Throwback Memories of My Weekend in the UP

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 RefreshHer1 Comment

Yikes! I haven’t stopped to share about my weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan almost two weeks ago! Let’s fix that today! I’ll share some of the highlights of that great time with some really special ladies!

I went to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to speak for their “Ladies Day.” Traveling and speaking is never anything I ever sought out to do. The Lord has put this privilege before me, and I have loved it so much. I always learn far more than anyone I speak to! For that reason alone, I am so thankful to my God! But I would never/ could never travel if I didn’t have the support, encouragement and prayers of my husband. He cheers me on every step of the way. The picture below was on our way to the airport when we stopped to have lunch before he dropped me off. What a man I am blessed with!

Michigan 1.jpg — It’s all about the People!

My friend, Kellie traveled with me and she was such a blessing. It’s lots more fun navigating a trip with a friend at your side!

Th next picture of the pretty blonde is the sweet young woman who invited me to her church. Lisa was a member here at our church until she got married and her husband moved them waaaaay up north! It was a joy beyond compare to be with her for the weekend, to see her church, her home and her heart for God!

I met lots of precious women. I won’t post them all here, but they were welcoming, open to God’s Word, and very friendly to this Tennessean!

The ladies used the white birch around them to help decorate the platform for their theme “Deeply Rooted.” They had verses about being rooted in God’s Word all over – on the bulletin boards, in frames – everywhere. They did a wonderful job carrying the theme throughout the whole church!

Part of the blessing of a weekend like this was fellowship with other ladies. Aside from our main sessions and workshops, we had times of sharing a meal, a dessert, and a game. That’s when you really get to know others! We had lots of fun together! We played a game using our purses. You know, it’s amazing what some people carry in theirs (that would be me!)

There was plenty of snow all weekend! They had a few flurries while I was there, but the piles have been there since December. As we say in the south – Bless their hearts! It sure was beautiful – but then I got to leave it after a weekend and come home to green grass!

There’s nothing better than serving God! Look where He takes me! Look who allows me to meet! Look at what He teaches me in His Word! I never would have dreamed that I’d be so blessed, but isn’t that just like our God? He surprises us over and over and over!

FBC ladies, thank you for having me. Thank you for being such a blessing to me. I am the richer for it!

Lovingly,

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friends · Refreshment

That’s What Friends Are For!

March 9, 2017March 10, 2017 RefreshHer1 Comment

The beautiful scene above was the setting for the “Ladies’ Day” I was privileged to speak at last weekend in the UP. The church has a very adequate and comfy mission house where we lodged. The only thing between me and the church was this snowy parking lot.

I had the blessing of having a dear friend travel with me. She graciously volunteered to accompany me on this adventure. When I questioned if she was sure she wanted to make that sacrifice, she said, “What are friends for?!”

What a joy to have someone literally “at my elbow” all weekend! We navigated the airports, meal decisions, hilarious situations in the airports, bumps in the presentation of my lessons, AND this parking lot, side by side. She’s a decade+ younger than me, so she would link her arm in mine as we maneuvered across the parking lot, turned ice rink. As we walked I would hear,

Watch that patch of ice!

Look out for that rock – it’s pure ice!

Careful here!

Don’t slip right there!

Together we made it to the safety of the church building where we continued to serve together. Not many would have known she was serving – she did it from hidden places – the quiet of her room at the mission house when she prayed and also wrote me an encouraging card, in the mission kitchen when she fastidiously watched an egg boiling so it would be the “perfect” soft-boiled egg. Then she served from way up high in their sound room as she flipped my Power Point presentation for me, all the while missing out on the action in the sanctuary.

Again she served as she snapped pictures of me talking to the ladies afterwards so I could remember them as I wrote their names in my prayer journal upon returning home. She was always on the lookout for how she might serve, and she did it in a way that God was glorified and those around her were blessed.

She won’t like it that I’m recognizing her in this post, but I must because she is the essence of what a real friend does. It’s far deeper than getting powerpoint slides on a screen – it involves coming alongside, looking for ways to serve and encourage. Sometimes I think she has a secret camera in my world because her timing is uncanny! That comes from a person walking under the Spirit’s control and allowing Him to prompt her, because “that’s what friends are for.”

I learned so much about friendship this weekend as I considered her.

Folks all around me need a “hand on their elbow,” if you will. They need to know that someone sees their need and cares enough to reach out to them.
They need my close communion with God so that I will be directed to when and how I might serve them.
It’s risky business being a friend- she could have gone down with me, had I fallen, but she didn’t mind. I doubt she ever gave it a thought. She was more concerned with what I needed next, because “that’s what friends are for!”

My take–away’s about friendship:

Look for needs – what could I give?
Look for weaknesses – how should I pray?
Look for gaps – how might I serve?
Look for disappointment – how could I bless?

I’m not the only one blessed with this dear friend; she has more friends than springtime has daffodils, and it’s no wonder! Today I honor her and the many other friends the Lord has poured so richly into my life. Some are close, some are far away. Some I don’t talk to very often, but we could pick up the phone today and pick up where we left off. Thank you for the blessing of your frirendship!

Let’s don’t isolate ourselves; we need each other. Let’s link arms and navigate life together – That’s what friends are for!

Lovingly,

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Christian love · friends

Put Some Hope In Others!

February 28, 2017February 28, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

gas-pump

My husband went through a month-long series on Sunday nights of this past month entitled, “Be a Hope Put’er In’er and Not a Hope Take’r Out’er.” All his messages were to put hope in marriages. It was so practical and good!

As I went through my week after those messages, I thought about others who need hope. Everyone is going through something difficult from time to time.

We all deal with:

Illness
Personal trials in relationships
Financial struggles
Heartaches
Dealing with others’ sin that affects them
Death
Current events

So how can we put hope in and not take it out of folks?

You know how you pull up to the gas station and insert the nozzle into your car and then pump in the gas? That’s how we should be spilling into others’ lives and giving them hope! Pull the trigger and pour it in!

One of my favorite verses in Scripture is Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

What a good Father we have, Who gave us the Scriptures so that we could live lives that are hope-filled! We look in and we find promises that we can claim. We read psalms and we are comforted. We learn of people in the Bible like, Job, David, Jeremiah and Peter who went through hardships and we are encouraged by their lives and victories. Jesus is all through the Bible, and we remember that He came to live, die and rise again to give us the best kind of Hope!

So when we bump into others who are going through a difficulty of small or immense proportions, how can we put hope into them?

I think the best answer is pretty clear – give them God’s Word. Any hope I can give is temporal – but God’s Word will be lasting and it will give hope that meets the soul’s need.
I’ve found that giving my human input, my stories of similar trials, my humanistic opinion, are empty and can even be hurtful. When I don’t know what to say, I can open the Scriptures with promises that will be just the balm that will instill the hope that is necessary. I do that for my own heart, and I must learn to do the same for others.
After the Scripture is given, and you pray with that person, touch them. Put your hand on their arm, or around their shoulders. Human touch is comforting.
Look for a need that they might have.
- A meal
- A load of laundry done
- A caregiver for their child for a couple hours so they can nap
- A gift card for coffee
- A change of scenery. Invite them out!

Let’s be on the lookout this week for times when we can pump Hope into others, rather than draining it out of them!

Maybe you’re one who needs some hope today. Let me remind you that God sees. God is bigger than your trial. He is at work even when you can’t see it. Keep your eyes upward at a God Who is your hope!

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Christian growth · friends · obedience

Do you have a Teachable Spirit?

February 14, 2017February 13, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Little toddlers are becoming independent little people and they will often struggle trying to accomplish a task and do it the hard way. Have you ever tried to step in and show them an easier way? Their response is often,

“No, I do it!”

and they push away the very counsel that could make their task easier.

Image result for toddler saying no

Toddlers aren’t the only ones who push away help. Often when we are making our way through our Christian life, a pastor stands to preach, or a teacher gives God’s Word in a Bible study, or a friend pulls us aside to speak Truth to us, and we become stiff and resentful instead of teachable. We like others to think that we’re just fine. We don’t think we need someone to tell us what to do, or how to live!

Are you like that? I must confess that I’ve fought with this very kind of spirit over the years. How about a little check-up to see if we’re teachable or not?

When you hear Truth given by a wise, godly person, whether it’s one-on-one or in a group setting, do you…

Turn a deaf ear? – Proverbs 13:1 a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Hate the instruction itself? – Proverbs 5:12 – And you say, “How I have hated instruction and my heart spurned reproof.”
Hate the one giving it? Proverbs 9:8 – Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.
Think about how you’re going to defend yourself while the other person is speaking? Proverebs 18:13 – He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Stiffen up when you hear it? Proverbs 29:1 – He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

If these traits are true of us, here is the sad result…

Destruction – Proverbs 29:1
Punishment and Death – Proverbs 15:10 – This doesn’t necessarily mean physical death, but it could bring that or spiritual death, death to relationships, death to fruitfulness, etc.
Broken fellowship with God – Proverbs 1:24, 25
Unanswered prayer – Psalm 66:18

If we continue in sin after we’ve been admonished, we can be sure we are headed for destruction.

The flip side of all this is that there are wonderful blessings from heeding Godly counsel:

Increase in learning – Proverbs 1:5
There is safety – Proverbs 11:14
Wisdom – Proberbs 12:15, 13:10, 19:20
Happiness – Proverbs 3:13
Gained a friend – Proverbs 27:6
Gained precious treasure – Proverbs 20:15
Deliverance – Proberbs 28:26

If we want to be wise, we’ll all lean in, and not away from the one who desires to instruct us in godly wisdom. Pride is the culprit that whispers in our ear, “You don’t have to listen to THAT!” Rather than being like an unteachable youngster, let’s keep a humble, mature heart that listens and then responds. Even if you don’t think the person is on target about what they’re saying, listen, and then talk to God about it. He will always give the right counsel!

When is it most difficult to receive godly counsel?

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Christian Life · friends · ministry

Being Your Friend’s Best Cheerleader

February 7, 2017February 6, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

pom poms.png

Years ago a kind woman took me to lunch. I was new to the area, and she had reached out to me in friendship. We had a fun time just chatting, enjoying lunch and getting to know one another better. I was truly refreshed by our time together. The next day I sent her a card thanking her for being a Onesiphorus (On-ee-sif-or-us) to me, for this man had “oft refreshed” Paul.

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: II Timothy 1:16

My kind friend came up to me after receiving my card and asked,

“Who is “Onesie for us?!”

I explained to her that he was a friend of Paul’s, who had been a blessing, and refreshed his spirit in the ministry. We both had a good laugh over the misunderstanding.

But you know, she really wasn’t too far off base with her mispronunciation! How does a person encourage and refresh another? They show by their actions, words and prayers that they are one person who is all for us! It’s like having your own personal cheerleader!

Image result for pom poms

I’ve been on the receiving end many times of people who have refreshed me! I understand what Paul is talking about! Life in general can be so disheartening, can’t it? Ministry can also be so overwhelming that a person can feel like they’re drowning while trying to meet the needs of others. We could all use a cheerleader from time to time! It’s often easy to get so focused in on our own needs that we fail to see that others could use some cheering up, but how does that happen?

Here are some ways that you can refresh others and be their “Onesie-for-us!”:

Stop to ask about a burden they are carrying.
Write a note to tell them you are praying for them.
Stop and pray with them about the burden.
Stop in for a brief visit.
Send a text or email with encouraging Scripture.
Drop by a little treat you know they’ll love – a candy bar, their favorite kind of apple, or beverage.
Ask if you can ____________. Ask specifically. Can I bring supper? Can I watch your children? Can I come clean your house?
Invite them out – lunch, coffee, over for a meal.

I got that list from a list of my “Onesiphorus friends” who have refreshed me over and over again! I have to ask the Lord to turn my attention away from myself to others to see their needs. I feel I fail so often, but I do desire to be a Onesie -For- Us! How about you?

What do others do for you to cheer you on in your Christian life?

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