Christian Gifts for Mother's Day 2012

These books are specially written for parents especially mothers to make them well-equipped mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Karen Mains, an author, speaker, radio / television producer and co-host is also a mom of 4 kids.  Every book that she wrote is based on her personal experience, her travels and her religious missions.   She is committed to create healthy families and is eagerly wants to share her invaluable spiritual journeys through her books.  A must-read books, these are perfect and ideal Christian gifts for Mother's Day 2012.

Friends and Strangers by Karen Mains

Friends and Strangers by Karen Mains chronicles the beginning of the journey into self-knowledge, a painful odyssey particular to the work of the middle years. This narrative focuses on the ages from 38-45. Each of us has hidden areas, lies we tell to ourselves that we don’t know we are telling. The work of the Holy Spirit is to continually bring us into truth. In this book I begin to look at truth through encounters with strangers, people I meet along the way, brought to me by God, who have rich gifts to give that shake my smug thinking. I am convinced that no encounter is casual, as each has the potential to move the ground beneath our feet, which is never as solid as we like to think.

The Key to a Loving Heart by Karen Mains

"Our heart is a habitation," says Karen Mains. "There is a mansion in our souls for which we need to take intimate responsibility." Unfortunately, because of sin, our hearts consist of "mean rooms, damp basements, narrow hallways, cramped spaces . . . The place God created to be open to the fresh wind of his Spirit, the dwelling he desires to occupy in order that it may be habitable to others, has become boarded. the windows are shuttered, the blinds drawn. Dust is accumulating. The doors have been padlocked."

What is the key that will unlock a wide veranda here, a turret spiraling there, or a whole new wing of rooms? The key that opens the door to the locked rooms of our hearts is forgiveness. And that is what this book is all about .  As you read  The Key to a Loving Heart by Karen Mains, this book will bring you to the positive side of life.

The Fragile Curtain by Karen Mains

In the spring of 1980, Karen made a traveling survey of the refugee camps of the world. She went to interpret the pain and suffering of these people; instead they showed her the meaning of her own life—and of yours and mine.  There in the crowded refugee warehouses, Karen saw the beauty common to us all. The wonder of birth. the sacredness of words— "I love you," "I'm sorry," "I want you." And the joy of a welcome home: the glad clamor of hello as a new group of refugees arrive at a camp, resurrected from death and despair to begin again.

The six-week journey became a pilgrimage through two worlds: the one of the camps and the thousands and the backyard world of home and family.  The Fragile Curtain by Karen Mains is a perfect companion for women as they travel life's challenges, and achievements.

Making Sunday Special by Karen Mains

Making Sunday Special by Karen Mains is an insightful, encouraging, and delightful book.  The author challenges Christians to celebrate Sunday with a Sabbath heart—to make the Lord’s Day so special that its impact launches a weekly cycle of reflection and growing anticipation. Making Sunday Special will help you and your people restore the biblical “rhythm of the sacred” and then fall in love again and again with Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath.

Parenting Us by Karen Mains

Parenting Us by Karen Mains is more than just a guide.  This book is a dynamic learning resource that stands apart from other Bible studies because the exercises are creatively designed to involve the imagination and emotions as well as the intellect. You'll explore God's parenting methods in Scripture and learn about the enormous, healing strength that is available to the Christian who not only understands God as their Heavenly Parent but also lives and acts in the center of that truth.

Lonely No More by Karen Mains

Lonely No More by Karen Mains was extremely controversial in certain sections of ultra-conservative Christianity so I warn you, read it carefully.  I stand behind every word, despite the controversy.  It may even shake the ground beneath your feet.  I will probably never write anything this well again.  But I have certainly paid for the effort to be excellent, to be lovingly truthful, to want God. Covers age 45-52.

Living, Loving, Leading by Karen Mains

 Living, Loving, Leading by Karen Mains  offers a tangible, "seeable" model for encouraging your family's spiritual development. Join David and Karen as they suggest some helpful, biblical ideas for raising the spiritual temperature of your home. Walk with them as they describe their own struggles and triumphs, and as they search for workable solutions to the crucial question, "How can we become the spiritual leaders of our family that God wants us to be?" Can you afford to wait any longer?

Comforting One Another by Karen Mains

Comforting One Another by Karen Mains continues the autobiographical series and uses Michelangelo's Pieta as a metaphor.  I reference the personal pain caused by writing Lonely No More in order to construct a theology around the meaning of mercy, with pietas from art, literature, film, news photography, poetry and real life building pictures of how God's love shows itself forth in the world.  This is a book for those who are suffering and for those who want to hold them. I define a pieta as any person or group of people holding a broken body facing any death-like scenario. I think this book has helped others; it certainly allowed me to make sense of my own pain.  This covers the age from 52-56.

The God Hunt by Karen Mains

The God Hunt by Karen Mains is an eye-opening book that offers deep insight into those seemingly ordinary moments when God intervenes in our lives with guidance, care and help.

Once you start the adventure you quickly realize that such moments happen more often than you think. You'll be drawn into deeper communion with God as you tune in to the many ways he answers prayer, shows evidence of His love, helps you do His work in the world and "works all things together for good."

Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains

Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains steps far beyond how-to-entertain you hints to explore the deeper concepts of Christian hospitality-the Biblical way to use your home and an open heart to care for others like God wants us to. Countless pastors have recommended this classic resource as the meaningful example of how the Holy Spirit ministers to and through us to make other people feel truly welcome and deeply wanted.

Go for the Goal - Becoming a Spiritual Champion

The 2012 Olympic Winter Games will be front-page news in America soon.  These upcoming events occur from July 27-August 12 in London, England, and feature world-class competitors who are vying to become recognized athletic champions.

Pastor, you can leverage all that media attention into spiritual lessons taught at your church!  Preach through the brand new sermon series Go for the Goal: Becoming a Spiritual Champion.  While they watch others on TV strive to become athletic champions, you'll encourage your congregation to put into practice what the Scriptures have to say about becoming spiritual champions

You can email Rose with any specific questions, or call 1-800-224-2735.  Visit the Mainstay Ministries for more details on this dynamic Go for the Gold Sermon Series and other various pastor resources.