Hello lovely ladies,

It's STILL FREEZING cold outside! Haha!

I can only suggest to wait until spring to wash your hair. Hee hee!  I'm just kidding, of course, but that's how I feel because I dread each time I have to wash my hair in the wintertime.

I have to admit, I LOVE the pretty snow. Many people offer me horrid looks when I admit this. ha! ha! However, I mostly like the snow when I can stay inside and sip on hot chocolate, while watching it drift delicately down to earth in a pretty manner.

Change of topic...

Back to the topic of hair.... I've STILL been growing in my silver strands and avoiding the dye. This was a mission I took on about 7 1/2 months ago.

Things I'm learning from this experience. 

PATIENCE! I have learned that my hair grows slower than a snail stuck in molasses!

I don't know if that's a real saying, but I made it up because it well-describes my hair growth. Hee! hee!

BUT-- I discovered this week something that grows even SLOWER...

I learned this week that growing a Chinese bamboo tree takes EXTREME patience!

When one plants the seed, here's how things go (or grow):

YEAR ONE: Water and fertilize. See no results.

YEAR TWO: Water and fertilize. See no results.

YEAR THREE: Water and fertilize. See no results.

YEAR FOUR: Water and fertilize. See no results.

YEAR FIVE. Water and Fertilize...then the MIRACLE happens! 

In a short time of just five weeks, a Chinese bamboo tree can grow to a height of 90 feet!

Did God want us to learn a lesson from this?  

For one, PATIENCE takes work and waiting...but especially NOT giving up!

For the planter who gets tired of watering and fertilizing in the previous years, they do not get to see the miracle.

Time passes slowly sometimes when we keep plowing along, the miracles begin to happen with time and patience.

Keep Walking in FAITH,

Rhonda White (rhondawhite@outlook.com)

~ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I Corinthians 16:23 KJV

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**This Week's Devotional**

NOTE: I'm excited to announce that you can now also "LISTEN" to this week's devotional!

Faith Still Moves Mountains

https://herchristianhome.com/faith-still-moves-mountains/

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7 Journal Jots: (Use these ideas for your journal or ministry)

- "Snow illustrates the holiness and righteousness of God." - Pastor Chris Staub

(Related references: Job 38:22, Psa. 147:16-17, Psa 148:8, Pro. 25:13, Isa.1:18, Psa. 51:7, Rev.1:14, Rev.19:8)

- "David felt that no one could stand up to him, as long as GOD was on his side. Always quickened!  Always defended! Always delivered! Always preserved! Always faithful in the battle!" - Dr. Steven Andres

- Those who fail to give to God what is rightfully His are in reality robbing themselves and produce in their own lives many self-induced trials. 

(See Malachi 3:9) - Refreshing Daily in God's Word, February 2021 issue

- Bad Days: "Evaluate your life: Is your bad day a result of lack of organization, an attack by Satan, or unconfessed sin? There is always a reason." - RDIGW, Feb. 2021 issue

- "Getting tired or having a bad day doesn't give anyone the right to misbehave even for a little while. Our behavior has too much effect upon those we love." - Cindy Schapp

- "The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel." - Thomas Watson

*QUESTION: Are we spotted by the world? Doesn't dirty snow lack the same beauty? Those subtle influences from the world seem to creep into our lives and need de-cluttering!

*Related Reference: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their 

affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 kjv

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New Bible Reading Schedule 

*Side note: It's not necessary to print... you can simply bookmark the new Bible schedule.

OR --Print only the pages you want. Feel free to download it to your own device.

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHContent/January-February-Bible-Reading-Planner-2021.pdf

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Bible Verse of the Week:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

– Matthew 21:22 kjv

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Reminder Links:

13 Ways to Say "Thank You" Printable: https://gumroad.com/l/ObAkm

Christian Planner Printable Pages:

https://herchristianhome.com/christian-planner-printable-pages/

My Greeting Card Shop: (Looking for a unique card? Shoot me an email with your ideas.)

https://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/loveencouragementcards

My Zazzle Design Shop:

https://www.zazzle.com/store/herchristianhome

Believe God collection:  

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/48391048

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Today's Tidy Up Your Life Tips: WASTE NOT

This week, I just wanted to focus a little bit on the topic of wasting.

I do try to use up all my leftovers in the fridge by keeping my fridge more organized and placing my leftovers in a visible area where they'll get used. Another idea is that I have a "leftover" meal day when I can purposely

use up my leftovers. 

I'm not perfect, and sometimes I fail and have to throw things out. I especially hate when this happens to vegetables or fruit that I purchased because I was too lazy to get in there and prepare them.

When I have to throw something out, I always ask the Lord to forgive me. And I ALWAYS think of this verse...

“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.” Proverbs 12:27 kjv

This year in 2021, I have planned (and told my hubby several times haha!) that I'm using things up this year!

For example, I have a surplus storage of soap bars. So, instead of using our convenient soft soap dispenser, I put it away for a while so that we can use up these soap bars.

When we plan well and do not waste, we also save a ton of money. It adds up!

May I encourage you this week to create some plans to use things up that have been sitting around?

Plan to be watchful over your "substances" --- It's precious and a gift from God.

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