Tip of the Day 9/5/12

110 Days 'til Christmas: As you make your plans for projects to complete this Fall, here are a few ideas that should help.
-Dust the ceiling fans, top and bottom
-Take apart box or window fans and clean before storing
-Sweep the outside of your house, cobwebs are traps for leaves and other debri. The house will look better and you won't walk outside and end up with a

face full of cobweb. Yew!!!
-Wash lawn furniture, cushions, and covers before storing. If any need replacing, purchase now while items are on clearance.
-Repair and clean window screens
-Sweep the garage and rearrange items to easily access winter boots, shovels, etc. BEFORE it snows
-Before it is time to pull out Christmas decorations give each of the "public" rooms in the house a deep cleaning. If you do 1 or 2 each month, Sept., Oct., Nov., you will be ready to decorate and entertain.
-Clean and inventory your kitchen for the holidays. Did you use all of the pumpkin pie spice last year? Can you find the cookie cutters so you can actually make the cookies this year instead of giving up because you can't find them? Would silpat mats be a good expenditure? Are your cookie sheets clean and ready to use?
-Clean the oven
-Clean the refrigerator

By doing these tasks now, you will be prepared for winter and the holidays and it is being a good steward of your belongings.

 

Word for Today, Sweet: It has been almost two months since I quit eating sugar. I have had it a few times, but it really has lost its appeal. It is said it takes 21 days to form a new habit and that was why I tried 21 days without sugar, and it worked. Our bodies know what they need to be healthy, pure, and strong, and mine recognized it does not need sugar. On the other hand if I decided to

go 21 days without water, my body would protest. My skin would begin to look unhealthy, my inner workings would not function well, even my eyes would begin go look dull. Closely look at someone that drinks soda, wine, or even juice all the time compared to someone that adds water and water based foods, i.e. vegetables, to their diet. You can physically see a difference and it isn't just their weight. Their good health shines from the inside out. When Daniel and the other Hebrew young men were taken to serve in Nebuchadnezzar's court the king wanted them fed his rich foods, but Daniel and 3 of his friends asked if they could be given a diet of vegetables and water instead. If you know the story, Daniel and his friends were the healthy ones in the end. I have discovered that the sweet I think I want or the junk food I decide to eat isn't near as pleasing or satisfying as I thought it would be. It tastes good at the moment, but the way I feel later isn't worth it. This is how the things of the world are, the movie might seem fun or exciting as I am watching it, but the images it leaves behind aren't worth it. The activity may seem like the cool thing to do at the time, but the after effects are not worth it. We all know indulging in things not good for us have lasting effects, weight gain, lung cancer, memory lose, are major ones, but the subtle effects are just as bad, lack of judgement, lose of friendships, nightmares, wanting more and never being satisfied. On the other hand, the more we feed our body, soul, spirit, and mind the healthy things available to us, the more we will crave them. Just like not going to church for a few weeks gets you in the habit of not going and before you know it you haven't been there in 6 months or a year, being there every week causes you to crave more. When I eat a healthy meal it is satisfying and I look forward to the next meal. I love that the Bible so often talks about good food and eating with others. It is a joy to share good food with others and is not nearly as satisfying to eat alone. Develop good habits, eat the food of God's Word on your own each day, but don't forget to enjoy a great "meal" with others. Jesus didn't eat alone, He had a habit of eating with friends. Give it a try and it will become a good habit for you. "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."