Forgiveness
(Editor’s note: forgive ME if you’ve read this post before. I have two readers who wanted to borrow from it for church talks this week.)
My ex-boyfriend used to call me “Satan Claus” (see left) because of my ability to hold a grudge. Oh, believe me, I knew who’d been naughty and I KEPT A LIST, MISTER.I didn’t get offended so much for myself (though I believe to this day that other drivers are put on the road just to annoy me) but for others that I loved. We’re Scottish, and my favorite quote is “The enemy of my friend is my enemy.” I hated the store clerk who was rude to my girlfriend Annika. I hated the lift operator at Snowbird’s slide ride who was a complete jerk to the little girls from Kenya because they didn’t know how to ride a ski lift. I mean, HELLO? They’re from A-F-R-I-C-A, they don’t have a lot of SKI LIFTS there, pal! And they’re 8! Way to yell at an eight-year old non-ski lift using kid from Africa! Geez! (Editor’s note: okay, that one was from today so I should get a pass on that.)
For author Corrie ten Boon, the ultimate lesson in forgiveness came at a very unexpected time. In her book “The Hiding Place,” she writes the following: It was at a church in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain blanched face. He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein,” he said. “To think that, as you say, ‘He has washed my sins away’!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal on the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side. Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile; I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again, I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give him Your forgiveness. As I took his hand, the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness, any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
Another "use it or lose it" coupon from World Market
World Market has 3 great new in-store and online coupons available:
Save $5 on any $25 purchase
Save $10 on any $50 purchase
Save $20 on any $100 purchase
More Organics on the cheap…
Santa Cruz grocery Organic Lemonade (32 oz.) 2/$3Use the .75 coupon from here Final cost, only .75 each!
$20.00 off coupon for a $20.00 purchase!
At SeventhAvenue.com! Use this promo code: sa20 when checking out and it will take an additional $20 off your order of $20 or more! Shipping starts at around $9.95.
Another back to school sale…
This is a “use it or lose it” coupon for the two-day sale at the Children’s Place. Add this to the up to 80% off Monster Sale, and I think they have to pay you to take the clothes home! http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/EmailJump?langId=-1&catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&jumpId=VIPcoupon09-v1&cm_ven=emails&cm_cat=073009&cm_pla=VIPPROMO&cm_ite=all&CustomerMemberID=FW8395mj
(You know I’m kidding about the paying you part, right? I never know these days…)
Organic discounts and coupons…
Back to School discounts roundup…
This upcoming week at Staples:
Don’t forget to use the $10.00 off $50.00 purchase coupon on the front page of the circular!
$1 Bargains (limit two per item):
Zebra Z-Grip Retractable Ball Point Pens, 7pk
Rose Art Water Color paint set
Staples 3 Hole Binder punch
Staples Photo Plus 4×6″ paper glossy, 60pk $9.99-$8.99 rebate = $1
$2 Bargains (limit two per item):
Staples Bright White Multi-Use paper 500 sheets $7.99-$2 instant – $3.99 rebate = $2 (limit 2)
Staples 3 ring pencil pouch
Post It 1/2″ Tape Flags
3 pk Sharpie markers
2pk Wite Out correction fluid
Scotch magic invisible tape 3pk 3/4″ x 300 $2-$.50 from 8/28 RPFinal Price: $1.50 or $.50 per roll!
Other Deals:
Filler Paper: College or WideRuled $0.01 (limit 5)
Accel 1-subject 8″ x 10½” notebook, 100 sheets $0.75 (limit 3)
Buy two Casio calculators get a free alarm clock (item #793582)
Thanks, Moms By Heart!
Old Navy Weekly.com Navigation Clues!
I am sucking at this…I hover over the Old Navy Weekly site every Thursday night and STILL miss the refresh every time. By the time I see the update, the $75.00 and $50.00 coupons are gone. However, I still include the navigation clues here, because three girlfriends swear the site’s refreshed mid-week, and all three snagged the $75.00 fellas. Of course, they’ve gloated mercilessly–so practice, so that you too may gloat! Remember also that you can still use this 35% off coupon: http://www.gapinc.com/giveandget/lls/
DVD’s on the cheap…
Free-Bee Roundup
Marsh Stores are offering Facebook fans a printable coupon for $10 off a purchase of $10 or more. If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can also print the coupon here. Coupon is only good when used with your Marsh Fresh Idea card or O’Malia’s CouponPlus card. Click here to find a Marsh location near you. Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!
Print a $3 off Colgate Toothbrush and Toothpaste coupon from Coupons.com when you use the zip code 85031. The coupon says “Walgreens” on it, but it is a manufacturers coupon so it can be used anywhere. Prints 2.
Free Yoplait Whips are back! http://freewhips.yoplait.com/YoplaitCoupFY10/Default.aspx
Free movie night, baby!
Get a free Redbox rental at Stop & Shop locations with the code 7SD4BWL8. Code expires on 8/13/09. To find more Redbox codes, visit InsideRedbox.com. Click here to find a Redbox location near you.
Free Candy Friday!
A free book every month!
Here’s a combination I’d never guess at: The Dolly Parton Imagination Library gives a free book each month to kids ages 5 and under. I’m sure there’s a few restrictions…for more info and to find out if the program is available in your area or to register, click here.
You up for more product reviews?
Join the Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Eaters Club. As a member you get to to taste-test new product concepts and may receive proposed product samples. When you receive product samples they will ask you to fill out a questionnaire. As a thank you for filling out each questionnaire you will receive coupons via email.
Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!
Free appetizers at Joe’s Crab Shack!
Click here and enter the code 238001 to get a printable coupon good at Joe’s Crab Shack. I tried it twice and both times it printed a Free Appetizer w/Entree Purchase coupon, but I can’t be sure it will be the same every time. Locations?Click here
Today’s Free Offer
Daily Worth--I'm a big believer in women taking charge of their own financial destiny. Here's free tips, ideas and education delivered daily to your inbox.
Food On The Table
So, get this--Food on the Table is a FREE service that'll help you put together your weekly menu plan, post the needed recipes, create a shopping list and THEN scour the 'Net for coupons to download for your shopping list. I'm getting misty...sniff..
DoggyLoot
It's like Groupon...but for dogs!
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Win A $5,000 Home Theatre Package!
Ready To Coupon?
"Extreme Couponing" on TLC has done one thing for all us would-be frugalistas--while no one I know wants to be quite that crazed, couponing is looking more attractive, am I right? Here's your coupon options in a tidy, almost shamefully easy format:
Cellfire loads coupons directly to your card. Scan that bad boy at checkout--no clipping!
Coupons.com, hands-down my favorite for ease of navigation and big fat coupons. You'll need to download a toolbar to print. Do not fear the toolbar, it will bring you many goodies.
Coupon Deals Daily.com offers 50-90% off items locally available. Worth checking often, since nothing lasts for long.
So, "catalinas" are the slips of paper-style coupons you get at checkout along with your reciept to use for next time. Print them on Coupon Network.com, and use them THIS trip. Clever you!
No insurance? Or does your lousy coverage refuse to pay for certain medications? Enter the Pharmacy Coupons--this network allows you to print coupons for up to 75% off your prescription costs. In the economy? A literal lifesaver.
Red Plum Coupons cover a huge variety--everything from grocery to your local tire store. Take a look around by clicking below.
Do you have estrogen? Then you will love Woman Freebies.com. They send free girly samplys and piles of high-value coupons. No catch!
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