I’m busy in the parsonage today packing my suitcase to head to Nova Scotia, Canada.  I will be speaking this weekend at Forest Glen Bible Camp at their Ladies’ Retreat!  How unworthy I am for such a rich privilege, but so thankful for the opportunity!  The Lord is so gracious to allow me to serve Him.

I’m flying out very early Thursday morning; my plane leaves at 5:30, so that means I have to be at the airport at 4:30, and must leave home by 3:30 A.M.!  Yikes.  I should’ve gone to bed on Monday and just stayed there!  =) 

How I covet your prayers for me.  Would you pray for…

• opportunities to witness on the planes
• easy connections in Charlotte and Newark
• safety
•  the women attending to have open hearts to receive theWord
• clarity of thought and speech as I speak
• physical strength and freedom from migraines

Thank you so much!  I will tell you all about it when I return!

From my parsonage window,

Wow.  Last night was our first ladies’ Bible study for this year.  Our book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Martha Peace,  began with a very convicting first chapter.  No easing into the idea that I really have a Martha spirit…no, we were all hit with the very ugly truth on the first night of our study – It’s easier to be busy working than to sit quietly and worship. 

My friend, Ethel Johnson taught our lesson and stomped so sweetly on my toes.  She shared an acrostic using both the women’s names – Mary and Martha, showing what they were really like.

Merciless
Argumentive
Restrained by earthly things
Temporal in thought
Harried
Angry

Meek
Avid to know Christ
Resting
Yearning to grow

Which list am I?  Which are you? 

Here are a few thoughts Ethel shared:

The world applauds achievement, but God wants companionship.

Make a list each day of things that need to be done, then give God the list.  For example:
On Monday, do a general housecleaning.
On Tuesday and Thursday do laundry.
On Wednesday do the shopping, but don’t do too much so you’ll be too tired for prayer meeting.
On Friday clean again so the house will be ready for the weekend.
Don’t do too much on Saturday so you’ll be ready for the Lord’s house on Sunday.
Adjust the schedule as needed. 
Turn the television off.  If Satan has your mind, he has won.

Jesus is the reviving waters we need.

Are we distracted by the electronics of this world?

Make spiritual application to each task you do.  While washing dishes…”Jesus makes me whiter than snow.”  While doing yard work…”the grass withers, but the Word of God will never fade.”  Keep your thoughts on the spiritual things.

Have you taken time yet today to sit in the “living room” at Jesus’ feet?  Yes, there are many things to do today, but the most important is quieting our heart before Him and letting Him give us our orders for the day.  Draw near and learn of Him before you put on your apron.

Here are a few pictures of our fellowship time that preceded our lesson in The Lost Art of Hospitality.

Acorn Donut Holes made by spreading a little chocolate frosting on the top of the hole, then rolling them in nuts or toffee bits, then adding half of a pretzel stick.

This was well liked!

 Spiced Cider
4 cups cider
2 cups Cranberry juice
2 cups Orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. Allspice
2 sticks cinnamon

Combine and warm in crock pot.

Thursday’s post will have the hospitality tips on it.  If you missed the meeting last night, you can hear what we covered!

Who are you more often…Mary or Martha?  Me?  I relate to Martha all too well!  That little attitude ~ mmmhmm.  Thankful for God’s grace!

With love,

Want to be refreshed today?  Take this Advice from a tree.  =)

I’d like to give credit to the author, but I don’t know who wrote this.  It’s good stuff, though!

See you in church Sunday!
Be refreshed,

Rahab leaned in as her friend cupped her hand around her mouth and said in hushed tones –

“Have you heard the news?  The Israelites have finally been freed from their slavery in Egypt.  Hundreds of thousands of them left…in the middle of the night!  They say that when they got to the Red Sea, their leader, Moses, lifted up His rod and the water parted, and those people crossed on dry land!  But when the Egyptians tried to go after them the waters crashed down on them, and not one soldier was left alive!  I heard it was their God that cause all those plagues to happen beforehand, and that He was the One that made it possible for them to cross the sea safely.  I wonder if they’ll try to come here to Jericho?  I’m afraid of what will happen to us if they do!”  Rahab sat back, wide eyed and disbelieving at first, but then nodded as she remembered other things she had heard about the Israelite’s God. 

Then one day Rahab heard a rap at her door and was greeted by two men who were looking for lodging.  It didn’t take long for her to realize that these men were not only strangers, but Israelite men, looking for a safe haven where they might stay.  She was in awe of these people, and their God, and it was without hesitation that she ushered them inside, away from the onlookers on the street.  She was risking her life to hide these men on the roof, under the flax that was piled high on top of them.  They were safe from the spears of the men who had heard of them coming to Rahab’s door; safe from an untimely death.

After the men of Jericho had followed Rahab’s faulty information and went looking for the spies elsewhere, Rahab rushed to the rooftop to warn God’s men.  Joshua 2:9-11 says, She said unto the men,

I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Because of what Rahab had heard, she put her faith in the one true God!  The news that had travelled to her ears melted her heart for the Lord!  What power a testimony of God’s work can have on others!

What have others heard about your life recently?  Could they say,  “Wow, I heard what God did for you!”? Would your testimony of God’s work turn their heart to belief?  We can’t take the credit for anything that happens to us!  Feeling better after being sick, provision of a financial need, the return of a wandering sinner, securing something you’ve needed, an unsuspected blessing…these are all from God’s hand and we must give Him the credit, and we must tell others about it!

God has recently (last week) answered two prayer requests that have been heavy burdens on my heart.  He alone is the One worthy of praise!  I did nothing to cause it to happen!  I can tell you, dear friend, that God hears you when you pray!  That’s my testimony today!

What have others heard about God from you?  Don’t be ashamed to share it!

With love,

It’s amazing how a simple ingredient has the ability to refresh.  Add a scarf to a plain black dress, and instantly an outfit is improved.  Add a little greenery on a book shelf and it looks finished.

The same is true in foods.  Sometimes sprucing up a plain ingredient can really add pizazz to a meal.  The ingredient I’m thinking about today is Paula Deen’s favorite staple.  Yep, it’s butter.  Though I try to keep a handle on the amount I use, so I don’t end up with handles around me, it is a really great additive to plain foods.  But I’m not talking about just plain butter…

 

 

The Chop House Restaurant serves a small pork chop with some kind of herbed butter on top.  It is soooo good, and it takes a very simple piece of meat to the next level.  Recently while looking through my herb cookbook, I found a recipe for Rosemary Butter and had to give it a try.  I browned up pork chops and popped a little spoon of my seasoned butter on it and I was in heaven!  The recipe also suggests using it on fresh vegetables or broiled or grilled chicken.  I had a little extra and popped some inside my baked potato.  Oh, yes.  It was yummy!

Here’s the recipe.  It makes lots, but you could cut the recipe in half or fourths, which is what I did.

Rosemary Butter

Try this on baked or boiled chicken, boiled new potatoes or fresh garden vegetables

1 C butter, softened
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 T chopped fresh rosemary, or 2 tsp dried
1 T chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp grated lemon peel
Salt and pepper


Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Makes 1 cup.


Try an herbed butter to a plain food and see what it does.  You’ll be licking your fingers!

See you in church!

Be refreshed,