DITL - Ramblings - Shabbat Shalom

We had a snowstorm come through overnight the other evening. I needed to tend to some early morning chores outside before I even got dressed for the day. I hoped out of bed and put on my robe, boots, gloves and hat to attend to the chores. It sounds strange, but fleece pajamas are warmer than regular clothing. It was only six degrees, and the wind chill was well below zero. 

I needed to check on a sick chicken, clear the snow from the solar panels and the porch. I made quick work of it. The wind cut like a knife. It was brutal. Unfortunately, the hen did not make it, so I also needed to dispose of her body away from the house. 

Later that night, the coyotes found the dead hen and were so loud that they woke us up from a sound sleep. They were rejoicing over their find and fighting each other for a much-needed meal. The cycle of life can be brutal sometimes. 

After nearly a week of being absent from the ranch, I had a mess from unpacking. A plethora of paperwork from the hospital. I took my studies with me, but I wasn't able to read one chapter of my new Inductive Study Bible. However, it was comforting that it was there with us. 

We are starting to get back into a new rhythm. The keyword being "new". Life can change in an instant without any warning. It is fragile and should be treated as such. We are grateful to God for His mercy and grace. 

We had a friend come to share a Sabbath meal with us. We had pan seared Ahi tuna steaks with quinoa, broccoli, sweet potatoes and salad. We played the game Quarkle. It was a nice evening. Our friend is a great blessing to us. 

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all

Philippians 1:3-4 NASB

Shabbat Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

 

Cost of Living - Gas Prices

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the price of gas. I had only two questions, could it actually be correct and can it drop below $2 a gallon? Apparently, I wasn't the only one curious about this. Unbeknownst to me, Number One Husband snapped this picture. Gas is still $2.75 in town. The city has better prices, but it is a long drive, so we rarely go.

We had an appointment in the city, so we filled up the tank and picked up a few groceries. I have sticker shock! We didn't pick up very much, but it was still $150. No meat, except for a package of lunchmeat. It was nearing 5 pm and I hadn't eaten a thing all day, so we grabbed lunchmeat to go with some Dave's Killer Bread. 

We had to get back up the mountain before a snowstorm hit, so eating out was not an option and is way more expensive for a one-time meal. For half the cost of eating fast food, we were able to get several meals out of our purchase. Our bodies are also thanking us for choosing the healthier option.

We also had to purchase a battery for our 4wd. This was an additional $150. Ouch! We were going to pick it up two weeks ago when catastrophe struck. All our plans are out the window for the foreseeable future. However, we are back home, and the snow is falling outside, and it is well with our souls. 

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

After the Sabbath...

We had a beautiful sunset right before the Sabbath ended. I could see it glowing through the cracks around the blinds and I had to check it out. It was gorgeous!

After the Sabbath, I usually have a nice pile of dishes to do and whatever other messes that need to be cleaned up.

This doesn't include the pans. I also added dishes from cleaning out the refrigerator. 

The rest of the house stays relatively clean, but the dishes stack up. I don't care for paper plates or bowls, so I just let them stack up. It took a while for me to learn to not let things bother me. I would see things that I wanted to do, and I'd catch myself not resting. I had to learn to rest, and it wasn't easy for me. Now, I may not even do the dishes until the next morning. 

We have had our share of difficult times in the last two weeks and looks like more difficult times are on the horizon. A Sabbath days' rest is most welcome in our home. It's a great time to let go and let God hit the reset button and prepare us to handle a new week. 

Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

  

Happy Thanksgiving...

 

We thank thee for our daily bread,
For faith by which the soul is fed,
For burdens given us to bear,
For help that lifts the heart's despair.

We thank thee, Lord, for eyes to see,
The truth that makes, and keeps us free:
For faults -- and for the strength to mend them,
For dreams -- and courage to defend them.

We have so much to thank thee for,
Dear Lord, we beg but one boon more:
Peace in the hearts of all men living,
Peace in the whole world on this Thanksgiving.

                                                             Thanksgiving prayer by Joseph Auslander

Life Can Be Hard...

I discovered that I had put on two different socks last night, this morning. It's been a rough week. Please be patient with me for a while. I am also asking for unspoken prayers for us. God knows...

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your trust in the Lord Yeshua and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you. In my prayers I keep asking 17 the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you will have full knowledge of him. 18 I pray that he will give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand the hope to which he has called you, what rich glories there are in the inheritance he has promised his people, 19 and how surpassingly great is his power working in us who trust him. It works with the same mighty strength he used 20 when he worked in the Messiah to raise him from the dead and seat him at his right hand in heaven,

Ephesians 15-20

I hope that all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving,

Mrs. Smith

Choosing My Next Bible Study - The New Inductive Study Bible

It is time for me to pick my next Bible study. I finished reading the entire Net Abide Bible sometime in July. I enjoyed this using this Bible to read the entire Bible. It took me a little over six months to finish it. I'm ready to delve deeper into the Word of God by using the New Inductive Study Bible.

One of the most in-depth studies that I have ever done was a Precepts study by Kay Arthur. It was on covenants. It was tough, but I learned a lot. I'm ready to study the entire Bible using the inductive study method created by Kay Arthur. Inductive Bible Study  

So, I ordered the NASB New Inductive Study Bible. I asked for this study Bible for my Birthday. Christianbook.com has them on sale right now. I chose the hardcover, because they last longer as far as wear and tear. I imagine that it will take anywhere from one to two or even three years to complete this study. There is a one and a three-year plan, but I will study at my own pace to get the most out of this method of studying. This Bible weighs 3 lbs. 6 ounces. It has 2,296 pages. It is not lightweight, and neither is the Inductive Study Method. There are no shortcuts. It is possible that I will end up reading the whole Bible three or more times before I complete the inductive study of the Bible. It is not a race, so I am not placing a timeline on myself. We all learn at different paces. I learn best by taking notes, so this type of study is right up my alley.

I am very excited to start my new journey into God's Word and to let Scripture interpret Scripture. I have already started preparing for this by learning about this method of studying the Bible. I was fortunate and found Kay Arthur's book on her inductive Bible study method at my local thrift store for free. It included the previous owner of the book struggles and commitment to STAND written inside the front cover. I have finished the book and watched several videos using this method. I have also practiced using Matthew chapter 2 that I printed out from Biblegateway.com. I am creating a symbol cheat sheet, and I have already purchased my colored pencils while I was in town last week.

There are many resources available and there are online and in-person groups meeting all over the world. Unfortunately, there is not a group close enough to me. Maybe I will start a group for my area one day. I miss leading and teaching other women, but this is where I am in my life right now. I am taking this opportunity of seclusion to grow and learn. 

When I receive my Bible in a week or so, I will review it on a future post and let you know my thoughts on the layout and instructions for the study within the Bible itself. I will also share what study helps that I have found helpful to me in this adventure. 

Blessings,

Mrs. Smith

$1 Meals - Chicken Stew

I really wanted some stew the other day, but I wanted to use chicken. I decided to make chicken stew the same way that I make beef stew, and it turned out wonderfully. Number One Husband really liked it and that says a lot. I also realized that it cost less $1 per meal, so I thought that I would share it with all of you.

A month or so ago, we found split chicken breasts on sale for .99 a package. Each package weighed around 5 pounds and had 4 breasts in each package. It was a great deal. We topped off our freezer for winter. 

Ingredients:

1 Split chicken breast, deboned (reserve bones for stock) .15

1 Large potato, cut into chunks .66

1 Large carrot, cut into chunks .15

1/4 Onion, chopped .25

1 Celery stalk, diced .10

1 Can diced tomatoes .75

Seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Bread .15 per slice

4 Cups chicken broth (homemade or use 4 bouillon cubes and 4 cups water) free if using homemade bone broth from scraps

Flour

Season salt

Garlic

Directions:

Remove skin and bones from chicken. Cut the chicken into chunks. Render fat from chicken skin. Place bones in 4 1/2 cups of water with washed peelings from vegetables. Bring to a boil and simmer for 40 minutes. Strain and set aside.

Lightly flour the chicken chunks in flour seasoned with season salt and garlic powder. In the rendered fat. brown the chicken chunks with the vegetables. Add the broth and stew until vegetables are tender and the sauce is thickened. Serve with bread.

This recipe makes 10 - 1 cup servings at a cost of .21 per serving. Add a slice of bread for an additional .15 per slice for a total of .36. 

Enjoy,

Mrs. Smith