Java with
Jennifer
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Coming to a
Cafe Near You
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You're
Invited:
Filming of
LifeWay
Bible Study
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Dear friend,
The end of
August means
the start of
school! It
will soon be
time to put
away
the gardenia
and
lilac scented
candles, and
pull out the
pumpkin
spice and
apple cider
scents for
fall!
During these
warm days,
I've enjoyed
Starbuck's
Java Chip
Frappuccinos,
but now I'm
ready for a
nice warm
mocha.
It's been a
big month of
transition
around
here...Clayton
left for
college,
school is
starting for
Connor and
for Dr.
Phil, we've
had some
staff
changes, and
our little
Shih tzu
Lucy, who
was only
supposed to
weigh about
10 pounds,
has
transitioned
to a
whopping 15
pounds, and
she's still
growing!
Life is all
about
changing and
growing,
isn't it?
So grab your
cup of
coffee (no
matter what
the
temperature
is), light
your floral
candle, and
let's give
some new
things a
taste test!
We'll also
explore the
first
boundary in
the series we
began last
month in my
Fresh
Grounded
Thought.
Who
knows...it
might just
"change"
your life!
Thanks for
spending
your coffee
break with
me today!
As always,
email me
your
thoughts or
questions.
I'd love to
hear from
you!
Your friend,
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Taste This!
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What I Am
In To Lately
One of the
highlights of
August for this
political junkie
was the
opportunity to
speak at the
Missouri
Republican
Summer Caucus.
I was asked to
give an
inspirational/motivational
message to the
gathering held
at
Tan-Tar-A Resort
in Lake of the
Ozarks. What a
special event!
I was impressed
by each person I
met. The
passion,
sacrifice and
commitment of
the elected
officials and
candidates were
inspiring to
me.
The only thing
that was less
than inspiring
and not so
special was that
we got lost.
(According to
Phil, we weren't
lost; we just
"missed a
turn!") Well,
that one missed
turn meant we
were so late
that I arrived
just in time to
be seated for a
ten-minute meal
before I got up
to speak! Whew!
Talk about
tense! Which
reminds me of
something new I
want you to
taste...
Tension Tamer
tea is one of my
new favorites.
It's a soothing
combination of
ginger,
chamomile,
peppermint, and
lemon. It also
has an herb
called
"eleuthero which
is an herb
enjoyed for
centuries by the
Chinese for the
sense of overall
well-being it
imparts. We
drink it hot and
I even add it to
my black tea
brew when I make
ice tea. It's
flavorful and
refreshing. I
sent a box with
Clayton to
college, and I
kept one here to
sip and tame any
tension that may
arise!
Yes, Clayton is
now a freshman
on the campus of
Baylor
University.
We drove the
long drive last
week (without
any missed
turns--we now
have a
GPS!) It
was a great
experience...
gut-wrenching,
gratifying,
exciting, and
emotional...and
I wouldn't have
it any other
way!
Lucy Maud
Montgomery
wrote, "The dew
is falling and
the old stars
are peeping out
and the sea
keeps its mighty
tryst with the
little land it
loves. You find
your soul, then
you realize that
youth is not a
vanished thing
but something
that dwells
forever in the
heart." Clayton
and all of our
family has
entered a new
phase which
represents change
and loss, but
also new
adventures.
Bring it on!
On the 9-hour
drive both to
and from Waco, I
listened to my
newest
C.S. Lewis
book. The
Screwtape
Letters is
an epistolary
novel
published in
1942. The story
unfolds through
a series of
letters from a
senior demon,
Screwtape, to
his nephew, a
junior tempter
named Wormwood.
Each letter
exposes how the
forces of evil
seek to
subvert Christians
from their
faith.
Each letter was
creative and
beautifully
crafted, giving
form and
personality to
each character,
including the
unnamed
Christian known
simply as "the
Patient."
Lewis ingeniously and
imaginatively
articulates the
Christian view
of demons and
the ways in
which they
affect the lives
of believers.
I found myself
observing my
life and
thoughts as I
read some of the
letters; I
wondered, "Have
I fallen for
that ploy of the
enemy?" I
really, really
loved this
book. It was an
intelligent
blending of
fiction and fact
that kept me
eager to keep
reading. You
really must give
it a taste
test! It's an
easy,
interesting
read. And if
you or your
husband "miss a
turn" it will
give you
something to do
with your extra
time!
So, give these
things a taste
test:
1. Get
involved with
the political
party that fits
your
convictions.
Begin to pray
for the coming
election and by
all means--VOTE!
2. Tension
Tamer Tea by
Celestial
Seasonings
3. Baylor
University
4. The
Screwtape
Letters by C.S.
Lewis
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Fresh
Grounded
Thoughts
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What God
Has Been
Teaching Me
Lately
I laughed when I
searched this
topic on the
Internet. I
found one essay
which featured
72 ways to
simplify your
life, and
another that
touted 100 ways
to do the
same...and only
a few of the
ways showed up
on both lists!
I even found a
book with 500
inspiring
examples of
simple living.
Is it only me,
or do those seem
overly
cumbersome and
complex procedures
to attain
simplicity? Really,
is simplicity
that
complicated?
Eleanor
Roosevelt once
said, "A little
simplification
would be the
first step
toward rational
living..."
Many of us are
tangled in the
web of mental,
physical and
emotional clutter,
and it truly is
irrational. An
unnecessarily
complex and
cluttered life
keeps us from
really living
the abundant
life that Jesus
gives (John
10:10). In
other words,
we're so full of
"stuff" that
there's no room
for true
abundance!
We've created
our own life
clutter by
neglecting the
discipline of
simplicity. We
often don't
choose
complexity in
our lives, but
we unwittingly
invite
complexity by
not thinking
ahead and
establishing a
boundary
that protects
simplicity. Is
that you?
Think through
the following
questions to
determine if you
need some
simplifying in
your life:
1. Do
you add
commitments or
things to your
life without
subtracting
commitments or
things to make
room?
2. If
everything has a
cost (time,
energy,
money)--can you
afford it?
3. Do
the choices you
make add
complexity or
simplicity
to your life?
4.
Do you have a
place in your
home, calendar,
or heart for
what you are
adding? (Who or
what will you
have to neglect
to add?)
5. Do
you feel like
you have little
control over
your schedule,
home, or life in
general?
If you could use
some simplicity,
I'll be
honest..it does
take a little
effort to
institute at
first. Perhaps
even
establishing a
boundary will
seem a little
complicated in
the beginning;
but believe me,
the mental and
spiritual effort
required in
establishing
simplicity is
easy compared to
the complicated
life that
results without
it.
"Simplicity,
simplicity,
simplicity! I
say let your
affairs be as
one, two, three,
and to a hundred
or a
thousand...We
are happy in
proportion to
the things we
can do without."
(Henry David
Thoreau)
I am certain
that life on
Walden Pond
taught Mr.
Thoreau how very
much is gained
by simplicity,
but you and I
live in a
reality far
removed from
that sleepy lake
of a hundred
years ago! So,
here's a few
steps to
simplicity that
will help
you find a
boundary God has
drawn in
pleasant
places (Psalm
16:6), and make
room in your
heart and in
your life for
real abundant
living to occur.
Step 1:
Determine what
is important to
you. Write down
values you deem
significant. For
example:
spending time
with family,
growing in your
faith, giving to
your community,
learning,
recreation,
peacefulness,
etc.
You can't do
everything. Cut
out or do not
accept
opportunities or
activities that
aren't
consistent with
the core values
you wrote down.
This is the
first step, and
it's
philosophical in
nature, but it's
vital to truly
maintaining your
boundary.
Step 2:
Decide goals
you'd like to
achieve that
support your
core values.
Focus on making
your goals
realistic and
doable. It's
encouraging to
do a few things
really well,
rather than to
do a lot of
things in a
mediocre way.
You can't add
hours to your
day, but you can
cut down on
activities that
aren't a part of
achieving your
set goal.
Step 3:
Have plans and
policies. Most
of us say yes to
many things
because we feel
uncomfortable
saying no. No
is a really hard
word to say,
isn't it? (By
the way, "no" is
one of the
easiest words to
type; you should
try it over and
over...no, no,
no, no, no!
See?) It is
easier to say no
when you already
have plans or
policies that
support your
values and
goals. For
example: "Our
family already
has a planned
budget," or "Our
policy is to
only participate
in one extra
curricular
activity a
semester."
Having plans
and policies
allows them to
be the
"nay-sayers,"
while you smile
and thank the
one who gave the
invitation.
Step 4:
Apply the "one
thing"
principle. How
about one credit
card, one phone
(rather than a
cell phone, home
phone, fax,
etc.), and one
news source?
Consider
magazine and
newspaper
subscriptions--could
you get by with
just one? Do
you really have
time to read all
that comes to
your front door?
Examine your
lifestyle.
Where can you
apply the "one
thing"
principle?
Step 5:
De-clutter your
physical
surroundings. A
messy outer
world can create
or reflect a
messy inner
world. So spiff
up the outside
where you can!
Fix what is
broken or
replace it. If
it doesn't fit,
sell it or give
it away. If you
haven't used it
for the past
year, bless
someone else's
life with it! If
you grasp
tightly to
things and hate
to get rid of
your stuff, box
them and write
an "expiration
date" on the
box. When the
expiration date
arrives, if you
haven't used the
contents, don't
even open
it...get rid of
the unopened
box.
Step 6:
Cut back on
debt.
Consolidate
your different
debts into one
and pay it off.
Put your credit
card in a
spot (like in a
frozen block of
ice in the
bottom of your
freezer) where
you won't be
able to use it
until you're
debt-free.
Track your
expenses for a
month, then cut
back your
spending on
items you don't
need. For
example, take
your lunch
rather than
buying one at
work. Mix and
match
your clothes
rather than
constantly
buying new
ones. This is
painful, but
brew your own
coffee rather
than stopping at
Starbucks! Debt
creates mental
clutter like
nothing else.
How freeing to
not have that
weighing you
down! Simplify
your finances;
simplify your
life.
Experience
abundance as you
live with
less.
The truth is
that cluttered
lives are tough
to control!
Simplicity is
easier to
manage. So,
draw that
boundary in a
pleasant place.
Do what it
takes...consider,
create, clean,
consolidate,
calculate,
contemplate, cut
back, and
celebrate the
simplicity that
you will
inherit!
"Simplicity is
the ultimate
sophistication.
" - Leonardo Da
Vinci
Well, that's
what's been
percolating in
me lately!
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Spill the
Beans
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You Ask
It, I'll
Answer It
Question:
When do you
think the Lord
is coming back?
I have been
asking people
that question
and they all
give me
different
answers.
- Michaela J.
Answer:
Well, you get
different
answers because
there is no
answer! The
best answer I
can give is "I
don't know." My
answer isn't
noncommittal or
ignorant though;
I think it is
quite
scriptural.
Scripture
emphasizes that
no one knows
when Christ will
return. Jesus
made many
statements like
"...Be ready,
for the Son of
Man is coming at
an hour you do
not expect..."
(Matthew 24:44)
The Bible
clearly tells us
that we can't be
certain when He
will
come. Jesus
Himself compares
the surprise of
His coming to
that of a thief
in the night
(Revelation
16:15).
Though scripture
indicates signs
of His coming
and prophecies
which must be
fulfilled before
He comes
(Matthew 24:14,
25-27, 29-31),
Jesus makes it
clear that we
really don't
know exactly
when that will
be. Jesus does
remind
us though, that
His coming is
eminent and
could be very,
very soon. In
Revelation 22:7,
He
said, "Behold, I
am coming
quickly..."
I am no
theologian...just
a student of the
Bible, and I
can't find in
Scripture a
definitive time
when Christ will
return. But, I
find lots of
promises that He
will! Woo hoo!
Read 1
Thessalonians
4:16, 17 to get
excited with me!
So, I believe we
should live each
day with the
expectation that
this could be
the day, but
equally live as
a wise steward
as if His coming
could be years
from now.
And now the
beans are
officially
spilled!
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Prayer
Requests
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I need your
prayers - if
you have
time, will
you please
consider
praying for
me? Here is
my prayer
list for
this month:
1. I
am in crazy
crunch time
for the
Bible Study
filming.
Please,
please pray
for
uninterrupted
time to
focus on
writing the
last two
chapters and
crafting the
seven
messages I
will present
on September
18-20.
2.
Please pray
for the
LifeWay
production
crew working
with me on
this
project.
May God
protect and
guide
through this
whole
process.
3.
Please pray
for
Lisa
Whelchel
and
Kathy
Troccoli
as they will
join me on
the first
night of
filming to
participate
in some
insightful
conversation
on stage.
Pray for
their travel
and peace
and that God
would ignite
our words.
4.
Becky
Williams,
who has
helped me
with Java
for the past
year, is
leaving to
be a
missionary
with
Avant
Ministries
in Spain.
Please pray
for her
financial
support to
come in and
for God to
use her. We
will sure
miss her
around here!
5.
Valerie
Lawrence and
Susan
Gear joined
our staff
and we are
so grateful.
Please pray
for their
huge
learning
curve! (We
tend to pile
on the
work!) And
pray for a
smooth
transition
for all of
us.
What would I
do without
you? Thanks
for your
faithful
friendship
and prayers.
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And the
Grande Goes To
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The
Winners of
the Month
 This
month, we have
three winners!
And the grande
goes to:
Janet L. of
Statesville, NC
(ournannyboo@...)
Cathy W. of
Valley Center,
KS
(thewhitehouse7656@...)
Sandra of Glen
Allen, VA
(graceandpeace2you@...)!
Janet, Cathy and
Sandra have won
a copy of
Logged On and
Tuned Out
by Vicki
Courtney.
Congratulations,
Janet, Cathy and
Sandra! Please
email us
your mailing
address.
To enter your
name in the
drawing for next
month's giveaway
from
JenniferRothschild.com
Store,
be sure to click
on the link
below to let us
know you were
here. Your name
will
automatically be
added to a
random drawing
to win. Then
read the next
month's email to
see if your name
was picked!
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Thanks-a-Latte
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A Special
Offer for
Special
Friends
Free CD for
First 25
Purchasers!
During the month
of September,
the first 25
people to
purchase
anything on
Jennifer's Store
will receive a
Free
He Touched Me CD
Single with
Bonus Track.
Jennifer's song,
He Touched Me,
was arranged by
Travis Cottrell
and featured on
the
Fingerprints of
God Bible study
videos. This
CD also includes
a teaching
segment from the
Fingerprints of
God Bible study.
(This CD will
not show up in
your shopping
cart, but we
will include it
in your
package).
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Sole Sisters
Highlights
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Small
Things, Big
Impact
I hope you'll
consider being
one of my faith-walkin'
Sole Sisters. I
covet your
prayers and
appreciate so
much the things
you do to spread
the word about
my message.
Here are just a
few of the small
things you can
do to make a big
impact:
- Join
Sole Sisters
(10 points)
- Email
Five Friends
(10 points)
- Write a
Review at
Amazon or
LifeWay for
Jennifer's
new book:
Self Talk,
Soul Talk
(10 points)
- Email us
a Photo with
You and a
Friend (20
points)
- And
more!
See the most
recent
List of
Activities
here.
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Taster's Choice
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Links You
Can Use
Here are some
Quick Links
you might find
helpful:
Need Jennifer's
Bible study
workbook in a
format for the
visually
impaired?
Email us here!
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