Christian Homekeeping

Just face the fact that you have to set aside a time in your schedule to manage your data.  You will need time to sort, organize, store and definitely backup your data.  If you don't, then you will risk losing your digital data upon the occasion that malware, ransomware, natural disaster or a thief captures your data.  Are you ok with losing everything?  Most of us aren't and it would be devastating, especially to lose our photos.  You can replace a lot of things that you lose or have stolen but you can't replace memories that were preserved in photos.  You must set aside a weekly, biweekly or at least monthly time to do your downloads, organizing and backing up to keep up with all your ever-growing data!

Most of us have our files and photos saved on our desktop or laptop computers and some only have them on a device, such as a tablet or phone.  I recommend that everything be on your computer as a first line of managing those files and also to organize them.  It is a lot easier, in my opinion, to use a keyboard and a mouse and a larger screen to manage the files, then it is to use a smaller screen with just your finger maneuvering through the process.  However, more importantly, is that your phone can easily be stolen and isn't a safe place to store your data.  I recommend you download your data, specifically photos, to your computer for the first step in backing it up.

Once your files are on your computer, how do you manage or organize them?  You create folders, just like you would in a physical filing cabinet.  Envisioning your digital files in comparison to physical ones in a filing cabinet will probably help you grasp how to manage the data.  Let's start with the main folder called "Pictures" - this would obviously be where most people store their photos - then, "Documents" would be where most people store their other files.  Under each of these, you would create folders with various categories and this is personal preference, but for example, I have mine organized as such: Google Backups; Extended Family; Weight Loss; Inspiration and Ideas; Graphics; Blog Pics; MISC, etc.  Inside each of these folders, I further break it down into categories.  For instance, for Google Backups, which is my downloaded copy of Google Photos, I prefer to go by folders of years and then months.  This makes it easy for me to find the pictures and videos I took during a certain year or month.  For Extended Family, I use categories such as: My Family and Husband's Family - and from those subfolders, I further break it down into Older, Old, and vacations or reunions.  I think this way of organizing pictures will help my children in future years find whatever they are looking for.

For documents, I use categories such as: Finances; Homeschool: Christian: Articles; eBooks; Manuals; Recipes: Songs, etc.  Again, these categories have subfolders to organize even further.  What if you have files that you just don't have time to sort?  Simply make a folder on your desktop called "Sort" and throw the files in there and set aside a time to go through each file and organize it where it goes.  Also, make sure you regularly keep up with clearing out your downloads folder in the same way.

Now, that we know how to manage, organize and have a first layer of storage of our data, let's talk about backups! 

There are some things we will not budge on and that is that we only will buy organic milk, organic soymilk, organic grass-fed beef, uncured ham or turkey sandwich meat, non-GMO corn tortilla chips and certain natural products that don't have additives, preservatives or any other fake stuff.  My health dramatically improved years ago when I made these changes and you are what you eat!  Your body consists of what you ate in the past, you can't get around that.  Some pay medical bills or prescription drugs and eat cheaper than we do but we prefer to pay a little more and have less medical bills and be on no prescription drugs.  I got myself off a shoebox full of prescription meds and I don't EVER want to go back!  I'm in the best shape and health I've probably ever been in my life and I got here by eating healthy, reducing my pesticide exposure, not consuming growth-hormone-filled animals, getting fit and increasing my muscle mass.  You choose your path.

Countless people have told me, especially recently after losing weight, that I look 20 years younger than I am.  I have noticed that and people ask me what my secret is.  I assume it is God and living a life without alcohol, smoking, drugs or maybe it is the fact that I haven't worn makeup and don't put products on my face (besides simple face wash and lotion).  However, I know others that have done that all their life and they don't look like they haven't aged.  So, I did some research - outside of maybe it being just my genetics - It could be what I eat and have eaten for most of my life.  I consume a lot of nuts and beans!  Could those be the fountain of youth?  I came across a doctor who looks 20 years younger and whose physical health is also several decades younger than he is and he claims it is eating 5 foods that did delay aging: nuts, berries, cruciferous vegetables, olive oil and then drinking green tea.  I actually eat all the foods regularly and I used to drink green tea.  Interesting!  I do feel like it is a consolation prize from God from all I had to go through in life to look like I'm in my 20's.  Thank you God is all I know!  But in the meantime, maybe everyone should grab some cashews, peanut butter and eat your beans, broccoli and blueberries - just sayin'.

I felt impressed to do another podcast that I feel is pertinent for right now. We need prayers for God to help our American minds that have diluted our faith. Don't let distractions keep you unaware of what is coming but rather build up your faith now and be ready!

You can now find my podcast on Spotify and Anchor, and Google Podcasts; it is no longer on Podomatic.

Today I'm talking about how it is time to get ahold of faith.  I share my own personal story of my recent challenge to obtain more faith.  The church needs to get ahold of faith now and do what Jesus said we would do!

I recently downsized an enormous amount and that included clothing!  I dropped 7 dress sizes (20 to 6) and so I had very little new clothes that I had purchased this past September.  I finally went through all my clothes that I saved from my 20's - yes, I really saved them all this time!  Almost all of them fit but I realized that my style is not the same and I prefer right-below-the-knee skirts now, so I only kept 10% of my old clothes.  Here is what my closet looked like before I found a floor storage solution:

As you can see, I had some clothes folded off to the side and the rest in a bin.  However, I would forget what was in the bin and miss out on some awesome combinations for outfits.  I knew I didn't have room necessarily for a dresser in there and I didn't want to spend money on one right now, so I found a cheap solution that I actually think I like better!  I bought these plastic cubbies for $43 and I absolutely love them!  I didn't use them exactly how they're supposed to be used in a 4x3 because it would have been too tall, but I found a workaround, as you can see below.

If you don't have in faith in 2023, you need to get it now!  I realized after a test of my faith that it was something that I definitely needed to grow.  When security is all around you, you can get lax and think you have faith but the real test is when that security is removed.  Do you have faith then?  Do you have faith when all those around you are shaking their heads thinking you are crazy?  Do you have faith when there's no health insurance?  Do you have faith when you have no income on the horizon?  Do you have faith when the car breaks down and takes the money you needed for your child's medical appointment?

God has dealt with me a lot recently about not falling to unbelief and impatience and pushing my husband to get an Ishmael.  It takes faith and patience to get your Isaac!  It's not for the faint-hearted.  It's not for the weak.  It's for those that truly believe and trust God, that will come into their Isaac.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, look up the story of God's promise of a son to Abraham and how Sarah tried to make it happen another way because she grew impatient.  TO THIS DAY - they reap the pains of that impatience.

Hebrews 6:15  

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 

It is time to follow God's Word and be a homemaker women.  When are you going to let go of your Ishmael-making ways by working on that job disobeying God's instruction for women?  I guess when you want your Isaac. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Sometimes in life we don't understand why God just couldn't do certain things.  We have to realize that God sees all and knows all and He does what is best for us to help us reach our ultimate goal - that of overcoming and being with Him forever!  Don't lose faith in hard times but rather build up and speak faith!  God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him!

Hebrews 11:6 

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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I made a worksheet to go along with my other budget printables.  This one helps you budget for each paycheck, as to what gets paid with that paycheck, etc.  I made it able to print duplex (front/back) for those wanting that feature.  I also added calendars up to January 2023 in the printables folder.

Be ready for what may be coming!  Make sure you are dependent upon the Holy Spirit's leading for every aspect of your life.  Know God's Word and don't be deceived by Satan's ministers.

I had made these a few months ago and thought I would share them with you all.  They are in color and if you print to "actual size" they will get cut off some, so best print is "fit".  You can also find them in my Homemaking printables folder.

I've created a folder with the free printables so you can download them all or whichever one you want.  They are very simple, no frills and get the budgeting job done.  I also included a folder with calendars from July-Sept that I saved from Google if you need those.  

Here's what the monthly fixed expenses printable looks like:

From abortion to Christian cults to human suffering, we must remember what the Word of God says.  God has showed us time and time again that we must be about His purpose on earth to reach the lost, not to set up an earthly Christian kingdom.  We also must remember that there is not an excuse for those in cults because God has given us the Bible and His Spirit to discern false prophets and teachings.  Lastly, we must remember that suffering is universal, no one is exempt!  We must be patient in suffering and keep our hope, faith and trust in God no matter what comes our way. 

I last blogged about food prices from the end of November through March and you can see that post by clicking here.  Below are prices from March 21st through June 3rd, and you can see the price increases in yellow and the price decreases in green.  You can definitely see that things have gone up overall.  Yet, we can still purchase good food for a reasonable price I believe.  My challenge is actually finding some foods, as we have had a lot of shortages and I will have to go to Kroger to find it, or even order from online for certain items.

I didn't include items from the last list that I didn't purchase March-June 3rd on this list.

Let's look at these verses and just what unrepentant sins will not be in heaven:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

First of all, it doesn't matter if you don't use the internet.  Yes, I'm talking to Amish, Mennonites and others who think they are "safe" from digital theft by simply not using the technology.  They're not safe, actually they're more at risk of it!  All it takes is someone taking over your identity and creating accounts in your name, anywhere literally - which can be done online in many cases.  You may not even know this is happening if you don't have the proper safeguards in place and you will fall victim to months-to-years-long fight for clearing the mess up.

Here are some of my top tips to protect your identity:

1.  Buy Identity theft insurance!  - You simply can NOT go without this.  It is vital in these times and believe me, you don't want to go through the stress, the court process and all the calls and wait times to fight to get your identity back once stolen.  Not to mention the money you will spend doing so.  Paying a good company to do this for you and monitor your identity is going to pay returns in more ways than one and protections are about a $1 million per person in your family.

2.  Make sure your WiFi is security-enabled! - This one is something most people don't pay attention to but should be the first layer of protection for internet coming in through your home.  Get a good router and make sure have good security (WPA3 or even WPA2) AND a good password for your network.  You should have a password that is more than 14 characters because you just can't afford a hack of your WiFi.  Having a router that gives you a notification when someone gets on your network is crucial too.  Keep up with technology to try and stay further ahead of the thieves!