The Titus 2:4 Project - Women Mentoring Women

Today I had the pleasure of a face-to-face visit over delicious coffee with a friend I hadn't seen in 13 years.  I almost said that I 'reconnected' with a friend...but thanks to modern technology, we were never really disconnected.  I  just moved 60 miles away.  But we have kept track of the big events, the silly things, the sadness and the successes in each other's lives.  A couple of things that stuck me as I drove away from our two-hour visit... I realized that it's great to have godly friends.  We shared prayer requests for the things that are going on in our lives now and we talked about God's faithfulness and mercy over the things that have happened since we last talked.  We talked about what's going on in the world and the second coming of Christ.  We talked about death and spending eternity with Jesus.  We talked about our kids and the challenge of parenting.  We talked about careers and the opportunity to be a witness for...

God created humans, male and female...and we compliment and complete each other in the most magical ways.  But God knew that Eve would need someone to talk to when Adam was being a jerk, so He gave her girlfriends.  **disclaimer - this is not exactly scriptural...** Little girls need other little girls to play dolls with...teenaged girls need other teenaged girls, because quite frankly, no one else 'gets' them.  (Not even their adult counterparts.)  And women need women friends.  Females can relate to each other in a way that males cannot. C heck out this hysterical video to see what I'm talking about.    When men try to act like US, they look ridiculous.  I can't imagine coming home to find my husband and his BFF floating around in the pool together, floaties tethered so that they don't miss a word of their important conversation.  I can't imagine my husband in the fitting room at Macy's with his buddies, asking "do these jeans...

It's time again for the, ummm, let's see...maybe the 10th annual Ringis Fourth of July Bash.  It just sort of happened; We became the ones that 'always' have the party on the 4th.  Or whatever Saturday happened to be closest to it.  This year we are celebrating the 4th on the 4th.  Novel, huh? My husband loves to entertain as much as I do.  Especially when it's an outside shin-dig.  He takes his role very seriously.  So seriously, in fact, that he drives me a little insane.  Cutting grass all over the property, even in the pastures far from the house, he wants the grass well manicured.  He wants me to trim around the little Walnut saplings that are so far from the house that I'm certain no one can see them...and even if they could - or did - I'm certain they wouldn't give two rips whether or not the grass around the tree was cut precisely.  I spend a lot of time rolling my eyes during the days leading up to our party. Randy walk...

This blog post is about to fly in the face of many Bible - toting,  God - fearing, peace - loving folks.  So I will apologize up front and ask you to extend grace and mercy...and then hear me out, because I really believe this is something that God is leading me to share.   By now, I'm sure you're wondering what on earth I can say that would be offensive.   Well, here goes: Did you grow up singing the beloved hymn, "Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings,  see what God has done...."  are you singing it in your head?  I am.    I would bet most of us know the hymn.  And we've used the line "Count your blessings" as if it came straight from the word of God.  Hang on to your hats though...that's not scriptural advice.  Not in the way many people are using it these days. Not when we count them for the wrong reason.    Breathe.  It's ok.  I'll explain.   ...

Today is selfishly all about me. I'm going to do pretty much what I want today. I slept in. I had my coffee and prayer time, my Bible reading time... still time for some yoga out on the deck in the fresh morning air and some Bible study. I might cut some grass (I really enjoy cutting grass!)  And spend some time in the hammock for an afternoon siesta. I have planned to have a few girlfriends over for some much deserved and seriously needed Girl Time.  Just to be in the presence of godly friends is good for the soul. God created me with a need to be surrounded by people more often than not. There are times when I want to be alone - but that's the exception, not the rule. I've heard many times throughout the Mary Kay world, that we become like the five people we spend the most time with. Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. And I've always believe this thought to be true. I've made it a hab...