Sophie Woman's Magazine - July 2016 Issue

VOLUME 12 - ISSUE 5 / JULY 2016

Woman’s Magazine

INSIDE: Girlfriends In God ~

Are you nervous yet? | Page 10

Sophisticated Women ~ What are you thinking? | Page 8 Me,Myself & Inc. ~ Do your goals need a tune-up? | Page 14

INSPIRATION ~ EDUCATION ~ MOTIVATION

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Heart

from the

From The Editor: Judy Smith

By now, the word has spread that I am “considering” selling Sophie Woman’s Magazine so I want to share my heart about that.

The reason I say “considering” is this. My passion for the message of this magazine has not waned one tiny bit. In fact, every single month, I just cannot wait for you to get it so your heart can be touched by the articles as much as mine. They inspire me each month. I laugh and cry and I share them whenever I am talking with others.

Since I have been doing Sophie Woman’s Magazine, I had hoped that I would have a family member who would want to keep it going. Much to my sadness that has not happened. Most of you know that my husband and I have not had the best couple of years health wise. Now, we are not dying...well, I should not say that because none of us are promised tomorrow. In fact, every breath is up to God but we know we also have some things we want to do before we die and we are not getting any younger.

However, I want Sophie Woman’s Magazine to live on....forever and ever. That means I want the RIGHT person to want to buy it. It is a step-into business with a very loyal readership who love it. Yet, I do not want anyone to think Sophie Woman’s Magazine is just going to stop. I am committed to it and to God, because it really belongs to Him anyway.

So here is how you can help me. First, pray for guidance for smart decisions. Pray that I get a salesperson or two that could help with the sales. Then, if God puts someone on your heart that you think would be perfect for this, let them know. Maybe you are the right person. Contact me by email: judy@sophiewomansmagazine.com

I know the first question most people want to ask is how much does it cost. Well, you may be suprised. It is not about the money....it is about the message continuing and that is truly from my heart.

So what is the message of Sophie Woman’s Magazine?

Someone just asked me that very question this morning and here is the answer.

How could we ask for more than that? If God tells us He wants the best for us how could we not want that for ourselves? Yet some of it is up to us. The choices I make today have consequences tomorrow and the same is true for you. You might not want to admit that but it is so very true. What are we doing this very moment....this very moment? Really think about that. Would God be pleased?

Every article will not motivate you or inspire you but when they do, then you understand the message of the magazine.

Maybe you, like me, have let Him down so many times but I am so thankful He is the God of second chances, and third, and fourth.....

Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace.

www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 3

S

phie Woman’s Magazine

P.O. Box 1393 22 South Main Ave. Newton, NC 28658 (P) 828-466-0122 (F) 828-466-0124 Editor: Judy Smith Production & Design Manager: Scott Hansley Sales: Judy Smith 828-466-0122 judy@sophiewomansmagazine.com How to place an ad: Call our office at (828)466-0122 and leave a message. One of our sales representatives will return your call as soon as possible. You may also fax material to (828)466-0124.

We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad we deem to be controversial or in bad taste.

A Special Thanks To All Of Our Distributors Please be sure to visit all of our participating advertisers and remember to support area local small businesses.

For more information about advertising or to view Sophie Woman’s Magazine online, visit our website at www.sophiewomansmagazine.com.

************************************************ Disclaimer: Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC is published monthly.

The articles published in Sophie do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All articles are intended for informational purposes only, and none should serve as a substitute for doctor’s advice and orders. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content and validity of information published within their ads and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Deceptive or misleading advertising is not knowingly accepted by the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that all liability for copyright violations is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the sole property of the advertiser.

Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC’s publishers, staff, and other persons involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the magazine (in whatever format) or its content, do not assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in the magazine, nor shall they be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of the use of the magazine. *************************************************

pg 4 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Message from the Heart

3

Reaching Your Full Potential

6

Sophisticated Women

8

Girlfriends in God

10

The Front Porch

12

Me, Myself, & Inc.

14

The Liberty Bell that Still Rings

16

Recipe for Life

18

Mama Betty’s Table

20

A Note to Newlyweds

22

He Said, She Said

24

Did You Know?

26

Our Country: Red, White, & Blue

28

Tips for Grilling the Perfect Burger

30

Follow Us On Facebook @ Sophie Woman’s Magazine

Shutterbuggerz Submitted by Sarah Riley Photography

Submitted by Julie Rickard

Submitted by Jessica Fortenberry Photography

www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 5

REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL: The Difference It Makes To Give Your Best

by Kim Fletcher, Life Coach, Speaker, Author

“Being in power is like being a lady, if you have to tell someone you are, you aren’t.”

- Margaret Thatcher

This quote from Margaret Thatcher might seem like an odd place to begin this article, but it touches powerfully on a point I hope to convey.

Let me begin by sharing a recent personal story during which I found myself feeling quite like a lady. A while back, I reconnected with a precious young couple that I had once known as students at the college where I used to teach. They have since married and are parenting two amazing kids, a teenage daughter and a seven year old boy. Both of their children have found a place of importance in my heart of hearts.

A few weeks back, they invited me to join them for an actionpacked 3D movie. We arrived early to secure the best seats. I sat happily between their two children. As we settled in for the movie adventure, their dad decided we needed snacks.

As he returned with popcorn, candy and drinks for us to share, my young seven year old movie companion leaned over toward me and quietly asked, “Have you ever noticed how the golden colored pieces of pop corn taste the best?” He had discovered that the ones with the most color tasted the best.

Well, his revelation didn’t really surprise me but what he did next took me totally by surprise. With that look of a kid who just opened the perfect birthday gift, as he held tightly to a singular golden piece of perfectly popped corn, he lovingly handed me one to try.

It hit my heart like a flaming arrow of love. He had just handpicked and given up a prized and rare piece of pop corn that he labeled as the best in the bag. I saw the sacrifice written on his young face and I saw the love in his eyes. His simple act of kindness and sacrifice almost brought me to tears.

As I quietly contemplated the love that this young boy is already learning to walk in, the movie previews began to play.

As the scenes rolled by, I found myself daydreaming of what this young boy will be like as a young man as he continues to exercise that beautiful, giving heart that considers others above himself.

Then a tap on my arm broke my daydreaming. As I looked his way, he was holding out another golden piece of pop corn for me to enjoy. He repeated this over and over every time he would find more gold in his bag of corn.

pg 6 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

His love, generosity, and sharing were turning a simple trip to the movie into one of my favorite life memories.

I have recalled those hours many times since that day. I have even gone so far as to wish I could capture the qualities that this young boy demonstrated that day so I could pass those leadership examples on to my clients and friends.

Many people desire to lead and influence, but most don’t know how. Many use power and manipulation to move those around them into action. Many control and micromanage those they claim to care the most about. But just as Margaret Thatcher mused, the quiet leader is often the most powerful person in the room.

I wonder what would happen in your home, your office and your own heart if you decided today to follow the lead of this beautiful young boy? Simply choose to take what you have and share your best with no expectation of any return.

One of the reasons that God taught that “it is better to give than to receive” is an important lesson to grasp. Giving ignites multiplication. What you give comes back to you in the most amazing ways. Try giving this week with no strings attached and watch your joy become magnified beyond your wildest imagination.

Kim Fletcher learned a few years ago that a “FLETCHER” is an arrow maker.

This is fitting as she launches clients toward their true IDENTITY and DESTINY. As a coach and leader of global impact, Kim seeks less to make a difference as she shares principles of true and lasting transformation with individuals and groups internationally. Contact her directly to purchase a signed copy of The Tension Point or to discuss a coaching proposal by emailing her at: kimfletchercoach@aol.com

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 7

S

ophisticated

Squeeze the Day!

A

s your virtual coach, I offer you this powerful question: What are you thinking?

This is a very good question. The more powerful question is: How are you thinking?

By Nicole Greer, PPCC Founder and Principle Coach at Vibrant Coaching

When bad things happen, you choose to have a bad day.

While it is true that bad things happen to good people, it is also true that when life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade.

Making lemonade is a vibrant mental model.

Our thinking, our quality of thinking, creates our world. Just think about it. What runs through your mind runs your world.

In the present moment, as you read this, you have habitual ways of thinking. These ways of thinking are what I will call “mental models.” They provide direction and shape our outcomes. If you have positive, uplifting, and appreciative mental models, the information in your environment will be processed in a vibrant way giving you life energy and verve. If you have negative, depressing, and neglectful mental models, the information in your environment will be processed apathetically giving way to depression, angst, guilt, and regret.

The mental models that you use on a daily basis are either conscious or unconscious. You adopt your mental models from your environment. Mental models are contagious. Mental models can serve you or slay you.

Think about this.

You may be harboring biases.

You may have a blind spot.

You may be stuck in a brain booby trap!

The phrase ‘booby trap’ is derived from the Spanish word bobo that translates to daft, naive, simple, clown, or one who is easily cheated.

The word itself sounds silly...ridiculous.

Similarly, it is silly...ridiculous...daft...naive...simple...to not challenge our own thinking. When we fail to do consciously choose mental models as self-assessment (the first essential in the S.H.I.N.E. Coaching Methodology), we end up looking like a clown cheating ourselves out of our most vibrant life.

The good news is mental models can be chosen.

A person living a vibrant life practices meta-cognition. This is habit work. Habit work is the second essential in the S.H.I.N.E. Coaching Methodology. This is an awareness and understanding of one’s own thought process. Reading this, you’ll experience this phenomenon. Consider this brain booby trap that blocks your success.

pg 8 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Women...

The mental model for making lemonade is simple.

• •

• •

Step One: You look at the ingredients you have been given.

Step Two: You assess the ingredients in your situation. While lemons are sour, they contain a brightness, an acidity that wakes up your mouth and demands your attention. Immediately, you want to squelch the sour taste.

Step Three: You think add something sweet and something to make the taste of the lemons easier to swallow. Add some sugar!

Step Four: Mix together lemons, sugar, and water. Voila! You have lemonade.

So it is with life. Sour events will wake you up and demand your attention. Instead of being trapped, simply follow the recipe.

A Recipe for Success Squelch the sour taste! Take stock of your environment. Assess the ingredients in your situation. Look for what is positive. Discern the attributes in your situation that you can transform.

Add something sweet! Add a positive strategy to counter and correct the negative situation.

Add something fluid that makes the situation easier to swallow. Develop a system to create movement in a better direction.

Are you walking around with a sour taste in their mouth?

Add this sweet mental model and make lemonade.

I challenge you to squeeze the day!

Want to hear more?

Check out my Vibrant Coaching Podcast at www.blogtalkradio.com/ the-vibrant-coach. Listen to the Episode “Booby Traps that Block Your Success.”

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 9

Can I Get A Witness?

by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38, ESV)

Friend to Friend

Growing up we played silly games. Fun games that connected strands of strangers and tethered them to a specific time and place with a memory.

One of those was the cookie jar game.

It’s probably more of a chanty thing. You remember.

Crowd: “Amy stole the cookie from the cookie jar!”

Amy: “Who me?”

Crowd: “Yeah, you!”

Amy: “Couldn’t be!”

Crowd: “Then who?”

Amy: “Elise!”

Crowd : “Elise stole the cookie from the cookie jar!” … and the game went on to never really gather the cookies that were stolen. Who thinks these things up? Why can’t we just pass around the cookies and eat them with milk instead? I hear your “Amen.”

Sometimes I think that those of us who are Jesus lovers play the cookie game with the Great Commission.

Jesus Lovers: “Susan, tell the world that the Lord is good!”

Susan: “Who me?”

Jesus Lovers: “Yeah, you!”

Susan: “Couldn’t be!”

Jesus Lovers: “Then who?”

Susan points to another Christian who she thinks has less kinks in her armor. “Tara!”

And the game goes on, but the directive to be a witness for Jesus Christ does not. It is sharply cut off and redirected at the “Who me?”

I play games and pass up opportunities to influence others toward Christ all the time. I bow out from repping Him to the world… or to that friend, volleyball mom, neighbor, family member, or co-worker who is in desperate need of His grace. Why? Because I like my comfort. It’s fluffy and I’m shallow like that far too often.

It’s not such a silly game when eternal matters are on the line, is it?

It’s a sad game.

One that I need to stop playing.

One that we all need to stop playing.

I can almost hear you whispering to me in hushed tones. I am all about Jesus, Gwen. Love that guy! I totally dig His grace, love, forgiveness, and peace. Oh… and His comfort! Love His comfort. Love the epic laydown-your-life and rise-again Easter thing. BUT don’t ask me to go talking about Him or anything. I just can’t. My life is complicated. I don’t know enough about the Bible. My marriage is on the fritz, I’m unemployed, and my kids are total prodigals, I can’t possibly be used by

pg 10 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

God to do holy stuff.

If we are being honest, I think all of us would agree that faith in Christ would be a whole lot more comfortable without that scary witnessing thing. Am I right?

It is essential that we be motivated beyond us. And this does not mean you need to start handing out Bible tracks on street corners or leaving them with a tip at the next restaurant you go to like your uncle Bob does.

It means that we need to want what Jesus wants. To do what Jesus did.

Jesus was all about doing the will of the Father. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38, ESV)

Beyond that, for you and me to do the will of the Father we need to want to do the stuff that Jesus wants us to do. See? It’s one of those pesky heart-matter items.

And He told His followers what He wants us to do just prior to His ascension. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, emphasis mine) Replace the word you in that last sentence with your name. ____________will be His witness. ____________will be given opportunities to influence others toward Jesus.

Nervous yet?

Don’t be. The call to be a witness might seem intimidating, but remember, those words rolled directly off the loving lips of Jesus and He would never ask you to do anything that He wasn’t going to help you with! Besides, He doesn’t really have any glowing candidates of perfection to call up. We are all just fumbling fools who fall more frequently than we’d like to admit.

You are qualified because of your Messiah, not because of your mess. {Tweet this!} “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, You are good. It is my greatest joy to worship You. Please help my worship to spill over in all areas of life. Give me courage to do what You have created me to do. Empower me to help others see You and to point them in Your direction so those around me can find the hope they are desperate for. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Have you ever played the cookie jar game with the great commission?

What is one thing you can do today to be a witness for Jesus? Visit my blog and tell me your one thing. {I love to hear from you!} Go here>> http://www.gwensmith.net/can-i-get-a-witness/

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 11

Front The

Porch

S

o many times I wish I could just sit on the porch with my cousins like we did when we were young. Times and things have changed and we have moved on to more complicated lives. We now live in various parts of the state and we are at different points in our lives.

There was a time when the gang would gather at our house on Sunday afternoon. Now I tell everyone it was because I was such a great cousin and we always had adventures to get to. The reality....it was the food.

My mother and my Aunt Nancy would get together and roll out a feast.

At least to us it really did seem like a feast. Others might not think so because of the simplicity of the food. I can still taste it just thinking about it.

The main menu consisted of fried chicken of course. Who knew we were so advanced in our raising of chickens. Now they call them Free Range but to us, they just ran around the yard and ate the feed until my mom wanted a couple for dinner. Her skill level at catching those chickens and "ringing their necks" was unmatched in our whole state... heck probably the whole south. That is a memory that will never vanish from my mind.

Then came the side dishes. Peeling a pile of potatoes propelled (try to say that three times really fast).....Okay, let's forget the tongue twister!

Peeling a pile of potatoes propelled my Aunt Nancy to the status of fastest knife in the west, ummm, I mean South. It took A WHOLE LOT of potatoes for our crowd. Then they were boiled to perfection, mashed and seasoned with real butter and milk straight from the cow. Some of you are probably gasping right now but you have to remember, Betsy was not fed hormones back then. Betsy, of course, being the cow.

In my opinion there is nothing like "real mashed potatoes". Not everyone agrees. In fact, my own kids don't agree. It is somewhat understanding, since I make the best mashed potatoes from a box that a person could ever imagine. Still... they are not the same. You need some lumps. I have on several occasions made the real ones and everyone complained. Go figure.

Pintos were a staple at our house and especially on Sunday. Mom would soak those beans Saturday night. Mom said it was to make them cook faster. My dad said it was to take the farts out, however, he proved that was false. That morning she would put them in a giant pot, add a slab of fatback and cook those babies to perfection.

There were other sides but they would vary from time to time. Then there was the "made from scratch" biscuits that my mom could whoop out in no time flat. Yummy!!!

Add the sweet ice tea and it was a meal made in heaven. There was always dessert but that depended on the time of year, although fresh coconut cake was a regular.

pg 12 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

by Judy Smith

We can't back up to those days. We grow up, some move away, we raise our own families and sometimes we lose touch. So some of us cousins decided to do something about it.

We planned a get together and of course it had to revolve around food.

I am going to be honest. I don't cook and most definitely not like my mother. Plus (I might be wrong) but I don't think any of my cousins can either. So we did the next best thing....we met at J & S Cafeteria. No, the food did not even come close but the good times sure did.

I hope our waitress Judy was pleased with our tip because we sure run her socks off. She kept us in drinks and just laughed at our antics. She even took pictures for us which was not an easy task since my cousin Darlene had to approve all of them.

The only thing wrong was....why did we wait so long? We pretty much summed up the meaning of a dysfunctional family but on this reunion we put the "fun" in dysfunctional.

Of course I want to leave you with this joke about families.

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't."

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve...we got Forbidden Fruit!"

"No way!"

"Yes WAY!" "Don't eat that fruit!" said God. "Why?" "Because I'm your Father and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants. A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.

"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" God asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?"

"I dunno," Eve answered.

"She started it!" Adam said.

"Did Not!" "DID so!"

"DID NOT!!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance in this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

Thank you Lord for families.

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 13

Do your goals need a tune up?

Each month in my CEO advisory group, we share how we are doing on each of our top four goals that we professed at the beginning of the year. We are only allowed to rate our progress as green or red. Somewhere in between, or yellow as a rating, is not allowed. The reason for this is simple. Either we are making some level of progress or not. Period. As we went around the room, one of our members stated that a goal of hers would be red for the remainder of the year. This wasn’t because she hadn’t tried or made it a priority, it was because as with many things in life, circumstances changed that in turn changed the priority and relevance of that particular goal. This was not a failure to achieve, but an astuteness to recognize what was out of one’s control and then redirect energy and focus. A great “aha” occurred from this situation in that because of what she learned and experienced while attempting this goal, she realized a greater opportunity and desire that has now replaced this goal.

As we near the mid-point of the year, June and July are great times to take stock in our goals. What are your “Me” goals that impact others in your life? What are your “Myself” goals that are for and focused on you as an individual? What are your “Inc” goals focused on your career and livelihood? How are you doing with these goals, and most important, are there certain goals that are no longer serving you, inspiring you or that need to be shifted or modified to better serve you now?

Caught in Work/Life Balance Mentality: If you believe you just cannot get to achieving a particular goal because either work or your life is getting in the way, you are stuck in a work/life balance mentality. Before you toss a goal aside, consider the following: •

•

Instead of focusing the nature of your goals around your work and your life, focus them on the three aspects of you and how you want to be and feel fulfilled in your life as a whole. By shifting the focus to being more internalized and in tune with you, you will make a remarkable shift that will ultimately result in achievement unlike any you have realized before.

Random Desires or Goals Focused on an Ultimate Outcome: Another challenge that can sabotage goals from being realized is having numerous goals that have nothing that links them together, either in our minds or our lives. They are random desires with no connections that would strengthen them and enable you to build one upon the other. As you review your goals, see how they can connect together to feel more like a whole versus compartmentalized parts: • •

What will you ultimately realize in achieving these goals?

How will your life as a whole be better, more satisfying, more gratifying, more enjoyed upon achieving these goals?

Being able to see and act based on how your goals can work together instead of against one another will put you on the threshold of a whole new way of approaching your life. This begins with understanding why you have each goal to begin with and what achieving the goal will ultimately mean for you and those you care about. If you don’t have compelling reasons that nurture and bring out the very best in you, then perhaps this goal isn’t one to pursue after all.

Is the goal itself focused on trying to create some sort of balance within your external world or is it more focused on synergizing and bringing out the very best in and for you?

Are you viewing your personal and career goals separately, which causes them to be pitted against one another or together where you can identify synchronicities that can help you achieve both?

pg 14 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Bio: Sherré DeMao inspires people around the globe through her monthly columns, weekly Insight eZine and national contributing writing. Her books, Me, Myself & Inc. (www.memyselfandinc.com) and 50 Marketing Secrets (www.50marketingsecrets.com) have received national acclaim as Top Business Shelf picks and must-reads.

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 15

The

Liberty Bell

That Still Rings

by Mary Felkins

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 The Liberty Bell. It’s a venerated national icon that was originally cast in London in 1752. As the city of Philadelphia expanded, Isaac Norris, speaker of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, saw the need for “a good Bell of about two thousands pound weight” that could be heard a greater distance. It was to be placed in the bell tower of the State House.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Hear it? It’s the one in my heart. It proclaims liberty throughout the landscape of my soul, resonating into the deeps of my spirit, the Inhabitant, thereof, being God Himself.

It rings to proclaim freedom. Why? Because I am free. Yes, free indeed.

In fact, Apostle Paul says that everything is permissible (I Corinth 6:12a).

‘So, there,’ I resolutely proclaim with one hand on another brownie at the Independence Day picnic while happily ringing my spiritual liberty bell with the other.

But hold up a minute. Not everything that my freedom permits is, indeed, beneficial.

Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial.

I Corinth. 6:12a I’ve discovered that my freedom in Christ frees me to…

-forgive -self-sacrifice -walk humbly -serve cheerfully -choose gratitude -love unconditionally -contribute time to the lonely -shed grace on one who’s oppressive -destroy my itemized record of wrongs -release resentment, hurling it far into the sea -get rid of the hatchet that cleaves me from civility -refrain from over-indulgence (those brownies, right?)

The bell summoned citizens to public meetings, to hear important announcements.

So, when I refuse to surrender my rights, when I allow myself to be mastered by those permissibles, when I indulge in a people-pleasing over-doing or apathetic under-doing, my liberty bell hangs in silence… doing no one any good.

In 1761, St Paul’s Church was permitted to assemble in the State House while their church was being constructed.

Obedience allows me to enjoy my freedoms without becoming enslaved to them.

They rang the bell to summon members to worship.

Its most resonant tolling was thought to be on July 8, 1776, with the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Even then it was just a big ole’ bell with a height of three feet and made of copper, tin and various other metals that contributed to a weight of over two thousand pounds. It was given the name Liberty Bell in 1837 following an edition of Liberty published by abolitionists of the New York Anti-Slavery Society. They rather liked the Biblical reference engraved along the bell’s side. “…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants."

Leviticus 25:10a When the British advanced toward Philadelphia in the fall of 1777, wagoneers transported the bell safely to the Zion German Reformed Church in Northampton Town – now Allentown – where it was hidden beneath church floor boards until British defeat in 1781.

The Liberty Bell found its refuge in God’s house.

In her book about the Independence National Historical Park, Professor Constance Greiff wrote of the iconic bell: “It is irreparably damaged.…it is fragile and imperfect…but it has weathered threats, and it has endured.”

Though the bell remains silent today, there’s another that still rings.

pg 16 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Everything is permissible for me – But I will not be mastered by anything.

I Corinthians 6:12b But do not use your freedom to INDULGE the sinful nature: Rather SERVE one another in love. Galatians 5:13 History reports that some fussed with the Assembly about the steeple bell’s frequent ringing, stating that they were “incommoded and distressed”. In like manner, the Devil should complain that I ring my spiritual bell too frequently. Its ringing should, in fact, summon others to worship God just as the real Liberty Bell had once done. And, by jove, it should be kept protected from potential red-coated threats.

So, with a resonant Ding! Ding! Ding! my liberty bell rings freedom, proclaiming that I’m unequivocally free to obey, to serve others in love, even free to indulge in a brownie or two.

Without being mastered by any of it.

Mary Albers Felkins is a former Registered and Licensed Dietitian turned writer. Her first novel, a contemporary Christian romance, is currently under contract with Prism Book Group (www.prismbookgroup.com). She considers scripture the most alluring romance ever written.

Married to Bruce Felkins, together they have four (adolescent to young adult-sized) arrows in their quiver. She can be bribed to take a break from writing if chocolate is involved in the negotiation process.

For stories that stir the soul, Mary cordially invites you to her website, www.maryfelkins.com

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Recipes for ife

L

by Emily Wickham

Food for the Body Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Adapted from an online recipe at http://bit.ly/lt2FVeY 4 Tbsp. butter 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cup chopped onion ½ cup chopped celery 3 large garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup half-and-half 3 cups 2% milk 32 oz. chicken broth ½ tsp. dried oregano ½ tsp. dried parsley flakes ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg 1 cup grated carrots ½ tsp. salt 1 cup frozen spinach 1 cup cooked, chopped chicken 8 oz. ready-to-use gnocchi 1.

Melt the butter and olive oil in a 5 qt. pot over low-medium heat.

Add the onion, celery, and garlic, cooking and stirring until onion softens and appears translucent.

2.

Stir in the flour and cook for one minute. Using a wire whisk, stir in the half-and-half and milk and bring to a simmer.

3.

Add the chicken broth and remaining ingredients. Bring soup to a boil, and then reduce heat, simmering for approximately 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

A Prayer for God’s Blessing Loving Father in heaven, You are awesome in character and deed—more magnificent than I can comprehend. I confess my comfort with who You are as opposed to possessing a daily sense of wonder. Thank You for perfectly revealing Yourself through Jesus, Your Son, and please enhance my knowledge of Your greatness.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Food for the Soul I know. A soup recipe in July? Crazy as it sounds, I hope you’ll try it this month. With all the wacky weather we encounter these days, perhaps one evening will feel perfect for a steaming bowl of soup. Then again, maybe not. Yet I still encourage you to do something out of the ordinary. You might love this soup like I do!

The idea of the unexpected makes me think about Jesus’ life on earth over 2,000 years ago. Surely the Jewish scholars and religious leaders studied the prophecies in regard to their promised Messiah—they knew the Scriptures extremely well. Sadly, however, they rejected the Person and nature of God in the flesh.

Jesus didn’t match their expectations.

“Mostly, the Jews then and now have looked forward to a political Savior, a King, who would reign over Israel forever.”1 While Jesus will reign on earth one day soon, He first came to die on the cross for our sins that we might be saved. Yet most of the religious leaders and many other Jews of Jesus’ day didn’t grasp this truth because they were blinded by their own expectations. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11, Nasb). They saw Jesus with their eyes … but not with their hearts.

Jesus referred to the Pharisees and scribes as hypocrites, “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME” (Matt. 15:8). They didn’t recognize their need for a Savior and thought their “righteousness” would satisfy God. They relied on themselves. Jesus witnessed their self-righteousness and pride as they strutted around in impressive robes, but He was far from impressed. He knew exactly what rested beneath the surface of their good works and flattering lips: a desire to satisfy self.

Friend, we can fall into the same mindset and conduct. Whether nonChristians reject Christ because He doesn’t match their expectations, or Christians seek their own desires and rely on themselves, we desperately need Jesus.

Let’s turn to Christ.

In a most glorious way, Jesus was the unexpected. He healed the sick, loved the unlovable, served instead of being served, and so on. He exceeds all we understand about Him, and He changes us dramatically.

Let’s never forget. No one has or ever will compare to Him. “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation … And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together … For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him.” Colossians 1:15, 17, & 19

Love to you in Christ, and until next time, that’s a Recipe for Life…

Emily Wickham gently reaches women’s hearts as she teaches God’s Word. Through various writing endeavors, she encourages readers into close relationship with God. Additionally she hosts and speaks at the Connecting with Christ Conference.

Visit www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com to read Emily’s blog.

Connect with her via social media: www.facebook.com/emilywickham.author www.twitter.com/emilywickhamPH Emily, grateful to God for His blessings, enjoys life with her loving husband and children in western NC.

pg 18 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Shutterbuggerz Submitted by Ceragioli Photography

Submitted by Ashely Hodges

Submitted by Kathy Campbell Beal

Submitted by Jerrica Miller

www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 19

Betty’s Mama

M

Table

by Debbie Roberson

ama Betty was my paternal grandmother. A true one by one into rich bubbling chicken broth swimming with Proverbs 31 Woman, she taught me about kindness, tender chunks of chicken. integrity, hard work, love of family, and love of God. I am so thankful for the wonderful memories I have of her.

Hot cheese biscuits are coming out of the oven and the last few pieces of lace corn bread are being lifted out of the frying pan.

Follow me back in time to the Old House - the home place where my Daddy and Uncle Bill were born. The kitchen and the A bowl of sliced peaches sits on the buffet at the far end of the living area of the house are separated by a breezeway, with a long kitchen. We’ll eat them for dessert with a slice of pound cake and wooden porch running across the entire front of the house. At vanilla ice cream. the kitchen end of the porch is a farmhouse porcelain sink set in a wooden cabinet. A short clothesline is strung between two of the Mama Betty pours the sweet tea. We don’t mind the tea stains porch posts by the sink, and a towel is hung there for hand drying that have become permanently etched onto her big Tupperware after washing up from a hard day in the field. pitcher.

It’s a humid eastern North Carolina summer Sunday, and I am nine years old again. Barefoot and tan with my hair in two long braids, I stand on tiptoes to reach under the spigot of the old porcelain porch sink. The water is cool and refreshing. I splash my face with it and reach for the robin’s egg blue towel that is fluttering in the light summer breeze.

The smell of fried chicken drifts out onto the porch and my mouth waters. I cross the kitchen threshold and enter into a familiar place of family and laughter and love. The room is heavy with steam from Mama Betty’s “boiling pot”, which is full to the brim with a hambone, collards, potatoes, and corn meal dumplings. She is taking up the fried chicken and placing the crispy pieces strategically on a heavy oval platter that belonged to her Mama. Melt-in-your-mouth beef and gravy and BBQ’d pork ribs with Mama Betty’s special BBQ sauce accompany the fried chicken today.

The long wooden dining table is filled with bowls of garden fresh butter beans, Silver Queen sweet corn, string beans, and field peas. In the center of the table is a dainty white saucer of chopped green onions and vinegar to go with the collards, and also a small decanter of hot pepper vinegar for those who prefer it. Fresh tomatoes have been sliced and a bowl of cucumbers with vinegar are on the table as well. Homemade sweet pickles and pickled beets are like icing on the cake.

On this particular Sunday, Mama Betty has made a huge bowl of her homemade chicken pasty. She rolls the dough out thin on a floured sheet of freezer paper laid up on top of the old chest freezer. She then cuts the pastry into thin slices and drops them

pg 20 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

The Blessing is said, and we eat and talk and laugh. When we are full and satisfied, everyone moves out to the front porch.

Some swing in the porch swing, some rock in the old wooden rockers, and some sit on the edge of the porch with legs hanging down. The gentle wind wafts cool through the breezeway. Cousins take turns going high on the swing that Mama Betty hung up in the black walnut tree. Life is simple and good.

As I reminisce about those amazing times around Mama Betty’s table, I think about what it will be like when we eat at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Mama Betty’s table was just a little foretaste of what Heaven’s table will be like. I believe that Jesus – like my Mama Betty - will take great delight in preparing that amazing feast for us.

There will be love and fellowship and joy and family. Mama Betty will be there … and my Susan will be there. We will all eat and be satisfied, and then we will move out to the front porch of Heaven and visit some more.

“Your Words were found, and I did eat them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart …” Jeremiah 15:16 Debbie Roberson is a wife and the mother of a grown married son. She is also the mother of a beautiful daughter who now lives in Heaven. She is a lover of Jesus with a desire to encourage and inspire others through the words that He puts in her heart.

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 21

A Note to Newlyweds How To Furnish Your First Home On A Budget

by Susan Guest, ASID

As a designer, my taste far exceeds my budget. In my younger years, I have crawled into a dumpster to retrieve a column that someone had discarded. I have hand painted the tile in my first apartment bathroom.

And yes, I have sold my husband’s bachelorhood sectional to a fraternity house so that we could get something “Susan approved”. There are so many ways to furnish your first home in style but on a budget. These are some pointers that may help the blushing bride (and groom)!

1)

Design for you and your spouse. Make sure that you start your newly married life on a good note by including your spouse in design and furniture decisions. They might act like they don’t care, but more often than not, they do. If your tastes are completely different, you may need to divide the house into zones and do some of the home or apartment in each person’s tastes.

2) Don’t feel like you have to furnish your home in one week!

If you really don’t care about your décor, visit Rooms to Go and buy the whole package and put it on credit. If you do care, start with the basics like a sofa, TV, mattress, and dinette. Some of my favorite times in life were when I had very few possessions. It was fun to collect things and hunt things on the weekends.

3) Determine your needs: If you are planning to move quite often, possibly overseas even; you might consider renting some furniture to avoid moving costs. If you are in a city where you plan to stay a while, you will have a different strategy on furniture purchases.

4) Buy the best quality you can afford. Don’t buy cheaply made furniture unless you have no other choice, because you might be stuck with it for a while. It is much better to purchase one item at a time, get it paid off,then work on the next item. Good quality furnishings last longer, look better longer, and tend to not end up at the landfill.

5) Color Consultation before your wedding. Most brides-to-be register for gifts that they would love to receive or things that will be useful in their new home. If you have a color plan before your wedding, you have a head start on pulling together the overall look.

Otherwise, go white or neutral and you can add colors later.

6) DIY. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to learn some Do-It-Yourself skills. You can take a class to learn to upholster the sofa that your parents no longer needed. Home improvement stores have classes to teach you how to install tile, or other flooring.

You-tube videos can teach you how to do just about anything. If

pg 22 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

you are adventurous and don’t mind some late nights and hard work; try this route.

7) Beg, Borrow, and Steal- Well, don’t steal! If you have no budget at all to work with, ask friends and family members if they have items that they are not using that you can have or borrow. This might buy you some time until you can purchase your own furniture. Often, people have pieces in their basement that need a new home. I had a friend who moved into an apartment with nothing to her name. Two days after calling the office at my church, I collected mattresses, a sofa, dishes, cookbooks and other items to help her get started. People don’t know you need help unless you ask.

8) Shop used. Sometimes you can find treasures in consignment shops, thrift stores, and shops such as Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. In our area, where we are surrounded by many furniture companies, there are sometimes new items donated by the manufacturer.

9) Develop your own style. I tend to say this a lot, but don’t base your entire style on the HGTV look. They are driving the market right now, but this is trendy and you will be happier by developing your own unique style. If you have no clue what your style is, look at your closet and what you tend to purchase in clothing.

10) Houzz and Pinterest are great sources to look at a lot of different looks. You can create your own files on things that you like. Be careful, though, not to be just like everyone else. This will not serve you well later.

11) Phase Plan. If you are overwhelmed with the entire process, break it down into sections. Work on one room at a time, or have an overall plan and purchase what you can afford.

Susan Guest, ASID is an award-winning interior designer in Hickory and owner of Guest Interiors, LLC. She is one of the designers featured in “Spectacular Homes of the Carolinas”, found in high-end bookstores around the country. President of ASID Carolinas. For more information, visit www.guestinteriors.com.

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He Said, She Said

Making Memories

by David and Amy Washco

A

ccidental memories are the best. You know- the ones where something completely random happens on a family outing that makes everyone laugh or the ones that require a group hug because everyone is crying. In the business of life, sometimes you have to stop and be intentional about making family memories.

While holidays and special occasions like birthdays bond your family together, summer and the activities associated provide the best recipe for making memories that last a lifetime. Summer offers many opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, experience new things and travel─ all at a more leisurely pace. It seems everyone is a little less stressed, has a better sense of humor and devotes a little more time.

He Said: Growing up, my family did not take many vacations.

As a result, the few we did go on, really stand out in my mind.

While I participated in many scouting campouts, school trips and overnight camps, the vacations that provided me the most memories are the ones I spent with my family.

This is why it is so important for Amy and I to invest in opportunities with our daughters to create memories. One of the ways we like to bond is to strike out on our annual summer vacation. We involve the girls in planning where we go, what we do as well as the budgeting process. As a family it’s important for us to try new things and to go to places we’ve never gone before.

The trips do not have to be extravagant. We have certainly enjoyed our fair share of Staycations. This approach allows you to rest, do some home projects, but also visit a local water park, hike in the mountains and find the gem of a lifetime in a mountain mine.

There is a direct correlation to the time we spend planning, preparing and saving for our trips, and the amount of memories created. The trips go smoother, expectations are understood, each member’s desires are honored, and the enjoyment level is so much higher for all. The awesome results are lasting memories that usually start with, “Remember that time…”

She Said: When you grow up in Myrtle Beach, your hard working family will jokingly tell you, “You’re on vacation every

pg 24 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

day-stop begging to go to Disney World!” While we couldn’t afford week-long getaways, my favorite family memories are from the summer months. A 60-acre farm was a lot of work, but my mother made it memorable. She would start a story at the beginning of the butter bean row and purposely not finish it until the end. I unwittingly picked beans, shucked corn, snapped peas and dodged spiders just to hear her fabulously creative tales. The few times my father joined us at the beach were magical as he preferred to be up the river hunting. My mother didn’t want us to go out past our ankles in the water, but he would practically drown us─ which now that I look back may have been his intent.

Lying hot, sandy and salty on my Mamie’s handmade quilt still makes me smile to this day.

In the corporate world, there are team building events and activities for a reason. You learn more about each other as individuals, you pull together for a common goal and everyone’s strengths and talents are fostered in unique ways. Families need team building activities as well. These shared activities and trips allow us to grow and allow me to see my children and husband through the eyes of their peers.

It’s been said that, “people do not remember what you did for them as much as they remember how you made them feel.” Let’s face it, over time money loses value to inflation, we get tired of the items we buy, but our memories only become more valuable the longer we get to enjoy life. The love and laughter nurtures the soul for years to come. What’s your recipe for making memories with your family this summer?

David and Amy Washco are survivors of divorce and serve as relationship advocates.

With a sales and marketing background, they are married and live in Hickory, NC. David and Amy are parents to 18 year old Savannah and 10 year old Riley.

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 25

Did you know?

Established in 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the busiest park in the United States, annually attracting approximately 10 million visitors.

The park, which covers 800 square miles of mountainous terrain in both North Carolina and Tennessee, typically draws 60,000 visitors on a weekend day in the summer. Many of those visitors experience the park on a scenic highway that stretches for several hundred miles, and traffic may be bumper-to-bumper on especially busy summer days. But Great Smoky Mountains National Park is more than roadways, as it includes 800 miles of hiking trails that range from a half-mile to 70 miles long. Those who want a more isolated park visit may prefer to hit the hiking trails, which are not nearly as busy as the highway roads.

More than 1,600 species of flowering plants bloom inside the park, which was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

pg 26 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

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5/19/15 1:58 PM www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 27

Our Country,

Red, White and Blue

by Jan McCanless

There is absolutely nothing that warms the soul quite like an old fashioned 4th of July celebration. Independence day is uniquely American, and how we celebrate it seems to be as well. I have European friends, all of whom would rather come to this country for our celebration, than witness their own low keyed attempt.

The 4ths that we celebrated when I was a kid remain in my memory as positively the best time in the entire year. It’s Christmas, birthdays, and Halloween all rolled into one. We’d always get up early, earlier than on any other day, and head over to a fellow parishioners home, where our church families put the finishing touches on the parade float we always entered. Most of the time, our youth group would ride on them, and what a treat that was, I waved to everybody, whether I knew them or not, I waved. One year, Hugh O’Brien, TV’S Wyatt Earp was the grand marshall, and we were right behind him and that beautifully decked out horse of his. I would swear he had a 1,000 pounds of silver on that horse, and woven into his clothing. What a sight he was, and I became an instant fan when he trotted over to our church float and chatted up all us girls. We swooned appropriately, and rode with stars in our eyes the entire parade route.

After the parade, there was the picnic, I can’t remember who all was there, but, it seemed at the time like the entire community turned out for it, and probably they did. The hot dogs, hamburgers and assorted side dishes were without equal, and the fact that we would eventually drop a hot dog on the ground, made no difference to us. We’d pick it up, brush it off, resmear the mustard on it, plop it back in the bun, and have at it !! The only things better were the watermelon and home made ice cream for dessert.

Evening brought the fireworks. Oh the fireworks !!! What joy they brought to old and young alike. Stars, shooting sparkling things, fireworks that went boom, and others that set the night aglow with every patriotic theme one could think of. The colors were always red, white, and blue, although an occasional green would sneak in there. We’d ooh, and aah, and gasp at the sight of it all. It would oftentimes, take a week or more for the patriotic lump to leave our throats after witnessing these spectacular shows. What a day !!!

I have always been a patriot, and I hope I have appreciated fully what the Good Lord has blessed us with here in America. No country on earth is anything like ours, and no country on earth has the freedoms we so take for granted here in the United States.

One of my sons served in Desert Storm, long before cell phones and computers were available for the soldiers to use. He was gone a year, with no contact of him at all, and yes, I worried, Every day, I prayed God would protect him and bring him home to us. Well, he did come home to us, all in one piece too, and since that time, I’ve tried not to take anything for granted, especially this glorious Red, White, and Blue America.

I read somewhere in one of my daily prayer books the following. “What would you have with you if you died today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday.” My answer would be simple. America, my family, and this wonderful celebration we call the 4th of July.

Go out and make it a good one, a joyful one, a noisy one, and a thankful one !!

pg 28 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

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www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 29

Tips for Grilling the Perfect Burger Hamburgers are a staple at backyard barbecues. Though burgers are a relatively simple food, mastering the technique to grill burgers is no small feat, as there is more to great grilled burgers than simply firing up the grill and dropping down a patty.

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pg 30 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | July 2016

Choose fresh ground beef that has a decent percentage of fat. The fat-to-lean meat ratio should be around 20 percent fat to 80 percent meat. Spend a little more to get freshly ground meat that has not been previously frozen.

Don’t overwork the burgers with a lot of handling. This will warm up the fat in the burger, which causes it to emulsify and could make the meat rubbery.

Reconsider adding a lot of herbs, spices or add-ins to the burgers, as such items can detract from the flavor of the meat. Extra herbs and spices also may require extra mixing, which can lead to overhandling.

Push a dimple into the top of the burger, which will help prevent the burger from expanding upward and out while cooking and rounding out in the process. The dimple will keep the top of the burger flat, which facilitates easy topping.

Make sure the grill is hot. Burgers do well with high heat and will cook relatively quickly.

Resist the urge to push down on the patty with your spatula. This will cause the juices to spill out and may result in a dry, tough burger.

Let burgers rest before serving. This lets the juices redistribute throughout and makes for a moist and tasty first bite.

S

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