Java with Jennifer Journal

January 2009 Taste This!

What I Am In To Lately

This has been a month of historic moments...the inauguration of our 44th President, the plummeting economy, and the beginning of Season 8 of American Idol!  Yes, I know the Bible says in 2 Timothy we are to avoid "idol chatter," but I am quite certain Paul didn't write that verse with the TV show in mind!  Whew!
 
For the New Year, Phil decided he needs to start drinking green tea to lower his cholesterol.  So, I've been on a quest to find the most flavorful green tea.  I've about decided that finding a green tea with flavor is like ­finding a candy bar with no calories, but I think I've settled on Tazo Zen.  It's a green tea accented with mint and lemon flavors.  Here's the official description: A healthy blend of eleuthero, peppermint, cinnamon, licorice and echinacea.  It tastes great!  And that's a good thing because it can't help your cholesterol if you can't swallow it!
  
I've been sipping the green healing nectar in some new mugs my friend Suetta sent me.  They are part of the Scripture Dinnerware collection.  The dinnerware is ivory tinted porcelain with black trim.  Scriptures are written in black scripted lettering on the rim of the plate and the reference is given just inside the bottom of the rim.  There are 16 different themes, with each of the 5-piece place settings having a different scripture within that theme.  The mug usually has the summation of that theme, i.e. "Faith! Hebrews 11:1."  I've been shopping for new dishes for a while since my set has gotten smaller from breakage, and the ones that remain are scratched.  So, I think I've found my new dishes!  I am starting with the "Faith" collection and planning to add accent pieces over the years for birthday and Christmas gifts.  You will just love them! 
 
The book that kept me curious during January is American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham.  Though Jackson is a controversial figure, his story is compelling.  The book briefly touches on his orphan beginnings, his romance and marriage to Rachel, and his wartime heroics, but mostly focuses on his eight years in the White House.  What I appreciate most about him is his loyalty and love for his wife, family, friends and our country.  God bless America!  I'll drink some green tea to that!
 
The month came to a historic end with our Fresh Grounded Faith event in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Chonda Pierce and Alicia Williamson Garcia joined me to make the experience a perfect blend.  My favorite Chonda quote from the weekend was: " I now wear two pairs of Spanx.  When one got a hole in it I thought I had a tumor!"  My favorite quote from Alicia was: "Worship is a response to God, not a reaction to circumstances."  We had such a great time with 900 of our closest friends!  I wish you had been there, too!
 
So, give these things a taste test:

 

1. Tazo Zen tea
2. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham
3. Scripture Dinnerware 
4.  A Fresh Grounded Faith Event near you with your girlfriends

January 2009 Fresh Grounded Thoughts

What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately 

 

"Words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think." -Lord Byron.
 
Between December 1829 and May 1830, there were plenty of words being spoken in our Nation's Capitol.  One historian I read noted there were no less than 65 speeches given in the Houses of Congress during that winter and spring.  But one particular collection of words, one certain speech given by Daniel Webster, stands out.    
 
The reason for the many speeches was the turbulent state of the union.  Slavery, states rights, partisanship and presidential powers were all content being argued in the vast rhetoric. 
 
South Carolina Senator Hayne gave one of the many speeches on January 19, 1830.  The Charleston politician laid out a states' rights manifesto, which hinted toward nullification and ultimately suggested succession.   
 
While Senator Hayne was in the Senate Chamber preparing to speak, Senator and lawyer Daniel Webster was downstairs in the Supreme Court arguing a case.  After he finished, he went upstairs to the Senate floor just in time to hear Senator Hayne offering his speech.  
 
Webster was deeply troubled by Hayne's premise.  Webster loved the Union and was determined to protect it.  After deliberation, days later Senator Webster responded to Senator Hayne on the floor of Congress.  On that day, Daniel Webster gave one of his greatest speeches--an oration and defense of nationalism and federalism.
 
In his moving speech, he compared the union of our United States to a "happy constellation" and grieved the prospect of it being broken and its glorious light being dimmed.  Webster was intense and sincere.  Passion darkened his already piercing dark eyes.  His oration was moving and fiery, tender and thoughtful. 
 
On that bitterly cold January day, Daniel Webster, clad in a revolutionary blue coat, stood before the Senate and finished his most important speech.  "Liberty and union, now and forever; one and inseparable."  Webster's haunting words echoed through the halls of Congress and in the hearts of all who heard them.  The story goes that after Webster sat down, a colleague responded, "Mr. Webster, I think you had better die now and rest your fame on that speech."  But poignantly, his rival Senator Hayne retorted, "You ought not to die."  He reverently conceded, "A man who can make such speeches as that ought never to die."
 
Daniel Webster was a distinguished member of the Supreme Court bar, a statesman, a writer and an orator who did die on October 24, 1852.  He inserted his thoughts into history and the reason they remain prominent to this day is because they were crafted, not just spoken.  He may have died, but his words have not. 
 
I want to speak words that outlive me, don't you?  As Webster's rival said, "A man who can make speeches as that ought never to die."  I contend that the speaker who crafts thoughtful, wise words does not die, for his message can live in our memories, in the fitly written script he leaves behind, and in the influence his once-spoken words realize.
 
Words may be quickly spoken, but their echoes are heard for generations.  For that reason, we must not merely count each word we speak; we must weigh them.  For each word carries an intent and a consequence that outlasts the intonation that escapes our lips.  William Shakespeare once penned, "Words without thoughts never to heaven go."  His eloquence reveals the potential eternal nature of the words we utter.  So, once again I pray with the Psalmist; "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  

Well, that's what's been percolating in me lately!

January 2009 Spill the Beans

You Ask It, I'll Answer It

 

Question: How does someone make a life?  This sounds like an odd question considering that "everyone is sooo busy."  Everyone but me.  I lost my life because of various factors.  I live in a small community and have been out of the workforce for eight years.  I don't know how to get going again.
 
Trudi
 
Answer: Trudy, I'm so sorry you're in such a tough place...but, I am not certain of your real question.  If it's a job you want so you will feel like you have a life again, that's a question better answered by a career counselor, and I pray God's favor upon you and your quest.  But to me, the deeper concept is this--being busy or having a job is not the same as having a life or truly living.  Don't sell yourself short, Trudy.  Just because you're not busy right now, doesn't mean you're disqualified from living.  In fact, you may be in a uniquely blessed place to have the time to "make a life" as you said.
 
To me, it seems the way to make a life is the way you make a cake...one ingredient at a time!  Whatever life, like whatever cake, you want to make starts by beginning with the end in mind.  If you want a sweet fluffy cake, you begin with egg whites and sugar.  If you wish to gain a rich and meaningful life, you begin with brokenness and abandonment. 
 
Jesus compared really living to a seed dying: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone.  But if it dies, it bears much fruit. " (John 12:24)
Jesus' words tell us it is really possible that real life is found in brokenness and self-abandonment.  "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.  But whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul?" (Matt 16:25,26)
 
A real life is not characterized by your job.  Real life is not measured by a jammed calendar.  It's determined by a Velveteen Rabbit standard.  You know you've "made a life" and you're living a "real" life when it's well squandered...given away to God and others.    
 
So, my friend, perhaps focusing on what you have to give rather than what you've lost can be the first ingredient to making a rich life worth living.

 

And now the beans are officially spilled!

January 2009 Prayer Requests

I need your prayers - if you have time, will you please consider praying for me? Here is my prayer list for this month:

1. Thanks for praying for my Aunt Carol.  Her chemo is going along as expected and she remains strong in her spirit.  Please continue to pray for healing and strength.

 

2. Thanks too for praying for Genia.  She is fighting hard and her tumor has shrunk!  Thank You Lord.  She still has a very long road of uncertainty ahead but we are resting fully on God's goodness.  

 

3. On February 11, 2009 I will be in Washington D.C. for a dinner sponsored by the Foundation Fighting Blindness.  I am excited to be a part of such a special event and I have the privilege of making some remarks to the audience attending.  Please pray that I am wise, concise and give light and encouragement to those listening.

 
4. Me, Myself and Lies: A Thought Closet Makeover is finally out!  Thank you Lord.  Pray it goes into women's hands and hearts and gives freedom and victory in their thought lives.
 
As usual, thanks for partnering in prayer with me.  May we proceed on our knees.

Returning the Tight Pants

I now have exactly three days until my dinner in D.C. and I have come to a conclusion about my tight pants.  I am returning them to the store!!  Why I have spent so much mental and emotional energy trying to make these pants fit is nonsensical!

So, here’s my edited version of “What to Do When Your Pants are Too Tight.”

 

1. Try them on and say…”Girl, you are too much woman for these pants!”

 

2.  Put them back in the bag with the receipt and mockingly proclaim to the offending trousers… “Maybe you’ll be a real woman’s pair of pants when you grow up!”

3.  Take them back to the store with confidence, feeling empowered.

4.  While you’re at the store returning, buy new black pants with spandex.  Make sure they are flowy and feel good.  (That’s what I did at White House, Black Market.)

5.  Just to make sure your self esteem is on the mend, buy a fun top and jacket and jewelry and purse and shoes to go with the new well fitting black pants!  (That’s what I did too-don’t tell Phil.)

6.  When you get your purchase home, rehearse saying things like: “Honey, this costs much less than therapy!” or “New pants; $50, new jacket; $60, new top; $40, new shoes;$60, new purse; $20, new jewelry; $40, happy wife who no longer whines, worries and bulges out of her tight pants; PRICELESS!!

Tight Pants Update

I am now five days away from wearing my tight pants and last night I had a little ray of hope.  I tried on the pants as I do every night.  Now, I know by the end of the day, we are at our fullest, widest and heaviest so it seems that trying them on after a full day of eating would be discouraging.  Believe me, it is!!  But, I try them on at night because I will be wearing them at night and I want a realistic gage of what I am dealing with.
 

So, last night I tugged them on and sighed deeply.  Still not as loose as I wish they were but, at least I can button them!  I don’t think my ability to button is from weight loss though.  I think it’s from wearing them while I bounce on my exercise ball!!  Hey, whatever works!

I pulled and tugged and tucked in my tummy and then I realized that the pant’s pockets were sown shut. I hadn’t noticed this hopeful fact before.  I scooted to the kitchen with the tight pants constricting my every move and opened the kitchen drawer containing the scissors.  While the pants were stretched across my hips, I slipped one of the blades between the pant and the pocket to rip the stitching.  With every stitch, my breathing became slightly less labored.  Finally one pocket was free and I think I got about a quarter of an inch!

So, with renewed hope I followed the same procedure on the other pocket.   Rip, breathe, rip, breathe, rip…exhale!  When the final stitch on the final pocket was removed, I had virtually a half inch more room in my pants and significantly more lung capacity! Whoo-hoo!

I marched back to my bedroom and noticed my walk was a little easier.  I went straight to my dresser drawer, opened it with glee and grabbed a handful of Dark Chocolate M&M’s to celebrate!!

I swallowed the last M&M and panicked.  “What am I doing?!” I screeched.  I am so nervous about these pants that I am stress eating and making my problem worse!  So, I once again, pulled the jacket off the hanger and tried it on over the pants just to make sure it was still long enough to obscure the pants.  It was.  Sweet consolation!  Why I think the jacket will get shorter just shows my growing paranoia and obsession with these pants!!

Five more days…five more days!