- Without having time with God our housework will be just cleaning up after others. When we do it after time with God, it’s our way of showing God’s love to those who live with us.
- Without having time with God, going to do our jobs will be part of our daily grind. When we do it after time with God, it’s a ministry to others.
- Without having time with God, spending time with the children all day will be a display of gritting our teeth and waiting it out until nap time. When we do this after time with God, it is pouring out our life to point them to Christ.
- Without having time with God, cooking a meal will only seem to create more messes to clean up for people who don’t appreciate it. When we do this after time with God it is done with purpose.
- Without having time with God, a decision to be made will be decided based on our energy level. When we do this after time with God, He guides us and gives us strength to take the next right step and we find our day is profitable for eternal purposes.
“If we as women say yes to everything that comes our way, we will eventually end up saying no to the things that matter most.” We may need to say to good things – like …sleep, shopping, time with friends, or leading a ministry, if it means that would keep us from the best things.
With love,
A Peek From My Porch
Yesterday marked the first day of Autumn. Tennessee welcomed it in with a low of 45 degrees! My husband and I sat out on the front porch Monday night with steaming cups of coffee and the chilly night air about us. As much as I love summer, I have to admit that it was lovely. To sit out there and listen to the stillness, the geese flying into the corn field across the way and hear the corn stalks on the porch crunching in the breeze was a reminder that this season is one of slowing down a little. That is a blessing from the God who created the seasons. I’m thankful!
Last week I drug out the bins of my fall decor to give the inside of my house a touch of fall here and there. I decided not to do my mantles yet, but just add some subtle touches in a few spots. If you peeked in from the porch this is what you’d see:
 |
| This is my favorite Yankee Candle scent ~ Autumn Pumpkin. It smells so wonderful in the house when this is burning! |
 |
| The twinkly lights in the basket in front of the fire place are a pre-cursor to the fireplace being lit! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Foyer table |
The place where I did go all out was my front porch. If you’re friends with me on Facebook you’ve seen pics, but for those that haven’t seen it, here it is:
 |
| Liza sweetly posed for this shot! =^..^= |
 |
Have you put out any fall decor yet? I hope this will inspire you a little to add a few touches somewhere. Then sit down with a cup of coffee and slow your pace.
With love from my country porch,
Sensory Memories
I turned on Pandora Radio on my computer while I was doing housework. A familiar sounding song began playing, and then all of the sudden the recognition of it enveloped me – Somewhere My Love! Immediately, I was taken back to my childhood when my sister’s alarm clock played that song so beautifully. I loved hearing it play. It was soothing and comforting. Suddenly, I could remember my childhood home, and feel the warmth and love I found there. Music will do that.
 |
Yesterday Whitney posted about a Pumpkin Muffin recipe that I made while she was growing up. She recently made the recipe, and while enjoying the baked good was “transported back (to) the kitchen table, laughing and talking with my family.” Food will do that.
The smell of a candle awakens a memory of a place. A perfume scent recalls a person. In short, our senses remember things. Because of that, we should use that in a favorable way to create memories for our families. May I suggest a few ways?
- Play the same few CD’s for several months at dinnertime. Or play a certain CD during a particular season each year. Playing music at mealtime is helpful in keeping the atmosphere calm and quiet, but it also creates an audio memory.
- Have seasonal foods that are your signature recipes. For instance, make a pumpkin bar in the fall, your famous sugar cookies at Christmas, Lemon meringue pie in spring and blueberry muffins in summer. Those tastes and the smells of those baked goods will bring back memories of mealtimes at home.
- Burn candles in your home, or use potpourri scents to fragrance your home. It will freshen your house and create a memory of the smell home.
Freshen Up Friday
Stay refreshed,
Decision Making Made Easy
It was a simple little task ~ go through the line at the local fresh Mexican food restaurant and order a salad for my lunch. I told the lady at the beginning of the “assembly” line I’d like a salad.
“What kind of bowl would you like? Fried shell or plastic bowl?”
“Plastic, please.”
“What kind of lettuce? Spinach, Bibb, Romaine or a mix of all three?”
“All three would be great.”
“Beans and rice?”
“No, thanks.”
The questions continued with the next person who served up my salad. I was asked about:
Salsa
Cheeses
Peppers
Onions
Cilantro
Sour cream
Dressing
Beverage
I about needed a nap after I paid! Okay, maybe, just maybe that’s a little extreme, but it is pretty comical to hear all the decisions one has to make just order food! Those were easy decisions. All I had to do was choose what I like.
In making harder decisions, it’s not such a simple ordeal, is it? If I want God’s best, I know that I need to seek His face about each issue. It really doesn’t matter what I like in matters of my life. I have a God who knows what is best for me, so I must take these issues to Him.
Elizabeth George suggests making a list of four questions for hard decisions. These questions will reveal your motive:
- Why would I do this?
- Why wouldn’t I do this?
- Why should I do this?
- Why shouldn’t I do this?
- Why would I do this? – I need a job! It’s in a good location. This is the only offer I’ve had in months.
- Why wouldn’t I do this? It will keep me away from home when my children get in from school. The pay isn’t terrific. I don’t particularly love what I’d be doing. I would love to work with children somewhere.
- Why should I do this? We could use the money.
- Why shouldn’t I do this? My kids would be on their own for two hours after school.
- Keep praying about it. Talk out the four questions with God. Sit and listen to His Spirit whispering to you. Don’t make a decision until you have peace from Him.
- Connect the things that happen next after you pray!
RefreshHer 