Author: RefreshHer

waiting

In Time to Come

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In this “instant world” we live in waiting can be difficult to handle.  We tap our foot in the “fast food” line if we’ve waited over a few minutes.  We wait for the repairman that was supposed to have shown up hours ago.  We crane our necks to see the traffic problem ahead of us if all we see are brake lights, indicating a halt in our mobile progress.  Even though we don’t like these kind of waiting times,we know they’ll come and we adjust.

I don’t know about you, but waiting for things in my spiritual life seems much harder.  I mean, this is a good thing I’m asking for or anticipating.  Why would God wait to allow it to come to pass?  Isn’t His promise to us that we’re to call and He will answer? We’re to sow seed and He will bring the reaping, right?  Here’s what God told me in response to that question.

Recently I was waiting for God to deliver on one of His promises to me as a woman.  I foolishly and selfishly had the mentality, “I’ve done my part. I’ve obeyed.  I’ve applied Scripture. Shouldn’t I see the fruit from this now?”  One morning in my waiting, I read Proverbs 31 – a chapter I have read many times.  As I read, I saw a verse in a completely new light.  It was almost as thought I had never read it before.  Verse 25 says, Strength and honour are her clothing (the virtuous woman’s); and she shall rejoice

in   time   to   come.

This is said of the virtuous woman!  She’s the example of doing it all, and doing it well, and having a right heart in the midst of her activities!  If our doing well would assure us of getting what we’re asking for now, surely this lady would be at the front of the line.  However, she is now my reminder that it doesn’t depend on me, but on my God.   I can trust Him when He says, “Wait.”

When will the rejoicing come?  Not now.  Not when I think I’m ready for the fruit.  Not when I think it’s best, but in time to come.

I can’t tell you the joy that flooded my heart as I read that.  The Lord so sweetly spoke to my “tapping foot”.  “It will come…but not now.  I will bring rejoicing to you, but you need to be a woman of strength.  Don’t be weak and question Me.  Be a woman of honor and don’t quit while you’re waiting.  I hear you.  I will answer you.  Wait.”

If you’re waiting for a need to be met, a mate to be brought into your life, a child to return to the Lord, a husband to be saved,or some other answer to a specific prayer, let me encourage you to be a woman of godly strength and honor and keep that smile in your spirit.  One day you’ll be able to burst out in joyous laughter and rejoicing.  When?  In time to come.

Under His wings,

main dish

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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My gift from the Lord.  How lovely. 

Isn’t God abundantly good?  He gives so many sweet blessings that are directly from His hand.  There are no explanations for these gifts,  other than His love and goodness. 



My weekend front porch

This past weekend I experienced a piece of manna from heaven.  I got the privilege to go away and retreat by myself!  This was a first!  I had planned this get-away about two months prior, but it was the Lord that caused the timing of it to be exactly when I needed it.  I got to rest, hear wise, biblical teaching, meet new Christian friends, enjoy the beauty of God’s world, and eat someone else’s cooking!  I debated whether the food was so good because it was some of the best stuff I’d ever eaten, or if it was because it was made by someone else.  At the end of the weekend, I realized that it was that this dear lady is an absolutely wonderful cook!  She was gracious enough to share her recipes, so I get to share my favorite dish of the weekend with you.

One evening we had:
Candlelight Chicken
Long-Grain and Wild Rice
Peas
Homemade Bread
Fresh Strawberry Pie
Yeah, it was a lot, but if you’d have been with me, you would have tried it all too!  Wow! 

This chicken dish is a great meal for Sunday dinner because it has to bake for three hours.  I’m so glad to have a new recipe that will be ready when we get home from morning services!  You have to try this!

Candlelight Chicken
4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless) (or 8 half pieces of chicken)
1 can Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup
1/2 pint sour cream
8 thin slices of ham (Virginia Baked) – Someone told me you can also use dried beef
Bacon slices
Wrap each chicken breast in a slice of ham.  Arrange in a buttered baking dish.  Lay a bacon strip over each wrapped chicken breast.  Carefully pour combined mixture of soup and sour cream over the meats.  Bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours.  Cover dish except for final half hour browning.
I am refreshed as I begin this new week, and so thankful for the blessings of the Lord that make me rich! Proverbs 10:22  What blessings have you enjoyed this weekend that were from the Lord’s hand?  I’d love to hear about it or a new recipe you tried!
With love,
Refreshment

Freshen Up Friday

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Happy first day of fall, y’all!
There are so many foods that are associated with fall; things like soups and stews, chili, gingerbread, caramel apples, and pumpkin pie.  We certainly can’t leave out candies that are associated with fall!  Who could ignore the infamous candy corn? 
While I’m not really crazy about a handful of candy corn, I was recently given a cute little jar filled with a wicked treat!  Not wickedly bad, but wickedly good!  Let me show you…
See the little acorn?  Well, now let me take off the lid so you can see the treat inside.

It’s filled with candy corn, candy pumpkins a mixed nuts.  Oh my.  This should be pictured under the definition for sin…and it’s not even chocolate!  The sweet and salty mixture is really good!  If you haven’t mixed up a jar of this, you must.  I mean, it would just be in the spirit of the season. 

If you don’t trust yourself with a jar of this in your own house, why not package some up to give as a gift?  This was part of a birthday gift to me from a friend.  I’m just glad that dish has a lid…otherwise I’d be too tempted to get a handful each time I walk past!

Seasonal foods refresh us, so find something yummy to mix up for your Friday!

See you in church Sunday!

Love y’all!

Fall

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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Did you know that Friday is the first day of fall?  That means it’s time to do some Fall Nesting!  Last week I took the chance to pull out most of my fall decorations.   I have lots of them.  I began collecting them when we lived in Indiana and fall seemed to last a long time.  The colors are warm and just make home feel so different.   It’s fun, isn’t it to cozy things up?  Even just adding a warm throw or a quilt to a bed or sofa can give a warm, inviting touch that says, “sit down and snuggle in.”

Here are a few of the touches I’ve added to the living room:

Here’s my foyer table that greets my guests:

I love the addition of the light under the table.
These flowers were pulled from a patriotic arrangement at church that was headed to the trash.  They have a few days left in them!

I love using my Scrabble tiles in decorating.  We play a quick version of Scrabble that doesn’t require the board, so I leave a dish out with all the rest of the tiles, and use one or two holders to create words that coordinate with the theme or season.

Just adding a few goldish/yellow dishes and pumpkins add a touch of autumn to my cabinet.
These fall grasses were half off at Michael’s last week making this a very inexpensive arrangement.

I dimmed the lights so you could see my lit branches.  I love these!  They are $10 at Michael’s, but I had a coupon for 50% off any regular priced item.  Most everything else was on sale, but these were not, so I scored!  Five dollars for a lovely addition to my arrangement is my kind of deal!  These branches also come in white – which would be pretty at Christmas time.  All it requires is three AA batteries.

I’ve added other touches to my kitchen and front porch and back deck.  Pictures will come. That’s a peek inside my parsonage, but  here’s a lovely porch by Country Living to inspire you…

See how inviting that throw makes the chair on this porch?
What touches have you added (or will you add)?  Share your good ideas with us!
From my autumn parsonage,