Friday's Photo

This may be the Virtuous woman's motto! But amidst all that's going on in the world right now,we just need to...

For the Children

I was listening to the radio this morning and Steve Harvey told this very touching story. He said, "I was walking through the airport in Atlanta and I saw a young man who worked there. His pants were sagging and I walked up to him and said 'Young man can I talk to you for a second? I see you've got a lot going for you.' He said me, Mr. Harvey. Then I told him yeah you; come on over here and let me talk to you and why don't you pull up your pants. He pulled up his pants and tucked his shirt in because he wanted to be presentable while talking with me. I told him he looked like he had a lot of potential and I gave him my e-mail address and told him I'd like to stay in contact with him. I gave him a book to read and he read it and said it really changed his life and that he needed a plan to figure out what he was going to do with himself. But I didn't respond for a while because I sometimes go days without checking my e-mail. When I did check he had sent me another e-mail and said, "Mr. Harvey I didn't hear back from you so I bought another book, "Think and Grow Rich," and I bought your book.' It takes me five minutes to write the e-mails that I've been sending him, but I made a great impact on his life. We still stay in contact today."

That story touched me so deeply. What small things can we as Christian women do to be influences on someone else's life? I was at a ladies day and Teresa Eggleston was the keynote speaker. She is in the Air Force and said one of her colleagues would put on her uniform, rent a limo and go and stand on the street where the prostitutes were. She said they were amazed at the limo and uniform and she told them they could have it too. All they had to do was get off the streets and enlist. Such small gestures can go such a long way. Reach out to a young person you know. Compliment them, emphasize the good they are doing, and then find out how you can help them today.

Wednesday's Words of Encouragement

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Your Bible

Bro. Stacey Grant preached this morning and said that the absolute worst state your Bible can be in is mint condition. So true. I'm working my way through the New Testament. What are you reading?

More Julie and Julia

If you're dying to begin cooking you can pick Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" now in its 49th printing or you can start with this recipe for beef which was a prominent recipe in the film and one of the most famous Child recipes. Here it is: Boeuf à la Bourguignonne (Beef Stew in Red Wine, with Bacon, Onions and Mushrooms)

Boeuf à la Bourguignonne
For 6 people
6-ounce chunk of bacon
9- to 10-inch fireproof casserole, 3 inches deep
1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking oil
A slotted spoon
3 pounds lean stewing beef cut into 2-inch cubes
1 sliced carrot
1 sliced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups of a full-bodied, young red wine such as one of those suggested for serving, or a Chianti
2 to 3 cups brown beef stock or canned beef bouillon
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves mashed garlic
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Crumbled bay leaf
Blanched bacon rind
18 to 24 small white onions, brown-braised in stock
1 pound quartered fresh mushrooms sautéed in butter
Parsley sprigs
Remove rind and cut bacon into lardons (sticks, ¼-inch thick and 1½ inches long). Simmer rind and bacon for 10 minutes in 1½ quarts of water. Drain and dry.
Preheat oven to 450º. Sauté the bacon in the oil over moderate heat for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly.
Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon. Set casserole aside. Reheat until fat is almost smoking before you sauté the beef.
Dry the beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp. Sauté it, a few pieces at a time, in the hot oil and bacon fat until nicely browned on all sides. Add it to the bacon.
In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables. Pour out the sautéing fat.
Return the beef and bacon to the casserole and toss with the salt and pepper. Then sprinkle on the flour and toss again to coat the beef lightly with the flour. Set casserole uncovered in middle position of preheated oven for 4 minutes. Toss the meat and return to oven for 4 minutes more. (This browns the flour and covers the meat with a light crust.) Remove casserole, and turn oven down to 325 degrees.
Stir in the wine and enough stock or bouillon so that the meat is barely covered. Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs and bacon rind. Bring to simmer on top of the stove. Then cover the casserole and set in lower third of preheated oven. Regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly for 2½ to 3 hours. The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.
While the beef is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms. Set them aside until needed.
When the meat is tender, pour the contents of the casserole into a sieve set over a saucepan. Wash out the casserole and return the beef and bacon to it. Distribute the cooked onions and mushrooms over the meat.
Skim fat off the sauce. Simmer sauce for a minute or two, skimming off additional fat as it rises. You should have about 2½ cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly. If too thin, boil it down rapidly. If too thick, mix in a few tablespoons of stock or canned bouillon. Taste carefully for seasoning. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
Recipe may be completed in advance to this point.
For immediate serving: Cover the casserole and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce several times. Serve in its casserole, or arrange the stew on a platter surrounded with potatoes, noodles or rice, and decorated with parsley.
For later serving: When cold, cover and refrigerate. About 15 to 20 minutes before serving, bring to a simmer, cover and simmer very slowly for 10 minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce

Julie & Julia

So I saw the movie Julie & Julia last night it was wonderful! It's the perfect movie to watch with a group of girlfriends whether you are foodies or not. And just having finished some pizza rolls and twizzlers it is clear that I am not a foodie. But the movie was wonderful I laughed; I cried; I laughed and cried some more. Both portrayals of their respective Julia's was amazing. I love Amy Adams and you would never guess that the same woman from "The Devil Wears Prada" is the same woman playing Julia Child, but that is just the range of Meryl Streep. Well I am rambling but you should totally see it. I would've saw it again if they would just stop asking for $9.50 every time I show up! All I know is Bon Appetite!

Could This Women's World Champ Be a Man?

The speculation surrounding the gender of the women's 800 meter champion Caster Semenya, has already led some media personalities to turn to homosexuality. Some have said that people may be able to be born with both male and female chromosomes therby having a woman in appearance but a male makeup genetically. That has not been proven and does not by any means justify the overly used homosexual sentiment, "I was born this way" or "I was born a man but I am a woman on the inside." Please don't let them change this from what it is into a platform for their twisted agenda. I for one am tired of having it constantly thrown in my face and being told to just accept it. I won't. For example I have been JAMMING to Lady Gaga lately but just recently found out that she said her music is gay, she has gay concerts and so on. So there went her c.d. If you're as tired as I am of this constant abomination before the Lord do something about it. Teach your children, don't support their activities (no matter how good the beat!) If you're really tired start your own campaign. We need one. To read the entire article about Caster you can find it here on Time.com

A Picture is worth a thousand words

Ever want to get away? Love this photo! I so long to go to Paris, I would be floating right back to the ground! Where would you go?

Wednesday's Words of Encouragement

1 John 2

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Legion

Has anyone heard of this new movie "Legion" coming out in Jan. 2010? Here is the plot "In the supernatural action thriller Legion, an out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in Mankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany). Legion also stars Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Kate Walsh, Adrianne Palicki, Charles S. Dutton and Willa Holland and is directed by Scott Stewart."

How crazy does that sound? Humanity's only hope is a group of strangers in a diner? What are they going to do reason with the angels; what will they bargain with? Or are they going to overpower the angels and how exactly can they do that with guns? Or is Michael going to disobey God and fight all of the angels for the strangers in the diner? It's VERY unrealistic. I think if God decided to destroy humanity non-Christians wouldn't have any hope especially from a group of misfits in a diner, and on the preview one was pregnant! Anyway just writing to say don't support this humanistic stuff. Try and use it as an ice breaker with a friend or colleague to get a study going; show them the truth. And just another side note, why do angels need guns?

Super Food

According to an article on epicurious.com written by Megan O. Steintrager tomatoes are superfoods that are great for "anyone concerned about prostate health, cancer prevention, fighting heart disease, and weight loss." Since heart disease is the number one killer of women my curiosity perked up immediately when I read the headline. Since just about everyone is concerned with the above mentioned diseases, it's definitely worth a read. You can read the full article here.

Teach the Word without even trying!

How can you spread the Good news without even trying? In a word, easily.

The main way being your actions. No one wants to study the Bible with someone who acts just like them. How can you transform the world if you've conformed to it? You words and deeds are your most powerful tools; let your light shine so that others may see your good works.

The second way is to read your Bible in public. If you ride public transportation you know that there are always people willing to talk to you about anything... especially men. Why not talk to them about the passage you're reading. Plus others will see you reading and someone might ask you a question they've been pondering. Since you've got the book share it.

Another way is to invite your worldly friends over for a game or movie night with other Christians. Interacting with Christians in a fun environment could be the door opener to an invitation to a Bible study or worship. Alright three down two to go!

You could give spiritual gifts. No not the laying on of your hands. When you give gifts to co-workers or teachers or friends give them something special that also contains a scripture or Bible character. Ask them how they like it, of course they'll say they love it and then discuss the scripture or character on the gift.

Lastly, while you're forwarding jokes and pictures of kittens, forward a Christian PowerPoint or illustration. It could be something you create or get with a friend and make something with the true message of Christ. Just don't try and make people feel guilty by saying that they don't love Jesus if they don't forward it at the end of the message. LOL. Send it to everyone in your address book. And there you have it, five ways you just taught the Gospel without even breaking a sweat.

Esther

Apparently there is much debate about the validity of the book of Esther and whether or not it should actually be in the Bible. Some of the reasons are: God is never once mentioned in the book and no New Testament books refer back to Esther. What do you think? Reply to the post I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Speak out against: Homosexuality

Excerpt from the workbook "Sin Is..." by Brittany Davis

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a war upon us. No, I am not speaking of the war in Iraq. This war is not a physical war; it cannot be seen. Shots are fired and punches are thrown, but this war is a power struggle between good and evil. My intentions, at first were to discuss the pros and cons of homosexual marriages, but I was told, and agree, that the issue is not same sex marriage rights, but the homosexual action itself. Once we begin discussing whether or not people who sin openly should be allowed to make that sin legal, it appears as though we condone the sin itself. Marriage laws are not the problem; the problem is should sodomy be allowed to infiltrate a nation whose pledge of allegiance contains the phrase “… One nation under God…” (American Pledge of Allegiance).

Sodomy is defined as, “Any of various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal, especially anal intercourse or bestiality” (Dictionary.com). The Bible says that people who practice sodomy are worthy of death (Holy Bible, Romans 1). Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God because of their homosexual practices. Amazingly, many of them spend a great deal of time trying to be accepted by the church, which teaches the Bible. Once the church accepts something or someone, that something or someone appears normal to society.
What is normal? “Six percent of America bowls (Smith 49).” Since six percent of America bowls, and bowling is normal, then since ten percent of America is homosexual, homosexuality must be normal. Hence, the claim by homosexuals that ten percent of America is homosexual. Two Sodomites, named Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madison, in a writing for gays titled “After the Ball”, admitted that this statement was nothing more than political propaganda. According to these two: “Based on their personal experience, most straights probably would put the gay population at 1% or 2%

of the general population. Yet… when straights are asked by pollsters for a formal estimate, the figure played back most often is the ‘10% gay’ statistic which our propagandists have been drilling into their heads for years (Smith 43).” The first thing that has been established is that sodomy is not normal, which was even admitted by two major homosexuals. The church is not the only establishment under attack; they are also attempting to take over the family.

Some Sodomites, in public speeches, have made claims in the past such as, “It is an alternate lifestyle;” or “It is just another way to live my life (Smith 173).” These are statements made by homosexuals in an attempt to justify the perverse actions they do. Family is defined as, “The group comprising of a husband and a wife and their dependent children, constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of society (Dictionary.com).” The gay propagandists are perpetually at work. “Overseas there are billboards depicting gay and lesbian couples in traditional family settings, of which one is obviously pregnant. These billboards read ‘Another Traditional Family’ (Smith 194).” Since when has anyone needed to spend thousands of dollars to show a “traditional family”? Jesus said, “He which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Holy Bible, Matthew 19:4). A family is comprised of a set of parents (a male and a female) who mold the views of their children. If this is the case, flags should go up; the parents with the fallacious views are going to mold the moral values of the children?!

“Homosexuals claim that they are just another minority, such as African Americans, Hispanics or women”(Smith 21-22) . This claim is the most frustrating. The only thing Sodomites have in common is the sexual practices they participate in. Blacks and Hispanics cannot change their ethnicity. But countless Sodomites can and have stopped committing this awful act. Homosexuals hope to look back at the 1990’s as their emancipation period, like black people look back to the 1880’s for their emancipation period. They make claims that all they want is their rights. What they do not say is that in order for them to receive their rights, heterosexuals would be required to give up some of their rights. No rights were lost when blacks and women were allowed to vote, to sit in the front of buses, and to eat at the same restaurants as white people. Homosexuals claim that they should be able to choose how they wish to live their own lives, and what they do in private stays in private.

For instance, Pedophilia is defined as, “the act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children” (Dictionary.com). They do this in private; it should remain their business. They never mention anything about what actually goes on in private. Some things are too nauseating to even say, or print! Pat Califia a homosexual frankly states, “Nobody is fooled when we proclaim that the gay movement has nothing to do with kids and their sexuality… (Sodom’s Second Coming, 107).” Homosexuals are constantly endeavoring to lower the age of consent for homosexual actions or abolish the age limit altogether. “It must be said to homosexuals, if it’s privacy you want, then keep it private! We weren’t the ones who insisted that you come out of the closet (Smith 174)!”

Yet, they make claims that they should not be discriminated against because of actions they have no control over. Some say they were born Sodomites or even worse God made them the way they are. Why would God make someone a certain way, then condemn him or her for it? Their pleas do not sound outrageous, or unreasonable. They simply want to be accepted for who they are. Everyone should just be loved for who they are; they cannot change or help how they act. Which leads one to wonder why kleptomaniacs, people who have an obsession to steal, are not loved for who they are. Serial killers are not loved and accepted for who they are either. How is it that one group that cannot change is accepted while another group who cannot change is shunned? Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D., writes for a web site named NARTH, “National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality”, he sums it up well when he says, “Here's one more human trait that is highly heritable: weight and body type. This trait is estimated to be 60-80% related to genetic influence. If homosexuality is out of control at 50-60%, then what of one's physique? I can hear the doors of gyms, fitness centers and infomercial studios slamming shut now. Why bother to try to change something so clearly due to genetics? Oh, to have inherited the six-pack "ab" gene! There may be one trait that is determined. I guess we could call it journalistic determinism, because it appears that many journalists are determined to find that gay gene. I really shouldn't be so hard on them, they probably can't help it (Kaufman).”

Ladies and Gentlemen the war is raging on. Which side are you on? On one side there is a group of individuals, related only by the sexually immoral lives they live. They claim privacy is what they want, but storm court-houses and hold more galas and parties than should be allowed in one year. On the other side are people who see the sin for what it is, who are not biased against the people only the actions committed by those people. These people see the progression of perversion and are making every effort to stop it. If allowed to prevail how long before they want rights no one has. These people and their concocted civil war must be met and challenged or else the moral values of America will continue to erode. For a nation that was founded on belief in God; and most of which still claim such belief – we often do not act like it. Gay marriage - that is not the discussion; whether or not a nation should encourage, and endorse something so obviously wrong as sodomy is the question. We must not encourage these immoral people or attempt to justify their actions. Write a letter to your congressman and your state legislature; ask your preacher to preach a sermon speaking against homosexuality. Write to the local paper about this, do what you can. The culture and lifestyle of America depend upon it. It is best summarized in one sentence stated by my father, “What used to be the norm is now the exception, and America is worse off because of it.”

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... or is it?

If I said I could tell you how to be beautiful to everyone that had the privilege to look upon you, would you want to know? Of course you would! And I can tell you how. Plenty of people have told me I was beautiful and I do not say that to be conceited I say that because there are also plenty of people who think that my looks are nothing to write home about. But both of these people are looking on my outward appearance. Almost everyone that I've met would agree that my inward beauty is fierce. And that is the kind of beauty I want to continue to cultivate and I want you to cultivate.
Jim Carey, in the movie "Liar Liar" said the statement that real beauty is on the inside is a lie that ugly people made up. That could not be further from the truth.You can ask any man and they will tell you that it wouldn't matter how beautiful a woman was on the outside if she's ugly on the inside. Men don't want to be around those kinds of women.Proverbs 21:19 says, "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." And Proverbs 27:15 says,"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Both of these are refelctions of her inward beauty. So how can you be beautiful to everyone? By following these three simple steps:

1. Make sure you are FIRST beautiful to your Heavenly Father.

The Bible says that God doesn't see as we see. He doesn't look on outward appearances but on the heart. Check your intentions next time you pass a mirror instead of your hair. Your heart will reveal itself to others, and if your intentions are evil people will see right through your "good" deeds or looks.

2. Reduce the shine on your T-Zone

Change the channel from the ME network and get the focus off of you sometimes. Find out what you can do to help someone else. Romans 12: 15-16 says "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." Get involved in someone else's life and dreams and let them know that you are there for them in happy and sad times.

3. Finally think on these things

There is power in positive thinking and people love to be around it, look at it and feed off of it. Thinking positively leads to acting positively. Acting positively could be anything from smiling,keeping a promise or running errands for the elderly. Emitting positive energy makes other people positve and they love to be near you and that makes you beautiful.

If you look like this on the inside everyone and I do mean everyone will see your beauty.

Great Read

Love to read? We do too! Join the Virtuous Reads book club. We'll post a book we think is interesting and in a couple of months discuss it. Our first book is titled "Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box." It is amazing! You will see people and situations very differently. It is actually intended for businesses, but the lessons are easily applied to every day life. It's hard to describe because the lessons are so subtle in nature, but trust us you want to be out of the box! It changes lives. We look forward to discussing it with you!

Nominate a Virtuous Woman

Nominate a Virtuous woman in your life to be featured in the pages of Virtuous! If you know someone who exemplifies Proverbs 31 we want to know her too! Simply write a short essay on why your Virtuous woman should be our Virtuous woman and send it to virtuousmag@yahoo.com.