Simmer Pot Recipe & Free Gift Tag {God’s Reaction When We “Just Show Up”}
Hardly Pinterest-worthy is the picture below. In my meager attempts to live a shiny, compartmentalized, ‘I’ve got it under control’ kind of life, I sometimes forget what’s most important. As I made stovetop potpourri, God reminded me I should care care less about how I am perceived and more about how He is received.
This post was going to include a recipe for Stove-top Potpourri and explain ways to get to know your neighbors during the holiday season, and it still does…sort of.
After taking this shot, I took a second to look at the image. After realizing I cut the orange “wrong”, and that my lemons were too moldy to use, I noticed a sad, crusty French fry from last night’s gourmet dinner on the stove. Although some might see this picture as a Pinterest-fail, I was reminded that this is still a beautiful picture in God’s eyes.
In 1 John, the apostle starts out by saying, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest and we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.”
The word manifest means “clear, obvious.” With every sense, God wanted us to recognize the truth of who He is – that He sent His Son out of His great love for us to deliver us from sin. God made clear the truth of Christ by engaging us on every level – through sight, sound and touch.
When the disciples saw that Jesus filled their nets with fish, when the woman was healed after touching His robe and when a little girl was brought back from death upon Jesus only hearing her story, Jesus made it clear that He wants to engage with us on every level possible.
Christ doesn't wait to help us until we get our act together, He faithfully engages us in our time of need. Click To TweetChrist doesn’t wait to help us until we get our act together, He faithfully engages us in our time of need. God wants us to come to Him as we are. He doesn’t care that we don’t have it all together (and no one does). He just wants us to show up and seek to engage with Him.
The picture of my Stovetop Potpourri above will never make it on the pages of a magazine…but it still counts.
I still “showed up.” It brings glory to God as He knows my heart’s intent to build relationships with my neighbors to hopefully be a vehicle for His love.
He doesn’t care that the process wasn’t perfect. Your Heavenly Father doesn’t want you “clean yourself up” before presenting your requests to Him. He wants to engage you in your greatest time of need and come as you are. He is delighted when His children “just show up”!
The same can be said in how we engage with others. A couple months ago, I didn’t take a rare opportunity to talk to my neighbor because my hair wasn’t done and I wasn’t wearing makeup. But maybe that’s the kind of neighbor she needed most that day…
Ironically, sometimes what we try to hide from others is the the very thing that can form a bridge to connect on an interpersonal level.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to be transparent about the depths from which He has saved us. Thankfully, He doesn’t want us to engage with him as a sterile ‘my lipstick is always on’ version of ourselves and neither do our neighbors.
God seeks to engage you on every level so your focus shifts from how you are perceived to how HE is received.
The Lord does not require us to be perfect but He simply wants us to be present. So often, a preoccupation with self dims that light that God so desperately wants to shine through us onto others.
He wants us to be real with others about the difficulties and pain that life brings, knowing that God can heal our every wound and alleviate every fear.
As in 2 Corinthians 2:15, may we be the “pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” The reality of ourselves might not always be pretty. However, there is an opportunity for our neighbors to see Him when the abundance of His all-sufficient love meets our own insufficiency.
Stove Top Potpourri Recipe
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- 1 orange (I like to use Clementines)
- 2 cinnamon sticks – The cheapest I found are these cinnamon sticks at Walmart.
- 1 T. whole cloves
- ¼ c. cranberries
- clear gift bags
- My Secret Ingredient: I also like to add a few drops of an essential oil blend called Germ Fighter. It is basically just cloves, lemon and cinnamon, giving the potpourri a stronger smell. I put all of the cinnamon sticks in a baggie, added about 10 drops of the Germ Fighter and shook the bag. I also make hand sanitizer with this oil blend by adding about 10 drops to 1/4 cup aloe gel. Of course, it smells amazing in a diffuser during cold and flu season. It kills germs and smells like Christmas! Who could ask for more?!?
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I tied them with ribbon and my daughter and I had fun putting them in each neighbor’s mailbox! They have been a big hit so far with all of our neighbors.
More Christmas Posts from Renovated Faith
How to Add Ribbon to a Christmas Tree the EASY Way
Knock-Off Pottery Barn Orament Wreath and Garland
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Step by Step
Christmas Front Porch Ideas on a Budget
Did you like this post? This blog is my ministry so be sure to share it as a message of God’s hope. Have a wonderful week!
If you want to save this pot for later, pin it here:
Blessings,
Be sure to follow the fun here!
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Karin Peters is a DIY expert and the creator of Renovated Faith. She is a furniture painter, a home design consultant, and a tenacious problem solver determined to help you transform your house into a home. With 17 years of experience with DIY home improvement, she researches and analyses professional processes to adapt them to be easy and cost-effective for DIYers. She then tests every project and product before it appears on the site in a detailed, step-by-step format. After attending Texas A&M University, she received her Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages at Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary. Her passions unite in Renovated Faith, which shows readers how to create a home that serves them so they can pursue their God-given purposes. About Renovated Faith | Editorial Policy | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
Thank you Karin for this wonderful idea and for your thoughts! I love the idea that we can just ‘show up’ even in our imperfections! I actually think that it makes us more approachable; and I also think that I miss out on opportunities when I think I can’t ‘show up’ unless it’s perfect!
You and me both Kathie. I can totally relate and I hope you had a merry Christmas!
I can completely relate to that and as a recovering perfectionist, I have to remind myself of this often! Thank you so much for your kind words Kathie!
Hi Karin–SO enjoy your blog posts~this one is such a great idea and so attractive! I am having trouble finding the oil you recommend. Am unable to get this on Amazon, do you have another source? thank you; have a blessed Christmas celebration!
Hey Sallie, Any holiday essential oil blend will work!
Karin! I prepared these for my small group of neighbors last year and they loved them! I may just do it again this year! Thank you for the reminder!
So glad to hear you have your own Christmas tradition going on with these!
This is truly a wonderful witness to your neighbors, but I have to tell you that to put anything in a mailbox is against Federal law. Anything put in a mailbox may only be put in by a US Postal Service employee. It is very possible your carrier will just ignore it, but I wanted you to know just in case. Perhaps you could hang the bag on their door knob instead?
https://johnnyholland.org/2021/07/is-it-illegal-to-put-something-in-a-mailbox/#r
Hey Anne, Yes, I heard this and wasn’t sure about whether we should be putting them on porches instead. Our long-time mail lady has never said anything so hopefully it’s not an issue. Thank you for bringing this to my attention!
Hi Karin, I’m 90 years young and not too techy. I would love to make the potpourri for my neighbors and myself but, It won’t allow me to do a print out of the label. Would you tell me what I’m doing wrong. I too was transformed in 1978 and live for my LORD DAILY. Thank you My Sister in Christ.
Lilia, is it working now? If not, try a different browser. Let me know if that doesn’t work – karin@renovatedfaith.com
love the post and the message! How early have you pre-made these so the fruits do not go bad? Has anybody tried dried cranberries?
Hey Jessica, The cranberries are the only thing I would be concerned about but they would last several days at least. Otherwise, I love your idea about using dried cranberries. Thanks for stopping by! – Blessings, Karin
what size cellophane bag is used in this recipe
Hi Claudia, It was 4-5″ x 8″, I believe. I cut off the excess of the top of the bag. Thanks for your comment Claudia!
I love your posts and your perspective. You obviously love the Savior and our Heavenly Father! Your words were so uplifting and true! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your idea for giving to others this year when things are closed down! You are totally awesome!
You are so very welcome Paulette. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! Blessings! -Karin
Thank you for this… the message, and the recipe/idea. Perfect pandemic gift, you’re so right. I definitely want to try it for my house, too. I wonder if dried fruit would work, in case the neighbors weren’t home.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and ministry! And for the brilliant oil suggestion as well.
You are so welcome Ruth. Thank you for your sweet comment and have a Merry Christmas! – Karin
Thank you so much for your “imperfect” message! It really speaks to my own vanity, and that God truly does use us as we are to bless those around us. What an encouraging word! Blessings and Merry Christmas!
You are so welcome! Thank you for taking the time to post a sweet comment Penny! I hopd you have a Merry Christmas! – Karin
Thank you so much for this post. It is the exact message I needed and the timing couldn’t be better.
I am so happy to hear that! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas Michelle! – Karin
I can’t open your link to subscribe to the blog so that I can access the free Stovetop Potpourri gift tag.
So sorry about that. I have fixed the link and you can also subscribe here: https://renovatedfaith.com/get-a-password/
This was so refreshing to read! Thank you for being so transparent. I sometimes need reassurance that I’m not the only one living an imperfect life. Everything in social media is so curated and edited that I can feel “less than.” Blessings to you!
The crusty french fry? YES! HA! This is real life. Thankful for a woman who isn’t afraid to show all facets of her life- even the ones that aren’t picture-perfect 🙂
Karin-this is so refreshing! Thank you for your transparency and encouragement. Authentic living with our families and our neighbors. Presence over perfect. Thank you sharing! I need this ALL YEAR LONG!
Thank you for being so open to what God has to shared, I’ve been so blessed by it!
This post was so amazing, thank you for being open to share what God has for you to share instead of the perfect Pinterest picture. So blessed by it!