No Takeout Challenge Update #1

Making a delicious-looking meal can help a no-takeout challenge.

We did well this week because we ate lots of leftover.  There is so much more to say about this challenge.  I hope to organize it as best as possible.  Here are a few things that I have discovered we need to do in this first week of going without takeout:

1. Define takeout.  To me takeout is ready-made food.  Hamburgers, tacos, and fried chicken fall into this category.  One night I told my hubby that I was craving donuts.  I almost sent him to buy donuts from Dunkin Donuts.  The next morning, I realized the donuts could be considered takeout.

2. Develop a plan.  I plan to discuss with hubby about what I think takeout really is.  I think takeout includes junk food from the convenience store.  I think it's a waste of money to buy candy, chips, and soda.  I think money could be spent much wiser.  Junk food is bad for our health, and gasoline is wasted on the trip.

3. Determine what to buy.  I have devised grocery lists on a regular basis.  That's been helpful to know what to buy at the grocery store.  I just need to rev it up a bit.  I need to devise a menu plan.  Mealtimes has always been a challenge because I don't have some, especially for breakfast and lunch, planned out.

4. Keep the resolve.  We can succeed in this.  I feel very optimistic.  I know that it will take some time to see the fruits of taking on this challenge.  Knowing that hubby and I are in this together is necessary and promising.  If I need to reach out to others, I know that there is also a group on Facebook, with an accompanying yahoo group.

I hope to share some more tips next week to keep up this challenge of going without takeout.  Stay tuned!

I've accepted this no-takeout challenge, which began Friday, July 1st to December 31st.  It is not easy, but I know it is worth it.  I want the many benefits that can come from not eating out.  If you want to know more about the challenge, you can visit the SIX Month Money Challenge Facebook page.  If you would like to join, please like the page and join the yahoo group that accompanies it, as well.

Thanks for reading this entry.  I appreciate any tips and prayers.  

How about you, my readers?  How often do you buy takeout?  Have you ever tried not buying takeout?  What's the longest you've gone without takeout?  I encourage you to see how you can cut out takeout.  I think it's worth a try.  The benefits are endless.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace.

This entry has been part of the Family Fun Fridays series.

Enjoying the Self-Discipline

  We must seek joy even when we face trials.  That is not to say that we won't feel sadness and/or other negative emotions.  We must definitely face life's challenges.  The question is: how are we to react to those challenges?  Following are some Bible verses dealing with rejoicing while maintaining self-control (self-discipline):   22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  --Galatians 5:22-23 NIV  On JOY--  24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.   --Psalm 118:24 NIV  2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  --James 1:2-4 NIV 

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  --Proverbs 17:22 NAS  6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.  

--Psalm 27:6 NIV   22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. --John 16:22-24 NIV  When we are weak, we can tap into the power of God:  9 Each time he said,  "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. " So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 10 Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.    --2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT  On SELF-CONTROL (SELF-DISCIPLINE)--   28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.  --Proverbs 25:28 The Message  24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. --1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV  4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied. --Proverbs 13:4 NLT 7 An elder must live a blameless life because he is God's minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. 8 He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life.  Titus 1:7-8 NLT   7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7 NLT  Although this is a good list of Bible verses dealing with the concepts of JOY and SELF-DISCIPLINE, there are many other ones available.  This is me providing a portion of God's wisdom about these topics.  It's important to understand that emotions are natural.  It's what we do with those emotions that matters.  God welcomes us to ask Him for help when we can't discipline ourselves.    God is ready to help us control ourselves and rejoice during our trials.   How about it, my readers? Are you rejoicing in your trials?  What about self-control?  Are you controlling yourself through the challenges in your life?  I encourage you to reread these Bible verses.  You might gain an understanding of how to handle a particular situation in your life.  I pray that God gives you all, my beloveds, His wisdom and peace. 

This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

 

How To Abide in Peace: My Contemplation of Verse 26 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I delve into verse 26 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically this portion:

Why should the lord of the country

flit about like a fool?

If you let yourself be blown to and fro,

you lose touch with your root.

To be restless is to lose one's self-mastery.

We encounter all kinds of challenges and trials in our lives.  The question becomes one of whether we will let those situations toss to and fro.  To abide in peace is what we should all seek.  The reality is that many people simply cave to frustration.  Following are some suggestions to attain peace in our lives:

1. Stop blaming other people.

Peace will escape us if we keep insisting on blaming others for our circumstances.  Once we realize that we can control how we react to others, we can move forward.  We must ask God to help us forgive others for their trespasses against us.  Further, no one in this world can make us happy.  That myth only exists in movies and songs. 

2. Stop allowing your tough circumstances to influence your emotions.

Everyone goes through their ups and downs.  Just look around, and you will see that there are others struggling.  Some people are having economic hardships.  Some have suffered loss of loved ones.  That will not change so we must endure as best we can and lift each other up, in the meantime.

3. Start getting in touch with the Source of peace.

One of the most important facts is that the author of peace is to whom we should turn.  Only God can get us through the toughest of circumstances.  Believe me, I know heartache and suffering.  I also know that I am not the only one who's gone through hard times.  The strongest people I know have turned to God, the Source of peace.

 

 

Well, I hope you will turn to God when peace seems to escape you.  Turn to Him now.  You will sense the calmness if you pray to Him.  Root yourself in God's Word, the Bible, and you will abide in His peace.  Then, people will ask you how you are at peace in the midst of your trials.

 

How about it, my friends?  Do you allow circumstances move you to and fro?  Do you blame others for your unhappiness?  Do you turn to God during challenging times?  God is the source of all peace.  I encourage you to turn to God in the midst of your trials.  Peace is available to us all.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.