Today's Christian Woman articles from March 2003

Today's Christian Woman archives from March 2003

Home and security. (girl Talk).
March 1, 2003... AS I DOWN MY THIRD cup of coffee (heavy on the caffeine) and glance at all the daily tasks I've scribbled on my huge desk calendar, I'm often hit by the sinking feeling I haven't yet done everything I want to, much less carved out the time...

Mission of Mercy. (your Feedback).
March 1, 2003... I really enjoyed TCW's cover story on Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries ("Have Mercy!" January/ February 2003). I graduated from Mercy in November 2001 after working through an eating disorder I struggled with for ten years. I spent those...

Fit the bill. (your Feedback).
March 1, 2003... Katrina Baker's piece, "Surviving the Splurge," was right on the money! I know her tips will help people get back on track financially after seasons of heavy spending. To women looking for additional resources, talk to your pastor or a church...

A thankful heart. (your Feedback).
March 1, 2003... It was with joy, pride, and remembered anguish that I read "I Had an Affair" by Becky Gain. Becky is my daughter, and I'm so proud she had the courage to share her story. Our family was torn apart for years as Becky had an affair with a...

All ears. (your Feedback).
March 1, 2003... Virelle Kidder's article "God's Talking to You!" spoke to me. In today's busy world, I rarely stand still long enough to hear God's quiet whisper. Thanks for reminding me to do just that, because his companionship is a constant blessing I...

Tackling those enemies. (your Feedback).
March 1, 2003... The Faith Focus article ("The Best Way to Get Even") about praying for enemies hit home for me. My ex-husband just announced he's getting married again. It can be hard to pray for his happiness when I still feel hurt and lonely at times. I'm...

Sneak peek.
March 1, 2003... Here's a look at what's coming up in TCW's May/June issue: COVER STORY: ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ, founder of AnGeL Ministries, author, and revival speaker, talks about the difficulties that triggered her hunger for a deeper walk with Jesus......

In a recent survey we asked, "which of the following women have had the greatest impact on your life in the last five years?" (Thrive! Guide: helping you become a woman of influence).
March 1, 2003... In a recent survey we asked, "Which of the following WOMEN have had the GREATEST IMPACT on your life in the last five years?" Here's what 355 of you had to say: Joyce Meyer 46% Stormie Omartian 31% Beth Moore ...

Easter outreach. (Thrive! Guide: helping you become a woman of influence).
March 1, 2003... My husband, Carl, had a heart attack three days before Easter Sunday a few years ago. Because God provided skilled doctors, Carl was able to come home from the hospital on Saturday Earlier that week, I'd placed an order for three hot-cross...

A novel idea. (faith @ work).
March 1, 2003... I'm an OFFICE WORKER at our county jail. Since I'm an avid reader of Christian novels, I don't have room to keep all the books I read. So I donate them to the jail ministry for the inmates. Last year I gave away 130 books; this year, 90 so...

Spread the word.
March 1, 2003... Go to www.thebiblesite.org, click the "Donate Bibles for Free" button, and sponsors of the site will donate money toward distribution of God's Word in areas of the world where Christians are persecuted and Bibles are hard to come by. "The...

Wise words.
March 1, 2003... "It is important to recognize that any frustrating situation that requires patience is God's gift to you. A gift that, if received with the right attitude, will present the opportunity to spend some time in God's waiting room practicing...

A woman's touch.
March 1, 2003... Q&A with MICHELLE McKINNEY HAMMOND author of several books, including Secrets of an Irresistible Woman and Sassy, Single, and Satisfied (both Harvest House), and Thrive! event speaker Q: WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WOMAN? A:...

Defending the down and out. (every Hero).
March 1, 2003... D.J. DAVIS WHAT SHE DOES: Serves as the founder of Jericho Community Law Office near Nashville WHY SHE DOES IT: To provide legal services for families in need IT TOOK ONE FAMILY'S HEARTBREAKING experience in court to make D.J....

My not-so-blended family: how can I get my stepdaughter to respect me? (your Relationships).
March 1, 2003... DEAR DR. LANGBERG, My husband and I have been married five years and have a three-year-old son. My husband also has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. I feel as though I'm on the outside looking in when it comes to his...

Missing manners: how can I help my son break his bad habits? (mom Time).
March 1, 2003... DEAR LISA, My six-year-old son's developed a few annoying habits, and I'm wondering what's the best way to cure him of them. I catch him picking his nose, and he usually talks with his mouth full at the dinner table. Yikes! I don't want...

Body beautiful: how Jesus' example can reshape your image of what's ideal. (faith Focus).
March 1, 2003... I REMEMBER IT AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY. I WAS AT Wal-Mart, shopping for some new spring clothes, when the entire fashion industry insulted me, right to my face. I'd stopped to look at a simple white T-shirt that hung on a rack in the...

Seen and heard: my unique gifts as a deaf woman got me noticed by the FBI. God used the disability to get my attention as well. (my Story).
March 1, 2003... LOOKING BACK, IT SEEMS IRONIC THAT I LOST my hearing in front of a TV set--considering that my life as a deaf woman became the basis of a PAX television series that debuted last fall. As an isolated child, I never dreamed my disability would...

Easter showers. (Small talk: kids say the cutest things!).
March 1, 2003... It had rained for several days when we attended church on a wet Easter Sunday. Undaunted by the gray skies, our pastor boomed an encouraging "And he shall reign forever!" at the end of the service. My three-year-old son, Trey, suddenly looked...

Caught red-handed. (Small talk: kids say the cutest things!).
March 1, 2003... One morning, my three-year-old son, Lukas, and I had been singing the old hymn, "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus." Later that day, I found Lukas standing on top of the kitchen counter, opening the cupboard where I keep candy out of his reach....

Shhh! (Small talk: kids say the cutest things!).
March 1, 2003... As a doctoral student, my husband always made trips to the library. One evening he took our three year old, Alexandria, with him. "You need to use your inside voice there," he told her. When they returned home, I asked how their trip went. My...

Irish lad. (Small talk: kids say the cutest things!).
March 1, 2003... My four-year-old son, Michael, heard me talking about my job at an adoption agency, where we find homes for children of all backgrounds, including biracial kids. Michael asked me what biracial meant, and after I told him, he said he was...

Feed me! (Small talk: kids say the cutest things!).
March 1, 2003... When I was pregnant with our second child, my preschooler, Caleb, couldn't understand why I got to eat snacks between meals and he couldn't. Finally I told him the baby was hungry so I needed to eat more. After a minute, he replied, "Well,...

Back from the brink: when massive debt and a life-threatening medical crisis hit her uninsured family, financial expert Deborah McNaughton was forced to follow her own professional advice. And in her greatest need, she discovered God's loving provision. (Cover Story).
March 1, 2003... PERSONAL FINANCIAL COACH AND CREDIT expert Deborah McNaughton will be the first to tell you money doesn't buy happiness or health. And she knows from personal experience. Deborah's been financially successful (she and her husband, Hal, owned...

When God seems silent: what to do when life is dark and heaven's quiet.
March 1, 2003... NOT TOO LONG AGO, IT SEEMED AS though God had packed up, moved far away, and left me no forwarding address. I was unable to sense his promptings and overall presence as I searched for him during trying times. I felt abandoned, confused, and...

No time for friends? Think again! How to join your to-do list with much-needed girl time.(start a Project Friendship)
March 1, 2003... I'LL NEVER FORGET KATHY COX, MY BEST friend in junior high. Every day, I raced through my chores so I could hop on my bicycle and peddle five blocks to hang out with her. Then after coming home each evening, I'd perch on the washing machine...

Taming your temper tantrums: do you lose it with your kids? Here are 5 ways to rein in your anger.
March 1, 2003... HUMMING, I PREPARED TO MAKE A PITCHER OF orange juice. As I picked up the open can of mix, my two-and-a-half-year-old son, Anthony *, jumped onto a stepstool to watch and knocked my arm, splattering orange-juice concentrate everywhere. "You...

A woman's worth: as a single woman, I felt like a failure--until god helped me redefine "success.".
March 1, 2003... "YOU NEED TO FIND A HUSBAND," MY STYLIST announced, briskly clipping my curls. Ignoring my silence, Janet (not her real name) bubbled about an eligible male customer of hers who was "just right" for me. There was a time when such...

Take a hike! How simple walks can revitalize your body and soul.
March 1, 2003... JUST THREE YEARS AGO, I WAS FALLING apart. I bit my fingernails to their nubs with worry about finances (we had two kids in college). The extra weight I'd put on taxed my back, and my knees gave way as I walked down stairs. My prayer life was...

On the road again: tips to stay connected when your husband travels frequently.
March 1, 2003... WHEN I MARRIED JIM, MY HUSBAND of 27 years, I also married a suitcase. That's because Jim's first career, in the Coast Guard, included travel. Now, in a second career doing shipyard development, Jim meets with clients on every continent for...

The hampered chef: confessions of a "culinary challenged" woman.
March 1, 2003... SOME PEOPLE SAY WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE. In my house, where there's smoke, there's dinner. Try as I might, the most basic kitchen skills elude me. Even the vocabulary's confusing. "Blanch" and "julianne" are potential names for my...

Jennifer Knapp. (take Five).
March 1, 2003... RECORDING ARTIST JENNIFER KNAPP DIDN'T grow up immersed in Christian theology and Scripture. But the deep spiritual truths she communicates through her song lyrics on albums such as Kansas and her latest, The Way I Am (Gotee), show she's a...

Not to Us.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Not to Us by Chris Tomlin (Sixstepsrecords). Even if you haven't heard of worship leader Chris Tomlin, chances are you'll recognize a few of the praise songs he's penned in recent years, such as "Forever," "Be Glorified," "We Fall Down," and...

Choosing Rest.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... by Sally Breedlove ($10, NavPress). Rest assured--this isn't another book about finding ways to slow down just so you can squeeze in an occasional bubble bath. Instead, Sally Breed love eloquently explores how the unrest we experience deep...

Growing Godly Women.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... by Donna Greene ($10, New Hope Publishers). Whether you're around girls at home, at work, or at church, Donna Greene's book about mentoring teenagers offers reflections and advice for you to guide young women spiritually through their pivotal...

Get Over It and On With It!(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... by Michelle McKinney Hammond ($18, Water-Brook). How do you respond to life's bumps? Cohost of Emmy-nominated TV show Aspiring Women and author Michelle McKinney Hammond offers help in hardships by illustrating how biblical figures such as...

Intimate Faith: a Woman's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines.
March 1, 2003... by Jan Winebrenner ($13, Warner). Exploring 17 spiritual disciplines, including humility service, solitude, and celebration, Jan Winebrenner encourages women to draw closer to God. Discover how to meet with God through silence, delight in...

Back Home.(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2003... by Caedmon's Call (Essential). With the release of its fifth album, Dove Award-winning band Caedmon's Call continues to create warm harmonies that have defined the group's thoughtful, eclectic, and folksy sound. Back Home's poetic lyrics...

All About Love.(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2003... by Steven Curtis Chapman (Sparrow Records). Grammy and Dove Award-winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman's thirteenth album includes intimate love songs he wrote for his wife, Mary Beth. Many of the melodies were inspired by notes Steven gave...

Breathing Freely.(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2003... by Ruth McGinnis (Mills Corporation). The soft, beautiful violin recordings on Breathing Freely are relaxing and inspiring. Ruth McGinnis recorded this album just as she finished writing Breathing Freely: Celebrating the Imperfect Life...

Worship Again.(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2003... by Michael W. Smith (Reunion). With 16 albums and many Grammy and Dove Awards to his name, Christian contemporary music pillar Michael W. Smith scores again with his second live praise and worship album. Worship Again combines familiar praise...

You are mine.(Aanimated, 30-minute video)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ($15 VHS, $18 DVD; Impact Productions). Based on the Max Lucado children's book, You Are Mine, this animated, 30-minute video portrays the humorous tale of little wooden Punchinello's quest to gain acceptance through material wealth. When...

Diamonds aren't forever: while shopping for my engagement ring, I learned what's really valuable. (life with Liz).
March 1, 2003... Each March when our anniversary rolls around, Bill and I curl up on the couch and watch the videotape of our wedding ceremony, shaking our heads at the two vaguely familiar young people grinning their way down the aisle. I'm just grateful a...

Sister unite! Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser combine their strengths to form a Sister Circle they hope will spread across the nation. (Special Advertising Section).
March 1, 2003... `Vonette, you ought to write a novel," Bill Bright told his wife after he had coauthored a novel himself (with Ted Dekker, Blessed Child). The cofounder of Campus Crusade for Christ continued, "If you want to influence the most people, write...

The Sister Circle.
March 1, 2003... The Sister Circle (by Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser), book one of this charming contemporary series, introduces Peerbaugh Place, a quaint Victorian house that becomes a refuge to seven women of vastly different ages, personalities, and...

Remember.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Remember (by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley) follows Redemption in the Redemption series. Convinced she could make it on her own, Ashley Baxter has kept the most important people in her life at a distance--her family, the man who loves her,...

Crown of Thorns.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Crown of Thorns (by Sigmund Brouwer) continues the story of Nick Barrett from Out of the Shadows. Nick is in Charleston awaiting news of his inheritance when he agrees to investigate the ownership of a famous painting. He is reluctantly drawn...

A Victorian Rose.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... A Victorian Rose (by Catherine Palmer) is a tender, romantic novella that will sweep you back in time to Victorian Yorkshire, England. Against her better judgment, young widow Clemma Laird finds herself connected to Dr. Paul Baine, a man...

Firstborn.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Firstborn (by Robin Lee Hatcher) focuses on Erika, whose worst fear is realized when her well-kept secret shows up on her doorstep. As she reaches out to the daughter she gave up for adoption 21 years ago, her husband pulls away, leaving...

The Remnant.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... The Remnant (by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins), the tenth book in the Left Behind series, is now available in paperback! The Great Tribulation unfolds as the forces of evil and the armies of God prepare for mankind's ultimate battle....

The Happy Room.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... The Happy Room (by Catherine Palmer) will be appreciated by anyone who seeks to heal difficult family relationships. Three adult siblings are reunited when one of them is hospitalized with a life-threatening illness. As Julia and Peter face...

An excerpt from The Sister Circle. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)(Excerpt)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... evelyn put the swan figurine in the box with the rest of the pretties. The front bedroom Mae had chosen was now full of boxes containing a lifetime of bric-a-brac as well as the contents from the closet and the dresser. She picked up one of...

For fiction lovers. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... if you enjoy fiction, you might want to check out two new resources now available. The first is the free Page-Turner's Journal e-mail newsletter. This arrives every two weeks and brings you interesting articles by and about novelists...

Karen Kingsbury talks of how September 11 affected her writing. (an author speaks ...: Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... For a novelist, real-life events can dictate a last-minute change in a book's content. This is exactly what happened with the Redemption series. Originally, the editing process for book one--Redemption--was wrapping up just as our...

Autumn's shadow. (New from HeartQuest ...: Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... The sequel to romantic suspense novel Winter's Secret is finally here! In book two of the Northern Intrigue series by Lyn Cote, high school principal Keely Turner is not prepared for the dangers that await her in a small town in Wisconsin. As...

Chance encounters of the Heart. (New from HeartQuest ...: Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... What could be more romantic than a chance encounter with your one true love? This collection of novellas features stories of love showing up in the most unexpected places: a couple thrown together at an airport when their flights are...

Exclusive serialization of New Brides of the West Novella. (New from HeartQuest ...: Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... Lori Copeland's fans have requested a Kallahan sisters reunion for years. Now it is available--but only in the new e-mail HeartQuest newsletter, CONNECT. CONNECT will come to your e-mail in-box twice a month on Fridays--but only if you sign...