Forward To The Past

I have to say that our home feels so good right now as I have spent the past couple of days getting rid of lots of unwanted items that I have felt are not needed. I really needed for our home to breathe, if this makes any kind of sense

So, I have been getting rid of books, (yes more books) which have been sitting on bookshelf for the past 12 months if not longer unread. So I thought do I need them firs tof all and secondly, am I going to read them – the answer to both these questions regarding the majority of books was no. All the Christian books have gone to a friend who will put these onto a table at the friday lunches she organises. All the non-christian books will go to a charity shop. I am now down to two small shelves of books – way to go

Not only is it books that I have been going through but clothing as well. I have quite a few t.shirts etc that were either stained or too small so all of these have gone into the garbage bin.  DH has also been sorting through his clothes and the majority of these will also go to the charity shop. So far I am doing pretty well

I have also gone through the filing cabinet, articles that I had not yet read (and the majority of these I could find on the computer ), card making bits and pieces that I was not going to use, coloured papers and anything else that I could find in our study that was no longer needed, these have all gone in to the garbage too. DH also decided that he wanted to get rid of videos and cds that he was not going to watch again – so more stuff for the charity shop, woo hoo, I am on a roll here

So I continued on going through our home and the amount of bin liners that I have used, I have lost count of to be honest but I got through a fair few let me tell you.

The only room I have not touched is the kitchen and to be honest most of the items in there I use and/or we need. I did go through the cupboars in here a few months ago and got rid of some saucepans and one or two frying pans but that is about all.

One more place left and that is the loft, so perhaps in November (when we will both possibly take some time off work), I will see if we can go through this storage space and get rid of stuff – I am sure there is tons of stuff up there that is no longer needed.

Do I feel good, Yep I sure do, it is so invigorating just going through room by room and just deciding to get rid of items. I have felt the pull to not throw one or two items out for sentimental reasons but I just decided that these particular items no longer had any place in our home and I really did not need them – so out they went.

So, DH’s car is full of bags to go to the charity shop and the garbage bin is overflowing with bags that no doubt will need to be dropped off at the dump this week too (a job for DH to do).

I can’t tell you how much better I feel knowing that our home is now  near enough a de-clutter zone (for want of a bettter expression). Each room I go into is tidy and on the verge of being minimalistic and it is wonderful. There is so much more space and freedom, well this how I see it – and I am going to make sure it stays this way.

The next thing on my de-clutter list is my computer which is not so bad as again, I have gone through the files a few months ago but it needs re-doing again.

I will be doing a post on (whilst we are on this subject ), de-cluttering the heart, another good topic I do believe.

For a long time now I have been cleaning my house throughout the week. Mondays I would clean the bathroom, hoover downstairs and wash floors. Tuesdays I would clean and hoover upstairs. Wednesdays I would clean the lounge. Thursdays I would hoover throughout downstairs and clean the kitchen and then Fridays would be spent cooking for Shabbat.

Now that I am working during the day, I have decided to change tactics. Not only this but we are supposed to do our preparation on the eve of Shabbat, (if anyone can find the scriptures in His Word regarding this as I don’t have my bible with me at present, this would be great).

So from n0w on preparation day in my house will be on the eve of Shabbat when I get home from work.  On this day, i will have a quick meal ready for my DH and I (that is if he isn’t going out to play golf then he will be gone by the time I get home). I can then set to and clean our home. I will also add here that it is just me in our household who celebrates Shabbat.

As well as all the normal chores such as hoovering, dusting, washing floors etc. The whole house will be cleaned, bins emptied, bedlinen changed and if I have time windows will be cleaned.

We also need to treat this as a special occasion and not complain that we are cleaning our home but we need to rejoice in the fact that we are preparing for Shabbat. We are preparing for spending time with our precious Abba, what a joy this is. What do you do when you know you have visitors coming to see you, you spend time in preparation making sure your home is cleaned and ready for your visitors – well this is exactly the same thing, we are preparing to spend time with YHWH as I have mentioned a couple of sentences ago.

The eve of Shabbat is also spent making challah but to be honest, as it is only me at home celebrating Shabbat, I can purchase Challah bread at our local supermarket so this will save preparation time and though this bread is a joy to make, I am  not sure I have the time to do this to be honest.

During the week or possibly Sundays, I will prepare Shabbat meals in advance as again on the eve of Shabbat, I simply won’t have time – so Praise YHWH for freezers

So this is my preparation day(s) in readiness for celebrating Shabbat.

When do you do your preparation for Shabbat?

Are the whole family involved in this?

When do you cook for Shabbat?

I have had a couple of requests for the fish pie that my DH made a few days ago. It is a brilliant recipe and this makes enough for four people to five people – depending on how large a portion you serve.  This goes well with green vegetables and/or a salad.

 Enjoy

Ingredients:

5 pieces of salmon

2 pieces smoked fish (such as haddock or cod)

1 large onion

3 medium carrots

5 medium/large mushrooms

A large handful of dill (chopped)

5 large potatoes (chopped small)

Salt and pepper

• Switch oven onto 180°
• Cut vegetables quite thinly and fry until soft and golden
• Meanwhile, cook the potatoes until soft
• Add cream to the mixture and  just cook through
• Add the chopped dill to the above  mixture and  then put to one side
• Cut up the fish into bite size chunks and put into the dish
• Cover with the vegetable and cream  mixture
• Drain water from potatoes and put pan on a very low heat and add some butter and  just leave for a couple of minutes to let the potatoes dry out a little (checking that potatoes are not burning)
• Take off  the heat and mash until soft and smooth
• Add milk to the mixture and stir through and add seasoning
• Place on top of fish mixture
• Cook for about 45 minutes  

Esther, sweet, soft, mellow inside

a sister of virtue, with nothing to hide

strong and secure in all that she does

a woman of grace & a heart filled with love

Esther, meaning a star full of hope

in all situations does more than just cope

beautiful inside and outside too

her love for you, so obvious, shines through

Esther, assertive and humble is she

a faithful servant of the highest degree

a woman of courage, born of strength

to protect her family, will go to all lengths

This sister so precious, so full of life

has come through trials, troubles, & strife

a great encourager, who puts herself last

her love for Jesus and people is vast

her heart so pure and open to you

this woman of substance, value & truth

full of character, she knows no bounds

so full of obedience, is steadfast and sound

Wife, Mother, Sister & Friend

who will stand by you, right to the end

A child of God, it is obvious to see

a Woman of Your Word, who is totally free

Copyright Page 2005

Wow, I can’t believe that we are now into the middle of Summer– my doesn’t time fly when you are having fun, or in this case busy, busy, busy! I seem to have lost track of time totally as of late, so hence, a lot of catching up to do here. With the rush of the days passing by, I seem to find it difficult putting pen to paper which is unusual for me to say the least. My brain is still working on overboard though with tons of ideas which keep flooding my poor head. Instead of writing these thoughts down on paper, which is what I should be doing, I carry on with the daily tasks in hand. It would be much better if I carried a small pocket notebook and pen around with me all day long – as then I would have no excuse whatsoever, would I!

Years ago, when I was travelling by coach up to London from home for work – I would always carry a notepad with me no matter what. This time of the morning used to be my favourite time of day when my “creative juices” would flow very easily. In the stillness of the early mornings (and we are talking 5 – 6am here), this would be my time, where I found it so easy to put pen to paper. There would be very little traffic on the roads until we hit the M3, then that was a different matter, fellow coach travellers would still be tired and therefore be asleep within half an hour of the coach’s journey and therefore, I could just sit back, relax and write – pure bliss.

As the years have gone by I have found that evenings are now my best time to sit, relax and yes, you have guessed it, write. I can be sitting reading a book or just relaxing with some music in the background when tons of ideas come to mind. I can even go to bed in the evenings and my head is sometimes still buzzing and/or some lyrics etc come into my head which I just have to jot down, but, more often than not this means getting up to go and get something to write on but, I have to say, I can’t always be bothered. Again, it would really help if I kept a pad and something to write with by my bed as I am sure you would agree!

I have always enjoyed being able to write. This is something that is so therapeutic, satisfying and at the end of the day rewarding.  Having the ability to just go with the flow of something YHWH has given me and/or ideas, thoughts –whatever; I really enjoy having the ability to do this. My father used to write songs, poems and limericks all the time and he had an amazing gift. His writings, used to be quite funny at times especially the limericks, oh, these were a hoot.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was constantly being encouraged to write in one form or another which was on the whole great. Like most children though, there were times when I much preferred doing something else, especially during the summer months where I would prefer to be outside with friends, like most children I guess!

I love this way of being able to express myself and I hope I don’t sound conceited here by the way, as this is the last thing I intend. This is one of the best ways in which I feel able to express myself and communicate what I am trying to say or get across, much more so than by any other means!

I have two bibles that I use, the first is The Complete Jewish Bible and the second is the AENT (The Aramaic English New Testament). Both bibles I have added colour codes for various references which make it easy for me to look up specific verses and/or subjects when I need them. This is so simple to do and trust me I would highly recommend doing this as your life will be made so much easier and simpler

 Here are pictures of my colour codes from both bibles:

At the bottom of the pages I have highlighted and occasionally on the side of the pages, I use the same colour to draw a line and write the reference next to it as you will see in this next picture:

The coloured pencils/markers I use are mostly specifically for bibles, but after I started running out of colours I use ordinary coloured pencils but with care. Some verses I have used a pen that has the basic four colours of red, green, blue and black – again, this is used with care.

The colour coded pages are not very clear, so here is a brief run down of what colours I use for different verses etc:

Yellow  - salvation/only way scriptures

Green  - wisdom/prosperity,special commands

Red  - caution, warning,command

Purple - tithing

Dark red - biblical womanhood

Orange - God’s Laws/Commandments

and other subjects I have used are: The Sabbath, Grace, Head Coverings,Prayer, End Times, Who Y’shua is and by now you kind of get the picture

I hope this makes sense but this is my wonderful colour coded system that I use . You can use any colours you like for any subjects, verses – it is totally up to you. If you decide to do something like this, have fun and enjoy

 It is so difficult to find modest clothing in any of today’s high street stores which is such a shame, especially for those who feel led by the Lord to wear more feminine and modest attire.  I realise there are quite a few sites on the internet that promote modest clothing but below is a list of a few modest clothing sites which have come highly recommended.

Please note that the following article is used with permission from Sovereign Grace Ministries. WhenI first read this article, I was very impressed by what I read and thought  this is an article  that heeds very good advice especially for women in the church today….

Modesty Check

 By

Carolyn Mahaney

Nicole Whitacre

Kristin Chesemore

Janelle Mahaney

 So, I’m ready to leave the house, but I still have to do a modesty check, What are some things that I should look for as I stand in front of the mirror?

 First, it’s time for a heart check….

“How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examineher motives and goals for the way she dresses.  Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? Or is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? Or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to lure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.” John MacArthur [emphasis added]

 What statement do my clothes make about my heart?

In choosing what clothes to wear today, whose attention do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking to please God or impress others?

Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control and respectable apparel, or does my dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination with sinful cultural values?

Who am I trying to identify with through my dress? Is the Word of God my standard or is it the latest fashion?

     Have I solicited the evaluation of other godly individuals regarding my wardrobe?

Does my clothing reveal an allegiance to the gospel or is there any contradiction between my profession of faith and my practice of godliness?

Starting at the top….

     When I am wearing a loose-fitting blouse or scoop-neck, can I see anything when I leave over? If so, I need to remember to place my hand against my neckline when I bend down.

     A word on purse straps: How could a purse possibly be a modesty concern? When you’re wearing the strap across your chest. Regardless of the shirt you’ve got on this accentuates your chest and creates a temptation for men (I am going to add here, this also applies to seatbelts!)

     If I am wearing a button-down top, I need to turn sideways and move around to see if there are any gaping holes that expose my chest.  If there are, I’ve got to grab the sewing box and pin between the buttons.

   The same check is needed if I am wearing sleeveless.  When I move around can I see my bra? If I do, I need the pins again!

     Am I wearing a spaghetti-strap, halter-top or see-through blouse? Not even pins will fix this problem! Most guys find these very unhelpful. It’s time to go back to the closet.

     Can I see the lace or seam of my bra through my shirt? In this case, seamless bras are a better option.

     One final shirt check: Does it reveal any part of my cleavage? Does my midriff show when I raise my hands above my head? Is my shirt just plain too tight? If the answer is “yes” to any one of these questions, then I need to change my outfit.

“….Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty  and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness-with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Moving on down….

     Does my midriff (or underwear) show when I bend over or lift my hands? If so, is it because my skirt or my pants are too low? Either my shirt needs to be longer or I need to find a skirt or pants that sit higher.

     I also have to turn around to see if what I’m wearing is too tight around my derriere, or if the outline of my underwear shows.  If so, I know what I have to do! J

     And for my shorts –I can’t just check them standing up. I need to see how much they reveal when I sit down. If I see too much leg, I need a longer pair.

     The “sit-down” check applies to my skirt or dress as well.  And I must remember to keep my skirt pulled down and my knees together when I’m seated.

     And speaking of skirts, watch out for those slits! Does it reveal too much when I walk? Pins are also helpful here.

     Before I leave, I need to give my skirt a “sunlight check.” Is it see-through? If so I need a slip.

     Finally, I must remember to do this modesty check with my shoes on. High-heels make my dress or skirt appear shorter.

And don’t forget – this applies to formal wear as well.

A note on swimwear – the pool or beach.  Look for one-piece bathing suits that aren’t cut high on the leg or have a low neckline.

Copyright 2002 Sovereign Grace Ministries, Gaithersburg, MD. www.sovereigngraceministries.org

It has been a while since I posted an update on here – a fair amount has happened

First of all I would say that Spring is now here and guess what, no more snow, woo hoo . We have had fabulous weather over the past few days and it has been a delight to get the washing hung out in the garden and dried within a few hours. Tulips and daffodils have started emerging along with crocuses and other flowers – what a delight I just love this time of year which brings so much new life, way to go

I have been busy with spring cleaning our home and it feels so good to get this done. I have just a couple of kitchen cupboards to finish plus cleaning all the grout in both the kitchen and bathroom. So with the majority of the cleaning out of the way, I just need to go through my food cupboards next week and get rid of all grains, flour and vinegars before Passover – these foods I am giving to a neighbour to look after until after Passover.

I have also started planting vegetable seeds for the garden and these are sitting in seed boxes and pots on our kitchen windowsill. I have going at present, courgettes, carrots, cabbages, rocket, salad leaves, beetroot, peppers, tomatoes and runner beans. I also need to get some more seeds to include, pumpkin, nasturtiums, brussel sprouts, radishes, different tomatoes, basil, parsley, swede and parsnips. We will also be buying another victoria plum tree , raspberry canes, strawberry plants and a gooseberry bush to add to our collection. So do you think we might be busy in the garden this Spring, you betcha

Work is going fine and I am now working in the mornings at the same school – this is sometimes hard work especially when 3/4s of the cleaner’s English is somewhat limited but hey ho

I have not as yet got very far with the business side of things so I do need to do a lot more net working which I aim on doing next month and this will be made a priority

Biblically well I am on a really exciting journey. I have read through the complete Tanakh and now going through the B’rit Hadashah via the AENT (Aramaic English New Testament) and I could not recommend this highly enough – it will simply blow your mind away  I am learning so much about Yah and just love this wonderful and fabulous journey I am on.  I have started making more friends as well being able at last to get more fellowship with other believers. I still have so much to learn but I just can’t seem to get enough of studying and learning His Word which is the Word, way and truth of Yahweh – He is good all the time, all the time

Biz and Patch are doing ok though we are not sure if Patch has an ear infection at the moment. He seems quite down and keep shaking his head so if this continues we will need to take him to the vets which I am praying we won’t have to do. Patch is Patch and doesn’t change much and niether does Biz really, she is still very cute and cuddly

I have started going to the gym around 3 to 4 times a week and I have already started noticing the difference in the short space of time I have been going. I will also be cycling to work from Wednesday – so yet more exercise which will be great and help get those endorphins going

So I guess this is it at this present time. I am trying to see if I can post more often and besides which I need to start doing my menu planning again and getting this up on here on a weekly basis. I have cut costs before and know I can do it again and on the plus side visits to Costco helps us out big time – a truly amazing store

Well on that note I am going to go to sleep

I received this book a couple of weeks ago. This book is a definite must read and one (besides the Bible of course), I could not recommend highly enough. I read this book within two days.you have to get this for yourself and then you will fully understand where I am coming from. The author goes into great depth regarding the end times plus everything that is written is fully backed up by scripture. The content of this book is astounding and will possibly blow you away. Let me also tell you that if you don’t know who Yahweh (God) is, you certainly will by the time you have finished. Not only this but you will also come to realise who Yeshua (“Jesus” is) and that He came to us as our FINAL SIN SACRIFICE, He gave His life for us, isn’t this just amazing and awesome

I would without a doubt say that everyone needs a copy of this book and why? because we will learn how to survive the end times and we are told what we need to do in order to survive these times that we are living in – there is no getting away from the fact that one day, the earth as we know it is going to end. YOU need to find out where you are going and trust me you need to know. Secondly, you need to get yourself in order with Yahweh so that you can survive these times and be fully equipped. Just think that one day you at the place where you can be with Yahweh for eternity – this would be awesome.

Carmen is a fantastic author and does not mince her words by any means. She gets straight to the point. There is some humour in this book too and a couple of places where I just had to smile. Believe you me, once you start reading, you will not be able to put this book down. This will make you hunger and thirst more for Yahweh’s (God’s) Word and to the point that you will make sure you do everything possible to get your relationship right with Yahweh. You will do everything you can to choose right over wrong and to live the lifestyle that we are commanded to live from Yahweh’s Word.

So what are you waiting for

Shalom and blessings

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