Without Christ, There Couldn't Be a CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year! For some reason, I am having a difficult time getting into the spirit. Maybe it is the commercialism that has dulled my senses. Let's face it, Christmas decor is being displayed earlier and earlier each year. I keep joking that eventually, it will be on display year round. I wish there was a rule that Christmas displays can't be put out til Thanksgiving. I know that means we'd only see them for a month. At this point in my life, I'd settle for November 1st. 

Christmas has lost its focus on Christ. I realize that many people have no spiritual grounding. During the month of December, I post a song, sometimes secular, sometimes spiritual, and this year a Christmas related quote. Who cares about being politically correct? My girlfriend watched A Charlie Brown Christmas for the first time this year and was pleasantly surprised that the special actually does focus on the true meaning of Christmas and that Linus' lines have not been edited out. He does quote directly form the Bible.  

Our best hope for the season remains in Christ. For those that don't know what it means to have a relationship with Christ, one can only hope that they will embrace the best spirit of the holiday. That means that hopefully they are a little more patient with the salesclerks or a little more charitable with their possessions. More importantly, I hope they encounter at least one person who will share with them the love of Christ and what His birth and ultimately His death means to them. Only then can you know the real meaning of Christmas. 

The story of Christ's birth is simple and plain but it is no short of a true miracle. I end this post by sharing it with you straight from the book of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1-2: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (ESV)

I hope you have taken the time to reflect on the simplicity of Christmas. It really isn't about the gifts you give or receive but about the hope you have in your heart. It is about the character and joy you bring to others the whole year through. Like Mary, we need to ponder these things in our heart. Jesus was God's gift to us so that we could have eternal life. Without Christ, there would be no Christmas! Jesus is the reason for the season! 

Diva Blessings,

Pam

Sandals

Three luxurious Sandals resort in three jam packed, fun-filled days. Dreamy Destinations just attended site inspections on Sandals properties.Can you imagine 240 travel agents on a charter plane descending on three properties all at once? Well that is what happened.  We saw Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma (Bahamas), Sandals Grande Antigua, and Sandals Royal Bahamian.

If you are a couple looking to revitalize and enhance your romance,Sandals is your destination. Did you just get engaged? This would make a perfect location for your destination wedding. They have 8 Martha Stewart packages for you to choose from-you can add on to make it unique. There is also a professional wedding coordinator on each property.  If romance is not on your agenda right now, maybe you need a girlfriend getaway or a place to have a birthday/anniversary celebration. Sandals can make it a memorable celebration just for you. There are numerous restaurants to satisfy your palate. Romantic rooms, luxurious beaches, and no children. Does it get any better? Are you looking for professional, 24 hour service that will cater to your every need? You can't beat butler service. They will draw your bath, unpack your bags, decorate your room and pretty much any other thing you can think of. The staff is friendly and accommodating and the grounds are beautifully landscaped.

Water sports abound, most included in your package. To plan you perfect excursion, Island Routes is on the resort to make sure you have the thrill of a lifetime. There is daily entertainment and nightly activity too. Commercials get you interested in Sandals, but the pictures we posted after seeing the resorts up close and personal, are the real deal.  Each resort has its own unique flavor but what doesn't vary is Sandals commitment to making your vacation an experience that you won't soon forget and will keep you coming back for years to come. So what are you waiting for? Call us to book a fantasy vacation that you won't soon forget!

In Diva Travel Mode,

Pam

December Diva Dialogue-2011

I have been AWOL and Lord knows things have been moving and shaking in my absence. Sometimes it kills me not to put my opinion out there. Life calls though and I can't always post like I want, when I want. That being said, I am going to riff on several things.

First up, Herman Cain. I am going to keep it short and simple! I hate arrogant people who are also ignorant. Herman Cain fits the bill. I never considered him a serious contender for the GOP nomination but let's face it, their pickings are extremely slim.  That being the case, he was allowed to gain popularity despite being ill informed on a variety of subjects. I am gonna say that he is also an unattractive womanizer. Goodness, he reminds me so much of Clarence Thomas that I wanna scream. I am mad because he didn't champion his wife enough to go immediately to clear up the drama of all these women coming out of the woodwork to say that he allegedly sexually harassed them. He made the wife wait five days before he went to see her. WTF? Dead wrong!As of this posting, I guess he's had plenty of time to mend fences with her because he has finally done the appropriate thing and removed himself from the media spotlight.Now we can focus n the antics of Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Happy happy joy joy!

Let me just put this out there. Is Gloria Allred the only attorney who can represent sexually harassed victims of men in the spotlight? I mean really. I hate seeing her! Maybe it's just me!

Jerry Sandusky was again arrested on yesterday as a ninth and tenth accuser have come forward to allege abuse at the hands of the former Penn State defensive coordinator.  Joe Paterno has been been fired. The legacy of that University has been tarnished forever. The major question which emerges is this, actually there is no question. Joe Paterno was dead wrong for not being more proactive about Sandusky's problem. We are our brother's keeper and as a coach, Joe had a responsibility to do the right thing and pursue corrective action.

Donald Trump is back. Oh joy! Here he is talking politics again. Really, media whores are ruining the US one appearance at a time. What serious presidential candidate in their right mind would participate in a debate moderated by him? Trump has and always will have his own agenda. Any minute he will be talking about running again. Like that could happen. 

Today, there has been another shooting at Virgina Tech. This really saddens me. I know you really aren't safe anywhere but my goodness, how much can one school take. I am praying that my children aren't interested in going there. Once again, the Virginia Tech community stands in need of our prayers and support.  I am not sure what is going on but I know God is ultimately in control.

Black Friday was about two weeks ago. I am saddened by the stories of trampling, pepper spraying, and gunfire all to get a cherished item at a bargain price. At some point don't we have all the video games and electronics that we can use? Haven't these folks got Internet service? Order your stuff from the comfort of your home. If you must go out, use your manners people. Be on your best behavior.

I am going to close for now. I promise to return soon. In the mean time, It is the Christmas season. Christian or not, most folks get caught up in what is a spiritual holiday. Jesus is the reason for the season. Commercialism abounds but the true meaning of the season is giving. Go beyond the gifts and focus on your character. Are you giving your best? God gave us His best. Take a moment to pause and reflect on how far you come and what you have achieved. Did you make a difference? If not, it isn't too late. 

In the Spirit of the Season,

Pam

Diva Dialogue-November, 2011

The news is buzzing! I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with Penn State and their issues. As a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State was one of our biggest rivals so imagine my interest in this unfortunate situation. A grand jury indictment has been raised against former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky for allegations which include sexual abuse of eight children over a fifteen year period. I am saddened when any sexual abuse is raised and this situation is no different. I think the fact that so much is focused on Joe Paterno running a clean upstanding athletic program where he stressed moral values and scholastic achievements is overshadowing the real issue which is adults violating children's trust. Paterno has had a long illustrious career. It is safe to say this will be his last year as coach of the Nittany Lions as he announced that he will retire at the close of this season. He did go to the administration with the accusations, the administration chose to cover up the abuse and Paterno is being called on the carpet for not pushing for more action on their part. Given Paterno's level of influence in the Penn State community, I do think he fulfilled his moral obligation but I also feel that given his respected position, he should have advocated for the children involved instead of going forward without questioning the actions of the University. What would you have done is his shoes? Is fulfilling your moral obligation enough?

On a sad note, former Heavyweight champion boxer, Smokin Joe Frazier lost a battle to liver cancer. He was 67 years old. He handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat. Frazier had a devastating left hook and was well respected for his determination and strength. By all accounts, he had a great personality and will be sorely missed by the Philadelphia community where he worked closely with children. As a child, I clearly remember all the hype surrounding the "Thrilla in Manila." It was an awesome fight and your adrenaline got pumping just by watching. I won't even discuss the pre-hype and trash talking that occurred. I am no longer excited by boxing, it simply isn't the same.

On another sad note, rapper Heavy D, age 44, died yesterday. Heavy D was one of my favorite hip hop artists. He had longevity in a field where people don't last very long. Last month, he performed on an award show and the performance was phenomenal. His career began in 1987 with the single, Overweight Lovers in the House. Dwight Myers(Heavy D's Government name) was also an actor. His most recent role was in Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy which was released last week. I am a saddened fan because I loved Heavy D, his rap was clean, catchy, and boy could he dance despite his heavier weight. He came across as sincere and fun loving. Based on the celebrity response, he was all of those things as well as a caring artist and father. Hopefully, heaven has gained an angel.

Last but certainly not least, Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Joseph Jackson. Let's hope that MJ's family can finally find some peace in what is really a tragic situation. Let's face it, we all know MJ needed professional help. I think eventually, MJ would have self destructed. It is a travesty that Conrad Murray didn't take his Hippocratic Oath seriously enough to walk away from the fame of treating a superstar celebrity or to attempt to help him resolve his demons. Murray may not serve more than the 20 days it will take before his sentencing due to overcrowded California prisons. He will never practice medicine in the US again. He is vilified because MJ has remained larger than life even after death and his fans are a loyal and dedicated group. My hubby thinks Murray should leave the States where he'd be in a better position to start over somewhat more anonymously. I feel sorry for him. He was wrong and I think he will pay dearly for his mistake for the rest of his life. The choice to be a doctor is a serious one. The verbiage in the Hippocratic Oath is clear. To be a medical profession in violation of it is dangerous and deadly. I see this as a wake up call for patients and their doctors. We all have a role and with it comes boundaries. It is important to operate within those guidelines to keep us all safe.

I have said a lot and now it is time to close. Life is short. There are a ton of lessons to be learned as we live it. In the case of Penn State, you have to think about the situations from a personal point of view. Would you have reacted the same if it was your son, daughter, or grandchild? I think the same applies to Conrad Murray. Someone has to be bold enough to take a stand. In the case of Joe Frazier and Heavy D, both the hip hop and sports arena have taken serious losses. Both men had warm personalities and were well respected by their peers.  Till next time, love life and live it to the fullest.


In Diva Love,

Pam

Marriage is Serious Business

I figured out why the whole Kim Kardashian marriage thing has pissed me off. First off, I have really strong feelings about the seriousness of marriage. One of my earliest post was, "A Beautiful Wedding does Not a Beautiful Marriage Make." You can check it out here: http://missreaddiva.blogspot.com/2009/09/beautiful-wedding-does-not-beautiful.html.

Marriage is not easy. You take two people with completely different backgrounds and upbringing and you send them off to make a happy life. They stand before God and witnesses and make vows to "love, honor, and cherish in good times and bad." Just like the good times, bad times will come. God didn't promise any of us a lifetime of happiness and when you are looking for another person to provide that happiness, it is a recipe for disaster.

I have been married for fifteen and a half years. Sometimes, even I am shocked that we have lasted this long. LOL! Everyday we both have to choose to see the good in each other and figure out that what we have built together is better than what we can do alone. Some days, neither of us feels up to the challenge. On those days, tension runs deep and attitudes prevail. God already knew what type of people we'd be once sin entered the picture. Love was probably going to be hard enough with out the temptation of sin. Ironically enough, there are so many Bible passages that call us to love. When God makes the command, it is NOT conditional on our feelings or emotions. Let's face it, Jesus met people wherever they were in their stage of life. He met their every need and it didn't matter that he'd been ministering for days at a time with no rest. He didn't judge, nor did He condemn. He just loved on the person in the manner they needed it most, always spiritual, sometimes, emotionally and physically too.

I can attest that the first year of marriage is difficult. No one can fully prepare you for what changes in you will have to result in order for your marriage to work. Even after you have years of marriage under your belt, you still have to work at communicating and compromising. After 72 days, you have done very little bonding, especially if you are spending half that time away from each other and in the public spotlight. I am not judging Kim K but you have to wonder what her motivation to marry really was. I can understand the getting caught up in the fantasy. After all, the whole wedding thing was a public spectacle. Love has its public moments but it really is a private affair.

You have to do the work to build your relationship so that you and your spouse can both be the best of your selves in public and private. Living out love the way God commands, takes some serious prayer and commitment on both individuals part. When Kris Humphries is finding out that his marriage is over from the media, you know that someone wasn't prepared to handle marriage. I mean really. You couldn't give him the courtesy of a personal conversation before going public. Then you are wondering why everyone thinks it is a sham. Let's be mature here.

 Readers, if you are thinking about marriage, I can't implore you enough to get professional counseling. A neutral party will give you things to consider about marriage that you may not be thinking of as you try to fulfill your ultimate wedding dreams. A wedding lasts one day, a marriage is supposed to be for life. Don't make the same mistake as Kim and many others.  Marriage is serious business. Marriage is not Big Business.

I leave you with what God's Word says about love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (TNIV) states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.Verse 13 goes on to state, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." It is important to note that love perseveres. Persevere means to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly. Enough said. Till next time, peace.

Leaving you in Diva Love,

Pam

Liebster Award

I want to personally thank Sporadically Yours for gifting me with this award. I just started following her blog and I absolutely love it. I feel like we'd be friends if we met somewhere. Check her out by clicking the link here www.sporadicpublication.blogspot.com! Now I am returning the favor and passing the love on to several of my favorite bloggers.

The Liebster (German for friend or love) Award spotlights up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.

FOLLOWING THE RULES

Upon receiving the Liebster Award, you must do the following:

1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks(I decided on 6) and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Post the award on your blog.


4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other writers.


5. Have fun with it!

I read some really REALLY great blogs. Most of the bloggers that I follow are fairly new. They are a varied bunch but all of them are down to earth and fabulous:

               Kristin@           www.handbagshairandheels.blogspot.com

               Carla@             www.sojourneroftruth.blogspot.com

               Laura@             www.lovelifescrap.blogspot.com

               Jill@                  www.thisismyridiculouslife.wordpress.com

               Stephanie@       www.journeytoninevah.blogspot.com
               Danette@          www.brichrkha.blogspot.com

You will enjoy every one of the blogs. Trust me, I don't lie!

Copyright November 3, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Thankful, Thankful, Thankful

We are three days into November which means the season of Thanksgiving is upon us. This is my favorite time of year. For the month of November, I always post something on my Facebook page that I am thankful for each day. It can be great or it can be small but nonetheless, we should all be able to find at least three things that we are truly thankful for each day. It looks like quite a few people are also posting their thankful items each day. It is very rewarding for me to read those post because they point to the fact that some people have some deep stuff going on in their lives.

As a parent of children who are definitely a part of the Entitlement Generation, I still try to impress upon my children the fact that they are better than blessed. They have more than they need and quite a few of their wants. I am happy to say that they do have manners. See my previous post if you are wondering why I point this out. I say this often, on our worst day, we are still more blessed than a whole lot of other people on their best day, especially those in other countries. We should never take anything for granted and gratitude goes a long way with people. Too whom much is given, much is required.

I lift this challenge to you. Take the time to note at least three things that you are thankful for from now till Thanksgiving Day. You don't have to post the list on Facebook, nor do you have to tell a friend. You can meditate on those things and simply express your gratitude. Believe me, focusing on the positive will make you feel good throughout your day. If the day looks like it might go wrong, go back and reflect on those things again. Every morning, I sing, "Count your blessings, name them one by one!" I hope you will rise to the challenge. Feel free to share your experience with me! Till next time, be blessed and be a blessing. Someone needs you this holiday season and you probably don't have to look to far to bless them. Ciao!



Copyright November 3, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe