If It Hadn’t Been For the Lord…

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

I am a perpetual list maker. I always have been. It makes my days run smoother. It makes me see that I’ve accomplished something.

But sometimes that habit becomes a stumbling block because it can cause me to run on “auto-pilot.”

Breaking that down, it simply means that I run on “Denise’s ability” rather than God’s.

Here’s how Denise’s list goes:

~~Blog post~~ – I get a “great idea” in my head and type it up without praying about it.
~~Make bread~~ – I made our bread and freeze the other loaf without asking God with whom I could share the extra bread.
~~Grocery shopping~~ – I buzz through the store, with little thought about having a Gospel conversation with a shopper who speaks to me.
~~Dry Cleaners~~ – The worker looked worn and worried, but I didn’t ask how her day was going and how I could pray for her.

Everything got checked off, but it was done in my strength and with my limited abilities. Nothing extraordinary happened as result. Denise’s abilities revealed.

This week I read Psalm 124:1 -3

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

Then they had swallowed us up quick…

Israel had victory and they could say, “If it hadn’t been for the Lord we would have been swallowed up by our enemy! God interrupted their day!

That verse made me stop and ask myself – “What happened in my day yesterday that I would say, If hadn’t been for the Lord who was on my side things would have turned out much differently!”? Did I look to the Lord to break in and interrupt my plans? Or did I do everything in my own strength instead?

Oh, that every day I would allow God to interrupt my plans. It might look like this instead:

~~Blog post~~ – “If it hadn’t been for the Lord, I wouldn’t have thought to post that!”
~~Bake Bread~~ –“If it hadn’t been for the Lord, I would have missed meeting the new family up the street, but He reminded me I needed to take them a loaf of bread and introduce myself!”
~~Grocery Shopping~~ – “If it hadn’t been for the Lord nudging me to invite the sweet lady at the store to my church, she may never have visited!”
~~Dry Cleaners~~ – “If it hadn’t been for the Lord nudging me to pray with the worker at the dry cleaners, I never would have known that her husband was diagnosed with cancer recently.”

Do you see what a difference depending on and surrendering to the Lord makes in our day? His abilities are revealed! I have missed out on His blessings so many times, simply because I was not relying on His Spirit and power to work through me to do what only He can do. How sad.How empty.

But today is a new day to surrender.

This situation is another opportunity to give my plans to Him!

Today’s list is another chance to see Him step in and do what only He can do!

What happened in your day yesterday that would make you say – “If it hadn’t been for the Lord THAT never would have happened!”? How much of your day yesterday was empowered by the Spirit of God and how much was done in your own strength? God wants to use us as His instruments, if we’ll only surrender our wills (and our lists!) to Him.

Thankful for His grace,

Denise Signature 150 px

baking · Bread · cakes · entertaining · Prayer

Friday Favorites

September 30, 2016September 29, 2016 RefreshHer3 Comments

My week has been full…full of activities and blessings!

sept298

It started on Friday night when women gathered to join the True Woman Conference Simulcast – Cry Out! We spent three hours at church reading Scripture, worshiping, and praying. Those hours went by incredibly fast because we were so caught up in the splendor of our Savior! We are planning a five-week prayer time so that this won’t be a Moment, but a Movement! We will be meeting up until the time of election on November 8th. Will you join us? We need to be praying for our nation!!

sept292

I went to our local library this week – something I hadn’t done in a long time. I LOVE THE LIBRARY! There’s just something about picking up books, leafing through, reading a little, and then tucking a special treasure under your arm and taking it home for a couple of weeks! I brought home a favorite – a Gooseberry Cookbook for a little inspiration for a party I’m hosting this weekend. Their books are full of seasonal recipes and great ideas! Who owns one or more of their books?

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I grew up going to Pioneer Girls. Now it’s a club for boys and girls – Pioneer Club. I get to help teach the first and second graders, and last Wednesday they were mesmerized with Miss Sharon’s story of a puppy who didn’t want to obey. We’ve been leaning about God’s gift of the family and the importance of obeying their parents. I think they all went away with the understanding that fences (rules) keep us safe. Great job, Sharon! Are you serving in your church? What do you do to share the Gospel with others?

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I got to bake French Bread loaves for an Autumn supper I’m hosting for our Apples of Gold gals. These loaves will accompany a harvest salad and three kinds of soups! I’m making Cream of Wild Rice & Chicken Soup and two others are bringing Beef with Barley and Potato. It’s supposed to get really chilly this weekend, so this soup menu will be perfect! I’m also making Texas Sheet Cake and Pumpkin Crunch Cake for dessert. These are both great cakes, but the Pumpkin Crunch…oh wow! I’m hoping we can have a fire in the fire pit and enjoy the patio in the evening! What have you baked this week?

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Yesterday I had the joy of praying with friends. One had a birthday and we gave her the gift of our prayers. There were tears, of course, but we had the sweetest time together! What better thing to do when you gather with friends? We could talk all day long, but talking to the Lord about our friends is the best conversation! Who needs you to stop and pray with them today?

That was my week! I’d love for you to answer one of my questions and tell me about your week!

Stay refreshed,

Fall · Pastor's Wife · Prayer

Friday Favorites

September 23, 2016September 22, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

Last weekend I had the joy of attending and speaking at the Pastor’s Wives Retreat that I shared about earlier. The location of the retreat is perfect because it’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and truly restful. Here is a collage of pictures from the three-day retreat:

From top left to right –

Alli went with me and did all the music. She is so gifted and the ladies were so blessed by her songs. What a blessing to get to serve with her at a retreat!
We had an hour in which I instructed the ladies how to have a personal prayer retreat. The questions inside the pamphlet we used are piercing and get right to the heart. I think it may have been the best hour of the whole weekend!
This is the lodge where our sessions and meals were. The view of the mountains revealed some leaves changing colors.
When the retreat was ended, Alli and I took a little hike. The scenery on this road definitely points to the truth that it’s fall!
The chalet we stayed in is my favorite one because it’s so remote. My favorite place is always the front porch in a rocker. Alli and I spent a good deal of time out there. Friday afternoon a little rain rolled in and that made it even cozier!
The little creek is really low since things have been pretty dry this summer, but it was still pretty.

The stress of getting ready for a retreat is pretty overwhelming. When it’s behind me and I get home, it feels so good to get into my “normal routine” of walking and being home. Monday morning this was my view as I exercised :

Morning walk.jpg

The spiders had been REALLY busy the night before because there were webs all along that fence! It was really pretty though because the dew hung on the delicate lines of their traps and the sun was shining through the light fog. Nothing better than walking with a gorgeous view!

I really enjoy my herb garden and it’s done super well this summer. This week I went out and harvested more of my herbs and I also made up a couple of arrangements, adding some flowers from my yard, as well as the fragrant herbs.

herb-gardening

I love having my flowers and herbs around the house. I placed this one on the night stand beside our bed.

brown-eyed-susans

Does anyone else herb garden? How do you utilize your bounty?

Tonight our church is hosting the Cry Out! event that Revive our Hearts is doing in Indianapolis. I am excited to join women in prayer as we petition God for revival in our own lives, our churches, homes and world! Anyone can watch Revive our Hearts live simulcast.

Stay refreshed this weekend as you seek the Lord in your local church!

Happy fall,

Events · Prayer

It’s Time To Cry Out!

July 14, 2016July 13, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

It doesn’t take much research to realize that our nation and our world is in a mess. There is much that could discourage us when we look around us, but when we look upward, we can be encouraged!!! We can have hope!

I am so excited about an upcoming event hosted by Revive Our Hearts to do the only thing that will change our world – it’s called “Cry Out!” and the purpose of this evening is for women around the globe to be in prayer for our country, our world and our homes.

Watch this promotional video to learn more about what this is all about:

Hope isn’t as distant as it feels. It’s time to take action.

Imagine . . . hundred of thousands of women gathered in thousands of locations . . . seeking Him together . . . for such a time as this!

What could be more vital at this critical time, than for women to bow together before the God of heaven and earth and cry out to Him for mercy and supernatural intervention in our world, our nation, our churches, our cities, and our homes.

Experience the power and joy of corporate prayer as together we cry out to God to do in us and in our nation what no man-made effort can accomplish.

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears.” (Psalm 34:17)

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

6 – 9 P.M. CT / PT

7 – 10 P.M. ET / MT

The event will be held in Indianapolis but they are offering a simulcast for anyone to join. My church, Boones Creek Bible Church, is going to be a host for this event in the Tri-cities area. I was so burdened for this time of prayer when I heard about it, and I knew that God wanted us to be a part of this evening.

Our church is registered and will be on the official Cry Out map so that women in our area can come and join us in prayer. Will you mark your calendar for Friday, September 23rd and either join us in Johnson City or register your own group where you live?

God has done it before, and He can do it again—that’s our prayer.

One evening. One heart. One cry.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears” (Ps. 34:17).

Will you join us as we CRY OUT?

Prayerfully,

Christian Life · Prayer · Uncategorized

It’s Done!

April 6, 2016April 5, 2016 RefreshHer6 Comments

This has been a year in coming and I still can’t believe my eyes when I look out the back windows of my house. Are you ready for the backyard patio reveal?

Before:

backyard

After:

Of course this will be a work in progress as we add landscape to it a little at a time, but to see the beautiful hard-scape finished is enough to make me shout and cry, and I’ve done both!

In June the area between the smaller circles will be connected with a low brick wall. I’ll plant rose shrubs there. The grass between the circles will remain. Perhaps a birdbath or the like will go on the grass. Shrubbery will be added along the sides of the large circle, flowers will be border the edges. Can you see it? I can! Slowly and in time it will come.

Here are a couple more pics:

patio 3

The smaller circles will be for a cafe’ table on one side and a bench on the other. We want to have plenty of seating options for our guests.

patio 2

This patio was dreamed about as a way to really be able to utilize, for God’s glory, the huge backyard we have. This really invites you out there! It’s our desire to use this as a meeting place for people. I have a fun plan for the early fall, but I’ll not share that quite yet. =)

I hope I never forget all that the Lord has taught me as I’ve waited for the completion of this project! Let me write a few of those here for my remembrance and your encouragement: