Find refreshment for your heart, home and life
The conversation starts out simply, asking questions that women are prone to ask –
Are your children married?
Yes.
Do you have grandchildren?
Yes! Two grandsons that my daughter and son-in-law are fostering to adopt.
Oh.
The last, “Oh” echos in the room like a shout in a canyon, and is spoken with a disappointed tone, as if to say,
Oh, I’m sorry you don’t have REAL grandchildren.
Yesterday a friend posted a memory on Facebook that included me. It was from a couple years ago when I spoke at a ladies’ retreat. I had a band of women from my church who attended with me. They knew I felt inadequate to do this task. So they sat in the front. They smiled, nodded and prayed. They were such a blessing to me all weekend. Some of them wrote me cards. Some brought me thoughtful gifts, some stopped and prayed with me. But no matter, each one touched my heart so deeply and encouraged me at a time when I really needed it!
Who – We all need encouragement from time to time. It could be a difficult trial, a sad situation, a sickness, a loss, an overwhelming family matter or just gloomy weather that puts us each in need of the sunshine that others can bring! Who have you noticed lately that is going through something difficult? They could be your target for encouragement.
What – It’s easy to feel at a loss as to what to say or do when we desire to be a blessing to someone in need, but it isn’t necessary to do something huge; it’s often the little things that matter the most! Think small. Think practical.
When – Obey as soon as the Lord nudges you. Don’t make excuses or put it off. Be prompt in your encouragement. Tomorrow’s opportunity may never come; do it today.
I’m so thankful for dear friends who saw my need and responded. It gave me strength to do what God had called me to do, just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses. (Exodus 17:12)
Whose arms do you need to lift up? God will show you what to do. Then do it right away.
It’s not right to find great products or ideas and not share, so today I’m going to show you a few things that I’m loving!
Southerners like their sweet tea! I don’t drink it at every meal, or even every day, but when I enjoy a glass, I LOVE this Lipton Southern Sweet Tea.
It’s sweetened in the the tea bag with Sucralose, an artificial sweetener. It is absolutely delicious and it takes the guess work out of how much sweetener or sugar to add to the tea. There’s no aftertaste with this sweetener and I love that I’m not adding additional calories. This is a great southern tea!!
Working at the bar counter in the kitchen can make the floors messy AND make my back ache. I recently found this long padded rug.
Any crumbs that fall on it don’t show up like they do on the hardwood. Cleaning this rug is so easy – a Swiffer and a mop over top and it’s done! The padding is perfect and has really helped my back. I paid $30 for it at TJ Maxx. I went back looking for another one and they were snatched up. I’d love to have another one like this in front of the sink. I love the pattern, too; it’s a pretty addition to the kitchen!
I love making seasonal drawings on my kitchen chalkboard. Being a hot and cold tea lover, I thought this one was perfect:
Here’s one in the living room:
You can see a couple other new favorites here on my recently uploaded video. There’s also an update on my Craft/Guest Room!
Is there something new you’ve recently found that you’re loving?
During a recent text message with my daughter Whitney, she shared with me about the blessing her small group leaders are to her and her husband. She said to me,
“They invited us over for dinner Friday night and we had a really great time!
I replied by saying,
I like these people!
That this dear couple would invest in the lives of my family means so much! Because they extended that kindness to Paul and Whitney, it was like they had done it for me! If you’re a parent, you understand that when someone reaches out in kindness to your child in a special way, it’s as though they were doing it directly to you, because it touches your heart.
Let’s put that thought on a spiritual plane – when you and I serve our Savior by living out the Christian life in practical ways, God says it’s as though we have done it to Him.
Matthew 25
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
That could include:
These deeds don’t save us, but they show the world that we belong to God. When we do any of these kinds of things in the name of Christ, God says it’s as though we are doing it directly for Him!
So, who will you reach out to today or this week? Ask God to show you who and how and then do it in Jesus’ name. His Father’s heart will be touched by your actions.
What action has someone extended to your child that meant much to you?
What action could you do that will touch the heart of God?
Normally on Sunday’s I have dinner in the crock pot or oven so it’s ready when we get home from church. But yesterday, because of being away at a conference since Thursday, I hadn’t had time to prepare that type of a meal. So I turned to a menu of fish Continue reading “A Full Meal in Under 30 Minutes!”
RefreshHer 