Because Marriage Matters

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 RefreshHer11 Comments

If you are an Instagram follower , you’ll understand TBT. It stands for, Throw Back Thursday. On that day, many people will post a picture that’s a throwback to the past.

I’m going to try to start posting a new kind of picture each week – specifically on Monday, called #MondayMarriageMatters. On Monday’s I’m going to try to post a picture of something that my husband and I did together in the last week to make our marriage what it should be. We post pictures of our cat, dog, computer, backyard, meatloaf or new couch pillows, so why not a picture that will encourage marriages?

It might sound a little mechanical for me to say this is my way to help Maintain my marriage, but maintenance is simply providing care and upkeep. Just like anything else, if a marriage isn’t cared for, it will fall apart.

Having a goal of posting a marriage picture each Monday will prompt me to be active in my care of making my relationship with my husband the best it can be, by God’s grace. In a day when marriage is being redefined and changed from God’s original plan, I think it’s essential that we set good examples of a godly marriage – a man and a woman who love God and one another for life.

Another reason to do this is for the testimony of a loving marriage to your children and anyone else you choose to see your photo.

Can I encourage you to join me? #MondayMarriageMatters doesn’t have to be public, and it’s not an effort to be proud, but only to do your part in making your marriage really matter. You can post your picture on Instagram or Facebook.

Your picture might be:

A date out
A book you and your spouse are reading together
A thoughtful gesture you did for him
A gift you leave
A special meal prepared
A task done for your spouse
A truth God showed you in His Word regarding Marriage

Again, this is just a prompt to do something special for your marriage each week. If you choose to join me, use the #MondayMarriageMatters so we can encourage one another in making our Marriages Matter for Christ’s glory!

With love,

P.S. When I posted my first picture on Instagram with this hashtag, I found someone else has used the same name. I thought I was being original! =) There’s nothing new under the sun!

The Most Popular Posts of the Year

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Top ten lists are always fun and informative. When I look into the stats here, it helps me to know what to write and what areas women enjoy reading.

I recently enjoyed taking a look into my blog to see what RefreshHer’s top ten posts of 2015 were. Let’s have a drum roll and I’ll show you which posts made it into this year’s most popular!

When was the last time someone read “The Little Gingerbread Man” to you?!

#10 This post told Why I went to the Altar again Last Sunday. Do you remember why?!

#9 The Topic of Conversational Respect was a marriage post that needs to be practiced by each of us wives. How are you doing at this?

#8 Using Mother’s Day as a Measuring Stick told about a trap many mom’s fall into. The result is not pretty.

#7 Living With the Fear of Getting Caught is a partly funny story on myself; the lesson I learned is the other part.

#6 Watch Your Step was a post written by a guest and my dear friend, Kellie. Her insight of walking in “muck” touched all of our hearts.

#5 What you Don’t Know about Infertility was a post written to inform unsuspecting people who feel the need to say something to couples who have no children.

#4 The Best Date that Costs Nothing was close to the top, reminding me that people want help with their marriage and practical ways that will keep things fun!

#3 How To Tell if a Child Is Ready To Be Saved was read by a host of parents who are grappling with what to do with their child who keeps wanting to ask Jesus into their life. I pray this post has sealed the answer in not only the child’s heart, but their parent’s.

#2‘s post was, How To Refresh Your Pastor. If you’ve forgotten to pray fervently for your pastor who is fighting great spiritual battles for his congregetation, I trust you’ll hurry over and reread this post so you can be a blessing to this man who gives so much of himself for the Gospel’s sake!

And now for the most read post of 2015..

#1 I must have lots of frustrated parents reading my blog, because the best post of the year was, Training Your Preschooler To Sit in Church! So, how’s it going? Do you need a bit of a refresher course? The key is being consistent with the ideas I shared.

Let me just tell you how much I appreciate each of you who take time out of your day to read my blog. Thank you. I pray that I can encourage and refresh your heart, home and life and encourage you to stay faithful in your walk with God. Being His child is the best life!

Thanks again for encouraging me in another year of blogging!

Is there a topic you’d like to see addressed in this next year? Leave a comment and let me know!

With love,

Family life · home · Husband

The Treasure of a Godly Homelife

October 8, 2015November 3, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

We had guests in our home recently and before they left, the wife said something like, “I love your living room. It’s so cozy and inviting. This is what I want my home to be.” My husband looked at her and said, “This is our refuge from the world. God wants to be your refuge so you can have the same kind of home.”

You see, it’s not just the things in a house that makes it inviting – it’s the love, the atmosphere, the tone that you feel when you step in.

Yesterday morning I read – There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. (Proverbs 21:20) The truth of that passage is that we are either digging up the treasure God wants our homes to have, or we’re spending it up.

How do we dig up the treasure?

We get up every day and give ourselves, our family, and our home to the Lord.
We get into the Word so we can get a right perspective on our ministry in our home.
We seek to respond biblically to the trials that will surely come into our lives.
We are faithful workers in our home, planning ahead for our family’s needs with good meals, fresh laundry and a clean house.
We seek to meet our husband’s needs and care for them more than for our own.
We love and submit to our husband as the head of the home, never seeking to override his authority.
We faithfully and lovingly instruct our children in God’s ways, always leading them to Christ.

How do we spend up the treasure?

We go in our own strength.
We think we can miss days in God’s Word and be fine.
We blow up when trials come because we’re not filled with Truth.
We spend more time out of the home than in it so that meals are on the run, laundry is piled up and the house is a chaotic mess.
We scream out for “our time” and resent being a housewife.
We only submit when we agree 100% with our husband’s decisions
We let the children do their own thing and overlook their need for correction and time with us.

The “treasure” that is gotten when we follow God’s directives for our homes is a sweet, loving atmosphere that makes it a joy for family and friends to come home. Is it always perfect? Hardly. Is it most often a respite from the world? Oh yes.

Are you digging for the treasure at home, or are you spending it uptoday? You can make the necessary changes even now, with the Lord’s help. A home where God’s love is felt and demonstrated is truly “a treasure to be desired.”

With love,

Husband · Marriage

Marital Deposits

October 7, 2015November 3, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

WHILE waiting in line at the bank, a man developed a very loud case of hiccups. By the time he reached the teller’s window, the hiccups seemed to have worsened. The teller took the man’s check and proceeded to run a computer verification of his account. After a minute she looked up from her terminal with a frown and said that she would be unable to cash his check.”Why not?” the man asked incredulously.”I’m sorry, sir,” she replied, ” but our computer indicates that you do not have sufficient funds to cover this amount. As a matter of fact,” she continued, “our records show your account overdrawn in excess of $5000.””It can’t be!” he cried. “You have to be kidding!” “Yes, I am,” she answered with a smile, counting out his cash. “But you will notice that your hiccups are gone.”

Most of us know the sinking feeling when there weren’t sufficient funds in the bank to cover our withdrawals. It makes for a rough day, doesn’t it?

While we are ever so careful to guard our bank account from being over drawn, I wonder what the records would show on the monthly statement of our marriage? How many withdrawals have you made? Wives need love, affection, attention, compliments, encouragement, dates, pampering, help around the house, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on… Each one of those represent a withdrawal from our marriage account. Now, think back on this past week – what kind of deposits have you made? Not the monetary kind – but the relational kind.

Have you shown respect for your husband with your words?
Have you elevated him in front of others?
Have you thanked him for being a provider for your family?
Have you done a thoughtful gesture for him? (Bought his favorite candy bar, written him a note, made his favorite meal, took him out on a special date or created one at home- you get the idea)
Have you spent time doing something he enjoys even though it might not be your favorite activity?
Have you done something to lighten his load?

These things (and many others) are ways we make deposits into our marriage. There’s a double blessing here – we’re meeting the needs of our husband and rediscovering what a joy it is to be married. It’s fun! It is God’s plan and He can only do what is good!

Take a thorough check into your “account” and make sure you’re not overdrawn! If it’s been a while since you’ve put something into your marriage, you might surprise your husband so much you’ll scare his hiccups away!

How have you made deposits into your marriage this week?

Lovingly,

dessert · Home decor · Husband · Marriage

All Things Sweet

July 29, 2015August 25, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

This week seemed to have a theme…it’s called sweet. Come take a peek from my porch to see why I say that…

A couple of friends shared delicious, peaches from their peach trees. Wasn’t that sweet of them? And oh my! They were sweet and yummy!

They were delicious in our morning yogurt, and on ice cream, but my favorite way to use them was to put them IN ice cream! I found a recipe on Cooking Light for Homemade Peach Ice Cream just before the peaches were brought to our door. As Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables would say, it was “Simply providential!” So after a little bit of mixing and freezing this was the result…

This made for a sweet treat on a hot July day!

Then, on Thursday, it was Free Tea Day at McAlister’s Deli. They have really good Sweet Tea, and we had to indulge! We went to Sonic Drive-in (because it was also national Hot Dog Day) and had our lunch for a whopping $2! Gotta love cheap dates!

While I was praying one morning, Liza Jane came and pushed her way between my arm and the chair and then put her paw up on my face!
How sweet is that?!

I have to wonder sometimes if she isn’t an tool of the devil rather than a little angel; she can be very demanding while I’m trying to pray!

I got to spend Monday early afternoon at the beautiful spa in Johnson City, thanks to a bunch of sweet friends who gave me a gift card! The massage was so wonderful! The pedicure afterwards was a lovely indulgence as well!

Before I went to the spa my husband sent me to have lunch at Wellington’s so that “this day could be all mine.” Again, his love and sweet gestures are over the top and I know I am spoiled far more than my furry feline friend!

The restaurant is so beautiful and the food was great! It got me all ready for a couple hours of spa treatment!

On Friday Alli and I worked on painting her kitchen chairs. They were old library chairs that needed a little spritzing up, and she chose a pretty yellow that will add lots of warmth to her kitchen. Thankfully we got more paint on the chairs than we did ourselves, but we were pretty covered in white primer and yellow paint!

Time with my girls is always a sweet blessing! We laughed, talked, ate lunch and got lots of paint on those chairs (and everywhere else!)!

So that was a good bit of the sweetness I enjoyed since last Wednesday! How would you describe your week in one word?

With love from my country porch,