Mother’s Day is a sweet pause in the life of a family. As a child, it was one of my favorite events. My siblings and I would often pool our collective dollars to buy our mom a piece of pretty glassware for her display shelf. Sometimes, though, Mother’s Day would sneak up on us and we’d improvise.

The year I turned seven, I’d forgotten to save for a present. I remember writing a syrupy poem and presenting it to Mama, along with a Mason jar filled with white trumpet-shaped flowers I’d… Read More

One of the most significant things we can do for our families (and ourselves) is to create positive and happy memories. I’m not talking about Disneyland experiences—I’m talking about the simple every day joys that form lasting impressions in our minds. Through our homes, we have an opportunity to design an environment that connects us to the blessings of life and provides positive reminders of special moments. We are building memories, not just homes. Home design takes on new meaning when we realize the potential of the process!

Colors, furnishings… Read More

It is an entirely unremarkable moment, one I repeat every day at noon, all throughout the fall and winter. I am cutting squash, chopping, scooping, dicing. But today, as I scoop out the tangly pulp, seeds scattering and falling on the countertop, I scoop deep into me and feel the wrapped tendrils of who I am.

I am startled. Scraping out that pulp, I face my own insides. I am taken aback at what twists and knots within me. I test again. Yes. Raw, messy fear. Can it be that is… Read More

Susan May Warren is a multi-published, award-winning author with Tyndale House and Steeple Hill. Her latest release is titled, Wiser Than Serpents. About two years ago, God laid on her heart the horror of the human trafficking problem, and after reading a magazine article by Sara Groves, she began to research IJM (International Justice Mission) with a desire to help. Coincidentally, she was also writing a book at that time, a suspense/ romance novel set in Taiwan about a woman whose sister is trafficked. The heroine goes undercover to try and

“What do girls do who haven’t any mothers
to help them through their troubles?”
~Louisa May Alcott

I lost my mother when I was at the very vulnerable age of 14. Throughout the rest of my tumultuous and painful teenage years and on into young adulthood, I had to find my own way through the maze without a mother’s tender touch, or her wisdom, or her love, or even her nagging and preaching. I was a lost and sad little soul for so long.

So, to answer the question above from… Read More

I recently saw your movie, “No One Would Tell,” on TV, and loved it! It was eye-opening and powerful. Even though I thought that the overall message defeated some of the sinful things in the movie, it didn’t make them go away. I’m wondering what your thoughts on the movie are from a Christian viewpoint.

The only thing that really bothered me was when your character slept with Bobby (even though we didn’t see it, it was definitely implied), and when I found out you were a Christian, I was a little… Read More

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “earth laughs in flowers,” if this is true then May is a series of giggles all around us. Flowers are in bloom, the weather is warming up, and spring fever is upon us.

Speaking of new things—last October I had the honor of interviewing author Amy Wallace. I enjoyed her first book Ransomed Dreams so much, that I asked her to return and discuss her second book in the Defender of Hope series, Healing Promises, released April 15th.

Not only did Amy come… Read More

This week has been one of “those” weeks. We’ve all had them. Although many good things have happened, there have also been some let downs—blessings mixed in with disappointment—the bitter with the sweet. What did I do to escape the reality of some of it? I went to the movies— a quadruple feature all day on Saturday.

But as I emerged from the dark confines of the silver screen after hours of heroes, villains, laughter and tears, my world in the bright light of day hadn’t changed. My husband’s car was still… Read More

“Thou art my God since my mother bare me.”
~ Psalm 22:10

Being a mom is one of the greatest responsibilities bestowed on a human. If you compare it to other things God asks us to do it can be overwhelming.

I sing on our worship team at church.  If I mess up on this ministry, what is the worse that could happen? I sing a flat note?  I go a little off key?  I might even prevent someone from entering into worship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—but only temporarily. The ministry of being… Read More

Living in freedom from the bondage of food is not as far off as it seems. Picture the Israelites for a moment. They finally fled Egypt, leaving a life of slavery behind them—and before they could say, “see ya’ later subjugator,” Pharaoh was hot on their tail!

Why was he so eager to catch them? The answer is found in Exodus 14:8 where it says, “The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.”

Imagine it this way… Read More

When I walked into the kitchen this morning and saw that straw sticking out of a too-short cup, my first thought was, That is absolutely the last time I buy straws.

They irritate me. I don’t know why. I suppose I could trace it back to those curly, loop-de-loop straws I bought way back when the kids were younger. I wanted them to like the straws, but not so much that they’d use them. Because if they used them, say, for milk, then I’d have to be diligent about cleaning them… Read More

As I type this very first offering for the new CWO Column, ‘The Preacher’s Wife’, I can’t help but laugh at God’s sense of humor. You see, I never in all my life planned on being a preacher’s wife so my presuming to write articles on the subject absolutely cracks me up.

You should know my big plans in high school included going to college and then moving to New York City.  I was going to have an adorable apartment and be a hip, urban sophisticate. There were two things I was… Read More

I lost my mother not long ago. She was a delightful 85 years old, and would have turned 86 on June fifteenth. I had her for 47 years, but 47 years was not nearly enough.  Neither for me, nor for any of us who knew and loved her.

Her funeral was a cornucopia of people from all walks of life, various faiths, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. There was one resounding quality in mother’s life that brought all these people together in a tiny, overcrowded and uncomfortably warm room. They all wanted to give… Read More