August Lineup of Always Faithful Radio Guests

8/5 – Celebration of One Year Anniversary of Always Faithful on AM 630 KCIS

Join me as I ask the question, “How has God been faithful in your life?” at both the King County Fair and the Enumclaw Rotary Street Fair. Celebrate His faithfulness with me as you are encouraged by some wonderful stories of His love!

8/12 – Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Come Empty: Pour Out Life’s Hurts and Receive God’s Healing Love

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board Certified internal medicine physician. She shares with audiences nationwide on the topics of eliminating limiting emotions, finding grace in difficult places, and experiencing personal renewal by drawing near to God. Dr. Dalton-Smith is a national and international media resource on the mind, body, spirit connection and has been featured in Women’s Day, Redbook, and First For Women magazine. She is the founder of I Choose My Best Life. Her other books include award-winning Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves.

When a water vessel is filled with dirt and stones, it cannot be used to quench a thirst. But, when this vessel is emptied, there is an opportunity to fill it until it overflows with fresh, cool, life-giving water. Water that quenches. Refreshes. Soothes.

Our souls are the same: filled with fear, doubt, and disappointment. Running over with unanswered prayers and lingering questions. When we empty the mess of our lives in the presence of God, we’re offered an invitation to come. An invitation that allows us to come empty – so that we can be filled until we overflow.

Come Empty – Pour Out Life’s Hurts and Receive God’s Healing Love guides you through fifty days of experiencing the fullness of God’s love and His ability to overcome life’s hurts. Each day, you will receive assurance of God’s presence in your difficult situations. Each devotion gives new vision and perspective when you’re hindered by emotional blind spots, and leads you to experience God’s peace and wholeness. When His invitation is accepted, He will set your captive mind and heart free to live fully by His grace. The question is not if you will get an invitation. The question is, will you come?

 

8/19 – Ron & Deb DeArmond and Don’t Go to Bed Angry – Stay Up and Fight!

Deb DeArmond is an author, speaker, and coach with a focus on communication, relationships, and conflict resolution. Her writing explores marriage, parenting, in-law and extended family relationships. She is the author of “Related By Chance, Family By Choice” and “I Choose You Today: 31 Choices to Make Love Last.” Deb is the founder of Living-Write, where she coaches aspiring authors. She’s monthly columnist and feature writer for Lifeway’s “Mature Living” Magazine, and has published more than 120 articles online and in print publications.  | Ron DeArmond has a hungry heart for the Word, and has studied the Bible for 45+ years. Ron’s call to serve men is evident in his previous ministry positions with Christian Men’s Network under Dr. Edwin Lewis Cole and Faithful Men Ministry. Ron is currently the Associate Pastor of men’s ministry at Catch the Fire/ DFW and has ministered around the world.

A practical handbook on how to fight better—together—for your marriage.

In every marriage, there is conflict. And with every conflict, there is a choice for resolution. Will you ignore the issue until it seemingly goes away? Or will you work together to find peace?

In Don’t Go to Bed Angry, Deb and Ron DeArmond give you permission to fight. Conflict isn’t the problem, after all; the real issue is how we deal with the conflict. Deb and Ron demonstrate how communication through conflict can safeguard—and even strengthen—your relationship. Immensely practical features including worksheets and discussion questions make this a definitive go-to resource to help you start fighting—together—for your marriage.

 

8/26 – Cynthia Cavanaugh and UNLOCKED: 5 Myths Holding Your Influence Captive

Her transparency, humor, and faithful commitment to God’s Word have inspired women across North America. Author, speaker, and certified life coach with Life Coaching Purpose Centers International®, Cynthia Cavanaugh longs for women to embrace their individual giftedness and believes God is calling His daughters out at this time in history to champion truth, justice, and strength. Founder and director of Women Emerge, she is also involved with NightShift Street Ministries. The mother to three married sons, she is joyfully entering a new season as a grandparent and continues to enjoy connecting with women over tea and coffee.

Unlocked, through personal stories, unique illustrations, and Scripture, dispels the five myths holding a woman’s godly influence captive and helps women reach their full potential. Author and speaker Cynthia Cavanaugh encourages women to let go of unrealistic expectations, shed misconceptions, and embrace the design God has for them within their realm of influence and giftedness.

 

July Lineup of Guests for Always Faithful

July 1 & 3 – Jennifer Kennedy Dean – Synced: Living Connected to the Heart of Jesus

Synced is an inspiring book that shows how the power of prayer looks in our ordinary lives when we stay connected to the heart of Jesus. Using the Lord’s Prayer as anchor points, Synced includes additional gospel passages that encourage us to emulate the way Jesus lived His life in step with the Father through prayer. Also included are real-life stories of people living connected to the heart of Jesus, finding themselves in the right place at the right time. Be inspired to live connected.

 

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker.

She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book Heart’s Cry a primary resource for National Day of Prayer. Her book, Live a Praying Life, has been called a flagship work on prayer.

Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator of the deep truths of God’s Word, Jennifer speaks all over the country calling God’s people to discover the difference between “a prayer life” and “a praying life.”

Jennifer was widowed in 2005 after 26 years of marriage to Wayne Dean, her partner both in life and ministry. They are the parents of three grown sons.

 

July 8 & 10 – Bill & Pam Farrel – 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman: Success in Keeping Everything Together

You’ve got so many hats to wear in life. Peanut butter sandwich-maker, carpooler, worship committee member, daughter, best friend, wife…They’re all good jobs, but what will keep you from becoming overwhelmed and exhausted?

Popular speaker and author Pam Farrel can teach you the seven simple skills that will enable you to stay motivated and energized. This new book will equip you to

• set priorities and stick to them

• influence those you care about most

• find time to care for yourself

• focus on your relationship with God

• face each day with hope and optimism

God created you to use all of the gifts He’s given you to bring Him glory. Learn the skills that can transform your attitude and bring success in your relationships, work, and walk with God.

Bill and Pam Farrel are international speakers and relationship specialists, dedicating themselves to building up marriages and families. They co-founded Love-Wise, an organization that connects love to wisdom to provide practical insights for personal relationships. Bill and Pam are popular keynote speakers for marriage, family and men’s/ women’s events, including the American Association of Christian Counselors Day of Marriage and LifeWay’s Festivals of Marriage. The Cabinet of the Government of Singapore invited Bill and Pam to speak to college students and singles, then asked them to return to speak to marrieds and train leaders. The Farrels have also spoken for numerous churches, including Saddleback and Purpose Driven events, Elmbrook, Shadow Mountain Community and several other of Outreach Top 100 churches.

Bill and Pam have authored over 35 books, including  the best-selling Men are like Waffles and Women are like Spaghetti, sparking a DVD-based small-group curriculum. Their books have been endorsed by such Christian leaders as Stormie Omartian, Steve Arterburn, Michele McKinney Hammond, John Trent,  Fern Nichols, Carol Kent, Stuart and Jill Briscoe, Dave and Claudia Arp, Anita Renfroe and others. The Farrels also regularly contribute to a number of periodicals, columns and publications on the subject of relationships and appear as relationship specialists on talk-shows. Focus on the Family has named the Farrels in their Top-Ten Best Interviews several times. Their books have been translated into over 14 languages.

July 15 & 17 – Athena on Site at the King County Fair

 

 

I’ll be in the Always Faithful Radio booth at the King County Fair from Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 17 and would love to meet you there! If you’ve got a story of God’s faithfulness in your life, I’d love to interview you and share it with my listeners!

 

July 22 & 24 – Greg & Julie Gorman- Two Are Better Than One: God Has a Purpose for Your Marriage

What is God’s specific big idea for your marriage?

You and your spouse are as unique as God is creative. He designed you with distinction. His fingerprints are all over your lives. The day you married, God joined you for a purpose and destined you, together, for greatness. But what causes some couples to thrive and others to merely survive in marriage? Is your marriage purpose-focused or problem–focused?

In Two Are Better than One, Greg and Julie Gorman share exhilarating insights and hands-on resources to lead you on an exciting journey of discovering God’s plan for your marriage. When fully embraced by both husband and wife, these truths will heal, restore, and deepen intimacy in every marriage. Yes, in every marriage, no matter the condition of the relationship. You’ll laugh at their fresh twist on some of your favorite Bible heroes and be surprised by many aha moments as they provide the pathway to uncover God’s big idea for your marriage.

Join the movement (#marriedforapurpose) and experience the powerful truth that two are better than one.

Whether scuba diving, surfing, or driving the kids to practice, Greg and Julie Gorman venture through life hand in hand, firmly believing that Two Are Better than One. Together they speak, write, and host a weekly broadcast, helping couples live purpose focused, not problem-focused. Greg and Julie are students and practitioners of biblical leadership and human behavior, holding certifications from a variety of organizations including the Patterson Center, John C. Maxwell, and Personality Insights Institute. As executive coaches, trainers and speakers, Greg and Julie love inspiring individuals and couples to maximize their potential and live their purpose. As a team, they build upon core values of authenticity, intentionality, and unity, the same values they carry in life and marriage. Their relationship is an example of strength and a model for making marriage and business thrive. They, along with their children, make their home in southern Florida.

 

July 29 & 31 – Edie Melson – While My Child is Away: My Prayers for When We Are Apart

Parents and children are separated for many reasons: divorce, school, camp, even work. It might be for just a few days or indefinitely. These prayers give voice to all that you are hoping for your child when you can’t be the one to meet their needs. Prayers of blessings, protection, instruction and grace. Or prayers for those around your child to choose wisely, see their needs, and love them as you would. Prayers for friends, teachers, coaches and mentors to step in and fill every need. Knowing that a loving Father God is caring for your child, even when you can’t, gives you the peace and assurance that all will be well.

As the mother of an active duty Marine,  Edie understands what it is to face adversity and come out triumphant on the other side. Her years as a wife, mother, and ministry leader have given her a unique perspective to reach out 
to others facing the same struggles.
She’s the Military Family Blogger for Guideposts.org, social media director for several writing websites, and a popular ministry and conference speaker. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

 

June Lineup of Authors for Always Faithful Radio

June 3 and 5 – Marilyn Vancil on Self to Lose – Self to Find

Marilyn’s take on the Enneagram’s spiritual wisdom is destined to change many lives, as it has mine, and I can’t wait for my family, friends and fellow Christians to read and apply it. Neither the Myer-Briggs Sorter nor Gallup’s Strengths Finder can match the spiritual, psychological, and emotional treasure in this book — it’s that good!

Mick Silva, Editor and Blogger MickSilva.com

Most people wonder:

• Who am I really and why am I here?
• What drives my thoughts and actions?
• Why do feelings like anger, fear, and shame keep surfacing?
• How can I make sense of myself and others?

 The insights in this book illuminate answers to these perplexing questions through a unique approach to the personality system known as the Enneagram, or “nine-drawing.” Marilyn Vancil presents this spiritual discernment tool within a biblical framework and explores how it can assist us on the journey of experiencing and expressing our divine destiny as a reflection of God’s image.

This ancient personality model taps into our deeper story and the underlying motivations and filters that influence the way we live. It’s like a microscope on our inner life, clarifying ways we are held captive by habitual patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions we aren’t aware of or can’t seem to change. Most importantly, it reveals our true essence and how our distorted beliefs and ingrained strategies hinder the full expression of who God designed us to become.

Self to Lose–Self to Find examines the invitation of Jesus to lose yourself in order to find your true self, and offers the Enneagram within this context. It guides you toward liberating self-awareness by detailing nine distinct personality patterns, each with particular gifts and challenges. By learning about your type, you will:

• Embrace the truth about your God-given identity.
• Uncover your deeper motivations, longings, and ways of suffering.
• Discern between the self to lose and the self Jesus invites you to find.
• Enhance your relationships by appreciating others more.
• Own-up to what keeps you from possessing the abundant life Jesus offers.

Since our inner life is where true transformation takes place, daring to take a closer look at yourself through the wisdom of the scriptures and the Enneagram will have immeasurable benefits in your life with God and others.

Marilyn Vancil is a trained spiritual director, life coach, and Certified Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition through Enneagram Worldwide. She facilitates Biblically-based introductory and advanced workshops on the Enneagram for individuals and couples. She practices in Seattle where she enjoys life with her husband, Jeff. Find out more about Marilyn and her offerings at www.marilynvancil.com.

 

 

June 10 and 12 – Kathi Lipp on 101 Simple Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him

“As women, we have no idea the power God has given us to encourage or discourage our husbands. We can change the way they walk through the world.”–Kathi Lipp

In 101 Simple Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him, author and wife Kathi Lipp offers a wealth of creative ideas for how to love and encourage your husband to be the man God has called him to be.

With each short, doable plan, you’ll not only bless your husband–you’ll bless the relationship God created when He brought the two of you together.

“Sometimes the way to show your husband you love him isn’t an action, it’s a statement,” says Kathi. “Just as we need to hear we are loved, so do our husbands. I hope these simple offerings will help you show your husband you really love him and affirm him.”

Here are just a few of the fun ideas Kathi (along with some of her most encouraging friends) suggests to show love to your man:

• Give him a break: Take something off his “to do” list especially during a busy time.
• Study up on his favorite team and then watch a game with him: Surprise him with your interest and that you understand what the commentators are talking about.
• Pray him up: As he goes to work, pray for his day and how he will go through it.
• Learn to listen: Become an active listener. Ask open-ended questions. Do a two-day follow up. Don’t fix, just listen.
• Spoil your husband, not your kids: Make sure that your husband knows he comes before the kids.

From leaving him hand written love notes, to bragging on him on social media to making his favorite meal, Kathi contributes ideas that help women express their love for their man, and many she has used in her own marriage of over ten years.

101 Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him also features a husband personality test so wives can better understand their husband and meet his needs.

Kathi believes that women should not forget to take care of themselves in the process. That a wife who is emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy can be the best for her and her family…and that is another blessing she can give to her husband and her family.

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker and the author of several books, including The Husband Project, Clutter Free, The Cure for the “Perfect” Life, 21 Ways to Connect with Your Kids, and The Get Yourself Organized Project.

She has had articles published in several national magazines, and has been a featured guest on countless radio and television programs including Focus on the Family.  Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in San Jose, California and are the parents of four young adults.  Her official web site is www.KathiLipp.com.

 

June 17 and 19 – Patti Foster on Coping with Traumatic Brain Injury

In the split second it took for a semi to slam into the back of the SUV Patti Foster was riding in, her world changed. Her life, in fact, almost ended that night. Miraculously, she survived, but her ordeal had just begun. After weeks in a coma, she woke up to an existence she couldn’t comprehend or even begin to understand. Patti had to re-learn everything, from how to eat to once again being able to recognize and remember the people she loved.

Today, as a traumatic brain injury survivor, Patti knows what this kind of excessive damage can do to a person. So she shares her story in the hope it can help and encourage other TBI victims, their friends and families.

Patti has traveled abroad extensively providing music and teaching conversational English through music. She has served with a fine arts team to Australia, toured with the University Choir to the British Isles and spent a week in the heart of Mexico with a mission group. Performances with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and the Sam Houston State University Orchestra further broadened her scope of music and expression. In 1989 after she had graduated from college, Patti spent time in Eastern Europe providing music for crusades and helping people of all ages learn conversational English through music.

Since 1990, Patti’s focus has been radio. She was the morning show host at WFRN, an inspirational Christian radio station broadcasting in Indiana/Michigan. Before then, she was the afternoon show host at KVNE/KGLY covering Texas/Louisiana. Throughout it all, she continued to be a voice talent in the USA and abroad.

On June 18, 2002, Patti was severely injured in a horrific traffic wreck. She suffered traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for six weeks…her life hung in the balance. From how to eat to once again being able to recognize and remember the people she loved, Patti had to re-learn everything.

And now, as her restoration process continues, Patti’s heartbeat is still to inspire and bring hope to others through her speaking, writing, and living her life moment by moment.

June 24 and 26 – Rebecca Hagelin on 30 Ways in 30 Days to Strengthen Your Family

Media and cultural expert Rebecca Hagelin offers practical strategies for raising children of character in today’s morally toxic environment in her new parenting guidebook, 30 Ways in 30 Days to Strengthen Your Family, (David C Cook, May 1, 2016). Expanding on a previous best seller, Hagelin offers parents 30 doable ways they can restore peace in their home and connect with their children even in the midst of a media-saturated culture.

Every parent asks: How can I empower my children to uphold timeless values in a world that undermines what we believe? Hagelin encourages parents to be consistent in the battle. “Consistency is probably the toughest skill to master as a parent-and one of the most important. We can’t disregard our own values and standards just because we are tired, aren’t in the mood to fight, or lose our courage.”

 

Hagelin’s grown daughter, Kristin offers her own reflections after each chapter, “her words offer moms and dads an added bit of encouragement from a responsible young adult who lived through the processes outlined in the book. She also often presents a humorous reality check and gives a unique perspective on how she translated what me and her father were trying to do in raising children of character.”

For 25 years, Rebecca Hagelin has educated parents, schools, and civic organizations on the damaging messages of our culture. She has appeared on thousands of television and radio interviews as a media and culture analyst, and she is the president of a marketing company, a columnist for several news sites and papers, and author of the book, Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That’s Gone Stark-Raving Mad. Hagelin and her husband have three grown children and live in Florida.

May Lineup of Authors for Always Faithful Radio

May 6 – Nika Maples – Hunting Hope: Dig Through the Darkness to Find the Light

Hope is not an accident. Sometimes it has to be hunted, and hunting it takes courage.

Hope hunters know how to excavate hope from hardship. There is dirt underneath their fingernails and sweat on their shirts. They rake through the rubble of an unwanted situation, digging into difficult circumstances because they have come to expect that adversity will produce good. They believe that light always triumphs over darkness. They have learned to walk through winter with their eyes on spring.

Nika Maples became a hope hunter after suffering a massive brainstem stroke that left her quadriplegic in her twenties. Doctors warned that she had as little as 48 hours to live, and-if she lived at all-she would
never walk or talk again. There was no hope on the horizon. So Nika started to hunt for it. Today, she not only walks, but she speaks to audiences everywhere about the power of hunting hope when a situation appears hopeless. She says hope remains camouflaged in the daily mundane. If we are not looking for it, we will miss it, though it is right before our eyes.

Whether you or someone you know is going through a situation that feels hopeless, you will find encouragement in Hunting Hope. Whether you are experiencing a medical trauma, a financial hardship, or a relational crisis, you will find empowerment in Hunting Hope. As you read, you will cling to 20 truths about God’s character and practice 5 daily disciplines that will develop your own character in crisis.

You will become a hope hunter.

Maybe it doesn’t matter what causes suffering in our lives as much as it matters what suffering causes in our lives. Maybe we were all meant to be hope hunters.

 

May 13 – Cheryl Dore – My Life Letters: Conversations with God that Lead to an Extraordinary Life

My Life Letters: Conversations with God that Lead to an Extraordinary Life satisfies the thirst for meaningful conversation. Cheryl Dore and Leslye Hebert share personal experiences of overcoming trauma and finding God in the pain. They will inspire, challenge, and prepare you to hear God in the midst of chaos and difficult circumstances.

Valuable exercises throughout this book provide a road map for life while making faith an everyday commodity. you will be inspired to go after personal words of encouragement and to hear God in Scripture. He is sitting in the bleachers of your life observing, available and eager to reveal His thoughts concerning everyday matters.

 

Cheryl Dore is the founder of One Strand Ministries of the Greater Seattle area. A creative storyteller, visionary leader, and dynamic teacher, she holds a certificate in ministry and theology from New Hope Christian College, and a degree in organizational leadership and theology from A. W. Tozer Theological Seminary/Simpson University. She and her husband of thirty-two years have two grown children, and four grandsons.

 

May 20 – Gwen Smith – I Want it All: Exchanging Your Average Life for Deeper Faith, Greater Power and More Impact

God created you for exceptional impact. Exceptional power. And exceptional blessings.

Gwen Smith knows how easy it is to dismiss God’s plans with the thoughts, I can’t make a big difference for God because I’m just an ordinary woman with an ordinary life. Yet God created us to join Him in doing amazing work in the world. He created us to live with abundant joy, courage, and influence. But not the joy, courage, and influence of the world. He offers His grace for each failure, His love that shatters hate, His peace that soothes the turmoil, His comfort, guidance, wisdom, rest, power, and significance. Every blessing He has for us is ours for the taking.

I Want It All will ignite a fire in your heart to experience more faith, more power, and more impact. More of Jesus. All of Jesus. Everything that God has for you.

Gwen Smith is an author and volleyball enthusiast who lives in sunny North Carolina and has been married to her college honey, Brad, for 23 years. They are tired parents to three competitive-sport-playing teens who keep them on their toes and on their knees. Her online friends meet at GwenSmith.net to connect and be encouraged, and her goal is to help women think big thoughts about God and be inspired to live out the grace and truth of Jesus. Gwen speaks, leads worship, and eats potato chips at women’s events everywhere, and she is a co-founder of the conference and devotional ministry Girlfriends in God

 

May 27 – CHANGE OF PLANS – Jane Rubietta on the Write to Publish Conference and her newest book, Heartbeat of a Mother

For mothers who’ve loved it, blown it, overdone it. Mothers who are exhausted. Or depleted. For everyday mothers, trying to move from tying shoes to fit to be tied. Mothers of boomerang adults, mothers suddenly parenting their own mothers, mothers raising grandchildren. Readers will laugh, they will cry. In these deep, vulnerable, moving, hopeful words, they will find themselves on these pages. More than that, they will find hope. They will find God again. And they will realize they are not alone. Heartbeat of a Mother. A six-week devotional Bible study for mothers of all ages, inviting them to celebrate, resuscitate, and re-calibrate. Heart-full, helpful, hopeful. Because mothering never ends…and it needn’t be the end of you.

Jane speaks internationally and ecumenically, inviting her audiences to tumble into Jesus’ arms and find the love they’ve been looking for.

Don’t miss her Jane’s critically acclaimed Worry Less, Live More, and the Deeper Devotion series, including Finding Your Promise: From Barren to Bounty – the Life of Abraham, and Finding Your Name: From Insecurity to Inheritance – the Lives of Isaac and Jacob. Other books include Come Closer: A Call to Life, Love, and Breakfast on the Beach, Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreat, the award-winning Grace Points: Growth and Guidance in Times of Change (InterVarsity Press, 2004), How to Keep the Pastor You Love (IVP, 2002), the award-winning Quiet Places, Still Waters (a Gold Medallion Nominee), Between Two Gardens (Bethany House, 2001). With Shirley Mitchell, Jane co-authored Fabulous after 50 (New Leaf Press, 2000) and Sensational After 60 (New Leaf Press, 2005). She co-authored with Lois Evans Stones of Remembrance: A Rock-Hard Faith in Rock-Hard Places.

Jane’s hundreds of articles appear in Indeed, Fulfill, HomeLife, Significant Living, MomSense, Fulfill, Plus, Christianity Today, and many other periodicals.

Her books have been featured in Crossings Book Club, as “Top Picks” in Today’s Christian Woman, and Book of the Week on Midday Connection. Denominations have selected her books for their recommended reading programs. Jane is also a contributor to the “Gifted for Leadership” website.

Always Faithful Radio Lineup for April, 2016

April 1 & 3 – Mary Theresa Webb & Who’s Calling?

Help and hope for those exploring church leadership or already in ministry positions. An experienced ministry leader and pastoral counselor with a PhD in marriage and family counseling/addiction intervention helps others discern their own ministry calls, avoid ministry disasters, and develop healthy spiritual leadership. Issues pertinent to real-life church leadership are explored: from identifying destructive church leadership, highlighting the hallmarks of redeemed churches, to helping fallen leaders. Students exploring a call, wounded believers, or pastors sidelined by familial patterns of behavior will find this a helpful, practical look at the possibilities and downsides in the world of Christian ministry.

Mary Theresa Webb, PhD shares her ministry calling experience and her expertise as a certified pastoral counselor to help others discern their own ministry calls, avoid disasters, and develop healthy spiritual leadership. She is the author of Tree of Life and Healing Hope for Bruised Souls.

April 8 & 10 – Sherrie Wilson & Faith on Fire

The first woman in the Dallas Fire Department, Sherrie’s true stories are entertaining, shocking, and faith building. Determined to reach her goal of retirement with a full pension, Sherrie tells what it was like to be the first-and only woman-in a profession previously reserved exclusively for men. Told with raw emotion, Sherrie will open your eyes and your heart to the reality of pioneering the way for other women to serve in similar “man-worthy” jobs. Her lighthearted manner belies the “fire in the belly” perseverance required just to show up to work. Truly her character as well as her faith were on the line with her life every time the bell rang. Even more so, her faith and character were developed and tried through the unseen fire between bells in a firehouse filled with men eager to discourage her at every turn.

Trailblazer Sherrie C Wilson was the first female firefighter-paramedic in the Dallas Fire Rescue Department.  During her nearly 35-year tenure she experienced every short of human trauma including resilience, love and hate.  Skills honed by firefighting and saving lives prepared her for further community service as a Health, Safety and Communications educator, adviser to EMS organizations, a leadership role in the American Heart Association, and as a National and International speaker, trainer, workshop presenter, author and show host.  Now retired from the fire department, Sherrie serves as founder and president of Emergency Management Resources, LLC (www.emresources.net) and FireHouseCommunications, LLC (www.firehousecommunications.com).  She also serves as adjunct faculty member for Texas A&M, Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

April 15 & 17 – Sandra Scott & Charmers and Con-Artists: And Their Flip Side

This is a psychological study of charmers, con artists, and their hidden alter-ego, the abusers — how they got that way, various profile examples, and how to recover from their artistry of killing you softly with their charm.

Sandra Scott, a Licensed Professional Counselor, has been in private practice for 25 years, specializing in individual and family relationship issues. This includes 20 years in singles ministry
leadership. She is a conference speaker, certified divorce mediator, and author of STARTING AGAIN: A Divorce Recovery Program, used by all Methodist Churches for their divorce recovery program. She has appeared on many radio and TV shows. More recently, she has written and teaches a class on Recovery From Other People’s Problems, which will be her next book.

 

April 22 & 24 – Sheila Walsh & The Longing in Me

It is a universal feeling, but we rarely discuss it. A yearning, a pining, a profound emptiness: Often, we try to satisfy it with another person, a full social schedule, and stuff––usually with harmful or even catastrophic consequences.

Sheila Walsh wants women to understand that we will never dull this ache alone, because we are longing for something––Someone––incomparably great.  God and Him alone.

In her highly anticipated new book THE LONGING IN ME: HOW EVERYTHING YOU CRAVE LEADS TO THE HEART OF GOD (Thomas Nelson; April 5, 2016; ISBN: 9781400204892) Walsh shows women that God is the answer to our longing, and that no matter how broken we may be, He loves us now, just as we are.

“My prayer in this book is to help you find the one true Source who can meet your deepest longings so you can change the way you respond to life’s stresses, to give you real tools to heal from the past and find joy today,” she writes.

With her most vulnerable storytelling yet, THE LONGING IN ME explores Walsh’s first marriage, childhood trauma, and other life-shaping experiences she’s never shared before, which she interweaves with other women’s stories and a close study of King David. The new book is accompanied by a DVD Bible study curriculum that explores the struggles of the life of David and how they parallel our own.

Walsh writes from the trenches, never suggesting she has not made bad choices or that her own challenges are over, even as she celebrates her life with palpable joy. Candid and armed with gentle humor and perspective, she locks arms with readers as she encourages and guides us toward healing.

Walsh has sold more than five million books and reached over five and a half million women around the world. Part memoir, part Bible study, part open invitation to healing, THE LONGING IN ME is the powerful next installment in Walsh’s already dynamic catalog. Readers will be transfixed by her narrative and walk away empowered by her message.

“Yes, mine was a long, dark fall, seemingly endless and fatal. But when I hit bottom, Jesus was there,” Walsh writes. “Know this: the choices you make in the darkness when no one but God is watching will impact the rest of your life.”

Sheila Walsh is a Scotland-born, Texas-based bestselling author, in-demand speaker, founder of international ministry  Braveheart Sisterhood, Bible teacher, television host, and Christian singer/songwriter. The writer behind Gigi: God’s Little Princess children’s line as well as trade books such as The Longing in Me, The Storm Inside, and Loved Back to Life, and so many more, she has sold more than 5 million books and reached more than 5.5 million women with her unique blend of honesty, vulnerability, wisdom, and humor. Walsh lives in Frisco, Texas, with her husband Barry, son Christian, and three little dogs. For more information, please visit www.TheLonginginMe.com.

April 29 & May 1 – Diana Savage & Pseudonym

Sheila Davis once said, “I’d give my life to become a best–selling author”—and that’s exactly what it cost her. Growing up on an Indiana farm, Sheila Davis has one dream—to become a professional writer. But her farmer father sees no reason for his daughter’s fanciful thoughts to pull her away from her duties at home. After winning a scholarship, Sheila convinces her dad to let her attend a summer writing course at a nearby school, where she flourishes, thanks in large part to the encouragement of her high school English teacher.

It seems as though fate has smiled on her when a whirlwind romance with upperclassman Dan Gray turns into a proposal of marriage, with a promise to support her educational and professional dreams if she’ll delay them and hold a job long enough for him to complete his degree. But Dan’s personal agenda sentences Sheila to years of menial work as he climbs the ladder of academia, meanwhile secretly sabotaging her every attempt to become a published author. The longing never dies, however; and when Sheila gets a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity to take a shot at getting published, she risks everything and dives in—only to encounter some stunning twists and turns she never anticipated, never prepared for, and never even imagined she’d have to confront.

Diana Savage has written or contributed to 12 books, including two Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes, and has published more than 200 articles, short stories, and poems. She speaks at a variety of venues in the US and abroad and is director of the annual Northwest Christian Writers Renewal conference near Seattle.

As principal of Savage Creative Services, LLC, Diana provides professional writing, editing, and speaking services. These include editing manuscripts for individuals and publishing houses, producing ad copy for small businesses, writing grant applications for nonprofits, ghostwriting for clients, and serving as webmaster for several authors.

Diana earned her BA degree from Northwest University and her Master in Theological Studies degree from Bakke Graduate University. She has served on the board of directors of four nonprofits, as director of women’s ministries at a large West Coast church, and as development officer for a ministry to homeless children and their families.

Upcoming Shows for March Feature Redemption Press Authors!

March 4 – Shirley Quiring Mozena on Beyond Second Chances

A woman who knows grief and loss after the death of her second husband, is jilted just before an ill-advised remarriage, yet retains her trust in a loving God. Shirley Mozena leans on her relationship with her faithful God while experiencing the pangs of loneliness and regret. Weaving in her family’s backstory, she tells of a shy pastor’s daughter who through dramatic life experiences learned a deep trust in God’s faithfulness in all circumstances. When a new man in her life appears, can Shirley trust his love? One woman’s story of love triumphing over loss will strengthen and inspire.

Shirley Mozena is an outdoors woman, musician, amateur chef, and former elementary music teacher and librarian. She plays violin in a community orchestra. Twice widowed, Shirley has experienced God’s faithfulness again in
meeting and marrying widower, Jim Mozena. They live in Vancouver, Washington and together, work with others grieving the loss of loved ones through the ministry of GriefShare.

For more on this author visit: www.shirleymozena.com

 

March 11 – Dr. Nick Eno on The Orphan Syndrome: Breaking Free & Finding Home

A counselor outlines the symptoms of a wounded orphan spirit vs. a healthy spirit and how an orphan syndrome affects our relationships and ability to receive love. From alienation, disconnection, restlessness, to an inability to sense God’s love, the syndrome is characterized by the lie that says, “You’re on your own.” Nick Eno provides dynamic, real-life examples of individuals who have struggled with this syndrome, and those who have been healed and transformed by the love of God. Learn how to break free from the bondage of the orphan syndrome to finding your home in God as His son or daughter.

Nick Eno is a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The head of Rehoboth Pastoral Retreats, an oasis for Christian leaders in ministry and the marketplace, Dr. Eno is also the author of In Search of Focus: Abiding in Christ Amidst Distractions (Axiom Press 2006), and a popular seminar speaker. He and his wife Pamela Anderson Eno live in Mansfield, TX.

For more on this author visit:
www.drnickeno.com

March 18 – Whitney Putnam on Imperfectly Brave 

What does imperfectly brave look like for you? God knows, and He wants you to dig in-maybe even get a little dirty-and discover your newly defined life. This journey may take time, but by running to the cross you will detangle the Word from the world, find your life ripe with purpose, and experience renewed passion for serving others.

Imperfectly Brave was birthed out of a prayer group. When God started redefining places in Whitney like fear and perfectionism, she started writing it all down. Now, the recently released book, Imperfectly Brave, will help women of all ages and backgrounds redefine bravery and step into their imperfectly brave lives.

Because you have a brave life inside of you.

Whitney Putnam is a dreamer (with two precious little girls) and a visionary (with a pastor husband who is beyond wonderful). They live in Liberty, Missouri and attend a church near a peacock farm.  And she is sure that every woman has an imperfectly brave life to live.

For more on this author visit: www.imperfectlybrave.com

 

March 25 – Penny Bragg on For Those Who Weep: A Grief Response Journal

For Those Who Weep is a full-color grief response journal that offers hope and encouragement to those who are grieving a loss. It includes 12 grief essays with art integrated throughout the book. Response pages included so readers can apply the author’s grief story to their own.

Penny’s loss of her brother to suicide began a journey of healing that continues to this day through her ministry by the same name as her book, For Those Who Weep. Along with her husband, Clint, she serves as a marriage  missionary through the work of Inverse Ministries, their nonprofit organization. They share their testimony with audiences, teach seminars for couples, and equip ministry leaders across the nation and beyond. Their own story of reconciliation, shared in their most recent book Marriage on the Mend: Healing Your Relationship After Crisis, Separation, or Divorce has been featured on multiple national and international television and radio programs.

For more on this author visit:
www.forthosewhoweep.com

 

February Line-Up of Guests on Always Faithful Radio

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ALWAYS FAITHFUL NOW AIRS TWICE A WEEK
FRIDAYS AT 1PM PST AND SUNDAYS AT 9AM PST LIVE STREAMING ON KCISRADIO.COM

February 5 (1PM) and February 7 (9AM) – Ocieanna Fleiss on “Love Like There’s No Tomorrow”

A few years ago, Ocieanna Fleiss wife and work-at-home mother of four young children would have described herself as overwhelmed, stressed, and focused on finishing her to-do list. But when at age forty-two, a sudden cardiac arrest stopped her heart, everything changed.

During those quiet months of recovery, as she reflected on her life, a pattern arose. Like a loving father, Christ has always walked her through childhood neglect, miscarriages, the death of her parents, and even through her own death!

Amazed by God’s loving hand in her life, Ocieanna overflowed with a desire to love in a new, more profound way. Out of this desire, transforming truths gently came to light: truths that changed her life forever and will show you how God can weave everything in your life into His elaborate plan.

OCIEANNA FLEISS has written three historical novels with Tricia Goyer in the best-selling Love Finds You series. She speaks at churches, parenting groups, and writers conferences and teaches a Bible class to homeschool junior high students. She penned a writing column for eight years and contributes to the Seriously Write blog. She has also written for MOMSense, MOPS.org, Hearts at Home, Guideposts for Kids, and CBA Marketplace. She is a member of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and the Writers View. Ocieanna makes her home in Seattle, Washington with her husband and four kids. Connect with Ocieanna at Ocieanna.com.

 

February 12 (1PM) and February 14 (9AM) – Jane Rubietta on “Exchange Your Worries for Delight in God”

Weary of worry and its tagalongs: anxiety, discouragement, and exhaustion? Jane Rubietta invites you to leave behind your heavy heart and learn to truly live again. To experience joy and rest in the moment-by-moment pleasure of a God who delights in you–and has all your tomorrows under his control. Jane’s picturesque prose offers enduring encouragement and practical tools for change. Discussion questions and journaling prompts make this the perfect book to read on your own or share with your small group and discover how to worry less and live more

Jane Rubietta is a writer and speaker who loves to put skin on truth. No one is more surprised than she is, that she gets to write and speak for her full-time job. Her award-winning books and her depth and vulnerability as an author and speaker have led people to say, “Have you been reading my emails?” “If you ever need another job, you could do stand-up comedy.” She doubts that–she would be terrified if she had to be strictly funny–but she loves to be part of the lives of her audiences, both in person as a speaker and in print as a writer.

 

February 19 (1PM) and February 21 (9AM) – Ann Griffiths on “A Mentor’s Fingerprint”

We all mentor everyday – whether we realize it or not. We leave a mark and make a difference in the lives of the people in our lives. The question is, “What kind of mark are we leaving? What kind of difference are we making?”

Filled with real-life stories, guiding principles, and practical tools, this book inspires, empowers, and equips the formal or informal mentor.

If you want to know what mentoring can do in and through your life and what it means to affect the lives of others for eternity, A Mentor’s Fingerprint will help you get there. If you want to intentionally come alongside others and make a difference, A Mentor’s Fingerprint is for you and your friends.

Ann is a creative thinker with strong leadership insight and a great deal of heart. Her energetic passion, yet calm demeanor, houses focused energy and a commitment that motivates others to look deep into their own lives, draw out their God-given gifts and abilities, and recognize the profound influence they have on others. She has experienced success, lived the difficult sides of business and ministry, and walked the tough roads of life. Yet, Ann has managed these challenges with integrity and courage, while keeping people a priority, mentoring individuals, and building teams that thrive.

Having filled numerous leadership roles in the church, community, and business arenas, and having developed and launched leadership programs, she continues to inspire men and women to confidently step up and be the individuals God created them to be.

Ann is a sought-after speaker, co-author of A Mentor’s Fingerprint and author of Grandma’s Fingerprint. In her “spare” time she plays the drums with various worship teams and enjoys a wide range of interests. She is married with two grown children and four grandchildren.

 

February 26 (1PM) and February 28 (9AM) – Cherrie Herrin-Michehl on “Tooshie: Defeating the Body Image Bandit”

We are drowning in a tsunami of cultural messages that shout, “Thin is beautiful, and beauty is almost everything.”  You have dieted, binged, exercised, and starved yourself at time to chase Skinny. Yet in your soul, you’ve always wondered if Skinny would truly land you in the perfect life. Tooshie is a healing, fun journey to defeat the Body Image Bandit, who wants you to believe your worth is measured in pounds. You will laugh, ponder, and grasp the heart of your food and body image problems. After all, food/body image struggles are much more about your heart and your story than you ever realized. Then you will begin to unveil the actual causes of your food/body image battles, and the truth will set you free.

Cherrie Herrin-Michehl, MA, LMHC is a licensed therapist practicing in Woodinville, Washington. She received her training at what is now called The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Her humor, faith and passion for helping women chase their true callings in life make Tooshie a quick read.

January Lineup for Always Faithful Radio

January 1, 2016 – BEST OF 2015 – Laura Story on When God Doesn’t Fix It

January 8, 2016 – Jill Lynn Buteyn – co-author of Just Show Up

Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer. It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Jill Lynn Buteyn lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University in 2013, she won the ACFW Genesis award for her novel, Falling for Texas. Jill enjoys reading and writing stories filled with grace, humor, and happily-ever-after. When she’s not plotting her next book, she can be found hanging out with her entertaining family.

 

 

January 15, 2016 – Rhonda Stoppe on If My Husband Would Change I’d Be Happy

Do you know a couple who has been married for a long time and are still deeply in love? Doesn’t your heart long to have a marriage like theirs? What’s their secret?

As you observe such a couple, you may be tempted to say, “Oh that wife is so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man. I wish my husband were more like him.”

Upon closer observation, however, you might be surprised to learn that the secret to their happy marriage isn’t related to how “ideal” their spouse is. Rather, it’s because their relationship is grounded in a love that is deeper than their own love for each other. Rhonda Stoppe (stop-ee) says, “A marriage flourishes when both husband and wife learn to love Christ more than any other person in life.”

If My Husband Would Change I’d Be Happy is filled with love stories to encourage and inspire you toward building a NO REGRETS marriage that others will want to emulate.

As a marriage mentor, pastor’s wife, speaker and author, Rhonda Stoppe helps women discover the secret to building a NO REGRETS MARRIAGE by helping them realize the myths that are holding them back. Rhonda helps women build no regrets marriages by helping them discover:

• How to build a NO REGRETS MARRIAGE
• The secret to keeping his attention
• What romance really means to your man
• 8 steps to making peace
• How love grows deeper over the years
• 10 keys to a happy marriage

January 22, 2016 – Jennifer Kennedy Dean on Prayer Fatigue

In Prayer Fatigue, acclaimed author Jennifer Kennedy Dean draws on her decades of study and practice of prayer to confront the biggest challenges believers face in keeping prayer fresh and exciting. Jennifer has identified ten common struggles, and addresses each with her signature style of clear communication of scriptural truths. Each chapter addresses one challenge, and suggests a reframing and refocusing that will help readers understand and overcome. Works well in small group settings or for individuals.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker.

She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual growth. Her book, Heart’s Cry, has been named National Day of Prayer’s recommended resource.  Her book, Live a Praying Life®, &, has been called a flagship work on prayer.

Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator of the deep truths of God’s Word, Jennifer speaks all over the world calling God’s people to discover the difference between “a prayer life” and “a praying life.”

January 29, 2016 – Sherri Burgess on Bronner: A Journey to Understand

If God is good then why does He allow terrible things to happen? It’s a universal question asked by believers and skeptics alike. Some decide no answer exists, but not Sherri Burgess, the author of Bronner: A Journey to Understand. When Burgess and her husband, Rick (host of the nationally syndicated “The Rick and Bubba Show”), lost their two-year-old son in a tragic drowning at home, she turned to God with the same question, and in her grief, learned there are answers. What she discovered about the Lord and herself she now brings to the world in this special book, which Grammy Award-winning recording artist Chris Tomlin said left him “speechless.”

Bronner is an honest and personal narrative that took Burgess five years to write. It brings readers along on her journey of seeking to understand the purpose behind her family’s pain. While admitting we can never truly grasp all aspects of God’s nature, Burgess says she found there were many things she could ascertain about Him, His purposes, and His intentions for herself and her family. “God wants us to ask hard questions,” she reveals. “He wants us to seek Him, and if we do, He promises we will find Him. God’s way is perfect. He wastes nothing but uses everything to teach us, grow us, and mold us into something fit for heaven. We praise Him as Job did when he said, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken way; blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

Sherri Burgess is the wife of nationally syndicated radio host Rick Burgess of “The Rick and Bubba Show.” They are both sought-after ministry speakers and marriage conference hosts.

A former news anchor turned author, Burgess is also mother to two teenage sons at home and two adult children. She currently serves on the school board where her sons attend, leads a girls’ Bible study, and volunteers with various organizations. Her heart is deeply committed to living out God’s will for her life and helping others do the same. While her family may enjoy football, she enjoys her family. She also enjoys gardening and going on short-term missions trips. Her prayer is that the loss of her youngest son, Bronner, will continue to produce fruit for God for many years to come.

 

December Line Up of Always Faithful Radio Guests

First Friday of the Month – My In Studio Guest Will Join Us for a Late Lunch at the Arbor Deli on the Crista Campus. Come and Continue the Conversation Right After the Show!

December 4 – Julie Bevaart, Founder of White River Community Outreach

My in-studio guest in December is good friend and ministry leader, Julie Bevaart. Not an author or a speaker, but someone who was willing to surrender her talents and desire to help folks who are struggling in life to the Lord. That willingness to serve resulted in a ministry named White River Community Outreach where Julie helps those in need find the resources that are available to them. I love the story of how God planted her in this ministry, so you’ll hear all about it and be invited to join us after the show to continue the conversation over a late lunch.

December 11 – Kerri Pomarolli and Mom’s Night Out and Other Things I Miss

Called Hollywood’s “God Girl,” Kerri Pomarolli is an accomplished actress, comedian, published author, Christian speaker and veteran of television—with credits that include 29 appearances on The Tonight Show and Comedy Central.

Kerri will be will us to share her new book, Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive

As a Mom, couldn’t you use a good laugh?

Inspired by the endearing, true-to-life movie MOMS’ NIGHT OUT, comedian Kerri Pomarolli has created this light, yet inspiring devotional that will definitely make you laugh, but will also help you discover that indeed you are not alone, and that God’s gracious provision of love and faithfulness is at work in your life and of your loved ones.

Whether you’re running full-speed-ahead or disappointed that it’s Monday (again), you’ll find joy in these devotions where Kerri shares hilarious stories and insights on daily life. Messy homes, messy kids, lost pets, never ending casseroles, forgetful husbands, and the desire to just take a long bath… This world can be a funny place, and these stories are bound to prove it. Read a devotion to brighten your morning, or catch a few words to make you smile before bed. There’s never a bad time for a good laugh, and as a Mom, you need a Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive.

December 18 – Pamela Lau – A Friend in Me: How to Be a Safe Haven for Other Women

Pam Lau is the author of Soul Strength and numerous articles for such publications as Christian Scholar’s Review and Christianity Today. She has taught writing at George Fox University and speaks around the country at conferences and retreats. A graduate of Liberty University and Colorado State University, Lau lives near Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three daughters.

Pam will be sharing her newest book, A Friend in Me.

Young women long for relational connection with women further ahead of them on the journey. Yet, without realizing it, many of us tend to distance ourselves from those in younger generations.

Can we really have close relationships with women who have different thoughts on church, different experiences with family, and different ways of talking about God? Where do we start?

In A Friend in Me, Pam Lau shows you how to be a safe place for the younger women in your life. She offers five patterns women need to internalize and practice for initiating relationships and talking about issues such as faith, forgiveness, sexuality, and vocation. Most significantly, she reminds you that there doesn’t need to be a divide between generations of women. Together, we can have a global impact—and experience a deeper faith than we’ve ever known.

 

 

Friday, December 25 – Wishing you a Christ filled day of celebration where you are able to love those around you with His love.

October Lineup of Guests

October 2, 2015 – First Friday In-Studio with Bette Nordberg – Join us afterwards as we continue the conversation over a late lunch at the Arbor Deli on the Crista campus!

BETTE NORDBERG ON HOW PURE SEX CAN BE GREAT SEX

More than a year ago, 50 Shades of Grey became a cultural phenomenon, and Bette began to ask the question, “How does culture shape a believer’s sense of right and wrong?” Those questions led to another. “Does God even care about married sex?” As she studied, she came to believe that He does, very much. Using Biblical truth, modern medicine and hard-earned wisdom, this frank study of married sexuality will help women to discover the secrets to lasting sexual fulfillment.

Bette Nordberg addresses matters of the heart head on: choosing our thought life, choosing purity and holiness. But she also shares about medical, chemical and physical matters that are seldom talked about so honestly and clearly. “Pure Sex, Great Sex” has shifted my thoughts on sex in a gentle way which has already been so great for my marriage, and so great for me as a woman. I have eagerly encouraged other married and engaged women from my church to read this very helpful and encouraging book! It is easy to read, yet packed full of useful information, with discussion/reflection questions at the end of each chapter. Highly recommended!

Author of 12 books, and currently working on 13, 14 and 15, Bette encourages women to trust in God’s faithfulness through her writing and ministry. Visit her at www.bettenordberg.com.

October 9, 2015

CYNTHIA RUCHTI ON MENDING OUR BROKENNESS

A crumbling statue. A torn tapestry. A discolored painting. 

Artisans can reclaim exquisite beauty from the broken, frayed, and hopelessly shattered—perhaps once thought beyond repair. But what about us? What of the wounds that keep us from living the life we want to live?

In Tattered and Mended, readers walk through a gallery of reclaimed and restored art as well as broken and restored lives of those who have gone before us. With a gentle touch and personable wisdom, Cynthia Ruchti shows how even the most threadbare soul can once again find healing and hope.

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories “hemmed in hope.” She’s the award-winning author of sixteen books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

October 16, 2015

LAURA COOMBS ON FORGIVING THE UNFORGIVEABLE

When her father was murdered, Laurie Coombs sought justice and found it.

His murderer now serves two life sentences with no possibility of parole. Yet, despite the swift punishment of the killer, Laurie found herself increasingly full of pain, bitterness, and anger she couldn’t control. After coming to faith, she realized she was being called to seek something infinitely more difficult than justice: forgiveness.

This is an extraordinary true story of grace, mercy, and the redemptive power of God to change lives. The reader is swept along with Laurie as she undergoes the life-changing transformation of becoming a Christian. As she studies Scripture, seeing God redeeming losses and healing deep wounds time and time again, she starts to understand that her own healing would require her to love her enemy in a real, practical way.

Using her incredible correspondence with the man who killed her father, Laurie reveals a compelling journey of transformation, not only in her life, but in the lives of those whom many would call irredeemable.

Laurie A. Coombs is a passionate writer and speaker on the issues of forgiveness, redemption, and the hope that is found in Jesus. Her story was featured in Billy Graham’s new film, “Heaven.” She is a featured writer and blogger for iBelieve and Crosswalk. Laurie and her husband, Travis, make their home in Nevada along with their two daughters.

October 23, 2015

LINDSAY HOLCOMB ON PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

It’s perhaps a parent’s greatest fear – that at some point his or her child will become a victim of sexual abuse. The statistics are alarming: Approximately one in five children will become victims by his or her 18th birthday. Authors Justin and Lindsey Holcomb have responded to parents’ concerns by writing God Made All of Me, a resource for moms and dads who want to protect and educate their children.

Parents of young children themselves, the Holcombs regularly counsel victims of sexual abuse and are profoundly aware of the dangers kids face. They know a child is more likely to be abused by someone he or she knows than a stranger; 34% of assailants are family members, and 58% are acquaintances. “It is important to teach kids how to say ‘stop,’ ‘all done,’ and ‘no more,'” the Holcombs stress. “You can reiterate this by stopping immediately when your children express they are all done with the hugging or tickling. Your reaction demonstrates they have control over their bodies. If there are family members who have a hard time understanding, explain you’re helping your children understand their ability to say no to unwanted touch. For example, if your children do not want to kiss Grandpa, let them give a high five or handshake instead.”

Allowing moms and dads to approach this topic gently, God Made All of Me will help facilitate open conversations within the family. It will be a critical tool in every parent’s hand as they seek to fulfill their important role of shielding their children from harm. “We want to remind parents some people are looking to prey on our children. We have a duty to protect and prepare them for the world and to fight for them,” the Holcombs explain. “By talking with our kids candidly (and in developmentally appropriate ways) about their bodies, we are setting up safeguards around them.”

Lindsey Holcomb is a former case manager at a sexual assault crisis center and a domestic violence shelter.  Together with her husband, they helped co-found REST, and they conduct a variety of training seminars on how to prevent, recognize and respond to child, sexual and domestic abuse. They have also written a number of books together, including Is It My Fault? (2014) and Rid of My Disgrace (2011).

October 30, 2015

TRICIA GOYER ON ENCOURAGING TEEN MOMS

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than a quarter of a million babies are born to teen moms in the U.S. each year. Best-selling author Tricia Goyer has written Teen Mom: You’re Stronger than You Think because she doesn’t want one of them to fall through the cracks of the culture.

Everything changes the day these young girls discover they’re going to be moms, and the pressures they’re under can be crushing. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports teen moms are more likely to drop out of high school and nearly half of them live below the poverty line.

Tricia Goyer understands. Born to a single mom, Tricia found herself pregnant at 17, and she remembers what it felt like to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. “My boyfriend was out of the picture, and I faced raising a child alone with little education, no money and maybe, according to the world, little hope for my future,” Goyer admits. “Yet, I am not a statistic. And you know why I’m not a statistic? Because God doesn’t do them.”

Goyer has gone on to be an award-winning author and popular speaker. She’s also been the coordinator of a teen MOPS group for more than 12 years and has cheered on many young mothers — from all walks of life — through their journeys. “Every moment I’ve spent volunteering in these teen mom support groups is worth it. I
remember being the one who needed to hear about Jesus’ love and forgiveness. Somebody talked to me, and it cost them too. There is someone in your community who needs to hear too.”

While most young moms would never trade their children for the world, some days are just hard. Baby-daddy drama, dealing with their parents, and worries about the future slam them. They find their friends can’t relate to their little family, and some girls will begin to wonder if God has turned His back on them. In Teen Mom, Goyer
pours out her heart and provides encouragement to these young, single mothers, reminding them they can be the mom their children deserve — not in their own strength, but in the strength God provides.

In addition to encouraging these moms, Goyer says she hopes Teen Mom will equip church leaders, pregnancy crisis centers, counselors and anyone involved in the lives of young mothers to broach challenging topics such as purity, sexual abuse and bad boyfriends. Questions found at the end of every chapter will help them discuss these difficult issues, while giving teens a chance to open up and share their experiences.

Teen Mom ultimately serves to remind us all that every young mom is worthy of the love, forgiveness and hope for the future that can only come from God’s love.

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and “Lead Your Family Like Jesus,” (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children. You can find out more about Tricia at www.TriciaGoyer.com.