Author: RefreshHer

Christian Life

Pressure Cooker Times

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I looooove those good ol’ Southern-style green beans.  They’re the ones that are from fresh green beans that have been cooked for several hours, with some bacon fat or ham added to give a lovely fattening coating over those nice healthy veggies!  However, because it does take several hours to make, I have usually opted for a quick version of beans that satisfied my taste for this delicacy only partially. 
Then this summer I was given my mom’s pressure cooker.  Up until that time I was really afraid to use one.  I had visions in my head of the steam in the pot reaching such levels that I would look up only to see a lid-sized hole in the kitchen ceiling!  So after getting this pot washed and ready to use, I went to the Internet to watch a video on how to safely use my new gadget.  After several viewings, I learned all the safety precautions and tips on how to get those Southern green beans.  I followed all the instructions and Ta-da – in 25 minutes I had beans that tasted like they’d cooked all afternoon!
As I watched the video on the Internet, I learned how to adjust the valve and the temperature to keep the steam from getting too extreme and causing pressure problems (a hole in the ceiling!).  I also learned to take the pot to the sink at the end of the cooking time to allow a little cool water to drip over the lid and reduce the pressure.  That preparation helped me accomplish the task!
You know what?  There are also techniques in life to help us reduce the pressure.  Just as I had to think through the process of cooking the beans properly, stopping to think through what we’re doing and then preparing for it will help to reduce whatever pressure we’re facing.   Right now, our church is going through two weeks of revival meetings.  That can add a lot of pressure to an already busy life…unless we stop to think it through, pray it through, and then prepare.  So, anyone  going through a pressure-filled time, ask yourself a few questions:
  • What can I do to adjust the “heat”? 
    • Eliminate a few activities?
    • Simplify meals?
    • Lighten the home school load?
    • Lower the expectation of what I need to accomplish today?

  • What will add a little “cool water” right now?
    • Spend specific time in prayer for the meetings (or whatever is causing your pressure)
      • Pray for those involved
      • Pray for your own response
      • Pray for your attitude
    • All through the day, encourage your heart by listening to good music, reviewing Scripture memory verses, listening to radio broadcasts that will turn your heart to the Lord.  Keeping your focus on Christ instead of the pressure will give you aright perspective!
    • Make sure you (and your children) get adequate rest. 
    • Plan a fun activity for Friday night (our off night for revival)
I don’t use a pressure cooker every day.  We don’t have revival meetings every week. Not every day is one filled with pressures  Let’s make the necessary adjustments and preparations so that instead of it being an experience that we dread,  it will be a time of wonderful and blessed results that are lasting.  We might even learn to appreciate those pressure-cooker times because of the end result!
With love,
Denise
Pasta

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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Maybe the heading should say “Who’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?”  I had a guest of sorts stirring up yumminess in my kitchen this weekend!  My husband is not a cook…at least that’s what I used to believe! However, he surprised me by stepping into the kitchen to make me a meal!   I celebrated a birthday this weekend, and, being the sweet husband he is, he wanted to do something better than just take me to dinner. 

So, instead, he cooked me dinner! He searched the Internet for Romantic Dinners for Two and came up with Easy-Creamy Linguine with Shrimp.  Take a look…
He said he wanted this to be a labor of love, and indeed it was.  After shooing me out of the kitchen, I planted myself in the living room at my desk.  It was quite entertaining just listening to the sounds coming from my chef.  “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” (Something strange was happening to his sauce)  “Zowie!” (I think something was hot!) “Oh, no, I forgot the fresh herbs!  Honnnnn!”  It brought a smile to my face.  The smells of the butter and garlic made me understand why he comments – “It sure smells good in there!” when he’s at his desk and I’m in the kitchen. 

It touched my heart that he would go to so much trouble in the kitchen, just to demonstrate his love.  It’s a good reminder that even if you and I aren’t Martha Stewart’s or Ina Garten’s, our families appreciate our efforts to make good food and special mealtimes for them.  Fixing a homemade meal says a lot!  It says, “I care.  I love you.  I love being at home with you.”  Even if those words aren’t spoken, it’s the truth.  So tie on your apron and stir up something for your loved ones.  Hey, why not try my favorite chef’s recipe?  You’ll find it below.



His menu:
Easy-Creamy Linguine with Shrimp
Tossed Salad with Italian Cheese
Fociacca Bread with Olive Oil dipping Sauce
Fruit Tart (purchased) =)



Here’s the recipe:

Creamy Linguine with Shrimp

6 oz. linguine
1 Tbl butter
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbl butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 oz cream cheese, softened (low fat is fine)
We added (he needed a little help here ) about 1/3-1/2 C fat free half and half
2 T fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp dried basil
salt, to taste
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 C chicken broth, boiling
1/2 lb cooked shrimp
1/4 C Parmesan cheese, grated

Boil linguini in lightly salted water.  Meanwhile:

Make sauce – Heat 1 Tbl butter in skillet over med. heat.  Add mushrooms.  Saute until tender.  Remove from pan.  Heat the 2 Tbl butter in skillet.  Add the minced garlic, then stir in the cream cheese.  Stir and allow cheese to break down, then slowly add half and half.  Add parsley and basil.  Let simmer 5 minutes. 

Add boiling chicken broth til sauce is smooth.  Add shrimp and mushrooms and heat through, only about 2 minutes. 

Toss cooked pasta with sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Note:  Using pre-cleaned, pre-cooked shrimp makes this dinner even easier.

Pretty impressive, huh?  I think so!  Not only did this look good, it tasted good too!!!!  I’m going to have to rethink who’s cooking in the parsonage from now on!  His secret is out!  Come to think of it, working in the kitchen together isn’t a bad idea either! 

What and who has been cooking in your kitchen?

From my parsonage table,


Godly Character Traits

Availability

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I had an interesting conversation recently with a young woman who works in a store I frequent. 

“My friend is having difficulty in her marriage.  I told her it was because she was always trying to do for her husband.  She has always been there for his every wish!” 

She only shook her head when I tried to explain that as a Christian wife, we are helpers to our mates, and we should enjoy doing for our husband the things he needs.

This isn’t called slavery – it’s called AVAILABILITY- It is making a conscious decision to put other’s needs first, and make my own needs secondary.

We see Isaiah the prophet beautifully portray a man who was available.  Who would go and deliver the difficult message to the people?  Because Isaiah had seen his own miserable condition and the glory of God, he could only say, “Here am I; send me.”

In our desire to develop godly character, we must prioritize, lest we feel that we have to be running from pillar to post being available to anyone at any time!

It’s crucial that we put the Lord first in all things. He must be first in time, in devotion, in service.  Once we have that settled in our hearts, there’s no question if I’ll be in church for services or if I have time in the Word each day. We won’t allow being available to others to interfere with this first priority.   If we, like Isaiah, see our condition before salvation, and the glory of our great God, it will be our greatest desire to be available to Him Who holds the first place in our heart.

Our next priority, if we’re married, is to be our husband.  Being available to him means that his needs are more important than mine.   I’m afraid my store clerk friend would gasp here, but this is what true love looks like!  Running an errand, making sure the shirt he needs is washed, fixing a food he enjoys, and even being available in the physical aspect of the marriage are all part of being available. “How can I help you today?” would be a good question to get into the habit of asking your husband.

Let me offer a caution here – It’s only after the first and second priorities are taken care of,that we’re free to be available to our adult children, our friends or other associates our lives touch. We will often have opportunities to serve others, to babysit, to fix a meal, etc. and it will bless your life and those you serve.  But take a look at the priorities first, then agree to help out.  Jesus did only those things that the Father willed.  We are wise to check with our Father too!

Prioritize and then make yourself available.  It will be a blessing – not a chore.  It will strengthen your marriage – not destroy it!

With love,

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A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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This picture, taken at Whitney’s wedding is really special to me.  She and Allison are sitting at the piano; this has great significance for our family because there is an element that has been a part of our parsonage home since the very beginning of our marriage – music.  My husband and I sang to each other at our wedding.  I remember singing to both of our girls when they were tiny babies (and even while in the womb).  I taught them all the little children’s songs and we would sing them together – “Jesus Loves Me, Oh, Say but I’m Glad, I’ve Got a Mansion, Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World, Into My Heart, Trust and Obey”, and the list goes on. 

We also played music in our home.  I have the first Patch the Pirate Album (yeah, it was a long time ago!), Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle, that I played when Whitney was just a baby.  Both our girls grew up listening to Ron Hamilton’s music and stories that touched every area of their lives.  They learned about obedience, sharing, loving good food that mommy fixes (even broccoli!), being a wiggle worm, being selfish, having a happy home and best of all, salvation – all from the songs on the Patch the Pirate albums, tapes and Cd’s. 

It was after listening to a Patch the Pirate CD of a little child being saved that Whitney began to enquire about salvation and then trusted Christ as her own Savior one evening in our home. 

I’ll never forget carrying Allison into surgery when she was three.  Dressed in surgical clothes, I was allowed to escort her to the operating room where they placed her on the operating table.  As the anesthesiologist  placed the mask over her nose to put her to sleep, I sang to her –When shadows fall, and the night covers all, there are things that my eyes cannot see.  I’ll never fear, for the Savior is near, my Lord abides with me.  How can I fear, Jesus is near; He ever watches over me.  Worries all cease, He gives me peace.  I’ll never fear with Jesus. Neither one of us sing that song now without remembering that time all those years ago.  I sang the song for her, but it ministered to my own maternal heart so sweetly that I always tear up when I hear it.

My husband and Whitney have had “their song” too – a special one for daddy’s and their daughters. 

Our girls were both gifted with musical abilities at the piano, and their music filled our home all the years they were growing up.  That was one thing about them leaving home that I really missed.  I love it when they are here and sit down at the piano and play.

Music is a gift from the Lord, and I’m thankful for the way that gift graced our parsonage over the years.  It knit our lives together, it turned hearts to salvation, it taught of our great God, it comforted, it praised, it encouraged, it blessed…and it still does!

Does your family sing together?  Does your family have a song that brings special memories?

From my parsonage window,

Marriage

Stop Staring at the Ink Spot

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An ink spot on a shirt…how tragic!  When we see a stain like this, our eye automatically goes to the ink spot, doesnt’ it?  Though 90% of the shirt is still white, all we see is the stain. 

I recently heard an illustration shared on a radio broadcast that I just had to share with you.  In our marriages, it’s easy to focus on our husband’s one or two faults or habits that irritate us – their “ink spots” if you will.  We get our eyes fixed on hubby’s negative traits, and that’s all we choose to see.  It glares at us and brings bitterness and resentment to our hearts and homes, instead of the loving relationship the Lord intended.

Why not resolve today to begin taking a long, hard look at the things that you love about your husband (the 90% pure white shirt he is wearing) instead of staring at the ink spots?  I am sure it will refresh your marriage and your love for your husband as it did mine!

Time to go do some laundry…there are a few ink spots of my own I need to work on!

With love,