Favorite Things

January 22, 2016January 21, 2016 RefreshHer6 Comments

Julie Andrew likes raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens – I like home decor and utensils that make life easier! Today I thought I’d share two things that I purchased quite some time ago, that have become some of my favorite things!

The first is my artificial Boxwood Wreath.

I love it because it can be hung at any season. After Christmas it seems hard to know what to hang on the front door – it’s too early for Valentine’s decor or spring-y wreaths, so what to do? The boxwood is perfect. I embellished mine with a chevron bow and our monogram for my winter door.

I’ve also used this wreath inside and it looks great, adding just a little touch of green and life in the house.

I found this one at Tuesday Mornings a couple years ago and I paid $20 for it, which is a great price. Even if you have to pay more, it’s really a super investment!

Another favorite item that’s a kitchen tool is the Pampered Chef Micro Cooker. It is obviously used in the microwave, and it’s great at warming and cooking things! I melt butter in mine when I’m baking and the lid keeps it from splattering all over the microwave. It’s also great for heating up soups or leftovers.

But one really great use for this cooker is browning hamburger.

Put the hamburger in the cooker and break it up with a spoon. Cook for a minute. Stir and break up the meat. Keep doing this at one minute intervals until the meat is cooked. It only takes about 5 minutes for a pound of hamburger! Then you simply pour the fat off through the strainer/lid!

I love to use this method to brown meat and have it in the freezer to use for future meals like tacos, pizza toppings or quesadillas.

I hope you’ve been inspired to purchase a boxwood wreath or a Pampered chef cooker! I don’t think you’ll be sorry!

What item have you purchased that has become a favorite thing?

Stay refreshed,

Hope for the Parent of a Prodigal

January 21, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

On Monday morning when I was having my Quiet time, I was thanking the Lord for the blessings of the day before. My heart was full of the joy of seeing Andrew continue to follow the Lord’s leading in his life, and then my thoughts went to Alli, his wife, and our daughter. Yes, I thought about her standing beside him Sunday, tears puddling in her eyes. I remembered the pride and the awe that glowed from her expressions, but there was something far deeper that came to my heart as I prayed on Monday morning.

My heart and mind went back to Alli’s mid to late teen years. I have a clear memory of kneeling beside her bed one night, asking her to tell me the assurance of her salvation. Due to attitudes, actions and heart responses, it was obvious that she was distant from the Lord. My mother’s heart wondered if it was because she wasn’t truly saved, or if it was due to the fact that her heart had become cold; that she was backslidden. That night she told me of her salvation as a child, and knew in her heart it was anchored in God’s promises to save her if she would call on Him. That was good to hear, but it was obvious that things weren’t right, that she wasn’t really living and enjoying the relationship with the God who came to seek and save her.

My husband and I continued to pray. Every time we had a service I’d pray she would get right. Every time she attended a revival, I was looking for that to be her day to return to a close walk with the Lord. But still she resisted and I waited, and in truth, I wondered why the Lord wasn’t answering my prayers. I knew He wanted her to draw near to Him, but I couldn’t see anything happening, and my heart was so very heavy.

Her cool heart revealed itself by apathy towards spiritual things. There were attitudes and sighs and shrugging of the shoulders, an unconcern about others and a centering of her thoughts on self. John writes that

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. III John 4

While there is no greater joy, I doubt there is any greater sorrow than for a parent to see their child not walking in truth.
But what I didn’t see was what the Lord was doing in her heart. I didn’t see the future issues that He would bring that would humble her and make her so needy for what only He could do.

But it did happen! It didn’t take place overnight or in one mighty swoop. It happened little by little. There was a gradual turning of her heart, a realization that true life is only found in Christ. I would hear it in the same way I’d seen the coldness – her attitudes, her words, her actions. There was a tenderness and a care for others, a desire to be in His Word and with His people. God answered by bringing other people into her life, hard situations, and the preaching of the Word. But I couldn’t see its gradual creeping into her life. It was like the snow clouds gathering, unbeknownst to us, then we awaken to three inches on the ground. It was happening all along while we were busy with other matters.

The God of the snow is the God of our children. He is sovereign. He cares and He is at work. I don’t share this story to embarrass Alli, but to give hope to many parents who are burdened for their children. I know Alli’s heart would want to encourage you as well. Don’t quit praying. Don’t wonder where God is and when He will answer. He is eternal, therefore, time doesn’t matter to Him. What I didn’t understand at the time was that the Lord was wanting to teach me as much as He wanted to teach Alli. I learned about His character better in those years than I would have otherwise. The hard part for parents is that we can see the prodigal. We can hear their sarcasm and denials, but we cannot see what God is doing, and so we doubt. In truth, as I thanked the Lord on Monday for the work He’d done in my daughter’s life, those years of praying seemed very short. While I prayed and waited, it seemed like an eternity, but it wasn’t. God worked perfectly in all regards, as He will always do because He is a perfect God.

So, mom, keep praying. Keep trusting your sovereign, eternal God. He is at work. One day you’ll be on your knees, tears of joy streaming down your face for how wonderfully he has answered! He is at work. Trust Him even when you cannot see.

With tears of joy,

Christian Life · Encouragement

Impact

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

This past weekend was special, really, really special. Our son-in-law had been studying for his ordination into the ministry for quite some time, and this past weekend was the time for him to sit before a council of godly men and give a defence for his doctrinal statement. That was on Saturday.

It was a long, grueling four or so hours as the men asked questions and Andrew gave a biblical answer about what he believes God’s Word teaches. But it was even more than just getting the right answer – it was also stating his call from God into the Gospel ministry. He didn’t just decide one day to “be a preacher.” No, as a young lad, he had heard God’s Spirit leading him to be a preacher of the Word of God.

For years he has been praying, preparing, preaching, and looking forward to the day when it would all be official, and he would be in a place of serving God full-time. That time is now, and that place is at Boones Creek Bible Church. Our church. Wonder of wonders that only God could have done. It wasn’t planned or sought after by us – it was all the Lord’s doings and we stand amazed.

Below is a picture of Alli and Andrew on Saturday. They took a break from questions to have lunch. Many sweet ladies at church provided a fried chicken dinner (what else would you serve a group of preachers?!). We were so grateful for each who cooked or served.

While Saturday was special, Sunday eclipsed it by far. Sunday morning’s service was given to the ordaining Andrew for the ministry. My husband preached a great message about why we lay hands on a young preacher, what the church’s responsibility to Andrew is, and then he challenged Andrew about his responsibility to the ministry. I cried so many happy tears that I’m sure it looked like I never applied makeup that morning! But, oh, the joy of seeing our deacons and my husband gather around him to pray God’s blessing and power for his ministry! My heart was so full of God’s blessings!

How did Andrew get to this place? It was by the impact of a praying mother who had begged God to use her son. By the impact of his faithful pastor while he was growing up. By the impact of a youth pastor who gave him the opportunity to preach when he was a very young man, and to use the gifts that God had put in him. By the impact of a father-in-law and deacons who have encouraged him and welcomed him into their church to serve, to lead and to begin again this process of impacting others as he had experienced for 24 years.

This last photo below is Sunday night. The process of impacting that I just mentioned is evidenced again as Andrew has spent a couple of months pouring into the young teens in the youth group at BCBC. He’s been helping those that wanted to prepare a short message to preach in our Sunday night service. Sunday night was the second service in which we heard young men preach.

You could hear in them the Truths they’d learned from the passage they’d chosen to preach. You could see in them the eagerness to share what they had worked so hard to prepare. You could hear in them the desire to be used of God as they preached. Andrew has had impact in their lives!

Then while this young man was preaching, he was having trouble with his lapel microphone, so my husband went up, and with hands that have hooked up a mic many, many times, he hung it on young “C” so he could be heard. I wonder if God will call this young man to the ministry one day because of the impact of others?

There’s another side to this story that I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s my story and the work of God when I wondered where He was. I hope you’ll come back then!

Who has had impact on your life, and how are you influencing others?

With love,

Christian Life

How to Walk in Integrity

January 19, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Years ago I remember watching a show like 20/20 where a hidden camera was following a man around. He had claimed that he had back problems and was unable to work, and had filed for workman’s comp. The bosses had doubted the validity of his word, so they had reporters secretly follow the man and video his actions in a typical day. What did they see? They video taped him doing heavy lifting, backbreaking digging and work only allotted to people who have strength in their back! He was caught and reported! No more handouts for that fella!

What if someone followed us around to see if what we say matches up with what we do? What would they see? In Psalm 26, we read that the psalmist (probably David), stated,

Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

²Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

³For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

David knew he had lived out the integrity of his heart, and he even asked God to test him and see! He knew he wasn’t perfect, but that he had walked in God’s ways with integrity (a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition).

I see two ways in this chapter that David was able to keep his unscathed character:

He guarded his close friendships. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.
He was careful with the kind of friends with whom he made constant communion and fellowship. He knew that bad company corrupts good morals. So, he kept close friends with those who loved God.

Wise women will walk with godly people who will point her closer to the Lord. Her friends will challenge her and make her a better believer. We can’t think that if we spend consistent time with those who don’t really love the Lord, that it won’t effect us.
He guarded His time in God’s house. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Where else will we be convicted, challenged, encouraged, strengthened and led to worship but in God’s house? David knew he needed to go – he must go. If we are sluggish in our heart about attending worship services, we will be sluggish in our integrity. If we attend only half-heartedly, we are the ones that will suffer. David loved the times of worship!

When we spend time in worship and the hearing of God’s Word, we will take it with us through the week. It will guide the things we do, the places we go, and the company we keep. We need to be in God’s house. Our character needs to be sharpened in God’s house!

If the cameras were secretly filming you, what would they find this week? Are you walking with integrity and character that shows in your walk and your worship? If not, realize that your integrity could be at stake. By God’s grace may we each be able to say as David repeats at the end of the chapter –

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity

With love,

dinner in 30 minutes · Main dish. · Pasta

Hearty Dinner in 30

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

Stroganoff

Last week we (by “we” I mean my husband!) grilled steaks outside on the coldest, windiest day of the week! We love our beef and we will cook it at all personal costs! Ha! Forget the idea of every being vegetarian!

While we had the grill fired up, I decided we’d do two steaks and have one for another night. I used the leftover meat for Beef Stroganoff and it was so delicious! I couldn’t find my old recipe, but pretty much had it in my head. Here’s how I made it:

1# Beef, cut into strips – **(Mine was cooked, so I added it in at the end to warm it up.)
4 Tbl. butter
1 Onion, sliced
1 C Fresh Mushrooms
2 – 3 Tbl Flour
1 Can Beef Consume’
1 Cup Sour Cream
Bag of Egg noodles

Boil noodles. In the meanwhile, melt butter in skillet. Add meat and cook ’til browned. Add onions and mushrooms and cook until tender. Add flour and stir to combine. Pour in consume’ slowly to combine with flour mixture.. Cook over medium heat to thicken. Remove from heat and add sour cream. Stir. Warm on stove just until hot. Pour over cooked noodles.

The picture on the top right is the mushrooms, onion and consume’. The picture below it shows the sour cream being added. The picture on the left shows the creamy mixture after the sour cream is stirred in.

This is such a great fast meal. I love it because it’s not your typical pasta and red sauce quick meal. It’s hearty and full of flavor. Add a salad and a roll and supper is on the table in half an hour!

Any other meat lovers out there?

Happy Monday!

Love from my country kitchen,