It was very early in ministry at our first pastorate when the Lord taught me some precious lessons about trusting Him for the very smallest of details. Our little girl was about eight or nine months old. She was beginning baby foods – creating a tightness in our already limited grocery budget. We did the best we could, scrimping and cutting back to create funds for what was necessary. However, even that couldn’t keep the checking account from dropping to a meager forty-nine cents! The cupboards were virtually bare, and our baby’s cereal was almost gone. 

What were we to do? 

My husband and I didn’t want our parents to know, though we knew they would help. We didn’t want our congregation to know; they were doing the best they could to provide for us. We knew we must do only one thing – pray!  That’s exactly what we did. We prayed together. We prayed separately.  In my quiet time I was praying specifically for certain things we needed such as Kleenex, milk, and Gerber’s Oatmeal for our little one. 

One evening after being out we pulled into our car port and noticed the door to our house propped open.  As we got out of the car and neared the door, we saw that the reason the door was open was due to the sack of groceries that were stacked on our steps! Many brown paper sacks (before plastic grocery bags!) greeted our astonished faces. Our hearts overflowed as we carried them inside and began taking the items out of the sacks and placing them on the counter. Milk, Kleenex, and yes, Gerber oatmeal were a part of the abundance now before us!

We cried with joy at God’s provision for His children.  We marveled at the specific needs He met, and we learned that we could trust our God to take care of us.

I thank the Lord for those early lessons. I’ve recalled that scene many times over in my mind. It has encouraged my heart for the needs that have arisen over the years. I did not doubt that they would be met! If my Father in heaven can hear the cry of a mother’s heart for her child, He will love me and provide for me all my life! 

It’s 5:00 in the afternoon.  You stand in front of the open cupboard doors staring at its contents hoping some grand  idea for dinner will pop off the shelves.  Oh, and it needs to be something that can be fixed quickly – and hopefully it will also be nutritious and satisfy the growling sound coming from your own stomach.

Been there?  We all have at one time or another.  How do we avoid this mealtime dilemna?  Two words – Plan ahead.  If you’re groaning, perhaps you need to read yesterday’s post about taking the prescribed medicine.  =)  There really are no easy options.  If you’re going to eat at home, stay within your grocery budget and eat nutritiously, you must plan!

However, there are a couple of options for you if it’s just the planning that you’re struggling with.  One of my sweet readers, Tami, told me abut E-mealz.  This is a menu planning system where all the work is done for you!  You choose what kind of menu list you want.  You can choose from:

• Gluten-free
• Low carb
• Low fat
• Meals for 2
• Vegetarian
• Points system

They create a weekly menu for you for $5 a month!  That’s an incredible deal if you don’t like making up a menu.  They will also make up your shopping list using your choice of grocery stores.  I don’t think it could get much easier, unless you hired an in-house chef!  Check it out!

Here’s a neat blog I follow that shares her monthly menu plan.  You’re bound to find some good ideas to add to your family’s list of favorites!  There is some yummy stuff here at Mommy’s Kitchen!

Here’s another great blog where you can learn the basics of planning your family’s meals (plus tons of other great ideas!).

Lastly, here’s a site that helps you come up with a recipe using what you have on hand.  You type in the ingredients you already have, then let them know if you’re looking for a dessert, main entree’, or side dish, and it will give you recipes that have those ingredients! 

Now we have no excuses!  The next time someone asks you “What’s for supper?” you’ll have an answer!

By the way, none of these sites have paid me to promote them.  I just know help when it’s served on a dinner plate! 

See you in church Sunday!

With love,

At a recent check-up at my doctor’s office, I was given some exercises to do for my knee that is “gimpy.”  The exercises are supposed to strengthen it and make it easier for me to go up and down steps.  Honestly, I sound like one of Cinderella’s step-sisters.  Remember the one whose knees made noises when she moved?  Yeah, it’s not pretty.  I came home and have tried to make the exercises a part of my daily routine…that is most days.  It’s not that the exercises are painful, it’s just hard to remember to do them. 

While I was in his office, my doctor told me how often he’ll give people a remedy for what is ailing them, but then they won’t follow his advice.  Of course,, then they end up having to make another visit later because they’re still suffering.  They return hoping for an easier solution to their problem.

Isn’t it easy to do the same thing in our spiritual life?  We read God’s Word about a command to obey, or something to avoid, and we know it’s the right thing, but we don’t obey.  Perhaps we went to someone for godly counsel and they gave us a guideline to follow, using God’s Word, yet it seems so painful – so hard to make a part of our routine, so we avoid practicing their advice.  We suffer the consequences because of our unwillingness to obey the directives we’ve been given.  “Just take the prescription,” we tell someone who won’t follow the doctor’s orders, but when it comes to our own spiritual ailments, we turn a deaf ear to the wise Doctor. 

There are no pills to replace physical therapy, nor are there quick fixes for a spiritual need.  Are you taking the Medicine that was given you?  Be smart – or you’ll suffer needlessly.

With love,