You may subscribe here to InJesus,
our additional site,
for weekly encouraging words
from Aspire Ministries.

Holiday Celebrations And Entertaining

Sandra Bontemps

“GOD'S GOLDEN RULE”

SOCIAL GRACES, ETIQUETTE,

MANNERS AND CHARM

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Matthew 7:12

THE TRUE MEANING OF ETIQUETTE

The first thing I open up a Manners Class for young children, or a Charm Course for young ladies, is with the question, “Do you know what the simple true meaning of ‘Etiquette’ is?”

Most of them will shake their heads “No.” Then I tell them that it is simply to remember THE GOLDEN RULE. To love and treat others as they want to be treated. I teach them if they want to love and be loved, then they need to be kind, sensitive, thoughtful and considerate of others. And I love to tell them about God's unconditional love for them. That He loved them so much He sent Jesus His Son to save them. Many little children have come to know Jesus through these Etiquette Classes.

When I was in high school each year in each class, fellow classmates would vote for the young girl and boy who most exemplified the Golden Rule. Of all the awards I received in High School, including a national trophy for Drum Majorette in a band competition, and being selected Miss B.H.S. (Bridgeport High School), the one I cherished the most, was receiving a golden rule marble necklace. It was not an expensive necklace at all. The chain was not real gold. Inside the marble was a mustard seed, reminding us of the scripture in Matthew 17:20, "So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Around the marble on a gold band, was the scripture, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” At that young age I was grateful to God that I knew Him and how much He loved me. And I was thankful that I was taught as a little girl, that He wanted me to show His love to others in all I said and did. I know that so many of your Mothers, as mine, said, “Pretty is as pretty does!”

We can receive all the awards, rewards, recognition and acclaim, or “claim to fame” in the world, but if we do not love God, placing Him first in our lives, and then others as God loves us, it means nothing. We do not find true success in worldly goals. True success in life means finding God's unique divine plan and purpose for you. Believing it! Receiving it! Claiming it! Achieving it! And walking in it!

MINDING OUR MANNERS

In this busy world today, we still need to “mind our manners,” and be courteous and kind to others.

“Be ye kind one to another” Colossians 3:12, is yet another scripture in God’s Word that many forget, or have sadly never been taught. And Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He tells husbands to love their wives as He loves the Church. He tells women to honor their husbands. And children to honor their parents that their days will be long.

To me, God’s grace is closely related to social graces. As a Southerner I was raised to know the importance of social graces, etiquette and good manners. We were poor, growing up in a small town, but I thank God that our Mother taught my four sisters and me good manners. This served me well through out my young childhood days. And you know this gives us favor with people, including teachers and those in authority over us.

This I was especially thankful for, years later, when I married and my children’s father took a position with the State Department, and we lived and traveled overseas for many years. Here I was a little Southern girl,” a little hick from Alabama”, all grown up, going to Embassy parties, dinners and social functions, being introduced to Foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries from all over the world. I remember smiling and thinking, like the song, wishing my Mother, sisters and friends could be there, “If they could see me now, that dear ole gang of mine,” going to all these fancy parties and events!

One of my callings since I was a child has been to find something very beautiful in the most mundane ordinary things. Being a very positive child, by nature, I loved the story of Cinderella. (Although later I understood the fallacy in women believing in an unrealistic “Prince Charming”.) I have always loved ‘befores’ and ‘afters’. With an artistic creative flair, and lots of vision and imagination, I have always loved to create order out of chaos, and creating simplistic beauty. There is a timeless classic elegance in simplicity.

While overseas the State Department had a wonderful way to welcome newcomers. They would assign an older more seasoned woman who had been with the Embassy or State Department for years, to a younger woman and her family. I had mentors in each new country when we would get a new assignment that would simply take me under their lovely wings, and gently guide and teach me “government social protocol.” They would explain the cultures and traditions of these different countries so we novice newcomers would not commit embarrassing cultural social faux pas. At the time I was living overseas, we were known sometimes as “The Ugly Americans”. And when I observed the behavior of many Americans, I completely understood why.

The women mentors would also take me out and introduce me to all the wonderful art, jewelry, historical artifacts, and fashion the country and their people were well known for around the world. Where to shop. How to shop wisely and well. We would go into the underground Turkish Bazaar in Istanbul or downtown shops in Ankara, and see the beautiful Turkish carpets, flocatti rugs, brassware and wonderful copies of things from the Turkish Ottoman Empire dynasty. And into the open air markets in the Orient to shop for jade jewelry, teak and rose wood furniture, intricate cloisonné and wonderful exquisite replicas from the Ming, Tang and Sung dynasties.

One of my very favorite long time mentors, a confidante, wise advisor and surrogate mother, was an elegant beautiful lady, whose husband had been with the Embassy for many years. She also became my best friend and helped to change my life irrevocably because she was my greatest encourager. For over 35 years we laughed, cried, and prayed together. We discussed present problems. We shared hope and vision. And talked for hours on end on every topic and issue you can think of. Betty went home to be with the Lord three years ago, and there is not a day that goes by that I still do not want to go to the telephone and call her, and talk with her. I pray that every one of you women have at least one Betty in your lives. You are most fortunate if you have several women in your lifetime that you can trust in all things.

Betty was the epitome of beauty and social grace. Grace comes from the Latin word, gratia, which means to favor or charm. Grace means special personal traits and virtue. Social graces are some of the special tools necessary for unearthing the beautiful.

And of course the Bible has so much to say about God’s Amazing Grace!!!!!! Our love for God, and the grace He gives to us because of our intimacy with Him, gives us a heart of kindness for others, which begets happiness and personal joy, and is a gift we can share with others.

Through the years I have combined my background and thoughts on grace, etiquette and manners with discussions on the lifestyle God wants us to live. I have loved, explored and combined all the possibilities of effortless beauty and easy elegance in my home. I want my home to be a special sanctuary where all who enter will feel very comfortable to come in and kick off their shoes, curl up, relax and feel right at home. I want my guests to feel the love of Jesus. And experience God’s Presence. And be moved by the extraordinary supernatural power of God’s Holy Spirit. So I spend so much time praising God. Praying. Soaking. Lifting Him up!

In a practical way, there is an art to beautiful living...known as good manners, social graces. Good manners touch every aspect of our lives. In the forties and fifties when I grew up in a small southern Alabama town, there was much emphasis to ensure that children were on their very best behavior at all times. We were taught to say, “Yes ma’am”, “No sir”, and “Thank you”.

Although in ways we had a very strict upbringing, at times I am glad. There are some different things I have taught my children so they would understand more the freedom in Christ to be their individual unique selves. Telling them that they did not have to live up to my expectations, but to Gods expectations! I did not want them to fear me as I did my parents. Which also made me fear God's wrath and punishment. I taught them to be in awe and revere God. Nor did I want to be so rigid that they would not be able to have open and honest communication with me. I wanted them to feel free to express their personal feelings and opinions, knowing their true value and worth as beloved, precious, priceless children of God.

It was considered a rite of passage for a young girl in the South to receive a book of manners from their mother. I still cherish the one my mother gave to me and my four sisters. Mothers of daughters, if you haven’t already, give one to your daughters!!!!!! Even if they are grown!!!!

We were taught as very young children how to properly set the table. Sunday dinner was my favorite, because Mother would ceremoniously bring out the dishes from the old antique buffet. (I grew up in a house full of antiques that I did not appreciate until later years!) And I’d like to bring in fresh flowers, sometimes purple irises, yellow jonquils or wild white Queen Anne’s Lace or sweet smelling honeysuckle, for the table. These fragrances today still bring back many memories. We usually had “Chicken Every Sunday,” which is a title of a book from long ago. Sometimes it was chicken and dressing or chicken and dumplings, swimming in butter. And my Mother’s delicious home made chocolate pie.

I can still remember baking teacakes, in our big ole fashioned kitchen. The warm cookies, like my Grandmother, my Mother’s Mother, used to make, handed down from her Mother, my Great Grandmother. I have made these same cookies with my son and daughter, and my grandson, each time taking me back to my childhood. Smells bringing back memories from yesteryears, with these simple cookies straight from the oven, their rich fresh smells of vanilla and nutmeg. We’d eat them hot ‘til sometimes we’d get a tummy ache. Then when they were cool, we’d ice them with wonderful creamy butter frosting. They were not very expensive to make. Sometimes all four of my sisters and I would volunteer these cookies for school parties. And we’d end up with dozens and dozens piled up on white tea towels, on our big kitchen table.

This was a family tradition and ritual for each holiday. With each new holiday we’d help cut out Valentine heart shaped cookies in February, bunnies at Easter, and bells, Santas and Christmas trees, which heralded in my favorite season of the year. Our parents could not afford many gifts for us at Christmas. And we’d leave out our plain white socks, instead of pretty colored ornate Christmas stockings, (that we couldn’t afford). Always these make do stockings were filled only with oranges, apples, nuts and a peppermint candy cane. An eternal optimist, each year I’d always hope for more in our stockings for me and my sisters. I smiled all the years later, and would get very excited, when I’d go out shopping for stocking stuffers for my children. You parents know how expensive that can be now. And at times I know I went overboard and over did it a little. But I was ever so thankful and it gave me great pleasure to be able to bless my children with more than I had as a child.

The real reason I loved Christmas so much as a child, was the Christian Celebration of Jesus’ birth. I loved the Christmas songs and children’s musicals. My sisters and I all sang together from the time I was big enough to talk and sing. I have always loved praising God in song and still do.

Just this past summer I remembered a very special Christmas past. My precious 96-year-old Aunt Era, went home to be with the Lord. She, my uncle and her sons, helped to give us one of the most memorable Christmases ever! It was one of those years when my father had left us. My Mother, left with five little girls could hardly afford to put food on our table, much less have Christmas gifts for us. Many Sunday nights all we had to eat was cookies and milk or cereal and milk. And I was allergic to milk. I remember waking up on a cold Christmas morning and feeling so sad for my Mother because she felt so bad that she could not give us gifts. And then suddenly, you know one of those “Suddenlies of God”, a knock on our door, and there were Christmas Angels with “skin on!” In came my Aunt and Uncle, and their three wonderful sons with Christmas gifts for all of us. You talk about sharing God’s love! That Christmas I understood more fully the meaning because of my Mother's loving, generous sister and her precious family's generosity.

During my very dysfunctional childhood, I still hold to treasured memories and celebrations, which mostly center around the rituals of the holidays seasons, which were held dear. They were some of the happiest memories for me, because for those times it seemed, love reigned throughout our home, as the laughter rang out among five little girls. We didn’t have much, except one another. But that was the most important thing. We loved one another and stuck together through thick and thin. And we always had our little Baptist Church. How I thank and praise God that together, we were rooted and grounded in God’s love!

Because we did not have much, I learned a very valuable lesson, to always try to do the best with what we had. I was always told that I could “make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Still today, I delight in taking a very small shoestring budget for my home, decorating for a social event, a dinner party, or any occasion. I also have been blessed and developed a great knack and flair, the art of decorating a home, mine or someone else’s, and make magic happen.

From the time I was nine years old, I was in the home almost every day, of a friend of my Mothers, Mrs. Mayme Runyan, who babysat us when Mother started to work as a nurse in a small hospital. Mrs. Runyan was renown in our entire region, for her delicious cakes, potato rolls and monkey bread. People for many miles around would come and buy her wonderful cakes and breads. As she lovingly took me and my sisters under her wing, and we helped her with her baking, I learned to love cooking even more so than ever before.

My love for cooking, continued throughout the years that followed. While overseas I not only studied the culture, languages and customs of each country, but I took cooking classes, and became a gourmet cook. My friends called me, “The Pearl Mesta of the Orient”. She was the social event director for the State Department Functions and Events for our President and staff in Washington, D.C. at that time. She planned and coordinated everything from the decor, the floral arrangements, the menus, and all various and sundry things that go with a stately, official social event.

I believe that the charm and legendary status of southern hospitality has remained one of the constant cornerstones in American culture. I know that it has served me well all my days. Have often have we seen it immortalized in fiction and movies, and now it goes out worldwide on the web pages over the Internet. Good old-fashioned southern charm is as uniquely American as apple pie.

Perhaps one reason is that the South is the land of honored family tradition. Life for many generations was observed from the front porches of farm homes. Families worked together. Prayed together. And stayed together. Conversation, story telling and social gatherings were cherished. This was the days before television, video games and Internet. My family did not own a television until I was in middle school. At the very heart of Southern culture lie our traditions of grace and charming hospitality.

Visitors to the South have come to expect to be greeted by us southerners with a big smile, exaggerated long southern drawl and large glasses of syrupy sweet iced tea with lemon, garnished with a mint sprig, picked fresh from our herbal garden. (I have always loved sweet tea. And I would drink a gallon a day! But a few years ago ladies, I realized how much sugar I was putting into my body, just with the great amount of sweet tea I drank each day. I actually went to the grocery store, and looked aghast at the 75 five pound bags of sugar that I consumed every year in sweet tea, and got sick on my stomach right there in the grocery aisle! I stopped putting sugar in my tea, cold turkey right then and there that day! I now drink it with only lemon. No artificial sweeteners, for me either, because they are not good for us!)

Of English and Irish descent, My Mother, now 89, still loves hot tea with cream and sugar, the way the aristocratic Englishmen enjoy theirs. In the winter time I make a delicious hot spicy Russian Tea with freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice, pineapple juice, and fresh cloves and cinnamon sticks. I remember many lovely times sitting with friends in foreign places all over the world, sipping Russian Tea and sharing Jesus, life stories and travel adventures.

And I also have many memories of entertaining houseguests, family and friends, in our home on Signal Mountain. For many years each Thanksgiving and Christmas I would have over thirty family members in our home for wonderful celebration lunches and dinners.

When I have guest in my home, I love to roll out the “red carpet”. I put out my nicest lotions, bath oils, soaps and room fragrances. Special guest towels. Delicious perfumes and sachets. Favorite books. Candles and candies. And also other special things that I know my individual guests love and appreciate. For one couple, I always get their favorite coconut haystack candies and place in their guest room in an antique candy dish handed down from my husband, Alex’s, great- grandmother. Quite often it is the tiniest details, and things that do not have to cost a lot, that mean the most to guests. All these charming and thoughtful touches let guests know that you really value their visit as well as their friendship.

Remember to do what is comfortable for you. Express your personality and taste. Remember that you do not have to entertain like anyone else! This is your “time to shine” in however way you want! The main thing for you to do is to enjoy your guests! So make it simple and easy. If you try to do too much before company comes, you will be so worn out and frazzled that you will not enjoy them.

Do not try new things out on guests. Try recipes and other ideas out on your family. I smile when I think of how my children and Alex loved the many times I made chocolate mousse for dinner. Of course the children thought it was just delicious pudding. And so much better than the quick instant Jello pudding. Then how excited they were when I made them Baked Alaska. (No it is not a fish! Smile) I’d bring out the flaming dessert and they would ooh and ahhh! And you know ladies, it is really not hard to make at all. (If you'd like my easy recipe, write to me. Your guests will talk about it for months! I also have great breakfast ideas you can plan for guests that takes the pressure off in the early mornings!)

I do love best having small, sit-down, elegant candle light dinner parties. But at times I greatly enjoy planning and preparing big buffet dinners. Although casual outdoor barbecues or picnics by the pool are fun too.

When we had Alex’s Mother from the mid-west stay with us years ago, and nursed her back to health, she was delighted and loved many of my southern traditional meals, recipes and treasured family gatherings. We were glad to welcome her for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration dinners in our home.

One of our most beloved passages in the Bible discusses what is called the Fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, remain etched in the memory as the epitome of social graces. Social grace is not just knowing which fork to use. It is about finding confidence in the knowledge that come what may, you will be able to handle any situation with poise, finesse, tack and most importantly, grace and love.

True hospitality, no matter where you live, is an extension of the social graces. When you entertain, you are really putting yourself out there, saying, “Here I am world. This is me!” And this extension of yourself should always reflect Jesus. Show others the essence of Who is is and who you are in Him.

As a gourmet cook, I love the cuisine of other countries, and I had the pleasure of learning how to cook many of the foods in these foreign lands, such as Chinese, French, Italian, Greek and Spanish, that I enjoy cooking for guests. I smile when I think of inviting one of my former bosses and his wife into our home many times for my delicate gourmet meals. One day he called and asked what I was having for dinner that evening. I told him I was cooking a southern meal of fresh pinto beans and cornbread, fried corn, fried okra, squash, cole slaw and fresh homegrown tomatoes. Knowing that my son was a big “meat and potato kind of guy,” he ask if he brought a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, if he and his wife could invite themselves to dinner. And of course I said, “Great. Come on over!” As he and his wife were sitting around our table, he was relishing the meal in great delight. And he looked at me very seriously and said, “Sandra, I didn’t know you could cook like this! This is the best meal you've ever invited us to!” So alas, all my talent and art of gourmet cooking had been completely lost on him! Which again goes to show that you do not have to be a gourmet cook at all! You can keep things very simple!

Many times in the past, when I’d have guest, they would tell me that they did not feel comfortable returning the invitation, and having me over for dinner, because they were not great gourmet cooks! So I wanted to add this funny story of my former boss to tell you women that most people just want plain good ole fashioned cooking. Nothing fancy! Nothing exotic. So take heart, and plan to have guests for dinner and do whatever you are comfortable doing! Many people love to just throw something on the grill, toss a salad, bake some Idaho potatoes, and buy a hearty bread from the grocery, or one of the bread companies. And serve a Mrs. Smith’s apple pie for dessert. (Which is one of my husband's favorites!) And add vanilla ice cream for those ice cream lovers.

So keep it simple. Especially for all you working women! Right now don’t you love the fad with the wonderful quick take out places with delicious home cooked meals and desserts better than homemade!

I want to encourage you to entertain your own special way!!!!! Find some meals that you can enjoy planning and preparing. Become known for one or two special dishes. We have a woman in our church that is known for her Chocolate Cake. My friends loved my Mother’s homemade Chocolate Pie. My Aunt was known for her Pecan Pie. Mrs. Runyan, was known for her cakes and breads. One of the favorite desserts I make that friends and family request all the time is an Apricot Torte. Sounds hard, but it is easy!

AUNT ERA'S SOUTHERN PECAN PIE

This is one of my families most favorite of all desserts. And it is the most delicious Pecan Pie recipe I have ever tried. It is also one of the most simple, easy, no fail desserts that I make.

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees.

Pour 1 and ½ pecans into unbaked pie shell.

You may use halved pecans, or break them into small pieces.

Spread the pecans out layering them equally over bottom of pie shell.

(I use a store bought pie crust most of the time for a quick and easy dessert.)

Mix Together:

1 cup white sugar

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup white Karo syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

Pour into unbaked pie shell over pecans. Pecans will slowly rise to top as it bakes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Or vanilla chocolate chip ice cream. Enjoy!

SANDRA'S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BUFFET MENU

                    Honey Baked Ham       Smoked Turkey              Smoked Salmon

Shrimp Cocktail             Swedish Meatballs                   Potato Salad

Linguinni Pepperoni Salad Shrimp Salad

Copper Pennies Seven Layer Salad Southern Ambrosia

Strawberry Nut Congealed Salad

Chinese Spring Rolls Spinach Dip/Hawaiian Bread

Cheese Straws Vegetable Tray and Dip

Ham, Cheese and Pecan Ball Cheese Tray/Crackers

Beef Stick/Honey Mustard Pickled Mushrooms/Pickle Tray

Hot Broccoli Cheese Dip/Tortilla Chips Mini Cheese Quiches

Shrimp Dip Sausage Balls Hot Rolls

Sandra's Homemade Christmas Desserts

Turkish Baklava Apricot Torte

Russian Cheese Cake Lane Cake

Pecan Pie Derby Pie

Fudge Pie German Springerles

German Chocolate Cake Carrot Cake

Italian Biscotti Assorted Homemade Cookie and Candy Tray

Millionaires Fudge White Chocolate Peppermint Candy

White and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Fruit Tray and Chocolate Fondue Dip

Iced Tea Punch Coffee

Note: Rather than write how to plan and prepare for Christmas two week before,you may read

“Thanksgiving Celebrations”
“Plans and Preparation Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving”

we released Thanksgiving 2007

You will find this by choosing the link

"Hostest With The Mostest"

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

Most of all during this holiday season, thank God for all His gifts and bountiful Blessings! And remember “Jesus is the Reason for the Christmas Season.” Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that you have “No Room For Jesus!”

“For unto us a child is born,

to us a Son is given.

He is Christ the Lord.”

Isaiah 6:9

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Dear Father God, we thank You for the Gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You Father that through Jesus You have given us the gift of eternal life. Thank You that out of Your Glory, out of Your Promise from Your own heart, that You sent Heaven down to live with us on Earth. Our beautiful Morning Star. His Name is Wonderful. Counselor. He is the Prince of Peace and our Savior forever. Thank You that You sent Your love to us as a baby born in a manger. Your Love that would never cease. You gave us the greatest gift of all when You gave us Jesus. You sent us Redemption and Hope. We thank You that we are seeking You today as the Wise Men did from afar. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.” We thank You for Your Son Jesus, Whose eyes are mercy and Whose Word is rest.

We thank You for the Joy Jesus brings to us. And together we all cry out this season, in the beautiful Christmas carol Handel wrote, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let every heart prepare Him room. And Heaven and nature sing.” Through out all the busy planning and preparations, let us all be sure that we have “Room in our hearts for Jesus!”

Father, we lead such busy, cluttered sometimes chaotic lives. Especially during the holiday season. Through all the social schedules, shopping, cooking and dizzying pace of planning and preparation, let us remember that Jesus is the Bread of Life, and let all who are hungry come to Him. We want to keep our eyes focused on You, the hope of Glory. And make room for the King of kings. We want to lift Jesus up in adoration, worship and praise. Let us seek to express Your Love in refreshing and sacrificial ways. Let us lift up the Name of Jesus. We pray You will fill us to overflowing, with joy and thanksgiving.

As we listen for the New Sounds from Heaven in these latter days, let us always remember that Jesus came to earth, not with crashing music or sounds of trumpets. He came with the soft and gentle touch and knocked at our hearts door. Even today some miss His tender call.

We thank You that the little baby that the Angels once proclaimed as King gave up His life on the Cross on Calvary to be the greatest gift of all. Thank You that Jesus was raised up to save us from sin. Thank You for Your Kingdom that will never end. Thank You for Your Kingdom Glory and that we can embrace all that You have blessed us with.

We pray for those who still seek Jesus today. Let us join hearts together this Christmas Season, in unity and one accord, to commit for this upcoming New Year, 2008 to go tell the world about Jesus.

Let us go forth and tell people that Jesus wants to brighten the dark places of their lives and bathe them in His reflected glory. He wants to warm them with His grace, and gladden them with His joy, to illuminate and light up their pathways. Let us share Christmas.

Father, let all of our celebrations begin and end with Jesus. Jesus is our hope and confidence. All of our celebrations are inexorably tied to the Christmas message. “Jesus is born.”

And Father, let us all remember that Christmas is more than a celebration. It is a time to worship our Lord and Savior. We must remember to open our hearts and magnify the Name of Jesus. Let us remember also that at Christmas we do not celebrate only one aspect – the birth of Baby Jesus. That we will not only focus on the fact of His Coming, but recognize that this was the beautiful beginning of God showing His redeeming love for us. The Gift You gave to us, Father was a Calvary Gift. And let us all kneel humbly before the manger, as an altar, to offer up our gifts of discipleship to You. We come before You to give you reverence Father in complete surrender and obedience. We come to give You all Honor and Praise. We join the great angelic choir and sing “Holy. Holy. Holy. Allelulia to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ our King." We are reminded that He is as close to our hearts, as praise is to our lips. So we sing, “Happy Birthday To You Jesus. We join in jubilation with the angels song of praise!” And more so than the angels, we may sing, because we have joy at the thrill of knowing Christ as Savior, Father, as we sing the song of redemption and we glorify His Name. “Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God, should be born, and live and die, for me?”

Thank You Father that the supreme reality, gift and joy of Christmas is Jesus Christ, our Savior, whose birth, life, death and resurrection was freely given so that we may live and have everlasting fellowship with Him. Joy to the World. Hallelujah! Thank You for the wonders of Jesus' Love and Joy everlasting. Amen

Look Forward to ASPIRE'S Upcoming Messages on the Following:

BASIC ETIQUETTE

A Manners Class For All Ages

Minding Your P’s and Q’s

Table Manners

I have written and taught courses in manners, for very young boys and girls. And so many parents have gratefully thanked me. And I have written and given Christian Charm Classes for teenage girls, which I still love to do.

Good manners should not be a thing of the past. Whoever said it was good to be “fashionably late” was very wrong. We should instead make it a choice and a habit to always be on time. If we are forever keeping other people waiting all the time, it means that we think our time is more valuable than theirs, or this is the message we are sending.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

You only have a minute to make a good first impression. Sometimes these are lasting impressions. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Putting our best foot forward when meeting new people is a goal that we should all strive for. Really there are just a few things to remember. The most important thing is that we create an atmosphere everywhere we go. We can step into a room with a smile on our face, and the love of Jesus in our hearts, and our faces will be aglow with His glory! And all men will be drawn to HIM!

INTRODUCTIONS

Introduce Younger People to Older People.

Introduce Men to Women

LOVING YOUR TEEN AND PEER PRESSURE

I have spoken to many parent's groups on how to truly love their teenagers. And have gone into many schools and spoken to teenagers on how to overcome and withstand Peer Pressure.

MORE COMING UP ON HOSPITALITY

AND“HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST!”

Your Role As a Hostess

The Hostess Gift

Your Role As a Guest

The Overnight Stay - How To Be a Good Houseguest

FASHION BASICS (Included in Seminars I have written and give)

Dressing For Success

How To Minimize Figure Flaws

How To Update Your Wardrobe On A Shoestring Budget

Extreme Makeover! You Don’t Need a Face-Lift, But a FAITH Lift!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Many do not know how to receive a compliment. How many of you when someone tells you that you have on a beautiful dress for instance, may say awkwardly, with an embarrassed laugh, “Oh, this ole thing? I’ve had it forever!” Learn to accept compliments with grace women. A simple “Thank you!” is all that is necessary! And say it with a genuine smile!

And remember to encourage others! Always. And I'll leave you with this ladies. My Mother always said something I know that many of your Mothers also said, “If you can't say something nice, do not say anything at all!”

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE TO US

We encourage you ladies,
to send us topics
you would like to have us write
and share with you.
We always look forward to hearing from you.

Merry Christmas!

Your Guardians Of The Gate,

Sandra Bontemps and Janis Smith

Subscribe to ASPIRE MINISTRIES

You may subscribe here to InJesus,
our additional site,
for weekly encouraging words
from Aspire Ministries.

Newest Posting

IT'S TIME!

God's Unforced
Rhythms of Grace

Weaving Baskets
Of Prayer And
Protection

Prophetic Word
For New Season
NEW YEAR 2010