Author: RefreshHer

Christian Life · God's character · joy · trust

I’m Not Going!

RefreshHer3 Comments

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Reflecting back on the retreat I was privileged to be a part of this weekend makes me shake my head in amazement once again at my great God.  That He would allow me to share His Word with ladies and teach them from the overflow of what He’s taught me, is absolutely amazing!  It is a  joy beyond compare!

It’s also the hardest thing I ever do.  There is such an overwhelming understanding of the responsibility to handle God’s Word correctly and lead ladies to Truth, and to do it in a way that God alone gets the glory.

If you could hear me before I go to speak, you might wonder why in the world God would send me!  Seriously!  I go through the agony of:doubting that what I’ve spent many hours preparing is what I should be doing.  I gasp and wonder what in the world I was thinking when I was sure this is what God wanted me to share!  My husband and close friends will hear me say,

I’m not going!

It’s then that they know they need to pray much for my weakness.  It’s also at that point that I fall on my knees before Him once again and give Him everything – myself, my words, my outline, my heart, myself.  It’s  a cycle that happens every. single. time.  But it’s necessary, you see, because it empties me of myself and makes me realize that I indeed do NOT have what it will take to go speak and help anyone.  I CANNOT make anything happen in myself.  I am totally nothing without God’s empowering.
My words are empty. My strength is weak.  My plans will fail.

But God…

  • is strong when I am weak.
  • is almighty.
  • is able to do exceeding abundantly .
  • is my all in all.

I sincerely believe that the Lord allows me to speak so that I will continually be drawn to Him in utter dependence.  I’m so thankful for that!  I don’t want what I can do because I’ve seen what He can do!!

What is it in your life right now that is making you realize that you are so very unable to do what is before you?  God gives each of us at least one thing to cause our eyes to look upward, pleading for His possible power when the situation seems impossible to us!

Lift your hands toward heaven and remember that He is your All in All!  He can do the impossible in and through you when you let go and trust solely in Him.

Do you have an impossible situation?  Will you allow Christ to be your All in All this moment?  He is enough. Take it from someone who knows because she DID go, and God did all the work.  Praise His name!

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Dinner · dinner in 30 minutes · Home making · main dish · Make-Ahead · Sunday Dinner

(L)Oven Monday 30-Minute Meals for Sunday

RefreshHer3 Comments

Happy Monday and Post #4 about Successful Sunday  Dinners!

I’m posting late today because I got home from Michigan very late last night and couldn’t finish this post until today!  I can’t wait to tell you about my special weekend, but let’s move on with Sunday dinner!

Today I’m going to give you some 30-minute meal ideas for Sunday’s. Sometimes having a meal in the oven or crock pot isn’t feasible, so these menus are a great option!

Things to remember when making 30-minute meals:

  • As with any other menu, you should still prep anything ahead of time that you can. You may even reduce the time to under 30 minutes!
    • Marinate meat
    • Chop veggies
    • Get ingredients together so you can grab them easily
  • Set the table ahead of time.
  • Find make-ahead sides
  • Make a dessert before-hand, if that’s part of the menu

Here are some ideas to get you thinking…

Stir Fry – Stir-fry is cooked very quickly, making it great any time you’re in a hurry. This recipe for Orange Chicken was new to me and we loved it! I used her Original recipe she mentions, because I wanted lots of orange flavor!  It was super good! This picture does NOT do it justice, so please try it anyway!!!

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Recipe from The Gunny Sack
  • Brunch foods
    • Waffles – How about making these waffles up ahead and freezing them.  Then after church, toast as many as needed and having all kinds of fruit toppings for them!  Add a side of bacon and you have a great meal!
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  • German Pancakes – These are a nice twist on regular pancakes and they are soooo good!

So, step out of the traditional Sunday dinner mold and fix a new kind of menu for your family after church.  This could become a family tradition that everyone prefers!  It’s certainly one they’ll all enjoy! Who doesn’t love waffles and pancakes?!

I hope these dinner ideas are helpful for you.  Let me know if I’m aiding your abilities, or if I still need to address other areas for Successful Sunday dinner!

Lovingly,

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Uncategorized

Spring Storm Warning

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spring-storm

Winter in the south is kind of funny to northerners.  When we get even a forecast of snow, meetings are cancelled, schools are shut down, grocery stores are emptied and everyone pulls into their home for fear of having to drive on the slippery precipitation.

Yesterday was a first for me with another kind of storm – an early spring storm with high winds and strong rain.  I don’t mean that I’ve never been in it, of course I have, but the new situation came when I heard schools were having early dismissal, ball games had been rescheduled, and folks were sending out the, “be careful out there!” messages on Facebook.  I’m as cautious with spring storms as anyone, after living through a tornado that hit our home when I was a teenager, but it seemed a little “over the top” to go to such extremes when there was yet a tornado warning, much less a watch.  I was kind of like,
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Whatever.”

To a meteorologist or someone who keeps a constant check on the weather app up on their phone, my casual approach to the weather would probably seem foolish.  I don’t mean to be, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a real threat.

It’s made me wonder if a person who hasn’t received Christ as their Savior has the same type of response when they hear folks say that the Lord Jesus said He’s coming back in the rapture,  and those that have not trusted Him as Savior will go through a horrible time of tribulation.  Do they look around them and see the calm, watch  their days and weeks go by as normal as the last years have, and say,

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever.”?

I’m afraid that’s probably the way Satan lures them into his lies.
“Come on,” he says, “Your grandmother said Jesus was going to come back, and look, it hasn’t happened yet!  Live your life the way you want, and don’t listen to those fanatics!”

More sure than the bread shelves clearing out in a Tennessee snow storm, the Lord made a promise that He will return to gather the Christians in the air and take them to heaven, and it will happen! Then those that are left will go through seven years of tribulation – worse than anything this world has ever known.  There will be some that are saved during that time, but they will suffer great persecution as a result.

It doesn’t have to mean you, my friend.  Turn to Christ and receive Him and the suffering He endured on the cross for your sins so that you could be forgiven.  Tell Him you believe – confess your sin and your need of a Savior.  Turn from anything you are trusting in to get you to heaven – good works, religion, your own merit, and trust Christ alone.  Not only will you be safe from the tribulation and an eternity of suffering in hell, you will begin the most wonderful relationship with the One who loves you and died for you.

The wind is really kicking up outside as I write. I think I’d better check my weather app and keep an eye on the brewing storm – it really could happen as they have warned.  I know I’ll be thankful I heeded the alarms.

I pray you have listened to the the Scripture’s warning – it will happen as the Lord said, and it could happen today.  Are you ready?

Lovingly,

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home · Home decor · refreshment at home

Refreshing Your Home with Simple, Inexpensive Touches

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It’s often helpful at home to look at your house through the Eyes of a visitor. We see the limp, faded dishcloth, the worn-out dish towels and potholders every day and get used to them. We need to step back and look at the things we use everyday to see if they need to be replaced and refreshed.  Let’s face it, they get weary looking after a while!

I wash our dish drying mat often to keep it looking its best, but recently noticed that it had gotten old looking and pilled.  The next time I was at T.J.Maxx, I looked for a replacement. I couldn’t believe the difference a simple little change like that made in the kitchen!

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Another easy change that I made was taking out the dark red shower curtain and replacing it with a bright, springy Paisley printed one. I love the brightness it brought to that room!

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Of course a kitty cat will make any room beautiful!

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She was bird watching!
Take a hard look at the things you use everyday and see if they need to be refreshed! You’ll be amazed at how little money it takes,  and how simple the project can be! Consider:

  • Bath towels (but 1 or 2 at a time)
  • Wash cloths
  • Kitchen linens
    • Towels
    • Dish cloth
    • Pot holders
    • Aprons
  • Entry rug
  • Curtains

Refresh the things you use every day – it will perk things up without breaking the bank!

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Christian love · friends

Put Some Hope In Others!

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gas-pump

My husband went through a month-long series on Sunday nights of this past month entitled, “Be a Hope Put’er In’er and Not a Hope Take’r Out’er.”  All his messages were to put hope in marriages.  It was so practical and good!

As I went through my week after those messages, I thought about others who need hope. Everyone is going through something difficult from time to time.

We all deal with:

  • Illness
  • Personal trials in relationships
  • Financial struggles
  • Heartaches
  • Dealing with others’ sin that affects them
  • Death
  • Current events

So how can we put hope in and not take it out of folks?

You know how you pull up to the gas station and insert the nozzle into your car and then pump in the gas?  That’s how we should be spilling into others’ lives and giving them hope!  Pull the trigger and pour it in!

One of my favorite verses in Scripture is Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

What a good Father we have, Who gave us the Scriptures so that we could live lives that are hope-filled!  We look in and we find promises that we can claim.  We read psalms and we are comforted.  We learn of people in the Bible like, Job, David, Jeremiah and Peter who went through hardships and we are encouraged by their lives and victories.  Jesus is all through the Bible, and we remember that He came to live, die and rise again to give us the best kind of Hope!

So when we bump into others who are going through a difficulty of small or immense proportions, how can we put hope into them?

  •  I think the best answer is pretty clear – give them God’s Word.  Any hope I can give is temporal  – but God’s Word will be lasting and it will give hope that meets the soul’s need.
    I’ve found that giving my human input, my stories of similar trials, my humanistic opinion, are empty and can even be hurtful. When I don’t know what to say, I can open the Scriptures with promises that will be just the balm that will instill the hope that is necessary.  I do that for my own heart, and I must learn to do the same for others.
  • After the Scripture is given, and you pray with that person, touch them.  Put your hand on their arm, or around their shoulders.  Human touch  is comforting.
  • Look for a need that they might have.
    •  A meal
    • A load of laundry done
    • A caregiver for their child for a couple hours so they can nap
    • A gift card for coffee
    • A change of scenery.  Invite them out!

Let’s be on the lookout this week for times when we can pump Hope into others, rather than draining it out of them!

Maybe you’re one who needs some hope today. Let me remind you that God sees.  God is bigger than your trial.  He is at work even when you can’t see it.  Keep your eyes upward at a God Who is your hope!

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