Knowing God’s Will

READ: Ephesians 5:17-21 . . . that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. —Romans 12:2

A young man facing the future and unsure of what the next year would bring, concluded, “Nobody knows what God’s will is.” Is he right? Does a lack of certainty about the future translate into not knowing God’s will?

The concept of knowing God’s will is often limited to discerning what specific situation we will be in at some future time. Although seeking God’s specific leading is part of it, another aspect that is just as vital is to follow the clearly defined elements of God’s will each and every day.

For instance, it is God’s will for us to be good citizens as a challenge to those opposed to Christ (1 Peter 2:15), to give God thanks no matter what (1 Thess. 5:18), to be sanctified sexually, avoiding immorality (1 Thess. 4:3), to live under the Holy Spirit’s control (Eph. 5:18), to sing to Him (v.19), and to submit to other believers (v.21).

As we submit to God in these and other areas, we are more likely to live in what Romans 12:2 calls God’s “good and acceptable and perfect will.” Living with God’s smile of approval leads to His guidance for the future.

As we seek to know God’s will for the future, we must also act on what we already know now. —Dave Branon

Knowing God’s will for the future Comes when we follow today What He’s revealed in the Scriptures As His commands to obey. —Sper

Love and obey the Lord every day, and He will unfold your future.

Grocery Trip

Kroger

4 Yoplait yogurt cups $2.00

2 green peppers $1.00

1.28 lb. tomatoes $2.15

Subtract coupons:

-$.50 Tripled to $1.50

Total: $3.65

Walmart

2 16lb. bags. Friskies cat food $21.98

1 35lb. container Tidy Cat litter $12.12

Pineapple $1.97

1 lb. carrots $.68

Lettuce $1.34

1.68 lb. bananas $.87

Frozen broccoli $2.00

Heavy whipping cream $3.36

Cooking spray $1.74

2 pkgs. pudding mix $.96

Tide trial size $.97

5 lb. flour $1.48

10 lbs. potatoes $3.77

3 cans tomato sauce $1.56

1 pkg. Jello brand pudding mix $.80

4 pkg. Nestle baking chips $8.00

2 jars Kraft mayo $4.00

10 lb. sugar $4.98

2 doz. large eggs $1.98

Subtract coupons:

-$1.00

-$1.00

-$1.00

-$.50

-$.50

-$1.00

-$.35

Total: $72.66

Grand Total: $76.22

Frugal Friday Tip

Making brown sugar

Since discovering this recipe, I don't buy brown sugar anymore!

Pour white sugar into your food processor. I usually fill mine til it's about half full.

Turn processor on.

While running, slowly drizzle molasses into sugar. I just keep pouring until it's the color I want. I usually go for a light brown sugar. I use less molasses that way!

I usually have to tip my processor a little to get it all mixed well.

When done processing, spoon into Ziploc bags!

1 quart bag of brown sugar to bake with!

Our Garden

Last night we got half of the garden planted! YAY!

We are actually on time this year! Last year at this time we didn't even have our plot staked out or tilled yet because we had just bought the house 5 months before.

So far we planted:

• potatoes
• onions
• cauliflower
• green peppers
• jalapeno peppers
• banana peppers

Next month we will plant the rest. Which will include:

• sweet corn
• tomatoes
• lettuce
• cucumbers
• zucchini

Next year I would like to expand our garden plot a little so that I can get some berries & maybe some watermelon planted.

Grocery Trip

Save-A-Lot

baking soda $.49

8.19 lb. bone-in smoked ham $12.20

2 cans Maxwell House coffee $9.98

2.64 lb. Butterball turkey $16.31

4-1 lb. pkgs. stick butter $2.00

4 sm. cans mandarin oranges $1.96

20 oz. diet pepsi $1.38 (I'm an addict & having had a pop in awhile!)

4.59 lb. pork roast $5.92

2 lb. powdered sugar $1.59

sugar cones $1.69

1 lb. pkg. turkey breast sandwich meat $3.29

2 plastic grocery bags $.20 (Grr!!! BRING OWN BAGS!!!)

Total: $57.12

Kroger

chips $1.89

hot dog buns $.99

4 cups Yoplait yogurt $2.00

3 doz. med. eggs $3.00

3 gals. milk $7.50

Subtract 2 coupons

-$.50

-$1.00

Total: $13.88

Grand Total: $71.00

Grocery Trip

The Lord hath provided!!

Here's what we got this week:

Aldi's

Bacon Bits $1.39

2 cans sweet peas $.98

6 lbs onions $1.58

2 cans sweetened condensed milk $2.58 (used to make french vanilla coffee creamer)

3 lbs. strawberries $2.98

2 lb. red grapes $1.49

2 boxes Imperial stick butter $1.38

3 lbs. Fuji apples $2.79

1.89 lbs. bananas $.74

2 Brown paper bags $.12 (must remember to bring own bags next time!)

Total: $16.03

Meijer

1 bag Lender's bagels $1.64

2 whole chickens $7.80

2-45oz. tubs Country Crock $5.00

2 lbs. baby carrots $2.00

2 lbs. tomatoes $2.00

5-12oz. pkgs. smoked sausage $5.00

5 containers Old Orchard frozen o.j. $5.00

Total: 34.72

Had a gift card from the husband's work from Christmas with $20 still on it+ a coupon for $1 off juice!!

My Total: $14.45

Albright's

4.57 lbs. Pork Steak $7.72

4.75 lbs. Jumbo Pork Chops $8.51

7.55 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts $12.76

Total: $28.99

Walmart

2-32oz. containers Yoplait yogurt $4.54

2 containers of plain salt $.76 (used to make homemade ice cream)

8 Yoplait yogurt cups $4.64

Suave hair gel $2.17

Suave hairspray $2.17

Take off 5 coupons for $.50 each

Total: $11.78

Kroger

1/2 gal milk $1.25

1-24 oz. container cottage cheese $1.98

1 bag pretzels $1.00

Total: $4.23

Grand Total: $75.48

Weekly Menu

Monday:

Chicken & Noodles

Peas

Tuesday:

Sloppy Joe's (made with deer)

Homemade French Fries

Wednesday:

Amish Roast Chicken w/Potatoes, Carrots, Onions & Garlic

Thursday:

Taco Casserole

Lettuce

Tomato

Salsa

Cheese

Sour Cream

Friday:

Chili

Copy Cat Red Lobster Garlic Cheese Biscuits

Saturday:

Lunch:

Leftover Chili & Biscuits

Supper: Macaroni In Tomato Juice

Cheese Toasties

Sunday:

Lunch:

Leftover Macaroni In Tomato Juice

Supper:

Ham

Cheesy Sour Cream Potato Wedges

Green Beans