As I shared on Friday, I had the privilege to go to Katy, Texas to speak at a Ladies’ Celebration at West Side Baptist Church.  Here’s my weekend in pictures:

I flew Southwest from Greenville, SC straight to Houston, TX.

 A blessing from my first flight was that I met a woman seated beside me.  I had prayed for an opportunity to witness and here she was!  She was from Greenville and on her way to Arizona for the weekend.  The Lord gave me the opportunity to chat and then bring up the “Share Jesus Without Fear” questions.  She doesn’t know the Lord, or of her eternal destiny, but willingly received the Word, and a tract before we got off the plane!  She said, “You know, it’s amazing that you’re talking to me about this, because someone else has recently shared a book with me about God.  I smiled and said, “This is no coincidence.  God put me here; He is at work in your life because He loves you and wants you to be saved!”  Isn’t God good?

These are pictures from activities of the Ladies’ Celebration ~ Debbie, my new sweet friend and the pastor’s wife at West Side. Young girls sang a special, then the teen girls sang later. So sweet!

Sunday services at Westside Baptist Church.

 I got to speak to the ladies’ in Sunday school on Sunday morning; that was a blessing.There are many Spanish speaking people in this congregation.  This was my first time to have an interpreter.  He was in a sound room and the ladies had ear pieces in which they could hear him interpret me.  Wow!  I just realized – there was speaking in tongues (known languages)!  =)

A ranch was almost in the middle of the city!  Loved the long-horn cattle! Reliant Stadium is in the bottom photo.

 The pastor’s wife sweetly showed me the area on Monday before I flew home.  Houston is huge and spread so far out!  Lots of concrete!  It was very warm – 89-90 degrees and humid – I loved it!

This sight made me cry Monday evening.  Yes, it’s home.  Aren’t I a blessed woman?  God is so very good to me.  I get to serve Him in other parts of this lovely country, and then come home to my sweet husband (who really misses me when I’m gone! Love that!) and the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee!

It amazes me that God gives me the privilege to travel and speak to ladies.  I love it.  I truly do.  I love giving the Truth to women who are hungry for it.  These ladies were very receptive, and they were a blessing to speak to!  God’s Word is always on time, effective, and personal to our very lives.  I love seeing what it does in the hearts of women who are seeking Him!

Now, I’m home for the summer, and looking forward to a few months of serving the Lord right here in East Tennessee!

You know, you don’t have to travel across the country to serve the Lord, and the truth of the matter is that I only do that a handful of times a year.  I’m back in my own home with my hands pushing the vacuum, folding laundry and cooking meals.  This is my constant serving ground.  We can each serve the Lord from our home, reaching outside its walls, and serving those that live there with us. What are you planning on doing to serve the Him today?  Ask Him to use you…and He will!

From my parsonage windows,

Continuing my thoughts about the verse from the other day about  Proverbs  15:6 –  In the house of the righteous is much treasure…

One day (of many) while at home with my young daughter, I had to stop and take time out of our routine to go with her to her bedroom.  The door being shut, we sat on the edge of her bed with my Bible in my hands, and I pointed out to her why her actions were sinful in God’s eyes.  We bowed our heads and each of us prayed – she prayed for God’s forgiveness of her sin; I prayed she would truly repent and walk in truth.  Then, a spanking (2 or 3 swats with a paddle) was administered.  She wept while I held her.  Tears were wiped away and I assured her that things were forgotten and we could get on with our day with a new beginning.  This time of discipline from God’s Word is a treasure in a Christian home.

After picking up my cup of coffee, I head to my Quiet Place where I spend time with the Lord.  He speaks to me from His Word!  Then I open my prayer journal and lay before Him the cares of my heart and those of others.  This time alone with God is a treasure in a Christian home.

After breakfast, my husband often opens a devotional book and we read it together.  We may discuss its prevalence on our personal lives and then we grasp hands and he leads us in prayer. This time in the truth is a treasure in a Christian home.  

At the end of a long day, we climb into the comfort of our bed, hold hands and my husband prays.  He thanks the Lord for the day behind us, commits any worries on our hearts, and we fall asleep, ending our day talking with God.  This time of prayer is a treasure in a Christian home.

Do we always mine out those treasures?  No, I’m sorry to say, we don’t. But oh, the joy when we take advantage of the opportunities to turn to the Lord and His Word!  You might say, “But my husband won’t lead me like your husband does.”  Pray.  Ask the Lord to open his heart to it.  Pray for others to influence his life in godly leadership at home.  You could make a suggestion, and then leave it.  If he doesn’t want to do it, then let it go.  You can still have times to point your own heart and  your children’s hearts to the Lord and “cash in” on that treasured time.

What other treasures have you found in the house of the righteous?

With love,

Strawberry Citrus Muffins

 I love all things strawberry!  Have you tried fresh strawberries in warm oatmeal?  Yum!  You must!  Another yummy way to eat strawberries for breakfast is in these fantastic little muffins.  I found this recipe in my Cooking Light Cookbook. That’s right!  Not only are they delicious, they’re also lighter in fat!  They mix up super fast and make a dozen really nice sized muffins.  Here’s the recipe:

Strawberry Citrus Muffins

1 1/4 Cups chopped strawberries
3 tbl. margarine, melted
2 tsp grated orange or lemon rind
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar I reduce this to 1 cup – it’s plenty
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Cooking spray
2 tsp sugar I like to use the coarse sugar on top
1/2 Cup strawberry jam (optional) But why wouldn’t you?!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and mix just until mixture is blended.  Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.  Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until mixture is moist.  Spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with 2 tsp sugar.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center.  Remove muffins from pan immediately.  Serve with jam, if desired.
184 Calories, 4g fat

The sugar topping gives it a nice little “crust.”  This has become my favorite spring/summer muffin! I’ll bet they’ll be yours too!

What do you make with fresh strawberries?

From my parsonage kitchen,

There is a secret you don’t know about me.  My lips are WHITE.  Well, nearly white.  Without  lipstick I look like I’m not alive.  I have seriously been on the lookout all my adult life for lipstick that stays on!  I love Channel’s lip gloss, but it’s quite expensive.  I wouldn’t have a tube if it hadn’t been given to me by the rep that came came to our ladies’ retreat last fall.  It does stay on forever, but at $30, it should also apply itself and do my hair in the morning!

I have just tried a new product this week – Cover Girl’s Long Lasting Lip Color.  I had a $2 off coupon from the Sunday paper, so I ended up paying about $8 for it; not bad.

It comes with a wand, with which you apply the color.  Also included is a lip gloss stick that goes over to make it shiny, but not too much.  I tried it out on an ice cream come-so far so good.

If you’re in need of a color for your lips to keep your look fresh even after a meal, a dentist visit (my daughter’s lasted through her cleaning!), or a smooch, then maybe this is the product for you!

I’m headed to Katy, Texas this evening.  I will be speaking at their Ladies’ Celebration all day Saturday.  I’m looking forward to being with these ladies!  If you think of me, please pray for me.  I cannot do this without the Lord’s strength and grace.  I’ll tell you all about it when I return home!

Be refreshed,

We recently had our house appraised. A man walked through with measuring tape and a clipboard.  He took pictures.  He measured.  He made notes.  The appraisal of a home lets the bank know how much a house is worth.

Yesterday I read in Proverbs 15:6 ~ 

I wonder if each of us is mining out the treasure that we have within the walls of our house?  Oh, I don’t mean the financial worth, but the treasures that the Lord gives a family.

How about if we take out the measuring tape, clipboard and camera and make an assessment?  What kind of a price tag would you put  on spending time every single day with your children?  Is that a worthwhile goal for you? Are you taking advantage of these days?  Or have you gotten pulled into the mindset of the world that in order for your family to “have it all,” both parents must bring in a paycheck?  I know there are some situations where that is true, but I wonder if we’re shortchanging ourselves, our children, and our God by assuming that it will never work?

Of course there will have to be cut backs.  Consider: