John Riccardo helps us dive into the Scriptures so that we can apply them to our daily lives. In his inspiring and incisive way, Fr. Riccardo addresses the obstacles we all face in becoming mature disciples. How do we learn to forgive? How do we combat fear and understand suffering? How do we worship the Lord, love others as Christ loves us, and fully surrender our lives to God? If you've enjoyed Fr. Riccardo's gifts of teaching and preaching through his broadcasts and podcasts, this book is for you!

    His inexhaustible and wide ranging portfolio of works includes journalistic writing, poetry, biography, Christian, fantasy and detective genres. His style is distinctive and always marked by humility, consistency, irony, wit and wonder. Some of his most enduring books include "The Everlasting Man," which led C.S. Lewis to become a Christian and "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" which inspired Michael Collins to lead a movement for Irish independence. G.K. Chesterton is sometimes referred to as the most unjustly neglected writer of our time. One reason might be his versatility and the inability for modern thinkers, theologians, and commentators to pigeonhole him. We challenge you to enjoy his remarkable style, eloquence, and faith-based writing at this joyous time of the year. In this edition of "Advent and Christmas Wisdom," each day's reflection includes a selection from one of Chesterton's finest works, a suitable Scripture verse, an appropriate prayer, and an exercise. This addition to one of Liguori's best-selling series is truly a refreshing, prayerful preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. "Paperback"PDF SamplesIntroductionTable of ContentsPages 2-3Available for the Amazon Kindle:

    The readings include helpful background information on the psalm, a related hymn stanza, and an application thought. Biweekly “Interludes” further aid understanding by explaining things such as acrostic psalms or Hebrew poetic style. Indexes included.

    In Broken Into Beautiful, singer and songwriter Gwen Smith's first book, she tells the real-life stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls, and the God who makes them beautiful again. Each chapter features a compelling personal story coupled with relevant biblical teaching and application. Readers will meet women wounded by infidelity, abortion, widowhood, abuse, and other tragic events, only to discover the joy of being restored by a loving heavenly Father.The book will remind women of all ages of God's willingness to eternally forgive and forget and of His heart to transform broken lives. Readers will be empowered to believe truth, to remember grace, and to live for God's greater purposes. Broken into Beautiful is ultimately about a beautiful Savior who became broken for us so that all who are broken can be transformed to reflect His beauty.

     When Nate Wilson looks at the world around him, he asks "What is this place? Why is this place? Who approved it? Am I supposed to take it seriously?" What could such an outlandish, fantastical world say about its Creator? In these sparkling chapters, Wilson gives an aesthetic examination of the ways in which humanity has tried to make sense of this overwhelming carnival ride of a world. He takes a whimsical, thought-provoking look at everything from the "magic" of quantum physics, to nature's absurdities, to the problem of evil, evolution and hell. These frequently humorous, and uniquely beautiful portraits express reality unknown to many Christians-the reality of God's story unfolding around and among us. As the author says, "Welcome to His poem. His play. His novel. His comedy. Let the pages flick your thumbs."

    Having never cooked a day in her life, she is terrified of being found out and banished to the cotton fields as was her mother before her. But when she accidentally burns the freedom papers of Jonathan Mayfield, a handsome free man of color to whom she's attracted, her fear of the fields becomes secondary.A gifted cabinetmaker, Jonathan Mayfield's heart is set on finally becoming a respected businessman by outfitting a bedroom at the palatial Riverwood—until a beautiful new slave destroys his proof of freedom and his fragile confidence along with it. When the mistress of Riverwood orders Dinah to work alongside the sullen Mr. Mayfield, sparks fly setting the two on a collision course. Is their mutual love for God strong enough to overcome deep-seated insecurities and set the couple on a path toward self-acceptance and love for each other?

    Book one in the series. Island Dreams A land developer with something to prove comes to Wildflower Island to develop her family’s land. She soon finds herself at odds with adjoining property owner. If only she wasn’t attracted to him. Book two in the series. Island Christmas A sous Chef returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island.A self-proclaimed workaholic comes to Wildflower Island hoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B&B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs. Book three in the series. Island Hope A metal sculptor gave up on art when her creativity was zapped by another person's actions, she takes a job on Wildflower Island. She never imagines that a job at the Wildflower Resort will turn everything in her life upside down. A lonely widower throws all his energy into raising his teenage daughter, but when he is promoted to manager of the Wildflower Resort, things at home don’t go as smoothly as planned. Worried about his relationship with his daughter, he seeks advice from a feisty-but-sweet newcomer. Will she help smooth his path or will things only get more complicated? Book four in the series. A Love To Treasure School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon, following Grams’ clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. But Mark must return to his job in Portland at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart. Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation. To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after? Book one in the series—book two and three available on Amazon or via Kindle Unlimited today!&lt

    She writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life--friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God.

    Using simple illustrations and the same clear, conversational style that characterized his earlier book, Bergsma introduces four of the most important writers in the New Testament: Matthew, Luke, Paul, and John.With humor and simple illustrations, theology professor John Bergsma focuses on Matthew, Luke, Paul, and John, whose writings comprise about 90 percent of the New Testament. The gospel of Matthew, written for Jewish Christians, illuminates the life and teachings of Christ as the long-promised Messiah. In Luke's gospel, readers will delve into the infancy and Triduum narratives, as well as the Acts of the Apostles and the life of the early Church. This leads the reader to discover St. Paul and his first and arguably greatest theological treatise: Romans. Finally, "the beloved apostle" St. John draws us in to the unsurpassed beauty of the fourth gospel, as well as the most mysterious book of the New Testament: the book of Revelation. A concluding chapter offers suggestions for further study.Intended as an introductory work for those who are new to scripture study, this New Testament book does not aspire to be a comprehensive guide to all twenty-seven books of the New Testament, but is intended to lay the foundation for a lifetime of scripture reading.

    Often, though, we go through the motions at Mass without an appreciation for what has really happened. Popular speaker and author Mark Hart helps Catholics move beyond the repetition and ritual to see the Mass for what it really is: a heavenly banquet, a wedding feast, in which heaven and earth meet. In his engaging style, Hart guides readers toward a deeper understanding of the Massits roots in the Jewish Sabbath, its sacrificial character, and its signs and symbols. As we are told to go in peace, he inspires us to see the Mass as a place to be nourished so that we can further Christs mission in the world. In the last part of the book, Hart provides pithy answers to frequently asked questions, such as Why cant I leave right after Communion? or Why did the words change? Finally, Hart offers ten things we can do to get more out of Mass.

    But between taking those first steps in pursuit of your dream and reaching your goal is a bumpy road of second-guessing, doubt, and fear. For the dreamer who wants a helping hand and a heartfelt friend along the way, Holley graciously offers this inspiring devotional journey to greater trust, joy, and confidence.Rather than the typical quiet devotional, this 40-day journey is an invitation and a challenge, a soul-soother and a game-changer. Through honest self-reflection and positive action, readers will not be the same on the last page as they were on the first--and neither will their view of God or the dreams he's placed within their hearts. Any woman who is ready to take that next step in making her God-sized dream a reality will cherish this confidence-building devotional.

    Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. How, Ann wondered, do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long and sometimes even dark? How is God even here? In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted, a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved by God.Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!

    Simple story. Universal appeal. It's happened before in the publishing world, and it's happened again with The Peril of Magnificent Love.Author Bradley Trevor Greive walked into a rare-book shop in Sydney, Australia several years ago and felt like he was looking back in time. There before him was a creative force as raw, strong, and straightforward as himself when he was trying to launch his eventual hit The Blue Day Book. Her name was Emma Magenta.Magenta is the author-illustrator of The Peril of Magnificent Love, the first of a series published by Night Butterfly, an imprint founded by BTG. The book introduces readers to the emotional world of a young girl who seeks love with a three-eared bunny and pursues a course to win him. Much to her chagrin, the girl discovers love's path is fraught with illusion and strewn with disappointment. Nevertheless, the young heroine overcomes her disillusions and finds new possibilities and strength in the lessons she's learned.Magenta illustrates her seemingly simple tale with red, black, and white drawings that are filled with detail and emotion. Her keen, mischievous eye delves deeply and honestly into remote corners of the human heart. This artistic skill and the quirky text befriend readers on every page. The Peril of Magnificent Love's emotional adventure is an empowering experience for women of all ages. The book speaks to an even broader audience through its reflection of innocent dreams, sometimes-hard reality, and discerning hope for the future.

    Along with key Scripture verses, they kick in travel tips, wisdom (such as, when a woman knows she's loved, she can do anything ), Sisterchick locators (find me the best scone in the world!), and more. Complete with ideas for Sisterchickin' (slang for Sisterchicking; activities for Sisterchicks to do together, as in, -Don't bother us now; we're Sisterchickin'!- Not to be confused with Sisterchicken). New. Deep. Different. Fun! Open the Door and Soar! SISTERCHICK(R) n. a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you're being a brat. Ready to spread your wings and really go places? No more flitting. No more dawdling. It's time to dig deep into God's boundless grace and take flight! Maybe you're stuck in a quiet time gone dry. Or perhaps you're an early bird, eager to get the worm. For every Sisterchick seeking a fresh time with God, this devotional/ponder/prayer/excuse-to-gather-together book will send you soaring. Straight from Robin's nest and Cindy's perch, you'll find a collection of insightful devotions, key Scripture verses, and wit 'n whimsy wisdom for the journey, along with Sisterchickin' suggestions, space to pen a peep or two from you, and more! Grace...it bids me fly and gives me wings.

    Before abandoning the claim, he asks Amelia Rhodes, the widow of his best friend, to marry him. She declines, not ready to leave behind her late husband's dreams of gold. Unwilling to detain Ethan when she knows his dreams are elsewhere, Amelia sends for a mail-order husband. Weeks pass, but no potential husband arrives. On the same day she plans to leave the claim, someone comes in response to her letter. Can a marriage without love thrive, or can a friendship be the first step to finding riches of the heart? Only $0.99 or Free on Kindle Unlimited Please Note- This is a clean, historical fiction short story of 45 pages.