My blogging friends,
I’m going to take a few days off of blogging. Things have been so busy already this summer, and I need some time to be refreshed myself. I’ll see you again soon! I hope you’ll miss me! 🙂
Author: RefreshHer
Treasures From VBS
Our VBS theme is “Jesus Expedition.” The children have been “traveling” around the world searching for treasures. Tonight a real treasure was found!
My heart is bubbling over for the joy of leading a 10 year-old boy to Christ! I’m telling you, there’s nothing sweeter this side of heaven than seeing a child come to Christ. Let me tell you the story – it’s precious because his soul is precious to God.
There is a dear grandfather in our church who has been burdened for his grandsons. Mom and Dad don’t go to church, and the boys weren’t really keen on coming to vacation Bible school with Grandpa, but out of their respect for him, they came. Grandpa brought oatmeal cookies one night and brownies another to help with snacks! Amazing! What a great example of a man using what he has to serve the Lord!
Every night at VBS I have had the tremendous privilege of sharing the story of Hudson Taylor, missionary to China in the 1800’s. His life has been such a blessing to me as I’ve read about his trust in God, his utter dependence on the Lord for everything, and his burden for the lost. Last night’s lesson dealt with a man who was an idol worship leader, Mr. Ni. He had no peace and stopped in the chapel where Mr. Hudson was preaching to try to find the answers for which he had been searching. That night he heard truths he had never heard before. He heard that Jesus loved him, died on the cross and rose again to give eternal life to whomever would trust Him. Mr. Ni stood and professed Christ, denouncing his idol worship.
Though the missionary story doesn’t call for an invitation, I felt impressed all afternoon to give one for those that may feel like Mr. Ni – afraid of death and full of wondering what would happen when they die. I asked for a raise of hands of those that would want to receive Christ and have assurance of eternal life. This 10 year old boy shot his hand up in the air. My instruction to him was if he wanted to be saved to come and sit on the front pew after we dismissed so I could open the Bible and show him how he could be saved.
Now, you have to understand that after I said “Amen,” our youth pastor came up, gave instructions, announcements and then dismissed the children to go to their classes, so there were a few minutes that passed from the time of the invitation. I waited on the pew and then out of the corner of my eye, I saw this young man making his way up front. He then sat beside me. I took him to the foyer of our church to talk with him, and on our heels was… his grandfather.
“May I join you?” he asked. I was delighted to have him there as his grandson, with great confidence in the Scriptures that I had him read, openly and unashamedly received Christ. Grandpa had tears in his eyes as his grandson prayed and then hugged his grandfather’s neck saying, “Christ is my Savior!” This is what it’s all about – laying up treasures in heaven.
Our missionary story ended with Mr. Ni asking Hudson Taylor, “How long have you missionaries known about this story of Jesus?” “Many years. Hundreds of years” was Hudson’s sad reply. “Why didn’t missionaries come sooner?” he asked.
Who in your circle is waiting for you to tell them that Jesus loves them? A relative, neighbor, son, daughter, co-worker or friend? Oh, perhaps they don’t know they need to hear, but One day they’ll understand. Let’s don’t wait for it to be too late for them to receive Christ and turn to us before they are doomed to hell and ask, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
Let’s keep telling the story of Jesus and finding treasures that are eternal!
Praying for a burden for the lost,
Word to the Wise Wednesday
This has been a busy week with VBS running at our church, but what a blessing! I absolutely love to tell children about what Jesus did for them. Since I was saved as a child, I know the wonder of walking with God since I was a little girl. I long for these children to experience His grace their whole lives! They listen without questioning intellect. They receive with the faith that Jesus lifted up as an example for adults to follow. It’s been a great week already!
I’ve poured much time into the preparation I needed for telling the life story of Hudson Taylor and something has to give – today it will be my post here. I know you understand…thank you!
How about a few suggestions for Father’s Day? I love Family Fun’s cute cake/cupcake ideas. Check out their web site for more detail and instructions.
For the dad that loves to grill, how about this adorable dessert:
One year my girls and I made this cake for their daddy. It’s just a 9 x 13 pan with the shirt decorations added to it – so easy!
Here’s the perfect card to give Dad when making the shirt cake…
For a gift idea going along with the cake theme, I’m doing a suggestion I heard about. I took ten of my husband’s dress shirts to the cleaners to have them cleaned and pressed for him. Since he insists on doing his own ironing, this will be a special treat for him! If you’re husband likes pistachios or peanuts, here’s a suggestion for you – get a nifty box to put the shelled nuts in and create a cardboard divider in the middle. That way he can put the shells in the empty side of the box.
Have a God-honoring day!
Where is God?
My younger daughter is away from her boyfriend this summer. He is serving at camp in New England while she is at camp in North Carolina. There are many miles between them (which is a good thing, though they don’t like it!).
It’s made me remember when my husband and I were dating and had miles between us. We did whatever was necessary to eliminate the miles! One time he drove to KY after I’d been home only a couple of days visiting my family. He then traveled to Michigan with us to see my grandfather. Knowing that even more miles would separate us was an awful thought, and we did what we could to be together! Being separated from one you love is rough business!
Have you ever felt that the Lord was very far away? That’s worse than feeling distant from any person. In Psalm 13:1 the psalmist said, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” He was wondering if God had just plain forgotten him, and he wondered why he couldn’t see His face. However, an omniscient God can never forget and an omnipresent God can never be removed from us!
In verse two he said that he has sorrow in his heart daily. Do you feel that way right now? Does it seem like every day you wake up and that sorrow is staring you in the face? Have you discovered the happy device by which you can escape trouble? The answer is in verses five and six. “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” The mercy seat refreshes the weeper. Remembering that fact that God took care of the greatest trouble a soul can face – eternal damnation in hell, reminds me that He is able to take care of every other need that comes into my life. He has truly dealt bountifully with us!
Joys remembered sweeten present sorrows. Remember what the Lord has done for you. Has he saved you? Has He answered prayers in the past? Has He comforted you in other trials? Has He worked in the hearts of those you’ve prayed for in earlier days? Let those joys sweeten your present sorrow and encourage your heart! God hasn’t forgotten you and He is very near.
With love,
What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?
This weekend I had the privilege (and fun) of having half of our small group Bible study leaders over for brunch. We are ending our study – **sniff, sniff** and I wanted to thank them for all the work they have done this year to keep their groups of ladies connected. The other half of the leaders were busy or sick, and we missed them. It will give me another reason to have another brunch later!
When I’m having all ladies over I love to pull out my china and pretty glasses, etc. I decided to go with a blue and white theme. I found this table runner at TJ Maxx last year for $2! It’s really for an umbrella table, but the hole in the middle made a perfect place for the centerpiece!
I love these little purse place card holders. We used these for a ladies’ luncheon a couple of years ago and I purchased a few extra so I’d have them for a whole table setting. I stamped “I thank God for you” then added their name. I do thank the Lord for these and all the dear ladies at Boones Creek Bible Church. I am blessed to be called their pastor’s wife.
Sue, Ethel and Carol are representative of the many ladies in our church who have gone through the study, A Woman After God’s Own Heart. They love the Lord and only desire to please and serve Him. They have been faithful, through the grace of God, to point their groups to the Truths they’ve studied each month. I couldn’t lead this study by myself, and am so thankful for faithful helpers that God puts in the Body!
Menu:
Apricot-Almond Coffee Cake
Fresh Fruit
Orange Julius
Coffee
The main dish was the strata that I mentioned last Wednesday. This was a new recipe to me, but it turned out well. The ladies and my dish washer (my husband) like it!
This Apricot-almond coffee cake is super easy because it starts with a Pound Cake mix. You could change this and make any flavor you like by changing the preserves that are swirled into the batter.
Apricot-Almond Coffee Cake
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 (16 oz. ) pkg pound cake mix, divided
1 (8 oz.) container sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 Cup sliced almonds
Glaze
Beat cream cheese, preserves, and 1 tbl. cake mix just until blended; set mixture aside.
Beat sour cream, milk, eggs, almond extract, and remaining cake mix at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or until blended. Increase speed to medium, and beat 3 more minutes.
Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Drop cream cheese mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls evenly over batter. Swirl batter gently with a knife. Sprinkle almonds evenly over top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 28 minutes or until golden.
Cool on wire rack 20 minutes. Drizzle Glaze over slightly warm cake or individual pieces.
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 to 2 tbl. milk
Stir together powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tbl milk until smooth. Add additional milk if needed.
Have you ever made Orange Julius? It’s a Christmas morning tradition at our house, but it’s also a refreshing beverage on a hot day. Here are the simple ingredients:
Orange Julius
6 oz. Orange Juice concentrate (undiluted)
1 Cup milk
1 Cup water
1/3 – 1/2 C sugar
about 10-12 ice cubes
Mix in blender. Serve immediately.
What have you been cooking recently? I’d love to hear about it!
With love from my parsonage,
RefreshHer 