What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

August 29, 2011April 8, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

Grits. . . does not only stand for Girls raised in the south, but I think it also is an acronym for Great, really intensely terrific side dish! In the last several years, I have come to really love them! I’ve posted about cheese grits, but friends, I’ve found a recipe that just may top the cheesy version! I found a recipe on Pioneer Woman (super site…check it out!), then I did a little tweaking of the recipe to make it less fattening. We didn’t miss any of the other ingredients. My husband’s words were, “You knocked it out of the park with that, one, Baby!” I love it when he says that – it means he really likes it! If you’re tired of potatoes as a side dish, then try this!

As the main dish, I also tried Pioneer woman’s Pork Chops with Apples. Mmmmmm. So yummy!

My Menu:

Pork Chops with Apples

Creamy Grits with Bacon

Green Beans

Fresh Tomatoes and Cottage Cheese

Here are some pics of the chops:

My “tweaked” recipe for the grits was this, instead of using bacon fat, I did the bacon in the microwave and sauteed the onions in reduced-fat butter. I used 2% milk instead of heavy cream and I found that the grits were so good it didn’t need the cheese! Pioneer woman would die if she saw my version of her heavenly dish, but the reality is I don’t live on a ranch where I rope cattle and burn off all those calories! Something has to give, folks! =) I’m telling you, they were great even with these changes!

You can’t get a better salad than this…

Fresh tomato slices, on a lettuce leaf, and a spoon of cottage cheese on top. It’s pretty and delicious!

See my pretty quilted runner I just got? It’s Waverly and I nabbed it at TJ Maxx for $7! It goes the entire length of my bar counter adding softness, texture and color to that otherwise cold space. ~Love~

So, what’s been cooking at your house?

From my parsonage kitchen,

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Freshen Up Friday

August 26, 2011January 9, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

This summer when I got hit hard with the flu, I spent many days in the house getting well. I slept a lot. I didn’t have the strength to work. But when I was well enough, my husband would get me into the car and we would take a drive. One day we drove to a spot where we could see the lake from the car. One day we drove through the countryside. Once we looked at homes. That did so much to lift my spirits!

Most of us probably work all day inside (unless you’re a construction worker, and those are typically not the people who find their way to this blog!). We teach our children inside. We work at a desk inside. We are sick or recuperate from illness inside. We eat most of our meals inside. Do you know how refreshing it can be to just step outside the door and enjoy the outdoors for a bit? Many days after working inside for hours, I’ll step outside and just walk around the yard. I may pull a weed here or there, but for the most part I like to just walk around. I listen to the summer sounds. I look at what’s sprouting in the garden. I smell the fragrances of my herbs. Even if it’s only 5 or 10 minutes, I am refreshed by God’s world that’s just a step outside my front door.

When was the last time you just walked outside – not to take the dog or the trash out, but just for the pure pleasure of enjoying the outdoors? Even if you’re not feeling 100%, you can step outside for a minute and be invigorated by what God is doing.

He’s got the whole world in His hands. Take a look and be refreshed,

P.S. Find your way to a Gospel preaching church Sunday!

Uncategorized

August 25, 2011January 9, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

With another birthday approaching, I am oh, so, aware of how fleeting anything external is. Crows have become my favorite bird, since I’m wearing them so proudly around my eyes. =) Proverbs 31:30 says, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Probably all of us have had moments in which we’ve had a love/hate relationship with the attributes of the Virtuous woman. The list in Proverbs 31 is overwhelming when we are looking at ourselves. No, it’s impossible! But let’s back up a second and look at verse 10 that says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” The starting place is being not a wife that is virtuous, but a woman who is virtuous. The character of a woman is the only thing that doesn’t fade with her age!

So the next question is, how do we become a woman of virtue – a woman of character? We don’t jump at the whole list and run to all over the place trying to cover all the bases. It must begin with our relationship with the Lord. We cannot obtain moral excellence without first being spiritually excellent, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After salvation comes the step by step process of sanctification – of being made like Christ. It’s not about perfection; it’s about change empowered by the Holy Spirit. Any woman who is really honest with themselves will readily admit the need to change.

My selfishness must be changed to generosity.
My laziness must be changed to diligence.
My indifference must be changed to compassion.
My unfaithfulness must be changed to dependability.
My rigidity must be changed to flexibility.
My pride must be changed to meekness.
My disrespect must be changed to reverence.
My callousness must be changed to sensitivity
My unfaithfulness must be changed to loyalty.

When we look at Christ, we see that He is All in all. He is always compassionate, diligent, meek, loving, forgiving, submissive, merciful and everything else we need to be. Therefore, His Word is full of examples of how you and I can have these traits in our lives. We don’t have to try to figure out what these traits look like; they are pictured for us in the Scripture. Wouldn’t it be wise for us to study these traits and learn how to apply them to our lives? No face cream applied to our faces will do for us what godly character will do.

Will you join me on Thursdays for a look at the application of godly character? We’ll take one trait at a time. We’ll define it, find it illustrated in Scripture, and see how to apply it to our every day lives.

Who can find a virtuous woman? May they find one in you and me!

With love,

Encouragement

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

August 24, 2011January 9, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

I’m married to a man with an electric personality. I’ve often had people say to me, “It must be so much fun at your house!” Well, I love it here, and we have a great marriage and a wonderful home, but the truth of the matter is that it isn’t always a laugh a minute. We’re real people with real marriage issues, family struggles, and trials that we have to deal with…just like you. We have emotional ups and downs, discouragements, and downright disappointments at times…just like you. Sometimes we don’t feel like getting out of bed. Sometimes we’d like to pull the covers over our heads, crawl underneath and eat a sleeve of Oreos…just like you.

Quite frankly I’ve been in many of those down emotions just recently. You know, where you find yourself shaking your head and sighing at nothing or no one in particular. What’s brought me there? Lots of little things that build up. Instead of buying Oreos, I do what I heard on a radio broadcast recently – I have “bathroom discipleship.” That simply means I talk to myself in the bathroom mirror! Instead of listening to myself, I have to talk to myself. I tell myself the truth; the truth about the situation and the truth about my God. I remind myself that many of these little things are completely out of my control and I must let go. I remember the fact that God is sovereign and in control of all that touches my life. I am comforted when I remind my reflection that God is here now! I cry. I pray. I give my troubles to the Lord. Then I fix my tear streaked face and walk out, my “discipleship session,” being complete. I find I’m ready to smile – even laugh again at my silly, electric husband, and life in the parsonage is good once more.

Do you need some bathroom, bedroom or car discipleship? Look at that woman in the mirror and tell her the truth. It will change your perspective!

From my parsonage window,

Christian Life

The Gracious Woman

August 23, 2011January 9, 2015 RefreshHer11 Comments

Just a warning – if you are under the age of 35 you may not like this post, and will probably be muttering to yourself as you read. Read anyway! =) If you’re over 35, you’ll probably be glad that someone is addressing this topic.

What is it? Cell phones. What a useful tool they are! What confidence it gives when we leave home for a trip, knowing that if we get lost or need help, we can hit a speed dial and get help – like the Life line on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire! What a blessing to no longer have the incredible phone bills that long distance calls used to accumulate!

However, dear friends, there are times and places to use cell phones, and there are times and places to put them in your purse. Proverbs 11:16 says that A gracious woman retains honour. Part of being a gracious woman is being a woman of wisdom, courtesy and prudence. We have to think about what we’re doing. We must ask ourselves if this is the time and place for what we are doing or saying. In regards to cell phone use, we need to ask ourselves:

Is it necessary that I have my phone out right now, or can it wait?
Am I being a distraction to those around me by lighting up my phone to check it?
Is this text message really that important that I need to read it at church during the song service or message? (Can we not give one hour to worship; totally undistracted?)
Do I need to know the time while I’m in church? If your phone is the means by which you tell the time, forget the time and trust the Lord to get you out of there before the roast burns!
Am I being courteous by taking a call or checking my messages right now?

Is someone speaking

to me personally?
at the dinner table?
In a small group setting?
in prayer?

Is this a solemn occasion?

Wedding?
Funeral? – These are two more places that definitely need discretion!

There are lots of places where you can read about cell phone courtesy, but they seldom talk about being in church or in private places or settings. We need to realize that life is about our God and people. Set your phone aside and free yourself from the appendage that it has become. You’ll find yourself getting more out of what’s happening around you. Look people in the eye and converse. Don’t be distracted by the beeping and vibrating of your phone. Turn it off and live in the moment God has given you. You know what else? That message will be there when the time is right.

Refresh others by your graciousness.

Because I care,