Last weekend D&D Ministries headed to Indiana and Illinois. I was scheduled to speak at Camp Assurance in Danville, IL and then Dale preached and I taught the ladies’ Sunday school class in a church in New Richmond, OH.
I was excited to be going through Indiana – our “old stomping grounds.” We lived there for fourteen years – those were the years we raised our girls, and had some of the most difficult seasons of our lives. There were hard ministry issues, the death of our second daughter, a meager salary, and long work hours for Dale.
But as the Lord often does, He turned those difficulties into some of the most precious blessings, and also loaded us with many joys that outnumbered our sorrows. Of course we couldn’t see and recognize all those good things at the time. Those kind of perspectives sometimes take years to see. As we drove through the cities where we lived and served, the memories flooded my heart. But there were a couple other events that truly brought the emotions.
It happens to everyone at least once in their lifetime – the betrayal of a dear friend. You thought they would stick with you through thick and thin, when the chips were down, or when you were the last person to be chosen when they were picking teams. When the betrayal comes, it’s a dagger in our heart and the loss is felt with a grief like death. I speak as one who knows…and you do, too. We read in II Timothy 1 that Paul did, too…
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Happy August! Our summer is flying by, and has been full of good things! Today is a continuation of those blessings!
There are two exciting things happening today!
We are officially launching our new DandD Ministries website! You can find it here. It has all the information about the ministry the Lord led us to begin nearly two years ago. It was birthed out of a burden to encourage ministry couples. God has done amazing things that we never dreamed of, but it has been so wonderful to follow His leading. This brings me to the next exciting thing that is happening today!
We are opening registration for our inaugural Refuge and Refreshment Retreat that will take place in January of 2026.
How refreshing it is to stand in a stream and hear its bubbling song. There is just something about flowing, moving water that invigorates! It refreshes! If you’ve ever stood at a stream’s edge in the countryside you know what I mean.
Some time ago, I was given a handout entitled, “Twenty Ways to Refresh.” Due to the nature of my blog and my desire to refresh others in their heart, home and life, I gravitate to the word, “Refresh.” Harold Vaughan, the founder of Christ Life Ministries, is the epitome of Encouragement and he is the author of this list I was given. When we refresh others, we are pouring life into them, like that flowing stream does for us! If you’re like me and you have difficulty thinking of ways to encourage others, this list will help you.
Here are the first ten:
Greet people on Sunday mornings (at church) with a smile. It is okay to let your face say that you are happy to be at church. Go out of your way to say, “Hi.” Ask questions about the lives of others, and listen attentively.
Visit the widows and shut-ins of your church. Take an afternoon and visit three or four. Sit, talk, listen and be willing to look at their photo albums – all of them.
Have a mouth that is overflowing with grace and is slow to wander down any other road.
Show up each Sunday morning with a mental list of three or four people that you are going to find and minister to. Many of us walk into church with an attitude of, “I wonder who will minister to me today.” Nothing can be as drastically encouraging to a local church’s membership than a people united in the understanding that they are there to serve and love one another.
Be a Monday morning encourager instead of a Monday morning critic by sending your pastor an email detailing what you appreciated about his Sunday sermon.
Don’t rush out of church on Sunday mornings. Be one of the last to leave because you are taking the time to talk with everyone you can.
Often remind others of the benefits of salvation and the graces that flow from union with Christ. Let it season your conversations.
Routinely have a crock-pot meal or roast cooking on Sundays and spontaneously invite a visiting family or family in need for supper following the service. (See my Successful Sunday Dinner series!)
Seek out those visiting the church, get to know them, and introduce them to others. Find connections, and be a networker to the glory of God.
Aim to remember people’s names and greet them by name each Sunday. This takes work, but it can happen. (I go to my seat and write their names in my journal, with a brief description of the person!)
This really inspired and refreshed me! Which one of these points speaks most to you?
This week finds us on the road again, ministering with D&D Ministry. I guess it’s no surprise that the conferences in February are marriage and family related – subject matters that our hearts/ministry are passionate about. We’re all aware that the family is under great attack. More than ever, we need the truth of God’s Word to instruct, guide, comfort and yes, even convict us so that we will follow God’s mandate for marriage and the home.
RefreshHer 