My younger daughter is away from her boyfriend this summer. He is serving at camp in New England while she is at camp in North Carolina. There are many miles between them (which is a good thing, though they don’t like it!).

It’s made me remember when my husband and I were dating and had miles between us. We did whatever was necessary to eliminate the miles! One time he drove to KY after I’d been home only a couple of days visiting my family. He then traveled to Michigan with us to see my grandfather. Knowing that even more miles would separate us was an awful thought, and we did what we could to be together! Being separated from one you love is rough business!

Have you ever felt that the Lord was very far away? That’s worse than feeling distant from any person. In Psalm 13:1 the psalmist said, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” He was wondering if God had just plain forgotten him, and he wondered why he couldn’t see His face. However, an omniscient God can never forget and an omnipresent God can never be removed from us!

In verse two he said that he has sorrow in his heart daily. Do you feel that way right now? Does it seem like every day you wake up and that sorrow is staring you in the face? Have you discovered the happy device by which you can escape trouble? The answer is in verses five and six. “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” The mercy seat refreshes the weeper. Remembering that fact that God took care of the greatest trouble a soul can face – eternal damnation in hell, reminds me that He is able to take care of every other need that comes into my life. He has truly dealt bountifully with us!

Joys remembered sweeten present sorrows. Remember what the Lord has done for you. Has he saved you? Has He answered prayers in the past? Has He comforted you in other trials? Has He worked in the hearts of those you’ve prayed for in earlier days? Let those joys sweeten your present sorrow and encourage your heart! God hasn’t forgotten you and He is very near.

With love,

This weekend I had the privilege (and fun) of having half of our small group Bible study leaders over for brunch. We are ending our study – **sniff, sniff** and I wanted to thank them for all the work they have done this year to keep their groups of ladies connected. The other half of the leaders were busy or sick, and we missed them. It will give me another reason to have another brunch later!

When I’m having all ladies over I love to pull out my china and pretty glasses, etc. I decided to go with a blue and white theme. I found this table runner at TJ Maxx last year for $2! It’s really for an umbrella table, but the hole in the middle made a perfect place for the centerpiece!

I love these little purse place card holders. We used these for a ladies’ luncheon a couple of years ago and I purchased a few extra so I’d have them for a whole table setting. I stamped “I thank God for you” then added their name. I do thank the Lord for these and all the dear ladies at Boones Creek Bible Church. I am blessed to be called their pastor’s wife.

This Apricot-almond coffee cake is super easy because it starts with a Pound Cake mix. You could change this and make any flavor you like by changing the preserves that are swirled into the batter.

Last Sunday we passed around a sign-up sheet to help provide meals for a young mom in our church who just had another little one. One of the ladies that signed up is a young mom and is relatively new to our church. When I thanked her for helping with this ministry she said, “Oh, when I had my boys we were blessed with so many people that brought us meals. It was such a help to me that I said then that I would always try to provide meals for new mothers.”

That really struck a cord in my heart. Here is a young mom doing something to be a blessing to another mom because she knows what a help that can be!

We are all to be giving, and giving liberally or generously. This Proverbs goes on to say that when you are a blessing to others you receive a blessing. I know that this young mom stays home with her boys and that keeps her busy all day, but she has found a way to reach out. How needy that is. Home can turn into a prison where you simply care for your own family and fail to realize that there are things you can do, even as a young mom, to be a blessing to others and serve the Lord. Our families are our first priority (after spending time with the Lord), but often we don’t see beyond them to other ways we could be serving, even while in the busy days of motherhood.

Just last night I saw two other examples. One mom of four came to our CARE ministry (visitation/outreach) with her three older children while Dad stayed at home with their one year-old who was getting over a virus. This mom wanted an opportunity to reach out, so after work, Dad came home, they had supper, then she brought the children to CARE. What teamwork!

I was talking to another one of the young moms in our church about our upcoming VBS and she said, “Can I help make refreshments for it?” She, too, is a stay-at-home mom who is looking for a way to serve others outside her home.

Could I also suggest:

• Ask your pastor if he has anyone that needs a card or phone call
• Invite an unsaved lady in your home for coffee
• Serve in your church nursery
• If your husband serves in a ministry at your church, help him with it. One young mom in our church provides muffins or coffee cake each Sunday that her husband substitute teaches their Sunday School class. She’s helping him minister to those members!
• Mentor one of the teen girls in your church
• Ask your pastor’s wife and other staff member’s wives how you can pray for them, then write them a note telling them you are praying. I have a bunch of women that do this for me, and I can’t tell you what a blessing it is!

Let me encourage you young moms to make your family your first priority, but then don’t think you’ve done all you need to do. There’s a world outside your backyard that needs Christ’s love – saved and unsaved alike. What could you be doing to share His love?

With thanks for the amazing young moms at BCBC,

II Kings 4:10

• A chair is a nice accessory, and a lamp over it or beside it for reading.

• A vase of fresh flowers on the dresser is a nice way to welcome your guests.

• Have a light on in the room your guests will be staying in if they’re arriving after dark.

  As for any meals that you’ll be serving, make sure that you know if they have any dietary needs so you can cook accordingly. Here are a few things to make the meal special:

• Try to prepare things ahead of time so you don’t spend all your time in the kitchen. Freeze muffins, cake layers and cookies. Prepare Ziploc bags with the dry ingredients for pancakes so all you have to do is add the liquid ingredients. If you’re having BLT’s for lunch, cook the bacon ahead of time and refrigerate it.

• Have breakfast items available. Either set things out – Cereal, fresh fruit, muffins and a pitcher of milk, juice and coffee and let them serve themselves when they are ready for it. Or if you feel up to it, provide a hot breakfast of pancakes or egg strata.

• Make the table attractive. It doesn’t have to be spectacular, just special. Flowers and pretty napkins are a great addition.

• Have a guest book for your guests to sign before they leave. It will serve as a scrapbook of sorts of all the guests that have come to your home.

Perfection is not a goal for there are no perfect homes, perfect meals or perfect hostesses! Go for clean rooms, filling meals and welcoming hostess, and your guests will be glad they can return to your home again and again!

What has made you feel welcome when you’ve visited in someone’s home?

Happy hostessing,

I am married to a GPS – a global positioning system! Dale can get anywhere and he’s been everywhere! My dear husband has rescued me and my girls from perils on the highway more times than I can count! The amazing thing is that we can call and frantically say, “I’m lost!” and he will always follow that with, “Tell me what’s around you.” “I don’t know – curvy roads, a pasture, a sign to an old church…” His famous last words are, “I know exactly where you are.” He will then proceed to give step by step instructions to get us back on the right road, complete with curves in the road, landmarks, and words of encouragement!