by Angele Tanyeri
The Collyde Summit is a gathering of passionate believers in the NY, NJ, and PA area, who love Jesus and are convicted to become world changers. Collyde turned out to be a life-changing experience for me! To gather and worship in this way was profound. It also gave me a chance to ‘collide’ with individuals I may not have had an opportunity to meet otherwise.
by Elise Daly Parker
So for pretty much the 30+ years my beloved and I have been married, we have been “working” on our finances. Initially, it was just a matter of trying to be responsible with our money and not get in over our heads with debt. Truth be told, our success was short term. Some of this was circumstantial – unanticipated life and salary changes threw us for a loop. But, really? We overspent.
by Kathleen Whittam
There is a nickname for people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter--a ChrEaster. My mom has long been a fan of the Christmas cactus, a plant that, oddly enough, blooms around Christmas as well as Easter. I started calling them a ChrEaster Cactus.
By Beth Stiff
I wanted to start from the beginning...
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.~ Genesis 1:1-2
My focal point was going to be on the three words God says over and over again in the first chapter of Genesis: “…it is good."
He looked at all He created and said it was good. ~ Genesis 1:31
Starting from the beginning sounded like a good plan because I’m currently reading from the Book of Genesis and those three words jumped off the pages as I read. If we believe everything He said as truth, and he says those three words several times, I’m thinking those words are rather important. [Continue Reading...]
by Elise Daly Parker
Even if you don’t go for a big New Year’s Eve celebration, the New Year can mark a fresh start, a new beginning, a shift in focus. It’s a good time to take a look back at the past, and consider a vision for the year ahead.
Many people choose a New Year’s resolution or two… [Continue Reading...]
By Susanne Ciancio, LPC
Is it really possible to make long-lasting changes? One of the big reasons we don't see changes in our lives is due to an offended heart! We can be offended at God for permitting something to happen or for not making something else happen. We are seriously offended at times by what people say and do or neglect to say and do.
by Maude Pych
I can't make you love Him if you don't can't strike a match to cause your heart to blaze at the mention of His Name can't cause you to tremble as I tremble before His holiness can't jumpstart love from the outside in It only happens from the inside out
by Angele Tanyeri
The Collyde Summit is a gathering of passionate believers in the NY, NJ, and PA area, who love Jesus and are convicted to become world changers. Collyde turned out to be a life-changing experience for me! To gather and worship in this way was profound. It also gave me a chance to ‘collide’ with individuals I may not have had an opportunity to meet otherwise.
by Elise Daly Parker
So for pretty much the 30+ years my beloved and I have been married, we have been “working” on our finances. Initially, it was just a matter of trying to be responsible with our money and not get in over our heads with debt. Truth be told, our success was short term. Some of this was circumstantial – unanticipated life and salary changes threw us for a loop. But, really? We overspent.
by Kathleen Whittam
There is a nickname for people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter--a ChrEaster. My mom has long been a fan of the Christmas cactus, a plant that, oddly enough, blooms around Christmas as well as Easter. I started calling them a ChrEaster Cactus.
by Angele Tanyeri
It is only natural to think about aging, the expected end-of-life experience and/or the unexpected accident or illness. Anyone who has ever loved and lost knows how very difficult it is to honor the life of our loved ones, especially when we are overcome by grief. The Five Wishes format is a popular living will that allows you to start important conversations and structure your wishes in everyday language.
by Mel Schroeder
2010 was a hard year for us, in many ways. We faced huge life changes and transcontinental relocation, all within a matter of weeks. We had no idea what to expect and had many days when we simply had to hand all of it to our Father, loosening our grasp from what felt impossible.
by Brianne Hendrick
It began with a prayer. “God, make me a part of something bigger than myself, something my family can be invested in that will bless your kingdom, something that can only be explained by saying, ‘God is in this.’“ Literally, the day after I prayed that simple prayer, I logged on to Facebook and noticed a dear friend of mine doing mission work in Rwanda.
by Chelle Wilson
I’ve endured numerous painful conversations lately with people who love the Lord AND who love me, but who want to believe that things are not the way they are. People who with every good intention need to believe that #BlackLivesMatter is more charged and divisive than relevant, that racism is no longer dangerous, is no longer omnipresent in our lives, that everything in America is okay.
by Wodline Hippolyte
I was crying hysterically while one of my closest friend’s tried to console me. She dropped everything to come over to my apartment after a brief phone conversation. I knew I could call on her because she’d been in my shoes before. Though I was ashamed, she never judged me or made me feel embarrassed about everything I was facing at the time.
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
That's the question we will be asking COF contributors and you, our readers, each month. Is there a book that you just can't seem to put down, that's teaching you a profound spiritual lesson, or making you laugh amid your struggles? We want to hear about it!
by Susanne Ciancio, LPC
Why do we struggle so much with the change process? Do we really know God's plan for change? I do know that godly women are frustrated with things we want to change about ourselves and our lives. We all share in this all too human struggle!
by Sheri Stewart
I am walking the right path, which is strong steady and chosen by God. HIS love and forgiveness bless my life giving me knowledge that my faith will see me through any storm. Lunch with Jesus today stripped away my lost sadness and renewed my soul.
by Angele Tanyeri
Whether it is recognized or not, every human being has a worldview. A worldview is the overall interpretation of reality based on ideas, beliefs and attitudes that influence the way one sees life and the world. These concepts help mankind create a global image of the world, identify with society and man’s place in it. Communicating what we believe in an effective way – that points people to biblical truth – requires an understanding of biblical principles, respect and tolerance.
by Kristin Hill Taylor
I almost always have a to-do list near me. If a notebook isn’t physically near me, I’m emailing myself something I want to remember or making a mental list. One of my greatest fears is that I will forget. So I make lists. But I don’t want to forget to live with you, Summer, either.
by Sandy DelGrande
Before life with the GPS, I was often reluctant to drive anywhere too far away or any location that required following complicated directions. The thought occurred to me, I wish I trusted God like I trust this GPS. If I did, I could relax and know for certain that, no matter what, God is going to lead me home even when I find myself in unfamiliar places I’d rather not be.
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month. Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below.
What are some practical ways you cultivate community (bible studies, play groups, town message boards) and how has that worked out?
by Kimberly Amici
A great way to keep God’s Word on our lips and in our thoughts is through Scripture memory. Memorizing Bible verses fills our mind with truth and builds our faith. Over the years, I have found a few things that make Scripture memory easy and fun.
by Micalagh Moritz
I recently had the privilege of spending an overnight with a sect of Old Order Mennonites in Belize, Central America, where I was living. A surprise to most, there are several Mennonite communities in Belize that are very similar to the Amish in the United States. They have managed to preserve a distinct culture, religion, and way of life despite the climate and culture of Belize.
by Joanne Viola
The very word is thrown around as a goal to achieve, an attribute to display, an inspiration on a plaque or pillow. Yet many of us find joy difficult to understand and, at times, harder to find. Fight Back With Joy is a transparent and vulnerable story of a woman's battle to maintain joy throughout a difficult diagnosis.
