I had the privilege of speaking at a Ladies’ Retreat at Kennerly Road Baptist Church in Irmo, SC this past Saturday. What a blessing to share the Word of God and have the fellowship with the dear, sweet ladies that were there. We had a wonderful time together and I thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him there.

One of the things I encouraged the ladies about was using their home as a place of ministry. I consider it a true joy to have guests in. Sharing a meal, and then being able to share the Gospel or disciple them in their walk with God makes the meal so very sweet.

Yesterday we had the joy of having in a couple that has been attending our church for a short period of time. We had a wonderful time talking with them about their faith in Christ and the need to read the Word and grow. Our hearts were knit together as we broke bread together, then shared The Bread of Life!

Because I was away all day on Saturday, I planned a menu that would be easy to put together on Sunday morning. Early in the week, I made dessert – a Brownie Tart by Ina Garten, and placed it in the oven. Oh my – if you love chocolate you must try this decadent dessert!

Countryside Chicken Bake

Steamed broccoli

Green salad

Crescent rolls

Brownie Tart with ice cream

Sunday morning I put the chicken dish together. When I returned home from church I put the salad together, steamed the broccoli, and baked the crescent rolls.

Countryside Chicken Bake

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 cup sliced celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 tbl butter, melted
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
6 chicken breasts (I used a cut-up fryer)
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 lb. bag baby carrots
paprika

Cook rice according to package directions. Combine rice and next 6 ingredients; mix well. Spoon into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch dish; top with chicken and carrots.

Combine soup, sour cream and milk; spoon mixture over chicken. Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Sprinkle top with paprika. Bake an additional 15 minutes.

For baking on Sunday during church, place dish in a 275 degree oven before Sunday school.

What’s been cookin’ in your kitchen?

With love,

Yesterday was another lesson from the birds (God uses His creation to teach us about Himself, doesn’t He?). My husband was walking with me this time, and as we were walking we heard a beautiful song, but as we looked up into the tree from which the sound was coming, we couldn’t find the bird! Then all of the sudden it flew out of the branches and off to another perch. It was a gray and white bird – nothing fancy, no bright colors on its breast, no colorful bill.

Then my husband said, “He wasn’t a very pretty bird, but he sure had a pretty song!”

“That’s just like me!” I squealed.

“It’s just like all Christians” he answered.

That is the truth! We’re all unlovely, sinful creatures, but because of what Christ did for us on the cross, He has put a song in our hearts. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God… Psalm 40:3a

A moment later, we heard the same song from another bird in another tree. We looked and we looked but we never could find the bird that was making the beautiful music.

I said, “There’s another example for us – it doesn’t matter if others see us – we should be pointing them to Christ.”

The end of Psalm 40:3 says, many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. It doesn’t say that many shall see me, it says they shall see “it” – the song. You see the song by seeing Christ in that person. You see, Christ is our song. I don’t matter; Christ does!

Thank the Lord for His faithful birds, pretty or not, singing their song and pointing to their God. How can we do the same thing?

• We don’t try to promote ourselves.
• We serve instead of desiring to be served.
• We make His priorities ours priorities and let Him direct our day.
• We live for eternity, not for the moment.

Let’s be like those birds and make others think about our great God when they hear our song!

Under His feathers,

I have recently traded my treadmill in for the hills in the neighborhood. When it’s so gorgeous outside, I’d much rather get my exercise in the midst of the blooming phlox and tulips than my basement!

While walking yesterday I heard a bird singing loudly. I looked up to the top of a telephone pole to where a cardinal was perched. I said, “I’m with you, Mr. Bird. God made you and God made me and we have something to sing about!” I mean it – I said that out loud while walking by myself. Any onlookers would have raised their eyebrows and shook their heads perhaps – a woman walking alone and talking to a cardinal would raise suspicions! But it’s true – we have so much to sing about, so much for which to give thanks.

It’s easy to grow used to our blessings and forget to sing.

I can breathe on my own. Thank you, God.
I can swallow. Thank you, God.
I can talk. Thank you, God.
I have strength to walk. Thank you, God.
I have heard the Gospel and been saved. Thank you, God.
I have the opportunity to go to church. Thank you, God.
I have a husband and family that love you. Thank you, God.
I don’t have a migraine today. Thank you, God.
I have food in my refrigerator and my pantry. Thank you, God.
Winter is over. Thank you, God.
The flowers outside my window are blooming. Thank you, God.

Don’t let the birds be the only ones singing – Throw your window open and praise the Lord for His blessings in your life.

With thanksgiving,

Is there any place better than home? If you’re blessed with one built on the love of God, the answer is, “no!” We could all use some ideas to turn our house into a home. Here are some tips I’ve found recently.

Here are some great tips from Country Living:

• Pick up some herbs from the Farmer’s Market and bundle into a bouquet to hang in the bath.- the scent will perk you up and refresh you after a long day.
• A pretty bedspread can be turned into a shower curtain. First, hem to the correct length, then install grommets to hold the shower hooks.
• Quilts are too pretty to be stashed away in a cabinet. They become works of art when hung on a blank wall in an open stairway.
• Place a small desk in the entryway as a spot to sort mail or hold keys. Top it with a large bouquet of flowers for a welcoming greeting for everyone who enters the house.
• If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up the kitchen, try replacing the hardware on your cabinets, or replacing the faucet on your sink.
• Line the back of open cabinetry with vintage fabric to help its contents to stand out.
• Mix stripes, florals and solids in the same color family to get a vintage-inspired look.
• Use a dining chair as a bedside table, topped with books and a reading lamp.

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to”

–John Ed Pearce

Maintain an open door policy. Make your house inviting to family and friends by letting them know they are welcome in your home. Encourage them to stop by to say hello or to visit with you for a few minutes. Let them know you value them as a part of your life. A closed home is a lonely home!

Fill your home with fresh aromas. Let the aroma of compassion, kindness, gentleness, love, joy, patience, etc. permeate through your walls. Homes need to be a haven, a place where people can feel secure to be themselves. Someone who smells these character qualities encompassing your home can’t help but hunger for more!

Hold a consistent family dinner hour. Make sure your family sits together at the table for dinner each night (or at least regularly) so that you can share together, laugh, and bond. It doesn’t matter what else is going on in the world if you can all connect as one family unit each day.

Keep your home picked up – but let it be “lived in”It’s a great thing to be organized and to take pride in your home. In fact, your family will benefit from these traits. But it’s just as important to not let that organization run your life. If a home is so immaculate that everyone is afraid to relax, what good does that do anyone? A good reminder to help you keep your focus balanced is to think of what you would do if you opened your door to find Jesus there after He’d walked for miles on a dusty road. Would you allow Him to enter in His dirty sandals?

Slow down! Fast-paced lives are the biggest thieves of family time these days. Friends are important but you need to make your family your priority not your social activities. Make time to create memories together in your home. –Dionna Sanchez

There’s nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.”

–Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

Content at home,