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Java with Jennifer
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| Coming to a Cafe Near You |
Fri, May 30:
Living the Life TV Show
Sat-Sun, May 31-Jun 1:
East Hill Four Square Church Grasham, OR
Sun-Thurs, July 13-17: International Christian Retailers Show -
Orlando, FL
Sat, October 25:
Fresh Grounded Faith
Springfield, IL
Sat, November 1:
Fresh Grounded Faith
Greenville, SC
Fri-Sat, November 14-15:
Fresh Grounded Faith
Springfield, MO
See more appearances
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Dear friend,
June is just a warm breeze away and the Missouri humidity is beginning to kick up a couple notches. However, I've come to the conclusion that no matter how hot it gets outside, I still love my steaming cup of java!
Now, I'll be honest. This has been a monumental month,-but not just because I discovered how wonderful Dulce de Leche tastes in my coffee. No, it's monumental because my oldest son is now officially a high school graduate. As much as I love basking in the afternoon sun while I'm trying to type on my "Baby Dell" laptop, I love basking even more in the presence of my family. And I've been able to soak up that sweetness all month long.
Right now, I'm focusing on writing two books, and my family and staff are well-accustomed to my 'roaming.' At the start of the day, I begin typing in one spot and then roam from one place to another whenever I need a new setting. Sometimes people can't even find me (although I don't hide on purpose!). Life's been busy but wonderful this month...so grab your cup of coffee (no matter what the temperature is outside) and let's roam through these past four weeks of what God's been percolating in me.
As always, email me your thoughts or questions. I'd love to hear from you!
Your friend,
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| Taste This! |
What I Am In To Lately
 Our families gathered in Springfield to celebrate Clayton's graduation, and it was quite a party! Lucy even wore a bow! At least the festivities lasted longer than her hairstyle. We celebrated with Honey Baked Ham, good strong coffee, and lots of dessert! The event was culminated as we sat on the edge of our bleachers listening to Clayton give the commencement address at the Kickapoo High School graduation ceremony. We were proud of him and grateful to have our families with us. Alex Haley once said: "In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, and a bridge to our future."
That couldn't have been more clear than when my dad pulled up in our driveway, unpacked the trunk, and brought in my great aunt's silver tea service. It is old, covered with embossed grapes, and holds many childhood memories. Auntie used to let me have imaginary tea parties with the graceful pieces when I visited her during those sizzling Atlanta summers. Now that I'm grown up, I will have to have some real tea parties with the charming service that now sits on my grandmother's buffet in my own dining room. What a treasure!
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea..." Ahh, the lovely opening to the novel I am reading for the second time--The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. James is considered by some critics to be one of the greatest novelists of modern times.
The Portrait of a Lady is my very favorite James novel, and it's a perfect summer read. It was first published as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan's Magazine in 1880, and then as a book in 1881. The Portrait of a Lady is a well-spun story that revolves around "our heroine" Isabel Archer. It deeply explores themes of personal freedom, independence, betrayal, and romance. I love his insight, his phrasing, and his characters. You must give this book a taste test!
My mom and I did a little shopping while she was here for graduation. We bought two gifts to commemorate this special time. First, we both got defusers filled with lavender oil. We decided that as the aroma fills our homes, which are so far apart, the fragrance will remind us of being together. We also bought a lovely Star Jasmine bush for my back porch. It is lush and lovely, and the fragrance will remind me of Clayton's graduation. As the bush blossoms and matures, it will be a constant reminder of how my son is growing and blossoming into a vibrant young man. It will prompt me to reminisce and pray each time I water it, tend to it, and enjoy its fragrance this summer. I hope your summer is a time of growth, relaxation, and peace.
In the words of Henry James, "Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me, those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
So give these things a taste test:
1. Enjoy a family heirloom. Don't just admire it--use it and enjoy it!
2. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
3. Defuser
4. Star Jasmine
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| Fresh Grounded Thoughts |
What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately
Do you ever find yourself questioning why you said something, or why you couldn't keep from saying something, or wishing you hadn't said something? If you nodded your head or answered "yes" at least once as you read the preceding sentence, you may benefit from my fresh grounded thought this month.
I am constantly saying things I later regret. I find myself wishing I hadn't opened my mouth. It's no surprise my words spill out with such fervency and frequency, considering that my thoughts are constantly chattering inside my brain demanding an audience! I wonder why I still deal with this after all these years?
I guess what forced these thoughts to the surface once again was being with my dad this past week. He seems to be so disciplined in what he says, what he doesn't say, and when he chooses to speak or to remain silent. I know he would say it's because he's now hard of hearing, but he's had that mastery since I can remember! I watched his restraint, listened to his speech, and heard his silence, and thought, "I must learn silence." Have you ever thought silence is something we can learn?
When I think of silence, I don't think of its importance in the way Mark Twain once jabbed-"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt." Though there is merit to Mr. Twain's advice, I speak of a deeper silence-the kind of silence that manifests itself in well-ordered thought, speech, and quietness.
Mother Teresa said, "We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature-trees, flowers, and grass-grows in silence. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls."
I believe if we are to experience the discipline of silence in our thoughts and speech, we must surround ourselves with silence from time to time. To simply be still and allow a soul silence to settle over us, invites God.
Silence welcomes contemplation and invites confession.
Silence allows for revelation and responsiveness to God.
Silence ushers out the noise of life and makes room for His Presence to overwhelm us.
Silence lets you hear God's voice more clearly.
When we allow our surroundings to be hushed from time to time, we become enveloped by the wordless wonder of who God is and who He created us to be.
The inner strength and spirit control that shows up in our silence also shows up as we share with others. If we begin to learn silence, it is heard in our speech and is obvious in our thoughts. Learning to "be still" influences the way we think. Our thought patterns influence what we say, and equally as important, what we do not say.
In relationships with others, silence bids response rather than regret. Silence defers and initiates rather than crowds and inhibits.
With quiet inner and outer surroundings, we hear the music that only plays in silence, and it engages us to hum along with its haunting melody of restraint. Marcel Marceau, the world-famous French mime artist who created Bip, the white-faced clown, once said, "Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music." Shhh...can you hear it?
I've heard it said, "Don't speak unless you can improve the silence." So, I keep learning, thinking, and trusting. But this I know: my lack of silence proves my need for more of it!
Well, that's what's been percolating in me lately! |
| Spill the Beans |
You Ask It, I'll Answer It
Question:
Question: Do you have plans to create a workbook and/or teaching sessions on Self Talk, Soul Talk? It would be such a great one to do. Just wondering...
- Sheri
Answer:
Sheri...boy, do I have plans!! LifeWay Publishers will release my DVD-enhanced Bible study based on Self Talk, Soul Talk in early 2009. My goal is to help women learn to speak Truth to their souls using Scripture as their guide.
 It will be a small group, six-week study with daily personal Bible study guides that are designed to take a student about 30 minutes a day to complete. The study will promote weekly group sessions where a facilitator can lead women in discussion about what they learned that week. Each group session will include a 30-minute DVD segment of me teaching.
The goal of the written part of the Bible study is to facilitate an interaction between women, the Holy Spirit, Scripture and me (as their Bible Study Guide on this topic). Women need to connect with other women and feel understood before they are inspired to understand deeper truth.
The video segments will enhance connection between group members and deepen understanding of the Scriptures studied that week. Each video will creatively use the "Thought Closet" theme and put some of the potential abstract concepts of soul talk into practical, concrete daily life terms.
The video provides an opportunity for me to keep the concept deeply grounded in the Truths of Scripture since the concept can easily creep into self help if strong leadership is not constantly affirmed.
The video-enhanced group experience is also an opportunity for emotional connection and accountability between members.
The group experience will be a great opportunity for women to be connected in learning, sharing and growing.
What this study is not:
Self-help
Pop-psychology
Promoting self-centeredness
Group therapy
Video counseling sessions by Jennifer
Lay-counseling by facilitator in group sessions
What this study is:
A tool to empower women to speak truth to their souls
A Scripturally grounded understanding of why what we say to our souls matters
A guide to equip women to speak truth to their souls
A depository of truth to speak to their souls
A study of biblical truths to speak to our souls
An opportunity to connect with women in an authentic, accountable and encouraging way
Click here and I'll send you a reminder when the new Bible study comes out in early 2009.
And now, the beans are officially spilled!
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| Prayer Requests |
I need your prayers - if you have time, will you please consider praying for me? Here is my prayer list for May:
1. Once again, I still ask for prayers for the Bible study I am writing. Summer is full, fun and potentially less-productive for writing! I need time to be still, be filled and be fruitful.
2. Please pray for balance! Summer is affording opportunities to reconnect with friends and family, and I want to be present where I am-not thinking about the Bible study I could/should be writing at every moment of every day! Can you relate?!
3. Harvest House Publishers is helping me put together a book called "Fresh Grounded Faith." I am excited about its potential to meet needs and offer some interesting spiritual thoughts to readers. If you like the thoughts in Java or the writings in WomensMinistry.net, you will really enjoy this new devotional. It will release early next year, just in time for the thirsty to fill their cups with a fresh interactive devotional! I really didn't mean for that to be a commercial; I am just excited!
Really, what I ask for is prayer. Please pray for my editor Larry and my Harvest House publisher Carolyn to have time, insight and vision for how God wants to craft this interesting project.
Thank you my praying friends...the faithful prayers of the righteous really do avail much! (James 5:16)
Bless you, Jennifer
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| And the Grande Goes To |
 The Winner of the Month
And the grande goes to Jonna of Ragland, AL (jonna-marsh@ne...)!
Jonna has won a Walking By Faith Memberbook!
Congratulations, Jonna! Please email us your mailing address.
Each month we give away something from the JenniferRothschild.com Store. All you have to do is 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 |
A Special Offer for Special Friends
FREE Signed Copy of TWC Cover Story
The first 200 orders in June will receive a complimentary issue of Today's Christian Woman featuring Jennifer Rothschild (May/June 2007)!
If you're one of the first 200 customers to purchase ANY product from Jennifer Rothschild's Store during June, you'll receive a free copy of the TWC magazine with your order,-and Jennifer will sign it before we send it.
But hurry! These issues will go fast!
Click here to visit Jennifer Rothschild's Online Store! |
| Sole Sisters Highlights |
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 format for visually impaired? Email us here! |
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Jennifer Rothschild/WomensMinistry.NET
| 4319 S. National, Suite 303 |
Springfield | MO | 65810
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