THURSDAY POTPOURRI #9

REVIEW ON THE PRAISE BREAKFAST THIS MORNING

Well, I had a nice friend who gave me a ticket to go to a Praise Breakfast this morning at our convention center. Breakfast was to start at 6:45am, so I got up at 5:45am to get ready for what I anticipated to be a really inspiring and precious morning. The keynote speaker was Ruth Graham, you know, Billy Graham's daughter, and the breakfast was sponsored by Scenic City Women's Network-A group that serves to equip and support business and professional women. Okay, good enough. So I was off. Found great parking, only had to walk a short distance to the breakfast, and found my table and seat right away. They had a nice, light breakfast of fruit, eggs, bacon, muffins, juice, and coffee. You know I had to ask if they had tea instead. And...thankfully, they did. Yea for me! Anyhooty, you know how it feels to have your mind and heart all ready for something, expectations, anticipation, etc., but you get there, you sit through it, and...well, I wouldn't go as far as saying letdown, but I guess what I received wasn't what I imagined it to be. There, that's a fair assessment.

So let me tell you about it. The theme of the Praise Breakfast was "God's Endless Love." Great theme. There was a welcome, special music, and other things, and then...the message from Ms. Graham. She started out by saying that she wanted to address wives and even wives of high-profile men, like her father, how difficult that is for some women, and how God would have you respond. We're good so far. She starts out talking about her mother, what she remembers over the years of her mother, and giving her mom's testimony. Although I've heard her mom's fascinating testimony before, I was willing to hear it again because I thought that it would lead to her speak of something else, closely related to that or to go with that, that was Biblical. She had said prior to talking about her mom that she only had an hour to speak, so I sat back to take it all in.

Well, in an hour, her mom's testimony was the only thing we heard about. Again, her mom's testimony is fabulous, and in her defense, I know she was using her mom's life and how she responded with Godliness to different situations in her lifetime as the way to give the answer to what she said she initially wanted to address--how to be a (or a picture of a) Godly woman, wife, mother, supporter, what that entails, and how God would have you respond. It's fair and creative to do that; it's not what I expected, but it was creative. But, and here's my biggest problem with the whole thing, Ms. Graham didn't once (that I can recall-if she did, somebody comment and correct me) quote relevant Scripture to her mom's life and testimony, she didn't once use Scripture to back up or convey her message, she didn't use Scripture at all! She quoted some of her mom's favorite quotes from favorite authors that were relevant to the message, she told some of her mom's witty comments and jokes and how she always went around with joy, she talked about Christ being all-sufficient for her mother's life, she even talked about how her parents always imparted the Word to people whenever they had the opportunity, something appropriate for where the person was at right then in their lives, but she didn't.

Okay, okay, fair enough, she isn't her parents or her brother Franklin, and I'm sure she has to live up to certain expectations and people's opinions herself, I know she is her own person with her own character and way about things, I know that she is an individual, BUT, who doesn't need to use the Word in their speech, and when isn't appropriate for the Word to be used? Do you have to Bible thump, give an old-fashioned "hail, fire, and brimstone," or appear to be Ms. Religious of the year? I think not and that wouldn't have been necessary, but again, how do you give a speech at a Christian woman's (or any Christian for that matter) breakfast or venue without injecting the Word where appropriate throughout? Hey, I'm usually not critical or judgemental (remember, this is just a "review" on the breakfast:)), and I can usually see the significance and/or logic in stuff that other people can't but...I'm just saying...

There were a couple of other things, like timing of soliciting (oops, I mean "informing" about products for sale and upcoming events), that I thought would have been better at another juncture in the schedule, but who am I and what do I know. I'm not criticizing Ms. Graham, because apparently the lady can speak and is clearly popular; she's also been through a lot and can be transparent and encouraging, but...I guess we need to answer the question, "Do we NEED to quote Scripture or give Scripture references at any and every Christian venue we speak at? Is there a time when we can just tell a good story, skip the Scripture injections (and the expounding on maybe one or two of them--something folks!), receive the accolades given from the audience, and even get a standing ovation (which Ruth did get)? Yeah, I guess you could depending on what you came to speak about, what was expected of you, and what type of event you were at. What say you, my readers, about this? I want to hear from you.

All in all, it was a good morning. I got to see Ruth Graham, whose family I have the greatest respect for, and I got to sit at a nicely decorated and set table with ladies whom I didn't know prior to the event, but seemed really nice. They all knew each other, so of course and naturally, they talked to each other a lot. I think I interjected something twice, but I've never had a problem with being somewhere alone and not knowing anyone. I usually just like to focus on what's being said or what's going on anyway.

Well, on with the rest of my day. Hopefully, it's uneventful. I'm tired. We've had a full week and I think the weekend will be the same. Since I had to get up so early for a talk, maybe I'll lay down early and rest with a talk...with Jesus and His wonderful, needful, life-changing, transforming, all-important Word.

Have a good day!

JUST FOR FUN--15 WORDS OR LESS

All right, Laura Salas over at http://www.laurasalas.livejournal.com/ has a photo challenge that's just for fun. So why not give it a try?! Here are the simple, simple guidelines:

New to 15 Words or Less Poems? This does not need to be "good" poetry. No pressure here. For me, it's just a quick way for me to focus on something in my immediate surroundings every day and try to see it in a new way. It does not have to rhyme. It does not have to be poetic. What does it have to be? 15 Words or Less! The title, if you title it, doesn't count toward your 15 words. So, jump in and give it a try. Look at this week's post (photo below) and see what hits you. You can be moody, funny, serious, observant, whatever you want! How hard can it be? I spend 5 minutes or less per day on it. And if I can overcome my fear of sharing horrible, clumsy, pedantic, lousy pictures and poems, you can, too! If we share enough of them, it will be exhilarating instead of embarrassing!
Go to Laura's website (link above) and see how you can play!

And now, here is my thought or take on the picture:

Someday, I'll rise

Out of my fetal position.

I'll be able

To face the world.

THURSDAY POTPOURRI #8

SUMMER TIME IS VACATION TIME!!

(for most of us anyway)

For this Thursday potpourri, let's talk about the long-awaited vacation you're about to go on soon or the one you've already had, although it's still early in the season. Some of my friends have already gone on their summer vacation, believe it or not, and they will spend the rest of the summer home with the kids or doing the local scene. So, leave me a comment and/or send me a picture and tell me about the great plans you have for summer, or how the vacation you've already been on turned out. It'll be fun to read about new or familiar places. We'll all share in your fun in the sun!!

As for us, uhhh, maybe we'll go to Memphis (our usual hang-out because family is there), and maybe we'll be blessed to add on a surprise or two for the kids this year. We actually don't have anything set in stone yet. Surely no one else out there reading this will find themselves in this same predicament. Already having plans is much much better:) Whenever something gets moving here though, I'll be sure to write about it and tell you, and add pictures. Have fun and don't forget your sunblock!

The picture above is colonial Williamsburg.

All pictures from About.com Family Vacations

THURSDAY POTPOURRI #7

WHILE THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, HE

HAS MANY NAMES FOR MANY REASONS

Want to know some names for God for perhaps your prayer time, your study time, or your teaching time? I have listed for you 25 names for God, in Hebrew, from the Old Testament. I included the meanings in English and Scripture references to them. They are worth looking into and studying. Look at what circumstance the person or people were going through when they used the name. I've heard people, even today, pray using some of the many names for God, when their circumstance or that name for God fit whatever situation or thing that they were praying about.

In Hebrew
Adonai-Jehovah (The Lord our Sovereign-Isaiah)
El-Elyon (The Lord Most High-Deut 26:19)
El-Olam (The Everlasting God-Gen 21:33)
El-Shaddai (The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His people-Gen 17:1,2 Job)
Jehovah-Elohim (The Eternal Creator-Gen 2:4, Gen 1)
Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord our Provider-Gen 22:14)
Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord our Banner-Ex 17:15)
Jehovah-Ropheka (The Lord our Healer-Ex 15:22)
Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord our Peace-Judges 6:24)
Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord our Righteousness-Jer 23:5)
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem (The Lord our Sanctifier-Lev 20:8)
Jehovah-Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts-Isaiah 1:24)
Jehovah-Shammah (The Lord is Present-Ezek 48:35)
Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord our Shepherd-Psalm 23)
Jehovah-Hoseenu (The Lord our Maker)
Jehovah-Eloheenu (The Lord our God)
Abhir (Mighty One-Gen 49:24)
Branch (The Branch-Zech 3:8)
Kadosh (Holy One-Psa 71:22)
Shaphat (Judge-Gen 18:25)
El-Roi (God of Seeing-Gen 16:13)
Kanna (Jealous-Exodus 20:5)
Palet (Deliverer-Psalm 18:2)
Gaol (Redeemer-Job 19:25)
Magen (Shield-Psalm 3:3)

Just a little Thursday Potpourri I thought you could use. Maybe we'll do New Testament names next time. Thanks for tuning in today.

DISCERNING THE VOICE OF GOD

*Note before reading the post*

Please forgive me readers. I've been away from my desk for a few days and this is a saved draft from a post I wanted to give you on Thursday. I've stated before and I'd like to tell you again that while I'd like to post every day, I sometimes cannot because I have things that call for my attention that are more priority, like family and church matters. I don't apologize for that, but I do apologize if you are looking for something fresh from me and I can't deliver. I want to though.

A few months ago, I did a book study on Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. You all probably know her. She is Dr. Tony Evans' daughter-Tony Evans the popular pastor/conference speaker from Dallas, Texas who is broadcast around the nation (at least), from local Christian radio stations. Anyway, Priscilla is a conference speaker and author in her own right and often writes on learning to listen and respond to God with your whole heart.

Have we all thought, at some point, we've heard from God or, we want to know how to hear from God, or when, in our minds, is God really speaking? I used to always want to know if I was really hearing God or I wanted to make sure it was Him and not the enemy. Eventually, I think I got a pretty good handle on that, but doing a group study with Priscilla Shirer's book really helped teach me some new things and confirm some things I already knew. It's mighty good to know the voice of God. It's even better when we desire it. It's best when we obey it.

I want to share some thoughts of those who have figured out how God speaks, particularly to them. See if you can relate. Do you have a desire to hear God or pay attention to His voice more? Do you know how to hear from God? Can God speak to you? Why do you think He wants to? When do you think He speaks to you? Would God ask you to do something you don't want to do? Listen at these thoughts:

"I know the Lord is speaking to me when the voice I hear is always challenging, always convicting, and never allows me to be comfortable where I am. Not having a father, what an honor it is to have One who loves me so much that His greatest desire is to see me grow."--Kirk Franklin

"Things don't change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me."--Bob Sorge

"His leading is only for those who are already committed to do as He may choose. To such it may be said: 'God is able to speak loud enough to make a willing soul hear."--Lewis Sperry Chafer

"God will speak to the hearts of those who prepare themselves to hear; and conversely, those who do not so prepare themselves will hear nothing even though the Word of God is falling upon their outer ears every Sunday."--A. W. Tozer

"If we come to Him doubting His ability to speak, we will have a difficult time listening. So we must come expectantly."--Charles Stanley

"Two important prerequisites to hearing God clearly are to have an open verical relationship with the Lord and to be submitted to His plan for our lives. If there is unconfessed sin or continued disobedience in our lives, there will be a "closed heaven" above us and a disruption in hearing from the Lord. God cannot draw near to us while we are walking away from Him through disobedience at the same time."--Jim Cymbala

The above one resonates loudly in my heart. I do not like to disobey God. I feel heavily convicted when I do. I don't want a wedge between me and my Lord, and I certainly don't ever want to stop, even for a second, hearing His voice. I need Him...PERIOD!! There are many other useful, insightful, deep, truthful quotes in this study of Priscilla's, from different friends of hers and from the Word itself. It is a life-transforming study. It's one of those few studies I've taken that I would whole-heartedly recommend to my Christian friends and others I know. LifeWay and other book stores have this book and a newer one she has out. Look for it, and consider taking the course with a group or friend. Desire to hear from God, expect Him to answer, obey His voice immediately! Have a wonderful day.

(If you can't click on this box to go to Priscilla's website, go to www.goingbeyond.com.)

Mother's Day 2008 Giveaway Photo

I'm so excited about this giveaway, more for the opportunity to show off my mother than the prize (but, the prize would be really, really nice ;). This picture captures more guts and heart than you can tell just from looking at it. Obviously, this is at my wedding, and yes, this is my mother. If it appears that she is holding her head a little stiff, there is a good reason for that. My mother had just been in a really bad car accident months before my wedding and thought that she would not live, let alone make it to my wedding. When she realized God would have her to stay with us here on earth a little longer, she certainly didn't think that she would be able to participate in the wedding. My mother's neck was broken in 3 places (hence the rigid neck--she had taken off her neck brace to take the wedding pictures) among a host of other injuries that made her wheelchair bound. She wasn't supposed to walk again, and the threat of amputation of one of her legs loomed over her head. She was fiercely determined though, that if the good Lord let her live, she WOULD be in my wedding, but not only that, she would WALK down the aisle on her own two legs, to see her daughter marry the most wonderful man in the world (and the one she and Daddy finally liked:) Well, Shirley (Mom) did just that. With the Lord's miracle firmly in place, she was standing in this photo, telling me how absolutely blessed she felt and how proud she was of me, and, she was escorted, ever so slowly down the aisle to her special place on the front pew. Needless to say, this picture is very special and precious to me. I hope you enjoy it!

BTW, go to http://www.5minutesformoms.com/ if you want to see many other "mom" photos and if you'd like to enter any or some of the many Mother's Day 2008 giveaways posted there and at other sites being featured. I couldn't successfully post a button you could click on to just jump right over there. Anyway, Eggbeaters (R) is giving away a $1000.00 American Express Gift Card to the winner. Now folks, I don't enter every contest or giveaway that comes my way, but I thought that there might be a small :) reason I might try for this one!!

TOTALLY TIRED THURSDAY

Okay, so you can tell by the title that there will not be much in the way of a post today folks!! I am really tired, and have been for the last 3 days. It's finally catching up with me. I'm the kind of person who doesn't even like to say she's tired, let alone "be" tired.

I think, if I do anything at my computer today at all, I'll go blog-hopping to a few of my favorite bloggers' sites...MAYBE.

I certainly hope that you, my readers, are having an ENERGETIC day though. Why don't you use this time to check out some of my other posts. I think you'll really enjoy some, if not all.

BTW, whomever answered the poll at the bottom of the blog page got all of the answers right. Everything listed was a fruit except, of course, the sweet potato. There will be a new poll today. Go check it out and see, in a week, if you got the answer right. I won't be too tired to at least put a fresh poll on the page. I think I can muster the energy to do that. Pray for me people!:) I'm getting old and don't have that unending supply of energy I used to have, evidently. I really HATE to admit that.:)

Have a good day!!

TONGUE TWISTERS THIS THURSDAY

I will be so busy tomorrow, I won't get a chance to post on Thursday, so I thought I'd do it tonight so you'd have the benefit of still having something to read tomorrow. That way, we don't miss a beat. I'm in the poetic mode again, and I like poetry, so it doesn't take much to get me in the mood. I wanted to do something fun and challenge you to do so also. Tongue Twisters have always been fun, I think. It's poetry anybody can do; you don't have to be professional. Just have fun with it. There is no need to over critique your work. Come up with something fun, cute, clever, whatever, and post it as a comment at the end of this post. Be brave. Let's post for everyone to see. Just don't be intimidated. You'd be surprised what you can come up with; you'll be proud of yourself, and others will appreciate your efforts.

Okay, I'll go first, and you join in:

Terry Thompson taught tigers to tumble toward Tina triumphantly. (Okay, see if you can say that fast five times:)

I'll make this next one a little more difficult or longer:

Jerry jerked Jeckyll jokingly and just jeered jingling Jeckyll's jeans.
(This one hurt me just looking at it afterwards)

Okay, last one, and I'll try to make this one...IMPRESSIVE (Ha!):

How can Hannah hang her head heavily, heaving hoes, hoisting hinges, heeding His Word, and handling Henry's hungry hippo-help us heavenlies, help!
(Now say that one 5 times really really fast without tripping up and getting your tongue all twisted. Don't cheat!! Say it to your kids or spouse...or dog?)

Have fun with this one guys!! I can't wait for you to try your hand at this!

TEST YOUR "SOAP" KNOWLEDGE

Well I don't know if you all remember last week when I talked about the results from the soap poll or not, but I had a reader, Anonymous, to ask, "When are we going to talk about the "true" soap stuff?" I told her probably next Thursday, so obviously, today is the day. I was delighted to see that someone was really interested in this bit of trivia. I will try and give you the answer today and I hope someone else is intrigued or is more knowledgeable after the information I'll give.

Alright, to tell you the truth, you may not be using what you think you're using when you purchase it off the store shelf and bathe with it at home. We're talking the bars we use to cleanse and sometimes deodorize our bodies with, that we call or the company that produces it calls SOAP. To be called soap, true soap, it has to meet the FDA'S definition of what that is and be regulated (not by the FDA in the end) by the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC).

True soap, by the FDA's definition is "a product in which most of the nonvolatile matter consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and whose detergent properties are due to these alkali-fatty acid compounds." Translation--soap is saponified oils (olive, palm, coconut, animal fat, whatever you use to make it with) and lye liquid (water and lye mixed together) with the naturally occurring glycerin retained in the soap during the saponification process. Most store-bought bars are synthetic detergent "beauty" or "bath" bars, although some "soap bars" may be soaps with added synthetic detergents (companies know you won't buy it if they label it for what it is. Would you buy a " hardened, rectangular lump of synthetic detergent with artificial rose fragrance?") . In their defense though, these products were made to be just as good as soaps in their functioning, but are increasing on the market primarily because they are more "user-friendly" in hard water (true soaps work well in soft water but react with minerals in hard water to leave soap scum behind). There were and may still be though, more reports of adverse reactions from synthetic detergent bars than true soaps because of their ingredients like fragrances, colors, and other additives. This is not to say that people have not had or will not have an adverse reaction to a true soap and that they are completely safe for everyone. Obviously, that cannot be true.

Soaps and synthetic bars can be labeled just true soap and be regulated by the CPSC, or, can be labeled a cosmetic, a drug, or a cosmetic/drug combination. None of the last 3 categories can simply be regulated by the CPSC anymore, but have to come under the FDA, and, their labeling requirements change. True soap, because of its simplicity and its protection by the FDA Act of 1938 (exempting it from regulation as a cosmetic), does not have to have a listing of its ingredients on its label. All the others do though, and additionally, if it's a drug or combo, it must meet FDA's drug labeling requirements and safety and effectiveness requirements. An example would be an anti-dandruff soap. Now it's not just a soap, but a curative or something medical. It gets a little complicated, if you get outside of your true soap category. So long as true soap has the simple ingredients named by the FDA and makes no claims outside of just cleansing, it can't be controlled or regulated by the FDA. This makes it simple for small companies and home soap makers to make their product and sell it without having to go through so much red tape, etc. I really appreciatd this when I was making soap.

A quote from Harold Hopkins' article says, "Fortunately, plain soap of the noncosmetic, nondrug variety has earned a good reputation. Apart from getting the familiar sting from getting soap into your eyes or the peril of slipping on a bar in the bathtub or shower, common bath and hand soap is relatively safe. In fact, we often use it to remove other substances from our hands and skin that we think are a lot less safe." Amen, I say!!

The kind I made was a Castile type soap, primarily made of olive oil. Before I added essential oils or herbs and other botanicals, it was just a good, plain, hard bar of soap that was good for washing anything from the body to things in the home. I liked it because it washes away really squeaky clean. No residue or oiliness left behind. In fact, some of the really strong bars will strip away all traces of surface dirt and oils to the point where you need to apply lotion so that your skin won't be dried out. These were good for using after gardening or working on a car, etc. I also made soap using goat's milk. I like these a lot. They really feel silky, but again, won't leave your skin feeling like something was left behind.

From now on, you'll know what you're buying in the store and why. I won't tell you not to use the synthetic bars the stores sell or what you've been using to this point just because I happen to Iike "true soaps." If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I say!! As long as it's been working for you. I've used and still use both for different purposes, but I have a preference for handmade, true soaps.

In the words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about thaat."