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Rebekah Lantz feels imprisoned by circumstances she didn't create. Tobias Byler is haunted by regret. Can two young runaways from half a world away teach them the healing power of true family?Rebekah isn't like her sister, but the watchful gaze of her family and small, close knit Amish community makes her feel as if she's been judged and found lacking. The men avoid her and the women whisper behind her back. She simply longs for the same chance to be a wife and mother that her friends have.Tobias Byler only wants to escape feelings for a woman he knows he should never have allowed to get close to him. Moving with his family to isolated Bee County, Texas, seemed the best way to leave his mistakes behind. But even a move across the country can't erase the past that accompanies his every thought.A surprise encounter with two half-starved runaway children forces both Rebekah and Tobias to turn to each other to help a sister and brother who have traveled thousands of miles in search of lives of unfettered peace and joy.In doing so, Rebekah and Tobias discover the key to forgetting the past is the one that will open the door to love and the future they both seek.

Planning and Post-It notes are the epitome of Evie's life. But when she meets Jack, her life gets more than a little complicated.Thirteen years ago, Evie's firefighterhusband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie's heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.Tattooed, rough-around-the-edgesJack raises quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Banister Falls. Where Evie's life is stream-lined, Jack's approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack's worlda world that isn't as safe or predictable as the one she's worked so hard to createhe challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church. Jack doesn't make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn't felt since Max passed awayor, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn't anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.

In Brave Mom Sherry Surratt, president and CEO of MOPS International, shares honestly and openly about the fears every mom struggles with. From worry about your child's safety and health to wondering if you are a good parent, to fears about your marriage and loss of self-identity, Sherry comes alongside every mom with practical, real, and hopeful help for these common fears that we're all afraid to talk about.Sherry addresses the top ten mom fears and includes stories from real mom and shares the help and answers they have found. Filled with advice and insight from Sherry and the hope and grace found in God's wisdom, Brave Mom gives moms everything they need to leave fear behind and live the admittedly messy life of parenting with confidence and joy. Each chapter contains a prayer for moms to turn their fears over to God's protection and care.As the Mom Experts, MOPS provide moms around the country a connection to other moms, practical help to move ahead, and the warmth and grace of God's love.

Sara Hagerty masterfully draws from her own story of spiritual and physical barrenness to birth in readers a new longing for God. With exquisite storytelling and reflection, Hagerty guides readers to a tender place that God is holding just for thema place where he shapes the bitterness of lost expectations into deep, new places of knowing Him.In the age of fingertip access to answers and a limitless supply of ambitions, where do we find the God who was birthed in dirt and straw? Sara Hagerty found him when life stopped working for her. She found him when she was a young adult mired in spiritual busyness and when she was a new bride with doubts about whether her fledgling marriage would survive. She found him alone in the night as she cradled her longing for babies who did not come. She found him as she kissed the faces of children on another continent who had lived years without a mommy's touch.In Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet, Hagerty masterfully draws from the narrative of her life to craft a mosaic of a God who leans into broken stories. Here readers see a God who is present in every changing circumstance. Most significantly, they see a God who is present in every unchanging circumstance as wellWhatever lost expectations readers are facingin family, career, singleness, or marriageEvery Bitter Thing Is Sweet will bring them closer to a God who longs for them to know him more. What does it look like to know God's nearness when life breaks? What does it mean to receive his life when earthly life remains barren? How can God turn the bitterness of unmet desire into new flavors of joy?With exquisite storytelling and reflection, Hagerty brings readers back to hope, back to healing, back to a place that God is holding for them alonea place where the unseen is more real than what the eye can perceive. A place where every bitter thing is sweet.

Become empowered to face your own messy, complicated life with fresh courage and bravery.Undone is author Michele Cushatt's quest to make peace with a complicated life. It is an honest confession of a diagnosis of cancer and the joys and disappointments of motherhood and marriage, ripe with regret over what is and, yet, still hopeful for what could be.With enough humor to ease the rawness of the story, Undone takes you on a roller-coaster two-year journey through the unexpectedness of life. A look back makes Michele long for a do-over, the chance to make fewer mistakes and leave less of a mess to clean up. A look forward makes Michele wonder if all her attempts to control life have robbed her of the vibrancy of it. And, in the middle of this internal chaos, she finds her once-pristine house filled with the sights and sounds of three small, uncontainable children who just want to be loved.In the end, Undone turns complication into a beautiful canvas, angst into joy, and the unknown into an adventure, revealing that sometimes life's most colorful and courageous stories are written right in the middle of the mess.

Two men offer Leila two very different futures. Will she choose with her heart or with her faith?Leila Lantz has been in love with Jesse Glick from the day she first saw him at his father's store, but she can't make sense of his intentions. One day he wants to come courting, the next he seems to be putting distance between them.Jesse may be the bishop's son, but his faith has been wavering of late. If he is so unsure, is it fair to give Leila false hope for a future he doubts he can provide?Then there's Will, Jesse's cousin. He has been trying to keep his feelings for Leila a secret, but he also knows Jesse is wrestling with his faith. Would declaring his feelings for Leila be in her best interest or simply serving his own selfish desires?Leila knows she can choose Will and be secure in her own future. But when her heart speaks, it's Jesse's name she hears. When will God make His will known to her? Could leaving everything she knowseven her own faithbe a part of God's plan?

Sometimes it takes a barren landscape to see the beauty of God's creation. Phineas King knows better than to expect anything but shock and pity wherever he shows his face. Horribly scarred from the tragic accident that claimed his mother's life, he chooses to keep his distance from everyone, focusing his time and energy on the bees his family raises. If no one sees him, no one can judge him. So why does he start finding excuses to seek out Deborah Lantz, the beautiful new arrival in town? Deborah can't get out of Bee County, Texas, soon enough. Once her mother and younger siblings are settled, she is on the first bus out of this dusty town. She is only waiting on the letter from Aaron, asking her to return to lush Tennessee to be his fraa. But that letter never comes. As she spends time getting to know Phineashoping to uncover the man beneath the scarsshe begins to realize that she no longer minds that Aaron hasn't sent for her. As both Deborah and Phineas try to come to terms with lives that haven't turned out the way they imagined, they discover that perhaps Gott's plans for them are more extraordinary than they could have dreamed. But they need to let go of their own past sorrows and disappointments to find the joy and beauty that lies just ahead for them both.

Profoundly moving, fearlessly honest, and relentlessly hopeful, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans offers this must-read for anyone on the journey of doubt, deconstruction, and ultimately faith reborn.Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith.In Faith Unraveled, Rachel recounts growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, struggling as her own faith unraveled one unexpected question at a time.In order for her faith to survive, Rachel realizes, it must adapt to change and evolve. Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty to doubt to faith, Evans challenges you to disentangle your faith from false fundamentals and to trust in a God who is big enough to handle your tough questions.In a changing cultural environment where new ideas seem to threaten the safety and security of the faith, Faith Unraveled is a fearlessly honest story of survival.This book was previously titled Evolving in Monkey Town.

Taking the Next Step in Your Faith Life toGROW DEEP AND STRONGThe only way to be the hands and feet of Jesus is to love him and serve others out of our love for him. But to do that we must first be deeply rooted in our life with God. In Thrive, Mark Hall, lead singer for the popular band Casting Crowns, shows us what it really looks like to walk with Jesus.In part 1, Digging Deep, Hall demonstrates how to truly engage with the Word and a community of faith, worshiping and pursuing God wholeheartedly as our hearts and minds are transformed. In part 2, Reaching Out, we see the fruits of our engagement with the Word and the community, the grateful giving back of service and love.Using relatable stories, grounded teaching, and great application, Hall helps everyone who wants to take the next step of faith and see their life grow deep and strong.

From the inspirational author of The Ragamuffin Gospel comes a powerful contemporary retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.Jack Chisholm is "e;the people's pastor."e; He leads a devoted and growing megachurch, has several best-selling books, and a memorable slogan, "e;We have got to do better."e; Jack knows how to preach, and he understands how to chastise people into performing. What he doesn't know is anything about grace.This year, when it comes time for the Christmas sermon, the congregation at Grace Cathedral will look to the pulpit, and Jack will not be there. Of course, they will have seen plenty of him already-on the news.After an evening of debauchery that leads to an affair with his beautiful assistant, Jack Chisholm finds himself deserted with chilling swiftness. The church elders remove him from his own pulpit. His publisher withholds the royalties from his books. Worst of all, his wife disappears with their eight-year-old daughter.But just as Jack is hitting bottom, hopeless and penniless, drinking his way to oblivion, who should appear but his long-estranged father, imploring his prodigal son: "e;Come home."e;A true companion piece to The Ragamuffin Gospel, The Prodigal illustrates the power of grace through the story of a broken man who finally saw Jesus not because he preached his greatest sermon or wrote his most powerful book, but because he failed miserably. Jack Chisholm lost everything-his church, his family, his respect, and his old way of believing-but he found grace. It's the same grace that Brennan Manning devoted his life to sharing: profound in nature and coming from a God who loves us just as we are, and not as we should be."e;A wonderfully written story that is as entertaining as it is thought provoking."e; -Publishers Weekly, starred review"e;. . . the consummate final tale. What they have created is the Ragamuffin at his best, full of hope, full of love, and finally, full of belief in the goodness of God."e; -Phyllis Tickle, founding editor, Religion Department, Publishers Weekly"e;Brennan Manning's last work continues the powerful message of grace and forgiveness that has transformed so many lives. The Prodigal will transform you too."e; -Mark Batterson, New York Times best-selling author of The Circle Maker

The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Unique Family addresses one of the top current concerns about youth and the church: the reality that nearly half of all young people raised in Christian families walk away from their faith when they graduate from high school. That's the bad news. But here's the good news: research also shows that parents are one of the primary influences on their child's faith.This book arises from the innovative, research-based, and extensively field-tested project known as ';Sticky Faith,' designed to equip parents with insights and ideas for nurturing long-term faith in children and young people. Because of the Fuller Youth Institute's six years of research with more than 500 young people, 100 churches, and 50 families, four of this guidebook's unique qualities make it a ';must have' for families eager to point their young people toward long-term faith.First, it's grounded in sophisticated, academically verified data. While Dr. Powell is a parent of three children who authentically weaves her own experiences throughout the book, the chapter topics correlate with parenting principles proven in national research.Second, it is positive. Amid gloomy and theoretical resources, this book leaves parents empowered and hopeful that even little tweaks to their family rhythms can make a big difference.Third, it is practical. Readers get what they want most: more than 100 ideas from other parents they can try today, this week, or this month.Fourth, its ';guidebook' format is accessible. For busy parents who don't have time and inclination to read, this format is a welcome resource that they can return to time and time again for fresh ideas and inspiration.

Herbert Cooper was headed down a very different road, living a reckless lifestyle that would have destroyed him in the end, but God had a different plan. He heard the gospel at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, at which he wasn't even supposed to be, and he gave his life to Christ. Two words changed Cooper's life: But God.These two words can change every single person's life- But God. Each word is only three letters long. The phrase is short, but the implications are huge. The path may look bleak, dim, and hopeless...but GOD changes everything...We've all sinned - whether it is sex outside of marriage, a bitter heart, alcohol or drug abuse, cheating, or lying. Maybe you're at a place in your life where it just feels like things are falling apart. Perhaps you're portraying one thing on the outside and living something else on the inside. Maybe you are simply going through the motions of a life that's not quite what you hoped it would be. These moments drag us down - leaving us feeling hopeless and lost.You need something to happen in your life to change.You need a But God... moment.The But God moments are when God comes in and offers a new path and hope for our lives. These moments occur when we are at are lowest, and turn our down-trodden worlds around for the better. It is up to us to recognize and seize these moments when they occur and follow the renewed path God offers.

In Tables in the Wilderness, Preston Yancey arrived at Baylor University in the autumn of 2008 with his life figured out: he was Southern Baptist, conservative, had a beautiful girlfriend he would soon propose to, had spent the summer living in southeast Asia as a missionary, and planned to study political science.Then God slowly allowed Preston's secure world to fall apart until every piece of what he thought was true was lost: his church, his life of study, his political leanings, his girlfriend, his best friend . . . and his God. It was the loss of God in the midst of all the godly things that changed Preston forever. One day he felt he heard God say, "e;It's going to be about trust with you,"e; and then God was silent-and he still hasn't spoken. At least, not in the ways Preston used to think were the only ways God spoke. No pillars of fire, no clouds, just a bit of whisper in wind.Now, Preston is a patchwork of Anglican spirituality and Baptist sensibility, with a mother who has been in chronic neurological pain for thirteen years and father still devoted to Southern Baptist ministry who reads saints' lives on the side. He now shares his story of coming to terms with a God who is bigger than the one he thought he was worshiping-the God of a common faith, the God who makes tables in the wilderness, the God who is found in cathedrals and in forests and in the Eucharist, the God who speaks in fire and in wind, the God who is bigger than narrow understandings of his will, his desire, his plan-the God who is so big, that everything must be his.

God has a more effective prayer life for you than you ever dreamed possible. Let this volume be your open door to wonderful answers to prayer. Here is your personal guide to a life of mighty prevailing prayer. Let this book speak to your heart, take you to your knees, and help you obtain prayer answers in difficult and resistant situations.Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill calls it an encyclopedia you will want to read and refer to again and again. The evangelical church is guilty of the sin of prayerlessness. Wesley Duewel has provided exactly what we need: a biblically sound exposition of prevailing prayer and practical suggestions for ways to prevail in prayer.

"e;This is a book I'll be recommending for years to come."e; -Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling authorDo you believe God is just not fair?If you're like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances.Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there?Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry.Then in her 40's, everything changed.Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. Jennifer wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt.Where, Jennifer pleaded,is his hand of healing and hope in my life now?This is a book about finding more than just answers. It's for anyone who needs hope when life doesn't make sense-for all who reach for a God who feels distant.As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you:Trust God more than your feelings.Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life.Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose.Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss.

Lydia's job at the library is her worlduntil a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marksthe man so many people fearis actually everything her heart believes him to be.

The World's Fair has introduced many new ideas to Chicago societybut can two individuals from very different backgrounds find love together?It's mid-September 1893 and Eloisa Carstairs is the reigning debutant of Gilded Age Chicago society. To outsiders she appears to have it all. But Eloisa is living with a dark secret. Several months ago, she endured a horrible assault at the hands of Douglass Sloane, heir to one of Chicago's wealthiest families. Fearing the loss of her reputation, Eloisa confided in only one friend. That is, until she meets Detective Sean Ryan at a high-society ball.Sean is on the fringes of the Chicago elite. Born into a poor Irish family, becoming a policeman was his best chance to ensure security. Despite social boundaries, he is enamored with Eloisa Carstairs. Sean will do anything to keep her safeeven if he can never earn her affections.Eloisa longs to feel normal again, but a killer is on the loose. In the last month, three debutants have been accosted by an assailant wielding a knife, and Eloisa fears for her safety at every event she attends. As the danger in the city increases, and as the romance between Eloisa and Sean blossoms, they both realize they want to be seen as more than how the world views them. But will they catch the killer before all their hopes come crashing down?

Kat inspected rows of the same old cupcakes. They seemed to blink back at her, as if they knew she was capable of so much more. Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.But when Lucas Brannen, Kat's best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himselfheris suddenly in danger of slipping away.The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat's senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.

Financial Peace and Freedom in 21 DaysIn The 21-Day Financial Fast, award-winning writer and The Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary proposes a field-tested financial challenge. For twenty-one days, participants will put away their credit cards and buy only the barest essentials. With Michelle's guidance during this three-week financial fast, you will discover how to:Break bad spending habitsPlot a course to become debt-free with the Debt Dash PlanAvoid the temptation of overspending for collegeLearn how to prepare elderly relatives and yourself for future long-term care expensesBe prepared for any contingency with a Life Happens FundStop worrying about money and find the priceless power of financial peaceAs you discover practical ways to achieve financial freedom, you'll experience what it truly means to live a life of financial peace and prosperity.Thousands of individuals have participated in the fast and as a result have gotten out of debt and become better managers of their money and finances. The 21-Day Financial Fast is great for earners at any income-level or stage of life, whether you are living paycheck-to-paycheck or just trying to make smarter financial choices.

Against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Fair, a young woman finds employment with an illustrious Chicago familya family who may guard the secret of her sister's disappearance.Sloane House is among the most gilded mansions of Gilded Age Chicago. Rosalind Perry, the new housemaid, pours the morning coffee before the hard gaze of her mistress.';It's simple, Rosalind,' she says. ';I am Veronica Sloane, heiress to one of the country's greatest fortunes. You are simply one in a long line of unsuitable maids.'Back on the farm in Wisconsin, Rosalind's plan had seemed logical: Move to Chicago. Get hired on at Sloane House. Discover what transpired while her sister worked as a maid thereand follow the clues to why she disappeared.Now, as a live-in housemaid to the Sloanes, Rosalind realizes her plan had been woefully simple-minded.She was ignorant of the hard, hidden life of a servant in a big, prominent house; of the divide between the Sloane family and the people who served them; and most of all, she had never imagined so many people could live in such proximity and keep such dark secrets.Yet, while Sloane House is daunting, the streets of Chicago are downright dangerous. The World's Fair has brought a new kind of crime to the city . . . and a lonely young woman is always at risk. But when Rosalind accepts the friendship of Reid Armstrong, the handsome young heir to a Chicago silver fortune, she becomes an accidental rival to Veronica Sloane.As Rosalind continues to disguise her kinship to the missing maidand struggles to appease her jealous mistressshe probes the dark secrets of Sloane House and comes ever closer to uncovering her sister's mysterious fate. A fate that everyone in the house seems to know . . . but which no one dares to name.

A surprise gift from her late husband will give a young widow the chance to do the hardest thing in the world . . . move on.On their honeymoon, the new Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Shaw made a pact: No matter the sacrifices along the way, one day they would return to Sunset Beach, North Carolinathis time to buy their own home.But that dream was not to be. Seven years into a beautiful marriage, Emily is left a widow, heartbroken, and way past caring about anything.Until a man approaches her, claiming to have something left to her from Ryan. Something secret.Unsure if she can ever embrace a new life without her husband, but even less sure about continuing to stay where she is, Emily heads to the coast to keep her end of the promise she once made.Without delay, she becomes immersed in the lives of the locals, including the reclusive bridge tender with an unexpected past. As the community debates over building a new bridge, Emily must decide whether she will build a bridge of her own, one that will take her out of a painful past and into the new lifeand new lovethat her lost love made possible.

We all yearn to look back to find we lived a life of significance. But is it even possible anymore? Considering the amount of distraction and pressure that exists in society today, living a fulfilling life may seem like an unachievable dream. But it is notnot with the nine habits outlined in this book.New York Times bestselling author and widely known blogger, Rachel Macy Stafford, reveals nine habits that help you focus on investing in the most significant parts of your life. As your hands, heart, and eyes become open, you will experience a new sense of urgencyan urgency to live, love, dream, connect, create, forgive, and flourish despite the distractions of our culture. By following each daily Hands Free Declaration, you will be inspired to adopt mindful daily practices and new thought-processes that will help you:*; Make meaningful, lasting human connections despite the busyness of everyday life.*; Live in the now despite that inner nudge pushing you out of the moment toward perfection and productivity.*; Protect your most sacred relationships, as well as your values, beliefs, health, and happiness, despite the latent dangers of technology and social media.*; Pursue the passions of your heart without sacrificing your job or your daily responsibilities.*; Evaluate your daily choices to insure you are investing in a life that matters to you.With a Hands Free Life perspective, you will have the power to look back and see you didn't just manage life, you actually lived itand lived it well.

THE U.S. NAVY'S BILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OF DRONES LANDS TWO NAVY JAG OFFICERS IN THE GUN SIGHTS OF A KILLER.Caroline is just getting her feet wet at the prestigious Code 13, but is thankful for at least one familiar faceher old flame, P.J. MacDonald. He loops her into the assignment he is currently working onthe legality of a proposed drone-sharing contract with Homeland Security that would allow the sale of drones for domestic surveillance. The contractor wants a legal opinion clearing the contract for congressional approval. But the mob wants the proposal dead-on-arrival. When P.J. is gunned down in cold blood and a second JAG officer is killed, one thing becomes clear: whoever is ordered to write the legal opinion on the drones becomes a target. Which is exactly why Caroline goes to her commanding officer and volunteers to write the legal opinion herself. She is determined to avenge P.J.'s death and trap the killer, even if that means making herself a target.It is a deadly game of Russian roulette for the sake of justice, but Caroline is determined to see it through, even if it costs her life.

What principles enabled the concerned mom of two junior high school students to move from deciding she needed to pray for her kids at school to becoming the founder of a worldwide prayer movement called Moms In Prayer International?Fern Nichols is a passionate believer in the power of prayer. She knows that a regular habit of prayer can change things--can bring home wayward children, heal broken marriages, and provide answers to desperate situations. Prayer can also bring a new kind of peace and contentment no matter what hardships or disappointments we face. But most important, Fern knows that through prayer we can experience, firsthand, an ever-increasing intimacy with God.In Moms In Prayer, Fern Nichols reveals how she teaches women to pray in a way that changes their lives and the lives of those they love. She teaches the principles and practices that will not only revolutionize the way people think about prayer, but the way they do pray, leading them into a deeper intimacy with Jesus, who is always interceding on our behalf.Sparkling with real-life stories of God at work in the lives of praying moms, Fern introduces us to the four prayers that are the foundation of the Moms In Prayer approach to prayer:Praise--Praying according to the attributes of GodConfession--Breaking strongholdsThanksgiving--Expressing a grateful heartIntercession--Standing in the gap with Jesus.What transforms these well-known elements of prayer into such a powerful force in Moms In Prayer International? Fern Nichols introduces a way of praying that energizes, creates an appetite for intimacy with God, overcomes spiritual paralysis, eliminates fear, unveils the heart and character of God, and transforms the pray-er's life and perspective. She teaches how to pray effectively with others, how to prepare for the spiritual battles that swirl when prayer is on the move, how to persist in prayer in the face of hopelessness and despair, and how to use Scripture for effective prayer. God hears

Discover the power, joy, and love of living "e;hands free"e; from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford. Hands Free Mama is the digital society's answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world.If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it's no wonder we're distracted.But this isn't the way it has to be. Special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford says enough is enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most.Finding balance doesn't mean giving up all technology forever. And it doesn't mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart - and your hands - to the possibilities of each God-given moment.

A War Zone of the SoulDr. W. Lee Warren's life as a neurosurgeon in a trauma center began to unravel long before he shipped off to serve the Air Force in Iraq in 2004. When he traded a comfortable if demanding practice in San Antonio, Texas, for a ride on a C-130 into the combat zone, he was already reeling from months of personal struggle.At the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Warren realized his experience with trauma was just beginning. In his 120 days in a tent hospital, he was trained in a different specialty-surviving over a hundred mortar attacks and trying desperately to repair the damages of a war that raged around every detail of every day. No place was safe, and the constant barrage wore down every possible defense, physical or psychological.One day, clad only in a T-shirt, gym shorts, and running shoes, Warren was caught in the open while round after round of mortars shook the earth and shattered the air with their explosions, stripping him of everything he had been trying so desperately to hold on to.Warren's story is an example of how a person can go from a place of total loss to one of strength, courage, and victory. Whether you are in the midst of your own crisis of faith, failed relationship, financial struggle, or illness, you will be inspired to remember that how you respond determines whether you survive-spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically.It is the beginning of a long journey home.

How to Make Every Moment of Every Day CountEvery moment of every day, you have a choice to make. You can either let the minutes pass you by or you can claim them for what they are: opportunities to unlock the full depth of life's potential.For Carlos Whittaker, renowned blogger, musician and worship leader, and husband and dad, living deliberately is a way of life. Making moments that are significant, memorable, or impactful are a part of how he navigates each day, and it has forever changed the landscape of his story.In Moment Maker, Carlos explains his methodology for living intentionally and claiming moments that touch the lives of others, whether that be his family, his friends, his colleagues, or total strangers.Carlos isn't asking anyone to make a big investment in time, energy, or money. He is simply uncovering the investment of attention. You don't have to buy tickets to special events or orchestrate elaborate surprises. You just have to be aware-of your surroundings, the people you encounter, the things that interest those important to you, the opportunities that present themselves-and be prepared to seize those moments and see lives changed.

This powerful booklet, excerpted from All In tells us that the Gospel costs nothing, but demands everything. If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing. It's now or never. It's time to ante up and go all in with God.No one has ever sacrificed anything for God. If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn't give back to God. What we didn't push back across the table to Him. Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.Batterson writes, "e;For many years, I thought I was following Jesus. I wasn't. I had invited Jesus to follow me. I call it inverted Christianity. And it's a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality. That's when I sold out and bought in. When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan? It's a daring plan. Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous."e;

In Search of the Good LifeHave you ever felt that your life--and budget--is spiraling out of control? Do you sometimes wish you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life? Is it possible to find balance?In a word, yes.Ruth Soukup knows firsthand how stressful an unorganized life and budget can be. Through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire you to make real and lasting changes to your personal goals, home, and finances. With honesty and the wisdom of someone who has been there, Ruth will help you: * Discover your "e;sweet spot"e;--that place where your talents and abilities intersect. * Take back your time and schedule by making simple shifts in your daily habits. * Reduce stress in your home and family by clearing out the clutter. * Stop busting your budget and learn to cut your grocery bill in half. Who Needs This Book?Living Well, Spending Less was written to bring hope and encouragement to every woman who currently feels overwhelmed or stressed with a life--and budget--that feels out of control. It speaks to the mom trying to juggle all the demands of a busy life with the pressure to keep up with those around her. It is a practical guide for those of us who often long to pull ourselves together but don't always know how. It is real, honest, packed with practical tips, and speaks to the heart of the matter--how can we live the life we've always wanted? Want to know if this book is for you? * Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to those around you? * Have you ever wished for the courage to follow your dreams? * Do you ever struggle to stay organized or get things done? * Have you ever felt loaded down with stuff you don't really need....or even really want? * Do you ever struggle to keep your finances on track? * Do you sometimes long for deeper, more authentic relationships in your life?If the answer to any of these questions is YES, this book provides real and practical solutions from someone who has been there. Ruth doesn't just offer advice, she walks it with you, and shares with brutal honesty her own mistakes, failures, and shortcomings. It is encouraging, motivating, and life-changing.What Others Are Saying:"e;An incredible book that will teach you how to spend smart without compromising a great life. Ruth's stories and practical advice will make you want to be a better mother, wife, sister, and friend."e; --RACHEL CRUZE, coauthor with Dave Ramsey of Smart Money Smart Kids"e;Ruth knows firsthand how mamas like us live crazy busy lives, and she steps in as a friend to help us manage and love every minute of it. She offers her best tips for gaining control over the chaos with wisdom-based insights on all things thrifty and family. I'll be reading it again and again!"e; --RENEE SWOPE, bestselling author of A Confident Heart

The choices you make each and every day determine not only your relationship with God but also the quality of your marriage. The decisions you make today will determine the marriage you will have tomorrow.In From This Day Forward, you will discover five commitments that will absolutely fail-proof your marriage:Seek God.Fight fair.Have fun.Stay pure, andNever give up.If you and your spouse will earnestly commit to do all five of these things, you'll discover a richer, deeper, more authentic relationship and a more rewarding, more passionate love life.Don't be a statistic. Don't be average. Let's get you the marriage you've always wanted.Starting right nowfrom this day forward.