Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

RefreshHer2 Comments

Have I told you just how much I love to cook? It’s truly not a chore for me. One thing I love about it is the variety of foods and recipes to make. I love to try new recipes. A dear friend has given me a subscription to Taste of Home Magazine and I enjoy it so much. This month’s issue was full of good things to make. I have about a dozen ear marked to try this month.

Sunday’s dinner menu was nothing new, but it was pretty much ready when we walked in the door and that’s always a good thing on Sunday! Why does my stomach growl ferociously on Sunday morning and not on weekdays? :0 I served:

Roasted Turkey Breast w/fresh herbs
Mashed potatoes with Turkey gravy
Roasted asparagus with Parmesan cheese
Rolls
Lemon blueberry Pound Cake (more about this later!)

I have to share one recipe with you that I tried earlier in the week that was so good! It’s called Roasted Vegetable Salad. I served grilled chicken with it and it made a great summertime meal. You can vary the vegetables – I used what I had. I failed to take a picture of mine, but it’s really colorful and appealing.

Roasted Vegetable Salad

1 lb. small red potatoes, quartered

2 medium ears of sweet corn, halved (I used frozen kernels)

1/2 lb. baby portobello mushrooms, halved

1 med. sweet red pepper, cut into strips

2 medium leeks (I used red onion)

1/4 C plus 2 Tbl. olive oil, divided

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 2-in. lengths

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups cubed French bread (I toasted these on a cookie sheet while the vegetables were cooking)

10 Cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup crumbled Feta cheese

Dressing:

1/3 Cup olive oil

1/4 Cup red wine vinegar

1 Tbl honey

In large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Drizzle with 1/4 cup oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Place in two greased 15 x 10 x 1 in baking pans. Bake at 425 degrees 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute asparagus in remaining oil until tender (just a couple minutes). Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer. Cut corn from cobs; place in a large bowl. Stir in the bread, tomatoes, cheese, asparagus and roasted vegetable mixture. Combine oil, vinegar and honey, drizzle over mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Another recipe I made this week was Lemon-Blueberry Pound Cake, not from Taste of Home, but from my Cooking Light Cookbook. You would never know this is a light recipe; it tastes just as yummy as any regular pound cake with twice the fat grams! Be watching for the recipe on my blog this week.

What’s been cooking in your kitchen?

With love,

Uncategorized

Lone Ranger Christians

RefreshHer4 Comments

One day this week as I was listening to Revive our Hearts, I heard Nancy make a statement about the Christian who thinks they can “go it alone.” This is the person who isn’t faithfully connected to a local body of believers. She stressed the importance of being actively involved, supporting and being supported by the fellow believers there. My heart fully agreed!

Wednesday night in prayer meeting I was met with one reason we need the fellowship of other Christians. I heard three dear ladies in our church stand and give testimonies about opportunities to share the Gospel this week – one was in a store and chatted with a customer, one on her job at the hospital, and the last talked with a man over the phone – a stranger dealing with bank business! As I sat and listened to their testimonies my heart was stirred with the desire to be used of God in that way. I know the Lord has brought those opportunities my way, but I’ve been distracted by my own busyness or the task at hand and missed them. I came home determined to ask God to open an opportunity for me, then to look for it!

As I had my prayer time this morning I said, “Lord, help me to be faithful to you today and to see the opportunity to witness and not let it slip past me.” As I went to the grocery store I was looking. I was at Ingles and it was early afternoon and the store was relatively quiet. I was nearing the end of shopping when I remembered that I needed to go to the produce department and talk with one of the workers. The week before I had accidentally dropped my pen down into the case holding the corn on the cob! The produce worker had told me he would clean the cases and keep my pen for me. However, when I asked another gentleman about it, the pen had not been retrieved.

“Oh, I’ll come back later”, I said. This young man kindly answered, “No, you go finish your shopping. It will only take me a minute. I’m happy to get it for you!” I watched him go get a cart and begin unloading the produce on that stand. I went on my way to get my last few items, thinking about how kind he was and how grateful I was that my nice pen would be in my purse again! The Lord quickly brought to my mind that the kindest way I could thank him would be to share the Gospel with him.

As I made my way back to the produce stand the worker looked up at me, pulled a Cross pen from his shirt pocket and asked, “Is this what you lost?!” Indeed it was, and I thanked him for his kindness and told him how much I loved shopping in their store because everyone was always so helpful. Then I said, “You’ve been so kind to me, let me share something with you.” I handed him a tract that says, “Will you go to heaven when you die?” I said, “This is even better than finding a lost pen, because it holds the Truth about how to be sure you can go to heaven. This is the best news there is.” “Yes, you’re right,” he said. “Thank you!”

I pray that he took the time later to read through it, and that he will trust Christ if he isn’t saved. I’ll be back in that store in the near future and I’ll be praying for an opportunity to ask him what he thought about what he read. I walked away knowing that this was God’s appointment and that He had given me this sweet opportunity to share about my Savior.

I wonder if I would have been looking for that chance if I hadn’t been challenged by those sweet ladies at church? I doubt it. I would have been on a mission – my mission instead of God’s. So thank you, Linda, Sue and Ethel for being faithful to witness and for sharing your testimonies at church. God used you in my life! I also say, thank you, Lord, for the Church – what a blessing it is! I wouldn’t make it as a Lone Ranger Christian!

Praying you’ll be in a Bible believing church this Sunday,

Uncategorized

Shrinking Testmony

RefreshHerLeave a comment

Earlier in my life when I thought about changes I’d like to make about myself I had one desire – to be taller! It was really an issue as a teenager when all my friends were “normal” height and I stood at a whopping 4’9″. “Shorty, Minnow, and other kind names were given to me, causing me to struggle even more with my stature. However, no wishing or dreaming could make me an inch taller.

In Matthew 6 we read the passage about God’s loving care for us. Matthew says in verse 27, Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? The answer? No one! Worrying won’t change how tall you are! I am proof! As a matter of fact, the truth is that worrying won’t make you taller; worrying will make you smaller because it shrinks your testimony!

The passage goes on to say that in the very same way that we can’t change our height, neither can we do anything about our needs, but there is One who can! God knows our needs, and just the way He takes care of the sparrows and feeds them and also clothes the lilies, He will feed and clothe us. He can also protect us from harm, guide us in decision making , give help in trouble, and heal us when we’re sick. Worrying won’t help any of those situations, it will only worsen them because it shows our lack of faith in an all-powerful God! That’s how our testimony shrinks. People who know we’re Christians, look at our wrinkled brow and wringing hands and wonder why we’re doubting God. Could they still come to us for counsel, knowing that we are fretful over things that only God can handle? No. We’ve destroyed our testimony.

I recently heard the testimony of a missionary in India that held a baptismal service in a river. He felt leeches attaching themselves to his leg and foot. He was startled, but he knew he could trust His God. He finished the service, then left the waters to care for his wounds. That’s faith! That’s also an incredible testimony of someone who knows their God. That’s the kind of person that can help others in their time of crisis.

How well do we know our God? Do we know Him enough that we won’t worry about a financial , material, physical, or spiritual need because we know He promises to provide for us? That’s the kind of faith for we each need to be praying.

So, is your testimony growing or shrinking? May you stand tall!

Glad to be 4’9″,

Uncategorized

Word to the Wise Wednesday – Set Goals

RefreshHer1 Comment

Yesterday’s Bible study was about serving others. My prayer was that the Lord would help me to put into action what I’d studied. God will answer that prayer if you ever pray it! I stayed very busy all day obeying the Lord’s directives and it was such a blessing! It was wonderful to see God working and nudging me. If I’d only do that every day instead of going my own way!

Proverbs 1: 30, 31
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

I’d rather have God’s way than mine, wouldn’t you? 🙂

Recently we’ve been encouraged in our ladies’ Bible study to set spiritual goals because “if you don’t have a goal you will surely hit it!” If you’re a part of our Bible study, I pray you’ve gotten started on your “five fat files.”

Let’s think about some other goals today – Summertime goals. Think about five or ten things you’d like to accomplish this summer. Write it down somewhere. Post it on your fridge, or put it somewhere where you’ll see it and be encouraged to get started. Then check each item off as you complete it. Make a list and then get after it. It’s June 2nd, so you’ve got three months – 92 days. Wow! We could accomplish lots in that amount of time if we start today!

My Summertime Goals: (for starters)

  • Paint the bathroom
  • Read three books on the topics in my five Fat Files
  • Finish cleaning out the back of the basement
  • Have a yard sale to get rid of basement “stuff”
  • Entertain on Sunday nights on the deck
  • Memorize a verse a week
  • Meet with a younger woman each week

Proverbs 13:19

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…

What goals will you have for the summer? Inspire me!

With love,

Uncategorized

Best Friends in Marriage

RefreshHer3 Comments

Yesterday found my husband and me in the basement going through some boxes of “stuff.” Stuffed animals, old toys, pictures, school annuals, dolls, dishes, and books were sorted through. I was down there for several hours – not because I got so much accomplished, necessarily, but because when I go through old things it brings back memories and I have to stop and reflect! My husband and I passed many pictures back and forth to one another. “Oh, remember this?” “Look at us! How hilarious!” (You will not be seeing any of those pictures posted here!) Not only did we recall many special times from our past, but it was a sweet time together recounting good memories and numerous blessings.

I also leafed through a couple of the books that I hadn’t read in a while. One book was on marriage and there was a chapter on being best friends with your mate. The highlights were how important it is to spend time together having fun, talking, sharing your heart, and being open with one another. I smiled – we had done that even in a cool basement on Memorial Day when most of our neighbors were probably out at the lake or at the park having a picnic with their extended family. We had shared secret memories of times and places when notes were found written in our handwriting. We’d laughed. We’d talked about times when our girls were growing up. This is what friends do.

After we’d had our grilled hamburgers later in the evening, we headed out for a drive through the countryside. Opening the sun roof on the car, the warm air blew through as we pointed at beautiful homes, the clouds over the mountain or a row of flags in a front yard. We even stopped for an ice cream at Dari ace – so cute! It was a great end to a fun day spent with my best friend.

Are you still best friends with your husband? Are you spending time together? I don’t mean time living – I mean time just being together. What tone of voice do you use when you speak to him or repeat an answer to his question? Is it the tone that one would use with their best friend? God gave Adam a wife so he would have a companion. Are you and I being the best kind of completer that we could possibly be? Best friends give each other the benefit of the doubt, love when no one else loves, and enjoy just doing little things together. Is your husband the one you spend that kind of time with? Don’t replace his companionship with that of your girlfriend, sister or parents. That is not God’s plan for a married woman.

I am planning on re-reading that book I found. It was a good reminder for me. We all need to be encouraged in what a godly marriage looks like. I’m thankful for a day in the basement that helped me to be refreshed in the friendship part of our marriage!
With love,