Hello everyone!

We are excited to inform you that CWO is back up and running! My name is Andy Isaacson, and my wife Nichelle and I are the new owners at Christian Women Online. We are really looking forward to helping get this site back to full steam ahead with articles that will encourage and help us grow in our walk with Christ. Stay Tuned!

If you have interest in helping out at CWO, I would request that you send us an email to: editor@christianwomenonline.net.

God Bless,

Andy & Nichelle

Have you ever caught yourself staring at someone else?

I know what it is like to see someone in church or somewhere else and take notice of a feature that isn’t characteristic of the average person. I tend to assume they have special needs or were involved in some sort of accident. In each instance it’s strange but my mind automatically begins to wander.

1. Are those burns on his face? Was he a rescuer? Did he start the fire? Was he the victim of a crime?
2. Awe poor baby. I wish I could take it away so she could be just like the rest of the kids.
3. He is such a cutie. I wonder what kind of condition he has.

Did I mention that I am still staring as I process these thoughts?  I glance around and notice that others are staring as well. Then the unthinkable happens. I’m discovered.

Do I turn my head and pretend I wasn’t staring? Do I wait until they are no longer looking so I can point them out to someone else and ask their opinion? Or, do I smile at them and wave? Perhaps even go over to greet them during the break.

I can tell you from experience that the latter is the best choice. The only thing worse than discovering that someone is staring at you or your child and them pretending that they weren’t is to find that they are also pointing out the differences to someone else. But, it is understood that curiosity is part of human nature so what are we supposed to do?

Simply don’t hide it. Become uncurious.

Those who are different or are the parents of children who are different are fully aware of it. They know that you are curious. For most, it really is okay that you are inquisitive.  We know that people are interested in things that they are not familiar with. We can remedy that by becoming familiar or becoming educated about it.  Dare I suggest that you walk over and introduce yourself? Bring your children too. The earlier they are exposed to the vast array of differences among people the easier it will be for them to understand and find compassion and friendship.

My son has a form of dwarfism. With his specific type, one of the characteristics is little or no hair. This has led to some stares and of course, a few people thinking he may have a form of cancer. I’m aware of this but I don’t make it a point to explain this to everyone simply for lack of time and energy on my part. However, on many occasions I have been approached by wonderful people who have come up with witty ways to approach me and my son and still quench their curiosity. I’d like to share them with you:

1. I saw you from across the room and I must say you stand out in the crowd. I took that as God’s way of saying that I should get to know you better.
2. I believe when someone captures my attention the way you have that I should commit to pray for them. Is there anything specific I can ask God for on your behalf?
3. I apologize for staring. I became smitten and couldn’t stop. Tell me about my new love…
4. Ma’am. I’m sorry. I know you caught me staring and I shouldn’t have. I was just interested to know what condition your son may have.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. –John 8:32

I was in no way offended by any of these people or their words. In fact, it spoke volumes to me about humanity. We were all set free from an uncomfortable situation. I have in turn begun to do similar things when I become curious about someone else. Not once have I ever been shunned or turned away. Most people would prefer to share their story than for someone else to assume and never ask for the truth. I don’t want someone praying for my son’s cancer to be healed if that isn’t what he has. Likewise, I won’t be praying for the burns on that man’s face which actually turned out to be skin grafts because he was wounded by shrapnel in Afghanistan. I also won’t call Carrie a poor baby anymore now that I know how blessed her family feels to have her and just how happy and innocent she truly is. And Alex, he actually has no condition. It turns out he was wearing his cousins leg braces because he wanted to be a robot.

More often than not, I have found that people are interested out of a genuine concern for the other person. That is always welcome. 

©2009, Amy Bayliss

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Married to her best friend and “main squeeze,” Amy Bayliss is a 4th year homeschooling, co-educating mom to three boys who loves to celebrate life to the fullest and she enjoys writing about the pearls of wisdom God delivers to her soul.

Amy is the co-owner of Heart of the Matter Online and Internet Cafe Devotions. You can also visit her at her website: In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 and her personal blog: AmyBayliss.com. 

“A Woman Inspired” is about taking your foundation and building upon it according to God’s design. We’re not all the same; each of us are created uniquely with differing talents as God would have us to be.

A Woman Inspired by God’s Word and His design for her life is unstoppable in her pursuit of His destiny for her!

Join in on the “A Woman Inspired” Online Conference April 6th-9th, and let the principles you glean bring you closer to that design.

Tickets to attend the conference are only $24.95, which gets you access to the 4 day live conference as well as to any available downloads.

Want to win a ticket?
Great, because we have 10 to give away!!

To enter, leave a comment below. We will randomly draw 10 names on March 15th, and announce the winners names here! Have fun!

About a year ago, I got an idea for a site that would help organize your home in fun, practical, innovative ways. I can’t tell you those ways–not yet anyway. We don’t have the software yet (but the programmer is on the job! . But we–and that “we” includes my two partners, Andy and Nichelle Isaacson–have taken the first step toward making that site a reality.

Please consider yourself invited to join our Twig and Feather community. Why “Twig and Feather?” Because I couldn’t shake the image of a nest. To me, it encompasses all the emotion I feel as a wife, mother, and homemaker. My home is our nest. And like any nest, it’s comprised of practical structure–twigs, if you will–like budgeting, menu planning, cleaning, and all those other not-fun-but-very-necessary components. But it’s also comprised of “feathers”–the soft side of nesting, things like candles and music and fluffy pillows. Every nest needs both twigs and feathers. Our site aims to share and solicit ideas for all these areas, help you organize your life, and encourage you to make your home a warm, welcoming refuge in a world that is anything but warm and welcoming.

For right now, we’re offering a forum. This will be the nuts and bolts of the site until we can launch the bigger features. We’ve been up-and-running for about a month now and have already begun compiling an interesting collection of recipes, craft and decorating tips, and ideas for making your home a haven. 

We hope you’ll consider joining our T & F community. More than that, we hope you’ll inundate us with all your ideas. And just to encourage you to come and do that, we’re offering a giveaway for all who register before December 10th. The winning name will receive a copy of my first book, “A Whisper in Winter,” an ornament from Pottery Barn, a mug, candle, and assorted cocoas. 

Hope to see you at Twig and Feather.

© Shannon Woordward, 2008

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Married to her best friend for almost ten years, Jenifer is the mother of three precious treasures. She has been blessed to be a stay-at-home, home schoolin’ momma. She and her family moved to North Carolina four years ago for her husband to attend seminary and they have definitely bloomed where the Lord has planted them. Jenifer enjoys spending her days with her kiddos instilling within them a love and passion for Jesus and His Word. To relax, she enjoys writing devotionals and Bible Studies.

Jenifer graduated from college with a degree in Christian Counseling. Although she doesn’t have a “paying” job that supports her degree, she will tell you that the Lord uses those years of training everyday in the ministry that He has called her to. The Holy Spirit has placed within Jenifer’s heart a burning passion to study and teach His Word. Her desire is to share God’s unconditional love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness with ladies of all ages. God has opened the doors for her to share her story through teaching and writing women’s Bible studies and devotionals that can be used as tools to help women grow in their relationships with God.

How did you go about naming your blog, and where can we find it?
When the Lord first prompted me to begin blogging I realized that naming my blog was the first step in getting things up and running. I thought about what I would name my blog for days and those days turned into weeks. I didn’t think it would be so hard. I began praying two things: first, “Lord, how do You want me to use this blog?” Second, “got any suggestions for what to name this thing? I’m at a loss.”

Very quickly God answered me with the exact direction He wanted to take this blog in and what He wanted it to be named. The Lord has blessed my life in more ways than I can even begin to name. He has delivered me from deep pits of sin, saved, healed and restored my marriage which was on the doorsteps of a divorce, mended broken relationships and placed within my heart of burning passion to know Him more. The mission that He has me on through my blog is to lead women to the heart of a Savior who loves them no matter what. Speaking from one who likes to be in control of things, God has shown me that it is only by His grace that I am what I am today. In the end, there was no question that our ministry would be called “By His Grace” because without Him, I am nothing. We can be found at www.byhisgraceministry.blogspot.com

What do you find yourself writing about most often?
I normally write about what God is dealing with me on at the time- lessons He has taught me, challenges He has set before me, and areas in my life that He has shown me need some improvement. My kiddos also provide some great topics to share with others, as well as everyday life lessons.

What prompted you to start blogging, and when did you launch your site?
A friend of mine began blogging and introduced me to the idea of it. Then I was asked to set up a blog for the ladies of our church to have somewhere to visit to get encouragement from the Word. After much prayer, the Lord gave me the go ahead to set out on this journey. I began blogging in November 2007.

How much thought and time do you generally put into each post?
It depends. There are times when the Lord lays something on my mind and heart that I have to immediately share or I’ll bust wide open. Then, there are those times when the Lord begins dealing with me about an area in my life and He and I have to work through it for a while before it all fits together and I’m able to share. Right now, I have many “posts” that are in many different stages–some posts I have begun, gotten half way through and the Lord said stop, some have been completely finished but the Lord hasn’t given me the go ahead to share them yet, and some are still brewing in my mind and heart. My prayer for everything that I share is first, that it has become real in my life and then that the Lord uses it to somehow minister to others.

What are some of your hobbies or accomplishments outside of blogging?
Hummm. Hobbies!?! I don’t have much time for hobbies, although I do enjoy reading, scrap booking, and writing. My kiddo’s activities have now become my hobbies–dancing and taekwondo. Would Bible Study and teaching be considered a hobby? If so, I’m totally into that! I love digging into God’s Word and sharing with others what He has taught me.

What struggle have you experienced with keeping your blog updated?
My biggest struggle with blogging is balancing my time between all that I have going on in my life. I’ve had to do self-checks many times to make sure that those priorities in my life: God, family, and homeschooling my kiddos, were coming before my time on my blog.

What are some of your favorite blogs?
I have many favorite blogs. I hate to name just a few for fear of leaving some important ones out. So here’s a shout out to all of ya!!

What Bible verse has God recently placed on your heart?
The Lord gave me a verse a while back and I try my best to incorporate it into all that I do:
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” –Ezra 7:10

Through this verse God has shown me that I must first be studying His Word for myself, then practicing in my own life what it is that He has taught me and only after that will I be able to share with others.

Is there anything that you’d like to add in closing?
Jesus is my life. He is my joy, my strength, and my rock. It is a true honor to be a daughter of the King; for it is only By His Grace that I am what I am today. I praise You Jesus and give You all the glory!

Visit Jenifer at By His Grace

Join CWO’s blogroll for fellowship and fun!