Talking to the Dead

Talking to the Dead

In the Christian fiction, Talking to the Dead, a young widow deals with the pain and heartache of her husband’s recent and sudden death. She grieves deeply, living in the fog of grief and memories. Kate forgets to care for herself and even how to live.

Kate’s friends and family try to reach her, but all she recognizes is the voice of her dead husband, Kevin, talking to her. In her longing for his love and life, she hangs on to every word and nuance. At the same time, each one-sided conversation with him wounds her even more deeply than the one before.

Reaching out for help in the world of medicine, science, ancient religions and show-biz Christianity, Kate has nowhere to turn. A quick game of ball, a grief recovery group and an unconventional pastor of a motley group of people seem to bring some hope and stability. That is, until she uncovers Kevin’s terrible secret.

Author Bonnie Grove, a Canadian pastor’s wife from the flatlands of Saskatchewan, brings us a realistic, down-to-earth glimpse into the life of a woman drowning in emotion and pain who desperately grabs hold of Life and all it offers. She unpacks the mystery and emotion of grief, what it’s like to go to a counselor or psychologist.  With some humor and a great deal of real-to-life emotion, Grove draws the reader into Kate’s new world.

Enjoy the interview with Bonnie Grove regarding this fabulous book in today’s TalkShoe podcast.  To listen, click here, then double click on the arrow underneath the words ‘Past Episodes’.  Next, click on the words ‘Talking to the Dead’.  Hit play when you are ready.

(Editor’s Note: Carla received a copy of Talking with the Dead from Ms. Groves for the purpose of review and interviewing. If you chose to click on the book link you will be redirected to Christian Book Distributors. MMCW receives a small commission (10%) from book sales to offset our operating costs.)

Join Our Summer Recipe Carnival!

Do you have a favorite go-to summer recipe? Share it with us! We’re looking for your summer recipe blog posts for our Favorite Summer Recipe Blog Carnival.  The deadline for submission is tomorrow (July 7th).

It will be fun and yummy as we visit one another’s blogs to read about favorite summer recipes. This can be anything from appetizers to main dishes, dessert to beverages.

If you have never done a blog carnival before, it’s easy! Just write a post on your blog sharing your favorite summer recipe, and submit the URL of your post to mentoringmoments@aol.com. Blog post links must be submitted by Wednesday, July 7, 2010. This carnival will run on July 12, 2010.

Preparing My Heart for Motherhood

Preparing My Heart For Motherhood

Motherhood: What a significant yet daunting role. Where do we find inspiration for the long journey of parenting from infancy to adulthood? In Preparing My Heart for Motherhood Ann Stewart, author of two other Bible studies and mother of two preteen daughters, directs us to answers from God’s Word.

As research for this Bible study, Stewart asked dozens of mothers, “What do you wish you had known before you became a parent?” She combined their practical insights with truths from God’s Word to write this study, which will strengthen marriages and encourage moms.

Each day of this five-week study begins with a heart-stirring story of an experienced mother who shares her struggles and victories. The moms featured are ordinary, but they have been tested in the trenches of motherhood and have learned to depend on God. They come from different seasons and circumstances of parenting. So whether you’re an expectant mom, a single mom, stepmom, foster mom, an adoptive mom, a mom of teens, or even a grandmother, you’ll find wisdom for your stage of parenting. You’ll also learn from moms with serious illnesses and a mom who lost a child.

With the variety of topics, this study includes something for every mom. Do you desire to feel God’s love for you in a deeper way or to grow in your love for your husband or children? Are you struggling to forgive someone, or do you want to pray more effectively for your children? Would a motherhood mission statement assist you to focus on your important task of mothering? Stewart offers help in these areas and many more.

The Bible passages are printed in the study guide along with thought-provoking questions called “heartwork.” And you don’t need to be a biblical scholar to answer them.

Just as mothers nurture their children, so this Bible study will nurture your soul. Although our children grow up, we never outgrow our title of “mother” or our need to grow spiritually. To help you mature in your faith, consider this warm, practical study that affirms the role of mothers. Filled with Scripture to treasure, it is suitable for individual or group use. Consider it as a gift for mothers you know or as a study for women in your church or community.

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Nurturing the Leader within Your Child

For years the parenting question I have often pondered is what was the parenting style of the Hebrew children’s parents? As you will recall from the Book of Daniel:  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego) were taken away at a young age but exhibited a faith in God that many adults struggle with even today. How can I as a parent raise children who will not bow their knee to any of the world’s distractions?

Dr. Tim Elmore’s book, Nurturing the Leader within Your Child, first opened my eyes to the prospect of raising children to be leaders. No matter the calling placed on their life by God, our children need to have the skills and understanding of leadership. From a Christian perspective, Dr. Elmore gives practical tools to encourage character growth and mentoring opportunities in the family. He also helps parents recognize teachable moments and shares key qualities and skills leaders must know. Parents with any age children will benefit from this book.

Other resources available from Dr. Tim Elmore include his website Growing Leaders and Habitudes along with his blog.

Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child: What Every Parent Needs to KnowBy Tim Elmore & John Maxwell / Thomas Nelson How do I bring out the best in my child? What can I do to help my children reach their full potential? Why is it important to encourage leadership in my child? John Maxwell protigi, Dr. Tim Elmore, answers these questions and others in Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child. Using a survey of over 3,000 students, he enters the minds of today’s youth to understand their desire to affect their world, their way.Beginning with a foreword by John C. Maxwell, the book is in four unique sections (What You Need to Know, What They Need to Know, When to Seize the Moment, How to Pass it On). Dr. Elmore gives practical tools for bridging the generation gap to foster character and growth in your children. Offering a list of fundamental qualities every leader must possess, Dr. Elmore helps parents and youth workers recognize teachable moments and equips them to structure an individual mentoring plan for each child. Finally, he offers evaluation methods for recognizing progress.

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Come Weary Saints Review, Free Download, & Giveaway!

“Oh that all of our problems would end the moment we give our lives to Christ. After all, the problem of sin – our separation from God – has been solved through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we still get sick. Marriages end. Children die. Our plans, great and small, are disrupted. We grow weary in the battle.”

How’s that for a CD description?

When Integrity Music asked me to preview Sovereign Grace’s new Come Weary Saints project, I was expecting a nice little worship CD in the same vein as dozens of others on the market. You know the kind–nice–but every song sounds like the last. What you’ll find on Come Weary Saints is quite different, songs written to encourage those going through life’s trials and prepare those about to enter a valley season.

Come Weary Saints is an invitation to redirect your focus to the God whose love has been forever demonstrated at the cross of Calvary.

When you think about it, believers are in one of three places: walking into a valley, in the valley, or coming out of a valley. During the valley times when we’re staring up at the ceiling because the rug of life has been ripped out from under our feet, our focus must be solely on Jesus. It’s hard to find songs of worship that address the difficulties in life and yet glorify God.

Powerful lyrics coupled with intimate music on Come Weary Saints remind us He alone is good, faithful, and Sovereign–no matter what our day brings. Come Weary Saints confronts head-on our brokenness, great need, and desire to worship our Redeemer in the midst of life’s greatest challenges.

Come Weary Saints has thirteen songs focused entirely on worshipping Jesus through the trials and suffering in life. My pastor says to take whatever problem we have and double, triple, quadruple it–God is still bigger. Come Weary Saints reminds listeners of this powerful truth.

It’s a CD you’ll find yourself listening to over and over again–and passing along to friends in need of encouragement. There are few worship CDs I call favorites, but Come Weary Saints earned the title. Not since Hillsong’s Shout to the Lord or Desperation Band’s Counting on God (another CD born of difficult times) have I listened to a project that brings such an intense desire to fall on my face and worship.

In the end that’s what it’s all about–worshipping Jesus.

Integrity Music has graciously offered  MMCW readers a free download from Come Weary Saints entitled Glorious. It is available for you to download from our site here for the next seven days. Enjoy!

In addition, Integrity will be giving away FIVE Come Weary Saints CDs to you our listeners! Simply comment on this post with anything you would like to say. On Saturday, April 17^th I will choose five winners using Random.org and announce the winners. Winners will have three business days to email me back with their mailing address. CDs will be shipped directly from Integrity Music.

Let your family and friends know about the free download and giveaway!

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Come Weary Saints CDBy Integrity Music Come Weary Saints is an invitation to redirect your focus to the God whose love has been forever demonstrated at the cross of Calvary. As you listen to these songs, may your faith and joy in the Savior be strengthened for the challenges you face, now or in the future.

I am Patrick, a Sinner

“I am Patrick, a sinner, most uncultivated and least of all the faithful and despised in the eyes of many.” Patrick of Ireland

Patrick of Ireland would not recognize the world of 2010 compared to the one he lived in around 387 to 461 A.D. If Patrick were alive today, I cannot help but think he would be a bit put out with the title of saint and the celebrations held in his honor. Patrick of Ireland lived a life consecrated to Christ alone, a life given to see his glorified Savior.

Today parades are underway, Irish whiskey flowing, shamrocks shining, leprechauns leaping, and many are wearing green. Celebrations such as these bring little honor to a man who gave his life to see souls saved from hell. His life was much more than it has been degraded to in today’s society. Most do not know his powerful testimony–a man of God whose life is much more compelling than legends.

Growing up in an affluent home in the Roman province of Great Britain, Patrick’s life was filled with servants and carefree living. He was not a believer in Christ. Patrick’s life changed in an instant when he and other boys were kidnapped by Irish raiders who came into town. This practice was not uncommon and deeply feared among citizens. One thing was clear: no one kidnapped ever returned–ever. Patrick’s captors sold him as a slave to a farmer in Ireland. For a 16 year old who had never known hard work, the treatment was doubly harsh as he was not prepared physically for his new life. For six years he tended sheep with rags barely protecting his body and starvation always close at hand. It was during this time that he came to know Christ. Much like David of the Old Testament, Patrick used his time as a shepherd to know God intimately. He learned God’s voice and how to depend upon Him for everything. After six years in captivity, the Lord spoke to Patrick in a dream instructing him to go to the coast where a boat would be waiting to take him home.

Patrick faced two major obstacles: death if caught escaping and a treacherous 200-mile trek. Stepping out in faith, he began his dangerous journey with no map, guided only by the Holy Spirit. As God had said, a boat awaited. When he asked if could go with the boatmen, the leader said no. Dejected and wondering what to do, he began to pray. As he was praying, one of the boatman called out for him to join them.

Patrick was the first person his village knew to return home from captivity. His old life, while comfortable, could not hold him. He began once more to hear the voice of God, this time calling him back to Ireland. The once young captive now returned to Ireland to share the Gospel that would set captives free from sin and death. Anointed by God, Patrick often felt unqualified because of his lack of formal education in the scriptures. Despite his insecurities Patrick led thousands to Christ. His method of evangelism was scorned and he was viewed as a radical by church leaders outside Ireland. Attempts were made to bring him in line with church form and tradition, but he resisted.

Patrick is believed to have died March 17, 461. It is interesting to note that following his death, while the rest of Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages, Ireland experienced its Golden Age of learning. During his ministry, Patrick placed emphasis on learning to read and write Greek and Latin and using abbeys and churches as schools. Following his death scholars, artists, and men of learning came from around the world to Ireland. It was during this time that beautiful illuminated manuscripts were created and advancements were made in science, math, and astronomy. Patrick is called a saint, but  he probably wasn’t too interested in titles. His life was lived to promote Christ, not himself. If he were alive today, he would be evangelizing a lost world–probably along a parade route. Praise God for sending Patrick to Ireland and using him to share the Gospel that affected generations of families. Pray today for the lost in your country–and how you can be a modern-day Patrick.

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Luke 16:15

“If I be worthy, I live for my God to teach the heathen, even though they may despise me.”

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me.” – Patrick of Ireland

An excellent family dvd to learn more of Patrick of Ireland is Patrick starring Liam Neeson as narrator and Gabriel Byrne as the voice of Patrick. I checked it out at the library and was impressed with the compelling docu-drama.

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Your Best You

Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You

Have you ever wanted to break free from unhealthy habits or a negative lifestyle?  Then Your Best You by Bonnie Grove might be just what you are looking for.  Whether you want to quit smoking, overeating or storing up clutter, you will learn through this book how to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses.

Grove clearly explains how to do an inventory of your strengths, likes, and goals (among other things) to enjoy living in freedom from the activities or choices that would entangle us.  She provides not only the forms to fill in right in the chapter itself, but she also includes her own personal form filled out so you can clearly see how it should be done.  Seeing her true-to-life form gives a glimpse into another woman’s journey to discovering her best self.

As you work through this 185-page book (which includes all your forms and hers) you will uncover your true goals and dreams.  A the same time you will recognize the goals and dreams you’ve been striving for that you thought should be yours or what others communicated you should own.

Throughout the book, Grove points the reader to Scripture, prayer and God’s active involvement in your life, your strengths and desires.  As you journey through the book, you will be engaging with God through Bible reading, prayer and journaling.  It is a valuable resource you will work through once and keep on hand to go through again and again.  It will help you see yourself, your friends and family with eyes that look for strengths instead of weakness as you break free from the things that entangle you.

Please enjoy the interview with Bonnie Grove about Your Best You in today’s TalkShoe podcast.

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Interview with Bonnie Groves

Your Best You
Carla Coroy interviews Your Best You author, Bonnie Groves.

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Blogging Links

Christian Bloggers
Faithful Bloggers is a community for Christian women bloggers. Their purpose is to provide a common ground where Christian women can encourage one another to use their blogs for the glory of God.

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A Woman’s Journey to the Cross and Beyond

Preparing My Heart for Easter: A Woman’s Journey to the Cross and Beyond

Celebrating Christmas involves many meaningful traditions. But what about Easter? Although Christ’s resurrection demonstrates the power behind the Christian faith, Easter is often overshadowed by Christmas. To discover the deep significance of Easter, consider Ann Marie Stewart’s eight-week Bible study, Preparing My Heart for Easter: A Woman’s Journey to the Cross and Beyond.

The study begins the week of Ash Wednesday (February 17  in 2010) and concludes the week after Easter. Taken primarily from the four Gospels, Psalms, and Isaiah, this 2007 release focuses on Jesus’ last week on earth and the women who followed him during his life and death. These included Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus), the woman at the well, and other women who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’s miraculous ministry.

Each week of study includes five daily lessons plus two weekend devotionals that center on Easter hymns. You’ll also learn the significance of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Pentecost, and other holy days before and after Easter. Suitable for personal or group use, the book includes a helpful six-page leader’s guide with discussion questions, music suggestions, and more.

This well-researched, powerful volume comes to life with Stewart’s background in drama and scriptwriting. Her acting roles in the community passion play helped her experience the emotions surrounding the first Easter and challenged her to look at Jesus in new ways. Women who have completed the study say it challenged and inspired them, and Jesus became more real and personal to them.

Stewart’s ultimate goal for this study is to encourage women to do what many New Testament women did–meet, accept, and follow Jesus. As spring approaches with its promise of new life, enter this season by growing spiritually as you study Preparing My Heart for Easter.

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