With the cool weather starting so soon, and fall it seems is already on some of us and gaining on the rest (!), I was wondering how everyone is preparing and getting ready for the Cold weather ahead?!
It feels to my husband and I that everything is a little ahead this year. Our dog-days of summer where back in July, instead of Aug. and we have been having nights around 50 degrees here.We hope to get some firewood stacked up, even though we have central heat and air! You never know when you may get a lot of ice and the power be out for a while. So we want to be able to use the wood stove! For heat and cooking.
I hope to start filling our freezer and canning jars with meats, this fall. Husband hopes to do some fishing and get some turkey, venisen, etc.
I would also like to can some apples!
So I was wondering if anyone else is "winterizing" ??
Are you cutting/buying and stacking up a lot of firewood?Buying a wood cook stove?
Planning a fall garden?Saving seeds from this years garden?
Buying your seeds for next years gardening?
Buying/building a greenhouse?
Planning out your greenhouse?
Stocking up on beans, and rice, wheat, cornmeal, oats, peanut butter, coffee, sugar, honey, nuts, herbal teas, spices, oils/fats for cooking, baking supplies (vanilla, baking powder, soda, salt, etc.) etc?
You may even want/need to stock up on bottled/barreled water.
Don't forget that canning jars and supplies are usually seasonal, so get as many of them as you can, now before they are out of stock!
Stocking up on paper goods (paper towls, toilet paper, feminine products, diapers, wipes,etc.)
Other things you may need like:
School supplies,
cleaning supplies,
washcloths, towels,
bathing/body and first aid supplies,etc.
A lot of candles, some kerosene lamps and lots of kerosene and lamp wicks!
And do not forget the winter clothes! Don't wait to long to get the boots/shoes, socks, coats, etc!
And buying sewing supples and fabric, so on the cool days you can do some sewing!
Also with all the talk of flu and sickness, and the regular winter colds, it would be very wise to stock up on echinacea, red raspberry, garlic, onions, horseradish, lobelia, and your tinctures, teas and formulas for the immune system, colds, flu, etc. I try to have a lot of Emergen-C drink on hand and it is good to have juices stocked up too!
I hope this is helpful and encourages you to start preparing for your families winter days ahead!
I know there is a lot more and it is a little different for each family, but start with your basic, everyday uses and foods and after you have that stocked up, you can start getting more of the "extra" things you would "like" to have!
God bless! Keep looking to Him!
Showing posts with label Reflections on the Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflections on the Home. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Homemaking and Home Destroyers part 2 of 2
Okay here is my second try at this. The first got deleted. Sorry it is very pitiful now.
Yesterday the question At The Well http://www.titus2atthewell.com/2009/02/are-my-motives-pleasing-to-you-god.html was on whether are motives are pleasing to God. So today I have been thinking about pleasing God and homemaking. I believe that I am pleasing God as a homemaker. I am pleasing God by staying at home, by being my husband's helpmate and by raising our children. I am pleasing God by being joyful and content as a homemaker. This can be ruff at times, and satan often throws discouragement, but I must remember to build up my home and that I will find joy in pleasing my family and the Lord! I do not consider myself to be the best homemaker. As in most areas of my life, there is a lot of room for improvement! But, Praise the Lord, He is still working on me!
My husband is the King of this home. So I want him to be happy and fill appreciated and loved in his home. We should want our husband to fill like royalty! We have to create and build up a home that has an atmosphere of love for all who abide here. Our position, as homemakers, should not be looked down upon as one of a maid servant, but as the wife of a king, we have the calling to be the queen of our home! When we think of our home this way, we will have a new attitude. Our position as queen is a privilege! A God given privilege! Our God-given calling! Our home is a "castle" and we were chosen to be the ones to make it a "castle," build it up, and fill it with love for our family, and pleasing unto the Lord! How wonderful! We are blessed with the title of a queen! The world offers many lies, and lures us to believe many things, so that women are easily mislead to follow the worlds calling to women. We can have the career we always dreamed of, our own spending money to buy what we want or think we need, we can have fancy things, go fancy places, plan out our own lives around ourselves, we are not tied down, we can go, go, go, and do as we please! What a life! And we are known as career, liberated, powerful women! Yet this is soo empty! Nothing last, we are not truly rewarded and when the lights go out and the show is over, we have nothing. Our hearts, body and whole being is made to nurture, care for, love and create. To be a career women or to be a homemaker and queen? The answer is clear to me. I want to please my God and so this is the title I will humbly wear, a homemaker and a queen.
This is your high calling, your privilege and position! Wear it like a queen! Embrace your high-calling! Praise the Lord for your high-calling!
A homemaker for the Lord,
Hannah
P.S.
I have included the second part of Nancy Campbell's writing that I shared with you last week. If you would like to receive these in your email go to her website:
http://rubies.articledirectoree.com/subscribe-email-devotionals.html
Enjoy!
HOME DESTROYERS
Part 2b
Proverbs 13:18, "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored."
We continue talking today about the home destroyer of foolishness. We pull it down by not preparing for the future. As you read through Proverbs 31 again you will notice that the virtuous woman did not live just for the day, but prepared her home and household for whatever lay ahead.
Proverbs 31:27 says, "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the read of idleness." The words "looks well" are translated from the Hebrew word tsaphah. It has two meanings--
a) To watch. It is the same word that is used for a watchman who watches to protect the city, e.g. Ezekiel 33:7. The wise woman is a watchwoman. She guards her home and her children's lives. She does not leave her post. She guards over what they see, hear and read. She watches over her home to keep everything in order. She does not let things get out of control.
b) To lean forward, to peer into the distance. The wise woman does not think only about today, but about the future. She has food and necessities prepared in case of emergency. She has made strategies with her family so that they know what to do in a crisis. She is ready for whatever may happen.
Proverbs 31:18 says that "her lamp goes not out by night." No, don't feel guilty. she is not working all night! Back in Bible days, they did not have electricity. Therefore, they kept a lamp burning, ready for any emergency. The dogs may bark at some intrusion or the baby wakes. They need to have the lamp ready to investigate or to minister to the needs of the baby or children. It could be catastrophic for a family to run out of oil for the lamp. The wise woman always made sure she had enough oil to keep the lamp burning continually.
Jesus told a story about this in Matthew 25:1-13. The wise virgins took not only their lamps but extra oil with them. The foolish didn't think of anything but the moment, and of course they ran out of oil! And they missed the coming of the bridegroom! What did Jesus call these women? Yes, we know. Foolish! We pull it down by being stubborn. Proverbs 1:7 says, "Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:22) The foolish woman thinks she knows it all and she does not like to be corrected. The wise woman knows that she constantly needs correction from the Lord. Even from her husband and others in order to keep learning and walking in the ways of the Lord. I don't always like it when my husband corrects me but I know it keeps me on the right track. I want to receive correction and wisdom from others because I don't want to stay the same. I still have so much changing and learning to do. I want to have a soft heart to hear what God tells me.
The Scriptures tell us over and over again that it is the wise who will receive instruction and correction. The word that is used continually is "hear". Hear instruction. Hear counsel. Listen to rebuke. The word "hear" is shama in the Hebrew. It means "to hear with attention or obedience, to give undivided listening attention." This should be our attitude toward correction and advice, rather than being reactionary. I notice that the word heart is a t added to hear. To have a heart that is soft and pliable, we have to have to hear what God wants to say to us, not only through His Word, but through others.
Much of what we do and think is conditioned by our deceived humanistic society. It is so much part of everything around us that we think it is normal. But the world's normal does not always match the Word of God. We must continually seek God and His Word for His truth. We must constantly check to seek if we are lining up with His plan for motherhood and family life.
I have had to change and repent about so many things over the years and I know that God has still so much to teach me. We must always be open to God's truth. Read the beautiful family Psalms (Psalm 127 and 128) every week. They keep you in line with God's heart rather than the humanistic thinking of this world.
Sometimes we have to humble our ears to hear counsel. Proverbs 22:17 says, "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge."
We need to take notice of Proverbs 8:33, "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not." Also Proverbs 15:32, "He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding."
Love from
NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
"Lord, please give me a hearing heart that is open to correction. I know that as I am open to correction, my children will be more open to correction too. Thank you, Lord. Amen."
AFFIRMATION:
I'm a watchman in my home,
I will not vacate my post!
I'm open to wise correction
And filled with the Holy Ghost!
Yesterday the question At The Well http://www.titus2atthewell.com/2009/02/are-my-motives-pleasing-to-you-god.html was on whether are motives are pleasing to God. So today I have been thinking about pleasing God and homemaking. I believe that I am pleasing God as a homemaker. I am pleasing God by staying at home, by being my husband's helpmate and by raising our children. I am pleasing God by being joyful and content as a homemaker. This can be ruff at times, and satan often throws discouragement, but I must remember to build up my home and that I will find joy in pleasing my family and the Lord! I do not consider myself to be the best homemaker. As in most areas of my life, there is a lot of room for improvement! But, Praise the Lord, He is still working on me!
My husband is the King of this home. So I want him to be happy and fill appreciated and loved in his home. We should want our husband to fill like royalty! We have to create and build up a home that has an atmosphere of love for all who abide here. Our position, as homemakers, should not be looked down upon as one of a maid servant, but as the wife of a king, we have the calling to be the queen of our home! When we think of our home this way, we will have a new attitude. Our position as queen is a privilege! A God given privilege! Our God-given calling! Our home is a "castle" and we were chosen to be the ones to make it a "castle," build it up, and fill it with love for our family, and pleasing unto the Lord! How wonderful! We are blessed with the title of a queen! The world offers many lies, and lures us to believe many things, so that women are easily mislead to follow the worlds calling to women. We can have the career we always dreamed of, our own spending money to buy what we want or think we need, we can have fancy things, go fancy places, plan out our own lives around ourselves, we are not tied down, we can go, go, go, and do as we please! What a life! And we are known as career, liberated, powerful women! Yet this is soo empty! Nothing last, we are not truly rewarded and when the lights go out and the show is over, we have nothing. Our hearts, body and whole being is made to nurture, care for, love and create. To be a career women or to be a homemaker and queen? The answer is clear to me. I want to please my God and so this is the title I will humbly wear, a homemaker and a queen.
This is your high calling, your privilege and position! Wear it like a queen! Embrace your high-calling! Praise the Lord for your high-calling!
A homemaker for the Lord,
Hannah
P.S.
I have included the second part of Nancy Campbell's writing that I shared with you last week. If you would like to receive these in your email go to her website:
http://rubies.articledirectoree.com/subscribe-email-devotionals.html
Enjoy!
HOME DESTROYERS
Part 2b
Proverbs 13:18, "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored."
We continue talking today about the home destroyer of foolishness. We pull it down by not preparing for the future. As you read through Proverbs 31 again you will notice that the virtuous woman did not live just for the day, but prepared her home and household for whatever lay ahead.
Proverbs 31:27 says, "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the read of idleness." The words "looks well" are translated from the Hebrew word tsaphah. It has two meanings--
a) To watch. It is the same word that is used for a watchman who watches to protect the city, e.g. Ezekiel 33:7. The wise woman is a watchwoman. She guards her home and her children's lives. She does not leave her post. She guards over what they see, hear and read. She watches over her home to keep everything in order. She does not let things get out of control.
b) To lean forward, to peer into the distance. The wise woman does not think only about today, but about the future. She has food and necessities prepared in case of emergency. She has made strategies with her family so that they know what to do in a crisis. She is ready for whatever may happen.
Proverbs 31:18 says that "her lamp goes not out by night." No, don't feel guilty. she is not working all night! Back in Bible days, they did not have electricity. Therefore, they kept a lamp burning, ready for any emergency. The dogs may bark at some intrusion or the baby wakes. They need to have the lamp ready to investigate or to minister to the needs of the baby or children. It could be catastrophic for a family to run out of oil for the lamp. The wise woman always made sure she had enough oil to keep the lamp burning continually.
Jesus told a story about this in Matthew 25:1-13. The wise virgins took not only their lamps but extra oil with them. The foolish didn't think of anything but the moment, and of course they ran out of oil! And they missed the coming of the bridegroom! What did Jesus call these women? Yes, we know. Foolish! We pull it down by being stubborn. Proverbs 1:7 says, "Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:22) The foolish woman thinks she knows it all and she does not like to be corrected. The wise woman knows that she constantly needs correction from the Lord. Even from her husband and others in order to keep learning and walking in the ways of the Lord. I don't always like it when my husband corrects me but I know it keeps me on the right track. I want to receive correction and wisdom from others because I don't want to stay the same. I still have so much changing and learning to do. I want to have a soft heart to hear what God tells me.
The Scriptures tell us over and over again that it is the wise who will receive instruction and correction. The word that is used continually is "hear". Hear instruction. Hear counsel. Listen to rebuke. The word "hear" is shama in the Hebrew. It means "to hear with attention or obedience, to give undivided listening attention." This should be our attitude toward correction and advice, rather than being reactionary. I notice that the word heart is a t added to hear. To have a heart that is soft and pliable, we have to have to hear what God wants to say to us, not only through His Word, but through others.
Much of what we do and think is conditioned by our deceived humanistic society. It is so much part of everything around us that we think it is normal. But the world's normal does not always match the Word of God. We must continually seek God and His Word for His truth. We must constantly check to seek if we are lining up with His plan for motherhood and family life.
I have had to change and repent about so many things over the years and I know that God has still so much to teach me. We must always be open to God's truth. Read the beautiful family Psalms (Psalm 127 and 128) every week. They keep you in line with God's heart rather than the humanistic thinking of this world.
Sometimes we have to humble our ears to hear counsel. Proverbs 22:17 says, "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge."
We need to take notice of Proverbs 8:33, "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not." Also Proverbs 15:32, "He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding."
Love from
NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
"Lord, please give me a hearing heart that is open to correction. I know that as I am open to correction, my children will be more open to correction too. Thank you, Lord. Amen."
AFFIRMATION:
I'm a watchman in my home,
I will not vacate my post!
I'm open to wise correction
And filled with the Holy Ghost!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Contentment and Home Destroyers part 1 of 2
I think I will try to do some writing for At The Well! I hope I can join often!
"The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish pulls it down with her hands."
As a young wife and mother I consider everyday whether I am building or tearing down my home as I go about my daily task. Since this is my calling in life, as a woman, I must find joy and peace and learn how to best handle all my task, big and small. Even when my task are not pretty are very enjoyable. I often think of how mothers years ago must have ahndle all their Hard task! They did not have any of the modern things we have today. We complain about all the stuff we have to do and all the little time we have for ourselves! Back in the day, (not that long ago really!) women had to hand wash laundry and just that took a whole day! Then they had to grow all their own food, sew all their clothing, bake all their bread, can or preserve all their food, tend to all the house maintance, and yard maintance, school the children and life went on, morning sickness, pregnancy, sickness, and all! I have a little more understanding since I grow up very plain (plainer then a lot of mennonites even). Now I live in a modern house and have a ton of time! And yet I still catch myself complaining sometimes! And King Ed will have to remind me, I am not hand washing my clothes by a creek anymore! Complaining a lot and being unsatisfied or always wishing for what we do not have makes us more and more miserable and only hurts us! And runs down hill onto those we love (our husbands and children!)! We do not want to hurt the ones we love! The ones God has blessed us with! We must learn contentment! If not, we will be tearing our house down! May we honestly be able to say with Paul, a man who endured great hardships,
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11
Below is something from Nancy Campbell. I have these emailed to me. I really enjoy them and wanted to share them. May they speak to you, too!
God Bless in your calling as a wife and mother!
-fortheirfuture
Hannah
HOME DESTROYERS
Part 2a
Jeremiah 4:22 RSV, "For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are stupid children, they have no understanding."
Today we continue talking about things that destroy the home.
2. FOOLISHNESS
Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."
What does it mean to be foolish? Simply, it means to do it my way rather than God's way. God's way, although different to my way always ends in blessing. My way, although it may look good, always ends in destruction.
If we are not building our home, we are pulling it down. How do we pull it down?
We pull it down by vacating the home. God wants the mother in the home--nurturing, nourishing and training her children. We can't do everything successfully. We either build up a business (usually someone else's business) or we build up our home. God has given us a full time job to tend our little flock. God gives a warning to the mother shepherdess when He says in Zechariah 11:17, "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!" Notice that this Scripture has an exclamation mark!
We pull it down by our words. Negative words. Critical words. Reactive words. Spiteful words. Angry words. And on it goes.
We build our home with words or
we destroy our home with words!
When God allowed Satan to get at his servant Job, he smote him with terrible boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet Job was in agony and pain. Instead of encouraging him, Job's wife said, "Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die." Job replied, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9-10)
Do you speak as one of the foolish women, or one of the wise?
Sometimes it may not be negative words. It may be wasteful words. Proverbs 15:2 says, "The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Often we speak unnecessary words when we should keep out mouths shut. I am always challenged by Proverbs 10:19, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." The more we blab on about anything and everything, the more opportunity there is to sin with our mouth. The NLT makes it clearer, "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!"
We pull it down by spending frivolously and unwisely. The foolish woman buys according to her whims and what takes her fancy. She buys groceries without thought for nutrition or without reading the ingredients. She fills her cupboards with devitalized packaged foods instead of cooking from scratch. She purchases unnecessary "things" to fill her home which could be used for wiser needs.
Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man (or woman) spendeth it up." The foolish woman spends more than her husband can afford. The wise woman lives frugally within her means. I often have to remind my new adopted daughters that we don't have to eat what we want whenever we want. We must learn to live thriftily rather than extravagantly.
We pull it down by wasting. Many women not only waste time but waste products. They throw out everything. It is not wise to be a hoarder and clutter up your home, but there are many things that can be re-used to save re-spending.
Many mothers allow their children to pick at their food and leave it on their plate without teaching them to eat what is in front of them. Good food is thrown in the trash. This is wasteful.
May God deliver us from being in the "foolish women category" that pulls down their home.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
"Father, please touch my lips with coals from off the altar. I don't want to speak negative words. Fill my mouth with encouraging and life-giving words that will build up my husband and my children. Amen."
AFFIRMATION:
Building up my home with uplifting words,
To do anything else is utterly absurd!
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