Sierra Madrid’s life has just been turned upside down when she discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Kathryn McMurray, a young woman who was uprooted from her home only to endure harsh conditions on the Oregon Trail.
Though the women are separated by time and circumstance, Sierra discovers that many of the issues they face are remarkably similar . . . and uncovering Mary Kathryn’s story may help her write the next chapter of hers.
He seemed like the perfect pastor to lead Centerville Christian Church.
She was the perfect pastor’s wife.
When Paul Hudson accepted the call to pastor the struggling church, he had no idea what to expect. But it didn’t take long for Paul to turn Centerville Christian Church around. Attendance was up-way up. Everything was going so well. If only his wife could see it that way. Still, he tried not to let her quiet presence disturb him. She knew something wasn’t right, and it hadn’t been for a long time. . . .
Eunice closed the bedroom door quietly and knelt beside her bed.
“I’m drowning, God. I’ve never felt so alone. Who can I turn to but you, Lord? Where else does a pastor’s wife go for help when her marriage is failing and her life is out of control? Who can I trust with my anguish, Lord? Who but you?”
Grasping her pillow, she pressed it tightly to her mouth so that her sobs would not be heard.
The Bible is filled with inspiring stories of unlikely candidates God chose to change eternity. This bestselling compilation in one volume contains five novellas about such people―women in the family tree of Jesus Christ.
Tamar. Rahab. Ruth. Bathsheba. Mary.
Each was faced with extraordinary―even scandalous―challenges. But they had courage. They lived daring lives. Sometimes they made mistakes―big mistakes. And yet God, in His infinite mercy, used them to bring forth the Christ, the Savior of the world. Their stories still hold great meaning and inspiration for us today.
Tamar risked her life and her reputation to be the woman she was called to be. See how God uses our circumstances and our steps toward Him, however faltering, to fulfill His plan.
Rahab was exploited by men who saw only her beauty, yet she held fast to her faith in God and was rewarded. Discover how God seeks and finds those whose hearts are tender toward Him, no matter how far away they are.
Ruth’s loyalty, especially toward her mother-in-law Naomi, helped her to persevere in the face of tragedy, and God gave her a second chance at love. Be encouraged that God will provide even when all hope seems lost.
Bathsheba’s scandalous affair with David did not end in one night. Learn that God is willing to restore those lost in the depths of despair who call out to Him.
Mary is one of the most revered women in history. But first, she was an ordinary woman striving to please God in the same way that women still do today. When God spoke, Mary responded in obedience which changed the world forever.
Each novella includes an in-depth Bible study perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.
Overcome the Never-Enough Mentality to Walk in True Abundance
Prosperity. It’s one of the most dividing words in the Church. Some pastors use it to tell their congregations that God will make them all rich, rich, rich! Others spurn the word and insist that true Christlikeness is found in forsaking all worldly riches and possessions. The truth is, neither of these extremes is fully right or fully wrong.
In his latest book, Kris Vallotton mines the Scriptures in an eye-opening study of what the Bible really says about money, poverty, riches and wealth.
In it you’ll find keys to
· overcome the never-enough mentality to experience true abundance
· break free from a poverty mindset that reaps lack in your life
· demystify biblical teaching on money so you can discover peace in your finances
· learn the difference between riches and wealth
Kingdom prosperity begins from the inside out. When you learn to cultivate a mindset of abundance, no matter your circumstances, you will begin to experience the wealth of heaven in every area of your life.
The #1 bestselling inspirational classic from the internationally known spiritual leader; a source of solace and hope for over 4 million readers.
Since its original publication in 1981, When Bad Things Happen to Good People has brought solace and hope to millions. In the preface to this edition, Rabbi Kushner relates the heartwarming responses he has received over the years from people who have found inspiration and comfort within these pages.
When Harold Kushner’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that meant the boy would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life’s most difficult questions: Why, God? Years later, Rabbi Kushner wrote this straightforward, elegant contemplation of the doubts and fears that arise when tragedy strikes. In these pages, Kushner shares his wisdom as a rabbi, a parent, a reader, and a human being. Often imitated but never superseded, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a classic that offers clear thinking and consolation in times of sorrow.
Start your day with peaceful meditations, soulful inspirations, and encouraging Bible verses in this 365-day devotional from bestselling author Joyce Meyer — and grow spiritually as you spend time with God.
Life is busy and often uncertain, but you can live in the full peace of God with this easy-to-understand devotional designed to encourage you each day of the year. This includes a daily Bible verse followed by a devotional reading and power thought to meditate upon.
With the constant demands and pressures, it can be hard to regularly take time to unplug and simply be with God. But Joyce’s practical teaching format in Quiet Times with God will encourage you to discipline yourself so that you can receive the fullness of God’s healing, revitalizing peace.
Whether a person is searching for their calling or wholeheartedly pursuing their life’s purpose, Live Love Lead will help them navigate a faith path that is all their own and discover unique gifts tailored perfectly for their journey.
How do people experience the best life that God intends for them? The answer lies in understanding that the Christian life is an adventure, and that they only have to follow the greatest Guide who ever walked the path of life — Jesus. In this straightforward book, Brian Houston shows readers the way to live fully, love completely, and lead boldly — the hallmarks of Jesus’ time on earth.
Yeshua of Nazareth has two sisters: Damaris, married to a wealthy merchant’s son, and Pheodora, married to a simple shepherd from Bethlehem. When Pheodora’s husband suffers an unexpected reversal of fortune and is thrown into debtor’s prison, she returns to Nazareth, where she pins her hopes on two she-goats who should give birth to spotless white kids that would be perfect for the upcoming Yom Kippur sacrifice.
In the eighteen months between the kids’ birth and the opportunity to sell them and redeem her husband from prison, Pheodora must call on her wits, her family, and her God in order to provide for her daughters and survive. But when every prayer and ritual she knows is about God’s care for Israel, how can she trust that God will hear and help a lowly shepherd’s wife?
Popular speaker and New York Times bestselling author of Woman Evolve, Sarah Jakes Roberts shows women they are not disqualified by their pain and failures and offers encouragement and strength to believe God’s best is still possible.
Everyone has experiences in their lives that stop them in their tracks and become burdens they carry with them everywhere they go. No one knows this better than Sarah Jakes Roberts.
Pregnant at fourteen, married by nineteen, divorced by twenty-two, and all while under the intense spotlight of being Bishop T.D. Jakes’s daughter, Sarah knows what it is to feel buried by failure and aching pain.
But when her journey brought her to faith’s fork in the road, Sarah found she had to choose between staying in the comfort of the pain she knew or daring to make new wounds and move forward.
Now Sarah shares the numerous life lessons she’s learned along the way with other women also struggling to believe they’re not disqualified by their pain and past mistakes. She delves into topics such as allowing the past to empower the present, choosing to step forward while still being afraid, facing struggles in the midst of community, finding intimacy with God outside of preconceived notions of what it should look like, and learning to focus on others.
In Don’t Settle for Safe, Sarah will help you:
– View your history with positivity
– Demolish destructive patterns
– Connect with true intimacy
– Repurpose your passion into to your purpose
– Realize your true calling
With deeply personal stories of her own, Sarah helps readers find their way to the right perspective and the confidence to walk toward the best God has for them.
Women of every culture and society are facing the dilemma of identity. Traditional views of what it means to be a woman and changing cultural and marital roles are causing women conflict in their relationships with men. Women are under tremendous stress as they struggle to discover who they are and what role they are to play today—in the family, the community, and the world. In this expanded edition of Understanding the Purpose and Power of Women, now with helpful study questions following each chapter, best-selling author Dr. Myles Munroe examines societies’ attitudes toward women and addresses vital issues
Most people have lost a sense of destiny, God’s will for their lives. Many even believe you just can’t know God’s will — that in His sovereignty, He will make it happen regardless of what you do. Too long this viewpoint has kept Christians from knowing the full potential He planned for them. But no more. God created you with a specific purpose, and the good news is, He wants you to find it.
Just knowing God’s will, however, isn’t enough. You need to understand the part you play if you’re going to follow it. You might be surprised to learn it involves following the desires of your heart. But before you set off, make sure you’re able to distinguish His will from your own selfish desires.
One of the most important lessons of all is that you can’t fulfill God’s will any way you want. His strength and timing, and your obedience and patience are just a few of the things it takes. This book explains all this and much more, including how Andrew found, has followed, and is fulfilling God’s will for his life. This will help you on your way to doing just the same!
Since the very beginning, God’s design for marriage is for husbands and wives to be ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world. Still, so many couples stop short at happy and wonder why they feel unsatisfied. Rather than “you and me against the world,” God calls each couple to the rich and meaningful mission of “you and me for the world.”
Aaron and Jennifer Smith, popular marriage bloggers at HusbandRevolution.com and UnveiledWife.com, transparently share their journey from a marriage in crisis to a marriage built on Christ’s redemptive love. Through fresh biblical insight and intimate stories of their own struggles and victories, this book will guide you toward a God-centered, ministry-minded, and thriving marriage. In these pages you will . . .
– Discover the signature marks of a marriage after God
– Find principles for building an unshakable marriage foundation
– Learn how to let God’s story take the lead in your love story
– Recognize the tools God has already equipped you with for a missional life together
– Filled with helpful illustrations, this thorough and practical book will empower you and your spouse to dream, decide, and do as you step hand in hand into God’s ultimate purpose for your marriage.
Your oneness is also meant for witness. God has purposed your remarkable, romantic, and redemptive relationship to be a powerful light to a dark and hurting world. This is your invitation to marriage as God intended–a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of God’s love.
What did Noah’s Ark really look like? Who was David and whom did he fight? What would it look like if you lived in Jerusalem in the 1st century? Get up close and personal with everyday life during Bible times through photos, maps, and illustrations of the people, places, and buildings of the Bible.
From ancient customs and photos of ancient artifacts, to major festivals, customs, and 1st century food—each two-page spread is filled with images and drawings that help bring life to the people and places we could once only read about. With fascinating but brief text and full-color captivating images, this is a reference kids will come back to again and again because it is truly a one-of-a-kind Bible experience.
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds, places and tastes of Bible times … it’s a journey you will never forget!
The Bible Explorer’s Guide:
– Is packed full of 1,000 amazing facts and fascinating photos showing everyday life during Bible times
– Features gorgeous full-color photography of people, places, and artifacts in 1st century Jerusalem
– Includes a Bible timeline and a who’s who section with mini-biographies of people from both the Old and New Testaments
– Contains sections such as “Problems and Plagues in Egypt”, “Trumpets, Feasts, and Holy Days”, and “Enter the Gates of the Holy City”
– Is a great addition to any home or school library
Do you feel like you are barely holding on? Let the golden thread of God’s presence be the calm on the other side of chaos. It could be that He is weaving a brilliant new beginning in the middle of your mess.
“I know your faith will be lifted and increased with this new treasure.” —Chris Tomlin
Join beloved worship leader and songwriter of “Shout to The Lord”, Darlene Zschech as she traces God’s goodness through her recent transitions.
Perfect for anyone who’s:
-Battling cancer or another health scare
-Moving to a new city
-Starting a church or a new job
-Struggling through a season of doubt or change
Darlene urges us to maintain joy in the middle of it all. Rather than seeing her many life changes as a zigzag of unrelated events, Darlene and her family have learned to trace God’s goodness through every crisis—even as she faced the battle for her life, cancer.
Your heart will be encouraged, and your faith will soar right along with Darlene’s.
Blessed people flourish by a power that transcends human talent or hard work–a mystical grace empowers them to be joyful and fruitful. But does it ever feel like others are blessed while you’re stuck?
With honesty and warmth, Alan Wright shares his inspiring journey from craving blessing to living the blessed life. The absence of his father’s affirmation left him struggling for years with symptoms of the unblessed life: shame, pretense, and drift. But when he grasped the most powerful blessing in the Old Testament–the mysterious, ancient blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh–he learned how to receive blessing and how to bless the lives of his loved ones. And you can too.
With biblical insight and practical wisdom, The Power to Bless shows you how to craft a positive, faith-filled blessing. By learning a few simple, biblical skills for imparting life-changing blessings, you’ll be more spiritually blessed than you’d ever imagined, and you’ll be equipped with the power to bless the people you love.
Do you find it easier to face the day when you know God is with you? Max Lucado believes it is! In God Is With You Every Day, Max uses his signature reassuring and encouraging voice, paired with practical, relevant, and personal messaging, to remind you that God is with you every day.
This 365-day devotional begins each week with a prayer and scripture, followed by six days of devotions and scripture for reflection. Weaving messages of comfort, grace, and encouragement, this book is wonderful for:
-Anyone who wants a fresh infusion of faith to start each day
-Those walking through difficult seasons of life such as loneliness, grief, or change
-People in need of courage to face each day
-God Is With You Every Day makes a great:
Self-purchase for those needing an extra pick-me-up or Max Lucado fans. Inspirational gift for friends and family walking through a tough season, experiencing loss, or overwhelmed by life’s challenges
