| “Fruit of the Spirit” Formal Summer Gala Sunday, June 18, 2006 Doral Desert Princess Resort Palm Springs, CA |
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| According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. |
| Entertainment Solo performers Mr. Quris Kelly & Ms. JoAnne King Guest speakers Mrs. Deborah Foy & Mrs. Marcella Tarpley Haddox Vendors Photography by Clawson Photography Music/DJ by Mijo Entertainment Event Planning by Simple Elegance |
Fruit of the Spirit Formal Summer Gala Speech
Written by Marcella Ann Tarpley Haddox
We started this journey a year and a half ago with a book that my mother
gave me, A Purpose Driven Life. We sped through half of that book and
somewhere along the way we abandoned it like it was a clunker in a
junkyard. After some time many of us grew tired of driving aimlessly on the
roads of spirituality, and we realized that we needed some better wheels and
more passengers along with us and that’s where Battlefield of the Mind came
in. Oh the battles we fought but they only made us stronger. Many of us
had some head on collisions while reading this book---but I’m happy to say
that we dusted ourselves off, fixed the dents in our cars and kept on
cruising.
Just when the ladies thought they were smooth sailing, I brought this pink
book to a book club meeting and asked them to consider it for our next
reading selection. Little did they or I know that we were about to embark on
a ride that would test all of our spiritual driving skills.
That brings us all here today, pausing and reflecting on where we’ve been,
where we are, and where we are going on this spiritual highway. This book
challenged us to master the art of femininity and that began with us working
on being a good woman. For the past six months we have taken a ride on
the road to becoming a good woman. Some of us went on this journey
willing and able, some of us were silent backseat riders, some of us were
riding shotgun when we should have been in the backseat keeping our
mouths shut, some of us were speeding down the femininity highway getting
spiritual speeding tickets left and right, and there were times when some of
us refused to ride in the car and choose to let the car leave them behind
only getting in when they thought the journey had no detours or road
blocks. Although we are on different roads to mastering the art of femininity,
it does not mean that this journey is coming to an end because we have
finished reading the book. Ladies we have only just begun.
This is the time for each of us to get into our vehicles of femininity and drive
on down the highway without fear of an accident because we now know that
God is with us every step of the way. As we ride on our specific roads of
purpose we must not forget to grab our loved ones to ride with us because
God never intended for us to drive alone.
After completing the book I realized that being a good woman is not just a
process, an accomplishment, or an ultimate goal but rather a way of life. I
can safely say that all of the members are focused on improving their way of
life. In order for this to happen we have learned that it begins with this
premise: behind every good man is a good woman. That is why we chose
today to pause, reflect, and worship. Because all of us came from a place
where there was a good man (our fathers, uncles, brothers) to being in a
place where this is a good man (our husbands, significant others, nephews,
sons) and that deserves recognition. We must never forget that without one
there is not the other. Just like car without gas, our vehicles would not be
able to make this journey that we have started.
As you leave here today remember that this book required and demanded
that we as women, step outside of how we were living and make changes for
the better. It forced us to abandon our comfort zones. It forced us to
reevaluate every single aspect of our lives. It forced us to step outside of
our world and into others. It forced us to question each other. It forced us to
challenge each other. It forced us to embrace each other. It forced us to
agree to disagree. It forced us to let go of our strongholds. It forced us to
be a force amongst each other. But most importantly, it forced us to be
women of God. But once again I stress to all the ladies----this is only the
beginning.
It is time for us to restart our engines. We are not to stop applying what we
learned. We must gas up and go. We must continue driving down the
spiritual highway. We must take time to exit, refuel and maintain. We must
never stop reading, reviewing and rejoicing. When necessary we need to
trade in and upgrade. After all there is a time and season for everything.
We must be patient drivers. Patient drivers will endure and receive their
blessings. We must take some passengers along with us. Only the Devil
wants us to be lonely and be by ourselves. Most importantly, along the way
we must enjoy the ride. We are not promised tomorrow and nor can we redo
yesterday.
So ladies put your vehicle of femininity in motion. Today is a perfect
example of how we have pampered our vessels to exude the finer aspects of
our unique selves. So I challenge you all---don’t just do your tune ups,
detailing, and oil changes for taking your car out on a Sunday drive. Make
every day your Sunday drive. Keep your vessel of femininity in tip top
condition. You never know when you are going to go to auction and we all
want to command top dollar. Don’t forget your vessel is more than just you---
it’s your home, your family, and your friends. It is your way of life.
So look around the room, this is not a showroom of junkyard cars, but
vehicles of class, luxury and distinction. Continue with beautifying you,
continue making your house a home, continue refining your self worth and
virtue. Remember that while all cars have the basics each is unique in what
they have to offer and the purpose that they serve. This is true for each and
every one of us. So take the next couple of months to restore your vehicle
of femininity. Take it for a test drive---work out the bugs, don’t stop if you hit
a detour or road block, but press on through to reach the destination that
God intended for each of us to reach. When we reconvene in August---each
and everyone one of us will come back in vehicles worth being proud of and
a success story to share. I’m working on my vessel being an infinity---
because God has promised us all eternal life. How about you? What will
you be driving when we return?
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, help us get back to basics to rediscover the beauty of
whom You created us to be. To rediscover our value in the light of the fact
that in Your eyes there is neither male nor female, Greek nor Jew, for You
created us all for Your good pleasure. You’ve bought us with the price of
the blood of Your Son Jesus and ransomed us to be Yours. And in this we
find our greatest validation---that we are heirs together with Him in heavenly
places and walk in dominion in this present life because You shed Your love
on us. Grant us the security to remember at all times who we are and Whose
we are. Grant us the peace to know that our rights are all hidden in You and
You are the ultimate defender of our cause. Finish the work that You’ve
begun in us. Make us worth vessels. Make us complete in You according to
Your design. Help us rest in assurance that as we yield to being the women
You long for us to be, You will honor our submission by crowning us with
Your divine favor and blessing us with abundant fulfillment and joy. In Jesus
name. Amen.
Written by Marcella Ann Tarpley Haddox
We started this journey a year and a half ago with a book that my mother
gave me, A Purpose Driven Life. We sped through half of that book and
somewhere along the way we abandoned it like it was a clunker in a
junkyard. After some time many of us grew tired of driving aimlessly on the
roads of spirituality, and we realized that we needed some better wheels and
more passengers along with us and that’s where Battlefield of the Mind came
in. Oh the battles we fought but they only made us stronger. Many of us
had some head on collisions while reading this book---but I’m happy to say
that we dusted ourselves off, fixed the dents in our cars and kept on
cruising.
Just when the ladies thought they were smooth sailing, I brought this pink
book to a book club meeting and asked them to consider it for our next
reading selection. Little did they or I know that we were about to embark on
a ride that would test all of our spiritual driving skills.
That brings us all here today, pausing and reflecting on where we’ve been,
where we are, and where we are going on this spiritual highway. This book
challenged us to master the art of femininity and that began with us working
on being a good woman. For the past six months we have taken a ride on
the road to becoming a good woman. Some of us went on this journey
willing and able, some of us were silent backseat riders, some of us were
riding shotgun when we should have been in the backseat keeping our
mouths shut, some of us were speeding down the femininity highway getting
spiritual speeding tickets left and right, and there were times when some of
us refused to ride in the car and choose to let the car leave them behind
only getting in when they thought the journey had no detours or road
blocks. Although we are on different roads to mastering the art of femininity,
it does not mean that this journey is coming to an end because we have
finished reading the book. Ladies we have only just begun.
This is the time for each of us to get into our vehicles of femininity and drive
on down the highway without fear of an accident because we now know that
God is with us every step of the way. As we ride on our specific roads of
purpose we must not forget to grab our loved ones to ride with us because
God never intended for us to drive alone.
After completing the book I realized that being a good woman is not just a
process, an accomplishment, or an ultimate goal but rather a way of life. I
can safely say that all of the members are focused on improving their way of
life. In order for this to happen we have learned that it begins with this
premise: behind every good man is a good woman. That is why we chose
today to pause, reflect, and worship. Because all of us came from a place
where there was a good man (our fathers, uncles, brothers) to being in a
place where this is a good man (our husbands, significant others, nephews,
sons) and that deserves recognition. We must never forget that without one
there is not the other. Just like car without gas, our vehicles would not be
able to make this journey that we have started.
As you leave here today remember that this book required and demanded
that we as women, step outside of how we were living and make changes for
the better. It forced us to abandon our comfort zones. It forced us to
reevaluate every single aspect of our lives. It forced us to step outside of
our world and into others. It forced us to question each other. It forced us to
challenge each other. It forced us to embrace each other. It forced us to
agree to disagree. It forced us to let go of our strongholds. It forced us to
be a force amongst each other. But most importantly, it forced us to be
women of God. But once again I stress to all the ladies----this is only the
beginning.
It is time for us to restart our engines. We are not to stop applying what we
learned. We must gas up and go. We must continue driving down the
spiritual highway. We must take time to exit, refuel and maintain. We must
never stop reading, reviewing and rejoicing. When necessary we need to
trade in and upgrade. After all there is a time and season for everything.
We must be patient drivers. Patient drivers will endure and receive their
blessings. We must take some passengers along with us. Only the Devil
wants us to be lonely and be by ourselves. Most importantly, along the way
we must enjoy the ride. We are not promised tomorrow and nor can we redo
yesterday.
So ladies put your vehicle of femininity in motion. Today is a perfect
example of how we have pampered our vessels to exude the finer aspects of
our unique selves. So I challenge you all---don’t just do your tune ups,
detailing, and oil changes for taking your car out on a Sunday drive. Make
every day your Sunday drive. Keep your vessel of femininity in tip top
condition. You never know when you are going to go to auction and we all
want to command top dollar. Don’t forget your vessel is more than just you---
it’s your home, your family, and your friends. It is your way of life.
So look around the room, this is not a showroom of junkyard cars, but
vehicles of class, luxury and distinction. Continue with beautifying you,
continue making your house a home, continue refining your self worth and
virtue. Remember that while all cars have the basics each is unique in what
they have to offer and the purpose that they serve. This is true for each and
every one of us. So take the next couple of months to restore your vehicle
of femininity. Take it for a test drive---work out the bugs, don’t stop if you hit
a detour or road block, but press on through to reach the destination that
God intended for each of us to reach. When we reconvene in August---each
and everyone one of us will come back in vehicles worth being proud of and
a success story to share. I’m working on my vessel being an infinity---
because God has promised us all eternal life. How about you? What will
you be driving when we return?
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, help us get back to basics to rediscover the beauty of
whom You created us to be. To rediscover our value in the light of the fact
that in Your eyes there is neither male nor female, Greek nor Jew, for You
created us all for Your good pleasure. You’ve bought us with the price of
the blood of Your Son Jesus and ransomed us to be Yours. And in this we
find our greatest validation---that we are heirs together with Him in heavenly
places and walk in dominion in this present life because You shed Your love
on us. Grant us the security to remember at all times who we are and Whose
we are. Grant us the peace to know that our rights are all hidden in You and
You are the ultimate defender of our cause. Finish the work that You’ve
begun in us. Make us worth vessels. Make us complete in You according to
Your design. Help us rest in assurance that as we yield to being the women
You long for us to be, You will honor our submission by crowning us with
Your divine favor and blessing us with abundant fulfillment and joy. In Jesus
name. Amen.
