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In the past, church leaders have turned to small groups or other kinds of discipleship programs to encourage spiritual growth in their churches. Yet despite good intentions, the deeper spiritual life and transformation they had hoped for remained elusive. STIR calls church leaders to reclaim an essential, biblical truth-that the process of spiritual growth is more than a one-size-fits-all program, it happens best through intentional relationships with others in the body of Christ. Three distinct, sequential stages of spiritual development typically occur as people mature in their spiritual walk with Christ, and they need different kinds of relationships to support their growth through those different seasons. STIR describes those stages-learning together, journeying together, and following together-and shows how progress into and through these stages is best made in the context of relationships that change in nature over time. Readers will learn how to intentionally establish and strengthen the unique kinds of relationships that are catalytic for growth at each stage of their journey. Church leaders will come away with a new paradigm for encouraging spiritual formation in their local church by providing appropriate encouragement and support to people at all stages of growth.

Sink or swim? Paige's engagement to designer Dylan Marceau shocks the fashion world. Although Paige appears to be happy, Erin wonders if it's true love or just a desire for attention and publicity. As Paige's love life takes off, Erin is feeling pressure from Blake to take their friendship to a romantic level. But is she ready? These two very different sisters still have one thing in commontheir fashion TV show and all the drama that comes along with it. As they prepare for a trip to film in the Bahamas, the Forrester sisters discover that paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be. Can they do the right thing in tough situationsand the right thing for each anotherin a business that often encourages the worst?

Feeling the heat. On the Runway has become a global phenomenon, and when Paige and Erin Forrester take their reality show to London, they get a reception to remember. Bombarded by crazed fans and the flashbulbs and interrogations of the infamous British paparazzi, the sisters know that their lives have changedbig time. Star treatment has its perks, but the girls quickly learn just how scorching life in the limelight can be. Before long, the sisters are stretched close to a breaking point. With zealous paparazzi poised to take advantage of even the slightest whiff of a scandal, the stakes have never been higher.

Big Apple. Bigger Problems. The success of the Forrester sisters' On the Runway TV show lands them a hot ticket to Fashion Week in New York City. Paige is determined to garner the attention of New York's top designers, but her newfound fame threatens to go to her head. Erin wants to help promote the work of some eco-minded designers, but struggles to be taken seriously. Can Paige keep her prima donna behavior in check? Will Erin's involvement hurt the people she's really trying to help? Success in the big city comes with even bigger challenges, and as the pressure grows, so does the drama.

A recipe for success or a design for disaster? Although they're sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester are like oil and water, night and day, denim and silk. Paige is an outgoing fashionista who loves to be the center of attention, while Erin is more comfortable sporting vintage garb and recording the action around her. When a near disaster turns into the opportunity of a lifetime, these two very-different sisters are given the chance to star in their own fashion-TV show. A guest spot on a hot teen-reality series and their first big red-carpet assignment give this unlikely partnership plenty of room for successand even more for failure.

Where is your faith today-first sparks of faith, bright blue flames, radiating heat, raging bonfire, red-hot coals, cooling embers, cold grey ashes? Is your love for God burning so brightly that you are consumed by its passion? Are those who surround you drawn to its radiance and warmed by its heat? Are sparks flying from you, spreading a wildfire faith that ignites passion in others?Or has your passion cooled, your light dimmed, or your fire been quenched?Throughout history God has chosen fire to represent his awesome power, his judgment and wrath, his protection, and his Shekinah glory: the flaming sword guarding Eden, the burning bush, the pillar of fire, the fiery furnace, the chariot of fire, the burning coal, the flame upon the altar, the lake of fire, and the flaming eyes of the Son of Man upon the throne-these are only a few of the images he has seared into our minds that we might know him more fully.God is the source of that first flicker that sparked your faith and one day you will stand in his holy presence, look into the flaming eyes of Jesus, and see his burning love for you face to face. But between that first flicker and that heavenly meeting, there is life to be lived on this earth. The challenge we all face is that life can dim our fire or even quench it, whether by the soggy mist of the mundane, or the quenching downpour of crisis.Carol Kent has discovered that God's Word is filled with the secrets of nurturing his fire in our lives, sometimes painfully so, other times even undetected, refining, purifying, cauterizing, healing, and ultimately reshaping us into the image of his Son.Author and speaker Carol Kent will take you into God's word, and into your own story, to reveal the true power of the fire God has placed in you, to fan the flames of your faith, stir your passion, and embolden you to spark wildfires that will spread to forever change the landscape of this world beyond your wildest imagination.God's fire is in your life. Fan the flames. Burn brightly. Start a wildfire!

Let's seethis is the part where I convince you that you need this book. This book will massage your feet. This book will bring you a fuzzy blanket at the end of a long day of parenting your tiny little insanazoids. I promise to make you snort laugh at least once. After reading this book, you'll rock jazz hands, be able to sing on-key, and never, ever have to fold laundry again. Okay, they told me I'm actually supposed to tell you a little about the book. Um, right. Look. Here's the thing. Too many of us women are frazzled and lonely, isolated in our minivans while schlepping bags, strollers, and munchkins to and fro across town. It doesn't have to be this way. In this guide to ';momlationships,' I use a dating analogy to take us ';around the bases' to our home-run friendships, the ones that last a lifetime, not just a soccer season. This is our journey to each other, to finding our people and being other people's people, learning how to bless each other and not destroy each other. It's sometimes scary. And always awkward. Let's have some fun.

What lifts a single girl's spirit most-aside from finding a man, of course-is meeting other girls in her same boat. Who's Picking Me Up From the Airport? opens with Cindy Johnson's story and she will quickly become your newfound single companion. Her refreshing and comical commentary on adult Christian dating provides readers the much needed opportunity to laugh and celebrate single life for what it is: joyful and complicated.Beneath the candor and self-deprecation, Who's Picking Me Up From the Airport? is built on the question, "e;Does Jesus actually care about dating and singleness? And if so, how does he enter into it?"e; Have you ever found yourself wary of voicing your concerns for fear of appearing desperate or lacking in faith. Cindy's choice to put it all out there creates a powerful and much needed safe place for vulnerability and honesty around singleness.This book addresses head on the difficult reality experienced by singles in the Church. Cindy will push you to seek Jesus first, even when you don't get the things you want. Each chapter begins with a short letter written by single Christian women to other women from all walks of life. You will be reminded that you are not alone. In authentic pages filled with humor and truth, you will find in Who's Picking Me Up from the Airport? what you need most-a friend.

On Dee Branch's first date with Johnnie Oliver, a fourth-generation funeral director, she knew she was in for a unique relationship when he had to leave ';for just a minute'and he came back to the car with a corpse.Over twenty years later, Dee was still in love with her charming southern gentleman when he passed away suddenly in 2007. Determined to carry on Johnnie's work, Dee earned her mortuary science degree, only to find herself no longer needed in the family business. So Dee crossed the racial divide in the most segregated industry in America and joined the staff of an African-American funeral home as a single white woman.In The Undertaker's Wife, Oliver draws from her wealth of experience to provide candid and often hysterically funny advice on dying well and surviving the loss of those who have gone before. Her insights on the common ground of grief, survival, and the ever-present faithfulness of God (to all of us, regardless of our race, religious upbringing, or socio-economic background) will help readers prepare for one of life's only certaintiesand do it with wisdom, grace, and a healthy dose of joy.

This handsome firefighter makes a living coming to the rescue, but Gin doesn't need a man to fight her battles.After Raine's dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter's youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that's compromised when Raine reveals she's pregnant. Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devoted himself to responding to fires, rescuing the helpless, and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend's son, through life. With Cody being the epitome of the good kid, it was an easy job. Until he says four little words: ';The baby is mine.'Knowing gossip of Raine's pregnancy will erupt sooner or later in the small town, Gin's reflex is to grab the suitcase and escape to a new city, a new life. But with each passing day, Gin's feet stay rooted in Banister Falls, and she falls a little more for this local firefighter who shows her not all men abandon women at the first sign of smoke. As Gin and Dan do the best they can to guide the two teenagers through their early entry into adulthood, they discover together that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations. And God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.

Almost every day, one of Amy Julia's children says something or asks something that prompts her to think more carefully: "e;Why Mommy crying?"e; (Marilee, when the family learned a young boy had died of cancer); "e;Booful, Mommy"e; ("e;Beautiful, Mommy,"e; as Penny proclaimed just as Amy Julia was looking in the mirror and critiquing her post-pregnancy body in her head); "e;What lasting mean?"e; (William, when he heard a song in church about God being an everlasting God). These conversations deepen her relationships with her children, but they also deepen and refine her own understanding of what she believes, why she believes it, and what she hopes to pass along to the next generation.Small Talk is a narrative based upon these conversations. It is not a parenting guide. It does not offer prescriptive lessons about how to talk with children. Rather, it tells stories based upon the questions and statements Amy Julia's children have made about the things that make life good (such as love, kindness, beauty, laughter, and friendship), the things that make life hard (such as death, failure, and tragedy), and what we believe (such as prayer, God, and miracles).Amy Julia explores three parts-body, mind, spirit-as she moves in rough chronological order through the basic questions her kids asked when they were very young to the intellectual and then spiritual questions of later childhood. It invites other parents into these same conversations, with their children, with God, and with themselves. Moving from humorous exchanges to profound questions to heart-wrenching moments, Amy Julia encourages parents to ask themselves-and to talk with their children about-what matters most.

Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, "e;For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come"e; (4:8). This book teaches you how to train yourself in godliness through the implementation of six disciplines-Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving others.By exercising your spiritual core on a daily basis, you will learn to:Study the Bible and understand what God is saying to you.Pray with power.Incorporate periodic fasting into your life.Honor God with your body through nutritious eating and exercise.Practice good stewardship of the resources God has given you.Serve others in humility as an outward demonstration of God's love.As you learn to submit to God in each of these areas of your life, you'll discover the joy that accompanies self-discipline. Your daily steps of obedience will translate into giant strides in your walk with the Lord.

A man and his son dreamed of America's freedom, but the dream became a nightmare when they ended up at Guantnamo Bay.Hasan Makari and his son, Najib, both Lebanese nationals, have dreamed of the day they would experience the shining freedom of America. But when they arrive in the US, they are arrested, accused of terrorism, and incarcerated at the Guantnamo Bay Prison Camp in Cuba, all on false charges. Suddenly, they face the nightmare of death by execution.Their only hope is Navy JAG Officer Matt Davis, who has been assigned to the case of his lifeto defend the Makaris in court at Guantnamo Bay. Matt believes his clients are innocent, but he faces monumental oppositionnot only from powerful federal prosecutors with a huge agenda and an unlimited budget, but also from the woman he loves who, as a fellow JAG officer, has been ordered onto the prosecution team to convict the Makaris.As the drama unfolds in Cuba, Emily Gardner, a top-ranking TSA lawyer, has just received a larger-than-life nomination as General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. While preparing for confirmation by the US Senate, she discovers a shocking scheme that will turn her life upside down. Can Emily expose the truth in time to save the lives of those being accusedand escape with her own life? Somewhere between the war-torn plains of Northern Lebanon and the secret torture chamber of Guantnamo Bay lie the keys to justice.

The Extravagant Fool is an underdog narrative. Readers will have a front row seat to Kevin Adams's breathtaking story-one that builds chronologically through a very difficult four-year period. At the height of financial success, Kevin Adams had it all. A thriving business with more work than he could get to, investments spread out between luxury homes, commercial real estate, and new business ventures. However, by January 2009, over the course of the last 100 days of 2008, Kevin watched in silent amazement as he lost it all. His house of cards came tumbling down.Kevin had a choice: Do what he had always done-work harder. Or, let go of conventional thinking and learn to live by absolute faith in God. With foreclosures, lawsuits, potential homelessness, and his family looking to him for immediate answers, Kevin took the radical position of stopping every effort to survive and resting instead at the feet of Jesus.The process of living literally by faith is a gamble and one that only The Extravagant Fool for God is willing to take.The Extravagant Fool is about encountering God with an uncommon intimacy. Intimacy increases our ability to discern His voice, which leads to the revelation of who we are, what we are to do for Him on earth, and finally, the provision to carry it out. Yet none of this really takes hold without first hearing the kind of living, breathing, testimony offered by The Extravagant Fool, a man who staked his welfare-and future-entirely on the goodness of God.

At your fingertips, powerful prayers from Fern Nichols, the founder of Moms In Prayer International, the movement that has spawned hundreds of thousands of moms around the world to pray for their kids. Every mother will feel encouraged to pray diligently for her children, no matter their age, when she opens the pages of Mom's Little Book of Powerful Prayers and discovers prayers from Scripture for her child's every need: their protection, challenges, health, friendships, character, anger, sadness, fears, and more.

You've never seen Mary, or her God, like this! Who is this God? Who is he who calls us to surrender and then leads us on a journey of twists and turns, ups and downs, unlike anything we could have ever expected? Who is this God who calls a young girl to birth a Savior and then watch him die on a Roman cross? Who is he who fulfills every promise and yet shatters every expectation?Come, join Mary, Jesus' mother, on a journey of discovery. Hear the angel's call, walk the long road to Bethlehem, give birth in a barn, search for a lost son, kneel at the foot of a cross, and experience the wind of the Spirit. Come, walk with Mary, and find your own journey in hers.Because life rarely turns out the way we planned ...Because we lose the wonder in the disappointments of life ...Because being highly favored does not mean being highly pampered ...Because Mary shows us God-passionate, breath-taking, and unpredictable ...

Some of the most noted, celebrated and godly men in the Bible made some very big mistakes when it came to raising their children. Roland Warren, President of the National Fatherhood Initiative, calls these errors "e;bad dad"e; mistakes. Bad Dads of the Bible examines these mistakes, brings them into a contemporary setting and gives today's dads much needed advice on how to avoid them. Moreover, should a dad unfortunately make some of these mistakes, this book will give him practical advice and an easy-to-follow roadmap to help him repair his relationships with his children before it's too late.This book is unique because it brings to life ancient Biblical narratives and stories and creatively illustrates important fathering principles in a way that is sure to engage today's dads and help them move from inspiration to action. This book also addresses a troubling notion that is held by many pastors and Christian fathers, a notion that has hampered the church's ability to meet fathers at their point of need. There is a shared perspective and misconception that if we can just help men be better Christians, they will automatically be better dads. In other words, the thinking is that good Christian men will equal good Christian fathers.This certainly sounds logical. But, when you examine the lives of so many men whose stories are chronicled in the Bible, you quickly detected a disturbing pattern. Many of them, even men who had deep and abiding hearts for God, made some rather serious mistakes as fathers that often negatively impacted generations. Therefore, if these fathers had problems, why wouldn't fathers today? Warren believes that this is why God made sure that these "e;bad dad"e; mistakes were front and center, consequences and all, in so many of the Biblical narratives. God truly loves fatherhood and fathers and He wanted these mistakes to be easy to find. Yet, few fathers really take the time to examine them or have strategies to avoid them. Hopefully, as dads study the examples of the fatherhood legacies of men like Abraham, David and Eli, men who loved God deeply, they will learn from their mistakes. More importantly, this book can serve as a clarion call for men to take action now to be the fathers that God designed them to be. There is a saying that a wise man learns from his mistakes. This is true. But the wisest man always learns from the mistakes of others.Each chapter includes Reflection, Correction and Connection sections at the end to help dads easily apply what they have read, as well as a "e;Good Dad Promise"e; to pave the way for future good parenting decisions.

Beyond the Broken Church is a collection of heartfelt learnings from Sarah Cunningham, a young adult raised in the faith, about the church she's not always sure she wants to be part of. The book engages concerns of a disillusioned generation head on and offers hope and honest, practical ideas for moving beyond one's frustrations.In the end Beyond the Broken Church tells a story that will be familiar to many: the journey of overcoming disillusionment and staying the course. This revised and expanded version of the popular book Dear Church revisits the existing book with additional chapters, fresh statistics, new insights into why people are leaving the church, and a resource guide for those who care about the disillusioned and want to understand them better. Beyond the Broken Church will be a breath of fresh air to others who have experienced frustration in church as well as an insider's guide for those seeking to understand current trends in church attendance, particularly among the younger generation.

It's never too late to be a better fatherJim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, is an expert in fatherhood-in part because his own "e;fathers"e; failed him so badly. His biological dad was an alcoholic. His stepfather deserted him. His foster father accused Jim of trying to kill him. All were out of Jim's life by the time he turned 13.Isn't it odd-and reminiscent of the hand of God-that the director of the leading organization on family turned out to be a guy whose own background as a kid and son were pretty messed up? Or could it be that successful parenting is discovered not in the perfect, peaceful household but in the midst of battles and messy situations, where God must constantly be called to the scene?That is the mystery unraveled in this book. Using his own expertise, humor, and inexhaustible wealth of stories, Jim will show you that God can make you a good dad, a great dad, in spite of the way you've grown up and in spite of the mistakes you've made. Maybe even because of them.It's not about becoming a perfect father. It's about trying to become a better father, each and every day. It's about building relationships with your children through love, grace, patience, and fun-and helping them grow into the men and women they're meant to be.

"e;I wish there were something I could do to ease the pain."e;How often do women see a friend in distress or crisis, but feel helpless to really make a difference? Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts takes the mystery out of how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone in need of hope, comfort and care. Kathe Wunnenberg, whose hope-lifting ministry has impacted the lives of thousands, demonstrates simple, practical ways that acts of creative compassion can transform lives. Whether it's encouraging a jobless friend, lifting the spirits of someone trapped in depression, leaving an anonymous gift for a grieving mother, hosting a starting-over shower for a divorced friend, or playing one small part in long-term support for a family in deep crisis, daily opportunities to make a difference in hurting lives are limitless for a Hopelifter. The perfect book for women who want to spread hope in their friendships, workplace, neighborhoods, and homes, and ideal for those in caring roles in churches and ministries.

Our lives consist of moments. Stitched together like the seams on a coat, these moments cloak us in awareness and possibility. But what if we miss our moments? What if we live in a bland state of wandering? Seeking growth, seeking passion-but missing the moments in which God tries to pull the thread through the cloth in the way we've dreamed of?Watershed moments are the turning points in our lives brought on by circumstances which stop us in our tracks. A new direction; a fresh perspective; an answered prayer; a humble surrender-these are the moments that redirect us; leaving us profoundly changed.Through a progression of seven types of Watershed moments (the Watersheds of change, unraveling, rebuilding, purpose, abandoning [control], overcoming, and belief), Gari portrays life as a series of moments we encounter where we can face or turn away from change. A life marked by Watershed moments starts from the place where we live desperately hoping for some kind of new and freeing adventure.Through the lives of Abraham, David, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, Nehemiah, Peter and many more, as well as through personal Watershed moments in her life and the lives of several women who have written their own stories, Watershed Moments is a bold invitation to pay attention to the revelation God gives in the twinkling of a second at our moments of change. God uses watershed moments to position us to go one direction

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary series provides a careful analysis and interpretation of the biblical text, rooted in a study of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and intended to track the flow of the argument in each book and passage.

For so long, Stella was known for her beauty. Now, with her heart stripped bare, she must discover who she really is.Former pageant queen Stella Varland doesn't trust beauty anymore after her divorce. Her appearance betrayed her and led to brokenness, so instead of being beautiful, now she tries to make beautiful things, but she always falls short. So she keeps her passion for art to herself and focuses on her interior design work. But if she doesn't get another job soon, she'll be stuck living with her parents.Contractor Chase Taylor is determined to live a life of no regrets after losing his fiancee. Now he lives life at full speed, striving to see how much he can accomplish. He knows if he slows down, he'll fall apart. So he returns home to Bayou Bend to renovate the town's old theater and is shocked to discover that the designer for the project is his old flame, Stella.Forced to work together, Chase and Stella battle their chemistry and past as they struggle to compromise and work together on a vision for the theater. Their wills clash as they attempt to hide their brokennessand their unresolved feelings for each otheruntil Chase discovers the hidden parts of Stella, while losing her trust in the process.A near catastrophe, a fire, and a small-town gossip mill finally force Stella and Chase to realize that they have a choiceto hold on to the shards of their pasts, or surrender their fragmented pieces to the One who makes a beautiful masterpiece from their brokenness.

Combining biblical exegesis with proven economic principles, For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty equips Christians with both a solid biblical and economic understanding of how best to care for the poor and foster sustainable economic development.

Lost in translation? Having learned some hard lessons about the costs of recklessness and fame, sisters Paige and Erin Forrester feel ready to take their fashion-focused TV show on location to Paris. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for many of their good intentions to get lost in translation. An unplanned week of filming at runway model Eliza Wilton's family estate leads to romance, jealousy, and surprises. With cameras rolling, both girls have to be careful or the future of On the Runway could end up as wobbly as Paige's stiletto heels.

New in the Faithgirlz! series, The Beauty of Believing is a 365-day devotional that combines the talents of Faithgirlz! authors Tasha K. Douglas, Mona Hodgson, Kristi Holl, Lois Walfred Johnson, Allia Zobel Nolan, and Nancy Rue, whose words of wisdom will help young girls ages 8-12 to bloom and flourish into the girls God wants them to be.

Purity doesn't mean playing the game of How Far Is Too Far. A pure life is a full lifeone that goes way beyond the ideas of dating, sex, and being a ';good girl,' and focuses instead on what it means to be your true, powerful self.Purity can feel like a dirty word sometimes. After all, who wants to be told what not to do, how not to be, and who not to spend time with? Haven't we proven women are smart, strong, and able to make their own decisions? But the reality is, what we've always been taught about Christian purity isn't 100 percent true. The idea has been twisted over the years into a list of ';don't' rules that have obscured the facts: that purity empowers you to become who you were made to be, and it's about a lot more than sex and dating.Here's the real truth: God designed purity as a whole-life experience, where you have the choice to follow your heart and be true to yourself as long as you're also following his Word. With honest advice, real-life examples, and tools to navigate the temptations and frustrations you face every day (including dealing with those who don't respect your boundaries), Pure Love, Pure Life meets you where you arewherever you areto illustrate why living the pure life isn't as constricting as it sounds, and how it's worth the effort.';This nonfiction book is real and honest, and should be required reading for teenage girls and their parents.' Christian Library JournalPure Love, Pure Life:looks at the idea of purity from a new angle, focusing on the do's instead of the don'tscontains stories from real girls who talk about their own purity decisions, and what being pure means to themis for any girl looking to live a happy, healthy lifeno matter what they have or haven't done in the pasttouches on issues relevant to a #metoo world

Just Sayin' is not your typical 90-day devotional for girls. It's an all-out open space for girls 8-12 to explore and learn more about themselves and their faith, using creative, wacky applications and doodles to teach Bible truths.

Dare U 2 Open this Book is not your typical 90-day devotional for guys. It's an all-out open space for guys 8-12 to explore and learn more about themselves and their faith, using wacky applications and doodles to teach Bible truths.