Writing, Publishing, and Praying: Resources from My TGCW16 Sessions

I had the privilege of leading (or co-leading) several sessions at TGCW16 this week. I'm thankful for each of my sisters who attended those sessions, and--as promised--I'm posting links here to the resources I mentioned in my presentations. If you have follow-up questions or comments, you can always email me: megan@sundaywomen.com 

When Women Pray Together (Megan Hill)
Friday, June 17, 2016, 4:30 PM

My book, Praying Together, was the basis for the material in my session. You can find it here:
Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in Our Homes, Communities, and Churches

Donald S. Whitney made the observation I quoted (about praying for other people v. praying with them) in his book:
Spiritual Disciplines within the Church

Praying systematically through the nations of the world (and the church in those nations) has been one of the greatest privileges of my corporate prayer life. This book helpfully assigns the countries to each day of the year:
Operation World

Getting Published without Selling Your Soul (Megan Hill)
Friday, June 17, 2016, 9:15 PM

One more story about the winding road to getting published from Gaye Clark:
Dreams Deferred and No Regrets

Bret Lott's "On Precision" is my favorite short piece about the craft of writing and its importance before the face of God. You can read that chapter in his book:
Letters and Life

The National Writing Project offers a way to structure group feedback on writing, including the "Bless, Address, Press" formula I mentioned:
Guidelines for Response Groups

Tim Challies knows a thing or two about platform, and his post about the dangers of idolizing the numbers is worth reading:
No Platform High Enough

Charity Singleton Craig's site is full of valuable nuggets about the writing life. This is her post about being "famous to the family":
Almost Famous: Who Am I Trying to Become?

Melissa B. Kruger's The Envy of Eve is both gracious and challenging as we seek to root out covetousness in our hearts. I review it here:
I Have Learned to Be Content

Jared C. Wilson had a useful article recently giving answers to some FAQs:
Everything You (Might Have) Wanted to Know about Writing and Publishing

Margot Starbuck is a writing coach whose conference seminar on non-fiction book proposals was extremely helpful to me as I prepared my first book proposal. You can download her (free!) annotated book proposal template at the bottom of this page:
Top Ten Tips for Creating Book Proposals

Word-Filled Writing (Gloria Furman, et. al.)
Friday, June 17, 2016, 1:30 PM

Marilynne Robinson said, "I hope I never condescend to the audience. I think you should write as if people who are smarter than you are will read it." That quote comes from this article:
Marilynne Robinson: the Pulitzer Prize winning author on her new book

Any of the resources I mention above ("Getting Published") would also be helpful to those who were part of my workshop group.

Praying Together is Coming Soon (and We Are Giving One Away!) [UPDATED]

With thanksgiving to God, we are delighted to announce that Praying Together—Megan’s new book—will be released later this month by Crossway Publishers. 

Keep reading to learn more about Praying Together and how you can order (or be given!) a copy. 

From the Back Cover 

A Christian never prays alone. Heard by the Father and helped by the Son and Spirit, and joined with the prayers of others, a believer’s prayer always expresses a relationship. It is fitting, then, that God designed the church to be a community of believers who regularly pray together. And yet we often fail to prioritize these times in our daily lives. 

Exploring the Bible’s teaching on corporate prayer and the rich blessings that result, Praying Together will help you delight in the privilege of prayer and give you the practical tools to make praying with others a regular practice in your home, your church, and your community. 

Table of Contents 

PART 1 
THE FOUNDATIONS OF PRAYING TOGETHER 
1 Relationship 
2 Duty 
3 Promise 

PART 2 
THE FRUITS OF PRAYING TOGETHER 
4 Love 
5 Discipleship 
6 Revival 

PART 3 
THE PRACTICE OF PRAYING TOGETHER 
7 Praying with the Church 
8 Praying with Partners and Groups 
9 Praying with Family and Guests 

*each chapter also has questions for personal or group study*

Endorsements

Jen Wilkin  ~  J. Ligon Duncan, III  ~  Katelyn Beaty  ~  Derek W.H. Thomas
Kate Shellnutt  ~  Melissa Kruger  ~  Jane Patete  ~  Guy Prentiss Waters 
Joel R. Beeke  ~  Martha Manikas-Foster  ~  Jen Pollock Michel      

*read the endorsements here* 

Get Your Copy

You can pre-order at Crossway or Amazon. 

And to celebrate Praying Together’s upcoming release, we will be giving away a copy of Praying Together:

Leave a comment on this post giving your name and telling us who you pray with in your home, community, or church. 

One name will be chosen at random and will be announced Monday, April 11. We will contact you, and a copy of Praying Together will be mailed to the address you provide.

Thank you for your encouragements over the years here at Sunday Women. Would you join us in praying that this book would encourage God's people--families, community groups, and whole churches--to pray together?

UPDATE: And the winner is the 11th commentor:  Melissa. Congratulations!

Spring Date Ideas for Ministry Couples

Easter week is a busy time for ministry couples, and it can put stress on your marriage. You might need more time together if all you have said to your husband for the last seven days is, "Good morning, and in case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night."

After Easter Sunday, I suggest that you plan a springtime date in order to relax and reconnect with your spouse. Here are a few ideas of what to do.

1) Visit a flower show together. These horticultural events engage the senses and give hope that the sun will reappear.  You might even get some creative ideas for  your own yard. If you don't live near a city that has such a show, go to a local garden center or university greenhouse.

2) Enjoy God's creation with your husband. Take a stroll through a park or a hike up a mountain. On your way to the starting point, stop at a gourmet food store. Buy something special that you can eat on a bench or on a hill.

3) Be a tourist for the day. Do visitors flock to your area to see cherry blossoms in bloom, maple syrup being made or acres of antiques for sale?  Brave the crowds to see what all the fuss is about. Unlike the tourists, you will have your own familiar bed to sleep in that night.

4) Stay in touch with your inner kid. Spring breezes are perfect for flying kites and blowing

bubbles with one another. You might also try sidewalk chalk, playground swings, hula hoops, hide and seek or jump ropes. Wacky ice cream flavors, like blue moon or bubble gum, are the perfect combination with kid games.

5) Get up earlier than usual. Ride bikes with your husband to eat breakfast at a popular spot. Bike back home. You get extra credit if you ride a tandem bicycle. It is harder than it looks.

6) Experience your married life like it was before you had children. Pack up the kids and take them to a friend's house. Enjoy a slice of life without interruptions.  For example, drink your coffee before it gets cold, finish a complete adult conversation without jumping up to wipe up a spill or sit quietly together and listen to grownup music.

7) Complete a small project with your husband. Choose something that will not lead to a disagreement. It might be selecting and planting a tree or painting a rocking chair for the front porch. Or, you could schedule and buy tickets for some future special events like baseball games, summer theatre productions or outdoor concerts.  

8) Go to a newsstand or a bookstore where you will each buy a magazine or newspaper that you don't usually read. Take your reading materials to a sidewalk café or coffee shop. Read an article or two and then discuss what you read with your husband.

Spring is a great time to date your spouse. What are some of the special things you do together when the weather turns warmer?

50 Ways to Love Your Church

photo: flickr/Andrew Malone

1. Show up for worship. 
2. Sing. Heartily. 
3. Say “Amen.” (I’m looking at you, fellow-Presbyterians.)
4. Pray for church members. 
5. Pray with church members. 
6. Let them pray for you. 
7. Weep. 
8. Rejoice. 
9. Learn people’s names. 
10. Introduce yourself so they can learn yours. 
11. Use your gifts.
12. Say “hi” to the children. 
13. Teach Sunday school. 
14. Volunteer for the nursery. 
15. Send a thank you note. 
16. Love Christ. 
17. Lead a Bible study. 
18. Put your tithe in the offering plate. 
19. Bring your children for baptism. 
20. Take and eat of the Lord’s Table. 
21. Forgive. 
22. Speak well of your elders.
23. Do what your pastor preaches. 
24. Invite another family over for lunch. (Sandwiches and chips are just fine.)
25. Sit in a different pew. 
26. Sit in a different pew closer to the front. 
27. Introduce people to each other. 
28. Don’t complain about the attendance. Or the music. Or the coffee. 
29. Attend the mid-week meeting(s). 
30. Stay for fellowship lunch/pot luck/dinner on the grounds. 
31. Bring a dish. 
32. Offer to clean up after the fellowship lunch/pot luck/dinner on the grounds. 
33. Talk to the people on the margins. 
34. Make a note of phone numbers. 
35. Make a note of food allergies. 
36. Invite someone to church. 
37. Say “hi” to a teenager. 
38. Offer to hold a baby. 
39. Pick up discarded bulletins/communion cups/wadded Kleenex. 
40. Organize a community outreach. 
41. Listen. 
42. Use your connections to help someone find a job. 
43. Use your connections to help someone find a spouse. 
44. Watch out for children in the parking lot. 
45. Visit a widow. 
46. Pray with the sick. 
47. Give to the needy. (Leave your name off the card.)
48. Smile. 
49. Be the first person through the church door. 
50. Be the last person out. 

Note: Some of these are practical out-workings of wisdom, many of these are directly commanded in Scripture, and any of these—by the help of the Spirit—will be an encouragement to your church, the precious bride whom Christ dearly loves (Eph. 5:25).

Holiday Hiatus

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers!

The Sunday Women bloggers, Patsy and Megan, are taking a brief blog hiatus to celebrate the holidays with their family and friends and eat some homemade peanut brittle. Please revisit us in early January 2016.

Keep Up the Good Work!

The university where I work is in the middle of employee recognition week. I know this because I got an impersonal email that contains only the dates. No hoopla. No free donuts. No thanks in any form.

So, when I heard that Crossway is sponsoring "a 31-day online campaign to encourage the wives of men in ministry," I hoped the event would put the secular workplace's unappreciative attitude to shame. I decided to use our little slice of the internet to send you, pastor's wife, some real thanks and a bit of virtual hoopla.

Dear Pastor's Wife,
Happy Pastor's Wife Appreciation Month! Thank you for serving God and loving Jesus every day. You are valuable in His sight, and He loves you. We appreciate that you are willing to make sacrifices for others. Your job can be thankless, but God knows and will reward those who seek Him. Please don't grow weary of doing good. We think of and pray for you. Below you will find a virtual appreciation swag bag,  just for you.

With thanks,
Sunday Women

The Bag
For the pastor's wife in a small church who has almost weekly nursery duty for one other child plus her own, we give a virtual day of babysitting services so that she can do whatever she wants.

If you, pastor's wife, love an otherwise thoughtful husband who never brings you flowers, here is a virtual bouquet of all your favorites.

We bestow a virtual gift card for an expensive restaurant on the woman who gives up an anniversary dinner date with her husband so that he can minister to a dying saint.

Here is a new virtual sweater in the Pantone color of the year for the pastor's wife who sits in a cold car in front of a dorm while waiting for college students who say they want a ride to church and never show up.

In case there is a woman out there who planned a significant church event from start to finish only to encounter a tornado, blizzard or transit strike that crippled the entire state on the day of the program, we provide a one-week virtual luxury vacation far away from Hurricane Alley.

For the wife of a man in ministry whose children, in spite of a godly upbringing, break something at church while wrestling with their siblings, we present a weekly cup of coffee or tea and a delicate pastry, to be consumed in a quiet café.

If you are so thrifty that your sofa is older than Megan and your dishes came straight from Goodwill, let us gift you with a virtual remodel from HGTV's talented staff and a cameo on the show.

If you are a pastor's wife who willingly plays the organ for worship services, acts as church secretary, leads the choir and/or cleans the church because there is no church staff to do it, you deserve a virtual hug and maybe even a virtual trophy, which includes an accolade referring to sacrifice.

To all of the other pastors' wives who have tirelessly served their churches, ministered to the sick and needy, supported and encouraged their husbands or done anything else in the name of Christ, we salute you. Please take any virtual gift you want.

Pithy Quotes for 2015

In 2013 and 2014, I offered some pithy phrases, which were aimed at encouraging you to "keep on keeping on." This year, I post some inspirational or humorous quotes to urge you to "go big or go home." I hope 2015 is a bright new year for you and your ministry, full of pith.

"Had any other condition been better for you than the one you are in, Divine Love would have put you there." Charles H. Spurgeon

The Longest Date: Life as a Wife. Book title

"Love pierceth deeper into the truth, and maketh it pierce deeper into us.  As a red-hot iron, though never so blunt, will run farther into an inch board than a cold tool, though never so sharp." Thomas Manton, a Puritan

"Forever is composed of nows." Emily Dickenson

"Inasmuch as in some of the denominations the ladies are silent, except as heard in song, why may not such present their thoughts from time to time in brief essays, to be read by the pastor or some of the brethren in the prayer-meeting? Such a custom in these churches would tend to cultivate the various orders of Christian talent, and give us the benefit of womanly prudence, piety, and wisdom." Lewis O. Thompson, The Prayer-Meeting and Its Improvement, 1878

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings." William Arthur Ward

"I am by nature reticent about spending time with people I don't know, and the fact that I would be spending time with these ailing strangers whose homes had been reduced to a small, single shared room was even more daunting. Walking into that place was walking into my discomfort zone." Sue Halpern about visiting a nursing home in Real Simple, February 2015. 

"In God's kingdom, life becomes more secure as we let go, not as we grip tighter." Kelly Kapic on Luke 12: 33,34

"Count the really good blessings twice." Unknown

"Let's charitably put it down again to the ubiquitous weirdness of the Bible." Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, 2008. For an explanation of this unbelief, see Romans 1:21. "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

"Don't try to act young, you could really hurt yourself." Bob Dylan, age 73

"Fitness Tip: Wear workout clothes to the bakery. So when people see you eating a scone, it looks like you earned it." Joe Larson

"Friendships are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life." As seen outside a pizza restaurant and quoted in a sermon by Edward "Ted" Donnelly.

Receiving Sweet Ministry

God sends us people who minister to us in a special way and provide us with godly examples. Often these people don't realize how deeply they touch our lives. One such woman, let's call her Alice, used her gifts for my benefit for several years before she retired to another state far away.

Alice and I have some things in common. We grew up in conservative churches. We love baking sweet desserts. We both agree that my husband is a stellar preacher. We are different, too. Alice starts projects right away because, in her words, she wants to get it all behind her. Instead, I put things off. While Alice is very generous, I hold material things too tightly. Because of a negative experience in a cult-like church, Alice never wanted to join ours. On the other hand, I think commitment to a local church is very important.

Alice had the gifts of hospitality and of nurturing, and she used them freely with me. She did this, not in a diligent mother sort of way but more like an indulgent auntie, who didn't have the day-to-day responsibility for my upbringing. I knew that Alice enjoyed being around me. I felt completely accepted and at ease.

When Alive lived nearby, I went to her house sometimes to cook with her. I learned a lot, not just about food preparation but about how Christ can bring you through severe trials. In addition, she shared some of her dessert recipes. One of them was for a carrot cake that she mailed to her sons on their birthdays.

After she and her husband moved, Alice urged us to visit their new home in the West. So, we went a couple of times. I felt like I was staying in a five-star hotel and eating in a five-star restaurant. She even let me drive her car to a neighboring state just so I could say I had been there. These were relaxing times that energized me for ministry.

One recent day, when I was baking her carrot cake for a special dinner, my husband came home to say that Alice's husband had called him at church. The couple is facing declining health. It seemed that I may not see Alice again, and I cried. But then I realized that once we both get it all behind us, we will meet in heaven, and I can tell her that she is sweeter to me than any dessert.

"Alice's" Carrot Cake

Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup cooking oil
1- 8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained, plus enough grated raw carrots to make 4 cups (about 3/4 pounds of carrots)
3/4 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup raisins, optional

• Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Slowly beat in oil.
• Slowly add flour mixture to egg mixture until smooth.
• Mix in carrots, nuts and raisins, if using.
• Pour into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans.*
• Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. 

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting 
4 Tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups coconut
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons whole milk
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• Melt 2 Tablespoons of the butter in a skillet. Add coconut, stirring constantly over medium low heat until golden brown. Spread on paper towels to cool.
• Cream remaining butter with the cream cheese. Add milk and sugar alternately.
• Add vanilla and stir in 1 3/4 cups of the coconut. (Save remaining coconut for garnish.)
• Frost between cooled cake layers and on top. Sprinkle with reserved coconut.

* If using different sized pans, adjust the baking time.

Thrill of Victory

For two weeks every two years, I change from Mrs. There-is-little-value-in-watching-TV-sports to Mrs. We-should-buy-cable-TV-in-order-to-see-more-Olympics. I love the Olympics. I have the John Williams CD, the Roots Torino beret and the U.S. Olympic Training Center pins.

Not every aspect of the Olympics is perfect. And, glory is fleeting. There is the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. The athletes' dedication and perseverance is commendable, but "they do it to receive a perishable wreath." (I Corinthians 9:25) However, watching the Olympic Games and cheering for the athletes help me reflect on a greater reality that ends, not with a gold medal, but with eternal reward.

This is big. Not many of the Olympic hopefuls are able to recite the ancient games' history, but they all want very much to be part of it. Being allowed to compete even once is a great honor.

In a similar way, as a Christian, I don't know everything about redemptive history, but I want to be included in it. It is a privilege to be chosen by God from eternity past. I am participating in something that is much bigger than me.

There will be prizes. Athletes train hard and overcome great odds to make it to the Olympics. These men and women are intense in reaching their goals because some events allow only one chance to get a medal.

There is even more glory involved in being a believer. I have the assurance of an everlasting reward. It doesn't disappear when I have a bad day and doesn't depend on my performance. Instead, God's favor and grace serve as motivators for me to live an obedient Christian life and to sacrifice for the prize set before me.

It's party time. There is much spectacle and celebration connected with the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. It seems that the special effects get bigger and the colors get brighter each time. Excitement runs high among the participants as they take "selfies" and walk into the stadium wearing broad smiles and the same designer fashions as their countrymen.  

I see some comparisons and contrasts here to the Christian life. I look forward to a spectacular event where many people from every tribe and nation will be united before the throne in white robes designed by God. It will be a holy day like no other, and I won't be worshipping myself. God's people, who share in Christ's inheritance, will be saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Victory at last. This is worth cheering about.

Pithy Phrases for 2014

Pithy Phrases for 2013 is the second most popular posting on SundayWomen.com after What Not to Share. I suspect that much of this traffic comes from Russian bots, which have an unexplained interest in pith. In case there are actual humans out there who like this sort of thing, I offer more sayings. This year, most of the words are biblically wise, but some of them are just witty. I hope they encourage you as you serve the Lord in 2014.

I don't want a Pinterest perfect house; I want a home that is Christ perfected. (Joy Forney, Gracefull Mama)

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant. (Psalm 119:176a)

Love is a word that you mustn't use, except in context. Your arms around somebody is a context. (Wendell Berry, as heard at Yale University)

The Sermonator (as seen on a t-shirt)

Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to. (Unknown)

Hope holds up the head. (Scottish proverb)

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. (Jim Rohn, entrepreneur)

True wisdom consists in two things: Knowledge of God and Knowledge of Self. (John Calvin)

I'm not chubby; I'm just easy to see. (as seen on a chubby man's t-shirt)

God's best is not like medicine---good for us but rather unpalatable. He promises that we will never be disappointed with his ordering of our affairs. (Lydia Brownback in Legacy of Faith)

Happiness is a place between too little and too much. (Finnish proverb)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

The first 50 years of marriage are the hardest. (Unknown)

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. (John Piper, Desiring God)

All you need is tea and warm socks. (as seen on a mug)

The gift without the giver is bare. (fortune cookie message)

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting. (Unknown)

We need a faith-fueled vision, nurtured by Scripture. (Brad Evans in "Seeing with the Eyes of Our Hearts")

Dessert. Tonight. It's a Piece of Cake.

Time is short. You need a dessert. By tonight. Going to the store for a bag of Apple and Cinnamon Newtons is easy but not very original. Baking "Mom's Apple Pie" from scratch produces a tasty alternative, but it requires lots of effort.

If you want to produce a respectable dessert at short notice, this apple cake is for you. 1) It is easy. 2) It takes less effort to assemble than a homemade apple pie. 3) It allows you to say you baked it. 4) It tastes much better than a bag of store-bought cookies.

Shirley Cruise's Apple Cake
2  cans (21 ounces each) of apple pie filling
1 yellow cake mix
2 sticks of butter or margarine, melted
1 cup of walnuts or pecans
Cinnamon, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9" x 13" baking pan. Spread the apples in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples, if desired. Spread the dry cake mix on top of the apples. Spread the nuts on top of the cake mix. Pour the melted butter evenly over the top. Bake 50 to 60 minutes.

Serve warm (the best) or at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Alternatives: Substitute cherry or blueberry pie filling for the apples or other cake flavors for the yellow cake mix.

Fall Date Ideas for Ministry Couples

Couples, especially married ministry couples, need regular times alone to reconnect and recharge. If their list of date ideas reads like: 1) Go out to dinner, 2) Go out to dinner, 3) Go out to dinner, they might be in a rut. Fall is the optimal time for unique activities. Here are a few hints for lively autumnal dates. Dinner is optional.

1) Visit a local orchard. Pick your own apples. Bring them home and make an apple pie together. Eat it warm.

2) Rake fallen leaves into a huge pile and have fun jumping into it. Save raking the whole yard for another day.

3) Get tickets to a local high school or college football or ice hockey game. Wear the school's colors. If the weather is cold, think of it as an opportunity to snuggle.

4) Rent or stream an old science fiction or suspense movie that is now more camp than it is scary. Two to try: Panic in the Year Zero; Hitchcock's Rear Window. Make popcorn without the use of a microwave.

5) Hike in the woods or ride bikes on country roads. Collect colorful leaves. Sip hot chocolate and eat pumpkin donuts at the end.

6) Go to the gym with your husband. As an occasional treat, stop at the frozen yogurt place on the way home.

7) Sign up for an adult education class together. Consider drawing, photography, cooking, a foreign language, pottery or beginning bridge.

8) Sit by a fire, play board games and drink warm spiced cider. "Hungry, Hungry Hippos" doesn't count, but "Ticket to Ride, Europe" does.

9) Try a moonlight hayride. Avoid those billed as "haunted."

10) Play H-O-R-S-E basketball with your husband. Save your stats for future games.

11) If you must go to a restaurant, try something a bit exotic like Colombian or Vietnamese food. Or, get takeout and eat it in a new place such as a public park.

12) Teach your husband how to do something you excel in, like baking oatmeal cookies. Learn something from him, and give him a chance to show off in front of you.

13) Go to a fall fair, harvest festival or family farm. Pick a pumpkin from the patch. Take photos of each other using the painted wooden scarecrow props that have cutouts for faces. Go through the corn maze.

14) Make a playlist of seasonal songs. Drive through the scenic countryside while listening to the music.

15) Cook hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire in your backyard. Tell each other stories about your happy fall childhood memories.

Fall is a great time to date your spouse. What are some of the special things you do together when the weather turns colder?

A Night Owl's Food for Morning People

In an area of the country where there is a high percentage of early risers, morning ministry events abound. Food is often required. We have baby shower brunches, bridal shower brunches, treat your friend to breakfast for her birthday parties, Saturday morning men's group and fellowship time after morning worship. Even though this Skilled Baker-Night Owl considers 7 AM the wee hours of the morning, she is often politely asked to "bake something delicious." So, I possess several morning food recipes that can be made at the more reasonable hour of 11 PM and remain fresh for at least four days. In theory, they are delicious if made the morning of an event, but I have no way of knowing. Here is one to try.

                  Denise's Coffee Break Cake

Batter (mix for 2 minutes)
1 package yellow cake mix (reserve 1/3 cup)
3/4 cups water
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs

Topping (mix together)
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
Reserved 1/3 cup cake mix
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cups coconut
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Spread 1/2 of the batter mixture in the bottom of a greased 9" x 13" pan. Sprinkle 1/2 of the topping mixture over the batter. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Drizzle glaze over warm cake.

Glaze (mix together)
1/2 confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 teaspoons milk

Pithy Phrases for 2013

Pithy phrases catch my attention. The Bible is the source of the wisest ones, of course, with the enduring advice of Proverbs. For example, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." A quote from the 1880s, which could have been spoken in 2013, shows us foolish thought is still alive. Swami Vivekananda said, "You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself."

May we, as ministry women, think about what is true and commendable in 2013. To celebrate the new year, I compiled and composed some wise and humorous pithy phrases that I hope will be relevant to ministry.

(Referring to God) You are good and do good. (Psalm 119:68a)

Obedience is an excellent way of commenting on the Bible. (Thomas Watson)

Faith. Elementary, my dear ministry woman.

Sometimes you need to take a nap and get over it. (Maura Stuard, age 8)

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things. (DL Moody)

Rejoice with those who rejoice. (Romans 12:15 a)

Life's Messy. Clean it Up. (Bissell Company)

Not all who wander are pastors' kids.

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. (Michael Beckwith)

He who rejects reproof leads others astray. (Proverbs 10:17b)

If God loved you as much as you loved Him, where would we be? (Anon.)

Few things really require a minister at midnight. (Larry Kunter)

God will not forget your work and your continuing service to the saints. (based on Hebrews 6:10)

Happy New Year, women in ministry!
Keep calm and minister on.

Recipe: Soup's On

New England's leaves are beautiful right now, and its fall air is chilly. Time for soup. With a can of soup selling for $1.99, it is time to make that soup. This recipe is fast, easy and better tasting than canned soup.

Pumpkin, Barley and Sage Soup

4 servings, may be doubled

 

8 oz. cooked andouille sausage links, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 tsp. dried sage

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 cup quick-cooking barley

4 cups water

1 tsp. instant chicken bouillon granules

1 15-oz. can of pumpkin

2 Tbsp. maple syrup (I prefer the real stuff from New England.)

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Roasted pumpkin seeds, optional

 

In a 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion in hot oil over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add sage, barley, water and bouillon granules. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered, 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

Stir in pumpkin, maple syrup and vinegar; heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

 







Holiday (and Everyday) Teaching Times

Everything we do as a family is an opportunity to teach our children what we believe. Important topics within that education are how and why we celebrate holidays. But, we find people in our ministry who disagree with our conclusions. This makes us wonder if we should continue family cultural traditions that have no Christian roots. As Easter approaches, here are some of my thoughts.

  

Teach your children well. We can teach our children about the Christian faith every day of the year. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)  The Bible shows this instruction to be a natural part of daily routines, such as getting up in the morning and sitting in our houses. Things like family devotions and prayer at bedtime are obvious efforts, but marveling at God's creation while riding in the van or discussing a YouTube video from a Christian perspective teach our kids to love God, too.  

The Baking Way to Say I Love You

There are many ways to show your love to a congregation or spouse.  The supermarket bakery cake contribution to a church potluck dinner and the drugstore chocolate box for your husband show the love commanded in John 13:34 in an everyday sort of way. In addition, there are times when we should use our ability, time or money to demonstrate a more sacrificial and lavish love like the kind God bestows on us.
This recipe, to borrow a Mister Rogers phrase, is "the baking way to say I love you." It helped me win a recipe contest and got its name when my friend said it tasted just like the cake he ate in Paris. It has an added benefit of being gluten free.

Just Like Paris Cake

16 1-ounce squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate (Ghirardelli, if you can afford it)

2 cups butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup light cream

1 Tablespoon plus 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 large eggs, at room temperature

Chocolate Glaze (see below)

1 can whipped cream

Optional garnish

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 10" x 3" springform pan.

Heat semisweet chocolate, butter, sugar, cream, vanilla and salt in a 3-quart pan over low heat until the mixture is smooth. Stir frequently.

In large bowl, whisk eggs slightly. Slowly beat warm chocolate into eggs until well blended.

Pour into pan and bake 45 minutes until toothpick inserted in the cake 2" from the edge comes out clean. Cook cake completely on wire rack. Then, remove side of the pan, wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 6 hours.

Cover in Chocolate Glaze. Garnish with whipped cream. Fresh raspberries, candied violets or seasonal candies are optional garnishes. Refrigerate leftovers.

Chocolate Glaze

Melt 6-ounces of  Special Dark chocolate chips and 2 Tablespoons of butter in a 2-quart pan over low heat. Remove from the heat and beat in 3 Tablespoons whole milk and 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup. 

Serves 16+. Modified from a recipe for Double-chocolate Mousse Cake, author unknown.

We'll Be Right Back!

Box up the ornaments, synchronize your calendars, eat the last stale cookie (go on!), make a resolution or two, get thee to pilates, send the kids back to school.  We'll have a new post on January 16.

Happy: Winter Smile List

“If it moves, smile at it,” the conference speaker said to encourage Christian friendliness. This is radical advice for a New Englander but worthy of consideration. Even though I haven’t turned into Gal Smiley or anything, I am making progress. I actually smile at things that don’t move, too. For all you overwhelmed ministry women with too much on your to-do list this time of year, I offer my Winter (and occasionally, seasonless) Smile List.

Snowflakes in all forms

Polar fleece jackets

“Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi

Christmas in New York

The love of the Father

Victorian houses with brightly painted gingerbread and evergreen swags

Flipping my bed pillow to the cold side

Marshmallows in snowman shapes

Mechanical pencils

Tearooms

Elderly couples who hold hands

Holiday napkins

Group hugs

Peppermint Patties

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Dogs that obey

Happy Together

Happy, happy, Brent (son/brother) is getting married! This week, we get a rare opportunity to be together, celebrate answered prayer, and maybe even relax. We'll be taking a few blogging days off, but, Lord willing, we'll post a fresh article on Friday, August 12. While you're waiting for a new post, we've got two favorites you might have missed:
Patsy suggests Megan's  "PINRF: People I'm Not Responsible For"
Megan suggests Patsy's "A Hopeful Future"

Talk to you soon, friends.