Author: RefreshHer

Christian Life

Because He Loves Me

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One day while checking out at a store the clerk asked my husband the standard – “How are you?” He answered in his usual way – “I’m better than I deserve.” She was shocked and told him that couldn’t be true. He shared with her that because he was a sinner, He would be on his way to hell, but because God loved him and sent His Son to die for him he had a home in heaven, and that is better than he deserved!

If we really understand and view ourselves correctly, God’s love is incomprehensible. We see our sinful selves and wonder, why would God love me?

If we’re not careful it can be easy to go to the other extreme and get proud of our standing with the Lord. Moses talked with the Israelites and reminded them: The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you… Deuteronomy 7:7,8 We didn’t do anything to gain favor with God – He does what He does for us purely because He loves us. We are never too low to be loved by Him, and we did nothing to deserve His love.

He loves you. He loves me. Amazing!

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
–Isaac Watts

Under His feathers because He loves me,

Cooking

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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Saturdays often allow for a more relaxed breakfast time. This weekend I made a special treat for my husband and me. We had Eggs Benedict while on our anniversary trip and it was so good, so I decided to try my hand at making them. It wasn’t hard at all!

First you pouch the eggs:
Add water to a saucepan to depth of 3-4 inches; bring just to boiling. Stir simmering water to make a swirl, and slip egg from saucedish into middle of the swirl. (be sure to follow the motion of the water in same direction.) Reduce heat to low and cook egg for 3-5 minutes, depending on desired doneness. Remove egg from water with slotted spoon.

The Hollandaise Sauce recipe that I use is super easy – it’s done in the blender.

Place 3 egg yolks, 2 tbl lemon juice and dash of cayenne pepper into blender. Cover; quickly turn blender on and off. Heat 1/2 cup butter or margarine till melted and almost boiling. Turn blender on high speed; slowly pour in butter, blending till thick and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Heat over warm, not hot, water till ready to serve.

For each serving of Eggs Benedict, split and toast English muffin; top with thin slice of broiled ham. Place a poached egg on ham. Pour Hollandaise over all. Serve immediately.

To go along with the eggs I made a yogurt parfait – Strawberry yogurt, fresh strawberries and peaches and topped with granola.
Add a cup of Chocolate-Raspberry Coffee and enjoy!

For supper Friday night we enjoyed this Herbed Cheese Pizza from my Cooking Light Cookbook. The homemade crust is so good and you don’t feel guilty eating it!

The recipe made two pizzas this size. One is in the freezer for another day! I replace the Kasseri cheese with either Provolone or Mozzarella. You have to think ahead if you’re going to have this for supper. The dough has to be started a couple hours before supper time, but it’s really worth it!

So, what was cooking in your kitchen this past week?

With love,

Marriage

A Wife’s Supporting Role

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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!

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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

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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,