A New Walk...

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling 

with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness,

with patience, 

showing forbearance to one another in love...

Ephesians 4:1-2

Paul asks us to walk a new way, a way worthy of our calling from God - with humility, gentleness and patience.  And, with love, we are to show forbearance to one another.  What in the world does that mean?!  Well, according to the original Greek, it means that we must be willing to wait for others to work through issues and love them through it without judging them or writing them off.  It means trusting God with one another to His working in our lives.  It means extending others the same grace we want from them when we are going through life's inevitable trials.  (This does not mean condoning a sinful lifestyle, though.) 

The movie, Courageous, is a great example of this kind of new walk.  I would encourage you to watch it.  

Fly Lady

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day.  I'm the type of person that needs organization.  I cannot fly by the seat of my pants and have any semblance of order in my home. There are too many "plates" to keep them all spinning without something to come crashing down.  So, I spent all morning writing out my daily schedule and a list of the lists I need to have in printed form.  It's a good thing tomorrow is Anti-Procrastination Day so I can finish what I started today!

Have you enjoyed having a made bed?!  Did you get dressed right down to shoes this morning?  I hope so and I hope you are reaping the rewards!

A New Attitude...

So sorry there wasn't a post on Friday - we were having internet issues.

These verses pretty much speak for themselves about the fact that God expects us to have a new attitude towards others.

      You were taught, 

with regard to your former way of life,

to put off your old self,

which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

and to put on the new self, 

created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood

and speak truthfully to your neighbor,

for we are all members of one body. 

In your anger do not sin.

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

and do not give the devil a foothold.

Those who have been stealing

must steal no longer, but must work

doing something useful with their own hands,

that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,

but only what is helpful for building others up

according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:22-32

Middle East Update

Joel Rosenberg had a very interesting post on an article that was written in the New York Post about the situation between Israel and Iran.  You can read his post or you can click on the link and read the extensive article.  

Also, I spent some time yesterday on The Land of Israel.com.  They have creative and informative videos on the history of Israel and what is going on in that small country today.

Fly Lady

Monday is the Home Blessing Hour.  Set your timer and see how much you get done!

This week's habit - (keep making your bed!) Get up and get dressed down to shoes first thing every morning.  I love hanging out in my jammies as much as the next person, but it is amazing to me how well this works.  I actually have a different attitude and get SO much more done when I do this.  Amazing!

Household Organization

I have this cabinet above my kitchen sink that is up where little ones can't reach, so it is the perfect place to keep medicines and supplements.  The dishpan and baskets didn't work very well and family had to dig through them to find what they needed.  Items constantly fell behind the containers, too, and I would have to get a chair or my spaghetti spoon to retrieve them.

So, when I was running my errands last Thursday and had to get some things at Walmart, I purchased four smaller containers to organize this cabinet.  Much better!

The labels are: Pain and Fever, Stomach and Colds, Supplements, and Every Day Vitamins.

A ReNewed Mind...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - 

his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Renew, in the original Greek, in this verse means a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.  Praise God, I am different than I was in the past, but I know there is so much more renewing or renovation of my mind that needs to take place.  The only way that happens is by spending time in God's Word.  I renovate something in my mind every time I open the Book and study or meditate or pray about what I have read.

Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle when I spend time on the internet or watching TV and my Bible becomes dusty from laying unused.  I definitely need the time in the Word to see how the world's pattern has influenced my thinking.  Attending Bible study with other believers can be very eye opening.  My favorites are Precept studies and Beth Moore.

If you have been a reader of Nanna's Kitchen very long, you know I like renovation.  So let's go with that idea for a minute.  When is renovation needed?  Well, obviously, when things are no longer working, changes must be made.  Maybe an appliance no longer works or cabinet doors or drawer fronts are falling off.  Renovation is sought when a room no longer looks pleasing or becomes outdated and faded.

I strongly dislike removing wallpaper, but knew it must be done in our guest bath when it was becoming worn in places and coming off the wall in other places.  It was no longer a pleasant thing to look at.  The need for renovation overcame my distaste for the job.  I kept the finished project in mind to keep me scraping and peeling.  I knew it would be worth all the work.

This verse says renovation is needed when we have conformed to the world's pattern, when our mindset is no longer pleasing to God.  The transformation process of renewing our minds is not easy.  It takes intentional study of God's Word and a willingness to be obedient to God, regardless of the standards put forth by our world.  

Just like home renovation, we must keep our minds on the goal - knowing God's will...His good, pleasing and perfect will.  It is worth the work!

Note:  I have not forgotten about Philippians 4:8 and my inspiration board project!  Pictures are coming!  What do you know?!  That verse is all about transforming your thinking!  I just love when God puts things together!

Fly Lady

Thursday is Errand Day.  Did you know that if you run all your errands on one day, you could save money on gas?  I know that when I have a little errand to run, I think that I may as well go to several more places while I'm out...you know...just to go window shopping.  Oh dear!  Can we say temptation to want things I wouldn't have seen had I not been out and about?!  It is counterproductive!  So...running all my errands on one day is brilliant.  By the time I'm done running errands, I'm ready to go home.  Besides, it is probably time to get dinner going...

This week's habit - Make your bed!

I would encourage you to go to FlyLady.com and read the many testimonials you will find there. They are very encouraging!

 

A New Strength...

It is very interesting that these verses were on my calendar for today's blog post.  I have been struggling with chronic fatigue (caused by Epstein Barr) since Thanksgiving and today is one of those seemingly wasted days.  Blah! 

I've had some good days where I was able to enjoy my family and friends and days when I felt well enough to get some projects, housework or yard work done!  I thank God for those days...

I'm learning to thank Him for the swollen gland feelin' yucky days, too.  I seem to get a lot of praying done on those days...

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Middle East Update

Joel Rosenberg's blog post for today is his very interesting reaction to the President's State of the Union address last night instead of Middle East news.  I watched most of the address and was a little concerned with what I heard.  President Obama talked about Congress needing to put aside their ideology and work together for the good of the American people and then promoted his ideology throughout the rest of the speech with all his new ideas, agencies and appointments.  I kept asking my honey who was going to pay for all of it.  Hmmm...

Fly Lady

Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day.  Even when I'm feeling bad, I can usually manage to knock one item off my project list and it helps to feel like my day hasn't been a total waste.  If I can do it, you can do it! 

Have you made your bed today?!  Just do it!  Set your timer for two minutes and try to make your bed before the timer goes off.  I'm pretty sure it won't take you that long unless you have a ton of decorative pillows that have to be arranged just so...

A ReNewed Spirit...

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

It never ceases to amaze me what God uses to renew a steadfast spirit in me!  This last weekend, He used a young lady in our home who had a serious anxiety attack to remind me how He had freed me.  I was able to walk her through the truth about anxiety attacks and what to do when she felt one coming on.  Like me at her age, she had no clue that she could do anything about these attacks.  I praise God for the truth I have learned and was able to pass on to her, freeing her from her torment through His truth that sets us free! 

FYI - anxiety attacks make you feel like you can't breathe and that you are dying.  The truth is that you can control your anxiety attacks.  You tell yourself to just keep breathing and that you are just having an anxiety attack and are not dying.  It will go away as you keep telling yourself the truth.  Ask God to show you why you are anxious and ask Him to remove it.  Focus on the words from your favorite praise and worship songs and thank God for His truth that sets us free. 

Then, last night, while I was waiting to go to sleep, I was praying for another dear young woman. I had a sense that something had just not been right with her.  As I was praying for her, God gave me a vision of a waterless river rolling over and around her and her car as she was driving home from Bible study.  I knew it was His protection over her.  Today, I sent her a text asking if anything unusual had happened last night.  She replied that she had been suffering from a spirit of depression, but God lifted it from her it last night and her spirit was definitely calmer. It gave me goosebumps!

Ok, this is the first time I have had a vision like this, but God has spoken to me on several occasions - I have only heard Him audibly one time...the rest of the times I just "hear" Him in my spirit.  Sounds a little weird, I know, but I grew up in a solid Bible church and am a Precept student.  I have noticed that it never happens outside of prayer or Bible study.  Talk about renewing a steadfast spirit in me, though!!  Wow!

Middle East Update

Things are going downhill in the Middle East!  Head on over to Joel Rosenberg's weblog after you finish reading this post and check it out.

Fly Lady

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day.  Plan out your week - make sure you plan to spend time with God even if it is only 10 minutes reading the Bible.  You can keep a prayer list with you and pray throughout the day.

Did you make your bed this morning?  If not, run make your bed!  Do it now!!  You will be glad when this is a habit.

Decorating

A short word on decorating - God is a God of order.  Have you noticed lately that He has beautifully decorated our world?  Just sayin'...

We have little ones at our house frequently and a couple of them love to play with the decorations on the coffee table, which is not always a safe thing for the kiddos.  So, I found a decorative tray at T.J. Maxx for under $20. The decorations went on to the tray and now I can whisk the tray and the decorations away out of their reach when they come over.  Problem solved!

A New Song...

Today's post is going to be short and sweet.  We were a host home over the weekend for DNow and had six high school girls and a single leader as guests.  It was great fun to have a house full of girls again and hopefully God used us in their lives!  I have a lot of "Home Blessing" to do to get our home ready for our next guests...we never know when they will show up, but we love it and like to be ready!


Do you like to learn new songs of praise to God?  The "new" thing for today:

Sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvelous things.

Psalm 98:1

Fly Lady

Monday is Home Blessing Hour.  We are also going to take one item on the Morning Routine each week and work on establishing that item as a routine. 

This week - Make your bed.  Seriously, it takes two minutes and has an amazing way of making your bedroom look clean.  And it has the added bonus of making you feel pampered when you turn down the covers to crawl into smoothed sheets! Sweet dreams!


Middle East News

The Muslim Brotherhood has won many elections in Egypt.  What's the big deal?  Go on over to Joel Rosenberg's weblog and check it out.

A New Thing...

Do not call to mind the former things,

or ponder things of the past.

Behold, I will do something new,

now it will spring forth;

will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

As a family, we love getting out the photo albums and reminiscing over the trips we took together.  We laugh at the inside jokes we have from each trip and have a great time talking about what we gained from the experiences.  

Have you ever seen photo albums that are a pictorial record of the mistakes one has made?  Probably not, because they should have all been burned!  No one should go over those memories again and again.  It is good, however, to realize what one has learned over the years from those mistakes.

Even better, why not look to God for the new thing He is going to do in your life?!  Be watching so you don't miss it!

Fly Lady

Friday is declutter your purse and car day.  Set your timer for 15 minutes and get it done!  How are you doing with the Morning Routine and the Before Bedtime Routine?  Too much?  Pick one and work on it until you do it without even thinking. 

Household Tip - Removing Price Tag Stickers

I must confess - price tag stickers annoy me.  I'm not sure why...they just do.  When I was a new bride, one of my sisters-in-law thought it was hilarious that I would remove all the stickers off of everything I purchased, even groceries!  I'm not that picky any more - life is just too short!  But, stickers must come off any new decorating items.  

Thanks to Pinterest, I have discovered that olive oil is great for removing stickers.  You just peel off as much of the paper as possible, then rub olive oil into what is left of the sticker.  Wait 15 minutes, then scrape it off.  If there is any residue left, simply scrub it off with a scrubber sponge.

I needed new soap dispensers for our master bathroom sinks and found some at Ross for $3 each!  I love a great deal!  But, the huge price tag stickers didn't come off cleanly.  I used the olive oil trick and you can't even tell there had been stickers on the bottoms of the jars.

Note:  Don't use on fabrics - the oil could stain.