Author: RefreshHer

Christian Life

Two Questions

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“So what’s the big tadoo about being a woman of character?” someone may ask.  The world says we are all a little good.    Is it that hard to be a woman of godliness?  And what about men?  Is it any easier to be a man of strong biblical character?  Let’s see what Scripture says…

Proverbs 20:6b asks a noteworthy question, it says, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”  The implication here is that a man may boast about his ability to do this or be that, but when it comes right down to it, faithful men are rare!  That question reminds me of Proverbs 31:10 – Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. This virtuous woman, this woman of striking character is also a rare gem!  You don’t find women like this in every house in the neighborhood!  You won’t find men like that in every business office or college campus. 

Why are faithful men and virtuous women hard to find?  I believe it’s because it is hard work.  It takes discipline to stay by the stuff when things are difficult; it takes no effort to quit.  It takes strength to say “No” to sin; it’s much easier to cave in to the temptation.  Name any character trait and look at its antonym and it’s understandable why a person could shake their head, shrug their shoulders and go the easy route.  There’s nothing to it!

The blessing of the pursuit of godliness is that we’re not in this alone!  “For it is God which worketh in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13  The One Who is exemplary of character enables us be women of character!

We need to be encouraging our sons and daughters not only to be this kind of man or woman, but also to be looking for this kind of mate.  It’s easy to find someone to marry, but it’s worth waiting to find a faithful man or a virtuous woman!

Who can find a faithful man, or a virtuous woman?  They don’t abound, but you and I can be one, all by His amazing grace.

With love,

Family life

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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Enjoy the little things today;
in the future you’ll realize the little things
were the big things!

I recently saw the previous saying on a sign.  As I’ve contemplated it, I’ve realized that it is really true.  When I think back to what I considered “little” things we’ve done in our parsonage, they would include such things as:

  • Kissing my husband good morning, goodbye, or goodnight
  • Reading a chapter in Proverbs every day
  • Having pretend tea parties
  • Setting a nice dinner table
  • All of us playing outside in the snow
  • Turning on good music during dinner
  • Saying, “I love you” whenever we talk on the phone
  • Making treats for each holiday
  • Family devotions after dinner
  • My husband reading the “Mandy” or “Little House on the Prairie” books with the girls at bedtime
  • Leaving notes for one another on the bathroom mirrors

These are all little things, but in the long run, they turn into big things, because they are what made our marriage and home strong, left each of us with sweet memories, and have enriched our lives for God’s glory. 

The “little things” you are doing today are investments in the lives of those that live in your house – including yourself!  Keep doing them.  Some day you’ll see they weren’t little at all!

From my parsonage window,

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Have You Heard?

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Rahab leaned in as her friend cupped her hand around her mouth and said in hushed tones –

“Have you heard the news?  The Israelites have finally been freed from their slavery in Egypt.  Hundreds of thousands of them left…in the middle of the night!  They say that when they got to the Red Sea, their leader, Moses, lifted up His rod and the water parted, and those people crossed on dry land!  But when the Egyptians tried to go after them the waters crashed down on them, and not one soldier was left alive!  I heard it was their God that cause all those plagues to happen beforehand, and that He was the One that made it possible for them to cross the sea safely.  I wonder if they’ll try to come here to Jericho?  I’m afraid of what will happen to us if they do!”  Rahab sat back, wide eyed and disbelieving at first, but then nodded as she remembered other things she had heard about the Israelite’s God. 

Then one day Rahab heard a rap at her door and was greeted by two men who were looking for lodging.  It didn’t take long for her to realize that these men were not only strangers, but Israelite men, looking for a safe haven where they might stay.  She was in awe of these people, and their God, and it was without hesitation that she ushered them inside, away from the onlookers on the street.  She was risking her life to hide these men on the roof, under the flax that was piled high on top of them.  They were safe from the spears of the men who had heard of them coming to Rahab’s door; safe from an untimely death.

After the men of Jericho had followed Rahab’s faulty information and went looking for the spies elsewhere, Rahab rushed to the rooftop to warn God’s men.  Joshua 2:9-11 says, She said unto the men,

I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Because of what Rahab had heard, she put her faith in the one true God!  The news that had travelled to her ears melted her heart for the Lord!  What power a testimony of God’s work can have on others!

What have others heard about your life recently?  Could they say,  “Wow, I heard what God did for you!”? Would your testimony of God’s work turn their heart to belief?  We can’t take the credit for anything that happens to us!  Feeling better after being sick, provision of a financial need, the return of a wandering sinner, securing something you’ve needed, an unsuspected blessing…these are all from God’s hand and we must give Him the credit, and we must tell others about it!

God has recently (last week) answered two prayer requests that have been heavy burdens on my heart.  He alone is the One worthy of praise!  I did nothing to cause it to happen!  I can tell you, dear friend, that God hears you when you pray!  That’s my testimony today!

What have others heard about God from you?  Don’t be ashamed to share it!

With love,

Soups/stew

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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Sunday Roast Beef in a Bowl

This translates down to “Beef Stew”

With the cooler temperatures we’ve had this week (it dropped into the 30’s!), I opted to serve Beef Stew for Sunday dinner.Why didn’t I think of this before?  Beef stew is all the roast beef dinner in one easy pot!  It’s a perfect meal for fall and winter days.  It’s warm, it’s comforting, it’s yummy!

My simple Menu:
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Warm Bread and Pumpkin Butter
Frozen Salad

The bread was made by a dear friend, (aren’t I blessed?) and the salad was the one I’d made for last week.  I love having a fruit salad in the freezer to add to a meal!  It makes meal prep super easy!

This recipe is a less tomato tasting base, and I like it better.  It couldn’t be easier because I diced up the vegetables, and even mixed up the seasonings into a dish on Saturday night.  Sunday morning all I had to do was dump everything into the crock pot and cook on low while we were at church. I love the addition of the peas and corn in this stew!

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

1 lb. beef stew meat
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
1 can (11.5 oz.) V8 juice – or any tomato juice
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbl cornstarch
1 Tbl cold water
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen peas

1.  In a 3 quart slow cooker, combine the fist 12 ingredients.  Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until meat is tender.  Discard bay leaves.
2.  In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew.  Add corn and peas.
3.  Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until thickened.

I generally always have dessert items in my freezer.  Yesterday, since my mother-in-law was joining us, I pulled out some mini brownie tarts I’d frozen and served them alongside a dish of ice cream with warm caramel sauce.  Even when I don’t plan dessert, I can always pull something out for guests. Right now I also have frozen Snickerdoodle dough ready to be baked, Lemon Loaf slices, and a couple kinds of ice cream (an absolute necessity!). 

I’m also including a recipe today that my mom made this last week.  She posted about it on Facebook.  It sounded so good, and several commented that they’d love to have the recipe.  So, here it is.  This is another perfect fall dish – the recipe name alone is enticing!  She included a lovely picture that my email is keeping captive.  Grrr. . .it’s as pretty in the dish as it sounds. 

Autumn Bisque

2 tbl butter divided
1 tbl minced garlic
3/4 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped celery
4 cups chicken broth, divided
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped leeks
3 cups fresh or canned pumpkin puree
1 (13.5 ounce) can of coconut milk
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp fresh chopped thyme

In a large stockpot over med heat, melt 1 tbl olive oil and 1 tbl butter. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery and cook for 8 minutes.

Add 2 cups of chicken broth and simmer for 3 minutes, remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Pour the broth, when cooled, mixture into a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth, set aside.

In the same stockpot, over med heat, heat the remaining Olive oil and butter. Add the mushrooms and leeks, and cook for 6 minutes or until mushrooms begin to brown.

Add the remaining broth, vegetables-broth puree, pumpkin, coconut milk, and red pepper flakes: simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Stir in the salt, lemon juice, and the thyme: simmer for 10 minutes.

What’s been cooking at your house on these cool days?

From my parsonage kitchen,

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Freshen Up Friday

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It’s amazing how a simple ingredient has the ability to refresh.  Add a scarf to a plain black dress, and instantly an outfit is improved.  Add a little greenery on a book shelf and it looks finished.

The same is true in foods.  Sometimes sprucing up a plain ingredient can really add pizazz to a meal.  The ingredient I’m thinking about today is Paula Deen’s favorite staple.  Yep, it’s butter.  Though I try to keep a handle on the amount I use, so I don’t end up with handles around me, it is a really great additive to plain foods.  But I’m not talking about just plain butter…

 

 

The Chop House Restaurant serves a small pork chop with some kind of herbed butter on top.  It is soooo good, and it takes a very simple piece of meat to the next level.  Recently while looking through my herb cookbook, I found a recipe for Rosemary Butter and had to give it a try.  I browned up pork chops and popped a little spoon of my seasoned butter on it and I was in heaven!  The recipe also suggests using it on fresh vegetables or broiled or grilled chicken.  I had a little extra and popped some inside my baked potato.  Oh, yes.  It was yummy!

Here’s the recipe.  It makes lots, but you could cut the recipe in half or fourths, which is what I did.

Rosemary Butter

Try this on baked or boiled chicken, boiled new potatoes or fresh garden vegetables

1 C butter, softened
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 T chopped fresh rosemary, or 2 tsp dried
1 T chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp grated lemon peel
Salt and pepper


Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Makes 1 cup.


Try an herbed butter to a plain food and see what it does.  You’ll be licking your fingers!

See you in church!

Be refreshed,