Marital Deposits

October 7, 2015November 3, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

WHILE waiting in line at the bank, a man developed a very loud case of hiccups. By the time he reached the teller’s window, the hiccups seemed to have worsened. The teller took the man’s check and proceeded to run a computer verification of his account. After a minute she looked up from her terminal with a frown and said that she would be unable to cash his check.”Why not?” the man asked incredulously.”I’m sorry, sir,” she replied, ” but our computer indicates that you do not have sufficient funds to cover this amount. As a matter of fact,” she continued, “our records show your account overdrawn in excess of $5000.””It can’t be!” he cried. “You have to be kidding!” “Yes, I am,” she answered with a smile, counting out his cash. “But you will notice that your hiccups are gone.”

Most of us know the sinking feeling when there weren’t sufficient funds in the bank to cover our withdrawals. It makes for a rough day, doesn’t it?

While we are ever so careful to guard our bank account from being over drawn, I wonder what the records would show on the monthly statement of our marriage? How many withdrawals have you made? Wives need love, affection, attention, compliments, encouragement, dates, pampering, help around the house, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on… Each one of those represent a withdrawal from our marriage account. Now, think back on this past week – what kind of deposits have you made? Not the monetary kind – but the relational kind.

Have you shown respect for your husband with your words?
Have you elevated him in front of others?
Have you thanked him for being a provider for your family?
Have you done a thoughtful gesture for him? (Bought his favorite candy bar, written him a note, made his favorite meal, took him out on a special date or created one at home- you get the idea)
Have you spent time doing something he enjoys even though it might not be your favorite activity?
Have you done something to lighten his load?

These things (and many others) are ways we make deposits into our marriage. There’s a double blessing here – we’re meeting the needs of our husband and rediscovering what a joy it is to be married. It’s fun! It is God’s plan and He can only do what is good!

Take a thorough check into your “account” and make sure you’re not overdrawn! If it’s been a while since you’ve put something into your marriage, you might surprise your husband so much you’ll scare his hiccups away!

How have you made deposits into your marriage this week?

Lovingly,

Christian Life

How To Deal with Sudden Fears

October 6, 2015November 3, 2015 RefreshHer12 Comments

The phone rings and it’s the doctor’s office, calling to give the results of the lab work that was recently done.

Sudden Fear.

Your teenage daughter has a painful look in her eyes. She has seemed distant and removed from you and the Lord in recent weeks. She asks to speak with you.

Sudden fear.

Your boss sends an email telling you he’d like to speak with you at your earliest convenience.

Sudden fear.

You pick up the newspaper and read the headlines about yet another innocent group of Christians being persecuted for their faith.

Sudden fear.

There are hundreds of scenarios in which we could find ourselves filled with sudden fear – that terror that falls over us quickly due to some event in which we have no control. You’ve been there, I’m sure. We all have. We weren’t really prepared for the news or the event. Maybe we didn’t handle those situations so well in the past.

But for those future moments, we can prepare ahead of time, simply by hiding a secret piece of ammunition on our person – it’s the Word of God. Open up your heart and tuck this truth away:

Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence,
and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3, 25, 26

At that moment when the sudden terror wants to grab your heart, your emotions and your will, pull out the Truth that can enable you to handle this difficulty wisely and calmly.

The Lord will be your confidence – Pray. You don’t know what to do, but He does! He will show you the next step to take that will lead you to victory, rather than defeat. Turn to Him immediately and ask for His intervention and guidance.
He’ll keep your foot – Rest. He’ll not let you slip! Remind yourself that the Lord will keep you safe and secure. “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Anything that He allows to touch your life has come through His sovereign hands first. You are still in His grip.

The best way to deal with anything is to be prepared. The Lord has given us everything we need to keep us from sudden fear – the Truth of His presence and the help of His hand! Don’t be afraid!

What sudden fear has you quaking? Pray and rest in these Truths today!

Lovingly,

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Braided Scarf Tutorial

October 2, 2015October 1, 2015 RefreshHer5 Comments

Here’s a new tie for those great fall outfits! Hope one of these videos will guide you through the process without too much frustration! It’s really very easy to do this! Ready?

What’s your favorite way to wear your scarves?

Stay refreshed,

Christian Life

The Imperfect Stitches

October 1, 2015September 30, 2015 RefreshHer6 Comments

See that pretty embroidered kitchen towel hanging on my oven door? It was hand stitched by a friend. When it was given, she let me know that it was full of mistakes – little “imperfect stitches.” Really? I look at it and I see the big picture – a sweet little girl, adorned with a bonnet and apron, delivering a cherry pie on Baking Day! I also see the heart of the stitcher, if you will. She spent her time and effort making that for me! I love it and I dare anyone to wipe their dirty hands on it – I have store bought towels for that purpose! This is my treasure, set aside for my enjoyment – imperfections and all.

“I’m afraid I’m not good enough.”

“I’m afraid I haven’t done enough.”

“I’m afraid God doesn’t accept me as I am.”

Those are all quotes I’ve recently heard women say concerning their relationship with God. They’re basing those statements on what is or isn’t happening in their life. Something they’ve prayed about hasn’t been answered, some desire they’ve asked God for hasn’t been given, and so they turn their focus from looking heavenward in prayer to looking inward at themselves. They start searching for all the imperfections, and oh, there are many in all of us – it’s called an old sin nature, and we deal with it every single day.

But wait a minute, that’s what Jesus came to take care of on the cross! That sin has been paid for! It’s covered by the blood! Because I’ve received Christ as my Savior, when God looks at me, He sees me as having never sinned, based on the finished work at Calvary. He sees “the big picture” which is my justification through Christ. I don’t have to worry that He’ll see my mess ups and times when I sin (and there are plenty), because He sees me through His perfect Son.

My friend might have wanted to point out and fix the imperfections in the towel she made for me, but it did’t matter to me. We might try to “fix” up so we’re good enough to please God, but you can’t get any better than Jesus! He “fixed it” all for eternity.

Friend, if you’re worried that though you’ve received Christ, you might not be “good enough,” look at the cross and remind yourself of your standing before God. God sees you through His Son – forgiven. You are God’s special treasure set aside (sanctified) for His use. Now live confidently for Him, pray believing and stop pointing at the “imperfect stitches!”

In Christ,

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Grateful For Every Little Thing

September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 RefreshHer5 Comments

This has been a week full of extra-sweet blessings! Let me show you:

My husband and I had the blessing of spending a couple of days and one night in a lovely lake cottage recently. This is owned by dear friends who graciously invited us to spend time here for a get-away. Here’s where I sat for many hours while we were there…

I took no work with me – only magazines to read! The breeze blew in the window, I read, marked pages and did lots of gazing out at the lake. It was unreal how much those hours away did for us!

This is Watauga Lake – one of my favorites. The mountains come right down to the water’s edge, giving amazing views!

I’m so thankful for the kindness and generosity of dear friends, for time to rest, time away with my sweet husband, and God’s provision for us at a season when we really needed refreshment. I’m thankful for the sun that shone on one day and the rain that fell on the next, for coffee that warmed us in the chilly morning, and popcorn we snacked on that night.

As I mentioned last week, our daughter, Whitney had a birthday on the 22nd. Her sweet husband arranged for a big surprise and Alli and I got to be in on it last Saturday! I won’t spill the beans, but will let Whitney share on her blog all about it, but we got to go to lunch with Whitney at her favorite place before the surprise happened. We somehow missed getting a picture of the three of us, but here’s Whitney at the restaurant. We had a fun time together, as always!

I’m so thankful for my girls and the relationship we have, for the chance to share two weekends in a row with Whitney, and the joy of son-in-laws who love my daughters!

This candle has been burning for many hours since September! My sweet neighbor gave this to me, and it’s become one of my favorite Yankee scents for fall! It smells like something’s baking in the kitchen! It’s called, Sugar & Spice. You need this candle, friends! It’s a perfect scent for this season!

I’m so thankful for my neighbor, for our friendship and her kindnesses to me. I’m glad we’re more than just people who live side-by-side!

Wish you could smell this!

I’m thankful for the ability to smell, to make the house cozy with a candle flickering on the counter, and for a home to make ready for fall.

It’s easy to overlook the little things, and forget to be thankful, isn’t it? I fall into just being used to being so blessed and don’t stop to truly be thankful as often as I should!

An acquaintance of mine is dealing with cancer. It’s attacking her organs. She’s lost about 25 pounds in just a few months. She can’t eat very much at a time without being sick. The chemo is draining her of all energy and strength. I imagine she will lose her hair – again, (this is her second time with cancer in two years). I complain about gaining a pound, about my hair growing so fast, or being a mess, or being busy, when I should be thanking the Lord that I CAN eat, that I HAVE hair, that I have the STRENGTH to be busy. Wow. What an unthankful person I can be sometimes! I’m asking the Lord to help me change that – to help me to be grateful for every little thing, because the little things aren’t so little after all.

We’re entering the season of gratitude. How about joining me in starting early? What can you thank the Lord for today? Leave a comment and together let’s praise the Lord for every little thing!

With a grateful heart,