Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 32

A Moment of Hope

Two years ago I attended a banquet for a pro-life ministry called A Moment of Hope . In the center of each table sat stunning orchids in full bloom—purple, fuchsia, yellow, and red. Bunches of blossoms hung like grapes from long stems. Some were showy, like pink monkey faces. Others were delicate and demure. 

“As a thank you for your support and a reminder to pray for our ministry, we’d like each table sponsor to take an orchid home,” the emcee announced. 

I considered a plant with blooms the size of clementines but instead selected one with miniature white flowers. The blossoms reminded me of the babies the ministry rescues every year. Tiny, pure, and innocent, these pre-born babies have barely begun to live before their existence is threatened by abortion. 

Margaret* is one of those babies. Conceived out of wedlock by people too young to be parents, her presence was not celebrated like those whose conceptions were “planned.” Her existence caused problems--and questions—lots of them. 

“How can I tell my parents?” 

“What will I do about school?” 

“What will people say?” 

“How can I care for a baby?” 

“What should I do?” 

Her mother, Lillie, made an appointment at the local Planned Parenthood office—to gather information and discuss options. The counselor agreed with her—you can’t tell your parents. You have to finish school. People will talk. You’re too young to have a baby. Here’s what you should do. It’s the only option. 

She scheduled an abortion the following week.Instead of feeling relief, Lillie left the building heavyhearted. 

At the foot of the driveway stood a man with kind eyes. 

“Hi, my name is John. May I talk with you for a moment?” 

The moment turned into two. And then five. When the conversation moved around the corner to a restaurant, the truth gushed out like a rushing river. The relationship. Her pregnancy. Her parents. Her schooling. Only one option. No hope. 

“But there are options,” he said gently, “and there is hope.” 

When I brought the orchid home from the banquet, I set it on the dining room table and enjoyed its snowy blossoms. When the last one fell, I relocated the plant to a sunny window in my guest room. One day I noticed a shoot emerging from the base of the plant—the orchid was going to bloom again. 

Imagining a cluster of blooms as beautiful as the first, I checked the plant’s progress often. All was well until my grandchildren spent the night. The next morning, as I stripped the sheets from the bed, I noticed a stick on the floor—only it wasn’t a stick. It was the blossom stem of my orchid. 

There’d be no beautiful blossoms decorating my dining room table that spring. 

Spring turned into summer, and summer became fall. As I did every week, I carried the orchid from the guest room to the bathroom and doused it with water. I eyed the still-broken stem and sighed.  

Then I noticed something. 

A bump had formed right below the severed end of the spike. By the next week, the bump had swelled. The week after that confirmed what I had hoped for—a new sprout was growing from beneath the broken stem. 

Meanwhile, at the base of the plant, another spike was forming. 

Within a month, the plant withe the barren future sported not one but two flower stems.

Lillie is a lot like my orchid. 


With help from John and his team, she began to her reframe her future. They connected Lillie with medical resources and a care team who would walk her through every step of her pregnancy. She realized that while her pregnancy had changed her original future, perhaps another future—a better one—awaited her. 

When my grandkids broke my orchid’s stem, I assumed nothing beautiful could come from it. Instead, with time, nurturing, and healing, the plant produced something more spectacular than if it had never been broken—two stems of snowy white blossoms. 

The same is true of Lillie’s life. 

In time, with nurturing and healing, her life produced not one, but two beautiful futures. 

It didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen easily. When Lillie chose life for her baby, it took some time for her world to right itself. Her parents were heartbroken. Her education suffered. People talked. She wasn’t ready for a baby. She didn’t know what to do. 

But little by little, with the help of family, friends, and kind strangers, her future brightened and her hope grew. 

Now not only does she have a future—one free from guilt and shame—her baby has one, too. 


Instead of a dead, lifeless stem separated from the plant that produced it, little Margaret is alive and growing. Day by day, like her mother, she is becoming a person of exquisite beauty. 


"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). 



This holiday season, would you consider giving to a ministry like A Moment of Hope ? Every dollar you contribute gives women like Lillie and babies like Margaret a hope and a future. For more information, click HERE. 

*The story is true, but the names have been changed.





Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Two years ago I attended a banquet for a pro-life ministr...

Two years ago I attended a banquet for a pro-life ministry called A Moment of Hope . In the center of each table sat stunning orchids in full bloom—purple, fuchsia, yellow, and red. Bunches of blossoms hung like grapes from long stems. Some were showy, like pink monkey faces. Others were delicate and demure. 

“As a thank you for your support and a reminder to pray for our ministry, we’d like each table sponsor to take an orchid home,” the emcee announced. 

I considered a plant with blooms the size of clementines but instead selected one with miniature white flowers. The blossoms reminded me of the babies the ministry rescues every year. Tiny, pure, and innocent, these pre-born babies have barely begun to live before their existence is threatened by abortion. 

Margaret* is one of those babies. Conceived out of wedlock by people too young to be parents, her presence was not celebrated like those whose conceptions were “planned.” Her existence caused problems--and questions—lots of them. 

“How can I tell my parents?” 

“What will I do about school?” 

“What will people say?” 

“How can I care for a baby?” 

“What should I do?” 

Her mother, Lillie, made an appointment at the local Planned Parenthood office—to gather information and discuss options. The counselor agreed with her—you can’t tell your parents. You have to finish school. People will talk. You’re too young to have a baby. Here’s what you should do. It’s the only option. 

She scheduled an abortion the following week.Instead of feeling relief, Lillie left the building heavyhearted. 

At the foot of the driveway stood a man with kind eyes. 

“Hi, my name is John. May I talk with you for a moment?” 

The moment turned into two. And then five. When the conversation moved around the corner to a restaurant, the truth gushed out like a rushing river. The relationship. Her pregnancy. Her parents. Her schooling. Only one option. No hope. 

“But there are options,” he said gently, “and there is hope.” 

When I brought the orchid home from the banquet, I set it on the dining room table and enjoyed its snowy blossoms. When the last one fell, I relocated the plant to a sunny window in my guest room. One day I noticed a shoot emerging from the base of the plant—the orchid was going to bloom again. 

Imagining a cluster of blooms as beautiful as the first, I checked the plant’s progress often. All was well until my grandchildren spent the night. The next morning, as I stripped the sheets from the bed, I noticed a stick on the floor—only it wasn’t a stick. It was the blossom stem of my orchid. 

There’d be no beautiful blossoms decorating my dining room table that spring. 

Spring turned into summer, and summer became fall. As I did every week, I carried the orchid from the guest room to the bathroom and doused it with water. I eyed the still-broken stem and sighed.  

Then I noticed something. 

A bump had formed right below the severed end of the spike. By the next week, the bump had swelled. The week after that confirmed what I had hoped for—a new sprout was growing from beneath the broken stem. 

Meanwhile, at the base of the plant, another spike was forming. 

Within a month, the plant withe the barren future sported not one but two flower stems.

Lillie is a lot like my orchid. 


With help from John and his team, she began to her reframe her future. They connected Lillie with medical resources and a care team who would walk her through every step of her pregnancy. She realized that while her pregnancy had changed her original future, perhaps another future—a better one—awaited her. 

When my grandkids broke my orchid’s stem, I assumed nothing beautiful could come from it. Instead, with time, nurturing, and healing, the plant produced something more spectacular than if it had never been broken—two stems of snowy white blossoms. 

The same is true of Lillie’s life. 

In time, with nurturing and healing, her life produced not one, but two beautiful futures. 

It didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen easily. When Lillie chose life for her baby, it took some time for her world to right itself. Her parents were heartbroken. Her education suffered. People talked. She wasn’t ready for a baby. She didn’t know what to do. 

But little by little, with the help of family, friends, and kind strangers, her future brightened and her hope grew. 

Now not only does she have a future—one free from guilt and shame—her baby has one, too. 


Instead of a dead, lifeless stem separated from the plant that produced it, little Margaret is alive and growing. Day by day, like her mother, she is becoming a person of exquisite beauty. 


"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). 



This holiday season, would you consider giving to a ministry like A Moment of Hope ? Every dollar you contribute gives women like Lillie and babies like Margaret a hope and a future. For more information, click HERE. 

*The story is true, but the names have been changed.





Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

God is Nigh --24 Notes of Comfort

All eyes were on the casket, but I saw the soldier in the distance — a solitary figure on the hill. 

Wearing full dress uniform and holding an instrument, the man waited, eyes glued to the flag that draped the coffin. 

He raised the trumpet to his lips, breathing gently on the mouthpiece. Cold instruments produce sour notes, and that wouldn’t due for this World War II veteran’s funeral. 

“As we commit the body of Lawrence Goodwin to the ground and commend his soul to heaven,” the minister said, “I invite you to stand for the presentation of the flag.” 

Heads that had bowed in reverence lifted. Stooping shoulders and bent knees straightened. Right hands raised and settled over aching hearts. 

Two men gently lifted the flag from its sacred place. No longer would it serve as a shroud for the dead. Now it would function as a comfort for the living. 


Clear and mournful, the first notes of Taps slipped from the  trumpet and into the hush that cradled the mourners.

Day is done. 

Like a sleeper awakening from the darkest night, the widow raised her head. 

Gone the sun. 

She turned toward the sound. 

From the lake. 

From the hills. 

From the sky. 

She spotted the lone musician. Made eye contact. Blinked. 

All is well. 

She bowed her head again. 

Safely rest. 

Eyes closed in faith and arms open to receive the flag, she released the breath she’d been holding since her husband took sick. 

God is nigh.





Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.






If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

You're Invited!

What’s the most amazing invitation you’ve ever received? 

When I got a call from my congressman inviting me to a VIP tour of the White House, I was excited. I was even more thrilled when my son-in-law’s father offered me his frequent flyer miles to go visit my daughter in Japan. 

Today, however, I read an invitation that tops every invitation I’ve ever received. 

It’s a personal invitation, yet it’s for everyone—for me and for you, for your friends, for your relatives, even for strangers. It’s exclusive yet expansive. Elite yet all-encompassing. Open to the Public, yet By Invitation Only. 

The apostle John is the courier. Let’s read it together: 

“And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). 


When my congressman said, “Come to the White House. I’ll meet you at the East gate and see you in,” my heart beat with excitement. 

When my son-in-law’s father said, “Come to Japan. I’ll share my miles so you can visit your daughter,” I did a happy dance and wept. 

But when Jesus, the Lord almighty, threw open the gates of Heaven and said, “Come!”, I laughed. I cried. I rejoiced. I dissolved into a blubbery, slobbery puddle of gratitude and fell at his feet. I was undone. 

Yet not everyone who receives this invitation responds this way. 

Some flat out refuse this opportunity to experience the grandest adventure of all time. Some cling to the keys of their earthly shack instead of accepting the keys to God’s heavenly dwelling place. 

Others draw the putrid garments of their sin closer to their spiritually dying bodies instead of shedding their rags and putting on the snowy garments of eternal life. 

Still others shove their fingers in their ears and avert their eyes, pretending they don’t hear the Spirit of God whispering. And calling. And shouting. 

“Come.” 

“Come." 

“Come! Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” 

The White House was awe inspiring. 

Japan was other worldly. 

But Heaven? Oh my. 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

I hope your holiday season is filled with grand and glorious invitations. Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, and church celebrations. Holiday concerts, White Elephant gift exchanges, and cookie swaps. 

Say yes to them all. But don’t neglect the grandest invitation of all time. 

“Come!” 

If you’d like to accept this invitation and know more about how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, click HERE to hear my story 

Now it's your turn. What's the greatest invitation you've ever received? I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and share your story. 

Dear Hungry for God friends,

I suspect there are quite a few busy women on your Christmas list. Friends, co-workers, fellow church members, and your children's teachers, Sunday school teachers, coaches, and babysitters, to name a few.

If you'd like to give them a gift that will draw them closer to the Lord, encourage them to spend time in God's Word, and think biblically,  Hungry for God ... Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women  is the gift you're looking for.

And what about those friends and loved ones who may not have a relationship with the Lord?

In the last devotion in the book, I share, in a winsome and non-threatening way, what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you give someone you care about a copy of HFG, you'll not only be passing along spiritual encouragement, you'll also be sharing the gospel. Either way, you could change someone's life forever.

And that's what Christmas is all about.



I'm excited to say
Hungry for God . . . Starving for Time  has 114 reviews and a 4.8 star rating on Amazon. It received the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award in 2016.

If you live in the Columbia, South Carolina area, I'd love to autograph and personalize copies for your special friends. Email me at LoriAHatcher (at) gmail.com. Otherwise, I hope you'll click over to Amazon.











If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Wrestling with Waves -- When Faith and Fear Collide

It was a beautiful sandcastle. 

Carefully-selected seashells encircled the main building. Four turrets containing imaginary princesses marked the perimeter. A dragon-thwarting moat surrounded it all. Six-year-old Lauren had spent the better part of an hour creating her masterpiece. 

Stepping back to admire her work, she noticed something she hadn’t seen before—the tide. Reaching toward her creation, the sea’s arms extended then retreated, ominous in their subtle advance. With her back to the ocean during construction, Lauren hadn’t given the water a thought. 

But now the threat was real. 


 Like a superhero squaring off against the enemy, she positioned herself between the sea and her beloved creation. Thrusting her hands toward the advancing waves, she bellowed, “NO!” 

For a moment, the sea slithered away. Then, gathering strength, it rushed forward for another assault. 

“GO BACK” she cried, willing the sea to retreat. The tug of war continued until, with a mighty heave, the ocean roared past her restraining arms and over the castle, sucking the seashells off and drowning the imaginary princesses. 



Lauren hung her head in defeat, crushed by her inability to protect her creation. 

I’ve often felt like Lauren. Weak in the face of an insurmountable challenge. Frightened by things I can’t control. Threatened by forces too mighty for my feeble strength. Death. Disease. Evil. A prodigal child. A troubled marriage. A challenging work environment. All these and more make us feel powerless and scared. 

Like Lauren, I've wondered if it’s only a matter of time before fearsome waves swallow everything I’ve worked so hard for. 

Lauren isn’t the only one who’s had a tussle with the sea. Jesus’ disciples faced a similar challenge. 

“On the same day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 

“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” (Mark 4:35, 37-38). 

Have you ever asked God this question? Wondered if He was asleep? Immune to your struggle? Unconcerned about your suffering and distress? 

Yet even in their terror, the disciples did the right thing—they ran to the One who could save them. 

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (v 38). 

Lauren didn’t have the power to protect her sand castle, nor do we have the power to protect our children, our jobs, our marriages, our possessions, or our positions. 

But God does. 

And we can trust Him to order the circumstances of our lives for our good and for His glory. Whether He quiets the storm, removes it completely, or rides it out in the boat with us, we can trust that He’ll bring us to the other side. 

How do I know? Because He promised. 

As He said to the disciples, so He says to us, “Let us go over to the other side.” 

In His omniscience, He knew there’d be a storm, but storms don’t change His plan. “I’ll carry you over every white-capped wave,” he promises, “hold you when you’re frightened, and sustain you when you have no faith. We will make it to the other side—together.” 

“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (v 39). 

Lauren learned that day that she was powerless before the mighty force of the ocean. Life’s storms have caused me to realize a similar helplessness. Her attempt gave me the opportunity to remind her of a truth she can cling to all the days of her life. 

“You aren’t strong enough to keep the ocean in its place,” I told her, “but there’s Someone who is. Do you know who He is?” 

“God?” 

“Yep. Aren’t you glad nothing is too hard for Him?”

“Yes,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “But I wish he’d put the ocean a little farther away from my sandcastle.” 

“Me too, sweetie girl. Me too.” 

Now it’s your turn. What waves threaten your safety today? Have you taken them to Jesus? Will you trust Him to bring you to the other side? What does this look like in your life? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and comment there.



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.







If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Bored with Your Devotional Time? Try Interval Training

Do you ever get bored with your devotional time? Ever feel like what you’re doing isn’t accomplishing the spiritual results you hoped for? 

Consider interval training. 

I first learned about interval training at the fitness center where I exercise every morning. Here’s the definition as it refers to physical activity: 

Interval training: training in which an athlete alternates between two activities, typically requiring different rates of speed, degrees of effort, etc. 

The Mayo Clinic article, “Rev up your workout with interval training” lists several benefits to this approach to exercising: 

*Higher calorie burn Increased time efficiency 

*Additional aerobic effect 

*Less boredom 

*Increased feelings of happiness 

Who wouldn’t want these benefits? 

Impressed with the science behind this approach, I decided to use an interval training exercise routine. I walk five laps at a brisk pace, then jog one. I’m not a runner, and I’ve never enjoyed jogging, but I found that one lap out of five isn’t so bad. 


Almost immediately, I saw a difference. I finished my workout quicker, which helped me get to work on time. The occasional jog broke up the monotony of 50 laps around the track, and instead of feeling drained at the end, I felt energized. 

But what does this have to do with morning devotions and spiritual boredom? 

We can apply similar principles to our spiritual exercise and achieve similar results. Think about what you normally do to engage God each day. 

If you’re like me, you probably sit in the same spot and read the same Bible you’ve used for the last five years. Or maybe you read from a devotional. You pray about the same needs and the same people, “Lord, keep my husband and children safe, draw my unsaved loved ones to you, and use us in your service today. Amen.” 

If you’re suffering from spiritual boredom or not seeing the spiritual results you hoped for, maybe it’s time to shake things up. 

Here are some suggestions for spiritual interval training: 

Read from a different Bible. Choose a different translation, or a new way of reading. I love the MacArthur Daily Bible, where, every day, I read a portion of the Old Testament, a portion of the New Testament, and a Psalm and Proverb. This year, however, I’ve been reading in The Chronological Study Bible instead. I may try The Archaeological Study Bible next. 


I’ve gained new insight and grown even more excited about God’s Word. Some days I use the Bible Gateway app to listen to different translations and readers without having to invest in new Bibles. Hearing God’s Word read aloud often gives me fresh insight. I catch emphasis and repeated words I would otherwise have missed. 

Use a Different Devotional. If you always read Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, read Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest ,. If you love The Upper Room devotions, try Our Daily Bread . If you haven’t read my book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time – Five Minute Devotions for Busy Women , I’d love for you to click over and grab a copy. 

Pray Using a Different Method. Do you normally use the ACTS (Admit, Confess, Thanks, and Supplication) way? Try using The Lord’s Prayer as a model instead. If you pray with a list in a prayer journal, go off script and invite God to bring people and situations to your mind and allow Him to direct your prayer time. Or pray for missionaries and ministries one day, family members the next, and friends, associates, and strangers the next. 

Meet with God in a Different Place. If you usually sit in your recliner in the den or read your Bible in bed, go somewhere else.
 Weather permitting, find a quiet spot outdoors, read in your car at lunch time, or listen to a Bible app while you’re walking. It’s amazing how a change of venue can open your heart and mind to things you’ve never see otherwise. 

Unlike physical training, spiritual interval training has less to do with speed and more to do with efficiency. When we switch things up in our Bible reading and devotional time, we rev up our spiritual metabolism, burn off negative influences, fight boredom, and increase our joy. Investing time and energy in God’s Word every day enables us to raise our level of spiritual fitness and increase our degree of spiritual health. 

If you’re struggling with boredom and inefficiency in your devotional time, I encourage you to banish it by applying interval training to your faith walk. 

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).

Now it’s your turn. What do you do to keep your devotional time fresh? Leave a comment in the box below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.







If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

The Quiche that Makes Friends (Recipe Included)

If I asked you for five well-loved recipes that have been part of your family for years, what would you list? Grandma’s pot roast? Aunt Nenie’s jello salad? Cousin Jane’s chocolate gravy and biscuits? My list would include Linnea’s Baked Beans, Mom’s Potato Salad, and several crock pot staples: Cranberry Chicken, No-Peekie Stew, and Spicy Beef Dip. 

One recipe in my file, however, has done more than feed my hungry family. It’s helped me make friends. I call it Lori’s Quiche. 

I discovered the magic of Lori’s Quiche decades ago when I wanted to invite a new gal I’d met at church over for lunch. I was in the throes of mothering young children, and a normal lunch usually consisted of PB&J or mac and cheese. Not wanting to serve either to my (hopefully) new friend, I leafed through my collection of recipes looking for something nicer. 

To further complicate matters, it was the day before pay day. A run to the grocery store to pick up unusual ingredients was out of the question. I’d have to pull something together with items from my fridge and pantry. That’s when I remembered the quiche recipe I’d scribbled down. 

It wasn’t called Lori’s Quiche then. That came later. As I scanned the list of ingredients, I realized I had everything I needed to throw it together. Eggs, milk, flour, cheese, mayonnaise, and a frozen pie crust. 

That day I made a broccoli and cheddar quiche. My new friend loved it. A young mom herself, she was thrilled to have something hot, savory, and adult. In the years since, I’ve tried a dozen variations—ham, veggie, shrimp, seafood. I’ve even made a Mexican version with hamburger and tomatoes. 


Because the recipe calls for mayonnaise instead of heavy cream like most quiches, I don’t have to plan ahead to make it. I can pull staples from my fridge and have it in the oven in less than 15 minutes. It’s perfect for the spur of the moment opportunity to extend hospitality, take a meal to a sick neighbor, or bring a dish to a luncheon or potluck. 

It even freezes beautifully. Many times I’ll make two. We eat one and stick the other in the freezer, ready and waiting for the next outreach opportunity. 

Since its debut with the gal from church, Lori’s quiche has opened the door to many other friendships. About ten years ago a lady who’d been visiting our Sunday school class had knee surgery. I offered to bring lunch. My quiche and the accompanying visit launched a friendship we continue to enjoy today. 

I’ve served my quiche at ladies’ brunches, baby showers, and church potlucks. I’ve delivered it to new mothers and sick neighbors. As I type this post, I’m looking forward to having lunch with a neighbor who’s recovering from cancer treatment. She’s been the willing guinea pig for several variations. 

One day I invited her over for lunch and realized I’d used the last frozen pie crust and hadn’t replaced it. Since I’d already promised to make quiche, I tried yet another variation—crustless quiche. I combined the ingredients, sprayed a generous coating of Pam on a pie plate, and poured it in. The result was a delicious, gluten-free version I now call Lori’s Frittata. 

If you’re looking for a way to make friends, minister to others, and enjoy delicious food, give my recipe a try. Then prayerfully look for someone to share it with. 

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:8-9).

Now it’s your turn. What’s your friend-making, ministry-minded go-to recipe? Leave a comment (and share the recipe if you’d like) in the comments below. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online to leave a comment. 



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
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Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.



Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Don't Get Sucked In by Conversational Undertow

 I wonder how many people were swept away by the deceptively-calm water of the Columbia canal before the city posted warning signs about its dangerous undertow? 

One? Two? Ten? 

I’ve never felt inspired to wade into the murky water, especially after city officials posted a second sign: Alligators May Live Here. 

While I have enough sense not to swim into questionable water, I’ve sometimes been sucked into a conversational undertow that’s almost as dangerous. Negativity, gossip, criticism, foolishness, and unwholesome talk can carry us downriver as quickly as a fast-moving canal. 


Negativity 

Negativity is subtle. It usually begins with an observation. “Sure is cold today.” Then it grows. “I hate cold weather.” 

And it spreads. “I do, too. As soon as it turns cold, everyone gets sick.” 

Then someone else chimes in. “Yeah! I got the flu so bad last year I thought I’d never recover. I wish people would get the flu shot. People are so selfish and inconsiderate.” 

And on, and on, and on. Before you know it, everyone within hearing distance is grumpy. 

Philippians 4:8 provides the antidote: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” 

Gossip 


A writer once said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has time to lace up its boots.” This is certainly true with gossip. Even in Christian circles. 

Sometimes gossip springs from a root of truth and genuine concern. “Mary and her husband separated last week. We need to pray for them.” If we add unnecessary details not required to fuel our prayers and share them with those who have no business knowing them, the seeds of gossip find fertile ground. With every retelling, the facts get fuzzier and the truth blurs until the story resembles a thrice-removed cousin at a family reunion. 

We can avoid getting trapped in the undertow of gossip by asking these questions: Is it true? Is it kind? Does it need to be said? Very little can make it past this filter, and what does bears no resemblance to gossip. 

Speak “the truth in love,” Ephesians 4:15 exhorts.

Criticism 

Criticism often hides behind efficiency. “If she’d do it my way, we wouldn’t have this problem.” We focus on the ten percent that’s bad about a situation, instead of the ninety percent that’s good. Criticism in a home, office, or church spreads faster than a stomach bug in a daycare. It sucks the joy out of a room, elevates the negative, and dismisses the positive. 

The cure for this harmful spirit is gratitude. Thanking God for every good gift fills our hearts and minds and elbows out critical thoughts and fault-finding words (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Foolishness 

The biblical description of foolish talk involves more than just silliness. A fool by God’s standards is a person who acts as though there is no God. Their speech is filled with statements like “I have bad luck,” “It’s karma,” and “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” 

Foolish talk of a more serious type says, “God’s mad at me,” “God doesn’t want me to be happy,” and “God doesn’t hear my prayers.” 

Psalm 14:1 spotlights the source of this conversational undertow: “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” The cure is a solid understanding of God’s character, based on His Word. When we acknowledge there is a God, surrender our lives to Him, and study His Word, we’ll find that less and less foolishness comes out of our mouths. 

Unwholesome Talk 


We need only turn on our televisions or watch a movie to hear more unwholesome talk in an hour than our grandparents heard in their lifetime. I’ve often wondered why we invite television shows with cursing and vulgarity into our homes when we’d never tolerate a real person using such language in front of our spouse or children. 

Even Christians get drawn into our culture’s coarse and vulgar way of speaking. What goes into our ears often finds its way out of our mouths. We joke about things that used to be private. We use salty language and questionable slang. We use one manner of speaking at church and another with friends. 

“You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived,” Colossians 3:7-8 says. “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” 

One friend who’s determined to stop cursing has memorized Bible verses like this. She recites them to herself several times during the day. When she slips and uses bad language, she apologizes to the person listening, confesses it as sin to the Lord, asks forgiveness, and recasts her sentence, substituting a silly word for the vulgar one. She’s learning to master her tongue instead of letting it master her. 

The Conclusion of the Matter 

Like the undertow at the Columbia canal has the power to suck unsuspecting swimmers down the river and into the rapids, conversational undertow can carry us into dangerous relational waters. If we heed the warnings in God’s Word and stay far from the edge, we need not fear. Instead, we can embrace the challenge of Ephesians 4:29: 

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

Now it’s your turn? Which of these conversational undertows do you struggle with the most? What steps are you taking to change? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment. 



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.







If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Why We Should Never Stop Applauding Our Nation's Military Families

Add captionFor 30 years my family lived in the shadow of one of the largest military training bases in the country, Fort Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina. I've attended church with, lived beside, and educated my children with those who serve in the United States Army. I've formed deep friendships with women whose husbands have served in Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

But it wasn't until my daughter married a United States Naval officer that I truly began to understand the deep sacrifices these men, women, and families make on behalf of our country. 

We should never stop appreciating our military because of what they give and what they give up. 


What Our Military Gives

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) website published the following list of ways the U.S. Army changes lives in America: They provide medical assistance in impoverished areas, food and humanitarian relief, security at embassies and other locations, policing in volatile areas, natural disaster relief, law enforcement, and piracy and drug interdiction. 

The US Navy-Marine Corps-Coast Guard team helps keep the seas open and free. “The world’s oceans provide shipping lanes for commerce and cargo to move unmolested from their places of origin to the Amazon warehouse or small business or Wal-Mart in your home town,” the AEI website explains. 

“Over 90% of world trade by weight is transported by sea, including almost all commodities necessary for the basic operation of the global economy.” 

You thought most of our goods travel by long-haul tractor-trailers? The rigs we see on the roads every day usually carry freight that traveled to the US by sea. 

Do you enjoy surfing the internet? Thank the Navy. Ninety-nine percent of global communications flow through undersea fiber optic cables. Not only does the Navy protect what’s above the water, it also protects what’s beneath it. 

US Navy presence in the South China Sea contributes to economic stability in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world. Its presence in the Persian Gulf contributes to the low oil prices we’ve enjoyed for the last few years. Its global presence helps limit piracy, thus ensuring lower prices for the goods we buy every day. 

What Our Military Gives Up 

A Normal Family Life 

How would you feel if you kissed your spouse goodbye and knew you wouldn't see him or her for six, nine, or twelve months? During that time your baby will learn to walk, your 5-year-old will complete his entire kindergarten year, and your teenage son will learn to drive—without them. Deployed members of the military sometimes miss their babies’ births, children’s graduations, and best friends’ funerals. 

Depending on their assignment and job description, some members of the military are separated from their families for anywhere from three to twelve months at a time. “Many of these people spend as much time away as at home,” the AIE website states. 

And while technology like email, texting, Skype, and Face Time helps them stay connected, communication is often spotty or non-existent. If a sailor is out to sea or patrolling hostile waters, their ship often experiences internet outages or limitations, meaning no email or Facebook messages come in or out. Days or weeks pass before sailors are allowed to communicate with their loved ones. In the meantime, their families wonder, worry, and pray . . . 


Separation takes a heavy toll on marriages and family relationships. Loneliness and boredom are often a military spouse’s constant companions. On overseas assignments, depending on where a serviceman/woman is stationed, their spouses may be prohibited from working, thus adding to their isolation. 

Unfamiliarity with language and culture make even the simplest tasks, like driving or grocery shopping difficult. Although married, military spouses often act as both father and mother to their children, shouldering the responsibilities of both partners when their spouses are away or unavailable. 

Comfortable Living Conditions 

I'm confident our United States Military does its best to provide soldiers and sailors with the best possible living arrangements, but because of the nature of their assignments, conditions are often harsh and Spartan. As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz said, "There's no place like home," and deployment assignments are no place like home. 

From the heat, sun, and sand of the Middle East to the artificially lit, cramped quarters of a destroyer's belly, members of the military often live in close proximity with few creature comforts. Their assignments sometimes involve around-the-clock shifts with no days off. 

Traditional Worship & Spiritual Guidance 

As of 2011, the military has approximately 2,900 chaplains. Ministering to 1.4 million active duty military personnel, they conduct worship services, provide counseling, lead Bible studies, and support members and their families. These chaplains are hardworking and dedicated, but there just isn’t enough of them to go around. 


Servicemen/women sometimes go for months without being able to participate in a chaplain-led corporate worship service. Larger naval ships may have an assigned chaplain, but smaller ships usually do not, especially on long patrols. For other branches of the military, lack of easily accessible spiritual advisers, combined with long work hours and scarcity of quiet space, makes it challenging to maintain spiritual focus, especially while deployed. 

The Absence of Fear 

 One of the greatest gifts our military gives us is the ability to live free from fear. We worship unmolested and travel freely from one part of our country to another. We live, shop, work, and play without worrying about stumbling upon an IED or getting caught in the crossfire of two warring factions. While we know that terrorism and terrorists exist, we rest in the confidence that God and our military stand watch over us. This is a great gift. 

Ironically, the same servicemen and women who enable us to live without fear face fear every day. Those in combat situations wonder if they’ll make it home. 

Their families do, too. 

Those who serve in support roles know their job performance can either protect or endanger the lives of their comrades. Soldiers and sailors man their posts, filter intelligence, and stand the watch, willingly putting themselves in harm’s way for the sake of those at home. 

Some pay the ultimate price and give their lives to protect us. 

Today, November 11, is Veterans Day. 

Why not take a moment to thank God for the men and women who died while serving in our country’s armed forces? Then go a step further. Write a note, send a Facebook message, or make a phone call to someone currently serving in the military. Thank them for their service. Then thank their families. The men, women, and children who keep the home fires burning are perhaps the greatest unsung heroes of them all. 

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). 






I hope you enjoy this stirring video tribute to our veterans. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and view the video. 


Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.







If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

"Lord, give me eyes to see." A Hurried Person's Prayer

It was Andrew’s first wedding, at least in his remembrance. He’d slept through a few as an infant, but now, at age two, he was all in. Wide-eyed and curious, he noticed every detail. 


His mother, my daughter, was the matron of honor. His sisters, the flower girls. Daddy was occupied with his six-week-old brother, so Andrew and I were a couple. My job was to keep him happy, entertained, and quiet.

He watched the opening procession carefully, waiting for his mother to walk down the aisle. As each bridesmaid processed, he looked them over carefully. 

“Is that Mommy?” I asked. 

“Mo.” 

“How about that lady?” 

“Mo.” 

When his mother appeared, his face split into a toothy grin. “Der Mommy. Pretty!” Then he noticed her bouquet. “Fwowers!” 

“Aren’t they pretty?” I said. He nodded enthusiastically. 

Next came his sisters, solemn and angelic in their white tulle dresses, dutifully scattering paper hearts on the damp grass. “Uh-oh,” Andrew said, noticing the “litter” they’d left behind. 

After all had taken their places and the officiate began to speak, Andrew added his commentary to the man’s words. 

“Birds!” he said, pointing to the trees above us. “Squirrel?” he asked, noticing a movement in the tree tops. In his quiet-but-not-so-quiet voice, he pointed out an airplane, a helicopter, and a “weaf.” 

Fearing that he might be distracting the other guests, I gathered him up and slipped from the last row. We stood at a distance at the back of the garden. 

“Wook! Gigi,” Andrew said. Oak trees made a canopy overhead, and fat acorns dotted the ground. Like a gambler at a slot machine, he gathered his treasure and stuffed his pockets full. 

He wandered behind a bush, then came running back. Grabbing my hand and tugging, he pulled me toward the bush. “Gigi, come!” Cautious about what he’d discovered, I stepped gingerly between the shrubs. Andrew’s idea of “interesting” is vastly different from his sisters’. Bugs, rocks, and frogs top his list of fascinating specimens. 

But not this time. 

“Wook!” he said with a flourish. “Fwowers!” 

Sure enough, he’d found a bush covered in pink blossoms much like the bouquet his mommy had carried down the aisle a few minutes earlier. “Pretty,” he declared with a smile, and I agreed. 

Reflecting on the day, I thanked God for the opportunity to see the world through Andrew’s eyes. Without his help, I’d have missed the wonder of the afternoon. His invitation to slow down, look closely, and ponder was a precious gift I’ll not soon forget. 

Ever wonder how much we miss because we don’t stop long enough to see? 

Solomon, the wise man of Israel, declared, “He has made everything beautiful in his time,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but we can only appreciate this beauty if we stop and look. 

Father, help us slow down, look closely, and ponder deeply. Enable us to see the wonder and beauty of your creation. Lift our hearts in praise to you, the Creator of it all. May we never be so busy that we fail to recognize your fingerprints on our world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

Now it’s your turn. Do you struggle with being so busy that you fail to notice the simple things? What helps you slow down and appreciate God’s creation? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.





Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.
Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher