Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Remembering What God Has Done!

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Remembering what God has done!


Psalm 77:11-15

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph.


REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU


Even though God has saved us for all eternity, has proved His love for us through the work of Christ and provided for every need we have, we still have times when we doubt Him and wonder if He will help us again this time. We are no different that God’s chosen people of Israel. We get discouraged because we are focused on the circumstance and our Deliverer.


"And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way" (Num. 21:4).

As the children of Israel made their way toward the Promised Land, they became discouraged because they were looking at the way - the natural hardships of their journey.

But just think what they could have focused on instead. God had brought them out of Egypt with signs, wonders, and miracles. When they could go no farther because of the Red Sea, God had worked a miracle, parting the waters so they could cross on dry ground. When the Egyptian army had tried to pursue them, the two walls of water had closed up again and destroyed the Israelites' enemies.

When the Israelites had come to the waters of Marah, where the water was bitter, God had miraculously purified the waters so the people could have water to drink.
God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He gave them fresh manna from heaven every night; all they had to do was pick it up. He even gave them water out of a rock. And for the entire forty years that the Israelites wandered through the desert, their shoes and clothes didn't wear out.

But, despite all of these things, the Israelites became discouraged because they looked at the way. We've done the same things at times. "Oh, Lord, things are so hard. The way is so tough. I feel so bad."

We need to look back in our lives and recognize how God has helped us - how He's brought us out of trials and delivered us from bondage. Realizing how much God has already done - and how much more He wants to do - for us, is an instant cure for discouragement!


Confession:
Through the blood of Jesus, my Father has delivered me,
protected me, provided for me and healed me.
Therefore, no matter what I face,
I focus my spiritual eyes on my faithful God.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Help Dave name his new Kitty!


I'm giving you an opportunity to help me name my new cat. As many of you who listen to the morning show know Steve and I would talk about my cat Sweetie from time to time. Unfortunately Sweetie passed away back in March at the age of 14.


I decided to take a couple of months before I got a new cat and during that time Pat and Heather Eddolls, my bandmates in Covenant31 kept telling me that I could have one of the cats that they had. They had found him as a stray and he needed to be in a one cat home as he didn't really get long with the rest of their cats, but was very loving and affectionate.
I agreed I'd take him for a few days just to see how he would do with the stipulation that if things didn't work out I could always take him back to them. To be honest, I pretty much already had my mind made up that he wouldn't work out and was planning on giving him back after a couple of days.
Well after bringing him home and being around him for awhile we bonded rather quickly and I decided to keep him. He's approximately 1 and a half to 2 years old and as you can see from the pictures is definitely a very loving cat.
(In case your wondering about the pic above, no he can't take credit to the damage to the fringe on the rug, that was done by an out of control vaccum cleaner. LOL!)
You can help me find a new name for my cat and at the same time win a brick of CD's if your suggested name is chosen. Send your name idea's to dave@radioshine.org and in a couple of weeks we'll announce the winning name on the First Light show!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Kelly's Thrifty Tips


Two weeks ago I posted some tips for having your own yard sale or garage sale. Last week we focused on Father's day. Now I am going to refocus on yard sale tips but this time as the savvy buyer. Or semi-savvy buyer which I tend to be. I haggle minimally. Some people (like my fabulous sister-in-law) can haggle like a pro. I just don't have it in me, but I will if I feel motivated.



Okay off to the tips:


1- Plan your yard sale route. Most newspapers will have online postings and newspaper ads for yard sales, garage sales, estate sales and church rummage sales. Look them up and decide where you want to go. If you do this online you can map things out fairly simply with mapquest.



2- Start early. This is pretty obvious, but the fact is the really cool stuff gets snatched up. Of course if saving the most money is your goal, starting late works too. You can get a lot of great deals at the end of the day when a seller is not interested in packing there stuff up. Ages ago I read "Saving Money Any Way You Can" by Mike Yorkey, and one of the things that stuck with me was this woman Mike knew who purchased things for their church. She had like a free shop for people. She would go to yard sales at the end of the day and offer them a flat amount for everything they had left. If you do this, be sure you have the transportation to pull it off and some containers to do some sorting.



3- Shop with smaller bills. If you are planning on purchasing some high priced item, by all means carry the bills you think will be necessary, but do be sure to have plenty of denominations below $20 and some change too. This is simply a point of being considerate.



4- Carry a list of your family's clothing sizes and shoe sizes. You never know what you are going to find.



5- If you are looking for certain movies or books bring a list of those items. I can't tell you how many times I had stumbled on an amazing pile of books with some of my favorite authors and new authors I had recently discovered and I was a bit unsure of what I had and what I wanted.



6- If someone is having a bag sale (where you purchase a bag and fill it up), roll the clothes to get the most room. They also wrinkle less this way.


7- If you are hitting yard sales for a specific need, write that need down and the price range you are willing to go. This way you are ready if you come across the item you want. When I moved into my first apartments, I needed everything. I purchased everything too through yard sales and thrift stores.
When you arrive at a sale and don't see what you are looking for be sure to ask.


8- When shopping for baby. Do not purchase car seats, cribs, bouncy swings...etc. The fact is so many things have been recalled that it is just wise to go new for those items. Do buy clothing and toys, but keep in mind choking hazards. Most of my son's clothes were purchased through yard sales and thrift stores because baby's frankly don't have the time in the clothing to ruin them. I also would resell his clothes at yard sales, thrift stores and consignment stores. Always use your judgment.



9- Keep some bags on hand for your finds. Some sellers will have bags and some will not.



10- If you aren't sure if you want an item, walk around with it while you shop. You don't want to set it down and have someone else pick it up just when you decide you do want it.


11- BE POLITE AND CONSIDERATE - This is one of the reasons I mention bringing smaller bills. Also watch how you park your car. Don't block a neighbor's driveway. Look both ways before bolting across the street. Don't cross in someone's lawn to get to a person's yard sale. Be polite to the other shoppers. My being polite helped me score a color television over a rude shopper which I sold eight years later for the same price I paid.

Also by being polite, don't get cranky if someone doesn't want your haggled down price. Some people have a set price and that is it. The year I was moving cross country, I had a yard sale in which I sold comic books at 25 cents each. A man tried to get me to sell my boxes (250 per box-no joke I was a collector at the time) for $5 each. Basically about two cents a comic. He yelled at me when I politely told him my price. He proceeded to yell that he was a comic book dealer and he knew prices. I informed him that I was a collector and I too was well aware of the prices and had no intention of going any lower than I already had. I had been to far too many comic book shows and knew for myself what those comics could sell for at any show and that any dealer would charge at least double my 25 cents and more likely prices of up to $1.00 for most of my inventory (yes I was a comic geek).

His rudeness eventually got him removed from my yard by another shopper who was highly irritated at this man's actions.



11- Carry tools with you like a measuring tape, screw driver, tape, rope and pliers. You never know when you are going to need to take an item apart, tie it down, or measure it to see if it will fit.



12- If you don't need it, do not buy it. This goes for yard sales and any kind of shopping. A great deal isn't a great deal if you don't need the item.



13- If you are looking for collectibles. Study up on what you are looking for. You can get some great deals that way.



Now onto something cool. It has been my dream for probably the past ten years now to go to the World's Longest Yard Sale which is also known as the 127. This sale is a four day yard sale extravaganza that had its humble beginnings in 1987 as a way to bring people to the less traveled highways of Tennessee and Kentucky. This year's sale is to extend from Hudson, Michigan to Gadson, Alabama and runs August 5th to August 8th. Check out the map of the sale below:



For more information about the 127 Corridor Sale follow the link below:


LINK: 127 Corridor World's Longest Yard Sale or 12 Corridor World's Longest Yard Sale (2)



FREE SAMPLES



While supplies last you can get a free sample of
Biore Steam Activated Cleanser or Makeup Removing Towelettes. They take 8 to 10 weeks to arrive.


LINK: Biore Samples


If you are a dad, John MacArthur and Grace to You have a hard cover copy of "The Quest For Character." This very generous offer for dads expires on June 27th.


LINK: Grace to You - The Quest For Character


Walmart has another sample of
Starbucks VIA. If you find yourself to occasionally desire a little coffee but don't want to make a full pot, this is a great way to go. Follow the link below:


LINK:
Starbucks VIA


Free Samples of Gas X Thin Strips. Beat the tummy grumbles with Gas X. Give it a try at the link below:



LINK:
Gas X Thin Strips Sample


From IKEA Wednesday June 23 to Monday, July 5 Kids Eat Free. Here are the details from the website:


Wednesday, June 23, 2010 tp Monday, July 5, 2010
Kids Eat FREE!
Fill up their tummies with a free meal 11am until closing!

Valid Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - Monday, July 5, 2010. No adult purchase necessary. Choose any three kid-sized items to create a meal, including five meatballs, mac and cheese, PB&J sandwich, kid's yogurt, two cookies, chocolate milk, and more! Kids under 12 only. A $2.49 value.
Always check with your local store first. This is from the Tempe IKEA.




REBATES



Buy $50 worth of Olay facial care productss including their cleansers, moisturizers and specialty treatments and get a $20 rebate. This is definitely worth the time if you like Olay products. The products must be purchased by June 30th and postmarked by July 16th.



Rebate link:
Olay $20 Rebate


Get a $5 rebate from Clorox if you buy the
Clorox Toilet Wand System. Expires 2/1/11.


Rebate Link:
$5 Clorox Toilet Wand


While supplies last mail your receipt from the purchase of Cover Girl Lash Blast and get a free Elle Mirror (very cute). Again this is while supplies last. Follow the link for directions.



LINK:
Free Elle Mirror with CoverGirl Last Blast Receipt


Get a free reusable grocery bag mailed to you from Jolly Time popcorn when you send in 3 UPCs while supplies last. Get details on the website at the link below. I totally recommend picking this up. I got a great one a while back from Sunsweet, and these bags are amazing. They hold way more than your typical grocery store reusable bag.



LINK:
Free Jolly Time reusable grocery bag with 3 UPCs


Send receipt with purchase price circled and UPC from Just for Men - Touch of Gray and get $9.50 back. Know someone who'd like to try this out? This is a great way to give it a shot.



LINK:
Just for Men $9.50 rebate


Get a $15 rebate when you buy any Neutrogena Clinical. Neutrogena has long been known for their excellent skin care. Try their new Clinical Treatments and get $15 back. Purchase needs to be made by August 31, 2010 and postmarked by September 14, 2010. Follow all the directions on the form.



LINK:
$15 rebate on Neutrogena Clinical


Schick Hydro
will give you up to a $10.99 rebate just for trying Schick Hydro. Mail the original sales receipt, UPC, and rebate form (not valid on purchases from Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale Club). Always follow the directions to get your rebate. Receipts need to be dated between 6/14/2010 and 8/18/2010.



LINK:
Up to a $10.99 rebate for trying Schick Hydro


Get $5 back by mail when you purchase any three SC Johnson Products. Products listed here:



Ziploc

Glade

Windex

Scrubbing
Bubbles

Pledge

Shout

Fanastik

Draino

Raid

Off

Saran

Nature's Source

Must be postmarked by 7/15/2010 and received by 7/30/2010. Follow the link below for the rebate form and all the details. Remember follow all the directions.



LINK:
SC Johnson Rebate download



Buy $25 worth of Aveeno products in a single purchase (yes SINGLE purchase - very important to remember in other words can be more than one item but only one receipt), send in certificate, receipts with items and purchase prices, write in UPC codes on the space provided on the form, and send it in. The items must be purchased between 6/14/2010 and 7/18/2010. Follow the directions to the letter.



LINK:
$10 Rebate from AVEENO for $25 in AVEENO products purchase.


The word at
A Full Cup is that there is a Snapple rebate pull off at several grocery stores that gives you a full rebate up to $6.99 for the purchase price of a Snapple 6 pack. I haven't seen it yet, but I thought I would give you the heads up. This would be a tear off thing. One per household so just take one if you find it. :)


Don't forget to check out the newest coupons from Cellfire that you can download directly to your store's loyalty cards. Follow the link below.



LINK:
Cellfire

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Kelly's Thrifty Tips


Last week I talked about having a garage sale or yard sale and gave some tips I learned from watching my mom and grandma through the years and participating in some of my own.

One thing I forgot to add was what to do with the stuff you have left after a yard sale. Most of the time, my mom and grandma would keep the item for the next sale. So this could be choice number 1, but some areas have a limit to how many yard sales you can have. When we were moving, it became necessary to sell what we could and get rid of what we couldn't. Here are ways you can do this:

1 - Donate what you don't sell. There are many places you can donate to. There are two nice things about donating. You are blessing an organization who will use the funds to help others, and you can get a receipt for tax season.


2 - Post what you have on Freecycle.com. This is what we did when we had our final moving sale. We boxed everything we had left and posted on Freecycle that we just had a yard sale and everything we had left over was boxed up. We invited people to come take the boxes with the stipulation that they did not go through the boxes. This is because we were renting and we wanted the boxes taken away. Within two hours everything we had left was gone. Next week I'll talk about shopping the sales. :)

3 - You can always supervise a free time by posting a free sale sign when you are done. I find the Freecycle posting works the best though. You get to set the parameters (like insisting they take a box and not go through everything) and anyone who comes will follow your lead.





FREEBIES



I have a website that you are totally going to want to check out. It is Kraft First Taste. Kraft First Taste gives its members the opportunity to try new products, share your opinions, and get connected and in the know with other members. I had joined a while back and when I logged in a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find out I qualified to try several products.

Through the mail I received a coupon for:
One free Kraft 100 Calorie Cheese Bites
One free Kool-Aide Fun Fizz Drink Drops
One free DiGiorno Deep Dish Pizza
One free package of Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Meats
One free package of New Kraft Homestyle Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (I just saw a commercial for this new product and it looks more like homemade baked mac n cheese)
One free package of Ritz Crackerfuls.

I added up the retail value on the coupon and it adds up to $21.06. And all they ask members to do is try the products and come back with their opinion. :) Follow the link to sign up.


LINK:
Kraftfirsttaste.com


Walmart has a great bodycology free sample right now. They have great fragrances and right now you can get a sample of Cherry Blossom or Cucumber Mellon. Follow the link.


LINK:
bodycology free sample

In fact, Walmart again has some amazing samples in several categories. Follow the link to take advantage of them all.


LINK: More Walmart samples

If you are looking for a fun activity for the kids, check out this month's and next month's Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics. Follow the link below and decide between the Monster Truck clinic on 6/26 from 10am to 11am or the ball and cup game on 7/10 also from 10am to 11am! Actually you can go for both. :) Follow the link to see what these finished products look like and sign up.


LINK: Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic

While available, you can register for the Kellogg's All Bran Promise Pack. Get them while they last by following the link below.

LINK: Kellogg's All Bran Promise Pack

Friday June 18th is National Flip Flop Day and you get a treat if you are one of the first 500 in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe in flip flops. If you do don some flip floppage, you will get yourself a FREE Jetty Punch Smoothie! There aren't a plethora of Tropical Smoothie Cafes in Arizona but there are three in Mesa. Follow the link below for information.


LINK:
Flip Flop Day at Tropical Smoothie Cafe

I have no idea how much you are going to get, but Bull's-Eye has some new regional barbecue sauces, and while supplies last, you can get your hands on two samples. Follow the link below to get yours.


LINK:
Bull's-Eye Regional Barbecue Sauce Sample

Costco has a free sample of Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner. You do not need to be a member, but it is one per household so if you signed up before for the member only promo that counts.

LINK: Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner Sample

I have mentioned before how you can get some pretty nice freeebies via Facebook. There is a really awesome one going on right now for Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color. They are giving away a free hair color to the first 1000 facebook fans to sign up at noon EST on the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 21st. Check out the details at their facebook page.

LINK:
Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color

Parents don't pass up this free sample of Pampers Extra Protection. The samples come in size 4 or 5 and are up for grabs while supplies last or until June 30 whichever comes first.


LINK: Pampers Extra Protection

Free CCM free download this week is Vicky Beeching "Blessing and Honor." They also still have free downloads of songs by Carlos Whitaker, Addison Road, Jonny Diaz, and 33Miles. Sign up while they are still available at the link below.

LINK: FREECCM Downloads


CRAFTS FOR DAD AND THE FOURTH


Father's day is this Sunday, and Michaels has some pretty great activities for the kids that can help them create something pretty special for dad. And below those activities links, I have also included a few more activities that I found online.

Michaels

Children ages 6 to 12 can make dad a Duck Tape wallet while supplies last. This is today's activity (that is 6/17) so don't wait too long. The time is listed as 6 to 8pm, but I would check with your local Michaels.

LINK: The Knack craft for dads Duck Tape wallet

June 18th at 6pm children 2 and up can enjoy a make it and take it activity for dad by jazzing up a t-shirt. This activity requires a t-shirt purchase. Again this activity is listed as 6 to 8pm.

LINK: Make it and take it T-shirt for dad

On June 19th kids 3 and up are welcome to come and make a Father's Day card from 10am to 2pm while supplies last. Get there early!

LINK: Father's Day Card

On June 26th bring the kids in to make some patriotic projects before the 4th of July! This event is from 10am to 2 pm while supplies last.


LINK: Patriotic Projects

Family Fun has a whole page full of great ideas for showing dad how special he is. Follow the link and learn how to make some great gifts for dad. One of my favorites is a sunglasses sling you make out of one of dad's old ties. Mind you they suggest purchasing him a nice new one too. :)

LINK: Family Fun Father's Day


The Holiday Spot has a great selection of Father's Day activities, crafts, recipes to celebrate dad's special day and a history on how Father's Day got started check them out for some great tips.


LINK: The Holiday Spot Father's Day



You might also like to check out the Idea Box for some more ideas. There are lots out there. I don't know about you, but my dad always liked things that were handmade. You can't lose with the ideas at any of these sites. Plus the idea box has a great pancake recipe to get the day started just right.


LINK: The Idea Box Father's Day

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A Father to the fatherless...


A Father to the fatherless …

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:4-5

Do you find yourself needing to get a picture of just how BIG your Daddy is? Sometimes I find that I do. And He will gently nudge and remind me little bits and pieces of just who it is that I can rely upon. Bit by bit as He speaks to my heart and as I see more of a picture of Him portrayed in His Word I really do begin to understand. Once in awhile, I get a much needed “booster shot". I am sure that we can all relate to this at one time or another.

My Daughter, My Son, who is your Father? Is His arm too short that it can’t reach? My love for you is boundless, limitless. All things work together for good. Know that with security. Be not dismayed or discouraged.

Isaiah 59:1 reminds us with rhetorical statements that the Lord’s arm is not too short so that it cannot save nor his ear heavy so that it cannot hear.

Introducing Your Heavenly Father
God is not distant and angry as many of the renaissance paintings portrayed Him, but is loving, kind and gentle. In fact, He is the nicest person in the universe.

God Has Been Misrepresented To Us
Over the centuries there have been many misconceptions about God and His true nature. He has been misrepresented to us by legalistic religious leaders and angry earthly fathers who have, by their lifestyles, distorted His true image.

God is Love
The bible says that God is love, pure love. And He wants to lavish His love on you. He is not looking for more servants to add to His Kingdom but more children to fill His house. He wants to be in relationship with you, not because you deserve it but just because He made you, and is "head over heels" in love with you. It is our hope that after visiting this website, you might have a better understanding of His heart for you.

God's Original Intent
It was God's original plan in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve would live all the days of their lives in the presence of a loving Father, and would in turn reflect His love to their children. It was the Father's hope that each generation would grow up in the light of His love never knowing a day of rejection or pain.

Love Cannot Be Forced
However, love is not something that can be forced so God gave Adam and Eve the privilege of a free will. They had the freedom to trust God and stay in the garden or disobey Him and leave. In Genesis we read that the latter happened and as a result of their choice to become independent, they became separated from God.






Broken Relationships
As a result of Adam and Eve's actions, a new deadly disease called 'sin' infected humanity. The world that God originally intended to be perfect and full of love, was now wrought with pain and suffering because of the consequences of sin. Hurting people tend to hurt others, which is a legacy that has been passed on from generation to generation.

Understanding Our Need For Love
Since God created us for love, we are born with a great expectation to be loved and accepted. It is a scientific fact that babies who are not shown loving touch in the first few months of their lives can be physically and emotionally affected for the rest of their lives
.

We All Have A Love Deficit
Unfortunately our parents could only express the love that they had first received from their parents. As a result, many of us have grown up with love deficits in our hearts. While we may know we are missing something, we might not be able to identify the emptiness that resides in the deepest part of our being.

Filling The Void
All we know is that we need to try and fill the emptiness somehow. Some try to fill this void in relationships, others in performance and success. And others seek to dull the emptiness with addictions. No matter what we do, if we do not encounter the real thing, we will always be left with a feeling of emptiness and unfulfillment.

Having A Personal Relationship With God
There is only one place where we will find the true love and acceptance that we are looking for and that is in a personal relationship with God. We were all born with a God sized "hole in our soul" that can only be filled by God Himself. Many of us have tried to fill this void with other things, but it is like putting a square peg in a round hole...it just doesn't fit.

The Good News
The good news is that God wants to be in a relationship with us more than we want to be in a relationship with Him. The One who knew us before we were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4) and knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) wants to be our Father. While we are His offspring by creation, His desire is that we might become His children through redemption.

Finding Our Way Home
While we were still estranged, God the Father made a way for us to come home by sending His only son, Jesus Christ, to earth two thousand years ago to take care of the "sin" issue that had kept us separated. In obedience to His Father, Jesus bore upon Himself the weight of our sin, nailing it to the cross so that we could be born into His wonderful family.

Jesus Is The Way To The Father
His resurrection from the dead signalled the victory that would allow many sons and daughters to come into glory! In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me". Our access to the Father is through Jesus alone. His sacrifice was the one and only price that could be paid for our redemption and restoration into the family of His wonderful Father. If we receive God's gift of His Son Jesus Christ, we receive the right to become children of God!


Would You Like To Receive This Gift?
If you would like to accept this gift (eternal life in relationship with God), Jesus Christ has secured it for you. All you need to do is to tell God that you want to be saved. You are saved by believing, and the words below might help you express your thoughts to God. It's not these exact words that will save you, but the attitude of your heart towards God.

A prayer to accept or reaffirm your
relationship with Jesus Christ:
Father, I'm coming home. Please make me your child. I turn from my sin. I accept your forgiveness made possible through Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection. I place my faith and trust in Jesus alone. I receive him as my Savior and Lord. I want to follow and serve you. Let today be the beginning of my new journey as your child and a member of your family. Thank you for making a way for me to come home. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Your New Relationship With God
As you begin your new life as God's child, you will have the privilege of getting to know Him as your Father. You are now part of His incredible family! By faith in Jesus Christ, you can be assured of the following truths...

1. You Are God's Child - John 1:12-13


2. God Loves You - 1 John 3:1

3. You Have the Assurance Of Eternal Life - John 3:16

4. He Put His Holy Spirit In You - 2 Corinthians 1:21-21


5. You Can Talk Directly To God - Matthew 7:7-11

6. Nothing Will Ever Separate You from His Love - Romans 8:38

Look up these passages and read them for yourself and then never let a day go by that you do not spend time in His Word and fellowship with your Eternal Heavenly Father! If you want to discuss this further E-Mail me at steve@radioshine.org.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Kelly's Thrifty Tips


Now is the time of the year to start saving money with yard sales. Actually yard sales go on a lot all year round, but summer really is THE season. When I lived in Rhode Island, my family had yard sales about once a month. It was the way my mom and grandma came up with extra cash. Here are some tips I learned from them for doing a yard sale.

Make a bank -- Have change on hand. Do not assume that all the people who go to your yard sale will have small bills. My mom and grandma actually had a seasonal thing with yard sales so they set aside a bank for the entire season. Typically they would start off with about $150 in $10s, $5s, $1s, and plenty of change. After the sale, they would first count the bank money out, and their profit would be what was left. I highly recommend a bank, because truly it is much better to have the change on hand for those people with larger bills. I can't tell you how many times someone would come up with a $20 to buy a $1 book. And speaking of that bank. My mom and grandma always held the cash in a fanny pack. You can pick these up cheap at just about any thrift store. It was a lot easier to have the money on them rather than some cash box that could be snatched. Lastly...don't accept checks. It is really not a good idea.

Plan your sale -- Do not just wake up one day and decide to have a sale. Give yourself a few weeks in order to plan what you want to sell and why you want to sell it. Are you trying to make money? Are you trying to declutter? A few weeks of planning can really make the difference in the success of your yard sale. You also can use this time to figure out how you will advertise your sale.

Know your prices -- It is perfectly fine to do some dickering over prices, but you should have a pretty good idea of what you want to charge for the things you are selling. It isn't like someone else is picking the items out of your home for the sale. You are the one doing it. So figure it out while you are setting the items aside for sale. If you are really not sure how much you should charge for an item. Go to some yard sales before you have yours and see what other people are charging. Ticket your items. We wouldn't ticket things like books. We usually had a set price for hardcovers and another for soft and would have that posted.

Have a power supply handy -- We often sold items like radios and televisions at our yard sales. We made sure to have a power supply so people could test out what we were selling. The last thing you want is to leave your sale area to bring a stranger into your home to see if a toaster works.

Do not be intimidated -- Set your ground rules. If you do not want early birds, don't allow it. If you have a certain level you will drop your price to and you don't want to go lower, don't (remember to look around at other sales and see what kinds of prices similar items are going for). We were pretty rigid with our prices until later in the day. That was when we were more likely to haggle. I was a little harder edged than my mom and grandma. I truly had no interest in haggling with a woman holding a coach wallet, but at the same token, I was a complete pushover for a dad buying some Barbies and clothes for his little girls. Choose your battles. :)

Know when to sell -- My grandma and mom would usually hold their yard sales on Saturdays or Sundays. I don't quite understand the yard sales on weekdays. I know I see it a lot out here, but to me it always seemed more the early bird approach where you are quite likely to be hit by dealers rather than people looking for a deal. My family also avoided yard sales on holidays, but now with more and more people not traveling far, you may want to try it

Combine sales with neighbors -- If at all possible, work with your neighborhood and have a neighborhood sale. There was a neighborhood in my town in Rhode Island that would do one neighborhood sale for a weekend in the summer. It was great because you could park your car and just walk all over the neighborhood from sale to sale. It also kept the neighborhood yard sale traffic down throughout the rest of the year. Another cool thing was a lot of the children had cookie and lemonade sales during the weekend. Let me tell you, they did well!

Display -- Never underestimate the power of displaying your items nicely. First, keep things clean. Do not sell items that are so dingy no one would even want to touch them. Think about what makes you want to look and what makes you not want to look. My mom hung clothes off a portable clothing rack and on our fence. Other items she put on tables. She always had a box of clothing people could go through as well, but the nice stuff was displayed and displayed well. Also think about what appeals to men, women, children and teens and set up areas accordingly. Also display eye-catching items where people can see them when they drive by. My mom always made a point of putting large exercise equipment and yard tools like weed whackers up front to draw in the men who might not be as willing to browse as their female companions were.

What sells -- To save aggravation, it is a good idea to get an idea of what sells. I found a pretty awesome list at thefuntimesguide.com Guide to Household Tips. Follow the link below for a great list of what sells and to whom. :)

LINK: What Are The Hottest Yard Sale Items?



FREEBIES:

This is sooooo cool. The American Museum of Natural History and NASA have an awesome freebie for educators. It is the DVD "Journey to the Stars." Here are details from the site:


"Educators and parents: Are you ready to take a Journey to the Stars? The American Museum of Natural History and NASA have joined forces to produce a planetarium show about the amazing variety of stars that dot our cosmos--exploding stars, giant stars, dwarf stars, neutron stars, even our own star! But you don't have to go to a planetarium to experience this mind-blowing journey. NASA will send you a DVD, and Educators Guide for free!"

When my son was younger, we got some amazing weather maps from NASA. I guarantee you are going to want to alert any educators you know. Follow the link below:

LINK: Journey to the Stars

Humana is offering a free "Retirement for Dummies" or "Well-Being for Dummies" when you register with Humana.

LINK: Human free book offer

Follow the link below for five freebies from Walmart.

LINK: Walmart Free Samples


Earlier last weekend I posted a free sample for Starbucks VIA. If you haven't picked that up yet, here is the link: Starbucks VIA (mind you they could be all gone) Now if you are a Costco member, I have another opportunity for you to get a sample of Starbucks VIA. Follow the link below, but remember you do need a membership number for this one.

LINK: Starbucks VIA sample for Costco members

Free CCM has a free song download for "Jesus Saves" this week from Carlos Whittaker as well as still having free song downloads from Addison Road, Jonny Diaz, 33Miles, and Mike Farris. Don't wait for these to disappear. Follow the link.

LINK: Free CCM Song Downloads

More music? If you enjoy country music or would like to give a country music CD to a friend check this out. If you write a letter to a soldier and take it to your local Ram truck dealer, you can get a free CD "Breaking Southern Ground." They are looking to get 1 million letters written to soldiers. Details and a way to find a dealership near you are available by following the link below. Also if you download a song directly from the site, Ram truck dealers will make a donation to Soldiers Angels with EVERY DOWNLOAD!

LINK: Letters for Lyrics




National Parks are offering a few more free days this year. For this summer, take advantage of free entry on August 14 and 15. Other free days include September 25 (Public Lands Day) and November 11 (Veteran's Day). Follow the link for participating parks state by state: Free National Park Entry

Check out the National Parks page for events that will be held all summer. Most events are free though there is a charge for entry to the parks. This link takes you to Arizona National Park Events: Arizona National Park Events

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Praising The Never-Failing God


PRAISING THE NEVER-FAILING GOD

"For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Unfortunately, the past few years have taught us that many of the things we tend to rely on in our lives are prone to failure. Banks fail. Auto companies fail. Government agencies fail. Employers fail. Stock markets fail. Housing markets fail. We also know from experience that humans fail. Relationships fail. Spouses fail one another. Parents fail their children. Children fail their parents. But as Christians we know that our God never fails! Listen to what is written in 1 Chronicles 28:20, a father giving assurance to his son. “David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.”

So when fear strikes or tragedy comes unexpectedly or the routine of life becomes overwhelming, what line does our thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

"I will in no wise fail thee" - not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I have listened to this say-so of God's, then let me listen again.

"Neither will I in any wise forsake thee." Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out - can I hear God's say-so in these things?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and bye, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God's say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.


"He hath said . . . so that we may boldly say . . ." Hebrews 13:5-6

My say-so is to be built on God's say-so. God says - "I will never leave thee," then I can with good courage say - "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear - " I will not be haunted by apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God's say-so. I will be full of courage, like a child "bucking himself up" to reach the standard his father wants. Faith in many a one falters when the apprehensions come, they forget the meaning of God's say-so, forget to take a deep breath spiritually. The only way to get the dread taken out of us is to listen to God's say-so. What are you dreading? You are not a coward about it, you are going to face it,

But there is a feeling of dread. When there is nothing and no one to help you, say – "But the Lord is my Helper, this second, in my present outlook." Are you learning to say things after listening to God, or are you saying things and trying to make God's word fit in? Get hold of the Father's say-so, and then say with good courage - "I will not fear." It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in the way, He has said - "I will never leave thee."

Frailty is another thing that gets in between God's say-so and ours. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God becomes a nonentity. Remember God's say-so - "I will in no wise fail you." Have we learned to sing after hearing God's key-note? Are we always possessed with the courage to say - "The Lord is my helper," or are we succumbing?

Perhaps I can best summarize all that I have been trying to say, and bring this to a close, with the marvelous words of Paul,

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31-39).

SCRIPTURES

Take time to reflect on the promises of the following Bible quotes. These
verses emphasize trusting in God to provide for our every need. Trusting God allows us to receive guidance to do what is right for us. When we are filled with faith, fear goes away . . . we can relax . . believing things will turn out right for us. Faith is trusting that God's love is always with us and we are never alone.

"Whosoever trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."
- Proverbs 16:20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will
counsel you and watch over you.
- Psalm 32:8
______________________________________________________________________

Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
- Joshua 1:9
______________________________________________________________________

Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead!"

- I Peter 1:6
______________________________________________________________________

Be content with what you have, for God has said, "Never
will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So say with
confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."

- Hebrews 13:5,6
____________________________________________________________________________

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the
Lord his hope and confidence.
- Jeremiah 17:7
______________________________________________________________________

Cast your cares upon the Lord, for he cares about you.
- I Peter 5:7
______________________________________________________________________

My soul finds rest in God alone: My salvation comes from Him.
- Psalms 62:1 _______________________________________________________________________

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never
come to an end; they are new every morning. . .
- Lamentations 3:22-23 ____________________________________________________________

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
- Psalms 119:105

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Kelly's Quick Freebie Tip - Starbucks VIA

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Walmart has a sample of Starbucks VIA right now! Great Starbucks coffee can be within reach at almost any time with Starbucks VIA. Follow the link below to get your sample.

:)


LINK: Starbucks VIA

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

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Before I go into the post, I just want to remind people that this time of year is a high volume time for the cat populations at the Yavapai Humane Society. I imagine it is pretty high everywhere. Because they have so many cats on hand, Yavapai Humane Society has a special deal. All cat adoptions have been dramatically reduced. The normal adoption fee for kittens is $95 and adult cats go for $75. right now kittens will be $47.50, adult cats $37.50, and there will be no fee to adopt a senior cat five years of age or older! I was just there yesterday, and it was crazy crowded with fabulous felines!

www.yavapaihumane.org


One of the best ways to trim any budget is with the grocery bill. It is one of the easiest ways to make adjustments, and it is definitely a budget item with more flexibility than say your rent or mortgage. I am pretty proficient at saving money on meat by knowing my price limits, when to buy, and when to stock up. Sadly this just doesn't help me when it comes to steaks. The fact is I just do not know what makes a good steak, but I know what doesn't taste good. This breaks down to I don't realize it until it is too late! This caused me to look for tips on picking good meats and cooking them. Here is what I found.


1-- For good high-quality beef, look for fine needled graining of fat or marbling throughout the meat. Also be aware of the color of the fat around the outside. It should be white. Any other color signifies lesser quality.

2-- A great cheap steak is a "Chuck Eye Steak." This steak is cut next to the ribeye. It is not as pretty but supposed to be very tender and great on the grill.

3-- To save on stew beef, buy a chuck roast and cut it up yourself.

4-- Talk to your butcher. Your butcher can give you insight into what is the best cut of meat for your budget without sacrificing taste.

5 -- Sirloin is a good cut. Choose top sirloin or butt steak which are both fairly tender.

6-- Another good buy is flank steak which is great for marinades and dry rubs.

7-- Brisket is always a good buy and tastes amazing when you braise it.

8-- Cheaper chicken is the legs, thighs, and wings. These are also the parts that have the most flavor. I have really learned to embrace these darker meats. You can save lots of cash by exploring your recipe options.

9-- It is also cheaper to buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself or bake it and make use of all the leftovers. I have made at least four different meals out of one 4 pound whole chicken.

10-- Tip for roasting chicken. For a juicer chicken roast the chicken breastside down for part of the cooking.

11-- Buy turkey legs for a bargain price and use them to make soups and casseroles.

12-- Tasty and reasonably price are pork loins which are often boneless and center cut.

13-- When grilling, the fresher the meat the better.

14-- Braising makes even tough meat tender. There are lots of great tips out there for this technique. Here is a link to a great video how to: Braising

15-- I found this awesome handy Cooking Method Guide that matches cooking methods to various cuts of beef. I picked this up from the Beef It's Whats for Dinner website. Check out the link below. It is a great tool!

LINK: Matching Cooking Methods to Beef Cuts Ensures Success

Here is also a link on knowing your cuts and how to cook them!

LINK: Knowing Your Cuts and How to Cook Them



All Things Free:

National Donut Day is June 4th and in celebration, participating Krispy Kreme shops will be offering a free donut to their customers. Follow the link below to their page where you can find a link of participating stores.

LINK: Free Donut at Krispy Kreme


Dunkin' Donuts will also offer a free donut on Donut Day, but theirs is with the purchase of a beverage, and honestly if you like great coffee this is not going to cramp your style!

LINK: Free Donut at Dunkin' Donuts with beverage purchase


If you have cats or dogs, you might like to pick up the free sample at walmart.com for Purina Smart Blends. These samples are great to see how the food is beneficial to your pet, and they are handy to have around when you suddenly realize you need to pick up some food for your pet.

LINK: Purina Smart Blends for Dogs or Cats

Taster's Choice has free samples of their awesome coffee singles again! If you haven't tried this yet you might want to sign up. My mom loves these. Follow the link below.

LINK: Taster's Choice Gourmet Coffee Singles

Addison Road's new CD is coming out very soon, and right now you can get a free track at FreeCCM! The song is "Change in the Making" from their upcoming CD "Stories." FreeCCM still has free music from Jonny Diaz, 33Miles, Mike Farris and Joy Whitlock.

LINK: FreeCCM

iTickets.com has a great free download this week from Carolina Story's album When the River Met the Sea. The song is "The Apple." Check it out.

LINK: iTickets


This is free with purchase. Spend $10 at a Bath and Body Works store or online and get a full-sized body care item free (up to $13.00 value). If you make your purchase online, simply add a $10 item to your cart, pick you full-sized body care item, and use the code FREEBC at check out. If you are heading to the store, print the coupon found at the link below. Offer good until June 10th.


LINK: Free Full-Sized body care item with $10 purchase

Shopping

Don't forget to load up your store loyalty cards with coupons from Cellfire. Truly Cellfire is one of THE easiest ways to use coupons. I have also been lucky to have coupons from Cellfire taken off my order as well as my own clipped coupons. Follow the link below to get started.

LINK: Cellfire



Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Power of Praise and Worship

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The Power of Praise And Worship

The First Thing!
Do you know that praising God is the best thing to do first before anything else? Have you ever been in a situation that you feel all alone? Or have you encountered a difficult situation in your life and you don't know what to do, like losing your job or suffering the loss of someone very close to your heart? Consider the good times such as when you receive a raise from your boss or earn high marks at school? What do you usually do during these moments? Praising God makes every circumstance of our lives complete, essential, and eminently worthwhile. Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness and grace.1 This simply implies that the act of praising is rightfully due to God alone.

Praising God - Why?
Why is praising God important? The reasons are countless. First, God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise:

  • "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).
  • "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).
  • "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
  • "You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).

Second, praising God is useful and favorable for us. By praising God, we are reminded of the greatness of God! His power and presence in our lives is reinforced in our understanding. "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant" (Psalm 135:3).


Third, praise discharges strength in faith, which causes God to move on our behalf. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). Praising God also transforms the spiritual environment that we have. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 clearly illustrates the alteration that happened when the Levites gave praise and thanks to the Lord and the temple was filled with a cloud signifying the glory of God.

"The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God." (Chronicles 5:13-14)

Fourth, God inhabits the atmosphere of praise. Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (KJV). If we want to see a clear manifestation of God's blessings and grace, all we need to do is to praise Him with all our heart, our mind, and our soul.

Praising God - Who and When?
Who is to praise God? "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD," states Psalm 150:6.

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips (Psalm 34:1)."

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:3-4).

"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:1-2).

We cannot embark on the true joy and benefits of praising God unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As children of God, He dwells in our bodies through the Holy Spirit. This means that wherever we go, God is to be praised. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Praising God - How to Praise and Worship God
How is praising God possible? Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our deeds. There are many ways to praise God! No matter how you praise and worship God, it should result in an awe of God's power, love, and grace for all of us!


Praise To God - The Importance of Praise
Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being. You might think that praise is the same as saying "thank you," but there is a difference. Thanksgiving describes our attitude toward what God has done, while praise is offered for who God is. Psalm 18:3 says "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise…" All believers are commanded to praise God! In fact, Isaiah 43:21 explains that praise is one reason we were created, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Hebrews 13:15 confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name." Praise originates in a heart full of love toward God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Are you a Christian today? If so, you know that you love God because He first loved you! Without God's love, any praise you can offer is hollow. Love, born from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is an essential part of your praise.

Praise To God - How to Praise God
How can you bring praise to God? What can you do to make it an integral part of your life? Praise can be expressed in song, in verse, or in prayer and it is to be done continuously! Psalm 34:1 instructs, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 71:6 says, "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well as inwardly in our thoughts. Praise is an act of Christian worship.

"Where do I begin?" you may ask. "How do I start praising God?" If praising God is new to you, try praising God for who He is to you, personally. Proclaim that God's goodness is without measure; it is abundant and overflowing! Here are some ways to get started:

  • Praise God for His holiness, mercy, and justice (2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 99:3-4).
  • Praise God for His grace (Ephesians 1:6).
  • Praise Him for His goodness (Psalm 135:3).
  • Praise God for His kindness (Psalm 117).
  • Praise God for His salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Praise to God can be offered anywhere! In time, it will become as normal as taking a breath. Sometimes we praise God inwardly as in Psalm 9:2, "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Other times we have opportunity to give glory and praise to our God publicly. Psalm 22:22 says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you." Search out opportunities to bring praise to God!

Praise To God - Who Praises God?
Praise to God, while offered particularly by His children as the freewill expression of grateful hearts, will one day be offered by everyone! The Bible says that when He comes again, all mankind will praise Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. He is King over all the earth. When we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our hearts long to praise His name. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us His name represents His being, describing who He is, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Bible also records:

  • All nature praises God (Psalm 148:7-10).
  • The sun, moon, and stars praise Him (Psalm 19:1 and 148:3).
  • The angels praise Him (Psalm 148:2).
  • Even the wrath of men is used by God to praise Himself (Psalm 76:10).
  • Children are to be taught to praise God (Psalm 78:4).

Praise To God - Do You Proclaim His Praise?
Your praise to God is evidenced through your salvation. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

How are you offering praise to God today? Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not begin there. Learn more about salvation. When others look at you, do they see a reflection of God's praise? Psalm 113:3 declares, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."