The message blew up on social-media, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged.In Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem—highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair and hope. With refreshing candor he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior.Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he’s not a pastor or theologian, but simply a regular, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. Along his journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him beyond the props of false religion.

    He stands tall in the face of giants. He strives to honor God through his life. He is trusting when it seems all hope is lost. And when life is uncertain, he is certain of God’s unfailing provision. Battle Ready is for any man who longs to serve God. Explore the lives of men who made an impact in their world, including Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and Caleb, who trusted God, and not himself, for victory in battle Men of all ages, at every stage of their spiritual walk, will discover how they too can become men God can use, men who are battle ready!

    But when we pursue the more and better that the world offers above our pursuit of Jesus, we fall into dangerous parenting habits. In Becoming a Spiritually Healthy Family, Michelle Anthony unpacks six common dysfunctional parenting styles that we fall into out of habit, lack of attention, or just oversight due to busyness. If you long to show your children Jesus but don't know how to do it, you'll find hope in this practical guide to creating a relentlessly grace-filled home that is focused on God as first in charge. Includes Scripture guides, reflection questions, ideas for family rites of passage, and other real life family examples.Michelle Anthony is the vice president of Learning Resources and Family Ministry Architect at David C Cook and the author of Spiritual Parenting, Dreaming of More for the Next Generation, A Theology of Family Ministry, and The Big God Story. Michelle has graduate degrees in Christian education, theology, and leadership and over twenty-five years of church ministry experience as a children’s and family pastor. She lives in Colorado Springs and loves a good book and a cup of coffee.

    The Practice and Presence of God is one of the most beautiful and touching stories of Christian devotion ever written. Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite Brother known for his profound peace and deep relationship with God; many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become the basis for the book. These two translations will help the reader find a more complete understanding of this wonderful and enduring story. The Spiritual Maxims of Brother Lawrence are beautifully spiritual teachings that can help anyone have a closer relationship with God. And the short biography that closes out the books offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of Brother Lawrence.

    In many ways, Kasey Van Norman has suffered more heartbreak than one woman can bear.   Growing up, she endured her parents' divorce, date rape, and years of addiction to sex and cutting.   As an adult, she suffered the pain of an emotional affair, rejection by her friends and community, and her mother's death from cancer.   But at the end of this twisting path of heartbreak, Kasey walked out of the wilderness and into a place of God's merciful and miraculous healing.  In Named By God, Kasey shares her story of God's infinite grace and compassion so that other women might learn from her experience and grow in their own relationship with God.

    Why do trials come your way? To mold and transform your heart so that His life can flow through—making you fruitful and useful to him! Drawing from her own walk with the Lord, Gisela Yohannan shares on finding strength in God's presence, overcoming seasons of testing, being real and more. Originally written for the Asian mission field, the principles in these pages cross cultural boundaries and have a deep relevance for anyone who desires to follow Jesus.

    Quietly He shares His heart with you throughout the day. But are you listening?This book is an invitation to a deeper intimacy with your loving Savior. As a devotion each day is written as if from Jesus to you. Listen to His voice each day, as you are challenged to increase your faith and change your life.

    God is more about deepening the mystery of faith, not removing it. Jesus should get bigger the longer we walk with him. Life and faith should grow to be more profound and wondrous, not less. In Astonished, you will see how we are far more comfortable with tips, steps and techniques for living, than we are with ruthlessly trusting the mysterious God of the Bible. God asks us to follow him into tension, frustration, and difficulty because he wants our trust, not just our intellectual agreement. He calls us to seek Him even as we live in awe of all that is yet to be known about Him. Astonished is an invitation to question in a culture that wants answers, to wonder in a world with little mystery left, and to believe in what is unseen and find it beautiful.

    Passages from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's letters and sermons provide special encouragement as readers prepare themselves spiritually for Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Supplemented by an informative introduction to Bonhoeffer's life and a Scripture passage for each day of the season, these daily devotions are moving reminders of the true gift of Christ on the cross.

    Grace.. It's a word we all love to hear. But do we all know what it means? Without it, our lives are dry and dusty. But when grace comes, it transforms our lives into something rich and beautiful. With remarkable insight gleaned from his own life, Pastor Chuck Smith unfolds the mystery of grace and reveals the surprising truth: We can never grow in grace by our own efforts. True grace flows from the heart of the Father through the love of Jesus Christ. To know that God is for you, that He loves you, is the greatest source of security you will ever know. That is grace-and that is what makes life worth living.

    God moments are all around us. We just have to learn to recognize them! The writers of www.encouraging.com looked for indicators of God’s presence and then captured them in 366 daily devotions. By journeying with them through God Moments, you’ll become more sensitive to how God reveals Himself. You’ll also learn to stay alert for your own God moments.

    Closer shows wives and husbands how to grow that love together. Introduced with Scripture verses and engaging stories, these 52 devotionals will inspire couples to draw closer through faith conversations--those quiet talks so vital for emotional and spiritual intimacy in a marriage. Guided, practical action steps round out each reading. Closer, with its flexible weekly format, is an appealing alternative to a daily devotional.

    Now these inspirational reflections have been collected in one place with this devotional. This beautifully packaged volume features twelve poignant stories for each month and a year’s worth of daily reflections. You will relate to how other women deal with life in relation to biblical women through stories, such as: Betty, who finds the wisdom she needs from Martha when she feels too busy and overwhelmed with life to take the time to talk with Jesus Susan, who lost her husband to colon cancer, turns to the example of Elizabeth by sharing in the joy of others who recover from the same type of cancer, instead of harboring resentment Love, motherhood, sadness, joy, grief—everything is explored by these contributors. The power of these biblical women will inspire you to call upon God’s love, help, and grace whenever needed.

    (Zechariah 10:1) God is pouring out His Spirit and revival rain is falling across the Earth. How should you respond? Ask for more!  How can revival impact your everyday life? Maybe you’ve thought revival is for “super-charged” Christians—not for everyday people going through everyday life. Wrong. God wants your everyday to be overflowing with Holy Spirit power.Do you feel like there is more to being a Christ-follower than rhetoric, rules and regulations? The truth is, you were created for a dynamic relationship with the living God. Don’t settle for scattered showers when there is a great outpouring available.God is seeking ready ground to pour out His revival rain on.  Are you ready?

    Through powerful daily "dares" or challenges, Ron Kincaid, pastor of Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, guides readers not just to think or talk or read about prayer . . . but to actually pray. Individuals and small groups will gain confidence in their prayer lives, strengthen their understanding of prayer's purpose, and learn how to apply key scriptural principles of prayer to their everyday lives.The Prayer Dare is a practical, no-nonsense handbook that demonstrates concepts with relatable illustrations and then invites readers to engage in simple exercises to make the "dare" a personal reality. Journaling space is also provided to record practice and progress. Dares include "Don't Be Afraid to Ask," "Pray Like You Mean It," "Take God Seriously," and "Be Transparent." Each dare builds on the last, and as readers take the challenges one-by-one, they will begin to do something incredible: pray.