Frgual Living: Not Turkey Again?!

Somehow I forgot to post my most recent article at Take Root and Write for my column Frugal Living. I share different recipes that you can use the leftover turkey for instead of eating the same old turkey sandwiches day after day. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Turkey, turkey, and more turkey...will there ever be an end to the turkey? We look forward to the Thanksgiving meal. Yet sometimes we're not as enthusiastic about what's left. However, leftovers present a perfect opportunity to exercise frugality. They can be used in a variety of recipes. Many chicken recipes can be adapted with turkey, from salad to pot pie. This year why not beat the turkey humdrum by gobbling up these delicious recipes.

Praying God's Word

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
Ephesians 1:17-19a (NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word. Father, I ask that You give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better. I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe. It's in Jesus' Name I ask these things, Amen.

Thankful Thursdays

I'm thankful for:

• My hubby prepping a turkey last night and getting it into the oven. We had it for dinner tonight and it was absolutely scrumptious.
• All the work I was able to get done today on the next two articles for my column at Take Root and Write.
• My bread machine. I've mentioned it before. But it is truly a blessing. I make homemade bread dough in it and then bake the bread in the oven. Tonight, we enjoyed such a delicious loaf of homemade whole wheat bread with our dinner.

As always, I'm thankful for God, His Word, my hubby and children, my family, and friends. I am truly a blessed woman.

To see what others are thankful for today, join Iris at Grace Alone.

Reflections on God's Word

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37 (NIV)

The time was drawing near for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. Quite a few things had taken place including a whole generation of people being denied the blessing of entering the Promised Land. Their being denied this blessing was a result of their own actions and words. In addition, God told Moses he would not enter the Promised Land either. Joshua has been appointed the new leader of the Israelite people. Before he took over, Moses took the time to address the people. In his address, he spoke about some cities that God had given over to the Israelites. About those cities, Moses said, "All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages." (Deuteronomy 3:5, NIV)

In Biblical times, the best way to protect a city was to build high walls around it. To add to that gates and bars would have made it even that much more secure. A city fortified with high walls, gates, and bars would have been considered almost unconquerable. It would have taken great strategy, large numbers of soldiers, and immense strength to take down such a city. Yet, our God is bigger than any walled city. He can conquer the unconquerable. God gave these cities over to the Israelites and they overtook what would have seemed unconquerable.

This same God who helped the Israelites conquer the unconquerable is the same God who can help you conquer the unconquerable in your life. The huge walls of fear, bitterness, depression, loneliness, addiction, or whatever the wall may be, is not too huge for our God. God can instantly deliver you. However, He may choose to involve you in the process of your deliverance. The victory already belongs to God. Yet, just like the Israelites had to fight the battles, God may require you to fight the battle in faith in order to bring about your deliverance. You have to be willing to step up and surrender to God. You have to be willing to step out and fight in faith. You have to have faith in God’s power – not your own. For in your own power, you will lose. Walking in God’s power, you are more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) Romans 8:31 says, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” God is for us! God is for you! Are you willing to step up, step out, fight the good fight, and have faith in God’s power?

Memory Monday

For a few weeks there, I was not utilizing my Scripture memory system. I wasn't daily reviewing my current memory verse. And I definitely wasn't reviewing whatever memory verses fell on the corresponding day in my Scripture memory box. It was like that for a few weeks. I was so caught up in trying to balance everything on my plate. I was juggling quite a few balls and inevitably it seemed at least one ball would fall to the floor. During that span of time, the Scripture memory ball was being dropped often. Yes, I went over my verses some.....just not consistently. Last week was different. God blessed me with a light switch moment on an area I have really struggled with for quite some time. I describe light switch moments as times when I've struggled and struggled with something. Then all of a sudden, the struggle is over and everything is better or a mentality has finally changed, etc. just like someone had flipped a light switch on. That quick.....that simple. Well, God blessed me with one of those moments this past week. Praise His Name. He helped me see some error in my thinking and I am so grateful to Him for that. The neat thing is, that along with that change....that light switch moment, came another delightful surprise. Out of the blue, I found a new routine that is working! Yes - just like that! And with that implementation of this new routine, I am finding more order and less struggle to juggle everything. Hallelujah! On top of that, I got back to my Scripture memory system more consistently this week! And I am so delighted to say that I got almost all of Psalm 108:1-5 memorized - thank You Lord! Not only that, but I also was able to get some of the other Scriptures more concretely in my mind. Woohoo! This week, I'll be finishing up Psalm 108:1-5 and continue to use my Scripture Memory system to review other memory verses.

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth."

Psalm 108:1-5 (NIV)

I'm not for sure if I'll have any Reflections on Psalm 108 tomorrow, being that this is my third (and final) week on this passage. However, I will try to have some sort of Reflections on God's Word. So come on back tomorrow. If you'd like to join with others in memorizing Scripture each week, stop by The Simple Wife blog.