Women of Significance Communique - December 2010 by Regyna Cooper

DECEMBER 2010

Women of Significance “You are Valuable Right Where You Are!”

’Tis the Season!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 Season’s Greetings 4 Holiday Sparkle

9 A Study of Girlfriends and Our Health

10 Little Lillie’s Christmas 6 C hange: The Most Powerful Thing You Do! 18 The Season of YES: A Personal Testimony s 8 Testimonies for the Year in Review

WOS on the Move . . . Reaching Out and Connecting! IN THE UNITED STATES . . .

. . . AND AROUND THE WORLD!

GA, TN, NJ, CA, VA, NC, SC, MD, OK, CA, PA, TX, NH, IN, FL, CO, AZ, WI, NY, HI

PAKISTAN • CHINA • AUSTRALIA • FIJI NEW ZEALAND • JAMAICA • GERMANY • AFRICA!

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Season’s Greetings! Dr. Cheryl Hill Visionary

Hello “Women of Significance”…what a great pleasure it is to send greetings to you, your family and friends. Oh, that they would praise Him! We have had a phenomenal time in the Lord communicating with women all over the world. What started out as a test of my hearing to make sure I heard the Lord as He instructed me to reach out to women in a simple and practical way turned out to reach ladies in 9 countries and 21 U.S. states. We did not formulate an advertising campaign but let the movement go through by word of mouth. God did the rest of the gathering of the women and here we are. We started in April and have had a phenomenal response from all of you. We are communicating with women in Pakistan, Jamaica, Africa, Germany and so many other places. Women are women no matter where you are stationed in life and all of us have many of the same common threads that affect our lives.You all are VALUABLE right where you are. We would like to take this month’s issue to thank you so very much for WHO you are, WHO you will become and WHO you will affect with your lives. This season is about JESUS, it is about family and it is about you. Everyone does not celebrate the same way. Whether you celebrate Christmas by giving gifts or not giving gifts remember that this was intended to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The dates of His birth may be inaccurate but we can agree to celebrate Him in the spirit of unity, thanksgiving and JOY with our family and friends. Remember: everyone is not at the same levels that you may be so please appreciate and spend quality time with your family and friends! We appreciate you and look forward to a more explosive and interactive season for all our Women of Significance! Graciously, — Dr.

Cheryl

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Deborah C. Phillips

Editor-in-Chief

This is the season of Joy to the World, Peace on Earth, Good Will to All Men! These are all of the “presents” that God Himself has given to the world in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ–The Greatest Gift! He knew there was no good thing in man, that sin was abounding on earth, so much so that God did not speak a word for 400 years before He sent His Word in human flesh to “speak” to man about what was on His heart! At that time there were a few people still holding on to the Word that was delivered before the “silence,” who were waiting, praying, eager and ready to hear from the Lord again! Now in 2010, sin is super abounding! The season is here but so is much chaos and confusion, in the family circle and in the world at large. But there are a few people still holding on. God has sent His Word, Jesus Christ, to give us a Word of Life, a Word of Truth, and Provide a Word of Direction for our lives. Jesus says that we, His Believers, shall do greater things than He did. If you have peace, joy and good will in your family at this time . . . GIVE THANKS!!! If there is chaos and confusion instead, show forth your light that folks may see the difference and give God praise for the peace and joy they see in you! Ladies! You ARE significant right where you are. So . . . BE AUTHENTIC, Real, Genuine, and Be the Peace in the Midst of the Storm. SHOW EXCELLENCE in the Midst of Chaos. HAVE THE AUDACITY to be the One to Stand Strong in the Midst of Compromise. BE THE CHAMPION that God has made you to show forth His Power and Glory, living a life pleasing to Him. This is the season that God is showing His Faithfulness to His Faithful. The above are the attributes we have discussed on the conference calls and in the communiqués for Women of Significance. I thank God for Women of Significance . . . for Dr. Cheryl, and her obedience to answer the call. I salute the great Women of Significance who have joined her on this quest. I pray much JOY, PEACE, and the ability to spread GOOD WILL to everyone you encounter. May you all grow even more in God, may your family and associates come to realize that the God you serve is still available and more than able to deliver them, despite what they see, that He is able to restore and bring revival to all those who love Him and are obedient to His ways!

Merry Christmas and May the New Year Find You Seeking to Please God and To Do His Will!

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Holiday Sparkle Kathleen Ellis Contributor

The holiday season is such a special time of year. Beginning with Thanksgiving right through to Valentine’s Day, I love the holidays! I love celebrating with my family and friends, I love celebrating the birth of my Savior, Jesus. I love old traditions and creating new ones and I love creating beautiful spaces for family, friends, and myself to cozy up in and enjoy! Part of that process for me is adding what I call “Holiday Sparkle.” What is Holiday Sparkle? It’s those extra special touches you can add this time of year. Things that sparkle and shine and glow! What Holiday Sparkle is not about is putting extra stress on yourself and others to create perfection. There is no such thing as the perfect tree, the perfect dress, the perfect meal, the perfect gift or the perfect family. There is only one who is perfect, God Himself. It’s also not about how much you spend, Holiday Sparkle can be achieved on any budget. Strive for excellence, not perfection!

Tips for Adding Holiday Sparkle to Your Home and Life Inner Beauty Sparkle Reduce stress by: e Focusing on the REAL reason for the season. eR e-thinking, streamlining, adjusting or eliminating what doesn’t work – are there “traditions” that cause more

stress or work than they are worth? It’s okay to let go of those things and do only that which brings joy to the season. eU tilizing convenience items – I don’t like to bake, so I tend to purchase desserts and embellish them with real

whipped cream, chocolate shavings or fresh fruit. Where can you save a few hours by utilizing convenience items? eT aking care of YOU – get your rest, eat well, exercise and do some-

thing special to pamper yourself at least once a week.You will feel like sparkling when you feel good and you will influence those around you to sparkle.

Outer Beauty Sparkle eT reat yourself to one or two sparkly items to wear such as a pair of

earrings or a necklace and a sweater or blouse with sparkly buttons. Just a few items like these can be worn with either jeans for a sparkly casual look or a basic black skirt for a sparkly dressy look. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Holiday Sparkle (continued) eP ick up a funky scarf or a glamorous faux fur neck wrap to add some sparkle to

your winter coat. eL ook for a shimmery lip balm to add sparkle, shine and moisture to dry winter

lips.

Surrounding Beauty Sparkle eA dopt a “winter” decorating mindset rather than decorating for a specific

holiday – this way you can enjoy the extra sparkle through January or even into early February, like I do! Winter can be so cold and dreary, I just love coming home and plugging in a few extra lights and enjoying the sparkle and warmth they create. eA dd sparkly beaded garlands to the chains of chandeliers or twist them around a

lamp base. e S et out small mirrors with candles on them – for extra sparkle add some ornaments and a little bit of glitter. eA dd sparkly lights inside bookshelves or china cabinets. eU se silver, gold and crystal pieces as these reflect light adding sparkle wherever they are. eT wist strands of lights into garlands and place them around mirrors, over the top of an armoire, kitchen cabinets

or along a mantle. eH ang sparkly snowflake ornaments in your windows on a mirror. e F ill a few pretty containers with glittery ornaments and set them in unexpected places like the bathroom, the

kitchen counter or the entryway. Remember that it doesn’t matter where you live, what your style is or what’s in your budget, with just a little time and creativity you can create Holiday Sparkle in your home and life! Kathleen Ellis, Lifestyle Designer, decorator, speaker, writer and TV personality, specializes in teaching you how to create a life of TOTAL BEAUTY which includes Inner Beauty, Outer Beauty and Surrounding Beauty. Kathleen believes your unique sense of style should be reflected in your life choices & mindset, your wardrobe and your home. She is an expert at motivating and inspiring you to create the Beautiful Life you dream of and to bloom into the Beautiful Woman you were created to be.

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Change: The Most Powerful Thing You Do! Rev. Marykaye Jacquet Contributor

Most of us are familiar with the story of how the ugly caterpillar that turns into a beautiful butterfly. So many are the points to ponder when looking closer, that it makes excellent material for spiritual enlightenment. Observe: The caterpillar spends its time crawling. While in his crawling stage, he has to navigate over pebbles that seem like boulders, boulders that seem like mountains and wade across leaves that seem like fords. He is forever on the dessert menu of some winged fowl, or perhaps fall victim to some pecking thing that lurks in the regions where the “already as low as they can go” reside. BUT (everybody ought to thank God for the ‘but’ clause that changes our situation from a negative to a positive) because when we observe what makes the caterpillar’s story so exciting is that the caterpillar somehow recognizes its true destiny. Somehow it knows that crawling through life; and being as low as it can go, constantly living with the threat of being swallowed up by life, may be where it starts out…but in no way is that a reflection of its end. Sometimes we just need to stop and thank God for the crawling stages of life. Because it is in these crawling stages that we realize and can say “I may not be able to move as fast as I’d like to move; but thank God that even in my crawling state, I’m getting somewhere. Notice how the caterpillar instinctively knows when the crawling phase of life is over. Notice how he begins to “attach” himself to a “higher place” where he spends time alone while waiting for the change that is about to come. There is no room for company in a cocoon! The cocoon is a place of isolation but it is also a place of transition, and transition is often birthed in isolation. When you really get ready for a change in your life, or ready to graduate to that next level we’re always talk about, you enter into a season of aloneness.You can’t take your friends, you can’t take your family members, your best buddy, your girlfriend, your honey… Nobody! Because Change Is The Most Powerful Thing YOU Do. The cocoon is the place of isolation yes, it is the place of transition yes, but it is also the place of preparation. This is a place, preparing you to navigate life on a different level, and from a different perspective. And don’t be surprised if you find that your appetite has also changes. It is in the place of isolation, transition and preparation that your crawling days come to an end. Your outlook is now an UP-look! When you get up, it is impossible for your mind to stay down.You don’t bump into the same old stuff you once used to bump into.You climb up and over the things that once use to trip you up. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Change: The Most Powerful Thing You Do!

(continued)

The cocoon is a type of incubator; which controls the temperature of the environment around you; where a brand new you is about to come forth. A new place with new hopes and dreams with new insights that cause those hopes and dreams to come alive. The cocoon is the place where change happens to such a degree that folk around you will change what they call you.You get a ‘new’ name in your ‘new’ season of growth and development that only comes when you recognize that – CHANGE is the most POWERFUL thing YOU DO! Isn’t it good to know that a change is coming!!! Excerpt “CHANGE IS THE MOST POWERFUL THING YOU DO” by Rev. Marykaye Jacquet, Associate Minister, First Baptist Church of Charleston,WV, Rev. Paul A. Dunn, Pastor. Contact information: www.revmarykaye.com

Women of Significance “You are Valuable Right Where You Are!”

Join us on the Conference Call JANUARY 4, 2011 / 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EST 1-218-862-1000 Access Code: 134122#

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

This is wonderful!!!!! . . . Please include me on your distribution list from now on. God has definitely led you in the right direction . . . Keep up the good work!

Testim o for thnies Year In e Review

— Kaye Hatcher, Alexandria, VA

I have been reading your newsletter throughout the day. I have to say I have truly enjoyed what I have read so far! The article entitled “The Audacity to Become Excellent” really put things in prospective for me. I will tell you it has been very hard facing some things and that article summed it up in a nutshell!! I also have to say that your article about “Loving the Skin You In” is something that every female on earth should read!! Keep doing a great work! Do not stop sending me the newsletter – I love it! Love Ya Bunches!

— Kathy T. Chavis, Brown Summit, NC

In the beginning of the year God promised my husband some radical things that we have been praying over and waiting to see the manifestation of. WOS has helped me stay encouraged, given me strategies to go after the promise, and has continuously confirmed what God has been speaking, given me the confidence to know that I have definitely been hearing from God. So I thank WOS for the encouragement and the guidance during this year as my husband and I move into the promise.

— Lavonya L. Jones, Atlanta, GA

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

A Study about Girlfriends and Our Health “A popular professor and head of psychiatry at Stanford University recently gave a lecture on the topic of the mind-body connection and the relationship between stress and disease. He said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman. Whereas, for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends! At first everyone laughed, but he was serious. Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically, quality “girlfriend time” helps a woman to create more serotonin (a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being). Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely. Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters, and evidently that is very good for our health. The professor said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym. There’s a tendency to think that when we are “exercising” we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged, but not true. In fact, the professor said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. So let’s toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. It’s very good for our health!! I’m sending this to all my girlfriends in the hope that we will not lose contact with each other nor take our relationship for granted. We need each other in ways we never knew.”

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas

12 Days Before Christmas It was 12 days before Christmas in a small town in Maryland where little Lillie lives. Cambridge Maryland is the town and the excitement of the Christmas season is all around. People are smiling and happy all over. The town is decorated with lights, Christmas songs are playing in the stores, on radio and television. The winter weather is just right to make way for Santa and the reindeers. Little Lillie’s third grade class is preparing for the school Christmas program. Everyone is practicing for their role in the play. Lillie’s teacher Ms. Peyton has gathered the class to walk them to their music class. Lillie, Justin and Dawn have parts in the school’s choir for the big Christmas program. Everything makes them excited because it is 12 days before Christmas. Lillie’s mother, Ms. Wiona, is home preparing the

house for Christmas. Ms. Wiona is pulling out the Christmas decorations and Christmas dishes to set the dinning room table at Little Lillie’s house. The guest room is being prepared for the Little Lillie’s Aunt to come from Baltimore. Every year Aunt Myrtle comes to stay for Christmas. Lillie’s mother has pulled the lights from the attic and Lillie’s father Mr. Roger is putting the lights on the outside of the house. The neighbors are decorating their homes too. Mr. Roger and the neighbors are always working together and sharing stories about when they were young. Each Christmas, little Lillie gets excited because the whole town gets excited for this holiday. Little Lillie’s has two older brothers and a sister living at home with her and they are excited too. Their friends come over to play games and watch television. They talk about what they want for Christmas and what they want to do for the Christmas vacation. Lillie’s mother is always cooking. Ms. Wiona is making one of Lillie’s favorite dinner’s tonight—chicken and dumplings. It is so good Lillie’s mother had to tell her to stop eating. After dinner, it’s Lillie’s turn to sweep the floor. Everyone in the house has chores to do. After the chores Lillie’s homework is checked by her father. “Charlie Brown’s Christmas is on television tonight.” (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) Lillie shouts with joy! “Come on everybody, let’s watch it,” she says. The family watches Charlie Brown’s Christmas together in the living room. All of the Christmas shows are on. Every two hours the weatherman is giving an update on where Santa is. Lillie watches Bob the weatherman everyday to know how far away Santa is from her house. “Eleven more days until Christmas,” says Lillie. “Butterflies are in my stomach and I can’t wait until Christmas Day,” she says. Ms. Wiona says “O.K. everyone, it’s time for bed.” Lillie and her brothers and sister take turns taking a bath and takes their favorite Christmas pajamas out to wear and goes to sleep for the night.

The School’s Christmas Play The School band is practicing on their instruments tonight. It is the night of the School’s Christmas Play. Lillie and her friends are giggling and excited about singing tonight. They have practiced for a long time and now tonight is the big night. All of their parents are in the school’s auditorium. Their family members are there too. The stage is decorated with bright Christmas lights and a big Christmas tree in the middle of the stage. The excitement of all the people gathering in the auditorium is buzzing around like a bumble bee. Lillie and her friends are waiting behind the curtain to come on stage. Oh my, it’s their time to come onto the stage! Lillie’s heart is pumping with excitement. She walks on stage and looks around and sees her family. Lillie’s eyes gets very big with excitement because it is time to sing the Christmas

song they have practiced for a long time. Justin is the leader of this Christmas song. He sings, “Whose got a big red cherry nose,” Lillie and the choir sings “Santa’s got a big red cherry nose,” Justin says “Who laughs this way, ho, ho, ho” the choir says “Santa laughs this way ho, ho, ho” and then they all sings “it must be Santa, it must be Santa, it must be Santa, Santa Claus.” All of the choir sing with joy and very loud all of the words of the song. After they sing their song the audience stand to their feet and clap and cheer for their choir. Lillie and her friends are jumping up and down behind the curtain with joy. They finally did it. They sang their Christmas song. The Christmas play is over and it was great. The families gather in the cafeteria. The parents brought cookies, brownies and punch for everyone to enjoy. It is getting closer and closer to Christmas day. School will close for Christmas vacation.

Going Downtown In Lillie’s small town, walking downtown was a big thing to do during Christmas. It had just snowed two days before and Lillie’s mother promised her children that she would take them downtown. All of the children gathered their money together. Each of them got a weekly allowance for doing chores around the house. They saved some of their allowance to buy Christmas gifts. Today was the big day to go downtown. After getting dressed and preparing to go downtown, each of them got their boots on because of the snow. “I LOVE putting my snow (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) suit and boots on,” said Lillie. “I simply love Christmas,” Lillie giggled. Lillie began to swirl around the room dancing in her snow suit and boots singing and laughing because she is excited about going downtown.

“Mother, if I could get a tea set for Christmas I could have tea parties with my friends all the time. Can you help me write my Christmas List,” Lillie asked. All day long Lillie thought about how she would set the table for her tea parties and who she All of the stores downtown was decorated and lights would invite. were everywhere! Ms. Wiona would always take Lil- The Snow Storm lie and her brothers and sister downtown to one of the restaurants to have breakfast during the Christ- The skies were mas season. Lillie and her brothers and sister looked getting very gray to go to this restaurant every year as a family tradi- and the smell of snow was in tion. Mr. Roger was at work. This was their special time with their mother. Ms. Wiona taught them how the air. “It’s going to snow, it’s to act when going out to restaurants. Lillie said, “Mother, can I order French toast, bacon and eggs?” going to snow,” The other children all began to say what they want- shouted Lillie. The weather stations were telling everyone to prepare ed too. People from all over the small town came out to shop for the Christmas season. The latest toys for six inches of snow. “Yes, yes, yes,” Lillie shouted again. This meant that everyone would be stuck in were in the store windows. The prettiest clothes the house and that Lillie and her brothers and sister were in the store window too. Lillie said, “if I were rich I would buy everybody whatever they wanted, could make snow men and snow castles. It meant that they would get up early and look at cartoons it’s Christmas!” Lillie’s mother said “Lillie, Christand run around the house and build tents. It meant mas is not about just buying and giving gifts. This staying in their pajamas and playing hide and seek all season is really about Jesus and His birth.” Lillie’s day. “Snow storms are the best,” said Lillie. mother said, “Kids, I don’t want you to forget the One who we celebrate. We thank God for Jesus so About 1:00 in the afternoon Lillie saw the first let’s make sure we know the reason for this season.” snow flakes. “It’s snowing, it’s snowing,” she shouted The children said “Mother, we really do know the all over the house. The snow was falling like rain. It reason, don’t worry.” Lillie’s family left the restau- was absolutely beautiful. The snow flakes looked like rant and walked and looked in almost all the stores. beautiful diamonds falling from the sky. It was warm and cozy in the Lillie’s home. In their dining room There were people selling Christmas trees downtown. The songs of Christmas were playing in every was a little coal stove that heated Lillie’s house. Lillie’s father and Lillie’s brothers had to shovel the store. While walking downtown Lillie saw something she really, really wanted. Lillie saw a “tea set.” coal and bring it in the house to keep the fire burn-

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) ing for warmth. Lillie’s mother cooked breakfast and made dinner. Lillie and her brother James went upstairs to get some sheets to put over the dining room table to make a tent. This tent was for them only. They played most of the day with their homemade tent. It was like being in their own city. After playing in the dinning room Lillie and James took the sheets and began to pull each other up and down the stairs with the sheets. They had lots of fun playing games together. They would play dress up and cowboys and Indians. Being in the house when it snows is fun. All of the family creates their own games. “ I love being with my family,” said Lillie.

The Sleigh Ride The snow was still falling. The weatherman said it would be six inches of snow which is a lot of snow! Lillie’s father said, “Who wants to go for a sleigh ride?” Of course, everyone jumped up and shouted that they wanted to go. Lillie and her brothers and sister ran up and down the stairs to get their snowsuits, boots, gloves and scarf. What an exciting time. Lillie’s father got his snow hat, scarf, boots and gloves too. Off they went through the town on their sleigh. The cold brisk wind and the fresh smell of snow made the

ride so exciting. Lillie’s father pulled them on the sleigh around town. It was beginning to get dark and everything looked so beautiful. Other fathers were pulling their children on sleighs walking and talking to each as we passed through the town. Lillie’s eyes were wide opened and her heart was jumping for joy at the excitement of her family doing things together. Every now and then Lillie and her brothers and sister would have snow ball battles and then get back on the sleigh as their father pulled them around town. It was getting late and it was time to go back home. Lillie’s mother had hot chocolate and marshmallows waiting for Lillie, her brothers and sister. They ran in the house and took off their snowsuit and boots. Lillie’s socks were a little wet so she changed into her pajamas and came back downstairs for hot chocolate and marshmallows. Lillie always liked to sing and act so she said, “let’s sing a Christmas song” and they did. All of the family sang “The First Noel.” Lillie was happy. She said “I have the best family in the world.”

Making Snow Cream Lillie’s mother had put two clean bowls outside of the kitchen window when it began to snow. Every time there is a heavy snow her mother would make “snow cream.” This was so exciting for Lillie because they got to help make snow cream. The next day after the snow storm Lillie’s mother brought in the two bowls of snow around lunch time. This was clean fresh frozen snow. Each of the children helped to make the snow cream. Dawn went to the (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) refrigerator and got the cream, James and Rusty got the sugar and Lillie got the vanilla. Their mother put both of fresh bowls of snow in one bowl. Each of the children put in their ingredients and made the best snow cream you have ever tasted. Lillie danced around the kitchen singing “I scream, you scream, we all scream, for snow cream!” and she laughed and dance most of the morning.

The Christmas Tree Christmas Day was getting closer. All of the decorations were out and put in place except for the lights for the Christmas tree. Every year Lillie’s father would get their Christmas tree a week before Christmas. Mr. Roger would get the children and they would all drive downtown to look for a Christmas tree. Most of the time the Boy Scouts organization would go to the woods and cut Christmas trees and then sell them to their customers. Lillie and her family went together to look for the tree. Her father, mother, sister and brothers were in the car. They finally got downtown to where the Christmas trees were being sold. Lillie hops out of the car and runs to the trees. The trees were as tall as Lillie’s father. “Pick this one,” said Lillie and then she said “no, no, pick

this one.” She ran from tree to tree with so much excitement. Her brother, James, said, “Lillie, calm down, the trees aren’t going anywhere.” The family looked at several trees and finally picked a tree. They paid for the tree and took it home. Everyone was buzzing around the house getting things together to decorate the tree. The smell of the pine from the tree made it more joyous. Decorating the tree was a something all of the family did together. Lillie’s mother put Christmas music on and began to bake cookies. The boys began to lay the lights down on the floor so that the lights would not tangle up. Lillie’s father went to get the ladder to stand on to swirl the lights around the Christmas tree. The boys checked the lights to make sure the lights worked. Rusty said “all the lights are working!” They passed the lights to their father and help put them on the tree. After the lights were on the tree it was time to put the star at the top of the tree. This star represented the star that led the wise men to Jesus at the time of his birth. Lillie said “please, please let me put the star at the top of the tree, please.” Lillie’s father helped her climb the ladder to put the star at the top of the tree. Lillie’s father turned on the lights. “It is a beautiful tree,” said Lillie. She climbed down the ladder and looked at the most beautiful tree she had ever seen. Lillie shouted, “let’s sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” The family began to sing and eat cookies. It is getting closer to Christmas Day.

The Christmas Parade The Christmas parade is today. The parade will start at 12 noon. Lillie and her brothers and sisters got (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) up early to do their chores and to get dressed to go to the parade. It was a Saturday and most of the town would go to the parade. The parade took place downtown.You got to see all kinds of floats and inflated cartoon characters. People sold all types of food and gifts. The marching bands played all types of Christmas songs.You saw some of your schoolmates at this downtown parade. You could hear the police and fire sirens making their way through the downtown street that the parade will come through. Everything looks so perfect. People are smiling and laughing and having a great time. The first marching band comes and everyone is clapping and cheering for the band. You see the majorettes and the bands.You see flags waving and big trombones playing. The football and cheerleading teams are there too. Underdog, the cartoon character, is there too, floating by string in the air. People are on the streets and looking out of the windows of the stores. Some people are on the second floor of the stores looking out of their window.

Finally, what Lillie waits for every year comes on the fire truck. Santa Claus comes on the fire truck and begins to throw all types of candy to those watching the parade. Lillie shouts “Santa, throw some candy here!” She shouts again, “Santa, throw some candy here.” Then the Santa on the fire truck looks at Lillie and smiles and then throws a big handful of candy her way. Lillie begins to jump up and down and forgets to pick up the candy until her brother James helps her. James says, “Lillie, every year you jump up and down and forget to pick up your candy.” Lillie is still jumping up and down waving to Santa and saying thank you. Every year Lillie says, “This is the best parade ever!”

The Night Before Christmas It is the night before Christmas. Everyone is excited. Lillie and her brothers and sister have all wrapped their gifts that they brought for their family and friends. The house is beautiful. Lillie’s mother went to the grocery store and brought food for those who might visit and as always she brought fruit, nuts and Christmas candy. Every year you will find fruits, nuts and Christmas candy on the dining room table. The family went to church to celebrate the season that is meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Pastor Paul of the church is preaching about how Jesus came as a babe because God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus. Jesus grew to be strong in God (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) and made a way for us to have everlasting life. The Pastor said, “Santa Claus is a character that brings people together but will never replace the One God sent for us to get everlasting life from.” Pastor Paul said make sure you take this time to celebrate the life with Jesus Christ. Celebrate your family and friends. Christmas movies and musicals are on the television all day long. It is snowing outside and Lillie is worried if Santa will be able to come to her house. The weatherman is giving the forecast every hour for all the children to know the weather for Santa and the reindeers. Lillie and Dawn are playing dress up upstairs in their bedroom and the boys are playing different games. Lillie’s mother is cooking turkey and ham and fixings for tomorrow’s Christmas dinner. Their family from Baltimore is coming to visit for the holidays. Aunt Myrtle will come and bring some food for the holiday. She will help Lillie’s mother bake cakes and cook for tomorrow’s dinner. Miss Anna Mae, Lillie’s neighbor stopped by to bring an apple pie because she knew that Lillie’s family was having guest for the holidays. Lillie and her brothers and sister come in Lillie’s room to discuss what they believe Santa will bring them. “All I want is my tea set. When I get my tea set I can have tea with the Queen of England” said Lillie. “How are you going to have tea with the Queen of England” said James. Lillie said “I can do anything I want because all I have to do is dream.” Dawn said

“I want makeup and dresses to dress up in.” Rusty said, “ I want a remote control car.” James said “I want army men.” They all got excited about what tomorrow will bring to them under the Christmas tree. It was getting late and it was almost time for dinner. Lillie’s father called everyone for dinner and told them to wash their hands before coming to the dinner table. Lillie’s father asked James to say a prayer before they ate dinner. After James said the prayer Lillie’s father asked everyone to take time to talk about what Christmas is really about. Each person shared about Jesus how Jesus gave His life that we could have everlasting life and how Jesus was celebrated by the wise men. Mr. Roger asked everyone what would happen if no one received gifts tomorrow. Lillie said “I would still be happy because I have the best family in the world!” Mr. Roger said, “Lillie that is right, never forget the gift of life and family because we do have a great family.” It was time to eat and to get settled for bed because tomorrow is Christmas Day.

Christmas Day It was 6:30 in the morning. Lillie jumps out of bed and begins to shout “it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas.” She jumps up and down on Dawn’s bed! She runs into James and Rusty’s room and shouts “get up, get up, it’s Christmas.” Lillie runs back in her bedroom and jumps up and down on Dawn’s bed and says “please get up and let’s go to see if Santa brought us anything.” Lillie runs to get her robe and runs to the steps and slides down the staircase with great joy! “He came, He came,” Lillie said. “ I knew he (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

Little Lillie’s Christmas (continued) heard me, I knew it,” Lillie said. Around the tree looked like a little store full of gifts for the family. James got his army men, skates, clothes and a bike. Rusty got his remote car, a coat, shoes some video games. Dawn got clothes, shoes, makeup to play with, a doll, board games and a bracelet. Now, Lillie got to her first gift which was 3 feet tall. She tore the gift wrapping paper off of if and saw that it was a tall talking doll. Lillie danced around the room and rolled on the floor and shouted “I will name her Cathy.” She ran to her next gift and found a box of clothes with skirts and tights. She kept dancing and laughing as she opened her gifts. She opened another package and it was another doll. “Wow, I have more than three dolls for Christmas,” said Lillie. Lillie went to her last package and it was what she saw when they went down town. It was her tea set. Lillie stopped and looked at the tea set and said “now I can invite the Queen of England to my tea party.” Her brothers and sister laughed and they had fun the rest of the day.

sure will Lillie, I will find someone right away.” Lillie went under the Christmas tree and took the two dolls and put them by their front door. Lillie asked her mother if there was any more gift wrapping paper to wrap the gifts. Together, Lillie and her mother wrapped the gifts for someone for Christmas Day.

At the end of the day Lillie went to her father and said “Father, I have more than three dolls. I remembered what you said last night about if we did not get any gifts what would happen.” She continued,“Can you find someone who was not able to get gifts to give two of my dolls to?” Lillie’s father reached out to give Lillie a great big hug and said “I

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Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

The Season of YES: A Personal Testimony Minister Bettye M. Walker Contributor

During the early part of December 2010, I had the rare opportunity of entertaining two extraordinary women of God in my home for dinner. As we sat around the kitchen table sharing a wonderful meal and personal testimonies of our struggles, successes and failures in ministry and as women, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in our midst. When the occasion arose for me to share my own testimony, I found myself openly confessing that it had been thirteen or fourteen years since my official ordination into the pastoral ministry, but in that course of time I had refused to accept it and rarely even spoke of it; and how it had only been recently that I finally came to terms with it and said “yes” to the Lord’s will. Without skipping a beat, the Holy Spirit chimed in and said, “Yes, it has been well over fourteen years since you first said ‘no’ to Me; and for every year you refused to say ‘yes,’ I have withheld the abundance of My blessings from your life.” In wide-eyed amazement, I blurted out, “Oh my God!” My two sisters, who appeared visibly unshaken by the whole incident, sat quietly smiling at me as if in full agreement with all that had been spoken in private. As for me, I was completely mortified—mortified that I had fallen short of God’s glory; mortified that it had taken fourteen years for me to learn the lesson; and doubly mortified that every delayed prayer and blessing had been withheld by God, all because I said ‘no’ to something He wanted me to say ‘yes’ to.

Just before I gave in to feelings of despair, the Holy Spirit reminded me of all the reasons I had survived the experience in the first place: Instead of being punishment for every soul and life that might have been affected as a result of my disobedience, the blood of Jesus Christ had sufficiently covered me through all my shortcomings, failures and doubts. Instead of suffering the consequences of what could have proven fatal for both me and my destiny, the grace of God had kept me and afforded me another opportunity to get things right. And instead of succumbing to a life of defeat, I overcame by the powerful word of my testimony! In that single moment of deliverance and acceptance, I came into a real understanding of Philippians 3:13-14: “… I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Beyond all my hopes, fears and sporadic stops and starts in life and as a woman, there is a place of total surrender and submission where I am allowed to have my being according to the fullness and purpose of God. I call that place my SEASON OF YES. Bettye M.Walker is President and Founder of the Brothers and Sisters In Christ Project (the “B.A.S.I.C. Project”), aVirginia based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. She is also a member of First Baptist Church of Manassas in Manassas,Virginia.

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Women of Significance / DECEMBER 2010

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