The Meaning of Success

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.     Ralph Waldo Emerson

Perseverance - Hebrews 12:1

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond. Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!" "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."      - Hebrews 12:1 How many times are we just like that - we forget that there is a great cloud of witnesses - let us just throw off everything that hinders - and run with perserverance - that race that is marked out for us!

Fixing Bicycles

I love stories. One of my favorites is about a little girl who was late coming home for supper. Her mother made the expected irate parent's demand to know where she had been.

The little girl replied that she had stopped to help Janie, whose bicycle was broken in a fall. "But you don't know anything about fixing bicycles," her mother responded.  "I know that," the girl said. "I just stopped to help her cry."
                               - Murray Lancaster

Not many of us know anything about fixing bicycles, either. And when our friends have fallen and broken, not their bicycles but their lives, NONE of us knows how to fix that. We simply cannot "fix" someone else's life, even though that's what we would like most to do.

But like the little girl, we can stop to help them cry. That is the best we can do. And that is a lot!

Sometimes that is just what we need - a shoulder to cry on - a hug - a smile - a phone call - an email - - - let's reach out to one another this new year and make it a better place to live!!

You Will Never Be Sorry

You Will Never Be Sorry . . .

...for thinking before acting.

...for hearing before judging.

...for forgiving your enemies.

...for being candid and frank.

...for helping a fallen brother.

...for being honest in business.

...for thinking before speaking.

...for being loyal to your church.

...for standing by your principles.

...for closing your ears to gossip.

...for bridling a slanderous tongue.

...for harboring pure thoughts.

...for sympathizing with the afflicted.

...for being courteous and kind to all.

Never - Never - Never feel bad for doing ALL of these things!

Ten Ways to Love

1.      LISTEN without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)

2.      GIVE without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26

3.      PRAY without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)

4.      ANSWER without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)

5.      SHARE without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)

6.      ENJOY without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)

7.      TRUST without wavering. (1 Corinthians 13:7)  

8.      FORGIVE without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)

9.      PROMISE without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12)

10.  SPEAK without accusing. (James 1:19)

I couldn't help but think of how our world would be different if everyone would truly read the Bible and take it to heart and soul!  There would be no missunderstanding, no heartache, no arguing, no interrupting.  There would be trust, forgiveness, sharing, caring, and praying.

I challenge you as this new year approaches, read your Bible, study your Bible, memorize your Bible (though I am not good at memorizing!!) but take it to heart.  Live it out every day of your life! Not just when you are in church but every day - take it home with you and put it into practice with everyone that you meet.  Your family, your friends, your neighbors, your cashiers . . . everybody you come into contact with.

I challenge you to take note of the changes you see as they happen right before your eyes!  Some may not be evident right away - but just watch and wait and see how God works through you as you take His Word and put it into Practice . . . everyday of your life.

Hope in the Lord

Here is one of my all-time favorite verses - a "Power-Verse"!

Frankincense and Myrrh Bath Salts: The Wise (Wo)Man’s Gifts - Ginger Garrett

Make a batch of these and nestle the package in a gold basket for a beautiful presentation that mimics the Wise Men’s gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. These make great bathtime luxuries for yourself and wonderful holiday gifts. What a sweet way to share the message of Christmas. The recipe below makes enough for ten baths.

6 cups sea salt (Dead Sea salt is preferable; or use coarse sea salt) & 1 cup baking soda

Combine the sea salt, Epsom salt, and baking soda. Add 5 drops each of frankincense and myrrh essential oil*, or until the mixture is richly scented. (You can also add in a sweet scent like lavender or orange to soften the smoky, spicy tones.) Combine well and scoop one cup each into ten containers. (You can use cellophane baggies, colored plastic wrap tied with ribbon, ceramic jars—use your imagination!) Nestle the salts inside a gold basket with a Christmas card from you.

*(Essential oils are simply highly concentrated versions of natural oils extracted from plants and plant matter such as fruit, bark, and leaves. Because the oils are concentrated, one tiny bottle will last for a very long time.)

It’s important to buy these oils at a store where you can test the scent before you buy. Inferior oils of frankincense and myrrh will have a bad “paint thinner” odor. High quality oils will smell rich and warm.

Enjoy!

Divorce - Cancer / What do you say or do?

A friend just told you she is getting a divorce. What do you say?

A woman at your church just found out she has cancer. What do you do?

Do you feel like you want to help, but don’t know how?

Here are a few sobering statistics about the women in crisis around us:

·         40% of marriages end in divorce (the rate is the same for Christians and non-Christians)

·         1 in 6 women have been the victim of a sexual assault

·         1 in 4 have been a victim of domestic abuse.

·         1 in 8 will have invasive breast cancer

·         1 in 3 women are depressed

Now picture the tables of women sitting at your event or Bible study this month. One woman at a table of eight may have invasive breast cancer. In a room of thirty women, five have been the victim of a sexual assault. At an event of two hundred women, fifty have experienced domestic abuse, and over sixty-six are depressed.

There are a lot of women in crisis around us. And as ministry leaders and friends, we are called to comfort them. To say and do the things that will bring them comfort. But do we really know how?

A few years back I was leading a large women’s ministry and was asked to help write a book called Comforting Women in Crisis. I interviewed women and asked them to share their experiences with rape, infidelity, domestic abuse, and miscarriage. As I sat and listened, cried, and later wrote their stories, my heart bled for them.

Writing the book equipped me to do a better job at comforting women in crisis and in this article I hope to give you some tips to help you do the same.

First, let’s talk about What to Say and What Not to Say to women in Crisis…

What NOT to Say
These are all real expressions of “comfort” people have said to women in crisis, and why they are not the best things to say.

1.       Look at the positive. If it was this easy to adjust our attitudes we would certainly do it. Think about it…saying something like this is like telling a blind person not to be so blind…

2.       Call me if you need anything. Most women will not call, and in the midst of a crisis have no idea what they need. You may mean well, but this is an empty gesture, and you just put the responsibility on her for your action or inaction.

3.       I know how you are feeling. Now is not the time to express understanding by sharing your story. Don’t be surprised if your friend reacts with stony silence if you attempt to comfort her in this way. She needs you to listen to how she feels, not how you feel.

4.       The joy of the Lord is your strength! Be careful how you use scripture to comfort a woman in crisis. Instead of helping her feel closer to God, this type of statement can make her feel like a failure TO God, because she feels unable to “control” her emotions or sense the joy of the Lord in her difficult time.

5.       God won’t give you more than you can handle. This statement subtly puts the blame on God for her current situation. Depending on the crisis, she may already feel distant or even angry with God.

Bonus not to say:

·         If you had told me I could have helped. Most women in abusive relationships are not able to reach out for help, and may keep friends at a distance on purpose. Saying this to any woman in crisis infers it was her fault you were not there to help. The last thing she needs now is to feel guilty for failing in your friendship.

·         I’ve always thought he was a jerk. Imagine how this makes a woman feel about possibly decades of her life, and about herself for being married to “the jerk.” Don’t say it, or even agree with her if she does.

What TO Say
Use these words to extend comfort to a woman in crisis.

1.       You’re doing a great job. Instead of saying “look at the positive,” help her to do it! You can never go wrong giving an encouraging word, and don’t give up even if it doesn’t seem like your words are getting through.

2.       I’ll bring you a meal on Tuesday night. Physical exhaustion is common in crisis and your friend may not even realize her need for help. Take the lead and commit to bringing dinner, watching the kids, or helping with errands. The key is—don’t ask, tell. Recognize that even asking her what type of food she likes can be an overwhelming decision right now.

3.       How are you feeling about this? Listen, listen, listen. This was one of the main things women in crisis identified they needed. Don’t try to fix her feelings: support her through them!

4.       I’m so sorry. Don’t withdraw when she is grieving because you don’t have the “right” words to say. Instead, offer to share in and validate your friend’s grief. There are no better words to say, especially when you don’t know what to say, than “I’m sorry.”

5.       I don’t know what to say. Honesty is important. She’ll know if you are uncomfortable or say something you don’t really mean. Better to just admit you have no words and to offer a hug than to say something that won’t be genuine.

Bonus to say:

·         I’m praying this scripture over you, do you have another favorite? Many women say “I’ll pray for you” and walk away. Instead, let the person know you are active in your promises and convey it with your actions. Pray on the spot. Be a visible support, not an invisible promise.

Praying for you and for your healing words as you extend comfort to the women in crisis around you!
~Linda

Linda is a contributing author to the book, Comforting Women in Crisis, and has written women’s ministry leadership and training articles, books, and materials with Group Publishing. She has also presented national training workshops for pastors, women’s ministry teams, small group leaders, and volunteer ministry leaders, and developed a three hour workshop, Comforting Women in Crisis, based on her experiences and research in writing the book.

Why Women Would Love Being Santa Claus.

1. You'd never be expected to make the coffee.

2. There'd be no more early morning decisions about what to wear to the office.

3. You could grow a gut the size of Fat Albert's and consider it a job requirement.

4. One big black belt - accessorized for life!

5. There'd be no reason to have your colors done.

6. Everyone would be extremely nice to you, even if you weren't.

7. Should people suggest your belly jiggled... that is when you giggled... like a bowlful of jelly, you could hit them with your purse.

8. You'd always work in sensible footwear.

9. There'd be no need to play office politics; a hearty "'Ho! Ho! Ho!", would remind everyone who's boss.

10. You wouldn't need an expensive briefcase.

11. No one would dare ask for a ride to work.

12. Never again have to wear pantyhose or worry about your slip showing.

13. No more trips to the vending machine... you'd just snack on milk and cookies all day.

14. You'd never be asked to take an early retirement package.

15. Juggling work and family would be a breeze because your children would adore you; even your teen-agers would want to sit in your lap.

16. You'd be guaranteed the best chair in the office.

17. Age discrimination wouldn't be an issue.

18. You'd never grab the wrong coat on your way out the door.

19. No one would ask to see your job description.

20. Your co-workers would be on notice that they'd better not pout.

Upside Down Apple Pecan Pie

UPSIDEDOWN APPLE PECAN PIE
Added by francine bryson [frannie] on Jun 24, 2010

francine from pickens, SC (pop. 18,112) says:
this is the pie i won the nc state grand prize apple cook off with . is looks like alot of a steps but its more simple than it sounds

Cook time:	1 Hr		Difficulty:	MEDIUM
Prep time:	20 Min		Serves:	8

INGREDIENTS

- 2 store bought pie crust - 6 c cored and sliced apples - 1 1/2 c pecan halfs - 1 stk butter, softened - 1 1/8 tsp cinnamon, ground - 1/2 tsp nutmeg

- 1 1/2 c brownsugar - 1/2 c white sugar - 2 Tbsp lemon juice, fresh - 3 Tbsp all purpose flour - 1 Tbsp apple pie spice - 1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1.   rub soft butter on bottom and sides of deep dish pie pan , place pecans round side down till cover whole inside of pan, spread brown sugar till all nuts are covered , place one pie crust on top of nuts press till forms the bottom of pan set aside

2.   in bowl place lemon juice, flour, white sugar, spices, vanilla mix well, add sliced apples and toss till coated, pour into piecrust making as even as u can cover with other pie crust, fold over sides crimp together dont worry about looks this is the bottom of your pie poke holes at random with fork for steam

3.   place in 450 oven for 10 mins reduce heat to 350 for 45 mins

4.   remove from oven, let sit till the bubbling stops ( importiant = u must flip this over to serve while its still hot the pecans are the top of your pie should be very shiny and all pastry is covered serve warm with ice cream.

With Praise for Aging Veterans

A veteran's not a rookie.

A vet has paid his dues.

A veteran knows the hell of war

just nuanced in the news. 

A veteran loves his country.

With pride he greets its flag.

He stands up straight (still soldier-like)
although his shoulders sag.

A veteran knows life's precious.

Old memories make him cry.

He wonders why God let him live

when he watched others die. 

A veteran models friendship.

His buddies know he cares.

Although they live twelve states away,

he'll find a way to share. 

In Saving Private Ryan,

civilians got to see

the bond this band of brothers feel

when one's in jeopardy. 

I've seen what I'm describing.

You see, my dad's a vet.

His brave example makes me proud
of who he is. And yet

my dad's just one of millions

who fought so we'd be free.
Without regard for life or limb
they served us selflessly.
 
So how can we repay them?

It seems there's just no way,

except perhaps to honor them

with thanks on Veterans' Day.

By Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos