are part of a section titled "The inner life of the Spirit-filled believer."   

I've heard it said that walking circumspectly means "looking all around" to watch carefully where we are going.  We are to walk carefully and use our time wisely because of the evil day in which we live, seeking God's wisdom and His will for every day of our lives.  If we read on in this chapter, we see that we are to be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always to God for all things.

A= As I've passed the biblical milestone of "threescore years and ten" (Psalm 90:10), I've become much more conscious of trying to use my time wisely -- and also more conscious of the importance of walking circumspectly.  I have truly sought God's will and wisdom daily.  Yet there are always things waiting to trip me up and cause me to veer off course.  I need to pay attention to walking in the Spirit.  I know it would also help if I would read a Proverb every day and immerse myself in the wisdom found there.

P= "Lord, I thank You that You know our hearts.  Over the course of my Christian life, I have seen You help me, seen You give me wisdom and strength as I have sought to walk wisely and circumspectly.  And yet You know that there have been many times when even then I've felt unwise, unsure if I'm walking in the right direction.  I thank You for the guidance and reassurance You have given at those times.  I pray that You will help me to continue walking wisely, today and every day.  I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

That's our simple study for today.  Walk wisely, everyone!


 

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Late to the Hodgepodge

 

Yes, I'm late to the Hodgepodge.  We've been out of town for a few days, but I'm going to jump in and answer these questions from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.   Here goes!

1. What's something you wish you had spent more time doing when you were younger? Explain. 

Hmmm ... how much younger? I wish I had spent more time keeping my home decluttered and organized so that I would not need to be tackling that task now.  I attempted it, but failed miserably.

2. Who inspires you to be better? Tell us how. 

Lots of people.   Some of my in-person friends who are clearly more generous and thoughtful than I.  My two daughters and my daughter-of-the-heart, Jenn, who are all such wonderful moms.  My friend Denise, who inspires me with every blog post that she writes.  I have also been blessed to meet Denise in person and to hear her speak at a ladies' retreat.  Writer Elizabeth George, whose books have helped me to grow spiritually and in character.  



3. Share a money saving tip with us. 

Find a supermarket that offers markdowns on produce, bakery, meat,  and deli items.  The market we most often shop at does this, as we have only recently discovered.  I got a bag of 4 vine-ripened tomatoes for only $1, and a bag of wonderful oranges (I think there were 6 in the bag) for only $1.45.  The reduced-price bananas often are barely freckled,  and I once found a bag of 3 avocados that were in perfect condition for 99¢!

4. It's National Garlic Day...are you a fan? Your favorite dish that includes garlic? 

Oh yes, definitely a fan of garlic! One of my favorite recipes that uses garlic is this one:

GARLIC LIME CHICKEN

1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup cider vinegar
6 garlic cloves, minced (or equivalent amount of jarred minced garlic)
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 Tblsp. dried coriander
2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
4 to 6 bone-in chicken breast halves
1 to 2 Tblsp. vegetable oil

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first 8 ingredients. Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat chicken with marinade. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Discard marinade. In a nonstick skillet, heat the oil and brown the chicken on all sides. Transfer to a greased 15 x 10-inch baking pan. Bake chicken, uncovered, at 375ยบ for 30 to 35 minutes or until the juices run clear.  (If preferred, this can also be grilled, for approximately the same amount of time.)

Yield : 4 to 8 servings 

I've shared this with the Hodgepodge before, but it's a keeper recipe if you enjoy garlic.


 5. Would you describe yourself as decisive or indecisive. Elaborate. 

In general,  I'd describe myself as decisive.  I can make decisions on fairly important matters relatively quickly, and even decisions like what to order off a menu or what to serve for a particular occasion.   I think really the only area where I tend to be indecisive is deciding what to wear, sometimes.  Other times it's easy.

One easy decision has been to spend part of our spring volunteering at The Wilds of New England, from whence this photo came, last spring.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So thankful that my mother-in-law seems to be settling in well at the nursing home where she is currently receiving rehab.  She's getting great care and making great progress!  We went to see her last week on a beautiful day and were able to take her, and her camera, outdoors for a nice long walk around the grounds.

And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Why Easter Matters, part 2

 

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

As mentioned yesterday, years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls and posted just once about it.  Since today is Easter Sunday, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage I'm using today is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 14.

S= "For I delivered unto you first that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures ...
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 14)

O=  C.I. Scofield notes concerning these verses: the apostle outlines the Gospel of God's grace.  1) It concerns a Person --the Christ of the Scriptures and history.  2) It concerns His death -- 'for our sins according to the Scriptures.'  And 3) It concerns His resurrection -- likewise 'according to the Scriptures.'  His burial is asserted as the evidence of His death; and that He was seen alive [v.5] is declared as the proof of His resurrection."

But if Christ is not risen -- if there was no resurrection -- then Paul's preaching this Gospel was in vain; it accomplished nothing.  Our faith would also be vain -- we would still be in our sins (v.17).

A=  What a huge blessing that the Gospel is true!  Jesus did die, but He did rise from the dead. He is risen, as He said!  So, instead of being in vain, my faith is living and real.  As Scofield comments on Hebrews 11: "The essence of faith consists in believing and receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in that God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent which receives Him as Lord and Savior and impels to loving obedience and good works."

P=  "Lord, I thank You so much for the clarity of Your Word and the simplicity of the Gospel.  I praise You that Jesus not only died for my sin, but that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  Truly, if Jesus had not risen, my faith would be in vain. I would still be in my sins.  There would be nothing to celebrate. 
"But Jesus did rise again, just as He said He would.  And thus my faith can be alive, vibrant, and real, making a difference every day of my life.  Help me to communicate the reality of my faith to those who don't know You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Wishing all of my readers a truly blessed Easter!

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Why Easter Matters

 

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls.  Back then, I posted just once about it.  Since Easter is coming up tomorrow, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage I'm using today is Isaiah 53:4-6.

S=  "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. 
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  (Isaiah 53:4-6)

O= Here we see what Christ has done for us in His sacrificial death.  We also see what we have done:

* Like sheep, we have all gone astray (v.6);
* Every one of us has turned to his or her own way (v.6);
* We have esteemed Christ to be "stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" (v. 4).

BUT ...

* Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (v.4);
* He was wounded for our transgressions (v.5);
* He was bruised for our iniquities (v.5);
* The chastisement for our peace was upon Him (v.5);
* With His stripes we are healed (v.5)'
* The Lord has laid our iniquity on Him (v.6).

A= This certainly shows a dramatic contrast between what I have done and am prone to do, and what Christ has done for me.  Prior to salvation I certainly did go astray and wanted to walk my own way.  Even after salvation, we are prone to want our own way and to turn aside from the way in which God would have us to walk.

Yet He has done so much for me -- borne my griefs, carried my sorrows, has been wounded and bruised for my transgressions and iniquities, has been chastised that I might have peace, has healed me with His stripes.  How unappreciative I can be!

P= "Lord, I can never thank and praise You enough for all You have done for me.  You have borne my griefs.  You have carried my sorrows.  You were wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities.  You bore the chastisement of a holy God so I might have peace with Him.  My iniquity has been laid upon you, and I've been healed with Your stripes.  Such an amazing, incredible sacrifice is almost beyond my comprehension.

"Truly, as the songwriter has said, how can I do less than give You my best and live for You completely, after all You've done for me?  Help me not to want my own way or to go astray in any way, but to walk as You wold have me to, consistently.  I thank You for all You have done and all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Easter week hodgepodge

 

 Yes, it's Wednesday again, and time for the Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  This week, the Hodgepodge questions revolve around the themes of Easter and Tax Day. 

 1. Do you celebrate Easter? If so what are your plans this year? Did you have egg hunts as a kid? 

We do celebrate Easter, wholeheartedly.  We will have an early, outdoor service at church, followed by a breakfast together.  Then an Easter service which I am sure will be a blessing, replete with triumphant Scripture and music.   Easter dinner will be shared with our daughter and family.  We have only just begun to talk Easter menu.  Ham is a given, but the other details have not yet been worked out.

Egg hunts -- we didn't have them when I was a kid.  In our family, that was likely because at least two, maybe three, of the kids didn't like eggs.  There were no plastic eggs to fill with candy back in the 1950s.  What my mother did do was to hide jelly beans all around the living and dining areas.  We older kids were not allowed to take the jelly beans from low windowsills, so there would still be some there for my little sister to find.

This darling illustration was from a food coloring booklet that sold on Etsy.

2. What's your favorite bread to find in a bread basket? 

Either sourdough or marble rye. 


3. Your favorite chick flick? 

Not sure that I have one, but my favorite movies that appeal to girls more than guys would be the Anne of Green Gables movies. 

4. Tax day is rapidly approaching in the US of A...what's something you currently find 'taxing'? 

It has just ended, but the responsibility of tending a wood furnace while my hubby was spending nights at his mother's.   

5. Have you ever ridden in a taxi? Do you have a funny-scary-crazy-interesting taxi story to share? Do you use any of the newer taxi-like services such as Uber? 

I have ridden in a taxi several times, from airport to hotel and vice versa.  We have also used Uber once, when we and our daughter's family traveled out west to visit our other daughter and her family out there.  Although there were 8 of us, and lots of luggage, only 1 Uber arrived and so we had to divide the group. My hubby and oldest grandson stayed at the airport.   It was a bit of a distance to the hotel, and one of us had to travel back to the airport with the Uber driver.  My daughter did so -- the Uber arrangements had been made with her phone -- while I and my son-in-law got the younger kids settled at the hotel.  We prayed for her safety and breathed a sigh of relief when she returned.  If I recall, her main topic of conversation with the driver was homeschooling!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Remembering that last year we spent Easter in Elko, Nevada!  What a blessing it was to be able to spend Easter with loved ones we seldom see at this time of year!  And to be at Grace Baptist Church in Elko for Easter services, including a chilly sunrise service in the parking lot!  Those are wonderful memories for us and for granddaughter Julia, who went with us.


 And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?


Sunday, April 10, 2022

Sunday Scripture

 

 Yes, it's Sunday, so it's time for another Sunday Scripture post!    As I've mentioned, I worked on a Bible study of Ephesians for the month of January 2022 and used that study to write some Sunday Scripture posts for the remainder of the winter.    I posted these through the end of March and still have a few more to share, so I'm going to continue for awhile, making some springier graphics to use with them.

The study I've been working on is the Ephesians Bible study from Good Morning Girls.  For the Scripture Sundays, I'll just select some of the verses I have worked on and share how I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  For today's lesson, we were to look at Ephesians 5:1-14, but I chose to write out and SOAP verses 8-11, though I will likely allude to some of the other verses.  Here we go:

S=  "For ye were once darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
"(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
"Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but, rather, reprove them."  (Ephesians 5:8-11)

O=  In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield has titled Ephesians 5:1-17 as "The walk of the believer as God's dear child."  Verse 1 tells us to be "followers of God, as dear children" and verse 2 instructs us to "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us".  Verses 3 through 7 instruct the believer concerning sins that were a part of the old life.  Verses 8-14 instruct us to "walk as children of light" and to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but, rather, reprove them."

A= Does my walk as a believer line up with my privileged position as God's dear child?  I'm to walk in love;  I'm to put old sins behind me and leave them in the past where they belong.  I'm to walk as a child of light, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit "in all goodness and righteousness and truth".  My life is to be a light that exposes and reproves the darkness of this world.

P= "Lord, I pray that You will help me to walk every day in a way that pleases You.  Help me to walk in love, as Your dear child, and to put old sins away from me and leave them in the past.  Help me to walk as a child of light, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness, all righteousness, and all truth.  I pray that You would bring me across the path of those who are ready to receive Your light.  Help me to shine brightly for You!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

What a blessing and challenge these verses were to me today!  I pray that they encouraged you, also.

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

Springing into the Hodgepodge

 

 Wednesday again, and time for the Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  This week, the Hodgepodge questions have a touch of spring fever! 

1. What puts a spring in your step these days? 

My knee is feeling a whole lot better and I've gotten back to walking longer distances.   It's really encouraging!  Soon we'll be seeing these on our daily walks:

They bloom every year in one of the fields behind the home place. 

2. April 2nd was National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Did you celebrate? Do you like PB and J? If so how do you like yours? What's your favorite kind of jelly? 

I did not celebrate ... in fact I had no idea that National PB&J Day existed.  I do like peanut butter and jelly.  In general, I prefer jam to jelly.  If using it in a PB&J sandwich, my choice would be grape, strawberry, or raspberry jam.

One of my favorite ways to use peanut butter and jelly (jam, really) is in the following recipe:

PEANUT BUTTER JAM BARS

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or real margarine, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup raspberry or strawberry jam

Glaze:
2 tablespoons margarine
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons hot water

 Combine sugars, butter, peanut butter, and egg.  Sift together flour,
baking soda and baking powder; add to sugar mixture and mix thoroughly.
Remove 1 cup dough and set aside.  Press remaining dough in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2” baking pan.  Spread jam over top of dough.  Crumble reserved dough and sprinkle over jam.  Bake at 350ยบ for 20 to 25 minutes or until bars test done.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  When cooled, drizzle with glaze.  Allow glaze to set before cutting.   

For glaze, melt margarine in small saucepan.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla.  Beat in hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is smooth and of desired consistency.  Yield: 24 bars.
 

Photo from Land o' Lakes

The recipe is one I got from my sister-in-law when all of our kids were young.  The classic PB&J flavor is definitely a hit with kids of all ages.  I borrowed the above photo from Land-O-Lakes because it looks very much like these bars only without the glaze.  Their recipe uses a cake mix and looks good also.

3. What's a memory you associate with spring flowers?

I may have written about this one before but I don't think so.   Decades ago when I was a teen, I belonged to a youth group that often did service projects for others.  I'm quite sure this would never fly today, but we were invited to go to the wooded property of one family where Mayflowers (trailing arbutus) grew prolifically, and pick little bouquets of these early spring wildflowers to fill May baskets for elderly shut-ins.  It was fun tromping around in the spring woods on the search for these pretty little flowers.  They can be white, as seen here, or pale pink.


4. Three things on your spring bucket list? Do you have a spring bucket list? If not pretend you do.

Let me think.  

1.  Do some volunteer work here.
2.  Open up our little camp for the season.
3.  Take several loads of unneeded items to the thrift store.

5. One place you will travel this spring? (It might be Europe or it might be the grocery store)

We are hoping for a getaway.  Possibly here:

We've stayed at York Harbor Inn a number of times and April can be a good time to go.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 It's been a busy few weeks with eldercare.   Always hard when the children sort of become the parents.

The bloodroot below is another early wildflower that will appear very soon.  It always reminds me of my father-in-law (with the Lord since 2000) because he gave the plants to our daughter Carrie for her wildflower garden.  

And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?

Sunday, April 03, 2022

Sunday Scripture

 

It's time for another Sunday Scripture post!    I worked on a Bible study of Ephesians for the month of January 2022 and used this study to write some Sunday Scripture posts for the remainder of the winter.     I posted these through the end of March and still have a few more to share, so I'm going to continue for awhile, making some springier graphics to use with them.

The study I've been working on is the Ephesians Bible study from Good Morning Girls.  For the Scripture Sundays, I'll just select some of the verses I have worked on and share how I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  For today's lesson, we were to look at Ephesians 4:25-32, but I chose to write out and SOAP verses 26-27 and 29-32, though I will allude to some of the other verses.  Here we go:

S"Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath;
"Neither give place to the devil ....
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. " Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice; "And be ye kind one to another,  tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32)

O=  Paul in this passage is giving his readers many concrete, real-life examples as to what the walk of the believer looks like.  The believer is truthful and honest; he does not steal but works hard for a living.  He speaks words that are good and help to build others up.  He lets go of anger and bitterness.  He is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.

A=  I've been a believer for many decades now, and these truths ought to be daily realities in my life.  Yet I think that these are areas that we can continually grow stronger in.  We can become more consistent.  For example, I desire for my words to be "good to the use of edifying" and to be words that will "minister grace unto the hearers".  But I'm quite sure that not every word I speak is edifying or gracious.  I can become increasingly more consistent in this and other areas, with God's help and by His grace.

P=  "Lord, I am thankful for the clear teaching in Your Word.  You make it very clear how You would have believers to live and what their daily walk should look like.  This walk is not something I can do in my own strength and determination, but only by Your grace and with Your help.  I praise and thank You for how you will help me to continually grow in these areas.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's our simple study for this week!  I trust it will be a blessing to someone.

Friday, April 01, 2022

Goals for April

 

How is it that this year is 1/4 over?  Somehow it's April, and time to set some goals.  March has been a month of intense busyness, with Mr. T heavily involved in eldercare and in working toward our church merger.   Here are some goals for April, which is already looking like a busy month.

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week if possible
* Set some yearly goals for 2022
* Continue reading through the New Testament
* Post in this blog several times per week
* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible
*  Prepare for and host a monthly ladies' Bible study
* Go out for breakfast with friends
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Celebrate several family birthdays
* Craft some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations
* Spend a little time on some UFO craft projects
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Spend some time on my trust responsibilities
* Spend some time volunteering at a Christian camp
* Celebrate several family birthdays
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Help my husband with his eldercare and getting his mom settled in a nursing home
* Possibly plan a getaway with my hubby
* Celebrate our church Merger Sunday on April 10
* Plan for and help with celebrating Easter at our church and with family
* Memorize several Bible verses and review some older ones
* Get back into our study of the book of Daniel with younger believers
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Drink enough water each day
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR APRIL:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/limit sugar

 And there some goals for April!  We will see how I do.  

What about you?  Do you have any specific goals for this month?