Making Life Simpler-Meal planning

I have said it before, and I will say it again, as it is astounding the number of people who do not plan their meals.
Having a large family makes everything that little bit more challenging, and meals are no exception. Soooo, if you really want to make life easier, plan.
I didn't always plan, and that meant that it was a struggle sometimes when having to prepare dinner, and procrastinating about what to cook. This takes away valuable time, especially if you are anything like me. I will outline what has helped me over the years:
1) Plan meals a week, or a month ahead-
Now I like variety, so I make sure we don't have the same meals every week. I like to ensure we have 4 red meat meals, at least one non meat meal, fish, then chicken once a fortnight. Here is my plan for march:
sunday 1st-Beef casserole
Monday 2nd-Pasta bake (with salmon)
Tues 3rd-Chicken
Weds 4th- Chicken stew
Thurs 5th- Takeaway
Fri 6th- Bolognaise
Sat 7th- Fish battered with oven chips
Sun 8th- Roast lamb
Mon 9th- lentil soup and garlic bread (home made)
Tues 10th- meat loaf
Weds 11th- Egg, chips, and beans
Thurs 12th- Beef curry and rice
Fri 13th- Mexican tortillas
Sat 14th- Fish in butter sauce with potatoes
Sun 15th- Beef casserole
Mon 16th- Beef sausages and mash
Tues 17th- Roast chicken
Weds 18th-Chicken stew
Thurs 19th-Beef pie, and mash
Fri 20th- Home made pizza
Sat 21st-Shepherd's pie
Sun 22nd-Roast lamb
Mon 23rd- Quiche with savoury rice.
Tues 24th-Lasagne
Weds 25th- Lentil soup, and garlic bread. (Home made)
Thurs 26th Beef stir fry with noodles
Fri 27th- Fish pie (home made)
Sat 28th- Beef ghoulash
Sun 29th- Beef casserole
Mon 30th- Wild salmon and rice
Tues 31st- Beef curry

Once I have my basic plan, I then know what I have to buy. However, I leave flexibility to plan for offers, and I check the offers online. January was good for stocking up on good quality mince, February had a lot of fish offers. This month it is flours. Once you have your menu plan, you can form a shopping list. I rarely waste any food, as I make sure I plan well, and what we know we can't use we freeze. Also buy frozen veg/fruit for cooking, and it won't be wasted.
Milk can be a tricky one, however, I calculate we use 8 pints a day, so I times that by the number of days till my next shop. I then add an extra 4-6 pints in just in case!
When I didn't plan, I remember having spaghetti bolognaise twice in one week, without even realising! Needless to say we have it once every 3 weeks, now.
A very helpful tip, I have found, is to make sure you have a few emergency quick meals, so you can prepare very quickly. As life doesn't always go to plan! I find bolognaise is a very easy meal to whip up quick, no peeling, just make sure you have the cook from frozen mince. I always buy the leanest, as it is lower in fat, tastier, and contains more protein. Please feel free to leave any comments, tips, ideas you have found helpful.

Reflections From Gurnall

''This is indeed makes it easy for Christ's sheep to be infected with the scab of error, because that weed which breeds the rot is so like the grass that nourisheth them.'' William Gurnall-The Christian in Complete Armour.

Interesting quote, and highlights how we can so easily be lead astray! I confess to at times being overly zealous, and maybe misconstruing things. However, no complacency. Sheep don't seem to know what is good for them, and will even eat poisonous weeds, which is why as farmers we have to be especially dilligent, and watch for them. I have found, once they are allowed to take root, they spread like wildfire! Deadly too, if the sheep eat them.
Gurnall talks about people being lead astray by sincere folks, they even say, and preach a whole barrel of truth. However, pepper it with an error, and you have poisoned the lot. I have heard of hay being contaminated with just a little poison, and killing cattle. All it takes!
Probably the most disturbing part of all, Satan will use our close family, friends to get to us. He cites Abraham tempting his wife to lie. Watch!!
Watch also for those things we are inclined to, whatever they may be. Often, they will be areas of complacency, and Satan will seek to get in. '' Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:'' 1 pet 5:8

Spring again!
I love the colours, the extra warmth, the extra light.......

New life!

''Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.'' Jam 1:17

Contentment

There's nowt like encouraging books, and Sally Clarkson always encourages me, even though I don't always think I need any encouragement. One of her recent quotes struck home to me:
''We do not always need what we think we do in order to be happy; rather, God's ways lead to contentment.''
This is so true. Over the years I have realised this truth. So many of us, especially in times of discouragement will ask why, and why theirs/our circumstances are so different. If only we had what others seem to have. Whatever that happens to be. Children, house, situation, location, material things......etc, the list goes on. Maybe even, Oh, if only I was as patient as such and such, or as happy go lucky.
The thing is, as in the last post, I mentioned faith, and trust in God, and that He forces us to exercise our spiritual muscles in order to grow. Every one of us has different needs, strengths, weaknesses, so what God does for us, will not look like the way He deals with our best friend, Christian neighbour, whoever. God didn't design us all the same, as we are meant to compliment each other, as a body of believers, not only in the church visible, but the church invisible.
The only way we are going to be content in this life is to passionately seek the Lord and his will for OUR lives, and to follow it, while seeking the Lord in prayer as often as possible, reading and studying his word. Remembering the only one who we please is God. Yes, others will sometimes try to discourage us, even when we are following the Lord. We need to bear this in mind with how we treat others, as yes, it is right to admonish at times, but often people will admonish in criticism, and not Biblically, and constructive. Also, our ''giants'' are nothing to God, and sometimes they are from the devil to discourage us. Being a realist, it is amazingly easy for me to succumb to this!
Yes, I would recommend Sally's latest book, ''own your Own Life.'' I downloaded for Kindle. I am currently around half way through it.

Trusting God

Why is it so hard sometimes to trust in the Lord, to not lean on our own understanding, and to not worry about things which may, or may not happen?
I think also, that some areas are easier than others. People will probably differ on which area they find easier.
However, if we really want to loose unnecessary burdens, we need to trust him in every area of our lives.
I am reading, 'The Christian in complete Armour,' again, by William Gurnall. I had the book given to me by my husband on our second Christmas together, our first as three, as our first daughter was only a few months old. Never managed to read it all the way through, so starting again. At the beginning he gives some very helpful, and very chewy insights on trusting God. Here are some of the gleanings:

The most important, is that we are regenerated, that is true believers, as he quotes, ''The state of unregeneracy is a state of impotency.''
What does it mean to be strong in the Lord, and trusting in him?
1) A settled, firm persuasion that the Lord is almighty in power.
2) That the almighty power of God is engaged to bear up in trials, and temptations undauntedly. Leaning on the arm of God as if it were our strength.
How can we strengthen ourselves in faith? By reading God's word, praying to Him, really seeking to understand the whole counsel of God. We shouldn't be leaving this to our Pastors, it is every Christian's duty.
Sometimes it can feel that God is afar off. However, Gurnall gives the illustration of a child, who is not yet walking, but the mum encourages him to walk to her, and stands back. He may fall, and stumble, but it is part of the learning process.
Thus, if we are given too much by God, it can tempt us to pride, and God wants us to be dependent on Him, not boastful about what we have supposedly done! Think Peter, he ran into the mouth of temptation, bearing himself up on the confidence of his grace received.

When Satan accuses us, we can say it is God who justifies. When we feel our burdens too heavy, we should run straight to God. ''Rely upon God, and make daily application to the throne of grace for continual supplies of strength.'' When Jacob wrestled, it was considered his strength.
He warns against running to a person, or a thing for encouragement. So true! Even if the person is Godly, we need to seek the Lord, and His counsel first! Do we sometimes try to find comfort in things? It is so easy to do that, and just what the devil intends us to do!
''Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.'' Eph 6:11
The armour is Christ, and to be without Christ, is to be without armour. Are we being fooled by the world's promise of protection?
I strongly recommend reading the book yourself. It is encouraging, but very meaty, so you can't read a lot in one go.

Dirty Washing Poem

Dirty washing is a chore.
All that washing on the floor.
Skid marked pants and blackened socks.
Shall I chance the weathered crocs?

Pop it in the tub with nuts.
No, I don't want any buts.
Watch it dance, watch it swirl.
Then it does its final whirl.

Hang it on the line and sniff.
Nope, not a single, smelly whiff.
Lavender, and scents galore,
the warming sun.
Ah, back for more!!

Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good

''Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,'' is the Bible verse for this month's calendar, and reminds me that God is always good, all of the time. We should be thankful.
Thankfulness has been lost in today's society, rather more a, 'what can I get?' attitude.
Many say How can a loving God send people to hell, or how can a loving God do this to me, or allow that? The fact is, God doesn't send anyone to hell. He is not willing that any perish. (2pet 3:9) we are on an automatic ticket to hell for rejecting God. He is a holy God, and that is why Jesus died, becoming an advocate, and taking the due reward which WE deserved. Sin came into the world through Adam, and corrupted mankind. The only remedy is repentance and faith in Christ. Bad things happen to everyone, it is part of nature, however, if we are Christians, all things will work together for good,even if they seem bad at the time unless of course we being sinful, then the Lord WILL correct us. That gives us a cause to rejoice, even trials. Without trials, we would stagnate. Trials work by exercising spiritual muscle, and you know what happens to muscles that are neglected. They become flabby, and weak. There is a danger of them becoming absolutely useless, unless they are in use.

This month, I am thankful for a new study Bible, it is the Reformation Heritage Study Bible KJV.(the Joel Beeke one) What is great about it, is it isn't just a good bible to read, and study, every chapter has a reflection for personal, and family devotions. Hence making it very valuable in using with the children. I have started reading through the whole Bible with them. It may take some time though! However, a great start. The more difficult words are explained in the footnotes, and there is a complete section on church history, creeds, and confessions, including the 1689 Baptist confession of faith, which we adhere to. All in all an excellent tool.