Every month we meet with five other couples for supper in one another’s homes.  This Supper Club has been meeting together for years, and we know one another quite well.  Or do we?

My husband and I host the Supper Club every year in February, and we enjoy preparing a Valentine’s quiz for our friends each year.  The laughter—and even tears—around the table have drawn us closer as friends.

Husband and wife each answer the questions on their own, and then we go around the table one question at a time, sharing our answers aloud.  Couples who have the same answer get a point and the couple with the most points “wins.”  The second section (Things I want to say….) doesn’t earn a couple points toward the game, but everyone still feels like a winner as couples are drawn closer to one another through reflecting on happy memories and sharing expressions of love for one another publicly.  You can read our quiz from two years ago here.   Last year, we asked couples to answer the following questions:

If I recall right….

My first date with my spouse was to………?

I was first attracted to my spouse when……?   Extra Credit…Where?

The strangest thing we ever did together was….?

We named our first child (their name) because…….?

Wives: The most romantic thing my husband has ever done is…..?

Husbands: The most romantic thing I’ve ever done for my wife is….?

What is the thing we have most in common?

Things I want to say….

If I could relive one thing (experience, time together, vacation…etc.) with my spouse and had to relive it exactly as it happened the first time around I would relive……

I don’t think I have expressed enough appreciation to my spouse for…..

Lately, my spouse has blessed me by…….

Are you hosting a Super Bowl XLV party this year?

If so, consider taking advantage of the free half-time video kit featuring Tony and Lauren Dungy discussing the importance of adoption. The 3-minute video along with event resources and instructions on how to download and play the video on your TV are available. Go to http://www.adoptionjourney.com/share/dungyhalftime/ for all the resources and details.

Please pass this information along to everyone you think will be interested!

Valentine’s Day is one of those school days that lends itself to many special memories.  Who doesn’t remember decorating that white sack in anticipation for all the valentines our classmates would pour into it.  This year, make Valentine’s Day extra special with an easy to make card holder.   Simply ask your local school lunchroom to save large vegetable cans.  On a day when they serve soup, they will probably have all that you need.  Wash these out and let them dry.  Next, take the cans outside and spray paint them red, pink, or white.  For the handles, drill two holes into each side of the cans.  Slip colorful Valentine’s Day printed ribbon, cut to the desired length, into the holes and knot on the inside.  Be careful as the drill may have left jagged edges at the holes.  If you don’t want to drill holes for the handles, simply hot glue the ribbon to the interior of the can to form the handle.  Now your children are ready to pick which can they would like and continue to decorate it.  Provide Valentine’s Day stickers, paints, and even heart-shaped stamps.  You will be amazed at your children’s creativity, and they will be so proud of their beautiful Valentine holders.  Best of all, you’ve saved a lot of cans from heading to the landfill.

Why not plan a Valentine’s Day party and have everyone in attendance make a bucket?  Invite all of your children’s friends and instruct them to bring cards to exchange.  For a complete party planning guide, visit Currclick to purchase a Valentine’s Day Party eBook which includes printable cards, games, snack ideas and more.

About the author:

Kathy Hutto is a wife, homeschooling mother, entrepreneur and author.  You can visit her online at www.toddlerbitesblog.wordpress.com.

[NOTE: Often when we hear “mentoring,” we only think of the one-on-one kind. However, it struck me recently that I had been mentored by many women who never knew my name. I heard them speak or read their books and through their words, they mentored me. This series which will be posted occasionally includes some of the lessons we can learn when we receive Words from the Wise.]

Though born a woman, womanly things I have left behind:
Yarn, the shuttle, threads of the loom, and baskets.
It is the flowery meadow of the Muses I admire,
And the cheerful choral dances of double-crested Parnassus.
Perhaps other women are pleased with other things,
But these are my glory, and these are my joy.

These lines from a poem by Olympia Morata (1526 – 1555) are, under various translations, her best known work and have been quoted by some as an early feminist proclamation. I have included them in my historical semi-fiction, Weight of a Flame, because they represent one phase of her life, but I don’t consider them a feminist statement, for various reasons.

First of all, we can’t impose on the past categories that did not exist or had different connotations than they have today. Secondly, Olympia did not write these words in protest against inequality between the sexes. She was at that time a teenage girl trying to please her father and teachers, who encouraged her to cultivate her outstanding academic talents, exchanging, as one of them wrote, “the pen for the distaff, books for house linens, and writing exercises for needle-work.”

Probably Olympia didn’t mind leaving these women’s pastimes behind. She may have been proud of her unique abilities, but when her world was suddenly turned upside down, she lamented that she had neglected what was really important – the knowledge of God. As God allowed her to continue to use her talents, she saw them in a different light: “When I considered the matter over and over again as diligently as possible, I could find no other reason for me to work at these studies other than ‘it lay at the feet of God.’”

As we consider the many different situations Olympia encountered in her life, we can say that, when the occasion called, she ran her household well. When her health forced her to hire outside help, she took care to find a dependable person. When her younger brother was entrusted in her care, she acquired a book on godly child-rearing.

Her literary accomplishments remained outstanding and received great recognition, but she learned to keep them in the right perspective, holding God’s glory and the benefit of His church foremost in her mind. Her last poem expresses well what her focus had become.

I long to be fade away, so great is my confidence in Christ,
and to be with Him in whom my life thrives.

Weight of a Flame, The Passion of Olympia Morata

Simonetta Carr, a mother of eight, is the author of the ongoing series of 
Christian Biographies for Young Readers published by RHB and of the young adult historical fiction Weight of a Flame, published by P&R. You may read more about her and her books on her blog: simonettacarr.com.

When was the last time you stopped and looked around on a busy city street?  Have you noticed that the majority of people are looking down at a device in their hand?  This rapid acceleration and dissemination of mobile media technology is fundamentally altering how people think and relate to one another.  And that’s just one example.

Important issues related to media use and discernment are discussed in the new film Captivated: Finding Freedom in a Media Captive Culture, which will premiere nationwide through National Movie Night the weekend of February 3-5.  The documentary is produced by Media Talk 101, a ministry that has been teaching Christians about how to exercise discernment with media since 2005.  Produced by Media Talk 101 President Phillip Telfer and directed by Colin Gunn who also recently released the groundbreaking IndoctriNation documentary, Captivated was recently selected as a semi-finalist in the documentary category at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) to be held February 23-25.

 Captivated is a wide-ranging look at the comprehensive set of issues involved with our modern media culture.  It asks some of the following important questions:

• Everywhere we go we are surrounded by screens. Have we entered a techno utopia or a virtual prison?
• Should we be celebrating unreservedly or should we be cautious and skeptical?
• Is it the greatest leap in productivity or the biggest setback from the things most meaningful in life?
• Has today’s connectivity drawn us closer to one another or strangely more disjointed?
• Is our social experience richer and deeper or more shallow and artificial?

Discover insightful answers to these questions from media experts, church leaders, and inspiring individuals and families from across the country, including:

• Bob Waliszewski – Director of Focus on the Family’s Plugged In department
• Dr. Jeff Myers – President of Summit Ministries
• Dr. Ted Baehr – Founder and Director of MOVIEGUIDE
• Kevin Swanson – Director of Generations with Vision
• Maggie Jackson – Author of “Distracted – The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age“
• Ray Comfort – Founder and President of Living Waters
• Tim Winter – President of Parent’s Television Council
• Trace Embry – Founder and Director of Shepherd’s Hill Academy
• And many others

You can be a part of the nationwide premiere of this groundbreaking film in your community by signing up to host a movie night for Captivated in your home, church, or other venue.  A project of Freedom Film Distributors, National Movie Night provides Movie Night Hosts with planning and promotional tools to set up and promote their movie night, and with discounts for the DVD.  Please consider being a part of helping Christians learn about and exercise discernment with media through the screening of Captivated in your area.

“Captivated” Official Trailer from Media Talk 101 on Vimeo.

If you are reading this post in email and don’t see a video, click here to watch the Captivated trailer.

Jason Matyas is the Co-Founder of Freedom Film Distributors, which promotes independently produced films and videos that uphold the values of Faith, Family, and Freedom, and he is the creator of the National Movie Night project, which provides a vehicle for grassroots promotions of these films in communities across the country.

I hit the snooze button up to three times. My husband asks, “Why not set it right the first time?”

We put on our sneakers for our morning walk. We ask, “How’d you sleep?” and tell tales of our dreams.

We walk several blocks. We walk, we talk.

Heading back home, we reflect on the day and stop to pray.

Jesus is our Alpha—the beginning to our day.

I get ready for work. At the sink, I pray.

As I do my hair, I read God’s word.

Jesus is my Alpha.

My husband sits, coffee in hand, Bible in lap—bowing his head.

I walk by and smile. Thank you, God.

Jesus is his Alpha.

I go to work. My husband—he works from home.

Throughout our day, Jesus is our Alpha.

As our day nears its end, we lock all the doors and climb into bed.

I open my Bible. He opens his.

We each read a chapter.

Our Jesus, Omega—our end He is.

We lay face to face and discuss what we’ve read.

We pray for the day, say, “I love you.” We kiss.

Alpha, Omega—Jesus is.

Although this year ends, another begins.

My prayer, my heart: Jesus, please stay

Our Alpha, Omega.

Amen and Amen.

Daphne Tarango

Daphne’s post today is part of Mentoring Moment’2012 theme called Jesus Is. Feel free to share via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

I think about love every day….how much I love my family, how I love the life I’ve been given, and how much I love the Lord.

Love is important to me and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I get excited about another chance to express my affection to those around me.  It may sound silly and childlike, but I enjoy showing genuine love to others.  I think of it as a special delivery directly from God through me.  I also feel like loving others helps to define me as a person who loves God and obeys his commands.

John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV) ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This year we’d like to help you feel the love and share some too.  We’re offering two packages of sweet treats (no calories to guilt over!) to two winners.  We want you to feel pampered and cherished and we want you to have the joy of sharing with a friend as well!

One winner will receive:

• Strawberries and Champagne soap made from high-quality ingredients which will leave you feeling clean and fresh
• Vanilla-Mint Dead Sea salt foot scrub made with ultra-fine salt from the Dead Sea, jojoba oil and jojoba oil beads, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and essential oils.  Use this after you’ve bathed by rubbing gently on your skin, rinse the salt from your feet, and pat dry.  The oils will soak into your skin, maintaining a silky smooth layer and your feet feel wonderful for hours.  (Is this not perfect for the dry winter season?)
• Speaking of bathing, have you ever wished for a bath to make Cleopatra proud?  Use Goat’s Milk Lavender Bath Tea bags to transform your bath into a therapeutic experience that will leave your skin with a healthy glow and lovely lavender scent.
• Two 2 ounce jars of Mom’s Love Rub, a super-moisturizing ointment.  First made to use on boo-boos, Mom’s Love Rub is great for bee stings, bug bites, kitchen burns, dry or chapped skin, and soothing massages.  Created with primo oils, herbs, and beeswax, it works great for all types of skin conditions.  You’ll receive two of these so you’re able to keep one for yourself and give the other one to someone YOU love.  Spread a little love….

The other winner will receive:

• Three fun Minty-Mocha Conversation Heart soaps…..please don’t eat them, though you’ll be tempted to. They’re so cute!  Share a smile by your sink with a little love message.
• Vanilla-Mint Dead Sea salt foot scrub made with ultra-fine salt from the Dead Sea, jojoba oil and jojoba oil beads, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and essential oils.  Use this after you’ve bathed by rubbing gently on your skin, rinse the salt from your feet, and pat dry.  The oils will soak into your skin, maintaining a silky smooth layer and your feet feel wonderful for hours.  (Is this not perfect for the dry winter season?)
• Two 2 ounce jars of Mom’s Love Rub, a super-moisturizing ointment.  First made to use on boo-boos, Mom’s Love Rub is great for bee stings, bug bites, kitchen burns, dry or chapped skin, and soothing massages.  Created with primo oils, herbs, and beeswax, it works great for all types of skin conditions.  You’ll receive two of these so you’re able to keep one for yourself and give the other one to someone YOU love.  Spread a little love….

To enter the drawings for these two beautiful baskets, simply do the following for a total of 3 entries per person. Be sure and let us know which entries you made. Giveaway period is from Friday, January 27, 2012 until Friday, February 3, 2012. Two winners will be chosen using And the Winner Is by random selection. Winners will be notified on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Winners will have three business days to respond.

* Leave a comment on this post sharing a loving Valentine’s Day memory or something you are planning for this year.

* Visit Mom’s Love Rub (visit her on Facebook and Twitter too!)

* Share this giveaway with your family and friends! Choose at least one method: forwarding this email, share on Facebook, share on Twitter.

AKA the creator of Mom’s Love Rub and other fine products. Visit her at MomsLoveRub.com.

Fellow Readers —

Would you join me this February through April on a journey with Jesus? Perhaps you’re looking for a Bible study but your days are filled with work, and your evenings are filled with responsibilities and family time. We can do this daily study together independently on our own time, and ask questions and share with one another online when we can.

The book:  Years ago, after I wrote Preparing My Heart for Advent to help readers prepare for the Advent Season, I considered writing an Easter study but didn’t want to be redundant. However, I discovered there wasn’t a study about the women of the Easter story. And so I began reading the Gospels specifically looking for how Jesus radically transformed the lives of the women he met. Preparing My Heart for Easter: A Woman’s Journey to the Cross and Beyond is the result.

The women:  I learned “the women” is repeated over and over in the Gospels: The women traveled with Him, supported Him, followed Him to the cross, remained at the cross, saw the tomb, prepared spices, returned to the tomb, first heard and told the Good News, first saw the resurrected Jesus, and helped form the early church.

Jesus so loved the women and transformed their lives. Have you met any of them? Jairus’ daughter and wife, Mary Magdalene, Peter’s mother-in-law, the woman at the well, the widow at Nain, and Salome, to name a few we will meet. We may find our own story parallels some of these and take comfort in these encounters. And yet, we are loved and uniquely created to have a personal relationship with Him, too!

And so, as the women of 2012, let’s meet Jesus anew and take a journey to the cross and then—with our newfound exploration of the Easter story—beyond.

Our study will begin Monday, February 20. In the meantime, you can purchase the book on Amazon.com or order it from your Christian bookstore. You may see two different covers, either book will work! And if you want to get a headstart, go for it!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a mother, musician, playwright, teacher, and live on a sheep farm and infuse the study with stories of lambing, parenting, music, drama, and countless Easter Passion Plays.

I look forward to hearing more about you and how Jesus works in your lives this Lenten season!

Preparing My Heart for Easter: A Woman’s Journey to the Cross and Beyond

Ann Stewart

[Editor's Note: MMCW is currently reading Erasing Hell by Francis Chan on Goodreads if anyone would like to join our group. On February 1st, we will begin the Christian fiction book, A Secret Hope by Vicki Huffman. We also discuss movies. Our family movie for January is What If and for February, Courageous.

The above book link will take you to Christian Book Distributors website where MMCW is an affiliate.]

Mentoring Moments for Christian Women

18 members

Mentoring Moments for Christian Women reads and discusses Christian books, movies, and music.

”But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”  [James 1:25]

Do you ever feel guilty when someone is telling you what they learned in their quiet time—and hope they don’t ask you what you learned in yours? Do you long for a greater intimacy with the Father?  Or perhaps you have experienced the joy but at the moment wonder where the joy has gone.  First, don’t feel guilty but keep on returning to the habit of being intentional about seeking Him morning by morning.

In this one verse James wraps up what it takes to experience the joy and freedom of being a follow of Christ.  Let’s look at one word more—INTENTLY.

Intently means to firmly fix or concentrate—or having the mind fastened upon some purpose.   Finding freedom is one of the promises attached to James’ recommendation but it’s not ‘hit and miss’; it’s something that requires a habit formed by ‘continuous’ application.  We tend to think that freedom and joy come with salvation. Deliverance comes with salvation, but to activate the gift of freedom and joy that deliverance provides, we have to unwrap the gift—look into the gift—and be a partaker of the gift.

Check out what God is saying in His Word every morning—write down what you see—write down what you hear—write down the questions you have and leave a space for the Holy Spirit to give the answers.  His voice will quietly give you answers, and freedom will overflow your heart with joy as you intentionally… just do it!

Diane M. Hale
For the past 30 years, Diane has served as evangelist, trainer, teacher, mentor, and consultant for churches of many denominations.

Our dear friends are adopting a child from China next month.  They already have four biological children, but the Lord has moved them to express our adoption in Christ in a tangible way.

Their adoption will be a visible testimony to all who know them of God’s  pursuing love for His children.  As the old hymn proclaims, “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God.  He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.”  Our friends will bring a stranger into their home and confer on him all the rights of a son.

This adoption will also be a daily preaching of the Gospel to their own hearts and to their other children, as each will see in a new way what a profound thing the Lord has done for us.  It won’t be an easy road, but raising a child never is.

And what about the little boy? A precious soul will be brought out of a pagan nation, taught the Scriptures, and raised to follow Christ.  By God’s grace, I trust this little orphan will one day know the joy of two adoptions: first, into an earthly family and later as a child of God and fellow heir with  Christ.

Adoption is a picture of the Gospel to the world, to the church, to the family, and to the child.  When Christians adopt, they go as workers into the harvest field.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 (ESV)