Uncategorized

Refresh Yourself

RefreshHerLeave a comment

It’s Thursday. How are you doing? Really. How are you? Exhausted? Overrun with tasks? Weary of all the “doing?” More than likely, one of those phrases define your life. That’s how women run…full steam ahead. We run until we drop.

The name of my blog – “Refresh Her” was also an emphasis in the one of the retreat sessions in Alaska – the need for refreshing yourself. We all need it. What are you doing to see that you get refreshed?

The greatest need is daily refreshment in the Word of God. I know I hammer this all the time, but that is because I’m constantly running into people who think they can get by with a little ditty – a verse on their daily flip desk calendar- a nice little thought to get them motivated. Wrong. We need daily infiltration of God’s Word. I trust that studying the bible is your daily habit. Without it, you are running on empty. No wonder you’re frustrated.

The next thing you can do to refresh yourself is get some exercise. Walk. Run. Bike. Play tennis. Move. It will do you more good than you know!

Another part to refreshment is fellowship with others. Go to lunch or coffee. Meet with others for a small group Bible study. Pray together. Encourage one another.

So, seek refreshment, if you’re not doing so already. It will make a difference in how you view the rest of your week!

What do you do to refresh yourself?

Be refreshed!

Motherhood

The Loving Touch

RefreshHerLeave a comment

I was just an elementary age child when my mother was hospitalized for many days so that she might have an operation. This was at a time when they kept patients a fairly long time for a major surgery like she had.

I can remember the ache in my heart for the day my mom would return back home. Oh, my dad took good care of me and my sisters, but our home just wasn’t the same without her there! I remember going to the front coat closet and burying my face in the fur of her winter coat and crying out of sheer loneliness for her company!

Try as a man may, he cannot bring to a home what a woman does. We are the ones that bring the “homeiness”, if you will. We are the ones that make a loving atmosphere. We turn the house into a home. Dear friend, are you careful to maintain those gestures for your family? Or do you get so caught up in your own busyness and fatigue that you forget to add that softening and loving touch that your family craves? Have you recently…
  • set a pretty table for supper
  • played soothing music at the time your family returns home so that things are calm
  • lit a candle on the kitchen counter to provide ambiance and a lovely fragrance
  • made a special breakfast – your family’s favorite, to start their day off just right
  • added a seasonal touch to your living room or kitchen table
  • combed your little girl’s hair and added a barrette or bow so she’ll be pretty for daddy’s return
  • cut your son’s hair and combed it over so he’ll look just like his daddy
  • left a note on your children’s bed telling them how special they are
  • sang a special song to your husband to let him know how you love him
  • planned a fun activity for your family to enjoy together – a game night and popcorn, making cookies together, playing tag in the backyard, or s’mores over the grill
These are the things moms do best! Ask the Lord to help you know how to add the softening touch to your family’s lives, then make a plan to do it.

With love,

Husband · Pastor

Freshen Up Friday

RefreshHerLeave a comment

I enjoy baking, and I equally love sharing my baked goods with others. Since we are now in a new area and have new neighbors that I pray will become good friends, I decided to bake little loaves of sour dough bread for each of the families in the houses near us. It’s my attempt to say hello and let them know we desire to be friendly.

What do you have or what could you do to extend friendship to someone you don’t know very well? Do you grow herbs that you could share? Flowers? Do make great cookies? Do you stamp cards? Find some little tangible way to be friendly to someone and freshen their Friday!



Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will strive for personal excellence and will believe God for all He wants to do in the congregation.

Husband Encouragement: Make sure your husband knows he is your sweetheart and best friend. Does he know this? Have you told him, or do you assume he knows?

Don’t assume. Everyone loves to know they are special. Take time to appreciate your husband by demonstrating it to him. Tell him with kind words; show him with your kind acts.

Be refreshed,

Christian Life · Husband · Pastor

Fess Up!

RefreshHerLeave a comment

I recently heard a story about a man who had been running from the police for over ten years. He was from Canada and came to the States where he completely changed his identity in order to continue to hide from authorities. He shared how that during that time, he was constantly looking over his shoulder; fearful someone would recognize him and arrest him for the things he had done.

You and I might not have that kind of criminal record, but have you ever worried that someone might find out what you are doing? Maybe you don’t want your husband to find the receipt in your wallet for the money you spent that you know you shouldn’t have. One might worry that the history on their computer might be checked, and they would be caught in the truth that they were viewing inappropriate material, or spending way too much time chatting on Facebook with an old friend.

I don’t need to drudge up scenarios. The Holy Spirit will bring to your mind and mine the things that we may be hiding that need to be confessed and forsaken. I love Proverbs 28:1 –

The wicked flee when no man pursues, 
but the righteous are bold as a lion. 

When we are doing what is right, we do not have to be afraid of who is watching, of where they might look into our personal things, or hear a conversation we have on the phone. We can be bold. However, if we are involved in sin, we should be afraid. Proverbs 15:3 – 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

We cannot hide our sin from God. He sees and it will be discovered. The man I described in the beginning of this post was miserable due to the guilt. He confessed his sin to God, and turned himself in to the authorities where he received a lesser punishment for his crimes than what he really deserved. When we “fess up,” with God and others we’ve sinned against, we will be freed from the fear of being found out, our conscience is clear of the guilt, and we can move joyfully on with life!

Is your conscience clear, or did something come to your mind when you began reading today’s post?

Proverbs 28:13 – 
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Fess (confess) up, forsake, and get back to living!

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will earnestly seek God’s will and be committed to instant and complete obedience-ready for God to work powerfully in and through his ministry.

Husband Encouragement: There are lots of tough guys in the world, but true courage comes from the Lord. Does your husband exhibit the courage to take an unpopular stand alone against evil? Is he courageous in his faith? Does he work hard to change injustice? Is he a stickler for the truth? Does he protect you or your family from the attacks of the enemy?

Psalm 27:14 says this kind of courage comes from “waiting on the Lord for His strength.” Such spiritual courage is a gift and blessing to you – thank the Lord of it and praise your husband for the covering he supplies.

With love,