Refresh Others

April 22, 2016April 21, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

It’s easy to know what you could use to refresh yourself – a little quiet, a hot, soaking bath, a cup of coffee or glass of tea, a magazine full of great recipes, and on an on. But have you considered what you could do to refresh someone else?

This week I realized it had been a long time since I’d made any Sour Dough bread, because we’re trying to steer clear of such delicious carbs. But I was reminded that I have a couple of neighbors that might appreciate a loaf! One of them loves homemade bread; the other had given us fresh eggs from his hens and I thought a loaf of fresh-baked bread might be a good thank you. So, I quickly mixed up two loaves and let them rise. One loaf has been delivered and the other is set out and ready to go next door after Bible club. It wasn’t a whole lot of trouble! I love to bake! I had everything on hand to make the loaves. I sent them with a longing to be a blessing, and to represent Christ – the Giver of every good and perfect gift. How can I not share with others?!

What do you have that you could give this weekend?

Time to make a visit to someone who may be lonely or discouraged?
An extra batch of cookies?
A book or magazine you’ve read and could share?
A meal?
A helping hand with housework or yard work?
A card with encouraging words?
Chocolate?

Proverbs 11:25b

He that watereth shall be watered also himself.

When you refresh others, you’re refreshing yourself! So…

Stay refreshed,

Uncategorized

Eliminating and Concentrating

April 21, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

RefreshHer

You have so much to do today! How will you ever accomplish everything that is before you ~ especially if you stop the first thing in your morning and spend thirty minutes alone with the Lord? There’s the housework, going to work, taking care of the children, cooking the meals, and so many other decisions to be made today! You’d better get busy!

Wait! Consider this first:

Without having time with God our housework will be just cleaning up after others. When we do it after time with God, it’s our way of showing God’s love to those who live with us.
Without having time with God, going to do our jobs will be part of our daily grind. When we do it after time with God, it’s a ministry to others.
Without having time with God, spending time with the children all day will be a display of gritting…

View original post 354 more words

hospitality · Uncategorized

A Backyard Celebration

April 20, 2016April 19, 2016 RefreshHer6 Comments

I told you last Friday that I had a fun activity planned for the weekend. Today let me tell you about it!

Last fall a dear friend asked 31 ladies at our church to pray for me as I prepared to speak at The Wilds spring ladies’ retreat. I had one lady praying specific verses and requests for me on each day of the month! What an invaluable gift that has been! I received a notebook with the names of each lady and what they were praying each day. I was overwhelmed with the fact that they would invest in my life so richly!

As the ladies’ retreat approaches (it’s this weekend), I wanted to do something to express my thanks to this precious group of women, so I had a Spring Tea on our new patio area. The Lord provided the perfect weather for the day – lots of sunshine (I think nearly everyone ended up with a sunburn though!), but the temps were so comfortable – in the high 70’s. Only about half of the praying group were able to come, but we had a really great time together enjoying a light lunch, fellowship, and then a time of prayer.

Let me show you the group that came:

I set the food out on the covered porch and we ate out in the sunshine!

I’ll share the recipes next week, but here was one of the savory salads I made:

This is one of the many sweets I served:

I bought two bunches of flowers on sale at Kroger for $5 each and made an arrangement for each of the four tables.

See the sweet Scrabble coasters? My talented friend, Vickie made those for me, and I thought they added a whimsical touch to each table! I wanted her “there” somehow, and she was! Thanks, Vickie!

I used my re-purposed coffee table for the beverages – a Peach Tea Punch, ice water and hot teas.

To say that I loved having everyone here would be a huge understatement! This was my first official party on the new patio! That was reason for rejoicing, but then to have these dear friends here who have prayed so much for me, I felt like that patio got the sweetest initiation ever!

To those of my prayers warriors who were not able to come, I missed you! To those of you who have prayed for me, though you were not on the list of the 31 ladies, thank you! I know I can do nothing, unless the Lord equip and fill my heart and my mouth. Keep praying! I need it so desperately.

I have cookies leftover, so stop in any time! We’ll have our own tea party!

Lovingly,

8E63C63AC0BC189BF1C68B03C74DBB5F

Christian Life

Making Spiritual Connections

April 19, 2016April 17, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

A friend just told you how the Lord provided for her financial needs. A man at church shared a testimony of how God healed him of cancer. You hear of a friend whose childbirth was miraculous. You see the softening in the heart of someone who needs to be saved. Then a trial hits your life and you wonder where the Lord is.

Ever been there? I know twelve men who have. The disciples. Just after they had seen Jesus provide food for 5,000+ people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, they were on a storm-tossed sea . Jesus walked out to them on the water and they were scared even more of who this might be! Then Jesus revealed Himself to them and calms the sea and the disciples are amazed, “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” In other words, they didn’t make the connection from what they had witnessed earlier to their own situation! If Jesus could do a miracle with the loaves and fish, He could calm the sea. Make the connection, disciples!

Jesus healed the cancer, provided the finances, brought the baby in a miraculous delivery, and drew the lost person’s heart toward the Gospel…and maybe He allowed you to see all that so you would trust Him to intervene in your situation, too! He wants us to “make the connection” between what we witness and what’s going on in our own lives! The connection can also be the Truths He shows us in His Word. Our God is the same today as He was then!

Stop and consider what you saw God do just this past weekend. Now, what does that do for your heart when you look at your life and what you’re dealing with? Make the connection and trust Him!

Lovingly,

dessert

Chocolate-Mint Pudding

April 18, 2016April 16, 2016 RefreshHer6 Comments

Would I normally choose pudding for dessert? No, not when it’s from a box and is kind of rubbery tasting. However, when it’s made from scratch and is silky, smooth, chocolaty and minty, I could eat it every. single. day.

This recipe is from Cooking Light, but in typical fashion, you’d never know it (well, I also topped it with homemade whipping cream which put it over the top!). I couldn’t resist!

This recipe is not difficult to make, it just takes a little patience – unlike the old box of pudding. Trust me, you’ll be glad you put in the effort. This is special enough for a company dinner. Your guests will love you for it!

For the semi-sweet chocolate pieces, I used these Nestle’ Chocolate Mint filled chips. They added a little more minty taste to the pudding, which is super good! But you could use just regular chocolate and it’ll be delicious.

After the pudding is cooked, be sure to lay plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Then refrigerate the bowl.

Ingredients

3 cups fat-free milk

1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves (about 1/2 ounce)

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Mint sprigs (optional)

Preparation

Heat milk over medium-high heat in a small, heavy saucepan to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat; add mint. Let stand 15 minutes; strain milk mixture through a sieve into a bowl, reserving milk. Discard solids. Return milk to pan; stir in sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt. Return pan to medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a whisk until mixture thickens.

Place egg yolks in a medium bowl; gradually add half of hot milk mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add egg mixture to pan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat; add vanilla and chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts. Pour pudding into a bowl; cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap. Chill. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.

I garnished my dishes of pudding with a fresh strawberry. Not only did it add a pretty color, it was delicious dipped in the chocolate!

Any pudding lovers out there? Give this a try even if you’re on the edge. It’s not hard, and it will turn even a night of leftovers into a meal fit for a king!

With love from my country kitchen,