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With another birthday approaching, I am oh, so, aware of how fleeting anything external is. Crows have become my favorite bird, since I’m wearing them so proudly around my eyes.  =)  Proverbs 31:30 says, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” 

Probably all of us have had moments in which we’ve had a love/hate relationship with the attributes of the Virtuous woman.  The list in Proverbs 31 is overwhelming when we are looking at ourselves.  No, it’s impossible!  But let’s back up a second and look at verse 10 that says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies”  The starting place is being not a wife that is virtuous, but a woman who is virtuous.  The character of a woman is the only thing that doesn’t fade with her age!

So the next question is, how do we become a woman of virtue – a woman of character?  We don’t jump at the whole list and run to all over the place trying to cover all the bases.  It must begin with our relationship with the Lord.  We cannot obtain moral excellence without first being spiritually excellent, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  After salvation comes the step by step process of sanctification – of being made like Christ.  It’s not about perfection; it’s about change empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Any woman who is really honest with themselves will readily admit the need to change. 

  • My selfishness must be changed to generosity.
  • My laziness must be changed to diligence.
  • My indifference must be changed to compassion.
  • My unfaithfulness must be changed to dependability.
  • My rigidity must be changed to flexibility.
  • My pride must be changed to meekness.
  • My disrespect must be changed to reverence.
  • My callousness must be changed to sensitivity
  • My unfaithfulness must be changed to loyalty.

When we look at Christ, we see that He is All in all.  He is always compassionate, diligent, meek, loving, forgiving, submissive, merciful and everything else we need to be.  Therefore, His Word is full of examples of how you and I can have these traits in our lives.  We don’t have to try to figure out what these traits look like; they are pictured for us in the Scripture.  Wouldn’t it be wise for us to study these traits and learn how to apply them to our lives?  No face cream applied to our faces will do for us what godly character will do. 

Will you join me on Thursdays for a look at the application of godly character?  We’ll take one trait at a time.  We’ll define it, find it illustrated in Scripture, and see how to apply it to our every day lives. 

Who can find a virtuous woman?  May they find one in you and me!

With love,

Encouragement

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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I’m married to a man with an electric personality.  I’ve often had people say to me, “It must be so much fun at your house!”  Well, I love it here, and we have a great marriage and a wonderful home, but the truth of the matter is that it isn’t always a laugh a minute.  We’re real people with real marriage issues, family struggles, and trials that we have to deal with…just like you.  We have emotional ups and downs, discouragements, and downright disappointments at times…just like you.  Sometimes we don’t feel like getting out of bed.  Sometimes we’d like to pull the covers over our heads, crawl underneath and eat a sleeve of Oreos…just like you.

Quite frankly I’ve been in many of those down emotions just recently.  You know, where you find yourself shaking your head and sighing at nothing or no one in particular.  What’s brought me there?  Lots of little things that build up.  Instead of buying Oreos, I do what I heard on a radio broadcast recently – I have “bathroom discipleship.”  That simply means I talk to myself in the bathroom mirror!  Instead of listening to myself, I have to talk to myself.  I tell myself the truth; the truth about the situation and the truth about my God.  I remind myself that many of these little things are completely out of my control and I must let go.  I remember the fact that God is sovereign and in control of all that touches my life.  I am comforted when I remind my reflection that God is here now!  I cry.  I pray.  I give my troubles to the Lord.  Then I fix my tear streaked face and walk out,  my “discipleship session,” being complete.  I find I’m ready to smile – even laugh again at my silly, electric husband, and life in the parsonage is good once more. 

Do you need some bathroom, bedroom or car discipleship?  Look at that woman in the mirror and tell her the truth.  It will change your perspective!

From my parsonage window,

Christian Life

The Gracious Woman

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Just a warning – if you are under the age of 35 you may not like this post, and will probably be muttering to yourself as you read.  Read anyway!  =)  If you’re over 35, you’ll probably be glad that someone is addressing this topic.

What is it?  Cell phones.  What a useful tool they are!  What confidence it gives when we leave home for a trip, knowing that if we get lost or need help, we can hit a speed dial and get help – like the Life line on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire!  What  a blessing to no longer have the incredible phone bills that long distance calls used to accumulate! 

However, dear friends, there are times and places to use cell phones, and there are times and places to put them in your purse.  Proverbs 11:16 says that A gracious woman retains honour.  Part of being a gracious woman is being a woman of wisdom, courtesy and prudence.  We have to think about what we’re doing.  We must ask ourselves if this is the time and place for what we are doing or saying.  In regards to cell phone use, we need to ask ourselves:

  • Is it necessary that I have my phone out right now, or can it wait? 
  • Am I being a distraction to those around me by lighting up my phone to check it?
  • Is this text message really that important that I need to read it at church during the song service or message?  (Can we not give one hour to worship; totally undistracted?)
  • Do I need to know the time while I’m in church?  If your phone is the means by which you tell the time, forget the time and trust the Lord to get you out of there before the roast burns!
  • Am I being courteous by taking a call or checking my messages right now? 
    • Is someone speaking
      • to me personally? 
      • at the dinner table?
      • In a small group setting?
      • in prayer?
    • Is this a solemn occasion?
      • Wedding?
      • Funeral? – These are two more places that definitely need discretion!

There are lots of places where you can read about cell phone courtesy, but they seldom talk about being in church or in private places or settings.  We need to realize that life is about our God and people.  Set your phone aside and free yourself from the appendage that it has become.  You’ll find yourself getting more out of what’s happening around you.  Look people in the eye and converse.  Don’t be distracted by the beeping and vibrating of your phone.  Turn it off and live in the moment God has given you.  You know what else?  That message will be there when the time is right.

Refresh others by your graciousness.

Because I care,

main dish

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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I love taco salad!  With summer tomatoes added, this is a delicious meal!  But, wow!  The calories packed into those fried taco bowls are unbelievable! In just the shell there are 310 calories and 18 g of fat!   A while back I discovered that these tortilla shells could be microwaved instead of deep fried.  They’re still flavorful and crispy without the guilt!

How good does this look?

Take the tortilla and place it into a microwaveable bowl.  Press it in a bit so it will be the shape of the bowl.

Then pop it into the microwave for 45 seconds.  Turn the bowl and test to see if it’s done – it will crisp up more as it cools!  If it needs a little more time, microwave 15 more seconds.  Remove it from the bowl and let it cool.

I made up taco mixture with beef – you could also use ground turkey.  Add the taco seasoning.  Then simply add the lettuce, taco meat, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream to your shell.  You could crumble some tortilla chips on top for a little more crunch. 

This would make a super fast Sunday dinner.  You can do the shells ahead of time and place them in a Ziploc bag.  Make the meat mixture on Saturday.  Also have the vegetables cut up.  All you have to do when you get home from church is assemble the salads.  Fresh and tasty!

Here’s a new muffin recipe that I tried this week… Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins.
You cannot go wrong mixing peanut butter and chocolate!

This would be good with breakfast because they’re not too sweet, but also a good snack or dessert with a cup of coffee or glass of milk!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar.  Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, peanut butter, eggs and milk until smooth.  Add in the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Divide batter evenly between prepared muffin tins, filling each to the top Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2/3 cup brown sugar
6 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
½ cup peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
¾ cup chocolate chips – I sprinkled a few extra on top of the muffins too

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.  Line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners.
Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
What goodies have you cooked up lately?
From my parsonage kitchen,
Refreshment

Freshen Up Friday

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We all have our morning routines.  We tend to do the same thing the same way most every day.  Why not refresh yourself by using a beautiful cup and saucer for your morning tea or coffee?


My hostess served me coffee like this…and I still remember
how special it made her kind gesture.



Get into your good dishes and find a beautiful cup and saucer and pour your caffeine fix into it instead of the same old mug you normally use.  There’s a pretty cup and saucer probably tucked away somewhere that you haven’t used in along time – maybe you’ve never used it because it was too special.  Get it out, wash it up and pour that steamy liquid into it.  While you’re at it, put it on a pretty tray and take it to a comfy  spot where you can sit and savor the moment.  Maybe this is the room where you’ll have your quiet time, or out on your deck in the cool of the day.  Wherever it is, just be still and enjoy the refreshment something lovely can bring.
Be refreshed,