Thursday, 29 September 2011

Girlfriend​s in God - Never Forget (26 Sep 2011)


September 26, 2011



Never Forget
Sharon Jaynes


Today's Truth
"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" (Psalm 77:11 NIV).


Friend to Friend
Sometimes it is easy to read about Adam and Eve's failure in the garden and think to ourselves, How could they have been so disobedient?  But in reality, this is not Adam and Eve's story alone.  It is our story as well.  We make decisions daily that dishonor God or honor God.  We disobey, take charge of our own lives, and become Lord of our own ring.  Then like Eve, we try to cover up our shame and even attempt to hide from God.


Do you know the first question God asked in the Bible? After Adam and Eve cowered in the bushes, hiding from God, He asked - Where are you?  God knew exactly where they were, what they had done, and how the enemy had tricked them.  However, He decided to remain in relationship with them and begin the process of restoration which was completed on Calvary's cross.  He asks the same question of us today when we attempt to hide...Where are you?


I think "but God" are two of most beautiful words in Scripture.  The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ).  When did we become sinners?  The first time we sinned?  No, we were born sinners and that sin is what separated us from God.  While we were yet sinners, He became the perfect sacrifice for us, not to cover our sin, but to cleanse us forever - once and for all.  Salvation Army Officer, John Allen once said, "I deserved to be damned in hell, but God interfered." God interfered, intervened, and intercepted our death sentence. He sent His Son, who paid the penalty for our sin and all we have to do to receive the pardon is to accept His wonderful gift.


How do we receive the gift? "If you confess with your mouth 'Jesus as Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).  When you accept Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you are freed from the penalty of sin (spiritual death and eternal separation from God) and He gives you a new living spirit. Someone once said, "Salvation is moving from living death to deathless life."


"All this is from God who reconciled us [joined us back together] to himself through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:18 AMP).  Once there was a Christian group who sang a song with a line that said, "There's a bridge to cross the great divide." However, when they were recording, someone sang, "There's a cross to bridge the great divide."  Suddenly, they realized that they had not made a mistake at all.  We were separated from God because of sin, but He sent His Son to die on Calvary's cross to bridge the great divide. 


Why did God do this for us? "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV). The Greeks had three words for life: bios (life of the body), psyche (life of the soul), and zoe (life of the spirit).  Guess which word for life is in John 3:16 ?  Zoe - life of the spirit!  When you become a Christian, your spirit is reborn and you become a brand new creation.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).  We were crucified with Christ and now we no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 5:20 NIV).


What about those glaring needs that cropped up as a result of Adam and Eve's sin in the garden? What about feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy that so many struggle with today?  Here's what the Bible says: "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so, through one act of righteousness, there resulted justification of life to all men" (Romans 5:18,19 NASB). All were condemned because of Adam's disobedience and all who accept Jesus are freed because of Christ's obedience.  At the moment of your salvation, everything mankind lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden was returned to you in Jesus Christ.  Once again you have:


Significance because of who you are in Christ.


Safety and Security because of what you have in Christ.


A sense of belonging because of where you are in Christ.


Your glaring needs have been fulfilled and transformed into your glowing attributes.  The question is, why don't we act like our needs have been fulfilled?  Why do we continue to struggle with feelings of shame, fear, loneliness, and rejection?  Why do we continue to try to get our needs met by our own means? Because even though our spirits are changed in an instant, our minds must be renewed, our wills must come under the control of the Holy Spirit, and our emotions must be reprogrammed.


It's a process...and that's why Girlfriends in God even exists.  We are learning, growing, and reprogramming our minds together.  And as we do, we grow more and more spiritually beautiful every day.


Let's Pray
Dear LORD, all through the Old Testament, the patriarchs told the Israelites to "remember."  Today I stop and remember all that You have done for me.  I remember what I was like before I came to Christ and I remember all that You have done to bring me to Yourself.  Thank you, Father.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, Holy Spirit. May the remembrance of Your mercies be new every morning.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.


Now It's Your Turn
Sometimes, when you have been a Christian for many years, you forget just how amazing the gift of salvation really is.  Today, I'm not going to ask you any questions, but I do want you to go back and reflect on the verses in this devotion.  Write out your own prayer of gratitude for all that God has done to bridge the great divide that separated you from Him.


As always, I love to hear from my Girlfriends in God.  You can visit my blog (

More from the Girlfriends
Have you ever felt this way: "If I'm a new creation, then why don't I feel like one and why don't I act like one?"  If so, then perhaps you need to read Sharon's book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself as God Sees You. In this book you'll discover the secrets to spiritual beauty and to becoming a radiant Christian woman. It also comes with a Bible Study guide for those who want to spend extra time at God's spa!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com
www.sharonjaynes.com/blog ) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.com ) to share your comments.

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

How Often Do You Wash Your Towels?

by Emily Hsieh, Shine staff, on Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:00pm PDT
 


I recently interviewed an interior designer on the subject of bathroom décor, and when talk turned to the number of towel sets one should have, her take is we should all have at least four sets per person in your household. Which to me seems really excessive. The argument for this number is that it’s good to have sufficient towels so that at any given time you could have one in the hamper, one in the wash, and one hanging on your towel bar (plus a spare for good measure)—which I suppose makes sense if you’re someone who washes your towel after every use. Which I, for one, do not. 

This also got me thinking and researching whether or not, from a germs perspective, I ought to be washing my towels more than my usual 5-7 days. According to Discovery Health, bathrooms—which are generally warm and humid—make an excellent breeding ground for bacteria when coupled with the dirt, oils, and dead cells from your skin. Washcloths are especially risky territory, since they’re actually used to cleanse your face and body, making it easier to transfer staph infections, pinkeye, and even mold. So if you’re someone who uses a washcloth, or a hand towel for that matter, you should probably be throwing it in the laundry more frequently than you do your bath towels—at least every three or four days, if not more often. And you’ll probably want to stockpile more of these smaller size towels accordingly.

But in terms of bath towels, the verdict’s still out on whether or not 5-7 days is sufficient. No matter how long you wait to wash, though, you should always try to spread out wet towels on your towel bar as wide as possible, which makes it easier for air to circulate around them so they dry faster. Color-coding linens according to family member is helpful too, since sharing towels ups the chances for bacteria. And be careful not to let wet bath mats fester on the floor for very long either—if possible, hang those up to dry too.

So now it’s your turn: how often do you wash your towels?

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/haven/how-often-do-you-wash-your-towels-2395986

Monday, 26 September 2011

How Often Should You Change Your Bed Sheets?

Bed sheets should be changed weekly to reduce exposure to allergens, bed mites, and general grime.

The bed is a sanctuary. When tired and vulnerable, people crawl into their soft, warm beds and pull the covers up around their bodies to create a safe, womb-like cocoon. The bed serves as a retreat for people when they ache, when they are scared, and when they need to be rejuvenated.

However, sleepers stand to lose all these cherished comforts and create a breeding ground for bacteria and irritants when they don’t clean bed sheets once a week.

WHY DO SHEETS NEED TO BE CLEANED SO MUCH?

• During sleep, sweat, body oils, hair and skin cells flake off and nestle in sheets and pillowcases. As much as one-fifth of an ounce of skin residue can accumulate on sheets in just one week. It may not be visible. However, this dander becomes food for microscopic critters like bed bugs.

Washing top sheets, bottom sheets, pillowcases, and bed skirts will remove the food supply and keep the bed sterile.

• Dust mites won’t make a meal of sleepers like blood-sucking bed bugs do; dust mites will instead leave feces and body parts behind as they crawl over beds.

This residue can make people sneeze, sniff, wheeze, and feel miserable. The mites will also aggravate asthma, cause eyes to water, and induce respiratory problems. Waking up scratching and sneezing should be a sign that sheets are too dirty and need to be sanitized. 

The worst irritation generally happens after two weeks of sheet use. Sleepers can avoid risk by washing every seven days.

WHAT CLEANING METHODS ARE BEST?

Washing machines offer cold and warm water options. These are not suitable for bed sheets, however. Hot water is best.

Most bacteria and microscopic bugs need extreme temperatures to be killed off. Therefore, bed sheets should be washed and dried at temperatures of 140°F or hotter, according to a Cornell University publication. This could pose a problem for delicate linen with silk or embroidery and for cheap linen that falls apart too easily. When buying bed sheets make sure the sheets are comfortable but sturdy enough for frequent washing at intense temperatures. Labels on linens will typically list the optimal temperature.

For those who must have delicate, luxury sheets that cannot be vigorously washed or dried at high temperatures, steam cleaning is an option that will be effective for destroying irritants. The sheets will need to be washed first in warm water at about 77 °F and then steamed with a hand-held steamer after they are dried.

Dry cleaning is an acceptable, although expensive, option.

There are some people who detest drying linen in a machine dryer at high temperatures because the linen gets too wrinkled. Most dryers surpass washing machines, however, in getting linens hot enough to kill bacteria and bugs. Therefore, drying completely is a must even if it means sheets will have to be ironed afterward.

As for detergents, chlorine bleach, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are most successful in sterilizing sheets. For colored sheets, use laundry soap and non-chlorine bleach. Pre-treat any stains or spots on sheets by directly dipping them into detergent prior to washing.

Finally, even those who are not allergic to dust mites and don’t mind the irritation of bed bugs should still follow a weekly washing regimen to cut down on colds and dangerous bacterial and viral infections. Cold and flu viruses can live on sheets and be transferred from person to person.

SOURCES:


About the author

Kelly Sperber has been a professional writer for 5 years. She joined CC Team in January, 2011. Kelly enjoys skydiving, attending fashion shows, and gardening in her spare time.

God Acts For Us When We Wait - 10 August 2011

Seeds of the Kingdom - Today's Devotional
10 August, 2011
Today's Free Devotional from Ellel Ministries International 

God Acts For us When we Wait

"Since ancient times, no-one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him."
Isaiah 64:4, NIV

We had been waiting for some time and the people with whom we were dealing seemed to be procrastinating. We decided enough was enough; we would go and sort things out, until our text for today was dropped into my heart. Knowing it was the Lord speaking to us, we put aside our way of trying to fix things, and waited for God to act. Once we had come to that place of trust and confidence in Him, He acted on our behalf very quickly.

God promises special blessings for waiting, but waiting is one of the most difficult exhortations of Scripture. It is hard because in our old nature we are so prone to take matters into our own hands and follow our own schemes. We live in an instant world, in a society that has grown used to immediate gratification with a mindset “I want it now and I must have it now.”

Scripture assures us that if we wait for God’s timing, He will act. We are told to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7). To be still means to stop striving and to trust God. Striving implies desperation to bring things about, and sometimes results in panic and anxiety when we realise that our efforts are getting us no-where. Waiting does not imply passivity, but rather hopeful anticipation that we are counting on the Lord to do what we cannot do.

The psalmist said, ‘My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning’ (Psalm 130:6). Night watchmen waited for the sun to rise and day to break, for the light to replace the darkness and the cold to be replaced with the warmth of the morning sun. As morning never fails to follow the night, the psalmist knew that the Lord would never fail to answer his cry. As he waited, he was certain that God would act for him. He waited in expectation, anticipation and confident hope, unwavering in the knowledge that God never fails to bring about His purposes for those who wait expectantly for Him.

When we wait for God to act we find ourselves looking to His solution for some specific need. We do not have control over the circumstances and, therefore, we look for His provision and protection and trust Him with the result. We are to pray because prayer is an acknowledgement that it is God who must fix our situation rather than we ourselves. There is a big difference in letting God work in and through us as He desires, versus problem-solving our own way and in our own strength.

Our ability to wait in peace for God to act stems from being confident in who He is and aware of His purpose for our lives. Waiting means touching into God and His goodness. It’s a time to learn more of His faithfulness. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to those who trust in His unfailing love.

Prayer: Thank You, Father for Your faithfulness even when I can’t see the way clearly. Thank You that You do act on behalf of those who wait for You. I ask You to come into my circumstances today as I choose to trust You to work them together for Your glory and for my good. Amen.

Today's Writer : Margaret Silvester Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God.

Related Links Click Here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog Click here to find out more about a FREE TRIAL of Ellel 365
forward to a friend |  browse the archive of devotionals | ellel ministries website

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship.  Provided acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
Copyright © 2011 Ellel Ministries International.
You are receiving this devotional message because you have signed up to receive daily devotionals from Ellel Ministries International at www.seedsofthekingdom.org

Our mailing address is:
Ellel Ministries International
Ellel Grange
Bay Horse
Lancaster, Lancashire LA2 0HN

Pressure Creates Change - 08 August 2011

Seeds of the Kingdom - Today's Devotional
08 August, 2011
Today's Free Devotional from Ellel Ministries International 

Pressure Creates Change

"Keep yourself in training for a godly life. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future."
1Timothy 4:7b-8, GNB

This week I was at the gym doing a weights exercise class. As we all worked hard to push our weight bars over our head, the instructor encouraged us on by saying “pressure creates change!” The instructor was referring to the pressure we were putting on our muscles, and that by continuing with the pressure we would build muscle and change the shape of our bodies. But I found my thoughts drifting to my life, reflecting on the times over the years I have been under pressure, sometimes a great deal of pressure. What I realised, as I thought back, is that the times in my life where I was put under pressure I really did change and become much stronger - as I trusted Jesus.

Each of us in our lives faces pressure of all kinds. We have pressure on our time, responsibilities to fulfill with work and our families, financial pressure, and maybe our health. Also our communities, and even our nations, add a different level of pressure that we have to deal with regularly. Yet, as Christians, we want to serve the Lord and do our best for Him in the work He gives us to do.

I have sometimes thought how wonderful it would be if there was no pressure. But today I want to encourage you that the pressure we face creates change in us and builds spiritual muscle. Pressure forces us to need Jesus in our lives, for I fear without Him we wouldn’t have the strength to do what He wants us to do. Our gym instructor told us that it’s slow, controlled, regular resistance that builds our physical muscle. So it is with spiritual muscle.

Today’s verse from 1 Timothy is a great encouragement about the value of spiritual exercise in our life, and it’s not just a benefit for the present time, but for the future and all eternity.

Prayer: Dear Father, in the midst of today’s pressure I choose to lean on You. Build my spiritual muscles and make me strong in You. Help me to embrace the pressure and I ask You, Jesus, to give me Your grace to do what You know I need to do today. May I reap the blessing of abundant life. Amen.
 
Today's Writer : Lynda Scott Lynda Scott was first was introduced to Ellel Ministries at a conference led by Peter and Fiona Horrobin in 1996 when she was miraculously healed following a devastating accident. Lynda has continued her association with Ellel Ministries over the years and has recently written her story “Lynda: From Accident & Trauma to Healing & Wholeness”. She lives in Australia with her husband Leigh and 3 young children, working both as a full time mother and helping her husband with the administration of their beef cattle farm.
Related Links Click Here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog Click here to find out more about a FREE TRIAL of Ellel 365
forward to a friend |  browse the archive of devotionals | ellel ministries website

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship.  Provided acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
Copyright © 2011 Ellel Ministries International.
You are receiving this devotional message because you have signed up to receive daily devotionals from Ellel Ministries International at www.seedsofthekingdom.org

Our mailing address is:
Ellel Ministries International
Ellel Grange
Bay Horse
Lancaster, Lancashire LA2 0HN

Saturday, 24 September 2011

NEW! TIMEWISE® MOISTURE RENEWING SOFTENER



Prepare for your softest skin ever! New TimeWise® Moisture Renewing Softener softens,* hydrates and preps your skin to drink in every drop of TimeWise® age-fighting goodness. 

*90% of women said their skin felt soft.
 
This alcohol-free softener completes the cleansing process, leaving your skin immediately infused with moisture and feeling silky soft, hydrated and ready to absorb the benefits of the next steps in your TimeWise® age-fighting skin care regimen.
    Get these age-fighting benefits: 
  • Fights the signs of aging by immediately infusing skin with moisture while helping to minimize the appearance of pores.
  • Skin looks brighter and feels silky.
  • Prepares your skin for the age-fighting benefits that follow from the next steps in your TimeWise® skin care regimen.

Weight: 147ml
Price: RM90




NEW! TIMEWISE® NIGHT RESTORE & RECOVER COMPLEX

Sweet dreams, skin.

Let the power of science help fight aging while you sleep! This advanced age fighter works with your skin's natural cycle to recover from the day's damage. So you can wake up to younger-looking skin with these benefits:*
  • Triggers collagen production*
  • Restores the skin barrier*
  • Targets the skin's matrix*
  • Helps skin recover from daily damage

Available in Normal/Dry or Combination/Oily

Weight: 50g
Price: RM190




NEW LIMITED-EDITION* MARY KAY® THE WEEKENDER COLLECTION


“Scent-imental” gifts for every budget! NEW Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Eau de Parfum Gifts
 

Create on-trend looks with new resort-inspired beauty for eyes, lips, nails and beyond.
This season, resort-inspired beauty makes elegance look effortless. There's a relaxed playfulness in the air as plans are made and the weekend becomes center stage. Hair, makeup and nails are polished and simplified. Indulge in seaside-inspired scent. Add an artfully tied scarf, a pair of chic sunglasses and a sun hat to your look, and you?e all set to step out in style.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Lip Pencil. This ultimate, of-the-moment lip pencil does double duty: It lets you perfectly outline your lips, then fill them in with sheer color that glides on easily. Sharpener included.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Lip Pencil in Coral Stone, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Lip Pencil in Pink Sand, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Eye Pencil. It's an eyeliner and eye shadow in one easy-to-use pencil! Creamy texture provides intense, buildable color that blends easily. Sharpener included.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Eye Pencil in Turquoise Waters, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Eye Pencil in White Wash, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Eye Pencil in Classic Navy, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Weekender Eye Pencil in Sage, .08 oz.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Tranquil Waters™ Refreshing Body Gel. Indulge yourself with a cooling body gel that makes skin feel smooth and leaves behind a subtle shimmer.
NEW! Limited-Edition* Mary Kay® Tranquil Waters™ Fragrance Pencil. Wherever you are, a seaside getaway is just seconds away when this fragrance pencil touches your pulse points. Sharpener included.
Contact your Independent Beauty Consultant today!
*Limited-edition & available while supplies last.

Thursday, 22 September 2011

HerWorld's Beauty Awards 2011

Fantastic news! 
Five Mary Kay® products have won in HerWorld’s Beauty Awards 2011! 
Get your copy of Malaysia’s HerWorld magazine October 2011 issue now!

Brow Definer Pencil

Lip Liner

Crème Lipstick

Satin Lip Mask & Lip Balm

TimeWise® 3-in-1 Cleanser

Miriam: First Lady of the Exodus

"Great queen of Egypt, I believe we can all see that the Hebrew child will not accept nourishment from those not related to him. Why not bring a woman of his own race to feed him?"

In her excitement over finding the beautiful child in the basket among the reeds of the Nile River, the princess had not noticed a young onlooker.

"Please forgive me for my boldness, but I know of a Hebrew woman who has just lost a baby. Your newfound child might allow her to feed him. If her majesty pleases, I would be happy to bring the Hebrew woman to you."

"You speak well for a child of your age," said the princess. "What is your name?"

"Miriam," she said.

"Well, Miriam, bring the woman of whom you speak - and quickly, demanded the princess, now ready to accept whatever help she could get to quiet the hungry baby Moses.

Miriam’s forthright courage, her faith and her ability to think and take decisive action, even as a youth, help us to understand why God chose her, along with her brothers, Moses and Aaron, to lead Israel out of Egypt:

"I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam" (Micah 6:4).

The Bible doesn’t tell us when God began to use Miriam as a prophetess. The first biblical description of her in this role occurs after God miraculously stopped the pursuing Egyptian army at the Red Sea.
 
Miriam with tambourine
"Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing" (Exodus 15:20).

"Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them:
‘Sing to the Lord,
for He is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
He has hurled into the sea’ (Exodus 15:20-21).


According to Josephus, Miriam was married to Hur of the tribe of Judah - the same Hur who, along with Aaron, supported Moses’ arms in Israel’s battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:11-13).

As part of this powerful family, Miriam was there when Moses, Aaron, Hur and various other family members discussed Israel’s problems, and developed strategies to solve them. As a prophetess and the oldest member of the family, her opinion was valued. She was accustomed to being approached for her advice and was revered as the first lady of Israel.

Compared to some other ancient cultures, women in early Israelite history enjoyed many freedoms. A woman, whether married or single, could appear without a veil. She could travel about alone, and meet and talk with men publicly.

Yet, in spite of her prominence, Miriam, and her brother Aaron, both began to fear their influence was waning. Out of jealousy, they began to gossip about Moses’ marriage to an Ethiopian woman: "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?... Hasn’t he also spoken through us?" (Numbers 12:2).

The Bible records that God heard what Miriam and Aaron said about Moses, and God was not pleased. God knew that it was not so much Moses’ marriage, as Miriam and Aaron’s envy of their younger brother’s authority over them, that underlay their criticism.

Miriam and Aaron did not fear Moses’ reprisal. After all, their brother usually did not defend himself against reproaches. Hadn’t he always listened patiently to the endless complaints of Israel? Miriam and Aaron knew that Moses was long-suffering and humble - perhaps in their judgment, a little too much so.

God, however, did not view what had happened in the same way as Miriam and Aaron. He saw clearly their presumptuous attack, at Miriam’s instigation, against his chosen leader. If they wanted God’s attention, they now fully had it. God commanded: "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." (verse 4).

Reminding Miriam of his special relationship with Moses, God said: "When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses.... With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (verses 6-8).

When the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, signifying that God had departed, Aaron sheepishly looked over at Miriam. Recoiling in horror at the sight of his sister’s pasty-white scaly skin, he must have quickly looked at his own hands and arms as well. No, only Miriam was leprous.

Aaron’s tone and approach toward Moses were now remarkably changed: "Please my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away (verses 11-12).

Moses didn’t have to be persuaded further. He fervently cried out to God: "O God, please heal her!" (verse 13). God agreed to do so, but not immediately. Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days before God removed her humiliating punishment.
 
Miriam
"I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam " (Micah 6:4).

We read little more about Miriam in the annals of the Bible. According to Josephus, however, Miriam and Hur were the grandparents of Bezalel, whom God commissioned as the chief craftsman and builder of the tabernacle and its furniture in the wilderness (Exodus 31:2-11; 35:30; 38:22).

Hur was also father of three sons who founded the towns of Kiriath Jearim, Bethlehem and Beth Gader (1 Chronicles 2:20, 50-51).

Miriam went on to travel with Moses and Aaron and the Israelites for almost 40 years in the desert. She died shortly before Aaron, near the end of lsrael’s wanderings, at Kadesh (Numbers 20:1).

Like her brothers, Miriam did not enter the Promised Land, and was buried in the wilderness. Thus ended the life of this multitalented woman of courage, faith and firm resolve, who, alongside Moses and Aaron, rejoiced in the triumphs and suffered the trials and dangers of God’s calling in the wilderness of Sinai.

As with the many other heroes of the Bible, Miriam’s strengths and weaknesses were recorded for our education, inspiration and encouragement.

by Sheila Graham

What’s the Difference Between a Seminar, Workshop and Conference?


Seminars, workshops, conference, symposia, user conferences, summits -- the type of events you can host are varied. Choosing the right description for your event is critical because it communicates volumes about the type of experience your participants can expect.

To ensure that you’re fully leveraging the marketing power of your event title, select the type of event that best fits the experience you want to create. Here’s a quick explanation of each type of event.

Seminars are educational events that feature one or more subject matter experts delivering information primarily via lecture and discussion. 

Free Seminars are an increasingly popular way to generate qualified leads for your business. Many professionals and organizations recognize that the best way to convince prospects of their expertise is to deliver high-quality education and, therefore, deliver free seminars that are high in content. Others, however, use the promise of free education to lure information-seeking prospects to a sales pitch. As a result, many prospective customers are wary about attending a free seminar for fear of being subjected to a high-pressure sales pitch.

Introductory or Preview Seminar implies that there is more to come after this particular event. This can be a good way to name free events that are designed to give prospective attendees a taste of what they can expect in a larger, more expensive program.

Workshops tend to be smaller and more intense than seminars. This format often involves students practicing their new skills during the event under the watchful eye of the instructor.

Hands-On Workshops typically involve participants doing work on a particular issue during the program. The promise is that when they leave, they’ll have at least a rough plan or tools in place to address the challenge.

Conferences often features keynote presentations delivered to all attendees, as well as multiple break-out sessions. Attendees often expect to receive information about industry trends and developments.

User Conferences are gatherings hosted by providers of products and services to educate and build relationships with their customers. Attendees learn about product enhancements, as well as new and advanced strategies for using the product to achieve business goals and solve problems.

Trade Shows or Expos are exhibitions where vendors can display their goods and services in hopes of generating customer leads. Typically held at least annually, these events are a good place to discover trends and developments in a particular industry.

A Symposium is typically a more formal or academic gathering, featuring multiple experts delivering short presentations on a particular topic.

A Summit is a gathering of the highest level of leaders and experts.

Teleseminars are seminars that are delivered via a conference call over the telephone and/or over the Internet. The instructor moderates the call, while the attendees listen. To engage listeners, many instructors provide outlines, notes sheets or copies of PowerPoint slides to follow when listening to the presentation. 

Webinars or Webconferences are presentations that involve an audio and video component. The audio portion of the event is delivered via phone or over the Internet, so that participants can listen via their computer speakers. The video portion of the event is delivered via the Internet, giving participants a presentation to watch while listening to the instructor. 

When determining how to label your event, consider the type of presentation you want to deliver. Also consider what your competitors are doing. If your niche is already crowded with seminars, position your event as different by increasing the level of instructor-attendee interaction and making it a workshop … or by involving other experts and offering multiple breakout sessions to transform it into a conference.

By carefully choosing the words you use to describe your event, you’ll be able to subtly communicate the benefits of participating … and attract the right kind of attendee for your event.


Author's Bio: 

Jenny Hamby is a direct-response copywriter and Certified Guerrilla Marketer who helps consultants, speakers, and coaches to create Internet, advertising and direct-mail campaigns to boost revenue and generate qualified leads for their businesses. She is also author of "How to Successfully Market Seminars and Workshops," a home-study course that shows professionals how to develop marketing plans and promotional materials to fill seminar seats. For a free copy of her e-course, "31 Secrets to Jumpstart Your Seminar Promotions," visit http://www.FreeSeminarTips.com

Seminar vs Conference


Every day we hear similar meaning words such as workshops, summits, symposiums, seminars and conferences and are confused by the use of different words for educational settings. Well, there is no need to get confused as there are obvious differences in the functioning as well as purpose of these meetings and congregations. In this article we will specifically focus on seminar and conference which seem to be the most similar among all types of meetings described earlier.

Both seminars and conferences are formal meetings of like minded people. Participants congregate and discuss topics of common interest. Seminars are generally of shorter duration and it is possible to have several business seminars inside a conference which may last for a few days. A conference requires a different kind of ambience and is usually held at a place which also has accommodation and dining facilities for the participants. A seminar has a educational connotation to it whereas a conference is more about sharing of opinions and thoughts on a topic of common interest. For example, a seminar may be organized to enhance the skills of people involved in a particular profession. In such a case, experts are called who give lectures to the participants and all participants receive a certificate at the end of the seminar.

Both seminars and conferences share one point and that is heavy reliance on audio visual aids to help a teacher to impart knowledge in an easier manner to the participants. In seminars, there is little active participation from those attending and it is usually the faculty or the expert disseminating knowledge in the form of lectures.

Conferences are organized by institutes and companies where attendees get information about latest trends and developments in the industry. There are user conferences that are organized by companies and service providers to educate and build relationships with their customers.

Educational conferences invite luminaries in the chosen field of study to enlighten the attendees with their expert knowledge. However, one major difference between seminars and conferences is that while seminars focus on imparting knowledge and skills to the participants, conferences are all about sharing opinions and views on the subject matter.

In brief:

Seminars vs conferences

• Seminars and conferences are different educational settings with different purposes and functions.

• While seminars intend to impart knowledge and skills to the participants, conferences are oriented to sharing of opinions and thoughts on the chosen subject matter.

• Conferences are congregations attended by like minded people who share their views for the common good while seminars are to enhance the skills of the participants.