Five Lessons of Wisdom from Abigail by Guest Writer Darlene Schacht

I’ve been reading much about wisdom these days. It’s mentioned about 45 times (depending on the version) in the book of Proverbs alone.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
~ Proverbs 4:5-7, NIV

When God sends a message that clearly, I sit up and take note. “What now, Lord?” I ponder. “How can I apply wisdom to my ministry?” (That ministry being a loving wife to my husband, a leader of four children and keeper of our home).

Looking to the Greek translation for clarification on wisdom, we find “sophia,” which is why we see words like philosophy, a combination of “philo” (brotherly love) and “sofia.” The shortened version of the word (wise) can be found in sophisticated and sophomore. Ever wonder why some teeth are called “wisdom teeth?” It’s because we get them at the onset of maturity.

Dictionary.com defines wisdom this way: Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity [level headedness], discernment, or insight.

Throughout scripture, wisdom and understanding are found hand in hand. Wisdom is the fear of the Lord, while understanding is that wisdom in practice.

“How can I apply wisdom to my ministry, Lord?”

In silent reverence I wait until I feel His guidance lead through a whisper, “Seek Me until My truth is living, moving, and breathing in your home; until the righteousness of My Word is coupled with each step you take; and until My wisdom exceeds your desire. That’s what you’re called to do.”

Looking to His word for example I find Abigail in 1 Samuel chapter 25. Abigail was the wife of Nabal, and while she was a woman of good understanding and beauty, the Bible describes him as churlish. In other words, he was rude, impolite, hot-headed and lacked the wisdom his wife had.

In verses 7 and 16 we see that David had protected Nabal’s shepherds and was now asking for a reasonable favor in return: that Nabal would give them provisions when they arrived.

Nabal was rich, and so it certainly wouldn’t have been any trouble for him to comply, but instead of being wise and generous, he chose to be rude, which only provoked David to fight.

Gathering an army of 400 men, David set out to destroy Nabal’s household, and had it not been for the wisdom of one woman he would have.

Recognizing that David was a servant of the Lord, Abigail sent a generous gift to David, and with that gift she humbled herself at his feet pleading for the life of her husband. She didn’t deny that Nabal was ill-mannered or rude, but she sought grace on his behalf.

In this beautiful love story, we see that David granted her that grace, and within ten days God took the life of Nabal, and rewarded Abigail with her freedom.

Where did that freedom lead her? Into the arms of David, a valiant soldier and soon-to-be king.

Through Abigail’s example, we see the cycle of wisdom in action:

• She realized that David was a holy man and what his God was capable of. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

• She avoided conflict. “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).

• She worked quietly to resolve the problem.
  “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards” (Proverbs 29:11).

• She put her understanding into action and offered a gift to David.
  “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Proverbs 10:5).

• She reaped the rewards that come to those who are wise, when she became David’s wife.
  “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Proverbs 3:35)

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
www.timewarpwife.com

Darlene is an Evangelical Christian whose number one priority is to serve Jesus Christ in every area of her life. She started Time-Warp Wife in 2010 out of a place of grace, with a passion to encourage women in their marriages.

She and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 25 years, they have four children (three still at home), a bird and two pugs who are everyone’s babies, especially hers! Their lives are basically surrounded with three things: faith, music and everything books. She’s an award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.

Check out her newest book: The Virtuous Wife of a Christ-Centered Life. Join the community of over 160,000 women on facebook. Send Darlene a tweet or two, and check out her boards on Pinterest.

Click here to go straight to Darlene’s articles

Living On A Dime - Holiday Cleaning - Preparing Now For The Holidays

Living On A Dime - Keeping It Clean E-Book Series - Get It Now For 50% Off The Regular Price

Holiday Cleaning - Preparing Now For The Holidays
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Halloween is over, which means it is now officially time to kick it into gear to get ready for the holidays and to get your house ready for company. It really helps to get your house in order now because if unexpected company comes you won't get caught off guard. Then you can concentrate on baking, finding gifts and organizing activities without having to worry about deep cleaning your house again until after the New Year.
Hopefully by now you have been inspired to start getting things done a little at a time so this won't be too big of a job. Here are a few things to work on:

• Get your closets in order. Put summer clothes away and take winter clothes out, tossing as you go.
• Don't forget your linen closets. Get your guest towels, sheets and extra blankets aired out and put the linens in a handy spot so they are easy to grab when you need them.
• If you have a guest room, get it cleaned and prepare everything for your first guests.
• Get your holiday linens prepared. Wash them if necessary and make sure they're ready to go.
• Hopefully you have cleaned your pantry. Now you need to make sure it is stocked with everything you need for your holiday recipes, for some quick and easy to fix snacks and dinners for unexpected company or food to take to social events.
• Make sure your fridge and freezer are in order. The refrigerator and freezer are going to work overtime for you over the next couple of months so make sure they're cleaned, organized and prepared.
• I don't worry about cleaning my oven at this time. I use it so much for baking that it's silly for me to clean it right before having a baking fest. I usually wait and give it a good cleaning after the holidays. If it's really bad or you have company coming and it looks awful you may want to go ahead and clean it anyway.
• This week and next week is the time to do any deep cleaning that you don't want to have to mess with again until after the holidays-- things like washing your windows, deep cleaning rugs and carpets and dusting mirrors, picture frames, lampshades or ceiling fans.

If you have been keeping up with your cleaning you may not have to do any of these. Basically just clean your house enough for company. Then you'll know it's done and you will be prepared for the unexpected.
Part of the stress that comes at the holidays is the result of not being prepared, especially for the unexpected things that always seem to come up. Think of it like being prepared for a disaster. If I have a wood burning stove, firewood, lots of candles, blankets and food prepared, I am not too stressed if we lose power from an ice storm. If I wasn't at all prepared, I would be in a total panic if an ice storm hit.
If you are prepared, you have something you can whip up for company in just a few minutes or if the kids need treats for school, you have dough frozen and ready to be baked in the freezer. I'm not saying that I have everything prepared like Martha Stewart but I do try to have everything together enough so that I'm reasonably prepared for the unexpected. My idea of the perfect woman is a cross between Martha Stewart and Erma Bombeck! Some days I am more one than the other and on other days I totally miss the mark, but that's okay, because I tried. :-)
      -Jill

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com , sign up for our free Living On A Dime Newsletter and learn to save more!

Create Your Own 'Nutmeg Notes Kitchen Scrapbook' by Sandy Willoughby

Every once in awhile a post comes along that really sticks in my head...something that I've read that others have written about that sparks an idea of something that I would like to try or incorporate into my own life...something I want to learn how to do...or, in this case, something I want to make one day. 

This is a post that was first posted by my friend, Sandy, several years ago on her Nutmeg Notes site. Creating a 'Nutmeg Notes Kitchen Scrapbook' is something that I would someday like to create for myself, as well as one for each of my daughters and daughters-in-law.

I hope you enjoy reading Sandy's post as much as I did...

Dear Creative Ones by God's grace and gifts,

Have you ever been in awe over what goes on in a kitchen and/or dining room? There are so many things that transform from one fairly plain and simple "something" to a dish that feeds a family, a soup that soothes a weary soul, or a beverage that comforts with the warmth it gives.

Over the years, the Lord has just given me... as I've heard the same of with others...recipe after recipe thrown together that became instant favorites. He has shown me grand meals from a needy pantry, given me grace to offer a chair to a tired friend, relative, and stranger, and provided what I've needed to serve not only beverages and meals but hospitality and hope.

In an effort to preserve some of these recipes, sentimental moments, ideas, and creative gifts from God over the years, I have started many little kitchen notebooks. There have been notes jotted in spiral notebooks, papers punched and placed in three ring binders, folders filled until they became so stuffed I couldn't keep up with them, and more.

I finally think I know the best way to preserve these! I can make a Nutmeg Notes Scrapbook! I had already decided to change my Home Notes Journal into a scrap book and realized that one specifically for the kitchen and dining would be a great addition:)

It has dawned on me that not only would these books be a wonderful way to hand our family blessings down the line and for enjoyment by us as the years go by... but this might serve many a need in the long run. When someone asked: "Whatever happened to that recipe for.... ?" maybe it will be in one of those pages! If we are trying to remember the circumstances around a time God sent someone to our table over coffee that served like an angel... maybe they'll have been journaled right in our little (or huge) book!

(To finish reading Sandy's article, please, click HERE....)

An Excellent Article On Modesty

This is one of the best articles on modesty that I've ever read!

"Tell Her Mama!"

Brooke writes:

"As we walked from our car to the pool, our first time visiting this summer, she was walking out.


Young, fresh, beautiful, perky and scantily clad. Her suit was so revealing that my young son, just five, couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He had never seen something like this before and in his innocent, precious little voice he whispered to me, “Mama! She’s naked! You can see her privates! Tell her Mama!”

It took me a minute or two to figure out that he was actually concerned for her. He thought she didn’t realize her “privates” were hanging out and wanted to protect her...."


To finish reading the article "Tell Her Mama!", please visit Raising Homemakers by click HERE.

Muffin Basics - Guest Post

Muffin Basics
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Muffins are very easy to make. Mix the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and hand stir lightly. Usually, you only need to stir them about 12-15 times. The batter will be very lumpy but that is the way it should be. Muffins are one thing you don't want to over-mix. Pour them into greased muffin cups about 2/3 full. If you don't have enough batter to fill all of the cups in the pan, you can fill the empty ones with water if you like. I do this sometimes but not always.

• If you are adding nuts or fruit, mix them in with the dry ingredients before you add the liquids. This prevents them from all falling to the bottom of the muffin.
  
• Your muffins should come out with rounded tops and a light fluffy texture. If they don't, there could be a couple of things you are doing wrong:
  • Flat heavy muffins with tunnels may mean your oven temperature is too low.
  • If the muffin has a lopsided or misshapen peak, the oven temperature could be too high.
  • Knobs and peaks on top and long tunnels can also be caused by over-mixing.

Here is a basic muffin mix recipe from Dining on A Dime:
Basic Muffins
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
Mix ingredients together. Spoon into greased muffin cups, 2/3 full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 12-15 muffins.

Add these ingredients to a basic muffin mix to liven up your muffins:

• Bacon or Ham - Reduce sugar to 2 Tbsp. and add 1/2 cup chopped bacon or ham
  
• Blueberries - 1 cup
  
• Cherries or cranberries - 2/3 cup of cherries or cranberries, mixed with 2 Tbsp. of sugar first
  
• Dried fruit - 1/2 cup apricots, currants, peaches, figs, prunes, raisins or dates
  
• Nuts - 1/3 cup chopped
  
• Cheese - 1/2 cup grated cheese and 1/8 tsp. paprika
  
• Cornmeal - 1 cup cornmeal and 1 cup flour
• Whole wheat - 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup flour. This is especially good with crumbled bacon.
  The sky is the limit with what you can add to a muffin if you only have a hand full of many different things. For example a little leftover corn would be good in a cornmeal muffin, a few chocolate chips would spruce up lots of different muffins, etc.

      -Jill

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Poo Free- Homemade Shampoo Recipe From Jill Cooper of Living-On-A-Dime

(I have to admit...I was a little skeptical at first, but, after trying it out for myself last night, I am quite pleased with the results. I plan to continue and see how it goes after a week or two. If you decided to try it, let me know what you think! ~Rebecca)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poo Free - Homemade Shampoo Recipe
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Poo Free... Ahhh... I know that sounds strange doesn't it? This really isn't an article on what to do when constipated and I don't feel the urge to write on that subject at all. No, this has to do with shampoo.
Years ago, I mentioned in a post about how I had a great aunt who was about 90 years old and had never shampooed her hair and everyone was horrified at such a thought. Even when I mentioned that I only wash my hair twice a week they thought that was awful.
Well guess what? The latest new buzz phrase is "poo less hair". The people that talk about it think they have invented a new thing. They have "discovered" what my aunt knew almost 100 years ago - You don't need to use shampoo or soap to clean your hair.
Actually I have thought about trying it myself for quite a while and I'm not sure why I didn't just jump in and do it a long time ago. But I finally did and I love it.
No more shampoo or conditioner for me. I have been "poo free" for a couple of weeks and still can't get over how great my hair looks.
Now I can hear some of you saying, "No way. I have oily hair and have to wash it every day and need the shampoo to get rid of the oil." Please read on and consider what I am explaining.
I have very oily, fine, limp long hair. At times I have to deal with fuzzing and all kinds of weird things. To comb my hair out is a pain because of tangles. That is why I am so in awe.

How it Works
It works on the principle that the more oil is stripped from your hair the more oil your body will produce to replace it. It is a cycle. It works something like nursing a baby. The more you nurse the more milk you produce and when you stop all your milk goes away.
We have gotten into a shampooing frenzy, shampooing our hair every day to clean it, so we have started an awful "not good for our scalp" cycle with our bodies. Most shampoos are really bad about stripping the oils out of your hair, causing your body to produce more.
Guess what the number one selling hair product is on QVC (or home shopping network)? Wen. It is a "no shampoo" treatment for your hair. The price? Almost $35 for 16 oz. (about 2 cups) and for long hair you have to use 48 pumps of it. Do you know how expensive that is?
The treatment I'll share below does the same thing at a cost of about 3 cents for the same amount and you use significantly less of it.

What's The Worst that can Happen?
I asked myself, "Why did I put this off so long? What is the worst that can happen?" I might have oily hair for a week or so and have to wear my hair in a pony tail. It won't cost me a thing.

What do I have to Gain?
I will have healthier hair and save, in some cases, lots of money on shampoo, conditioner and hair products for the whole family. I am finding that I don't have to use any products like mousse or gel because my hair is holding its curl better. This means I will save by not having to use or buy other products and I'll also save time. Usually, within an hour, my hair would have lost all it's curl and if I was going someplace later I would have to curl it again, damaging my hair more.

I Did It.
I jumped in and did it. The only thing I regret is that I didn't do it years ago. Some people say their hair needed a 2-6 week adjustment period but I didn't need one, even with my oily hair. The first time I didn't use shampoo my hair looked even better than before. It combed out more easily with almost no tangles at all and it looked unbelievable. As I said, an added side bonus I hadn't expected is that it keeps the curl and style better than it did before, so I don't have to mess with it as much.
I am also going a little longer in between washing it and this is only after two weeks of doing this. I can't wait to see what it will be like after a couple of months. This has been one of those things that has changed my life. I know that it may sound silly but you know how having a bad hair day makes us ladies feel. I don't think I can ever have a bad hair day again!

What Do You Do?
There are different ways of doing this but I like to keep things simple so this is what I do. I also brush my hair before I start.

1. Mix 1 Tbsp. baking soda with 8 oz. hot water and stir or shake until well dissolved. You can use a funnel and put this in a container like a squirt bottle.
   
2. Mix 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar in 8 oz. water. Again mix and store in a squirt bottle.
   

Essentially, you just replace the baking soda mix for shampoo and vinegar for conditioner. Wet hair well, rub in some of the baking soda and mix into your scalp well. Rinse. Then squirt it with the vinegar mix, rub it in and rinse.
I have long hair and the 8 oz. lasted me about 4-5 washings. If you use the same proportions, you can mix a larger amount and keep in a larger bottle if you want.

Questions Answered
If your hair seems a little oily, only add the vinegar rinse to the ends of your hair. You could also use lemon juice instead of vinegar.
If you see a white residue, you may be using too much baking soda. The proportions I listed seem to be just right. Some people place the baking soda in their hand and make a paste to rub into the scalp but it is hard to get the right consistency and I think it is harder to distribute evenly on your scalp.
Some people have found after using this method for a while that they only have to rinse their hair with water because the ph and oil becomes so perfectly balanced. I haven't been using it long enough yet to know about that.
I know some of you have used regular or apple cider vinegar for a rinse and liked it, and I have too, but adding the soda for shampoo is wonderful.

In Closing
Try it and see. If you are still too afraid to do it, try it on your children or husband for a week or two and see what happens with their hair.
It isn't like you are investing large amounts of money or time into something. It is very simple. All I can say is I can never go back myself. My hair is so much more manageable and looks so good now that I don't want shampoo near my hair.
I hope you give it a try!
      -Jill

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. For more bath and beauty recipes, check out the Pretty for Pennies chapter in the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com


Kellam Media and Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 844, Andover, KS 67002, USA

COOKING TIPS TO SAVE YOU MONEY! From 'Living On A Dime's' Tawra Kellam

Cooking Tips To Save You Money!
by Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Need a quick cooking tip? Here are a bunch of little things you can do to save a lot of money in the kitchen!

• Put flour in an old spice bottle to use when flouring cake pans.
• Unsure what a Dutch oven is? It's just a 6-8 quart saucepan or large pot.
• Having leftovers again? Serve them by candlelight with tablecloths or place mats. A tablecloth and candles make even plain meals look special.
• This is an unexpected canape and a handy little finger food. Take your favorite cream cheese dip and roll about 1 teaspoon full into a ball. Press it between two walnut halves. Lay on a platter to serve.
• Save dry cereal odds and ends to add to your Chex mix when you make it.
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the fridge. It will keep much longer.
• When you have one hot dog, hamburger, sausage patty, or slice of ham left over, put it in a container in the freezer. Use these leftovers to make a meat lover's pizza or to add a little more zip to a regular frozen pizza.
• Add a few of your favorite spices to a frozen pizza or add extra cheese and toppings.

Mix and match any of these:

• Bread and honey butter. This is an old fashioned easy stand by. Place some soft, fresh bread on a plate and honey butter in a bowl for something that is good and couldn't be easier. (Make honey butter by mixing a little bit of honey into regular butter.)
• Sliced fruit of any kind. Cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, kiwi and others work well.
• Sliced veggies of any kind. Try tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots or celery.
• Sandwiches of every kind. You aren't committing a sin by serving your family easy sandwiches on a hot summer day. Combine them with fresh fruits or veggies and you've got a meal.
• Salads - Jello, fruit, veggie, pasta or potato salads make great summer fare.
• Desserts - Ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. Make it into floats, banana splits, brownie sundaes or regular sundaes, milk shakes, ice cream pie or ice cream sandwiches.
• If you have leftover brownies or cake, add a few pieces to the bottom of a dish and then top with pudding and whipped cream.
• Keep a bag or container in your freezer to store that 1 or 2 pieces of coffee cake, donuts or other baked goods that are sometimes left over (which doesn't happen often in my house ;-). Then when you get enough for your favorite bread pudding recipe (hopefully one that is in the Dining on a Dime Cookbook, use them instead of bread.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com


Kellam Media and Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 844, Andover, KS 67002, USA