When I was a little girl, my grandparents lived near a “corner store.”  It was a small grocery store at the end of the street that sold all the essentials – milk, bread, eggs, canned goods, etc. But the best thing to me was the PENNY CANDY!  My grandfather would give me and my sisters a dime each and send us to the corner store to get a “sack-full” of candy.  We would come back with a little brown sack teeming with Mary Jane’s, licorice, bubble gum, Slow Pokes, Smarties and other sweet treasures!  That brown sack was so appreciated!  We enjoyed each treat, savoring them as long as possible!

Recently I was reading the familiar story of Joseph in Genesis 43.  In this chapter, his brothers are headed back to their father with food provisions, made possible by Joseph’s generosity.  Then the brothers discover that the money they had paid for the food was found tucked into each of their sacks!  They were alarmed and afraid that they would be in trouble with Joseph. Would he accuse them of stealing the food?  When they told Joseph about it upon their return to Egypt, he said, 

I have been out of town the last couple days, but I worked ahead over the weekend on the duties of Days 8 and 9.  Then when I got home this afternoon, I set the clock for 30 minutes and got to work on Deep cleaning the Living room.

I also got rid of one coat and a bunch of magazines!  Today’s challenge is done!

Did you do today’s Living Room challenge?

Feeling refreshed,

Every child at some time or other begins to think about what they’d like to be when they grow up.  My dream was a nurse.  I cannot say I ever imagined my life as a pastor’s wife.  I didn’t go out looking for a preacher boy to marry – that was all God’s doings.  It’s was God’s plan for me to then become a pastor’s wife, and I am so thankful. 

I walked into my role having no idea what to expect, except from the role models I had seen growing up.  In the more than 30 years in this position, I can honestly say it’s produced more blessings than I ever imagined!  It has also produced more sorrows than I knew would be a part of ministry.  It was simply because I didn’t understand.  If you don’t live in a parsonage, perhaps you don’t understand either.  Can I share a blog post with you that may enlighten you to what it looks like from inside my windows?  A woman from our church posted this on my Facebook wall recently.  It’s written by a pastor’s wife, and it is a great picture of my world.  I love it if you’d go here and read her insight into 20 Things Every Pastor’s Wife Wants You To Know About Her.  It is very well written, and it very well describes my life and heart. 

Will you come back and share on thing that was an eye-opener for you?

P.S. WooHoo! I see that the number of people “following” my blog has increased in the last couple of days! That encourages my heart. When I sit here at the computer each day and type what the Lord puts on my heart, then hit “Publish,” I never know who may read – or truth be known, if anyone will even care to read what I’ve written. So it’s encouraging to see growth in those that stop in each day. I appreciate each one of you!

Continued from last week...

All the other 100 students or so were calling back home to talk to their parents to be assured that all was well in their families. However, my sister and I had a problem – we couldn’t reach our parents. No matter how many times we tried, there was no connection to that land line. Worry began to creep in. Little did I know that in the hours to come, I would be feeding off of the truths that God had revealed to me in His Word early that morning.

The whole band was sitting listening to another band play their concert, when my band director slipped in and ushered my sister and me out of the concert. This was odd. Something was going on. My heart was pounding. Once in the quiet and privacy of another room, we were told that the tornado that went through our city had touched down on our house. The roof was completely removed from our home. We were assured that our parents were well. My mom had only suffered a severe bruise on her arm from a beam that fell from the ceiling. The neighbors had come over and taken her to safety until family could arrive to take her to their home.

We made the bus ride back to Kentucky within the next day or so. I couldn’t wait to go home. I wanted to see it for myself. I remember sitting down on the street in front of our house in the parked car. Looking up at the house, I saw not one piece of roofing – no shingle or piece of lumber left on the top of the house. The wires that ran the electricity through the house were dangling in each room like tangled embroidery floss in a sewing basket. The rains that had followed the storm had saturated the furniture, draperies and rugs making them as useless as dish rags. As I faced the devastation, and thought about God’s protection, tears ran down my face. The friend that was with me in the car said,

“Denise, don’t feel sorry for yourself.”

Sorry for myself? Oh no, I wasn’t sorry. Sure, I was sad at the loss, but I was even more overwhelmed at how the Lord had gone before us. He had protected my mom. He had protected my sister and me – our band’s buses had driven through the very storm that had touched our town. He had also prepared me with the Scriptures that would remind me that my real treasures are in heaven where they could never be destroyed. Miracle of miracles, He also caused the shelves in the closets to fall over the clothing and protect the garments from the torrents of rain. Oh, yes, “shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Yes, He did.

God took care of so many details in that literal storm. We never lacked for anything. He used that to teach me, as a teenager, that He had planned it all, and was in the midst of the tornado that touched, not only our home, but also our spiritual lives. I learned that I could trust Him with anything that came into my world. He drew me into a closer dependence on Him – the Creator of tornadoes and treasures.

What “storm” are you experiencing right now? Look in faith to your God; He will provide, protect and proceed every step you take.

With love,

The beautiful weather on Saturday begged for a cookout!  I had hamburgers on my menu anyway, so they got the royal treatment with this recipe for Herb and Cheese Stuffed Burgers. I shared this recipe with you last summer, but I had share it once again, just in case you didn’t try it then – or in case you forgot how good it is!
  

Ingredients
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 teaspoons Dijon mustard, divided
2 green onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
4 rolls, split
Lettuce leaves and tomato slices, optional

Directions
In a small bowl, combine the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, parsley and 1 teaspoon mustard; set aside.
In another bowl, combine the onions, bread crumbs, ketchup, salt, rosemary, sage and remaining mustard. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
Shape into eight thin patties. Spoon cheese mixture onto center of four patties; top with remaining patties and press edges firmly to seal.
Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160° and juices run clear. Serve on rolls with lettuce and tomato if desired. Yield: 4 servings.

I love this  side dish of Crispy Potato Wedges because the are super yummy, and because they are really fast.  When I don’t have time to bake french fries, this is my go-to recipe!  

Crispy Potato Wedges

Wash and pierce potatoes (one per person).  Place in microwave.  I found that if I do two potatoes I microwave them about 3 and half minutes.  Let set for about 5 minutes.  Cut each potatoe into four wedges.  Place in baking pan skins side down.  Brush potatoes with melted butter and then sprinkle with paprika and salt.  Place in 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes.  Turn potatoes over and brush skins with melted butter and coarse salt.  Pop back into the oven for 5-10 minutes.  Serve with sour cream.

Now you’re ready for the next warm day that calls for a cookout!  

What is your favorite food to cook on the grill?

From my parsonage kitchen,