In this 'issue' of Good Things and Recipes, I'd like to encourage you in your homemaking, answer a few letters, give you a recipe and some ideas that might help you.

Answers to Shopping questions:

How about clothing---do you make all your own clothes?

________________________________________________________________

Answer to a troubled Marriage

Thank you for writing. I pray the LORD will give me wisdom as I reply to your question. My very simple straightforward answer is obey the LORD and obey your husband. Now, that simplistic answer may seem to not be an answer at all---and also, you already know that that is the answer.... You sound very bright and more importantly, you sound very sincere in wanting to serve the LORD as well as having a desire to love your husband. Very often Christian women will appear to be ahead of their husband spiritually---in the early years of a man's walk with the LORD, if he doesn't get right into the daily reading of the Word, fellowship with strong or mature Christian *men* and if he isn't regularly in church fellowshipping with other believers, he will either not grow or grow so slowly so as it is not noticeable. I believe this is primarily why it is imperative for the Christian wife to obey the LORD and obey the Word---following the models of Titus 2.4-5; Proverbs 31.10-31; 1 Peter 3.1-6; 1 Corinthians 7.3-4, 14, 34; and 1 Corinthians 13.1-13.  I have found many times over the years that God is not nearly so concerned with my comfort as with my character---and it is the molding and pruning and shaping of our current character that God uses to develop us into the women that He designed and intended in us---a godly, Christlike character.  The LORD commands that we respect and submit to our husbands... this can only truly be done through dependence on and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives... the more we seek to live pleasing and obedient to God, the more we will *do* those things that are pleasing to Him. You will start loving your husband because Christ loves him---you will be a joyful wife because the LORD wills that you be so. Ps 113.9 You will receive the blessing and encouragement that only God can give and only those living in obedience to Him will experience---the peace that passes understanding that comes to those whose hearts and minds are stayed on Him.  I will say also that there are some practical ways you can demonstrate your love for the LORD to your husband... that will not be threatening... meeting the needs he has, showing preference to him, preparing for him---anticipating his daily homecoming, esteeming him highly, preferring him above all others, never comparing him and never talking him down-to his face or behind his back. Encouraging him in all his honest endeavors and praising him for something every day.  He is likely to be wondering if he still "has it" and if he is still desirable... you can be a ray of light to him here---assuring him of your love and appreciation/admiration for him, that he is "still the one" for you, that you are content with him and who he is. Above all, pray for him daily. This will be the greatest blessing to you because you will be pouring your heart out to the very LORD who created you, loves you, died for you, lives to make intercession for you. You will receive nourishment and will be strengthened to love the man the LORD has given you. If he is not now seeming to be that one, then pray the LORD will give you a love for him---pray the LORD will love him  *through you* and pray the LORD will work in you to be a radiant woman whose price in far above rubies in the eyes of your husband. This will carry you---your own disciplines with the LORD will give you strength and wisdom and you *will* make it. I pray as I send this that you will be blessed of the LORD and that He will carry you. ______________________________________________________________________

Here’s a gift you can make for someone… give it anytime!

BROWNIE MIX  (Quart Jar Gift)

2-1/4 cups sugar 
2/3 cup cocoa (clean the inside of jar with a cloth after you’ve added this layer) 
3/4 cup chopped pecans 
1-1/4 cups flour *mixed* with 1 tsp. salt 
Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.
Here’s the recipe to attach to jar: place brownie mix in large mixing
bowl; stir this dry mixture to combine. Add 3/4 cup melted butter and 4
eggs slightly beaten; mix until completely blended. Spread batter in a
greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Cool
completely in pan. Cut into 2-inch squares. Yield: 2 dozen.

These are not "my ideas" ---I received these by email: HOUSEHOLD TIPS OF A LIFETIME
Author unknown

1. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2. Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot
griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.
3. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4. To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice-Krispie treats
in the pan and the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
6. To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll
them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7. To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap
and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.
8. Spray your plasticware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in
tomato-based sauces and there won't be any stains.
9. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix
instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
10. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, dropin a peeled potato
and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."
11. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
12. Brush some beaten egg white over your pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
13. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.
14. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
15. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks,
it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead.
      The throbbing will go away.
17. Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves.
       They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
19. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains
      and rinse with water.
20. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
21. Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
22. Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
23. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, scotch tape removes the splinters painlessly and easily. (Or, cover with a little glue, let dry, and peel off.)

24. Now look what you can do with ALKA Seltzer.
Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait few minutes, then run the hot water.

many blessings,

(¨`·.·´¨)
       `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)
                                    `·.¸.·´pamela spurling

my work  © 2003  www.achristianhome.com