Product Spotlight

A sweet, flavorful, cozy cup of tea-- is there anything more delightful?

I love tea. The rich, earthy flavors that tingle in your mouth & the warmth that sends tingles up & down your spine...

So our product spotlight is our SCRIPTURE TEA!

We have so many flavors of tea to choose from... it's difficult to choose one... but I'll pick a customer's favorite: Chai Green.

This tea has an extra kick of spice blended in with the soothing fruity flavor of green tea. It tastes sooo good.

I love to pull out one of my "Feed on the Word" mugs every morning, & read the Scripture as I put in a "Scripture Tea" tea bag & let it steep. The flavors of the tea (along with the caffeine, that extra little bonus) help me wake up & greet the day.

Tea is such an amazing beverage. It has an extensive history, a wide variety of flavors, and is, as someone recently told me, the most popular drink in the world. It was a necessity in every Victorian household 100 years ago, & continues to be a necessity in MINE. In addition, I feel so Elizabethan when I sip my tea from an antique tea cup. I've always wondered whether my love of tea is influenced by my love of Austen, OR if my love of Austen is influenced by my love of tea. When I'm drinking Earl Grey, I can almost imagine Mr. Darcy sitting across from me. *sigh* (this is Gracy, of course)

My friends & family share this love. They love our Scripture Tea, as well. If you'd like to order this product, click here and you can get some for your own pantry! Enjoy!

-Gayle & Gracy

Puddles of Heaven

Good morning!

Our family has been enjoying a busy month as my sister goes back to college, my brothers start homeschool, I start working, & my parents rush us around everywhere!


Home: there is something comforting even in the word! It embodies peace, joy, happiness, comfort, & support. Throughout my childhood, I have always thought that, no matter where I go, or what I do, I would always have my home to come back to.

The funny thing is that I was never really referencing to my actual house-- although I love our huge brick 1930s home with the even larger backyard, complete with horse tire swings & lots of pets-- it was my family, and the environment they bring with them, that I was comforted by.



People wonder where this "big happy family" feeling comes from. I used to wonder, too. What bonds us together so tightly, & in such a way that wherever we go, we would always have "home" if we were together?

When I was younger, I read a book that opened my eyes to what "home" is. "Millie Keith", a fictional character in Martha Finley's excellent 'A Life of Faith' series, grows up to be a missionary, & is planning on traveling to Columbia with her husband. While at the family's home, before they leave, Millie & her husband have this conversation with a group of friends:

"If His (God's) will were done, would earth be like Heaven?" Charles asked.

"I believe little bits of it already are," Frank said. "Wealthy Stanhope's (Millie's aunt) house has been a sanctuary for me these last few years," he said. "It is as if Heaven has leaked, and a puddle of it exists in her home. God has wiped the tears from my eyes there, though he has used Wealthy Stanhope's handkerchiefs to do it. Keith Hill seems to be like that as well-- a city of refuge in a broken world."



A "puddle of heaven"-- that is what a godly Christian home should be! We are to be "a city of refuge in a broken world", a place where comfort & rest for the soul, as well as for the body, can be found. When we pray that "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven", we can include our homes in this prayer-- that others will be served, encouraged & built up in Christ through our hospitality.

Another story, this one a real-life example from history, illustrates this concept as well.

William Wilberforce, one of my heros, walked out hospitality his entire life. Despite a schedule that astounded other members of parliament & his fellow activists, he lived in a constant combination of peace (from the Lord) & chaos (the Wilberforce home, full of activists, politicians, children, servants, & pets, was an amazing myriad of frenzy & joy) that delighted & amused his guests.

Wilberforce, full of energy, happiness, wisdom, & ADD, loved entertaining & pouring out his home & heart to others. Eric Metaxas, a Wilberforce biographer, records that "People from every station in life, friends and strangers both, could stop for a visit, and did. Pollock (another biographer) tells us that "Kensington Gore became a sort of clearinghouse for British philanthropy and moral reformation, with Wilberforce ready to encourage or advise, or to rebuke..." People would just gather, looking for something from the great man: his blessing on a venture or his signature or his willingness to lend his name to a committee."

Here was a puddle of heaven, albeit a rather chaotic one, that was constantly pouring out blessings on others. But was it the house? No-- it was William Wilberforce, & his family, that created this puddle wherever they went.

I would encourage you to ask the Lord to make your home a "puddle of heaven", & for it to reflect His image more each day. Believe me-- not only will your guests feel refreshed-- your family will, as well. Your children will grow up with the reassurance that, no matter what happens, they can turn to this puddle
for comfort & refreshment whenever they may need it.

May you have a blessed week, filled with the peace & love of our precious Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!

-Gracy

Entertaining Strangers

In America, we have such a hard time setting aside time to serve our friends, but how often do we go even a step farther, and reach out to those we don’t even know?

In Morocco, hospitality is not something that is penned into the day-timer, or something to be planned. Moroccans revolve their day around hospitality, and the whole family takes part. If you were to ask a Moroccan about their hospitality, they wouldn’t know what you were talking about; to them, it is a way of life.

Countless times after a day of trekking up through the mountains with my girlfriends, we would arrive in a small village, longing for some cool drink or something to eat- anything to refresh us for the journey back. At the beginning of my trip I was always so worried: would there be a village shop or restaurant where we could refill our water bottles and buy food? How about a bathroom? I found that these needs were met every time, and not once on these excursions did we satisfy our hunger and thirst with our own money.

As we would walk into a mountain village, children would be looking down on us from upstairs windows, and then we would hear running and yelling something to the effect of an English, “Mommy, mommy, there are foreigners here! There are foreigners here!” Then said mothers would come to their door way and come out, kissing us on the cheeks, greeting us, “Salaam Wa Alaykum… Labes?” We would be ushered into a small, cavelike house, dark and solely cement, up stairs we could hardly see and past a cold kitchen. Then a door would open, our dirty sandals stripped off our feet, and we would be entreated to sit in a welcoming, sun-lit room, couches spanning the walls, colorful and bright carpets on the floors, and a small, short tea table greeting us as it sat in the middle of the room. At one word from the mother, the young girls would go into the kitchen to prepare our tea and food, and the little children would sit wide-eyed, taking in all they could of the strange people in their house. Another of the little girls would walk around the room, washing and drying our hands for us.

As the tea would steep, we would talk in broken Arabic, French, and simple hand gestures. When words could not be found, we resorted to smiles. The food would come, and the guests would be served first, sweet mint tea and usually some kind of bread or cookie. More talking, more tea, and more smiles… After many hours, relatives would stop in with their greetings and then more talking and yet more smiles. After spending a whole day conversing and sharing, we would find out that the next door neighbors had prepared a evening meal for us, and so we would say our thanks and goodbyes to our new friends and move on to the next house, where we would sit and talk for another three hours, eating a traditional Moroccan meal. After long goodbyes, the father or older son would travel part of the way back to our village to state his protection over his family’s guests, and to ensure our safety.

This was a common happening in Morocco… strangers and foreigners welcomed into the home, as if we had been expected for days. A family’s income for the next two days spent on our entertainment and provision. The strangest thing of all… it gave them no greater joy then to take care of us, even though they may never see us again. How often here in America, after a friend has “overstayed their welcome” do we shut the door with sighs of relief, dreaded the sink of dishes to wash, or mourning over the fact that the house we cleaned is now littered with doll dresses or Legos!?!? Would we ever even consider investing in the lives of people completely different from us, whom we would possibly never come into contact with again?

Oftentimes, Moroccans would ask us to stay the night with them. We were now their family, and they took joy in looking after our safety and welfare. They wanted to know about our families, our work, and our religious beliefs, whether they agreed or not. How often in America do we shun and fear talking to those who disagree with us about the God we know, love and serve? They were willing enough to teach, yet humble enough to listen. And the poorest of homes became rich over a teapot of sweet conversation and blessed refreshment.

Learn from the Moroccans… hospitality is no small thing- it can change lives. It changed mine.

-Katie

NEW DISHES!!!

Pasta Serving Bowl:

Small Pasta Bowls:

These gorgeous bowls are in equally lovely hat boxes:


Also, Feed on the Word dishes have brand new accent plates!!!

They come in red:


And in black:

*dishes shown are a mixed assortment, not in a set*

These accent plates come in beautiful little hat boxes:

*black hat box lid not shown*

These will be for sale on our website as soon as Gracy *that's me* puts
them on! They should be on there by this evening (Monday the 28th)!
*Pictures by Gracy*

Hospitable Slippers & Zucchini Bread

Daughter #1 (my sister) is in North Africa! She writes--

"I'm staying at a tiny apartment with a neat family. They are SO hospitable... it is quite impressive... they have a basket of old slippers at the door for guests to wear around the house... how sweet is that???"

It's neat that such a tiny gesture such as keeping slippers at the door for guests can bless someone in such an enormous way. It just shows that it's not the item, it's the heart of the giver, the mindset of serving others before oneself, that truly shines through.

Sister and Daughter #1 didn't give us a photo of these hospitable slippers, but Mom and I decided we would include a picture of what our equivalent might be:



Also, I'm including a recipe (and a picture) of a lovely recipe for Spiced Zucchini Bread that I made today-- it's very easy, and is delicious!

Spiced Zucchini Bread
15.4-oz. pkg. nut bread mix
1 egg
1 t. Pumpkin pie spice
2/3 c. milk
2 T. oil
1 C. zucchini, shredded

Combine all ingredients except zucchini in a bowl; mix until well blended. Fold in zucchini. Pour into a 9"x5" loaf pan that has been greased on the bottom only. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Makes one loaf.



I am now completely stuffed. After enjoying a delicious dinner and a piece of that bread, I think I'm completely ready to enjoy a peaceful evening at home.
Oh, wait-- not yet!
*Runs to the door and puts on a pair of hospitable slippers*
NOW I'm ready.

-gracy, gayle's daughter #2

Given to Hospitality - A Prayer

LORD,
Thank You for having given Yourself in intimate,
inexplicable hospitality.
You have been the Host to all creation.

Without a dwelling, You have contained the
whole world and habited Yourself in the winds,
the corners, and the depths, inviting us to be
at home with You. Beneath the shadow of Your
wing You bid us hide, and in the depths of Your
being You shelter and refuge us.

Without meat You have nourished us.
Without beverage You have refreshed us.
By Your every Word came sustenance.
On bread and water without price have we been fed.
You have been manna in the wilderness of our lives.

Without a table You have banqueted us,
inviting us, yea, to be married unto You.
Over our heads flies the banner of Your love.
We are entertained with the mysteries of faith,
the songs of the Spirit, holy laughter.
You have garmented us in festal righteousness.
As we wandered in wastelands,
You sought us before we called.

You extended eager welcome
though we had scarcely knocked.
You embraced us when we were filthy
and oppressed and undeserving.
you are the Samaritan Who passes not by,
Who finds lodging for us in the warm inns by the way.
You bake fish over coals, waiting for us,
though we have forgotten to wait for You.
With broken hands You break the loaf of blessing.
Those same wounds caress our leprous spirits.
You do not fear to openly accept the intimate worship of our
harlot hearts.
You are the Host of all mankind.
Lifted up, suffering, without breath, You yet
extend greeting to all the masses,
"Come unto Me...
come...
come..."

You give us the mystery of Your presence in this supper of the
ages, this remembrance of Your ultimate hospitality.
O Lord,
Make my hospitality as unto Yours.
Be forever my archetype of endeavor,
my firstfruit of harvested goodness:
Love for the battered, misused child,
Grace to bind running ulcers of flesh and soul,
Eagerness for the wealthy without servility,
And for the poor without superiority.

Through eternity You have been and will be
utterly hospitable.
help me,
poor, faltering, unfeeling me,
to be like You,
with breath-beat and soul-heart
poured out
emptied
opened.
Help me
to be given to hospitality.

--Karen Mains, from her book,
Open Heart, Open Home

Southern Hospitality

We periodically receive a newsletter from the Mount family who lives in Georgia, and who provides hospitality for the missionaries who are coming and going with Operation Mobilization. This dear family is truly gifted in the ministry of hospitality. Please visit their blog, Mount Heaven, and please keep them in your prayers as they serve the Lord and encourage others in their service on the mission field.






Jeni included a couple of recipes with their last newsletter that I want to share with you...

Southern Sweet Tea *****************************************

*In a medium saucepan, boil 10-12 cups of water

*Drop in 10-12 teabags and let steep for 5 minutes

*Remove teabags and stir in 2 cups of sugar until dissolved...(Marty Hynson says you must add at least 2 cups of sugar! When I tried it with only 1 cup, I was told it wasn't "sweet tea" at all!)

*Pour hot tea into a large pitcher full of ice and add water until full

*Drink outside on the porch with a dear one and watch the lightning bugs...if you have them where you live!

******************************************

Sally's Sunburst Lemon Bars

1. Beat the following ingredients only until flaky crumbs form:
2 Cups flour
3/4 Cup powdered sugar
1 - 1/2 Cups butter (3 cubes)

2. Press the crumb mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan and place in 350 degree oven for 20 - 30 minutes.


3. Mix the following ingredients and pour over the warm crust when it comes out of the oven:
4 eggs
1/4 Cup flour
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1/4 Cup lemon juice

4. Place the pan back in the overn for 25 -30 minutes and cook until light brown.

5. Mix the following ingredients and drizzle over the warm lemon bars when they come out ot the oven:
1 Cup powdered sugar
About 4 Tablespoons lemon juice

6. Serve these chilled, on a hot, sunny afternoon, to your cheery friends!

New Friends

We attended the CHOIS (Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State) Conference last weekend, for the first time as exhibitors with Refreshed Hearts. What a delight and privilege to receive such a welcome by the convention leadership and attendees! We loved meeting so many dear folks who share our hearts for the ministry of hospitality, for loving God and sharing His love with their families and communities. What an encouragement! We are thankful for our new friends and their support, and look forward to ongoing mutual encouragement in the Lord, and in His pattern of hospitality. (By the way, the Plum White Scripture Tea was a favorite!)

Our Space

Three of our SweetHearts

Some of our "Feed on the Word" Products

Scripture Tea Samples...Very Popular!

The "Family and Children" Collection

The Youngest stayed to help sample tea at the booth
while the others attended the "Teen Workshop"

Our New Banner

"Feed on the Word" Scripture Dinnerware...Welcome to Our Table

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Has it Really Been a Month Already???

Life has been so full this past month, and I am not very good at multi-tasking (apparently) or I would have kept up with my blog and kept you abreast of the goings-on here. At the end of April, we had a sweet memorial service for Grandpa-Dad, with lovely memories and important life-lessons shared. Then came birthday after birthday after birthday, with an anniversary to boot (on one of those said birthdays)...all these the first eight days of May. And one of those birthdays was a Half-Century celebration...not for me, in case you are wondering ;)... Then there was Mother's Day, and just last weekend, our daughter's Home School high school graduation and backyard picnic afterward. In the meantime, our oldest daughter returned home from college, both girls started work at a local nursery, we participated in Rene's "Miss Gracie's and Friends" sale, and the boys performed "Who's On First", an Abbott and Costello skit, for an end-of-school year talent show. Below are some pics of these special times in our lives...a sort of "month-in-review", I guess. I get weary just typing about it!!! We are truly thankful, and the celebration of God's faithfulness and goodness in our lives goes on!!!

The girls playing @ Grandpa Dad's funeral

Refreshed Heart's display at Miss Gracie's sale

My Birthday Cake (made by Gracy)!

Gracy and me @ her graduation ceremony

Gracy's display at her graduation party