After being away from home for over half of the month of October, my heart and feet have been very happy to be back in my residence! I am very much a home-body, loving everything about home life. I think I’ve learned to appreciate it even more after so much absence. As I have “dug my heels” into the necessary chores and responsibilities of running a home, I’ve thanked the Lord for His gift of home, and for the blessing of being a homemaker. When our girls were young, at one time, my husband worked three jobs so I could stay home and care for our family. What a sacrifice! For many years, I have said to my husband,
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How Does Jesus Respond To Those Who Reject Him?
The event happened many years ago, but it left a picture in my mind that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I was in church, walking up the side aisle when another church member, an older woman who had been so dear to my husband and me was walking towards me. I smiled and greeted her. She jerked her head up, her nose towards the ceiling and swiftly passed by without a word! It was an obvious rejection – not just of my greeting, but of me personally. I was bewildered! So what did I do? I followed her to inquire!
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The Cookie Recipe That’s Hard to Resist
The recipe I’m sharing today brings a bit of nostalgia to my heart. I remember eating these cookies as a little girl when my mom would make them as an after school treat. They were my FAVORITE cookie!
Everyone needs a cookie recipe that can be finished in 30 minutes because there are times that you need dessert in a hurry. There are also times when a person craves a dark fudgy chocolate cookie that is easy to make and hard to resist! These are made with oats, so they’re also gluten-free!
A couple weeks ago when I was at my parents’, I wanted to make something sweet for my dad and remembered that he loves these cookies, too. I pulled up my blog for the recipe and found that it wasn’t there! After posting my favorite recipes for thirteen years, I can’t believe I haven’t shared this one before now! I’m going to fix that today!
Continue reading “The Cookie Recipe That’s Hard to Resist”My Awesome God On Display
This month has been very full and very busy. It’s easy at times like this to get focused on all the happenings, on my fatigue, or the hardships, and overlook all the wonders of my God. When I stopped to consider what He has done, I came up with quite a list!
With the splendor of fall’s colors at every turn, I’ve certainly seen His beauty, His Creative hand, and His majesty!
I’ve also seen God’s providence. After being with my parents for seven days, I came home and my heart wanted to stay there. But in God’s providence, He had my husband scheduled to speak at the Senior Adult Conference at The Wilds of North Carolina. More than wanting to be home, I wanted to be there to support Dale in the ministry that God has called him to. So, we happily packed our bags and headed south on Tuesday. God knew exactly what I really needed. If you’ve ever had the blessing of attending camp at The Wilds, you know what refreshment it brings to your heart and life. When we arrived, we had already been “Ooo-ing” and “Ahhh-ing” over the fall colors, but the campsite was breathtaking.
Before the first meal, we were invited to take a selfie at this cute display.
God Grants Our Desires
One of my husband’s ways to engage in sharing the Gospel when we’re at a restaurant is to ask the waitress how we can pray for her as we thank the Lord for our meal. It is always so interesting to hear how people answer that question. So many say something like,
“Everything’s good right now. I really don’t need anything!”
To them, God is like a genie in a bottle, waiting to grant their whims and wishes, or to fix the current financial or physical crisis in their life. Those issues are often God’s way of drawing us to Him. We realize how desperate we are without Him when a crisis comes. I recently came across a verse about prayer that reminded me that, as our heavenly Father, He loves to answer our longings when those longings are from a righteous heart (a heart right with Him) – not merely a heart that wants some thing.
Proverbs 10:24b
The desire of the righteous shall be granted.
As we walk with Him, and allow him to direct our desires (Ps 37), our longings will be things that please Him, and that He delights in answering because He is a loving Father!
Psalm 73:25, 26
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
The happiness of the righteous will never end. Our God will never disappoint us or let us down. He always wins. Because He wins, we win. Don’t be downhearted.
If Christ’s desires are your desires He will grant them.
Wait.
The answer is first in coming to know Him. Don’t look at Him as a god who grants wishes. See Him as your heavenly Father who delights in You as you delight in Him!
RefreshHer 