Snacks Spoil Meals

Was reading in my new 40 days in God's Presence devotional and got an idea for a blog post. As all Moms know, allowing kids too many snacks between meals spoils them from eating well at meal time. Even allowing one wrong type of snack can fill them up too much, especially young ones.

 

 



Well, it is the same for adults too. Both with food and with the God. Jesus said that those who hungered after righteousness would be filled. Often times we are too busy focusing on the world and material things and life's busy schedules and spending time in only things to please the flesh. When we are full of so many other things, we will not be hungry for the things of God. It is just that simple. Maybe we want to watch TV or a movie instead of reading the Bible, maybe we'd rather have a Saturday out than to go on visitation or help with things at the church, maybe we'd rather listen to worldly music than that which is pleasing to God, maybe we'd rather go shopping for ourselves or go out to eat than to help someone in need or give to a missions program. The list can go on and on. The point is that we fill up on "snacks" that are more than likely not healthy for us, which can diminish our desire for the real "Meal" of Godly things. True joy and satisfaction only come from that real meal! So, let us not substitute empty calories for those that will only add weight (that we are to lay aside because it will hinder our service and walk with the Lord - Hebrews 12:1) and keep us from being truly hungry for righteousness.

 

Just something to ponder. How's your appetite? Do you long for only the sweet stuff, the "junk" food, the carbohydrates instead of the good meat and protein that should come from God? Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.



Why I Love My Pastor

The man God gave me as a spouse

is a godly leader in our house.

He takes time to show he cares

and it's not just to put on airs.

He works hard to preach God's Word

so that doctrine is not blurred.

My heart and mind are always stirred

by the messages that I have heard.

I feel so very blessed, you see,

for God gave my husband as a pastor to me.

 

 

This was written to Bob in October of 2009 in honor of Pastor Appreciation month which October is!

 

I love you Bob Elfrink and I am delighted to have you as my pastor!



The Best is Yet to Come

At my daughter's wedding in June, she had my son sing the Christian song "The Best is Yet to Come" and play it on his guitar. He did a great job. It is my son-in-law's favorite song. Jenny was concerned that it wasn't really a wedding song. I sure feel it is. I also feel it is a song that truly represents Bob and me. Johnny sent us a cd of songs he had recorded of himself singing and playing guitar. (He is pretty homesick for Missouri lately - he lives in Texas) He put that song on the cd. I have listened to it over and over again. I like hearing him sing and play and hearing his voice makes me miss him a little less. Also, it reminds me of Bob and our life together. I love this time of year. Fall is my favorite season in Missouri but also for some reason I get sort of melancholy and nostalgic and cry easily at this time of year. I always miss things from my childhood and growing up years at this season. I really don't know why. I've been missing my grandparents, dad, and especially my mom lately. I have even been missing spending time with my crazy cousins who were my best childhood friends! I have tons of memories flood my mind at this time of year.

Anyhoo, that song reminds me that as good a life as I've had and as good a marriage Bob and I have had, I know that "the best is yet to come". God wants us to enjoy life and have peace and happiness and joy on this earth but someday in heaven is when the best will come. Some people get bogged down and stuck in the past. They mope and whine about what used to be and think that life will never be as good as it was then. These are people who refuse to trust God and look to the future and what God has in store for them. Sometimes, God does allow us to go through hard times and losses and trials but His love will always carry us through. One thing I learned long ago is that "this too shall pass" nothing on this earth comes to stay. It always comes to pass. Even this earth and current heaven will some day pass away. There will be a new heaven and a new earth where we who are saved and have trusted in Jesus as savior and the only way to heaven will get to live there FOREVER!

I'm looking forward to more adventure with Bob as long as God allows. My hope and prayer is that we will be right beside each other at the Rapture! I know the best is yet to come here on earth and someday in heaven.

Pressure Where Needed

Everyone knows that when you have a serious cut or deep, bleeding wound you should apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Now, if I cut my leg, I do not apply pressure to my arm. Nor vice versa. You apply the pressure where it is needed. This thought can be used in many situations. Here are some examples...

When it is time to discipline a child, a little pressure applied to the seat of knowledge is what is most often called for to stop the bad or inappropriate behavior.

When checking a person's blood pressure a device is used to squeeze the arm along with a stethoscope to listen for the heartbeat. When checking for a pulse, pressure is applied to the wrist or neck to feel for a heartbeat. The blood pressure cuff must be placed in the right spot on the arm to achieve a correct result just as the fingers must be pressed in the right areas to get the pulse. 

The reason that mason jars seal during the canning process is because of pressure and vacuums that are created during heating and cooling times. When those jars are sealed, they have a long shelf life and give you food for much later down the road. It is pressure that does it!

When a carpenter is building a frame for a house, it is the pressure applied from the hammer to the nail that helps to hold that frame together. He doesn't look at the nail and wish it into the wood. He takes a hammer and smacks the head of the nail which drives it into the wood.

When you are trying to get laws passed or changed you may need to apply pressure to your representatives and elected officials to get the results you are looking for. You apply pressure by calling, emailing or writing to those reps and officials and getting your friends and family to do the same thing. If only one person calls or writes, they may blow it off and not pay any attention because they think that only one person cares about that issue. However, if they hear from MANY people, they tend to take notice. They are elected to be YOUR voice. And, when they don't listen and vote against the majority of the people's voice anyway...it is time to remove them from office at the next election!

Don't sit around whining about the world and the unfairness of government and the craziness that is happening... Do something about it. Help to change it! Apply the pressure in all the areas it is needed...before this country bleeds to death and appeases itself out of existence.

Adventure

 

Adventure is out there.... If you have ever seen the movie "Up" you will know this phrase. I've been thinking a lot lately about life and the journey through it. While adventure is out there for those who seek it, there is also adventure in everyday life. I mean the average individual goes through so much in their life time it is down right unbelievable at times. Come on now, most people have things happen and experiences at different times in their life that you just can't make up! I love the movie "Up". It is funny and sad and the love shown through this old man for his wife is just sweet. She shows him in the end through her "Adventure" book (memory book) that her everyday life with him had been an adventure. (sorry if you have never seen it and I just spoiled parts of it but it is a must see anyway)

I was watching Bob the other day and smiling and thinking of all we have been through together for the past almost 27 years. It really has been an adventure. We have lived in four different states, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and now Missouri again. We have visited many other states, taken a trip to Hawaii and Cancun. Traveled across the country with our daughter from Washington state to Missouri. We brought two children into the world and raised them for God's glory and to serve him. I was told I would probably not be able to have children because doctors didn't think I could carry them due to a pelvic injury from a wreck. We got to watch both of those children get married this spring and summer and know that they waited for the one God had for them. It was very special to know that. God has allowed us to live out several dreams in our marriage by allowing us to have a farm in the country and horses and then guided us into the ministry. We have raised coon dogs, chickens, horses and now bees. We have built a house together (literally did our own contracting and much of the work ourselves ... like putting the fake rock on the fire place) We have been through surgeries, deaths of loved ones, been allowed to work for several years with teens at church (some days we sit and contemplate just what influence we had on them), been the pastor and pastor's wife of a church in Oklahoma, been on staff to learn more in Arkansas, Bob has taught in a Christian school, I learned the ins and outs of how a rock quarry functions, we have now been church planters for 6 years and are empty nesters. We have learned a lot, grown and changed a lot and I hope and pray we continue to do so. All this IS adventure!

It has been a roller coaster ride really. Who doesn't like roller coasters?! There have been many downs and I mean way way downs but many ups and high ups also. Roller coasters are fun with their fast moving twists and turns and hills and thrills. Our life together has been awesome! Fun, laughter, tears, scares, romance, excitement, joy...adventure! Are there things I wish we hadn't had to go through? Sure, some times were hard, very hard. But working in our garden and canning things together, learning about bees and honey,  and growing in our knowledge of God's Word and growing as individuals and learning more about each other every year and every day. Life has been an adventure. I don't feel the need to always be doing something that it is thrilling or exhilarating such as traveling, or mountain climbing or exploring a new land (though I'd enjoy that too) I'm content and feel that my life has been and is an adventure. Even though some days are "same old same old", there is actually comfort in that too. Familiarity is comforting...sustaining. In a world that is ever changing (and not necessarily for the better) it is comforting to have same old same old at my house with the man God gave me many years ago.

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/3 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
------------------------
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 T. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. sour cream
3 c. grated zucchini
1/2 c. nuts of choice chopped (I prefer almonds)

Glaze:
1 c. powdered sugar
2 T. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 loaf pans.
Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. In large bowl beat sugar, oil, & eggs. Mix in lemon juice, vanilla, & sour cream. Add dry ingredients. Mix in zucchini and nuts. Pour batter in pans. Bake 50-60 min or til toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 mins. then remove from pan to rack and cool.
Mix up glaze and drizzle over loaves.

***This is a very moist bread with great flavor!

Poem - I Am a Pastor's Wife

When he's just preached a sermon

And thinks he went too long.

It's my job to praise him

And tell him he is wrong.

"The message was insightful

And God has used you as His tool".

When no one comes at invitation

And he himself he blames.

I remind him of Satan's power

And the hard hearts he often claims.

"Just preach the word with fire

And let God bring them out of the mire".

When he goes out to win souls

And leads one to the Lord,

It's also my job to rejoice with him

And thank God for one more.

"See, God is using you right now,

So just keep your hand to the plow".

 

written 8/13/09

All wives have the job of supporting and encouraging and praising and reminding their husbands. However, the pastor's wife deals with a lot of discouragement to try to combat Satan. The pastor of a church is the only one that will be held accountable to God for how he lead the church. He has a lot to answer to God for which tends to make him question himself and seek for results. Often we won't see the results or fruit of our labor this side of heaven. He also answers to God for how he lead his family and there is a lot of pressure there too. With decisions we have made for Bob to make some employment changes (he is bi-vocational) I know he has concern in the back of his mind if it was right and will God bless and allow the decision to create the fruit he is hoping for. You pray and when you have peace in a decision, you just have to take the step of faith and do it. Sometimes we miss judge the peace we thought we had and things seem to fall apart but God is always working and moving and His plan is for good. He knows how to work it all for good even if it doesn't seem so at the moment. Anyhoo, I was going through my poems and this one jumped out at me as appropriate for this time in our lives.