Smile... You're On Candid Camera

I'm over here today


Have you ever had one of those "Smile... you're on candid camera moments?" As a teacher I've had many.

Do drop by and I'll share one with you.

Teasing... a trigger to violence

“What happened here?” Tranae asked her friend looking around at the splatters of blood on the ground. “Girl, where have you been? Didn’t you hear about the big fight between Andrea and Mia earlier?” “No, what happened?” “Well as far as I know, Andrea made some joke about Mia and the next thing Mia was all over her. I think she broke Andrea’s nose…”

It’s almost with a sense of fear that I turn on the news these days. There have been so many senseless acts of violence among teenagers lately that it seems to be becoming an epidemic. Where does it end? What are young people so angry about and isn’t there a better way to solve conflicts than through physical violence?

Sometimes simple things like teasing act as triggers. For example in the scenario at the beginning Andrea made a joke about Mia, which may seem pretty easy to ignore right? However, you may tease someone and say something as a joke but that person may have been teased all week and your joke may be one more than she feels she can take. This in no way excuses Mia’s violent response but let’s be real, if you tease your own family members constantly and they get tired, you’re going to get a reaction and often times it’s not a gentle one.

So before things get physical, if you’re being teased or picked on and it’s gotten to the place where you really can’t take it anymore, don’t try taking matters into your own hand, like Mia did. Talk to someone in authority at your school, also as much as possible avoid being around the person or people who are bothering you. On the flip side, if you’re the one doing the teasing or picking on others and you think it’s funny, it’s not! There’s a difference between harmless bantering between friends and jokes that are designed to hurt or get a reaction out of someone.

It’s so easy to get angry and lash out but what about the aftermath when someone is injured severely, in the hospital, or worst case scenario dead? In the aftermath most people are sorry but I’m sorry offers little comfort to someone who has been hurt unnecessarily or to family members who are mourning the premature death of their loved ones. There is a song I like, part of it says,

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth the peace that was meant to be.
Jill Jackson Miller, 1955

If each one of us would say, let peace begin with me we’d have happier homes, safer schools and more peaceful communities. Remember, everyone gets angry. The angry feelings are sometimes quite justified but how do you express it? Ephesians 4:26-27 admonishes us: If you are angry, do not let it become sin. Get over your anger before the day is finished. Do not let the devil start working in your life. In other words, don’t allow your anger to cause you to do something that you will regret.

GT Magazine March/May 08

Bloggy Birthday

My friend Iris is celebrating her 3rd Bloggy Birthday and instead of receiving gifts she's giving them away. What a lovely twist on birthday giving. If you'd like to try your hand at winning one of her lovely gifts stop by her blog and wish her a Happy Bloggy Birthday. The deadline to enter the give away is March 30th with the winner to be announced on the 31st. Go on, you just might win.

Spotlight on Jade Moses

What would make a teenager leave home to go to a place she’s never been before as a missionary?
This question came to mind the moment nineteen year old Jade Moses from Newnan, Georgia, told me that she was in the Bahamas for six months as a missionary. Jade became a Christian at the age of 16. According to Jade she was a rebel and hated the world. However after she became a Christian everything about her changed including some of her friends.

Jade graduated from high school in May 2006, however during her senior year she started studying Culinary Arts and graduated from West Central Technical College with a degree in Culinary Arts in October 2007. She plans to use those skills to assist her in working her way through college where she plans to get a degree in Counseling.

During her time here Jade rooms with another young woman twenty-six year old Lisa Patzer who has been here just a little longer than Jade. The two of them met only once before coming here but both felt that it was something God wanted them to do. Jade and Lisa work with several churches on the island assisting with Sunday school classes, cleaning, visiting people, praying, witnessing and generally showing the love of Jesus and helping in whatever capacity they can. Although Jade is here as a missionary she acknowledges that she has also grown in her walk with God due in part to Lisa’s influence.

One of the things that surprised Jade since she’s been here is the fact that many people here attend church regularly and are quite knowledgeable about the Bible but are not necessarily Christians. She had an opportunity to witness to and pray with a woman who according to Jade “knew the bible better than she did but was not saved.” Thankfully, she saw what she was missing by not having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In Jade’s Own words
What part of being a missionary do you enjoy most? I enjoy meeting all the people and learning how they live. I also enjoy helping with the youths.

Do you find it difficult being away from your family and how do your parents feel about you being so far away from home? Yes it’s difficult, I miss my mom the most at time but talking about them and e-mailing them have helped me. My parents support me fully they tell me what I am doing is what God has planned for me.

Is your trip to the Bahamas what you expected? No, my expectations were very different I truly though you lived like I did but it so different from the states in how the people down here talk and how they raise their kids in the church.

What do you hope to gain personally from this experience? Confidence in who I am and who I am in God and the strength to stand up for what I believe in and to know what I believe is scriptural.
Who inspires you most in life and why?

I’m inspired by Lisa, she has had a very hard life and through it all she still thanks God everyday and tries to follow his word daily. Also, she has pushed me to read my Bible every day for an hour or more she has asked me about things that I believe and pointed where the are in the Bible. In fact, one of my goals in life is graduate college and be able to help people in their walk with God as Lisa has helped me.

Do you have any words of advice for young ladies who have not yet made Jesus their choice? It is hard for girls my age to have passion for things they can not see but when you choose to follow Jesus he will open your eyes to the love he has for you and his love will never leave you nor hurt you. Also, know who you don’t try to be what your friends want you to be. You are a true gift from God and he wants you to follow what he says and not what man says.

GT Magazine March/May 08

My Embarrassing Moment

From a mother’s perspective


I had what I considered an embarrassing experience one Saturday. It was at a funeral service for a colleague of mine who had been murdered. During the pre-service the podium was opened to anyone who wanted to offer words of condolences to the family.

As I sat in my seat I went over mentally what I wanted to say. So confidently I rose from my seat without a prepared text and proceeded to podium. Once at the podium I opened my mouth to speak and I became overwhelmed, not only by grief but by all those eyes staring back me and believe it or not every thought and the beautiful tribute I had mentally prepared went clear out of my mind. I mumbled a few words, (few of which I remember even now) and with a feeling of humiliation I returned to my seat feeling about two inches tall.

I considered this experience a bad one because, public speaking is something I enjoy and whenever given an opportunity I usually raise to the occasion. What was different this time? I asked myself this question during my time of reflection and my daughters these are some of the conclusions I came to.

Firstly, always prepare. Because I enjoy public speaking I completely downplayed the need to prepare. What made preparation of even great importance is that this would have been my first time speaking at a funeral where I was emotionally impacted without some guide lines.

The second thing I learned was always put things in perspective. Even thought I felt that my speech “stank to high heaven” can you believe that there were people there who thought that I had done a good job? I was surprised to say the least. Initially I wanted to hang my head in embarrassment, but after reflecting and getting a few opinions, I realized that my speech was not great, but in the words of trusted friend “it was a good effort.’’

Yes for me this was a bad experience but I was not deterred from, or soured on public speaking. I choose instead to use my “embarrassing moment” as a learning experience, something I will always remember, and will grow from.

So young ladies when you visit the “School of Embarrassment,” like me or when faced with a bad experience, look at it for what it’s worth and see what lesson is in it that you can learn from; get an opinion from a trusted friend or a mentor who will be truthful.

My daughters not matter what you are faced with always remember that you are wonderfully made by God and he will see you through, because you are precious in His sight.

Until next time continue to enjoy girltalk and always put God first.
Love you lots!!!!!!

By Cleora Williams
GT March/May 08

The Woman You're Becoming

Have you ever thought about the woman you’re becoming? Is she the person you want to be? Is the woman you’re becoming one who is going to bring honor to your family and make your parents proud? Is she someone who is going to be a positive contributor to your community and country?

I thought about you young lady as I watched with deep sadness and pity the downward spiral of Britney Spears. As I watched the latest in the Britney Spears saga a part of the lyrics to one of her earlier songs came to mind. “(I'm not a girl don't tell me what to believe). Not Yet a woman, (I'm just trying to find the woman in me, yeah). All I need is time (All I need),A moment that is mine (That is mine),While I'm in between.”

What went wrong between that period of girlhood and womanhood? Is she the woman she dreamt of becoming? Probably not, but I wonder, who did she pattern her life after?

A quote from a book I read lately stood out to me, it stated:

No character is built good and true if the builder has not in her mind a picture of the woman she wants to be. And the pattern for a good character must be chosen carefully. The carpenter will not undertake a pretty cottage from the print of a barn, nor can a girl build a good, true character if she patterns after those whose lives are not good and true.
Mable Hale, Beautiful Girlhood page 35

How are you utilizing this stage between beautiful girlhood and womanhood? Are you making wise choices in the friends you keep and the activities you choose? Do you listen to those who have your best interest and wellbeing at heart? Do you follow the example of those who are following a positive path?

The days between girlhood and womanhood though they may seem like forever to you are fleeting. So my advice to you my dear young ladies is to take care to ensure as you grow that the woman you’re becoming is who you truly want to be.

GT Magazine March/May 08

The Easter Story

I'm over here tomorrow (Monday)


Here’s a story I think you should know,
It happened a long, long time ago.

So relax your mind and picture this...


Do drop by to read the entire post.

For the love of Reading

I'm over here today



Growing up in a small, rural community there was no television in my home until I became a teenager. Consequently, for entertainment I read books, lots and lots of books and there began my love of reading. However, the Bible wasn’t high on my list of must reads except for Sunday school and church...

Do drop by to read the entire post.

Five Kind Things

My friend Denise tagged me with this meme. Here are the rules: 1. List five kind things you do for yourself. List five kind things you do for your closest friend, partner or child. List five kind things you have done for a stranger.2. Tag five people.Five Kind things I do for myself

1. Spend time in prayer.
2. curl up with a good book
3. give myself pedicures
4. write poetry
5. write in my journal

Five things I do for my family or friends

1. Listen when they need a listening ear
2. send them an email when they need cheering up
3. baby sit
4. pray for them
5. Invite them over.

Five things I have done for a stranger

1. Pray for them or one of their family members.
2. Witness to them
3. Let someone out of a corner when driving.
4. Publish a magazine that reaches teens I’ll probably never meet.
5. Given up my place in line if someone’s really in a hurry.

If you enjoy doing memes then tag, you’re it.