We stuck together through thick and thin during our six-year commitment, and then took a two-year hiatus. Last week our Yada Yada Book Club reunited for breakfast when one of our members visited from Phoenix. We all gathered except for two who had to work, but the rest of us met at a quaint little restaurant, Sweet Grace, with its friendly charm and Christian background music. Oh, the stories I can tell about the times we discussed Christian novels at this little bistro! What memories.
When I read Neta Jackson’s The Yada Yada Prayer Group back in 2003, I knew I had to belong to such a group of diverse women who love God, love His Word and would want to support one another through the storms of life and celebrate the good times. I found such a group in Jan, Mary Jane, Lila, Belinda, Janie, Cathy and our beloved Elizabeth, who now lives in Heaven. Over the years, we celebrated our kids’ weddings, the births of our grandbabies, our birthdays, Christmas, and just plain old life! We rallied around one another in times of death. Just like the novel which features a cover photo of all kinds of different styles of ladies socks , our waitress took a picture of us (below) holding mugs with various sayings, i.e. “Create”, “Hope”, “Life,” “Dream,” and “love.” I wondered if our mug described us?
Many women’s groups across the nation have sprouted since reading The Yada Yada Prayer Group book series. We caught the vision of the author who targets unity and support in the Body of Christ as well as serving Christ and obeying Him. Author Neta Jackson is a real Christian girlfriend. Reading her series inspired me to want to reach out to women who are different from me in ethnicity, doctrine and personalities and embrace our differences and not run from them! Perhaps being a Yada Yada prepared me for Christian blogging, interacting with others of different color, backgrounds, doctrines, and ethnicities with the acceptance of Jesus. I like to think so!
Blog Giveaway: I’m giving away a coffee mug that I purchased from Sweet Grace as shown in the above photo. To win all you have to do is leave me a comment and answer this question: If I was standing in the photo with the Yada Yada’s holding one of these mugs, what would be the saying on my mug? The winner will be picked at random next Tuesday, July 6th. Also, I have two books I’m giving away that I found in a bookstore in California. They are: Searching for Heaven on Earth (a journal) by David Jeremiah and Max Lucado’s Building a Godly Home (this one has a cd.)
I look forward to your comments! If you do not want to be picked for the blog giveaway, please let me know!
I am so glad you have enjoyed the Yada Yada group. I would like to know more about how this group was started. It seems like a great give a way. Please do not enter me, but I would love to know more about Yada Yada. Your mug would say God's Child. (love)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Bren
I never heard of this Yada Yada Prayer group. But I can tell you that I love to see your smiling face Mary! You are too cute.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful for my blogging friendships. Look at how God has brought us together; love it.
Hugs,
Debbie
Since I don't drink coffee -- I won't steal the chance for someone who does.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful you have this group of women. What a priceless gift!
I enjoyed this post. My mug would definitely say miracle. I love you.
ReplyDeleteMy mug would say "HOPE" or "Arise 2 Write"....HE is my hope and I live to "arise 2 write" with HIM.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you guys are beautiful inside and out...if you are a part of it..I know each of the others ladies must be, too.
Hugs, love, and prayers,
andrea
Mary ~ Being a Book & Coffee Lover I am so excited to enter! I have never read these books nor have I been blessed to be a part of a book group but have ALWAYS WANTED too and seeing your precious group of women it REALLY makes me want to start one! hMMMM :)
ReplyDeleteGod has truly given you such a wonderful group of women with this group and your Arizona Blogger group as well :) How Awesome is HE !!! It blesses me just seeing you with each group!
If I had a mug it would have a Big Heart with little hearts spilling out of it saying Pour Out Gods Love to ALL!
Love you Mary!
I love your cute picture. You are blessed to be together in such a wonderful group. The cup could say Love One Another. Hugs ~
ReplyDeleteOh Mary, what a great group, you are very blessed!! I have always wanted to start a group like that, I love coffee, I love to read, and I love girlfriends!!
ReplyDeleteMy mug would definitely say JOY or filled with JOY!!
Love you my friend!!
This is interesting. Never heard of this club. Glad you are being blessed.
ReplyDeleteSister Mary, how exciting that must be, to see the other women who were also a part of that special group! That's an awesome way, too of trying to reunite the body! Which is sad because there's always division when the Lord wants us to be united... "In His love..."
ReplyDeleteI won't enter for your lovely giveaway but I picture you holding a mug with the word "Fierce Warrior"...You are quick to lay down everything when you faced some trials and sought the Lord always...
I love that picture of you gals holding those mugs...Were you holding that one with the word "create" on it? Still fits with what I said...You were "created" to become a "fierce warrior"...Blessings and love to you sister.
Love your Yada, Yada group photo!! Oh what memories you gal's must have. Don't ya just love divine friendships like that.....a little bit of heaven, I think!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to enter your give-away!! My mug would say "Dream" because I love to dream BIG with God. He has so much in store for His kids.....He is a BIG God!!
Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
Thanks for your prayers Mary, they're working. God bless.
ReplyDeleteMary! I'm so delighted that reading the Yada Yada Prayer Group novels inspired you to start your own Yada Yada group of sisters! Maybe you and your blog readers would like to know about a spin-off series I've just written called The Yada Yada House of Hope (Thomas Nelson Publishers). The titles are: Where Do I Go?, Who Do I Talk To?, Who Do I Lean on?--and the final book which won't be out till next spring--Who Is My Shelter? (All the titles are from Dottie Rambo's gospel song, "I Go to the Rock"!). And Who Do I Talk To? just won a Christy Fiction Award at the Christian booksellers convention in St. Louis--yay, God!
ReplyDeleteIf you or any of your bloggers would like to know more about my books, go to our web site: www.daveneta.com. And if your group would like autographed stickers or bookmarks or something like that, email me (email available on our web site).
Bless you, Mary, for being the spark that brought these sisters together!
You "sister" in Chicago,
Neta Jackson
Author of the Yada novels
Wow, Mary .... I set this aside last night to "ponder" ...now look at the responses! Yea!
ReplyDeleteWhen all's said and done, the most enjoyable part of my day is PRE-daybreak, alone outside with my puppy and coffee. Before Cara and I go inside, I always remind her, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Hmm... that's a lot of words for a cup, isn't it?
Thanks for hosting this cute contest!
Hugs,
Myra
Of course if I were standing in the photo, the mug would say "peace".
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, beautiful way to embrace the Christian walk with other women. I hope to find a nice group of Christian friends in my new place of residence. I'm in need of some good, faithful friends to buoy me along.
peace~elaine