Find refreshment for your heart, home and life
There are many who deny the existence of God or that refuse Christ and His death on the cross, but I read something in the Bible this week that needs to be shared…
What does the thought that He knows you and the love you have in your heart for Him do to you?
Because I care,
Floured hands are not the best way to answer a cell phone. Ask me how I know!
One day my cell phone was ringing, and not knowing who it was, I ran to answer it, flinging pie dough into the bowl and the counter, and also leaving a trail of flour with every step I took. It was a telemarketer (how do they find me even after I register my number on the “Do not annoy call” list?). Grrr.
It was then that I started using a different notification and ringtone for each group of people in my life so I could determine, just by the sound, if this was a call that really needed my immediate attention.
My husband’s notification has an ukulele song. My daughters have a harmonica (they know why!). My parents and sisters have a nostalgic kind of song. My close friends have a catchy little ditty. Everyone else gets a standard ring. Now when I’m driving down the Interstate at 70 MPH, I know who is calling just by the sound, and I know whether this is an urgent call that is worth digging sideways into my purse to find my phone! It’s all by the recognition of the notification that I know who’s prompting me to answer!
The Lord used that simple irritation and example to show me that I was not recognizing the Holy Spirit’s promptings in my heart throughout the day. Oh, I start off right – I get up and have my Bible study and prayer time and give myself and my day to the Lord first thing and I hear from Him then. But after I finish, I get going on my schedule and it seems the later it gets in the day, the less sensitive I am to the Spirit’s prompting and directing my heart and my life. Pretty soon, I’m not aware of His conviction, His leading, or His speaking to my heart because I’ve tuned out the recognition of His Spirit.
But what if I stayed sensitive to His promptings all day, just like those notifications on my phone? What if I was aware and recognized His nudging to witness, His conviction of sin, His warning to not speak that word of criticism? I could “pick up that call” and be directed so that I might avoid the sin, or share the Gospel with a person who is lost.
I want to recognize God’s Spirit in my life greater than I want to know when I’m getting a really important phone call. I’m asking Him to help me to be sensitive to His whisper and nudging in my heart, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. It’s even sweeter than that loving text from my husband, and I think you know how much I like those!
Are you recognizing the Spirit’s nudging notifications in your life today?
Lovingly,
If you’ve been reading my blog more than a week, you know how I treasure Sunday dinner. It makes my heart sooo happy! But how does Sunday dinner get even better? It’s when Sunday dinner is Easter Sunday dinner. On top of good food, there’s the blessing of remembering Christ’s resurrection from the dead and celebrating that truth that He lives!
So, yesterday, we did indeed have a big Sunday meal, but we started with a wonderful church service where Christ was exalted! We sang of His resurrection and heard God’s truth about how to be sure you can have eternal life! Then we came home for dinner and included our daughter and son-in-law and a couple of other special people. We also incorporated a few family traditions, which brings memories and makes memories. It was a great day!
Here’s the menu:
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ruth’s Chris’ Sweet Potato Casserole
Tarragon Asparagus – New recipe
Deviled Eggs
Caesar Salad in Parmesan Bowls
Bunny-Shaped Breadsticks – New recipe
Coconut Cake with Lemon Filling
Let me roll the pictures so you can have a peek into our day and see that I also incorporated all the principles I’ve recently shared about Sunday dinner!
I worked early in the week and got the Coconut Cake baked and layers put in the freezer. Then at the end of the week, I made the lemon curd and the icing. It simplifies the process so much! By Saturday night here’s what was already prepped:
The cake, the rolls, the Sweet potato Casserole, Deviled eggs, and the salad ingredients were totally ready. The table was all set, too. I also had the roasting pan for the ham set out and ready to bake the main entree.
When I got home from church it only required to put the finishing touches on everything and bake the casserole.
Here’s how things turned out on Sunday~
Caesar Salad in Parmesan Cups –
Sweet Potato Casserole – The best in my book!
Terragon Asparagus – This was new, and it was pretty good. My asparagus wasn’t as fresh as I’ve ever gotten, so I’m going to try this again before giving it a final verdict!
Bunny Breadsticks – Another new recipe. These were fantastic on Saturday when I made them, but they don’t really do well the next day. Sooo, I won’t make these for Sunday any more, but I sure will use this recipe for other days when I have time to make them for that day. They were delicious right out of the oven!! And how cute are they???? They can be baked into regular bread sticks if you want to make them other times of the year!
Coconut Cake
One tradition that we’ve had for years is Easter sunrise service outside at home. That was a challenge (and very cold) when we lived in Indiana, but we would don our coats and head to the tree house where we would have our own Sunrise service! Then we would come inside and have Cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs. Now that it’s just my husband and me, we simply eat breakfast on the patio and read Scripture together. It’s usually warm enough that we don’t shiver, thank the Lord! Here’s what we had yesterday:
We had Fresh farm eggs, Prosciutto, Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, Fresh fruit and Coffee.
It was a great way to start Easter Sunday! This is a reminder that traditions aren’t just for when your kids are at home. Keep those traditions going even when they’re gone. It will continue to build strong home ties, and will also give your grown kids the security of knowing that you’re still making the most of your marriage!
So, another Easter dinner is in the (memory) books, and I’ll have to say, it’s a memorable chapter! I thank the Lord for the blessing of celebrating our Savior’s life and getting to do it at church AND at home around the Sunday dinner table.
Did you have Easter dinner? Did you cook? What made it special for your family?
With love from my country kitchen,
Recently in the late hours of the night, while a subdivision of residents was fast asleep, a thief entered the quiet of the street and began making his way up driveways looking for unlocked cars. All he was interested in was cash, and any he found was taken.
What the thief didn’t know was that a security camera was right on him, taking footage of his sinful deeds. Aside from seeing him enter unlocked cars, one thing noted on the security tape was that when he approached one vehicle that was locked, he simply moved away from it. There was no attempt at breaking in. The security of the car door locks, kept him from taking what was not his.
As I thought about the crime, the Lord brought a truth to my mind about my marriage. No one can steal away from our relationship unless we leave areas unlocked. So then, we must check to be sure that we’re keeping our marriage safe. Here are some security locks that need to be checked regularly:
So, how secure is your marriage? Are you leaving an unlocked door in any of the areas above? There are many other safeties we could discuss, but I believe if we’re honoring our marriage vows, most of the other scenarios will be safe from danger.
Marriage is a gift from God that is a beautiful picture of our relationship with Christ. He keeps us secure for eternity. I’m pretty sure I know a subdivision of people who will now be locking their car doors at night. Don’t you wait until the thief comes to steal from your marriage before you do what is wise! Keep it secure all the days of our life, “so long as you both shall live.”
Happy Easter! Rejoice; He is risen, and that makes a difference in every area of life – even your marriage!
I first posted this a couple years ago, but I feel the need to share it again. I have many friends and loved ones going through hard things right now, and in the light of Easter coming this weekend, I pray this post will be an encouragement!
This past Saturday morning I headed out early to purchase the last items I needed for my Easter dinner. I was filled with excitement as I anticipated Easter Sunday and the joy of worshiping and remembering the empty tomb! The sky was kind of gray and cloudy as I headed out, but I needed to get this done.
As I drove into town, my mind went to the first Easter Saturday – that very day after Christ had been crucified. I thought about the disciples, the many other people who had heard Jesus and believed He was Who He said He was, and of those that had seen His miracles and had turned in faith to Him as their Savior. How must they have felt on that day after? I’m sure many were filled with mixed emotions. They had seen Him suffer, some had buried Him. He was dead. Many must have felt hopeless, gloomy and discouraged.
“Oh!” I thought, “if only they could know what we know now they would never have doubted! They would be as excited as I am as I anticipate Easter’s arrival tomorrow!” They wouldn’t have been filled with sadness, gloom or despair if they could know what we know!
It was then that the Lord whispered in my heart,
“If you could know what I’m at work doing right now in your life, you wouldn’t be filled with despair in your trials either.”
How right He is! Why do I doubt Him? Why am I filled with sorrow in difficult days? It’s because I believe the enemy’s lies when he says – “Nothing good could come from THIS!” “Your life should be happier!” “This is never going to get better – give it up!”
No! My God is at work fulfilling His great plan for my life – to make me into the image of His Son. It may take cloudy days, days of pain or suffering, but He’s got a reason, and I must trust Him!
Still in my car and carrying on this dialogue with the Lord, I looked up to see that the sun had burst through the clouds in splendor and beauty. It was a visual of the lesson He had just spoken to my heart. Something lovely is behind the dark clouds; wait and watch!
What dark cloud of difficulty are you staring at today? Keep your eyes on Christ! He is at work on a plan that will leave you speechless!
With love,
RefreshHer 