Author: RefreshHer

Marriage

A Wife’s Supporting Role

RefreshHer4 Comments

It’s no secret that our family loves Andy Griffith. It has provided good comic relief in the midst of very busy ministry days. Our family conversations are peppered with lines from many of our favorite shows. Truth be told, there are many good lessons taught in the episodes.

Yesterday I was watching the episode posted above entitled, “Back to Nature”. After watching it I thought about how many times Andy saves Barney’s face. Barney claims to be a real outdoors man, yet he gets lost in the woods. Rather than let the truth be known, and see Barney get laughed at by the boys they’re leading on this excursion, Andy does everything he can to cover for him. Barney turns out to be a hero that demonstrates “pioneer moxie.”

You know, for any woman who is married, we are to do for our husbands exactly what Andy does for Barney. We are to cover for him; show him to be a hero instead of a coward. We are to make him look big in the eyes of his children and others. Is this lying? No, this is being prudent. Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. This is loving him more of than ourselves. I Cor. 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. It’s making his need to be respected greater than our need to be right.

Are you covering for your husband when needed? Are you keeping to yourself the things that others don’t need to know? It’s all a part of reverencing him as Ephesians 5:33 commands. Men need our supporting role more than Barney needed Andy! If your husband is your hero, (and he should be!) let him know it!

Married to the greatest guy on the earth,

Christian growth

Poor, Yet Rich!

RefreshHer3 Comments
Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

One Sunday many years ago I had read the verse printed above before coming to church, but I didn’t really understand it. Little did I know that I was going to have a visual before me that would emblazon its meaning on my heart.
Upon arriving at the morning service, I talked with our visiting missionaries. They were to share their call to the mission field with our congregation in the service. The man and his wife had been serving as a pastor in a church here in the states and the work had gone very well. Then the man visited one of their supporting missionaries on the field of Brazil. After returning home, he couldn’t get the Brazilian people off his mind – or out of his heart. His wife, willing to follow wherever the Lord led her husband, was also excited about the new ministry that awaited them so very far away.

I sat and listened to them that Sunday morning dumbfounded. They shared about getting rid of nearly all their earthly possessions so that they would be free to go and share the Good News with people from a land whose language they did not yet know. There was no sadness at the “loss” of their belongings – only great joy at the gain of their new call. In a material way they had nothing.

As I sat and listened to them, tears streamed down my face. They had “made themselves poor” by the world’s standard, but it was obvious that they were indeed very rich with spiritual blessings. God had provided for them all that was necessary to get them to the field, they had already seen souls saved, and they had the blessing that comes with being obedient.
On the other hand, there are many who make themselves rich, as stated in the first part of the verse, but they are very poor. They have a house that is full, but they are empty inside. The garage may have more than one car, but they no longer bring fulfillment. Vacations take them away, but the emptiness follows them. The void is from a lack of a relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can bring fulfillment that is lasting, meaningful, and worthwhile.

As I read this verse in Proverbs again this week, I was reminded of my dear friends in Brazil, as well as the importance of keeping eternity in view. One day all that we have here will be left behind. Why should we be so encumbered by accumulating things? Let’s be determined, with the Lord’s help, to be satisfied with whatever He provides. It will be enough and we will be rich – even if we’re poor!

Rich in Him,

Home decor

Word to the Wise Wednesday

RefreshHer1 Comment

Get inspired!

Last week I gave you some close-up looks into my parent’s home. Today I thought I’d back up with the camera and give you the whole shot of the rooms of their house. I love to look at pictures and look at the details and ask – what’s sitting on the coffee table, how is the shelf decorated, what kind of window treatments are used? I think you’ll get some great ideas as you peek into the windows of their home; it’s a beautiful retreat!

If you step in the front door you will see this entryway. I love the color on the wall. It’s a shade of aqua. It’s so calming and peaceful.

To the left of the entryway is a seating area. It provides for all the things an entryway needs – a place to sit, lighting and a mirror.
Here’s a view of the kitchen which is open to the living room. Mom is so good about soft lighting. See the lamp in the nook where the microwave niche’ is above the stove? For people our height, it’s better to set the microwave on the counter, so she used that space for lighting, a CD player and some greenery.
The widow over the sink has that milky glass in it because the view was less than desirable. It also provides for privacy from the inside!
This bedroom is cheerful with its green, blue and yellow.
This painting (done by my mom!) is hung behind the door. I love it!
The mirror below is framed in broken dishes. My parents put this piece together. It’s a beautiful accent in the bedroom.
One of the many stained glass pieces my dad has made…
A quilt hung high on the wall in the hallway makes for beautiful art.
Another quilt is hung here in the bedroom. I love the shelf over the rack, the stained glass in the window, the love seat at the foot of the bed, the throw in the middle of the bed.
A beautiful place to get beautiful!
This is where everyone congregates and my parents spend most of their time – the sun room.
A renovated piece of glass Dad worked on. It looks so pretty hanging in the sun room because the light throws the colors all over the floor and walls.

Sometimes we just need a good idea that someone else came up with to encourage our creativity! I trust that touring my parents home has given you some ideas of things you could do to make your home a retreat too!
With love,

Motherhood

Motherhood: A Picnic?

RefreshHer4 Comments

Years ago I heard about a woman who was seen with a group of children at the park. A man walked up to her and asked, “Are all those children yours, or are you on a picnic?” She replied, “They’re all mine – and it’s no picnic!”

Mothering is a wonderful gift of God, but it isn’t for the faint at heart, is it? When my girls were growing up there were many days when I wanted to turn in my parenting badge! It’s not that they were so awful, there were just days in which they revealed their sin nature more than others! It seemed on those days that all I did was discipline, correct and instruct, and many days it was over the very same things. Someone wasn’t getting the message, or they were testing my resistance and we would have to reapply the board of discipline to the seat of the tester!

I remember being in tears myself after those trying times. I would often go to my bedroom for a moment of solitude and cry out to the Lord. As I prayed and read His Word I’d be reminded that this was my responsibility to instruct my children. If I wasn’t doing it who would? If nothing else got accomplished in the day but teaching a child to obey, to talk in a way that honored God, or to tell the truth, then I had to view it as a day that was prosperous.

Proverbs was such a help to me. These verses are highlighted in my Bible:

Proverbs 19:18 – Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Proverbs 29:17 – Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15 – Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 29;15The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

I’m writing to encourage those of your that are in the thick of the training years. Don’t faint – you will reap a harvest. Right now you’re sowing the seed and you are wondering if the harvest will ever come – it will! You will reap in another season that you sow. Make sure you’re sowing the seeds of the Word of God as you discipline. You will reap the same kind that you sow. Be faithful. You will reap more than you sow. One day you will see that it was worth it. Be consistent and don’t throw in the towel! One day you can take all your children out to the park and it will be a picnic!

If you could get help in one area of mothering, what would it be?

With love,

Cooking

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

RefreshHerLeave a comment

This was a busy weekend, complete with a wedding to coordinate and then a visit from both our daughters. One was in the wedding, the other popped in from her camp work at The Wilds. This is her first time home since camp began. It was great to have them both here at the same time – that doesn’t happen often these days.

Our older daughter had to head home shortly after the wedding, so she wasn’t here for Sunday. Since Allison doesn’t get to be here for Sunday dinner very much, I asked her what she’d like to eat and set my planned menu aside. “Steak, that salad and potatoes!” was her enthusiastic reply. So I made:

Sirloin Steak Shish kabobs
Parmesan Potatoes
Brownies and Ice Cream

The shish kabobs were marinated in Teriyaki sauce, a favorite of ours. The recipe is simple and it gives great flavor to any steak. (Recipe to follow)

These potatoes might not look very pretty, but they’re so good! When you make these everyone will be scrambling to get those cheesy bits on the bottom of the dish!Melt about three tablespoons of butter in the bottom of a glass dish; sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Place scrubbed potatoes, cut in half on top of cheese and butter, cut side down. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. (I put mine in the oven on time bake. If you don’t have that feature, you can bake these for about 10 minutes in the microwave, then place them in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes to crisp them up).

Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup salad oil
2 tbl molasses
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp dry mustard
6 cloves garlic, minced

Combine ingredients and mix well. Add meat to marinade, stirring to coat and let stand 5 minutes at room temperature.

I made up the kabobs first, then laid them in a 9 x 13″ pan with the marinade and set it in the fridge while we were at church. The kabobs only took a short time to grill once we returned home.
Even on busy weekends, it’s great to have dinner at home. It doesn’t have to be complicated and fancy – just home cooked and served at the table where everyone can enjoy it together!

What was cooking in your kitchen this weekend?

With love,