That Last Spinach Post

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."   ---Hebrews 12:11

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My last post, the one about unforgiveness? Not my favorite kind to write (nor yours to read, according to the stats.) Too much like a 'spinach teaching' (as Joyce Meyer and I call it).

But oh, how necessary to share those. 

I mean, I could only write posts about--

Becoming a happy homemaker

Gardening with joy

Decorating beautiful rooms

Prepping the fun way

Finding kindred spirits online

Listening to soothing music

Cleaning your house as unto God

Becoming your best creative self

Coffee shop bliss

Locating incredible books and movies

Discovering joy in everyday rituals, etc.

Yet anyone reading those with unforgivness in their hearts would come away with only a temporary happiness buzz. T-e-m-p-o-r-a-r-y. And via this blog I aim for much higher (and lasting) results. Words and lessons which will outlive me--that's what interests eternity.

And well, unforgiveness spoils everything. 

When we obey God we can 'love life and see good days'. Experience 24/7 peace, joy, and a sweet assurance that all will be well. (No really, it's possible.)

But only if we release our unforgiveness, let it melt into compassionate prayers, instead, for those who know not what they do.

Consistent grace and peace arrive--and remain--no other way.

Always remember: we're not meant to wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual forces of evil--

--and satan schemes against us, majorly distracts, so we'll fail to grow in God the way He created us to.

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A healthy, guarded heart is one where unforgiveness gets pushed out, trashed, as soon as it's recognized.

Oh! This documentary looks awesome:  The Booksellers.

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"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." ---Matthew 5:23-26

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

This Kills Daily Extreme Joy

“Yield now and be at peace with Him;

Thereby good will come to you."   ---Job 22:21

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Maybe you've noticed this at the end of every post:

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

It's my sneaky reminder. Go staying mad at anyone--even President Trump--and we'll never experience daily consistent joy. Call it disappointment, righteous anger (that never leaves) or whatever--Life will never be joy-filled within our unforgiveness.

God won't allow it.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."  --from 2 Peter 1.

Or like I wrote at Facebook:

Because of their unforgiveness, Christians who still hate President Trump are now blind to the changes God's made in him.

God has changed our President these past 4 years. (I've heard pastors/evangelists say they gathered around him while he prayed the sinner's prayer.) If he's not changed rocket-fast enough for you, how quickly did you grow once you found God? Hmmm?

Unforgiveness is pride in disguise. It is, as the verse above says, 'forgetting that we have been cleansed from our former sins'. 

It's throwing the first stone. Feeling justified in making a direct hit.

Pride births unforgiveness and pride always comes before a great fall--often deep, blinding deception is that fall.

Unforgiveness poisons, shrivels a life God intended for beauty, joy and wonder. God chooses to not forgive us if we don't forgive others. 

Unforgiveness, pride, blast with a hammer all the light and joy God longed to stream down upon us, leaving us in black blindness, instead. Nothing is worth losing closeness with God. 

Nothing.

Have unforgiveness? Let it go. Let. It. Go.

Oh, and this post is not just about feelings toward our President. Each of us must watch out for unforgiveness toward anyone with whom we are close.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."   ---Ephesians 4:26, 27   

(Four years is an abhorrent amount of time to hate our President. A total mockery of 'do not let the sun go down on your anger'.)

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I've kept a sort of scrapbook post about what President Trump has done for our Country. Scroll down for a long list I copied and pasted. (If you can only think of 2 or 3 things, you are way, way behind!)  シ

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Here is a lovely tiny vintage farmhouse. Wow. Love everything about it.

And I'm still addicted to music reactions at Youtube. What a joy to watch young folks discover (and enjoy) music from our long ago era!

I especially loved JayVee's reaction to Yesterday Once More (my very favorite Carpenter's song!). Listen with headphones if you can; it makes a difference.

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

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September This And That (Half Being Food-Related) :)

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. "   ---Hewbrews 11:7

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1.) Oh! Have you heard of Tree Change Dolls? The 'afters' are adorable and unfortunately sold-out for September. (Less expensive ones can be found here. Or get your creative juices flowing and create your own!) 

But to view these cuties, here's a Facebook link, here's the Etsy link and here's how it all began. 

Beautiful, not to mention inspirational.

2.) Here's a video from Homestead Tessie about where you might find free food in your area. Very informative and helpful, especially at this wild time in our Country's history.

3.) At times I've mentioned Eat Right For Your Blood Type and Honey, it's helped keep me feeling wonderful. Well, that is, unless I wander away from its advice like I did on Tuesday when I had, shall we say, a perfect storm of my own making for stomach issues. Er hem.

Anyway, this book was a godsend over a decade ago and as long as I stay away from my personal 'Foods To Avoid'? I'm one Healthy Hannah. (The oldest issue of the book is probably cheapest and just as helpful as later issues.)

4.) My canning jars arrived from Tractor Supply and so I've continued my Homestead Tessie Jar Game and had the best time. Seriously, when you follow Grace, her lead and timing, even preparing for emergencies is a blast. 

5.) One reason Tom and I so enjoy The Rockford Files is that his (scary-looking) mobile home sits in the parking lot of a beach and taco stand and Jim Rockford so often eats tacos, even for breakfast! Oh, the cravings we get for tacos.

So now I often make 'stacked tacos' for lunch and before eating them I quip, "In honor of Jim Rockford." シ

Here's my recipe:

8 corn tortillas

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 tbl. hot peppers (optional)

1 Tbl. taco mix (or to taste)

1/2 can diced chilies

1/4 to 1/2 c. fresh tomatoes

A few olives (optional)

1/4 c. corn

1/4 c. canned tomatoes

3/4 c. shredded cheese

Hot sauce, salsa to taste

Warm the tortillas in just a little oil. Remove to plate, cover. Brown ground beef with onion, peppers, and taco mix. Drain. Add corn, chilies, fresh tomatoes and olives. Stir.

Place canned tomatoes on bottom of baking dish (to keep tortillas from sticking). Make a layer of 3 tortillas (sides touching, not stacked) then spread 1/3 of the gr. beef mixture over them, topping with 1/3 the cheese. Repeat twice more (top layer will have just two tortillas). Top with extra cheese if desired.

Cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 (or so) minutes.

As with all my recipes, you can make all sorts of substitutions and just keep going until it looks and tastes right to you. heh.

6.) We've a local NY group called Abandoned 716 which takes photos of--you guessed it--abandoned places. Always wonderful to imagine who walked through the halls or homes of such places. (The photos I'd meant to share aren't 'sticking' here. sigh.)

7.) A few things beginner preppers often forget to store:

a.) Pet food

b.) First aid supplies. Rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, etc.

c.) Make-up (for those who wanna look their best during any disaster.)  ツ

d.) Alternative ways to cook.

e.) Alternative ways to heat and light your home.

f.) Battery-operated radios, clocks, etc.

g.) Candles, votives, tea lights, matches.

8.) Here's a creative video about how to reuse bottles and jars. Here's another and here's one more. Youtube has others; check them out for tons of easy craft and decor ideas! 

9.) Last month while sweeping our patio I was stung by an invisible wasp! Well, I didn't see the bugger anyway. After the initial pain, it mostly itched. For days. But I read that witch hazel helps (it does) and thanks to my previous prepping over the years, I had a bottle of it handy.

Anyway, I survived. Whew.  ツ

10.) I keep hearing (and keep hearing) about impending food shortages. Please do all you can to stock-up so I don't worry about you all, okay?

11.) My candle wicks arrived! As I empty future (used) wax melts into custard cups, I'll place the wick in the bottom. But as for ones already made? I'll use my handy dandy ice pick and run the wick up through the wax. This homemade candle, below, has been burning for 3 days. Smells nice, too! (Another photo not working...)

12.) Oh! And I am so enjoying The Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series. I'm now on book #6 (thanks to my free trial of Kindle Unlimited) which is perhaps my favorite, though I've enjoyed each! 

(Though ok, I don't recall anyone actually doing any gardening and Gloria's farm mysteriously runs itself which, hey, sounds splendid to me!)  シ

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15