Single gals? Beware your reputation!

Just this past week my husband and I were having dinner with another couple when the question was asked of us, "Are there any good young ladies in your church who are prepared to be married?" They knew several godly young men looking for wives. Each of the men were steady, dependable, dedicated men; a few of them had even, for a full year, spent one day a week in fasting and prayer for their future wife. 

 I wonder how many single women are aware that among their friends, acquaintances and church family that question is asked? Are the single women in the church purposefully living in such a way that a question like that can be answered in the affirmative? Are they living in such a way that their friends could answer—

Yes! We know a woman like that. She is committed to the Lord and has been serving him faithfuly for several years now. She controls her tongue, refusing to gossip or demean others with her words. The "law of kindness" is on her lips. She possesses the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," having chosen to trust the Lord through many difficult circumstances.

She is a faithful daughter and sister, making positive relationships with family members a priority. She cultivates a healthy body and good appearance, knowing that her body is the "temple of the Lord." She is an affectionate person, showing love in particular to those whom others often overlook. 

She is a hard worker, having chosen to be industrius during her single years rather than frittering precious time away on silly pursuits as many girls do. She can take care of a home effeciently as she has learned a wide variety of skills. She has kept herself in purity; instead of going from boyfriend to boyfriend (or even crush to crush) she has saved her heart for the man she will marry. She not only will make a wise and kind mother one day, but also an affectionate and appreciative wife.

Perhaps when you read the above description it reminded you of the "Proverbs 31 woman." I didn't write it with the Proverbs 31 woman in mind, though she does bear a strong resemblance to the woman I was thinking of as I wrote. It would be good, however, for single ladies to remember that Proverbs 31 was not written to married women—it was written to a single man from his mother. Proverbs 31 is essentially a single Christian man's wishlist for his future wife. While married women can certainly benefit from emulating the qualities found in that chapter, taken in context they are far more applicable to single women!!

A girl's reputation can spread much farther than she realizes. Does she speak negatively of others? Does she fritter her time away on worthless pursuits? Does she give her affections too freely? These things have a way of getting around. But positive things get around as well—does she live for the Lord? Is she kind to others? Is her word her bond? Does she refuse to gossip? Her reputation will precede her.

To my single sisters, what is your reputation? What are you known for? If the above paragraphs were written about YOU how would they have read? 


Live your life in such a way that someday when a fellow church member or acquaintance is asked the question, "Do you know any good women who are living for the Lord and ready to be married?" it can be answered with a resounding, "Yes! We do!!"

MamaDoll's Salmon Croquettes

This is a newer recipe to me, garnered from a recipe I got from my grandmother, MamaDoll. The recipe was found in the cookbook her mother gave her when she first got married--her only recipe book for years, and the only one she still refers to. I don't remember the name of the cookbook, the cover was laminated over because it had fallen off.

I'd never tasted Salmon croquettes before, but these are so incredibly tasty they are one of my favorite lunch treats. I will mix everything early in the week, and make a few croquettes each day for lunch. It is so tasty it only lasts a couple days!!

Salmon Croquettes

Salmon, 16 oz can (2 cups)
Onion, 1 tbs grated
Lemon juice, 1 tbs
Thick white sauce, 1 cup
Soft bread crumbs or mashed potatoes, 1 cup
salt, 1/2 tsp
pepper, 1/4 tsp
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Flour


Combine all ingredients except 1 egg and flour; chill. Shape into croquettes;

Beat second egg, dip croquettes in egg than flour and fry in deep hot fat (375-385 F) until browned. Drain on absorbent paper. Makes 6 servings.

My awesome husband, and the weather

I didn't have the 5 minutes to participate in Five Minute Friday this week, but my hubby did for the first time. Not only was what he wrote awesome, but it was about his wife. And that makes it even cooler. So hop on over to read what he wrote (it isn't long) and leave a comment to encourage him to  participate again!!

Whole @ The Gentleman Adventurer

Also, for any non-Texan readers I have, it's been crazy hot here. As in crazy hot. July was the hottest month on record, going back to 1895. The heat isn't showing any signs of letting up, either. Here's a snapshot my hubby took this week of the temperature gauge on the car.

Yeah. Did I say crazy? So we're stocked up on emergency rations of ice cream and staying indoors as much as possible.

Have a good weekend y'all, and stay cool!!! :-)

August Checkpoint

   It has been some months since I’ve posted an update on my reading for the year, so it’s time for some catch-up!!

  Since my last monthly checkup post I’ve read and reported on:
The One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven
Calm My Anxious Heart

I’ve also read:
A Love that Multiplies--Michelle Duggar
Discipline: The Glad Surrender-- Elisabeth Elliot

This month I’ve felt a need to dial back on distractions and focus very closely on God. As a result, my books for the month have been selected along that line. I didn’t even look at my master list until just now!! Oh, well. I suppose the point is more to be reading good books than staying to a specific list!

For this month I have a list of books I’m reading, but I will read as the Lord directs (in other words, this isn’t a race and I don't expect to read ALL of them). I will have more time to read, though, as I am cutting down on other distractions. So we’ll see what happens. My “August Library" consists of:

A Celebration of Discipline--Richard J Foster (already several chapters into this one)
Out of the Mouth of the Lion--Emma Leslie (About to finish, started last month)
Morning by Morning--Spurgon (This has a full year of short devotional readings)
The Power of a Praying Wife--Stormy O’Martin

(I'll start one of these two after--and IF!--I finish Celebration of Discipline)
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ--John Piper
Developing Your Secret Closet of Prayer--Richard Burr


The bulk of my reading, of course, will be out of my Bible. I started this month on day 110 of my Bible Reading plan. This month I want to more intensely focus on my goal of getting a wide view of scripture by reading large portions, so I will probably do more than one day’s worth of reading each day. The last few days I’ve been reading the first set of chapters in my morning quiet time, and then listening to a second set throughout the day. That is working very well. We’ll see how the rest of the month goes.

Baked Salmon

This is the first recipe I ever tried with salmon fillets, and it is the single recipe that I keep coming back to. It is very easy to make, and turns out splendid every single time. For the first 6 months of marriage I served this every weekend with fried onions and homemade potato chips.

I don't typically measure most of the ingredients as the recipe doesn't really need measurements. I'll give a few, though, for clarity's sake. All measurements are "to taste."

Ingredients

2 salmon fillets
1 lemon, halved (for juice)
2-3 tbs flour
1 tbs butter
Paprika
salt

Preheat oven to 350.

Place salmon fillets in greased pan, pink side up.

Squeeze juice of lemon onto fillets. I prefer LOTS of lemon flavor, so I prick the fillet a few times with a fork to allow it to hold more juice. My husband prefers less, so I don't prick his.

Melt butter and brush a thin coating over the fillets. Sift an even coating of flour over fillets. Sprinkle with paprika. Salt and pepper to taste.

 Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes until salmon is almost cooked through. Broil about 1 minute until the flour is browned. Garnish with lemon slices or wedges. Enjoy!!!

The Fight for Joy

The past three Tuesdays I have been looking at the issue of miscarriage and what we can do to help our loved ones through such a difficult time. I want to close that series by introducing you to another series written by my husband. This past Sunday he was invited to preach the morning service at our church. What started as a sermon ended as a testimony as he shared from  his heart what the Lord has been teaching him about fighting for joy in the midst of grief.  That sermon became this series of posts:

The Fight for Joy

Over the past three months I have been in a soul-struggle for joy and gratefulness. This has stemmed from dealing with deep loneliness as well as the death of my unborn son in June. Miscarriages are not uncommon (about 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage), but saying that and knowing that doesn’t make it any easier.

And the loneliness – well, the loneliness is something I have struggled with silently for the better part of my teenage and adult years. It comes and goes, but lately it seems like it’s been coming more than it’s going. And that is hard, when you are already fighting and losing the battle for joy in your soul – our souls are the battlegrounds in which the Christian life is fought.

This series of posts (and the sermon they came out of) is the heart’s cry of a man fighting against himself and against the world for joy. I haven’t beaten it yet. I haven’t won the fight. But I am fighting. And I want you to join me.

Post continued here

Audio version of the sermon can be found here

His mercies are new every morning

It's a new month, a new week, all rolled into one. I am so glad that God created the days, the seasons, for us to mark time by. Each time a season changes, a new month arrives, the calendar flips over to a new week, or the sun rises over a yet-untouched day we are given the opportunity for a fresh start. As I'm marking down my gifts this week, I am thinking most of the freshness of a new day, and what a gift it is simply to wake up in the morning and have to opportunity to give the day back to Him.

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“therefore I will hope in him.” (Lam3:22-24)

168. Excellent Sunday school lesson from my man
169. The Body of Christ, the healed wounded, praying for a wound to be healed
170. Peach cake
171. An evening at home—needed!
172. An engagement ring—searched for and found!! (and a soon-to-be proposal!)
173. Looking for a new home
174. Man grins
175. Family time with siblings
176. "Till we meet again" plans

177. Early bedtime
178. Fresh, new morning
179. Rain clouds!

180. Date night at the Olive Garden--a special treat

181. My favorite salad dressing

182. Waiting ended

183. Church additions, more souls

184. Kay, all stretched out thin in a TP roll

185. Books on the table, dreaming

186. A fresh start all beautiful

187. Time with my Lord

188. Dishes done, kitchen clean

189. Reading aloud as we travel together
190. Interesting patterns in homemade potato chips