Today's Christian Woman articles from January 2007

Today's Christian Woman archives from January 2007

The gift of loneliness.(girl talk)(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... Several months ago, I found myself grappling with The Empty Nest. My two children now lived out of state, so I no longer enjoyed impromptu Starbucks rims filled with mother-daughter chitchat or shared giggles with them. My husband's work...

Sneak peek.(feedback)
January 1, 2007... Here's what's coming up in TCW's MARCH/APRIL issue: Cover Story: Singer and speaker TAMMY TRENT talks candidly about the tragic death of her husband, embracing joy and sorrow at the same time, and the promise of Christ's Resurrection. ...

New Year, new ... calendar.(your life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Get everyone on the same page in 2007 with a family calendar. * POST it in a high traffic area. * TRAIN everyone to record their commitments on the family calendar. Some families use a different color pen for each member. (Hint: To...

Never doubt.(your life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... "NEVER DOUBT that a community of thoughtful. committed women, filled with the power and love of God, using gifts they have identified and developed, and pursuing passion, planted in them by God--never doubt that these women can CHANGE THE...

Asked you ...(your life)(praying for the country and its leaders )(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... How often do you pray for our country and its leaders? 26% weekly 20% whenever a national event warrants it 19% every month or so 15% whenever my church/pastor calls for it 13% daily 6% never 1% only on the...

Take 5 minutes and ...(self-projection)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... See yourself in a whole new light. First, describe yourself as you would to a new acquaintance. Then write down all the things you love (or would love) to do for fun, and write a short description of yourself based on that. Compare. Be...

Prayer tip.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... As you do dishes, laundry, or the vacuuming today, breathe the prayer "Abba, I belong to you." This can turn every moment into a sacred one and help you as you seek to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." --from Prayer Starters for...

Style and substance.(New Living Translation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Check out Veritas--a line of stylish purses that comes complete with a coordinating compact Bible tucked away in its own easy-to-access compartment. Featuring Tyndale's New Living Translation, this Bible is a great reference for women on the...

Snack attack.(popcorn)(Recipe)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Cold winter nights are perfect for getting family and friends together to sit around a fire or curl up with a movie... and a big bowl of popcorn. Here's one of our favorite popcorn recipes: WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN CRUNCH 5...

The littlest soldiers.(your life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... For every service member in Iraq, there are roughly one to two children serving their own tour of duty back home. One challenge facing these children and the parent who stays behind is finding quality affordable childcare. But a government...

Unsolved mysteries.(your life)(Inside the Mysteries of the Bible)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... Albert Einstein once said, "The most beautiful thing one can experience is the Mysterious. It is truly the basis of all arts and sciences." Inside the Mysteries of the Bible, a new book published in conjunction with the American Bible...

Books change lives.(your life)
January 1, 2007... Donate your used Christian books to Christian Library International, an organization that distributes them to prisons, shelters, and international missions. For more information, visit www.cli-nc.org.

Naptime!(your life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Toddlers might balk, but for most adults, naptime sounds like an unattainable luxury. So you might be surprised to learn that a brief "power nap" can be as refreshing as a two-hour snoozefest. Sleep research suggests a short (15- to...

All organic foods are not created equal.(your life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Keep these terms in mind when reading labels at the grocery store: [] 100% ORGANIC: Made with 100% organic ingredients [] USDA ORGANIC: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients [] MADE WITH ORGANIC: Contains at...

So Close I Can Feel God's Breath.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... So Close I Can Feel God's Breath by Beverly Rose ($14, SaltRiver). "I awaken every morning in search of God in thin places--God willing, that is. For I am trapped in an unforgiving body afflicted with a neuromuscular disease and rise only by...

The Man You Always Wanted Is the One You Already Have.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... The Man You Always Wanted Is the One You Already Have by Paula Friedrichsen ($13, Multnomah). A friendship with her pastor that grew too intimate served as a wake-up call for Paula Friedrichsen. She needed to rediscover the husband she too...

Desperate Woman of the Bible.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... Desperate Women of the Bible by Jo Kadlecek ($13, Baker). Joining fluid prose, personal vulnerability, and biblical acumen, Jo Kadlecek shares the stories of seven nameless women in the New Testament who each have a transforming encounter...

Prayer.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... Prayer by Philip Yancey ($22, Zondervan). "Most of my struggles in the Christian life circle around the same two themes: why God doesn't act the way we want God to, and why I don't act the way God wants me to. Prayer is the precise point...

Half-Price Living.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... Half-Price Living by Ellie Kay ($13, Moody). According to Moody Publishers, a recent online survey found that 86 percent of working moms say they would stay home with their children if they were financially able to do so. So Ellie Kay, expert...

Soul Cravings.(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus ($20, Thomas Nelson). Erwin McManus is a compelling speaker and pastor in Southern California who's known for his creative calls to authentic spiritual community. His latest book, Soul Cravings, is a guided...

Kathy Troccoli.(most influential christian women in America)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... 25 Years of Music and Ministry In 9003, TCW named Kathy Troccoli one of the most influential Christian women in America for her intelligent and honest messages about dealing with pain and loving Jesus wholeheartedly. This year the...

"Dancing Me Through This Life".(visualizing Jesus)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... I pictured myself waltzing with Jesus one day during worship time at this wonderful little church in (my hometown on) Long Island; I never forgot that vision. I wanted to capture the sweetness and peacefulness of that moment. I still feel...

"Psalm 34".(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... During my hardest years of fighting bulimia and depression I "camped" around this psalm. It's my absolute favorite. He's close to the brokenhearted. I know that for sure. What a redeeming God he is.

"Friend for Life".
January 1, 2007... The world could always use another friendship song. Commitment, loyalty, and love--who doesn't yearn for that?

A Piece of Pierce.(Chonda Pierce's latest live DVD 'A Piece of My Mind')(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... If anyone can make menopause laugh-worthy, it's Chonda Pierce. In her latest live DVD, A Piece of My Mind, this blonde dynamo sets her comedic sites on The Change and other phenomena of midlife. As one audience member at the taping said, "I...

Top of My Lungs, the latest release from the pastoral trio of Phillips, Craig and Dean, features these CCM mainstays in top form.(What we're listening to right now)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Top of My Lungs, the latest release from the pastoral trio of Phillips, Craig and Dean, features these CCM mainstays in top form. Something special happens when these three men blend their voices together in song. The mostly original praise...

Johnny Lang is a newcomer to the Christian recording world, but he first garnered attention in the secular music scene in 1997 when his single "Lie to Me" topped Billboard's New Artist Chart.(What we're listening to right now)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Johnny Lang is a newcomer to the Christian recording world, but he first garnered attention in the secular music scene in 1997 when his single "Lie to Me" topped Billboard's New Artist Chart. He was only 15. When I saw the gifted blues...

The electronically tinged pop of Adie's solo debut album finds the former rockin' front woman of The Benjamin Gate in a decidedly more subdued mode.(What we're listening to right now)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The electronically tinged pop of Adie's solo debut album finds the former rockin' front woman of The Benjamin Gate in a decidedly more subdued mode. Gone is the growl (and spiky pink hair), but her lovely and versatile voice remains. Don't...

Ronan Tynan overcame the loss of his legs to become an athlete, a doctor, and a member of The Irish Tenors.(What we're listening to right now)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Ronan Tynan overcame the loss of his legs to become an athlete, a doctor, and a member of The Irish Tenors. Knowing his story adds a certain poignancy to tracks like the celtic-flavored "Healing Rain" and "Be Still My Soul" from his second...

"I have no fear of drowning, it's the breathing that's taking all this work," sings Jars of Clay front man Dan Haseltine on the first track of the band's latest album, Good Monsters.(What we're listening to right now)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... "I have no fear of drowning, it's the breathing that's taking all this work," sings Jars of Clay front man Dan Haseltine on the first track of the band's latest album, Good Monsters. The album wrestles with our capability for both depravity...

"My husband feels insecure because I earn more than he does.".(relationship rescue)
January 1, 2007... DEAR LESLIE, Thanks to a recent promotion, I'm now making significantly more money than my husband. Unfortunately, he feels threatened, as though he's not being a good provider for our family. Any suggestions for navigating this new...

The woman who touched Jesus (Mark 5:25-34).(women in the word)('stories from the Bible')
January 1, 2007... If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed (Mark 5:28). That's what she told herself, this nameless, bleeding woman who'd traveled 30 miles, fueled by nothing but faith. It was a daring plan. According to Mosaic Law, women who were...

Wise words.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... "Hope smiles on the THRESHOLD of the year to come, whispering that it will be happier.". ALFRED LORD TENNYSON "Men who know themselves are no longer fools. They stand on the threshold of the door of...

A woman of influence: why Elisa Morgan, CEO of MOPS International, is passionate about helping women see themselves as more than their roles.(Mothers of Preschoolers)(Interview)(Cover story)
January 1, 2007... Elisa Morgan has her audience eating out of her hand. Onstage, the petite dynamo with spiky hair and a warm grin regales the 5,000 women gathered in Nashville for the annual MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Convention with a...

Fresh air: 3 practices to breathe life into your conversations with God.(prayer life)
January 1, 2007... IT'S IRONIC. I used to call the time I set aside for God my "quiet time." However, those times, filled with words--the words I read, studied, wrote, or whispered toward the ceiling, wondering if God even heard--felt anything but quiet. They...

A mom's guide to MySpace: what you need to know about this popular website.(family focus)
January 1, 2007... Sixteen-year-old Piper is a parent's dream--an excellent student, a leader, and positive role model among her peers at church. Only one thing has ever caused discord in her family: MySpace.com. Piper insists her parents are being...

Friends & lovers: how we broke out of our rut and rejuvenated our marriage.(marriage matters)
January 1, 2007... "Some anniversary," I muttered, curled the edge of the couch, tears falling. Our evening had begun with a celebratory dinner, but had ended with a poorly timed argument. My husband, Rob, and I had gone to bed frustrated. We'd rolled over...

Soul sisters: 4 ways to foster spiritual friendships.(friendship)
January 1, 2007... I love carrot cake and hate small talk. Cheri craves ice cream and works out religiously. Friends for more than 20 years, we're two Starbucks-drinking, Levi-wearing, munchkin-rearing friends. But when Cheri and I mention we're on a...

Mourning a miscarriage: when we lost our baby, I was haunted by the question why?(lessons in faith)
January 1, 2007... I knew the bright red blood shouldn't be there. The day before, I'd discovered for certain I was six weeks pregnant. Now, as I stared at the widening stain of blood that soaked my pajamas, my stomach tightened and my neck burned. No,...

At home with God: how to create a spiritual sanctuary in your house.(homefront)
January 1, 2007... Do you find time for drawing closer to God is too often relegated to the margins of your busy life? Why not resolve at the start of this new year to create a sanctuary from distractions to use for prayer reflection, and worship at home. Cheek...

Caring enough to confront: 5 tools to help you speak with love.(tough choices)
January 1, 2007... When Trisha moved into Michelle's neighborhood, they became fast friends. Their personalities clicked and they had a lot in common, including church involvement and same-aged children. Before long, Trisha and Michelle established a deep,...

Lost in cyber space: searching for world peace and missing socks online.(humor)
January 1, 2007... I'm not particularly impressed with the Internet's searching capabilities. Oh, I know there's a lot of hype about Google and Yahoo! and the rest of those fancy-schmancy search engines. But why can't they help me find what I'm looking for? ...

"I was a food addict." Could I find support someplace other than my kitchen?(first person)
January 1, 2007... The warm chocolate chip cookie melted in my mouth. Was that my sixth or my seventh one? Holding my stomach, queasy from too many sweets, I sat down at my kitchen table that cold January evening in 1990 and thought, I've got to stop eating so...

Circulation statement.
January 1, 2007... Statement required by the act of August 12, 1970, section 3685, Title 39, United States Code, showing ownership, management, and circulation of TODAY'S CHRISTIAN WOMAN, published 6 times per year at 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois...

Practical pampering: 29 ways to treat yourself right in the new year.(just for you)
January 1, 2007... Taking care of yourself doesn't need to be a costly or extravagant affair. A friend of mine says it's all in the lighting; anything can be pampering as long as you light a candle while doing it. For example, take a bath and light a candle....

Arloa Sutter's aha! Her simple act of obedience led to a life-changing ministry.(difference maker)
January 1, 2007... Arloa Sutter still remembers the homeless man she met 15 years ago, one of thousands she's since helped. He wandered into the church-run storefront center she'd opened a few months earlier to provide hot coffee and a warm lunch for the street...

"How do I uncover my spiritual gifts?".(Q&A)
January 1, 2007... I love this question! Discovering and utilizing your spiritual gifts is one of the most exciting adventures a person can have with God. The Bible says spiritual gifts are abilities God bestows on every believer for the common good of the body...

Do you have any ideas for creative, budget-friendly date nights?" "My husband and I are tired of the same old dinner-and-a-movie routine, but we don't have a ton of money for extravagant outings.(chat room)
January 1, 2007... BOOK IT During winter months when it's easy to feel house-bound, my husband and I hang out at a bookstore on Friday nights. After perusing our favorite genres, we chat about what we've seen over coffee. Our outing doesn't, cost much,...