Breaking the Habit

August 1, 2017August 1, 2017 RefreshHer6 Comments

“Negative Habits Every Family Should Break” is the title of the series my husband is preaching on Sunday nights. This past Sunday night he encouraged families to get rid of disorganization. The very evening he was preaching his message, I was reminded of why it’s so important for my home to be organized.

As the service was being started, one of our very own missionaries who was passing through the area, felt led of the Lord to come to Boones Creek Bible Church’s evening service. He was by himself, due to his family being away for a few days, and so he was on no time schedule. After spotting him in the congregation, my husband had him come up and pray during the service. When our missionary guest announced how the Lord directed him to our church, and that he was on no schedule, the Lord prompted my heart that he needed to come and stay with us for the night. It was no surprise that when I talked to my husband after the service, he felt the same way. And so, our missionary friend returned to our home after the service.

As my husband was preaching, and I had been given the prompt to invite this dear man to stay with us, I thought, “I’m thankful that everything is in order at the house. I’m not going to have to go home and apologize for the messy kitchen, dirty dishes or laundry piled up on the couch. Whew!” Oh, not that my house couldn’t have used a dust rag or mop in places, but overall, it was ready for a guest to drop in.

Being organized and tidy isn’t only about teaching your children good habits and responsibility, it’s also about being prepared to be used of the Lord when He prompts your heart. There have been times that I would have resisted having a guest enter my home, trust me! But on this night I was thankful that I was prepared – not so I wouldn’t be embarrassed, but because my lack of organization would have caused my husband and me to miss the blessing of serving this servant of the Lord! It was a delight to have him in our home, and to be able to quickly obey the Lord’s leading.

So, if you look at your lack of organization and say, “It’s just my family, and they don’t care!” You’re missing the whole point. First, we’re stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us (that includes our belongings, as well as the training of our children), and secondly it will free us up to serve others.
Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I realize that he’s referring to legalism, but disorganization can also be a type of bondage that keeps us from being free.

Look around your home right now and ask yourself if you’d be good with guests stopping in. If the answer is “No way!” why not start on a path to orderliness? Perhaps you could free yourself from the bondage of disorganization by:
FlyLady cartoon

Check out Fly Lady’s “Getting Started” Tips
Determine to get rid of 7 things every single day. Put the unused items in a black bag and when it gets full discard it – Goodwill, Salvation Army, Consignment – something!
Read Emilie Barnes Books on organization, such as “Organizing Magic: 40 Days to a Well-ordered Home and Life

If this negative habit has been a part of your life, it’s not impossible to get rid of it! Start today and make a little progress at a time. It will be so freeing, and you’ll be ready to serve at a moment’s notice!

Would you be ready and willing to serve others today? What would it take to get you there?

baking · Cookies · dessert · freezer · Uncategorized

For the Love of the Best Cookie

July 31, 2017July 31, 2017 RefreshHer4 Comments

How could you even have a bad day on an afternoon when you bite into a Snickerdoodle? The name alone makes me smile! In case you’re somehow not sure what a Snickerdoodle is, it’s not a type of dog, rather it is a cookie drenched in a cinnamon/sugar bath and baked to a soft, sweet perfection!

I introduce you to The Snickerdoodle…

It amazes me to find that some of my favorite recipes of all times have escaped being posted here on my blog! I went to search for this family-favorite cookie recipe here in my recipe index and was amazed that it was absent! In order to fix that, I baked up a batch of cookies, snapped away at pictures, and ate a couple cookies in the process, then froze the rest for upcoming company! They’re safer in the freezer!

I love this recipe because it’s very quick to whip up, but the cookie isn’t like some mediocre recipe. This is a Ten! No kidding. It makes 3.5 dozen normal size cookies and good luck at eating only one. You might want to double the batch – which work just fine! They do freeze well, if you don’t trust yourself with a whole pile of cinnamon/sugar heaven sitting under your nose!

Here’s the simple and wonderful recipe:

Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbl. sugar
2 tsp. Cinnamon

Directions
Cream together shortening, sugar, and eggs. Sift together and stir in flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough into balls the size of walnuts. Roll each in mixture of the sugar and cinnamon. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7-9 minutes at 375 degrees or until LIGHTLY browned.

I bake mine for exactly 7 minutes and then let them sit in the pan a few minutes to cool before putting them on the cooking rack. They may seem a little underdone, but I think they’re best when they’re soft in the middle.

Do someone a sweet favor and bake up a batch to share!

Just curious, what’s your favorite cookie?

With love from my country kitchen,

Christian Life · Refreshment · Speech

What If Everyone Could Hear Your Words?

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

Image result for lg phone messenger voice record settings

What if everyone could hear your words? Would you be okay with that?

Imagine my horror recently when I discovered that my cell phone had been on “Record voice” mode for thirteen minutes to a group text!

It was just a couple weeks ago on a Sunday morning and I had been texting with a group of friends while getting ready for church. I slid my phone into the outside pocket of my purse and headed downstairs to make breakfast and finish my meal prep for lunch, totally oblivious to the fact that my every step and word was being recorded.

I set my purse down in the kitchen and made my way to my husband’s office where he and I had a brief conversation. Making my way back to the kitchen, I busied myself with my kitchen chores. About thirteen minutes later, I heard a notification on my phone. It was when I went to check it that I realized I’d been recording myself! I quickly sent a message to my friends to delete the recording, then I proceeded to listen to what I had accidentally sent. I heard footsteps, my question about what my husband would like for his breakfast, and my banging and moving about in the cupboards. Yeah, that could’ve turned out unpleasantly, but it didn’t, thank the Lord.

However, as I finished my work, I couldn’t help but think about how careful my words would be if I knew they were being recorded and replayed for all to hear! I wondered…

What if that had happened on a day that I was being unkind to my husband?
What if I had said something unkind about someone else?
What if I had been griping and complaining?
What if I had been going off on some rampage?

Yeah, what if? But of course the truth is, God always hears those words. My complaints, my hatefulness, my griping, my complaining, my slander. He hears it all.

Psalm 139:4
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.

After that incident, I would start to make a comment, and then close my mouth, knowing that I wouldn’t want that recorded! Sometimes they were just words that weren’t needed. It was best to allow the silence to fill the room, instead of my talking. Other times they were words that shouldn’t be said. It was best to be still.

Wow. What a lesson that was to me, and one I pray I won’t forget.
Maybe asking yourself,

Would I want this to be broadcast for everyone to hear?

will keep you from saying what doesn’t need to be said.

Oh, and you might want to check your cell phone to be sure it’s off. I remember some time last year a friend going “Live” on Facebook without ever knowing it! It could happen to any of us, but if we guard our words, it won’t be a worry if it does.

Refresh others with your words!

Denise Signature 150 px

Christian Life · Speech · tongue

Let the Fire Die

July 27, 2017July 26, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

fire pit

A fire in a fire pit is a great thing! A fire in your lap…not so much! You may say, “A fire in your lap? That’s dumb! Who would want that?” The answer is no one!! Proverbs 26:20 says,

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer,
the strife ceaseth.

You see, a person who bears tales (gossip) causes strife. It’s like having a fire in your lap. No one wants it!

The strife that tale bearing causes is as hurtful as a fire burning in your lap. Even if the words are true, they are painful to hear. What do you do with this “story” after you’ve heard it?

I recently had someone share a “fire” with me. The words were true, but I didn’t need to hear them. They stung. It was like sparks flying from a hot ember, touching my very heart. Trying to deal with the burning coals for the next day or so wasn’t easy. They needed to be extinguished with the Water of God’s Word. I was reminded of words that were flung at Christ; untrue accusations, ugly names, words of doubt about Who He really was. What did He do? He answered not a word.

Not a word.

For me to pass on what was shared would be to pass along the fire. No one else needs this in their lap. I told my Savior, and of course He already knew. He applied the salve of His love and comfort.

Do you know some “hot news?” Keep it to yourself. It could be a burning ember that will scorch the hearer. The fire in my fire pit needs to keep burning, but the fire that needs to go out is the one that will cause strife. May we each let that tale bearing fire cease.

With love,

Christian Life · Praise · Speech

With Words of Praise

July 26, 2017July 25, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

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This hideously adorable donkey lives on a farm about an hour from us. We have affectionately named him “Lester.” Lester is very jealous of the other animals on the farm. How do I know? If visitors gather to pay homage to the lovely peacock, or ooo and ahhh over the long neck of the ostrich who lives there, he will begin his very loud and obnoxious,

Hee-haw! Hee-Haw!

It’s really comical to hear him. Not only is his noise hilarious, his mouth and ears look quite funny when he’s going off on his rampage!

While listening to Lester, I turned to my husband and said, “I’m sure thankful I can sing! Wouldn’t it be terrible to open your mouth and sound like that?!”

The next day as I sat to have my quiet time, I read Psalm 145. I was moved at how many times it talks of using my mouth to praise the Lord. Words like, extol, bless, praise, speak and utter were all reminders that God wants me to use my voice for His glory. I must praise Him with speech and song. I must tell others of His goodness by the use of my voice. However, I often neglect the chance to speak up! I remain silent, or I don’t give honor belonging only to the Lord.

Even little things like praising Him like when someone passes and says, “It’s a pretty day, isn’t it?” needs to be followed with, “Yes, and I thank the Lord for making it.” Anything else would be like Lester’s “Hee-Haw!“
At testimony time at church, if I fail to stand and praise Him for prayer He’s answered, I’m belting out “Hee-Haw” instead.
When the opportunity to share the Gospel is given and I am too afraid to share it, my lips are uttering ol’ Lester’s ugly “Hee-Haw!” greetings instead of the Truth that will set that person free!
To miss the opportunity to pray my thanks for a meal, for God’s comfort, His presence, for answered prayer, or for provision is to selfishly call attention to myself rather than my great God. Hee-Haw!
“Hee-haw!” is what I’m really saying if I’m not singing with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and making melody in my heart during the song service at church.

We all have a voice, given by the Lord. Are you using yours to praise the Lord, or do the sounds that come from your lips resemble Lester? Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!

With praise to Him,