Personal religious testimony and popular inspirational works Books

Book SynopsisIn early 2020, a highly contagious virus made its way around the world. In a matter of days the things that many people relied on for security were shown to be flimsy sources of hope. Authors from three of the worst–affected countries in Europe have united in this book to reflect on the only comfort we have in life and death – Jesus Christ. Each taking a different aspect of what this hope looks like, they answer the question, what can we believe and hope for in times like this?Trade ReviewWhen a storm such as this pandemic is raging, it is vital to drop the strong anchor of Christian hope into the bedrock of God’s Word, God’s promises and God’s proven faithfulness. This short book does exactly that. And when many false assumptions and apocalyptic theories swirl around, it is vital to be assured of what the Bible does (and doesn’t) teach about evil and suffering. This book does that too. Simple but solidly biblical, tackling tough issues in a very readable way – I strongly commend it. -- Chris Wright (Langham Partnership and author of ‘The Mission of God’s People’)A trio of European experts in psychology, theology and apologetics offer a fascinating and thoroughly biblical response, not just to the current Covid crisis, but to every crisis. The authors confront the raw reality of suffering with a vibrant resurrection hope. -- Jeremy McQuoid (Teaching Pastor, Deeside Christian Fellowship, Aberdeen, Scotland and Chair of Council, Keswick Ministries)Living in such turbulent times, people are inevitably asking the question: ‘Where can I find hope and security in the midst of suffering and uncertainty?’ This book will help many as it provides satisfying answers and great comfort, rooted in the promises of God in Scripture. -- Lindsay Brown (Former General Secretary of IFES and International Director, Lausanne Movement)This short book contains sustenance for a long journey – the journey of life! Prompted by the anxiety, fear and uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the authors have produced a gem of a book that succinctly deals with life’s big issues. The three authors helpfully bring different cultural perspectives and insights. The book holds together well because each one digs deep into the Bible for nuggets of truth from which to draw nourishment and hope. Those who have been following Jesus for a long time and those who are simply exploring the Christian faith will find encouragement and much to consider. -- Elaine Duncan (Chief Executive, Scottish Bible Society)

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Book SynopsisThe word glory is used throughout the Bible – in over 370 verses in fact. It is often used to describe the majesty and greatness of God. This glory is reflected in His creation – and most particularly in His people. In this short book for young adults, Derek Thomas explains what the Bible means when it talks about glory. Beginning with the Creation, he explains how the reflection of God’s glory was not completely destroyed when sin entered the world, but it was broken. Thomas then goes on to explain how this glory of God was perfectly represented in the person of Jesus; how it is partially restored in Christians; and how it will be perfectly restored in the new heavens and the new earth. This complex topic is simply explained for teenagers and young adults who may be trying to understand the concept of glorification for the first time. Each chapter is summarised in a ‘Main Point’ at the end and complemented with questions to reflect on and further passages of scripture to explore. If readers are looking to dig deeper into the subject, there is also a list of recommended books that they can investigate. Contents Introduction Glory Begun Glory Lost Glory Restored The Golden Chain Now and Not Yet The Glory in Us The Glory and Glorification of Jesus Future Glory Final Glory Conclusion: What a Thing of Beauty We Are Appendix A: What Now? Appendix B: Other Books on this Topic About the Track Series Track is a series of books designed to disciple the next generation in the areas of culture, doctrine, & the Christian life. While the topics addressed aren’t always simple, they are communicated in a manner that is.Trade ReviewPart of Christian discipleship is getting this hope down into your heart until you really believe it, and it begins to change your longings and your living. Dr. Thomas, as a sympathetic shepherd, will guide you in the truth of glorification to that end. -- Ligon Duncan (Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary)This book celebrates the marvelous glory that is to come. All the while, reminding us of how that future glory breaks in to this present world. Thank you, Dr. Thomas, for offering biblical wisdom and insight into what living the Christian life is all about. -- Stephen J. Nichols (President, Reformation Bible College, CAO Ligonier Ministries, Sanford, Florida)A bright, thoughtful, engaging and much needed introduction to the wonder and power of God’s presence made known. -- Jonny Dyer (Associate Rector, All Souls, Langham Place, London)

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Book SynopsisIt is right to have confidence in your Christian life, if that confidence stems from God’s saving power. J.C. Ryle shows us that assurance is something every Christian should desire. There are steps we can take in our search for that goal; these are clearly marked out for us by Ryle. Do you know that you are part of God’s family?

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Book SynopsisThis book contains the stories of ten women whose circumstances and choices led them to a place that seemed far removed from the fruitful, joy–filled life we are called to live in Christ. But each of their stories is a testament to the work God does through his imperfect children. Their stories will encourage and inspire, and remind you that you are not alone in your struggles. The names of some of these women are well–known, some are less so. The first five stories are about relationships with other people; the next five stories are about inner struggles. Overcoming Sexual Sin & Identity – Rosaria Butterfield Difficult Marriage and Divorce – Joy Davidman Bereavement – Elisabeth Elliot Singleness – Betsie & Corrie ten Boom Overcoming with Forgiveness – Betsie & Corrie ten Boom Eating Disorders – Christie Dondero Bettwy Illness – Susannah Spurgeon False Beliefs – Doreen Virtue Self–Righteousness – Susanna Wesley The Fear of Man – Sarah Edwards Through exploring how other women of Christ’s Kingdom began anew in him, you will be encouraged on your own path of joy and freedom. Although you may not be in the same position as these women, there are things we can learn from each of them. In every chapter, MacLeod focuses on bearing fruit for Christ even in these circumstances and includes questions to think through and discuss how the truths learned by these women could be applied to your own life. Trade ReviewThe book provides no easy answers, but it shows how, in the real lives of real women, ways are found through the problems that present themselves to believers and how God is faithful to his promises even in the darkest of days. -- Irene Howat (Award–winning author)You’ll want to read 10 Women Who Overcame Their Past and rejoice in our redeeming, victorious Lord and Savior, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. -- Kristen Wetherell (Author of ‘Humble Moms’, ‘Fight Your Fears’ and co–author of ‘Hope When It Hurts’)As readers think through the myriad of issues tackled here, Dayspring MacLeod asks and answers the question of whether fruit can be harvested. Praise God, it can be. What an encouragement that is for us all. -- Mary K. Mohler (Director, Seminary Wives Institute, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)Through these stories, we see women who overcame, but not in their own power and strength; rather, through the redemptive work of Christ on their behalf. In reading 10 Women, you’ll meet sisters in Christ whose lives and testimony both encourage and equip you to turn to Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith. -- Christina Fox (Counselor, retreat speaker and author)

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’? In this valuable book, Paul Wells takes the reader through the five conditions favourable for growth in Christ: planting in the right place for spiritual life to begin; rooting in the biblical teaching of the word of God; growing up to stability in Christ; maturity and vitality through the work of the Spirit; and fruitfulness as the outcome of growth into Christ. Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter.Trade ReviewAuthored by a lifelong defender of biblical truth, this book provides a healthy corrective for any who imagine that spiritual growth can bypass robust theology. -- James Hely Hutchinson (Director, Institut Biblique de Bruxelles, Belgium )Paul Wells writes with conviction and clarity, with care and compassion, with straightforward affection and a lively tone. For those committed to growing more like Christ, or for those seeking to helping others grow, this will be a genuinely useful resource. -- Jeremy Walker (Pastor, Maidenbower Baptist Church, UK)Growing in Christ is a biblical and theological feast that encourages readers to hunger for more. Regardless of where you may be on your Christian journey, this personal, practical and enjoyable guide offers rich nourishment for the soul. I will return often to Paul Wells’ simple but profound study on Christian growth. -- Peter Lillback (President, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania )… a succinct, helpful, biblical, theological, and practical book that details enduring growth through five biblical steps … By the Spirit’s grace, this book will instruct, edify, and mature you in our wonderful Saviour, so that you will bear fruit to His glory. -- Joel R. Beeke (Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan)Reading this book is to benefit from Paul Wells’ own deep rootedness in the Scriptures. In a world calling us to question any truth outside ourselves, we need this urgent and encouraging reminder of our true calling to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. -- Kathleen B. Nielson (Director of Women's Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition)

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Book SynopsisRedeem your story, redefine your creativity, and make a life that truly matters Sometimes the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. After years stuck in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally hit rock bottom. No longer able to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, Blaine was forced to look at the story his life was telling and realize he'd lost the plot. Desperate to find hope, he gave up a budding career and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave, Blaine shares the stories that shaped him while exploring how our relationship to our past defines how we imagine the future and live in the present. Through powerful personal revelations, he invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so you can tell a better story with your life. If you've ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, discontented, or lost, take courage--a richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting for you just outside the cave. "A tender but fierce story of survival, reckoning, and redemption. Blaine manages to somehow weave themes of acting, allegory, addiction, family, and faith into one beautifully written account of his own healing. This is the kind of story that will redeem you."--Laura McKowen, bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest "Blaine Hogan has inspired me for many years with his unique way of seeing the world. In this book you'll find a blast of inspiration and a trusty guide to help you exit the cave and enter a world that is real and beautiful and vital."--Brad Montague, New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Circles All Around Us, Becoming Better Grownups, and Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome

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Book SynopsisWhat makes life meaningful? More to the point, what makes our life meaningful? Without a good answer to that question, we can expend much energy and experience much anxiety as we attempt to live lives of significance, only to find that in the end we missed the point entirely and along the way were deeply dissatisfied. But there is hope. In Why You Matter, Michael Sherrard shows that life is only meaningful if God exists. He then shows how that fundamental fact provides clarity for some of the most important questions of our lives, including - Who am I? - How should I treat others? - What should I do with my life? - How do I make sense of suffering? If you have struggled with a sense of self-worth and direction in your life, or if you have a friend, colleague, or family member who is searching for meaning in a world of suffering, chaos, and uncertainty, Why You Matter will give you confidence that your life matters--but maybe not for the reasons you think.

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Book Synopsis"What can I do?" That was the question Diane Latiker asked of herself as she watched the teens in her Chicago neighborhood succumb at an alarming rate to gangs and gun violence. Her answer started small, inviting ten kids into her living room to talk about their struggles and dreams. But over the years it grew. With the help of God, her family, and many other people along the way, Diane's Kids Off the Block morphed from a personal crusade to do what she could into a nationally known program that has helped more than 3,000 at-risk Chicago teens. In this powerful, energizing book, she tells her incredible story to men and women who are sick of sitting behind their keyboards watching the world crumble and are ready to do something to make a difference. Through doubt, financial strain, and deep grief over lives lost, Diane has never lost her faith that God called her to this life-transforming work. In these pages she'll show you that God is calling you to do something too. Maybe something that feels small . . . definitely something that will change the world.

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Book SynopsisTo be human means to try and sometimes fail, to love and sometimes lose, to risk and sometimes regret. There are times when we realize where our choices have brought us and we're afraid to be honest--with ourselves, with others, with God--about how we're really feeling and how we got to where we are. Because what if no one understands? What if they think less of us? What if God is disappointed with us? Eryn Eddy wants you to know that no matter your past mistakes, relationship status, career choice, or feelings, nothing can change the truth that you are so worth loving. In this openhearted book, she takes you by the hand and helps you look in, look up, and look out, exploring your relationship with yourself, God, and others. She gives you permission to feel deeply and openly before God, who isn't afraid of our feelings, no matter what they are. And she lovingly reminds you that you are not crazy, you are not alone, and you will get through this.

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Book SynopsisThere may be no more powerful desire in the human heart than to be loved. And not just loved, but loved anyway. In spite of what we've done or left undone, in spite of the ways we have failed or floundered. We long for an unconditional, lavish love that we know intrinsically we don't deserve. If you are tired, sad, yet always longing, bestselling author Jared C. Wilson has incredible news for you: that kind of love actually exists, and it is actually something you can experience--whether or not you're in a romantic relationship. In his signature reflective, conversational, and often humorous style, Wilson unpacks 1 Corinthians 13 to show us what real love looks like. Through engaging stories and touching anecdotes, he paints a picture of an extravagant God who not only puts the desire for love into our very souls but fulfills those desires in striking, life-changing ways.

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Book SynopsisAbby Johnson thought she knew what mercy was when she ushered desperate women toward abortion as the director of a Planned Parenthood facility. She was wrong. It wasn't until she understood the blood on her hands that she personally experienced the power of God's fierce yet tender mercy to transform her life. But she never imagined what could happen once she allowed that very mercy to infiltrate her life and spill out into a hurting world. In Fierce Mercy, Abby calls you to experience a transformation of your own. Against the backdrop of her first decade involved in the pro-life movement, Abby helps you discover God's unrestrained mercy at work in your own life and take steps toward becoming a channel of that life-changing mercy in the world around you. She shows you how to model God's mercy, freely offer mercy to those who seem undeserving, respond with mercy when others err or offend, and bear witness to God's unrestrained compassion so that others may know him. This is Abby's challenge to you: dare to do what is hard, what is right, and what is good. And do all of it in love.

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Book Synopsis?In this 50-day guide, #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer draws upon the teachings of the apostle Paul to help you experience joy-filled living each day of your life.Joy is not just a "happy feeling" based on circumstances or on things you possess-it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that empowers you to remain stable and persevere through hard times so you rise above them, rather than becoming defeated by them. One of the hallmarks of Paul's epistles is the joy with which he writes and which he invites his readers to experience also. He chose joy in all circumstances, even during times of struggle.In this unique book, Joyce Meyer presents Paul's teachings on joy into concise lessons that equip you to triumph over the greatest challenges to a joy-filled life. Through these 50 daily entries, you'll be encouraged to embrace the truths God has given you, truths that will allow you to overcome the emotions, attitudes, and experiences that rob you of joy. Be Joyful in the journey and begin to experience the wonderful, abundant life that the Lord has in store for you!

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Book SynopsisA young mother's life is forever changed and her faith in God is broken when her son in diagnosed with several birth defects. Restore and grow your faith as you read about Hilary Yancey's personal journey back to God.Hilary Yancey thought she had unshakable faith until it was truly tested. Married to her college sweetheart and jubilantly expecting their first child, when a routine ultrasound revealed her baby's significant facial cleft, a missing eye, and one especially tiny ear, Hilary asked God for a miracle and believed her son would be healed.But he wasn't. And the weeks the couple spent beside their baby's hospital bed became a spiritual exile for the young mother, where she contemplated faith, nearly lost all of it she had, wrestled with anger with God, and was reintroduced to Him by her beautiful baby boy, Jackson.For readers of spiritual narrative, new parents in the midst of the challenge, anyone who has experienced faith-shattering circumstances, or those who find themselves lost in the wilderness of shaken belief, this book will provoke honest self-reflection and encouragement through a mother's vulnerable, raw account of her journey back to God.

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Book SynopsisHealing the Soul of a Woman delved deeply into Joyce Meyer's personal story and the journey of healing for all women. Despite suffering from years of abuse, abandonment, and betrayal by those closest to her, Joyce firmly believes a woman who has been deeply hurt by life's circumstances can be healed, heart and soul. Her steadfast claim comes from living her own journey of soul healing, and from seeing so many women who don't believe they can fully overcome their pain--or even know where to begin--find the guidance they need in the life-changing wisdom of the Bible.Now, in this companion devotional, Joyce will guide you through 90 daily readings to encourage you through whatever obstacles may be holding you back from finding your true destiny. God can heal your pain, and He wants to do this in you. Let HEALING THE SOUL OF A WOMAN DEVOTIONAL be an inspiration in your journey toward the wonderful, joyful future God has planned for you.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of ten New York Times bestsellers, discover a strength that pushes you forward—and the power to do what you couldn’t before.You may feel weak and fatigued, but that is not your destiny. When you feel overwhelmed, like you can’t go on, He comes in and gives you special strength. Strength that you didn’t get on your own. Strength to move forward when you should be stuck, strength to overcome that hurdle, strength to outlast that opposition. You’re going to feel strength that you didn’t have, joy when you could be discouraged, and hope when you should be depressed. You’re going to have the power to endure, the favor to overcome, and the determination to outlast.He’s going to bring blessings, increase, favor, and healing that He’s already prepared. It’s going to be easier than you thought, and it’s going to happen sooner than you think. As you read You Are Stronger Than You Think, feel a power rising that you have never felt—a strength, a courage, a determination, a stamina. He won’t let you stay overwhelmed. You may feel that way at times, but that’s not how your story ends. You’re going to feel a strength that pushes you forward, a power to do what you couldn’t do before.​Believe and declare that you are strong, you are victorious, and you are able. You’re going to accomplish dreams bigger than you imagined, overcome obstacles that look insurmountable, and reach the fullness of your destiny!

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