LOOKING BACK ON A VERY BUSY FEBRUARY
If you have been following along with us for a while you will realize that this past February was a very busy time for the blog. We kept posting article after article knowing that people were stuck at home a lot and hoping to give them something worth while to ponder as they surfed the web.
Some days even called for two articles!
It was hard to squeeze in all the seasonal articles as well as the bible study and all of the inspirations we had otherwise. You never expect that to be the case after the December Holiday rush is over and the year has already turned; but we are often surprised and surprises are a good thing.
In case you missed any of the above; we will connect you here in these comments about February with links to our February articles. It is our sincere hope that you enjoy reviewing the ones that were near and dear to your heart and that you are able to catch up on any that you missed.
COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY FEBRUARY TOPICS
February kept us trekking through Deuteronomy, Chapter 21, trying to look at everything through the eyes of a child seeking to follow in their father’s footsteps.
This chapter was FULL and contained many subjects. Here are the links of our lessons for February:https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/are-the-trees-people-that-you-should-beseige-them/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/forgiveness-for-unresolved-murders/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/love-at-first-sight-in-the-middle-of-a-battle/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/gifts-from-a-promise-keeping-god/
AN APPLE A DAY FEBRUARY TOPICS
This is the topic under which we publish our health and well being articles. In January we began looking at ways to be improving our health and well being (as we usually do every January.) Some of these articles carried over to February, and some of those will probably trickle on over into March.
That little start in the right direction is great; though we need to keep focusing on taking care of our bodies which are the temple of God. Our minds and sprits need constant maintenance also. The links to this subject in our February articles are right here if you wish to review:
https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/love-is-a-very-healthy-emotion/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/be-careful-how-you-guard-your-heart/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/taking-care-of-our-hearts/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/decluttering/
SEASONS FEBRUARY TOPICS
February was packed full of seasonal things to consider.
We definitely put a lot of emphasis on Valentine’s Day. Truth was offered up about the true meaning of the day, which might have been a surprise to some. Crafts were given as well as menu suggestions and we even threw in a love story which crossed over from our PEN ART topics. Some articles offered gift ideas for your special someone too. If you want to review our Valentine’s articles; just click here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-valentine-tree-featured-for-february-2019/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-love-is-tree/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-perfect-valentines-gift-idea/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/loving-valentines-day/, (There are other Valentine’s suggestions in our MONDAY NIGHT MENUS link topics, our PEN ART topics links, and our OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO topic links. We didn’t want to duplicate them because they fit both categories, so keep on clicking and you will find them under those topics to review again.
Another seasonal date in February was President’s Day which always makes the author of this blog look for cherry blossoms. There was a time when our capital building that houses our President was surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms in February instead of the fences and barbed wire we see today. Let’s pray that gets back to normal; as well as the healtlh of our nation.
Here is our article explaining the day we call President’s Day, and also we have included a link in our MONDAY NIGHT MENUS that corresponds with President’s Day which can help you to think of President Washington as you make a delicious cherry pie! Just click here for the first article and check MONDAY NIGHT MENUS for the cherry pie: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/presidents-day/
We were still in the midst of winter in February and we had some very seasonal poetry that crossed the SEASONS topics as well as the PEN ART topics. Look for those winter poems in the PEN ART section of the blog in February.
A huge part of our February celebrations was Purim. How we love that “post-Mosaic” holiday here at The IN SEASON Lifestyle. Our celebration is done in light of the fact that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and we love seeing all of the symbolism that we think He would want us to remember and understand as God’s children.
Hence; we filled our February pages with articles explaining the celebration of Purim. There were several ideas and suggestions as well as recipes that you might wish to draw from. For our recipe on how to make Hamentashens you will need to check under the MONDAY NIGHT MENUS review section below. Here are the Purim articles just in case you wish to review them all together: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/how-to-celebrate-purim/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/christian-purim-celebrations/.
MONDAY NIGHT MENU FEBRUARY TOPICS
MONDAY NIGHT MENUS was a popular topic of the blog in February because of all the seasonal celebrations that were going on all through the month. We had Valentine’s meals, President’s Day desserts and great soup suggestions for every day. There were also Hamentashen recipes to enjoy with the kids: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/presidents-day-pie/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/be-careful-how-you-guard-your-heart/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/delicious-soup-recipes-for-those-cold-nights-yet-to-come/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/hamentaschen/.
THE HOUSE DOCTOR FEBRUARY TOPICS
THE HOUSE DOCTOR topic for February was sharing articles on how to enjoy a February house. For that link (which we loved sharing with you) just click here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/february-home/.
PEN ART FEBRUARY TOPICS
Our PEN ARTS column is about the expression of art, especially seasonal art. The most favored art is the art of the written word; but we are so open to all kinds of personal and seasonal expressions. Also we love the art of photography, especially when it involves family life and illustrations of the seasons. This February we favored the pursuit of the short story; but we also celebrated manuscripts and poetry.
February held us tight into winter. That season is shared in both the SEASONS topics and the PEN ART topics, a poem that expressed the author’s feelings about what goes on in winter when we are not paying much attention can be reviewed here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/winter/.
Our PEN ARTS column had much more to share in February than one poem though. We had many short stories, all of them this February were written by the author of the blog. One we had shared before but thought you might want to read again. One is new, and one is shared every time we celebrate Purim. We are very open to publishing other people’s short stories. If you wish to be considered just send your stories to wordcastlepublications@gmail.com. We cannot pay except in publication. Our only guidelines are that the subjects correlate with our blog topics and that we find them interesting and well written. We never publish porn or foul language here.
Getting back to our PEN ART topics for February though; one short story was a story written for the blogger’s grandchildren: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-snowflake-and-the-tree/.
Another story was the love story of Esther and The King; which we spoke of above in the Valentine’s SEASONS links. It is a double blessing story; good as a love story for Valentine’s day but also the story of the first Purim and how it all came about. This is our own fictional version of what actually happened: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/esther-and-the-king/
The older story we mentioned was one about the Akadah. This one will pull at your heart stings when you think of the sacrifice God provided for our salvation. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/the-snowflake-and-the-tree/.
There were more than shot stories in this part of the blog though. The author of this blog has taken all of our study lessons from Genesis and condensed and summarized them into two new books. You can buy them from the blog or Amazon.
This linked article gives you a few comments about the writing of these books; and also a way to order straight from our blog. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/books-published-by-gail-landgraf/
You are going to love these books! We are working on a great new tool to serve as a companion’s guide with them soon. It is a thought-provoking notebook/workbook that can be used to go deeper; both individually or in small groups. The IN SEASON Lifestyle will keep you posted as to the progress on the notebook.
PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
PIECES OF THE PUZZLE is a topic that explores various aspects of theology. We delve into an earnest attempt to provide clarity from the scriptures for those who are more intent toward walking the theme of The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s purpose; that being to live out the words of 2 Timothy 4:2 and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the disciples in the way they spread the gospel by turning the world inside out and upside down.
Our articles that fall into the PIECES OF THE PUZZLE topics for February are recapped here for you:https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/lent-and-how-to-observe/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/gods-calendar/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/weekly-sabbaths-and-high-sabbaths-keeping-sabbath-before-god/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/christian-purim-celebrations/.
OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO
OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO topics offered two articles about two of our favorite visiting spots for February; Blowing Rock, N.C. and Gorham’s Bluff in Pisgah, Alabama. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/blowing-rock-north-carolina-fun-place-winter/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/weekend-get-away-gorhams-bluff/.
These romantic and fun filled destinations are some of our favorites and we keep recommending you of them year-after-year. Good places never seem to fade away and we are thankful to know that during the uncertain times of lockdown for many vacation spots this year. These two have survived well.
If you want to search all of the little-known, out-of-the-beaten-path destinations that we have shared in the blog over the years, just go to the topics section of the blog and narrow your search down to the OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO articles. We hope to be adding many more of these as time allows. Travel keeps us new and alive. It opens our eyes to so much more than we see by staying in one place.
OUR FAVORITE PRODUCT PICKS FOR FEBRUARY USE
No one here is very materialistic; that is quite the opposite of the lifestyle that we like to promote; however from time to time and every time the season changes we DO have needs for certain purchases that help to give our lives more focus and tend to make our days more fun. We try to pick those products out for you each month with our The IN SEASON Lifestyle Community Store. Then we try to organize them in a way that will make your seasonal orders easier and more convenient.
So here are two links, one to The IN SEASON Lifestyle products for March 2021, and also a link specifically for your February home: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/february-products-for-the-home/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=24837&action=edit
We were careful to try to round up some great new products for your seasonal times that are coming up in the month of March.
Below we present a summary of the upcoming articles that you can look forward to reading in March of 2021. We hope they fill your needs and provide you with lots of reading pleasure.
FACING FORWARD TO A VERY HOPEFUL MARCH of 2021
You would expect things to slow down a bit after such a busy February, but no; they have probably speeded up for March.
We have just as much planned and many, many great articles to help you celebrate this month with the IN SEASON Lifestyle way; just living upside down and inside out as Jesus did.
Isn’t it great to have such an amazing God to pattern our lives after?
This God fills our hearts with hope as He plans our appointed times this year for the Spring Holy Days on His calendar. We must all keep praying for the world to be healed of COVID and for all of the restrictions that have engulfed the beginning of this year to go away and leave a joyous spring season in their place.
Hope is the word for March.
THE COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY PREVIEW FOR MARCH 2021
The COME AS A CHILD Bible Study will keep walking through Deuteronomy in March. Our lessons are posted every Thursday.
Be watching!
If you wish to be added to our COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY once a week e-mail list just let us know by sending your name and e-mail address to wordcastlepublications@gmail.com. We send the lesson link out after the Thursday publications. It will be easier to find and come back to if you have it posted in your e-mail messages.
THE HOUSE DOCTOR PREVIEW FOR MARCH 2021
In March of 2021 THE HOUSE DOCTOR topics have some great spring-styled designs and suggestions to use as a backdrop for entertaining your guests for Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, Passover, Unleavened Bread and Resurrection Celebrations!
We can’t wait to share them with you.
SEASONS TOPIC PREVIEWS FOR MARCH 2021
Early on in March, Our SEASONS topics will share several St. Patrick’s articles with you. This will happen before we dive into even more seasonal activities with God’s Spring Holy Days.
In the middle of the month SEASONS topics will cover articles and poetry about the beginning of Spring.
SEASONS topics for the latter part of March 2021 will offer the usual thought-provoking articles that center around Passover, Unleavened Bread and Resurrection (we call resurrection day Early First Fruits here or if you want to be very authentic; Lag B’omer.)
Also; we have some craft suggestions for your home and family to enjoy as you go through this most important sacred season. Those will cross-over into our PEN ART topics for March. Do you have a creative and fun way to count the 50 days until Pentecost from Passover yet? The IN SEASON Lifestyle will offer some helpful suggestions.
Theological matters for this season full of Holy Days are extremely important, and they will be discussed in both the SEASONS topics as well as the PIECES OF THE PUZZLE topics for March of 2021.
Our prayers during this season are for you and yours to enjoy the greatest Spring Holy Days ever!
May God bless you and yours immensely as you continue to worship and obey His commands for a joyous and fulfilling spring season.
We definitely feel the seasonal journey through March of 2021 is going to be one full of blessings.
Some of our seasonal articles (because of the theological implications of the month) are a tad more serious than usual. We offer several articles about coping with the situation of still being in lockdown from COVID in many areas; and we are praying with all of you that our lives get back to normal soon.
Hope is the message in every way that we turn for consolation and comfort; and we hope that our articles portray that hope to you as we continue to travel through March events.
MONDAY NIGHT MENU TOPICS PREVIEW FOR MARCH 2021
We will have several SEASONS cross-over articles from MONDAY NIGHT MENUS which offer up good Passover Recipes as well as St. Patrick’s Day menus.
There are some new spring recipes for every day life coming also.
As the subject of food goes; we have begun to plant a kitchen garden at our house. Our first attempt is to plant squash. There will be squash recipes in the future. Everything will be grown from seed and then put into containers on our back deck. We will be sharing new recipes that can be used from this little adventure in produce. Maybe we will also share our garden with you. Depending on the results we get!
Please pray for an abundant harvest.
PEN ART PREVIEW OF MARCH ARTICLES TO COME
March also brings us the first day of Spring for 2021.
You know the PEN ARTS topics will be giving out free poetry for all who want to stretch illustrative words over that magical time we call spring.
Please feel welcomed to send in your own contributions. Send any submissions to wordcastlepublicaitons@gmail.com. We cannot pay for your work except to offer publication for those pieces that fit our needs. There are no guidelines; surprise us!
AN APPLE A DAY PREVIEW FOR MARCH OF 2021
As for health articles from AN APPLE A DAY during March; we do hope to have some interesting things to offer. Keep watching that topic for new articles. We have been studying the functioning of our livers; and may have some new articles pertaining to liver health.
Also; there are a lot of studies going around about mental health today and we may step into that subject just enough to get our toes wet. We are not professional experts in that area; but may do some interviews and/or refer you to those articles that are from such.
PREVIEW OF PRODUCT OFFERINGS TO COME FOR APRIL 2021
We all will be needing to order seasonal orders in April and The IN SEASON Lifestyle Community Store will have a lot of useful, timely and helpful suggestions to offer to you.
Have you noticed our unusual selection of books and novels? Don’t forget to checkout your favorite genres.
NEWSLETTER TO COVER MARCH REVIEWS AND APRIL PREVIEWS
Do you realize that each monthly Newsletter from The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog is like reading a free subscription to a magazine that covers the Christian, Messianic lifestyle?
Many of our readers wait to get the summary of the month in their e-mail and mark it to enjoy the same as reading a magazine. They can come back to it quickly and conveniently whenever they want to. It is all right there in one easy to locate place each month, all current and all ready for your reading pleasure. We have had some readers to tell us they print and file our Newsletters each month; then use it as a guide to reference any articles they want to look up and read on-line later.
If you wish to subscribe to our Newsletters (they come only once a month into your e-mail box) just send a note with your name and e-mail address to wordcastlepublications@gmail.com, and/or submit through the blog under “How to find us” or in the box provided at the end of each blogging article.
I’m sure we are leaving out some of the exciting things that will be coming in the future; but that is what surprises are for; right?
Stay with us!
Thank you for being so supportive of our blog, and we pray that you are finding good suggestions and answers for all phases of your lifestyle every time you click in and read the blog. Everything we print is for you; we aren’t writing for our health!
I’ll leave you with my favorite Springtime greeting; the hopeful one that we note every time we are led to marvel at the great miracle of that empty tomb:
HE IS RISEN!!!!!!
HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!!!
Editor/Writer
The IN SEASON Lifestyle