What Would You Give Up Just To Have Peace In Your Home?

February 23, 2022February 22, 2022 RefreshHerLeave a comment

As a woman who loves to bake, I can tell you that there’s nothing more disheartening than baking up a new bread recipe then cutting a slice after it’s cooled only to find that it’s dry!

Ugh.

It’s frustrating to go to all that trouble only to have dry morsels fill your mouth like so many tumbleweeds in the desert. But did you know that God’s Word tells us that there is a time when dry bread can be a good thing?!

Proverbs 17: 1 says
Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

There is nothing appealing about a dry morsel to our taste buds, but God’s Word says the blessing of quietness and peace is so great, that it makes a dry morsel more desirable than moist bread, dipped in Olive oil!

This passage is saying that peace in the home is beyond all other material blessings. A home full of feasting is wonderful, until that home is full of strife. Have you experienced how hard it is to take a bite of anything when there’s strife and contention around the table? We all have.

If peace is so desirable, then what keeps us from having it? Why isn’t it permeating from our family relationships as it should?

There can be other causes, but ladies, God’s Word gives us several pictures in Proverbs that point the finger of strife in our direction. It’s a hard picture to look at because it’s very telling. This is convicting to my own selfish heart. Listen to ways we can destroy the peace…

A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. Prov. 19:13

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Prov. 21:9

Prov. 25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Prov. 15:16, 17 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Listen to what is being traded in so that apeace can be found –

Strife
Quarrels
turmoil
brawling
hatred

What would a person take so they could enjoy quietness at home?

a corner of the housetop
a corner of the roof
just a little material goods
a dinner of herbs
a dry morsel

Love sweetens dry morsels
~Matthew Henry

If you’re realizing that there is little peace in your home, recognize that if you are a child of God, you have the Prince of Peace living in you! The Christ in you should permeate each relationship, allowing His peace to rule.

Ask the Lord if you’ve contributed to the strife by being contentious and quarrelsome. Be still and let His Spirit speak to you. Then humble yourself and make it right before God and also your family. Invite them to come in off the rooftop, and serve up some dry morsels, slathered with love. Peace will return.

P.S. It’s better for your pride to be hurt than your family destroyed.

Lovingly,

Beef · Fast meal · main dish

Old-Time Recipe; Updated Flavors

February 21, 2022February 20, 2022 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Years ago if you had asked me if I like Stuffed Peppers, I probably would’ve wrinkled up my nose like a child sitting before cooked spinach!

But in recent years I found a recipe that uses fresh tomatoes, rather than tomato sauce, and the instructions to only boil the peppers for a few minutes helps the peppers to have a slight crispiness to them. There’s plenty of the rice and beef filling, so you can pile them high and add extra meat around the peppers. They also have an addition of cheddar cheese, giving a final recipe-booster! These slight changes in this old-time recipe make this an absolutely delicious supper meal!

Stuffed Peppers

2 large green peppers
8 oz. 90% lean ground beef
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup long grain rice – I use Minute Rice
1/2 cup water
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried basil or oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup reduced fat Cheddar cheese

Halve peppers lengthwise and remove stem ends, seeds and membranes. Immerse peppers into boiling water for 3 minutes. Invert onto paper towels to drain well.

In a large skillet, cook meat and onion till meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in the tomatoes, rice (I cook mine first), water, Worcestershire sauce, basil or oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes. Stir in half of the cheese. Spoon meat mixture into peppers. Place peppers in an 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Spoon any remaining mixture into baking dish.

Bake, uncovered in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or till heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 1-2 minutes or till the cheese melts. Makes 4 servings.

This is a great week night dinner! You could even make the recipe up ahead of time and then simply warm it in the oven. Great flavors and great updates of this old classic have all made me a Stuffed Pepper Fan!

How about you? Are you a Stuffed Pepper lover? If you’re on the fence, I hope you’ll give this recipe a try!

Here are a few other classics that we love:
Katie Brown (Lemon) Chicken
Countryside Chicken Bake – Chicken and rice
Yankee Pot Roast
Mom’s Classic Meatloaf

I promise that these recipes will kick-start your week full of deliciousness! What a favorite classic recipe you love?

Marriage · Refreshment in marriage · The Scenic Route

Valentine’s Day Scenic Route

February 18, 2022April 17, 2022 RefreshHer4 Comments

You know our favorite date theme…

Always Take the Scenic Route!

Valentine’s Day found us doing just that. My sweet husband suggested a day spent driving to some of our favorite spots, but I knew the way to his heart would be to go on a hike. I realized that it would be just what we needed. After many busy days, some days apart and also ministering to others, what we needed was time alone.

Hiking a trail to White House Cliffs provided quiet, beauty and time for just the two of us. We passed NO ONE on the trail.

There were times I just stopped and listened to the stillness (while my heart was pounding loudly from the extreme climb!). We would stop and point out areas far from us, orienting ourselves as to our location. Okay, Dale did that, and I nodded!

At our lunch break at the top of our destination, Dale pulled his phone out and read Psalm 34 that he had read earlier in the day and had been meditating on. We stopped for prayer for our lives and our family.

We ended the day with a trip to a mountaintop where we sat in the car and watched the sun slip down below the ridge.

We avoided lines, crowds and stuff. This was just a perfect day together on the Scenic Route.

Want to see Dale’s description of our day? You can find his post here.

Refresh yourself in God’s House this weekend where you can enjoy the preaching of the Word, corporate prayer and fellowship! You need the church and the church needs you!

Eternity · Life

The Biggest Mistake of a Lifetime

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I recently watched a decorating video entitled, The Biggest Decorating Mistake We All Make. The title drew me in! I mean, who wants to make a BIG mistake in their home decor? While watching, I found that I, too, am guilty of making this “Huge blunder!” The good news is, it’s fixable! (Read on and I’ll tell you what was shared as the biggest decor faux pas.)

The video didn’t just make me want to go take care of the problem areas in my home, it also got me thinking about BIG MISTAKES we make in other areas of our lives – things that could be avoided.

Let’s start today with the one that is the most detrimental. I’m calling it The Biggest Mistake of a Lifetime.

Before I watched the decorating video, I was trying to anticipate what the decorating mistake was. It was all about perspective – too small a picture over a sofa, or too large a television for the small table, for example. Maybe you’re doing that same kind of guessing right now with my statement. What comes to your mind when you consider The Biggest Mistake of a Lifetime? Some may say…

Marrying the wrong person!
Not following your dreams! One blogger put it this way,
“Not doing the inner work to create the outer life you dream of.”
Not saving for retirement!
Not believing in yourself!
Not getting more education!
Not completing a personal goal!

The list could go and on…but these are all incorrect.

For the answer of life’s biggest mistake, we’re not opening up a popular blog. We’re not listening to a dynamic motivational speaker, we’re going to the One Who gave us life – our great God.

In Luke 12, Jesus speaks to a group of people who had gathered around Him. Listen to His warning to them and to us ~

And He spoke a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.
¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room to store my fruits?’
¹⁸And he said, ‘This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods.
¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’

²⁰But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’
²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

This man planned out his business,

“I’ll get more!”.

He planned out his life,

“I’ll build barns to store everything!“,

but he had no control over his death.

Jesus called this man a fool, not because he was rich, but because he put all his value in the things of this life with no consideration of where he would spend eternity. His soul was the most valuable possession, but he made no provision for it.

People of this world would look at this rich man and think he was successful, but God says this is foolishness. One author said,

It isn’t only sin to give material things too high a place in your life – it is also stupid.

If that seems too blunt for you, stop and consider the weight of this parable. Eternity banks on it! The mistake of a lifetime is to pour our best efforts into the temporal things of this life and never think about where we will spend eternity. Jesus is giving a warning to not be foolish like this man. In a moment, this life is ended. None of us knows when that moment will be, so we must not delay considering that Christ has made the provision for us to have a relationship with Him now, and then a home with Him forever when this life is ended.

The Biggest Mistake of a Lifetime would be to pour all our time and efforts into this world and miss out on the blessing of knowing Christ, both now and after our death. The Biggest Mistake of a Lifetime is to think that accumulating more stuff and climbing higher and higher on the ladder of success is where real life is. Friend, that’s a lie from the pit of hell. Christ came to give us real life through Himself.

If you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior for your sin and you’re wondering why you’re feeling empty and unsatisfied, even though you have lots of worldly possessions, it’s because your heart is craving what God created you for – a personal relationship with Him. To know Him is to truly be rich in this life and in the next.

Don’t make the biggest mistake and miss it. Just like the decorating mistake, this is fixable. Just don’t be like the man in the parable and wait too long.

If you want to read more about how to know Christ as your Savior, I invite you to go here. Feel free to email me at Refreshherblog@gmail.com. with any questions you may have.

Fast dessert · Fast meal · Valentine Treats · Valentine's Day

Fast, Delicious Recipes for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2022December 5, 2025 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I’m making my normal Monday post a day early just in case you’re looking for a great recipe for tomorrow!

If realizing that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day’s is stressing you because you’re wondering what to do for a special meal, I’ve got you covered! All these recipes I’m posting can be made quickly and easily! Let’s start with a scrumptious breakfast and work our way through the day, shall we?

Breakfast ~
Banana Stuffed French Toast
Hash Brown Bake
Everyday Waffles
Bacon and Egg Cups

Delicious, Quick snack ~
S’mores Dip
Black Bean Dip – Serve this with Tortilla Chips
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips – A healthier snack!

Easy Supper !
Barbecue Pizza – Perfect for a family Valentine’s Day dinner menu!
Honey-Lime Shrimp
Honey-Soy Glazed Salmon – Fish is always a quick option, and this is so good!
Spaghetti and Meatballs – Ina Garten’s WONDERFUL recipe!

Valentine Desserts – Easy recipes!
Strawberry Mousse Pie
Frozen Peanut Butter Pie
Deep Dish Brownies – My favorite brownie recipe!

Fudge Pie – No pie crust needed!
Best-Ever German Chocolate Cupcakes

I hope this list will help you make a plan for tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be dinner for a sweetheart! You could invite some friends over, your nieces or nephews, grandchildren or someone who is alone for the first time this year! Get creative with the love you cook up in your kitchen!

Are you cooking for Valentine’s Day?