Strengthen your bond with God, one devotion at a time. As women, we have many roles and responsibilities. We are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, caregivers, working women, leaders, teachers, pastors, and pastors' wives, neighbors, friends--and the list goes on. Yet in all of these roles, we bring a special gift that God has given us: the gift of nurturing--helping others feel loved, appreciated, and capable of achieving all they are meant to be. We, too, however, need nurturing. Often, we forget or ignore this fact, finding ourselves overextended and drained after giving all we have without taking time for our own needs. Our lives tend to be busy, hectic, and sometimes even frenzied, leaving little time for ourselves or God. Yet God longs to wrap loving arms around us and give us rest, encouragement, hope, strength, peace, and joy. God is the only One who can fill us and make us whole. 365 Devotions for Women is written to help you focus on your relationship with God. Twelve different Christian women share their reflections on what it means to be a woman of faith, walking with God day by day. As you go through the year (whether you start in January or June), encountering a different writer each month, you will find spiritual refreshment and a sense of camaraderie for the challenge of giving your relationship with God the time and attention it deserves. Though these women have diverse backgrounds, personalities, and ways of relating to God, they have a common theme: God loves you and longs to be in relationship with you. The contributors are Nell W. Mohney (January), HiRho Park (February), Cynthia Gadsen (March), Kelly Clem (April), Lillian C. Smith (May), Nancy Nikolai Shedden (June), Anne Hagerman Wilcox (July), Marie Schockey (August), Hilda Davis (September), Sallie Dye (October), Monica Johnson (November), and Ellen Gray (December) Begin today to nurture your relationship with God. It's the most important nurturing of all!
Gadsden, Cynthia: - Cynthia Gadsden is a writer and artist living in Nashville, Tennessee.
Gray, Ellen: - Ellen Gray is a recent graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where she majored in religion. Her college summers were spent ministering to youth twice as a backpacking guide for The Rock at Ute Trail Ranch, a Christian camp in Colorado, and once as a youth intern for Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She plans to enter full-time youth ministry. Ellen served as a contributor to both 365 Meditations for Women by Women and 365 Meditations for Young Adults.
Mohney, Nell W.: - Nell W. Mohney (1921-2016) was a popular motivational author and speaker who led seminars for business groups, professional organizations, and church gatherings nationwide. Nell was a regular columnist for the Chattanooga Times/Chattanooga Free Press and has written numerous books for Abingdon Press.
Sharpe, Sally D.: - Sally D. Sharpe is Senior Editor of Abingdon Women and Ministry Resources at Abingdon Press. She has over thirty years of experience in the publishing industry as both an editor and writer, working on a wide spectrum of publications from video-based Bible studies and small group resources to trade books, devotionals, leadership books, and creative educational resources. Sally and her husband have two grown daughters and make their home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee.
Shedden, Nancy Nikolai: - Nancy Nikolai resides in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, with her husband, four children, and new puppy. She is a television producer, freelance writer, Christian public speaker, soloist, and educator. Nancy is very active in her local church and leads a prayer group for her children s school. She also enjoys hiking, singing, reading, sewing, traveling to interesting places, and spending quality time with her family.
Smith, Lillian C.: - Pastor Lillian has served as pastor at Cheverly United Methodist Church since July 1, 2016. Prior to that she served as the pastor at St. Matthew's UMC of Valley Forge, PA, where she was the first African-American pastor. She implemented conversations about race and ministry to neighbors of color. She also promoted the idea of enhancing the welcoming nature of the church by cultivating a culture of invitation. Her ministry included Christian Education courses and alternative worship encounters for college students. She has also served as Associate General Secretary, Division on Ministries with Young People with the General Board of Discipleship of the UMC; and as Director, Ministries with Women and Persons of Color with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, TN. Pastor Lillian received her Master in Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and her Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary. She is the author of Words to Live By: Wisdom Keys that Can Change Your Life. No stranger to Prince George's County, she grew up in New Carrollton, College Park, and Glenn Dale.
