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   Encourage one another

It seems that at the start of the new year we only think about the things we can do to better our own lives. This year reach out and help encourage others. As Isaiah 35:3 says, “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.” But it is not just those who have been exhausted who need encouragement, but encouragement should be a regular part of life among believers. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” There is not a day that goes by that we couldn’t benefit from some encouragement or that we should be lacking in giving some encouragement to others. Encouraging one another matters because it keeps us from being deceived into sinning. When we get exhausted and in a weakened, worn down state, it is easy to give into sin and stop resisting the devil’s temptation. When we are tired, sometimes we decide that we don’t care anymore, and our sensitivity to wrongdoing lessens. Encouragement keeps our focus right. It lets us know that we are not alone but that others are supportive of us, praying for us, and caring for us. We need to be active in encouraging one another so that we can keep motivating one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).

 

 

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Menu Planning, Not As Hard As It Seems

I’ve noticed that a lot more people are talking about menu planning here lately. Some have been doing this for years, others a few weeks/months, and still others just flat out refuse! I love the excuses that I’ve heard for NOT planning a menu:

•I don’t have time
•I never stick to a menu
•My family’s too picky
•It’s too hard to plan a menu

Those are just a few that I LOVE to hear! Menu planning is not that hard, and it takes very little of your time! I have made plans for 1 week, 2 weeks, and for 1 month. I really like to do the monthly menu plan because I like not having to think about what we’re going to have for dinner for a whole month. To do this, even for 1 week, you need to know what meals your fixing for your family. Track your meals on a calendar for a whole month. See what patterns develop and then plan around that with a few new meals thrown in for variety.

The real key to monthly menu planning can be summed up in one word: FLEXIBILITY. If you’re not willing to be flexible, you’re going to become frustrated and give up. Don’t forget about your slow cooker. It can really make your meals a lot more manageable and easier to get dinner on the table. Most meals that you cook in the oven can be adapted to cook in your slow cooker.

Make sure that you cook meals that you know your family will eat. You’re not going to save any money by fixing meals that you end up throwing out because your family doesn’t like them. Also, prep ahead. Chop extra veggies. It doesn’t take any more time to chop 4 carrots instead of 2, or 2 onions instead of 1. The extras can be kept in the fridge for a few days, or the freezer for longer term storage. This helps shave a few minutes off your prep time later in the week when it matters the most.

One more thing to remember is to keep staples on hand. If you have staples, then all you need to do is pick up the ingredients you need to fill in the gaps with those ingredients you don’t use as often. Also, if your family likes spaghetti, keep all the ingredients for a quick spaghetti meal on hand for those nights when there’s very little time to get a meal on the table. You can have spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, and even salad on the table within 30 minutes. There are other meals that can be pulled together just as quickly, it just depends on your family’s tastes.

If you’ve never tried menu planning, give it a try. It’s not that hard, and it will help make a busy schedule a little easier to manage by knowing that dinner is already planned.

Last 5 posts by Stephanie Martin
•Gifts For Cooks Under $10 [1] - December 12th, 2009
•Gifts For Crocheters Under $10 [2] - December 12th, 2009
•Alternative Idea To Dressing Up For Halloween [3] - November 24th, 2009
•Making Your Slow Cooker Work for You [4] - November 24th, 2009
•Tips for Making Your Holiday Dinner a Success [5] - November 24th, 2009

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Article printed from LadyPens: http://www.ladypens.com
URL to article: http://www.ladypens.com/menu-planning-not-as-hard-as-it-seems/
URLs in this post:
[1] Gifts For Cooks Under $10: http://www.ladypens.com/gifts-for-cooks-under-10/
[2] Gifts For Crocheters Under $10: http://www.ladypens.com/gifts-for-crocheters-under-10/
[3] Alternative Idea To Dressing Up For Halloween: http://www.ladypens.com/alternative-idea-to-dressing-up-for-halloween/
[4] Making Your Slow Cooker Work for You: http://www.ladypens.com/making-your-slow-cooker-work-for-you/
[5] Tips for Making Your Holiday Dinner a Success: http://www.ladypens.com/tips-for-making-your-holiday-dinner-a-success/

 

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 Moms need this tool if your kids enjoy the movies!

I want to share a website that offers the most complete movie reviews available. 

Screen It! is an independent website that reviews all major motion pictures and lists every conceivable objectionable element. And it's free! 

 

Editors pick:
Here is a link to the movie "The HOPE"  I highly recommend you take the time to watch this if you have any questions about God's word or Jesus. You can watch it right from your computer. Our culture has lost it’s knowledge of Creation, the Fall, God’s judgments, the true identity of Jesus, and the redemptive plan that He began long ago to save a world lost in sin. The HOPE clearly explains the way of salvation, chronologically, starting in Genesis. This movie has it all! Quality / Clear biblical message / Multi-cultural. I found this on a great site that is packed with information concerning Christianity: www.ChristainAnwers.net

 

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