Online! Global Women's Expo Jan 11 Free

Global Women’s Ministry Expo Will Train, Connect & Empower Women's Ministry Leaders

 

The 2013 Women's Ministry Expo offers training, connections and fresh ideas for  women's ministry leaders worldwide via its interactive online program.

 

PRLog (Press Release) – January 4, 2013 – The first ever global Women’s Ministry Online Expo is scheduled for Friday, January 11, 2013 featuring 24 trainers, idea generators and worship leaders plus Facebook and Twitter party hostesses and blog partners.

Hosted by International Women’s Ministry Mentor and Trainer, Marnie Swedberg, this online expo for Women’s Ministries is ideal for every leader who works with women’s ministry in any capacity.

 

The online expo is free to attend and will provide not only targeted training in the following eight leadership zones, but will also offer opportunities for leaders to connect with each other and the guest presenters at the live Facebook and Twitter parties which will run throughout the expo.

The eight one-half hour training segments include:

    ● Building Your Women’s Ministry on a Firm Foundation presented by Marnie Swedberg with ideas generated by Della Faye and worship inspired by Kim Bolton.

    ● Getting Yourself and Your Ministry Organized with Andrea Dudley. Kimberly Hooper will get your ideas flowing as recording artist, Dawna Johnson, focuses our hearts on worship.

    ● Establishing a Winning Team will be trained by Sherry Poundstone with ideas from Sharon Hurkens and worship music by Jagee Melton.

    ● Understanding the Personalities in Ministry will help you in every aspect of your life as Phyllis Harmony trains it, Krista Dunk generates ideas and Mela Kamin inspires us.

    ● Attracting Seekers is based on Donna Jones’ book, Seek. Donna herself trains this session with ideas by Teresa Lusk and music by Adele Morgan.

    ● Maximizing Small Group Bible Studies is trained by Mindy Ferguson. Beth Fisher is your idea generator and your worship leader for this module is Trish Tourline.

    ● Taking Your Group to Major Women’s Events. Thomas Nelson Live Event’s Coordinator, Kerri Willoughby, is your trainer with ideas being sparked by Michelle Reynolds and music by Carole Brewer.

    ● Planning Your Own Events and Retreats is taught by Frankie D. Sherman. Your idea hostess is CJ Rapp and worship music is provided by Marnie Swedberg.

Attendees are invited to swap ideas and engage with the presenters and others guests at the concurrent Facebook and Twitter parties.

The expo is 100% online, which means you can participate from any location worldwide.

 

You are invited to attend the 2013 Global Women’s Ministry Expo and may pre-register now for the chance to win prizes at http://www.WomensMinistryExpo.com.

 

Mama was the Queen of Christmas with Linda Gilden

Mama Was the Queen of Christmas! We're happy to supply you with a fun Christmas article and recipe to be used on your blog or in your newsletter or publication. We've also included some background on the book, in case you'd like to spotlight that information. If you do chose to use the article on your site, please also include the author bio. Feel free to use the book and/or author photo as well. Contact Linda directly if you need her to send you the material in some other format. And if you're interested in reviewing the book, request a review copy from her. One reader says: “Mama Was the Queen of Christmas combines the art of storytelling, enthusiastic instruction, and family fun to inspire you and equip you for a meaningful, Jesus-filled holiday.”

Author: Linda J. Gilden Retail: $12.95 (book) Publisher: OakTara October 26, 2012 ISBN-10: 1602903506 ISBN-13: 978-1602903500 (November, 2012 – Spartanburg, SC) Do you love Christmas but feel the real meaning of the season is lost in the busyness? Do you breathe a sigh of relief when the last holiday guest is out the door, the last gift unwrapped, and the last ornament put away? Do you struggle with balancing the preparation and celebration with honoring Jesus? After all, it is His birthday! Mama Was the Queen of Christmas is a collection of stories highlighting “Mama's” role in the season as well as quotes, scripture, and practical suggestions for keeping the holidays focused on Christ. Mama presents creative ideas to plan a meaningful holiday season. SPECIAL FEATURES: “For the Queen” helps the reader focus on the truth of each story. This feature includes suggestions for the reader to implement that truth in his or her life. “For the King” points the reader to the One whose birth we celebrate through a personal activity. “For the Court” suggests family activities to apply the truth in each story.

Article & Recipe Available for Your Use A Game for All Adapted from the recently released book, Mama Was the Queen of Christmas by Linda Gilden How will all the little holiday extras ever get done? I ask myself that question every year. And as much as I enjoy the holidays, there seems to be so little time. One year I decided to let go of expectations and concentrate on celebrating Jesus. I came up with a plan to accomplish a lot of the extras in a very short time. I created a game! “Come on, everyone,” I said. “We are going to play a game.” There was minor grumbling but in the end everyone agreed a family game would be fun. And I was so excited about the end result! “Just give me an hour of your time,” I said. “Then you can get back to your homework.” I found a cute Christmas container and deposited little slips of paper, each describing a job. “I am going to set a timer for twenty minutes,” I said. “When you draw a slip of paper, you have twenty minutes to work at your job. When the bell rings, you will choose another job and change what you are doing. In an hour, you will have helped me with three pre-Christmas chores.” The papers in the container had jobs like: Position the electric candles in the windows. Put the greenery on the mantle downstairs. Wrap presents. (Not your own, although most were willing!) A smile face. This job was really important. The person who got the smile was to circulate, serve refreshments, and make sure everyone was having fun. Address Christmas cards. Plan a family activity that will help us concentrate on the real meaning of the season such as memorize the Christmas story from Luke, find someone to share the season with who hasn’t yet met the Savior, concentrate on a different aspect of Jesus’ birth in daily devotions, etc. Make a Christmas goodie or edible treat. My family favorite is “Rocks!” Christmas music playing in the background created a festive and jovial mood. As it turned out, everybody was a winner in this game. The family gathered in the kitchen for a sample of “rocks,” pointing out that we had become happy little elves, proudly creating an atmosphere of merriment for the holidays. Are there things you can do to make this holiday season less stressed for you and your family? RECIPE: Rocks – Favorite Holiday Treat! 2 cups chocolate chips 1 ½ cups dry roasted peanuts ½ cup peanut butter (1) 12.3 oz. box Crispix cereal Confectioners Sugar Melt chocolate in a large bowl in microwave oven. Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir well. Heat 30 seconds more or as needed to melt chocolate. Stir until smooth. (Chocolate could also be melted in a double boiler over low heat on the stove.) Add peanut butter and stir until well blended. Add peanuts and cereal and mix until thoroughly coated. A wooden spoon works best for this. Put confectioner’s sugar in a plastic bag. Add cereal mixture, close bag tightly, and shake gently until mixture is coated with sugar. If you do a third of the mixture at a time, it is easier to handle. Makes a lot! Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!   About the Author: Linda Gilden’s favorite season is Christmas. But, truthfully, she and her family like to celebrate all year long, so can it really be called a season? Growing up in a home where the spirit of Christmas prevailed throughout the year, she knows she is blessed to have married a man who shares the same philosophy—Jesus is not just for a season but for a lifetime! Linda is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and several other books, such as Love Notes in Lunchboxes, Love Notes on His Pillow, and Mommy Pick-Me-Ups (all by New Hope Publishers), but Mama Was the Queen of Christmas is one she has wanted to write for a long time. Her heart’s desire is to see families enjoy each other and make memories no matter what the season. Linda lives in South Carolina with her husband, three grown children and children-in-law, four grandchildren, and a granddog, all of whom love Christmas as much as she does!

Linda J. Gilden Author & Speaker

Five Questions with fantasy author Chris Hibbard

Five Questions with Chris Hibbard

Welcome Chris who shares about his new book, Journey to Terreldor, which happens to have lots of special goodies in the offering today for those who purchase the book on Amazon.

But visit here first. Other prizes include a free Kindle.

Join Mark and his brother as they find themselves in a strange world filled with impossibility and adventure. Faced with tragedy and trial, Mark is forced to draw upon strengths and develop skills he never expected himself capable of. The brothers are taken in by mentors who claim to hold the secrets of true wisdom and maturity. In their endeavors, they learn the most difficult lessons in life are often found on the path home.

Begin the adventure in Journey to Terreldor, then follow these brothers as they are cast into peril in Terreldor at War. Discover the culmination of their odyssey in The Long Path Home.

ISBN: 0615643825

 

What do you love about this book?

[Chris] I love being able to engage readers through entertainment, while bringing them topics to ponder--relevant topics I hope they will appreciate.

What have you learned about writing and yourself since you started this book?

[Chris] Writing is easy--editing is hard. I've learned how to engage a larger audience, and to leave them with something they didn't have before they picked up my book.

Tell about your latest release.

[Chris] Journey to Terreldor is the first volume in the "Adventures in Terreldor" trilogy. It is centered on a teenager who finds himself in a strange world, with no memories of how he arrived. As he discovers this new world, he finds himself caught up in a conflict that threatens to divide a kingdom, and destroy many lives in the balance. He learns life's most difficult lessons are often found on the path home.

What three things do you know now about the publishing world that you wish you knew when you first started?

[Chris] How random the selection process can be. (Never give up.)

Marketing a book can be as difficult as writing it.

Indie writers need a community of support for gaining exposure.

 

What are the five best things writers can do to meet the challenges of the 21^st century?

Recognize a "top-5" publisher doesn't offer as much as they used to, in today's increasingly digital world

Give something away before you try to sell your work

Learn to better edit your manuscripts

Plan on doing plenty of research; you need to be knowledgeable to write well.

Grammar, grammar, and more grammar.

 

 

Chris M. Hibbard was born in the suburbs of New Jersey, the second of three brothers. His family soon moved to Alaska, where he grew up scrambling over the mountains and beaches of a remote village wedged between thickly wooded peaks and deep fjords. His childhood shaped in him an early love for family and the outdoors, and inspired such hobbies as wildlife photography, grafting fruit trees, and horticulture.

His first novel began as a collection of stories he invented to entertain his children. He, his wife and four children make their home in the Piney Woods of Texas.

To find more about the written works of Chris M. Hibbard and check for publishing updates, visit http://www.Terreldor.net

 

 

Map Quilt Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Map Quilt

by Lisa J. Lickel

Giveaway ends December 20, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Book Review: The Big Red Chair by Brenda J Wood

The Big Red Chair: A story for Grieving Children

Including audio CD of the story narrated by the author inthe print version

By Brenda J Wood

ISBN: 9780986531385

c. 2011

Alloway’s Printing and Publishing

32-page photo picture book

$3.99 eBook

Print can be ordered from brendawoodauthor-at-yahoo.com

 

Wood’s charming story in rhyme features Grandfather Afi’s Big Red Chair. The chair is special for all family members, for hugs, naps, playtime; even laundry.

 

The tale begins with “We did not want a big red chair” until the time came Grandmother Ammi decides she would like the chair since Afi does. When Afi needs to be in the hospital, he misses his Big Red Chair. And when God calls Afi home, the rest of the family remember Afi’s love, especially when they use his chair.

 

More than a family tale, Wood’s book shares the love of a special grandfather who leaves fond memories in the everyday item they all enjoyed: his favorite chair. The pictures used to illustrate the book are a treasure and nearly any family can relate to them. A discussion guide meant to help young ones recall their friends or family members with love is included.

Forty Days of Encouragement, with Pauline Creeden

Found Adrift

By Pauline Creeden 

Forty days of Recovering Grace

Devotional

 

AltWit Press

C. 2012 

ISBN: 978-1480030725

$2.99 Kindle

$8.99 Paperback

Creeden’s dedication, “For those who, like me, find themselves in the middle of the lake of life without a paddle” says a lot about what to expect in this nifty little guide of forty days’ worth of lessons to change a habit of poor choices.

From the opening lesson of choosing to draw near to God through better prayer through cutting off “unfruitful” aspects of our lives, to doing what we are commanded to being teachable and seeking forgiveness and grace when we need it, each day opens with Scripture and ends with prayer – a habit in itself easy to seek.

This encouraging guide may be small but packs a huge impressive punch. You will certainly be uplifted and challenged as you read through these days and practice each lesson. Definitely a good gift to share with someone you love.

Jolly Days of Reading

And now...
The Jolly Days of Reading
a special Hop with the clients of literary agent Linda S. Glaz, of Hartline Literary

December 7, the Day After St. Nick's...

I belong to two local book clubs because I need to keep my reading habits expanded beyond me...like, if given a choice, I'd probably just eat chocolate chip pancakes for the rest of my life (although there are a lot of things one can do with a pancake....) and need to read some classics and non-fiction instead of a steady diet of fiction that includes dragons.

So, in the month of December in each club we're reading a different holiday book.

Fannie Flagg's Redbird Christmas, and
Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child



I loved the Russian fable of the snow child, so I was excited to read The Snow Child, a story about Alaskan homesteaders in the 1920s who couldn't have children of their own, thier dreams and play, and the little girl, Faina, who shows up on their doorstep. It's new, published 2012 by Little, Brown, and Co.

And honestly, after I read it, this book is my favorite of the year. I read quite a lot...so that tells ya something. I don't generall recommend books, either: BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.

Fannie Flagg has a different take on life, for sure...but we had a good discussion about her story, published 2004, about Oswald T. Campbell who leaves Chicago one winter after getting a stunning diagnosis, to head south to Lost River for what he believes will be his last Christmas. The book was sort of cute, probably set during the fifties, had nothing to do with Christmas and was rather two-dimensional. I liked it okay, don't get me wrong. It was okay to sit down and have someone tell me a story. There were not layers nor enchantment. It was just a little story.

Other favorites of mine include Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. I love all the different interpretations of it over the years on television and in the theater.

O Henry's Gift of the Magi is another one - irony, fable, warning...we're treating ourselves to a live performance of the play this year for our Christmas gift, to American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

And finally, besides, of course, Luke's version of the birth in a stable, I think often of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Match Girl. I remember being absolutely horrified and weeping when I first read it as a little girl, and my mother having to comfort me, but now, I think of it fondly as a lesson in reality and comfort in knowing what comes after this life.


Enjoy a couple of chapters from The Map Quilt

Map Quilt 2 chapters

Merry Christmas!

Two of my books are on sale for the season for $2.99 each

http://tinyurl.com/kindlemeanderscar

http://tinyurl.com/kindlesummerinoakville

And my co-conspirator on A Summer in Oakville has a very, very sweet Christmas novella for .99:
Grudges Not Included

Visit these sites to learn about other favorites!

6 - Linda Glaz -  http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com

7 - Lisa – http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com

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9 - Susan Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
 

10 - Gail Kittleson –  http://gailkittleson.blogspot.com
http://gailkittleson.blogspot.com

11 - Linda Maran –  http://lindamaran.blogspot.com
 

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14 - Karen Wingate – www.graceonparade.com/blog
http://www.graceonparade.com/blog
 

15 - Karla Akins http://envisionpublishing.tumblr.com

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19 - Patty Wysong --http://www.pattywysong.com  

19 - Davalynn Spencer – http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
 

20 - Tamara Lynn Kraft  - www.tamaralynnkraft.com