I have a thing with trying to keep all of my receipts. Unfortunately, I don't have a thing with organizing all of my receipts.
What do you do with receipts? Do you keep them? Throw them? Store them?
Help!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Money Monday - Receipts
I have a thing with trying to keep all of my receipts. Unfortunately, I don't have a thing with organizing all of my receipts.
What do you do with receipts? Do you keep them? Throw them? Store them?
Help!!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Weekend Worship - We Don't Have To Sin For God's Plan To Succeed
In our church fellowship group we've been studying the book of Genesis. We have an excellent teacher who delves deeply into each verse and chapter, helping us glean the absolute most information possible. He routinely asks how we can apply what we are learning about the Old Testament characters to our own life.
For the past several weeks (well, ok - probably months) we've been studying the life of Abraham. Abraham made a lot of stupid mistakes, but regardless of those mistakes, he was still a great man of God! He never doubted the Lord's faithfulness, but sometimes he thought he needed to give God a "leg up". Let's look at a quick recap of part of Abraham's life....
Starting in Genesis 12, God slowly begins to reveal His plan for Abraham. He continues to reveals little pieces of the big picture through Abraham's life but, as God often does, He takes His time. In chapter 15 God reveals to Abraham that his seed will bring forth a son who will make Abraham the father of multitudes. Then God chooses to be silent. While Abraham is waiting out in left field, his wife Sarah continues to grow older and older. When she sees that she is no longer able to bear children, she suggests that Abraham marry her servant. (While this was a normal practice of the day, this was still unacceptable in God's sight). Abraham, being the sissy that he is, agrees with his wife and takes her servant to be his 2nd wife. Hagar, the servant, conceives and gives Abraham a son, Ishmael.
Problem solved, right? Wrong. God did not instruct Abraham to sin in order to fulfill His plan. He is God Almighty! He can (and does) do the impossible! Abraham took things into his own hands instead of allowing God to work in His timing for His perfect result.
Of course, God did eventually open Sarah's womb and she did bear a son, Isaac, who was the promised son all along.
Abraham didn't ruin God's plan since God's plans cannot be thwarted, but he sure did cause a big mess! (Look at the Arabs vs the Jews TO THIS DAY!)
Oftentimes we as Christians feel that we too must sin to complete God's plan for our life. We run ahead of God, all the while screaming "You're taking too long!" or "I have a better way!"
God is not honored when you speed to get to church on time. Sure, you probably should have planned better in order to get to church on time, but breaking the law on the way there is not going to honor the Lord and is certainly not going to benefit your spiritual growth (which is God's plan for all of us.) You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
God is not impressed when you go into debt to purchase that brand new car you just had to get in order to get to and from your workplace (instead of using that money to tithe as He has called you to do). You sin when you frivolously spend that hard-earned money (one of the many resources God has given you to bring him glory) on something that will rust and die rather than investing in the souls of people. God will provide for you as He has promised. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
God does not receive joy when you fail to discipline your children just because you think it will damage their precious self-esteem (i.e. ego) or because you are too lazy to follow through with what you have said. (Yes, that's right - NOT disciplining your children is a sin. See the book of Proverbs.) God's plan for your children is for their sanctification (spiritual growth) just as much as He desires that for you. By failing to discipline them, you are setting them up for a life of disaster. You are NOT doing them a favor. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
Are you seeing a pattern here? Let's take a step back this week and examine our lives. Are there areas where we have run ahead of God and taken charge? I encourage you to look at your life from God's perspective this week and see who's ahead in the game.
For the past several weeks (well, ok - probably months) we've been studying the life of Abraham. Abraham made a lot of stupid mistakes, but regardless of those mistakes, he was still a great man of God! He never doubted the Lord's faithfulness, but sometimes he thought he needed to give God a "leg up". Let's look at a quick recap of part of Abraham's life....
Starting in Genesis 12, God slowly begins to reveal His plan for Abraham. He continues to reveals little pieces of the big picture through Abraham's life but, as God often does, He takes His time. In chapter 15 God reveals to Abraham that his seed will bring forth a son who will make Abraham the father of multitudes. Then God chooses to be silent. While Abraham is waiting out in left field, his wife Sarah continues to grow older and older. When she sees that she is no longer able to bear children, she suggests that Abraham marry her servant. (While this was a normal practice of the day, this was still unacceptable in God's sight). Abraham, being the sissy that he is, agrees with his wife and takes her servant to be his 2nd wife. Hagar, the servant, conceives and gives Abraham a son, Ishmael.
Problem solved, right? Wrong. God did not instruct Abraham to sin in order to fulfill His plan. He is God Almighty! He can (and does) do the impossible! Abraham took things into his own hands instead of allowing God to work in His timing for His perfect result.
Of course, God did eventually open Sarah's womb and she did bear a son, Isaac, who was the promised son all along.
Abraham didn't ruin God's plan since God's plans cannot be thwarted, but he sure did cause a big mess! (Look at the Arabs vs the Jews TO THIS DAY!)
Oftentimes we as Christians feel that we too must sin to complete God's plan for our life. We run ahead of God, all the while screaming "You're taking too long!" or "I have a better way!"
God is not honored when you speed to get to church on time. Sure, you probably should have planned better in order to get to church on time, but breaking the law on the way there is not going to honor the Lord and is certainly not going to benefit your spiritual growth (which is God's plan for all of us.) You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
God is not impressed when you go into debt to purchase that brand new car you just had to get in order to get to and from your workplace (instead of using that money to tithe as He has called you to do). You sin when you frivolously spend that hard-earned money (one of the many resources God has given you to bring him glory) on something that will rust and die rather than investing in the souls of people. God will provide for you as He has promised. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
God does not receive joy when you fail to discipline your children just because you think it will damage their precious self-esteem (i.e. ego) or because you are too lazy to follow through with what you have said. (Yes, that's right - NOT disciplining your children is a sin. See the book of Proverbs.) God's plan for your children is for their sanctification (spiritual growth) just as much as He desires that for you. By failing to discipline them, you are setting them up for a life of disaster. You are NOT doing them a favor. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.
Are you seeing a pattern here? Let's take a step back this week and examine our lives. Are there areas where we have run ahead of God and taken charge? I encourage you to look at your life from God's perspective this week and see who's ahead in the game.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Foto Friday!
Foto Friday is here again! My favorite photo from this week is from our church picnic on Sunday. I captured this sweet moment between grandpa and granddaughter across the field while I was waiting for one of the relay games to begin. I just think it's so precious!
For more of my photos taken this week, stop over and visit my photography blog!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Thankful Thursday!
I think I like Thankful Thursdays because they give me an excuse to talk about myself in my mainly information-driven blog. They are also a very easy day to blog because there is always something to be thankful for - even if it's just a little thing.
Today I'm thankful that, after nearly 2 years, I finally broke down and spent the $20 to get my hair cut. I realize that long hair is not the worst thing in the world. But when you have 3 children under 4 years of age, styling your hair is not exactly top priority. Or really any priority, to be quite honest with you. I don't think "styling hair" has ever made my daily "to do" list...at least not that I can recall.
I was going to post a before and after picture for you, but...well....you know me. I forgot to take a picture of the "before" shot and have yet to style the new "after" look. So, lo and behold, no pictures after all.
Anyway, it's nice to have that weight lifted off my shoulders (literally - not a pun) and be able to save twice as much on shampoo again! :)
Today I'm thankful that, after nearly 2 years, I finally broke down and spent the $20 to get my hair cut. I realize that long hair is not the worst thing in the world. But when you have 3 children under 4 years of age, styling your hair is not exactly top priority. Or really any priority, to be quite honest with you. I don't think "styling hair" has ever made my daily "to do" list...at least not that I can recall.
I was going to post a before and after picture for you, but...well....you know me. I forgot to take a picture of the "before" shot and have yet to style the new "after" look. So, lo and behold, no pictures after all.
Anyway, it's nice to have that weight lifted off my shoulders (literally - not a pun) and be able to save twice as much on shampoo again! :)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Works-For-Me Wednesday!
No, I'm not completely abandoning Wacky Wednesdays (for those of you who just THRIVE on my humor), but I do want to give "Works For Me Wednesdays" a try! I really enjoy reading other people's posts on this topic and have decided to give it a whirl myself!
You know those bottle brushes you use when you have a baby in the house?
Well, I use those for LOTS of things - not just baby bottles! Bottle brushes are good for cleaning any sort of reusable water bottle or tall glass. I also use them to swirl around in muffin tins (which I otherwise HATE cleaning) or anything else that has small shallow opening and is difficult to clean.
I have a few more kitchen utensils that I will likely mention in the weeks to come. What multi-purpose utensils do you have in your kitchen??
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tasty Tuesday - Biscuits!
I LOVE homemade biscuits! They are so delicious and so easy to make! When I found that my favorite cookbook has two very similar recipes, I had to try them both! I've decided that the "Supreme Biscuits" are better, so here's the recipe for you:
Supreme Biscuits
4 c. flour
2 T baking powder
4 t. sugar
1 t. cream of tarter
1/2 t. salt
1 c. shortening
1 1/3 c. milk
Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in milk all at once. Stir just until moistened.
On a floured surface, roll or press dough flat until about 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured biscuit cutter (I use a glass) and place on ungreased pan.
Bake @ 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Yields approx. 20 biscuits.
**Margarine or butter can be substituted for the shortening.
***I don't recommend wheat flour as the biscuits will not rise at much.
P.S. I know I have a picture of these somewhere, but I'm still searching....
Supreme Biscuits
4 c. flour
2 T baking powder
4 t. sugar
1 t. cream of tarter
1/2 t. salt
1 c. shortening
1 1/3 c. milk
Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in milk all at once. Stir just until moistened.
On a floured surface, roll or press dough flat until about 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured biscuit cutter (I use a glass) and place on ungreased pan.
Bake @ 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Yields approx. 20 biscuits.
**Margarine or butter can be substituted for the shortening.
***I don't recommend wheat flour as the biscuits will not rise at much.
P.S. I know I have a picture of these somewhere, but I'm still searching....
Monday, June 23, 2008
Money Monday - Saving in the Kitchen
I always tell people who are trying to cut back their budget that the first and easiest place to start is in the kitchen. Groceries are priced so outrageously that it's so easy to cut back just by changing a few things around in your life.
If you're a regular reader of mine, you know that I'm DEFINITELY a coupon-user! But there are lots of other ways that help save money in the kitchen too! Here are a few tips:
1. Turn off the water when you're not using it. I know this may sound obvious but I once had a 20-minute conversation with someone at their front door while their water ran in the kitchen sink THE WHOLE TIME.
2. Wash dishes by hand. Washing dishes by hand saves LOTS of water over putting your dishes in the dishwasher all the time. While this is a huge money-saver, this is one area that I admit I am not willing to compromise. I heart my dishwasher.
3. Reuse grocery bags for trash bags. Get a smaller trash can and put all those pesky plastic bags to good use! (I'd double bag them just in case there are holes.) In addition to getting rid of the bags, you're also forced to take out the trash much more often which leads to a cleaner smelling home! :)
4. Make your own cleaning products. No, I'm not recommending you turn your kitchen into a chemistry lab. But you might be amazed how much you spend on cleaning products each year! Try using bleach or vinegar instead. You can also make your own soap but, considering soap is rather inexpensive to begin with, I'm not sure how much of a money-saver that would be.
5. Make your own convenience foods. When most people hear the words "convenience foods" they think of things like soda, candy, and popsicles. But the range of convenience foods spans much farther than just junk food! Virtually everything you buy that comes in a package is, in some form, a convenience food. Here are a few foods that I have made:
- bread
- waffles
- pancakes
- biscuits
- gravy
- soups
- cookies
- spaghetti sauce
- pudding pops
- ice cream
- chicken strips
- pizza
- puppy chow (the people stuff!)
- funnel cakes
- french fries
- pretzels
- tortillas
6. Use coupons. (Come on, you knew it was coming!) Using coupons is THE number one way I save money in the kitchen. There are many ways to use coupons. Some people just clip a few. Some people clip them all. Click here for a post on how I coupon.
For more money-saving tips, check out my series on developing a system for your kitchen!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Weekend Worship - Where Have All the Bibles Gone?
There is a new trend emerging among Christian churches across America. I don't know if this trend is occuring worldwide, but it has become painfully obvious here in the USA. Christians everywhere are forsaking the age old tradition of bringing their Bibles to church.
The age of technology has reached a new low by accommodating believers with what I call "The Power Point Worship Service". With sermon Scriptures now printed on huge screens in nearly every thriving church across America, Christians have been quick to lay aside their Bibles and head to church empty-handed. I want to argue that there are many dangers in this ever-popular, growing trend. They are:
1. The pastor/teacher cannot be held accountable.
While we all want to be able to trust our pastors/teachers, the sad truth is that there are many men and women who preach from the pulpit who are deceivers and false teachers. They could essentially put any words on the screen, not necessarily words from the Bible, and without your Bible in your lap you would never know the difference.
2. Studying is nearly impossible without the Word of God at hand.
I certainly don't have this down yet, but my goal is to always carry the Word of God with me wherever I go. Why? Second Timothy 3.16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" and 2 Timothy 2.15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." How can we study without our Bibles?
3. We set a poor example for non-believers.
Why would a non-believer want to follow a lifestyle that we ourselves don't even care about? See 2 Timothy 2.15 again. We want to do everything possible to show ourselves approved by God!
4. We set a poor example for new believers.
In Psalm 119:105 David says to the Lord, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." In the same chapter, in verse 162 he says, "I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure!" We need to show new believers what a great passion can be ignited in our spirits if we devote ourselves to reading and fervently studying the Scriptures daily!
What do you think about this trend? Do you think it's okay or wrong for the church today? Why or why not?
The age of technology has reached a new low by accommodating believers with what I call "The Power Point Worship Service". With sermon Scriptures now printed on huge screens in nearly every thriving church across America, Christians have been quick to lay aside their Bibles and head to church empty-handed. I want to argue that there are many dangers in this ever-popular, growing trend. They are:
1. The pastor/teacher cannot be held accountable.
While we all want to be able to trust our pastors/teachers, the sad truth is that there are many men and women who preach from the pulpit who are deceivers and false teachers. They could essentially put any words on the screen, not necessarily words from the Bible, and without your Bible in your lap you would never know the difference.
2. Studying is nearly impossible without the Word of God at hand.
I certainly don't have this down yet, but my goal is to always carry the Word of God with me wherever I go. Why? Second Timothy 3.16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" and 2 Timothy 2.15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." How can we study without our Bibles?
3. We set a poor example for non-believers.
Why would a non-believer want to follow a lifestyle that we ourselves don't even care about? See 2 Timothy 2.15 again. We want to do everything possible to show ourselves approved by God!
4. We set a poor example for new believers.
In Psalm 119:105 David says to the Lord, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." In the same chapter, in verse 162 he says, "I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure!" We need to show new believers what a great passion can be ignited in our spirits if we devote ourselves to reading and fervently studying the Scriptures daily!
What do you think about this trend? Do you think it's okay or wrong for the church today? Why or why not?
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Foto Friday!
This week was a really hard week to choose a favorite photo! I just got my new camera last weekend, so I've been shooting everything I can find. (That's "shooting" in the photography sense - not any other way.) :)
I did a photo shoot w/ a little girl from our church this week who is just a doll! She wins the prize! Look at that award-winning smile!
How cute is she?!?!
To see other photos I've taken this week with my new camera, visit my photography blog!
Thankful Thursday Is Here!
Well, I think I'm feeling mostly better today. It's been a strange week, that's for sure.
On Wednesday night, my 3 year old son woke up around 1.30am to go to the bathroom. I noticed he had one of my daughter's hair rubber bands around his right wrist. I have warned him about the dangers of doing this several times but apparently to no avail. When I took it off, he complained of his hand hurting. Well, of course! It has feeling in it again!
I moved him to the couch in the spare room. (Once he gets up at night, he typically wakes up several more times that night.) Several more times in the next few hours I found him in bed with me. I was beginning to get frustrated with him as he kept telling me his hand hurt. I continued to reassure him that his hand would be fine and that it was all better now.
About 3:45am I heard him crying. I went in to the spare room with every intention of disciplining him for continuing to wake me up over nothing substantial when something (the Holy Spirit, of course) prompted me to look at his other hand.
Oh my goodness!!!
He had an even smaller rubber band around that wrist and his hand appeared to be swollen to nearly twice its size! I quickly pulled it off (with difficulty) and contemplated for a few moments what I should do.
Does this warrant a trip to the ER? Well, it was still flesh-colored. At least it looked like it in the night light glow. But it was HUGE! Should I call the doctor's office? No, they would just tell me to use my judgment and take him to the ER if I felt it was that serious.
I then remembered hearing a story once of a baby who had gotten a hair wrapped around one of her toes so tightly that by the time her parents noticed, her toe was blue. She had been okay. And this was far less serious than that. So I opted to stay home.
My son cried until I got him a cool washcloth to wrap around his hand. He fell asleep immediately and slept soundly the rest of the night.
When morning came, his hand was still swollen but not nearly as much as it had been. He seemed to be acting normally but just in case, I asked him how his hand was doing. He replied, "My fingernails are dirty."
Whew! Everything's okay then!
Even with my obsessive compulsive photo-taking disorder, I didn't think 3:45am was the best time to pop out the camera so I don't have a picture of his totally swollen hand to show you, but I did manage to get my son to hold the hair tie that had been wrapped around his wrist for a picture the next day! I realize it's blurry, but you get the idea!
On Wednesday night, my 3 year old son woke up around 1.30am to go to the bathroom. I noticed he had one of my daughter's hair rubber bands around his right wrist. I have warned him about the dangers of doing this several times but apparently to no avail. When I took it off, he complained of his hand hurting. Well, of course! It has feeling in it again!
I moved him to the couch in the spare room. (Once he gets up at night, he typically wakes up several more times that night.) Several more times in the next few hours I found him in bed with me. I was beginning to get frustrated with him as he kept telling me his hand hurt. I continued to reassure him that his hand would be fine and that it was all better now.
About 3:45am I heard him crying. I went in to the spare room with every intention of disciplining him for continuing to wake me up over nothing substantial when something (the Holy Spirit, of course) prompted me to look at his other hand.
Oh my goodness!!!
He had an even smaller rubber band around that wrist and his hand appeared to be swollen to nearly twice its size! I quickly pulled it off (with difficulty) and contemplated for a few moments what I should do.
Does this warrant a trip to the ER? Well, it was still flesh-colored. At least it looked like it in the night light glow. But it was HUGE! Should I call the doctor's office? No, they would just tell me to use my judgment and take him to the ER if I felt it was that serious.
I then remembered hearing a story once of a baby who had gotten a hair wrapped around one of her toes so tightly that by the time her parents noticed, her toe was blue. She had been okay. And this was far less serious than that. So I opted to stay home.
My son cried until I got him a cool washcloth to wrap around his hand. He fell asleep immediately and slept soundly the rest of the night.
When morning came, his hand was still swollen but not nearly as much as it had been. He seemed to be acting normally but just in case, I asked him how his hand was doing. He replied, "My fingernails are dirty."
Whew! Everything's okay then!
Even with my obsessive compulsive photo-taking disorder, I didn't think 3:45am was the best time to pop out the camera so I don't have a picture of his totally swollen hand to show you, but I did manage to get my son to hold the hair tie that had been wrapped around his wrist for a picture the next day! I realize it's blurry, but you get the idea!
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