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Note: Candace is also a columnist here at CWO with
“Candid Candace ~ The Qs & As
on Growing with God.”

Click Here to Go There
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It was an honor and a privilege for me to connect with the beautiful and talented actress, Candace Cameron Bure, this month. Many of us will remember Candace from ABC’s hit television series, Full House, where we knew her simply as “D.J.” This month, we get to meet the real Candace Cameron Bure, a woman who’s genuine faith in Jesus Christ, is reflected in both her public life, and in the “full house” which God has richly blessed her with.

As I mentioned in my opening statement, most of us remember you as the wisecracking teenaged sister on ABC’s hit television series, “Full House.” Are there many, if any, similarities between D.J. Tanner and yourself–aside from the obvious great head of hair?

Any similarities would be that we were the same age and both nice girls. Other than that….D.J. and I didn’t have much in common. I was a working child actor, going to the set each day, doing school with a tutor along with private/public school some years, traveling the world and doing such exciting stuff that a lot of people dream about. D.J. was your typical big sister (oh–I’m the baby in my family) who went to school and high school dances.

Can you tell us about any recent television or big screen projects that you’ve been involved in?

Sure! I recently did an episode of Disney’s That’s So Raven. It will air this season. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite shows, and since I know the producers….we worked something out! I also just completed a Christian film by PureFlix called The Wager based on the book by Bill Meyer. It stars Randy Travis and will be out February 9 in selected theaters. It’s a modern day story of Job. I play the character Cassie/Maggie and she is unlike any character I’ve played before. It was fun!

We see that, unlike D.J. Tanner, you have a mother that is very involved in your life. Would this be an accurate statement, and if so, what influences has she had on you?

Yes, very accurate. My mom was with me most days on the set, taking me to and from auditions as well as all the normal stuff moms do. She was there for everything and still is a big part of my life today. She even helps out with the emails on my website! Her biggest influence on me is her heart. My mom is so generous and selfless, and has always had a home who’s doors were wide open for people. She has a real heart for the underprivileged and sick. I think that’s rubbed off on all of us Cameron kids.

How long have you been a Christian, and can you tell us a bit about that conversion?

Well, as it says in my testimony on my website, I asked Christ in my heart when I was 12 years old, but wasn’t a true Christian until I was about 24. We started going to church when my parents were having marital problems. After successfully staying together, I thought that I wanted Jesus to be in my life. I saw that it made so many other people happy and I wanted that happiness too. But I did not grow in my Christian walk through my teen years or even my early twenties. I just used God’s forgiveness and grace to live my life the way I wanted. I basically sinned knowingly, then prayed to God to forgive me for it, just to go back and do it again. Because my “sin” wasn’t as bad as other people’s (I never got mixed up in drugs, alcohol or took that well known “child star pitfall,” I figured I was a pretty good person and it wouldn’t bother God if I did things that were wrong. It wasn’t until I read the book The Way of The Master by Ray Comfort, that I understood the standard by which God is going to judge me: not by worldly standards, but the standard of the 10 commandments. It was then that I saw my need for a savior. No matter how good I thought I was on the Earth, I clearly don’t measure up to the 10 commandments. It was seeing my sin from God’s perspective and understanding that I would be judged the same as that person that was doing worse things than me. I finally got right with God and have been living a life for Him ever since.

Did being a “Hollywood Christian” cause any growing pains in your spiritual growth?

Thankfully, no…not while I was doing Full House. Even though I called myself a Christian, I didn’t live like one. Although I must say….I was still a goody-two shoes. But now–yes, there have been several decisions I’ve made about work because of my Christian walk. I’ve turned down several TV series to stay home and raise my children. I’ve also turned down other roles because of content issues I feel so strongly about.

I was thrilled when I learned that both you and your brother, Kirk Cameron, were actively serving in Christian ministry. Can you tell me about any recent opportunities that God opened to you for His service?

I never thought I’d be someone who’d speak at churches and share my testimony with thousands of people. I can now see how God used the success of Full House to reach millions of people for Him. How cool is that? I also went on my fist mission trip to Africa last September. That was an incredible experience!

I’ve heard that you are married to NHL hockey star Valeri Bure. Can you dish with the women of CWO and tell us how you two met?

Dave Coulier (aka Joey Gladstone, Full House) introduced us at a hockey game. Val and his brother Pavel didn’t speak much English because they came over from Russia just 2 years before. Full House was one of the shows they watched every day in the States to help them speak the language. Val and I exchanged numbers that night at the game…and the rest is history. We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary!

Being a mother of three children, you now have a “full house” of your own. Can you tell me what you find to be the greatest blessing of motherhood?

There are so many blessings being a mother. It’s hard to pick one. I love seeing my kids’ smiling faces every morning. The love they give me is priceless. They’ve taught me to have patience (although I’m still learning) and to have unconditional love. It puts God’s love in perspective me for. If I love my own kids that much–how much more does the Father love me?

Have your children had many opportunities to watch re-runs of Full House?

Oh yeah. They think the show is great! They love Michelle. And my daughter has to laugh and “eeeewwwww!” when I kiss a boyfriend!

Are you still in contact with any former members of the cast?

Yes, I talk to several of them. A lot of emailing.

If one of our readers is seeking to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as you do, are there any online resources that you would direct them too?

Yes! www.thewayofthemaster.com. Not only is this the ministry of my brother, Kirk Cameron, it’s the very thing that got MY relationship with God right. There are all kinds of resources on there for the seeker of Christianity to the seasoned scholar.

In closing, can you leave us with one of your favorite Bible verses?

I love Acts 17:30,31a

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.”

It’s not a feel good verse… it’s a verse of truth and urgency for eternity.

Candace I can’t thank you enough for joining us this month at CWO. I enjoyed you back then as D.J., and I enjoy you even more today, as Candace Cameron Bure. Your genuine spirit is well reflected in your words.

My family and I will be looking for you on That’s So Raven this season, The Wager in February , and of course, I’ll be visiting your website often. You’ll know it’s me, because, I’ll be the one lurking at 2 am.

Visit Candace at: www.candacecameronbure.net

Blessings,

Founder and Editor,
Christian Women Online Magazine
Read my column–DysFUNctional

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Candace recommends the following:

www.candacecameronbure.net
www.wayofthemaster.com (Kirk Cameron’s Ministry)
www.barbaracameron.net (Barbara Cameron)
www.childrenshungerfund.org
www.kirkcameron.com (Kirk Cameron)

Photo Credit: Jonathan Exley

Kathy Ireland began her career as a supermodel and morphed into what the Associated Press and London Times call “a best friend to working mothers” because women all over America are embracing her designs and products.

I’ve been familiar with her as a model and designer for years, but more recently I’ve discovered that there is so much more to this designer, author, and mother of three, which is her deep devotion to faith and family, and her willingness to both speak out and give of her time to numerous humanitarian causes.

I’m privileged to have had this opportunity to interview her.

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Your designs include everything from sofas to lighting to rugs, with a list that goes on… Can you tell us what some of your personal favorites have been?

It’s difficult to choose personal favorite items in our collections. We offer over fifteen thousand different products. We must love them in order to develop them. Having favorites wouldn’t be fair. Every product is a solution for someone. Our mission is “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms…” Working with our team everyday to find solutions for busy families everywhere is a great joy.

My daughter has the canopy bed and dresser set you designed.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of it from the moment I walked into the store, nor could I stop tugging on my husband’s coat sleeve, in hopes that he’d by it. I have to say, it’s breathtaking as are your other designs.

Thank you for your kind words regarding our Young Attitudes bedroom collection. Designing for youth is a special joy our team shares. We conduct focus groups on a regular basis and we include children in those focus groups. It’s critical for us to understand what it is that children and their families want and how they are utilizing each room and each piece of furniture or our home accessories, lighting, flooring and window coverings. There is so much to learn from children!

I’ve read that it all started with a line of socks which Kmart carried, and that they sold over a hundred million pairs! Why did you start with socks? I’d love to hear how that journey began.

Yes, we started our brand in 1993 with a pair of socks. Many people told us, “It’ll never work! You can’t start a mega lifestyle brand from a pair of socks! You’ve got to break into retail with swimwear!” We weren’t looking to break in, rather, we were seeking a real relationship with our customer. With my modeling background, swimwear would have been too obvious. We thought it would be interesting to see what kind of design, innovation, and marketing our team could bring to a basic pair of socks. If women embraced our socks, we would have the beginnings of a strong foundation for our brand.

When we began our brand we had very little resources, no advertising budget, and we took out a series of loans. Jon Carrasco, our genius Creative Director and I loaded up our backpacks, traveling the country presenting our socks. We had a lot of doors slam in our faces.

I believe in order to succeed in life and in business we need to turn down the noise of negativity and move forward with the plan for our dreams. In the early days, there were times we slept in airports to save money. Many people think of sleeping in an airport as a sacrifice. Modeling was more of a sacrifice because it wasn’t my passion. Whatever you have to give up to live your passion, on the path God has for your life, is not a sacrifice; it’s a bold investment. And yes, thanks to the millions of women who turn down the noise of stereotyping and embrace our brand, we recently sold our 100 millionth pair of socks.

Congratulations. That is a lot of socks, and a lot of happy feet!

What values have you instilled in your company?

As a child, I always worked. From the days of my newspaper route, my dad always taught me to give 110%. Give more than the customer is expecting. If the customer expects the paper on the driveway, put it on the front porch. That was the foundation of our learning–to under promise and over deliver.

Thirty years later, I’m still the girl with the paper route.

I like that, Kathy. A good work ethic is such an important value we can instill in our children.

Let’s talk about your book, Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons That Will Change Your Life. Can you give us a glimpse into the book?

It was a privilege to write Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons That Will Change Your Life, with my co-author, Laura Morton. The reason I can be so bold as to say these lessons will change your life, is because the inspirations behind each lesson don’t come from me. They come from God. If you apply them to your life, your life will change. The lessons range from Powerful Beliefs and Boundaries, Powerful Changes, to Powerful Financial Wisdom. I look at failure as education. In that respect, I am very well educated. Most of these lessons were learned the hard way.

In this book, you wrote that you felt “dorky” growing up. Some of us still feel dorky even now that we are grown up Since you overcame this issue, is there any advice that you offer to women who are suffering with low self-esteem?

In the book,  I share that I believe, if we get our self-esteem or sense of self-worth from our appearance, our social status, our bank accounts, the car we drive or even our health, we will be disappointed. No one can guarantee we will have any of these things tomorrow. Appearance was an example I’d used that made me wonder if I’d been on my soapbox. Our appearance doesn’t change overnight; it’s a gradual process. I thought about it, then pushed it out of my mind. A few days later, I was playing in the driveway with our son Erik. My husband hopped in Erik’s wagon and was riding it like a skateboard. It looked like so much fun. I wanted to give it a try. I held on to the steering wheel, while he pushed me around our circular brick driveway. We were laughing and having so much fun. As I approached my parked car, I over corrected my turn and did a face plant on the brick driveway. I smashed my face, broke some teeth, tore the skin from my nose, had a fat lip, sprained my shoulder and my blood was everywhere.

I am grateful that there was no serious permanent damage. But during that time we achieved a major business goal. No one could ever again say our business was dependent upon how I looked. Because trust me, I was a mess. There is still a small scar on my nose. Make up usually covers it up. It’s really no big deal, except to me. To me it’s a beautiful reminder of a turn my life could have taken and a gift of being absolutely free from worry about appearance.

I believe that true self-esteem comes from understanding that God loves you, values you, made you in His image and He doesn’t make mistakes. That kind of self-esteem is available to everyone and no one can take it away from you, no matter what your circumstances.

Chapter one opens up with the verse, “All things are possible with God” ~ Mark 10:27. Why did you choose that verse to open the book?

I love that verse because it demonstrates the all mighty, infinite power of God. In my human weakness, I often see obstacles and limits. What I need to be doing is leaning on Him. With people, much is impossible, but not with God. “All things are possible with God” Mark 10:27. This verse strengthens my faith and gives me great hope.

When I look at the woman you are today I see someone who has changed from the girl we knew her to be 20 years ago.  Is there any life-changing lesson or lessons that particularly stand out as being key to your growth over time?

I feel that over the years I have changed. From the girl who used to shut up and pose for a living, to the wife, mother, and business person I am today. I enjoy all those responsibilities that go along with the opportunities. In “Powerful Inspirations,” I share, that I believe we all have our God given gifts and talents. It’s a matter of discovering and developing them. I believe in focusing on our strengths and finding support in areas where we are not strong. I encourage people to figure out what their values are and to put strong boundaries in place to protect those values.

Your were dubbed “super-model-turned-super-mogul” by Forbes Magazine and syndicated columnist Liz Smith, but I also see you wearing the title of “Super Mom.”  In fact I read that you were named the 2002 Outstanding Mother of the Year from the National Mother’s Day Committee, and that you authored several best-selling children’s books. How do you manage working, writing and being a mom without fizzling out?

All moms work, whether they get paid or not. I can’t think of anything more rewarding, challenging or important than raising children. There is so much pressure particularly on women to have it all and do it all. I believe we can have it all, just not all at once. I believe our life comes in seasons. In each season we need to prioritize our time. For me, my priorities are my faith, my family and then being of service.

Honoring those priorities makes our work so exciting. The minute my priorities are out of order, the stress becomes unmanageable. I’m not very effective at anything and my coping skills go out the window.

You’ve been successful at so much that you set out to do. What would you consider to be the key to that success?

While our success may bear my name, it is the result of thousands of hours of work performed by many, many people. I work with an incredible team of people. As women, so often we try to do it all. As I mentioned earlier, I believe in focusing on our strengths and working with others in areas where we are not strong. It’s important to choose the people you work with carefully. While you might not agree on everything, it’s a good idea to share the same core values. Work ethic is also critical to success. Always give 110%. I never had a family business, but today we have a business family. When you treat one another the way you want your family members to be treated, there is no limit to what you can accomplish together.

I read that you became a Christian when you were eighteen, but remained a baby Christian for a long time. So many of us can relate to that, in fact it was only twelve years ago that I really started growing in my faith. Can you tell us a bit about your walk with the Lord?

I was 18-years-old, modeling in Paris, which sounds a lot more glamorous than it really was. Out of jetlag, boredom and loneliness, I picked up a Bible out of my suitcase that my mom had packed. I happened to open to the Gospel of Mathew and my life was forever changed. As a rebellious teenager who was questioning authority, I saw the truth right before my eyes. As a young woman, out in a world that felt dominated by men, I was so encouraged to learn how much Jesus loves and respects women. The first person who He shared that He was the Son of God with, was a woman. This woman was a Samaritan and was living what could be considered an immoral life. This was during a time when men did not communicate with women. Women were not even considered second-class citizens. This was during a time when Jews would go out of their way to avoid Samaritans.

Jesus rejected that discrimination. He showed this woman love, respect, and forgiveness. The first people Jesus appeared to after His resurrection were women, and God chose a woman to bring His Son into the world. I feel that with Jesus as my best friend it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me. That relationship gives me the confidence to not compromise my values. Due to my own disobedience, I remained a baby Christian for a very long time. As I would read through the Bible, I would embrace certain passages and disregard those verses that I was sure were a typo or certainly, they didn’t pertain to me. I was trying to mold God into what I wanted Him to be, rather then allowing Him to mold me into the person He created me to be.

Becoming a mom helped me to understand our Heavenly Father’s love for us. He sees the big picture while we see only a fraction. He tells us things not to keep us from pleasure, but to keep us from pain. I have made many, many mistakes in my life and I continue to mess up. My goal is that as I mature in my faith, that my actions would be more in line with His will for my life.

Kathy, thank you for being our guest this month. I look forward to watching as you continue to reveal your God given gift of design.

In the same manner I anticipate a few gentle tugs on my husband’s coat sleeve.

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Visit www.kathyireland.com where you can view her designs, browse her books, and learn more about this amazing woman of faith!

Blessings,

Founder and Editor,
Christian Women Online Magazine
Read my column–DysFUNctional

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Photo credit to Jonathan Exley for the Cover and headshots of Kathy Ireland

If you’re an American Idol fan then you’ll likely remember Mandisa–season five’s unforgettable contestant. Her warmth and rich tone entertained viewers each week as Mandisa Hundley sang her way up to the top ten.

When Mandisa was faced with the usual “I don’t mean to be rude, but…” verbiage that Simon Cowell hands out, she chose love in what was a surprising and public response. Forgiving Cowell for pointing out that the stage might not hold her plus-sized figure, Mandisa took the opportunity to forgive Simon, as a reflection of her faith in Jesus Christ and His forgiveness to mankind. Yep–she rocks!!

After leaving the Idol stage, Mandisa has been anything but idle, working on her new book with co-author Angela Hunt entitled, Idoleyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame (Tyndale House), and releasing her CD-single, Only the World.

Idoleyes takes us into the world of an American Idol contestant as Mandisa shares an open and honest account of her experience, and the path that led her to audition. She also gets real about a topic so many of us women face daily, which is a life-long addiction to food. Readers can draw strength from Mandisa as she leads us to the realization that our worth is found in the eyes of a loving Father. And for all of you Beth Moore fans, you’ll love the fact that she’s written the foreword!

What about Mandisa’s new CD-single? I have Only the World in the CD player of my car, where it’s going to stay for a good long while! The fresh sound and upbeat rhythm is so encouraging and fun, I want to drive more often.

We’re honored to have such a beautiful, talented, and warm-hearted woman of faith, grace our pages this month. So, without further ado, here is my interview with Mandisa…

What were you doing before American Idol?
I was singing full time. I did recording studio work, background for various artists (Don Moen, Twila Paris, Sara Groves, etc.) on the road, and traveled leading worship for churches and women’s conferences.

I applaud you for the bold step of faith you took on American Idol by showing forgiveness. You’re one faith-filled woman! Was there ever a point when you wanted to run?
When I first heard the horrible comments that Simon made about my weight on national television, I was caught off guard and devastated because I had no idea that he talked about me behind my back. I found out with the rest of America.  Needless to say, hearing the worst things I think about myself on national television was very difficult for me and did make me want to run and hide.  But after praying with some friends of mine that night, I knew there was much more at stake than me becoming an “American Idol.”

Those who struggle with weight will not soon forget that famous “fat” comment. I can only imagine the devastation you felt. How does one deal with this particular issue, and still maintain self-esteem?
I maintain my self-esteem by relying on the mirror of God’s Word more than the bathroom mirror to gain perspective on true beauty.  I know that my body is a temple and that God has called each of us to be good stewards of our bodies.  On a daily basis I rely on Him to help me walk in victory in that area.  BUT, I absolutely, positively, do not believe that my value is based on my physical appearance.  1 Peter 3:3-4 gives us the real definition of beauty; it is not based at all on our outward appearance but our inner spirit. I cultivate inner beauty by a relationship with Jesus. He makes me beautiful.  I feel so strongly about this issue that I wrote a song about it on my CD and derived the title True Beauty from this very message. For too long we have allowed society to dictate to us what beauty is.  It’s time for us to let the world see our true beauty.

Absolutely, Mandisa! I’ve heard that song you’re talking about. It really does help us to refocus our view on the topic of beauty. I need that reminder often, and so I appreciate that message in your lyrics–especially when they’re teamed up with such a great sound!

I enjoyed every one of your idol performances, but I’d like to know which one was your favorite?
I had two favorites.  I loved doing “I’m Every Woman” and “I Don’t Hurt Anymore”.

You always appeared calm, cool, and collected on Idol, were you?
I was always nervous right before I sang!  In the moments leading up to the music intro I would always be a little nauseous. But it’s funny… the nerves went away as soon as I opened my mouth to sing the first note. That still happens to me to this day. Whenever I am doing a show I am sick to my stomach leading up to the moments I hit the stage. But once I am on it, I love it!

What doors has the idol experience opened for you?
When I got off of the American Idol tour I had a modeling deal with Ashley Stewart stores, a book publishing deal with Tyndale House Publishers, and a record deal with EMI/Sparrow Records. I’ve been on photo shoots and Ashley Stewart appearances (including singing on the Apollo stage with Gladys Knight), my book Idoleyes-My New Perspective on Faith, Fat, and Fame came out in June, and my CD “True Beauty” came out July 31st. None of that would have happened if it hadn’t been for my time on American Idol.

I also recently saw you on Regis and Kelly, and as usual you had a great performance.

Oh–I have to ask–what was it like meeting Barry Manilow?
(Hahaha…you must be a “Fanilow!”) While I was on AI I met several celebrities including Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Chris Rock, Brandy, the members of Queen, and many others. I can honestly say that Barry Manilow was my favorite. He spent so much time with us and I could tell that he really cared. I did not know much about him before I met him, but afterwards, I became a fan(ilow).

Let’s talk about the book… Other than the obvious experience with American Idol that we all want to read about, what can one hope to gain either emotionally or spiritually from reading Idoleyes?
The subtitle of my book is “My New Perspective on Faith, Fat, and Fame.” Those are three areas that I grew so much in during my time on Idol. My faith was tested and put through the fire but came out more pure and stronger than when I went in. My spiritual journey is one that many can relate to and hopefully be encouraged by. The second area is fat. I have struggled with my weight since I was a very young girl.  From the very beginning of my time on Idol, Simon Cowell put that issue in the forefront of my journey. I certainly would not have chosen to air my dirty laundry in such a public format, but I have found camaraderie among people who struggle with that very issue.  It is an ongoing battle with me, and one I hope to walk in fellowship, with the millions of others who deal with food related issues like I do.

Lastly, I have learned that fame is not all it is cracked up to be. I have come to the realization that when I get to the end of my life, I will not be bragging about the number of albums I sold or the amount of people who know my name. As I lay on my death bed, I will want to be surrounded by my loved ones and reflect on memories we shared. Most importantly, I will want to be able to look into the face of Jesus and be ready to go “home.” Fame is fleeting. It’s the intangible things we cannot touch that make life really worth living. As I have heard back from people who have read Idoleyes, I have been so encouraged to know that many are being touched by it.  God has not called me to pretend that I have it all together. He has called me to be transparent and shown that the Christian life is a journey, but one that can be walked in victory as long as you hold tightly to the One who has walked it before.

You mention in the book that you consider yourself to be an introvert, has this stemmed from the struggles you’ve faced with weight issues?
Actually I believe it is just how God created me. I don’t think that being introverted is unhealthy or a result of a negative experience. It is just part of the personality that God wove into me in my mother’s womb. I am not shy or withdrawn. I am simply reenergized by spending time alone. I enjoy being with people but unlike extroverts, I am not energized by it.

Your faith is unmistakable in both your writing and in your life, can you tell us about the journey that led to your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal savior?
I always say that God was pursuing me. Something as minute as a science-fiction novel in high school sparked my interest in Jesus, but it was a performance of “The Singing Christmas Tree” held at a local church that threw the floodgates wide open. After watching the musical interpretation of the life of Jesus, I knew that I didn’t want to continue my life without Him in it.  At the age of sixteen I asked Jesus into my heart and into my life. It has been the wildest ride ever since!

You never know what God might use to draw us close to him, but I agree–it is a wild ride at times!

Many of our readers are huge Beth Moore fans. Can you tell us about your connection to her?
After graduation I was working in the customer service department at LifeWay Church Resources. During LifeWay’s annual spring revival, they brought in special musical guest (and Beth Moore worship leader) Travis Cottrell. Because I occasionally sang in LifeWay’s weekly chapel services, they asked me to be a part of an employee praise team to sing with him. Shortly after that week, Travis called me at work and asked me to be a part of the praise team for a Beth Moore event that weekend in Charlotte, NC. From that weekend on I sang on his praise team for over 5 years.

Meeting Beth was a dream come true. I had done her Bible study Breaking Free in college and was transformed by it. Beth is the godliest woman I know, and I have so much admiration and respect for her. I am just one of the many people who have been changed by the Lord through her ministry. When I saw her passion and love for God and His Word, I began asking the Father to birth the same in me.  I am eternally grateful that the Lord allowed me to glean from her teaching for a season. If it were not for that season, I would not be the woman I am today.

Is there a Bible verse that God has recently placed on your heart?
During my quiet time recently, the Holy Spirit brought a very familiar passage to mind; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Through this passage God impressed the importance of walking in love in all that I do. I can sell a million albums, have my book on the best sellers list, my picture on the front of magazines, but if I don’t do what I do in love, it is all worthless.

More than I want people to know that I am a Christian because of what I say, I want them to know I am a Christian because of how I live…because of how I love.

Happy 2008! We are entering into the time of year for New Year’s goals and resolutions. If you are like me you have the thoughts like “Oh great, more goals I can make that I know I will never live up to.”  Despite those feelings we still make goals, and when we break the goals, we live with the guilt and frustration of our failure. Many times at the top of the list is “growing and learning more about God.” We enroll in Bible study classes or purchase “Read the Bible in One Year” books with the best of intentions, because we know that is what we are supposed to be doing.  But what if you are a Mom who barely has time to catch her breath between diaper changes or between running your kids everywhere?  What is a busy Mom to do? Are we supposed to put off getting closer to God until things settle down in life?  We can not do it all!

No you can’t do it all, but there are ways to find time for God and become more intimate with him on a daily basis even while life is crazy all around you.  Lisa Whelchel has written a new book entitled The Busy’s Mom’s Guide to Bible Study with tips to finding that time for God. Her first book, Creative Correction, was published in 2000 by Tyndale House and sold over 200,000 copies.  It received a Gold Medallion Nomination in the Family and Parenting Category.

She is also the author of: The Facts of Life and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me, So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling, The ADVENTure of Christmas, The Busy Mom’s Guide to Prayer, The Busy Mom’s Guide to Wisdom, The Busy Mom’s Guide to Bible Study, Speaking Mom-ese, Creative Correction – The Bible Study, This is My Story -Bible Study and Taking Care of the ‘Me’ in Mommy.

I had the distinct pleasure of talking to Lisa and I believe her advice for busy Moms is going to be a breath of fresh air to many of you.

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Many times when someone mentions the term ‘Bible study’ to a Mom, it invokes guilt or frustration of failure. What do you think are some of the misconceptions Moms have about Bible study?

I think quite a few. I actually wrote the book because I was feeling those same feelings of guilt and frustration.

From a personal perspective I really had wrapped up the idea that “to be a good Christian I had to read my Bible.”  What really smacked me right in the face, is that Jesus did everything we needed on the cross; that it’s not part of earning salvation or paying back what He did. Bible study really is part of our relationship with Jesus and part of listening to Him and communicating with Him.

So often I forget, and think it is one of the items on my “to do list.”  I think many times I need to pull back and remember that. That helps me not to feel so guilty; also it gets me excited about it.

Often times we think in terms of quantity over quality, and that is one of the main messages of the book.  For so long I had it in my mind that I needed to read through the Bible in a year, or Psalm or Proverbs, or at least a chapter a night. And during this busy season in my life, sometimes it can be an all or nothing.  If I have to spend that much time, then I don’t do it, or I will do it tomorrow.

I think having the perspective that I am going to take one verse and meditate on that all through the day, that it’s not only going to be good enough, but actually, more times than not–even better, richer, more productive, and life changing than if I read a whole chapter.

You have a writing career, three children whom you homeschool, and you’re a pastor’s wife. You certainly have your hands full. How do you find time to study God’s word with everything swirling around you?

As Mom’s we juggle so many balls, and we feel guilty because we are dropping so many of them. So one of the things that has helped me, is knowing that I am going to drop some of these balls. So instead of dropping too many, I just pull back and put down a few. They are all important, they are all good, but in order to hold onto the ones that are really critical, eternal, and the ones that I know God’s called me to, I am going to have to lay a few of them down.  That has been really helpful to me, to lay down some good stuff, to make sure that I really do hang on to the ones that are really important.

It is easy to drop spending time with the Lord, because it is hard to show anything for it. You really can’t check it off your “to do list,” or say “look…” when your husband gets home: “Look this is what I did today; I spent this time with the Lord.”  It does not have the same impact as, “I cooked dinner, I organized the closet…”  I think that has been the most helpful to me to keep that a priority. To know not only know my heart, but know my weakness and know the challenges.

Your new devotional book The Busy Mom’s Guide to Bible Study is written to help the on-the-go Mom receive some of the “meatier” parts of Bible study in the time she has available. Can you tell me what the difference is between studying the Bible for 10 minutes versus just reading it for 10 minutes?

That is good question. Just reading is kind of like when we drive through McDonalds, get a happy meal and eat it on the road. It is a full meal that fills us up. There are obviously benefits in that, but there is also the opportunity to actually come home and have a really good nutritious home cooked meal. Maybe find a piece of chicken, as opposed to a hamburger, fries and a coke.  One is really going to actually nourish your body, both are filling, but one is actually going to help you grow better than the other. We can so quickly sit down and read a chapter and there is benefit in that. But if we take the time to look for the real meat, maybe take one piece of it, take the time and let it go deep to soul, that is going to help us.

In your book, you discuss how we can become dependent on other people studying the Bible and then spoon feeding us.  Can you give some examples and explain why that is a problem?

I don’t want to think of it as a problem, it just is not the full picture. I just got Beth Moore’s new study, Psalms of the Assent, and I am getting so much out of it. I love it so much, and I am thankful for it. There comes a time when you are on your own, you need the tools, the confidence and the know how to get into the word to find what you need. If we never learn how to use those tools or practice enough to have some confidence there will be days when someone else’s lesson is not going to speak to us and we will miss out on the fullness of what God has available for us in His Word.

The book introduces the reader to over 20 different methods of studying the Bible. What are some of the ways that work well for you personally?

When my kids were little they were up late at night because they were waking me up, and I would go back to bed and have a hard time falling asleep. Now they sleep really soundly, but I find myself waking up at 2am in the morning lying there for an hour. One of the things that has helped me is to have a scripture by my bed, one that I have already thought about, or one I have already been working on. When I wake up in the night, instead of thinking of all the things I need to do tomorrow or the next day, I can meditate on that scripture. One of the most exciting ways of meditating is taking each word, putting an emphasis on that word to see how it changes the meaning, how it deepens the meaning, how it sparkles in a new way. That has been so much fun  Not only am I getting something out of it, and it is getting into my heart but it helps me go back to sleep too.

As we enter 2008, what would be some attainable Bible study goals that busy mothers could set for themselves, without living in guilt? For a Mother with young children what would be a realistic approach to Bible study?

Just yesterday, I went to the Lifeway store and I bought Praying God’s Word.  It has 420 scriptures in all different categories and you can go through and pick one. I have it by my computer. I think that is a great idea for a Mom, whether you get something like that, or if you have time to study God’s Word with whatever you are going through, or whatever you need to re-enforce. And just take one scripture and keep it close, whether on your visor in the car, or by your sink, computer and where ever you are going to see it. Whenever you pass it, read it and pray that the Lord would speak to you.  It will become hidden in your heart and if you can do a Bible study or do more than that…then great!

Are there any projects in the works that you can tell us about?

There really aren’t.  I am taking a sabbatical from writing right now. The Lord is doing a real internal work in my heart, I can not concentrate on writing, but at the same time I think He is changing me so much, that if I wrote something today it would not be the same as next year.

I am letting Him do his work and pulling away from writing at this time. My ministry is going to be very different in future.  My ministry has always had to come from inside as a result of what God has been work on in me. I kind of need to wait and see what he is doing.

As we begin 2008 what are some of your New Year goals? I wish you a blessed 2008.

I would like to work on trying to be more transparent and spontaneous in Christ. I am going to let Him lead me in my ministry, and to try not to be so concerned about all the tiny details. I want to just be a child of God and go where He leads.

Lisa, thank you so much for taking time during this busy season to spend time with us here at Christian Women Online.  This interview, for me personally, really spoke to my heart about what my goals and desires are for 2008.

Picking up the book The Busy’s Mom’s Guide to Bible Study by Lisa Whelchel is a great way to begin 2008.  Lisa’s book does a great job in showing us ways to find time for God and become more intimate with him on a daily basis even while life is crazy.  Happy 2008!

This is a test!!

Darlene Zschech is known worldwide for her ability to move listeners into a state of worship, both by her gifted ability to sing, and the heart-felt lyrics that warm our souls.

Her worship songs have been popular amongst churchgoers since the release of “Shout to the Lord,” the title track of the first live album co-produced with Integrity Music.

Born in Brisbane, Australia, Darlene began singing and performing at a young age, and by her teen years was singing jingles for popular companies like McDonalds, KFC, and Diet Coke.

At the age of fifteen, Darlene gave her life to Jesus Christ–a decision that opened a door for God’s leading to where she is today. Being the worship pastor at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia she oversees a team of over 800 volunteers. The Hillsong albums have gained popularity in both the Christian and secular market with 14 live worship albums all certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

With a passion to care for the hurting, Darlene and her husband Mark initiated the ‘100 days of hope project’ in 2006, to bring hope to the nation of Rwanda who suffered the horrific genocide of 1994.

Through Mercy Ministries, Darlene and Mark minister to young women, helping them through issues of abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and eating disorders.

God has also blessed Darlene and Mark with three daughters–Amy, Chloe and Zoe, and together they reside in Sydney Australia.

Although Darlene is an extremely busy woman, it was my pleasure and honor to have caught up with her this month to talk about her singing, her walk with God, and about her new album “Change Your World” dated for release November 8th.

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I understand that you oversee a team of over 800 volunteers in the Worship & Creative Arts department, of Hillsong church in Sydney Australia. Which keeps you busier—being the worship pastor, or raising three children?

Definitely raising three children keeps me personally busier…..as we have an awesome team that assist me on a daily basis with the worship and creative arts dept.

Well, those kids are blessed to have a mom like you and a father like Mark–as you are three times blessed in return.

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I’d like to offer our condolences and our prayers to you on the recent passing of your father-in-law. Can you tell us what positive influences he had on your life?

Mark’s dad has been one incredible human being. A missionary, a man who really gave up the lures of this world to pursue Christ, and a worshipper to the core. He was a very softly spoken man, but when he had something to say, you knew it would be gold… and so all would listen. He loved us all very, very much and will be missed every moment of every day.

He sounds wonderful. We’d all love to have in-laws like him who are so grounded in their faith.

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Darlene, at what age did you get saved, and can you tell us a bit about that experience?

I was fifteen when I gave my life to Christ…. It was literally my defining moment, and the best way to describe it to you would be that I was BLOWN AWAY  by the unconditional love of Christ. Growing up on television… I always felt the need to perform to achieve value… finding Christ, was like finding my centre, my reason, my anchor. I will ever be grateful.

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Many readers may not know that you are a former child television star; can you tell us a about that experience?

Star might be a bit of an exaggeration… although to my mother I know I was! I have been singing since I was 3, and paid full time to sing since I was ten years old. The experience I received was invaluable… being in the recording studio every week, being mentored by incredible local muso’s and artists – gaining a level of confidence in front of the camera which has also proved to be invaluable….

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You’ve written, recorded, and performed countless worship songs; do you have a personal favorite?

Hard to say… Glorify Your Name would be one of the favourites which I have written, Take All of Me would be one of my faves which Marty Sampson wrote…

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I’m excited to see that your newest CD, “Change Your World” is due to arrive in stores on November 8th. Iunderstand that there is a passion behind this CD; what is “Change your World” all about?

Change Your World is about exactly that…. I believe in the power of a worshipping heart, a heart that is committed to Christ–to be ACTIVE in our pursuit of making a difference in the world we live in, and not for our benefit, but for the benefit of the seemingly forgotten, the abandoned, the orphans and the widows.  CHANGED by the SPIRIT of GOD… to BRING CHANGE in the world we live in….

I’ve seen the video and listened to some of the clips online, it really is a powerful CD and one I can’t wait to add to my collection this month.

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My name has often been confused with yours, but the disappointment quickly sets in when they learn that I’m not you, which is quite understandable since I’m disappointed myself sometime.

Do most people have a hard time spelling your last name, and was it ever a thought early on to change it?

I never thought about changing my name… it’s who I am.

Bravo to you Darlene I like the name too.

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I’ve read that Mercy Ministries reaches out to young women who suffer from eating disorders, unwanted pregnancies, and issues of abuse. As a young woman, did you suffer with any of these issues?

Well, like many young woman who battle with self esteem issues, I struggled with Bulimia over a period of 5 years. As a form of control, I would binge and purge, abuse my body with laxatives and all I can say looking back, is that I am so grateful for the love of a heavenly father, and the  love and support of my beautiful best friend, my husband Mark….

Husbands can be wonderful–the undying love of a best friend and spouse is truly a gift from God.

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Darlene, the world sees you as a world-renowned Christian recording artist. What else do you hope they will see?

I pray people will see a woman who is devoted to Christ and His worship, and devoted to the lives of others.

Ok, good because that’s what I’m seeing too.

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Do you have a favorite Bible verse, or one that’s been on your heart that you can share with us today?

Psalm 145 is key for me…. It’s David talking about proclaiming the goodness of God to the next generation… and praising the Lord at all times, no matter what is going on……

There is strength in that Psalm. What a powerful scripture, thank you

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Lastly—a question I’ve always wanted to ask–when you eat your Smarties, do you eat the red one’s last?

MMMMMM, I’m not really a smarties chick… Definitely a peanut M&Ms chick… and no, not red ones last!!!

Love you… Darls

Darlene, we love you too, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us girls at CWO. I’ll be looking for your CD this month, but before I do that, I’m off to pick up some peanut M&M’s and then I’m settling down with my nose in Psalm 145.

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You can find out more about Darlene Zschech by visiting her website at:

www.darlenezschech.com

Check out her newest CD at:

www.changeyourworldonline.com

When I recently discovered “good girl” Kerri Pomarolli, I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the undeniable charisma that she holds. Not only is Kerri adorable, she’s a talented actress, author, and comedian. She’s the kind of woman you Photoshop on PMS days just to get even, and I would–but a) I’m over my PMS, and b) I like this woman too much!

Kerri is gifted with a knack for wit. She uses this gift to entertain, but she also uses her gift to minister to women with laughter, prayer and inspiration.

After moving to LA to pursue her dreams, Kerri was met with success, but despite the newfound fame, she hungered for something deeper—a closer relationship with God.

It was evident to Kerri that God heard the cry of her heart, when the very next day things started to change. She got involved in a ministry called “Act of Faith,” and through that was soon led to stand up comedy. Kerri says, “Not only did He want me to talk about HIM, He wanted me to do it in Hollywood where He wasn’t getting much stage time. I said YES and everything took off from there. It’s been my honor and passion to go out, talk about HIM and what He’s doing in my life, to people from all walks of life—and I’m loving every minute of it.”

We’re loving every minute of it too! One stop at Kerri’s website, shows us just what an inspiration she is—testimony after testimony reveals the heart behind the humor.

Kerri has a new book recently published through Zondervan, entitled ““If I’m Waiting on God Then What Am I Doing in a Christian Chatroom?” It’s a great read for single women who are still in search of Mr. Right, and it offers a laugh for us married women who remember those days only too well.

Kerri’s also a contributing writer in Flint Wainess’ new book “It’s Not Me It’s You.” She’s just signed a book deal to collaborate with author Matthew Paul Turner on an upcoming book, and is part of a new book “Relevant Nation 50 Revolutionaries Under 40″ due out Fall 2006 to be published by Relevant Press.

If that doesn’t keep her busy enough, Kerri’s television credits include over 27 appearances on The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, and Lifetime Network. She has been a popular guest on many TV shows on ABC, FOX, TBN, CBN, The Total Living Network, ABC Family Network and many others. She’s appeared on radio, newspapers, and magazines, and writes a bimonthly advice column for the new national magazine Radiant.

I asked Kerri , “What do you consider as your first big break?”

“I could say my first big break was when I moved to LA and got on the “Price is Right” and bid $1500 for a $300 dishwasher and got booed by the audience. Then Bob laughed at me so it was my first “TV Laugh,” but then again I might have to say it was my first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

I had auditioned for the casting director and on Thanksgiving Day 1999 he called and asked me to do a skit. My grandmother was on her death bed literally in Florida from a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. They kept saying she was going to pass away and then I would of course have to go to the funeral and not the TV set. But miracles of miracles..she hung on and even had the TV going in the hospital.

I wore her precious ring that was given to me when I was on the show and I knew she somehow was rooting for me even though she’s wasn’t conscious. Shortly after, she went to Heaven and she’s been getting me auditions ever since! Several years later her sweet husband, another love of my life, Eli, my grandpa, went to heaven. Two months later I started dating my husband and one month after he got up there, we captured Saddam Hussein!”

I should have asked if Jay Leno has a separate dressing room for his chin, but I guess I can save that question for next time.

There’s so much more than can be said about the adorable Kerri Pomarolli that isn’t said here, so be sure to visit her website at www.kerripom.com, watch her video clips, and pick up a copy of her book.

I’ll close this piece by giving you a sneak peak at Kerri’s comic strip, based on a character from her book. Enjoy ladies!

Kerri Pomarolli’s Website

Blessings,

Founder and Editor,
Christian Women Online Magazine
Read my column–DysFUNctional

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We have a special guest with us this month at CWO: Allison Bottke! Allison is an inspirational writer, speaker, and novelist who shares her story of triumph over tragedy to encourage others to embrace the life-transforming power of God. She’s the founder of the God Allows U-Turns series, which now includes 21 books, and this year she published her first novel, A Stitch in Time. She’s one busy woman, and we’re blessed to have caught up with her for an interview.

Allison, I loved your debut novel, A Stitch in Time–I couldn’t put it down. Can you tell us about that lovable Dee Decker and what this story is all about?
Gosh, thank you! I had so much fun writing this book! It’s contemporary women’s fiction in the “Lady-Lit” genre (older chick-lit). Dee is a successful fundraising executive in southern California, who’s out to prove that a middle-aged Christian woman can be faithful, fashionable, and fabulous. She works in a world populated by highly competitive, impossibly thin, perfectly coiffed, and designer outfitted women. Dee has never felt like she fits in, but nonetheless enjoys a well-earned reputation as being cool, calm, collected, and in control. When she discovers that her husband is having an affair, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that transforms her inside and out.

Tell us a little about Dee’s transformational journey.
In the course of one year, Dee has gastric bypass surgery and loses 150 pounds; separates from her husband; flourishes in her glamorous Hollywood fundraiser job; has plastic surgery; buys a whole new wardrobe; and becomes a Christian! She’s a new person inside and out, and the future looks bright. But then a job offer sends her life in a direction she hadn’t expected. Her past and present collide in a major way.

Is your main character Dee anything like you? Are there similarities between her life and yours? How so?
That’s the million dollar question these days–how much of A Stitch in Time is reality and how much is fiction? After I had lost 120 pounds from having gastric bypass weight loss surgery (WLS), I had the idea that it might be interesting to write a novel with a character that also had WLS. Plus, all the writers’ conferences I ever attended stressed that we should “write what we know.” I know a lot about fundraising and fashion and special events, so I figured I’d incorporate that into the book as well. Making Dee a relatively new Christian was easy to do because I came to know the Lord later in life and although it’s been over 15 years, I still recall the drastic difference in how I viewed the world. Most novelists will tell you that real life experiences pop up from time to time in everything they write. But I guess I’d have to say that while A Stitch in Time is most definitely fictional, it is probably imbued with more reality than most novels. I can tell you this–I had to work much harder on novel number two because I used up
everything “real” I knew about in my debut novel!

Ah! So, we can look forward to another novel from you?
Yes! One Little Secret releases in 2007. It’s not a sequel to A Stitch in Time, but it does feature one of the characters we met in Stitch–remember Ursula? I had a blast writing this book and her “little secret” is amazing! If I could write one novel every year along with editing the God Allows U-Turns compilation series, I’d be one happy gal!

I know you tell this story often but some of our readers may not have heard how you came up with the God Allows U-Turns series and how it turned into the ministry it is today.
In my early walk as a new Christian, I found myself pouring out my life story in an epic memoir that never did get published. I mean really, who would want to read it? But one day I was inspired to make my testimony part of a larger group of testimonies that shared how new life could be lived as a Christian…how God allowed us to turn around no matter how many mistakes we made, or how lost we were! “God Allows U-Turns” had been the name of my memoir, and I retained it as the name of my book series. I wrote a book proposal and sent it to a list of agents. Within one month it was picked up by one of the most respected Christian literary agencies in the country–and the rest is history. Today there are 21 books under the recognized God Allows U-Turns “brand.”

Okay, speaking of history…Allison, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I was born in Akron, Ohio and raised by a single parent in Cleveland. I spent most of my adult years in southern California where I moved in the late 70’s. I have one son who will be 35 years old this October and three step kids ranging in age from 25 to 30. I’ve been married to Kevin for 11 years, and we live on a 25-acre hobby farm in southern Minnesota. That’s a pretty brief sketch, isn’t it? A lot of living went on during those years, yes sirree!

Your testimony of how you came to Christ is amazing. Would you share it with us?
I came to know the Lord at the age of 35 after living a spiritually empty life. The first 35-years of my life were filled with extreme trials and tribulation. My background includes early childhood molestation, extreme domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, divorce, and more ups and down than humanly imaginable. I know I’m not alone in having a past that wasn’t the least bit pretty-there are a lot of us out here, and it’s a good thing that God allows u-turns or else a whole bunch of us would be lost on the highway of life!

Do you find it difficult to share so many personal details about your life?
Not any more. At first, many years ago, it was painful to discuss being molested as a child, and then years later the extreme abuse I endured at the hands of a violent husband. Sharing that you are a survivor of childhood abuse and domestic violence is never easy, but the more I talked to others about it, the less painful it became. Plus–and this is the big thing–I began to see how God used my transparency to help others through the same issues. His plan is far greater than any I could ever imagine.

You are a remarkable woman whom God has brought out of great suffering. How does your experience with suffering permeate your writing?
Bless your heart, but I’m not so remarkable. It’s God’s grace and forgiveness that is remarkable. Because I’ve walked a difficult life journey, I think this sometimes enables me to understand the heart of someone who is hurting.

It’s clear you have a passion to tell readers about the before and after life of someone who undergoes physical (outward) change. Have you gotten feedback from readers who have lost weight, either through surgery or other means, who could relate to Dee?
Yes, since making a drastic U-Turn toward faith, my passion has been sharing my “before” and “after” faith journey all over the country. Now, with the subject of weight loss surgery being such a major part of my debut novel, I’m finding the ability to share my 120 pound weight loss “before” and “after” story more and more. This has opened a lot of doors for me to speak to secular audiences and what a joy this is! I get letters and email from folks who have had WLS or are considering WLS or who know someone who has had WLS. People who used to think that having weight loss surgery was the “easy way out,” no longer say that, after reading A Stitch in Time. I never thought I’d get fan mail–and I’m like a kid every time one comes in.

What’s it like to publish your first novel?
It’s like giving birth to a child you’ve waited your whole life for. Seriously. I’m still thanking God and praising His name for making this happen!

I’ve noticed you’re one of the writers on the Christian Authors Network (CAN) site. What is this organization about?
The Christian Authors Network (CAN) is a professional organization of authors who are working collectively to market our books to bookstores and readers. Along with our web site, we also have the CAN blog. The blog is written by a group of twelve writers who belong to CAN, who are passionate about writing. As published authors, we long to share our victories and struggles with regards to marketing and promotion. I’m one of the twelve CAN bloggers and my day to post is Tuesday. Stop by and check out the CAN blog! For that matter, stop by and check out the God Allows U-Turns blog, too!

Do you enjoy blogging? How do you maintain your blog while staying so busy?
While I love talking with folks, I must admit that to maintain fresh daily postings on my blog is hard for me. That’s why I’ve utilized guest bloggers from time to time-friends and family who love to share thoughts, opinions and viewpoints. I am in awe of my fellow authors like Angie Hunt and Brandilynn Collins who manage to write something fresh each and every day. God bless ‘em!

What do you like to do for fun?
I garden. We have 25 acres and I grow lilies–I love lilies! My husband and I also like to entertain outdoors on our patio, we have BBQ’s all summer long. Come on by!

Thanks. Sounds like a great idea, and I just might take you up on it! Are you planning more volumes in the God Allows U-Turns series? If so, which ones?
Yes, God willing. We have literally thousands of true short stories in our files. We’re currently reading, reviewing and rating stories to decide on the topics for future volumes. Submissions are now closed but we anticipate placing a new call for stories later in 2007. We encourage readers to visit our web site for ongoing updates regarding future story needs and deadlines.

What are your future plans and dreams? Do you have any long-term goals that you’re working on now?
Oh my, yes. My longtime goal has always been to write for the Big Screen. I grew up at the Saturday afternoon matinees in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. I watched old RKO films on the TV every chance I could get growing up. Romantic comedy is my favorite genre, and I would love to see A Stitch in Time, as well as my second novel, translated into films. In fact, One Little Secret started its life as a screenplay. I had an actress in mind (Meryl Streep for those who want to know) and wrote the outline for the movie and began dialogue on this project many, many years ago. Now, I’ve picked it up, dusted it off, and I’m writing it as my second novel. Say, if any of your readers know Ms. Streep, I sure would appreciate an introduction! ~ (big smile)

Do you have one piece of advice for all of us women who have dreams of our own? Is it possible to be faithful, fashionable and fabulous?
I know it sounds so easy to say, “Never give up,” and yet that is first and foremost the advice I give when asked. I’m fifty-one years old! I’ve wanted to write fiction since I was a kid. It’s never too late to have your dreams come true! You asked for one piece of advice, but may I give two? The second bit of advice I share is to never judge yourself by what others have done or are doing. We set ourselves up for failure when we do this. There’s always going to be someone better, someone different, someone yada-yada-yada…we must look at our individual talents as gifts from God and forge ahead! If we’ve heard it once we’ve heard it a ga-zillion times–but it’s true–be yourself! And if that self is faithful, fashionable and fabulous–bravo!

Any parting words for our readers?
My friend Michelle says; “Every test is a testimony and every mess is a ministry.” I love that thought. Many of us have traveled rough roads. Yet God is doing a work through it all. We might not always see it when we’re going through it-but if we hang on long enough there really is light at the end of the tunnel! God’s light and love and peace. I know. I found it after 35 years.

Allison, it’s been great having you with us. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your heart. We love you!
Bless your heart! Thanks for having me as a guest. Love you, too!

www.godallowsuturns.com
www.godallowsuturns.blogspot.com

It was Elaine’s passion for reading the Word that first drew me into friendship with her. We met through CWO’s Facebook group and began chatting on the topic of “What have you read in the Word lately?” I discovered that when you ask Elaine Bateman that question, you always get an enthusiastic response.

As I’ve come to know this woman a little more over recent months, I’ve learned that a zeal for serving Christ is a large part–if not the entire part–of who this woman is. One other thing I’ve learned–her zeal is contagious!

I hope you enjoy getting to know this wonderful woman of faith as I have. She’s Jesus first–all else second–and she’s here to share her testimony of faith with you…

Elaine, it’s such a privilege to have you here with us this month. I’ve read your testimony before, and I’m sure that many of our readers would be interested in hearing it too. So thank you for this opportunity, of once again peering into your life.

Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us where you grew up?
I grew up in an American camp/base in Venezuela, South America.

How old were you when you first accepted Christ?
I was nine years old when I accepted the Lord. I truly began a relationship with my Savior later on in life.

What type of Christian upbringing did you have?
It was very conservative. I was raised in a fundamental Baptist home, with a lot of do’s and don’ts, instead of teaching a strong relationship with Jesus. I had more of a religion than a relationship.

You’ve said that at a young age, you felt called to be a missionary. What stopped you?
I felt called to be a missionary to Venezuela when I was attending Bob Jones University. At that time in my life I had just broken off an engagement. My family wasn’t in agreement with my breaking up the engagement, and so they asked different people from my church (including the Pastor) to visit me. They urged me to reconsider, and to follow my commitment of marriage. I was told even at that age what to do, so I obeyed and married at 21.

Let’s talk about your father for a minute, since he was such an important part of your life. His story is both interesting and tragic; can you tell us a bit about that?
My father was an incredible Godly man. He lived a life that honored the Lord, and will be forever in my heart and mind. My Dad sacrificed everything to make sure he was with us growing up. He played with the farm league in the Yankee’s team and later was offered to go with that team. He turned it down, because it took so much time away from us. He was very traditional. I will never forget when he took us out of a church service because the band was playing a set of drums! He was funny and was loved by many.

In 1982, after retiring from the United States government, he was working as a part time manager in a Hotel/gas station in Palmetto, GA. While working there, he was murdered by an angered ex-employee. He was shot four times.

I’m so sorry for your loss, Elaine. How have you dealt with his death?
Darlene, I don’t think you really ever deal with a dear one’s death, but rather it is a day-by-day healing by the faith and truth in my Savior, Jesus Christ. I can’t even fathom how people can handle the death of a loved one without the hope of seeing them again. I will miss my dad always but forever will have the joy and peace of reuniting with him again, soon!

In your testimony I read that you became the mother of four children. You said, “We looked like the perfect family on the outside.” What did you mean?
We looked polished on the outside. We knew the mechanics of what a “good Christian couple” should look like and act. I was stay at home mom, home schooled, and had a home daycare. I was also a deacon’s wife but something was missing in my life, and in my marriage.

You told me, “I committed the sin I said I would never do.” Please tell us about that.
I really don’t want to play the martyr here, so please understand that even if my husband didn’t show me love, or respect, or committed adultery through pornography, it didn’t give me the right to sin against my beautiful and merciful Savior.

Psalm 51:4 reads, ” Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.”

When my husband sinned I decided to listen to outside sources, including popular talk shows. I didn’t study God’s Word to depend on it when the hard times came. This is why I am so in love with Him, and His Word, and really mentor women to read and study His Word! When you are not in His Word that is the time that Satan sends something beautiful before your eyes.

I had problems, but at this time I didn’t share them with anyone other than a “young man” that had been a friend of our family for a while. I was a very judgmental person. I knew of a young lady that had been committing adultery, and thought I’ll never do that!

Two years later I had fallen into that sin. My marriage was in shambles. I repented and was broken. I went forward in the church and asked forgiveness. Only 2 people out of 200 came and said they forgave me; others just walked out and carried on with their lives. I was humiliated and alone. My husband used that act of sin and attacked me with everyone I knew and fellowshipped with.

Where did that leave you and your children?
I needed time. I wanted professional counseling, but he said no. He used his power to tell me I had to, and will submit to him. I was frightened and lost.

My children and I found shelter in my mom’s house. I just needed a place to rest. Not searching for a divorce, but rather to get help. Two weeks later my brother had me evicted from my mom’s house, but I found a home elsewhere before the eviction happened.

How did you handle the shame and the guilt?
Romans 8:1 ” There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” I remember crying because of my sin, and I realized that my Savior is my best friend who has always been by my side. His love is unconditional and His mercy is everlasting. Our marriage failed. It was a time of sadness and pain, with the children between parents. Pride prevailed but our Savior took me by the hand and has never let go since.

When and how did you meet the wonderful man that you’re married to now?
I actually heard his testimony in a “Singles Again” service in 1994. I met him face to face in February of ‘95 in the Baptist church where he mentored young men and young women. I thought I’d never marry again and had no interest, especially after realizing he had custody of his four boys.

At that time I was studying the book of Hosea, and when I heard my husband’s testimony, he reminded of Hosea. That is when I realized that I was falling in love with him.

How is this relationship different than the last?
My relationship and marriage is totally different because my relationship and commitment to my Savior is real! I love Him with all of my heart, spirit and soul. My commitment to Jesus Christ is not the relationship I had with Him before. Because of my relationship with Christ, the relationship to my beautiful husband is an indescribable durable and lasting one. This is incredible because both of us love and are commitment to Christ first, and then to each other. My previous relationship was based on rules, not love for Christ.

What has it been like being the mother of, 8 children and 7 dogs?!
We have an incredible home with his, mine, and ours. We had eight children when we first married, but since we have two more daughters and one son. We have never had a honeymoon; the day after our wedding we started our blended family.

We have acquired about ten more kids since that day in ‘95. We have a home that is opened for young adults who want to change their lives for Christ. For the most part these kids have never had a godly father figure in their lives and have never experienced what a family is. We have two children that are with the Lord. Sometimes our home can be quite chaotic, but then isn’t’ our Christian walk like that sometimes? I have to run this home with a schedule and much love. Everyone works together, even helping with our 6 Jack Russells. We are a team and no one is an island to himself. The boys in our home treat the girls with much respect. It is really an incredible home with Christ in the center!

Elaine, I’d love to be the fly on the wall, it sounds like a wonderfully busy place full of love and service to God. What ministries is your family involved in?
Our whole family is involved in many aspects of ministry. We have a very unique calling. We serve the fellowship of believers. We go where we are needed. Right now our kids lead worship at Calvary Chapel. We are missionaries here in Brunswick. We have home Bible Study every night of the week. We eat together with believers and study, and reason together in Bible study.

My husband and I speak when asked too. I speak to women in conferences, retreats, or brunches. I love sharing my testimony when asked. My husband and I also do marriage counseling and mentor couples. The Lord has allowed us to comfort others, as we were comforted in our time of need. Our ministry really began in our home and is extended into our city! It is amazing to see what our Savior is doing!

While my husband is teaching men, I am teaching women how to be Godly and use the beauty the Lord has given them from the inside out–1 Peter 3. I also use Ruth, and Esther to mentor young women in their walk with the Lord!

I would also like to mention briefly that my husband will be hiking the Appalachian Trail on behalf of fathers. He wants to bring awareness to the importance of the role of fathers. He is also sharing the gospel on the trail as a missionary–a unique calling. We are staying behind in support of this journey. To know more about this please visit www.hike4fathers.com

Bible study every night! That’s awesome! Can you leave us with a scripture that God has recently laid on your heart?
We have been studying the book of Ecclesiastes and this verse has been very dear to my heart. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

This is truly the conclusion of our lives. I’d also like to encourage you to hang on. For all this will pass away, but what we do for our Savior is what will last.

I am so in love with Christ. Let’s enjoy our walk with Him, so our testimony will let others know who we belong to! We have such a peace during the hard times, that others want to know how we do it!

The first month of the year always represents a season of new beginnings. Whether or not we actually make tracks through real snow, we feel refreshed and ready to face new challenges. Are you ready?

This month, author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs leads the way for us. She’s the author of twenty-four books, with three million copies in print, including her nonfiction bestseller, Bad Girls of the Bible, and her fiction bestseller, Thorn in My Heart. An award-winning speaker, Liz has addressed 1,500 audiences in all fifty states and eight foreign countries. She’s a columnist for Today’s Christian Woman with her popular feature, “Women in the Word,” and more than 3,500 churches nationwide are using her video Bible study series, Loved by God.

Higgs makes her home in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, two teenagers, and too many cats. Her informative website can be accessed at www.LizCurtisHiggs.com.

Welcome to CWO, Liz! I heard you just returned from a trip to Scotland!

I did indeed, in mid-September. And a glorious trip it was…my ninth! This time I went there to (1) add the finishing touches to my next book, a nonfiction armchair travel guide to Galloway called My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland. And (2) to do preliminary research for my next trilogy of historical novels set in Edinburgh and the Borders in 1745-46. I also had the joy of speaking at a Christian women’s outreach event in a rather unusual venue—an old movie theatre!

How exciting! How did you become so interested in Scotland?

It started two dozen years ago with a love for Scottish folk music and calendars featuring Scottish scenery on my walls. When my husband and I spent our 10th anniversary in Scotland in 1996, my love affair with all things Caledonian began in earnest.

I address the “Why Scotland?” question in the opening pages of My Heart’s in the Lowlands. Just for fun, here’s an excerpt…

The verdant, rolling hills remind me of places I’ve lived—eastern Pennsylvania and central Kentucky in particular—yet the angle of the sun falling across the Lowland moors is uniquely Scottish. That slanted light works a kind of magic on me. The misty air softens my complexion. Sleep comes easily. Contentment seeps into my bones. I bite into a freshly baked oatcake, covered with a generous slice of sharp Galloway cheese, then sip milk-laced tea, hot enough to numb my lips, and I’m within walking distance of heaven.
—From My Heart’s in the Lowlands, WaterBrook Press, February 2007

Oh, you make me want to travel to that beautiful place. I remember reading about your real-life adventure visiting the Isle of Arran as you researched for Grace in Thine Eyes. What was the highlight of that trip?

Because Arran is a small island with one coastal road, you can easily circle it in a day of driving. Along the way I kept running into the same people—at tearooms, in gift shops, at the post office. It was so funny! I met two couples there at two different B&Bs, and we’ve kept in touch ever since, exchanging emails and so forth. I visited with both of them on my last trip to Galloway, two years after we met. Amazing, eh? Arran is a very friendly place where time really does seem to stand still.

Do you always research on location for your historical novels?

Absolutely, and I did the same for my two contemporary novels as well. It helps me immeasurably when I walk the village streets where my characters walked, when I breathe the same scented air and gaze at a landscape Jamie, Leana, and Rose might have admired. I also interview people at the drop of a hat, capturing their comments on a small, digital tape recorder. And I spend lots of time in libraries, graveyards, and museums, poking about for the sort of historical details you can’t find anywhere else. Plus digital photos and antiquarian books… oh, I go wild with those!

Are you having a contest for readers to win a trip to bonny Scotland in 2007?

Aye! My publisher, WaterBrook Press, is sponsoring a contest to win a nine-day trip for two to Scotland. You’ll find details on my Web site and on theirs as well. Very exciting! The deadline for postcard entries is April 30. I’m planning on sponsoring my own wee contest as well, though on a much smaller scale. Again, details on my Web site come January 1.

We’ll have to all enter your contest!

After two decades of speaking at conferences all over the world, what do you see as the greatest need women have today?

There may be women living guilt-free lives, but I’ve yet to meet one! All of us seem to harbor some measure of regret over past failures and mistakes—whether big or small, whether they happened ten years ago, ten months ago, or ten minutes ago. Because of our guilt, we beat ourselves up constantly and convince ourselves we are not worthy of God’s love (or anyone else’s), and that we are undeserving of his grace.

I’m on a mission to help women see that God’s unconditional love expressed through his mercy is not based on our performance, on our goodness, on our worthiness, but on HIS atoning sacrifice, on HIS goodness, on HIS worthiness. Grace is simply a gift. We can’t add to it or subtract from it, and we dare not refuse it when we need it so desperately.

How do you try to reach women’s needs through your books?

My goal is to speak directly to a woman’s heart, addressing her deepest fears, her hidden hurts, her secret longings, her unspoken needs. To do that, I begin by confessing on the page my own fears, hurts, longings, and needs—not to mention my sins!—then show my reader how God meets us where we are.

Do you think God can minister to women through fiction as well as nonfiction? In what ways?

I truly do, or I could never justify the time it takes to write a novel (far longer than to write nonfiction!).

Stories engage our imagination and speak to our emotional center. We invest more of ourselves in a novel, partnering with the author to create in our minds a time and place peopled with characters who seem very real indeed. When they hurt, we hurt; when they struggle, we struggle with them; when they rejoice, we do, too. In the process, we learn something about ourselves and about our Lord.

That’s the unique aspect of Christian fiction, I think, and also the greatest challenge: to write a compelling story with a life-changing message, and yet not make it read like a sermon. Just as I do with my nonfiction, I dig deep into my soul when I write fiction. Much tears and gnashing of teeth! But I can’t expect my readers to experience the books at an emotional level if I don’t go there first.

You call yourself a “Former Bad Girl.” Is that what led you into writing Bad Girls of the Bible?

I am indeed an FBG, which gives me the credentials to write about those Bad Girls of old! I’ve always been fascinated with stories about women, and especially our sisters in Scripture. Perhaps because I spent a decade immersed in a sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, I found it easier to identify with some of the wild women of the Bible when I first became a Christian.

Pushy Jezebel? Oh, I get that. Manipulative Delilah? Yup, that looks familiar. On-the-prowl Potiphar’s Wife? Been there. Such stories are included in the Bible for a good reason–so we can learn from them, even if it’s what not to do! Of course, the stories of the redeemed women remain our favorites: the Woman at the Well, the Adulteress, the Sinful Woman of Luke 7, whose many sins were forgiven. They point the way to grace for us all.

When did you first experience the forgiven life?

I was a radio DJ when I moved to Louisville in 1981—single and miserable, getting high and/or drunk many nights, and dragging home one stranger or another. (Sorry, just the ugly truth of it!) By the time a husband-and-wife team came to work at my radio station that fall, I’d hit bottom. They must have sensed that immediately, because as new Christians, they reached out to me. They welcomed me into their home and shared their faith with me. They literally hugged me into the Kingdom, gathering me in their arms and telling me, “God loves you, Liz. God believes in you. God has a plan for you.” Wow. Talk about GOOD NEWS! Finally, I acknowledged Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in February 1982… oh, happy day!

What an amazing personal testimony of God’s grace. Now, you have a new book out, Embrace Grace. Can you tell us a little about it?

With joy and abandon! In some way, all the 25 books I’ve written to date feature GRACE at the heart of them; Embrace Grace simply puts that important topic front and center. It’s sized like a gift book, with a lovely cover, and the style is very personal and easy to digest, even as it probes the deepest corners of our hearts. Chapter by chapter, we follow a pathway to grace, guided by honest comments from women seeking the forgiveness only God can provide. Writing this book was pure joy because it felt like a three-way conversation between the Lord, a dear reader, and me.

When someone says, “I know God has forgiven me, but I can’t forgive myself,” how do you respond?

We all understand that very human need to “feel” forgiven. Here’s the good news: Scripture does not require us to forgive ourselves! Instead, the Lord tells us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9 ). When we are at our weakest—aware of our shortcomings, ashamed of our sins—God reminds us that we are already forgiven, that every sin we will ever commit has been paid for on the cross. We simply don’t have the capacity to forgive ourselves…but God does. And has!

If, as your book says, the forgiven life begins with an embrace, who hugs first?

The Lord, of course! The verse that really knocked me back on my heels was this one: ”This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim 1:9). When Eve first sinned, God was not surprised, shocked, or disappointed. He was READY with grace. What a comforting thought! His loving arms have been around us all along. We simply need to acknowledge that reality and sink into his embrace.

Yours is not the only voice heard from Embrace Grace. How did you include your readers?

Since Bad Girls of the Bible was published in 1999, I’ve received literally thousands of letters from readers. I answer them all, of course, and keep every one safely filed away. I combed through them before writing Embrace Grace, looking for a phrase here, a sentence there that I thought spoke for ALL of us. And so their words are woven throughout the book, being very careful not to reveal anyone’s identity. Whenever I read aloud passages from Embrace Grace at booksignings, I watch heads nod in agreement. These heartfelt comments ring true because they are. I’m so blessed to have kind, responsive readers who share their life experiences with me.

What are you looking forward to in the new  year, 2007?

I’ll be speaking at two dozen women’s conferences around the country and writing when I’m home. I’m eager to finish my next nonfiction book, Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, publishing in September 2007, and even more eager to start writing my next historical novel, Here Burns My Candle, publishing in March 2008. Both my children will be in college come September (sniff! empty nest!), which means my husband will begin to travel with me and finally get to meet the readers I’ve been telling him about for years!

Do you have any closing advice for us women who are trying to find time to grow spiritually while also juggling all the demands placed on us?

Say no whenever you gracefully can. Most of us (including me) say yes too quickly and too often, then find ourselves physically exhausted and spiritually drained. Just say no. It’s okay… really! In doing so, you are saying yes to those you love most.

Find every way possible to weave God’s Word throughout each day—in the books you read, the conversations you have, the music you listen to. Biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity don’t just happen. We have to invest our time wisely. Hard, hard, hard, I know, when we have jobs and families and friends and SO many priorities! The Lord knows all this and loves you completely. Rest in his embrace and know that being a Christian is all about what He has done, and not what you have done. That’s real grace!

Thank you so much for sharing your heart with all of us here at CWO. We wish you the best year ever!

My pleasure, dear sisters! Come visit me anytime at www.LizCurtisHiggs.com

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Liz was our cover girl for Janaury: