The Most Popular Posts of the Year

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Top ten lists are always fun and informative. When I look into the stats here, it helps me to know what to write and what areas women enjoy reading.

I recently enjoyed taking a look into my blog to see what RefreshHer’s top ten posts of 2015 were. Let’s have a drum roll and I’ll show you which posts made it into this year’s most popular!

When was the last time someone read “The Little Gingerbread Man” to you?!

#10 This post told Why I went to the Altar again Last Sunday. Do you remember why?!

#9 The Topic of Conversational Respect was a marriage post that needs to be practiced by each of us wives. How are you doing at this?

#8 Using Mother’s Day as a Measuring Stick told about a trap many mom’s fall into. The result is not pretty.

#7 Living With the Fear of Getting Caught is a partly funny story on myself; the lesson I learned is the other part.

#6 Watch Your Step was a post written by a guest and my dear friend, Kellie. Her insight of walking in “muck” touched all of our hearts.

#5 What you Don’t Know about Infertility was a post written to inform unsuspecting people who feel the need to say something to couples who have no children.

#4 The Best Date that Costs Nothing was close to the top, reminding me that people want help with their marriage and practical ways that will keep things fun!

#3 How To Tell if a Child Is Ready To Be Saved was read by a host of parents who are grappling with what to do with their child who keeps wanting to ask Jesus into their life. I pray this post has sealed the answer in not only the child’s heart, but their parent’s.

#2‘s post was, How To Refresh Your Pastor. If you’ve forgotten to pray fervently for your pastor who is fighting great spiritual battles for his congregetation, I trust you’ll hurry over and reread this post so you can be a blessing to this man who gives so much of himself for the Gospel’s sake!

And now for the most read post of 2015..

#1 I must have lots of frustrated parents reading my blog, because the best post of the year was, Training Your Preschooler To Sit in Church! So, how’s it going? Do you need a bit of a refresher course? The key is being consistent with the ideas I shared.

Let me just tell you how much I appreciate each of you who take time out of your day to read my blog. Thank you. I pray that I can encourage and refresh your heart, home and life and encourage you to stay faithful in your walk with God. Being His child is the best life!

Thanks again for encouraging me in another year of blogging!

Is there a topic you’d like to see addressed in this next year? Leave a comment and let me know!

With love,

Christian growth

Spiritual Check-Up

December 29, 2015December 29, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

Being with family over Christmas was so much fun. It was interesting to me how much reminiscing we did! Isn’t it fun to “remember when?”

“What was your favorite childhood memory?”

“Remember when we all…”

“I’ll never forget the time…”

were phrases that were repeated over and over – like a toddler with a question.

At the close of 2015 and at the brink of 2016, I’m thinking quite a bit about the year that has passed. Paul reminds us to forget that which is behind and press toward the mark, but I think sometimes a reminder of accomplishments and failures alike can help motivate our future. I’m going to call it my Year-End Check Up. Here’s how I’ll check my spiritual health – I’ll ask a question and then find a practical way to analyze that area.

Check-Up List:

What Scripture have I memorized this year? Write down the references and recite the verses.
Has my prayer time improved or slacked off? Look into my prayer journal to see prayer requests added or checked off because they were answered.
What portion of Scripture have I read that has changed me? Look into my personal devotional journal and Bible studies completed. Was it meaningful? What did I learn and apply?
Was my church attendance regular? Was I serving faithfully in my church? The answer to this is simply to remember what I did or didn’t do.
Did I give faithfully to my local church? Look at the Tax return they give at the end of the year.
Did I pour into anyone else’s life for the Gospel’s sake? Write their name in my prayer journal.
Did I disciple anyone? Write their names in my prayer journal.
Am I closer to God today than I was this time last year? Ask the Lord in prayer.

Inspection of our spiritual lives is important if we desire to grow. I pray you’ll take time to have a check-up before the new year comes!

Do you have another question you’d ask during your check-up?

With love,

Home decor

After-Christmas Refreshment in the Kitchen

December 28, 2015December 28, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

Let me be really honest – this can be a kind of blah time of the year for me. All the festivities are over and the celebrations are completed. The decorations come down and the world is wintery and gray. The house can look really plain after the undecorating is completed, can’t it?

So for me, when Christmas is done and I walk into my house – particularly my kitchen, I want to smile at what I see. I like to refresh things in my menu and my decor so it won’t be bleak looking once all the tinsel and garlands have been removed from walls and windows.

Since food is essential, I’ll start with refreshng the menu. All the rich foods and decadent desserts are great, but now we’re always ready for something a lot more simple. If fixing dinner this week is stumping you, why not just silmplify? Need some suggestions?

Baked potatoes with toppings –
- Bacon bits
- Chives
- Sour Cream
- Grated Cheddar Cheese
Waffles or Pancakes for Dinner
Quiche or Vegetable Fritatta & Tossed Salad
Soup Beans and Corn Bread
Homemade soup, made from the ham bone or chicken stock you enjoyed at Christmas.

After Christmas is over and the decorations come down is also a good time to freshen up the kitchen decor. Your bowls and baking supplies have had lots of use and may have gotten displaced. While putting things back into order, consider changing things around a bit. Display pretty bowls or canisters on your counter, as seen in the pictures above (from Cottage Jounal Magazine).

Did you get new dishes for Christmas? Don’t hide them! Find a pretty way to display them in your cabinets or a way to make them really shine when you set the table. Placemats can be changed out for pretty chargers. They’ll add texture and color to your table.

I love the plate display on the wall above, minus the wine bottle on the table . Pretty platters and special dishes would be beautiful hung on plate hangers and displayed in the kitchen or dining area.

One other area of your kitchen that needs to be remembered in your attempt to refresh is your table. With the Christmas candles gone, don’t just shirk your shoulders and sigh – find a winter candle arrangement like the one pictured above to warm up that space and invite your family and guests to gather ’round.

Another touch that I love in the above picture is the chandelier. This is another picture from The Cottage Journal Magazine. They added a string of beads to embellish the lighting with sparkle. I love this touch and hope to copy it! What the evergreen garland and white lights did at Christmas time, the beads will do in January!

Keep your kitchen and your menu from getting the blah’s at this time of year by refreshing both with these simple ideas!

Refresh your kitchen and you’ll refresh your home!

Toodles Friends,

Uncategorized

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2015December 24, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

Merry Christmas to you, my friends. I pray you will have a wonderful time celebrating Christ’s birth. If the holidays are difficult for you for some reason or another, remember that the greatest need of our life was met when Jesus came to be born as our Savior. Every other need we may have He is able to handle as well. Look to the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb and rejoice in the hope that Christmas brings.

With love,

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Christmas

A Christmas Evening to Remember

December 23, 2015December 22, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

Yesterday I told you about getting to go to Asheville, NC to hear a concert by a converted Jew, Marty Goetz. Below are pictures of that magical night at The Cove. The decorations were so beautiful, and they were everywhere!

The snow we experienced was our first of the season – right on top of the mountain we were crossing. It was festive and beautiful…and a little scary! The Lord protected us, however, and we enjoyed its addition to this Christmas-y night!

It was a blessing to bump into and meet Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and tell her what a blessing her ministry has been to me!

We have been blessed to attend several activities this month that have really allowed us time to worship and praise our Savior that was born that we might live.

How have you worshiped this Christmas?

With love,

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