I wanted to share what I made for dinner on Tuesday, as it is cheap, fast, simple, nutritious, and tastes good!
First of all, I made a pot of chili. I use the same basic recipe everytime, but sometimes I tweak it a little. I usually brown a pound and a half of ground beef or turkey; this time I had some leftover beef from the roast I cooked on Sunday. I chopped it up and put it in the pot. Then I added: 2 cans tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can corn, 2 cans beans (this time I use 1 kidney beans and 1 black beans) that are drained and rinsed. Then I chopped up half an onion and half a bell pepper, and sauteed them in olive oil until tender, then added them to the chili. Next I added: 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper, 3 cloves minced garlic. I normally let this simmer in the crockpot all day, however today I put it on the stove for a few hours, as I got started late. An hour before it was time for dinner, I put potatoes in the oven to bake. Then I prepared a salad. I got a great idea from Crystal at Homemaking on the Homestead about a great way to make salad. This way, everyone can put what they want in a salad, so more people will eat it. Often times, there is one ingredient that someone doesn't like, so they don't eat salad at all!
Well, that's it. I know a lot of women are looking for frugal dinners to make these days. Throw in tasty, simple, and nutritious, and you've got a winner!
God bless!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Just sayin'...
Romans 1:18-32:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Sounds curiously like society right now, doesn't it?
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Sounds curiously like society right now, doesn't it?
This Week's Menu
Mon--Pan fried pork chops, baked potatoes, corn
Tues--Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas
Wed--Chicken a la king, biscuits
Thurs--Shepherd's pie, cornbread
Fri--Spaghetti, bread, salad
Sat--Burgers, oven fries
Sun--Pork roast, garlic/herb roasted potatoes, green beans
Tues--Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas
Wed--Chicken a la king, biscuits
Thurs--Shepherd's pie, cornbread
Fri--Spaghetti, bread, salad
Sat--Burgers, oven fries
Sun--Pork roast, garlic/herb roasted potatoes, green beans
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Respecting Our Husbands
"However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Ephesians 5:33
It took me a lot of years to grasp the fact that this is a command given in scripture. For so long I was sure that this portion of scripture must be based on contingencies. In my head, there was an "IF" at the end of this verse. Really--that's what I thought. I hadn't fully studied the scriptures, and basically based what I believed on what is taught in this culture...although I didn't realize that was what I was doing.
"Let the wife see that she respects her husband, IF he is talking kindly, IF he is spending money wisely, IF he is being a perfect father, IF he is giving me plenty of attention, IF he is leading the family in devotions....etc, etc...." (the former April version of the verse)
I thought he had to earn my respect. Doesn't he???
NO.
There are no contingencies on this verse. At all. Let the wife see that she respects her husband. Period. That's it...no ifs, ands, or buts. Yes, there was a command to the husband in the same verse, right before the command to the wife, and it's not an easy one for him. But it stands alone. It doesn't say "let the wife see that she respects her husband if he loves her as he loves himself", just like it doesn't say "the husband must love his wife as he loves himself if she respects him". Both commands stand alone, and we are each expected to obey these commands, whether or not the other one is obeying theirs! Is it easy? NO.
I still struggle with this if I am not being purposeful in following the scripture's teachings in this area. I automatically want to default to respecting him only if I feel he has earned it. But if I am seeking the Lord constantly--and following Him in our marriage really does take doing this--through Him I am able to show my husband respect as God has commanded me.
I'm just now starting to get this, and I've been married almost 17 years. I have wasted a lot of years doing things my way instead of God's. I've wasted a lot of time not listening to my husband's wisdom. Every single time that I haven't listened to him and have done something the way that I thought best, it has come back to bite me. I end up realizing years later that I should have listened, and then mourn the loss of the benefits that could have come from his wisdom and leadership. If I can help just one young woman understand this concept sooner than I did, then this post was worth writing!
I am currently reading the book "Created to Be His Helpmeet"...oh my goodness....wonderful, wonderful book with absolutely profound truths in it. EVERY wife should read it. I'm going to be posting snippets of it in various posts because it is just too good not to share! I'm sure many of you have already read it, but review is always nice, right?
This post is linked up at:
It took me a lot of years to grasp the fact that this is a command given in scripture. For so long I was sure that this portion of scripture must be based on contingencies. In my head, there was an "IF" at the end of this verse. Really--that's what I thought. I hadn't fully studied the scriptures, and basically based what I believed on what is taught in this culture...although I didn't realize that was what I was doing.
"Let the wife see that she respects her husband, IF he is talking kindly, IF he is spending money wisely, IF he is being a perfect father, IF he is giving me plenty of attention, IF he is leading the family in devotions....etc, etc...." (the former April version of the verse)
I thought he had to earn my respect. Doesn't he???
NO.
There are no contingencies on this verse. At all. Let the wife see that she respects her husband. Period. That's it...no ifs, ands, or buts. Yes, there was a command to the husband in the same verse, right before the command to the wife, and it's not an easy one for him. But it stands alone. It doesn't say "let the wife see that she respects her husband if he loves her as he loves himself", just like it doesn't say "the husband must love his wife as he loves himself if she respects him". Both commands stand alone, and we are each expected to obey these commands, whether or not the other one is obeying theirs! Is it easy? NO.
I still struggle with this if I am not being purposeful in following the scripture's teachings in this area. I automatically want to default to respecting him only if I feel he has earned it. But if I am seeking the Lord constantly--and following Him in our marriage really does take doing this--through Him I am able to show my husband respect as God has commanded me.
I'm just now starting to get this, and I've been married almost 17 years. I have wasted a lot of years doing things my way instead of God's. I've wasted a lot of time not listening to my husband's wisdom. Every single time that I haven't listened to him and have done something the way that I thought best, it has come back to bite me. I end up realizing years later that I should have listened, and then mourn the loss of the benefits that could have come from his wisdom and leadership. If I can help just one young woman understand this concept sooner than I did, then this post was worth writing!
I am currently reading the book "Created to Be His Helpmeet"...oh my goodness....wonderful, wonderful book with absolutely profound truths in it. EVERY wife should read it. I'm going to be posting snippets of it in various posts because it is just too good not to share! I'm sure many of you have already read it, but review is always nice, right?
This post is linked up at:
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Serpent is Still Lying
I used to get so annoyed at Eve when I would read the story of her in the Garden of Eden. What an idiot, I would think. How could she listen to that stupid serpent? Really, come on!
Here's the thing, though: you and I are no different. We all still listen to the "serpent". He is still whispering lies in our ears today. He still says, "Did God really say...???" And sometimes.....we listen.
I am grieved by the way the world is listening to his lies today. I am even more grieved by the way so much of the church is listening. It is getting worse and worse as the years go by, as a great falling away begins to occur, and people begin to gather teachers around them to tell them what their itching ears want to hear...
"Did God really say that the wife has to submit to her husband? No, that can't be right, God wouldn't say that...what he really said was that wives and husbands submit to each other...he said that the husband is the head of the wife, but that's not really what he meant, because the word "head" means something entirely different, so really...God didn't say a wife is supposed to submit to her husband. So, you're good...no submitting, nope...you're off the hook!"
"Did God really say that there is a hell? No, of course not, God is too loving to send anyone to hell. He wouldn't do that! God is love and accepts everyone, so everyone will end up in heaven some day, so don't you worry about a thing!"
"Did God really say that homosexuality is a sin? No, that was just an old testament thing, it doesn't apply today. Jesus came and He is all about loving and accepting everyone, no matter what their sexual orientation is. It's all okay...Jesus doesn't mind!"
"Did God really say that young women are to be keepers at home and obey their husbands, or they are blaspheming the word of God? Oh no...that was just a cultural thing, meant for Paul's culture and the time he lived in. It doesn't apply anymore. So you go, girl....get out there and get that career....your kids will do great in daycare, it's really good for them--it teaches them social skills! And that's what those public schools are there for. Your kids need to be away from you all day so that they can learn to function in the world...yep, it's good for them! They need to be socialized! It won't harm them a bit...they'll thank you some day!"
You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth. I don't care whom I "offend" or anger.
Yes, God said quite clearly that wives are to submit to their husbands. Several times. I don't care if you like it or not...that's what God's Word says. You can try and twist scripture and retranslate verses all you want, but you will be wrong. Check the original greek. It says what it says and God means it, and all Scripture is inspired by God, so it doesn't matter one bit that Paul wrote it. And God doesn't change, so if he meant it then, then He still means it now!
Yes of course there is a hell! Jesus spoke about it many, many times. If there was no hell, then what would be the point of Jesus suffering and dying the way He did? He died to save us from hell. It is what we deserve. God doesn't send people there, they send themselves. He has offered a free gift to EVERYONE who will accept it...the gift of eternal life and salvation from hell. He offers it by way of His son, Jesus, the only worthy spotless lamb who could die to take away the sins of the world, then rise again to defeat death. Accept this free gift, and you too can go to heaven! This is the TRUTH!
Yes, homosexuality is a sin. Period. Scripture states this several times, in both the Old AND New testaments. Yes, we love the homosexual. But that doesn't mean that the behavior is okay. Go, and sin no more!
Yes, yes, YES...women are to be keepers at home, AND obedient to their husbands! And, YES, they are blaspheming the Word of God is they aren't. It says this in Titus 2, plain and simple. It is scripture, and all scripture is given by inspiration of God, useful for teaching in ALL times, not just in Paul's day in his culture. Women are to be home, helping their husbands, caring for their children, and managing their homes, and if they are out working at a career then they are out of God's will and blaspheming the Word of God! I know this statement will make many women angry, but please....as our pastor always says, "don't shoot me, I'm just the bread delivery boy! God said it...take it up with Him."
I could go on and on, but after typing all that up I feel like I need to come up for air! Yikes. I feel like a misfit in this world. I am focused on following the Lord, and yet even in the church I feel like I don't fit in.
"Well, how do like that? Even among misfits we're misfits!" (Sorry...line from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"...but it's how I feel!)
I'm coming off my soapbox now. Thank you for listening. And please...don't listen to the serpent's lies!
Here's the thing, though: you and I are no different. We all still listen to the "serpent". He is still whispering lies in our ears today. He still says, "Did God really say...???" And sometimes.....we listen.
I am grieved by the way the world is listening to his lies today. I am even more grieved by the way so much of the church is listening. It is getting worse and worse as the years go by, as a great falling away begins to occur, and people begin to gather teachers around them to tell them what their itching ears want to hear...
"Did God really say that the wife has to submit to her husband? No, that can't be right, God wouldn't say that...what he really said was that wives and husbands submit to each other...he said that the husband is the head of the wife, but that's not really what he meant, because the word "head" means something entirely different, so really...God didn't say a wife is supposed to submit to her husband. So, you're good...no submitting, nope...you're off the hook!"
"Did God really say that there is a hell? No, of course not, God is too loving to send anyone to hell. He wouldn't do that! God is love and accepts everyone, so everyone will end up in heaven some day, so don't you worry about a thing!"
"Did God really say that homosexuality is a sin? No, that was just an old testament thing, it doesn't apply today. Jesus came and He is all about loving and accepting everyone, no matter what their sexual orientation is. It's all okay...Jesus doesn't mind!"
"Did God really say that young women are to be keepers at home and obey their husbands, or they are blaspheming the word of God? Oh no...that was just a cultural thing, meant for Paul's culture and the time he lived in. It doesn't apply anymore. So you go, girl....get out there and get that career....your kids will do great in daycare, it's really good for them--it teaches them social skills! And that's what those public schools are there for. Your kids need to be away from you all day so that they can learn to function in the world...yep, it's good for them! They need to be socialized! It won't harm them a bit...they'll thank you some day!"
You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth. I don't care whom I "offend" or anger.
Yes, God said quite clearly that wives are to submit to their husbands. Several times. I don't care if you like it or not...that's what God's Word says. You can try and twist scripture and retranslate verses all you want, but you will be wrong. Check the original greek. It says what it says and God means it, and all Scripture is inspired by God, so it doesn't matter one bit that Paul wrote it. And God doesn't change, so if he meant it then, then He still means it now!
Yes of course there is a hell! Jesus spoke about it many, many times. If there was no hell, then what would be the point of Jesus suffering and dying the way He did? He died to save us from hell. It is what we deserve. God doesn't send people there, they send themselves. He has offered a free gift to EVERYONE who will accept it...the gift of eternal life and salvation from hell. He offers it by way of His son, Jesus, the only worthy spotless lamb who could die to take away the sins of the world, then rise again to defeat death. Accept this free gift, and you too can go to heaven! This is the TRUTH!
Yes, homosexuality is a sin. Period. Scripture states this several times, in both the Old AND New testaments. Yes, we love the homosexual. But that doesn't mean that the behavior is okay. Go, and sin no more!
Yes, yes, YES...women are to be keepers at home, AND obedient to their husbands! And, YES, they are blaspheming the Word of God is they aren't. It says this in Titus 2, plain and simple. It is scripture, and all scripture is given by inspiration of God, useful for teaching in ALL times, not just in Paul's day in his culture. Women are to be home, helping their husbands, caring for their children, and managing their homes, and if they are out working at a career then they are out of God's will and blaspheming the Word of God! I know this statement will make many women angry, but please....as our pastor always says, "don't shoot me, I'm just the bread delivery boy! God said it...take it up with Him."
I could go on and on, but after typing all that up I feel like I need to come up for air! Yikes. I feel like a misfit in this world. I am focused on following the Lord, and yet even in the church I feel like I don't fit in.
"Well, how do like that? Even among misfits we're misfits!" (Sorry...line from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"...but it's how I feel!)
I'm coming off my soapbox now. Thank you for listening. And please...don't listen to the serpent's lies!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Should a Christian Practice Food Storage?/Skills to Learn
Amy at Homestead Revival wrote a post on this recently, as a guest poster at Like a Bubbling Brook. Her beliefs on this mirrored mine so well, that I decided to post the link to her on here, rather than type up an entire post myself. Here is the link:
Should a Christian Practice Food Storage?
Also, Faithful Mama at Homesteading by Faith and Blessed Mom at Blessed Simplicity each wrote a post on their blogs--today--about taking inventory of what skills we currently have that will benefit us in these hard economic times, and what skills we would like to learn. I don't think I am nearly as advanced as these two wonderful ladies, but I am working on it! Here are the links to their posts, and then I will add my list below:
Taking an Inventory of Skills (Homesteading by Faith)
Skills (Blessed Simplicity)
(Can I just say that I love my little blogging "community"?)
Okay, sooo....my current skills are: making all my food from scratch, making homemade household cleaners, grinding grain to make bread, making homemade laundry soap (stopped doing this for now because it is NOT working with our super hard water), gardening, dehydrating, keeping chickens and ducks for eggs, using natural remedies for healing and preventing illnesses, caring for dairy goats, making yogurt, making butter, buying in bulk, making jam.
Skills I want to learn: I am a novice gardener so I want to keep getting better and better at gardening, including adding a medicinal herb garden, raising baby chicks for eggs and meat, raising rabbits, currently working on learning to breed dairy goats, making cheese, making soap, adding more berries and fruits to my garden, learning to can and make pickles this summer.
You can see that I am smack dab in the middle of learning some skills as we speak: gardening, dairy goats/breeding, canning, and making pickles. These are my current ventures and should keep me super busy this summer! I am excited to become less and less dependant on "the system". I hesitate to say "self-sufficient" because of the word "self", as really we are "God-sufficient", but I do believe that God wants us doing our best to take care of ourselves without having to rely so much on the system.
How about you? What skills are you currently learning, and what would you like to learn?
Should a Christian Practice Food Storage?
Also, Faithful Mama at Homesteading by Faith and Blessed Mom at Blessed Simplicity each wrote a post on their blogs--today--about taking inventory of what skills we currently have that will benefit us in these hard economic times, and what skills we would like to learn. I don't think I am nearly as advanced as these two wonderful ladies, but I am working on it! Here are the links to their posts, and then I will add my list below:
Taking an Inventory of Skills (Homesteading by Faith)
Skills (Blessed Simplicity)
(Can I just say that I love my little blogging "community"?)
Okay, sooo....my current skills are: making all my food from scratch, making homemade household cleaners, grinding grain to make bread, making homemade laundry soap (stopped doing this for now because it is NOT working with our super hard water), gardening, dehydrating, keeping chickens and ducks for eggs, using natural remedies for healing and preventing illnesses, caring for dairy goats, making yogurt, making butter, buying in bulk, making jam.
Skills I want to learn: I am a novice gardener so I want to keep getting better and better at gardening, including adding a medicinal herb garden, raising baby chicks for eggs and meat, raising rabbits, currently working on learning to breed dairy goats, making cheese, making soap, adding more berries and fruits to my garden, learning to can and make pickles this summer.
You can see that I am smack dab in the middle of learning some skills as we speak: gardening, dairy goats/breeding, canning, and making pickles. These are my current ventures and should keep me super busy this summer! I am excited to become less and less dependant on "the system". I hesitate to say "self-sufficient" because of the word "self", as really we are "God-sufficient", but I do believe that God wants us doing our best to take care of ourselves without having to rely so much on the system.
How about you? What skills are you currently learning, and what would you like to learn?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Homestead Happenings!
We have been very busy over here at our little homestead! My son built a wonderful fence to surround my garden, and we got it all ready and finally planted. We have sprouts coming up and I'm so excited! We planted: beans, beets, carrots, garlic, onion, lettuce, pickling cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Some things are coming up, and some are not, so...we shall see!
We got our dairy goats! We were blessed to know someone who was looking for a nice home for her two cute goats. She gave them to us along with several supplies. We will breed them in the fall, and then they will kid in the spring and we will have milk! The girls and I are very excited! I am looking forward to a new adventure of making butter, cheese, yogurt, and soap from the goat milk.
(sorry for the gap but the computer will NOT fix it!)
We have fresh pork on it's way to our freezer, as several of our pigs have a made their field trips to the slaughterhouse. We also have a sow who appears to be pregnant again, so more piglets are on the way! Our chickens and ducks are laying well, so I am thankful to have a good supply of fresh eggs.
I recently acquired a water bath canner, so I'm looking forward to doing a lot of canning this summer. I'm very excited to can, make lots of jam, and make pickles (if my cucumbers would sprout that would help)!
Homeschooling is winding down for the year--yay!! We are on our final week, and looking forward to the time off to work on all the other projects around here. I'll be finishing up my plans for the fall and will post them on here when I'm done. First, I have to prepare for my son's 16th birthday party coming up this Saturday!
Busy times....fun times!!!
We got our dairy goats! We were blessed to know someone who was looking for a nice home for her two cute goats. She gave them to us along with several supplies. We will breed them in the fall, and then they will kid in the spring and we will have milk! The girls and I are very excited! I am looking forward to a new adventure of making butter, cheese, yogurt, and soap from the goat milk.
 |
| Mia belongs to Annamarie |
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Mia is on the left; Lola is on the right. Mia is Lola's daughter. |
We have fresh pork on it's way to our freezer, as several of our pigs have a made their field trips to the slaughterhouse. We also have a sow who appears to be pregnant again, so more piglets are on the way! Our chickens and ducks are laying well, so I am thankful to have a good supply of fresh eggs.
I recently acquired a water bath canner, so I'm looking forward to doing a lot of canning this summer. I'm very excited to can, make lots of jam, and make pickles (if my cucumbers would sprout that would help)!
Homeschooling is winding down for the year--yay!! We are on our final week, and looking forward to the time off to work on all the other projects around here. I'll be finishing up my plans for the fall and will post them on here when I'm done. First, I have to prepare for my son's 16th birthday party coming up this Saturday!
Busy times....fun times!!!
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