Women's Ministry Blog by Christian Women Leaders

What is Lent and why should I observe and practice it? 

Although Lenten practices vary depending on denomination and congregation, it generally includes three primary areas of focus: Prayer, Fasting, and Giving.

When Change Comes (And It Always Does)

A Note From Shauna Just after I turned forty, life as I knew it changed in about a thousand ways. I faced a series of losses—we left our church, our ...

Woman Evolve

If we dared to be honest, we’d confess that the fear of being seen is not just a little girl’s struggle. It grows with us like a companion in every stage of life. Have you ever chosen to actively resist experiences, memories, or situations because you did not want to run the risk of being seen in your most vulnerable state? What if everyone around you knew about the depression? The addiction? Chronic stress? That troubled child? Heartbreak? What if you were truly seen?

Waiting for God’s Timing

We ask God for something, and seemingly nothing happens. We want Aunt Martha healed, but she remains sick or even dies. We want that promotion, but someone else gets it. Instead of getting the answer we want, we often get silence. We struggle like Job. “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me” (Job 30:20 NIV).

Reading the Gospel of John: Believing in Jesus

Special Note to the Reader: The purpose of the Gospel of John is explicitly stated at the end of the Gospel (20:30–31). Because that passage is so important to understand how this Gospel works, we begin with it. The purpose is to enhance faith in both believers and to promote faith among those who are not yet believers. If we keep this in mind as we read the Gospel, we will read the Gospel as John wants us to.

Abide Bible Course: Five Practices You Can Use to Engage With the Bible

These five daily devotions are based on Randy Frazee and Phil Collins' Bible study, The Abide Bible Course. will walk you through five innovative practices that will take you beyond ...

Passing the Baton of Truth

As parents, grandparents, and mentors, we must strive to be giants among spiritual dwarfs relaying to the next generation the Baton of Truth that leads to personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Guiding Teens on Sex and Sexting

It’s awkward and even terrifying for parents to discuss their child’s sexuality. Yikes! You may be afraid you’ll give them ideas. News flash: God created us as sexual beings, and they already have ideas (plenty, actually). I would much rather you give them ideas than let their peers fill that void. Sexting is a modern-day reality.

Guiding Your Teens on Social Media

Social media is a reality of twenty-first-century parents. It’s a great way to connect and seek support. But as parents, we often don’t give posting much thought. It’s called “sharenting”: venting frustrations about teen drama, funny bath photos, relief over being “kid free” for the moment, asking advice on personal struggles, angst about teen dating or driving, posting awkward photos making gentle fun of your teen. Here’s the thing. You are the literal caretaker of your child’s digital footprint. One day they will look at everything you posted and see themselves through your eyes. What will they see?

The Strength That Prevails - Resilient

Right now, we’re in a sort of global denial about the actual cost of these hard years (which are not over). We just want to get past it all, so we’re currently trying to comfort ourselves with some sense of recovery and relief. But folks, we haven’t yet paid the psychological bill for all we’ve been through. We would never tell a survivor of abuse that the trauma must be over now that the abuse has stopped. And yet that mentality is at play in our collective denial of the trauma we’ve been through.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

You might be familiar with the story of “the feeding of the five thousand.” Jesus is up on a mountain top with his disciples and thousands and thousands of people who are watching as Jesus performs sign after sign. Healings. Miracles. And nobody (obviously) wants to leave! But, they needed to eat.

God Releases You From Shame

I grew up under the influence of the Asian-American honor shame mentality which runs deep in the fabric of our cultural values. The simple solution to avoid feeling shame is ...

An Unexpected Gift in Bible Study

When you come across a passage of Scripture that makes you uncertain, what do you do? Do you skip it, rush past it or just avoid asking questions?

That’s why the words of a meme I read recently stirred up some deep questions for me. It read, “The more certainty you can bring to the table, the greater your value.”(1)

The writer spoke with such authority. She seemed so… well, certain which made my misgivings feel wrong. But is that principle correct? Is our value really based on our level of certainty?

As I pondered certainty and human value, these words from an unknown author sprang to mind. They’re a reminder that certainty shouldn’t be our highest goal. This meme read, “Just because you’re certain doesn’t mean you’re right.” This thought has been shaping the way I’m approaching both interpersonal connections and my Bible study.

Certainty is an obstacle for both.

Unboxing the Find Your People Curriculum Kit with Jennie Allen

Jennie Allen unboxes her Find Your People Curriculum Kit and gives us a tour of what's inside!

Dealing with guilt, is it my job to save everyone?

I knew I had seen something I was not supposed to see. I felt a feeling I had never felt before. Guilt. I remember feeling like I was supposed to save somebody, but I didn’t. The early inner workings of guilt were planted within my heart. They continued to sprout like weeds. I signed up for as many community outreaches as possible, but our neighborhood’s needs never seemed to lessen. I tried to do more, save more, and save better, and instead, the disappointing results left me insecure and angry.

Saying So Long to People Pleasing with Karen Ehman

Saying So Long to People Pleasing Karen Ehman I found myself in a lawn chair at our fire pit on an early evening. The heaving of my chest slowly subsided as I began to calm down and finish up my spontaneous crying session. As I stared up at the...

Free Resources

Using How (not) to Save the World with your church or small group?

Using How (not) to Save the World with your church or small group?

Here are some tools to help: 

The Small Group Tool Kit includes two mobile-friendly invitation cards, reflection cards to enhance your small  group experience, and a worship song playlist curated by Hosanna Wong that can beplayed during small group meetings or personal Bible study time. 

The Church Tool Kit includes a downloadable poster, bulletininsert, invitation card, and Power Point slide.

Is your church talking about anxiety, depression and mental health issues? You should be.

Is your church talking about anxiety, depression and mental health issues? You should be.

Shawn Johnson, lead pastor of Red Rocks Church, gives a
searingly honest portrait of anxiety and depression and shows readers how to fight back and live free. He also has put together three free tools pastors can use to help their congregation have a productive conversation around mental health, including a discussion guide, sermon notes and key Scripture verses.