Judging vs Teaching

Ive been pondering something for about 3 weeks.
A while back I expressed my opinion on an issue and had the age old "don't judge" thing flung at me. So I started researching a little. First, an opinion is not judging. If I said that fence is white I'm not judging the fence I'm merely stating a fact about the fence. My not saying the fence is white doesn't change the fact that its white.
When something is wrong... its wrong and simply because no one says anything does not make it right. Nor does it make it somehow another persons fault because its wrong and they say something. We as a society just keep blurring that line between right and wrong so much to the point its no longer a line its more of a shadowy area.
For instance or example (which every floats your boat), When raising a child and the child does something wrong you are faced with an opportunity to either teach the child or stunt. If you yell scream and belittle the child you have done damage. If you ignore it you have done damage. But pointing out to the child they have done wrong is not doing that child wrong (judging). There are times when said child isn't mature enough to understand why its wrong and to explain would be useless, because if the child was mature enough to understand the reason something is wrong.. you wouldn't have to explain it.

How can a person learn and grow if there is no "right and wrong". If its a free for all how do children grow into responsible adults? If you take a child around the age of 18 months, just toddling good and never correct him, never teach the child the meaning of no, just allow the child to do whatever by the time that child is 4 you have a little monster on your hands. He has never learned to respect what isn't his and yes this is something needs to be taught. So are you doing the child an injustice by never saying, look you cant play with this... no explanation needed.. you just cannot play with this. Knowing full well when the child gets older he will understand i couldn't play with the electrical plugs. Not because the plugs were bad, but because I could get hurt by not knowing how to handle them.

Are we doing the same thing in spiritual issues? Are we teaching "babes in Christ" there are rights and wrongs? Without belittling, condemnation, gossip..etc. Are we teaching young Christians the right path to walk? While i don't agree with holding a persons feet over hell for every move they make, similar to yelling at child, do we not have some sort of responsibility to teach them or show them a better path so to speak?
If we know about "potholes" in this walk do we not have the responsibility as fellow Christians to show, in love, that person how to avoid them?
In our Ladies Bible study Weds night, btw if you aren't attending you are missing a blessing, We explored the question "Are you fearful of offending someone by offering to help?"  The answer is yes, sometimes you will offend someone by offering help. The example was giving of someone opening a door for someone physically challenged. And the man was offended. Does this mean you should stop offering to help? The answer i cam up with is NO NO NO. The offended part is on the man that was offended. Something in his past he is hanging on to... some hurt or condemnation. Does his offense mean the person opening the door did anything wrong? NO it does not. There are people in this life that have a huge sign on their shoulder "Here is my chip .. i dare you to knock it off". and all to often we allow those folks to dictate how we should treat others. Now had this been another person they would have gladly accepted the gesture of kindness.

I said all that to say this. If we are walking in this life not saying anything or do anything for fear we will offend someone.... that in itself is offending someone. A child does not like being corrected or taught, does that mean we do not? Heavens no. I will bring this closer to home. 90% of the time I am not meaning to be offensive in the things i say.. but i will own the other 10% of the time, but if I was allowed to just keep on with no one telling me different, have you shown me love? Think about it. I'm just using me as an example, but is Love ignoring it until i leave the room and then talking about it? Are we not to help each other in Love grow to be better people. Should we all not be like fine sandpaper to one another... not 80grit.. but maybe 320grit. A true friend is one that is honest.. for without that you have nothing.

Anywho... that's my thoughts on the matter... and NO my thoughts do not mean I'm judging anyone.... for if you look up the word that would give me power... and Lord knows we do NOT want Deb to have that kind of power.

Sometimes we dont realize how we are truely blessed

Sitting here this morning sipping my tea in my living room thinking. The news just reported there are 1 in 45 children homeless in the United States. Thats almost 2 million children that are living on the streets, in shelters or in cars. Those precious children dont have a bed to curl up and sleep, warm covers to make them feel safe during the night. A home. They dont have a home. Startling realization.

We think of homeless as poorly dressed "bums" begging on the corner. Folks addicted to drugs begging for money in parking lots or street corners. But rarely do we put the face of a child on homeless. Just in the state of Florida alone they estimate almost 1/2 million children live in a car, dressing  in the restroom of a McDonalds or gas station, then attend school without their peers knowing they dont have a home.

These children dont wish for Sega systems, WI systems, cell phones or whatever todays latest gadget, they wish for a home. These are not children of parents that are drug addicts or criminals. One family they interviewed moved from Michigan to Florida 4 years ago to work in the contruction industry because the car industry played out. When the bottom fell out they lost their home, their security, and their savings. They lived in their van for a year until they found a program that helped them get back on their feet and into a home. These are not bums or ignorant people.

Makes me wonder and be very thankful as i sit in my living room that while i keep the heat on 68 is warm, dry and a place i can call home. Its not always what I want, but we have food in the pantry. We have lived on beans and rice for a week, Ive made biscuits and gravy for dinner.. I know what it is to do without.. but do I?

These families are the face of doing without. Need is food, shelter and clothing. In the words of Mary Poppins "Enough is as good as a Feast". I sit and feel guilt, after watching these families, for grumbling because of missing trim in my living room, someone driving on my grass and feel condemned for being so petty. Christmas will be thin at my home again, but i do have a tree with twinkle lights that make prince Williams face light up when he sees them, these homeless babies dont have a tree with twinkle lights to enjoy.

I guess what I'm left with this morning is a feeling of being blessed, but for the grace of God... there i would be. In this season.. lets remember how truely blessed we are in our lives. Even though the tree with twinkle lights is all some have... there are those that do without even a tree.. or worse Hope.

Make em eat it... act 2

Well folks its another on of those "make em eat it" kinda dinners. LOL

Sorry should have washed them first..LOL But this is my harvest for today. Guess i could have gotten a smaller bowl for the peas and carrots.. made it look like there was more. LOL And I harvested lettuce again. That stuff grows like crazy!!! The more I cut the more it grows.



Anyway... I washed the carrots, well scrubbed is a better term, washed the peas. They are sugar snap so the shell is tender as well. What to do with them???

Well lets just see. Got 1 quart of very rich turkey broth in the fridge, put that in the pot with onions, salt, pepper, garlic and couple of spices. Now what... need a filler. Here we go this will work very well. Small bag of navy beans. Got them simmering.

So.. soup it is. Im gonna wait for a couple of hours before adding the carrots and peas they are pretty tender. Serve it over rice  with a salad of lettuce and tomato... poof.. dinner.  

Homemade dish soap

This is dish soap.. not dishwasher soap
2 cups of Castille soap.
This is a pure soap. I couldnt find it local. Had to order it.
5 drops of pure lemon essense oil. Not scent. this is a very conscentrated oil
1/2 cup of water
1 tbls of fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup of vinegar.
Makes 3 cups of dish soap
You can make your own castille soap. Its basically a lye soap. But its a long drawn out process.

Home made shampoo and conditioner

This one i had to try.. it was just too good sounding to be true.. But it works great!!!

8 oz water in a bottle add 1 tbls of baking soda.
Pour over your damp hair and work it in for 5 minutes scratch your scalp well.
8 oz of cool water 1 tlbs of apple cider vinegar.
Pour over hair and rinse well.

I tried this and love it. My hair just smells clean. It doesnt have a scent at all. My hair is very soft and not oily or dry.

Homemade diswasher soap

This cleans better than cascade.
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
1/2 cup of citric acid. (cheaper online)
1/2 cup of course Kosher salt. Not table salt. it has to be Kosher salt
Mix all these together and keep in a plastic container. Use 1 tablespoon per load.
I put a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar in the rinse compartment.

I made this up and was using it. It works really well. Then i realized I wash my dishes off in hot soapy water before i put them in the dishwasher. So now I just put a 1 tsp of the mixture and its working great.

Home made Laundry detergent

Dont be fooled. This is some cleaning stuff!!! It will clean whites without the need for clorox. Its color safe. Ive not noticed any of my clothes fading.
Lets get started.
You will need:
3 gallon bucket
1 gallon bucket
Hand held grater or Food Processor
1 bar of Fels Naptha soap
1 cup of Washing Soda (Arm and hammer.. not baking soda)
1/2 cup of Borax.

All of these things can be found at Walmart. They dont do a great job of keeping them in stock. They are out of the soap, washing soda and borax pretty regularly. Brookshire Brothers has them however. They are all on the laundry soap aisle. Most of the time on the bottom shelf.

This is the soap. The finer you grate it, the easier it is to melt it into a liquid form. It really doesnt take that long. Ive used my food processor before.. it wont hurt it as its just soap and will wash very clean.
Your going to put this grated soap in 1 gallon of warm water. NOT HOT.. just luke warm. It will clump up on you if its hot. I let it set about 8 hours and just stir it every once in a while. It will be very very soapy.

1 cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

This comes in a box but i keep it in a plastic container in the laundry room so it doesnt get cakey down here in all our humidity. Same thing with the Borax. I purchased all of these back in April. Ive made soap for my, my sister, my mom and my kids and still have plenty left. This is Arm and Hammer washing soda. Its very handy to have around the house.

Borax ( there are many brands) 1/2 cup

Put 2 gallons of cool water in your 3 gallon bucket. Make it cool water because the borax will heat up just a little when you add water to it. I guess you should use gloves.. but i havent so far. Pour your borax and washing soda in the water. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. ALWAYS ADD DRY TO WATER... NOT WATER TO DRY.
Mix this until its combined.. it doesnt take long.
Add your melted soap to the bucket. Mix well. I use my hands.. it makes them very soft when I am done. Now.. youre going to let this sit at least 12 hours. Overnight is fine. When you come back it will be almost a solid form. Stir it very well again. Its got an odd texture. Then pour it in old laundry soap containers. Shake before you use it. If you want a scent now is when you add it. Use pure essential oils not scents. 5 to 6 drops per recipe. I like it because it doesnt have a scent. I use a laundry sheet in the dryer to add the scent.
It only takes 1/2 cup per load. Thats all!!!
If you prefer powder you can forgo all the water and just mix the dry ingredients then use 1 tbls per load. I just prefer a liquid.
The total of all the ingredients should run you around 8 dollars. Then all you have to buy is another bar of soap when you are running low.
It doesnt suds up, which makes it great for front loader machines. But it cleans!!