Tag: Christian Life

Cooking · Home decor

Favorite Things

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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.

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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.

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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,

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Worthless or Worthwhile Things?

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What have you been looking at today?  Recently as I meditated on Psalm 119, this verse has come back to my thoughts again and again.  I know it’s the Spirit of God, reminding me of the need to obey this wise example.  It reads:

Worthless things.  What “worthless things” might we be looking at?  I can’t really answer for you, but for me, it’s Instagram or Facebook – time that could be used for more worthwhile things. For others it might include television viewing or the kind of movies they allow, excusing profane language or that which is contrary to the holiness of our God.  It’s not really that we must always be doing something spiritual, but it should be valuable. I been trying to ask myself, “Is this a worthwhile activity?” AND  “Is this the best time to do this?”  I try to reserve idle time for viewing Instagram or Facebook, like while I’m a passenger in the car, or waiting for an appointment.  

It’s so easy to get caught up in looking that we lose track of not just time,

but of worth.

Could I encourage you to pray this verse this week?  Ask the Lord to help you to keep your eyes from looking at vain (worthless) things.  Then ask Him to direct you to worthwhile things.  How could you best use that time?  Could you:

  • Work on a Scripture verse to memorize?
  • Write a note of encouragement?
  • Start early on the supper meal?
  • Do an activity with your child?
  • Pray?
  • Finish folding the laundry?
  • Study your upcoming Bible lesson?

God’s Word isn’t about a guilt trip;  it’s about making our time profitable for eternity. To do that we must Keep our eyes from looking at worthless things.  Guard your eyes today.

With love,

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A Peek From My Porch – God’s Gift of the Church

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How thankful I am for the Lord’s gift to us of the local church. I’m not referring to a building, but the group of believers that gather there. These Christians come together all day on Sunday and again on Wednesday to worship, praise, study, pray, fellowship, encourage and serve.  God knew we would need the church.   It’s not merely another bullet on our “to-do” list, or the obligatory task we fulfill.  The Church is alive because We are the church!I

I recently heard a young college-age man say,

“I’ve realized recently how much I need other believers.’

If we all don’t come to that conclusion, we are missing out on so much!  Let me illustrate:

Last Sunday was Friend Day at my church.  It was such a sweet time!  People were buzzing in the auditorium before the service like happy shoppers in the candy aisle the day after Easter! Our church is such a warm, Spirit-filled group of people and it was evidenced as I witnessed new friends being greeted and welcomed, coffee  being poured and offered, and smiles shared. That’s what the church does!

Then the service time began. I was so blessed to witness a touching scene when my husband asked our men to come and gather in the choir.  The man on the left (Fain) in the picture below is seated in a wheelchair.

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As the rest of the men went up and gathered in the choir loft, these three joined Fain on the floor and stayed with him and shared his “platform of uniqueness.”  Rather than going up where they would be less visible, in love, they seated themselves beside Fain so that they might encourage and share in his burden.  How kind is that?!  I pulled my phone out and snapped a picture because it touched my heart so much. That’s what the church does!

We had a picnic lunch out on our church lawn after the service.  There was enough food there for the multitude Jesus fed (well, kind of).  People set up tables, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs in the hot sun, sat with our guests, washed dishes, took down tables and chairs, and picked up trash afterwards.  So many served!  That’s what the church does!

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Then at 5:30, we met back at the church for the evening service where we sang, heard from God’s Word and then shared testimonies of how God has answered prayer.  We encouraged one another all day long!  That’s what the church does!

There’s no ballgame, family gathering, vacation attraction, boat ride, concert, or television program that can do for me what The Church can do!  I am so thankful for my Boones Creek Bible Church family.  I love each member and thank the Lord for them.  That’s what the church does!

Are you fully entrenched in a Bible-believing church?  Christ gave His life for The Church!  He has a great purpose for it in your life!  Don’t miss out on all the blessings you’ll only find in The Church!

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A Broken Tooth

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As juicy and delicious as Tootsie Roll Pops are, I haven’t had one in about twenty years.  My reason?  One day I was enjoying my favorite flavor (chocolate) and I had gotten past the hard sucker part and was enjoying the Tootsie Roll in the middle when I felt something give way in my mouth.  It was part of my tooth!  I literally got sick to my stomach.  Curious, my tongue felt the area of the strangeness and realized that I had just successfully pulled the crown off my tooth with the sticky candy.

I made an appointment at the dentist to have it repaired, but up until that time, that tooth was a source of much discomfort.  When I ate, I had to chew on the other side of my mouth since that back tooth was now useless.  I tried to keep any kind of food from floating to the broken tooth, to avoid any more decay or trouble.  I totally overused the other teeth, just trying to avoid the one that was out of commission.  I was so relieved after it got repaired and I could use it once again!  However, my personal rule is –  NO MORE TOOTSIE ROLL POPS!

When I recently read Proverbs 25:19, I was made to think back to my injured tooth incident.  The verse reads,

Confidence in an unfaithful man (or woman) is like a broken tooth…

Why?

  • An unfaithful woman brings discomfort to others because she can’t be counted on.  Things that should be done are left lacking, causing difficulty for everyone else.
  • An unfaithful woman can’t be used.  She’s not trustworthy.  She’s not ready.
  • An unfaithful woman is avoided.  Why call and ask her to serve in a ministry or lead this or help with that…it’s better to find someone else.  She’s made a name for herself.

But, like my tooth, an unfaithful woman can be “fixed!”  Simply by seeing her sin of unfaithfulness, and confessing that to the Lord, God can equip and use her once again.  Her life can be steady and sure, bringing eternal rewards One day at the Bema Seat!

I’m proud to say, that I know a woman who is NOT a broken tooth, but a faithful, solid trustworthy servant of the Lord.  We just recently honored her at church; her name is Reva.  She has served in our church nursery for over 45 years!  You could count on her to be there!  You could be sure she would let someone know if she was going to be out due to sickness or vacation.  You could trust her to be a loving worker and doting on those babies.  You could bank on her week in and week out!

She is moving away, and she will be missed greatly at Boones Creek Bible Church, but I know that wherever she attends church, she will carry her faithfulness with her!  We love you, Reva!  May your tribe of faithful women increase!!!

Are you considered faithful, or more like a broken tooth?  It’s a question we all need to ask ourselves and our Savior.

With love,

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