Where Are the Men When You Need One?

by Shalom (Pearl) Brand

When I was a young woman, the older women were always teaching me and all the other young women what it meant to be a wife, a mother, and a God-honoring woman. As I have gotten older, traveled to many churches, and talked with families, I have seen one overall theme everywhere I go. There are young women walking with God, trained from childhood to serve God so that one day they will make the best wives and mothers possible. They are ready, trained, and waiting for their man to come find them, but the men are not finding them. Why?


These girls are told to wait: He will find you . . . Stay home and help Mom with the kids . . . One day that perfect man will come along. But then he does not come and the girls become frustrated and, at times, impatient. The questions I hear all the time is, "Where are the men?" Yes there are men, but few are real men -- men who were raised to love God, work hard, and make good husbands and fathers. Why?

While mothers have been training their daughters to be good wives, many families stopped raising their sons to be men, instead producing overgrown boys. A large percentage of the boys/men over the last 30 years have been raised to serve the flesh. They were not raised to work; most are soft, sweet-talking, sissy boys. Some are cute and stylish, and silly girls think they are soooo good-looking. Other guys are backward, clumsy, going-nowhere types, and very uncool. But they are the same lazy, self-pleasing, big boys.

It is a very sad truth and I am sorry for you girls out there. I am guilty of telling girls to be patient, that he will come, to just serve God and wait for Him to bring a husband. But the truth is there just might not be a man out there that God thinks is worthy of you. As a single girl, you can serve God. But as a married woman, you are told to serve your husband so he can better serve God.

"There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband." (I Corinthians 7:34).

I know this is not what you want to hear, but God calls each of us to serve Him first. For some of you it will be by serving your husband some day, but for others it might be serving God as a single girl. Start serving the Lord, and if God sees fit to bring you a husband, serve him with just as much joy as you served God in your unmarried state.

A Desperate Call to the Fathers Out There Raising Sons

Now as a mother with daughters, I would like to put out an appeal to all the families raising sons. Please teach them to work, love God, and be men--not big boys--so that when my daughters and other families' daughters are grown, they can serve God through a God-fearing man. My husband and I are raising two little men of our own now. Parker is well on his way to being a man, and our new little one will soon be following in his footsteps. They say boys will be boys. I say little men will be big men.

 

No Greater Joy Ministries Inc.

1000 Pearl Road

Pleasantville, TN 37033

Life's Ups and Downs

I am so sorry I have not added any posts for a few months. Life has a way of "getting in the way," and we have been totally uprooted. Let me explain...

Many of you know we are working to adopt (I promise to post our adoption story once the adoption is finalized), and we were living in New Jersey. The Lord has moved us back to Missouri so we can proceed with less road blocks.

I feel like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, and Jesus is sleeping. I was just telling my husband how ridiculous the disciples were to be afraid having Jesus in the boat with them, but I have done the same. Jesus is with me all the time, and yet the move, the adoption, the finances, the circumstances have all been areas where Jesus could ask me, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

Jesus said, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

So join me and my family on our journey. I will begin with my story and add details as I remember them or are reminded of them by loving, caring family.

Ethan 1 year old

eMeals: May Recipe

Swedish Meatballs & Noodles

2 lbs ground beef or turkey

1 onion, finely chopped

1 C fine bread crumbs

2 eggs - beaten

1 C milk

2 t salt

1/2 t pepper

1/2 t allspice

Mix all meatball ingredients together. Form into 1" meatballs. Place in 13x9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Drain grease. Use half of cooked meatballs for this recipe. Freeze the rest of the meatballs for another meal.

Gravy:

5 T dry onion soup mix

1 C water

1 T flour

1 C milk 

In large skillet or sauce pan, combine gravy ingredients. Add meatballs. Heat/simmer for 20 minutes.

1 lb. Egg noodles

Cook pasta according to package directions. Serve meatballs and sauce over noodles.

Cherry Tomatoes, Parsley, Garlic, Olive Oil, and Gnocchi Recipe

This recipe is so delicious. It smells divine as you are making it, but once you taste it you will make it over and over again.

Because the tender little potato dumplings called gnocchi have become so popular in recent years, the name of this pasta might be confusing. Gnocchi is also a smallish pasta shape, similar to a shell but a little more open, so that sliced cherry tomatoes often wiggle inside them. If you don't have gnocchi, any medium-small pasta shape will do. 

1 T sea salt plus more to taste

1 lb. dried gnocchi (dumpling-shaped pasta)

3 C ripe cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

1 small red onion, diced

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 C minced fresh Italian parsley

2 C brocconcini cheese, quartered or 2 C shredded fresh mozzarella (8 oz.)

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil

Fill large pot two-thirds full of water; add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook gnocchi according to package directions; drain. Do not rinse.

Combine cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic, parsley, and cheese in large bowl; toss together gently. Season with salt and pepper; add olive oil. Add pasta to bowl and toss gently but thoroughly. Divide pasta evenly among bowls.

4 large servings.

Jordan, Michele Anna. (2010) Lotsa Pasta: Over 100 Elegant and Everyday Recipes. 
     Minnetonka, MN: North American Membership Group, Inc. 

Flour Tortilla Recipe

3 C unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, or half unbleached white and half whole wheat
2 t baking powder
2 t sea salt
1/2 C butter
1 C HOT water

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. With a fork or a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add about 1 C hot water to the mixture or just enough to make the ingredients look moist.
With a fork, mix making sure to rub the dough against the sides of the mixing bowl to gather any clinging dough. If the dough still sticks to the side of the bowl, add a couple more tablespoons of flour until the dough forms a soft round shape. Cover with a dish towel and let rest 15 - 30 minutes.
Take the dough and pull it apart into 12 balls. Lightly flour your rolling area and roll each ball with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness.
Place each tortilla on a medium hot cast iron skillet. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until tortilla does not look doughy.

My tips:
I boiled my water so it was very hot before I added it to the dry ingredients. I let my dough rest while I was heating up my skillet or griddle. You can also use an electric skillet or griddle. If you will be using the tortillas in another meal such as enchiladas, I wouldn't cook them all the way on the griddle. If you only need 6 tortillas just half the recipe.

I made Ground Turkey and Cheese Enchiladas with these tortillas, and they were delicious.

Onion Soup Mix Recipe

3/4 C Minced Onion, dried

1/3 C Beef Bullion Powder (I put Bullion Cubes in my food processor and made them into powder)

1/4 C Onion Powder

1/4 t Celery Seed

1/4 t Sucanat

Combine ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to one (1) year. 

Yield: 20 Tablespoons

Onion Soup Mix:

• In a saucepan, combine 4 C Water and 5 T Onion Soup Mix. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Yield: 3 Servings

Roasted Potatoes:

• In a bowl toss 6 (2 lbs.) medium Potatoes (cut into 1/2-inch cubes) and 1/3 C Olive Oil. Sprinkle with 5 T Onion Soup Mix; toss to coat. Transfer to an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Yield: 6 Servings

Onion Dip:

• In a bowl combine 2 C (16 oz.) Sour Cream and 5 T Onion Soup Mix; mix well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with vegetables, chips, or crackers.  Yield: 2 Cups

Recipe Source

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Italian Salad Dressing Mix Recipe

1/3 C dry Parmesan Cheese, grated

1 T Garlic Powder

1 T Onion Powder

1 T Paprika

1 T Celery Seeds

1 T Sesame Seeds

1 T Oregano

1 T Basil

Mix ingredients and store in an air-tight container ( I store mine in the refrigerator). This mix will keep for several months.

Dressing:

• Mix 1 T mix with 1/4 C vinegar, 2 T water, and 2/3 C oil in a covered container. Shake vigorously.
• Mix 1 T mix with 1/4 C mayonnaise and 1 T water in a covered container. Shake vigorously.

Dip:

• Mix 1 T mix with 1/4 C of mayonnaise, yogurt, or sour cream.

Recipe Source

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• Onion Soup Mix

Ethan is 7 Months Old!

Ethan turned seven months old today! What a blessing he is to our little family. God's Word is so true..."Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalms 127:3

Bleach Alternative

This one is quite basic...use Hydrogen Peroxide.

Add 1/2 C Hydrogen Peroxide 3% to the rinse cycle. It works like bleach without all the chemicals.

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Homemade Baby Wipes

This is a very economical alternative for regular baby wipes, and it is so much better for your baby as well. Have fun making them!

1/2 roll of paper towels
1 C filtered water
1 T baby oil or olive oil*
1 T baby wash, shampoo, or soap shavings*

*Look for chemical free products. I use the Arbonne Baby Care line as I know the products do not contain harmful ingredients.

• Use thick paper towels. Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a serrated knife (an electric knife works even better).
• Mix water, baby oil, and baby wash and stir until well blended.
• Place the paper towels in a container and slowly pour the liquid mixture over the paper towels.

• Put a lid on the container and let rest for 10 minutes. Turn the container upside down and let rest for another 10 minutes.
• Gently remove the center cardboard core from the roll. Wipes will pop up through the middle of the roll.

• Place wipes in a plastic container with lid, a baby wipe container, or a gallon Ziploc bag.

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eMeals: April Recipe

I was a little hesitant to try this recipe as it had canned chicken, and I didn't buy the crescent rolls as they had sugar in them, but the results were....just try them!

Chicken Puffs

4 oz. cream cheese
1 can chicken, drained
2 T melted butter
2 T milk
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t onion powder
1 can crescent rolls

Mix all ingredients, except for rolls. Separate rolls and pinch together to form 4 rectangles. Spoon ½ c of mixture into the center of each roll and pull 4 corners together and seal. Brush the top with melted butter. Repeat with the remaining rolls. Bake on cookie sheet @ 350° for 20-25 min, until bread is browned.

I made my white bread recipe and used the dough for this recipe instead of using canned crescent rolls. I also covered the tops with beaten egg instead of butter. This recipe is delicious...enjoy!

To learn more about eMeals click below.

 

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First Foods: Applesauce

1 C filtered water
4 apples, pealed and chopped

Place in pot and cook until apples are soft. Blend well. You increase or decrease water to obtain desired consistency. Cool and serve.

Ethan really likes his applesauce. He is not quite sure of the consistency as I made it thicker than what he is used to!

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First Foods: Oatmeal Cereal

1/2 C whole oats

4 C water

Mill oats into a fine powder with a food processor (or baby bullet). Add the milled oatmeal and 4 cups of water to a pot and cover until it boils. Once it hits a boil, turn down the heat to low and cook with cover on for 20 minutes. Test the consistency of the oatmeal cereal -- if you want it thinner, add more water. Pour into a bowl and combine with your favorite fruit or veggie puree.

I milled the oats and added 1/3 cup of water to a sauce pan along with 3-4 teaspoons of the milled oatmeal. This made 2-3 servings and I mixed them with pureed bananas.

My son is allergic to oatmeal or bananas. I made the mistake of serving them together. Ethan loved the combination but developed eczema on his arms and legs. I took him off oatmeal and bananas and once the skin condition clears up, we will try each one on its own to see which one caused the eczema.

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White Bread Recipe (Bread Machine)

1 C warm water

1/4 C olive oil

2 T Sucanat

1 t sea salt

3 C unbleached flour*
2 1/4 t yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine in the order recommended by your machine manual. I like to make my dough and let it rise in the machine and then bake it in a bread pan in my oven (375 degrees for 40 min).

*You can use a blend of 1 1/2 C unbleached white flour and 1 1/2 C stone ground whole wheat flour or use 3 C of stone ground whole wheat flour. All three combinations are delicious. My favorite is the blend! Enjoy!

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Steph's Maple-Almond Butter Granola Recipe

I searched and searched for just the "right" granola recipe, and I believe this is it! The only sweetener used is 100 % Maple Syrup, which is hardly sweet at all. It is Vegan and extremely good for you!

I went shopping today for the ingredients, and couldn't find everything as I didn't have much time. So I left out the coconut (I could only find sweetened coconut) and the chia seeds (couldn't find them at the store I stopped at). I used whole ground flaxseed meal, which I mixed with the cinnamon and oats. I also used slivered almonds, walnuts, and pecans for the nuts and dried apricots, prunes, and raisins for the fruit. This granola is DELICIOUS, and you should try it! Enjoy!

1/2 C maple syrup
1/4 C coconut oil
1/4 C almond butter
1 T cinnamon (or more if you prefer your granola to have a stronger cinnamon flavor)
2 1/2 C rolled oats  
1/4 C ground flax
1/4 C chia seeds
1/2 C chopped nuts/seeds (almonds, walnuts, pepitas)
1/4 C unsweetened coconut
1/2 C mixed dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, raisins)
liberal sprinkle coarse sea salt

Mix maple syrup, coconut oil and almond butter together. If your coconut oil is at room temperature, you might need to melt it first.
Mix oats, coconut, and cinnamon together, then add to wet ingredients.
Pour onto a baking sheet in an even layer. (I use a silicone baking sheet liner, but you can coat the pan with nonstick cooking spray if you prefer.) Bake at 300 degrees for about 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

 Baked Granola

Immediately upon removing the granola from the oven, add the chia, flax, seeds/nuts and dried fruit.

 Nuts & Fruit 

(The fruit swells and gets sticky in the oven, and raw nuts/seeds retain more of their nutrition.) Add a sprinkle of salt and toss well. The salt really brings out the sweetness and other flavors.

Makes 15 1/4-cup servings!

Stored Granola

Recipe Source

Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe

1 egg
1/2 t minced garlic
1 T lemon juice
1 t prepared mustard
3/4 C olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Combine egg, garlic, lemon juice and mustard in the container of a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, then blend on low speed while pouring oil into the blender in a fine stream as the mixture emulsifies and thickens.

Natural Air Fresheners

We all know that the commercial air fresheners have ingredients that are not good for our health. Put cinnamon or cloves in a saucepan with water and heat on the stove. I turn my pot on low and leave it. My whole house will smell so good. 

If you have a wood burning stove, place orange or lemon peels on the top, and leave until they dry out. This will also leave a pleasant scent.

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First Foods: Brown Rice Cereal

1/2 C brown rice
4 C water

Grind rice until powder. I used the Baby Bullet. Add water and brown rice powder to a sauce pan. Bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Turn heat to low and simmer covered for 20 minutes. As the cereal cools, it thickens. Add more water to thin.

This is great to combine with other foods. Ethan is not to impressed with the consistency, so we are waiting until he is a little older to try it again.

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First Foods: Banana

1 whole banana
1/4 C water

Puree in a food processor or blender. Add or diminish water to achieve desired consistency. My son really likes his bananas.

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First Foods: Zucchini

1 cooked zucchini
1/4 C water

Puree in a food processor or blender. You made add or diminish water depending on the consistency you want. I cut the zucchini in large pieces (unpeeled) and cooked until tender. My son devoured this one!

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Natural Sweeteners

As I had mentioned in a previous post, Healthy Changes in Our Family's Diet, our family no longer uses white sugar, and we do not buy any products that contain sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltodextrin, etc. I thought we could use raw sugar but discovered that raw sugar is still a form of processed sugar, so I'm using the following alternatives in my cooking if I absolutely need a sweetener.

Sucanat - Dried sugar cane juice...it is produced by simply crushing the freshly-cut sugar cane to squeeze out the juice, heating until it is reduced to a thick syrup and then hand-paddling to create the porous Sucanat granules. Sucanat is a dried whole cane sugar that has not been separated or blended, basically nothing has been added and nothing taken out.

Blackstrap Molasses - A good source of potassium, calcium, iron, B6, and magnesium.

Raw Honey

Stevia

Luo Han Guo - a natural Chinese plant product

Just Like Sugar® - composed of chicory root, calcium, vitamin C, and the peel of the orange. It is 96% dietary fiber with no calories or sugar.

For a list of other natural sweeteners and their uses click here.

Of Utmost Concern

by Michael Pearl

This section was written ten years ago. Its truth is timeless.

I think many of you feel as I do. My most important personal concern has always been my children, and now my many grandchildren command my attention. Even before I was married, my occupation, financial security, ministry, personal fulfillment, all took third place to concerns for my future children. What does "it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Likewise, what does it profit a father if he gains the whole world and loses the souls of his children?

What can be called success if your children turn out to be part of the world's problem rather than its cure? What satisfaction can there be in the comforts of material success if your children grow up needing counsel rather than being sought after to give counsel? If your children lie awake at night suffering from guilt and anxiety, being gnawed upon by the demons of intemperance and self-indulgence, how can you enjoy your food or your pillow? The fruit that is borne measures the success of both a tree and a man. The fruit of a man or woman is their children; everything else is falling leaves.

If the sun rises and sets, and I never cast a bigger shadow, what of it, if my children are growing and flourishing in God's family? Let me die poor; let me die early; let me be ravaged by disease; just let my children rise up and call me blessed. Let me not measure my giving by the dollars I spend on them or the educational opportunities that my station in life affords, but rather by the hours I spend with them in fellowship.

May they graduate from my tutorship to become disciples of the Man from Nazareth. May they learn good and evil from the pinnacle of obedience rather than from the pit of despair. May they have the wisdom to choose the precious, and the courage to reject the trite and the vain. May they always labor for the meat that endures.

May they be lovers of God, coworkers with the Holy Spirit, and a friend to the Lord Jesus. And when their trail ends, may it end at the throne of God, laying crowns at the Savior's feet.

And that is my prayer for your children as well.

Amen and Amen.

Pearl, Michael. (2011). Training Children to Be Strong in Spirit. Tennessee: No 
       Greater Joy Ministries Inc.

 

No Greater Joy Ministries Inc.

1000 Pearl Road

Pleasantville, TN 37033

Sourdough Starter

This recipe contains no sugar or yeast. Enjoy!

1/4 C water
1/2 C whole wheat flour

Mix ingredients well in a glass bowl/container (preferably). Cover with plastic wrap. The mixture will be a thick mass; a very thick mass.

To read more detailed instructions click here.

Sugar-Free Bread Recipe

2 1/4 t active dry yeast
1 C skim milk, luke warm (I used 2% milk)
2 T warm water (110 degrees F)
1/2 t sea salt
2 C all-purpose flour
1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
1 T olive oil

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select lightest setting; press Start. I add my liquids and salt first and then add the rest of the dry ingredients. My yeast goes in a compartment on the lid of my bread machine.

Yes, I agree this is not the healthiest recipe as it calls for white flour and contains yeast. But this is a good recipe to start with.


Dinner Rolls
I made the dough in my bread machine and then made 16 balls. I laid them on a cookie sheet and froze them. Then I placed them in a Ziploc bag. Before I bake them, I will place them on a cookie sheet and let them unthaw and rise. Bake. 


The bread and rolls are very dense as they contain no sugar to help the yeast to rise. The taste is good as long as you don't mind the density.

Save While Flushing

Fill a plastic bottle with water and place it in the tank of a toilet (not a high-efficiency one). The toilet tank will require less water to fill.

I learned this trick while living in Chile, so when I got married, I told my husband about it. We filled plastic 2 L coke bottles with water and put them in the toilet tank. My husband can't wait for a guest to lift the lid to our tank and ask us about the soda bottle!

Healthy Changes in Our Family´s Diet

My husband and I made an important, life-changing decision for our family last night. We are eliminating processed sugar, food coloring, vegetable oils, and processed foods from our home. Why are we being so radical? We want to prevent illnesses, and want our family to grow up healthy. This doesn't mean we can't go out to eat or have something sweet once in a while, but we don't want any of the above products in our home.

I made my grocery list last night from my eMeals' weekly menu, and I headed out this morning to go shopping at Aldi. I had purposed to read all ingredient labels to make sure I didn't bring home the forbidden items. Here is my list:

• white mushrooms
• kiwis
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• cucumbers
• cantaloupe
• cabbage
• pork chops
• corned beef brisket
• canned peas (sugar - bought frozen peas instead)
• canned refried beans
• canned black olives
• canned cream of chicken soup (sugar)
• canned sauerkraut
• canned mixed vegetables
• prepared brown gravy (sugar)
• brown gravy mix (sugar)
• taco seasoning (sugar)
• onion soup mix (sugar)
• dinner rolls (sugar)
• Italian bread (sugar)
• wheat bread (sugar)
• sliced Swiss cheese
• chips (sugar - bought some pita chips that had palm oil and sea salt instead)
• mayonnaise (sugar)

I didn't write the quantities as that is irrelevant for this post. Did you know that pickles have food coloring in them? I discovered that most of the items on my list contained at least one form of sugar if not more (I wasn't too concerned about honey).

Research has shown:

• Processed sugar blocks the absorption of calcium.
• Processed sugar produces a low oxygen environment (which cancer thrives in).
• Processed sugar is extremely acidic (cancer proliferates in an acidic body pH).
• Processed sugar can be the death of the immune system. It interrupts the Kreb's energy cycle, which suppresses your immune system's manufacture of killer cells and antibodies!
• Processed sugar depletes B vitamins needed by the liver to detoxify it—the liver is your main detox organ.
• Sugar averages for children are around 36 teaspoons a day in the U.S. Processed sugar consumption quickly robs the oxygen from the little bodies of children making their cells extremely acidic, shutting off their immune systems. Read full article here.

 I did not buy any items on my list that went against our new diet. Instead I am slowly looking for recipes for those items. Right now I am making a sugar-free bread recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out, and I'll post the recipe if we like it.

This is just one of the many changes our family will be making. We have just purchased the book "Killing Cancer - Not People" by Robert G. Wright, and we will be following his recommended protocol to prevent cancer. I will keep you updated on our progress as we read through this book, and how these small but important changes are changing our family forever.

To see a list of natural sweeteners click here
To purchase the book "Killing Cancer - Not People" click here. The book is available as an e-book as well.

Non-Chemical Fabric Softener

I stored white vinegar in my pantry, but it has now officially been moved to my laundry room. White Vinegar is cheap, versatile, non-toxic, and is hypoallergenic unlike other cleaning products.

Use 1 C of White Vinegar instead of regular fabric softener. It removes all the soap from your clothes and brightens them. Your clothes will not smell like vinegar as it evaporates with the heat from the dryer or sun.

I am experimenting with White Vinegar to see if it also helps remove static from clothes. If it does, I will no longer be using dryer sheets. I will keep you posted!

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Be a Door Opener, Not a Door Shutter

by Michael Pearl

Sometimes the grand kids come over when I am engaged in study or writing. My office is removed from the living room where the kids will be visiting. When they discover I am in my office, they come and open the door. After I greet them and explain that I must be busy for a little while, they will walk away and be happy as long as I leave the door open. But if I shut the door, they are uncomfortable until they get it open and look in on me. At about two years of age they have the ability to open a door but cannot understand my need to shut it, particularly if they are left on the other side. I have come to see that kids do not like a shut door, especially if it is directed at them.

Think for a moment. How do your children view you -- as a door shutter or a door opener? Do they know you as the one who gives them pleasure through opening interesting and exciting doors of opportunity and learning, or do they know you as the one always saying no and shutting them out? You will "Train up a child in the way he should go" so that "when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6) if you are a door opener and not a door shutter.

Don't be a no person. Be a yes person to your children. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is God's "yea" and "Amen."

"For all the promises of God in him are yea [yes], and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Jesus is the Yes of God. In Him is life and liberty. At His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). People embroiled in religion, be it heathen or Christian, view God as the No in their lives. They know Him through the negative commandments -- "Thou shalt not..." To them the Christian life is a series of shut doors -- things one cannot do lest he be dammed. Their God is distant and out of reach, critical and displeased. He must be placated with contrition and religious works. Such people cannot love God. Their guilt and humility cause God to be paramount in their lives but always out of reach, though their lives are dedicated to appeasing Him. Their desperate fervency causes them to appear to be the most devout among us, but no one, who knows them well, is drawn to their God, for even they are not sure of His love or forgiveness.

Children raised by "religious"-tempered parents are the most miserable of all. So many doors are locked to them. I am not suggesting permissiveness or worldliness; I am talking about the many little things of life.

I knew both of my grandmothers well. One I remember with the utmost fondness, and the other I could have done without. I never did like her. I cannot remember one pleasurable feeling in her presence. She was never mean or angry. She was always proper and pleasant. But she had a gift for saying no. I knew that when I went to her house I would be in the way -- as in "children should be seen and not heard." She never said such, but that is the way she made me feel.

"Don't put your feet there."

"Take off your shoes."

"Stop making that noise in the house."

"Don't you ever comb your hair?"

She did have a beautiful garden that fascinated me, but she slammed the door shut when I tried to walk in it. I remember her as a door shutter. She never taught me anything. She taught manners at me, but they didn't stick, because I did not want to please her in her interests when she was never pleased with what interested me. I know I was immature, but I was immature at four...and seven...and nine...and twelve.

When I got old enough to know better, I spent time with the other grandma who was ready with a laugh and a "Have you ever heard of...?" or "Come over here and look at what I have been working on." Many a time my yes grandmother said, "Can you help me with this?" I can think of no sweeter words, nor have I know a more interesting person, for she was interested in me. I always wanted to please my yes grandmother. I didn't care one way or the other about my no grandmother. I think I went to her funeral, but I can't remember. I do remember quite well my yes grandmother's funeral, the one who opened so many doors for me.

My daddy was a door opener -- a yes daddy. When I asked if I could use the scrap lumber he brought home from the job, he said yes and offered me hammer, saw, and nails as well. When I asked if I could have the red paint that was left over, he found some old brushes and blue paint to go with it. When I went to the job with him and met someone for the first time, the stranger would say something like, "So you are the boy Ed is always bragging about. Heard you can throw a knife like Tarzan."

When I was fourteen, I suggested I needed a horizontal bar in the backyard. My daddy hired someone to make it, and he and I dug the holes and concreted it in place. It became the center of my after-high-school activity. When I remember my father, I remember a yes daddy -- a yea and Amen daddy.

How do your children view you? On this point hangs all of your parenting. I can say with certainty, if you have a good relationship with your children, and they want to please you, it is because they think of you as a yes daddy or yes mama -- a door opener. If there is tension, and they are stubborn and rebellious, it is because they know you as a no daddy or no mama -- a door shutter.

In our next digital magazine (April issue), I will discuss how you can become a door opener, not a door shutter. In the meantime, think of ways to open doors of delight, and you will not have as many occasions to say no to their naughtiness.

To receive our free digital magazine, go to nogreaterjoy.org/magazine/free-subscription/online-notices/

To receive our free bi-monthly magazine, go to nogreaterjoy.org/magazine/free-subscription/print-magazine/

No Greater Joy Ministries, March-April 2012 issue, pg 3-5, 14

eMeals: March Recipe

 

I get to post one of my favorite recipes each month, yet it is so hard to choose as I have lots of favorites. I had decided that I was going to post the recipe for Easiest Chicken Tortilla Casserole Ever, but then I cooked again last night and discovered a new favorite. So here it is...

Cheddar Macaroni and Bacon

½ lb penne pasta, cooked and drained

½ lb bacon, cut into 2” pieces, cooked & drained

1 T grated Parmesan cheese

2 T butter

½ small onion, diced

2½ T flour

2 c milk

½ t thyme

salt

pepper,

2 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 ¾ c sharp cheddar cheese, grated (less than 8 oz)

Grease small casserole dish (1 1/2 quart) and sprinkle 1 T Parmesan cheese. In a skillet, melt butter and saute onions until clear. Whisk In flour until a paste, then milk slowly. Simmer until thickened. Stir in thyme, salt and pepper. Fold in Parmesan and 1 c cheddar cheese and stir until creamy. Stir in pasta and bacon. Pour into dish, sprinkle remaining cheddar and bake uncovered 25 min @ 350° or until bubbly. 

This recipe is for 2-3 people. My husband and I devoured most of it in one meal. If you have picky eaters or serve portions, you could easily feed 4-5 people. 

To learn more about eMeals click below.

 

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• eMeals: April Recipe
• Menu Planning Made Easy

Five Things You Need to Know About High Fructose Corn Syrup

by Linda Bonvie

Take Time to Stop the Scam Below!

Since Food Identity Theft went online last September, we’ve been reporting on the many ways food manufacturers try to deceive us with misleading words, ingredients and fancy packaging.  But of all the issues we’ve covered to date, by far the most deceptive, glaring example of the food industry attempting to scam the public is the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) plan to rebrand the unpopular high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) ingredient with the sweeter-sounding name “corn sugar.”

The CRA has been spending big bucks on a campaign to fill your head with misinformation and twisted facts, starting with the slippery way they’ve introduced the name “corn sugar” on the airwaves and Internet, hoping it will “catch on,” and the old, discredited moniker go down the memory hole.

Read more...

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Ingredients

1 box Borax (4 lbs 12 oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz)
1/2 cup unsweetened Lemonade Drink Mix or Citric Acid (ex: 24 packages of Kool-aid)*
3 cups Epsom Salt**

Mix ingredients together and pour into sealed storage container. Put 1 Tbsp of detergent in the soap dispenser in the dishwasher. Add white vinegar to the rinse aid dispenser in the dishwasher if your dishes are cloudy after washing.

This recipe cost me less than $10! I love saving money, and I like knowing what ingredients are in my detergents. I have had no problem using this detergent in my dishwasher.

*Lemonade will stain soap dispenser yellow.
**Epsom Salt will cause your detergent to form hard spots.  

Disclaimer:  Please use at your own risk. 

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• How to Clean the Kitchen with Vinegar
• Homemade Laundry Detergent 
• Non-Chemical Fabric Softener 
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• Bleach Alternative

Food in America: What Is Your Family Eating?

I viewed this recently and wanted to let my readers know about it just to give you something to think about. Your family's health is your responsibility. Take ownership of that and do your own research and study. Then make the best choices for your family. 

Making decisions for your family that go against the "norm" isn't easy. There will be many, who think you are nuts and will tell you so. Ignore them and do what is best for your family!

First Foods: Avocado

The second food I made for our son was avocados. I chose this one as once again I had some in my pantry.

Peel and pit one avocado. Mix it with 1/2 cup of filtered water. Use a blender or food processor to make a puree. I used my Baby Bullet. The amount of water you use depends on how thin or thick you want the puree.

This puree turned out much creamier than the sweet potatoes, and when Ethan took his first bite, he made a horrible face. After about three bites, he refused to open his mouth. I was a little frustrated as our family loves avocados, and I wanted our son to like them too. So I got creative and mixed 2 tsp of Avocado Puree with 3 tsp of Sweet Potato Puree. That did the trick. Ethan loves the combination. I will try Avocados by themselves again at a later date.

Related Posts:

• First Foods: Sweet Potato 
• First Foods: Brown Rice Cereal
• First Foods: Zucchini
• First Foods: Banana 
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• First Foods: Applesauce 

First Foods: Sweet Potato

From a list of  Avocado, Squash, Banana, Sweet Potato, Peas, Zucchini, Pear, Apple, and Brown Rice Cereal, I chose Sweet Potato for my son's first food. My reasoning for this...I had three sweet potatoes in my pantry.

I made a puree by blending one cooked sweet potato with 1 cup of water. I used my Baby Bullet, but a food processor or a blender would work fine.

Our son had just turned five months when we gave him food for the first time. We waited until five months as my family has a lot of food allergy history. Ethan took his first bite and grabbed my hand wanting more. He loves sweet potatoes. We gave him sweet potatoes for a week, and he has had no allergic reaction to them.

Our next food...Avocado!

Related Posts:

• First Foods: Avocado 
• First Foods: Brown Rice Cereal
• First Foods: Zucchini
• First Foods: Banana 
• First Foods: Oatmeal Cereal
• First Foods: Applesauce 

How To Clean the Kitchen with White Vinegar

http://vinegartip.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/vinegar-history/

by Connie Earl Robertson
The majority of the cleaners you use in your kitchen are chemicals that are damaging your health. There are window cleaners, surface cleaners, oven cleaners, and floor cleaners. They are affecting your family on a daily basis.  There is another option you can choose.  White vinegar can do everything your chemical laden cleaners do. This is how to clean a kitchen with white vinegar.

Add a few drops of vinegar to the rinse water for your dishes, and it will leave them sparkling clean.
Read more... 

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• Homemade Laundry Detergent
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Homemade Laundry Detergent

 

Ingredients

 

1 box (4lb, 12oz) Borax
1 box (4lb) Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1 box (3 lb, 7 oz) Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
3 bars Fels-Naptha Soap or Pink Zote Soap*
2 containers (3 1/2 lbs total) of Oxy Clean or store brand**

I found all of these ingredients at Walmart. Mix all the ingredients in a five gallon bucket lined with a trash bag. Grate the bars of soap with a hand grater or you  may use a food processor. This detergent works in HE washers. If you grate the soap, add the detergent to the drum. If you use a food processor to grind the soap, add the detergent to the soap dispenser. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.

I have used this detergent for two months, and I love it! It  cost me less than $20 to make, and will last around 9 months.I will let you know how long mine lasts once I finish it. My husband's work clothes come out of the washer as clean as with any other detergent. This detergent is safe to use on sensitive skin. I use it to wash baby clothes and cloth diapers. The detergent does not leave a strong scent on your clothes.

*Pink Zote Soap can be found at The Home Depot.
**This is optional, but it helps your detergent clean better.

Disclaimer:  Please use at your own risk. 

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• How to Clean the Kitchen with Vinegar
• Homemade Dishwasher Detergent 
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Menu Planning Made Easy

I 

I learned about eMeals by listening to the Dave Ramsey Show several years ago. At the time I rarely cooked at home as my job provided my meals. Fast forward my life three years, and I am married with a husband, who gets home around 11 pm and likes to eat dinner with his wife. I was bogged down making large meals that would last a couple of days, buying extra food 'just in case,' and throwing away a lot of produce that was going bad before I could use it. I wasn't very creative and found my meals to be boring. My wonderful husband never complained and always told me he loved my cooking, but I knew I needed HELP. So with his blessing I signed up for eMeals.

Jane DeLaney founded eMeals in 2003. She and her sister, Jenny Cochran, developed a plan to provide a simple and affordable dinnertime solution for families everywhere.  Thousands of families are sitting down to dinner and enjoying delicious meals due to these entrepreneurs..

You pick a plan and the store you shop at, and every week you will receive a new 7 meal menu and grocery list by email or you can download them from the website. Plans include regular, vegetarian, gluten free, low carb, low fat, natural & organic, and portion control. All the work is done for you, and it costs as little as $5 a month!

The menu includes each meal, the ingredients, and the cooking instructions. The grocery list has your items listed by aisle in your grocery store, has the number of the meal next to each ingredient, the price, and extra space for any additional items you might need. You can view more details by clicking on the link below.

 

.I have been using eMeals for two months, and I absolutely love it. The meals are delicious, and at times I feel like a gourmet cook. My husband is enjoying the different variety of foods and the freshness of each meal. I save money, use all the produce in the refrigerator, and enjoy cooking more than ever. 

Related Posts:

• eMeals: March Recipe
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The American Holocaust

There are some graphic images in this video; nothing inappropriate, just stirring.

Are you aware of what is happening in The United States of America?

Things are only getting worse. Now we have those stating we should accept after-birth abortions.

Wife...Are You Truly Submitting to Your Husband?

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."  
Ephesians 5:22-24

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." Colossians 3:18

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear."  
I Peter 3:1-2
************************************************************************************************************
When I was single, I knew that once I married I would take my husband's convictions as my own. What my husband decided would be my decision as well. As I got to know the man I would marry, I asked him innumerable questions. I wanted to make sure I was willing to submit to this man. I have now been married a little over a year, and I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.

What happens once your married, and your husband makes a decision for himself, you, or your family, and you don't agree with it? What if his decision goes against your convictions or opinions? What if your husband is clearly in the wrong? The Bible is quite clear on this topic. As a wife you must change your opinion to your husband's opinion.Your husband is responsible to God (not you) for the decisions he makes for your family. You are responsible to God (not your husband) for how you submit and reverence your husband.

What an amazing example we have in Sarah, Abraham's wife. Abraham takes his wife to Egypt and Gerar and tells her that if anyone asks her, she is to say that Abraham is her brother. In other words Abraham tells Sarah to lie. In both cases Sarah obeys her husband, and God protects her. "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." I Peter 3:6 

There is another angle we need to look at. Do you submit to your husband, but you don't agree with him, and you let everyone know about it? Do you submit to your husband but allow bitterness to grow in your heart towards him, because you believe he made the wrong decision? You are not submitting to your husband in these cases, and God is holding you accountable.

Here are a few ideas to trigger your memory:

• how you dress
• birth control
• number of children
• work out of the home
• stay at home mother
• free time
• breastfeeding your children
• bottle feeding your children
• television
• going to the movies
• movies at home
• friends
• family
• finances
• spending
• purchases
• music