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Is God Good When Bad Things Happen?

Published on by Violet Rhodes

For some time I have been pondering along the line of God still being good, even when bad things come our way. Hardships come in many different forms. Some are very difficult such as a wayward loved one or the death of someone close. And on a less severe level, things such as sick children, pinching my finger while I’m doing a good deed, biting my lip when I’m chewing food etc. What do we do when it feels like everything is going wrong all day and we don’t feel God’s goodness? What are we feeling now with the current coronavirus? Are we panicking as the world is? Or are we able to fully trust in God no matter what lies ahead? We must remember that His goodness hasn’t changed. NOTHING changes God’s love for us and goodness to us!

I was wanting to write on this subject two weeks ago, but felt like I didn’t have the time just then to write on this deeper subject, so I wrote up something else and pushed this off till I could give it the attention it deserved. And I’m pretty sure God had something to do with it, because in the meantime, our Deacon preached a message entitled, Why Bad Things Happen To Good People. I so needed that message in my own life, besides it giving me lots of notes I could use to blog!

Quite awhile back in my devotional book, Prayers For A Simpler Life, the following sentence made a real impression on me. God’s goodness is not measured by the good things that come into my life. Why does it feel like it does have something to do with it? You know what I’m talking about don’t you? When my health is great, there’s money to pay the bills, the children pleasantly cooperate, and we find out our taxes aren’t nearly as high as we expected, it’s easy to say “God is so good!” Yes He is, but does this then insinuate when adverse things happen that God isn’t good? No! We absolutely cannot start thinking like this. But it’s something I greatly struggle with. Many times in the midst of severe struggles, I would pray “God, show me Your love!” “Show me You care!” But I’ve started praying “God help me trust Your love. Help me believe You’re still good.” I know, I know, there’s so many verses in the Bible that speak of God’s love and goodness, but in my darkest times, especially when I’m struggling with depression again, my mind finds it hard to comprehend that!

Job was an upright man, yet was severely tested. In the first chapter of Job, we read how Satan had to first get permission from God for the adversities he wanted to bring into Job’s life. That’s something we need to remember too. Any suffering we as God’s children face, must first pass God’s inspection, so to speak. And sometimes we think things are really bad and then it only gets worse! How can we keep our focus and remember it doesn’t mean God has forsaken us? Job 10:15 and 16 talk about how Job’s affliction just increased. That reminds me of a quote- Faith is not easy. It means not only believing God in times of trouble, but giving Him the freedom to increase that trouble. Not only trusting Him when our plans are disrupted, but trusting Him when our plans are crushed out of existence. Faith is believing that whatever comes into our lives is never beyond the sovereign control of the Almighty and that in His hands it can be turned into our eternal benefit and blessing.

Some key points to remember are:

1. All suffering has its roots from sin back in the Garden of Eden

2. All suffering that Satan wishes to bring upon God’s children must first have the approval of God.

3. We have a desire to know why bad things happen. It’s ok to wonder why, but to demand an answer from God is wrong. Satan can use that as bait for us and we can become bitter when there’s no answer. Some ways are only for God to know. Isaiah 55: 8 says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

4. No matter how great trouble we’re in, God’s grace is always greater! But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ephesians 4:7

Now why do bad things happen to God’s children?

1. Some things are simply a reaping for sin

2. Some trouble is because we live in a fallen world. Romans 8:22 says For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

3. Some trouble is because we are capable of exercising our free will. We can choose to go outside of God’s plan.

4. Some suffering happens because of the laws of nature.

God also allows trouble so the unbeliever focuses on Him. What causes people to cry out to the Lord quicker than suffering and trouble? And for the Christian, God wants hardships and suffering to teach us humility and obedience, as well as to help us focus on the important things in life. God does not want us to rely on our earthly things. Maybe he sends a tornado or allows a house fire. How attached am I to ‘my’ things? Also, God wants us to learn to bless others through our own suffering. Most of all, God wants us to be refined. To still trust Him. To love and worship Him even when the dearest people or things are taken away from us. To glory in our tribulations.

Romans 5: 1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

It stands out to me when I see someone in severe affliction, someone who would have ‘reason’ to feel like God has forgotten him, to hear him say, that God is still good. Amid their adversity, they still find God being good and kind to them. Then is when someone saying, “God is good” is really attractive to me! Jerald’s uncle passed away a few years ago from pancreatic cancer. He was an excellent example of still voicing the goodness and blessings of God despite his own suffering. That can only be done when there’s a strong faith in God!

Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Sometimes we must make a deliberate choice to trust in God no matter what! In the midst of all that’s heartbreaking or disappointing in our lives, we must choose to purposefully praise God for who He is. He is always good. He is loving and merciful, and we can always trust Him!

  • The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7
  • There are those who would love to have your bad days.
  • If we want an increase of faith we must consent to its testings.
  • The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting Him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant. -Rick Warren
  • All that God works in my life is good, even when it might seem as evil to me. -Faith Sommers

So is God still good no matter what He allows in our life? Yes He is!

God is good all the time! All the time God is good!

Homemade Wipes and Honest Diapers

Published on by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

As all moms of littles know, wet wipes are a must for both hands and bottoms! Especially for on the road and away from home. I’d like to share with you alternatives to regular, chemical laden wipes. Please be careful what kind of wipes you use especially for babies. They’re skin is thinner and extra sensitive. And a lot of wipes have chemicals in them that are absorbed right into your baby’s skin and can also cause diaper rashes. (I would also be really careful what kind of soap, lotion and powder you use for baby but that’s a complete other subject!😊)

To make homemade baby wipes, cut a roll of Bounty paper towels in half. The ‘select a size’ kind is nice. Set the half roll in a large, empty coffee can. It fits perfectly! Now, mix up the following solution and pour evenly over the paper towels.

1 1/2 cups water

1 Tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil

1 Tablespoon witch hazel

1 Tablespoon aloe vera

2 Tablespoons liquid Castile soap

Set the container upside down for a day or so, to help it distribute evenly, before setting upright. I like to take out the middle cardboard piece because the towels are easier to cut and plus, then you can start pulling out the wipes from the center of the roll.

Now, you can also make hand wet wipes using the same method. Following is the solution for that.

1 1/2 cups water

1 Tablespoon witch hazel

2 Tablespoons liquid Castile soap or Lemongrass Tea Tree foaming liquid soap

5 – 8 drops each of any or all of these essential oils- lemon, orange, tea tree, eucalyptus.

If I have these on hand, I really like to use Doterra’s oil blends called Onguard and Purify. These are both especially good for targeting germs.

Pour over a half roll of paper towels.

If you want a safe wet wipe that you can just buy instead of making, I definitely recommend Water Wipes! I love these! They are 99.9% water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. These are actually what I use for my baby. And I’ve also switched to these for hand wipes for the road too, because of convenience. Now for these I make the same solution that I use for the paper towel hand wipes, except I only use 1 cup of water. You can use even less water if you want to, but I like to rather have mine a little extra wet than too dry. They clean better that way.

Take the wipes out of the pack and place a thin layer in the bottom of a container. Pour on a bit of the solution, then layer more wipes, solution, wipes, solution, etc until the wipes are all layered in container. It helps distribute the oils and soap more evenly this way.

My family has been away from synthetic smells for so long that we all hate scented wipes, soaps etc! But we love these! They smell so much better, plus they’re way better for your skin too!

And one more thing you can do with this same solution recipe. You can pour it into a small spray bottle and use it as hand sanitizer! Shake before use. Of course it’s not gel like the alcohol laden sanitizer is, but this will be a lot healthier for you! Simple, easy solutions for those germy hands, big or little! 👐🖐🖐

Witch hazel can be found in the health and beauty department at Walmart. They also carry the Water Wipes in the baby department or you can find them at Target too. The Liquid Castile soap we buy by the gallon from Amazon because it’s a staple in our house. Or you can also find it in most any health food store.

When Josie was born, I tried out several kinds of safer pampers. It wasn’t long until I had a favorite and that one is still my favorite now with Reece! The Honest Company makes a super absorbent, hypoallergenic and ultra soft diaper. They’re made without latex, fragrances/lotions and chlorine. They are made with plant derived materials and are very good quality! The diapers fit snugly and I hardly remember messes ever leaking out the sides because these hold so well!! They absorb super good too! And my babies pretty much don’t get diaper rashes. I contribute that a lot to diapers and wipes free of chlorine and other chemicals. Most diapers are bleached with chlorine and when they have chlorine, dioxins will be present too. Dioxins can do damage to the body, plus it is a carcinogen.

The Honest pampers are of course more expensive but we feel it’s worth it (think of your baby’s delicate skin and what all its absorbing). You can buy these from Amazon or Target and the prices are about the same. One thing that’s nice at Target is that they frequently run a sale that when you buy two boxes, you get a $10 gift card for the store!

Of course using cloth diapers for your baby would be a very good option but I am just plum not that virtuous! 🤨 If you are, kudos to you!!

And please, I do not want to make anyone feel guilty for what you are using for your baby! However, I would encourage you to at least check into healthier options and see what you could do differently. There are other safe alternatives besides what I shared, but this is what I like and have found works well for us.

Protein Bars and No Flour Muffins

Published on by Violet Rhodes4 Comments

Do you need an idea for something to put in your school lunches this week? Or maybe a healthy snack option to curb your preschooler’s hunger? Or a quick bit of dessert for supper? These are very quick, simple recipes that even young cooks could make. We enjoy both of these!

Protein Bars 🥥🍯

3 1/2 c oatmeal

1 c unsweetened coconut

1/2 c flax meal

1/3 c chia seeds

1 c peanut butter

1/2 c melted coconut oil

2/3 c honey

Stir together wet ingredients and pour over the dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Stir well to combine and press into a 9×13 pan. Refrigerate. These firm up nicely when you store them in the fridge.

These bars are very tasty and chuck full of good ingredients! I use Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter because it doesn’t contain extra sugar or hydrogenated oils. You can use either refined or virgin coconut oil. I grind up both my flax seed and chia seeds and keep them fresh in a jar in the freezer. A Juice Plus Doctor’s wife told me that chia seeds go right through you if you don’t grind them up first, so I like to make sure I get their super health benefits! (and just a hint, likely your picky eaters won’t notice them if they’re ground up!)

Banana Muffins 🍌🍌

1 c peanut butter

3 eggs

1/4 c honey

1 tsp vanilla

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c chocolate chips

Whisk together first five ingredients then add the rest and blend gently. Pour into lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 20 to 23 minutes. They will sink down a bit as they cool. Makes one dozen. (Used with permission from Simple Foods cookbook)

You would not guess these muffins have no flour in them! Using sugar free or dark chocolate chips is a healthier option. This recipe is also a great way to use up those forsaken bananas sitting in the fruit bowl!

Josie LOVES these muffins!! 😋

Where’s More Ketchup?!

Published on by Violet Rhodes1 Comment

I want to tell you how fun it is to organize kitchen spaces and what I have found to work for me. It may not be feasible for everyone but hopefully it will give you some ideas to inspire your own organization!

Now, I know we’re not all blessed with pantries. I never had one till we moved to this house and so having one feels luxurious! I know the frustration of conglomerated heaps of bags and cans and boxes! I would try to categorize somewhat, but that too can be difficult if you don’t have much space. One major thing that helps me is to utilize baskets in my pantry! You can use baskets/bins anywhere you have some room to store groceries. It’s ok if you need to store some things in a bedroom closet or another unusual place! Big totes would be especially helpful in that case. Find what works for you and your house.

These baskets help to keep items in their proper place rather than congregating all over the shelves. It still bothers me that they’re not all the same color but when I was buying them, I was unsure how many I would need and then later I could not find this aqua color. But I remind myself the baskets still work, even though it doesn’t look as nice as having them all identical!🤪 I found these at Walmart, but have seen them at Target also. Decide what you would like to put together in each basket and then label it. Yes, add labels! I know you know what’s in there, but when others in your household are looking for something, it helps to be able to say, “it’s in the drink basket” etc. Plus I think it looks nice too. I had chalk labels but I saw it was not practical because the writing rubbed off too easy. So I put practical above pretty and went with plain white labels. They stick well and the writing stands out heaps better and doesn’t get brushed off. ( but as you can see, I’m still using some on my pantry containers…. I still like the looks on there and just put up with the rubbing off! )😜 And just a side note here on labeling, masking tape also works beautifully to label jars and containers! I keep a roll in my kitchen just to label foods. It sticks well, but peels off easily without sticky residue left behind, and you can write on it with a permanent marker. Especially freezer items or jars of pizza sauce, salsa, and ketchup that someone may have a hard time deciphering which is which. I give credit to my mother- in-law for that tip on masking tape when I was newly married.😉

Now back to my pantry. I don’t store an excessive amount of extras like say cream of mushroom soup. Some people like to buy that by the case. Well, in that case, you might want to store most of that elsewhere and only keep a half dozen or so in your pantry to save on space. I personally don’t like to use a lot of that because it has MSG and other additives. So that’s why I can store my boughten canned items in two baskets. I also keep my can opener right there by the cans.

My most problematic area is the floor space of my pantry. It’s all too easy to plop bags of stuff in there and shut the door. I try to only allow that if it’s temporary. Like, if I’m going to be using a lot of it in the next few days, or if I simply don’t have the time to put things in their designated spots as soon as I get home with groceries. But the next day or as soon as I can, I try to put things away respectably. I’ve learned that large baskets help so much to control the chaotic prone atmosphere. I keep extra things in the baskets like flour, sugars, oatmeal etc. I like how I can fill up my flour or oatmeal containers, and if it’s the last I have of it, it gives me time to buy more before I’m completely out.

Also, having some margin is a must! How fun is it to pull off the cracker container and three others come crashing down in the process?! If I have to pull off the pretzel container and reach behind the chip container to pull out the crackers, and thus knocking another one over with my elbow, there will definitely be an occurrence of loud sighs from this Mama! You can’t expect things to stay neat if there’s absolutely no extra room. Allow a little extra space so everyone and everything can breathe a bit better!😅 And then when your family is eating supper and someone yells, “where’s more ketchup?!” you can calmly reply, “in the middle basket on the third shelf”.

Another area I want to tell you about is my container cabinet. I struggled a long while to keep it easily accessible, yet neat. I looked on Pinterest for ideas, but most of those did not work for me. Then, in one of my organizing streaks, I had this extra basket and was looking how I could use it. Its a bit taller so I turned it on it’s side and stacked my lids in it. So far it’s been a hit with me! I could finally keep them easy to reach without the others going whooshing down on the shelf as soon as I pulled out one lid! This also helped so that I could better stack my containers in each other, rather than storing the lids on the containers.

The turquoise basket I keep for my disposable containers like cool whip and yogurt. It keeps them together and when I need one, I pull out the basket to retrieve the item, then shove it back in. Works like a drawer. There’s no lids or containers sailing to the floor to get attention! (so I imagine their thoughts 😂) My rule is, once this basket is full, I pitch any extra containers because I don’t like clutter! But when I start getting a little low, then I save them again. I do not appreciate towering stacks of cool whip and yogurt and cottage cheese containers! But if you do, then by all means keep your stacks!

We do not use the toaster a whole lot so it doesn’t merit sitting on my counter. But neither do I want a big “awgishick” (for those who don’t know PA Dutch, a big hassle) when I do want to use it. I use my blender a lot more, so it sits up front. When I want the toaster, there’s room to push the blender to the side, pull the toaster up front, on the tea towel, and get it out. It’s on the towel so it slides better, plus it catches those crumbs that make cabinets cleaning so necessary at times! Occasionally, give that tea towel a good shake and be rid of those crumbs in a jiff!

Whenever I get done straightening up a closet or cabinets, there’s such a huge sigh of relief and feeling of accomplishment! Now, head to Walmart and buy a few baskets for yourself!

Introducing!

Published on by Violet Rhodes

So here’s a brief intro….

I grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Garrett County Maryland. My family attended Swanton Mennonite Fellowship Church where my dad was a minister and bishop. I completed all eight grades at our small church school. And all those years I either walked or biked to school. (Yes I’m that old I can say that!) Truth be told, our old farmhouse was located about a half mile from church and school. My siblings and I would often walk to and from church also. I have good memories of summer nights ambling home after dark, listening to the night creatures when we weren’t chattering.

There were eight of us that were privileged to grow up in the home of Millard and Mary Yoder, of which I am the youngest. I feel so very blessed to have been given a wonderful, godly home! Now it’s my fervent desire to give such a home to my dear children!

When I was nine years old I was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma. It is truly a miracle from God that He healed me and I am still alive today! Have you read the book Violet’s Cabin? It is a children’s book written by Lily Bear and tells my cancer story in full detail. (If you don’t have a copy you can purchase one here.)

I was seventeen when my family moved to Hartselle Alabama. I taught first grade there at our church school for two terms. My parents started The Old Cookstove restaurant where I was employed for a number of years. It is still in business today. If you travel south on I-65, be sure to stop in for some good eatin’ grub!! You will be served with true southern hospitality and real sweet tea!!

At twenty four years old I left to teach school in Sterling Alaska. We had a cozy one room building with a make shift divider for two classrooms. We had electricity but no running water…..Out houses to the rescue!😉 I enjoyed the snow and sledding and all around winter weather, since Alabama certainly does not major in winter!

That winter was also when Jerald Rhodes came up to Alaska to work for his uncle for several weeks. How distinctly I remember the shock this young man gave me when he asked me for my friendship! (at about 7:30 A.M. of all times of the day!)😲 How beautiful is love when instigated by the Lord! We were married in May 2011.

Our wedding day!

As a new bride, I now moved to Daviess County Indiana since that was where my husband was from. What a joy to settle in our own house and live life together. In August 2015 we were absolutely thrilled to welcome Josie Kate into our home! A precious gift from God! What a huge responsibility we were now entrusted with!

In the spring of 2018, after seven years of living in Indiana, God led our little family to make the move to Auburn Nebraska, which is where we now live. We attend Providence Mennonite Church. Our newest addition is Reece Edison who joined our family in July 2019. Another beautiful gift from God and we are quite pleased with his blue eyes and red hair combo!

Josie

Josie 4 – Reece 6 months

Jerald works for BigIron Online Auctions. He loves his job as a salesman and representative. He does well in convincing farmers to sell equipment with them. He frequents many farms all over his designated region. Now I would be so embarrassed if I had to go driving all around, trying to convince people about something! But I feel so blessed of the Lord for the family and home He has given me, and how grateful I am to be a stay at home mom! I am not a big social person so home is my happy place. I think I socialize better with pen and paper than in person.😅

Our family, October 2019

If someone wants to contact me personally, you can do so through my website or you can email me at jeraldsflower@gmail.com I’d be happy to hear from any of you! Especially since I don’t even know who all my readers are!😲 When someone subscribes, I’m only notified with their email address, so I don’t know for sure who everybody is!

of windowsills and breezy hills

Published on by Violet Rhodes2 Comments

Hello there! Welcome to my blog! (immediate disclaimer- there will be a lot of randomness going on in my blogs, so please read at your own risk!😉)

I am by far not an eloquent writer with good structure in each of my writings. However, I’ve enjoyed tablets, pens, and pencils ever since I was a little girl. I wrote many silly little things, but as I became older I focused more on poems. Since I’m a mom I’ve mostly neglected writing. I figured I’m already busy so now’s not the time for me to write. But it was with a sense of sadness I would think upon the started stories and ideas to write, that I just let lay. Furthermore, I didn’t know where to send my pieces to be published. But I still liked to write! So I decided to make time for it and I think it will be good for me and my brain to have a reason to write!

Just this month my husband suggested I should start a blog. Oh the hooting and gasping that occurred at that moment! It sounded enticing, but I was doubtful I could handle the pressure of writing on a regular basis. (I don’t do so well under stress) But the more I considered it, I thought I would enjoy it. And I’m not making a commitment to the frequency of writing, but will post new articles as time allows. We discussed and prayed about if I really should begin blogging. More and more I felt like God was nudging me to proceed. It felt like He was saying “here’s a place you can write. Here you can have an outlet for those stories and ideas you would like to write about”. And so I proceeded. And the best thing? Nobody is obligated to read it! 😜

Home life, organization, healthy living, natural cleaning, and homemade body products are all things I take an interest in, so that is probably a lot of what I will be writing about. Also some healthier recipes. And I’d like to post spiritual/inspirational articles sometimes too. Above all, I want my blog to honor God. He is the One who gave me the desire to write! And He is the One who gave me life- both physical and spiritual!

So about my blog name- of windowsills and breezy hills….

We live in Southeast Nebraska. We love the community and countryside here. It is spacious! Gently rolling hills. Brimming with rich farmland. Precise rows of corn and beans by the thousands. And the wind!! Wind is an integral part of the weather out here! Especially in Spring and Summer the breezes often blow strong. Sometimes we have several days straight of gusty winds! I’ve learned the challenges of hanging up laundry in these conditions. It takes an abundance of clothes pins if you want garments to stay “online”! (It definitely takes more than excellent internet service!) 😅

I am a firm believer in fresh air and love opening my windows to the airy breezes. Even in winter I occasionally deem it necessary to air out the house! Especially if there’s been sickness or a host of people in my house, I feel a great need to reduce the germs with fresh air!

I really like the windowsills part because it depicts a house and I will be writing about things that go on in our home. Another reason I liked windowsills is because it rhymes with breezy hills and this girl loves good rhyming phrases!

My next post will be an introduction of myself and my family.

If you wish to be notified of my future ramblings, just hit the subscribe button!

🌿 Violet Rhodes 🌿