Yes, I'm a Mary Wanna-Be

 

This month, I am reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, as part of the Women's Bible Cafe Book Club, hosted on Facebook. While sharing a few nuggets with my Sunday evening class, I asked who they thought I might be more like.  I saw a few tiny smiles.  I knew they knew.

I told them I could handle it.  Yes, I am a Martha.  Yes, I am a Mary Wanna-Be.

AND I love this book.  The more I read, the more I enjoy it.  When I began the study, one of the leaders commented she had read this book three times.  Now, my understanding grows.  I already know I will read this one again.

Lines such as these force me to pause.  Literally.

While the world applauds achievement, God desires companionship.

...Christ wants to spend quality time with me...He looks forward to our time together and misses me when I don't show up.

PRAYER + the WORD + TIME = INTIMACY with GOD

What a goal!  To be so in tune with the presence of God that washing dishes becomes an act of worship.

I hope...that reading this book means that I am more of a Mary than I was when I once would have chosen a current popular fiction novel.  Maybe?

I Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10)

Thank you, Jesus, for what is better can never be taken away from me.

 

 

Christian Book Challenges: Are You Ready?

I read for pure enjoyment...and to learn more about a topic or myself.  This year, I have chosen more Christian and author-chosen read-alongs than I have in the previous years, and for that choice?  I have six books to read this month!  Thus far, I have completed two for these challenges...will I make it?!

May I introduce you to the challenges?

Women's Bible Cafe:  This group always has three books being read and this discussed.

1. Bible Study:  David:  Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore (this one is in the mail)
2. Fiction:  Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury
3. Non-Fiction:  Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

The Happiness Project:  Here, she has three books, but due to all my other commitments, I chose this one, which I will also count in my goal to read more classics (maybe a modern classic, for it was written in 1951):

• January - Eccentric Pick:  The End of the Affair by Graham Greene.  

The Paper Chase Book Club:  our only locally owned book store's book club.  Please note that two of these are either Biblically related or by authors who have written Christian books.

• January - Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross...this is the second in a series of 14 novels, so,yes, I had to read the first one, also.  Awesome and so very funny series!
• February - Still Alice by Lisa Genova...this is about a lady with Alzheimer's.  Because of the subject, I almost dread reading it as this is the disease that claimed and took my mother from me.  Maybe, though, it will be a form of continued healing...hope so!
• March - Book of Esther from the Bible
• April - Crossroads by William Paul Young, also author of The Shack.

BHS Reads:  our high school faculty book club...

• January - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown...learned so much about the Masons and Washington, DC, in this one.  Interesting!
• February - The Fallen Snow by John J. Kelley
• March - Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Here's where I keep up with my reading throughout and over the years.  This year, I have chosen a different format for record keeping.  Instead of adding the books I as I read them, I am creating a list to-be-read and linking them to the book's review as I read.  Should I not read, I will remove the book from the list.  I like success; therefore, I do not want to have to remove a book!

What books are you reading?  Joined any challenges?  And, of course, you are invited to join any of the above challenges.  I have teachers that read the books for BHS Reads and never join our monthly meetings.  I would love for them to join us, though; that's just more to add to our discussions!

Happy Reading!

Favorite 50 Proverbs: Week 1

Author Liz Curtis Higgs is hosting this Bible focus on the Book of Proverbs, and I hope to follow along. Please check out this post and read along.

Week 1's scripture is Proverbs 3:3 -

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.  

Isn't that beautiful and just so peaceful? Just imagine those exhibiting those two qualities daily. In case the words "tie them around your neck" bothered you, I picture a cute necklace, which I usually always have on one.

This scripture challenges me to be...yes, be...better to one of my classes, one that is nearly full of boys, boys who would probably rather be anywhere than English class. In my classes I like to have lots of discussion, but with this class, I seem to have to be on guard with every comment, for they are so quick to cut each other down, to become loud, and then be totally off topic. At that precise second, I can just feel myself getting so "uptight" with them.  The kindness just leaves! Part of me wants to call it tough love...the other just does not feel very kind at all!  

My goal: take this scripture into the classroom and live it.  Live it.  Every kind moment of it.  

They really are just good kids.  I...yes, I...need to work on funneling that energy in the directions I need it to flow.  

This scripture also reminds me of how often I have heard my husband acknowledge how important loyalty in family should be...how hurtful those moments are.  We have lived several examples of family seemingly being more loyal those to have hurt us.

Christian love?  Maybe.
Straddling the fence?  Probably.
Hurting the ones that are biologically related?  Yes.

Truly, we should hide this very powerful attribute in our hearts and live it. 

Never let loyalty and kindness leave me...

Blessings!

My One Word 2013

For three years, I have participated in the My One Word Challenge, much to my own benefit.  PLEASE consider accepting the challenge of your own word...just try it.

My Words:

• Year 1:  Peace...so important during a year when I seemed to experience so much conflict and trouble, at work and during the loss of my mom.
• Year 2:  Quiet...the quiet during and after the storm.  The quiet I enjoyed also when I deliberately held my tongue.  Very powerful that not speaking is!  I also enjoyed more quiet time for me.  A really good thing.
• Year 3:  Fit...mentally, emotionally, physically.  All better in some ways...and in some, I still need to focus.  Hint...going to for a walk today!

My One Word 2014:  Smile

Why the word smile?  This may seem like a strange answer, but here goes...

When I was in college during my senior year, I was selected Miss Arkansas College.  What was amazing about that time to me remains that I was a "good" girl, one who, because of religious preferences, always wore dress, had long hair, and wore no make-up, yet I was chosen.  Why?  As I have looked back on that time, I think really do think I achieved that honor because I smiled and spoke to everyone.  I was just a friendly person.

Am I not now?

Yes and no.  This thing called adulthood causes us to change:  we have more responsibilities, we know who we are (if you don't like it, then that is your problem...ever heard that one?), we tend to like who we are, we more more self-dependent.  

As the year-end nears, I have begun pondering on my next word, and this memory keeps flashing to the forefront.  That and also because I do not think I am perceived as I once was.  Just last week, I was described as "prim and proper," although how I was in college probably fits into that category also!  I want my students to see me as happy.  I want to smile more.

I also want to smile more emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Consider this:

Proverbs 15:13  A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:30  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (NIV)

A cheerful face!  A joyful heart!  Healthy bones!  Yes, this is for I!  I'll take it!

Was and Am...Thankful

I participated in the 30 Days of Thankfulness on Facebook...and have decided to merge all those posts in one place...here!  I would like to comment...I read one comment that a lady posted about this, stating she just did not know where to begin...and that she was thankful most for her Salvation (as if, nothing can top that...well, she is right about that!).  Not sure why this troubled me, but it did.  Was this comment just an excuse to not comment...for this did require some focus...?  Surely her comment was meant to ridicule?

The Lord loves a joyful heart!  AND I hope that my comments brought some joy to some, for they certainly eased comfort, peace, contentment into my heart.  What this 30+ days did for me...was to place a daily emphasis on where my heart should be every day.  Every day.

As you read, you will read not one reference to my Salvation, but I would hope that by the time you read all these thankful comments you realize that I through this you shall know me...and that I am saved.

November 1
Day 1: TGIF!  Enjoy your weekend!

November 2
Day 2: Thankful for pumpkin spice coffee, a daughter who is involved in extracurricular and has be to back at school by 8:30 on a Saturday morning, a husband who likes to shoot (and will win the Zombie Match later today), Pioneers who just keep on winning, social events at church (looking forward to some excellent chili and soup!), those, oh, so beautiful trees outside, and nice cool mornings...which brings me back to my pumpkin spice coffee that I should finish so I can thankfully accomplish all of the above!

Day 2...Take 2: Just remembered time "falls" back tonight! Yay!

November 3
Day 3: Thankful for Bible studies...our Sunday School's study of the Book of John (learning so much with my awesome Class of Charis...charis means grace!) and Discipleship Training's study of October Baby (movie was sooooo good...great onefor youth to watch!)...just completed Experiencing God (wonderful, awesome study!), and will soon begin this one...doesn't it look good?! This will also be our December Sunday evening focus...

What study are you doing?

http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/the-women-of-christmas/

November 4
Day 4: Thankful for The Hubby who cooks dinner on days that he is off! He's a keeper! 

November 5
Day 5...thankful for siblings who "accent" and "scent" my life!!

5, part 2...I asked four people to help in some way while I am at a workshop. They all immediately responded, "Yes" or "What may I do for you?" Thankful for my peers!!

Day 5, part 3...thankful for my Prayer Army who immediately responds to my texts or in person says "Let's pray now"...as they did today. Now we are going to experience God!

November 6
Day 6...thankful for students (especially one in particular) who say (in front of me) when sharing his poetry with a guest in our class..."That metaphor...I learned to do that in her class." That just melted my heart!

November 7
Day 7 - So very thankful for these young men in blue!! — with John Gillmore and Holly Gillmore.

November 8
Day 8 - Thankful for a granddaughter who loves Minnie Mouse! Love you, Brennan! Will put this in the mail with your new MM hat when I get it!

November 9
Thankful for a doctor and nurses who have a Saturday clinic. Mary Jane Morrison-Vinson...you are awesome!

November 10
Day 10 - Thankful for those with whom I make music at church: Gale Weaver,Zelpha Bates, Steve Moody, and Jarrod Shirley. Why? They all play and sing from the bottoms of their hearts in service to our Lord!

November 11
Day 11 - Thankful to be in a family of veterans! Thank you, John Gillmore, J.d. Gillmore, Chris Gillmore, and Ken Moore!

Thank you to all have served!!

November 12
Day 12 (as in yesterday!) - Thankful for days with peers that are so busy that I had no time to get on Facebook! Yay, me!

November 13
Day 13 - Thankful for students who complete their work on time...I may take them for granted too much! Yay, them!

November 14
Day 14 - Thankful for airplane pilots that "drive" those planes and tires that help soften the landings...AND I love Arkansas!

November 15
Day 15 - Thankful for leftovers in the freezer! Yum!

November 16
Day 16 - Thankful for my Sunday School class...we call ourselves the The Class of Charis (which means "grace," which I learned when I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast at Mary N Bruce Qualls' church...thank you!)...isn't that cool? AND they are cool also...Jarrod and Sacha Shirley, Crystal Gale Slaughter Turney (we will miss your hubby!), Kristi Morgan, Tiffany Small, and I are going to visit our former pastor and his wife in Little Rock. May we have "showers" of blessing all day long!

November 17
Day 17 - Thankful for a Christian dad...now two decades in Heaven...who every Sunday morning, without fail, always told me how nice I looked before leaving for church. 

Shhhhh...he also told me I was his favorite daughter...named Tammy. Please don't tell Judy Hester and Janet Friel Moore but sometimes I left off (maybe still do?!) those those last two words! Sneaky me!

November 18
Day 18 - Thankful for students who say (after my missing a few days of school), "Mrs. Gillmore, I am soooooo glad your back." Ahhhhhh.....

Let me tell you, brown-nosing will get one everywhere! (Fortunately, this age group no longer knows the term brown-nosing! Ask one of them...it's true!)

November 19
Day 19 - Happy anniversary to my man! Soooooo thankful God blessed me with John Gillmore! Nine years of wonderful...and love...and happiness!

Day 19, Part 2 - Thankful for sisters who travel just to eat dinner with me (well, and Holly... Thanks, Judy Hester (also a great way to belatedly celebrate a birthday!) and Janet Friel Moore!

BTW..Joe Friel, don't worry we thought about you...talked about YOU, of course!
Day 19, Part 3 - Thankful for ATT who keeps all your data safe when your phone gets stolen...in this disappointing time, that is the light at the end of this tunnel!

I encourage you to put a password on your phone, download the tracking app, back up to iCloud...and whatever else I am going to learn to do when I get another phone! 

November 20
Day 20 - Thankful for people who love their jobs...especially our resource officer and vice principal. They are quite the team in action! Because of them, I have my phone back....and because of some prayers going up! Thank you!!

November 21
Day 21 - Thankful for awesome Lyon College students who did an outstanding job assisting in our presentation of wikis at the Arkansas Literacy Conference today! Thank you, Rachel, Drew, and JimBob! Proud of you! One more presentation in the morning! Won't this look grand on their resumes?!

November 22
Day 22 - Thankful for groups and authors who promote reading in our state...great job Arkansas Reading Association and Mark A. Rorie and Ashley Shaver Rorie!!

Great time spent with peers Carla Green James, Kim Robinson, Lindley Barnett,Danielle Rowell, Lisa Huff, Codi Ribitzki, and Julie Reardon!

November 23
Day 23 - Thankful for 1) the yellow stickers on meat at Wal-Mart that inspired me to cook a yummy-smelling stew...just finished cooking, 2) Turkey Shoots in which the hubby (who has a huge heart) felt compelled to support to assist families with cancer, for which he received a free ham (yes, shooting 32 out 33 from prone position with iron sites is good!), 3) tickets to see the Nutcracker this evening...tickets that a friend of Holly's gave her...yay!, 4) a house that I have time to clean in preparation of The Family sharing their Thanksgiving with us...and, well...because it needs it, and 5) Pioneers who keep winning so that I will have time to read Football for Dummies before the season ends (thanks, Zach, for the recommendation...and, no, of course, I did not take that personally!)...congrats!

November 24
Day 24 - Thankful for all the great cooks at church...yummy potluck today! Special thanks to the ladies to set up while the rest of us enjoy Sunday School and "Big Church"...Brenda Speakman, Carlene Jenkins, Wanda Yopp, and Debbie Yopp...you are all a tremendous blessing!

November 25
Day 25 - Thankful for inspiration to create tablescapes...from our preacher Bro. Kenny Crafton and his Thanksgiving message this past Sunday. AND for sisters who share...can you spot your donation towards this table?! AND for the time to "play"! AND for family traveling to spend time at Gillmore Farm...  AND to BSD for giving us Wednesday off as part of our Thanksgiving Break!

November 26
Day 26 - Belated thanks for my comfy chair...from which I would not move last night to post this!

November 27
Day 27 - Thankful that I did not listen to my sister Janet Friel Moore and made some desserts for tomorrow's lunch...because now we are going to taste-test...just to make sure it will be okay to serve to the fam!

November 28
Day 28 - Thankful for the family that could spend their day with me and mine...and for those who wanted to be here and could not. AND two of those in attendance had birthdays today! So glad I could cook a birthday lunch just for you...Happy Birthday, Leah and Ken!!

Then, we spent the evening with the Gillmore's...more food and laughs...

Special times with family...love them all dearly!

November 29
Day 29 - Thankful for the inspiration this bookstore gives me! I keep hoping to make their monthly book club meetings...maybe, just maybe this time?...so just in case, I purchased this book...then another by this author. Wow...you should check out this book! We are getting a jar ready!

November 30
Day 30 - Thankful for the elves that showed up and helped decorate Sulphur Rock Baptist Church yesterday (yes, this is a day late!)...Mrs. Lillie Mae, Mrs. Carlene, Mrs. Betty, and my Holly Gillmore...what a team! They kept me moving! An inspiration! Please thank them today!!

Thankful for niece Natalie...who turned 8, who loves my deviled eggs, and who is going to remind her mom to remind me about her Christmas play!

Thankful for my Christmas tree...it took on a life of its own and invited the whole family to work on it because it refused to stand by itself at one point...timber!!...right on to me...who was lying under it trying to stabilize it! (NOTE to former and current students...this is NOT a model sentence, as we would never, ever use this many "it/its" in one sentence. Right?!)

Finally, thankful that on most days in November you had a list of items to read...I am just truly blessed in all areas of my life! Now, to copy/paste all these onto my blog to preserve them in one spot!

December 1
Day 31 - Thankful that I am still thankful when November is over! So here goes...

Thankful for the dancer in the family, and you may wave at her during the Batesville Christmas Parade tomorrow evening! Have fun, Holly Gillmore!

Thankful for five very busy days off from school, and now thankful for technology that I use to create online lesson plans, so Pioneers get ready to write right, so I may travel and watch the Pioneers in action on Saturday! Not sure who all I will cheer on...football players, of course...cheerleaders? Prancers? Band? Hope so!!

Why I Read...or Don't

I have always considered myself an avid reader.  Avid.  Addicted. Until this year.

Pondering on this, I realize that this change is a result of my reading more Biblically-based books, thus, changing my genre of choice.  I have several other genres sitting...waiting...for me to read them, but I just do not have the same desires I once had.

Thus, my recent focus has been on either school/academic related topics or on a Christian focus.  For example, I just completed Christmas Jars (please read!) and am involved in a study of Liz Curtis Higgs' The Women of Christmas.  So wonderful. Let me share a few links in which you might be interested...

• Liz Curtis Higgs' website and Week 1 of the book study and her Facebook page
• Bible Cafe for Women...they, too, are hosting this study

Thinking you do not have enough time to catch up?  Then, just purchase the book (I saw it the other day at a local bookstore...you can find yourself a copy!)...and just begin reading.  You might want to have a pen, highlighter...or some favorite marking device handy, for you will find yourself saying, "Oh, that is good!  I want to remember that!"

This holy season is about making room for Jesus.

Welcoming him into our homes, our families, our lives.

Flinging open the door to our hearts.

Liz Curtis Higgs

For my Sunday evening Discipleship Class, I am using this study.  I have deviated a bit, for I only have three Sundays to cover the info.  Last Sunday, we met Zechariah, Elizabeth, Gabriel, and Mary...and got just to the point where Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost...had hoped to end on Mary's song, but time did not allow, or better yet, that is exactly where God wanted us to arrive.

I was so pleased with the attendance and participation and the sweet, sweet spirit that was there.  His presence is just sooooo peaceful, isn't it?  We have a committee meeting during this time, and I was concerned about attendance.  I really should just quit the worrying part, for when God's Will intervenes, he just takes care of preparing the hearts of the people, doesn't He?

I am also using the movie Liz Curtis Higgs recommended...The Nativity Story.  I had not seen this version (sooooo good!) and am just showing the scenes that go along with the book study.

Following the study, a man in attendance approached me and asked if he might run the PowerPoint and videos for me.  Yes!  That meant so much to me.  I love the people in my class, and I do not think I would hurt any of their feelings by stating that none of them are tech savvy!  So his asking was definitely a blessing.

One of the ladies just had to chat,  "Tammy, this is so good."  Here's the testimony:  her vertigo was acting up so badly that she just came for the class.  The result:  God was faithful and spoke to her throughout the study.  He just does good things like that for us...always mindful of our needs...and wants.  

From this study, I have written a draft of a Christmas program/cantata.  Just wish I had begun earlier, for now we have had wintery weather, and should we not have church, I am not certain if I/we can pull this program together.  We'll see...the Lord can work out amazing situations.  Just waiting for His Will.

So, yes...while I may read less, I am reading more of what God wants me reading.  That, my friend, is a win-win situation.

Blessings!

A Day of Blessings Coming Up

Tomorrow, my Sunday School Class and I are traveling to visit our former intentional interim pastor and his wife, and I am excited...for several reasons.

1. These two people have blessed my life beyond measure through their leadership, their exemplary model of daily living, their love.  They are just wonderful people, and I have not seen them in a month, and I am sooooo looking forward to sharing some time with them.
2. In addition, this will be our first outing for our new Sunday School class...a class of six young men and women who prior to this August were not attending Sunday School at all, and, now, praise God, they are!  Spending this hour with them on Sunday mornings and contacting them throughout the week has blessed me so!  We have cried together, laughed together, prayed together, and grown in the Lord together, and tomorrow, we share fellowship together.

This class came to be because of a vision that God placed in my heart a few years ago.  This class came to be because our former pastor realized that the timing was now right, and before they left, this is one of the decisions he helped see come to light.

God places those in lives to bless us so that we in turn may help others, thereby receiving even more blessings.

"I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire 10 percent into the storehouse. … Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing." (Malachi 3:10, CEV)

Blessings!