Queen's Edge Farm: Be Quick to Listen

Monday, July 2, 2007

Be Quick to Listen

I just wanted to review the sermon from worship today. We are continuing our study at church in James. James 1:19 roughly states "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger." This is good advice for all. James was writing this passage to the church in his time, and anger within the body of Christ was a primary concern. Reading this passage causes me to pause and think where I am in my spiritual journey. I have good days and bad days. I love doing my devotionals, learning and growing in my relationship with God, but sometimes distractions get in the way.

I would like to stitch this verse on a sampler this winter.

Continuing on....when I get angry I do not honor God. We are called to get rid of all the moral filth in our lives. For me I think this could cover a variety of issues, so I will pray and ask God to show me those areas he wants me to clean up.

Don't just listen or read what the scriptures say...DO! I wonder how often I forgot or disregard what I have learned or read in the Bible?? It is necessary for me to prepare myself daily and weekly for Sunday worship. This will allow any seeds that God wishes to plant to germinate.

It came to me that God has only one simple rule, like I do for my kids, obey. So, what will I do this week to prepare myself for worship and to receive the Word?

1) Prayer

2) Devotions

3) Bible Reading

4) Fellowship with other believers

5) Marriage Challenge

6) Mom Challenge

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Today after church I picked up lunch and came home. Lauren went home with my sister to swim. I was scheduled to attend my friend Perla's House Warming BBQ this afternoon around 4 p.m. Before getting there Taylor, Hannah and I stopped to get her housewarming gift and her belated birthday gift. I really need to review my budget and stick to it. I need to begin saving again, and be a better steward of the resources that God has given to us. Please pray that I will curb my unnecessary and frivolous spending. Thanks!

Upon arriving at Perla's home, I found out that she had postponed her BBQ due to the severe thunderstorms this weekend, and that I had not received the message of the change. She wasn't even home. Her brother contacted her for me, and she asked to take us to dinner. We met her at Applebee's and enjoyed a great time together. I sure do miss seeing her!

She and Alexa (her daughter) plan to come over on the 4th of July for dinner and fireworks. I hope and pray the rain holds off so that our town doesn't cancel the fireworks this year.

Tomorrow I need to get my laundry done, and we are heading for Candi's motel to swim. Pray also that she closes on her house this week. She is really stressed with living in a motel room, and I don't think it is good for her relationship with her family. It is very trying to corral three kids and to cook wholesome meals in a motel. I pray that I will be a good friend to Candi this week.

It's late, and I need to head for bed....talk to everyone later.

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Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.