An Organised Medicine Cabinet - Organising My Home

Yes I do like to keep my Medicine Cabinet organised so that I can get things quickly and easily.

It is probably one of the best organised things in our home.

But then that kind of storage space is one of the things I enjoy working on when it comes to Organising my home.

I didn't always have a medicine cabinet so I had to think of other easy to get at and easy to keep organised places.

In one house we used part of a vanity unit in the ensuite

and

in another house we used a couple of shelves in a kitchen cabinet

but this time when we moved back to Northern Ireland in Dec 2010 we moved to a house which had a medicine cabinet over the wash hand basin in the back toilet.

Yes a real medicine cabinet just like I always saw in the films and TV programmes - you know they are tall and shallow out from the wall with a mirror door.

Now if this had been our main bathroom I suppose I would have been tempted to think I would need to use it for Bathroom things - but it is in the back toilet.  This is the small room that is off the utility room and I really think it would have made more sense to use the space as a pantry or large storage closet (because you can never have too much storage space and I do not have enough storage space).


We have an ensuite off our bedroom and an ensuite off the guest bedroom as well as the main bathroom so let's face it this back toilet is never really used as a toilet and who wants to have to clean 4 bathrooms and toilets when mostly there are only two people in the house?  -  NOT ME!


Anyway back to my Medicine Cabinet which makes me happy again.


Twice a year I do an overhaul of this cabinet

and because I do it regularly you can see it is not in bad order.



Firstly 
I check all the dates of the medicines etc. and throw out the ones that are past their date.

(NOTE:  A doctor did tell me once that many medicines can be used for up to 6 months after the date written on them but that it is definitely okay to use them up to 3 months after the date.)


I used to have to literally check each packet for the date every time I would do this but now I use my "Things" app on my ipad to keep a note of the expiry dates (typing these into the app when I put the product into the Medicine cabinet) so I only have to go into the app & use my tag of "medicine cabinet" and I get the list and the dates all in one go.

These will each show in my Todo list 14 days before they are up so I normally will be ready and throw them out as they expire and don't even have to do it all at the overhaul.




Secondly 
I do an inventory of the cabinet.


I have the list of all the items I like to keep in stock, shelf by shelf

I had used ( my other beloved iPad app for making lists) the "Pocket Lists" App for making a full list of everything I would like to have here and because I did it shelf by shelf it makes it really easy to go through.


Which means that now each time all I have to do is tick off all the things I can see on the shelves and whatever is left unticked is obviously missing.  This is due to not knowing when the hubby finishes off something or just something being taken out and not returned.

This happened with the scissors - to cut a long story short they ended up in a bin at a foreign airport.




Thirdly 
I make a list of the things that will need to be replenished soon.


In my "Things" App I made a Project list and it just gets changed each time.

Well the list here is not too long this time because on one of my last trips to the chemist I knew roughly what was getting low so had already got some things.



Forthly 
I tidy up what is in the cabinet and decide if I want to make any changes to the position and order of the items.


Sometimes there are different things that have been added if someone needs to have a new medication or you decide to start taking a new vitamin etc.

An Organised Medicine Cabinet in Organising My Home at Sandra's Ark

So the finished cabinet was just a little more uncluttered than to start with and neater.

Of course the few spaces you see will be filled up when I go and get that list of items next week.



You know when you have a cupboard you can easily fill it?


Well I have done that of course and then needed more space so I had to use part of the vanity unit below.

Mostly the things here were really the items that were too large to put in the shallower medicine cabinet or would not sit so well piled up on a narrow shelf so I would have needed another location for them even if the medicine cabinet wasn't filled up.

So bandages etc. in the left hand drawer, extra cotton buds and hand sanitizing wipes in the right hand drawer and the larger heating pad and creams in the right hand cupboard.

And just a wee reminder of my "MUST HAVE" in any kitchen or bathroom

it is

the packet of wipes (and a sponge) in the left cupboard, 

nothing is handier for quick clean ups than wipes.

The How of Mercy - A Dose of Encouragement

Having looked at various aspects of God's Mercy this month including
What is Mercy?  
When can I receive Mercy?  
The Where, Why & Who of Mercy

 plus

Not focusing on our guilt because of His Mercy in You're Not guilty Anymore last month

we have now come to the last blog post on Mercy which I hope will make us sit up and pay attention because although we do not earn God's Mercy we do need to do something

              we need to receive it.

Yes we have a choice we can receive it wholeheartedly and believe what God has said or we can never get out of our guilt and remain in a state where we never fully rejoice in His great love for us.

How Do We Obtain this Mercy?

By the Grace of God through Jesus.

Mercy is extended freely to us and even if we don't comprehend how God would ever desire to be so good to us we need to receive this offering.

But

Sometimes
     We don't even recognize His Mercy

Sometimes
     We don't even realize we need His Mercy


Yes
God gives His Mercy but we need to accept it.

That is okay at Salvation - we completely get it then and are so thankful for it then.

But we also need to accept it throughout our Christian walk.

Yes even though we know He is merciful we don’t really take it in properly that He is always merciful to us and we don’t think we can have this beautiful thing He is offering so we don’t accept it and we stay in a state of not forgiving ourselves and feeling unworthy to do anything for Him
.

1.     We must truly believe He is Merciful.

        None of the

•         He can't really like the way I still can be?
•         He couldn't possibly use me for His Glory? 

        Let me tell you He is still merciful even if you have been saved 40 years.

2.     We must not listen to the devil.

        None of the

•         You can't be forgiven yet again.
•         You can't believe God has the patience for you

3.     We must listen to the Holy Spirit.
     
                 Condemnation comes from the devil but encouragement comes from the Holy Spirit


4.     We must read and believe the Bible.
     
                 This will help us to see the examples of His Mercy and understand it better.


5.     We must know that we are special to God.
     
                 You must accept it even if you find it hard to understand - You are special to God.


6.     If you believe He wants to save you; you also have to believe He wants to show His Mercy to you.


Mercy is God's but it is also Ours.
We must allow God to show His Mercy.
We must accept His Mercy to live the life He means us to live.
The life where we are not condemned or unworthy to work for Him.
The life that is under His hand and not under the devil's.
The life that can then also extend Mercy to others.




How Should We Show God's Mercy?

By allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us.

Remember the Beattitudes

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." 

Being merciful means to show kindness to everyone and to forgive those who do things that may hurt you. It is realizing that everyone makes mistakes.

One of the great examples to us of mercy in the Bible comes from John 8 v 1-11 

  

 1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 (KJV)  from BibleGateway.com

Mercy doesn't focus on a person but on a person's need.

Mercy is active compassion to someone in need

mercy banishes revenge

mercy keeps us grounded

it imitates God but disappoints satan

Mercy says "not my will but thine be done"

We do not know better than God

so accept one another as God accepted you.

If we focus on the person we will tend to fall back into the "deserve or earn" way of thinking

REMEMBER

God loves us so much with His great love   (Ephesians 2 v 4)

that He is rich in mercy which means   (Psalm 100 v 5)

He has so much mercy for us that He will never run out of it

And this was not just said for the people at the time it was written because it clearly states here that it is everlasting

so rejoice because it means He is still rich in Mercy TODAY toward US.

How can we not be thankful that our God is so generous in 

His Mercy.

The Other Blog Posts in this mini Mercy Series are:
What is Mercy
When Can I Receive Mercy?
Where, Why, Who of Mercy

Songs for Worship #21

Welcome to the Sunday Series

Last year from January to June I wrote a series on
Why We Worship  where I considered an attribute of God each Sunday.


At different times people mentioned to me about a song that a post reminded them of so I thought that I would now go through those attributes again with a song for each one.

I hope you will follow along with me.

                         Looking today at 

God is Self-Sufficient







God doesn't need anyone or anything  -  He can do all things!

God doesn't NEED us - He WANTS us!

I am so thankful for that.

God is Able

God is able

He will never fail

He is almighty God

Greater than all we seek

Greater than all we ask

He has done great things

CHORUS:

Lifted up

Defeated the grave

Raised to life

Our God is able

In His name we overcome

For the Lord

Our God is able

VERSE 2:

God is with us

God is on our side

He will make a way

Far above all we know

Far above all we hope

He has done great things

CHORUS:

Lifted up

Defeated the grave

Raised to life

Our God is able

In His name we overcome

For the Lord

Our God is able

BRIDGE:

God is with us

He will go before

He will never leave us

He will never leave us

God is for us

He has open arms

He will never fail us

He will never fail us

CHORUS:

Lifted up

Defeated the grave

Raised to life

Our God is able

In His name we overcome

For the Lord

Our God is able

For the Lord

Our God is able

For the Lord

Our God is able 

If you would like to see the post from last year that this is based on please click on the graphic below

Where, Why, Who of Mercy? - A Dose of Encouragement

Each Wednesday this month I am looking at the topic of Mercy.

Last week I considered the question When Can I Receive Mercy?

The week before I started this short series with the question What is Mercy?

Today I would like to consider where, why and how God's Mercy is shown upon us.

Where:


A   Where Does It Come From?


Mercy comes straight from the Heart of God which is full of Love.


Not from our actions for us to be worthy of it.
Not through the church.
Not from the Bible.


But straight from the Heart of our Loving Heavenly Father and Jesus our loving Saviour and the Holy Spirit who guides us.

B   Where Can We Receive This Mercy?

Anywhere!

The same as at any time.



We do not need to be in church.

We do not even need to be in prayer.

We do not need to set up special circumstances.

It is available anywhere we need it.

How wonderful is that?

How Encouraging is that?

How can we not be thankful that our God is so present and considerate in our lives.

Why:

There really can only be one reason why God extends Mercy to us all.


Because it is part of the Character of God.

Because He made us and He is both Loving and Just.

Because He wants to be the giver of Mercy.

Who:


We need to think about the Who behind the Mercy.


In this blog post we have already mentioned the Loving Heart of God which is the source of this Mercy.




In the previous post we talked before about how The Saved as well as the Unsaved receive God's Mercy.

Because God’s mercy is not just for Salvation.

God’s mercy is for all (anywhere, anytime)

Our Gracious, loving God who is the giver of Mercy is the one who decides all about the mercy we receive.  We do not have any say in how this mercy is given, or why it is extended to us.

God is in control of everything to do with His Mercy

But at this stage YOU need to consider just 

who YOU are. 

Are you a sinner who is receiving God's Mercy as He draws you in to recognise His great love for you?


Do you need to seek His forgiveness for your sin and accept His Salvation through His Son Jesus?

If the answer here is Yes, then you are at the point where have an ideal opportunity to accept the greatest act of Mercy and bow to the acknowledgement of Christ as your Saviour.

Or are you a Christian who is receiving God's Mercy as He lifts you up and holds you in His hand no matter what has just happened in your life?


Christian Let's consider

WHO you are!

and

Who you are Not!

As the Redeemed of the Lord

You are not:



Guilty

Broken

Crushed

Filthy

Condemned

Worthless

Captive

These are just the things the devil wants you to believe you are.

Photo Credit:  Bigstock

You are:

Faultless

Loved

Holy

Righteous by the righteousness of Jesus

Pardoned by God

Forgiven

Cleansed

Blameless

Redeemed

Spotless

Whole.

And most of all:

"You are Mine" says the Lord

The Other Blog Posts in this mini Mercy Series are:
What is Mercy
When Can I Receive Mercy?
The How of Mercy

Songs for Worship #20

Welcome to the Sunday Series

Last year from January to June I wrote a series on
Why We Worship  where I considered an attribute of God each Sunday.


At different times people mentioned to me about a song that a post reminded them of so I thought that I would now go through those attributes again with a song for each one.

I hope you will follow along with me.

                         Looking today at 

God is Perfect

Overcome

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love

Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only Son, perfect and spotless one

He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority

Every victory is Yours

All authority

Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory

Worthy of all our praise, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever

Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan

You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb

And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

If you would like to see the post from last year that this is based on please click on the graphic below

A to Z of Organising our Home!

A little Round-up of things we say, do or use during the organising and housework in our home.

A  -  Accidental Reducing of Articles 

The times when you accidentally break some plates or mugs and they just have to be thrown out.

Funny how I used to be annoyed; now unless it is something special, I just think

 "that's another one of my 365 items to be decluttered in 365 Days"   -   smiley face.

B  -  Beautiful Clearouts

When you get rid of those items in the wardrobes that were there because you had paid money for them and thought you should get the most time out of them but really thought that you didn't look good in them or the wife thought the husband didn't look good in them and he hadn't realised it yet.



C  -  Careful Clearouts

Those times when you are supposed to empty out a cupboard and sort everything out and then return only some of the things but in reality you return all but maybe one!

Now I would never do that!!!!



D  -  To the Dump!

A good phrase in our house because it means something is going out of the house, garage or garden and it is more than can fit in the bin.

E  -  Easier Housework.

Yes there really are some things that help me along the way.

I use them for many, many tasks because anything that makes the work easier and done more quickly is a bonus for me.

F  -  Fred????

There are so many sentences that begin with this word when it comes to the organising of our home and mostly the answer is

"I don't know!!!!!"

G  -  Garden Shed Sort out.

Well in our case it was a bit more than that - Plus we made a video.

H  -  Helping each other?

Where is it?

I don't know.

But you had it last.

No, You had it last.

No I didn't.

Yes you did.

Well where did I have it?

I don't remember.

I  -  Inside & Not on Top of!

You know when you have designated a good drawer or container for an item and the husband comes along and just sets it down on top of the container, or the kitchen worktop.

Enough said!

J  -  Just a Little Time before Bed

That's the time I keep saying I will just do a little tidy up in the bedroom and Fred just laughs - well he has known me for all these years.



K  -  Kitchen Organising

The one place I do like to seriously think about before I move into a house and designate areas to specific tasks.

The Tea & Coffee corner being the top priority of course.

L  -  Leave me some space to sit down!

The words I have often heard when in the middle of sorting out something and I have cluttered up the entire room.

There was an entire table covered as well as the couch.

M  -  The "Man Drawer"

Yes I wrote about that last year, there is one in our kitchen but still his "things" end up in other strange places.  Plus I'm always asking the question "What is that thing?" about most of the things in the drawer.



N  -  Nowhere to put it?

That is definitely not what you hear in our house!

More like - I know I had decided where those were to go but I've forgotten again.

A to Z of Organising in our home? well trying to not fail at organising!

O  -  Opening the Post

Should mean exactly that - you open it and deal with it.
You know - throw it out, respond to it, or file it away for future reference.

In our house it gets opened and looked at and then put back in the envelope!!!



P  -  A "Place for Everything"

Yes I wrote about this one before too.

And we really will get there one day, I'm sure.

Well pretty sure.

Well really hoping!

Q  -  Quite a Productive Day

This is how I feel when I have managed to actually get more than half of my day's ToDo List completed.



R  -  Remembering.

Okay I know that certain people on reading this will just laugh and say:
Some hope!

Yes I may be always saying I forget things but I do have a few things that I need to remember when cleaning the house and not just the fact that having a coffee does not get the house cleaned.

S  -  Spread the work on Spreadsheets.

I have my Organising and Cleaning Schedule for the year on a Spreadsheet.

Fred & I both love Spreadsheets.

Trouble is I could easily get distracted away from the organising of the house once I get on the spreadsheet because it is on the computer.

T  -  Take Time for the Tedious Things Before the Coffee.

The thing we hate to do but often gives us the most sense of satisfaction when we actually get round to it is one of those tedious things that just have to be done but I can always think of another word -

procrastination and it goes well with coffee.

U  -  Unusual Uses for Simple Products.

There are things around our homes that don't only have to be used for one purpose.

We need to be a bit more imaginative and find other uses for them.
Which can actually be more interesting than using them!

V  -  Very Good Ideas

Unfortunately those are the ones that I have when I am in the middle of doing something else, or just about to fall asleep and I'm sure I will remember them because they are so good but then I have forgotten them the very next day or hour or even in 5 minutes time.




W  -   Do Without It?

The Housework?          Yes! Please!

But what about those things in the Kitchen that you just feel you can't do without.

They may be small but they are so useful.

X  -  Xtra Special Days 

The times when you get away from the house for a really enjoyable time and are completely refreshed and ready to tackle the house again.

Those breaks are xtra important in the better weather because the sun is tempting you, or in the cold dark weather when you need something to brighten up your day, or just any time because you can always find some excuse.

Y  -  YOU didn't put it away AGAIN!

Those times when we get fed up because something is not in the place we actually do have allotted for it because neither of us have put it away yet again.

How will we ever be organised?



Z  -  ZZZZZ when it's all done.

Or when we are just too tired to do any more.

Just kidding with this one because it is never done and I would claim to be tired at any time to get out of the housework and on to the funwork.



But there is always

to keep me going.

Do you have any great ideas to add that just keep your house organised or are you more disorganised like me?