RefreshHer

Freshen Up Friday

2012-01-27T06:00:00.029-05:00

The winter sky was cold and solemn and the day's events had pressed hard on me. But now I was home and could hardly wait for the relief its comfort would bring. Entering from the front door, the fireplace pops and crackles, its bounty giving off not only heat, but also a soft glow to the living room. Little lamps are tucked into nooks and crannies of bookshelves and mantle, drawing me to come inside and read, and sit a spell. The flickering of candlelight winks as I pass. After dropping my coat on the footstool, I nestle down in the armchair and smile. This is what I had longed for. This is home.

Could you picture the room described above? What is it that really makes a home inviting? Is it the color of paint on the wall? No. Is it the beautiful pictures carefully hung? No. Is it the furniture? No. What makes a home draw us in is the lighting. In the descriptive paragraph above, it's the small lights, the twinkles, the lamps that give the effect of a warm welcome. If only an overhead light is on, a room would have the appeal of a doctor's examining room! If the lighting isn't right, none of those other factors would be as beautiful.

To refresh your Friday, I thought I'd share some of the designers great tips about lighting that I learned just yesterday at Gracious Designs. Are you ready? These are so practical and do-able!

There are three types of light:

1. General lighting - Overhead lights. This should be the least used, except in the kitchen and bathroom.

2. Task lighting - Reading lamps, sconces, floor lamps, under cabinet lights
3. Ambiance lighting - Candles, lanterns, light sticks, tea lights, little lamps

You should have at least five sources of light in each room (with exception of the entryway and bathroom). These need to be layered at different heights and levels. Create layers of light at different times of the day. Rainy winter days can be gray and dark. Lighten your home by layering lights from soft lights under a buffet table, to small lamps on a bookshelf or mantle, and increasing to table or floor lamps for tasks. Place candles in an unused fireplace to darken up that space.

The last thing the designer shared was Five Rules to Break:

Lamps have to match - They don't! Break up a matched set and put them in two different rooms and watch how it will change the whole room! The styles and heights on either side of the bed, for instance, should be similar, but don't need to match.

2. Chandeliers are only for the entryway or dining room. No! They are lovely in a master bedroom. Placing one over a chair where you read would be beautiful! By the way, our instructor said that the base of a chandelier over a table should be 34"-36" from the surface of the table. Most people hang them too high. Drop it down and let it create something really special!

I've shared this before, but I think this is so elegant!

3. One set of light sticks is all I need. Some of these light sticks are battery operated and are so useful in high places where there are no outlets, so they are really useful!

4. It doesn't matter what type of bulb I use. The newer bulbs are hard to figure out, but can really give off bad color if you don't know what to look for. Here was her suggestion:

5,000 Gives a clean daylight look, blue light
4,0000-3,500 Cool, general lighting
3,000 or below are warmer lights

5. Five is the limit on lights. Wrong! Add as many lights (of course layered) as needed to add warmth to your room.

We need to help these gray winter days not be so gloomy by making sure we're adding the right kind of lighting to our homes. We also need to be looking for those in darkness that need the Light of the Gospel! Add some light to your home and be a light in the world!

Be refreshed,

Full Nets

2012-01-26T06:00:00.004-05:00

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee...

One recent morning as I read Luke 5, I read about Jesus at the lake of Gennesaret, and I remembered what it was like to be on the Sea of Galilee in the morning. The winds were calm. The sun sparkled on the glassy waters. It was quiet and serene.

However, in chapter 5 of Luke, it's not really a quiet setting because a crowd has pressed in closely that they might be near Jesus, hear Him teach and watch Him perform a miracle - perhaps on their behalf. They pushed and shoved to be near Him - so much that Jesus stepped onto Simon Peter's boat, and asked Simon Peter to push out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught from a floating pulpit! The Scripture says that when He'd finished teaching, He told Peter to launch out into the deep waters and let down his nets for a "draught."

Though Peter had been out fishing all night and caught nothing, he obeys the Lord. Not long thereafter, he pulled the net from the waters, and there were so many fish that the net broke and he required the assistance of James and John to bring the great catch to shore! It was an amazing miracle that made Peter drop to his knees in humble adoration and admission of his own sinfulness.

The thought that has been a blessing to my heart in reading Matthew Henry's notes about this, is this: When we serve Christ, there is great recompense! That's not the reason we serve Him, but it's still the truth. The reward of a "full net" doesn't always come when we think it should. Sometimes we are toiling in the night season. Darkness is around us. Cold seeps into our bones. We are weary. It seems that nothing is coming from our service - whether it's in our personal witness to a lost person, our ministry at church, our pouring into our children's lives. The net is very empty. We come in from the deep waters of serving and just decide to wash out the nets and go home. Have you ever wanted to quit? We all have! That's when the Lord decides to step into the ship and give us an abundant blessing. He fills our net to overflowing.

My husband's net "got filled up" recently when he received a Facebook message from a person from the past saying that because of his witness years ago, their family member got saved, and thought he'd want to know! You better believe he wanted to know! What a blessing.

When one of my Sunday school students gets saved, fish are jumping everywhere in my net!

Our recent trip to Israel was another "Full net" experience! We didn't deserve to go, but out of the love of our church people's hearts, they desired to send us that we might be their eyes and ears and be better able to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord has called my husband.

If your net is empty at the time, keep faithfully serving. In His time, the Lord will allow you to go back into the deep and reap a harvest of fish. Yes, indeed, the recompense for serving Christ is abundant!

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2012-01-25T06:00:00.020-05:00

I could hear the frustration in her comments as we chatted. I recently talked with a young wife and homemaker and listened while she shared her desire to create a warm space in her home, but needed to be considerate of their budget, of course. She's also trying to find her own style, while mixing it with her husband's, and was also trying to come up with a color/decorating scheme that would fit both of their tastes. Talking with her made me think back to when I was her age and in that stage of life.

When I look back on pictures of our home from years past I have to ask myself, "What was I thinking?!" At the time, I was sure it was all done in good taste! Our first home was a combination of both our personalities and interests in the living room. His Clemson clock hung in the living room not far from where my silk bridal bouquet and our crystal glasses were displayed. His speakers that stood on either side of the television stand were large enough that we could've used them for coffee tables (well, nearly!). The couch was an ugly tweed, and was so itchy to sit on! We should've just handed each guest one of those back scratching tools when they walked in the front the door, knowing they would soon need it! The kitchen was so tiny that if I needed to get into the fridge when we had guests, someone would have to get up out of their chair and step aside so there was room for the opened door.

The next house we lived in was bigger and was full of promise! We even had the privilege of getting new living room furniture! A blessing for all - except those that had to sleep on the sofa bed that was ~~secretly~~ safely tucked inside its cushions.

As the years progressed and the country style was in full swing, nearly every piece of furniture and wall was stenciled. My husband even declared that he was afraid to stand still too long for fear I'd stencil him! The colors in the living room were mauve and blue with pink hearts stenciled at the chair rail level. ~Sigh~ Such tackyness!

Some day I'll probably look on my current Shabby Chic style and wonder what got into me and made me paint most everything white. But the truth goes back to the way it all started - we love our home just because it's the place that we share together.

If you find yourself frustrated with your decor, just smile at those that gather near you - whether they're roommates in a dorm room, a girlfriend who shares your apartment or your husband sitting with you on that ugly couch, and remind yourself of that old, but very true statement -

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”

Keep loving. Keep dreaming!

From my very lovely parsonage, =)

Travel With Me

2012-01-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

It would be impossible to show you and tell you everything that I saw in the twelve days we were in Israel, but I'm asking the Lord for wisdom to share some of the nuggets that He gave me while we were there. In truth, I'm still sifting through all the information that we received from our guide, Aire. Here is his picture, taken on our first day when we were in Jaffa (Joppa).

Aire is more than a guide in the land of Israel; he is a faithful ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ. As a Jewish believer, he has studied the Word of God all his life. He knows the Truths of Christ being the Messiah and has a living relationship with Him.

One thing that I loved about his teaching was his way of bringing simple truths into what he was showing us. Later on the first day of touring, we visited Mt. Carmel where Elijah offered his sacrifice to God. It was also here on this mountain that Elijah watched for the cloud that would bring the rain that God had been withholding from King Ahab and his people. Due to the lack of rain, there was a famine in the land. Imagine the dryness, the dust, the sparse crops, the parched lips. Then God told Elijah he would send rain. Elijah goes to the top of the Mountain looking for the first cloud to appear. We read in I Kings 18:42-45

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

I doubt that anyone who got caught out in that particular rainstorm minded it a bit. It had to be refreshing to them to finally have water pouring down from heaven. It brought relief from the famine and dryness.

Mt. Carmel

Aire reminded us that Jesus Christ is the Living Water and He always brings relief. John 4:10 What is the famine you're experiencing right now? Is it a health issue? Is it an unfulfilled longing of your heart? Is it loneliness? Climb to the mount and look for Christ to bring relief your way. Jeremiah 29;13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. The Living Water takes the Living Word to comfort, refresh and nourish us in our dryness. Look upwards for the little cloud followed by a "great rain."

Looking up at Christ, rather than down at your circumstances will always point you in the right direction!

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2012-01-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

Leaving JFK Airport at 8 am Friday morning after our all night flight from Tel Aviv

Hello, Friends! You have no idea how wonderful it is to be back in East Tennessee, back at my computer, and back at RefreshHer!!

When our plane landed at the Tri-Cities Airport Friday afternoon, we looked up in the terminal and saw this sweet group of people from our church awaiting our arrival...

This children were holding a "Welcome Home" sign. They held onto it long enough to allow me to snap this picture, then we were flooded by their hugs and squeezes. ~Precious!~

There are many wonderful places to visit, and Israel was a place I'm so thankful I got to see, but I agree with Dorothy - there's no place like home! I missed "chatting" with you all, but was so thrilled with the super job Whitney did while I was away. Thanks, Whitney, for your hard work posting in my absence. You make me proud! I'm still getting over seeing those old photos that were posted, though! Ahhh! We'll talk later! =).

Well, it's Monday and time to talk about food, right? Let me tell you, we enjoyed some interesting and delicious dishes in Israel. It wasn't fried chicken, southern green beans and sweet tea, however, I enjoyed trying the new tastes of another culture. As you see in the picture above, there were lots of good salad choices at every meal (yes, even breakfast!). I enjoyed roasted sweet potato slices served cold, fennel with dill, wonderful black olives, hummus and pita (served at every meal), and tons of great cheeses. Take a look at the variety of cheeses at the first place we stayed...

Here was lunch one day - Peter's Fish. It was a little odd being stared at by my meal, but it I disregarded his evil eye and enjoyed him!

The food we saw most every day at lunchtime was Falafel. This is a fast food dish made of ground chickpeas. It is deep fried and served in a pita bread, usually with hummus or some other "sauce" as well as fresh vegetables. It was good.

Falafel

Toward the end of our trip in Israel we found ourselves thinking about American foods and were getting pretty excited about enjoying some "comfort foods" when we returned. Yesterday was my husband's birthday, so I made him one of his favorites - Katie Brown Chicken, mashed potatoes and biscuits. I also served cauliflower with cheese sauce. Plain chicken with just lemon and fresh herbs tasted wonderful to us both. Venturing into another food culture is great and I really enjoyed it, but there's nothing like the foods you were raised on when you return home!

I'm thinking there will be some other comfort foods on my menu this coming week! What foods do you crave when you've been out of your kitchen and/or your culture?

Happy to be back in my parsonage kitchen,

Farewell Friday

2012-01-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

It's Friday! Thank you all for hanging out with me these past two weeks. It's time for me to hand the blog back to the lady of Refreshher! I can't wait to see her pictures and hear her stories...I know you are excited for that, too.

Keeping with the "Freshen Up Friday" theme here on Refreshher, I thought I'd share a very simple Valentines Day decor idea.

My Nana used to send us vintage Valentines Day Cards..like this one...

From alphamom.com

I kept all of them! So one year I cut them out and pasted them to heart shaped card stock. I've done several decorating things with them over the last few Februaries...here's this year's Vintage Valentine Project!

Yes, this picture is from my phone. Sorry for the horrible lighting....

I used double sided tape to attach the Valentines to the backing on the frame, and added a little ribbon and a silver pipe cleaner heart for some different textures. This was the inspiration for the love-day refresh that my living room bookshelf received. It's not quite done (I need one trip to Hobby Lobby for something floral to go on the bottom shelf) so just imagine the topiary on each side of the black frame, ok? Thanks. =)

I put black construction paper in the white picture frame and wrote our initials with chalk...I love free re-do's!

That's all I've got for you! Have a great weekend!

Whitney for...

My Word for 2012

2012-01-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

I've seen several posts like this around the blogosphere. Instead of setting a list of goals for the new year, why not just choose one word as your goal for 2012?

Here's my word for 2012: forbearing

The context for this word comes from Ephesians 4: 1-3:

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

The Message paraphrases the passage like this: "And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences."

The dictionary defines forbearing as being patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

I can think of all kinds of ways I need to apply forbearance to my life!

What is your word for 2012? While mine is a little more motivational, you may need inspiration or even consolation. Get in THE Word and find YOUR Word!

Whitney for...

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone that knows my parents has probably been at least a little envious of their sweet, romantic marriage. I lived with them for 17 years before I left for college, and I know they ain't perfect! So how do they do it? I have been married for only 13 months, so I'm not in a place to offer any marriage advice. I'm taking all I can get! So, let's all peek inside the parsonage and learn from my parents.

Here are just three of the principles I learned from watching my parents' marriage in action.

This is what happens when the parents are on another continent...old pictures emerge! Haha!

1. Godly marriages take work

Every time mom and dad left the house to go on a date, they would say "we're going on a date to make a better home for you!" Even when times were very tough financially, they would run errands together or have supper at a little table in their bedroom with doors closed and candles lit.

My parents read books on marriage and attended couples retreats (gasp! they left their children overnight! see point #2). Mom has always been a student of the Bible, and I remember seeing "reminder" verses from Proverbs written on her daily planner to help her with areas she was working on.

What can you do this week to work on your marriage?

2. Kids are important, but they don't take precedence over your marriage

We never slept in the bed with mom and dad. If a storm or bad dream woke us up, we were comforted and reassured...and dumped back in our cold sheets! =) Now that I'm married, I realize the wisdom of that move.

If I asked my dad permission for something like having a friend spend the night, his first words were always, "did you ask your mom?" and vice versa. I knew there was no way I could manipulate them by getting one person "on my side."

Have you let your kids "crawl in bed" between you and your spouse (so to speak)? Dump them back on their cold sheets. They'll thank you for it some day.

Lest you think we were neglected, here's proof that mom and dad spent time with us.
Great NASCAR memories with my dad! I love this picture so much!

3. Godly marriages require respect

Never one time have I heard my parents make a disparaging comment to someone else about the other. My mom never complained to me about my dad - I knew my parents thought the world of each other. I will add that my in-laws are exactly like this as well. I cringe every time I hear a pastor say something ugly or joke about his wife from the pulpit, I never heard that from my dad growing up.

Do you need to ask the Lord to keep a watch over your mouth? If you really struggle with the respect issue, I highly recommend the book Love and Respect.

I am so thankful for the people that taught me a great, godly, fun marriage was possible! I have to also thank my Nana and Papa who are madly in love with each other. They are the kind of sweet companions I pray we will be! Additionally, I am grateful for my in-laws who modeled this kind of marriage to my husband. He is definitely a product of a godly marriage, and I am so thankful!

Whitney for...

Meditation for Tuesday

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

Amen!

Whitney for...

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2012-01-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Here's what was cooking in the Pendell kitchen this week! This was a big hit with the husband, which always makes my day. I served it with a tossed salad and Parmesan toast (buttered bread with Parmesan cheese, toasted under the broiler). Big thanks to my friend Catherine for sharing this recipe with me!

Five-Cheese Baked Ziti

(This can be doubled to make a 9x13 pan - I used a casserole dish slightly larger than an 8x8 square)

FOR THE ZITI SAUCE

2 cups tomato sauce

1 cups alfredo sauce

1/4 cup ricotta cheese

1/8 cup mozzarella cheese , shredded

1 ½ tablespoons Fontina cheese , shredded*

½ teaspoon garlic pepper seasoning

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

FOR THE ZITI TOPPING

1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese , shredded

¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs

1 ½ tablespoons romano cheese , grated

½ tablespoon fresh garlic , chopped

1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil

1 ½ tablespoons fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped

*I used Sargento Italian blend cheese where it called for Fontina and Romano cheese

REMAINING INGREDIENTS

½ lb dry ziti pasta

½ cup mozzarella cheese , shredded

Directions:

PREPARE THE ZITI SAUCE:

1. Combining all ingredients for the Ziti Sauce in a large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

PREPARE THE ZITI TOPPING:

2. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the first four ingredients for the Ziti Topping.

3. Add the garlic, oil, and parsley and mix until thoroughly blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

WHEN READY TO PREPARE THE WHOLE DISH:

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 baking dish or large casserole with non-stick spray.

5. Prepare the pasta according to package directions.

6. Pour 1/4 cup of prepared ziti sauce into the prepared dish, and spread it evenly over the bottom using a spoon.

7. When pasta has finished cooking, drain the water and pour the hot pasta into the bowl of remaining sauce. Mix thoroughly; pour into the baking dish.

8. Spread 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella over the pasta and sauce mixture.

9. Top the mozzarella with the prepared Ziti Topping, spreading evenly.

10. Place pan on center oven rack and bake until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbling, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Whitney for...

5 ways to cut cost and stress from your wedding!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

I planned my wedding in two months and it cost $1000. I could have easily planned a $30,000 wedding, but I had $800 saved and loving parents and friends who helped with the rest. As the bride, I was calm and confident of everything going smoothly the day of the wedding (and I think my dear friend/wedding coordinator felt the same way!).

Please understand.This is what worked for me. $1000 weddings aren't for everyone. I chose to spend only the money I had! Whether you're a low budget person like me or you're just looking for ways to reduce costs and stress in your wedding (or your daughter/sister/friend's wedding), I think I have some helpful tips for you!

Before we begin - I have to offer my disclaimer.

1. My wedding dress was a junior bridesmaid dress from David’s Bridal. Junior Bridesmaid dresses are exactly like the wedding gowns, only MUCH cheaper. I spent less than $100 total on my dress and shoes.

2. My mom baked all 300 of the beautiful and delicious cupcakes we served at the reception. She and my aunt iced and decorated them the day before the wedding. The total cost of her materials was $80. If you have an amazing mom and aunt who will do that for you and deliver the same results mine did, go for it!!!

Are these gorgeous or what?!

If you’re over 4’10” and can’t wear a junior bridesmaid dress...or your mom isn’t Martha Stewart, don’t worry! I have some other ideas for you. Two other friends of mine each spent less than $4,000 on their weddings. I was in both of their weddings and they were lovely and stress free events! One friend in particular confirmed that even with purchasing her gown from a boutique and spending $500 on her cake, the total for her wedding was $3,000. I will mix her secrets in with mine. Here we go!

1. Keep the bridal party small

My sister and best friend were my attendants, and they purchased long black formals for less than $100 each. They both ended up with lovely dresses that they really could wear over and over! Imagine that!
The groomsmen wore their Sunday suits with matching silver ties that I bought at JCPenny on sale, with a coupon.
Large bridal parties mean more attendant gifts, more people at your rehearsal dinner (consider the cost to your future in-laws!), and more hassle at the rehearsal itself. Nothing makes a rehearsal more stressful than 7 groomsmen trying to be the funniest while the wedding director is trying to do her job!
Instead of asking ALL your friends to be in the wedding, ask them to help during the wedding! You will find that your friends are eager and willing to help, especially in their area of expertise. Ask friends to sing, play instruments, serve at the reception, arrange your flowers, or hand out programs.

2. Save Money on DIY Printed Materials

You can easily download invitation and program templates online. I created my own invitations and programs in Publisher and printed them locally. Not including postage, I spent less than $30 total on the invitations and programs. I set up a free wedding website and created a form for RSVP’s, instead of including a separate RSVP card and stamped envelope. I would argue that online RSVP increases your chances of getting folks to RSVP anyway. (Have I used "RSVP" enough in this paragraph? Ahem)

3. Avoid the “wedding” aisle at the craft store!

I love Hobby Lobby, but their wedding aisle suffers some serious markup. You don't have to pay their "wedding" merchandise prices...besides, half of that stuff is unnecessary.

Favors: Please. Just don’t do it. We didn’t have favors at our wedding, and nobody threw a fit or left in a rage.
Printed napkins: Everyone knows who you are and what the date is. Plain napkins that match your colors work really well, and you can get them in the PARTY aisle at hobby lobby much cheaper.
Guest Book: My wedding guest book came from TJ Maxx and maybe cost $5. Hobby Lobby’s wedding aisle? $25!
Bride and Groom cake server: Trust me. You don't need that.

Borrow as much as you can.

I borrowed my veil and crinlin slip from friends, and it was special to use their stuff!
Some churches have a stash of things you can use at the reception (chocolate fountains, serving trays, punch bowls, linens, tables, etc.). A deposit may be required but that's probably all it would cost.
My wedding was one week before Christmas, so the church was beautifully decorated without any cost to me. I "borrowed" other decorations from my house or purchased things I knew I would use after the wedding in my own decor.

4. Make it your own!

My husband loves crossword puzzles, so we created one with questions about us and put it on the back of our programs. Everyone received a program and a golf pencil before they were seated, and it was such a hit! It was a big topic of conversation at the reception, with people stumped on different questions.
When I say "Make it your own," I am including the bride AND the groom in the "your." A huge stress reliever is this: make choices concerning what the two of you would like at your wedding. You cannot please your mom, your mamaw, your new mother in law, your dad, your aunt louise, and the sunday school superintendent all in one wedding. My wedding coordinator/dear friend was a huge help with this one. She constantly asked me "what does Paul Curtis think?" to remind me that his opinion is important! We both are pleased and proud of the way our wedding turned out, down to the 17 minute ceremony. =)

See how relaxed he was??!!

5. Plan Plan Plan

A good wedding coordinator will save your life. I choose someone who I was very close friends with, someone whose taste and judgement I trusted. I knew I could send any questions right to her and she would answer them the way I would. Another of my low budget wedding friends chose her aunt who had experience directing weddings and knew the bride well. It is a huge stress relief to have a coordinator that you feel comfortable with (and is also a great way to let your friends help!).
I had a spiral notebook and a thumb drive that I carried everywhere before the wedding. The thumb drive had my guest list, addresses, names of everyone helping along with their assignments, program, invitation, etc.
Sit down and think through every aspect of the day. Here's an example:

Peppermint punch at the reception:

ingredients for punch
decide when to purchase them
decide when to take ingredients to reception site
assign someone to make the punch
write out the directions for making/serving the punch and give to coordinator or person in charge of reception
figure out how many/what kind of cups will you need
decide where you will serve the punch on the food tables

Use processes like that to make a detailed schedule of the rehearsal and wedding day. It might seem overwhelming at first, but it will pay. off. big. time.

I couldn't be happier with the outcome of our wedding. I KNOW some of you have tips for cutting cost and stress from your wedding. Let me hear your ideas!

Whitney for...

Abundant Life!

2012-01-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

After I graduated from college, I spent several years completely single. There was the occasional coffee date with a single guy in one of my friends college & career groups, but those never turned into anything permanent. I wanted to be married eventually, but this is the truth: I wouldn’t trade those “dateless” years for anything.

How can I say that?

Jesus offers a love relationship that is more than enough.

I know that sounds like such a typical “single girl” answer, but it is the truth. Marriage is wonderful – but not easy, and I’m so thankful for those years where I developed a relationship with the One who never fails! I had lots of time for group Bible studies, personal study, and “just me and the Lord” worship time, wherever and whenever! Jesus offers an abundant life regardless of your circumstances. John 10:10 says, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full!"

There are two foundational truths that encouraged me:

1. God is in control and has a personal plan for my life.

2. I'd rather be happy and alone than married and lonely.

I also spent lots of time with my girlfriends, shopping, eating out and doing fun stuff (like attending NASCAR races, below). We had such good times together!

Two years ago, I ran into an old friend at a basketball game. He asked me out for coffee, and his sparkling blue eyes immediately melted my heart. That coffee date was unlike the others! God IS in control and DOES have a personal plan for my life. I am so thankful for my husband - he is a constant reminder of that perfect, personal plan.

If you are in those dateless years, take heart! Jesus has come to bring abundant life (and a personal, perfect plan) for YOU.

If I can encourage you in any way, I'd love to hear from you (my email is whitneypendell at gmail dot com if you don't want to leave a comment).

Whitney for...

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2012-01-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Cleaver Family.

Aren't they just the picture of perfect family harmony? In case you were either born in the last 30 years or didn't grow up on TV Land, this is the family from "Leave it to Beaver." Mr. Ward Cleaver never appeared without a shirt and tie, doted on his wife and spent lots of time with his children. Mrs. June cleaver famously cooked dinner in pearls and heels, was always polite and kind, and made sure her family was well taken care of. Wally and Theodore (or, the Beaver) were polite and obedient. Wally let his little brother tag along with him on Saturdays.

The Cleavers remind me of another family...my pastor's family! Don't they remind you of your pastor's family? Always perfect, polite and happy. Right? Wrong!

I hate to break it to you, but the idea of a perfect pastor's family is as fictional as the Cleavers themselves! While it is important that your pastor and his family adhere to the Scripture's guidelines, it is also important to remember that they are human. They have bad days, heartache, financial needs and family struggles just like you.

When I was in the 4th grade, I spent Sunday afternoon with my friend whose family had just joined our church. We went outside to play where her dad was washing the family van in their driveway. When he saw me, his face fell and he quickly said, "Oh! I don't usually work on Sunday! I just had to do this real quick!" I was bewildered for a minute and then it hit me. "He thinks I'm going to run home and tell on him to the preacher!" If he only knew how uptight the Cunningham house WASN'T. Hehe.

Your pastor, his wife, and their children need friendship, love and encouragement just like you do! So the next time someone from your pastor's family catches you washing your car on Sunday, put down the squeegee and ask how you can pray for them. As the Beaver used to say, "that would be swell!"

Whitney for...

Take Comfort!

2012-01-10T06:00:00.010-05:00

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of the flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles!" 2 Chronicles 32:6-8

Wow! How encouraging is that? You have to read the whole story to get the full impact from this passage, but basically, 180 thousand really mean guys were attacking Israel. History was not in their favor - the last time these guys attacked, Israel lost. But king Hezekiah stood in front of his people and declared the words you just read.

What army of really mean guys is attacking your city today?

Your enemy may come in the form of finances, stress at work, conflict in your marriage, defiant children, or a temptation to give in to your sin nature in one way or another. Whatever that enemy may be, let the Truth of Scripture speak encouragingly to you - just like the Truth encouraged the people of Israel that day.

The end of verse 8 says, "And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." Take confidence in the Word today!

(If you want to read the whole story, start in 2 Chronicles 31:20 and read to 32:23. Buckle up, it's exciting!)

Whitney for....

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2012-01-09T06:00:00.013-05:00

Hey everyone! In case you missed Friday's post, Mom asked me to hang out with y'all while she's in Israel. So here we go with Monday!

I don't live in a parsonage....but I used to. Does that count? =)
At the end of a long work day, I am ready for a quick meal that tastes like it took all day. Anyone else feel like that?

Here is the best thing I’ve found to be really helpful towards that end…MENU PLANNING!

Trust me on this one. Sit down before you go to the grocery store and decide 5 or 6 meals you want to make. I keep a list of things my husband likes and use that as a starting spot. I also have a folder of bookmarks for recipes I see online that I want to try. I don’t assign meals to a day, I make whatever works best for our very unusual schedule. As I make out the menu, I make my grocery list.

For example, here is my menu from last week:

Spaghetti with ground turkey (because I had ground turkey in the freezer and ground beef was $3/lb! Yikes!)

Salad

Breadsticks

Hot Chicken Salad

Green Beans

Chili

Corn Muffins (the other half of the batch I made last week and stuck in the freezer)

Cheese & Crackers

Raw veggies and ranch

Baked Chicken

Steamfresh red potatoes and vegetables

Frozen Pizza

Salad

I admit I don’t have children, so my life is pretty uncomplicated. But I do work full time as well as accommodate a husband who tirelessly works like ALL the time. If I can menu plan, you can too. Try it! Who’s with me??

If you are already a menu planner, what works best for you? Talk to me!

Whitney for...

Freshen Up Friday

2012-01-06T06:00:00.013-05:00

On this Friday, how about if we look at an accessory that can totally change an outfit? One way to freshen up an outfit and give it new pizazz, is by adding a scarf. They are so popular now with many different styles.
These lovely pics are from Tip Junkie - a favorite site of mine.

Once you get past all the cute styles, there are tons of fun ways to tie the scarf! Look here...

One simple tie is to fold a long scarf in half lengthwise and place it around your neck. Loop the loose end through the loop. You can bring the loop up high around your neck or open it up to be more scooped.

Here's a little series of pictures with a variation of the previous tie:

Fold scarf in half with loop on one end and loose end on the other.

Insert loose end through loop

Twist the looped end, keeping your finger inside the loop

Insert loose end through loop

Fluff and adjust the knot to the position you want it

Now, go get a scarf and try one of these ties!

Do you have scarves? How do you wear them?

I have some exciting news for you today...

If you read my post on Wednesday you know that I'm leaving on Sunday to go to Israel. However, that does not mean that my blog will be sitting here idle while I'm away. My daughter, Whitney will be posting in my absence! Okay, she's my daughter, true, but the other truth is - she's a great writer (and she wears a scarf oh, so well!)! I think you'll find her posts enlightening, funny, and helpful. So keep checking in each day to see what creative things she's come up with, and I will be back on here the last week of January!

I love and appreciate each of you!

Be refreshed,

Fruitcake Christians

2012-01-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

Many people feel about fruitcake like the person who compiled the previous list Let's face it - this sticky confection has gotten a bad rap. I saw a funny video at Christmas where a woman teasingly said her husband was a lot like a fruitcake noting, "He's heavy, fruity and very nutty!" We'd all admit that being called a fruitcake has a bad connotation. But I believe there is one way in which it would be a blessing to be a "fruit - cake."

When you and I as believers are walking in the Spirit, that is we have no unconfessed sin in our lives, we will be full of fruit! Not the sticky dried kind we find in holiday cakes and cookies, but the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22, 23 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. We won't just have one or two, we will have them all. Let's take a look at each of them and how they will be manifested in our lives as described by Matthew Henry:

Love to God especially, and to one another for his sake
Joy, by which may be understood cheerfulness in conversation with our friends, or rather a constant delight in God
Peace, with God and conscience, or a peaceableness of temper and behaviour towards others
Long-suffering, patience to defer anger, and a contentedness to bear injuries
Gentleness, such a sweetness of temper, and especially towards our inferiors, as disposes us to be affable and courteous, and easy to be entreated when any have wronged us
Goodness (kindness, beneficence), which shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we have opportunity
Faith, fidelity, justice, and honesty, in what we profess and promise to others
Meekness, wherewith to govern our passions and resentments, so as not to be easily provoked, and, when we are so, to be soon pacified
Temperance, in meat and drink, and other enjoyments of life, so as not to be excessive and immoderate in the use of them.

It would do us well to read over the list and then review the last 24 hours. Was that fruit a part of our lives yesterday? Was it demonstrated to the world? To our family? Last night at prayer meeting? To other drivers on the road? We mustn't look at the list and say, "I need to work on being more longsuffering." Or "I need to ask for more faith." What we need is to walk in the Spirit. Verse 25 reminds us of that saying, " If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." We do that by simply doing what I John 1:9 says and confessing our sin. Keeping short accounts with the Lord will enable us to be full of fruit.

Ask the Lord to reveal unconfessed sin in your life. Confess it and then walk in the Spirit. You may look like a fruit cake, but it will be the best kind!

With love,
Denise

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you peeked inside the parsonage today this is what you'd find in my room...

Documents in order...

Suitcases being packed (and curious cat snooping around)

airline tickets and trip itinerary ready to go.

Why all this? Some time ago I told you that our church is sending my husband and me on a trip to Israel. We are going on a pastors/wives teaching tour. I am so excited about it! We leave this coming Sunday morning and will be gone until January 20th.

To be able to see the places I've read about in Scripture all my life, will be thrilling, to say the least. I've heard that the Scriptures come alive once you visit the Holy Land, and that's exactly what I'm asking the Lord for. I want it to have an impact on my personal devotions, as well as my future opportunities to teach.

We covet your prayers as we go. Please pray for:

Safe travels.
Ability to sleep on the plane
Luggage to stay safe and arrive when we do =)
No migraines
Sweet fellowship with the other pastors and wives
Special times of worship while there

Well, I better get back to packing...or removing a certain kitty from my bags!

Thanks for taking time to peek in!

From my parsonage window,

New Year Plans for Marriage

2012-01-03T06:00:00.018-05:00

A new year is like a new journal; it's all clean and fresh with no ragged edges on the cover. Its binding is all in tact and there are no ugly ink smudges on the pages. A new year brings with it lots of promise. As you consider the year ahead of you, why not stop and also consider the life of your husband as well? I don't mean we should track out his life for 2012, but that as we make plans for ourselves, we need to also consider our marriage. Sit down together and discuss:

What areas need to be strengthened?
How did you fail to respect him last year? How can you change that?
What kinds of dates could you plan now that will ensure that you have quality time together? Mark down dates you want to celebrate, then also find time each month to mark out for one another. If you don't guard those times, they will get covered over with the "stuff of life." Here's a suggestion to take your dates one step deeper - Get a journal and make it your Date Journal. Use it to record the things dates you and your husband have this year. Keep it a secret and give it to him as a Christmas present next December. It will bring back special memories of your times together.
Talk about financial plans for the year - things you need to save for, giving towards Faith Promise Missions, and things you're dreaming about - like a vacation, or the purchase of a home,
How could your marriage reach out to the lost? Discuss way that you could to minister to others as a couple in this next year.
Is there a book you could begin reading together that would be a challenge to you both as you walk with the Lord?

Each day we are filling in the pages of our life's journal. Rather than letting it get marred up with blunders and regrets, make plans to fill it up with marital blessings. As they say, - "Time's a wastin'!" Make your plans now for a year that will find you and your husband walking closer to one another and the Lord.

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2012-01-02T06:00:00.014-05:00

This weekend I tried a new recipe for breakfast. Since I was having company (yay!), I wanted to have a breakfast that was ready quickly, but was also warm and hardy. I had heard about Baked Oatmeal, and was intrigued with the thought of a dish of oatmeal filled with fruit and nuts that was not only healthy and quick, but also delicious!

This dish whipped together in no time flat the night before. Then in the morning, I simply popped it into the oven to bake while I got dressed. Ta-da! Hot breakfast on the table for my guests, along with fresh Cinnamon-raisin toast made with my sour dough starter.

We were blessed to have my sister and her husband with us this weekend. I loved having them here so much. We celebrated New Years together on Saturday as folks in their 50's would do (which means we did not stay up 'til midnight!). We enjoyed a lovely dinner in Asheville, and then went to Grove Park Inn to enjoy the gingerbread houses, as well as the beauty of the inn.

Sunday dinner was also intended to be simple - and it was.
I repeated a recipe I've shared before (gasp!) .

Honey-spice Glazed Pork Chops

Baked Potatoes

Steamed Broccoli with lemon and butter

Pear/Blue Cheese Salad w/Cranberry Vinaigrette

Parmesan Knots

Assorted Cookies and Ice Cream

The Pork chops are a great Sunday dinner because they're cooked in under 15 minutes. To speed the Sunday dinner preparation, on Saturday I:

Made the honey-mustard glaze for the pork chops
Prepped all the salad ingredients
Made the salad dressing
Set the table

Company meals and/or Sunday dinner can be a blessing, rather than a stressful event with simple recipes like these and a little preparation ahead of time.

Sunday night after church we had Cincinnati Chili. This is my favorite recipe because of the addition of some different kinds of flavors added, including cinnamon and a little cocoa! With the temperatures falling, it was a great meal to have cooking in the crock pot while we were at the evening service. Here's my recipe:

Cincinnati Chili

2 pounds ground beef (I use ground turkey)
1 medium onion
1 Tbl vinegar
2 Tbl chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce (I add another small can as well)
1 cup water
2 cans of mild chili beans

Sweet Spices
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa

Brown meat and onions in a pan. Drain fat. Add the vinegar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and pepper. Stir and cook 5 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, chili beans and water. If you want, add the sweet spices. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour. Stir occasionally. Serve with cheddar cheese and/or sour cream.

I loved having guests this weekend! What a great way to bring in the New Year!

What was cooking in your kitchen this weekend?

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-12-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

We love our sweet iced tea here in the south. I always say I hate drinking my calories. In keeping with that, I have sweetened my tea with Sweet and Low for years. Last year I switched to Stevia, a natural non-calorie sweetener, but have found that it left my tea with a funny taste. I thought maybe we'd get used to it, but nope - we didn't.

So, in an attempt to improve my iced tea, I recently tried a product I hadn't seen before - Domino Light. It's half real sugar and half Stevia. It has half the calories of real sugar and it doesn't take as much to sweeten as real sugar would. I used about half a cup in a half gallon of tea. It tastes like "the real thing" ladies and gentlemen! Yum! It is expensive, but I had a coupon, and like I said, it doesn't take as much as regular sugar. I'm going to save it just for iced tea.

If you're looking for a way to sweeten your tea and save on calories, you need to try this! This will freshen your tea and your diet plan (we all have one at the end of the year, don't we?).

Have a glass of sweet tea and
Be refreshed,
Denise

A Memorial Of Her

2011-12-29T06:00:00.006-05:00

Here we stand on the brink of a new year. Turn around and look behind you. How will the life you lived last year be remembered by others? I didn't ask how your circumstances pleased you, nor how good your year was, but I asked about your life. How will you be remembered for the way you lived your life last year?

As I was recently reading through Mark 14, I read about Mary pouring the costly ointment on Jesus' head. Judas reprimands her, saying that the ointment could've been sold for much and then the money given to the poor. However, Jesus answers him in verse 9, Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mary will always be remembered for this act that she did for Jesus. It showed her great love for Him. That is how we remember Mary of Bethany...she loved Jesus!

This passage made me stop and ask myself, "For what do I want to be remembered?" Knowing that God's Word reveals His Son, and that it is the Mind of Christ, my answer is that I want to be remembered as a woman who loved, knew and obeyed the Word of God. After answering that, I realized that there has to be a plan of action in order to accomplish that goal. How will I gain a greater love, knowledge and desire to obey the Word? I am asking God to reveal the process so I can follow through in the year to come.

We can't do anything about the time that has already passed. If we have regrets about last year, we must let go of it and look forward to 2012. We must each ask what we want to be memorialized for in this next year, then set about a plan to accomplish that, with God's help. What will be spoken of as a memorial of you next year? Today is the time to plan for that!

I've shared my desire for my memorial, now, tell me - for what do you want your life to memorialized?

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-12-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

Christmas celebration at The Cunningham's started the week before Christmas. We celebrated early with Alli before she left for Antigua. Here she is getting dishes for the table from the china cabinet...

While we open gifts, Liza Jane always tries to find a box to nest in. She tried this oblong one, but her size wouldn't let her inside. Hmmm, maybe Weight Watchers is in her new year's resolution....

Even 20 year-olds like getting stockings...

Sisters, but also best friends!

Then, on the 23rd, since it was just my hubby and me, he stole me away for the night. We enjoyed Dollywood and all their lights!

The 7:00 parade was fun to watch! Here came a speed boat all decked out...

The next morning we enjoyed a light breakfast at Applewood Farm House. It was decorated beautifully inside and out!

On Christmas Eve, Liza was excited to have another chance to find a box that was more her size!

It was great having our daughter and son-in-law here for Christmas services at Boones Creek!

We came home from church and finished getting dinner ready. I don't know what I would have done without my two assistants - Whitney and her dad! I'm really good at ~~giving orders~~ asking for help.

At the end of Christmas Day, Whitney and Paul had to head for home, but first, they had to sign the guest book - it's a tradition for all of our guests!

We'd love to have your name in our book! We so enjoy having our family and friends here. Please stop in any time you're able!

From inside our parsonage windows,

A Wandering Child and a Broken-Hearted Parent

2011-12-27T06:00:00.011-05:00

"Mom, Dad. We need to talk. I'm ...

pregnant."
not sure the God you've taught me about all my life is real."
quitting college and moving in with my boyfriend."
leaving home. I'm tired of all your rules."

Many, many Christian parents who thought they were doing the right thing with their child for all their growing up years have had to hear hard words like these. The parents' hearts are torn apart. I'm not sure if there is any pain as difficult for a mother or father to endure than when their heart is breaking over their child who has gone astray.

What is a parent to do? Do you become more lenient in hopes that the child will change their mind? Do you beg and plead or try to convince them how wrong their thinking is? I certainly don't have the answers, but I know God's Word does.

In Luke 15 as we read about the prodigal son asking his father for his portion of his inheritance. The father gives it to him. He let him go. He knew that no talking would change his son; he needed to learn the hard way. We know that in the end of this story, the son does return home after enduring some difficult circumstances. "When he came to himself" (Luke 15:17, 18) he realized that he needed to return home. There was much time, I'm sure before the father saw his son return. While the son was gone, the father was, no doubt, praying for his prodigal. What did he pray?

A dear friend of mine recently shared how she has been praying for her wandering son. She asked that the Lord would do whatever was necessary for God to get his attention - even to the point of physical injury. Then as she pondered her prayer she was afraid the Lord would harm her younger child in order to get to the prodigal, and she became terrified at what could happen.

When we get so desperate for God to work, it's easy to forget that we don't have to figure things out. God isn't waiting for us to tell Him what to do. What He's really wanting is to allow this trial in our child's life to draw us closer to Him. We must realize that we need this trial! It makes us depend on God in a way we've never had to before. While we're pouring out our heart for our prodigal, it's drawing us nearer to the heart of our God. We must pray, remembering that God will act out of His goodness, His mercy, and His love. Pray and trust - don't worry.

Let me end by reminding you of some truths that you may have forgotten right now:

You are not alone in this difficulty.
God hears you when you pray, even though you don't see the fruit of your prayers right now. Keep praying.
God loves your child more than you do. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
God will do what is best for your child and you can trust Him.
Hold the line biblically. Don't back down in order to win your child. Let God do His work in their heart.
Let your husband lead you. Women are often too emotionally attached and need their husband's wise leadership. Don't try to take over.
Don't be so ashamed that you can't ask other believers to pray for your child. Prayer is what they need most.
Saturate your heart in the Word daily - it's what you need most! Read and memorize Scripture!

Because I care,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-12-26T06:00:00.004-05:00

What a terrific Christmas we had! We had the blessing of having our older daughter, Whitney and her husband Paul with us, as well as my mother-in-law. How thankful we are to celebrate with family and share the joy of our Savior's birth!

What's been cooking in the parsonage? Well, on Christmas Eve I made:

Sausage Balls

Country Ham Biscuits

Avocado Dip

Corn Chips

Fresh Veggie Tray

Assorted Cookies

Christmas Day's menu:

Country ham

Herbed Turkey breast

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Corn Saute'

Pear/Blue Cheese Salad

Angel Biscuits

Peppermint Punch/Iced Tea

Kentucky Derby Pie

Custard Pie

I'm sure it's the same at your house - everybody requests their favorite dishes or desserts. My mother-in-law made the comment after we ate - "All that cooking and baking for days, and it's over in an hour." But if you really love to cook, and you enjoy pleasing your family, it's truly a blessing. I enjoyed the preparation as much as sitting down with my family to share it together. The other truth is that we've been enjoying the fruits of the work for many days now and we'll enjoy the leftovers for many days to come!

I ordered the ham from a special place in my hometown - Winchester, Kentucky. It was sliced up in nice thin pieces, perfect for the ham biscuits on Christmas Eve, and also for serving as the second meat at Christmas dinner. It's not overly salty at all, but tender and delicious!

We had the added blessing, just as dinner started, of getting a quick phone call from Alli in Antigua! How sweet to hear that she's having a blessed Christmas day. They were headed to the beach for a picnic! Serving the Lord has many grace blessings along the way! Whitney, who is missing her little sister very much, was the one that got to speak with her during dinner (we'd had our chance on Christmas Eve). The phone call did not stop the rest of us from digging in! =) Her call reminded me of this verse: As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25 How true.

The tablecloth on my table was given to me recently from my mom. It's been in our family since the early 80's when they lived in Georgetown, Kentucky. Each Christmas, whoever was there for the meal would sign their name and draw a little something - kind of like a guest book. Then my mom embroidered over it, and it now serves as a keepsake from year to year. This was my first Christmas to possess it and we had a good time reading the guest's names on the cloth. Then we each took our turns writing and drawing for this year's remembrance. It's up to me now to embroider over the pencil markings. I love this and am thankful to keep the tradition going. Thanks, Mom!

If you're going to have a New Year's Eve party and want an easy and yummy dip, try the Avocado Dip here. It's by Kraft and is so easy and so good! Also, the sausage balls are an old recipe that I hadn't made in years, but they are always a hit. They're great for breakfast, as well as an appetizer.

Avocado Dip

2 medium sized Avocados, peeled and mashed
1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbl lemon juice
1 Tbl finely chopped onion
Dash Worcestershire sauce
pinch Salt

Mix cream cheese and avocado until creamy and smooth. Add remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips. Keep refrigerated.

Sausage Balls

1 lb sausage, room temperature
10 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
3 Cups baking mix

Mix sausage and cheese. Add baking mix, one cup at a time. Make into golf ball-sized balls. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes or until browned. Serve warm.

It was a blessed Christmas, indeed. I'll share some other photos with you on Wednesday. Tell me about your Christmas. What made it special this year?

From my parsonage Kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-12-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

One evening this week I was in a store and I overheard two couples who were friends and had bumped into one another in the aisle chatting.

"How are you doing?" one woman asked.

"I'm worn out, just like everyone else at this time of year!" came the answer in a disgusted tone of voice.

This woman looked and sounded like Scrooge. "Ba-humbug!" She had let everything crowd in on her instead of focusing on what was most important.

Today is Christmas Eve's eve. How are you feeling, friend? Tired? Stressed out? Overwhelmed? Has there been so much busyness going on that you're just ready for Christmas to be over with? If so, can I encourage you to take time today to just stop and be still? Refresh your heart for Christmas by getting your Bible and finding a spot to be alone with the Lord, perhaps in front of the Christmas tree. Open to Luke 2 and slowly read the Christmas story. Ponder what sights and sounds you would hear as you join the shepherds on the starry hillside. Would a cold wind be blowing through the stable where Mary and Joseph were caring for baby Jesus? What baby-like sounds would come from his mouth? Can you hear Him? Think about the awe of stooping over the manger to peek inside, and rejoice as Simeon and Anna did at His coming.

The devil would love for us to be so sidetracked with our preparations for Christmas that we never stop to behold the Babe. Be refreshed in your heart and your Christmas spirit by spending time adore Him. You'll leave that place ready to finish things up with a right heart and a sweet attitude. A crabby woman at Christmas isn't such a pretty package!

Merry Christmas!

With love,

Finding What's Lost

2011-12-22T06:00:00.023-05:00

This past Tuesday morning I was in a mad search through my house looking for some money that I had lost. It's not like me to lose things, but the truth is, I could not think of where it would be! I had opened a stack of mail and piled the envelopes on the coffee table. Then I remembered taking the empty envelopes to...THE TRASH! It seemed very logical that I had also dumped the cash that was in my hand into the trash with the envelopes. And so my sweet husband went out (on his own kind initiative) and got the trash bag from the day before, and proceeded to sift through the coffee grounds and banana peels until he found the stack of envelopes. However, the search came up empty. No cash. ~sigh~

I tore the house apart, straightening drawers in the process of looking for the currency. As I searched, the Lord brought to my mind the parable I had recently read in my reading through the Gospels; it is the parable of The Lost Coin in Luke 15:8, 9 What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? While I was looking high and low, the Lord was speaking to my heart about my lack of diligence to look that fervently for sinners that need the Savior. It was very convicting. I fail at this over and over again.

Meanwhile, the search continued and I decided that I would go to the trash and have another look - just in case my husband had missed it. Ooooo, nastiness and filth! The trashcan? You've got to be kidding me? I am not a dumpster diver and have no desire to begin now, but this was a valuable loss and I needed to find it, so I, too, fingered through the bag of trash we had recently disposed of...piece by piece. Nothing but trash was found.

I heard the Lord's voice in my heart as I came inside...Would you be willing to get dirty to give the Gospel to someone? Would you do what you normally would not do so that someone else might hear the Truth? Wow.

I continued to pray that the Lord would reveal the place where the lost money was. In a last ditch effort, I had retraced my steps from the day before, then decided to head across the hall to Allison's bedroom, which is of course vacated in her absence. As I neared her dressing table, I looked with disbelief. There it was, tucked underneath some Christmas cards that had come for her. I began calling to my husband, "I found it!" You can't imagine the relief and the happiness at the discovery!

Then, once again, a verse from the parable came to mind - And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. What joy there is in seeing a soul saved! There is rejoicing in heaven as well as on earth!

It really doesn't matter how that money got to that dressing table; I know the Lord allowed it to teach me a very real lesson. I need to give a more desperate search for sinners that need my Savior.

I don't know if you've ever lost something of value and scoured through the house looking for it, but it is exhausting (and dirty) work! May you and I go after lost souls with at least as much earnestness, and then come rejoicing when the lost has been found! Christmas lends itself to many opportunities to share the Gospel with others. Ask the Lord to make you aware of those opportunities and to see the "lost coins" that are all around you.

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-12-21T06:00:00.012-05:00

This is what Christmas inside the parsonage looks like this year. Come on in for a look around...

Let's step into every one's favorite place to gather - the kitchen!

Here's my little skinny kitchen tree decorated with cookie cutters

My plate rack holds my Christmas dishes. Here is also a beautiful Christmas potholder
made by one of the dear ladies in our church

Part of my snowmen collection is here on my kitchen shelf.

I love this sign about hearts going home for Christmas...it's so true!

A friend gave me this sign not knowing I have an affinity for snowmen!

Now, down the hall to the guest room... it's really the only bedroom decorated for Christmas,

but its colors are perfect for it!

Love my little vintage-looking tree in the guest room.

Here are the Christmas touches in the living room.

I tried adding lots of white things in here this year.

The porcelain booties is the ornament we got to remember our Ashley who has enjoyed Christmas in heaven
with Christ for 24 years!

Love the battery operated lights I got at Michael's!
They've been in several different arrangements since summer!

The piano acts as my mantle in the living room. Love this snow girl! Isn't she cute?!

The Christmas tree reflects into the mirror on the piano!

My talented mom painted this. I hang it above the piano during the winter months. ~Love~

This is the foyer table in my entryway. The guest book is awaiting your signature!

Know what we'd say if you came to visit?

Thanks for stopping by!

From inside my "Christmasy" Parsonage,

The Reason for Every Season

2011-12-20T06:00:00.010-05:00

I'm sure it's always been an issue that people tend to get so busy at Christmas, that they don't focus on what Christmas is really all about. I remember when the saying

Jesus is the reason for the season

became really popular. It was on lapel pins, church signs, platters, cards and plaques. The rhyming sentence made us refocus, if but for a moment, so we could reconsider and, if necessary, restructure our activities and make much of Christ. He is indeed the reason for the season of Christmas.

As we celebrate this week, we need to keep that focus on Christ uppermost in our hearts, not only now, but also as the holiday passes and we move on to a new year. We can't forget that because Christ came as a baby, He is the reason for EVERY season.

He is to be our focus in the season when we are young women. It is Christ Who gives strength to youth. Our energies are to be poured out for His glory.

He is to be the center of my marriage. His love for me is my example in loving my husband.

He is to be our focus in the season of motherhood. He is the reason we train our children.

In middle age, the Lord makes the changes that come changes that can be accepted and even embraced, knowing He has a plan for my life - and for my grown children.

As we age, we find ourselves thinking more about eternity and heaven, and a relationship with Christ makes the golden years reminders of what is awaiting us when we will see our Savior.

He is the reason for the season of grief or rejoicing, trouble or joy, prosperity or financial struggle.

Whatever season of life you find yourself in today, remember that Jesus is the reason for your season of life! He will supply for you. He will guide you. He will sustain you. He will empower you. He will work in you...because He's the reason for even this season. Rejoice in that truth today!

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

We celebrated our first of two Christmases that we will have this year. Because Allison was heading out on a mission's trip to Antigua (they left this morning), we had an early celebration with her this weekend. Only the Lord could work out all the details of:

allowing her to have the opportunity to go on a mission's trip, which all happened last minute
provide so that she could still accompany our choir's cantata on Sunday
Allow us time together as a family

We had a sweet time together enjoying all our family traditions, while rejoicing in our hearts that Christ's birth has such an impact in our everyday lives. It is because of Him that we do what we do. He is the center of our home and hearts, and nothing is more fulfilling!

Saturday night I tried a new dessert - Toffee Cheesecake Bars from my Dec/Jan issue of Healthy Cooking, put out by Taste of Home. Who doesn't love cheesecake? But seriously, if you want to try to eat healthy, one piece can have more calories than you should take in in a day! These bars have 169 calories and 9 g fat! They are super simple to put together, and they are DELICIOUS!

Toffee Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cold butter
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups milk chocolate English toffee bits, divided

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, cocoa and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until set.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup toffee bits. Pour over crust. Bake 18-22 minutes longer or until center is almost set.

Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

Sunday dinner had to be on the table quickly because Allison and her sister (who sweetly brought Allison home), had to get on the road to get Allison back to Greenville for a commissioning service early Sunday evening. I found another new recipe in the Healthy Cooking Magazine to try for our dinner that could be made ahead of time. I made Provolone Ziti Bake. I assembled it all on Saturday, then popped it into my oven on Time Bake so it would be ready when we got home from church. We all really like it. I'm always happy to find another recipe to add to my Sunday menus!

My Menu:

Provolone Ziti Bake

Mandarin Orange Salad

Parmesan Toasted French Bread

Toffee Cheesecake Bars

Provolone Ziti Bake - The changes I made to the recipe was to use half the noodles, but still two cans of tomatoes. I also used the Fire-roasted variety for a little more flavor. It made a full 8x10 dish!

Provolone Ziti Bake

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (28 ounces each) Italian crushed tomatoes
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup dry red wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 package (16 ounces) ziti or small tube pasta
8 slices provolone cheese

Directions

In a Dutch oven, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, water, wine, sugar and basil. Bring to a boil; remove from the heat. Stir in ziti.

Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour. Top with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 4-6 minutes longer or until ziti is tender and cheese is melted. Yield: 8 servings.

I love this Mandarin Orange Salad! It's a nice change from a standard tossed salad.
I've shared this with you before, but thought I'd add the recipe again.

Mandarin Orange Salad

Dressing:
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/2 cup oil
1 tbl sugar
salt and pepper to taste

3 3/4 oz. slivered almonds
2 tbl sugar

1 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions w/tops
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained

Combine vinegar, oil, 1 tbl. sugar, salt and pepper in bowl; mix well. Combine almonds with 2 tbl sugar in skillet. Cook over low heat until sugar melts and almonds are coated and light brown, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature. Combine lettuce, green onions, celery, mandarin oranges, and caramelized almonds in salad bowl. Add dressing at serving time, tossing gently to mix well.

I'm sure your kitchen has been as busy as mine with Christmas just around the corner. What kind of yummy things are you baking and cooking? I'd love to hear about it!

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about holidays are the traditions that go with them. They create special family ties and memories that can't be replaced by anything electronic! They will long be remembered by your family with, "Remember how we always..."

One special tradition that has special memories for me was at Christmastime when my mom would purchase a taper candle and make 25 notches in it to mark each day in December, counting down to Christmas. Each night at supper, we would burn the candle to the next notch. It was such fun to have the flickering candle on the table and watch to see that it didn't burn past its allotted mark. My sisters and I would take turns blowing it out each night. We knew how close Christmas was, simply by seeing how small the candle was getting with each passing day! I carried this tradition to my family as well, maybe more for myself and the sentiment it brought. I trust my girls remember it with fondness as I do.

If you're looking for a fun tradition, why not find a short taper candle (since it's more than half way through the month) and mark it for the remaining days 'til Christmas? Not only does it create a memory for your family, it also provides family time at the dinner table. You could also use the flame to create conversation about Jesus, the Light of the world. Perhaps each evening you could also read some Scripture about Christ's light and explain what it means.

Family times need refreshment, and a great way to experience that is with traditions - maybe even a new one! By the way, this isn't just for children, a couple, young or old, could hold this same tradition and make special memories together.

What traditions do you hold or remember having?

Be refreshed,

Terrific!

2011-12-15T06:00:00.015-05:00

Last weekend I had the joy of taking my four and five year-old Sunday school class to the nursing home where we sang, recited a poem, and then my husband gave a short Bible challenge to a group of the residents. Here the children are getting ready to sing. Are they precious, or what?

While they were singing, one of the sweet female residents came in, and with each step she took closer to the children she said, "This is terrific! Terrific! Terrific! You're terrific! He's terrific!" Then she walked up to each child as she made her way down the line, cupped their face in her hands and said to each one, "Pretty, pretty, pretty!" The children were so kind to her and weren't afraid. I think it was due to her sweet nature. It was apparent that she was in this particular locked down area of the nursing home for a reason, but I have to tell you, I have thought about that dear lady all week. You know, some people grow old and crabby, but this sweet lady had obviously spent her life looking for things to praise, and now that she didn't quite have all her mind, she was still in that same attitude!

While reading through Luke 15 this week I found over and over the words joy and rejoicing. Verses 4/5 say, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Verse 7a -I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.

Verses 8, 9 say Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Verses 23, 24 add - Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Heaven is a place of joy and rejoicing. Jesus has joy and He came to give us joy. He said in John 15: 11- These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. We may think we have reason to be downhearted today, but that's not what Jesus wants for us! Joy and rejoicing should be a part of every day for the believer. If there's nothing in your life to be joyful about, look to heaven and rejoice over sinners coming to Christ. Rejoice in the birth of Christ. Rejoice in the coming of our Savior - it will be soon! Rejoice in the things around you that are "pretty, pretty, pretty!" Encourage others by telling them how "terrific" they are!

The truth is, we will be what we have been becoming. Will you and I be "little old ladies" of praise? If so, we better be praising now. Take a look around - things really are "terrific!"

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-12-14T06:00:00.010-05:00

Every year when we put our Christmas tree up in the parsonage, my husband and I, together, hang the ornament that says, Our First Christmas, then we exchange a kiss. It's a tradition that we've held all these 30 Christmases.

This side of the ornament reads - "Christmas is the season for sharing the spirit of Love"

However, last year Our ornament had a little fall onto the hardwood floor and broke. ~Sadness~ We were able to glue it at the bottom (notice the crack in the bottom of the ornament in the picture above). From that side it doesn't look too bad - just a little flaw. But...

the other side had major damage that wouldn't hold together with glue. Its ugly fix is a piece of scotch tape that's bridging the huge gap with the jagged edges. There was NO WAY I was going to throw that piece of sentimentality in the trash! We'd shared too many memories with that piece of glass! The simple answer is to turn the taped side to the back of the tree! Who will know? (Only my sweet blog readers!)

I think our ornament is a pretty good representation of all marriages. At times it looks great to all that behold it. Oh, there may be a little crack somewhere, but that's to be expected. After all - each spouse comes into that relationship with all kinds of extra baggage and it takes time and true love to work through those things. But if you flipped that marriage over and gave it a closer inspection, you may see a huge hole due to some very hard crisis that has hit their home. They could throw the whole thing in the trash and get a divorce, but they know that the Lord has put them together. So now, with the "tape" of God's Word, His love forgiveness, and maybe also His servant that gave some godly counseling, they've stuck together. There are scars, but those will be overlooked in time, both by one another and those that watched while they suffered through the hardship.

Every marriage has cracks, and though yours may seem to be bigger than another couples', stay in it for the long haul. With the Lord's help get the "tape" necessary to keep your relationship secure. Our marriage is no different than yours, it has cracks from falls over the years, but what a blessing that we can still "hang" together!

From inside the parsonage windows,

Lights That Shine

2011-12-13T06:00:00.015-05:00

One day last week my husband and I were driving through a neighborhood. As we passed by one home I could see many, many lights in the yard. There were white cords hanging over bushes and fences, as well as brown plugs and extensions dangling from the rooftop like loose teeth in a first grader's mouth. There was nothing attractive about it. As we drove past, I considered what I had just seen, and knew that in a few hours when darkness fell, that little shabby house with the tangle of cords would be transformed into a twinkling fairyland.

What a vivid reminder that illustration is in our spiritual lives. What looks to us like a tangled, ugly mess and arrives in the form of trials, troubles, disasters, difficulties, hardships or confusion can be turned into a thing of beauty when the darkness falls. It's not until things get truly dark that our light can shine. When we show our trust in the Lord and His Word in the midst of hard times, no longer is the mess seen because our light is shining instead. Ye are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

What are others seeing in our lives...the mess of the dangling cords? Or are they seeing our light that points them to the One Who is able to make beauty from ashes? That will only happen if we are reacting to the trials with trust in our sovereign God. That doesn't mean we don't have questions, but even in the midst of asking the Lord what He wants to teach us, we must be nodding with the understanding that whatever He is up to, He will make it beautiful in His time. While we wait, though, we can let our lights shine!

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-12-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

We weren't in the parsonage this weekend, but I had the blessing of having Sunday dinner in my sister, Sharee's home yesterday! My husband and I got to go to Kentucky where we attended church with my parents, then had dinner with Sharee afterwards (while her poor hubby was at work missing out!). The meal was so good, and served in a lovely way, but the best thing was sitting around the table in the comfy chairs talking and laughing for a nice long while. Family times - they're rare...and precious!

Sharee found a new lasagna recipe a couple of years ago that is now her favorite. It came from Southern Living (their recipes are always keepers!). It was delicious.

One thing I like about being in someone else's kitchen is learning about new/different products. She served a tossed salad and offered a Balsamic Vinaigrette by Ken's that I am going to have to look for; it was a nice change from the creamy dressings I usually have on hand.

Her menu:

Classic Lasagna

Tossed Salad

Rolls

Peppermint Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce

Lovely and so good!!!

Sharee told me that one time-saving method in this lasagna recipe is the way they tell you to cook the noodles; you pour boiling water over the noodles that are in a 9x13 pan and let them set for 15 minutes. How easy is that?! She also likes the recipe better using small curd cottage cheese instead of the ricotta cheese that it calls for. This was really good lasagna. If you need a little boost to your old standard recipe, this would be a great replacement!

Thanks, Sharee, for a great recipe and a wonderful, relaxing afternoon!

What was cooking in your kitchen this week?

With love,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Think for a moment about what the entryway to your house looks like right now. I don't mean "the company door" that's seldom used, but the door you and your family frequent when you return home. Is it the door off the garage? A side or back door that no one but your family uses? At our house, we have a door that opens up from our bedroom onto the driveway. We use that door most because of its easy access and good lighting. I realized the other day that it could use some sprucing up.

It's easy to pop a pretty wreath onto the front door, but neglect the door that's probably used more than any other - the one that welcomes your family home every single day. On this Friday, why not step out there and take a look around and then take a few minutes to freshen it up.

Have the fall leaves been swept away?
Do you need a new welcome mat? After all the most important people in the world come through that door!
Have you placed a Christmas wreath on that door?
Does that glass need a good cleaning?
Can you add a decorative touch that will show your family you care - or just make you smile when you arrive home?
If the door is in the garage, is there clutter around the door that needs to be ~~pitched~~ addressed?

Here are a few pics of what I did to our side entryway yesterday...

It's a little hard to see because the sun was shining so beautifully, but I hung a Christmas decoration on the door with a little sign included that says, "Home sweet home".

I added my old milk delivery box with some greenery, pine cones, bow, and a yard lantern
that will glow and give us a little light for entry at nighttime.

Here's a closer look at the milk box.

So, what will you do to freshen up your entryway?

See you in church!

Be refreshed,

An Appointed Time

2011-12-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning I woke up with an old memory very fresh in my mind. I was reminded of a day when I was a 13 year-old girl living in Winchester, Kentucky. I had gone to my bedroom to hang my jacket on the hook on the back of my door. I tilted my head back and lifted my arms to raise my coat up, and when I did, the sour ball candy that was in my mouth slid down my throat like a speeding bowling ball on a well-greased lane. I couldn't cough, gasp or breathe. It was STUCK in my windpipe.

I ran into the kitchen where my mother was getting ready to cook supper. I pointed to my throat, unable to make a sound. I was frantic, of course, and she couldn't understand exactly what was going on. I bent over and pointed at my back while motioning for her to hit me to try to dislodge the candy. Beating did no good, of course, but now understanding that I was choking, she told me to put my hand down my throat and try to dislodge what was there. At this time I was picturing the ambulance that would inevitably have to come and take me to the hospital because of my inability to breathe. Desperate, I did what my mother said, and stuck my hand down my throat to try to move the obstruction. Miraculously, my finger touched it, got behind it, and then sent it sailing across the room. Air! It seemed like an eternity since I'd had any.

What relief my mother and I both felt, realizing that things could have gotten very serious in just a matter of minutes. That experience did two things for me -

It made me turn down any round candy ever offered to me after that!
It made me realize the truth that until God is ready for my life to end, He will leave me here.

The flip-side of that is also true - when God is ready to call me home, nothing will keep me here. Our days are written in God's book. " It is appointed unto man once to die" Hebrews 9 says. That's why we must each be sure that we know Christ as our own Savior; it could happen in a moment.

I'm sure the reason the memory of my choking was on my mind is due to the many in our church family that have recently suffered some sort of physical trauma. It's frightening to see a loved one go through something like this, to see them on the brink of death, wondering if each breath will be their last. We need to be reminded of the Truth that God is in the heavens and will do what pleases Him. Whatever that is, it will be good. It will be just. It will be right, because He is good, just and right.

You and I can trust Him today for our life, and the lives of those we love. None of us will leave this world until God so ordains, and on the day that that happens, it will be His perfect plan, complete with His sufficient grace.

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-12-07T06:00:00.009-05:00

When I was growing up I had a Santa mug similar to the mug pictured on the right. It was so special when it was brought out, because it meant it was Christmastime! I enjoyed my milk or hot chocolate every day in my special mug.

I carried that tradition to my own family. We have special Christmas mugs that belonged to each of us. You didn't dare drink your coffee out of the "wrong" mug in the morning! =) We also had Christmas plates and bowls that we used throughout December.

The tradition of dishes at holidays wasn't restricted only to Christmas. The girls also had Brambley Hedge dishes that their Nana got them that they always used on their birthdays.

Summer for Allison's August birthday

and my favorite - Autumn for Whitney's September birthday.
(I keep forgetting to give this to her, but I will some day! It just looks so cute in my fall display!)

I even have plates with a heart in the middle that my husband and I use in February for Valentine's Day!

Dishes are a great way to make family traditions and create special memories. Use the same bowl for Family popcorn night, a special turkey platter at Thanksgiving and Christmas, or a snowman tray for Christmas cookies Those dishes will build treasured memories that will stay in the hearts of your family longer than the Christmas gifts lasted. Those pieces of ceramic or china will be something they can pass down to their children - if not in a tangible way, at least in their hearts.

Do you have dishes that carry a special memory for you?

From inside my parsonage windows,

Christmas Hospitality

2011-12-06T06:00:00.007-05:00

Last years' tree

Is it "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" at your house? I don't have my tree up yet, but I did get out all my other decorations. Taking a look around my home I see greenery, white lights, pine cones, bows, wreaths, nativity sets, snow globes, snowmen, candles, berries, stockings, and small trees. Our houses get "decked" out at this time of year, don't they? What better time than Christmas to invite folks over? Need a couple reasons why? Read on...
1. When you've gone to so much trouble to get everything sparkling and gleaming with decorations, you've already taken care of getting the house ready for guests!

2. There are usually enough snacks and treats in our kitchens to fill the neighborhood - so go ahead - fill the neighborhood! Invite your neighbors over!

The Lord brought this idea to my mind yesterday. We're going to pass out invitations to our neighbors for a drop-in party. I'll serve cookies and punch and we'll have the opportunity to have them in our home and share the love of Christ.

3. Christmas is the perfect time to share the Gospel. When you have guests in your home and you're in your own surroundings, it will be easier for opportunities to share the Gospel to open up!

4. We are commanded in Scripture to be hospitable. Hebrews 13:2

I've been studying the second chapter of James, and the last half of the chapter goes into deep discussion about how faith without works is DEAD. Yep. It's as lifeless as my stuffed snowmen. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26 One of the best ways to show our faith is to be hospitable to others. Verse 15-17 says, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Since we are alive in Christ, we need to show it through our works, and hospitality is a wonderful way in which we can do that. Here are some great links for clever get-togethers at Christmas. These are fun and creative! This link has ideas like "Ugly Christmas Sweater party" or a Gift-Wrapping party. How fun that would be! Don't keep it easy and invite only your close friends and family - invite new people at church, your neighbors, or lost co-workers.

Want to be like Abraham, who was called The Friend of God? Demonstrate your faith to others. Be hospitable today. Watch the blessings that come from it tomorrow.

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-12-05T06:00:00.020-05:00

The best thing cooking at the parsonage yesterday was sweet fellowship and warm memories! We had the blessing of having dear friends visit us; The Blevins, from our ministry in Indiana! Being with them and reminiscing made me even more excited about heaven! Think of all the, "Remember when God did...?" that we will share with one another! There will be no time constraint, either! Wow! We had a great time with our friends talking about blessings of salvations, growth and what God is doing now. it made me realize once again the fruit that comes from sharing the Gospel. It was wonderful! How blessed we are that they made coming to see us a part of their vacation! Please come back, Blevins'!

We got to have them in our home for dinner - another blessing! Here was my menu:

Baked Almond Chicken

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Corn Pudding

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Quick Yeast Rolls

Chocolate Sheet Cake with Mint Ice Cream

This normally succulent chicken dish was a bit overcooked because I didn't take into consideration that we were having communion at church, so the service lasted longer. It was a great service; the only thing that wasn't blessed by it was my chicken! I don't think I'll make this on Sunday again, but normally this is a really elegant chicken dish!

Baked Almond Chicken

1/2 C all purpose flour

1/3 C plus 1 T butter or margarine, melted, divided

1 tsp celery salt

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp pepper

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1-1/2 cups whipping cream

1/3 C dry bread crumbs

3/4 C sliced almonds, toasted

Place flour in a shallow bowl. Combine 1/3 C butter and seasonings in another bowl. Coat chicken with flour, then dip in butter mixture. Arrange in a greased shallow 3 qt baking dish. Pour cream around chicken. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes.

Combine bread crumbs and remaining butter; sprinkle over chicken. Top with almonds. Bake, uncovered, for 5-9 minutes. The recipe recommends serving this over pasta, which would be really good!

This is a bit blurry, but I had to zoom in so you could see one hot out of the oven. This is when these yeast rolls are best...oh, and with butter!

Quick Yeast Rolls
1 Cup boiling water
1 tsp salt
6 T shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg yeast dissolved in 2 T lukewarm water
3 1/2 C flour
1 egg

Combine boiling water, shortening, salt and sugar in a bowl. Cool to lukewarm. Add egg, yeast mixture and half of the flour. Beat well and then add rest of the flour. Roll out and shape in rolls. Place in greased pan or muffins tins. Let rise 1 hour and bake at 400 degrees 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

After the dough has risen, I cut each roll out with a cookie cutter so they are the same size, then...

I cut each circle into thirds and roll each piece into a ball, and place them into the muffin tin to make clover leaf rolls.

Have you made a Texas Sheet Cake? It's one of my favorite chocolate cakes! However, I found a recipe for it in my Cooking Light Cookbook that tastes exactly like the standard recipe, with less fat and calories! Please try this if you love chocolate cake!

I've found this cake keeps best in the fridge. As soon as you pour the icing on the warm cake, pop it into the fridge uncovered until the icing hardens, then cover it with Syran Wrap.

I also like this cake because it feeds a crowd. I made dinner for friends on Saturday, so this cake made plenty for us and plenty to share!

What have you been cooking in your kitchen? Did you have guests for dinner recently? If it's been a while, start praying about whom the Lord would have you invite over. You'll be reminded that it is truly a blessing to serve others.

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-12-02T06:00:00.006-05:00

What a beautiful embellishment a bow is on a package or wreath. I attended a Christmas Memories class at a lovely shop here in Johnson City yesterday and watched as the instructor immensely changed the look of a wreath simply by changing out the bow. It adds "that final touch," doesn't it?

As we plunge into the Christmas season, maybe we need to be reminded what a lovely embellishment a Christlike spirit is to the world. Oh, that people would see the Lord in our actions and responses, hear Him in our speech, and learn of Him by our conversation. Without Christ we're just like a plain brown box with no bow. But when we reflect Him, our life shines like the lights on the brightest Christmas tree in town!

I've had so many tell me they struggle with bow-making, so I thought I'd refresh your Friday (and your packages and wreaths!) with a lesson. I hope you can see the steps clearly. I made video tape, but with the way the video responded on yesterday's blog, I ditched that idea! So, here are step by step pictures for you. Grab a piece of wired ribbon and try to make one as you follow the steps.

Begin by leaving a "tail" hanging down

Scrunch up the ribbon and pinch it between your thumb and index finger.

Take the non-tail end and make a small loop around your thumb. This is the little loop in the middle of the bow. Add it to the ribbon between your thumb and index finger.

Just a shot of scrunching and pinching the ribbon between your fingers.

Take the long end and make your first loop by moving the ribbon away from you to the back of the bow. The bigger the loop, the bigger your bow will be. Scrunch and pinch between fingers.

Now make a loop on the other side the same size as the first loop.

Keep making loops - first on one side then the other side. Hold that ribbon between your thumb and index finger!!! =)
Make an odd number of loops. I made 7 on this bow.

Using wire, a pipe cleaner (for wreaths) or ribbon for packages, insert down in the middle of the first little middle loop, then bring it around to the back.

Twist or tie tightly.

Cut the ribbon so that the tails are even.

Fold the tail in half and cut up at an angle to get the "V" shape.

Here's my ugly bow before FLUFFING! See how all the loops are on the sides? Move them around so that some are on top, sides and bottom. Like this...

Pop the wire in the ribbon open so the bow fluffs out. Look at that beautiful bow! Yay for you!!!

I asked my husband to sit down with a piece of ribbon and read my instructions and try to make a bow (he's such a good sport!). He told me he'd make a bow because he's my "beau." =)

Here's his first attempt to ever make a bow (ok and probably his last)...

What do you think? I give him an "A"! I know he's still going to use gift bags and tissue paper this Christmas, but hey, he proved my point - anyone can make a bow! (Thanks, Honey!)

So how did you do? If you have questions, leave them for me on the comments and I'll try to help!

See you in church!

Be refreshed,

Clever Food Gifts

2011-12-01T06:00:00.008-05:00

Following our Bible lesson Monday night, we had demonstrations of how to wrap food gifts for Christmas. See the table behind me in the picture below? Notice how it's covered? I did that because the ladies that did the demos had so many beautiful things on that table, I knew no one would hear a word of the lesson! Wait 'til you see what was under there! You'll understand!

Candy cane centerpiece, barbeque items in an oven mitt, tiny wreaths made from greenery wrapped around a mason jar lid...

Kitchen towels around purchased bags of bagels with jam added on top, tiny bread wrappers made from card stock, "gum-ball machine" made from a painted clay pot and saucer and a clear glass bowl.

Movie night gift box, snowman microwave popcorn covers, cake pops, and a roll of cookie dough wrapped up to give because "we can all use a little extra dough at Christmas!"

In Christy's hand is a cleaned-out water bottle. Cut off the bottom 1/3 of the bottle, wash, then use as an individual cupcake holder. Cut a circle of cardboard slightly bigger than the bottle to fit into the bottom. How cute is that?

Here's a close-up shot...

These adorable cupcakes are made from washcloths! You could use this for a hostess or bridal gift as well as Christmas, and include spoons and whisks.

Here is a little video clip of Christy showing how to roll the washcloth into a cupcake...

I am so grateful to Christy and Linda for their hard work on preparing all the lovely gifts to show us! What fun that was! It is my prayer that as we learn about having the quiet heart like Mary, we will then, with the right attitude, be able to serve like Martha. I pray this inspires you to get a little crafty in your kitchen and give someone a food gift this Christmas that will show them how much you care.

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-11-30T06:00:00.007-05:00

I have been on a search for a new desk for myself for quite some time. My current desk, put together from K-Mart several years ago was wobbly from being scooted around during room changes! Those bolts don't take well to being tugged on over and over. I need furniture that has a sign "will travel" because that is indeed what it will do at my house!

I knew what I was looking for...it had to be the off-white shabby chic kind of furniture because it would be standing in my living room. I needed a little more table space than I had on my old desk, but it couldn't be massive. A couple of drawers would be nice. It needed to fit into my limited budget. Up until last week my search hadn't been too fruitful. Then, I was wandering through TJ Maxx (where else?) and was in a random department - not the furniture - and looked up and saw this gorgeous desk against the wall. As soon as I saw it I knew I had found the look I wanted! It met all my requirements! Now, to see if the price was right. Yes! Even $50 under! Take a look...

It's Broyhill - a good brand that will easily hold up to being moved around! So now when I sit down to work on my blog, this is where I am seated! It's perfect, and it was worth the wait! Isn't the Lord good? Now, on to the perfect chair!

Do you have a particular item you're shopping for?

Seated at my new desk in my parsonage,

P.S. Tomorrow I'll be posting pictures of all the fun food gifts that were so cleverly wrapped and demonstrated for us at our ladies' fellowship. You won't want to miss it!

"Lord, Don't You Care?

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

Last night I had the blessed privilege of teaching our monthly ladies' Bible study. The title of the lesson was, "Lord, don't you care?" How easy it is to ask that question at a time when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances.

When you consider the prophet Elijah, you see in I Kings 19 that as soon as he had experienced victory over the prophets of Baal, Jezebel made a threat on his life. After blessing comes battle! Now instead of trusting God, he had a

1. Distracted Heart - A wrong focus made him run for his life! All he could see was Jezebel. He no longer saw his omnipotent God who had just sent fire from heaven. Martha in Luke 10 was distracted by her sister, Mary. I wonder - did Martha even hear Jesus and the disciples come in her home? Or was she so busy clanging her pots that she never heard his knock, the shuffle of their feet, their call of “Hellooooo?” What is distracting you from hearing Christ’s voice? He wants to speak to us each day, but we allow the distractions that the enemy sends to muffle the sound of His voice.

2. Discouraged Heart - Wrong thinking made Elijah want to die. "What good am I anyway? Just take my life, God!" Elijah was thinking wrong thoughts. He was basically asking the question that Martha asked Jesus, "Lord, don't you care?" Yes! God cared. We read in I Kings 18:46 that "the hand of the Lord was on Elijah." Where God puts a period, let no man put a question mark. "Your hand is on me, Lord?" Elijah was thinking. "Then why is this woman chasing me?"

We do the same thing when we read, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." "You love me, Lord?" we ask. "Then why is this happening in my life?" We become discouraged when we don't think right. Discouragement feeds off isolation. Elijah left his servant and went on alone into the wilderness. It is our inclination to isolate ourselves when we need fellowship the most. Many people will attend church and church functions less when they really need it more! God proved His love for us when He sent Christ to die for us. Romans 5:8 We really don't need more proof, but because God deals with us and draws us with lovingkindness, He shows us His love through many means. The Lord may be using this simple devotional to remind you that He hasn't forsaken you, and that He does love you!

Now Elijah falls into the last trap of the devil, that of a

3. Doubting Heart - Wrong beliefs made him doubt Truth. Elijah told God what He was thinking - "I'm the only one left!" Martha told the Lord what was on her heart too, "I am left alone to serve!" As we bow in prayer, we should tell the Lord what we're thinking, so He can tell us the truth about our situation. The Lord told Elijah there were 7,000 that hadn't bowed the knee to Baal. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part. God asked Elijah in I Kings 19:9 "What are you doing here, Elijah?" The Lord asks us that too when we are doubting. "Why are you here? Why are you not believing the Truth? Are you believing that what you're doing doesn't count? That your children will never turn to the Lord? That God isn't hearing your prayers? How did you get here? God hears the prayer of the righteous. He is not willing that any should perish! It is God that works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. That is the truth! We must stick around long enough to hear God answer us. Don't bail out too soon!

Focus on the Lord. Be encouraged. Believe the truth!

Later this week I will post pictures of the demonstrations that made up the second half of our time together. There were so many creative ideas...wait 'til you see!

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-11-28T06:00:00.004-05:00

I love digging in my recipe box! I come across recipes, some clipped from magazines and newspapers over a span of thirty years, some handwritten, that I ~~begged~~ asked great cooks for. My box is as full as ol' Santa's belly after a Christmas Eve of cookies. It's almost like a little scrapbook of places we've lived and friends and family that are far away. If I ever need inspiration for my weekly menu my box is the best place to start.

I found this great recipe in my recipe files last week. It came from a dear friend I met at family camp at The Wilds many years ago. This is the perfect main dish for Sunday because you cover it then bake it for 2 hours with no stirring or fussing needed. That's why it's called No Peek Chicken! It's super fast to put together too, which is great for a busy Sunday morning!

No Peek Chicken

4-6 Chicken breasts, cut in quarters (you can also use a cut-up fryer)
1 small box of wild grain brown rice (original)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of broccoli soup
1 can water

Place chicken pieces in bottom of a glass baking dish. Mix rice, soup and water. Pour over breasts, then sprinkle with the spice packet from the box of rice. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours. No peeking!

Alli was home for Thanksgiving and got into a "baking mood" over the weekend. She had found a wicked brownie recipe online that she wanted to try. These are chocolate and peanut butter heaven! Oh my! Here's the recipe:

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies – adapted from The Food Network

Brownie Layer:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Layer:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Ganache Layer:

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup coarsely chopped salted peanuts, optional

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8 by 8-inch pan with cooking spray.

Brownies: microwave the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwavable bowl at high power until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Stir until combined, then mix in the vanilla extract. Meanwhile, beat the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and add in the chocolate mixture. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and chocolate chunks. Spread the brownie mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out clean, about 22 to 28 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes.

Peanut butter cookie dough: Add the butter and brown sugar to a large bowl and mix until creamy. Mix in the milk and the peanut butter, then stir in the flour and salt. Spread the peanut butter cookie dough evenly over the cooled brownies.

Ganache: In a small microwavable bowl, microwave the dark chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream, uncovered, on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Continue stirring until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Spread the ganache over the peanut butter layer and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Refrigerate until the dough and ganache are set, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares and arrange on a serving platter to serve.

Now, if that's too fattening, here's a low-fat recipe Alli tried. I doubt you could find a simpler brownie recipe! These only have two ingredients! They're moist and chocolaty!

Devilish Pumpkin Brownies (you won't taste the pumpkin!)

1 Box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin (not pie mix)

Mix these two ingredients and place into greased or paper-lined tins. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 min. Check center with toothpick.

That's some of what's been cooking in my parsonage. I'll bet something tasty has been cooking in yours too! Have you tried a new recipe, or revisited an old one that you hadn't made in a while? I'd love to hear about it!

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-11-25T06:00:00.002-05:00

Congratulations! You survived Thanksgiving! Are you worn out from the preparations or the travel, shopping and visiting of it all? What you need is rest. Easier said than done, huh?. I know. But with the holiday in full swing now, we all need to make sure we're getting adequate rest.

To refresh your body and prepare for the even busier days ahead, why not schedule an early bedtime in the next night or so? Write it in on your calendar if you need to. With it getting dark so early now, it's easy to pull on some comfy pajamas, and get into bed at least by 9:00. Make the bed cozy with pillows to prop up in so you can read for a while, or watch a good Christmas DVD before you nod off. If you have little ones, this shouldn't be harder for you than those that don't have young children. Put them to bed, then head there yourself!

You'll be a better woman in the morning for having gotten some extra winks. The dark circles will be less visible and you will feel rested and of course...refreshed!

See you in church Sunday!

With love,

2011-11-24T06:00:00.005-05:00

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A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-11-23T06:00:00.024-05:00

Books were a very integral part of my growing up years, therefore, when I became a mother, I wanted my children to also have a love of good books. I began reading to my girls very early in their lives - as a matter of fact, I read to them before they were born!

When they were infants, I would hold my girls in my lap, a book in front of them, and read the story while letting them see the pictures. Hence, both of my daughters have grown up with a love for reading. We read at playtime, after supper, before bedtime, and often several times in-between!

There is one book that we read for many years and was always associated with Thanksgiving; it was, Amy's Goose, written by Efner Tudor Holmes and illustrated by the infamous illustrator, Tasha Tudor. It is the story about a flock of geese that come each fall to the same farm as they are headed south for the winter. The little girl, Amy, that lives there, has come to consider these geese as "her geese." She could hardly wait for their return each year.

"Dinner seemed to Amy to be taking unusually long. Ordinarily she loved sitting there in the dining room with all three of them together, and the candles casting soft shadows on the warm wood-paneled walls. The room smelled of freshly baked apple and pumpkin pies. But Amy's thoughts were with the geese out on the moonlit lake. Her geese, she thought. They had remembered, and had come back to her again!"

This little girl finds that one goose is sick and nurses it back to health, then struggles to decide whether to keep it on the farm or let it be free. It is a sweet story of love and surrender.

I can't resist each Thanksgiving of getting out our copy of Amy's Goose and setting it on the coffee table. It speaks as loudly of family time for the Cunningham's as Tom Turkey in the middle of the dining room table does for others. As we sat together in those early years to pour over the pictures and words of our books, we were also pouring into one another's lives, and it knit our hearts together in a way that no other form of media really could.

Though the story tells of love and surrender, when I see Amy's Goose, I think of love and togetherness, because that's what that book and many, many others created in our parsonage home.

Do you have memories of reading in your childhood years? What are some of your favorites?

From inside the parsonage,

Every Moment is a Gift

2011-11-22T06:00:00.023-05:00

Take a deep breath. I'm serious. Inhale. That is a blessing! Swallow. That is a blessing. Did you eat today? Another blessing. Do you have sight, smell, the ability to walk, work, and laugh? All blessings. I've experienced them all today, and I've learned that they really aren't so little. What if they were all taken away tomorrow? We would have wished we had been more thankful - that we had taken time to tell the Lord how grateful we were for the ability to live a somewhat "normal" life.

After watching one of our dear church families lose all of this on Sunday after a meal, as a result of getting choked on a piece of meat, it's been very real to me that we have so much to be thankful for every single day. The people with whom we live, those that we love, can be taken from us in a matter of minutes. Do we verbalize our appreciation for them? Or do we only talk about the frustrations they bring? If we knew they'd be gone, or even changed forever in the next hour, how would we live differently right now?

I don't mean to sound so sober, but you know, when you watch someone else face death, it makes life sober indeed. I have been thinking a great deal about the Lord's many undeserved blessings in my life. I thank Him for my own salvation, for the godly parents that brought me up with a knowledge of God, for my sweet sisters, who not only shared my home, but my heart. I have a husband that loves me, daughters that are such a blessing to me, a church family that others covet, and you dear readers of this blog! I won't enumerate here in this post all the other things for which I'm grateful, but I will mention them to the Giver while on my knees in prayer. I am so very blessed!

Oh, may I not grow apathetic and ungrateful for the smallest of blessings that all come from my great God's hands. This moment is a gift...and this one...and this one. Have you told Him thank you?

With a grateful heart,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

After a church service on Sunday, what's better than coming home to the smell of dinner in the oven? Not much! I'm only going to share one recipe today (due to a very busy day yesterday), but this is a real "go-to" dish. The reason is that there are a minimal amount of ingredients necessary, they're very common items, and it's super good, yet, it tastes like a fussy kind of recipe!

Delmonico Deviled Chicken

This picture doesn't do the chicken justice. My cameral died and I don't do very well using my husband's fancy camera! ~sigh~
The chicken was golden and crispy...pure yumminess!

2-1/2 to 3 lbs chicken, in quarters - you could also use thighs and breasts, as pictured above
4 T butter, softened
1 T prepared mustard
1 T vinegar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t cayenne, or to taste (I use about 1/8)
1 C bread crumbs (I like to use Panko bread crumbs, found with the Japanese food)

Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken in shallow roasting pan. Mix all ingredients, except bread crumbs - will be like a thick paste. Rub mixture on topside of chicken. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake 45-60 minutes, or until juices run clear.

To prepare this on Sunday, I use bone-in chicken and baked it at 300 degrees, covered.

Please give this a try...it's so simple and delicious! I served this with roasted potatoes drizzled with olive oil and fresh rosemary, and peas. The chicken turned a simple supper into something a little more special!

What's been cooking in your kitchen?

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-11-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Take time to play!

There's just something plain ol' fun about playing games. It takes your mind off the stress you dealt with today and allows you to laugh and enjoy someone else's company (unless they skunk you, of course! Just kidding!). As pictured here, I often leave my Scrabble tiles out on the coffee table in the living room (see the bowl to the left with the rest of the tiles?). They're not just for decoration, but also so we can play a quick game of "Take Two". It's the fast version of Scrabble that's played without a game board.

Each player takes 7 tiles and proceeds to use them all up making intersecting words on the table in front of them. The first person who uses up their seven tiles says, "Take two!" and each player adds two more tiles with which they must incorporate into their crossword. You can reconfigure as needed. Contractions and proper nouns are allowed in this version, making it easier to be successful coming up with words with your limited resource. When all the tiles are used, everyone reads the words they've created, points are counted and a winner is declared!

Another fun thing to do is leave a jigsaw puzzle out on a table somewhere. This is fun to do on Thanksgiving. People can just stop and work on it for a while. If you leave one out for several days, it's fun to just stop for a little bit and de-stress yourself by spending time putting a few pieces in.

So, take time to play and see how it refreshes you!

See you in church Sunday!

Be refreshed,

Take the Next Exit!

2011-11-17T06:00:00.005-05:00

Interstate travel is a very popular route for people who don't want to travel the backroads and be slowed down by small towns and stop lights. However, it can be tricky to watch the signs that enable you to take the correct exit so you will actually get to your destination, rather than "timbuktu".

There have been times that I've been driving on the interstate, then realized, with a sinking heart and a backward point of my finger that the exit we just passed was the one I was supposed to have taken. After a long speech from Nigel, (the voice on my GPS) who repeats over and over that I need to "make a U-turn", I finally find myself turned around and headed to the place I should have been much earlier. It's a frustrating situation, to say the least!

But you know, there is another experience of missing to take an exit that's not only frustrating, it's downright dangerous! Proverbs 16:;17 says,

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.

Here's my paraphrase of that verse -

If you're traveling life's highway and you encounter evil, take the next exit!

Evil is usually in the form of temptation first. This verse is a reminder that a godly person won't keep cruising along with evil lurking - they get away from it! They know that they must get off the interstate of temptation and make a fast exit!

One way to do that is to simply get away from whatever is tempting you. Be like Joseph who ran out of the room where Potiphar's wife was tempting him. He ran so fast he didn't even bother gathering his coat!

Another way to do that is to set up hedges of protection so that you will avoid the temptation that could be lurking. Think ahead of time of what you must avoid. For instance:

I will never be alone with a man, other than my husband. This will include being alone in a room, a car, office, or home.
If I send an email, Facebook message or text to a man, I will include my husband's address as well so that it is not a private message.

The list could go on, of course; those are just a couple of examples. The reason we would set up hedges like these is to avoid temptation. You may say, "Oh, that's silly! It's only so-and-so! I would never fall for a sin like that!" That's when we are most at danger. I Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

After these previous precautions are taken, we must be on the alert for evil that could present itself when we're unprepared. On the recent broadcasts of Revive our Hearts this week, the guest, Julie Peterson, said that a male friend of hers gave her a two-second hug that sent off an explosion of emotions inside her. Rather than fleeing, she allowed the feelings to continue, allowed the contact with this man to increase, and soon found herself in an adulterous relationship. If she would have "taken the next exit" and removed herself from him and the temptation, she wouldn't have the regrets she has today. We must be on the alert, then distance ourselves, if we are to remain on the highway of the upright.

Have you set up hedges that will protect you from potentially sinful situations? Will you be wise and flee temptation when it is at your door? Don't be foolish and think you can play with sin. Instead, remain upright and take the next exit!

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-11-16T06:00:00.004-05:00

I'm going to share a story with you today - it's one of my favorites, because it's about how my husband and I met and fell in love. I've tried to look back to see if I've posted this before, and I couldn't find it in the search engine. (After writing almost 800 posts, it's hard to remember everything I've written about!) If I've already told you "my story" please pardon me, and then allow me to tell you again. Sit back, friends; this is my version of Cinderella, sans the glass slipper.

It was 1979 and I had a scheduled interview for a secretarial position, as well as kindergarten teacher position at a Christian school in Sumter, SC. I was seeking God's will for my life, and this was the open door that I'd asked for. I met in a conference room for the interview at the Christian university I attended with a Pastor Cunningham. While we were discussing the ministry and the possibility of my working at his church and Christian school, his son, Dale, came up to speak with him. We were introduced. No fireworks, no stars in our eyes...you see he was dating someone and so was I.

I got that job and was enjoying teaching the 5 year-olds. The next year I was asked to teach first grade. The middle of that school year Christmas break was over and I started back into second semester. I was busy with my life, and career, but not so happy with my dating situation. After praying about it, I felt the Lord would have me end the relationship. I did. Relief came and I was anxious to move on. The next day at school, while my children were lined up in the hall for restroom break, Dale walked in. He still had a few more days of Christmas break before he would head back to the university to finish his junior year. We had built a friendship over the time I'd known him, but nothing more. As we chatted there in the school hall, he shared with me that he'd called and broken up with his girlfriend the night before! I shared with him that I'd done the same thing! We laughed about it, then he candidly asked,

"Hey, would you like to go bowling tonight, just to have some fun?"
"Sure!" I agreed.

We did just that. We were just friends going out to have a good time and forget the past. He was so much fun to be with. He treated me with respect and gentlemanly courtesy. I was blown away with the thoughts I was having as I returned home from our date. I wrote these words in my journal that night..."I'm not in love or anything, but I believe I just went out with the guy I'm going to marry!"

The next day was a Friday, so I had to teach. That afternoon after I dismissed my children, I returned to my classroom only to find Dale sitting on the corner of my desk waiting for me. Be still my heart! What a lovely surprise.

"Last night was so much fun. Want to go out again?" he asked.

Of course I said "yes!". Again, we had a great time, just being ourselves and enjoying the freedom that brings.

The next day being Saturday, presented Dale with a dilemma about how he could see me. I wasn't in my classroom - I was in at my home where I lived with my roommate, Debby. Should he be so bold as to come knock at the door? What if he wasn't invited in? However, it was his only option, so that's exactly what he did. I opened the door and said, "You're just the man we were looking for! Our vacuum won't work!" He suddenly became Mr. Hoover himself. (Many months later he told me all it needed was a new belt, but it took him a really long time to simply replace that small part!). Pretty sneaky!

After that weekend, Dale went back to school and we wrote letters, called, and made trips back and forth. Our relationship survived one breakup - but because it was the Lord that had started it, He saw to it that the wanderer returned! =) We were married in 1981, following a year-long engagement.

God is so good. He is faithful. He knows what He is doing. He knew that my interview would lead me to the one I was to marry. He guided my footsteps until they crossed the paths of my future husband. I have told "my story" to my girls many times as they were growing up. I wanted them to know that if they would "give the Lord half a chance" He would bring the right man into their lives.

A single girl doesn't need to finagle to get a guy. She doesn't have to throw herself in his path. God will do the work. All a girl needs to do is be a woman of honor and wait. I'm happy to say that our oldest daughter has confirmed that God has brought "Prince Charming" to her. They will celebrate their first anniversary next month! And after 30 years, I can say more than ever, I am blessed beyond measure with a husband that I could never have found. He was God's gift to me. It hasn't all been a storybook life, because we are both sinners, but I know this - Prince Charming has nothing on Dale Cunningham!

I know that there are many hurting marriages - Christian and non-Christian alike. God is bigger than your troubles, and He is able to make your marriage wonderful. Could I encourage you to listen to the series that is being played on Revive Our Hearts this week? It's the story of a couple whose marriage was beyond help, humanly speaking, but is wonderful today. I pray their story will encourage you!

From inside my parsonage windows,

Summing It Up

2011-11-15T06:00:00.004-05:00

Let's pretend that a poll is taken in the city or neighborhood in which you live. The question asked each person who lives near you is, "What do you know of (place your name here)?" What would the consensus be?

She's so...

Sweet!
Crabby!
Unpredictable.
Thoughtful.
like Christ.
negative!!!
godly.

Whether we realize it or not, people really do know what we're like, and they could probably sum it up in one word. In the sweet story of Ruth, we remember that Ruth, her mother-in-law, and sister-in-law had all lost their husbands. Ruth's love for her mother-in-law drives her to return to Bethlehem to be near Naomi, and to be enabled to worship Naomi's God.

As Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz, he addresses her and tells her what people knew of her. In Ruth 3:11 Boaz says, "all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." How did they know that? Ruth hadn't been in Bethlehem for very long. Ruth 2 says,

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

They saw how she treated others. Ruth was the "new kid on the job" when she came to glean in the field. She put others before herself and acted in humility. Do you treat others with respect and preference? Do you humble yourself to be taught by others who have more experience than you?
They saw that we was a hard worker. She worked from morning until evening, "tarrying little in the house." She didn't take long breaks. She knew there was work to do, and she stayed after it in order to make the most of her day. Are you thankful for the work you have to do, or do you complain about it? I'm not just referring to your job outside of the home, but what about housework, laundry and meals? Are your responsibilities taken care of with joy - or griping? If you do work outside the home, do you linger too long on break? Do you come in late? Do you take privileges you shouldn't?
They saw how she treated Naomi. There was love, tenderness, kindness, thoughtfulness, and humility. Hmmm, a good lesson for all of us who have a mother-in-law. We married her son. She gave us a precious gift! Are we thoughtful of her? When was the last time you suggested that your husband take his mom out for breakfast or lunch? She'd love to have him all to herself for a little while.Even if she lives out of town, encourage him to call and just talk with her. Do you remember her birthday, because your husband probably wouldn't? If she's up in years, do you care for her needs as much as possible? Perhaps just treating her the way you would want your daughter-in-law to treat you will help you respond to her with a special kind of love.

There are so many wonderful lessons in the book of Ruth, but stopping to think about our own reputation could change the way we spend today. Take a moment and consider the way you treat others, your work ethic, and the way you treat your mother-in-law. What improvements do you need to ask the Lord to help you make today? May all in the city know that we are virtuous women.

Written with love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-11-14T06:00:00.013-05:00

Church dinners make it really hard to know what to cook for Sunday dinner! We have so many wonderful cooks in our church, and so many of the ladies bring their specialty dishes to each dinner. Me? I'm still on the lookout for something better than I've made in the past, and so I make a new recipe instead. Crazy, I know. That's just me.

So, for the big dinner celebrating the 55th anniversary of our church, I made a new roll recipe, a new green bean casserole, a new rice dish, and a new dessert. The rice dish was just okay...I need to tweak it a bit. Every recipe can't be a winner, right? It is kind of embarrassing to take a failed dish to a church dinner, but hey, no one knows who brought it, so I guess I'm safe (or I was until I posted this on the Internet!) However, the other things were worthy of sharing with you...especially the simple and chocolaty dessert, but first comes the healthy stuff! =)

Who doesn't love a pocketbook...especially when it comes in the form of bread? I found this recipe in Southern Living...

Pocketbook Rolls

Come closer...

The dough can be made up to 24 hours in advance, then rolled out the next day. I love that! That cuts down on your work time when it's time to bake them. These are a nice little roll, fluffy and yeast flavored. An amateur bread maker could tackle this recipe easily. They make about 4 dozen, so if you're feeding a crowd for Thanksgiving, these would make plenty!

The Green Bean Casserole was also in the new issue of Southern Living. It's a lightened up version of the traditional green bean casserole. Instead of using Cream of Mushroom soup, you make up a white sauce with a few surprise ingredients added. It's very good! If you like the southern style green beans, I would suggest using canned French-style green beans instead of the fresh. A topping of Panko bread crumbs and the French fried onions give a nice little crunch on top.

Okay, you've read through the other recipes; it's time to introduce you to the most simple and yummy Fudge Pie! I've had the cookbook this recipe was in forever, and had never tried this until Saturday. Wow. This recipe will be my new go-to dessert when I need something made up very quickly! It mixes up in one pan in under 5 minutes - I'm not kidding. It bakes for 25 minutes. I worried that I had over baked it, but the inside was nice and gooey - like fudge! Yes, please.

Fudge Pie

1 stick margarine

1 square chocolate or 1/4 C cocoa

1 C sugar

2 well-beaten eggs

1/2 C flour (heaping)

1 tsp vanilla

In saucepan melt margarine and chocolate. Add remaining ingredients and pour mixture into greased pie pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 C chopped nuts. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes. Easily frozen.

This would be good served warm with a scoop of ice cream, or Cool Whip, as pictured.

You need to try this! Seriously.

What's been cooking in your kitchen, friends? I'd love to hear. Have you had any failures, like my rice? Any successes? Do tell.

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-11-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

I wonder how many weddings will take place tonight? With a date like 11/11/11 you know lots of gals jumped at the chance to have that as their wedding date! I mean, seriously, what husband could forget that anniversary? =)

Why not do something special with these numbers today that will refresh your marriage?

Eleven kisses at eleven o'clock
Eleven notes tucked around the house declaring your love and respect for your husband
Compare him to the Apollo 11
Make a list of 11 reasons why you couldn't live without him!
Make an acrostic - Write out "Eleven" and use each letter to describe things you love about him

This may seem trite, but it's the little things that we do each day that keep our marriages fun, bring in the unexpected, and make it better than it was yesterday! Refresh your marriage eleven times over!

If you come up with a clever idea, please tell us about it here on the Comments!

See you in church!

Be refreshed,

The Gift of the Church

2011-11-10T06:00:00.014-05:00

This Sunday my church, Boones Creek Bible Church, will be celebrating its 55th anniversary. To God be the glory, great things He hath done! While I was in Nova Scotia last weekend, I learned in a much greater way how very blessed I am to have my church. I've always loved it and been thankful for it, but I learned that not everyone has a church like mine.

My church has two full-time pastors on its staff. We own our own building and are completely out of debt. Our Sunday services begin with Sunday school for ages 2 on up, with a well-staffed nursery for the younger ones. Following Sunday school, we meet for worship, where a pianist, organist, orchestra and choir will accompany us as we sing, and will also participate in special music. My pastor/husband will preach in the main auditorium after the little ones are dismissed to children's church where workers will teach them the Word of God on their level of understanding. After a powerful message from the Word, we will be dismissed for the morning and look forward to returning that night where we'll hear another message from the Word. Tuesday nights offer the opportunity to CARE for others by means of a visit, phone call or card. Wednesday night we come together for a time of testimonies, songs, and encouragement from the Bible. The children will work on their lessons in Frontline Clubs and be taught "how to love and live the Bible." Some of our men will gather on Thursday night to play basketball in our gymnasium. This is for fellowship, exercises and evangelism. Once a month, the ladies meet for Bible study and fellowship. Often the Sunday school classes meet during the week for fun and fellowship. If a person took advantage of every service opportunity, in a month's time they could have met at the church at least 20 times to hear the Word and grow!

Many of the ladies that attended the ladies' retreat in Nova Scotia came from very small churches. There are not enough people to support a pastor full-time. Sometimes that means a church will go without a pastor for long periods of time, while they're praying for a man that is willing to come. I heard of one church that closed its doors during the summer months because there would only be 2 or 3 gathering during the vacation season - not enough people to merit them meeting. These ladies were so hungry for fellowship and the teaching of God's Word. They are very aware what a treasure these things are and they came with hungry hearts to hear and receive everything they could during those 24 hours together.

Do we really love our church like that, as well as the opportunities we have to meet together? How easy it is to make excuses and stay home, or to let things that aren't of equal significance to hinder us from meeting in God's house when we need to be there! Often, good pastors get discouraged because their own people, people who are God's children, do not avail themselves to the rich blessing of their own home church.

Last Sunday night after arriving home from Nova Scotia late that afternoon, I walked in Boones Creek Bible Church with a much deeper appreciation for that which God has blessed us. As I stand in our Anniversary service this Sunday and we sing, "To God Be the Glory," I will be thinking of those little churches in Canada that long just to have a pastor and fellowship around the Word. As I thank God for my church, I will be praying for theirs.

What do you love about your church? Are you availing yourself to its ministries and faithfully attending? If not, ask God to help you see what a gift it is, and get back into it this weekend!

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-11-09T06:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I wrote these words in my praise journal:

Home, sweet home. I loved getting settled back in yesterday; unpacking, straightening, cleaning, nesting. I love my home; this place that Dale and I share together. It is a safe haven from the world and we love being here together.

After just returning from a trip by myself to Halifax, Nova Scotia, it may sound funny when I tell you this, but I am very much a home body. However, I never want to get so comfortable here that I cannot pry myself away and go and serve my God. I want my life to count for Christ, and that will require ministry outside these parsonage doors.

It would be very easy for me to nestle into my home and busy myself every day doing what I wrote in my journal...and loving every minute of it. But there's a world out there that needs the Gospel. There are people - Christians and non-Christians alike that I could serve. That will not happen if I stay comfortable. So, this past weekend I packed my suitcase and headed to Halifax, where I had the rich privilege of speaking to a group of women who gathered for a ladies' retreat. First however, came the trip that would take me to the camp...

We rose at 2:00 am so that we could make the hour trip to the airport and get there an hour before my flight left Asheville at 5:30. God's grace was evident even in this, giving us strength to not only rise so early, but to also feel good while doing it! My first flight was a quick one that took me to Charlotte, my favorite airport. After a relatively short layover I headed to Newark Airport. All I can say is, "Wow." I felt like Dorothy on Wizard of Oz - "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!" It is a huge airport! People, ground trams and air buses were everywhere. The Lord is always my traveling companion. I am so aware of His presence, guiding me, comforting me, and getting me from Point A to Point B. I found my next gate and seated myself, armed with reading material to occupy myself until my next flight left.

As I was seated on an aisle, I was distracted from my reading with the people who were passing or waiting on their flights. My heart broke with a truth that was lived out in front of me -the people of today are absolutely consumed with this world and have no heart for God. I don't want to sound like Elijah who thought that no one but him was serving God, but all I observed were people absorbed with everything this world has to offer.

I watched one young family with two children come to be seated at the gate. The father got on his cell phone to (loudly) call his buddy, who was obviously taking care of their dog, as well as his business. Cursing words and ugly statements came from his mouth. His two sons were treated, I'm sure, with far less respect and love than the dog he left in the care of his friend. A group of young people had joined me on the air bus earlier when I was making my way to my terminal. Their words and actions were that of people who had been blinded by the god of this world. They are caught up in the snares, and cares of this world's system. Others rushed past my seat, headsets firmly in place, or cell phones buzzing and ringing, calling for their attention, and adding to the "noise in their soul."

I'm not suggesting that there's anything wrong with devices such as I've mentioned, but when they become a means, not of communication, but of distraction, it takes our hearts away from the God who loves us and desires to have a relationship with us. I sat and wiped away the tears that came to my eyes as I watched scores of people pass, who needed the Light of the World in their dark hearts.

God did give me some opportunities to share that Light with some, and I thank Him, but there are so many that are unreached, and I'm afraid I've been so guilty of being too comfortable to reach out and give them hope for their darkness.

I love my parsonage home, but I pray He never lets me forget the faces of those that passed me that need to hear the Gospel. Their hearing will only come by me getting out of my comfortable place and stepping into the world where they are. They aren't just in big cities at busy airports - they are in the houses across the street, they shop at my grocery store and I meet them in the quiet library. One is seated in the doctor's office where I wait and another stands behind the teller window at our bank. I must step out of my "Home sweet home" and minister to the "World, lost world."

For whom are you burdened? Are you willing to get a little uncomfortable and reach out to the lost that are around you? May we be willing to reach outside our own door and rescue the perishing.

From my parsonage window,

Finally...What's Been Cookin' in the Parsonage

2011-11-08T06:00:00.003-05:00

Okay, I'm feeling back to myself a good bit now! It required two naps yesterday, however! I think that means I'm getting old!

I can't wait to share with you all about my trip to Nova Scotia. That will come in pieces this week, but let me just say, my heart is overflowing with joy from the things the Lord taught me, the blessings He gave me, and the people He allowed me to meet. Speaking of which, I'd like to say hello to my new friends in Nova Scotia. None of you will be forgotten! What a blessing you were to me!

My poor little kitchen was cold and unused this weekend in my absence. How about yours? Has it been smelling wonderful while you've been stirring up some good recipes? Let me share a super simple recipe with you that I've been making for years. I hadn't made it in a long time, but when Alli came home from college recently this is what she requested. I'd forgotten how good these little gems really are.

Barbecue Cups

These are fast and super simple to make and kids love them (big kids too!). You will need:

1 pound hamburger
Barbecue Sauce
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 Can of 10 biscuits - I like to use a nice buttermilk or butter biscuit that will stretch into the muffin cup. The cheaper biscuits tend to shrink up.

Brown meat; drain fat. Add about 1/2 - 3/4 cup barbecue sauce to meat and stir to combine. Place biscuits in muffin tin. Make a well in each biscuit to hold meat mixture. Spoon meat into biscuit.

Bake according to instructions on biscuit package. Remove when browned. Sprinkle tops with cheese.

Does your family have a favorite that they often request? Is it a dessert? Main dish? Salad? Tell us about it!

From my parsonage kitchen,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-11-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

The only thing cooking in the parsonage today is a little rest. I got home from my trip to Nova Scotia yesterday afternoon... too late to get any computer work done. I know you'll forgive me for not posting anything today...I'll see you tomorrow and will share a recipe with you then. My pillow is calling my name. =)

With love,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we talked about being hospitable. Why not look today for a way to refresh someone else? Buy a small gift (a book, flowers, CD or gift card), make a batch of cookies, or stop by the bakery and grab a loaf of yummy bread and pop in and pay someone a visit and present your gift.

If someone stopped in at your door, wouldn't that refresh you? In refreshing others, you will yourself be refreshed!

With love,

2011-11-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

What exactly is hospitality? Here's my simple definition - Giving generously to meet the needs of another person. That could include a meal, a place to sleep, a cup of coffee, a listening ear. We must be sensitive to realize the needs of others and do what we can, (by God's enabling) to meet them.

People are just not into having people over any more! We’re all too busy to take the time, too worried that our house isn’t clean enough, or that we just won't measure up on some way, shape or form. We wonder how in the world we can fit one more thing into our schedule. Here's what Martha Peace said in her book,

“So where do we find the time to follow Mary to the feet of Jesus? Where do we find the energy to serve him?...Because we are his children, Kitchen service will be the natural result of Living Room intimacy with God. Like Jesus, we must be about our Father’s business. The closer we draw to the heart of the Father, the more we see his heart for the world. And so we serve, we minister and we love, knowing that when we do it to ‘the least of these,’ we have done it unto Christ.”- (Having a Mary Heart…pg. 10)

It's after we've had the quiet time with the Lord that we desire to serve Him. We don't desire to just stay in the living room - we want to look for others whom we could serve.

We are out to bless – not impress! Perhaps this one thought is the most important. Lay aside all the expectations of the Food Network and Martha Stewart and just set out to be a blessing and you are sure to accomplish that goal!
Let me share with you a few ideas to reduce the stress of being hospitable.
1. Do as much as you can as far ahead as you can. This one principle will give you more peace than you can imagine!

Set the table
Set out serving dishes
Prepare coffee pot
Make any dish ahead of time that you can
Slice vegetables for salads

2. Bake dessert – freeze

Cookie dough in rolls
Cookie dough in balls - freeze on cookie sheet, then place them in a ziplock bag
Brownies
Cake layers
Uniced cupcakes

3. Bake breads - freeze

Muffins
Crescent rolls
Sweet breads
Rolls

4. Make casserole and freeze

Lasagna
Chili or soup

5. Mix up salads (without dressing)

7-Layer Salad
Fruit salad with citrus added to keep fruit from browning
Frozen fruit salads

6. Keep some sweets in the freezer and keep boxes of snack foods like crackers in your pantry.

Angel food cake
Pudding mixes
Pound cake
Canned pie filling

7. Use your crock pot. Putting a meal in the crock pot will ease your schedule and allow you to do other things all day while dinner is cooking!

Put a turkey breast in the crock pot with Onion soup mix and a little water. Cook on high 1 hour and low for 7 hours.

8. Communicate – Talk to the Lord about your plans. Ask Him who you should invite over. Talk to your family. Talk to your guests. Do they have food allergies or restrictions?

9. Fifteen minutes before your guests arrive, sit down with a cup of coffee and rest! Pray and ask the Lord to help you be a blessing to your guests and demonstrate the heart of hospitality – To bless them, not impress them!

10. Turn on some soft music and light candles before guests arrive. Dimming the lights will make it cozy and hide any dust!

To whom would the Lord have you show hospitality? Consider:

1. Strangers - - Heb. 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares

new church attenders
new neighbors.

2. Fellow Chrisitans - Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
• Sunday school teacher/students

• Youth pastor

• Sunday school class members

3. Unsaved – Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

• Child’s teacher at school

• Co-worker

• Visitor at church

4. The Weary – II Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain

• Friend –Needs encouragement – New illness, stress, marriage problem, homeschooling mom…

• Missionary, Christian worker

• Evangelist

I pray this will encourage you to be on the lookout for someone the Lord would lay on your heart. Be like Onesiphorus...Paul said, "He oft refreshed me."!

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

I'm busy in the parsonage today packing my suitcase to head to Nova Scotia, Canada. I will be speaking this weekend at Forest Glen Bible Camp at their Ladies' Retreat! How unworthy I am for such a rich privilege, but so thankful for the opportunity! The Lord is so gracious to allow me to serve Him.

I'm flying out very early Thursday morning; my plane leaves at 5:30, so that means I have to be at the airport at 4:30, and must leave home by 3:30 A.M.! Yikes. I should've gone to bed on Monday and just stayed there! =)

How I covet your prayers for me. Would you pray for...

opportunities to witness on the planes
easy connections in Charlotte and Newark
safety
the women attending to have open hearts to receive theWord
clarity of thought and speech as I speak
physical strength and freedom from migraines

Thank you so much! I will tell you all about it when I return!

From my parsonage window,

Have a Mary Heart

2011-11-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Wow. Last night was our first ladies' Bible study for this year. Our book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Martha Peace, began with a very convicting first chapter. No easing into the idea that I really have a Martha spirit...no, we were all hit with the very ugly truth on the first night of our study - It's easier to be busy working than to sit quietly and worship.

My friend, Ethel Johnson taught our lesson and stomped so sweetly on my toes. She shared an acrostic using both the women's names - Mary and Martha, showing what they were really like.

Merciless
Argumentive
Restrained by earthly things
Temporal in thought
Harried
Angry

Meek
Avid to know Christ
Resting
Yearning to grow

Which list am I? Which are you?

Here are a few thoughts Ethel shared:

The world applauds achievement, but God wants companionship.

Make a list each day of things that need to be done, then give God the list. For example:
On Monday, do a general housecleaning.
On Tuesday and Thursday do laundry.
On Wednesday do the shopping, but don't do too much so you'll be too tired for prayer meeting.
On Friday clean again so the house will be ready for the weekend.
Don't do too much on Saturday so you'll be ready for the Lord's house on Sunday.
Adjust the schedule as needed.
Turn the television off. If Satan has your mind, he has won.

Jesus is the reviving waters we need.

Are we distracted by the electronics of this world?

Make spiritual application to each task you do. While washing dishes..."Jesus makes me whiter than snow." While doing yard work..."the grass withers, but the Word of God will never fade." Keep your thoughts on the spiritual things.

Have you taken time yet today to sit in the "living room" at Jesus' feet? Yes, there are many things to do today, but the most important is quieting our heart before Him and letting Him give us our orders for the day. Draw near and learn of Him before you put on your apron.

Here are a few pictures of our fellowship time that preceded our lesson in The Lost Art of Hospitality.

Acorn Donut Holes made by spreading a little chocolate frosting on the top of the hole, then rolling them in nuts or toffee bits, then adding half of a pretzel stick.

This was well liked!

Spiced Cider
4 cups cider
2 cups Cranberry juice
2 cups Orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. Allspice
2 sticks cinnamon

Combine and warm in crock pot.

Thursday's post will have the hospitality tips on it. If you missed the meeting last night, you can hear what we covered!

Who are you more often...Mary or Martha? Me? I relate to Martha all too well! That little attitude ~ mmmhmm. Thankful for God's grace!

With love,

What's Cookin' in the Parsonage?

2011-10-31T06:00:00.026-04:00

Cold fall and winter evenings call for yummy treats to enjoy inside around the fireplace or the game table. Here are a few treats that we love ...and that our church ladies will be trying at our fellowship tonight!

Microwave Caramel corn

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1 stick butter
1/2 tsp salt

Combine all of the above in 2 quart dish. Bring to a boil in microwave, then cook on full power for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in 1 tsp baking soda.

Place 3-4 quarts popped popcorn in a brown grocery bag. Pour syrup over corn. Close bag and shake. Cook in bag on high for 1-1 1/2 minutes. Shake and cook another 1 - 1/2 minutes. You may need to cook another 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Pour into a pan and cool. Be sure to shake part way through or popcorn will burn!

This is how I pop popcorn. It's so much cheaper (and tastier) than the microwaveable bags you purchase. Place enough popcorn in the bottom of a dish that has a lid. If you want butter, add a couple tablespoons when you place the popcorn kernels in the dish. Microwave on high until the kernels slow down to a few seconds between pops.

Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal
2 cups wheat Chex cereal
2 cups Honey Nut Chex cereal
8 oz. nuts

1. In small bowl, mix brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice; set aside. In small microwave-safe dish, microwave butter on high about 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in vanilla. In large microwaveable bowl, mix all cereals and nuts. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed. Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on high 5 minutes, or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute. Spread on waxed paper or a cookie sheet to cool. Store in airtight container.

**To ease the load of last minute prep, make the mix up to 2 weeks ahead and store in an airtight container.

This next treat is a low-calorie and low-fat popcorn. You can make it as buttery as you like it...

Parmesan-garlic Popcorn

2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn, buttered
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Place popcorn in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, combine the Parmesan cheese,garlic powder and parsley; sprinkle over popcorn and toss lightly.

Hope you'll try these easy to make snacks!

From my parsonage kitchen,

Freshen Up Friday

2011-10-28T06:00:00.003-04:00

Want to be refreshed today? Take this Advice from a tree. =)

Stand Tall

Act Naturally

Enjoy the View

Settle Down

Make yourself useful

Change your look for the season

Sink deep Roots. You never look stupid

by staying quiet. Learn to bend

Take what comes and make the

best of it. Drink plenty

of water. Recycle. Be

yourself. Take

the winter

off.

lllll

I'd like to give credit to the author, but I don't know who wrote this. It's good stuff, though!

See you in church Sunday!
Be refreshed,

Two Questions

2011-10-27T06:00:00.003-04:00

"So what's the big tadoo about being a woman of character?" someone may ask. The world says we are all a little good. Is it that hard to be a woman of godliness? And what about men? Is it any easier to be a man of strong biblical character? Let's see what Scripture says...

Proverbs 20:6b asks a noteworthy question, it says, "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" The implication here is that a man may boast about his ability to do this or be that, but when it comes right down to it, faithful men are rare! That question reminds me of Proverbs 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. This virtuous woman, this woman of striking character is also a rare gem! You don't find women like this in every house in the neighborhood! You won't find men like that in every business office or college campus.

Why are faithful men and virtuous women hard to find? I believe it's because it is hard work. It takes discipline to stay by the stuff when things are difficult; it takes no effort to quit. It takes strength to say "No" to sin; it's much easier to cave in to the temptation. Name any character trait and look at its antonym and it's understandable why a person could shake their head, shrug their shoulders and go the easy route. There's nothing to it!

The blessing of the pursuit of godliness is that we're not in this alone! "For it is God which worketh in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 The One Who is exemplary of character enables us be women of character!

We need to be encouraging our sons and daughters not only to be this kind of man or woman, but also to be looking for this kind of mate. It's easy to find someone to marry, but it's worth waiting to find a faithful man or a virtuous woman!

Who can find a faithful man, or a virtuous woman? They don't abound, but you and I can be one, all by His amazing grace.

With love,

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

2011-10-26T06:00:00.008-04:00

Enjoy the little things today;

in the future you'll realize the little things

were the big things!

I recently saw the previous saying on a sign. As I've contemplated it, I've realized that it is really true. When I think back to what I considered "little" things we've done in our parsonage, they would include such things as:

Kissing my husband good morning, goodbye, or goodnight
Reading a chapter in Proverbs every day
Having pretend tea parties
Setting a nice dinner table

All of us playing outside in the snow
Turning on good music during dinner
Saying, "I love you" whenever we talk on the phone
Making treats for each holiday
Family devotions after dinner
My husband reading the "Mandy" or "Little House on the Prairie" books with the girls at bedtime
Leaving notes for one another on the bathroom mirrors

These are all little things, but in the long run, they turn into big things, because they are what made our marriage and home strong, left each of us with sweet memories, and have enriched our lives for God's glory.

The "little things" you are doing today are investments in the lives of those that live in your house - including yourself! Keep doing them. Some day you'll see they weren't little at all!

From my parsonage window,