Kelly's Thrifty Tips

With the warmer weather coming, I think a lot about sitting outside and reading. Books are pretty pricey though. I get most of mine through paperback swap, book mooch, used book sections at stores like Hastings, yard sales and the library, but I also like to win books. Actually I love it. I love it so much that I have several places to suggest to you for awesome book giveaways.

West of Mars -- Win a Book! is one of my favorites. It is a blog that lists giveaways for other blogs. When I hold book giveaways at my own blog, West of Mars is my first stop.

Another favorite is Camy Tang's blog Camy's Loft. She is an incredible Christian fiction writer, and her blog is a great read with a book giveaway here and there.

I've mentioned this one before, but it bears repeating. For great reviews and giveaways of amazing Christian books, you must stop at author Lena Nelson Dooley's blog, A Christian Writer's World. She has incredible author interviews and great giveaways. It is a wonderful way to learn about the writing process and discover a new author or two.

Trish Perry is one of my favorite Christian authors and bloggers. She also introduces readers to wonderful Christian authors at her blog Reading, Writing, and the Stuff In-Between. One of the cool things about her blog is if you are on her mailing list you are automatically entered into her giveaways, but you get more chances by commenting on her blog.

Twitter for deals. More and more companies are joining the Twitter phenom. It pays to join along as well. I follow lots of my favorite companies, because I like to see what is new and because they often post some great deals, freebies and contests. If you haven't joined Twitter yet, you might want to check it out. I was thrilled yesterday when I checked out the Kroger tweets and found out that several blogs are giving away $20 and $40 giveaways!

I think it is important to know what you are buying. I don't strictly buy organic produce, but I do want to buy produce that is safe. This is why I was interested in reading about GMOs. GMO stands for genetically altered organism. Many foods are now being made with GMOs and there is very little known about the long-term effects consuming these products. www.nongmoshoppingguide.com has lots of great information and a free shopping guide to help you become more aware of what you are purchasing.

Two tips for avoiding GMOs:

1. Purchase organic products
2. Purchase items with NON-GMO labels

The NonGMOShopping Guide has lots of information and there is even an app for your iPhone. ShopNoGMO. I know this isn't exactly a thrifty tip, but eating healthy is definitely a wise decision that can positively effect your financial future.

LINK UP: Non GMO Shopping Guide


If you are a Bank of America customer, take advantage of the Museums on Us promotion. On the first full weekend of every month, each cardholder gets a free general admission to over 100 museums nationwide. In Arizona those museums are the Phoenix Art Museum, the Phoenix Zoo, and the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. Follow the link below for details.

LINK: Museums on Us - Bank of America

Back when I first started doing thrifty tips, I mentioned one of my favorite sites $5 Dollar Dinners. Well, that blogger has come a long way. She has a wonderful cookbook and keeps bringing some interesting inexpensive recipes to the table. Now she has some awesome printable planners for organizing right on her site. My favorite is the Grocery Shopping List with Meal Planner and Expense tracking. Check out her site and all the printable planner sheets at the link below.

LINK: $5 Dinners


I clip a lot of coupons, and I use what I clip. I swap what I don't use, but I will still end up with expired coupons. I found out that military commissaries will accept coupons that are expired. Some up to six months! Check out Grocerysavingtips.com for a list of military base addresses and details on how you can help out these military families who quite often are really living on a very tight budget.

LINK: Grocery Saving Tips Military List


I love P&G's samples. It is so nice getting a whole box full rather than just one at a time. There is a new link up where you can get samples through Sam's Club (and you do not have to be a member of Sam's to do this). The samples include: Pantene, Cascade, Tide, Bounce, and Prilosec OTC. This is a great sample lot that you are going to want to get in on. Follow the link below:

LINK UP: P&G Samples

Hobby Lobby has a great coupon code or printable coupon for 40% off one item. If you are shopping online use the code 5989. This coupon or code expires 5/1/2010. Print it by following the link below:

LINK: Hobby Lobby Coupon

Right now you can watch the first episode of Planet Earth for free on Amazon.com. This is absolutely beautiful.

LINK: Planet Earth


Free CCM's music download this week is Mark Harris "I Will See Jesus."

LINK: Mark Harris

iTickets.com has a free download of "Born Again" by the Newsboys.

LINK: Newsboys

Jack in the Box has a coupon out right now for a free Deli Trio Grilled Sandwich with any purchase. Follow the link below.

LINK: Deli Trio Grilled Sandwich

Pour Out Your Heart To The Lord

POUR OUT YOUR HEART TO THE LORD

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. —Psalm 62:8

I READ A STORY ABOUT A GUY WHO WENT TO A ELECTRONIC STORE to purchase a small digital voice recorder. The clerk who helped him purchase the recorder told him that he kept one just like it in his car when he worked in California. He explained “When I began driving home after work I switched it on, and I talked about everything that happened that day on the job, good and bad. When I pulled into my driveway, I hit the erase button.” Then he smiled. After telling everything to his voice recorder, he apparently had no need to go over the day’s problems with his wife or family.

It reminded me of how often I needlessly rehearse my disappointments and problems to others instead of telling them to God. The psalmist wrote: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Ps. 62:8). Twice he spoke of waiting silently for God, his rock and salvation (vv.1-2,5-7).

Why should we seek Him? Because He has the power and the willingness, if we will trust Him, to give us a completely new nature. He will break the vain, frustrating, repetitious cycle.

Both Jesus and Paul remind us that our calling is rife with possibilities, so much so that we can consider each moment as big as eternity. It is as though the New Testament writers are saying, "Don't be like the slave who refuses when presented with freedom, or the diseased person who rejects help when offered healing. God's door is open to us! Cry out to Him and charge through it by cooperating with Him!"

While there is great comfort in sharing our difficulties with a friend, we miss the greatest help if we fail to bring them to the Lord Jesus.

Our lives are full of stress, anxiety and worry. As His Child, let’s be found pouring our hearts out to someone that can help us gain understanding and can bring peace and comfort to our hearts and minds. Remember! No matter where we are, Jesus is only a prayer away.

The hymn writer, Joseph Scriven, said it so well:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and grief’s to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

While doing some online shopping yesterday, I was reminded of the importance of looking for online codes in order to save. Honestly, I will make it a point of waiting on a purchase if I am pretty sure I can find a code that I can use at a later date. And truly companies are so eager to get your sale that it is almost impossible not to find a discount code. I have a list of some below you can use, but when in doubt search for it. I have found that even smaller sites have coupon codes out there so it pays to even look for them. Here are some sites you can use:

Retail Me Not -- I find myself often heading in their direction when I am shopping. Retail Me Not is great for printable coupons too. The cool thing is other users will rate the coupon code and say if it worked for them. The codes aren't just for items that you purchase and are sent to you. You will find codes for things like travel too. I just used it yesterday to save $25 on a hotel room when shopping through Orbitz. You can click through the code or do what I do. I typically write down the code, because I also make a point of trying to make purchases through goodsearch.com which gives me the opportunity to give while I shop.

Coupon Cabin -- Another great site for printing and linking to deals. Pay attention to the codes because the links will not automatically get you the extra deal. They even have a whole list of coupons and deals by store so you can narrow down exactly what you are looking for.

Coupons.com -- Is a must stop for printing up grocery coupons. Just make sure that your store accepts printed coupons. Many do nowadays, but it still pays to find out your store's policy.


dealspl.us is a social networking site with coupon codes and deals. There are printables for different store coupons and regular codes with another up or down rating from users who have tried the coupons.

Deal Locker is another site where you can find some amazing code deals for popular stores and their online deals.

Goodsearch.com has a sister site called Goodshop.com. You shop through there to help fundraise for your charity of choice. Not only can you shop through the site and benefit your charity, but you can use coupon codes from the site to get yourself a discount on your purchase.


Now how about some freebies?



At IHOP, yes International House of pancakes kids eat free every day in the month of April from 4pm to 10pm! This is for one free kids meal for each adult meal purchased. Check out the details by clicking on the link below:

LINK: IHOP Kids Eat Free


Download "Tonight" by The Afters at Freeccm.com

LINK: The Afters Free Download


Walmart.com has done it again with some free samples. While supplies last you can get a sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Skin-Fortifying Body Lotion, Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15 and Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30.

LINK: Eucerin


Walmart still has several samples available that I have mentioned in previous weeks. Follow the link below to see what is still up for grabs. At this time you can still get:

Parent's Choice Premium Infant Formula
Dove Men+Care
Prilosec OTC
John Frieda Root Awakening
Benefiber Organge

LINK: Walmart Free Sample Page

Teecino Caffeine-free Herbal Coffee is offering a free sample. You can get this drink at stores like New Frontiers and Bashas. Now you can try it before you buy it by registering with their site.

LINK: Teecino Caffeine Free Herbal Coffee


You can get a sample of HealthiFeet if you follow the link below. You do need to enter the code HFEET1 in the code box to get the sample. Your sample will also come with a $2.00 off which is really cool too.

LINK: Healthy Feet


Pottery Barn Kids has a great free Earth Day Activity time for kids. It is today, April 22 from 11 am to 3 pm. There will be activities and the kids can bring something home to plant while supplies last. I found a Pottery Barn Kids in Chandler and Scottsdale. Follow the link for more details:

LINK: Pottery Barn Kids Earthy Day


Origins also has a great Earth Day deal. Bring in your current skincare to any Origins counter, and they will trade it for a full size of one of their cleansers. You can choose Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash or a Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea. Check their facebook page link below for details. Also I have a link to Dillard's page to let you know what Dillard's department stores are involved with this deal.

LINK: Origins Facebook Page

LINK: Dillards Participating in Origins Deal


World Market has a printable coupon you can use to save $10 off of a $30 purchase. The coupon is good until May 16th. Follow the link below to print yours today.

LINK: World Market Coupon


Moore Unique is offering a free ten day supply of Clear Skin Acne Wash on their site. I don't know how long this is available so check it out fast.

LINK: Clear Skin Acne Wash

Lastly...my favorite grocery sales this week.

Safeway

Once again Safeway is valuing all manufacturer's coupons at $1.00 so get those coupons rounded up and get saving!
--Rancher's Reserve Boneless Beef Round Tip Roast, Boneless Beef Bottom Round Roast, Boneless Beef Chuck Cross Rib Roast are all at $1.99

-- Fresh Express Spinach or Green & Crips Salads are 99 cents each. (I still prefer to buy my lettuce and make my own salads, but if you must buy them now is the time)

-- Red Seedless Grapes 88 cents a pound

Fry's

Fry's is also valuing all manufacturer's coupons at $1.00.

-- Fry's Gallon Milk $1.68 each

-- Kraft BBQ Sauce is a can't miss at 77 cents each

-- Marie Calender's or Healthy Choice meals are 5 for $5.00 AND when you buy five you can get a free Kroger Deluxe 48 ounce ice cream

-- Campbell's Condensed Soup 10 for $10 check out what varieties are offered

Albertsons

-- Ground Round at $1.77 a p0und With grilling coming up this is a great item to stock up on and freeze.

-- Boneless Pork Loin $1.77 a pound

-- Mix and Match 10 for $10. There is a huge variety of mix and match items. Some of my favorites are the Oral B Cavity Defense Toothbrush, White Rain Body Wash, and Equaline Floss.

Remember you can look at all your flyers on line at each store's website.

Safeway

Fry's

Albertsons

He Wil Quiet You with His Love

He Will Quiet You with His Love

Do you sometimes think you are all alone in the world or that God doesn't love you? If so, you are not alone. Multitudes of people today have similar thoughts. There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis and we seem to know that God is with us. However it is when a crisis arises, we instantly reveal upon whom we rely.

"Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith?" Matthew 8:26

When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead.

If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him. All of us will go through times where we feel stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious about situations we face. This was also true when the Apostle Paul was alive. Look at what he said when he prayed that the Ephesians would deeply know God's love.

I pray, Father, that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Adapted from Ephesians 3:16-21

The Ephesians did not fully grasp God's love for them. If this is true of you, too, prayerfully study the following Scriptures on God's love for you, especially verse 17. As you read, ask God to help you believe and accept the wonders of his mighty love for us. Keep praying this prayer until you grasp the reality and the wonder of knowing that God truly loves you!

Zephaniah 3:14-17 (New International Version)

¹⁴ Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

¹⁵ The LORD has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.

¹⁶ On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I don't know about you, but right now, today, at this very moment, I need to be quieted by God's love. The picture that comes to my mind is one of a mother embracing her child who is afraid or hurting in some way. As the mother holds her child, she gently whispers words of reassurance and love. Whatever is troubling the child no longer seems big and scary. The child rests in her mother's embrace, reassured by the mother's love.

When you feel out of control, stressed and anxious about a situation, ask God to remind you of Zephaniah 3:17. It will cause you to think of God's great love for you. He will quiet you in your spirit, and the thing you are facing will no longer feel overwhelming because you will know that He is with you. Then as you go about your work, you can almost hear Him rejoicing over you with singing. What a loving and tender God we serve!

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

My latest issue of Woman's Day magazine had an article about fixing things at home to save yourself money. There are obviously some things that you might not be able to do yourself, but there are plenty of things that you can do to fix things around the home or keep them maintained so they will not need costly repairs. This lead me to looking about for some sites to help you along. One that I found was Acmehowto.com. There are sections on appliance repair, home repair, plumbing repair and more. DoItYourself.com is pretty awesome too with lots of great ideas and even some big projects like building your own deck. Another great site is Bobvila.com's Fix-It Club pages. My favorite part was the Fix-It Toolbox which tells you what kinds of tools you should have on hand to do most general home repairs. This Easter I bought my son a toolbox and I am planning on slowly filling it up with tools. This list is going to be so valuable for that.

Don't forget the awesome clinics that Home Depot and Lowes have for Do-It-Yourself jobs as well. They have a lot of knowledge to share for free. Take advantage of it.

Here is just one good tip I learned. If you have a clog, get to it right away. Clogs can actually damage the pipes and cause them to burst which can obviously cause significant damage and cost. It is important to clean up clogs immediately and always keep prevention in mind. For example, garbage disposals are a huge cause of clogs because they are truly only supposed to be used for small plate scraps. The sink pipes are 1.5 inches wide so it does not take long to clog that up. It is best to scrape solids into the garbage and stay away from the sink. Another hint was to not flush tissue or paper towel down a toilet. Their fibers are designed to cling together when wet which can cause clogging. Only use toilet paper in a toilet. This may sound like a no brainer, but I definitely did not know about that until a few years ago.


Today's free music download on FreeCCM is Bart Millard's Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome freebie!

LINK: FreeCCM Bart Millard


iTunes Discovery Download this week is NewWorldSon's "There is a Way." I don't know about you, but I just love this song.

LINK: iTunes NewWorldSon

Walmart has a free download of INO artists. You definitely want to check out this sample. It is free for now, but I do not know how long. The sampler includes songs by Phil Wickham, Chasen, Jonny Diaz, Sara Groves, Stellar Kart, MercyMe, Philips, Craig & Dean and MercyMe.

LINK: INO Sampler Download from Walmart





While supplies last get a coupon for a free box or bowl of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Cheesy Explosion. While supplies last. The coupon will be mailed to you. :)

LINK: Free Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Cheesy Explosion


Jamba Juice was one of my favorite beverage stops back when I lived in California. It is a bit far for me here in Prescott, but this is a great deal for those who are near Jamba Juice in Phoenix and other areas. Right now you can print a buy 1 get 1 free coupon of any drink off of the Jamba menu. The coupon is good from 4/12 to 4/25! This is part of their 20 year celebration of feeling good! Coupon link is below:

LINK: Jamba Juice buy 1 get 1 free


Take care of your hair with an awesome sample from Aveeno. You will get a sample of Aveeno Nourish Hair Care as well as a coupon! One of the things I love about samples is the coupons that almost always come along with them.

LINK: Aveeno Nourish Hair Care


Christian Audio is offering a free audio book download of Randy Alcorn's book "The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving" Use this code: TREPRIN10 during check out. This freebie is only good through April 16th.

LINK: Christian Audio "The Treasure Principle"


Kroger is having its 3rd annual Design a Reusable shopping bag contest. I did this last year and got a free reusable bag that is still in good use today. It is well worth signing up and taking a few moments to create a bag. When you get to the main page just pick your store. I believe that here in Arizona it is all about Fry's. Take a chance. Everyone who enters gets credit for one free Fry's shopping bag. You do need a Fry's card to register and the credit will be put on your card.

LINK: Design and Reusable Shopping Bag



TAX DAY FREEBIES -

Bring a reusable travel mug into your local Starbucks and get a free brewed coffee! Check it all out at the link:

LINK: Starbucks

Cinnabon is giving away free bite-sized cupcakes (limit 2 per guest) from 6pm to 8pm while supplies last. There are many Cinnabon stores around the country but this is only a deal around here if you are in Glendale, Phoenix or Goodyear. Check out where these locations are and get more details at the link below:

LINK: Cinnabon

Some businesses that offer hydromassage are offering free hydromassages for tax day...well actually the 15th through the 18th. There are details on the site. You need to print your coupon and call to schedule the free massage. Remember that you need to ask for the free offer when you schedule.

LINK: Free Hydromassage


Don't forget to check out Angel Food Ministries. Their deadline is today, April 15th for this month's offers.

LINK: Angel Food Ministries This month's menu order by April 15 (Menu Link)

Have a great week!!!!

What To Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

What to Do when your Burden is Overwhelming

Psalm 55:22FOCUS VERSE

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Cast: “to chuck, throw out, or to throw overboard.”

"Cast" is a familiar term around the water. Fishermen cast their bait in hopes of catching the big one. The catch, no matter the size, must be cleaned and prepared before the fishermen can fully reap the reward. After the work is done, the catch comes to the dinner table prepared for all to “Come and get it, eat and enjoy.” Passengers who find themselves in an emergency situation while aboard a boat or ship may get a different concept of the word "cast." In order to survive, those on board may have to "cast" overboard the things that threaten the safety of the ship or hinder it from reaching its destination. People "cast" their lot for the catch -- the big one in life. The catch may be a new job, new house, or new spouse -- things they want so badly. We think these items will make our lives complete, but soon learn otherwise. Beginning to live with the "catch," moving in, settling down, and /or beginning the new job may expose some flaws. There may be things to fix or work to be done before this catch really reaches its potential. The "catch" can become a blessing or a burden. When the circumstances of life become a burden, we want to cast it overboard, just as the person does who is onboard a conveyance in distress. But casting is not as easy as it looks either for the survivor or the person who has burdens in their life.

We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong. We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt, but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to roll them back on Him. "Cast that He hath given thee upon the Lord." If we undertake work for God and get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility will be overwhelmingly crushing; but if we roll back on God that which He has put upon us, He takes away the sense of responsibility by bringing in the realization of Himself.

Many workers have gone out with high courage and fine impulses, but with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, and before long they are crushed. They do not know what to do with the burden, it produces weariness, and people say - "What an embittered end to such a beginning!"

"Roll thy burden upon the Lord" - you have been bearing it all; deliberately put one end on the shoulders of God. "The government shall be upon His shoulder." Commit to God "that He hath given thee"; not fling it off, but put it over on to Him and yourself with it, and the burden is lightened by the sense of companionship. Never disassociate yourself from the burden.

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." Matthew 11:29

Jesus is asking us to take one end of the yoke - "My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together." Are you identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God for the pressure of His hand. "To them that have no might He increaseth strength." The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and learn of Him.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Where do the saints get their joy from? If we did not know some saints, we would say - "Oh, he, or she, has nothing to bear." Lift the veil. The fact that the peace and the light and the joy of God are there is proof that the burden is there too. The burden God places, squeezes the grapes and out comes the Spiritual Wine. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner strength that can not be conquered.

Cast Your Burdens – What do we do with our burdens?
So what can we do?

We can:

• Carry the burdens to family or friend
• Spend time unloading on a counselor’s couch.
• Cast the burdens any place that there is someone who will listen, maybe even to the stranger on the street

Few people want to listen to our woes and troubles. Even fewer have any idea what to do about our difficulties. People may even want us to help them carry some of their load. No one seems to have the time to listen.

There is one place we can "cast" our burdens, a place that far exceeds the list above. There is someone who can be the best friend you'll ever have and you can be a part of His family. He is a counselor, who has no equal and He is available and wants to listen -- any time of the day or night. He takes whatever burdens you want to cast upon Him and takes care of them for you.
His name is Jesus. He waits right now for you to call on Him; to cast all of your burdens upon Him.

Casting Your Burdens on Him

A Spiritual Exercise by Anabel Gillham

What do you do with your burdens? People and circumstances that seem to drain every ounce of your strength, things you would like to give to the Lord but just can’t seem to let go of? God showed me how to give my burdens to Him . . . a simple little exercise, but oh so wonderful to experience. I’d like to share it with you. You’ll need about 30 minutes alone. Gather a few things together from home: an envelope, a piece of paper, a pen, a watch (preferably with a second hand), and a felt-tipped pen. Go buy a helium-filled balloon. Then immediately go somewhere where there are no obstacles, no trees or buildings—maybe a deserted football stadium or a park or a lake.

Take all your paraphernalia with you to the edge of the water or the center of the field. Write about your burden on the balloon with your felt-tipped pen, anything that will help you associate that balloon with your problem. Find a rock about the size of a half-brick, and hold it and the string to your balloon in your hand, lifting it with a straight arm at a 45-degree angle. Heavy, isn’t it?

Begin talking to the Lord about your burden—all your thoughts, your fears, the pain, the destroyed dreams. As you are praying, your arm is going to get awfully tired. Keep right on praying. Tell Him everything. Any of the thoughts that you have had—vomit it all out—if there is bitterness, anger, depression—all of it.

By now you’re crying, and you can’t separate the emotional pain from the physical pain you’re experiencing because your arm is hurting so badly. Then, when you cannot hold your arm up another single second, say something like this: "Lord, You have commanded me to give my burdens to You. I can’t handle this. It’s too much for me. I can’t hold onto it any longer. You must take it." Drop the rock, release the string, and watch that burden float up into the heavens—into the open, waiting arms of God.

Thank Him for telling you to give Him your burden—and for taking it. Look at your watch and record the time and date on your piece of paper. Write this: On (date/time), I gave my burden to the Lord. And He took it. (Print that last line.)

Look up into the sky and find that tiny speck. It’s His—it is no longer yours. It’s not in your hand. He told you to give it to Him, and you did. Now fold your paper and put it in your envelope (where is the balloon? catch one last glimpse of it). Seal it, and on the outside write "GOD" and then the date.

When you get home, get an index card and cut it into strips, on each strip write just the date. Put a strip over the sink, one in your bathroom medicine cabinet by your toothbrush, one on the dash of your car—anyplace where you can glance at it—and thank Him for taking your burden. (Close your eyes and visualize that speck in the sky again.)

Please know that God loves you, understands your burdens and wants to bear that load if you will just let it go and cast it on Him. I pray that this simple exercise will give you peace. Remember, your emotions are not the barometer of peace. KNOWING that He has taken your burden and will handle it with wisdom and loving tenderness is the key to peace. (Remember how that balloon went straight to Him when you released it?) Think on these things.

CASTING OUR BURDENS

Scriptures

Psalm 55:22FOCUS VERSE

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not

permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 15:5

He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 37:24

When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Just as my child brings his broken toys
with tears
for me to mend,
I took my broken dreams to God
because He was my Friend.
But then . . . instead of leaving Him
in peace
to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried,
"How could You be so slow?"
"What could I do, My child?" He said.
"You never did let go."

Faith Mitchner

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Good times to buy items:

Woman's Day has some awesome money saving tips in May's issue. Mary Hunt one of my favorite thrifty tipsters wrote an article on ways to save money by buying things at certain times. Here are just a few tips that I thought I would share:

The cheapest time to do some shopping for air travel is on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm EST. This is because many of the major airlines announce their sales on Monday nights. The other airlines follow suit on Tuesdays which can make for a great time for a traveler to cash in. Also many people know this but the best times to travel are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as there is less business travel on those days and so there are more seats available. It is also wise to book your air travel at the first flight out, because most people do not want to get up too early. Other good times are noon and dinner time. :)

Here is something I didn't know, Spring is a good time to purchase sneakers, and this is apparently because many athletic shoe companies sponsor walks and races. Apparently a lot of newbies buy shoes for these walks and it is a great time to pick up a deal.

Gardening Help:

I found something else really cool that I wanted to share today. This is great for anyone interested in setting up a community garden. The America the Beautiful project saves seeds from going to waste when seed companies discard them. The offer flower and vegetable seeds. People interested can go to their site and fill out an application request.


Freebies:

John Freida is giving away free samples of Luxurious Volume Full Splendor shampoo and conditioner. Link below:

LINK: John Freida Samples

Free CCM has more free music from the Catalyst Project. This week you can get A Thousand Amens by Doxology

LINK: FREE MUSIC

Get a free ream of Staples Copy paper after their Easy Rebate. Follow the link below for the coupon. This is too easy to pass up and ends on April 10th!

LINK: Free Staples Copy Paper


STRETCH YOUR FOOD BUDGET


When you want to save money, one of the important things to do is figure out what to do with leftovers. You have to check out thekitchn.com (yes that is kitchen without the "e"), because they have 75 tips for things to do with different leftovers from chicken scraps to spaghetti squash. Check out the link below. This is a perfect place to stop at when you are wondering what to do with certain items.

LINK: 75 Tips For Leftovers



Make sure to check out the new coupons available on cellfire.com for a new batch of coupons to load on your grocery loyalty cards.

LINK: Cellfire


Don't forget to check out Angel Food Ministries and Treasure Box for enough food to feed a family of four for a week on $30 plus service fees. Also check out Bountiful Baskets for some great veggies and fruits. Get to know the schedule for when it is in your area. For example, the pick up date in my area is this Saturday and the order time starts Tuesday morning until Wednesday. The next order will be in two weeks. If you check and your area is not available this week, check back next week.

LINK: Angel Food Ministries This month's menu order by April 15 (Menu Link)
Treasure Box Order deadline is April 11 (Menu Link)
Bountiful Baskets



And let's not forget free donating. It couldn't be any easier to donate to a favorite non profit. Next time you are going to make a search, take a moment and go to www.goodsearch.com. It takes a moment to type in your charity. After it is entered, you can do your search and 1 cent goes to your charity for each search. This really adds up, and it is completely free for you. Check it out, if 100 people did just two searches a day for a year, the non profit will get a donation of $730! And yes...Radio Shine is listed.

LINK: Good Search

Celebrating God’s Faithfulness

From Radio Shine’s Praise and Share Edition

Steve White - Host

A wise man once said that the proof of the durability of Christianity is not how steep the race is, but how long. I have found that to be true. It is not how persuasively we win the argument about the nature of truth, but what works when we put it into practice, what endures because it is based on revelation and what is fluff. In my estimation, the most remarkable, most powerful, but most simple, truth is that God is real and that he is faithful to His children. That is why Christianity works. Christians should be the most positive people in the world. Celebration of His reality and faithfulness has the latent capacity to act as a gigantic magnet to draw others to him. It is time to respond to skepticism and pervasive negativity by celebrating God’s faithfulness, deliberately, consciously, joyfully and very publicly.

When you are a child, the future is all potential. When the hair turns grey and the decade milestones come and go there are moments to reflect on what actually took place. As I look back, I know God has always been there. He has provided everything I have needed (not necessarily all that I wanted or demanded). I have sensed His presence with me, even in times of loneliness and the loss of loved ones (Christians face grief and loss like everyone else, but we know God is with us at those times). The Bible tells us there is a time and a season for everything. The strongest Christian will face life and death, health and sickness, abundance and lack, some experiences that build up and others that seem to demolish possessions and plans. Things will not always go well. Job observed that God sometimes allows seemingly bad things to happen (Job 2:10). There is no sense living in denial. Christians are not immune from the highs and lows of relationships and personal feelings about circumstances. It is in looking back that we can evaluate the totality of what has gone before and see the hand of God upholding and His Spirit sustaining us (Psalm 139). As Jesus reminded us, God is a God of the living, of the “now”.

God is able to do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He says, “If you call on me I will answer you.” (Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 50:15). Friends care, but they are limited. There are many things they simply cannot do to help, even if they are available and disposed to do so. On the other hand, God will not allow us to be removed (Psalm 55:22). Nothing can take us out of His hand (John 10:28-29). He has promised us “rest” (Matthew 11:28). We can trust him with our all, as a lifestyle choice. We know that he makes everything that happens in our circumstances work for good (Romans 8:28) and he is able to keep us from falling (1 Corinthians 1:8, 9; Jude 24).

-2-

Problems are a part of life, but God does not abandon us because we get into fixes. He does not destroy his servants. Even when we feel he is squeezing us, to produce change, we can still affirm that we trust Him with our lives. When faced with unusual or trying circumstances, Biblical faith says, “This has a purpose” (Job 23:10). Too many people opt for a form of Christian fatalism, directly or indirectly blaming God for allowing events to occur. It is easy to be cemented to our setbacks, but this is not God’s way. The Bible repeatedly calls him the “God of hope”. He is faithful when Christians suffer persecution, when a friend dies at the hands of an assailant, when abuse occurs, when financial problems appear overwhelming, when a sickness is not healed, when a friend is killed in a car accident, when Christians perish in a tsunami? It is assuring to know He has a purpose. Life is not a tiny blip of nothingness in the cosmos. Life IS God. His purpose is always to build something that will last for eternity.

Are we really convinced that God cares, that he is able and trustworthy? Do we live as though that confidence is real? Is it right or wrong to query God’s faithfulness? There is no sense pretending. He can always remove a trial, if he desires, but sometimes he chooses not to do so. Paul asked three times for a particular trial to be lifted, but was told God’s grace was enough. Only our heavenly father knows what is really in our hearts when we react against what is going on in our lives. I believe we can ask for an explanation about what is happening without judging God (Romans 9:19-21). When we regularly and actively celebrate God’s faithfulness as part of our lives, we won’t be so quick to jump to conclusions and think God has let us down when things do not work out the way we want. God is faithful.

There are many ways in which Christians experience God’s faithfulness. These include his presence in times of suffering; His strength in times of temptation; His faithfulness in showing us how to live wisely in all our human relationships, through His Word and His people; His faithfulness in avenging those who suffer for him. The bottom line is that we can trust him with our lives and know He has our good at heart (this is what Satan failed to realize when he mistakenly thought Job’s reaction to suffering would be to curse God to His face, cf Job 1:11; 2:5). The fact is, he has a purpose (cf Job 23:10). It is not enough to say, “God knows” when circumstances are beyond our control. That can imply that He is aware but indifferent. Some things happen by divine permission and we never work them out objectively. However, there is always a bottom line. David said that he had never seen the righteous going without. In times of trouble (and he had lots of those), he kept reminding himself that God was his refuge and help (Ps 46:1, 2). That can be our experience as well.

-3-

God shows his faithfulness by putting us in relationships, such as families; or providing experienced Christians as leaders and mentors to care for us spiritually. (Hebrews 13:17). Whatever happens, He is described as a father looking after his family, caring for the vulnerable, a pastor overseeing his sheep (Psalm 23). Even the deaths of his people are “precious” in his sight “

Psalm 116:15). (Ps.41:3, Isa.63:9, John 11:3, 2Cor. 12:9, Phil.4:13, 2Cor.4:16,

Acts 17:28, Isa.40:29-31, Deut.33:27)

He is faithful, even in death!

DEATH~
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT .

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, 'Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.' Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know..' 'You don't know? You're, a Christian man, and don't know what's on the other side?' The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough.' May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

May His peace be within you today because…..HE IS FAITHFUL!

***************

Kelly's Thrifty Tips

Today, I thought it would be nice to talk about saving money by using items for multiple purposes and using every bit of an item. There will also be some freebies thrown in too. :)

MAKE YOUR OWN BREAD CRUMBS

1 - Do you eat the ends of the bread? We do not. Seriously, I just don't think bread heels are good for much more than keeping your bread from getting dry and gross. Most of the time, after we go through a loaf of bread, we just toss the heels to the birds in the back yard. Now I am using them to make bread crumbs. To do this I keep the heels in the bag and toss in the freezer. When I have accumulated several bags, I take them out of the freezer and bake them in the oven to dry them out. Then simply grate them and put in an airtight container. You can use plain or add seasonings when you use them. I have used these crumbs now in meatloaf and they really work great and are ridiculously cheap since we are already buying the bread. I also still have plenty of heels left over to give to the birds too. :)

Another cool thing is I have started to do this as well with Italian and French loaves that I purchase. We never eat the whole loaf before it dries right up. These get hard enough not to need baking. I grate them as well but put them in a different container. They make perfect panko breading.

AND NOW A FREEBIE BREAK!

Head on over to Walmart.com for a free sample of Dove's Men's Body Wash. The free sample link is on the top right.

LINK: Dove for Men


BAKING SODA FOR JEWELRY CLEANING, HAIR CLARIFYING AND DEODORIZING


2 - Baking soda has a bunch of uses. I am going to go over a few of my favorites here.

--- Hair clarifying. When you use the same brands of shampoos and conditioners residue your hair gets kind of blah and limp. This also happens when you use lots of product from mousses to gels and hairspray. Baking soda helps get rid of that build up really simply. I usually just keep some in a container in the bathroom and had a bit to my palm and then add my shampoo. Mix it all together and shampoo like you normally would. It is amazing how clean your hair feels afterward and it is by far cheaper than buying a clarifying shampoo.


--- Baking soda can also be used to keep your refrigerator fresh, but you do not need to pop a whole box into the refrigerator. Instead take a coffee filter and pour a half a cup of baking soda into the filter. Gather the filter and tie at the top and place this package in the refrigerator instead. This will last a month. When you take the baking soda out of the fridge, empty the contents into the sink and add a cup of white vinegar...this will give your sink a nice fizzy clean.


--- Baking soda also makes a great silver cleaner. Combine two tablespoons with enough water to make a light paste. Rub the paste gently into the silver. This works wonders with taking the tarnish off of silver without using any harsh chemicals.


FREEBIE BREAK

RitzPix.com is offering a free My Show DVD. You can upload up to 50 pictures and a 1 minute video to DVD. This could make a great grandparent gift and all you pay is $1.99 for shipping. This offer is only for today April 1st so check out the details at the link below.

LINK: MY SHOW DVD


VINEGAR IN THE DISHWASHER


3. If dishwasher spotting gives you a problem, don't spend extra money on spot reducers. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to your dishwasher liquid and run the wash as usual.



FREEBIE BREAK

I do not know how long this will last but you can sign up now for a free issue of Living the Country Life magazine. Check out the link below for more details.

LINK: Living the Country Life Magazine free subscription


CORNSTARCH, CLOVES & A CHEESE SHAKER

4. Combine 1/4 cup of ground cloves and 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch and put in an old shaker container (the plastic cheese shakers work great). Shake them up in those smelly athletic sneakers to kill the foot odor.


FREE FAMILY FUN

I don't know if you tried this last year, but we did and it was wonderful. April 17th through the 25th will be another Free National Park Entry Week! That is free entry to all the 392 National Parks! Last summer, we took advantage of a free National Park weekend entry and had a blast at the Grand Canyon. We packed a cooler full of sandwiches and treats from home and had a great day of picture taking and enjoying the time out. You will definitely want to take advantage of this.

LINK: Free National Park Entry

PS While looking at the U.S. National Park Service website, I also noticed that they are offering students jobs for the summer. If you have a high school or college student in the family, you may want to direct them to checking out this awesome job. I remember taking a trip with my family cross country when I graduated and we met lots of students at Yellowstone. Here is a link for details: U.S. National Park Service Jobs for Students. There is also a link for volunteers too.


Don't forget to check out Freeccm.com for their free music this week as well as iTickets.com. There are lots of great free songs out there.

FreeCCM has Hold the Light from Caedmon's Call. :)