tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81735682280685927792024-03-05T16:31:49.109-08:00truelifemattersTracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-20676537267116280082013-06-26T11:52:00.002-07:002013-06-26T12:05:33.037-07:00What Men Do NOT Find Attractive!There is no point recreating the wheel, when Beth Moore nails it on the head in her book,“So Long Insecurity”, where she confronts her own insecurities as a woman and reveals results
from an extensive survey of men. In that process she stumbled across the same thing I have found in my own search, the “one thing” that
men do NOT find attractive. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJEgJtq7VxJI6ls_mNKAe5vr4Od2jy3RCxMJe_Ow7XsPBjwJK17Z6wNBZajqd_1SPuByr2unL8B0vlQ9WUa8T6tl0YxMYoWsh9VI2JLOmIUUyDBUIkgYwMb8mWPuQa9nmlCKjjBt5rTGe/s1600/NotInterested-300x168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJEgJtq7VxJI6ls_mNKAe5vr4Od2jy3RCxMJe_Ow7XsPBjwJK17Z6wNBZajqd_1SPuByr2unL8B0vlQ9WUa8T6tl0YxMYoWsh9VI2JLOmIUUyDBUIkgYwMb8mWPuQa9nmlCKjjBt5rTGe/s1600/NotInterested-300x168.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great guy's point of view http://solelydevoted.net/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Beth says, “Men are not our problem; it’s what we are trying to get from them
that messes us up. Nothing is more baffling than our attempt to derive
our womanhood from our men.<br />
<span id="more-130"></span><br />
We use guys like mirrors to see if we’re valuable. Beautiful.
Desirable. Worthy of notice. Viable. We try to read their expressions
and moods in order to determine whether it’s time to act smart and hard
to get or play dumb and needy. Worse yet, we try to tap into their
inner equestrian by acting like the damsel in distress. When XX meets
XY and tries to pry that X away from him so she can have an extra one,
she is attempting to mutate both of them.<br />
I say this with respect and great compassion: we’re attempting to get
our security from a gender that doesn’t really have much to spare. Our
culture is just as merciless on men as it is on women. Their
insecurities take different shapes, but make no mistake: they’ve got
them. You know it. I know it.<br />
Let’s face it. Men want us to get a grip anyway. They don’t like
the pressure of being in charge of our sense of value. It’s too much
for them. The candid ones gladly admit it, and for these who don’t,
you’ll know it by the flapping of their shirts in the wind as they run
for their lives.<br />
<b>A man is infinitely more attracted to a secure woman than to
an emotional wreck who insists he could complete her. As my friend
Christy Nockels says, ‘Men are not drawn to hysterical, needy women.’</b><br />
. . . After months of research, I’m convinced that men are indeed
more intrigued by a confident woman who carries herself well and knows
who she is than a picture-perfect beauty who seems little more than
that. Some men might be tempted to take the latter to bed, but when all
is said and done, they would more likely take the former to <i>heart</i>.
When the average guy sees the woman in his life hold her own in the
face of intimidation, he is impressed. At the end of the day, both men
and women want to be with someone they can respect.”<br />
<br />
Thanks, Beth! I’m also a married woman who's favorite ministry is pouring into younger women
the hard lessons learned from having <i>‘looked for love in all the wrong
places’</i>. The most powerful thing I teach in the<b><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.mainstreetfamilyservices.org/index-5.html" target="_blank">“Big Reveal”</a></span></b> material I
use with teen girls is that one lone truth. They sit on the edge of
their seats when I unveil the answers to a survey of 200 local teen
guys. <span style="color: red;"><i><b>“What is THE most attractive thing about a woman?”</b></i></span>… the over
riding response was…<span style="font-size: large;">’CONFIDENCE’</span>.<br />
<br />
That alone immediately levels the
playing field for all women and puts each of us in the right place, at
the foot of the cross looking for our TRUE identity and source of
confidence. By the way, as a marriage ministry, we find ourselves
addressing singles and youths equally often with the core message – be
WHOLE. Married or single. Young or old. Male or female. Park your self
in Father’s lap until He settles in your heart your real value. THEN,
you’ll have that confidence that is attractive to the rest of the world.
Because they are starving for the same. Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-6195771311899615232012-11-30T11:51:00.000-08:002012-11-30T11:55:20.782-08:00What Do Today's Teens Think About Marriage? <div style="color: purple;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The results are in! "Survey says..."</b></span></div>
<br />
According the the University of Virginia, the future of society's norms can be predicted in their recent large scale report titled "<i>The State of Our Unions</i>". OH! She said the word 'report'! No worries, you don't have to be a college research professor to see the trends of the last several decades as they are revealed by topic, charts and easy to see graphs. I like pictures!<br />
<br />
You could get lost all day in fascinating thoughts about the importance of sex, generosity and commitment in successful marriages. That is what we're all about in our marriage ministry <a href="http://www.thedanceofmarriage.com/" target="_blank">The Dance of Marriage</a>.<br />
<div style="color: purple;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJqZH8KKlmN-Czovkk-4egTxZ7oAyBFI6ZkjAsQsOe7bEN05caL2CKXMMzu3r8Ny9boXmEF_m_1twtoZo7t-DQorodKOQFBj_xqtPtEM915UhGYhl5DEJHO7pxMUKQuSd_OVx6TErt7VZ/s1600/S+&+T+Small+Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJqZH8KKlmN-Czovkk-4egTxZ7oAyBFI6ZkjAsQsOe7bEN05caL2CKXMMzu3r8Ny9boXmEF_m_1twtoZo7t-DQorodKOQFBj_xqtPtEM915UhGYhl5DEJHO7pxMUKQuSd_OVx6TErt7VZ/s200/S+&+T+Small+Square.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple;">But what caught my attention today was the section about our teenagers.</b></span> Where have they landed on the topics of marriage with what they have seen from the previous generations? What do they think about living together, babies before or without marriage, the chances of a happy life-time union? <br />
<br />
Find out here<a href="http://www.stateofourunions.org/2011/social_indicators.php#teens" target="_blank"> TEEN ATTITUDES ABOUT MARRIAGE AND FAMILY</a> Then come back and contribute your personal comments and reaction! I love to interact with other parents who are willing to be candid in their wondering and learning. <br />
<br />
Personally, I was shocked at the relief I felt looking at the stats! It's not as bad as I thought in many arenas. I'm more hopeful that having our teenagers watch our marriage 'real time' is a GOOD thing; all of it... the heated discussions, the conflict resolutions, the tears and the laughter, the good years and the hard years, the kissing in the kitchen and the Sunday afternoon 'naps'!<br />
<br />
I pray that they see enough of the 'work' of a great marriage to not be disenchanted when they discover for themselves at the 'seven year itch' mark that marriage is NOT about your spouse making you 'happy'. It's about two people laying down their selfish nature of ME to build a new entity called 'WE'. <br />
<br />
I pray that they witness enough of the JOY and fruit of a great marriage to provide the hope and conviction in their hearts to commit to the 'work' of the planting season to get to the harvest of the DEEP intimacy that the world so desperately runs around trying to find with short cuts and false guarantees. <br />
<br />
Today, I will not hide our very authentic, very transparent, very NORMAL relationship ups, downs, woes and JOYS from my children. According to the facts in this report, our culture's lack or failures in the marriage and family department have not swayed our teenagers (too far) from the HOPES and DREAMS they have for a satisfying and successful family life. <br />
TAKE HEART! Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-42965830161378382922012-10-01T12:31:00.000-07:002012-10-01T12:39:56.446-07:00What Do Men Really Think About Cleavage? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezdSZgEGoNZYK4Ub4D9ZXB4MSiv2n53xd9ybUn6M7RqNhdtrN3yM65jke6BSralPHTu93BsJOI8XkYT28Tk53OF53fCstCj9NPhM36e53ASjZghDUjnOhynsLCkt8VRYvbUbEv3aJCnKs/s1600/cleavage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezdSZgEGoNZYK4Ub4D9ZXB4MSiv2n53xd9ybUn6M7RqNhdtrN3yM65jke6BSralPHTu93BsJOI8XkYT28Tk53OF53fCstCj9NPhM36e53ASjZghDUjnOhynsLCkt8VRYvbUbEv3aJCnKs/s200/cleavage.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">Q: "What do you wish you
had the freedom to tell a woman who is immodestly dressed?" </span> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>(Adult Male Answers)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
These are real life answers pulled from 100 questionnaires given to the
adult men from our high school; the fathers, teachers, neighbors, and
pastors in your world: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I wish they would be receptive to hear, but they are not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Ask them if they realize how they dress also
reflects maybe opposite of what they intended to convey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That guys just think you want to get it on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Don’t give sex to get love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Have better self-esteem.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“When I see you dressed like that, I don’t just
imagine taking a romantic walk along the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do think about the physical act of sex with your body—only for the
purpose of my personal sexual gratification.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“What are you trying to attract?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You are sending a message that is not
pleasant.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Whom are you trying to please or impress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you willing to pay the price for immodest
dress?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Men are very visually stimulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That image sticks with us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You have no idea how ‘loudly’ you are sending
the wrong messages to the guys—including the most godly guys!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>How they affect others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Address if they are aware of how this affects
males and question if they are trying to do this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>How it does not achieve what she intends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Men are not looking for a long-term
relationship with you, only short-term fun.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>It sends the wrong message.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That the people she is attracting are not the
kind she really may want or need.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You’re casting the wrong image of yourself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>What message they are sending to men & what
it says about their self-esteem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tell them how they impact men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understand—will not get what they really
want.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tell them what guys are thinking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Love yourself more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did your dad fail you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That their immodesty affects men of any age.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Don’t sell your body—God gave it to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save it for the husband God has for you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That they are headed for trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God loves them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Do you know what you are communicating via what
you’re wearing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“If you are looking for attention, you will
attract a poorer quality of friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are drawn by dress, not by who you are.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I think about how perverse our society is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You are asking for something you may not want.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>She is making herself look loose and immoral.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You are hurting both yourself and others around
you, but mostly you are hurting yourself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You are attractive without having to show too
much.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That it makes them look like they are
promiscuous. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That they look ridiculous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“The attention you get is only temporary and not
lasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love looks deeper to the real
person.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Simply, it can lead to no good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>It makes me very sad to see a woman who is
dressed immodestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may be insecure
or afraid, but she will definitely be attracting the wrong type of man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see a rocky and unhappy future for her and
this saddens my heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>That her appearance devalues her social status.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“What are you trying to say to others with your
dress?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you know what you’re
saying?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“I don’t want to look at your chest falling out
of your shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Low-cut shirt with push
up bra.)”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>They attract the wrong types.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not confuse attention from these types
with long-term happiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“You want to be looked at yet you yell at people
who look!”</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLp4hIZI0CSY4kSJl3qIATrfRW2g0QvIn9sA_Roe-2i1b-kUZtHX4qj4cjm20RuZp00GLNpFjjOPTOl2DC_U-_mbZ44NJp7F2fmkdbENdAEDuN2EdJtqIh-HgQwWpiHKBaAAMbubYZSM9/s1600/97577916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLp4hIZI0CSY4kSJl3qIATrfRW2g0QvIn9sA_Roe-2i1b-kUZtHX4qj4cjm20RuZp00GLNpFjjOPTOl2DC_U-_mbZ44NJp7F2fmkdbENdAEDuN2EdJtqIh-HgQwWpiHKBaAAMbubYZSM9/s1600/97577916.jpg" /></a>When we look in the mirror in the morning, let's ask ourselves the hard questions. Who am I dressing for? What am I saying with my choices? Am I inviting respect? Am I showing respect for the needs of my 'brothers' around me?<br />
<br />
Am I looking for the answers to my inner questions? Am I pretty, attractive, desirable... am I ENOUGH?<br />
Only God can answer these questions in the depths of our heart and re-frame our identity as his beautiful daughters - created in his image to bring him joy just for being ourselves.<br />
<br />
This may be news to some of my sisters reading this...<br />
NO human man is going to be able to fill the gaping hole in the depth of our being. Our value is not based on how many men find us desirable physically. So why give away the 'goods' looking for temporary, false band-aids of attention and validation that will leave us feeling more used and less valuable? Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-9887176926575963532012-09-13T16:22:00.000-07:002012-09-13T16:22:35.937-07:00<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMainContent_ContentMasterBodyContentCPH_devotionalTitle"></span></div>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Joyce Meyer has always spoken my language! I am willing to take little sass from her because she has "been there, done that!" Today, I am reminded of the power of my spoken word. Below she shares a few tips on how to check yourself, or at least set guard at your lips! Thanks Joyce. I needed a reminder.</span></span></h1>
<br />
<span id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMainContent_ContentMasterBodyContentCPH_devotionalTitle"></span><br />
<span id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMainContent_ContentMasterBodyContentCPH_devotionalTitle"></span><br />
<h1 style="color: blue;">
Six Signs You Need to Stop Talking</h1>
<span class="devotionAuthorDate" id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMainContent_ContentMasterBodyContentCPH_devotionalAuthorDate">by Joyce Meyer</span>
<br />
<div id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMainContent_ContentMasterBodyContentCPH_devotionalExcerpt" style="margin-top: 15px;">
Have you ever wished you’d stopped talking about five minutes before you actually did? <br />
Because I’ve been there myself, I want to help protect you from
saying potentially embarrassing or hurtful things. And I’ve prepared a
list of six warning signs to let you know when <em>it’s time to stop talking</em>. <br />
<h2>
Sign 1: You’re Complaining, Not Explaining</h2>
<img class="articleIMG_right" id="inlineLarge" src="http://www.joycemeyer.org/Content/articles/ea/six_signs_you_need_to_stop_talking/image_dog.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;" />
There’s a subtle difference. Explaining is simply telling someone
about your situation. Complaining is when you have an attitude that
says “I’m being inconvenienced.” (<a class="externalLink" href="http://bible.us/phil2.14-15.amp" target="_blank">See Philippians 2:14-15.)</a><br />
There will be times when keeping quiet in order to avoid complaining
seems so hard you almost can’t stand it. But God will always give you
the grace to do it. And if we ever want to arrive at our Promised Land,
we need to stop complaining about the way God’s getting us there. <br />
<h2>
Sign 2: You’re Criticizing Somebody</h2>
Picture this. Someone says or does something you think they
shouldn’t have done and all of a sudden, you’ve got about a hundred
opinions about them that you want to talk about!<br />
First Thessalonians 4:9 says, “But concerning brotherly love [for all
other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you
yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another”
(AMP).<br />
In other words, sharing your critical opinions about other people is
always a mistake. We need to cover one another with love, instead of
uncovering their weaknesses and pointing out their flaws. <br />
<h2>
Sign 3: Your God Is Too Small</h2>
Whenever we say, “I can’t do this” or “It’s too much for me to
take,” we’re actually defeating ourselves―and we’re not trusting God to
get us through it. <br />
What we need to say is, “God is bigger than every issue I will ever
have to face, and I can do whatever I need to do through Christ who
strengthens me.”<br />
The Bible says that <a class="externalLink" href="http://bible.us/1sam17.48.amp" target="_blank">David ran quickly toward the battle line</a>
to face the giant Goliath. Sometimes we stare at our circumstances too
long. We end up scaring ourselves half to death instead of believing
God will give us the victory when we face our giants. <br />
<h2>
Sign 4: You’re Self-Inflated</h2>
We like to boast about what we’ve done, what we can do, and what
we’re going to do. If we’re not careful, we can even take credit for
things <em>God</em> did!<br />
Everything we do, we should do it as unto the Lord. (<a class="externalLink" href="http://bible.us/col3.23.amp" target="_blank">Colossians 3:23</a>)
I don’t think we can even begin to know what God would do for us and
the things He would allow us to participate in if we would learn to
keep our successes a secret between us and God, unless He specifically
gives us permission to share them.<br />
<h2>
Sign 5: You’re Standing in Judgment</h2>
<div style="float: right; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px 0px 13px 20px; width: 250px;">
“
We can look at everybody else through a magnifying glass when we're a mess ourselves and can't even see it.
”
</div>
Matthew 7:1 (NLT) says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be
judged.” I think this is really important for Christians because we can
get our religious, snooty noses up in the air. And if somebody does
something wrong, they’re out of the group. <br />
We can look at everybody else through a magnifying glass when we’re a
mess ourselves and can’t even see it. So we need to remain humble
before God and before others.<br />
<h2>
Sign 6: You’re Just Being Negative</h2>
The world is full of negativity. Instead of adding to that
negativity, Christians need to be positive about the problems and
circumstances we face. <br />
We may not get everything we want, the way we want it, when we want
it, but God will take care of us and give us grace to have joy and be
positive in the midst of any situation. And that’s an awesome way to
live.<br />
<hr />
This article is taken from Joyce's four-CD series, <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/ProductDetail.aspx?id=004630"><em>The Power of Words</em>.</a><br />
</div>
Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-18349590960699773492012-07-28T08:02:00.001-07:002012-07-28T09:03:08.541-07:00Parenting Isn't For Cowards!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppdrKU4UC9HnNdCAA6FQ_thVdHLUb5Wj2sPl-_AxtWWpQaTrqLip0lZKKBB5wmRYLYcTUAjk57EGBpWWuF5OchF5Ids1QIU2vfYuo1BQh33cICURfLXyL0i9yFT28a1jZOQu85f0nOLWE/s1600/shame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppdrKU4UC9HnNdCAA6FQ_thVdHLUb5Wj2sPl-_AxtWWpQaTrqLip0lZKKBB5wmRYLYcTUAjk57EGBpWWuF5OchF5Ids1QIU2vfYuo1BQh33cICURfLXyL0i9yFT28a1jZOQu85f0nOLWE/s200/shame.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
This title is one of my
favorite summary quotes by a well known family expert, Jim Dobson. The picture that went through my head after seeing this post of a 'parenting' tactic was scary.
What if someone 'over me', or God himself, paraded my parenting mistakes for the public
to judge?! You know the ones, the
breaking point where you yelled ridiculous and horrible things about
"selling them to the highest bidder!". Need I ramble on, filling in the list of
'hall of shame' parenting disasters? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
heavy sense of failure we experience at those moments is already
debilitating. I am quite SURE that
public judgment and ridicule would NOT serve to 'inspire' me to better
parenting skills. It would, however, take the emotional pain OFF of the real
issue (my behavior) and waste the purpose of the pain of learning, deflecting
it onto the judge. So instead of the heartfelt reflection of my self inflicted
stupidity, I would miss the opportunity
to take responsibility by focusing on being angry at the wrong person. Isn't this exactly the opposite of our goal
as parents? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I often think that I simply
need to get out of the way and allow my teens to feel the full weight of their
decision making, whether it produces pleasurable consequences or painful ones. I believe that this more effectively prepares them for the
real world where their mommy is not going to be around to police their
actions. That is where the above quotes
comes in. Oh, if I could only GET OUT OF THE WAY more often! It takes great courage to
'allow' your child to suffer natural consequences. The public shame part of the teen girl in
question was not 'natural'. I wonder if
simply having the student post a 'good bye' message to her social media site
with the truthful reason, would have been sufficient. Her friends, and not strangers, would have
delivered plenty of gentle, 'friendly fire' to produce the 'natural' painful
consequences desired.<br />
<br />
Parenting a very
challenging teen girl, I have one survival tool that I cling to in an effort to simplify what is overwhelming for me. When my heart is full of destructive emotion, I hear Holy Spirit calming me with these words... "Preserve the Relationship." When I filter my mouth and my emotions through
this sieve, it helps me to see beyond my
nose and remember that I do not want to cut her off at the knees, or worse. Although I
may FEEL like it. Eventually, when she arrives at the end of the separation
process, I do actually want to have a relationship with my mature, adult daughter. So regardless of the seeming atrocity of the
moment, I will "Preserve the Relationship".<br />
<br />
Take courage, my fellow parents!
We can DO this. We will survive parenting in this culture. AND, our teens will survive our parenting foibles. Lord help us!</div>Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-5911574021072820052012-06-20T16:51:00.002-07:002012-06-20T16:57:13.354-07:00Enjoy the Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ishpaW9kV5KFuSDIBGq2jy1cIG3YtveTPKIHgwEEUhdzTB1RH2InuBsj8qqtzxfbi233FF7JFkw-Bj5jwCj072iwlMwhD_yNedJdjYFCM8e2LA6vu1A0KrQzHRnfGPGqGlf3_ooYnYY/s1600/road+trip+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ishpaW9kV5KFuSDIBGq2jy1cIG3YtveTPKIHgwEEUhdzTB1RH2InuBsj8qqtzxfbi233FF7JFkw-Bj5jwCj072iwlMwhD_yNedJdjYFCM8e2LA6vu1A0KrQzHRnfGPGqGlf3_ooYnYY/s1600/road+trip+1.jpg" /></a></div>
Don't you hate it when people tell you to "Enjoy the journey"? What an overused cliche. I really had a problem with this concept, as I pride myself on <em><strong>'getting there'</strong></em> faster and more efficiently than the next guy. What is the hurry? I'm not sure. I wonder if I've spent too many years in Business 101 and set one too many timely goals. While some folks may need to be nudged off the couch, I have wasted equal amounts of life striving, DOING, and rushing to the NEXT thing. I never learned how to BE. I missed alot of the present hurrying to my future. God is changing this in me. <br />
<br />
My husband and I were recently talking about the differences in our temperaments in this arena. He is an idealist and visionary. He loves to 'enjoy the journey'. We laugh about a picture someone shared with us of the two of us walking through the woods. My husband is leisurely lollygagging down the path, gazing at the sun peeking through the tree tops, fully engaged with the moment. I, however, am frantically looking for the correct path, wondering where in the world the map and compass are, and fretting about how slow we are moving!<br />
<br />
So if there is a goal or a future to be apprehended, I tend to want to take the fastest jet, or the express train, and sleep until we get there! But apparently, God is NOT in a hurry. He insists on taking the scenic route with all the 'surprise' stops along the way. He says things like; ENJOY, listen, smell, taste, feel, relax, trust, and <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><em>REST</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">He wants to take me on a fabulous<strong> ROAD TRIP</strong>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, when I DO finally get into the RV with God, I find myself trying to have control of the steering wheel, the speedometer, the map and the timing of the rest stops! What do you do with a control freak choleric personality that has the heart of an orphan, trying to DO IT ALL BY MYSELF? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You do like the picture</span> above...you lean back on the driver and toss your feet out the window and chant... "I trust you Daddy! Take me for the ride of my life!"Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-66473544153141131092012-05-20T20:15:00.001-07:002012-05-20T20:25:56.786-07:00The Eagle Who Spoke to Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf_GWMkDS2fiaSYk-HxkM5qzDAa9DsEtDx-jw9Clq3n_9UsVFnwq8cPTE3eJ1P7HZZ3zf1WNNnGhX2EjZFpBX4odgggTQahyvxmFW4z9W1iy69YYnnD_Ij5R5eodD1r8iCL-_eVVfrHkL/s1600/Our+Bald+Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf_GWMkDS2fiaSYk-HxkM5qzDAa9DsEtDx-jw9Clq3n_9UsVFnwq8cPTE3eJ1P7HZZ3zf1WNNnGhX2EjZFpBX4odgggTQahyvxmFW4z9W1iy69YYnnD_Ij5R5eodD1r8iCL-_eVVfrHkL/s320/Our+Bald+Eagle.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
He's back! We think this is the same eagle who visited last year in September. He hunts the swamp across from our house. We just sat at the end of the driveway after church and admired this glorious bird of prey gliding effortlessly on the thermals. He appeared to be having the time of his life in spite of a fierce and blustery wind. Instead of working frantically to overcome the headwinds, he RODE them like a ride at the fair! He banked right, then left, then straight up into the heavens. He would suddenly turn to 'fall' zooming directly to earth, and all at once hovered in one place...all without once flapping his wings! I felt God speaking to me in an instant. <br />
<br />
What an awesome visual answer to my prayer, <em>"Father! How in the world do I accomplish all the important 'stuff' of life without working myself to bitterness or reverting back to the task master spirit of 'driver'?"</em><br />
<br />
It's so easy to slip back into the OLD way of life, to listen to 'driver' yell in my ear... Be self-sufficient! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, woman! Buck up and do it! You have to be productive until you drop into bed to be VALUEABLE. You are what you DO. Time is fleeting, you have so much to DO! All lies designed to keep me running on the hamster wheel, missing the abundant LIFE with the false thrill of busyness and DOING.<br />
<br />
Lets just say it out loud. "The 'TO DO' list will never be DONE!" There. We said it. Painful truth for all of us who are Choleric or have believed the lie of the orphan, thinking that we are alone in this world, that no one will rescue us or help, that it is all up to us. Our Father does not want us to fret, frantically trying to do the impossible, fighting fruitlessly against the powerful winds of perfectionism and performance for identity.<br />
<br />
Mr. Timely Eagle was a reminder to listen to Holy Spirit; what is He asking me to do today. How? When? When am I done? When do I stop and rest and say "good job - you're <u>done for today'</u>. God is the author of BALANCE and true success in all the areas of this life he has given me - family, health, motherhood, business & ministries. I set a plan of action with God's discernment and then choose to be "faithful'. Mother Theresa said "I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness." One of my all time favorite mentors, also given the National "Spirit of Success" award said... "Tracy, are you being ambitious or faithful?" I choose to be FAITHFUL.Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-6040508633601195622010-10-28T09:44:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:19:26.608-07:00Parenting Drive Thru<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfpDd3m74kDO5YjJWu_Jlj4lxdXAHNRAL0jNvQjsIh2NCwso9XjXBIz8WJCXbpD-WW3qwABKeKKSHdH3NKwzLQpe2PYsdvlKUJexiYO1u_ya_SpaDMJRYDbYMmeNmNMjTlKkNcTCLCcKQ/s1600/imagescah5681v.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 106px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533143168983761554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfpDd3m74kDO5YjJWu_Jlj4lxdXAHNRAL0jNvQjsIh2NCwso9XjXBIz8WJCXbpD-WW3qwABKeKKSHdH3NKwzLQpe2PYsdvlKUJexiYO1u_ya_SpaDMJRYDbYMmeNmNMjTlKkNcTCLCcKQ/s320/imagescah5681v.jpg" /></a><br />Startled awake by a tentative teenage whisper…”Mom?”<br />This is a morning I was going to sleep in – thus the ‘tentative whisper’. “Mom, I missed the bus” followed by a litany of reasons why it wasn’t her fault again. Before I throw off the covers, I first have to throw off the parenting battle in my mind. You know the one. The ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ routine like the one in the movies where the cartoon angel sits on one shoulder and the cartoon devil sits on the other...<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Good Parent</span></strong> - “If you continue to rescue her, she’ll never learn responsibility’.<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Bad Parent</span></strong> – “You merciless woman! You want her to remember her mama as full of grace & mercy - don’t you?”<br /><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Good Parent</span></strong> – “Yes, but she isn’t learning! I only have three more short years to equip her with what she needs to make it in the world as a responsible adult!”<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Bad Parent</span></strong> – “She’ll be <em>FINE</em>. She’s only fifteen for goodness sake. Look at her eyes! Don’t make a big deal out of this now and ruin our morning of ‘peace’.”<br /><br />So before I form words or let anything leak from my lips, I throw up a cry for help… “Help me Lord! Quick – I have three seconds to open my mouth with the Wisdom of Solomon!”<br /><br />I feel like I just drove up to the fast food speaker and yelled out… ‘Quick, I want a large remedy, two juicy bits of insight, and one come back, hold the sarcasm. And… supersize that please!”<br /><br />Please tell me you are familiar with this oh-too-frequent storyline at my house. Are you wondering what kind of insty-wisdom I doled out on this particular morning? I think I blew right past the first drive through window at “HELPMEJESUS” and started in on a calm, but predicable rant of mom-isms which my daughter was expecting as the high cost for her small crime. Unfortunately, it’s a ramble for which she could have written the script.<br /><br />We failed at our effort to intercept the bus in our neck of the woods and I resigned myself to drive all the way to the high school in my pajamas and slippers. Only then did I breathe deeply in surrender and allow God to fill my mouth (and heart) with the <em><strong>real </strong></em>deal. I focused on the purpose of parenting and let go of my selfish motives. My job is to teach and prepare. I explained once again the real world consequences would ‘<strong><em>cost</em></strong>’ her something if mom wasn’t here to rescue her. What might they be? Taxi fare, having her pay docked if it were work or staying late to redeem the time, trading a neighbor babysitting for a ride… or the unthinkable, barbaric alternative… <strong><em>WALKING</em></strong>!<br /><br />So she coughed up five dollars of hard earned babysitting money for gas and agreed to scrub the kitchen floor tonight to trade me for my precious time. I even earned a fabulous ‘tip’ - a Caribou coffee card! Even MORE fabulous was that I received a full sentence thank you upon dropping at school, <strong><em>WITH</em> </strong>EYE CONTACT! My mama heart was encouraged.<br /><br />Ok, so not all my parenting moments end on such a hopeful note. Home now, I sit down to talk to God about it, enjoy another sip of the Fufu Coffee my daughter bought and sigh heavily. I look into his face again, my perfect Father, the ultimate parent. His loving eyes and knowing smile cause me to melt in humility. I am struck with one question…<br />“How do you manage to keep teaching and parenting <strong><em>ME</em></strong> all these 47 years?”<br /><br />I often imagine him turning to Jesus at times, sadly shaking his head, saying… “Tracy just doesn’t seem to be learning this lesson. She’ll need to know this for her future. We can’t move on until she ‘gets it’ and is equipped for what is ahead. Let’s give her another situation to practice.”<br /><br />Unlike me, God as my parent is not easily angered or frustrated. He does not measure his parenting competency by my behavior, failures or successes. When I ‘<em><strong>miss the </strong></em>bus’, when I am slow to learn, he doesn’t rant and rave, he doesn’t panic and fear that time will run out, or that he will deplete the stash of love or patience to stay fully engaged. He is <em><strong>so good</strong></em> at this parenting thing! He perseveres with us as his children, never failing, never giving up hope. He promises “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you and help you.” “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “I will finish the good work I started in you long ago. I will continue teaching, growing you, molding you, shaping you, until the day I come to get you”.<br /><br />He is a good Father. I want to GROW UP and be like my heavenly Daddy. Although I will always be a parent and the seasons will change, these last three or four years in our home, I will be frequenting the ‘FAST WISDOM’ Parenting Drive-thru a lot! I know where my help comes from. And I am assured of this; My children will not just ‘<em><strong>survive</strong></em>’ my raising them. They will flourish because the perfect parent is overseeing their very lives, their instruction, their preparation for the future. He will not allow my shortcomings to negate his purposes for them. He not only parents me, he is parenting my children. My portion of the parenting race he gave me to run is nearing the finish. My job is to pass the baton to him. As a track runner knows, the last runner is the Anchor. He is the best. He can make up any lost time and bring the victory for the whole team! Thank God!<br /><br /><em><strong>More to nibble on…<br /></strong></em>Deuteronomy 31:8<br />John 14:18<br />James 1:4<br />Phil 1:6Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-38221657934242210652010-10-09T13:18:00.000-07:002010-10-09T13:25:32.453-07:00Tango on the High Seas?What could be more romantic than to waltz under the starlight on the deck of a cruise ship? Or maybe dancing a late night Tango in a dimly lit nightclub is more your style. Others may think moving to the rhythms of merengue and salsa music at a beach party sounds more like them. It really doesn’t matter because it all sounds like fun doesn’t it? Well then run, don’t walk, or simply surf on over to <a href="http://www.lovelikeyoumeanitcruise.com/">http://www.lovelikeyoumeanitcruise.com/</a> and join us and an unbelievable line up of presenters and performers for a fabulous 5-day cruise for Valentine’s Day 2011.<br />FamilyLife & Premier Christian Cruises have partnered to bring you the first ever fully chartered Christian marriage cruise. The hosts for this memorable event are Dennis & Barbara Rainey. The list of other remarkable presenters and entertainers is too long to list here. Simply click on the link above to explore the possibilities!<br />The Palmer’s will be bringing their unique combination of dance instruction and marriage enrichment to the party as well. What could be more fun than holding your one and only in your arms as you learn a step or two at one of Stuart and Tracy’s enlightening and entertaining dance sessions? The Palmer’s guarantee a pain free experience that is “better than therapy and much less expensive”, according to one of their student couples!<br />You won’t want to miss this opportunity to invest in each other and <a href="http://www.lovelikeyoumeanitcruise.com/">Love Like You Mean It!</a><br />We’ll see you on the dance floor and at the beach!Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-6805633978318307062010-07-17T15:32:00.000-07:002010-07-17T16:32:10.263-07:00Thank You Notes? Really?There are few things in life that you get excited about finding in your mailbox. A hand written thank you note ranks right up there just below Publishers Clearinghouse prize money! In fact, it could be one of the most powerful 'pick me ups' available, yet less expensive than that cup of fu-fu coffee!<br /><br />When was the last time you received a hand written thank you note? Who was it from? How did it make you feel? Did you smile? Did you save it for day or two, or several?<br /><br />If one of your 'love languages' happens to be <em>Words of Affirmation</em>, then you may be like me. I have a bulletin board full of little thank you notes from a variety of people in my life. From happy clients, special friends, or my own mother, there is nothing quite like three or four sentences of sincere, specific gratitude to make you feel valuable and appreciated. Wouldn't you agree?<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Why would you be motivated to send a thank you note in your busy day?</span></strong><span style="color:#333333;"> </span><span style="color:#666666;">For just that reason... today's crazy, busy, high tech world needs the human factor to interupt the merry-go-round of schedules with a tiny hint of civility and old fashioned manners. The simple truth is, it takes so little time and effort to bring such tangible JOY to the recipient, not to mention the pleasure it will bring you to recount your gratitude.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>Ready to try it? Here are a few quick tips to help make it easy:</strong><br /></span><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Be Timely:</span></strong> The sooner you send a thank you note the better. If you wait, you may forget! Within a week is the goal.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Be Specific:</strong></span> Mention the gift and describe how you will use it. Mention the kind act and how it blessed you.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Be Brief:</span></strong> It doesn’t need to be a book. A few thoughtful and sincere sentences are enough.<br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Be Prepared:</strong></span> Create a ‘Thank You Note Box’ with small cards, a pen, stamps and address labels.<br /><br />So my question for you is this... will you take ten minutes to send one of these drug free UPPERS to someone in your life?Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-86357278494542196962009-08-24T11:16:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:19:13.012-07:00This article can save your job! Share this with anyone who likes to use social networking. <br /><br />By Rachel Zupek<br /> <br />How social media can hurt your career <br />As social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it's also becoming the latest way for people to get job offers rescinded, reprimanded at work and even fired.<br /> <br />Everyone has "my-job-sucks" moments, but it's probably best for your career not to have them online.<br /> <br />It's happened so many times -- publicized and not -- that one would think we could learn from others' mistakes. (But, if that were the case, I wouldn't have anything to write about, now would I?)<br />A recent Tweet by a potential Cisco employee, for example, turned ugly when he decided to tout a recent job offer:<br />"Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work."<br />Unfortunately for "theconnor" (the handle for the would-be employee), Tim Levad, a "channel partner advocate" for Cisco, saw the tweet and responded with this:<br />"Who is the hiring manger, I'm sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the Web."<br />Terrible tweets<br />Everyone has their "My-job-sucks," "I-hate-my-co-workers," or "Give-me-more-money" moments. But, they seem to forget that as employers increase their online presence using social networking sites as recruitment and branding strategies, it might be best for their career not to have these moments on the Internet.<br />Don't Miss<br />• Make sure your resume is in HD <br />• When you don't trust your boss <br />• Seven emerging jobs poised for growth <br />• More CareerBuilder.com stories <br />Paul Wilson, a freelance/corporate Web marketer and blogger, found several of such moments on Twitter, a social networking and micro-blogging site, and posted these "Top 10 Tweets to Get You Fired" [sic'd]:<br />1. "hate my job!! i want to tell my bosses how dumb they are and how meaningless this job is, then quit, and be happy!"<br />2. "So my job was to test all the food at the new resturant, can I just say, ughew. I'm going to taco bell then twistee treat."<br />3. "Workin... This job sucks worse then the economy!"<br />4. "I'm going to work! Walmart! Must find better job! I hate it when chicks there have a deeper voice than me and refer to me as foo!"<br />5. "Also I'm really bummed that I'm working today, i asked off so i could study but my boss is a ******* **** ***** ***** who can't read."<br />6. "Coworker smuggled out a chair for me. Currently being paid to SIT around and listen to John Barrowman on my iPod. I don't hate my job today!"<br />7. "having sex dreams of people you work with makes for an awkward day."<br />8. "smoking weed at work is so [EDITED] great :)"<br />9. "It's bad when you overhear the n00b programmer say "I used to work at McDonalds with him" and you wonder if he is talking about the CEO..."<br />10. "Huh, with my boss on twitter, maaaybe I should take down that sexy picture of her... but her reaction will be priceless!"<br />Facebook fired<br />Twitter is not the only culprit in career self-destruction. Facebook, a popular social networking site, has housed its fair share of user firings:<br />Kimberly Swann, a former employee for Ivell Marketing and Logistics of Clacton, U.K., thought her job was boring -- and she said so on her Facebook page, according to an article in The Daily Telegraph. Swann was called into her manager's office and handed a letter that cited her Facebook comments as the reason for dismissal:<br />"Following your comments made on Facebook about your job and the company we feel it is better that, as you are not happy and do not enjoy your work we end your employment with Ivell Marketing & Logistics with immediate effect."<br />An MSNBC article remembers Kevin Colvin, the legendary young intern who e-mailed his boss, claiming a "family emergency" would keep him out of the office around Halloween. His co-workers (and Facebook friends), however, saw a photo of Colvin dressed as a fairy at a Halloween party time-stamped on the same day of the "emergency." Colvin's boss responded to him with an e-mail CC'd to the entire company, firing him and including the incriminating fairy picture.<br />In March 2009, the same MSNBC article cites Dan Leone, a Philadelphia Eagles stadium employee, who was fired after slamming the football organization for trading a player in this status update:<br />"Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!![Sic]"<br />Two days later, the head of event operations said they needed to talk about his Facebook status; instead, he got the boot.<br />Social networking don'ts<br />If you want to use your profile to get hired or -- or at least not get fired -- here are three basic rules to keep in mind:<br />1. Don't announce interviews, raises or new jobs<br />As exemplified by "theconnor," how you talk about any of these sensitive topics on your social networking site is key. If you're unemployed, writing "Interview today -- wish me luck!" would be OK, or if you got a job, something along the lines of "So excited about my new job!" is totally acceptable. If you're currently employed, however, I don't think your boss would be too happy to see something like, "Trying to con my boss into giving me a $5K raise. SUCKA!"<br />2. Don't badmouth your current or previous employer<br />Just like in an interview, keep your rants about your boss or company to yourself. If hiring managers see that you're willing to trash a colleague online they assume you'll do it to them, too. Plus, there's always the possibility of getting fired if someone sees your negative comments.<br />3. Don't mention your job search if you're still employed<br />If your boss knows you're on the lookout for a new job, feel free to advertise it in your status. If you're keeping your search below the radar, however, don't publish anything, anywhere. Even if you aren't connected to your boss online, somebody can get the information back to him or her.Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-31057458211070573352009-07-16T09:45:00.000-07:002009-07-16T09:47:10.126-07:00Why Does God Delay on Purpose?I found this encouragement by Rick Warren the perfect description of the trials of my heart in the last two years...<br /><br />How God Builds Your Faith: Difficulty<br />by Rick Warren <br />"This means tremendous joy to you, I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold" (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH). <br /> <br /> <br />In order to build your faith, God will give you a dream, then He'll urge you to make a decision, but then He'll allow a delay, because in the delay He matures you and prepares you for what is to come.<br /><br />The truth is you'll have difficulties while God delays. This isn't because He doesn't care about you or that He's forgotten your circumstances; rather, it's one of the ways He pushes you toward the deep end of faith.<br /><br />As God delays, you'll face two types of difficulties: circumstances and critics. This is a natural part of life. God designed it this way because He knows we grow stronger when facing adversity and opposition.<br /><br />When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the desert toward the Promised Land, he had one problem after another. First there was no water. Then there was no food. Then there were a bunch of complainers. Then there were poisonous snakes. Moses was doing what God wanted him to do, but he still had problems.<br /><br />David was anointed king, and then for the next several years he was hunted down by Saul. Joseph had a dream of becoming a ruler, yet he was sold into slavery and thrown into prison on a false charge where he languished, forgotten. Imagine the difficulties Noah had building a floating zoo!<br /><br />The Bible says that when Moses died, Joshua was appointed the new leader. Moses led the people across the desert and then Joshua led them into the Promised Land. Did he get the easy part? The Bible says that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land there were giants in the land. Even in the Promised Land there were problems!<br /><br />God does this because He is building our faith and character. When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us: "I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold" (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH).Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173568228068592779.post-46208807358411676092009-04-27T10:09:00.000-07:002010-08-06T14:37:00.333-07:00Marriage is like a home improvement project that lasts forever!Isn’t funny how our ‘feelings’ cycle for our spouses?<br />I can say that in 18 years of marriage, the ‘in love thing’ comes back around again and again, only DEEPER! I am so visually oriented that I see and understand everything with a picture. So my picture of our marriage growth is like a small old house that we have spent 18 years restoring, remodeling, adding onto rooms, beautifying the floors and woodwork, adding a master bedroom suite, adding a sun porch… you get the picture! Year by year, we work faithfully. It seems that the ‘new projects’ are never DONE, but we enjoy each step that is completed – each new room or beautiful color to live in and appreciate.<br /><br />Sometimes the sheer WORK of it is overwhelming. Like when you look at a new project where three layers of wall paper need to be stripped and the walls re-plastered and smoothed from scratch. You sometimes want to run away from what you know will be a challenge, a choice to work ON PURPOSE for a season and “<strong><em>it won’t be pretty</em></strong>”! But the end result is so amazing!<br /><br />Of course, you have to keep going back to the designer for instructions…daily, sometimes hourly! He has the big picture of what it will look like in the future, what purposes He has for each room and the masterful, creative skill to blow you away with the outcome.<br /><br />To sum it up - every year that we INVEST only serves to make the marriage (house) more valuable! In times of flagging ‘feelings’ we say to ourselves, “We’ve got too much into this to ever leave it or give up!”Tracy E. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138686780494997314noreply@blogger.com1