Category: Home Front

11 Ways to Invite God Into Your Home

By Kathy Pollard

“Create a home that makes it impossible to not think about God.”

I’ve loved this quote for a long time and what a beautiful aim! How can we do that? Obviously God is already present, but here are 11 simple ways we can put out the welcome mat for Him:

  1. Saturate your home with His voice.

Keep God’s Word at the forefront. God wanted His people to talk about His Word at all times and to put visible reminders everywhere (Deut. 6:6-9). We can do the same by keeping Scripture visible (wall art, verses on the fridge, etc.) and by making it a natural part of our daily conversations.

2. Speak blessings in your home.

To “bless” is to praise, to speak well of, to honor. Let’s use our mouths to bless. Bless the Lord. Bless the others in our home. Bless fellow Christians. Bless our enemies (Lk. 6:27-28).

3. Glorify God.

I have friends who use phrases like “Thank the good Lord” or “God is good” and really mean it. It’s their genuine heart posture. What would it do for our homes to hear God praised? Speak of His goodness. Give Him credit for every good thing. Glorify Him in good times and in bad times.

4. Bring Singing into Your Home.

Don’t save it for corporate worship only! Singing has always played a major part in the history of God’s people. They sang when they celebrated (1 Sam. 18:6-7) and when God delivered them (Ex. 15:1-21). They had a whole book of psalms, many of which say, “Sing to the Lord.” Jesus sang with His disciples (Mt. 26:30). Paul and Silas sang in prison (Ac. 16:25). We still have reasons to celebrate and God still delivers. Singing strengthens our hearts, brings joy, and comforts our suffering. Singing reminds our souls of the joy of redemption (Ps. 71:23). Singing helps us remember biblical truths. And singing creates precious memories for our children.

5. Use your home to serve others.

Jesus demonstrated that we are here to serve (John 13). Opening our homes for Bible studies, hospitality, benevolence, card making, baking goodies for others, are all ways to show we belong to Him.

6. Fill your home with forgiveness.

God forgives us as we forgive others (Mt. 6:14-15). People who live together in close quarters must learn to truly forgive. And children learn about God through this vital gift.

7. Fulfill your role in the home.

The roles for men and women are God-given (Eph. 5:22ff). He designed the home. We honor God when we pattern our homes the way He wants and gladly assume the roles He assigned.

8. Pursue peace in your home.

Peace isn’t the absence of conflict. We must do our part to make amends, build communication skills, and create an environment that fosters understanding. The world is strife-filled. A home centered around God should look much different.

9. Try to make your home a taste of Heaven.

God’s presence. Joy. Safety. We look forward to these things in Heaven but we can also do our best to fill our homes with them, too. Let’s experience pure and happy things with our loved ones.

10. Cover your home with prayer.

Keeping God’s Word at the forefront is filling our homes with God’s voice. Praying is talking to Him. Mealtime and bedtime, yes, but also moments in between. Big moments and casual moments. What an impact it makes on children who see their parents with their heads bent together in prayer before work. We can pray on the spot with our children when they’re fearful or having a problem with someone. Talking to God should be a natural part of home life.

11. Give your home back to God.

Beginning and ending each day with a prayerful dedication of our homes to God will remind us that everything we do is for Him. Every sacrifice, every effort, and every act of unselfishness is for God because it’s His home.

Our homes truly are a gift from God. Our children should be able to look back fondly. Their friends should be able to tell a difference, not in a weird/ awkward way but in genuine love. Everyone here is valued and precious in the sight of God, and everything we do in this home honors the One who gave it to us.

“God, give us Christian homes. Homes where the Bible is loved and taught. Homes where the Master’s will is sought. Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought. God, give us Christian homes” (B. B. McKinney).

*Here’s the podcast version. Start at about 21:00 if you’d like to skip the personal chit-chat.

*Check out my monthly snail mail club for Christian women!

Blessings from the Barn

By Kathy Pollard

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds” (Prov. 27:23).

When we first brought our Jersey cow home, she seemed so BIG. I was supposed to walk her around the electric fence perimeter so she’d learn her new pasture boundaries. I was intimidated by her size and it made me nervous. What if she stepped on me or ran me over? In fact, everything about getting a dairy cow seemed big…the learning curve, the commitment, the investment. I laugh now at how green we were. We’ve learned much over the past 18 months, and it has been one of the richest experiences we’ve had.

We made the difficult decision to sell Peaches (for a variety of reasons) and it happened much faster than I anticipated. Now I’m looking at an empty barn and pasture and feel a big hole in my heart. And yes, I already regret letting her go. And yes, if I could, I’d bring her back in a heartbeat.

I wanted to call this “Ode to Peaches,” but I’m not a poet. So I will just share my thoughts, if you’ll indulge me.

It feels good to learn a new skill. While it was scary at times, it was invigorating to do something so completely foreign to our norm. We read a lot and asked a lot of questions, but the bulk of the learning came from the actual hands-on experience.

Community is essential. Our friend, Jeremy Waddell, knows cows. He made our venture possible by finding Peaches, teaching us how to milk her, and walking with us through every learning stage. In addition, we found that all the “cow people” naturally gravitate toward each other. It was fun having new conversations with new friends about our new adventure.

Commitment is doable. Peaches needed milked morning and evening, every day, rain or shine. We milked her through icy weather, thunderstorms, and tornado warnings. We milked her when our schedule was tight. We milked her on major holidays. We milked her when we didn’t feel good. We milked her when we already had a gazillion jars of milk. There were many times we didn’t really want to and also many times when we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to (like when the milking machine motor would freeze and refuse to start), but we kept at it until we figured it out. Because we HAD to. It didn’t matter how we felt or what was going on. We still had to milk Peaches.

My husband loves me. I had to add this one. Having a dairy cow was my dream. Neal not only had no interest, he was dead set against it. But when he finally decided we could have one, he jumped all in. He helped build our barn, paid for the cow, and learned the skills. It didn’t take long for us to discover that I’m actually allergic to hay (I had no idea!), so Neal ended up being the one to do the bulk of the daily milking. Peaches was my dream, but Neal became her farmer. He threw on the overalls (and looked good in them) and the Muck boots. I often heard him whistling while he was carrying in the large, full milk pail. And when things got hard or the weather got bad, he didn’t complain.

The reward is sweet. Oh, fresh creamy milk is the very best! There’s nothing like it. We had straight-off-the-cow raw milk in our coffee every morning. We took dozens of jars to friends and family. We felt RICH with all of our wholesome milk, made all the sweeter by the fact that she was our cow and we were bringing in the fruit of our labor. The commitment was worth it.

Neal and I often talked about the life lessons we learned in the barn. We even considered writing a marriage book based on it because there were so many correlations: commitment can be hard, you can focus on the sacrifice or the blessings, the reward is sweet, a little attention goes a long way, the barn gets gross if you don’t clean out the poop, and so on…ha. I’m grateful we experienced it together. I liked us as cow owners. As Neal often said after a particularly challenging morning, “It feels good to push through and figure things out!”

Now I’m sitting here thinking back over our time with Peaches…the beautiful moments of a sunrise milking, the amazing experience of a calf birth, the delight on the faces of the children who visited our barn, and alllll the ways she gave to our family. I’m thankful for every moment of it.

Is it weird that I have prayed for Peaches to be happy in her new home?

Peaches, the day we brought her home

Life and Favor Publishing

Our New Family Business

By Kathy Pollard

For a few years now Neal and I have been playing around with the idea of self-publishing. That dream was realized about three months ago with the launch of our new business, Life and Favor Publishing. Even with all of our planning, there were still some surprises. First, we didn’t realize how MUCH we’d have to learn (and still do). Second, we were thrilled to discover that our grown kids wanted to be involved. From editing and formatting to designing a cover and building a website, they’ve all played a part in bringing our first project to life.

Our first book, “In His Line of Work,” by Neal

We had our first book printed in October. Neal’s book is a practical study of Jesus’ ministry life…how He interacted with others, found balance in life, put His Father’s will first, and more.

Neal unboxing his book

The moment Neal held the finished product in his hands felt a little surreal for both of us. God is so good! We have other book projects in the works, and it’s our prayer that each one will encourage the readers.

Real writers. Everyday matters. Our promise to you.

I’ve also been having some fun handcrafting “book accessories.” We now have velvet bookmarks, journal charms, and Bible case zipper charms (my favorite because I love the way they feel…cool and smooth)!

Double-sided Dutch velvet bookmarks
Journal charms with authentic olive wood beads from Bethlehem
Bible case zipper charms with natural gemstone crosses and agate beads

If you’re interested in a copy of Neal’s book or any of the book accessories, you can find them at Life and Favor Family Publishing. For updates and news, you can follow our facebook page.

We found it slightly terrifying to share something with the world that we made ourselves, but helpful family, supportive friends, and lots of prayer made this venture an exciting new chapter!

“You have granted me life and favor, and your care has preserved my spirit.”

(Job 10:12)

A Surprise was Brewing

Two smiling friends showed up at my house on this chilly Monday.  Their arms were filled with boxes as they headed straight for the kitchen table.  I was amazed as they began arranging delightful treats of goodness, such as cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, fresh scones with cream, dipped strawberries, little quiches and fresh fruit.   The afternoon quickly warmed up as we spent a couple of sweet hours sipping Earl Grey, chatting and laughing.

This unexpected gift will warm my heart for years to come.  Lynn and Teri know that I love all things TEA.  They planned and schemed.  They baked.  They brought their own dishes.  They gave up their precious after-work hours.  Such a thoughtful surprise!  They left behind extra tea treats, a box of Earl Grey, a jar of chocolate hearts and a sweet card.  I feel so spoiled, loved, grateful, blessed.

“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things” (Chaim Potok).

Prayer for Today:  Thank you, Lord, for sweet companions, simple pleasures, and memories to treasure.

Spinach quiches & Bacon Quiches

Homemade cranberry scones

Not so ordinary cucumber sandwiches

Mock Devonshire cream

Egg salad sandwiches

Lynn Hite, Teri Autrey & me

Summer Supper Recipes

I’m so thankful for my “baby” sister.  In addition to being a genuine Christian, Kristy is beautiful, witty, and just plain fun.  We laugh till we cry when we’re together.  She has always been one of the greatest blessings in my life.

In addition to enriching my life with her sparkle and wisdom, Kristy often enriches my palate with her creative cooking.  Every time we go to Oklahoma for a visit, I come home with at least a couple of new recipes jotted down.  For instance, did you know you can make homemade sherbet with just a 2-liter bottle of orange soda and a can of sweetened condensed milk?

A couple of weeks ago I posted some pictures on my facebook wall of a meal I made which I called “Summer Supper.”  The pasta dish was invented by my sister.  Not only is it delicious, but you can easily adapt it to suit your tastes.  Here are the recipes:

Garden Pasta with Chicken

I’ll describe this dish by layers.

Bottom Layer- Cook your pasta of choice, such as spaghetti, penne, or bow tie.

Sauce Layer- Saute some shallots (or onion) in a little olive oil, then add your favorite jarred sauce.

Veggie Layer- In olive oil, saute whatever fresh vegetables & seasonings you like.  I chose zucchini, squash, artichoke hearts, banana peppers (because they were ready to pick from my garden), scallions, and garlic.  I seasoned it with Cavender’s All-Purpose Greek Seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt & pepper.  Saute till crisp-tender, then toss in some fresh basil ribbons.

Chicken Layer- Marinate some chicken breasts in whatever floats your boat (I used pesto), then grill and slice.

To Serve- Top the spaghetti, sauce, and veggies with sliced chicken and shaved parmesan.  Garnish with fresh basil.

Variations:  Instead of doing a skillet saute, you can throw the vegetables on the grill (as Kristy does) along with the chicken.  Also, Kristy recently made this dish using leftover parmesan-crusted chicken.  Yum!

This is the Artisan Bread I served with the pasta dish.  The recipe can be found at:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Artisan-Bread-in-Five-Minutes-a-Day/

Prayer for Today:  Thank you, Lord, for the heart-filling warmth of dear family, and the belly-filling comfort of good food.  May I never take your constant blessings for granted.

Revived

Thrift store rockers!

Had I seen these rocking chairs when by myself, I would’ve passed them by.  They looked worn and dreary to me.  But my friend Sheryl, who has the ability to see potential, pointed them out.  So I purchased the chairs for $2.99 each.  The plan was simple:  sand and paint.  I picked out a paint color the same day and envisioned getting the project done in one afternoon.  Ha!  Even with all of my guys pitching in, it took several days just to complete the sanding process. And then it took a couple more days to give the chairs two coats of Dolphin Gray paint.

Front porch rockers

We think the time and elbow grease paid off.  The chairs have been revived and now add a welcoming touch to our front porch.  Neal and I have already passed some time there drinking coffee together.

I’m so thankful that God sees the potential in all of us.  We might find ourselves feeling worn and weary because of past mistakes or sins.  But our God makes all things new (2 Cor. 5:17)!  We might find ourselves in a spiritual rut, lacking enthusiasm for Christian fellowship or desire to save souls.  But our God is able to revive us in His service (Psa. 51:12)!  The word revive means “to return to life; become active or flourishing again; to restore from a depressed, inactive, unused state” (Merriam-Webster).  It might take some time, and it might take some elbow grease (a.k.a. refining), but God can restore those who turn back to Him.

Prayer for today:  “Revive us again.  Fill each heart with Thy love.  May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.”

Garden Glory

My mom can just breathe on flowers and they thrive.  I read books and follow all the rules yet still seem to lack that magic something that real gardeners have.  However, that hasn’t dampened my love of herbs, flowers, vegetables, and all things green.   The items that spell garden, like colorful seed packets, pretty garden gloves, soil & fertilizer, potting benches, and garden hoses, make me smile.  After living in Colorado for five years, we finally decided to dig in and give gardening in Zone 5 a go.

There’s no telling how this venture will turn out, but already there is a great contentment in watering and weeding every day.  There is a breathless anticipation of the first ripe tomato or red strawberry.  There is the sheer joy that comes from the beauty of vibrant green plants against the dark earth.  There is the calming scent of the lovely lavender.  There is the united sense of purpose in a project that involves the entire family.  And there is the satisfaction that comes from slowing down long enough to play in the dirt.

Prayer for today- May I ever be mindful of God’s providence and grateful for the simple beauty of His green earth.

Boxwood Basil

Traditional Basil

Thyme

Cilantro

Thai Basil

Strawberry plants

Lemon Cucumber

Zucchini

Jalapeno

Sweet Orange Bell Pepper

Banana Peppers

Rosemary

Garden Gnome (Thank you, Sheryl!)

Lavender

First Tomato Appearance!

Sweet 100’s

Furry Garden Thief

Do You See that Face?

Neal’s million-dollar smile

That face has smiled at me for the past 19 years.  That face has greeted me in the morning, prayed with me, laughed with me, and kissed me goodnight.  That face has lit up at the birth of our children, and wept with joy at each of their rebirths when they were baptized.  That face has been filled with passion in the pulpit Sunday after Sunday.  That face has looked at me with compassion and strength during difficult times.  That face has offered me patience and forgiveness when I was the one that caused the pain.  When I look at that face every day, I see dedication, love, and a sterling character.

My prayer for today:  May my face reflect the same commitment, understanding, and generosity that has been so freely given to me.

Neal wrestling with Clover