Hello lovely ladies,

This is the week of Christmas. Can you believe it? I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This time of year is so very difficult for many. Several (maybe you) have had to say good-bye to a dear loved one here on earth. 2020 has been extremely different and difficult in so many ways. So much has changed. 

It's also a grievous time as we see our surrounding world in turmoil. But, can you imagine the grievous time back in the days when Jesus was born? It is said that 14,000 boy infants (two and under) were killed by King Herod in Bethlehem in his attempt to slay Jesus.

I'm not sure how accurate that number is, but I do know there were many. Can you imagine the devastation? Can you imagine the weeping and crying of mothers and fathers? Would there be a family or home that was not affected by this massacre?

But Satan could not destroy Jesus. Jesus' birth brought HOPE to this world. We have a reason to rejoice this Christmas. Jesus is the reason to rejoice! Celebrate it for the purpose it represents!

I wrote a new devotional for you on HCH...

Pondering the Real G.I.F.T. of Christmas 

https://herchristianhome.com/pondering-the-true-g-i-f-t-of-christmas/

God is always still on the throne! 

Look up! Look up! Jesus' return is drawing nearer!

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” 

- Romans 13:11 kjv

My Friend, 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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New Devotional on HCH: 

Pondering the Real G.I.F.T. of Christmas 

https://herchristianhome.com/pondering-the-true-g-i-f-t-of-christmas/

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7 Tidbits from my journal: (Use these ideas for your journal or ministry)

"When we trust God's promises, we stay open to His strengthening grace." - Pastor David Brown

"Prepare yourself, and God will find the work." - Pastor Jim McCullough

"Nobody can be frustrated while saying "BUBBLES" in an angry voice." 

*Ha! ha! I put this in my journal back in May 2018 and have no idea who said it...but give it a try. :)

"Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Eliot (Good advice as we get ready to spend time with the family during the holidays.)

There are no hopeless situations, only people who have grown hopeless in their situations.

"You'll notice that clean, empty space is more highly regarded than endless dusty stuff." - Jody Powers

*QUESTION: What's a little miracle you've witnessed recently?  *Life is a series of a thousand tiny miracles.

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Christmas printable gifts:

*NEW: Christmas Story Word Search & Color Sheet

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHGifts/Christmas-Story-Word-Search.pdf

Christmas posters:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHGifts/Christmas-Posters.pdf

Christmas organization printable:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHGifts/Christmas-Organization-Printable.pdf

Christmas gift tags:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHGifts/Christmas-Gift-Tags.pdf

Christmas recipe cards:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHGifts/Christmas-Recipes-Cards-Printable.pdf

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Bible Verse of the Week:

"Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments."

- Psalm 119:164 kjv

I was thinking of how a literal schedule might go if I were to praise God 7 times a day... 1. Upon awakening 2. Mid-morning 3. Noon 4. Mid-afternoon 5. Suppertime 6. Mid-evening 7. Bedtime

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Reminder Links:

Bible reading schedule link for December:

https://media.publit.io/file/HCHContent/2020-Bible-Reading-Planner-December.pdf

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: Six Quick and Easy Tips for Cutting Down on Food Waste

Ready to start cutting back on your food waste? There are lots of things you can do to reduce the amount of food you throw away, and it will also help your wallet.

So, if you’re ready to save money, check out these six quick and easy tips for cutting down on food waste…

1. Go Shopping on a Full Stomach

A lot of people make the mistake of going shopping on an empty stomach. The trouble with this is that when you are hungry, you aren’t going to make the best choices. Not only are you going to buy more junk food, but you’ll also buy a lot more than you actually need.

So, try switching to go shopping after you've eaten a meal. If you aren’t hungry, you won’t be as tempted by special offers and impulse buys. 

2. Keep Your Fridge Organized

A large contributor to food waste is an unorganized fridge. If you simply place your food away in any old place, it will get forgotten and wasted. If you keep it more organized, you’ll easily be able to see which foods need to be eaten first.

When you buy something new, place it toward the back of the fridge. You should always try to utilize the “first in, first out” policy to reduce food waste. 

*One main tip that I use is that I have a designated spot for leftovers that need to be used quickly within the next couple of days or so.

3. Shop Smart

To cut down on a lot of food waste, it’s time to shop smarter. This means taking a shopping list and only buying the things you need. You may also need to start going shopping more frequently. Shopping little and often ensures you never have too much of anything. 

You can even shop online these days and have the food dropped off at your doorstep. This stops you being tempted by impulse buys in store.

Check for printable coupons online for your shopping list of products.

*A tip here that I use is to quickly browse what I have in my pantry that could be used for meals for the week and simply go buy the extra needed ingredients. It's so helpful to know what you already have stocked!

4. Make Use of Your Freezer

Rather than throwing out fresh food, keep an eye on when it is going out of date and freeze it beforehand. Most foods can be frozen to keep them for longer. So, check what you can freeze and don’t forget to fully utilize your freezer space.

*I like to take my old bananas -- take off the peeling, put it in a baggie and smash it, then stick it in the freezer so that it will be will ready to be used for banana bread or banana cookies.

*My mom used to keep a large container in the freezer. She would dump leftover vegetables inside when there wasn't enough left for another meal. After it would get full, she'd make a delicious vegetable stew. It was delicious every single time!

5. Blend Up Leftovers

If you tend to have a lot of leftover fruit and vegetables, why not turn them into a smoothie? Simply throw them all in the blender and whip them up into a smoothie for a healthy beverage.

6. Get Creative

Have fun with the leftovers in the fridge. I've created a few new meals and recipes this way. 

7. Give Your Water Extra Flavor

Finally, another innovative way to use fruit and veggies that is nearing its use by date, is to add flavor to your water. You can use peels and juice to flavor the water, making it nicer to consume.

There are so many ways to cut down the amount of food we waste each year and save money in the process. We just need to add a mindset that we do not want to throw anything away if possible.  

*On the other side of the coin, if something is really getting old, by all means do throw it out and count it as a loss. Better to do that than to get sick.

Feel free to send me your own tips!

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