Author: RefreshHer

Family life · home · Husband · Marriage · Winter

Family Friday

RefreshHer4 Comments

country-road-family-friday

Welcome to a new feature on my blog – Family Friday.  I’m beginning this weekly post because one great passion that I have is for the HOME.  Home isn’t the structure in which you live, it’s the people – your family that makes it a home.  But the truth is, there are lots of hard things in every family.

  • Strained marriages
  • Financial woes
  • Parenting stresses
  • Busy schedules
  • Miscommunication
  • In-laws
  • Rebellion
  • Sin

How do we keep home a happy place?  Is it even possible?  Home will never be a perfect place, but yes, a happy home is possible.  I know that it is, based on God’s Word.

So, I’m dedicating Friday’s to Family issues.  From fun date ideas to parenting issues, I am going to strive to give you some encouragement.  It’s not because my home is perfect – as I said earlier, none are!  But based on the fact that home is God’s gift, and His Word is our manual, we can learn what He says about creating a happy home.  Let’s open God’s Word each Friday and get some practical helps that we can apply to our families.

There’s no better time than the present, so let’s start with an idea that will encourage your marriage.

winter-date-night

Fireplace Date – Cold winter nights need a fire.

  • Find somewhere where you can sit by a fireplace – Home,  Starbucks, Panera – anywhere there’s a fireplace!
  • Fix/Buy a hot beverage and a baked good to share
  • Have some fun with one of these activities:
    • Take a game with you to play -Dice for Farkle, Card game, Scrabble tiles for Bananagrams,  etc.  Some Starbucks have board games available for you to use in their store.
    • Before the date night, write up a list of questions on 3×5 cards.  Flip one over at a time and ask your spouse to answer. Here are 25 to get you started!  I found these  great questions on the Internet – one place was Intoxicated on Life. 1.       What are some books you’ve really enjoyed?

      2.       What books would you like to read sometime?

      3.       What are your favorite foods?

      4.       What did you want to be when you grew up?

      5.       What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?

      6.       What are some of the more difficult memories from your childhood?

      7.       What are your favorite hobbies?

      8.       What did your parents teach you that you appreciate now?

      9.       What did your parents say or do that you found difficult?

      10.     Who is someone that inspires you?

      11.     What do you like us doing together?

      12.     What would you like to do together in future, just the two of us?

      13.     What would you like to do together in future, all of us with the kids too?

      14.     What is your favorite passage of Scripture?

      15.     What is your favorite memory verse?

      16.     What are your greatest strengths?

      17.     What are your greatest weaknesses?

      18.     What overwhelms you?

      19.     What is concerning you?

      20.     What are you fearful of?

      21.    What is the best marriage you’ve ever seen modeled?

      22.    When did you first know you loved me?

      23.    Who are the heroes you look up to?

      24.    What is your earliest childhood memory?

      25.    What is your greatest regret?

    • Make a list of things to do on future date nights
  • Dress in a way that will show you care.  Add a little makeup.  Fix your hair.
  • Hold hands, snuggle up and create a little fire of your own!

I’m open to topics for future Family Friday posts!  Do you have a suggestion or request?  I’d love to hear your ideas, or if this was helpful today.

Keep your marriage refreshed by having a date night!

Denise Signature 150 px

 

 

 

Christian Life

Forgiven Much; Love Much

RefreshHerLeave a comment

On our wedding day, the clear June skies of the daytime turned to the typical evening summer pop-up storm.  After our seven O’clock ceremony was over and vows had been exchanged, we were to proceed to the fellowship hall, which was in another building connected to the church sanctuary by a sidewalk with a slight covering. The South Carolina winds had blown the rain steadily and forcefully, and the sidewalk had become a bit of a river.  My brand new husband saw the situation and realized that my wedding gown was in danger of disaster.  Without skipping a beat, he swooped me up in his arms and carried me safely to the dry floor of the fellowship hall!  A romanticist at heart would look at that scenario and say, “Now that’s sacrifice!”  They wouldn’t be far from the truth, but I believe sacrifice has a little more at risk.

Image result for image of woman pouring ointment on Jesus feet

Take a look at the woman in Luke 7:36-50, she came to pour out ointment on Jesus’ feet, spite the risk of the fears we mentioned earlier.  As she began to pour out the ointment, she began to weep, realizing the huge debt of her sin, and that this Man had forgiven her – of. it. all.
She had a dark past, full of stories and men, and ruined lives, I’m sure, but it was GONE.  Her tears thundered at His feet in gratitude, and her hair became the towel in which they were dried.

This story reminds us of a couple huge truths:

  1. Any sin is debt and we’re all sinners.  We are all guilty before a holy God.  We owe a debt we cannot pay, so Jesus stepped in and paid for it ALL with His blood.
  2. There is no sin too great for God to forgive.  None.  Every sin is covered, even those committed over and over.
  3. We now owe a debt of gratitude to our Savior.  With our sins covered, that debt is cleared, but how will we show our gratefulness?  With sacrifice.

“One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving”
― Amy Carmichael

Jesus tells the Pharisee that she, who had been forgiven much, loves much.  We see that by her demonstration at Jesus’ feet.
How much do you and I really love Jesus?  Are we willing to give even when it will cost us?  Oh, we may be happy to serve when it’s convenient, or easy or something we love to do, but what if it gets us out of our comfort zone?  What if it’s dirty?  What if it’s risky? Are we willing to pour it all out?  That is the true demonstration of how much we love.

As we consider all that Christ has covered for each of us, may we be willing to give and serve Him in a way that is sacrificial because we love Him SO MUCH.

How are you regularly demonstrating sacrificial love for Christ?  How do others know that you love Him so much?

Denise Signature 150 px

 

 

Strategies for Simplifying Life
Life, · organization

Strategies for Simplifying Life

RefreshHerLeave a comment

Wow, I’ve got a lot going on in my world, as I’m sure you do, too. As I’ve thought through a few ways to simplify my life this day/week/year, I thought I’d share my strategy with you.  Do you need encouragement in that area like I do?

Strategy #1 –   Pray – Whenever I get a little overwhelmed, I try to remember to run to my prayer closet  and give my plans, my cares and my day to the Lord.  He then directs my steps and I accomplish what He knows is necessary and I let go of the rest! So if this first week of a new year finds you a little out of breath, breathe upward in prayer!

Strategy #2 – Un-clutter – Sometimes there’s just too much material stuff that we are dealing with and we need to un-clutter and pare down.  I did that recently with my Christmas decor. I went through every box, and removed the things I haven’t used in a couple years or that I don’t LOVE!  I ended up with FOUR empty bins!  It felt so good putting away only the things I will really use!

I also put the things into bins by the rooms in which I use them.  That way next year I can pick up the bin for the kitchen and living room and head there with the decor, without having to go from room to room!

161229_170150_collage-1.jpg

You may need to ask yourself what area feels cluttered and work on that space first.  Get rid of things by donating and do it quickly!  The longer it hangs around, the more likely you are to let it become another cluttered pile!  Is it a closet?  A drawer?  A desktop or counter?  Do one space at a time and find the freedom that comes from un-cluttering that space!

Strategy #3 – Make lists – I know there are people out there who don’t make lists, but if I don’t have lists of

  • Today’s agenda – and things that I need to work on
  • Shopping lists
  • Menu

I’d forget so much!  I keep a pad by my bed, at the kitchen counter and at my desk.  If things come to my mind, I jot it down before it’s gone from my memory!

Look at this deal I got on my new planner for 2017…

I got this binder at Target Clearance for $1.50.
Each of the filler pages were only 30 cents in their Christmas Clearance!

It has pocket dividers as well as tabs.  Love that!  Nothing like having a brand new planner to fill in!  This will keep me organized!

What do you do to simplify your life and help you feel able to breathe?

 

Go simplify your life!  =)

Denise Signature 150 px

 

 

 

 

Christian Life

Fear’s Bondage

RefreshHer1 Comment

Image result for fearful woman

If you’ve ever seen sacrificial love demonstrated, you know that it happens when one person loves so much that their own needs, feelings, and apprehensions are cast aside, so that they might lavish love on someone else.

One Sunday when the children were called down to meet my husband for Pastor’s Pals (a time of Pastor teaching the children an object lesson from the Bible), one brother came rushing ahead, his arm extended and his fist thrusting a wrapped sucker forward like a soldier wielding his sword in battle.  As he reached my husband he said, “Here, Pastor C.!  I have a sucker for you!”  His younger brother, right on his heels, and not wanting to be outdone, opened his very wet mouth, pointed to the hard candy that he was sucking on, and proclaimed, “Here Pastor C!  I brought you my piece of candy!”  What a clash of pictures – one of true sacrifice to demonstrate love, and one giving of the “leftovers” in the appearance of love.

In Luke 7 we see another picture of sacrificial love.  The passage reads:

 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

This woman, who had formerly had the lifestyle and reputation of a harlot, but has been forgiven of her sin, hears that Jesus is eating dinner at the Pharisee’s house and goes to anoint his feet with ointment.  She cast aside all the fears that might have plagued her in order to step inside the doorway of love.
What might she have been afraid of?

  • rejection – What if the Pharisee sent her away?
  • denial – What if Jesus refused her lavish gift?
  • being cast out – What if the people laughed and put her out of the house?
  • being stoned – What did the Pharisees want to do to the woman taken in adultery?!

Though these fears must have been real, she loved Jesus so much that she was willing to put herself at risk to meet him at Simon’s house and pour out lavish love on Him.

Stop and consider the blessing she would have missed had she listened to her fears!  Her story wouldn’t be in the Scriptures for us an example!  The pharisee would never have understood what it looks like for a person to be so thankful that their sins are forgiven.

Fear hinders us from enjoying all that God has for us, too!

What does fear do?

  • Fear robs you from enjoying the present moment
  • Fear robs your joy
  • Fear robs your testimony as a believer
  • Fear robs your words of praise and encouragement
  • Fear robs God’s place on the Throne of your heart

However:

Fear loses its power when we actively trust God more than what we fear.

To conquer over fear we must:

  1. Replace your fear with Truth from God’s Word.  Memorize Scripture that will put your thoughts on Him instead of what you’re afraid of!  Here are a few of my favorite:
    II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
    Psalm 138:8a The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:
    I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
  2. Think about God’s attributes instead of what is frightening you.
    1. God loves me.
    2. God is ruling over this situation.
    3. God is powerful.
    4. God is present with me.
    5. God can only do what is best for me.
  3. Pray, really pray and give the fear to God.  Talk to Him about it.  He already knows, of course, but give it to Him and then get up off your knees and experience the peace only He can give.
  4. Serve someone and get your mind off yourself.
  5. Sing and praise instead of fear and doubt!

Are you letting some fear hinder you from enjoying the blessing of all God has for you?  Trust His Word and His presence instead, and then, just as the woman here in Luke 7, you will enjoy the blessing of His presence!

What fears need to be replaced in your life today?

On Thursday we’ll continue this story from Luke 7 and we’ll learn about how to respond to being forgiven so much!

Denise Signature 150 px

Dinner · dinner in 30 minutes · Family life · main dish

Make Your Own “Dream Dinner”

RefreshHer1 Comment

Have you heard of Dream Dinners?  You can check out this video if you’re unfamiliar. The basic idea is that you go to a Dream Dinner store, where they have prepared ingredients for you to assemble meals into freezer bags to make up complete dinners for your family for the month.  I heard about it through a gal I watched on You Tube.  While I’m sure it’s really convenient, it can’t be cheap!  She also said there were some meals they had they didn’t like and wouldn’t have again.

Testimonials on the Dream Dinner’s site said their families were now able to eat together and have become closer as a result.  Family mealtimes are important, and they do strengthen families, but if you’re on a budget, there are creative ways to make family meals happen in a much less expensive way.  Here’s one suggestion…

Pork Taco meal.jpg

Recently while putting away leftovers from a meal I’d made, I had the idea to bag it together just like I’d seen on the Dream Dinners.  I had made Pork Tacos, Refried Beans and Spanish Rice -all from scratch and I had enough for another supper meal for my husband and me, but rather than eating it two nights in a row, I pulled out the freezer bags.  I put the Rice in one, the Beans in another and the Pork in another, then I put all the small bags together in a large freezer bag and labeled it, “Pork Taco Dinner.”  How great it will be on a busy day to pull this out in the morning and let it thaw, then simply warm it up that evening!  It’s better than having leftovers two nights in a row, and it’s better than paying someone twice what it would cost me to fix it!  I’ve always been a huge fan of freezing food, but having the whole meal together in one bag is a great plan!

I plan on doing this more often!  You could simply double whatever you’re making and eat one for supper tonight and put the other into freezer bags for another day.  There’s no need to have to do a month’s worth, or even a whole week’s worth at one time!  Wouldn’t it be nice just to know you have a whole meal in a bag all ready to eat for ONE day?  Start there, then perhaps you can build on that.

That’s my challenge to you – see what you can pull together to make and freeze ahead.  Have the elements for that meal in one large bag. It will eliminate calling out for pizza, or running up to a local restaurant because you’re too tired to cook.  Become your own Dream Dinner maker; it’s really doable, it’s cheaper, and you’ll be making things you know your family loves!

My mind is whirling with several ideas.
Swiss Steak
Taco Casserole
Turkey Meatball Sandwiches with Honey Chipotle Sauce

What would you make and freeze?

Dream on!

Denise Signature 150 px