Your favorite cleaning product? Do you clean your own house or hire
out? Most disliked household chore? What one chore do you not mind so
much?
Dollar Tree sells a cleaner call LA's Totally Awesome All-Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser. It's really effective for cleaning most things in my kitchen. I'm trying not to laugh about the "hiring out" question. I live in a one bedroom apartment. Even after I move into the house of my dreams, I don't think my conscience would let me hire cleaning help. My mother was a housekeeper. If she could clean someone else's house while keeping her own home in immaculate condition, surely I (who have no kids, husband, or pets to make a mess) should be able to clean my own.
My most disliked chore is dusting. Because of Colorado's arid climate, dust, grime, and ash from wildfire smoke seems to never go away. Also, I've never found a satisfactory way to dust without taking everything off of shelves, dusting the shelves, then putting everything back. One chore I don't mind is washing dishes. Yes, I have a dishwasher, however, I frequently hand wash my dishes since the loads are usually not large enough to run the dishwasher. Now, when I do a lot of cooking, or get into a multi day project and don't have time--or don't feel like--washing the dishes, I will run them through the dishwasher. Second to that, I don't mind vacuuming.
It's Canned Food Month...do you use a
lot of canned goods? What are the three canned items you purchase most
often? Last thing you made using a canned ingredient?
It's always Canned Food Month at my house. The three canned items I buy most often are sliced black olives, stewed tomatoes, and beans. The last thing I made completely out of canned goods was when I made vegetable soup in the Crock Pot last weekend.
Can of worms, anything can happen, can you imagine?, as best I can,
kick the can down the road, more than one can take, no can do, not if I
can help it...choose an idiom and tell us how you currently relate.
More than I can take. I know that we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this pandemic, but the government-mandated solitary confinement is riding me hard.
The
last Tuesday in February is National Spa Day. Are you someone who
enjoys a day at the spa? Last time you visited a spa? Do you have a
favorite spa? Are salons open for business in your area? Have you made
changes to your hair and nail routine since Corona hit? In what way?
I've never been to a spa (Dave Ramsey says no!). I hope to go some day and get the full treatment. The only change to my routine is that I don't get someone else to cut my hair anymore. I have no idea if the salons or spas are open here in Colorado.
OK, I'm depressed now...Let's cheer up.
Believe it or not this is the last Hodgepodge of the month. In one sentence sum up your February.
Insert your own random thought here.
In case you're interested:
* My latest Five Minute Friday Post, "Once," is here. * My latest Auntie's Workshop post "Get 'er Done Art Challenge: Round Two, Phase Two" is here. * My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post "A Better Normal" is here. * My latest book review in my 2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge is here.
Category: Glorious reread...sort of. Several years ago, our Bible study group discussed and prayed through only select passages in this book. This is the first time I've read the book from cover to cover.
Synopsis: While many Christians see Ephesians 6:13-17 as all the pieces of the Armor of God, they ignore verse 18, "Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints" (KJV). Using various scripture passages, Moore assists the reader in completing their arsenal with prayer against various sins, shortcomings, and attacks of the enemy. She also presents encouragement, testimonies, and examples from various authors as well as from her own life.
Select Favorite Quotes:
A stronghold is anything that exalts itself in our minds "pretending" to be bigger or more powerful than our God. It steals much of our focus and causes us to feel overpowered. Controlled. Mastered. (p. 3)
Why does God allow us to spend so much of life in the heat of battle? Because He never meant for us to sip His Spirit like a proper cup of tea. He meant for us to hold our sweating heads over the fountain and lap up His life with unquenchable thirst. (p. 22)
How do you overcome rejection? By applying large doses of God's love to your wounded heart daily and by allowing Him to renew your mind until the rejected thinks like the accepted. (p. 93)
One of God's primary purposes for the Church is for her to be a welcoming place of restoration and recovery for all who desire to be freed from the captivity of sin. Homophobia is the last thing I'm suggesting for the Church; however, our current unwillingness to admit the problem, embrace the repentant, and aid in biblical restoration--all symptomatic of homophobia--has left many vulnerable to evil than helpful to the captive. - (p. 235)
To topple the "stronghold of our experiences" we must "let God be found true, though every man be found a liar" (Rom. 3:4, NASB). Te only One who has a right to shape our lives is Jesus Christ. We must determine to allow nothing and no one to shape us, n ot even our personal experiences, unless they are consistent with the promises of God. In truth, who is ruling our lives, God our our experiences? - Francis Frangipane, (p. 261)
Leap up at the sound of this promise! Believe it. Let is go down into your souls. "The Lord looseth the prisoners" (Ps. 146:7, KJV). He has come to loose you. I can see my Master arrayed in His silk garments. His countenance if as joyous as heaven., His face is as bright as a morning without clouds, and in His hand He holds a silver key. "Where are you going, my Master, with that silver key of Yours?" I ask. "I go," He says, "to open the door of the captive and to loosen everyone who is bound." Blessed Master fulfill Your errand....! - Charles Spurgeon (p. 263)
The Positive:
Though she presents a plethora of scriptural prayer examples, Mooredoesn't do the readers' homework for them. She encourages the reader to search and study the Scriptures to formulate his own Bible-based prayers.
This book is not written just for women. Yes, Moore is female and some of what she shares will be from the female prospective. However, men interested in enhancing their prayer lives will also greatly benefit from this book.
The Negative:
One of my biggest complaints about any book of this type is an author's lack of authenticity. I'm annoyed when a writer does not put something of himself in a work. While Moore does share bits of her story of deliverance, she is too vague. While saying "If my story could help you, it would be worth whatever disparaging thoughts someone could think of me" (p. 257), she was excessively ambiguous with her sharing. While sharing all the explicit details is not needed--and none of my business--she danced around the issues too much. She hinted at things only to pull back as if still trying to hide them. She would give elements of her testimony, but then relegate them to someone else. This was not helpful and made her seem to be putting herself on the very pedestal she didn't want to be associated with--as if she were too good to share her true self with the reader.
Conclusion:
I would recommend this volume to both the novice Christian who is new to praying the Scriptures and the well-seasoned believer who needs encouragement or a refresher. I pulled many prayers from the chapters and wrote some of my own to pray. I'm quite sure I will read and refer to this tome again.
This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the
beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us
more.Yes, this year I am reading a devotional for Lent and focusing on the meaning of this season. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? No, I didn't grow up in church. Is attending church part of
your weekly routine? Yes. Are churches open for in-person worship where you
live?
Yes, we are open to in-person worship with limited capacity in keeping with the rules of the county health department and CDC guidelines 😷. And thank God we are. We were closed and doing online worship for several months. If you've read my blog posts from last year, you know that it did not go well for me. Online church is a great option when you can't attend due to illness or weather, but I would not want to do that long term.
When is the last time you sat beside a
'real' fire? Last year, I went to a church retreat at the Hideaway Retreat Center in Colorado Springs. Their dining area had a real fireplace that burned real logs, not gas. It was nice. Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? No. Favorite thing cooked over a fire?Does barbecue count?
Something that's currently got you fired up? This song.
Yes, I know I'm sharing a lot of music in this post, but I've been on an old school Christian music binge lately, and Petra has been at the top of the playlist. This one will get you ready for worship for sure.
February 17th also happens to be National Cabbage Day. Who knew? Do you like
cabbage? Is cabbage on your menu Wednesday? Of the following cabbage
dishes which is your favorite-coleslaw (mayo or vinegar?), sauerkraut,
cabbage rolls, cabbage soup, kielbasa and cabbage, grilled cabbage,
bubble and squeak, kimchi, or haluski?
Cabbage is a take it or leave it food for me. I don't hate it, but I don't just love it either. I like coleslaw, the salad mixes that include cabbage, and as a kid I liked my mom's cooked cabbage. I used to put sauerkraut on hot dogs, but haven't done that for years. I've not really had any of the other cabbage dishes listed. So, I guess I'm not that big into cabbage.
Do you hang on to pennies? What do you do with them? Last thing you purchased for $1.00? Last thing you purchased for $5.00?
Oh yes. I got that from my parents. I hang on to pennies and other coins throughout the year, roll them, then either cash or deposit them at the bank. Sometimes I purchase something with the savings or just leave them in the bank. The last thing I purchased for $1.00 was cleaning supplies--I shop at the Dollar Tree on a regular basis. The last $5.00 item I purchased was probably a fast food meal somewhere.
Insert your own random thought here.
An icon in Christian music and one of my absolute favorites has gone to his heavenly reward. Carman passed away yesterday at 65. His "Radically Saved" tour was the first concert I ever attended and I've listened to his music ever since. Though it's hard to pick just one, this has to be my all time favorite song of his.
In case you're interested:* My latest Five Minute Friday Post, "Once," is here. * My latest Auntie's Workshop post Get 'er Done Art Challenge: Round Two, Phase Two" is here. * My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post "A Better Normal" is here. * My 2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge is here.
"You're once, twice, three times a lady." Once in a lifetime. Once Again (great praise song by Johnathan Stockstil and Bethany Praise--see below)
I once had this album...well cassette. I first heard of Jerome Olds in 1989 when I was at a youth retreat in Montgomery, Alabama, but couldn't buy the cassette until I saw him again in Panama City Beach, Florida in 1992 when I was participating in Campus Outreach's Summer Beach project.
Well, why didn't you buy the CD? Because I was a broke college student who couldn't afford a CD player at the time. Is that OK with you?
Anyway...
The day my tape recorder ate this cassette (which was more than 25 years later, I might add) was a devastating day for me. Not only were there songs on this particular compilation that are not available on any of his available CDs, but the album itself holds great memories for me. Mr. Olds didn't realize how God used him in my life. During the youth retreat, he took to time to minister to and pray for me. He opened up James, chapter 1 and explained perseverance to the fullest extent a tired, lonely, angry 17 year old could receive. That encounter got me through college. Even in the years I was away from God, I would still play that tape and remember.
Even today I still cannot find this on CD (they once existed). I've tried every music service I can think of. I even had a friend in Georgia try to find the church where Mr. Olds used to be the worship minister in hopes that they had the CD. No luck. If you know Jerome Olds, or ARE Jerome Olds (not sure if the Facebook and Twitter pages I @'ed are really him) and have access to this CD or mp3 album (I don't have a cassette player anymore), I'm willing to pay a REASONABLE price for it. Just contact me through Facebook messenger or auntiesworkshop@outlook.com. Please and thank you.
I'm enjoying a little more time. I just finished up nearly 18 months of intensive theological study. My evenings and weekends are now freed up for first rest, then artistic and other pursuits. The study was well worth it, but I'm hoping that the wider time margins will enable me to devote more time to serving at my church. I don't like just showing up, listening to sermons, and donating money; I like involvement.
Red roses or
pink peonies? Both. Red wine or pink lemonade? Pink lemonade. Red lipstick or pink polish? Yes. A
cotton candy colored sky or a fiery red sunset? Both are gorgeous. A book-movie-song you
love with the word red or pink in it's title? I think the word love is a little strong, but the first thing I thought of was the song "Little Red Corvette" by Prince. What?
What's something you currently have your heart set on doing-going-seeing-or experiencing?
When all the Covid crazy is finally done with enough for people to come out and play and budget allows, I've got my heart set on going home for a visit. I know I've said it before, but I'm ready to go home again for fun, not funerals. Even if JSU doesn't have the Marching Southerners reunion, I still want to go home and see everyone, go to all of the haunts, and eat my way up and down Alabama highway 21.
Who would you most like to have a heart to heart with right now? Is that possible?
I'm not sure it's possible, but I wish I could have a heart to heart with our Executive Pastor, Doug. He's a couple of years older than I and like me, he's never been married, so he's the only one of our pastors who truly understands. I want to know what his experience has been. As frustrating as my experience with church people has been concerning my marital state, I'm sure him being part of the pastoral staff of a large church is much worse. I wish we could compare notes (and gripes) and that I could get advice from him on how to handle possible hurdles to ministry I might face. Plus, I want him to know that even if our experiences may differ, I understand and am in his corner. I'm not sure if it's possible since he is male. I'm not sure what the pastoral counseling rules are at my church. Some churches do not allow male pastors to counsel with women alone and vice versa (which I completely understand and am in agreement with). Some churches do not allow it at all (which I understand, but don't agree with. But I'm not the problem; other people who don't know how to act are).
Write an acrostic for the word L-O-V-E.
Love Overcomes Vitriol Every time
Insert your own random thought here.
In case you're interested:
* My latest Five Minute Friday Post, "Design," is here. * My latest Auntie's Workshop post Get 'er Done Art Challenge: Round Two, Phase One" is here. * My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post "A Better Normal" is here. * My 2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge is here.
I'm going to cheat a little a lot on this weeks hodgepodge. I started not to post at all because I felt my answers were too short and boring. So, rather than give short boring answers to Miss Joyce's questions, I'll just tell you what's in my heart. I hope that's ok Miss Joyce.
The first question asked was "Feb 2nd is Groundhog Day in the US of A. Tell us about one day you wouldn't mind living over again, and why you chose that day." My answer is that there's not really one specific day I would want to relive. Any day that I'm with people who love me laughing, being creative, or making music is a day worth reliving.
After the pandemic restrictions lift (whenever the heck that is) I may be able to find more opportunities to be creative or play music in community. However, I just came to a horrible realization today. Some of you know that I've been in the throws of an intense theological study program for the past 18 months. It ends Sunday. Though I'm glad it's over and my evenings and weekends will be freed up, my first thought was, "Now what am I going to do?" I made it through the holidays and most of the quarantine because I was so busy. Sure, I can catch up on things I had to put on hold, but as I've said before; I can only read so many books, watch so many YouTube videos and paint so many paintings before the loneliness and depression creep in again.
I love y'all, but all of you introverts can have a Coke and a smile right now. You have spouses, kids, parents, roommates, partners, shawtys, or side pieces at your house and quite frankly, I'm sick of hearing you lie about how this has been so wonderful since you don't have to deal with people. You have built in community at home. I'm an ambivert who needs a balance of people time and solitude. I've had enough alone time to make Superman's Fortress of Solitude look like a crack house. So I'm more than overdue for a better normal. Any of you who are willing to be truthful are ready too.
I'll see y'all next time, Lord willing. I'm going to bed.
