girltalk Blog
Nikki is the fifth winner of our funny and crazy wedding story contest. Keep this in mind next time you volunteer to help at someone’s wedding…
Fourteen years ago, two of our former “kids” from youth group were getting married. Since my husband was officiating at the wedding and I was matron of honor, we tried to help out wherever we could. The two 
of us, along with another bridesmaid, offered to do up the birdseed that would be thrown at the happy couple following the wedding. We set aside one evening to package the birdseed in tulle and tie with pretty ribbon.
The wedding day finally arrived! It was absolutely lovely. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch.
And then came the time to bid farewell to the newly married couple as they prepared to ride away in their limo. The mood was light as all the guests assembled to see them off. Guests untied their little tulle pouches and tossed the birdseed at the couple. The birdseed rained down on the laughing bride and groom as they ran to their waiting limo. And then the guests returned to the reception.
It wasn’t long before small children began crying. Noses began bleeding. Eyes began watering. Commotion and chaos broke out all throughout the room. Someone called 911.
We watched and listened in horror as the ambulance pulled up to the church. And we shrunk away in embarrassment as we soon learned there are different kinds of birdseed! Who knew??? We had inadvertantly purchased a kind that included red pepper—-evidently to keep squirrels away!
We later learned that even the bride and groom had not escaped the effects of the red pepper bird seed. While riding in their limo, their eyes burned so badly they had to get the limo driver to pull off at a Burger King so they could rinse out their eyes with water!
And yes, we did fess up…eventually. And yes, they do still love us. And together we laugh about it…a lot.
For my church’s ladies meeting on hospitality, my friend (and a great example of hospitality!) Nancy Rogers compiled a list of questions to help us get to know the people we invite into our homes. These conversation starters will help you show God’s love to strangers. Thank you Nancy!
Hospitality Questions (Downloadable PDF)
Questions to Get to Know People Better
1. Where did you grow up?
2. Where did you go to school and what did you study?
3. How did you meet your spouse and how long have you been married?
4. What dreams do you have for the future?
5. What is one thing you have never done that you wish you could do?
6. What is the most important thing you have accomplished in your life?
7. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time?
8. If you could do anything other than what you are doing now, what would you do?
9. Ask questions about their work, their kids, where they like to vacation or their favorite foods.
10. What books are they currently reading?
Questions for Biblical Fellowship
1. What is one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year and what are you doing to this end?
3. Who is one person you would like to spend time with asking questions about their relationship with the Lord?
4. What is one new way you could help strengthen the church?
5. What is one thing you could do to improve your prayer life?
6. What habit would you most like to establish this year?
7. Who do you most want to encourage this year?
8. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
9. In what area of your life do you most need growth and what will you do about it?
10. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year?
Questions to Get to Know Internationals Better
1. What country are you from?
2. Can you describe your daily life and family traditions in your home country?
3. What was your education like and what are your interests?
4. What are your impressions of our country?
5. Were you brought up in a religious home?
6. What foods are unique to your country?/ what food from our country do you enjoy?
7. Would you teach me a few words in your native language?
8. Are there any questions you would like to ask me?
9. What are your special holidays and how do you celebrate them?
10. Is there any way I can serve you?
Here’s another hilarious wedding story for you, from Cara (well, two stories, actually):
My husband is a pastor, and as you know pastor’s do lots of wedding ceremonies. The first wedding my husband did was going smoothly up until asking for the rings. The Best man and the Maid of honor carefully handed him the rings which he then placed on his opened Bible. He spoke a few words about the rings and then the rings fell of his Bible and rolled under the bride’s dress. Brian stood there not sure if it were appropriate for him to “go in” after them or wait for somebody to get them. Meanwhile, we all got a good chuckle. Not to long after that wedding he had another one to do. Not learning from his first mistake he took the rings placed them on his Bible and proceeded to have them also roll off his Bible causing the wedding party to frantically search for them which were once again under the bride’s dress. Since then Brian has stopped trying to lay them on the bible and just holds them in his hand—6 years later he has yet to drop another set of rings. But I do enjoy reminding him about it every chance I get!
Have a great weekend friends!
Nicole for Carolyn, Kristin, and Janelle
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-9
In this series, we’ll answer four simple questions about hospitality:
What is hospitality?
Who is to show hospitality and who is to receive hospitality?
Why show hospitality?
How do we show hospitality?
So what is hospitality? The word, as it is used in the Bible, is a compound word that brings together the two words “love” and “stranger.” It literally means to show “Love for strangers.”
Hospitality=Love+Stranger
Hospitality is love. Not only does the word mean “love,” but here it is set in the context of the command to “keep loving one another earnestly.”
“Love in action” is how one woman defines hospitality. It is “meeting the needs of others through the use of one’s resources, specifically in and through the context of the home” (Practicing Hospitality, Pat Ennis & Lisa Tatlock)
Showing hospitality is not limited to having people into our home (although this is its primary expression). We can also use the resources of our home to show hospitality by making a meal, buying groceries, visiting the sick, babysitting, sending a note of encouragement, gifting homemade crafts, and even supporting local and international ministries who feed and clothe the poor.
Hospitality=Love+Stranger
Hospitality is a love of strangers. “It is to show kindness to strangers in such a way that they cease to be strangers.” It is “A concrete and personal expression of Christian love, intended to include strangers in a circle of care.” (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology)
A “stranger” isn’t merely a person you’ve never laid eyes on before. So often, people in our churches, neighborhoods, jobs, schools, and even extended family are strangers. Even though we see them every day, we hardly know them.
But when someone walks through our front door, a tangible, powerful thing happens. There is a fundamental change in our relationship. People who were once strangers cease to be strangers. They become a guest, and even a friend.
Who is one stranger you can show love to this week?
“Show hospitality to one another…” 1 Peter 4:9
I used to think that hospitality was for certain, uniquely gifted women who “got into that sort of thing.” You know the type: she has three lasagnas in the freezer, a roast and potatoes in the crockpot, cookies in the oven and coffee just brewed. Her table is always graced with fresh-cut hydrangeas from her garden—even in the dead of winter (or so it seems). She’s never happier than when a few strays show up unannounced for dinner, except of course, when a family of seven comes to stay for the week.
Me, well I panic when an extra guest shows up for dinner. My hydrangeas barely bloom in spring, and I think the chicken in my freezer has a frosty coat. Oh, and the coffee? I drank that already.
Don’t get me wrong—I love all things domestic, but I never thought I had the kind of capacity for regular hospitality as those “gifted” women.
Sadly, I didn’t see the importance of hospitality either. I considered my home to be merely one of many possible places to get together with people. So when my husband Steve and I would plan to hang out with church members, neighbors, family and friends, I was quick to suggest we take a couple to Starbucks or host a group at the park. Less work for me, I thought, to my shame.
You can see why I had to laugh when our senior pastor’s wife, Lesley called last fall and asked me to lead a women’s meeting on hospitality. I think maybe God was laughing too.
So I sat down with a stack of Bible dictionaries from my husband’s library and a few books on hospitality (I had to buy and borrow as I didn’t have any!) and made some surprising discoveries.
For example, did you know that hospitality is everywhere in Scripture? It’s a major theme in the Old Testament, notable in our Savior’s life and teaching, and a regular practice of the early church. Hospitality even figures prominently in the Bible’s description of heaven.
In fact, the number of times the New Testament authors exhorted believers to practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13, 1 Tim 5:10, Heb. 13:2, 1 Pet. 4:9, and so on) led one author to observe that to them, “hospitality was evidently rated highly.”
Sadly, I had not rated hospitality as highly as I should, but by God’s grace, my perspective has changed. I’m not so quick to suggest Starbucks anymore.
Today, we want to start a new series on hospitality, and our hope is that all of us would be encouraged to rate hospitality as highly as God does.
Several of you newbies have asked about the book club. Our latest selection is Womanly Dominion
by Mark Chanski. We want to give everyone a chance to order a copy, so we’ll begin the second week in August, after we return 
from our annual family vacation.
If you want to participate, simply order the book now, and read the Introduction and the first chapter by the week of August 10. We’ll post a review that week, and then continue at a pace of two chapters per week. In the meantime, check out Mom’s initial thoughts.
Just in time, Amazon has restocked the book, so order your copy today.
If you’re new to girltalk, you can take a peak at past book club selections, peruse our series on reading, or check out our latest summer reading recommendations.
Bonni sent along this really cute wedding story:
I was flower girl at the age of 2 for my sister about 25 years ago and so the story goes…
I was ready to walk down the aisle because my parents gave me a little incentive. If I walked down the aisle, I received a strawberry shortcake doll. Enough said, I was going to walk down that aisle. However,the ring bearer apparently didn’t have such a great incentive because he started screaming that he didn’t want to walk down,so they decided we couldn’t walk because he was too scared. Then my father was walking my sister down the aisle and I decided I wasn’t going to let this ring bearer stop me from getting my doll, so I walked down behind the bride and my father! My sister and father had no idea I was there until they stopped and I bumped into them. Well, everyone got a good laugh and I got my doll!
A friend of the family let us know that Rachel Barkey passed away yesterday morning. Please pray for her husband, Neil, and their two children and their extended families. If you have not yet watched Rachel’s video testimony of her battle with terminal cancer, we would strongly urge you to do so today.
We rejoice that Rachel is now in glory, free from pain and worshipping our Savior. For us here at girltalk, and we know, for many of you as well, she will always be a profound example of steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
“Our behavior has the potential to discredit the gospel,” Mom cautioned us on Tuesday. But that’s not all: our behavior can actually commend the gospel! Here Mom closes her opening chapter in Feminine Appeal
and here we will conclude our series as well:
“As [Titus 2] verse 10 says, we can ‘adorn’ the gospel with our lives. To ‘adorn’ means to put something beautiful or attractive on display—like placing a flawless gemstone in a setting that uniquely shows off its brilliance. The gospel is like the most valuable of jewels. It is the pearl of great price.
Make no mistake, by adorning the gospel, we are not enhancing or improving it. The gospel cannot be improved! But by cultivating the feminine qualities listed in Titus 2, we can present the gospel as attractive, impressive, and pleasing to a watching world.
Several years ago while we were on a family outing, a gentlemen approached my husband and said, “Sir, I’ve been observing you for some time, and I have never seen a family relate like yours. How do you do it?”
My husband and I and our children had simply been enjoying one another’s company—laughing together and showing affection. But what was ordinary interaction between our family members was curiously attractive to this stranger. Our behavior provided C.J. the opportunity to share the gospel with him. My husband explained that we are simply a family of sinners—but sinners whose lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel. And that was the reason for the difference this man observed.
Although we might not always be aware, people are watching our lives. If we exhibit the qualities from Titus 2 such as love for our families or purity or kindness, we are promoting the gospel. And the unbelievers who see us—be they family member, friend, neighbor, or stranger—may actually be drawn to the gospel by the way we live. How extraordinary!
The climax of Titus 2 announces that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” It heralds the news of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness” (vv. 11-14).
The seven feminine virtues [of Titus 2] are not an end in themselves. They point to the transforming effect of the gospel in the lives of women—women who have turned from their sins and trusted in the Savior, women whose sins have been forgiven and whose hearts have been changed.
Can you conceive of anything that sets forth the beauty of the gospel jewel more brilliantly than the godly behavior of those who have received it? Consider the loveliness of a woman who passionately adores her husband, who tenderly cherishes her children, who creates a warm and peaceful home, who exemplifies purity, self-control, and kindness in her character and who gladly submits to her husband’s leadership—for all the days God grants her life. I dare say there are few things that display the gospel jewel with greater elegance. This is true feminine appeal.
Why do we blog about biblical womanhood? We want to give those who oppose God’s Word nothing evil to say about us. But more than that, we want to do our measly bit, together with you, to commend the “grace of God [that] has appeared, giving salvation for all people” (Tit. 2:11).
Our second winner of the “Crazy Wedding Story” contest is Sarah. This is one of the most memorable wedding stories we’ve ever heard! (Send us your address and book choice, Sarah!)
My Husband, Matt, and I planned on getting married in our Church in Lodi, Ca on May 11th of 2007. In Northern California, May is a beautiful time to get married, and boy were we excited! We had a guest list of about 250 people. We absolutely could not wait!
After a 10 month engagement (10 months is too long!!), the day was fast approaching. I scrambled to finish all of the last-minute details. I had spent hours, and hours on a slide-show that went through our childhood years, and through our engagement. I had procrastinated a bit, and the night before was trying desperately to burn it to DVD…. When suddenly my computer crashed. I freaked out, and started call every friend I had that knew anything about computers. Sadly, my slide-show was lost forever, and my hard drive fried.
That night I couldn’t sleep, and was feeling sick. Friends told me that I had “Wedding Jitters”. I figured they were right. I got up the morning of our wedding, and crawled to the bathroom. I was running a 103 degree temperature, and was throwing up. This was not the wedding morning I had had pictured. My bridesmaids and I planned on getting our hair done in Sacramento (a 45 minute drive from our town) and having dinner at The Cheesecake Factory before our 7:30pm wedding. So I stayed in bed as long as I could, drinking tea, and praying.
I was finally feeling better, and met my Bridesmaids at the church. We drove to Sacramento. I still felt sick, but thought I would be ok. So we got to the hair salon in Downtown Sacramento, and everything is going well, and my bridesmaids were looking beautiful, minus one that was running late. That’s when I noticed a large group of people around the building next door, followed by about 20 police cars. One of the women from the salon went over to ask what was going on. We just happened to be next to a federal building that had received a suspicious package. The entire block was shut down, and they weren’t allowing people to leave—or to come in, as my late bridesmaid found out the hard way.
I panic, and start to feel sick again. I remember thinking “This can not be happening!”. I called my Fiance, and told him what was happening. He turned on the news, and the story was on every local channel. I knew then that this was a big deal. After spending hours trapped in the salon, panicking, and getting sick, I went outside to talk to a police officer. we had about 2 1/2 hours until our wedding, and were 45 minutes away from the church, and my bridesmaids were starving. So as I started to talk, my voice started cracking, and before I knew it I was bawling to this police officer that I was going to miss my wedding. He ever-so-graciously made a few calls, and had my bridal party and I escorted out. Praise God! Though I did feel like quite a “Bridezilla” after my little melt-down!
We stop and my bridesmaids grab a quick bite to eat, and head back to the church to get ready. As we’re driving back, I get a call from my Fiance. “Um, I’m at the barber, and my car won’t start”. Thank goodness one of his Groomsmen just happened to be a few blocks away, and jump started his car… whew!
The wedding was beautiful. Everything I dreamed of, and our Pastor joked about “the wedding that almost never came to be” (referring to the bomb scare), and everyone had a nice laugh. We stayed at the church to finish our pictures, and were the last ones to leave. We were driving to the reception in my Father-in-law’s 1977 Corvette. We got in and it wouldn’t start. Matt and I couldn’t help but laugh! It had been a crazy day… We tried calling everyone, but they had turned their cell phones off for the wedding. Finally, one of our attendants called us, and asked where we were. They came and picked us up… we were an hour late to our own reception!
The reception was lovely. A dessert bar, with chocolate fountain. I was still feeling sick, and so I didn’t get to eat anything, but I was ok with that! We left the reception, and got to the nicest hotel in Lodi, which was a gift from my in-laws. There had been a mix-up, and they didn’t have a room for us. The hotel worked it out, and after two hours of waiting(!), we were in our room, and we were both starving to death. We drove to Jack In The Box, got food, and headed back to the hotel. We ate, and fell asleep… ha ha. Definitely not what we had imagined! I made a visit to the ER before we left for our Honeymoon, and it turned out I had a double ear infection…
It’s been two years, and we laugh about the day all the time! I must say, it took me a while to be able to laugh… We’re just glad to be married, and couldn’t be happier! Although one day I would like to renew my vows, on a beach, and far away from any government buildings.
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