February 2007 E-Letter


	Mentoring Moments for Christian Women Practical Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 encouragement for women www.mentoringmoments.org

February 2007

Welcome!
    This week we celebrate Valentine's Day. For my family that means a family dinner followed with cards and candy. My daughter loves making cards and hiding them--we found a paper heart taped to the patio door today that read, 'I love Mom and Dad." For a fun surprise for children, notice the picture of Loi's niece Mandi showing off her door decorated for Valentine's Day.
    Our online magazine is filled with articles, links, and ideas. Spend some time this week checking out the new Young Women, Reaching Out, and Family pages on the web site. The Books & Media page links to Christian movie review sites as well as our own book and movie reviews.
    For March we're planning a special birthday party section. If you have any party ideas for children and / or adults we'd love to hear them. Photos are also welcome. Email your submissions to mentoringmoments@aol.com. We are fast approaching the season of Mother / Daughter banquets. If your women's ministry is planning an event let us hear about your theme and plans. In case you missed the blurb on the web site, due to a computer glitch I lost all the chore charts, ideas, and tips that were submitted. We'd love to hear how you train your children to complete chores. Again, email mentoringmoments@aol.com.
Blessings!
Kellie Renfroe, Editor-In-Chief

Valentine from God

Cindy J. Evans
Have you ever wanted to receive a loving Valentine written to you?
Filled with warmest words that bless and promises that will come true?
Have you ever longed for a love letter that's written with you in mind?
With declarations of devotion and words both intense and kind?
Have you ever wanted poetry both beautiful and rare?
Ever wanted passionate promises that someone would always be there?
Well, this Valentine's Day, you can surely know,
You've been given this Valentine, a long, long time ago...
The Bible is God's love letter written to you by God to read,
Filled with all the love and care that you will ever need.

New at Mentoringmoments.org
~ Gift Shop
~ Young Women

Art of Homemaking...

In the Kitchen

Say "I Love You" with Sugar Cookies

Cake and cookie designer Ally Plummer shares her recipe for sugar cookies this month. To add elegance to sugar cookies, frost and monogram your valentine's initials. This is a wonderful gift idea for neighbors. Attach a note that reads, "We are blessed to have you for neighbors."

Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup shortening, 3/4 cup sugar, 6 ounces room temperature butter (1 1/2 sticks), 1 egg, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 3 1/2 cups flour.
Mix dough and chill in fridge for at least two hours. Roll dough to a 1/4" thickness with a floured rolling pin. Use cookie cutters of choice. Bake cookies at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes.

Icing. 4 cups Confectioners sugar, 4-5 tablespoons of whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Around the House

Control Housework--Don't Let it Control You

Loi Palmer, Art of Homemaking Editor

Don't think for a minute that I love housework. I have learned to view it as my expression of love to my family. I have also made a study of housecleaning. I control the load of housework; it does not control me. Through the routine of certain habits I have been able to cut down on the workload.

Years ago our mothers' and grandmothers' lives revolved around their housework. Monday was wash day. Tuesday they ironed. Wednesday they went to the market. You get the point. We don't live like that anymore. Recently I watched a documentary on how much dirtier our houses are today compared to twenty years ago. The chemical companies are developing stronger household detergents, air fresheners, and anti-bacterial sprays to deal with modern day housekeepers--or lack of it.

My theory is to do a little each day to control the daily grime. Then twice a month I tackle the rest of the house-cleaning. Depending on the size of your home, it is usually a several hour job. I hire a precious girl to help me. My sister and a good friend for the last fifteen years have cleaned each other's homes together.

For my weekly ritual go to Around the House. Let me know what you think, and if you give my schedule a try, let me know how it works for you.

In February at Art of Homemaking Online

~ Loi's Weekly Cleaning List Around the House

~ Discount Shopping Tips Abundant Living

Seasons of Life...
    Single Again
    Jackie Henry, Single Again Editor
    It's here--Valentine's Day. A day of celebrating. Perhaps as a single again, you do not feel like celebrating. But just think what greater love to celebrate than the love of our Lord. God doesn't desire a box of chocolates, flowers, or dinner out. He simply desires our heart. Give Him your whole heart today. In all that you do--do it for Him and do it with your whole heart.
    As I think about February, the month for lovers, red hearts, and roses, thoughts of everlasting love fill my mind. In the Bible we read of another kind of love. This love that comes from God has many different descriptions such as:
    In Song of Solomon 2:4 we see the protecting love of God. "His banner over me is love."
    In I Corinthians 13:8 we see the enduring love of God. "Love never fails."
    In John 15:13 we see the sacrificial love of God. "Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends."
    In I Corinthians 8:1 we see the encouraging love of God. It is described as "love edifies."
    In Revelation 2:4 we see the warning love of God. "You have left your first love."
    Ask yourself the following questions:
    * In what way does my life exhibit the protecting and enduring love of God?
    * Do I remain mindful of the sacrificial love that has been given so that I can enjoy my salvation?
    * When did I last share the priceless love of God while using encouraging love to help someone in need?
    * Most importantly, at this time in my life must I face the warning love? Have I left my first love and if so, what am I going to do about it?
    Love is a four-letter word. However, it is a beautiful word, a wonderful word, and oh-so powerful.

For more Single Again topics, visit Single Again online.

At Seasons of Life Online
~ Young Women
~ Date Night Ideas Marriage
~ Empty Nesters

Mentoring...
Women's Ministry

A Heart of Honor Tea Party

Laura Leathers
     Are you looking for a new way to reach the women in your church and community? How about a tea party? It will take lots of prayer, planning, and preparation, but the benefits will be tremendous, blessings will be beyond measure.
    Recently, the women’s ministry director of Morgan Chapel Baptist Church contacted me about doing a tea to honor the older women in their church. Cathy wanted to do something special, something that would show the women in her church how much they were loved and appreciated. As we collaborated, we came up with the theme, A Hearts of Honor Tea Party.
    The focus of this tea party is ladies who are 80 or older. You may have to adjust the honoree’s age based on the size of your church. Additionally, you may want an element of surprise, keeping this event a secret from those you will be honoring.
    Putting together the tea:
    Begin with prayer. Ask God to help you in planning this event and for creative ideas for your group of women. Pray for the committees, hostesses, safety and protection as everyone travels, and specific needs for your group of ladies.
    Designate and delegate. Here are a few committees you will need to set up for the event: invitations and guest list; promotion and ticket sales; food and hostesses for each table; decorations and possible party favors; designated drivers for the honorees; guest speaker; and clean up.
    Make an invitation list. Who are the ladies in your church and community who fit into this age range? Do they have any physical limitations or food restrictions?   (Make sure you consider the various diets of those who will be attending. Such things as caffeine and nuts can be monumental issues.)   Where are they presently living? Don't forget those who may be in nursing or personal care homes. Many times they are able to visit outside of the facility. Have several younger women be responsible for this situation.
    Prepare a special invitation for those you are honoring. You may use the invitation posted at Women's Ministry or come up with your own.   (The ladies at Morgan Chapel are also planning on having their honorees picked up at their homes in a special car and returned when the tea is over.)
    Plan personal touches. Morgan Chapel is planning on having the daughters of the honorees share a short story about their moms.   If you have several months to plan the event, you might want to talk to the honoree’s family and put together a video presentation entitled, “This is Your Life”. Remember, you will be under a time restriction based on the number who will be honored.   Most importantly, don't forget to include the spiritual aspect of their lives. When did the honoree come to know Christ? How has she been a woman of influence in your church and community?
      Another idea is to present a small book of letters to each honoree. Ask family, friends, and church members to write letters of gratitude. Again, this is something that needs to be done a month or two in advance. If you have several younger women who are savvy at scrapbooking, this is the job for them! This Book of Remembrance will not only be a cherished gift to the honoree, but a treasure to her family in the years to come. It’s leaving a legacy.
     Additional ideas for this event would be to provide corsages for each attendee. You might want to have a special table for them to sit at in the front of the room. However, I think it would be great to have each honoree assigned to a table so that the ladies can fellowship with her.
      Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you and your women’s ministry. Remember to design the event specifically for your group of ladies whether that is a group of 5 or 55. A special thank you to Cathy from Morgan Chapel Baptist Church in Sturgis, Mississippi, for working with me on this tea theme.

Laura Leathers is the founder of Tea time Treasures, a ministry dedicated to communicating God’s Word through biblical hospitality. She is a conference and retreat speaker, a freelance writer, and author. She and her husband live near Jackson, Miss. They have three sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren. Visit Laura’s web site at www.teatimetreasures.com to find out more about her ministry, or call her at 662-468-2555.

In February at Mentoring Online
~ Heart of Honors Tea Party Invitation Women's Ministry
~ Party with a Purpose Reaching Out

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Mission Statement
Mentoring Moments for Christian Women is a non-denominational online newsletter and magazine to provide encouragement, mentoring, and practical tips for women in their everyday walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our belief that God has a plan and purpose for every woman. By dropping the masks, becoming real, tearing down the walls around our hearts, and allowing the Lord to refresh and renew us, we'll experience personal revival as we depend on Him and His Word. With tips to stay sane no matter what the season of life, Mentoring Moments for Christian Women purposes to be a breath of fresh air: bringing ideas on creating a peaceful home, transparent heartfelt testimonies, and Biblical insight for women.

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