girltalk Blog
2007 at 11:51 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Interviews
Yesterday we learned about your growing up years and how God drew you to Himself and gave you a passion for ministry at an early age. Today you serve in many different arenas—writing, speaking, etc. Can you give us an overview of how you currently spend most of your time? What aspect of ministry do you enjoy most or get most excited about?
My time is divided between preparing and recording for daily radio, writing books and other resources, doing some speaking, and providing leadership for the ministry of Revive Our Hearts.
I love the variety of ways He has allowed me to serve Him and others. I consider it a great privilege to spend much of my time studying the Word, getting my own soul nourished, and then feeding others with the rich meat of His Word.
What is a “typical” day like for Nancy DeMoss?
Except for when I’m on the road speaking, etc., I spend the majority of my time sitting at my laptop, studying, developing new message material, writing, or working on email (which is a blessing, but can also be the single greatest distraction in my relationship with the Lord!).
Because I am single and work out of my home, I can generally work “two shifts” – in order to do that, I usually take a short nap in the afternoon!
I know that you work extremely hard. What are some of your favorite ways to rest and relax?
I love to read; I have a walking partner who pulls me away from my laptop; the Lord has placed some wonderful women and couples in my life who are a source of encouragement and grace; I love doing things with families—my friends’ children, some of whom I’ve known all their lives, are now having their own children—which makes me feel like a “Grandma”—I love it! A couple years ago, I started observing “computer-free Sundays”—that has been a wonderful and replenishing gift from the Lord—I only wish I had started years earlier!
How has your relatively new role as host of Revive our Hearts radio changed your life? What do you enjoy most about radio? What do you least enjoy?
The requirements of coming up with 260 programs every year, in addition to meeting publishing deadlines, developing new resources, and leading a growing ministry have forced me to be more disciplined.
I have a constant, conscious sense of my need for the Lord—that I can’t make it apart from Him (that’s a good thing!). I have seen more of my weaknesses and experienced more of His strength . . . more of my sinfulness and more of His grace. I’ve learned a lot (and am still learning!) about relinquishing control and letting the Lord and others manage things.
As a result of seeing Him come through on my behalf and the ministry’s behalf again and again and again (we call them “Red Sea moments”), I have even more reason to trust Him and less reason to doubt Him or to panic or be anxious in the midst of storms. Not that I never doubt or panic—I do! But my heart is steadied as I remember His faithfulness over these past six years.
The two things I most love about the radio ministry are (1) the times I’m actually recording new teaching programs (which I do with a live audience)—after all the hard work of preparation is behind me. I sometimes think as I’m teaching, “This is what I was made to do!” (2) Getting to meet and hear from the women whose hearts and homes have been revived as they have heard and responded to the message we are delivering. Though I do not have physical children of my own, the Lord has blessed me with many spiritual children—I have no greater joy than to know that they walk in the Truth.
2007 at 3:08 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Interviews
Today, we are excited to offer the first installment of a four-part interview with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
Nancy, you were raised in a godly home. Can you tell us a little about your parents, your growing up years, and how your childhood shaped your desire to serve full-time in Christian ministry?
How old were you when you repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ? Can you tell us a little about your conversion experience?
[I combined these two questions into one long answer.]
My spiritual pilgrimage began months before I was born, as my parents dedicated me to the Lord and purposed to teach me (and the six children that would follow) the Word and ways of God.
Much as a greenhouse is designed to nurture young plants and protect them from influences that might damage their tender roots, the climate of our home was carefully controlled to minimize influences that could possibly be unwholesome (we did not own a television or take a paper, for example) and to provide constant nurture in the Word of God.
In that spiritual climate, the Spirit of God cultivated the soil of my heart, making it tender and responsive to His wooing, and making me aware of my need for a Savior. My earliest conscious memory is trusting Christ as my Savior at the age of four on May 14, 1963. (At the time, my parents were using a book called Leading Little Ones to God in our family devotions. This book is a chronological, doctrinal survey of the Scripture; it is still in print and is a great resource for parents with young children.)
Early in my Christian life, I learned about one of the most essential ingredients in nurturing a personal relationship with the Lord, as I became aware that my father began each day with a practice that he called “devotions.” From shortly after his conversion in his mid 20s, until the day he went to heaven, he never missed one single day of this devotional practice. Nothing was more important to him than cultivating his relationship with the Lord, and he believed strongly that nothing was more essential to maintaining that relationship than a daily time alone with the Lord in the Word and prayer.
Daily devotions was not something my parents forced on us, but the influence of my dad’s example and training in this area was profound. The image of my dad on his knees before the Lord is indelibly etched on my mind and in my heart.
My early years were also deeply impacted by reading biographies of great men and women of God and by meeting and interacting with godly believers and Christian workers that my parents hosted in our home. I loved to sit and listen to them talk about the Lord, to ask them questions, and to hear them pray. The Spirit used these two influences to give me a passion for Christ and for ministry.
You pursued music—piano performance—in college. What did you want to do with your life? How did you begin serving in ministry instead?
By the time I was six or seven years old, I had a conscious sense that God’s hand was on my life and that He had set me apart to serve Him. Although I had no idea what shape that calling would take, I have never been able to fathom doing anything other giving my life to further His Kingdom.
Early on, the Lord provided opportunities for me to serve Him and others. I taught my first Sunday School lesson when I was eight years old. From the time I was in junior high school, I began having regular opportunities to teach the Word—which I loved to do. All the way through high school and college, I made myself available to serve as the Lord opened doors. Most of those opportunities had to do with teaching or writing.
I studied piano from the time I was four and continued doing so through college. But much of my time in high school and college was spent in various types of ministry. God never wastes experiences—the disciplines, training, and sensitivity I received through my music studies have all been put to great use in the work to which He has called me.
Can you tell us about your early years with Life Action Ministries?
As a young teen, as a result of reading accounts of spiritual awakenings in the past—both in history and in the Scripture, God placed in my heart a deep burden for genuine, Spirit-wrought revival in the church. But I didn’t know anyone else who seemed to understand or share that burden.
When I graduated from college, I went to work in the children’s ministries of a large local church. That is where I first connected with Life Action, at the age of 20. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I discovered a whole ministry that was devoted to the mission of believing God for revival in the church!
I have served with Life Action for more than 28 years—it has been a rich, rewarding relationship—a wonderful place for spiritual growth, encouragement, accountability, and partnering in ministry with like-hearted believers who take God seriously.
2007 at 9:39 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Interviews
I first met Nancy Leigh DeMoss at a Family Life/Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood conference in March 2000. She probably does not remember our first conversation, but I will never forget it. We were walking to one of the sessions together and I asked her a question about her schedule—which to say the least was very full and demanding (and still is!). After a few moments of sharing, she turned and looked at me with tears in her eyes and said: “Isn’t it such a wonderful privilege to serve our Savior?” I was immediately struck by her sincere love for Jesus Christ, and as I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her better, her passion for our Savior has only become more obvious. Her love for God is displayed by a commitment to personal holiness and dedicated service to the body of Christ. No doubt many of you are already familiar with Nancy’s ministry and radio show, Revive Our Hearts, and I’m so glad you’ll have a chance to get to know her a little better through this interview. So grab your coffee cup and let’s sit down for a chat with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
I was born in East Orange, New Jersey.
One of the best “spiritual” books I’ve ever read (besides the Bible) is Fenelon’s The Seeking Heart
; Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret . . . (I am a huge consumer of biographies!).
A “non-spiritual” book I enjoyed reading was David McCullough’s John Adams and 1776.
Right now I am (re-)reading Amy Carmichael’s The Gold Cord—an inspiring look at the principles that undergirded her ministry. I have found her insights extremely helpful and challenging as I seek to build our ministry on a godly (rather than a worldly) foundation. During Lent, I read F.W. Krummacher’s The Suffering Savior – wow! God used that book in a powerful way to give me a fresh picture of my sinfulness and to deepen my sense of need and my adoration for His atoning sacrifice and redeeming grace.
I’ve watched ____________movie more times than any other. Don’t laugh—I enjoy Pollyanna . . . I love the way her grateful spirit transforms her world – and it reminds me that I don’t want to become like the cantankerous older woman in the story!
The music you’re most likely to find me listening to is simple, quiet, instrumental hymns/familiar choruses.
My favorite food is anything high carb – pizza, pasta, breads, potatoes—all the stuff you’re not supposed to eat! 
In the morning I drink… I pretty much stick with water—morning, noon, and night. I know—boring!
The household chore I most enjoy is…Is running the dishwasher a household chore?
If I have free time, you’ll most likely find me having dinner with friends; reading; playing Text Twist on my laptop; doing jigsaw puzzles.
My favorite place in the world is home!
A Bible verse I return to often is “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be? . . . . And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you . . .’” (Luke 1:34-35)
The woman I most want to be like is Mary of Nazareth—I love her heart in responding to God’s supernatural calling on her life: “I am the Lord’s handmaiden; may it be to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:38)
2007 at 10:42 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
The high demand for the New Attitude messages caused the Sovereign Grace Store website to crash. But they are now available at this site. Be sure to listen.
These comics sent in by our friend Jenny gave us a good laugh. Enjoy!
Catch ya Monday!
Janelle for the girls
Here are two yummy fruit salads to finish out our summer salads week:
Orange Cream Fruit Salad
1 20-oz. can pineapple chunks, drained
2 11-oz. cans mandarin oranges, drained
2 chopped bananas
2 cups halved fresh strawberries
2 apples, peeled and chopped
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1½ cups milk
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
¾ cup sour cream
Beat pudding, milk, and orange juice concentrate for 2 minutes. Add sour cream. Combine with fruit and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
Blueberry Salad
2-3oz. pkgs. black raspberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 cup crushed pineapple, undrained
1 can blueberry pie filling
1 8oz. cream cheese
½ pint sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
½ cup sugar
½ cup chopped nuts
Stir together jello and boiling water until dissolved. Add pineapple and blueberry pie filling. Pour into 9x13 dish. Chill until set. Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread over salad. Sprinkle nuts over top.
2007 at 8:05 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Here are two favorite main dish salads:
Tossed Salad with Angel Hair Pasta
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle Newman’s Own Salad Dressing
1 box of angel hair pasta
Tossed salad
Cut chicken breasts into one-inch strips and marinade in Newman’s Own
salad dressing for at least an hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20
minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Cook angel hair pasta
according to package directions, drain, and toss with olive oil. Create
salad to your liking. To serve, dish salad onto plate, top with warm
pasta, chicken, and salad dressing of choice. Or, you may like to try
it with this homemade salad dressing:
Greg’s Special Dressing
1 qt. mayonnaise
3 t. lemon juice
4 T. cracked black pepper
2/3 c. water
1 t. A-1 sauce
10 drops L & P Worcestershire
5 drops Tabasco sauce
½ t. dry mustard
1 T. garlic powder
½ c. Parmesan cheese
2 T. granulated sugar
2 T. chopped parsley
Party Pasta Salad
You can serve this pasta salad with or without the chicken.
Pasta Salad:
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup olive oil
2 T. finely chopped fresh basil leaves
Finely chopped garlic to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound pasta, cooked according to package directions and drained
1 tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup pitted black olives
Lettuce leaves
Marinated Chicken Breast
¼ cup teriyaki sauce
Dash of freshly grated ginger root or ground ginger to taste
1 8-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 T. vegetable oil
Sprigs of parsley or basil, for garnish
To make the pasta salad: In a large bowl, stir together the vinegar,
oil, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the pasta, tomato, Parmesan
cheese, and olives and toss to thoroughly combine. Let the salad stand
for 1 hour. Serve on top of lettuce leaves.
To make the chicken breast: in a medium bowl, stir together the
teriyaki sauce and ginger. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for 1
hour.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook the
chicken for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
Slice the chicken into ½-inch-wide strips and place them o to of the pasta. Garnish with sprigs of parsley or basil.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Recently, my husband came in from putting Jack to bed and he was all excited. He had just been reading our son a new children’s Bible storybook and he was delighted with it’s Christ-centered approach. So, because we like to keep you up-to-date on the resources we are benefiting from, here is Steve’s endorsement of the Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago:
I love this Bible because it does what few other children’s Bibles have done: it keeps Christ at the center of every story. From the very beginning, every page includes some connection to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The pictures are fabulous, and the story is told at a level that even our four-year-old Jack can understand. He gets it: Who is the Rescuer? Jesus! What is God’s Secret Rescue Plan? The gospel! He is learning about the Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. Even his toddling intellect is beginning to grasp that the whole story of the Bible points to a Savior. And we’re only at Jacob and Rachel! I highly recommend this Bible as the primary reading Bible for toddlers and younger school-aged kids.
2007 at 7:09 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Here are three more salads to complement any summer meal:
Greek Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, torn
1 red pepper, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
2 cucumbers, peeled and diced
2 tomatoes, seeded and cut into one inch chunks
1 small can black olives, drained
½ jar pepperoncini
1 ounce package feta cheese (crumbled)
Salad dressing:
½ cup pepperoncini juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon dried basil
Whisk together all dressing ingredients. Toss all of the vegetables with lettuce, including olives and pepperoncini. Top with cheese and dressing. Toss well.
Strawberry Salad
Salad:
1 bag romaine lettuce
1 bag spinach
1 pt. strawberries
1 can mandarin oranges
1 c. pecans, salted & roasted at 350 degrees for 7 min.
Dressing:
1/3 c. white vinegar
¾ c. sugar
1 tsp ground mustard
1 ½ tsp. onion flakes
½ tsp. poppy seeds
1 tsp salt
1 c. oil.
Mix and toss salad ingredients. To make dressing: Heat vinegar and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add mustard, onion flakes, poppy seeds, salt and oil. Pour dressing over salad just before serving.
Broccoli Salad
3 cups fresh broccoli flowerets
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
¼ cup sugar
Combine the broccoli, bacon, onion and cheese. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Add the dressing mixture to the broccoli mixture about an hour before serving.
2007 at 4:52 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Welcome home to all of you who attended the New Attitude 2007 (Na) conference. It was fun following all the excitement at The Rebelution, Challies and Boundless—even if it did make me feel old! But for all of us who weren’t able to attend, the messages are available for free at the Sovereign Grace Ministries website.
As a little welcome home present to all the single girls who attended Na, we want to encourage you to check out two helpful articles.
With the rise in popularity of on-line dating, the question, “What does the Bible have to say about Internet dating?” is increasingly relevant. But the answer may not be immediately obvious—I mean, it’s not like you’ll find this topic in your complete concordance! Thank God for wise pastors who diligently study God’s Word and help us to apply it to our lives. A pastor at Covenant Life Church, Isaac Hydoski, has compiled the collective thoughts of that pastoral team in an article entitled “A Pastoral Response to Online Dating.” This wise, pastoral advice can also serve anyone pursuing a relationship with the opposite sex.
The other article is one your friends who are married with kids will encourage you to read (in fact, they may have already sent you the link!). It’s what many of them wish they would have considered before they became a mom. “Ten Things Now to Stay at Home Later” by Heather Koerner offers practical advice and encouragement to single women to make decisions today that will enable them to serve their family tomorrow.
Speaking of serving your family (and yourself!) more yummy salads coming later today!
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Yesterday we learned about your growing up years and how God drew you to Himself and gave you a passion for ministry at an early age. Today you serve in many different arenas—writing, speaking, etc. Can you give us an overview of how you currently spend most of your time? What aspect of ministry do you enjoy most or get most excited about?
My time is divided between preparing and recording for daily radio, writing books and other resources, doing some speaking, and providing leadership for the ministry of Revive Our Hearts.
The requirements of coming up with 260 programs every year, in addition to meeting publishing deadlines, developing new resources, and leading a growing ministry have forced me to be more disciplined.
