My blog has a new feature. Have you seen it? It’s the Search engine to the right of this posting. It’s a new gadget that Blogger has recently added and it can save all kinds of time! Perhaps you already know how to use it, but just in case, let me explain.

If you want to find the post I did on the pork chop casserole all you need to do is type the word “pork” and every post that has that word will pop up for you to see. When you find the post you were looking for, you just click on it and, Ta-da! You’re there! If you want to see if there’s an entry on a particular topic it will be much easier now! What a great tool this is on a blog!

I love good tools. The right cooking utensils can make a job so much easier. I’ll never forget when I got my Kitchenaid mixer! I couldn’t believe how much faster I was able to get something mixed up! A great pair of sewing sheers are a must in order to cut fabric without chewing it.

Another wonderful tool is an online commentary. Do you use one? The one I use nearly every day is this one. There are so many resources here. Once you choose the book of the Bible you’re studying, it will bring up a whole page full of options to choose from as your study help.

Remember though, that it is only a tool; it cannot replace the Bible, just as the search engine on this blog won’t replace the blog – it’s just a help. Read the passage in your Bible first, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. If you’re still stumped, or just want to do a little deeper digging after that, then use the commentary. This has been a great resource to me and I thought I’d share it with you, in case you hadn’t found it.

I wouldn’t want to go back to baking without my Kitchenaid mixer; it’s such a blessing! Is there a tool you couldn’t live without?

I have recently acquired a “new to me” treadmill. It’s a super nice model with incline and speed programs designed to gradually take you from a snail’s pace to a jog or run while increasing the incline. I’m working on Program #1. It lasts less than thirty minutes but I’m more than ready for it to stop when the time is up! The part that gets me is the jogging. I’ve been walking for years now, but jogging is new to my exercise routine.

After I finished working out last night I talked with someone who runs – he’s run in a marathon! He runs 6-10 miles! I think I’m doing well to make the 1.5 miles jogging part of the way! But I think I know how he got that way – I think he was born into a family of runners. His parents must have run. It’s easy to understand how he can endure such long runs! Now, I’m from a family of walkers, so people shouldn’t expect that much of me!

My friend continued to talk about running and he tells me that he began running short distances – just to the corner, then the next day around to the next street. He kept increasing his running distances until he could run in the marathons. Oh, that’s how he accomplished that!

Do you know where I’m headed with this? =) Yep, the Christian race. So often people expect a pastor’s wife to be able to excel spiritually, after all, she’s married to the preacher! It’s easy for her! Some may look to a Sunday School teacher or deacon and assume that it’s easy for them to understand the Bible because they have a position in the church. But both of those assumptions are so untrue! Anyone who has accomplished any spiritual growth has done it the way my running friend has made it to ten miles – they start out small and keep adding and they don’t quit! They read Scripture, then they add journaling what God has taught them. Soon they’re looking verses up in a commentary and pouring over the Word. Their prayer life that began as bedtime prayers now is a precious time in the morning before the day starts. It soon increases to “praying without ceasing.”

When I’m standing on the treadmill I have a choice – to keep adding speed and distance, or quit. We each have the same choice in our spiritual life. We won’t grow without adding to our original faith virtue, to virtue knowledge. II Peter 1:5 It doesn’t happen because of who we are, but because of what we do (with the Lord’s help, of course!). How are you doing in growth and change? Keep at it and don’t quit!

Guess what? It’s 72 days until Christmas! Now, I’m not one to rush the holiday, but the planner in me is already starting to wonder what I can do ahead of time to make the holidays less stressful and less costly.

I used to have a tradition that on Halloween as I sat and waited on trick-or-treaters, I would begin to address my Christmas cards. I usually got a good jump-start and felt like I was preparing ahead in some small way.

My strategy for my cards is a little different this year. Over the weekend I had a little time to work on the computer, so I went to Smilebox by Hallmark and began making a Christmas card. I made a card that encompasses our family’s year in about 15 pictures. Everyone that I have e-mail addresses for are getting the Smilebox card in place of a paper card. It saves the cost of cards and stamps, and I’m sure people would enjoy this more than a card with just our signature on it! The recipients will be able to see in pictures what we did this year without having to read the boring details of our vacation, or our daughter’s wisdom tooth extraction!

Buying gifts ahead of time saves so much money! I begin looking for gifts in the summertime when the clearance sales are everywhere. I also love TJ Maax and Marshall’s because of their great prices. I pop in there frequently and comb the clearance aisles for treasures to tuck away into my gift stash. Last week I got the idea to wrap the gifts as I buy them, so that’s been started as well.

I saw that on Amazon some magazine subscriptions are selling for $10 for a year! I’m planning on picking out a couple for some of the people on my list. A favorite magazine is a gift that gives all year long!

Consumable gifts are always nice too. Spiced nuts made from a simple recipe and put into a decorative jar would be appreciated by the sports fan that could munch away on game night. Homemade cookies in a tin, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and sprinkles and placed in a cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon, or hot chocolate mix in a jar topped with mini marshmallows would all be great gifts.

Begin now to buy a couple of baking items as you shop for your weekly groceries. If you buy all the nuts, chocolate chips, decorating sugars and dried fruit at one time, your grocery bill will shock you, but buying a couple of non-perishable items each week makes it manageable.

I don’t mean to overwhelm you with thoughts of Christmas in October – it’s bad enough when you walk into Cracker Barrel or a craft store, but just thought I’d encourage you to think ahead and save yourself a little stress and a lot of money!

Do you make a special homemade gift, have a great recipe or a creative idea you use to reduce the stress of the holidays? I’d LOVE to hear about it!

One thing I loved about having girls was teaching them to cook. We shared many hours together in the kitchen. I was determined that with the Lord’s help, I would prepare them to have a home of their own. I desired to see them be able to fix a complete meal, bake, and be able to be a blessing to others with meal preparation. Both of our daughters have turned out to be great cooks!