Wow...I am REALLY behind this time! The saddest part? I actually had June and July done and ready to go! I am reading through, not studying nearly as much as I ought and would appreciate prayer to be more diligent.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Pledge Or Endust
Or neither?
It dawned on me the other day, hmmm, I remember as a child, one of my weekly chores was to dust and polish the furniture. I haven't properly 'dusted' or 'polished' my wooden furniture in...well, let's just say it's been a while. :-)
So as my mind meandered upon that Kastle keeping task (lol!) I wondered, hmmm, surely there has to be a more natural method or solution for cleaning and hydrating the wood furniture, no?
Whatever did we do pre-internet when questions arose? I seriously doubt the 'ol encyclopedias would have had anything on 'dusting' - well maybe crop dusting, but furniture maintenance?
So what have I unearthed? Here are a few recipes for homemade furniture polish:
From Care2 site:
10 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
A few drops olive oil or jojoba
From the The Make Your Own Zone (don't ya just love the name?):
1-3/4 cups water
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil (about 8 to 10 drops)
From the Our Homemade Happiness:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
I like the simplicity of the 3rd one (theirs sounds like salad dressing); however their ratio of oil to vinegar (or lemon juice) seems backwards from the first two.
There were comments on each one, specifically asking about the oil becoming rancid. I'd think with the lemon juice or vinegar (white distilled) that wouldn't be an issue. Several said to only make as must as you needed for the task (good point).
I haven't any lemon essential oil, but do have tea tree oil, so I may substitute that instead. Once I try them, I'll ether try to add to this post or (if I have pictures) a new one with a reference to this. If anyone has other ideas and/or suggestions, or have tried something similar please do comment on this post.
It dawned on me the other day, hmmm, I remember as a child, one of my weekly chores was to dust and polish the furniture. I haven't properly 'dusted' or 'polished' my wooden furniture in...well, let's just say it's been a while. :-)
So as my mind meandered upon that Kastle keeping task (lol!) I wondered, hmmm, surely there has to be a more natural method or solution for cleaning and hydrating the wood furniture, no?
Whatever did we do pre-internet when questions arose? I seriously doubt the 'ol encyclopedias would have had anything on 'dusting' - well maybe crop dusting, but furniture maintenance?
So what have I unearthed? Here are a few recipes for homemade furniture polish:
From Care2 site:
10 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
A few drops olive oil or jojoba
From the The Make Your Own Zone (don't ya just love the name?):
1-3/4 cups water
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil (about 8 to 10 drops)
From the Our Homemade Happiness:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
I like the simplicity of the 3rd one (theirs sounds like salad dressing); however their ratio of oil to vinegar (or lemon juice) seems backwards from the first two.
There were comments on each one, specifically asking about the oil becoming rancid. I'd think with the lemon juice or vinegar (white distilled) that wouldn't be an issue. Several said to only make as must as you needed for the task (good point).
I haven't any lemon essential oil, but do have tea tree oil, so I may substitute that instead. Once I try them, I'll ether try to add to this post or (if I have pictures) a new one with a reference to this. If anyone has other ideas and/or suggestions, or have tried something similar please do comment on this post.
Monday, May 5, 2014
John Bunyan
I've always enjoyed the story, Pilgrim's Progress, and I confess I prefer the youth edition, specifically the dramatized stories of Christian and then his wife, Christiana as they travel the celestial road.
This bio on him is from Chapel Library, where you can read more about him, as well as many of his works (either in PDF format or by ordering - FREE!).
"John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born at Elstow, England, about a mile from Bedford, and became one of the most influential authors of the seventeenth century. Few writers in history have left such a wealth of Christ-centered writings.
Bunyan's moving conversion is recorded in his Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. His first lasting conviction of sin was produced by a sermon denouncing the violation of the Lord's Day by labor, sports, or otherwise--because his greatest enjoyment came from sports on the Lord's Day. Some time later while passing through the streets of Bedford, Bunyan heard "three or four poor women" sitting at a door, "talking about the new birth, the work of God in their hearts, and the way by which they were convinced of their miserable state by nature. They told how God had visited their souls with His love in Christ Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been refreshed, comforted, and supported against the temptations of the devil." From these pious women Bunyan learned to despise sin and to hunger for the Savior. Later, while passing into the fields, he recounts, "This sentence fell upon my soul, 'Thy righteousness is in heaven'...for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Then "his chains fell off," and he went home rejoicing.
In 1655, Bunyan was baptized by immersion by Pastor John Gifford of Bedford and called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bunyan was arrested November 12, 1660, for preaching without the approval of the Anglican Church. He was charged with "teaching men to worship God contrary to the law" and was in jail more than twelve years.
His most well-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, was written while in the Bedford jail. During Bunyan's lifetime there were 100,000 copies circulated in the British isles, besides several editions in North America. It has been continuously in print since its first printing. Bunyan's remarkable imagery was firmly rooted in the Reformation doctrines of man's fallen nature, grace, imputation, justification, and the atonement--all of which Bunyan seems to have derived directly from Scripture."
This bio on him is from Chapel Library, where you can read more about him, as well as many of his works (either in PDF format or by ordering - FREE!).
"John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born at Elstow, England, about a mile from Bedford, and became one of the most influential authors of the seventeenth century. Few writers in history have left such a wealth of Christ-centered writings.
Bunyan's moving conversion is recorded in his Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. His first lasting conviction of sin was produced by a sermon denouncing the violation of the Lord's Day by labor, sports, or otherwise--because his greatest enjoyment came from sports on the Lord's Day. Some time later while passing through the streets of Bedford, Bunyan heard "three or four poor women" sitting at a door, "talking about the new birth, the work of God in their hearts, and the way by which they were convinced of their miserable state by nature. They told how God had visited their souls with His love in Christ Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been refreshed, comforted, and supported against the temptations of the devil." From these pious women Bunyan learned to despise sin and to hunger for the Savior. Later, while passing into the fields, he recounts, "This sentence fell upon my soul, 'Thy righteousness is in heaven'...for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Then "his chains fell off," and he went home rejoicing.
In 1655, Bunyan was baptized by immersion by Pastor John Gifford of Bedford and called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bunyan was arrested November 12, 1660, for preaching without the approval of the Anglican Church. He was charged with "teaching men to worship God contrary to the law" and was in jail more than twelve years.
His most well-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, was written while in the Bedford jail. During Bunyan's lifetime there were 100,000 copies circulated in the British isles, besides several editions in North America. It has been continuously in print since its first printing. Bunyan's remarkable imagery was firmly rooted in the Reformation doctrines of man's fallen nature, grace, imputation, justification, and the atonement--all of which Bunyan seems to have derived directly from Scripture."
Another wonderful resource is the book detailing his life, a treasure to be enjoyed along with his writings.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Bunyan - Of The Lord's Day, Sermons and Week Days
Taken from Mr. John Bunyan's Dying Savings - Chapel Library
Have a special care to sanctify the Lord’s day; for as thou keepest it, so it will be with thee all the week long.
Make the Lord’s day the market for thy soul; let the whole day be spent in prayer, repetitions, or meditations; lay aside the affairs of the other part of the week; let thy sermon thou hast heard be converted into prayer: Shall God allow thee six days, and wilt not thou afford him one?
In the church, be careful to serve God; for thou art in his eyes, and not in man’s. Thou mayest hear sermons often, and do well in practicing what thou hearest; but thou must not expect to be told thee in a pulpit all that thou oughtest to do, but be studious in searching the Scriptures, and reading good books; what thou hearest may be forgotten, but what thou readest may better be retained.
Forsake not the public worship of God, lest God forsake thee, not only in public, but in private.
In the week days, when thou risest in the morning, consider,
Have a special care to sanctify the Lord’s day; for as thou keepest it, so it will be with thee all the week long.
Make the Lord’s day the market for thy soul; let the whole day be spent in prayer, repetitions, or meditations; lay aside the affairs of the other part of the week; let thy sermon thou hast heard be converted into prayer: Shall God allow thee six days, and wilt not thou afford him one?
In the church, be careful to serve God; for thou art in his eyes, and not in man’s. Thou mayest hear sermons often, and do well in practicing what thou hearest; but thou must not expect to be told thee in a pulpit all that thou oughtest to do, but be studious in searching the Scriptures, and reading good books; what thou hearest may be forgotten, but what thou readest may better be retained.
Forsake not the public worship of God, lest God forsake thee, not only in public, but in private.
In the week days, when thou risest in the morning, consider,
- Thou must die.
- Thou mayest die that minute.
- What will become of thy soul. Pray often. At night consider,
- What sins thou hast committed.
- How often thou hast prayed.
- What hath thy mind been bent upon.
- What hath been thy dealing.
- What thy conversation.
- If thou callest to mind the errors of the day, sleep not without a confession to God, and a hope of pardon. Thus every morning and evening make up thy accounts with Almighty God, and thy reckoning will be the less at last.
~*~*~*~*~
What hath thy mind been bent upon? This is the one which 'zapped' me. What am I spending my time and thoughts upon? That which glorifies Him or my flesh?
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