by Angele Tanyeri
The Collyde Summit is a gathering of passionate believers in the NY, NJ, and PA area, who love Jesus and are convicted to become world changers. Collyde turned out to be a life-changing experience for me! To gather and worship in this way was profound. It also gave me a chance to ‘collide’ with individuals I may not have had an opportunity to meet otherwise.
by Elise Daly Parker
So for pretty much the 30+ years my beloved and I have been married, we have been “working” on our finances. Initially, it was just a matter of trying to be responsible with our money and not get in over our heads with debt. Truth be told, our success was short term. Some of this was circumstantial – unanticipated life and salary changes threw us for a loop. But, really? We overspent.
by Kathleen Whittam
There is a nickname for people who only go to church on Christmas and Easter--a ChrEaster. My mom has long been a fan of the Christmas cactus, a plant that, oddly enough, blooms around Christmas as well as Easter. I started calling them a ChrEaster Cactus.
By Beth Stiff
I wanted to start from the beginning...
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.~ Genesis 1:1-2
My focal point was going to be on the three words God says over and over again in the first chapter of Genesis: “…it is good."
He looked at all He created and said it was good. ~ Genesis 1:31
Starting from the beginning sounded like a good plan because I’m currently reading from the Book of Genesis and those three words jumped off the pages as I read. If we believe everything He said as truth, and he says those three words several times, I’m thinking those words are rather important. [Continue Reading...]
by Elise Daly Parker
Even if you don’t go for a big New Year’s Eve celebration, the New Year can mark a fresh start, a new beginning, a shift in focus. It’s a good time to take a look back at the past, and consider a vision for the year ahead.
Many people choose a New Year’s resolution or two… [Continue Reading...]
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month. Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below. Have you connected with someone on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or online elsewhere that you would now call your friend?
by Susan Panzica
In my nightmare, my daughter, who was studying in Australia at the time, was abducted and sold into slavery. I remember every agonizing detail of the dream, from the faded floral pattern of the peeling wallpaper in the stairwell where they grabbed her to the dread in her eyes, the terror in my heart, and my panic. It would take me 24 hours just to travel there and by then she'd have disappeared into the abyss.
by Kimberly Amici
With all the talk of STORY, it’s no coincidence that my personal reading has gravitated to biographies, memoirs, and the like. Today I’m excited to revisit First Friday Book Faves with some of the inspiring books I have been reading..
The Jersey Shore Dream Center serves the lost and hurting families at the Jersey Shore. Join me as I have a chat with the Founder Pastor Isaac Friedel and Co-Founder/President Anthony Megaro of the Jersey Shore Dream Center as they share stories of loss and how they through faith, found redemption. They inspire us to answer the call to serve by starting small right where we are.
Brooke Lynn is a writer and speaker who lives passionately — reaching others with God’s Word and love. Circles of Faith (COF) had the opportunity get to know the author a little better. She’s an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things for God. We hope her story encourages and inspires you to take that next step toward what God is calling you to do.
By Noelle Rhodes
I live in Northern Ireland as a missionary.People ask me all the time what exactly is my “role” here as missionary. After all, Northern Ireland is a first-world country and there are no poisonous snakes for me to combat. I don’t live in a hut nor have I had to learn a new language (although, I would argue the latter).
by Toni Campbell
The IF:Gathering first took place last February in Austin, Texas, and sold out in minutes. The organizers determined to make the content available through a live webcast. From there, it blossomed and took shape. Women spontaneously gathered friends and neighbors into their homes to watch and share in the experience.
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.
Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below. HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
by Susan Panzica
We often think - that is IF we stop to think about it - that human trafficking is something that occurs overseas in remote, dark corners of the world. And that is true. It does occur there. But we are mistaken if we think that it doesn't occur here in the U.S., in our cities and suburbs, our neighborhoods, our local schools and shopping malls, our farms.
On Fridays, at Circles of Faith, we talk about COMMUNITY - books, music, ministries, interviews, and events to connect you.Today we are sharing our most popular and favorite posts from 2014. If you have some time, why not catch up on some you have missed. And when you are done share with us in the comments your favorite post from the past year.
by Kim Hyland
Why Winsome? Because we all want to be! It literally means {JOY}some. And who doesn’t want some joy? I'm not talking about circumstantial, bubbly, fragile joy, but deep, strong, messy, right-here joy. In these circumstances, good or bad. Joy, that not only brings happiness on our good days, but sustains us through our worst.
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month.
Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below. What is the best gift you have ever given?
Circles of Faith Regular Contributor Kristin Hill Taylor’s book, Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Family & Faith, gives an inside, up close, and very personal view of her life journey through her adoption process and the many God lessons she learned along the way.
Loop: What Women Need to Know by Jennifer J. Camp is a “collection of whispers” from God to His daughters. It is a series of quiet and simple devotions that encourage the art of listening.
Two books you should have in your library...
Elise and I had a wonderful time this year at the bloggers conference Allume. Not only did we hear a handful several of amazing speakers that offered both practical and spiritual wisdom, but we were introduced to a ton of great products that cwould make delightful gifts this holiday season.
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month. Read what our contributors have to say and share your answer in the comments below.
How Do You De-Stress During the Holidays?
By Megan Romeo
Ladies, if you don't know or are not a part of The Influence Network you should be! This Network has a great group of gals on its Core team. Not only does this cozy little spot on the Internet gives daily encouragement in the Word, but provides community classes and forums where life change happens amongst its members.
That's the question we will be asking COF contributors and you, our readers, each month. Is there a book that you just can't seem to put down, that's teaching you a profound spiritual lesson, or making you laugh amid your struggles? We want to hear about it!
Review by Toni Campbell
From the very first page of Nancy B. Kennedy’s book, Miracles & Moments of Grace – Inspirational Stories of Survival, I was drawn in. I found myself transfixed as I read about an 18-wheeler careening off the road, barreling into the unknown during a blinding dust storm. I held my breath through the tale of a masked gunman who crashed a home jewelry party.
by Denise Trio
This month we are excited to share with you some music matchups!
Oftentimes, it’s difficult to find new music to enjoy so we are offering up some suggestions based on the albums we’ve reviewed this past year.
Our vision is to inspire, empower, educate one another through ongoing community exchange. One of the ways we’re doing this is through our Friday Community column, in a monthly series called In Your Words. We reach out to our contributors and guest writers to ask them a question once a month. This month we want to know What Is the Best Compliment You’ve Ever Received?
