HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME

Every year at Christmas time, my family would have a “decorate the tree” night. Mom put on Christmas music, made hot Russian Tea and set out a plate of our traditional Christmas cookies. Dad would string the lights on the tree. We three kids would look through our box of ornaments we had collected through the years and then decide which one we would hang first, second etc. Dad and mom would hang the first ornament, and we kids would take turns hanging our favorites. It was our tradition. We looked forward to it as children. Now as adults, we fondly look back and remember those evenings decorating the tree.

Traditions. Now that I am married and have small children, I have been intentional about incorporating old traditions and starting new ones for our family. One tradition we are implementing in January is to pray for those who sent us a Christmas card. Each evening after supper, we take a card from our Christmas card basket, re-read it and pray for those who sent it. Then we follow up with a quick note or email of encouragement to them.

How does a person go about finding ideas for building family memories? Ask older family members for their memories of family traditions. I have found it helpful to talk with friends about any traditions their families have. I have also gotten great ideas from the book “Let’s Make a Memory” by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson. Of course, you can be creative and make up your own.

It is never too late to start a tradition no matter the age or stage of your family (whether it is with your spouse, children or grandchildren). Be creative and start building memories with your family this new year.

IDEAS THAT WORK

Do you have some? Ideas, that is. Probably after you’ve read the shared thoughts you do have some of your own ideas! That is what this is meant to do. Challenge you personally. How it is worked out is between the three of you: the Lord, your husband and you. Pray that the Lord will continue his work in your life until He accomplishes His purpose and sees His reflection in you. (that may be a painful process!) However, I do have an idea I know that some churches have tried and even individual couples have used, and that is: #1 the viewing of the Fireproof DVD and #2 the Love Dare book study (by Stephen & Alex Kendrick). If you don’t do it as a couple how about you doing is yourself?! Applying its thoughts to your life personally. It will be an Idea (God’s idea!) That Works!

HERE’S WHAT’S COOKING

CHEX MIX PUPPY CHOW

9 cup Chex

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Put cereal in large bowl. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour over Chex cereal, put into a large plastic bag with powdered sugar and shake well to coat.
Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.

This recipe is very good. It is from Cooks.com and I use it for all my get togethers. Great hit but kinda messy!!! Great for Youthgroups!!!!

McCormick Chili Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 package (1.25 oz) Tex-Mex chili seasoning mix
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) spicy chili beans, undrained1 can (15 ounce) red kidney beans, undrained1 package McCormick® Chili Seasoning Mix, Original1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1/4 cup sliced green onion

DIRECTIONS
1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.2. Stir in tomatos, beans and Seasoning Mix. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.

3. Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and place chili in slow cooker.

4. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 6 hours. Stir well before serving. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and onion. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change

TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

Titus 2:4: “That they may teach the young women to…love their husbands…”

Lord, I desire to be obedient to your word by loving my husband. I cannot love perfectly the way you can. Help me to love my husband the way he needs to be shown love. Thank You, Amen.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Interview With Dawn Johnson
By Mary Pollestad

Dawn and her husband Les have served Christ the King church in Wilson, WI for eight years. They have four children and three grandchildren.

When I asked Dawn what she felt her ministry in the church was she said, “It is with the women and the children.” “Sometimes it is leading a Bible Study or leading Kids Club.” “Also it is encouraging the women.”

If she were going to encourage all of the pastor’s wives she would leave these thoughts. “The first thing is to keep your relationship with the Lord strong.” One way to do this would be to sit down and write out verses that are of encouragement and put them somewhere where you could pick them up and read them.” “Another thing, is to find a woman whom you can talk with.” “Find someone you can go to for advise, support and encouragement.” “We need our husbands for this too but we do need another woman to talk to.” Since Dawn and her husband are “empty nesters” now, she would leave encouragement to all empty nesters to build up your relationship with your mate and nourish your relationship.” “A lot of people look to the pastor’s wife for performance.” She said, “but don’t be concerned about performance be concerned that the work that you are doing is for the work of the Lord.”

With the theme in mind of being a helpmate to our husbands I asked her if she had some thoughts on that. She said, “Be there for him, whether it be a sounding board or helping in someway.” Of course the most important thing is to pray for him. “Being available for him is important too and God will give you the time to finish whatever you were doing in order that you could help him first.”

A Bible verse that Dawn has had for years as her verse is I Corinthians 13:13.“ But now abide Faith, Hope and Love, these tree; but the greatest of these is love.”

FOCUS

“But thank God! He gives the victory…always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

I Cor. 15:57-58 NLT

WORDS TO INSPIRE

Your Labor in the Lord is not in Vain
By Paula Jo Nyman

I’m sitting in my empty Sunday School classroom…all the busy sounds are gone for the morning. I’m wondering why I only had one student show up for my class this morning out of seven. Perhaps there was something else going on. Or maybe I’m just not connecting with the students. Or worse yet, maybe I’m not even supposed to be teaching these kids!

Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe your “empty classroom” is wondering if you are supposed to be working with the youth in your church. Maybe it comes after a particularly hard day of homeschooling where you wonder, why am I doing this? Maybe it is when you wonder why you seem to be the only one who ever does any of the work in the WMF and what is it all for anyway?

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers (and sisters), stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

The context of this Scripture is the great “Resurrection Chapter”, 1 Corinthians 15. Paul makes the case for the Resurrection, explaining what it would be like if there had been no Resurrection. He ends by telling us what it will be like when Jesus returns and our natural bodies become spiritual bodies and imperishable. What is the victory mentioned in the verses above? It is the victory over death! THANKS BE TO GOD THAT JESUS GAVE US VICTORY OVER DEATH. Death no longer has any sting for us…THEREFORE…let nothing move you! That’s right, it says let NOTHING move you. Even when you are in your empty classroom and you feel like giving up, your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Perhaps what I taught that day was just what God wanted that one student to hear! I may never know how it impacted him but God does.

Take heart and know deep down that as you give thanks to God and continue in His work He will not let it return void!!

NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD

Rich Frugality
By Sarah Nelson

A lesson God has been teaching me is that living frugally doesn’t mean living poorly. When I think we have less, is often when I discover we have more. The times I’ve fretted about what we will eat, and what will we wear, I open our pantry and closets, and while I don’t find cashmere or caviar inside of them, I find more than enough to keep us fed and clothed. I am reminded of the Scripture promise from Jesus in Matthew 6:25: “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

While I still have much to learn in the area of frugal living, I’d like to share a few ideas that have helped our family.

Food: I cook up large amounts of dried pinto and black beans to stretch soups, stews, and chili. Lentils, cooked just till tender, are a great ground meat extender. Our consumption of sweets, including homemade, has been cut back. When fruits and veggies are in season, I prep and freeze as much as possible for later use. Soda has become a rare treat, including my Diet Coke. Preparing as much food as possible from scratch with basic ingredients has been our biggest saver.

Clothing: When there is a need, I search our local thrift stores first, hit garage sales when possible, and if necessary check out the clearance racks. Adding a new scarf, necklace, or layering sweater can easily update an entire outfit for the fraction of the cost.

Entertainment: We cut out our TV cable service and found our local library to be a great resource for not only terrific books, but for good family DVD’s. Eating in rather than eating out, board game nights at home, and getting outside to enjoy creation are other richly frugal activities.

Gifts: I’ve re-discovered the joy of making gifts from the heart. This years Christmas gifts include aprons from a vintage sheet and matching p.j.’s from fabric I had on hand. Go through your cupboards and closets and find what you can fashion into something new.

Decorating: The urge to strip my orange and brown flowered wallpaper and cover my mint green painted walls colors is strong, but it must wait. A decorating friend came and arranged pictures and furniture into a pleasing arrangement, making our home transform from eye-popping clashing to eclectic cozy in style. Re-arrange, and swap talents with a neighbor and see what you come up with for little to no cost.

Most importantly, I’ve learned to trust on God more. What should and can we all do during these times? Pray! We have seen His provision for us through gifts of groceries, paper products, and clothing. He truly sees our needs, and yours. God hears you, loves you, and cares for you. Live frugally and see how rich you are in the love of the Lord!

CHECK IT OUT

Check out these websites for “helps” in parenting, and for your walk with the Lord:

reviveourhearts.com
authenticgirl.com
parentingtodaysteen.com
motherwise.org
focusonthefamily.org
Lifeway.com (under “helps for ministers’ wives”)

Do you have some that you’d like to share with others? Please send to Faith at efnelson@usfamily.net

How about your church’s website? Do you have a link just for the women in your church? Check this one out at gracefreelutheran.org (under “for women”)

Would you like to share yours with us? Please send the info to Faith at efnelson@usfamily.net

HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME

Last week we put childproof locks on our bathroom and kitchen cupboard doors to keep our toddler safe from finding and handling our household cleaners. As I put the cleaners away behind the locked door, I began to think about how dangerous these chemicals could be to my child should she get into them. This sparked my interest into checking out how to make my own nontoxic household cleaners. (Not to mention making my own cleaners would be frugal!)

I turned to the Internet to get some ideas and recipes. I learned that there are some basic, nontoxic ingredients in homemade cleaners: baking soda and white vinegar. There are also some key ingredients: soap (dish soap or liquid castile soap-found in health food stores) olive oil, club soda, and glycerin. Many recipes call for essential oils (found in health food stores or special health food sections in some grocery stores). Essential oils disguise the smell of vinegar and some (tea tree oil) have cleaning properties.

Finding a recipe is easy by simply typing, “making household cleaners” into your search engine of choice. In my researching, I found Tipnut.com to be a helpful website. I also came across what looks to be a helpful book by Karen Logan, Clean House Clean Planet- Clean Your House for Pennies a Day, the Safe Nontoxic Way. It is available at local bookstores or maybe at your local library

IDEAS THAT WORK

Consider a woman’s world in the early 1960’s about the time that our National WMF and AFLC came into being. Almost everyone got married and the average age for getting married was 20 years old for girls. The divorce rate was very low; chastity and virginity were virtues. Sex outside of marriage was considered shameful. Only 30% of the women worked outside the home. Life for women was very different 50 years ago! Contrast the 1950’s TV mom, June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver) who was a happy fulfilled housewife to today’s TV icon, Ellen Degeneres, an avowed lesbian and comedian.

Ministry to women has been greatly affected by these changes in our culture. Yet the need to minister to women has never been greater!! How do we as pastor’s wives and WMF leaders effectively reach and encourage our women?
Our message must be solidly based only on God’s Word. In a recent email survey to the ladies of my church, the ladies consistently asked to dig deep into Bible study. Our message must not change but how, when and where we provide such opportunities to study God’s Word is where we can creatively adapt to reach this culture.

Take a hard look at the women already within your church, their ages and the seasons of their lives. Look at women in the neighborhoods around your home and church. What are their needs? Find out through surveys, email surveys, facebook, or just pick up the phone and ask. One church moved their women’s Bible study to Wednesday night because their children were involved in church activities that night and that freed up a night for them to be at home. Offer other studies at different times or on another days based on the schedules of all your women. One church with many young mothers just started a MOPS group to encourage these young mommies and to also reach out to their neighborhood. I know of several pastor’s wives who are effectively reaching out to their unsaved neighbors through a cooking class or a Bible study on marriage.

The needs are great and often overwhelming but my God is greater and HE IS ABLE!!! Prayerfully seek His direction to creatively minister in these days for He promises that

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally... and it shall be given him”. James 1:5

HERE'S WHAT'S COOKING

Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter DESSERT SQUARES

1 package yellow cake mix; set aside one cup

½ cup butter, melted

3 eggs, large

1 jar of Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter

2 tbsp milk

1 tbsp flour

2 tbsp sugar

¼ cup butter, softened

1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350° F. Divide yellow cake mix, placing all but one cup in a mixing bowl. Stir the melted butter and one egg into the cake mix. Press the mixture into the bottom of a greased 9" × 13" pan. Mix the jar of Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter with two eggs and milk. Pour this result over the cake mix. Stir the reserved cup of cake mix with the flour, sugar, softened butter, and cinnamon. Mix together until crumbly. Sprinkle over top of the pumpkin layer. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. Cut into "2 squares. Serves 24.

*** I received this recipe from Williams Sonoma company they are EXCELLENT!!! You can substitute the Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin butter for a pumpkin butter you find in your local grocery store****

Chocolate Brownie and Peanut Butter Cup Torte

Ingredients
1 (18-21 ounce) package brownie mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
6 (1 1/2 ounce) peanut butter cups, bars
1 2/3 cups peanut butter chips (10 oz. pkg)
2 cups miniture marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two torte pans with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Place 8 inches circles of parchment or wax paper over centers of pans, set aside. In mixing bowl combine brownie mix, eggs, 1/2 cup oil, water and peanut butter, mix well. Divide batter between 2 pans spreading to edges. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until centers feel firm to the touch.

Meanwhile, dice peanut butter cups, set aside. In microwavable bowl, combine peanut butter morsels and remaining 1 tbsp of oil, microwave on HIGH 1-2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring after each 30 second interval. Spoon 1/4 cup of the peanut butter mixture into a re-sealable plastic bag, set aside. Fold marshmallows into remaining peanut butter mixture.

Remove pans from oven to cooling rack. Let brownies stand in pans for 4 minutes. To assemble torte, invert one brownie well side up onto large round platter. Make sure to remove paper from bottoms of brownies. Using scraper spread marshmallow filling into brownie well. Invert remaining brownie well side up onto cooling rack then slide onto top of bottom layer. Evenly distribute diced peanut butter cups into brownie well. Snip tip of corner of baggie to allow peanut butter mixture to flow through, drizzle over torte. Serve immediately.

*** Recipe from Recipe Zaar ***

TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

“But Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Cor. 15:57

Recently I have been struggling with worry. Having two babies at home lends opportunity for this new mother to worry. Uncertainty causes me to worry. Putting on an extra pound or two causes me to worry. The thought of harm or danger coming to my family causes me to worry.

I shared the growing struggle of mine with a woman I greatly respect. She directed me to Philippians 4: 6-7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” She reminded me that scripture says we have not because we ask not. She also reminded me to thank Him for His answers.

I did bring my requests to the Lord as I was tempted to steep in my worry. Each time the worry re-appears in my mind, I remind myself that my life and the life of my family is in the Lord’s hands and He has our best in mind. Claiming these truths and choosing to believe them gives me the peace of God, which does go beyond my understanding.

Join me in praying:
“Lord, thank you that because of Jesus we can have victory over sin. Please show me an area in my life today where I need to confess sin that is keeping me from serving you. I want to be free to serve you with my whole mind, body and soul. Thank you Jesus. Amen”

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Interview with Andrea Christenson
By Mary Pollestad

Andrea Christenson is the wife of Lay pastor Eric Christenson who serves Amery Free Lutheran in Amery WI. They have two girls.

I asked Andrea to tell us what she knew the Lord had called her to do in the ministry at Amery Free. “Well she said, I would have to say that my ministry is encouragement.” She replied, “First of all it is to my husband. To love him and support him in anyway that I can. To encourage him and help him.” “The second thing is to minister to my family.” “ I would have to say the third thing is to encourage different groups of people in the church.” “Sometimes,” she said, “that might be to come along side in various ways for ideas or projects and supporting them in whatever they may need.” “It may not be to lead something but to just give an idea.” “One of the things that I am working on in this area is to write a small note of encouragement or do a phone call.” I am trying to become intentional about meeting peoples needs on a one to one basis.” “Of course” she said, “There is always serving in and amongst the youth of the church.”

Following through with our theme for this month I asked her if she were to give a word of encouragement for the pastor’s wife what would that be. She promptly said, “The Bible verses that come to me are “God will never leave you or forsake you. And another one is “God never Changes He is always the same”. “And still another one that I have been really blessed with lately is, The Joy of the Lord is my strength.”

If Andrea was going to give a bit of encouragement to all of us Pastor’s wives it would be stated like this. “Lately she said I have had a very Freeing thought come over me in the last year that the only expectations we should have to live up to are those of God’s.” “Sometimes we have expectations of what we should be like.” “Or we look at others and we think we should be like them.” “God has called each one of us for a purpose, we don’t have to fit into man’s mold but into God’s.” “We should not expect ourselves to fit into this Christian woman mold that is unrealistic.” “If I could say it this way, be whom God created you to be not a victim of your own expectations or anyone else’s.”

I asked her for some words of wisdom for those women going into a different part of ministry within their church or even being called to a different church she said, As we look at where God may be taking us next within the church or in another church let us remember it may not look exactly the same but God will use you.” “He equips who He calls.”

FOCUS

“Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.”

Romans 12:11, 12 (Amplified Bible)

WORDS TO INSPIRE

PATIENT IN AFFLICTION
by Cheryl Skordahl

About Ireland and the Irish of 1843, the historical novel OF MEN & OF ANGELS by authors Bodie and Brock Thoene, teaches much about being patient in affliction. Set in the time when Ireland was owned and controlled entirely by the English, the story follows the life of Joseph Connor Burke who identifies with the commoners since he had been one himself, inheriting the estate and the lands of Ballynockanor later in life.

Seeing the tyranny of the English in every crevas of life, Joseph agrees to work with Daniel O’Connell and his Repeal movement, desiring true representation of the Irish in the English House of Commons – and to gain this representation without bloodshed. The story introduces the reader to multiple layers of villainy, all of whom have one thing in common – there desire for more power and the downfall of the Repeal movement. Joseph works prayerfully and tirelessly through much persecution, toward the goal of an Ireland that has true representation in the government.

Although the book was published in 1998, questions regarding the current issues in our country reverberated in my mind as I read the discussion questions at the end of this novel. Are there similarities between this novel and the plight of the United States under the current administration? Without trying to over dramatize, I believe the answer to the question is a resounding, “yes!” I am one who believes that the multiple bills that are currently before congress, will promote exorbitant changes in our country – changes that will affect the freedoms that American’s know today.

What are Christian Americans to do about these changes that the government seems bent on delivering? The WORD’S OF INSPIRATION in this article come in the form of a challenge. A challenge to put into practice the words of Romans 12:11 & 12.

1. BE AGLOW AND BURNING WITH THE SPIRIT. Check your spiritual temperature in light of the Word of God. Are you putting your complete trust and dependence in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you sold out to him? Have you determined not to live for yourself, but for the Lord and others? Are you living empowered by the Holy Spirit?

2. BE CONSTANT IN PRAYER. Include prayer for our nation in your prayers – frequently each day. Pray for other Christians and Christian families to be inspired by the Holy spirit and strengthened to rise up and move as the Lord directs.

3. NEVER LAG IN ZEAL, AND IN EARNEST ENDEAVOR. Follow the leading of the Lord and WORK as He instructs you individually and corporately, to insure that our freedoms as Americans are protected. If we do nothing, they will win. Always maintain a hopeful attitude.

4. BE STEADFAST AND PATIENT IN SUFFERING AND TRIBULATION. Trust God for the future, even though persecutions may come. In our novel, when Joseph was persecuted through damage to his reputation, his earthly dwelling, and his physical body, he was counseled with these works, “circumstances are never as damaging’ to us as how we take on about them.” Don’t loose heart, God’s ultimate plan will succeed.

5. REJOICE AND EXULT IN HOPE. In patience, press on – not giving up until our freedoms are secure. In this you will be serving the Lord enthusiastically.

NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD

In this time of so much disruption in every sector of our nation there still is a need for us to continue on as Christian women. Don’t give up. Times are tough. We need to press on. Even if we don’t seem to have any strength left and we are just drained of every ounce of life that we thought we had in the morning when we woke up. We still need to keep going. Why? Because Jesus said “you are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13. How many of us have looked up the definition of salt or looked on the Internet to see all the uses of salt? If you have you will be amazed. Have you ever looked up all the uses of salt? Just like there are many uses for salt so there are many things left that God wants us to be doing for him. Has the salt in us lost it savor and is it being trampled under foot? Oh how I hope that it is not. I challenge you today ladies to ask Jesus what he wants you to do each day to be the “Salt of the earth”. Many of us are miles away from each other but we can be “Salt” in our “own little world” wherever that may be. It is time to stand on the principles of the Bible and not move off of them. It is time to stand on prayer and believe that God answers prayer. It is time to believe in forgiveness of sins and that someday Christ will return. Am I saying that we as Christians haven’t done that? No I am not I am saying that we have to keep on doing these principles. Some days I don’t feel like being the salt of the earth. Some days I just have an awful day at work where my co-workers have bashed me as a Christian woman. In these days’ people are trying in everyway possible to bash at Christians. In the book of Hebrews we read about that punishment or the way people treat us hurts. But afterwards it will bring a quiet growth in grace and character. We must stand firm. We must continue to be “Salt” to the world. Don’t worry about how will I do this just believe and pray that God will show you where and to whom he wants you to be salt to. Jesus said also “if salt loses it savor it might as well be thrown out and trampled.” Oh women of today don’t be like what Jesus is talking about when he talks about the salt losing its savor. Oh know, we must not lose the savor. If you have lost your savor repent and believe that God forgives you and press on even now as you read this go forth and be salt in your world.

CHECK IT OUT

Turning the Tide: Having More children Who follow Christ by Holly Elliff
We pray about what we should do with our money or what car to buy. But, she challenges us to seek God’s will regarding the size of our family. Holly share with us biblical principles God used to challenge her own heart in this area. She reveals the far-reaching impact of what happens when believers choose to have fewer children, or even not to have children at all. If Christians have fewer children who follow Christ, what will be the long-term effect on our culture and world? Finally, Holly share tips for raising godly Children to help cultivate and environment that encourages spiritual growth and fosters tender hearts. This is a short book with a big message. Order through ReviveOur Hearts.com or call #1-800-569-5959.

The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood by Susan Hunt and Barbara Thompson
This work is grounded in Scripture, in a biblical theology of womanhood. It inspires us with the incredible privilege to be a woman fulfilling our distinctive role in His grand redemptive plan. It challenges us to recapture the Legacy of Biblical Womanhood and carefully and intentionally pass it on to the next generation. A must read book . (to order see information)

HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME

By Ester Gudim

As a stay at home mom of two and a wife of a full time seminarian, I have learn a thing or two the last few years about saving money. One of the greatest ways that God has shown me is how to use coupons to dramatically cut our grocery/personal hygiene budget. By using coupons to their fullest the last few years, I have been able to maintain a budget of about $90 per month for these categories. Here are a few ideas on how to increase your coupon savings:

1. Collect Coupons-Sunday papers are a great place to start, but you can also find in grocery stores, on products, and even in gas stations.

2. Organize your coupons in a way that makes sense to you. You are more likely to use them if they make sense to you. Coupons could be organized by store layout, or categories used most often.

3. Get to know your stores' coupon policies (You can usually inquire at Customer Service). Different savings your stores might offer could include:
-Price matching other competitors

-Doubling coupons

-Taking expired coupons

-Accepting competitor's coupons

4. Trying matching coupons up with sale prices in your ads to maximize your savings.

5. Think about stockpiling. When you come across a good sale, don't be afraid to purchase alot. Often, if an item is free or very cheap, I will figure out how much my family will use before the expiration date and purchase that amount.

6. Start out small. Major couponing can be a little overwhelming. Try starting with just one store and when you master that one add another one.

7. Utilize the internet.

-Print coupons online. They are often of higher value then those in the Sunday paper.

-Read online forums to help you learn what deals are going on at local stores.
-Order extra coupons online from clipping services. They are online stores where you can purchase extra coupons for items you use often or to use on items that are already on sale that you want to pair with a good coupon and stock up.

Here are some websites that are helpful for getting started:
Hotcouponworld.com

afullcup.com

Clipping services

thecouponclippers.com

couponsandforms.com

couponcatcher.blogspot.com

Finally, it is important to realize that this will take some time and effort. It is worth it though. Not only has God provided abundently for my family through coupons, He has also given us so much that we are able to share with others who are in need.

IDEAS THAT WORK

In the spring of 2009 the women of Living Hope, an AFLC Church in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, held a 24 hour Women’s Retreat. Many young women with busy households attended, precisely because of the limited time schedule. Lasting only 24 hours, beginning on a Friday night and closing on Saturday night, the women were able to be home on Sunday morning to attend church with their families.

From the beginning, the 3 member planning team involved about 10 other women by delegating the responsibilities of decorating, supper set up, small group leaders, worship, and advertizing. In this way there were close to 15 women who felt ownership for the event, virtually assuring their attendance.

The theme of the retreat was LOVING WELL, a Beth Moore Retreat In A Box – Liveway.com. Everything needed for planning the retreat was supplied in a box.

As well as large group events, the 30 – 35 women were divided into 4 small groups where time was spent in ice breakers, games, and Bible studies. One of the aims was for each women to get to know a few women – and to get to know them well. Says one of the planners, “It was rewarding to see women come and relationships made, tears, raw emotion, sharing in depth in small groups.” A truth that was explored is that a person “can’t love well until they know they’re loved by our Heavenly Father. He asks us to love all those He puts on our path – even the testy – the hard or easy to love women.” The retreat planning team wanted to be sure that all who attended felt loved, that people meshed, and that new friendships were formed. Each woman who came was given a special soft drink “Izzy”, some chocolate, a bookmark, and a personal journal that was a follow-up study to the event.

The retreat was held in a rustic retreat center – one way of helping us keep the cost down. We charged $50 - $60 per person, with the option of paying $25.00 extra for a high rope course, team building event.

What did the women like about the retreat? That it was close by home – not much travel time, the content was solid and dynamic, it was not superficial but got right to the tough subjects, it was fun, goofy games, good food, life transforming.

Questions about the Retreat in a box? Contact Julie Monseth 763-497-0653 or Naomi Halvorson 612-267-5757.