Protect the Peace

It's cold here, and the temperature is dropping by the minute with snow expected all day tomorrow.  I am obviously not at home in Florida; most definitely out of my comfort zone as far as the mercury goes, but nevertheless enjoying the adventure. 

Suffering from the lack of traditional comforts like my bed, my kids, my car and my t.v., can induce a little anxiety and when out of my normal routine, I sometimes stray away from spending time in the word, so this morning, I grabbed my phone, which is loaded with several bible study applications and began to read these words:

"...our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand..." (Romans 5:2) 

This incredible grace in which we stand in the presence of the Father.  When I meditate on this, I sense His acceptance and welcome, no matter what kind of mood I've been in, or how my thoughts have wandered into dark and scary places.  In His presence, these things that just a moment ago seemed oppressive, evaporate like a puddle on an steamy August afternoon.  I need to find a way to remain in this peace even when (especially when) challenges arise.

Picking up gloves, a scarf and hat, a sweater and overcoat to protect myself from the elements, reminds me that I need to protect that peace, by layering truth upon truth, promise upon promise.  I'm confident that I will survive this burst of arctic weather as well as every attempt the enemy makes to steal away this peace I've found. 

As you navigate your own world today with all of its ups and downs, remind yourself that your are continually in a state of grace, standing in the presence of the Father who loves you unconditionally.

Are We Still Sinners?

Here comes the debate on the touchy subject of whether or not believers are still sinners.  I've heard many preachers say things like, "I am a wretched sinner, saved by grace," or "we are all sinners, continually missing the mark." I understand that they are trying to identify with the Apostle Paul when he proclaims himself "the chief of sinners," or "the worst of them all,"  though he was simply holding himself up as an example of us all, in order to prove that no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.  The law is a picture of the perfect and holy character of God, a standard none could meet.

In Romans 5:6-11, as Paul describes sinners, the literal translation is the ungodly.  In my early education I recall learning that putting the letters "un" in front of an adjective turns it into the opposite of the original word, i.e., true/untrue and happy/unhappy; now you know where I am going with this.  We were once the ungodly, enemies of God; but when we were saved, we became friends of God.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation... our friendship with God was restored... we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God... " (Romans 5:8-11)

In no way am I discounting the seriousness of the plight of the sinner I know I once was; however, the Spirit of God bears witness in me through the scripture that I am now the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  He took my sin and gave me His righteousness in return—such undeserved kindness! Righteousness is then not what I do, but how I am perceived by God due to the blood of Christ.

Are we still sinners then?  I don't see myself that way anymore, because I have a new relationship with God.  If I were continually sin-conscious, noting every single failure and infraction throughout the day and constantly uttering, "Forgive me, forgive me, I'm sorry," I'm afraid I would feel hopeless.  Instead, I look to the cross and thank God that all of my sins have already been punished—past, present and future—and thanks be to God, there is no condemnation left for me.

So there is the place of peace; the cross upon which the Savior died in my place... the very spot where the guilty conscience can be set free to find Peace With God.

The Peace Treaty

I remember a movie on television a while back, about a Japanese man who'd been on a deserted island in the south Pacific for many years.  In fact, he'd been the sole survivor of an attack during WWII, and the news had never come to him about the Allies' victory and the end of the war.  Decades later, when a group of people tried to convince him that his people had surrendered long ago, he refused to believe and carried on at war with anyone who set foot on his tiny island.

This soldier had no idea that someone had made a treaty for peace on behalf of him and his country.  His people were no longer at war with America; on the contrary, the two countries were tied together industrially and economically.  Imagine how difficult it was for this old man to comprehend... everything had changed.

Man has been at odds with God since Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden due to their rebellion. Some people interpret this act of God as mean or impulsive--but within this exchange in Genesis 3, are three incredible acts of mercy:

1. God chose to cover their nakedness with animal skin instead of the fig leaves they'd chosen.  Although there is no particular mention of it, the implication is that God Himself killed the animal(s) making the first blood sacrfice in order to cover sin.
2. When Adam & Eve had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they obtained knowledge that was not meant for them.  Had they partaken of the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in their sinful state, and that was not God's plan.
3. As God passed judgment on the serpent, He prophesied about the Redeemer who would one day come and make things right between man and God.

Just as God promised, the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus, brought reconciliation to sinners who put their faith in Him.  Though we were once enemies of God, we are no longer.  It's as if we were the old soldier who continued to fight a war we didn't know was over, except when we did receive the Good News, we believed and rejoiced!  The peace treaty with our Heavenly Father has been signed in the blood of His Son, and we are the beneficiaries through His grace.

Understanding this concept is the first step to finding Peace With God.  When we humble ourselves before Him and realize we have nothing to offer but our sinful selves, we are able to receive His righteousness in return.

"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Next post:  Are we still sinners?











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New Challenge

Two weeks have passed, and the initial challenge is over! Taking inventory again, I felt as though I'd experienced a loaves and fishes miracle.  Many of the items I planned on using are still sitting in the closet and freezer (and I'd worried that the food would not stretch to meet the needs of my household over the past two weeks).  Once again, the provision was there when we stepped out in faith.  

When I finally made it to the grocery store, I felt more discerning than ever, having spent $50.03 and saving $105 in coupons and store promotions.  I was happy to be shopping and choosing new things, but I was also a little winsome...I actually felt like I might walk out of the store empty-handed at one point, but I came to my senses.  I was a little tired of thinking so much about food! If saving money on groceries and household items is something you're interested in, then visit my couponing blog here .


More important than the challenge of Eating from the Pantry, was the personal growth and time spent in the bible finding encouragement and direction.  I rediscovered my love of sharing insights from the word through short stories and personal experiences; and having received positive feedback, I'm inspired to continue. 


The next phase of the project on contentment will find me mostly in Romans Chapter 5, studying about what it means to be At Peace With God.  After all, without peace of mind we cannot find true contentment.  I welcome your thoughts and questions, especially if they are contrary.


I hope you will join me in phase two.  

Days 13 and 14 - Challenges and Trials

I apologize for losing yesterday altogether as I spent most of it in bed recuperating from a stomach bug.  We were expecting company after dinner so I rallied and sort of helped while the guys did the necessary cleaning and baking.

When I began two weeks ago calling this adventure The Challenge, I meant it more or less like a dare.  I felt like God had given me the idea to set aside this time to break the routine I had created; be flexible, be happy at home, and mostly, be content with what I already had.  This was fun, not strenuous or frustrating like a real challenge or trial.

Having experienced everything from infertility, to financial loss, to chronic illness, and disabled children, our family has had its share of challenges; there have been times when I thought no one else understood our struggles.  I learned during those times that Jesus sympathized with me, and in that time of need, I could draw close to Him and find comfort.  Here is what the word says:

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Somehow, knowing this is true makes everything easier.  Do you ever wonder how people with no faith in God make it through difficulties?  What have they to hope in?  When we are facing something that seems insurmountable, my husband usually declares, "Either He is God, or He isn't.  I believe He is and that He can do anything!"  My faith is restored, and all is well again.



Eating from the Pantry - Day 13 (Thursday)
Breakfast - Neil made waffles (80 cents for 14 waffles)
No lunch due to illness
Dinner - Hot dogs (90 cents for dogs/$1 for buns)
Cookie dough was about $1

Cost for day's meals less than $4


Eating from the Pantry - Day 14 (Friday)
Breakfast - eggs and leftover hash browns (50 cents)
Lunch - Skipped because of busyness!
Dinner - finally got around to making homemade pizza for the family ($3)  See photos:

This packaged dough mix is Walmart's brand and it costs 44 cents.  I used three bags to make a 24" x 12" deep dish cheese pizza.  The sauce was leftover from Tuesday, and added one bag of shredded mozzarella ($1.50).  Entire pizza $3.





I'm thrilled that we've made it two weeks, and a little shocked that I still have meals from the original list I never even prepared.  I didn't take into account the abundance of leftovers.  Over the weekend, I plan on writing about some things that I learned during the challenge of Eating from the Pantry, so I hope you'll continue to join me here.  Very soon I will introduce the nature of the next challenge on the road to contentment. 


I would love to hear your thoughts, so consider leaving me a comment...

Day 12 - Don't be afraid to give

One of the components of contentment is giving.  I will go so far as to say that you will never be truly content if you do not give sacrificially.  Many folks give from their abundance, supporting organizations and charities for tax purposes, which is honorable; but will never tap into the supernatural system of tithes and offerings, and financial gifts to those who preach or give their lives to furthering the gospel.

Some of the things Paul mentions in Philippians 4:
-the Philippian church supported him when he was there preaching
-they continued to support him when he traveled elsewhere
-no other church supported him at the time
-their gifts were a "sweet-smelling sacrifice that was acceptable and pleasing to God"
-God would reward their kindness

In the gospels, Jesus encouraged his followers to give, cautioning,
"Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."

In the same way that forgiveness must come from the heart, so should giving.  True giving is with an open hand and with no strings attached; and one more thing--in faith.  Let's just get it out of the way right now...you may feel like you have nothing extra to give and yet you know it's the right thing to do.  What then?  Well, then you give in faith and trust God, who you know will keep His word.

"And my God shall supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 NLT)

I can attest to this truth, that even though a balance sheet would find us lacking, we have never gone without anything we needed.  There was a time when we were very prosperous and loved being generous with what God had blessed us with.  We are no longer in that position; yet it is in our hearts to give, even when it seems illogical, even detrimental.
One of the hardest things to learn in this process was how to receive from others when God prompted them to give to us; humbling.  And speaking of humble...

Eating from the Pantry - Day 12

Breakfast - eggs, hash browns ($1)

Lunch - leftover chicken (still have enough for another dinner)

Dinner - Leftover tacos, nachos (finally gone!)

Cost of meals for the day was only $1 because everything else was leftovers.


You can tell how much I love my hubby when I confess that since he was dying for some cooked chocolate pudding last night, I agreed to go get a box for him to make.  Never forgetting my frugal disposition, I had an ulterior motivation and that was to obtain a $10 off of $50 purchase coupon from Winn Dixie.  If you read my couponing blog at http://www.frequentbuyer.blogspot.com/, you know that it is my goal to get this coupon every week so that I can use it when I shop at Publix.  It worked, and we were both happy. 

I am currently planning my grocery shopping for Saturday, when I finish this, my first challenge in the Philippians 4 Project.  Stay tuned to find out what the next challenge will be.

Day 11 - Doing Math

Moving on in Philippians 4, it's time to examine our thought life.  Here's how Paul explains it:

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

I began breaking down the sentence, adjective by adjective, to come up with some kind of list.
True—truth, immutable fact, certain, loyal—that could cover anything from algebra to your dog.
Honorable—respectable, ethical—some business people, pastors and judges?
Right—suitable,  proper, accurate—doing your taxes, flossing teeth, being charitable
Pure—unadulterated, clean, chaste—an infant, newly fallen snow, fresh squeezed juice
Lovely—adorable, pleasant, aesthetic—a panorama, a cover girl, a memorable day
Admirable—praiseworthy, valued—a winning sports team, a perfect SAT score

Each attribute in its own right can be easily calculated and understood, however, it's the sum total, like a mathematical equation that makes this passage unique.  Like a math problem, there is only one answer, a single conclusion.  Let me explain:

Many things are true, but that doesn't make them honorable.  Many people are lovely, but that doesn't make them admirable.  A soldier is most likely admirable, honorable and true... maybe even right, but hardly ever pure, and never lovely.

There is only one who can measure up to the the standard, the sum total of each of the qualities (true + honorable + right + pure + lovely + admirable) that Paul implores us to fix our thoughts on and that is Jesus. 
    True + honorable + right + pure + lovely + admirable = Jesus

When your thoughts are going in the wrong direction, remember this wonderful promise... when you think on these things, then the God of peace will be with you.


Eating from the Pantry - Day 11
Breakfast - finished off eggs, with toast
Lunch - hot dogs
Dinner - Chicken parmesan, broccoli and noodles.  The cost was about $9 for all the ingredients with enough chicken to last 2 dinners.  The meat was on sale at $2 a pound, I got the breadcrumbs for free with a coupon, although I had to give my son $1.50 to get some eggs because I forgot that the breading required it.

I always filet chicken breasts with a sharp knife to get two thinner breast portions from each.

These steamer bags of frozen vegetables regularly go on sale B1G1 free.  With coupons, they normally end up costing 60-80 cents each.

Pasta and rice side dishes are even less expensive, costing about 50 cents after coupons and promotions.



Here's the finished product:

Total cost for today's meals about $11


Final Thought
Thoughts are not easily controlled by natural means.  It makes me think of a single domino that sets off the chain reaction solely by its proximity to the next domino.  With synapses firing, our brains connect a single thought to countless others triggering memories and associations, which in turn affect our emotions and physiological responses.
The supernatural means of controlling our thoughts described in Philippians 4, is God's way of redirecting the process into a profitable one.  With negative thoughts rejected and godly thoughts welcomed, we abandon despair and are filled with hope.

Day 10 - Comparison, jealousy and strife

It's hard to find contentment when you're constantly looking outside rather than in.  There have been many times when I found myself comparing my kids, my house, my clothes and my car with those of the people in my life and usually I ended up feeling inferior.

There is no logical reasoning behind it—we always come up short in the comparison, even when it is completely untrue.  It's not just about the tangibles, we extend the list to judge ourselves less spiritual, less compassionate and less noble... but why?

In the first few verses of Philippians 4, Paul is addressing the relationship between two of his supporters, fellow believers who have had a falling out.  I'd never really thought about those two women who are mentioned by name, though I experienced something like that years ago with a very dear friend.

With any close and loving relationship there are times of strife.  A disagreement arises, things are said and feelings are hurt, often beyond repair.  Paul says, these are two good and godly women who co-labored with him in sharing the good news, and although we don't know the reason for their quarrel, we understand and sympathize with them.  Here is the reason:  every Christian has an enemy.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

This doesn't have to be literal, since a wounded christian who is wrapped up in strife, jealousy and offense is hardly effective in the Kingdom. The lion uses his intimidating roar to stir up fear, and those who are weaker than him may be devourable.  There is a greater lion, however, The Lion of Judah, who resides in the believer.  That is why the apostle John proclaimed, "Greater is He that is in you (Christ), than he that is in the world (satan)." When the believer knows who he is in Christ, he will not be devoured!



Eating from the Pantry - Day 10


Breakfast - finished up the muffins, cereal; the coffee cream is still a distraction, but we are pushing through.

Lunch - since I was out running errands, I packed snacks and drinks so as not to spend any unnecessary money.

Dinner - leftover chili macaroni.

Cost for today's meals, nothing, since everything we had was leftover.



The End of the Story
It took a few years for our relationship to be healed, and as each of us matured in our walk with the Lord, we learned to respect one another again.  In the end, the love we had for one another and for the Lord conquered our petty insecurities, to the point where I was able to sit on her hospital bed and whisper into her ear a heartfelt confession of love and gratitude for all she had been in my life on the day she passed away.

If there is a message in this story, it is this:  Do not allow yourself to be sidetracked by comparison, jealousy and strife.  Your enemy is the devil—not your spouse, your child, your neighbor or your boss. Keep in mind how gracious God is toward you and if you need further evidence of how He wants us to handle these situations, read the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor in Matthew 18:21-35.

Day 9 - Grace

Today brings an excellent opportunity to boast in the grace of God, not only because it's my favorite topic to discuss, but also because of the freedom it brings.  I love to teach, I suppose, because I love to learn; so when I began writing about The Challenge, I knew something would happen that might seem like a setback, or a violation of the rules I concocted, in order that I might talk about grace. Here's what happened:

We ate out after church today, and it was justifiable for these reasons:
1. Our anniversary was yesterday, but we didn't celebrate (funeral)
2. Our daughter was visiting for the day, so all the family was together
3. We planned to go right from church to the Orlando Science Center for a special event

When my husband suggested going out this morning, I balked.  I explained that I could not break my commitment to Eat from the Pantry, especially because I had made the commitment public.  I then offered to make food and bring it with us, pack drinks, snacks, blah, blah, blah.  He knew right away that would put way too much pressure on me and took control, made the decision grabbing Steak N Shake coupons as we left early this morning.

I really love this man who knows how to take control before I let something take control of me.  I can be so rigid sometimes, because I have the personality of a director.  Yet he knows and lives in a state of grace where things bend and adapt because he is a peacemaker.

Did I fail the challenge?  No way!  Am I giving up now?  Why would I want to zap my own spiritual vitality by feeling condemned?  I am not fearful of God, nor am I a slave—I am his daughter.  As the word says:
"You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead you received God's spirit when He adopted you as His own children." (Romans 8:15)  
Which of us would be disappointed in our kids for something so unimportant?  As a parent, I would be proud of my child for even attempting to make positive changes, and that is how I think God feels about me.  I was so pleased down deep inside to get this little break, making this day even more special.

Day 9 - Eating from the Pantry

Breakfast - Neil baked cinnamon muffins (85 cents for the mix)
Lunch - restaurant ($30)
Dinner - Chili/mac (still eating the leftover stuff and it's good)

Total cost of food for the day about $33

Final Note:  
Don't obsess about other people's expectations of you, or put unnecessary demands on yourself.  May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace, instead.

Day 8 - Humility

There was on overwhelming sense of humility at the funeral today, where those in attendance whispered, avoided eye contact and stifled tears.  I say humility in the sense that it is the opposite of pride, something that would have been completely inappropriate in that setting where people were broken emotionally and spiritually.

Had someone entered into that solemn occasion with pomp and circumstance (ostentatious; boastful) in order to draw attention to themselves I would have been shocked and offended.  There is no way that such a person would be identifying with the grief of the family, like other respectful mourners.

Later in the day, I began thinking about how easily we can put on humility—like a piece of clothing—for a time; because for that period of time, we have put someone else's needs high above our own (like at the funeral).  If only we were better at that, with hearts that were forever tender and compassionate.

The bible says of Jesus, in Philippians Chapter 2:
"Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross."

Let's take pride in Christ, and what He can do through us when we share His humble attitude.



Day 8 - Saturday - Eating from the Pantry 


Breakfast - cereal and remaining leftovers of pancakes and waffles
I guess I'll need to make some more soon...
I'm still working on coffee cream because I didn't really love it today and Neil is threatening to go buy some.  I'm trying to keep him reined in.

Lunch - we attended a funeral service today and had food following the service

Dinner - ate popcorn and snacks while watching a movie (sounds junky, but good)

Total cost of meals for this unusual day: about $4

Day 7 - Rest

I didn't plan this—the coincidence of the seventh day and the day of rest—I just didn't feel well.  I had all kinds of plans for the day and things that I would accomplish, none of which happened.  I'm happy to report that everyone else carried on in spite of my day in bed.

A great family day, in fact, because my boys spent some time together and my parents got some handyman work done by their grandson.  I am thankful that Neil's workday filled up and I had the house to myself for 5 or 6 hours... just what I needed.

What comes to mind when you think about the word rest in a biblical sense?  Often, it is Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; (Yahweh, the One True God, is leading me)
I have all that I need.  (He is my provision, my everything)
He lets me rest in green meadows; (It is His desire for me to know peace)
He leads me beside peaceful streams. (When I follow Him, I will know peace)
He renews my strength. (I pour out, He fills me again)

Other times, it is Matthew 11:28, 29:
"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Apparently, we need Jesus to teach us how to rest—physically, emotionally and spiritually.

True rest is more like a state of being, and less about where you are or what you are doing.  Some people can spend the day on the couch and not rest at all.  In fact, according to the American Heart Association, many heart attacks occur when people are supposedly resting.

I believe we need to be reminded that rest is beneficial to us in so many ways.  If you have trouble resting or sleeping, or feel guilty about down time, you may need to unburden yourself in this way:  Meditate on each of these passages and visualize yourself as the Lord's companion in each scenario.  After all, His word is for you—to teach, comfort, edify, and correct your wayward thinking.  Receive the message of unconditional love and there, you will find rest.


Day 7 - Eating from the Pantry

Thankfully our refrigerator is stuffed with leftovers and pre-planned menu items, that is the only way a day like this survived the challenge!
Breakfast - eggs and hash browns, leftover pancakes (75 cents on 3 eggs and 1 box potatoes)
Neil squeezed a bunch of additional oranges—yummy
We are about to run out of flavored cream for our coffee (my biggest challenge so far) so before I started feeling crummy, I spent some time trying to doctor up plain cream with some chocolate syrup... we'll see how it is tomorrow.

No lunch, nobody was home and I didn't want anything.

Dinner - the guys had leftover chili ($2)

Total cost for the day about $3


One Final Thought
I've spent a lot of today thinking about tomorrow, because we will be going to a funeral for a young woman we knew years ago when she was a child, and the circumstances of her death are devastating.  When we reunite with her family, we are hoping to bring them God's comfort and peace.

Day 6 - Leave Your Worries There

Remember that Bobby McFerrin song from 1988, "Don't Worry, Be Happy?"  I cannot forget it because we had one of those Wide Mouth Bass plaques that sang the song every time a motion sensor was tripped.  I'm pretty sure it landed in a garage sale and is torturing some other family.

The "don't worry, be happy phrase" was actually written by someone else, and McFerrin penned his song after he read a poster which contained that encouraging phrase.  Here is the author of it, and a one sentence bio from Wikipedia about him:


Meher Baba (Devanāgarī: मेहेर बाबा), (February 25, 1894 – January 31, 1969), born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age.

Notice the word avatar?  You've probably heard it a lot lately because of the multi-million grossing movie of the same name.  In the Hindu religion, avatar is an incarnation of god.  Meher Baba had many followers in both the east and west who put their trust in him, believing he had the divine ability to make them carefree.

Nothing wrong with folks being happy, but the older I get, the more I understand that happiness is fleeting.  My bible doesn't say "always be joyful," it says "always be full of joy in the Lord."  When we take our concerns to Him prayerfully, we are able to leave our worries there and receive His peace in return.

Eating from the Pantry - Day 6


Breakfast - leftover waffles, and cereal ($1 for the entire box)

Lunch - PB&J, which I still love

Dinner - tacos and nachos (I cooked 3 pounds of taco meat on Monday).  I make homemade nachos with taco meat ($6 beef) ($2 mixes), chips ($2), some shredded cheese ($2), chopped olives ($1), lettuce ($1), beans & rice leftovers (75 cents) and throw it all in the oven.  The ingredients for the tacos and nachos will last for 2 dinners, and a few lunches or snacks ($15 total).

Total for the day $16


I am amazed at how well this is going after six days, and all I had to do today was some reheating.  The upcoming weekend may be a challenge with a busy schedule, but some careful planning will help us stay on track with The Challenge.

Day 5 of the Challenge: Where does FAITH come from?

After a week of waiting for a frozen chicken to defrost inside the refrigerator, I asked Neil to check the temperature setting to see if something was amiss.  I kept checking the bird every day but it was rock solid.  We finally took some action to make sure it would happen:  put the bowl on the counter for an hour while we lowered the temp inside the fridge, then moved the chicken to another shelf where it isn't as cold.  Two days later (today) it is finally ready to roast.


Sometimes when I am waiting on God to do something, I wait silently in peace, expressing faith that he will lead, guide or intervene.  Other times, when I am unsettled and a matter is more urgent, I picture myself like the bleeding woman who pushed her way through a crowd, flinging herself at Jesus' feet—we are both on a mission to get something from Him we desperately need.   


Faith is what allowed Stephen to forgive his murderers and die in peace, yet, faith allowed the other apostles to repeatedly escape capture and death for a time, as they continued to spread the gospel.  Our faith is not in the outcome, since we rarely know what that will be.  Our faith is placed firmly on Christ, "the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)




Eating from the Pantry - Day 5
Breakfast
Fresh squeezed orange juice (thanks, Neil)
Homemade belgian waffles (thanks, Neil)
Coffee (Neil, again...you're probably wondering what I did to deserve all this devotion)
Cost for breakfast that will stretch for a few days $4


Lunch was a bowl of chili from yesterday, no additional cost.


I finally roasted the chicken for dinner tonight.

It cost $3.04, and there might even be a little leftover meat.

I seasoned it with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and basil and stuffed the cavity with onion and citrus. 

Here is the finished product which will be served with flavored rice and a veggie.  Total cost $5

While the chicken was roasting, I cooked elbow noodles and made a pound of macaroni salad to use as a side dish over the next few days (I'll include the cost when it's on the menu).  I'll probably bake some of the oatmeal cookies after dinner this evening.  I never make them all at once or they will disappear...

Total cost of today's menu (I'll include the cookie dough) $10

Day 4- of the Challenge: Contentment & Covenant

I'm UP!
I actually woke up smiling today, my first thought was this declaration: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and I am blessed, not because I deserve it (I don't), simply based on the finished work of Christ.  Especially when I don't feel well, or am burdened, I try to set my thoughts on the right path with a statement of faith.
I'm a little DOWN...
Those blessings seemed far away after a few discussions with creditors dragged me back into reality.  Yes, we are indebted, and like many of you have less money coming in than the previous years. We definitely had a lapse of faith and good judgment when we used credit to stay afloat during tough times.
Having said all that, I am off to my bible to seek solace because I know this is the wrong thought pattern which will lead me far away from where I need to be.
I'm UP AGAIN, Hallelujah!
 I am once again filled with hope! I found myself in Genesis 15 where I had been studying the covenant God made with Abram and his descendants, although he had none at the time.  Abram asked how he could be sure that he would actually receive what God promised, and God's reply was to perform the covenant ceremony binding the two of them.
Partway through the ritual, Abram fell into a deep sleep while God showed him the future of his people in a vision; when he awoke, he observed the final step where the participants would pass between the sacrificed animal halves (this was apparently to emphasize that the parties would rather be torn apart than break the covenant).  What he saw was a smoking pot and a torch of fire pass through—essentially, God binding Himself by covenant.


Like Abraham, we are beneficiaries of a covenant that seems too good to be true.  "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8)

I am reminded that as promised, Abraham indeed had a child as a result of his faith, and that God made a way when it seemed all but impossible.

The conclusion?  I am in covenant with God, who wants me to believe in the impossible.





DAY 4 - Eating from the Pantry
Breakfast was scrambled eggs, sausage patties and hash browns.  I made Betty Crocker hash browns from a box because when they are on sale, I can get them for about 30 cents, and they are crispy and delicious.  Cost for breakfast about $1.

Lunch was leftovers, no cost.

Dinner - we ate about 1/3 of the Three Bean Chili that I made yesterday.  The entire pot cost about $6 to make and it will go a long way.  I have all kinds of crackers in my stockpile because it's one of the items you can consistently get really cheap with B1G1 sales and coupons.  For instance, I normally pay about 75 cents for a $3-$4 box of Ritz crackers.

Entire day's meals today cost about $4


One Final Thought
I'm so encouraged by what I've been reading and by doing a daily devotional with Neil.  He tells me to "quit teaching" when he's satisfied and ready to move on with his day—I get lost in the excitement of discovering new things and lose track of time, where he must earn a living.  We're different that way, and it's more than okay; there was a time when I would've been insulted, now, we just laugh.

Day 3 Thoughts and Eats

In trying to define contentment today, I became fixated on these two words:  peaceful and passive.  We could probably have a great debate about how our Lord embodied each of these traits, and I'm sorry to say I have some difficulty liking the passive part, because I like action.

I'm careful not to allow movie clips take root in my brain, since I grew up watching Hollywood films about Jesus—I'm pretty sure most producers (many of them Jewish) were more concerned about marketability than about accuracy when portraying the Lord. Examining the arrest, crucifixion and death of Jesus I can't miss the passivity that is apparent in His demeanor, however, when I read his passionate prayer prior to all that, as He resigns his will to the Father's, I believe God grants His Son supernatural peace that will carry Him through the agony to come. 

When I think of the word peaceful, it brings to mind positive things like: quietness with strength and undisturbed in emotion; but passive carries a somewhat negative connotation, as in:  inactive, hands-off, nonviolent, unresisting.  Many martyrs have gone to their deaths passively, but could only do so because of peace and the knowledge of heaven's reward.  Perhaps this scripture is why they find contentment even in death:

Hebrews 12:2:  "so let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..."

So what's the conclusion?  (later)



DAY 3 - Cooking Day
I cooked 4 1/2 pounds of beef today preparing 3lbs of taco meat and 1.5lbs for chili.  I always buy boxed taco dinners when they are 2 for 1 because that pays for the tortillas (20) and there are 2 seasoning mixes and 2 pouches of salsa included.

Sometimes I get pre-packaged beef at Walmart.  Each of these tubes is 3lbs and costs about $5.65 and believe it or not, sometimes these packages get marked down pretty low.
Whatever I don't use I vacuum pack with food saver bags which keep 2 weeks in the fridge.

Two boxes cost about $2.70 when on sale (same with Old El Paso brand).
Made a giant pot of chili, good for one dinner and lots of lunches.

Whole grain spaghetti and meatballs are on the stove right now and the batter for 4 dozen oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies is made.  I will bake a few tonight and store the dough in the fridge for another time.
Tomorrow I may rest, but for now, I am satisfied... or should I say content?

By the way, regarding the peaceful vs. passive, I think passive is okay as long as its not just quitting in disguise.  It must be accompanied by a declaration of faith such as "the peace of God that passes all understanding is mine and will guard my heart and mind..." found in the fourth chapter of Philippians.

Day 2 - Contentment even in the midst of difficulty

Paul's letter to the Philippian church began as a 'thank you' letter and turned into a teaching on contentment and joy.  Imagine how difficult it would be for an apostle and church-planter to be stuck in house arrest for preaching; awaiting an audience with Caesar who would decide his fate.  Nonetheless, Paul never wavered in his faith and took every opportunity to encourage those around him.

As a family, we've experienced challenges in so many areas, yet our faith is strong.  It was out of necessity that I started on the road to frugal living and dragged my entire family along.  Now we compare notes and brag about our bargains and savings. 

I love the adventure of bargain hunting, but even more, the adventure of faith--trusting and believing God to meet our every need. 

Eating from the Pantry - Day 2

We love Sundays, and I especially love that I've trained the guys to expect only 2 meals from me.  We always breakfast at home, occasionally have lunch out after church (if we have a www.restaurant.com gift certificate) or I make something when we get home around 1:00 and then it's everyone for himself for the remainder of the day. 

Breakfast was scrambled eggs, sausage patties & toast ($1.25 for two of us)
others had pancakes from yesterday

Lunch - made 6 of the 24 turkey burgers (I told my picky son they were 'burgers' and hid the box--he liked them) and baked frozen fries (less than $5 for all of us)

Dinner - Luckily, we were invited to a party this evening to celebrate our neice's college graduation and there was plenty of good food (no charge).

We had our late night hot chocolate and some fig newtons (paid 50 cents for the box) so late night snack was about $1.

Cost for the entire day's food - $7.25 

I don't want to obsess about money, that is not the reason for listing cost, it's simply proof that it can be done.  It's amazing how far money stretches when you pay attention to where it goes.  I wish I had listened to my dad when he started me on a cash envelope system of budgeting when I got my first real job. But my God is a redeemer!  It is never too late to start over.

Day One Menu and Cost

Day One of the Philippians 4 Project and I am eager to get going.  My study bible offers this information about Paul's letter to the church at Philippi—he was presenting Jesus Christ as the very center of life and the source of joy.


Contentment is the goal and joy is an essential component.

I woke up to the smell of coffee and pancakes on the griddle; Neil was making breakfast having made a batter with half of the Aunt Jemima pancake mix.  I am so glad that he always has coffee brewing when I get up because I do not eat until I've finished a cup.  When he was done, I mixed the remainder of the box and cooked the rest, making a total of 43 five-inch pancakes.  The mix cost less than $2 and will last about 3 meals because all of the men eat about 4 cakes each.

We drank fresh-squeezed orange juice from the in-laws' tree (we picked right before the freeze) and that is another thing I am so grateful for... one of the many nice things about living in Florida.

Since we spent a good part of the day wrapped in robes and blankets, I planned a hot lunch of soup and sandwiches.  There was a time when this meant that mom (me) would run to the grocery store, pick up 2 kinds of deli meat and some sliced provolone cheese, a loaf of french bread, a bag of chips and possibly a 2-liter of soda—an unplanned shopping trip out of the normal budget—costing $25!  Not anymore, though, if we don't have it, we don't have it.  Here's what I put together:
Defrosted half a loaf of frozen (leftover) italian bread and sliced into 14 pieces and used all of the remaining deli meat in the fridge (some ham, salami, turkey and 2 slices of cheese); made open-faced sandwiches and broiled them, added some olive tapenade (leftover from a party) to the warm, crusty sandwiches:

Remember, I save big on groceries so the seven sandwiches cost about $3.50 for all.

For the soup, I had some leftover ham and bean soup from last week's dinner (homemade from the christmas ham remainders) and it wasn't quite enough, so I added one can of canned minestrone (75 cents) and 1/2 cup of pastina (about 10 cents worth) while the soup boiled, it turned out delicious and oh, so warming.

A few hours later, my 17 year old asked if making cookies was in the budget... I was glad to tell him that since I already have 6 refrigerator doughs that I paid only 60 cents each for, he was welcome to bake.  So we had a little snack and some with hot cocoa that evening.  BTW, the cocoa with whipped cream cost about 20 cents per serving.

When dinner came around I pulled out the frozen, stuffed chicken breasts and baked them along with a bag of sliced potatoes and a can of sliced carrots.

These retail for $5 a box (2 breasts)

I got 2 boxes for 1.50 each

Here is the complete dinner, costing less than $4 for all four of us.

Fed the family of four for the entire day for less than $10!

With day one finished, I felt as if I'd accomplished something.  It's almost like starting a diet or a workout plan; you promise yourself that you'll make the change, stop doing this or start doing that.  It made me think of God's covenant with us and the promises that we can count on.  We are always the ones who give up and break our portion of the covenant, not Him, even though He is the rich and powerful one with everything to offer!  What have we to offer Him? 

Project #1 - No Grocery Shopping for 2 Weeks!

WHAT? NO SHOPPING?
After discussing this idea with my husband (the kids don't really have a say) we decided to take the challenge of eating what we already had for two weeks. I realized a few things:  that everything I have is replaceable and sales are cyclical; that we have never gone without; with a new year dawning, it was a good time to make adjustments.
I hadn't been to the grocery in several days, so I made my final trip Friday (last week's budget) after taking inventory.  There were a few necessary items I needed to complete my two week menu plan. If you follow my couponing blog at www.frequentbuyer.blogspot.com, you may have a lot of the same stuff stored up in your own freezer and pantry.

This is the two week dinner plan, and when I prepare the dish, I'll break down the cost:
2 nights homemade pizza  (bought cheese)
1 whole grain spaghetti & meatballs  (bought bagged salad)
1 whole grain ziti, vegetable & garlic bread (bought loaf to freeze)
1 roasted whole chicken, flavored rice, vegetable
1 small meatloaf, broad noodles, vegetable
1 dinner of frozen stuffed chicken breasts, roasted potatoes, salad (2nd bagged salad)
1 turkey burgers, french fries (24 frozen turkey burgers)
1 Oriental BBQ whole chicken with brown fried rice
1 black beans, rice & turkey kielbasa (bought kielbasa)
1 pot of 3-bean chili (bought 6lbs beef for this and tacos)
Three pounds of taco meat for tacos, burritos, nachos
Chicken parmesan, side pasta, salad (bought 3lbs boneless chicken)

Lunch for me is usually leftovers or soup (which I have plenty) but on the weekends, everyone wants a hot lunch.  Here is what I have planned:
hot dogs with beans
ham and cheese panini sandwiches (need bread)
hot dogs with warm macaroni salad
turkey burgers on toast
dinner leftovers

Here is what I plan for breakfast:
3 boxes of pancake mix- each box will make about 4 dozen four-inch pancakes or 2 dozen waffles
4 boxes of cereal
2 dozen eggs, frozen sausage patties
Oatmeal
Bran muffins, cinnamon muffins, corn muffins
Fruit - have a melon, some pears and a bag of apples, various fruit cups
Cereal bars with fruit and fiber
Lots of oranges and tangerines from the in-laws' trees
Fresh squeezed juice!

Things I may run out of?  Milk, eggs, bread, hot chocolate if it stays cold...

Welcome! Thanks for visiting.

I've been blogging for almost six months now about how to save money, and the results for me have been pretty outstanding. I am consistently saving 50-80% in the grocery store and sometimes even more at the drugstores. I am a complete convert to couponing and everything it entails because it has allowed us to have plenty in the midst of financial struggle.

I spend much less these days, and have tons more. In my not-too-distant past, I was frequently running to the store for items I always have on hand now (like oil, taco seasoning, olives, waffles, deodorant, toilet paper or replacing the toothbrush that fell in the toilet). The question for me was then, what to do with all the accumulated loot? With personal items like makeup, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste, I have been able to do several things: give away to friends and family when they visit my home; donate to families at church; include in gifts over the holidays.

Food, though, is a little different, and that is what got me thinking. I noticed that many of the blogs I frequent were mentioning a temporary moratorium on shopping in order to eat from the pantry/freezer/fridge for a week or so. When I inventoried my own storage, I figured that we could probably make it for two weeks. In my pre-coupon world, I often threw out meat that had gone bad, moldy bread and bruised fruit and veggies. What a waste! When I became conscious of how poorly I'd been planning and spending, I turned over a new leaf and became a saver, not a waster. My mantra had become this: "My husband works very hard for this money and I am not going to waste it."

We are struggling to pay off debts from the past and do not have a single dollar of credit available to us (thank God) and have been living on cash alone for nearly 18 months. It's been hard, but eye-opening, in the sense that we didn't realize how far we'd strayed from our biblical foundation. This is why my Philippians 4 Project began—because everything for me finds its foundation in the Word of God, and ultimately, contentment is a spiritual quest.

Read my first entry about eating what we already have:

Project #1 - No Grocery Shopping for 2 Weeks