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I have been having trouble with my email, so if you have tried to contact me to get added to the blog list so you can post, please try again, and let me know if I don't respond. I check my email daily and try to respond quickly, so if you have sent me an email and haven't heard back from me, please let me know: ginnyreding@sbcglobal.net.

Living Deliberately

I enjoy listening to Dr. Randy Carlson's radio show, "The Intentional Life" on the radio when I have the chance. He says we should evaluate 5 specific areas of our lives to determine whether we are living intentionally: our thoughtlife; our time; our finances; our relationships; what goes in and comes out of our mouths. I find myself getting bogged down sometimes by my own thoughts. I spend time moping over something that didn't go my way, worrying about what MIGHT happen, concentrating on how inadequate I am in some area, fearing for the future. What a waste of time and energy; but how to get out of that habit? Being deliberate about "retraining my brain" is one thing I have learned that helps me. If I can CHOOSE to leave those thoughts and replace them with positive, Scripture-related ideas, I can move in the right direction. I can get caught up in the "what's the world coming to mindset" if I'm not careful---I just saw recently a report of a MAN who used to be a woman now carrying a baby. It's crazy! We are losing our way, it seems. However, if I concentrate not on being controlled by how bad things seem, but rather on the seemingly little things I can do to make a positive difference and live for what is right, I am better off, and hopefully the world is better off, too.

Question from Elizabeth Robinson

When I was in my quiet time this evening I ran across a scripture that I wanted some outside perspective on.

Luke 16:8-9: "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwelings.

What issues is this scripture addressing? Obviously the Bible is not telling us to buy friends or to be dishonest in monetary dealings but it seems a bit "smoke 'em while you've got 'em." Is this passage really just addressing charitable giving or sacrificial giving?

Eating Well?

One thing that seems to be consistently hard for some of us is to plan ahead so that we are eating right--and feeding our families well. I thought we might share some tips with one another--recipes, meal planning, shortcuts, healthful eating. Eating out(even fast food) really dips into the pocketbook and can wreck a budget if we do it too often--plus, it's not always the most healthy choice. My first few tips deal with mindset: when you grocery shop, think ahead of what your week will be like and plan accordingly. Look for the sales items and plan meals around them. Will you be gone a good part of the day? Think about using the crockpot for some meals. I often will bake a whole chicken with potatoes, carrots, whatever veggie you like and have that for a meal. I then take the leftover chicken off the bone and have that meat to use with other recipes during the week for some quick meals (chicken fajitas, chicken & rice--whatever your family likes). I'll share more of my ideas later, but I'd like to hear from you.

Struggles

It doesn't seem it should be so hard to live this life God calls us to live, especially regarding relationships. When we love someone, why is it so hard to live together peacefully at times? What are some struggles you have had in your relationships--with God, with your spouse, with your family, with your friends, with your co-workers? More importantly, how have you dealt with these struggles? Or do you have questions for others?

Living the Life

What is one thing you have learned in your walk with the Lord that you wish you had learned earlier?

Relationships with Husbands and God

For a married woman, is it possible to have a strong, healthy relationship with your God if you do not have a strong, healthy relationship with your husband?