Freshen Up Friday

To freshen up your Friday, how about refreshment for your home and your wardrobe? My girls have both recently started blogs concerning these subjects! Whitney’s is about comforts at home. She posted yesterday about creating an inviting front door. It’s true that sometimes people can be confused about which door they should come to when they arrive at your house. Whitney had some good suggestions about your front door making a little announcement that will help guests know where to enter. Check out her good ideas and pretty pictures.

Dressing is an area of life that can be a chore and a bore. We get into a rut of wearing the same pieces with the same other pieces in the same old way. Can you relate?  Alli is writing a blog about creating a Cheerful Closet! Now, who wouldn’t welcome that?! She has some great suggestions about accessories, and also adding items to your wardrobe on a budget.

Could I encourage you about one other area of refreshment? It’s called hospitality. Think back to the last time you had folks over (other than family members) for a time of fellowship. Maybe it was recently; if so, I applaud you! If it’s been a while, can I remind you about what a blessing it is to invite people in for fun, food, and fellowship? It’s great!

Fall is an easy time to plan a simple entertaining menu and have folks over. Fry up canned biscuits in oil, then toss in granulated sugar and you’ll have a doughnut that is worth licking your fingers to finish! Pull out the Uno cards (after everyone has washed the sugar off their hands) and laugh and enjoy some great fun. Keep it simple and everyone will want to come again. The point is, you don’t need a beautiful home that’s magazine-worthy. You just need a simple menu and a heart for others. Obey the command to show hospitality. You’ll be refreshed as you refresh others!

If you need a great recipe for a fall dessert, I have a perfect tasting and perfectly simple one for you:

Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Ingredients

 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
 4 eggs
 1 1/2 cups white sugar
 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
 1 teaspoon salt
 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
 1 cup chopped pecans
 1 cup margarine, melted, (I reduced this to 1/2 cup and it was great)
 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix well, and spread into the prepared pan.
Sprinkle cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mixture, and pat down. Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over the cake mix, then drizzle with melted margarine.
Bake for 60 to 80 minutes, ( I baked mine about 40 -45 minutes!) or until done. Top with whipped topping when ready to serve.

Now for some encouragement you can serve up…

Pastor Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will be a man of worship and prayer, and that he will lead by example – teaching the congregation how to walk in a close relationship with the Father.

Husband Encouragement: When you look at your husband, what do you see? Strong arms? Hairy chest? Firm hands? Big feet? Rugged chin? Wide shoulders? Compassionate eyes? Broad smile? Whatever his physical size, shape, or characteristics may be, the way you see him has a profound affect. Almost nothing is as devastating to a man as the belief that his wife finds him repulsive. Sadly, many women unwisely criticize their husbands’ bodies.

Have you ever considered how wonderfully God designed men and women? No matter how a man looks—by the standards of the world — a loving God designed them all, and they are all beautiful in His sight. Encourage your husband today by praising his uniqueness.

As you look over your husband’s body, from the tip of his toes to his bald or bushy head, thank God that your husband is “wonderfully made,” then admire your husband verbally.

See you in church!

Be refreshed,