Day 3 #31daysLWSZ- Blessings and my pantry

Well yesterday was a very good day despite missing the periscope message in the morning. I was able to go out with my mother in law fully wanting to surprise her and pay for the new place I found. She has spoiled my little one and I the past 2 weeks buying us things and taking us out since I had to drive her to her eye appointment since she had her cataracts surgery done. So like I said I wanted to tell her I appreciate her spoiling us. I know that I am not suppose to go out to eat for this month but my mother in law and I planned this a week ago and plus Cyrus and I budget it in our envelopes. Well when we got there, I told her I would pay for it and she said no because she wanted to take us somewhere nice. I told her she did that the past few weeks and we budgeted for it. She still said no. I mean I really wanted to do this but instead she blessed Cyrus and I for being so good with our budgeting. So I got spoiled once again and have not spend anything yet.
Along with the periscope message, I also get an email. My challenge was to go through my pantry and see what we had and organize it. I was excited because I only wrote down what I had but did not organize it. While I was organizing it, I found some cornbread which I did not know I had. I was very excited about that too. Now I cant wait to see what I am going to come up with with all this stuff we now have. That is where the challenge will begin.

Day 4 #31daysLWSZ- humble pie

Wow yesterday was so exhausting and humbling! I was gone all day with my in laws, my hubbie and little one and only got little done on the challenge. The challenge was to come up with a meal plan using only what I had in my pantry and fridge. So before I went out, just as Ruth said, I came up with several meals that I like. I then went after my list of my pantry/fridge and lo and behold I could not find it on my iPad. I looked everywhere and could not find it. Very frustrating especially since I was ahead but now was behind. After I put my little one to bed and took a shower and got into my pjs, I gathered up all the motivation I could to re write my pantry and fridge again. I did it! 

Now I had to come up with a meal plan. I have to say I have never put together a whole month of meals before, and looking at my list, it was kinda defeating. But I kept pressing on. I was so eager to look for recipes with sausage since I found out we had more than I thought. I was also anticipating to use a lot of ground meat since I got a good deal on that. I have found some new recipes that I am excited to try. I am going to share two of them right now. 

 

First the egg roll in a bowl

 

Second the chicken apple sausage pasta 
 

After humbly rewriting what I had in my pantry and fridge and writing out my meal plan, I feel little more confident then I did two hours ago. Yay! Let's bring it on!

Day 2 #31daysLWSZ Challenge

Yesterday I joined some of the Living Well Spending Zero "runners" to gather together on periscope ready to see what Ruth Soukup had to say for our first day. She answered a lot of questions that were streaming up on the screen, pumping up the ones who were uneasy and uncertain about what they were getting into. I was ready to see what our first step was. I will admit it was all introductory and where I found out I was one step ahead of everyone already knowing what was in my pantry. Ruth then told us that we needed to decide what we had to spend on with the basic essentials. That made me see that being on the envelope system made Cyrus and I one step ahead of everyone else. Everyone seemed to have little direction or fretting about the coffee they were going to miss. Don't get me wrong there is still stuff that I need to learn. I can't wait to see the ways I can get creative as she says you will have to. So I decided to step forward and spend what we decided on with our grocery budget. The only difference would be that I wanted to only spend half of what we normally would spend and not spend on anymore the rest of the month. Normally I go shopping twice a month but not this time because I want to depend on what I have in the house. That is what I am excited to see what I learn about. So we went shopping and found some good deals. My hubbie even contributed and made dinner. So let's see what Ruth will say this morning. 

My goals for the Living Well Spending Zero challenge

Cyrus and I have been participating in Dave Ramsey's baby steps since May. We have been using the envelope system which personally for me has made budgeting tens times easier. I know what I have and I stick to it. Then this Living Well Spending Zero for 31 days challenge by Ruth Soukup, founder of her blog Living Well Spending Less, came up on Facebook newsfeed. The challenge is set up for people to see their ability to live on what they have at home and only buy the essentials. I felt like this was something to try to maybe help me out with ways to be more wise with my grocery budget. So I am excited to see what happens.
 

So for 31 days I am going to write about my journey through this experience. 

For my first post, I would like to write my goals or things I desire to learn these next 31 days

1) I want to learn how to use what I have at home for food to make simple meals.

2) recipes recipes recipes- it always nice to get new ones.

3) to write on my blog everyday for 31 days. 

4) instead of focusing on money, focus bettering myself by reading more, projects around the house
 

That's it for now. Maybe I will add more during the month when more is known.

So here I go.

God of my life, of this election, and of this nation

John 14:12-13
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

There are greater things yet to come and things that need to be done because God is God.
He brings light into this dark world
He brings hope to the hopeless
He brings peace to the restless
WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THIS PERSONALLY
Even if we don't believe He is still God of this nation
No politician can bring hope, peace or light in this dark and sinful nation
Only God can
All who will believe will be able to see great things to come and be able to do even greater things.

Dear Lord,
I am holding back and I don't know why. Give me the faith I need to understand this so I can show this nation who you are and what you can do that no other person can do. You are not done with me yet and in that I trust in your faithfulness. Better yet, you are not done with our nation either and in that I can trust you more.
In Jesus' name
Amen

Ok first I need to confess to you as my reader that I failed miserably after I wrote yesterday's post. I started to watch all the videos I could find about the election on Fox News. It led me to getting so angry and frustrated because no one seems to get it. No one is liking a candidate based off of the issues but on how the candidates responded to another candidate. I was saying inappropriate ungodly things. My husband had to tell me I had enough that watching those videos were not helping. I went upstairs to go to bed and God humbled my heart as I cried out to Him in repentance.

My worldly episode made me really think and pray about more of what I was feeling yesterday. I have the desire to teach my little one to see her need in Christ so that she will be able to see others despite their cultural differences as she sees her own need. But as I prayed that, the Lord pressed on my heart that is exactly what I am wanting for myself and this nation. Like I said yesterday, it takes one person to make difference.

Since I have learned about the power of God's word in my life, I have always tried to back myself up with scripture. I am not consistent enough as I want to but God is faithful and continues to show me the importance of it. The scripture He directed me to was John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Loving others only comes from Christ in me. I desire for Christ's love for me to compel me to make a difference in people's lives concerning the gospel. It is the only thing that will change this nation. It is also the way for my little one to see what that looks like for her own life. I need to hold onto this scripture and humbly allow myself to be directed by it.

Dear Lord,
You warned us that the world was going to hate us because they first hated you. It should not be a surprise to me because the things of you are foolishness to those who are perishing. Instead of getting angry, help me Lord to humble myself to allow your love to work in me so I can put others first. It is hard because things like anger and laziness get in the way but Lord you have overcome those things and in result I have too. Help that, Lord, to penetrate my heart and mind so I can make a difference in my own daughter's life and the world's. Dear Lord I also lift up this election and the direction you have for it. You know who will be in the office next year. But Lord my hope and prayer that somehow through this election that people will see how you will be glorified because of one person showing love as you showed love. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and your word. Help us to allow that to transform our lives. In Jesus' name Amen
   

Happy Constitution Day!!

Two years ago I started my journey of learning about our American heritage. It was a mind blowing experience where I discovered how our founding fathers had this strong desire for God's Word and established our country based off of that desire. It was so successful because God was behind it.

I really have not thought about this too much lately because as you know life just goes on. But in the light of the election and debates, it has been brought back to my attention. My pastor said this past Sunday (these are my words but here is the basic idea) that our country is in such a bad spot but that nothing is impossible with God if we lead lives that was Spirit led. His point has not left me all week and after watching the second Republican candidate debate, it really has gotten me to ponder on what's going on. Is it possible for someone like Senator Ted Cruz or Dr. Ben Carson to win the Republican spot and actually win? Or is the media's strong message of Donald Trump or Governor Jeb Bush ultimately going to play out and loose the presidency? I want Senator Ted Cruz to win. He is a man of integrity and character who does what he says. He fights for what is right when everyone else is going against him. He does not see the need to fight back with the other candidates but just states the truth. A man as Senator Ted Cruz should be in the White House. But this post is not for me to tell others about the candidate that I feel should win but what I need to be doing right now.

My prayer is that through this time of campaigning and debating and eliminating that God will soften my heart towards the people of this country and humbly pray for people of character and myself to stand up to make a difference in this country. I don't think it is too late for God to change people's hearts to vote based off of character and not on someone's flashy personality. People can only change their hearts through God's word and knowledge and wisdom. It can just start with one person. God has to be number one in this election in order for the right person to be voted in. I have this hope that it is possible that God can do anything in this situation if all of us as Christians humble ourselves and pray for God's will.

Our country was based off of God's word and people of character. Our country needs to go back to that. It is going to happen if we put God first and pray for our country and this election.