Petals from the Basket

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The Series is Complete!


The fourth and final book in “Lorraine’s Little Books” is now available for your Kindle! In celebration, we have priced this book at $0.99 so that you may easily complete your series!

This latest book, Biblical Self-Image, has been used not only with adults, but also with many junior-high and senior-high teen groups. It covers several practical observations regarding how we view what God created. Additionally, there is an emphasis on caring for our “inner self” as well as our “outer self.”

“How often do we look at someone else and think, “Why can’t I be like that?” We can never be like anyone else, nor do we need to be. That is not God’s plan. Our self-image should be based on what Scripture teaches us about what God created us to be. We are each one-of-a-kind, with a one-of-a-kind purpose!”

It is our prayer that each of these books, The Death of a Dream, Around My Kitchen Table, Choices, and Biblical Self-Image, will be a blessing to you and strengthen you in your journey of faith. To God be the glory!

By Petals from the Basket | June 6, 2012 | Books, Ebooks |

Wisconsin Voters, Choose . . .

Today is a big day for Wisconsin. There is a “recall election” taking place for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. This historic event is a first for Wisconsin.  In fact, in this article from CBSnews.com, the election is described as “the second biggest contest of the 2012 election cycle.”

There are many words that can be used to describe me – both good and bad, for certain – but “political activist” is not one of them. I care. I pray. I vote. But I generally do not participate in campaigning or in promoting an individual candidate. This year, this election, this blog post, will not break that trend.

Some of you will read that last sentence, huffing as you choose to click on the address bar to head toward a website with stronger views and adamant language for or against particular candidates, and you will choose to think I am weak for not shouting my opinions from the balcony of my apartment.

And that is exactly what I am adamant about supporting. You get to choose.

If we were all completely honest, there are few candidates, in even fewer elections, for whom we would “fight to the end” in every area of their leadership. But I will “fight to the end” for my freedom to cast my vote in an effort to elect the candidates of my choosing.

Yes, I have strong feelings about the people for whom I will vote today. I believe these two people will best represent my interests as a citizen of Wisconsin. And since I’m working diligently for the opportunity to remain in the wonderful state of Wisconsin even after losing my job, I want my interests represented well.

Yes, I’m ready for the political ads to be done. And yes, I’m ready for the bashing of candidates to end – from both sides of the ballot.

I personally believe that yelling, screaming, and hatefully spoken half-truths have no place in politics. But I do support the rights that we have that allow those fervent endeavors and the privileges that we have which permit us to live side-by-side and yet differ in our opinions as though there were a great gulf between us. I do not, however, and will not ever, for that matter, support the hatred and ignorance that breaks laws in order to defend them.

But today, I get to choose a positive way to be heard. I get to mark a box that speaks louder than all of the words and speeches and actions put together. I get to choose the candidates whose political beliefs will allow me to continue to be heard and to continue to live in a state that I have come to love.

But I must choose. I must choose to set aside the convenience of staying home. I must choose to go out of my way to head to my polling place. I must choose to delegate those moments of my day to mark a box that speaks volumes without using words.

I must choose to choose.

So today, Wisconsin voters, choose the candidate that you believe will uphold the best interests of all Wisconsin residents – rich, poor, male, female, employed, unemployed, believing, and unbelieving. For me, there is only one set of candidates that best represent that. But for me today, it’s honestly not about choosing my candidates, it’s about making the choice to choose!

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Thank you for taking time to read this post. Please feel free to leave a comment or question.

By Petals from the Basket | June 5, 2012 | Events |

New Book Available June 15, 2012!

I couldn’t wait until Monday morning to post this, so I’m posting it tonight!

As announced in its generic form last week…

It’s coming!

And it’s coming on Friday, June 15th!

The “it” is a downloadable Bible study, available only on the Petals from the Basket website, entitled…

THE ABC’s of T2:3! 

This 14-lesson Bible study for women can serve as an individual study or a group study (such as a Sunday School class, Life Group, weekly ladies’ Bible study, or just a group of friends encouraging one another to know God more).

During the summer of 2011, I was asked to teach a class for women at the church where I worked. In my off-work hours, I diligently poured over the familiar three-verse passage starting in Titus 2:3. The more I read it, the more I realized that Paul’s primary instruction to Titus throughout this entire little book of Scripture was to teach the believers on the island of Crete to know God and to live for Him.

The pieces began to fit together for me, and I decided to combine my love for the names and attributes of God (“Praise Walk,” anyone?) with the principles taught to women in this passage. Therefore, I chose the name THE ABC’s of T2:3!

I enjoyed teaching the class, but I was encouraged recently to go one step further and make the series available in print. Following an introductory lesson, there are 13 lessons, each with a brief study on that week’s two letters of the alphabet and their corresponding names or attributes of God, along with one principle, command, or instruction from Titus 2:3-5.

No Kindle, Nook, or special equipment will be necessary! In true “e-book” formatting, you will be able to download the book right from this site at a very minimal cost, and begin the study at your convenience!

So that’s the announcement! (There will be a few other related fun announcements between now and the launch of the book, so keep an eye out for those!)

But first, I have a personal request:

I do not “promote” this in pride but in the hopes that it will be used of God to teach all of us more of His Word and more about Him! Therefore, I would like to ask that you pray with me at least one time between now and Friday, June 15th, that God will use this study in my heart and in the hearts of the women who use it. To God be the glory!

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Thank you for taking time to read about the “New Book Available June 15, 2012.”

Please feel free to comment or leave a question.

By Petals from the Basket | June 4, 2012 | Books, Ebooks, Events |

My 30-Day Address Book

It’s chilly here tonight. No, I take that back. It’s cold! 🙂  [It’s in the 40’s as of this writing.]

In an effort to warm up, I poured myself a huge mug of coffee at about 9:30. Yes, I know that was not smart. Yes, I will remember to drink herbal tea next time I’m cold after 5:00!

And yes, I’m more than slightly wired.

However, in my energetic state, I began cleaning out a desk drawer, and found one of those thin little address books from the dollar store. I have recently combined all of my address books and contact information into one nifty location, so I decided just to get rid of this little unused book. As I was getting ready to toss it toward the little wicker trash basket, a thought hit me. (Coffee actually gets my mind racing and is often a great idea-inducer for me! haha!)

During the month of June, I will be reading the book of Psalms again. (I generally try to read it on the months that have 30 days. I read five chapters per day: 1, 31, 61, 91, 121; then on June 2nd I’ll read five more: 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, and so on.) In April, I kept a journal of what I learned from the Psalms in relation to all God was teaching me on my detour. It was awesome! But as I looked at that little $1.00 address book, I thought, “Hey, that would be a great place to list all the names and attributes of God I come across throughout the month of June!”

Since I’m always looking for new names and attributes of God to incorporate into my praise walks, and more importantly, for the purpose of learning more about my great God, I’m really really, really excited about doing this all month! As I find a name or attribute, I will list it under the alphabetical tab for that letter. Then, in the “address” line, I’ll put the reference(s) where I found that word!

Yes, I could do the same thing in a spiral notebook, but this is already divided alphabetically, is compact enough to carry in my purse, and it’s got a cute little cover! Why didn’t I think of this before?

Anyone care to join me?

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Thank you for taking time to read “My 30-Day Address Book.” Please feel free to comment or question.

By Petals from the Basket | June 1, 2012 | Bible Reading, God-and-I-Time, Ideas |

Three Reasons I Love This Idea…

My sister Karen and her Bible Study group meet on a regular basis, and it’s clear to this outsider that they have come to love, appreciate, and truly build up one another as they meet on designated Tuesday evenings.

Karen emailed me this picture last week, and I immediately wrote and asked if I could share it on this site. Her only requirement was that I wait to post it since the group was meeting on Tuesday night and she didn’t want to risk having anyone see it! The ladies were having a birthday celebration for Teri, and made her an awesome gift. (Yes, you may have seen versions of this concept on other sites, but this one goes a little bit deeper!)

Each of the friends wrote down a few of Teri’s attributes and godly character qualities, and from that, they created this one-of-a-kind picture for her using a frame that holds three pictures! It speaks for itself, so I’ll simply close with three reasons why I personally love this idea:

1. Scripture tells us to build one another up (as opposed to using our words or actions to tear one another down). We demonstrate love and kindness when we choose to acknowledge and encourage the godly qualities we see in others!

Ephesians 4:16 “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

2. As you can see, the picture includes two photos of the entire group, undoubtedly taken during moments that will evoke treasured memories with just a simple glance at this keepsake! I don’t know the recipient or anything about her, but I dare say the thoughtfulness behind this picture will bring calm to storms, change moments of loneliness to reminders of acceptance, and turn sadness to joy.

3. Just seeing this picture makes me want to drop everything, write my friends, and tell them what amazing qualities they have and how those qualities have impacted my life. And isn’t that what an uplifting gift should do? In the Bible, Luke shares the story that Jesus told about the “Good Samaritan.” As Jesus drew the story of the good neighbor to its close, He ended with words that still apply to us in 2012 when we learn a truth about demonstrating kindness:

Luke 10:37, “Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’” 

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Thank you for taking time to read this post. Please feel free to leave a comment.

By Petals from the Basket | May 30, 2012 | Entertaining, Friends, Ideas |