November 2007 CWM Interview
Welcome/Need your help
Prayer Partners
Interview
Final Thoughts

Welcome

For those of you in the United States, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week. What a wonderful opportunity to teach your children about the importance of thanking God for everything in our lives. I think most of us don’t have the attitude of gratitude. I live in the Southeastern United States and you quickly learn to be appreciative of rain. We are praying for rain from the Georgia governor’s office to every church. We are in a severe drought. Yet, God is still in control and he knows when the rain will come. So, let’s teach our children and ourselves to be thankful in all things.

I need some more women who are willing to be interviewed for this monthly feature. I promise it is practically painless. If you are willing send an email to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com and put interview in the subject heading. I will send you an email with the questions.

Prayer Partners

We have had several women all ready matched as prayer partners. If you are still interested in having a prayer partner send an email to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com and put Prayer Partner in the subject heading. Also, put the ages and sex of your children. I’m trying hard to match similar families, I’m not always successful. We can still pray for one another. I can’t wait to hear stories of how God has answered prayers of women praying for one another all over this world.

Interview

We have a special treat this month for the interview. I found out about author, Nancy Kennedy, from a dear friend. I have now read two of her books and they are thought provoking and absolutely hilarious. I am, at times, laughter disabled (is that a word?!). I can laugh, but not the rip roaring belly laugh. Well, her books have me laughing out loud and sometimes crying because I’m laughing so hard. Her books have a serious message as well. She has written several books. One, in particular, is geared to women whose husbands don’t believe. Another is about the Proverbs 31 women. You can find her books by clicking here. One other thing I have shared many times is that we can often learn from women who have walked the road before us. Even though her children are now adults she has wisdom to share.

Nancy is a married 52 year old Mom living in the United States. She has been married 32 years and has two children, daughters ages 31 and 24.

Nancy is a writer. She writes books for Christian women and is also a features reporter and faith columnist for a daily newspaper in Florida. She is also one of four monthly bloggers for Today’s Christian Woman (www.todayschristianwoman.com). She has a website at www.nancykennedybooks.net.

Nancy shares the joys of being a CWM: These days my kids are grown and gone, but when they were young I always worked. God enabled me to find work that I could either do at home — childcare for other working moms, sewing and doing machine appliqué — and then cleaning houses while my kids were in school. When they were in middle school and high school I started writing for magazines and newspapers and also writing books. The joy was in being able to bring income into the family and still have time with my daughters.

Nancy talks about the struggles she faced in being a CWM: No matter what you do, whether you work outside or inside the home, there’s never enough of you to go around. Also, working moms have to say no a lot to things they’d like to do, like a women’s Bible study or scrapbooking session that’s offered during the day. Plus, sometimes working moms miss out on Christian fellowship with other Christian women because time not at work is generally reserved for kids and husband.

Nancy shares that her Favorite Bible Verse is: Romans 8:1 — There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

God is currently teaching Nancy that where I am is where He has called me to be and that there’s no higher calling.

From a Mom who has been where we are Nancy encourages us to whatever it is you are doing, do it with joy. Find delight in the ordinary and everyday and know that in Christ God delights in you.

In your book entitled, “When Perfect Isn’t Enough” what are some keys you give women to help deal with the guilt of not being able to do everything? That’s simple, but not easy. Guilt is erased when we come to a place where we believe completely that Jesus has given us His perfection. Not that our actions and attitudes are perfect, but that the Father counts us as perfect. That should give us a great sense of relief, that we can do our best and have the freedom to fail at it miserably and still have God’s smile on our lives. When I know that God smiles on me, solely because of my relationship with Christ, it helps me to not be so uptight. Believing that I’m loved actually inspires and enables me to do more than guilt and a dreaded sense of duty ever does.

Nancy also shares that Stormie Omartian once wrote something like, “Wherever God has you, there are no greener pastures.” I think about that a lot. God has each of us where He wants us often for only a season, but always for a reason.

Nancy, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Also, thanks so much for reminding us we are counted perfect due to Christ work on the cross. You are so profound and correct about knowing we are loved inspires much more than guilt. Guilt wears us down, love lifts us up.

Final Thoughts

Take time to laugh today. As Christians we should experience more joy than anyone else. Often, we are way to serious (believe me I’m talking to myself here). Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Till next time,

Kimberly M. Chastain

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