|
|
|
Mentoring Moments for Christian Women
Practical encouragement based on the biblical principles of Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 for today's woman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 2007
Happy New Year!
|
|
Welcome to our second anniversary issue. We saw wonderful additions to the newsletter in 2006 including four editors and a new online magazine. If you have not had a chance to visit the site, make time soon. The address is mentoringmoments.org. You'll find online a recipe book with all our recipes, a mentoring library, and pages dedicated to every season of a woman's life.
Joining our staff in January is Beba Schlottmann of Georgia. Beba is the editor of our new Young Women section. I encourage you to tell your college and career age daughters, granddaughters, friends, and church groups. Be sure to read Beba's debut article, What Do I Have in Common with a Butterfly? which begins in the newsletter and concludes online at Young Women.
Another change for 2007 is an updated newsletter format. Let us know what you think about it! The newsletter is divided into four sections just like the web site: Art of Homemaking, Seasons of Life, Mentoring, and Who We Are. At the end of each section in the newsletter you will find a list of this month's new online offerings with links to each for easy access.
Contentment is the theme in the newsletter and web site for January. You'll find encouragement to trust the Lord in every situation. As we were putting this issue together I was both blessed and challenged by the articles and pray that you will be too.
Praise the Lord for His goodness, provision, and faithfulness!
Kellie
Kellie Renfroe, Editor-In-Chief
NEW at Mentoringmoments.org
~ NEW Young Women section
~ Gifts for Valentine's Day in our Gift Shop
"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust." Psalm 40:4
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Art of Homemaking...
In the Kitchen
Quick & Easy Italian Dinners
Loi Palmer, Art of Homemaking Editor
|
|
Tired of turkey, stuffing, ham, and sweet potatoes? Do you have a hankering for something Italian? This is how I feel every January. Try these two easy, tasty recipes.
Short-cut Lasagna
1 (24 ounce) jar of tomato sauce (be daring and try a new canned tomato sauce combination), 2 (20 ounce) bags refrigerated cheese ravioli, 1 (10 ounce) box frozen chopped spinach (thawed and water squeezed out), 1 (8 ounce) bag shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover with a single layer of ravioli. Top with half the spinach, half the mozzarella, and a third of the sauce. Repeat with another layer of ravioli and the remaining spinach, mozzarella, and half the remaining sauce. Top with another layer of ravioli and the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bake until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
Minestrone Soup
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes (un drained), 1 (32 ounce) chicken broth, 1 (15 ounce) can white beans (drained), 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans (drained), 1 (15 ounce) can green beans (drained), 1 (5 ounce) frozen spinach (thawed and water squeezed out), 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
In a large pot, over medium heat, bring the tomatoes and their juices to a simmer. Add the chicken broth and all of the beans to the tomatoes, cook for 15 minutes. Add the spinach, salt and pepper; cook another 15 minutes until steamy. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Soups on! Serve with crusty bread.
"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever." Psalm 125:1
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seasons of Life...
Young Women
What Do I Have in Common with a Butterfly?
Beba Schlottmann, Young Women Editor
|
|
Recently I went to a retreat where there was a lot of talk about butterflies, which I found fascinating. The butterfly is an extraordinary insect, that undergoes four stages of development. I was amazed to see how much we can relate to this awesome creature. Wikipedia (an online Encyclopedia) describes a butterfly as an insect that is most notable for their unusual life cycle as a larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colorful winged adult form.
I looked at the descriptions of the life cycle of the butterfly and tried to see how this would compare with our own lives and I learned that if we look at our development as a child of God, we have a lot common with the butterfly. Our early stage is not one of achieved greatness or beauty, and unfortunately, growth doesn't happen over night. I always find it comical when people talk about "arriving" at something. "Now that I am the president of my class, I can say I have arrived." Or, "When I get married, I will definitely have arrived." Or how about this one,"When I turn 20 I will have arrived."
Isn't it interesting that we live our lives with this preconceived idea that when we accomplish a certain something that must mean that we have arrived. Arrived where? If we only understood that life is a journey, and that there is no arriving, but a continuing at each stop. When a bus gets to its stop, does it pick up passengers and go nowhere? No! It goes on to the next destination. It is important for you and me to understand that growth is necessary and that at each stage of our lives we are being changed and formed into what the Father wants us to be.
I can remember as a teenager always wanting to grow up faster than my body would let me. Fifteen was always so far ahead when I was 12, and when I finally reached 15, I couldn't wait to be 18. Can you relate to that? It was so hard for me to be content when I looked at my skinny legs and chubby frame-- and don't get me started about the hair. I thought that if I grew up fast I would achieve beauty, intelligence, popularity, and a hot boyfriend. But, let's face it girls, every stage is important. We cannot skip a stage just because of growing pains, or because it is too hard. Let's look at what a butterfly can teach us about growth.
To read the full article, click here or
copy/paste www.mentoringmoments.net/Young_Women.html
More Articles in Seasons of Life ...~ Motivation & Contentment:Can Working Moms Have Both? Workplace~ The Trip into 2007 Empty Nesters~ How will You Color 2007? Single Again~ Do Your Children Think Prayer Applies to Them? Parenting
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." I Timothy 6:6
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mentoring...
A Cup of Contentment
Laura Leathers
|
|
One of the questions women need to ask themselves is, "Do we spend too much time comparing ourselves to others?" In my experience with women I have mentored over the years, I would answer a resounding yes. Webster's Dictionary is a great place to look when it comes to understanding what the word comparison means. Mr. Webster defines it as: "to regard as similar or to examine in order to observe or discover similarities or differences."
The following are a few thoughts to contemplate when thinking about this whole are of comparison.:
Comparison is a trap. It's a fact that there is not a man, woman, or child who has not fallen into the comparison trap. People compare everything from their looks to their loot, and their spiritual growth to their church size. The trap keeps us focused on what we don't have and what we wish we had--the differences.
Comparison breeds envy. When we begin to focus on our differences, we slip into the mode of discontentment and soon find ourselves in the pit of envy. The bottom line is we become jealous of instead of jealous for. We become upset with God because we think that He has given or done more with and for another person than He has for us. The green-eyed giant of envy wants failure for others instead of success.
Compare yourself to Christ alone. The truth is God doesn't look at what we have or don't have, where we live, or our appearance. He looks at the condition of our heart! In the eyes of God every person is equal. We are all on the same ground with Him--sinners who need a Savior. How does my life compare to the awesome, holy, and sovereign God? The truth is I don't even come close and neither do you. But through faith in Jesus Christ, receiving the gift of His grace and mercy, I can begin to take on His similarities--love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 4:22-23). No one or nothing can compare to Jesus Christ and what He has to offer!
His cup of contentment. When I find myself in the comparison trap, I realize it's because I have a discontented, ungrateful heart. Paul writes, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." (Philippians 4:11)
The next time you find yourself battling the comparison trap, stop and take a few moments to drink from His CUP of contentment. Celebrate the fact that your Heavenly Father--God Almighty--loves you more than you can comprehend. He wants the very best for you. Recognize that He has made you unique. How can you compare who you are or what you do when there is no one else like you! Finally, drinking from His cup of contentment helps you realize that He desires you to focus on being in Christ and having a passion for Him. When you drink from His cup of contentment, you will discover a new joy and peace because your differences are a testimony of His similarities! He only asks you to be a willing vessel He can use. How willing are you?
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. Tea Time Treasures offers a quarterly newsletter, Teacups & Friends as well as the Royal Ladies' Tea Society. Visit Laura's web site at www.teatimetreasures.com to find out more about her ministry, or call her at 662-468-2555.
"A heart at peace gives life to the body." Proverbs 14:30
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Who We Are...
|
|
Visit Us Online at mentoringmoments.org
To meet the staff visit Who We Are
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.
Copyright 2007 Mentoring Moments for Christian Women
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted in any media form without the consent of Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Contact mentoringmoments@aol.com for reprint information. Forwarding Mentoring Moments for Christian Women is encouraged on the basis that the entire ezine remain in tact, no portions removed or edited. This is a FREE online newsletter.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2008.
|
|
|
