But what is that energy-giving, life-breathing force that inspires and empowers us? How do we put the wind in our sails again, so we can get unstuck, reset our compass, and redirect our course? In "Fresh Air," "New York Times" bestselling author Chris Hodges reveals how breath--the breath of God--is the essence of life as it's meant to be. Fueled by the breath of God, we are not only refreshed in spirit ourselves; we have the power to create a life-giving environment of freedom and joyful purpose around us. Bold and encouraging, "Fresh Air" offers "breathing lessons" for those who long for a cool breeze to resuscitate their spirit, bring them closer to God, and make them enthusiastic, contagious life-breathers to those around them.

    Who is he? Why has he come? The townspeople wish he were a doctor, a dressmaker, or a trader. But the children have the greatest wish of all, a deep, quiet, secret wish. Then a young girl named Lucy befriends the newcomer. When he reveals his identity and shares with her the legend of the candy cane, she discovers fulfillment of her wishes and the answer to her town's dreams. Now will she share what she has learned? Warm, lavish illustrations by James Bernardin bring to life a timeless tale by Lori Walburg, a story that will help families celebrate the mystery and miracle of Christmas—for many Christmases to come.

    "Visions of Sugarplums" is an abstract composition of Christmas confections; and "Such a Clatter!" is a dynamic explosion of objects. In "It Must Be Saint Nick," Santa is shown in shadow; and in "A Bundle of Toys," the presents in Santa's sack are revealed as a magnificent jumble. The final photograph, "Happy Christmas to All" is a beautiful, pastoral landscape, lustrous under new-fallen snow. The original poem is printed on the endpapers. Can You See What

    Could being snowed in change everything for them? Snowed in at the Villa is a sweet, contemporary romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy this fun, flirty Hallmark-style Christmas romance by Chelsea Hale.Kat doesn’t cry over her life. Well not anymore. She is single (again) and happy about it, and with a string of odd jobs from the temp service, she has just the right amount of variety without all the drama. When an avalanche on a narrow mountain road changes her plans, she gets to see her new recluse boss in an unconventional way, and it’s messing with her plans. And her heart.Logan likes living remotely in his villa nestled in the mountains. Solitude has done wonders for his mental health. Mostly he doesn’t think about the past, just guards his wounded heart. When his chef takes the night off, he orders take-out, and when the delivery girl shows up, she has no food.Kat is unlike any woman Logan has ever met, but his new hire has just made his quiet, secluded life a nightmare. It doesn’t help that she’s attractive. Or smart. Or funny. He can’t and won’t get involved with anyone. Not again.Being snowed in brings out a lot of things that Logan would prefer to leave alone, but Kat engages him, and he’s intrigued. Could being snowed in change everything for both of them?

     A short story by A.L. Jambor When Meg’s sister dies, she is devastated. The last of three children, Meg misses her siblings and has never felt so alone. She’s an author, but her emotional state hinders her ability to write, and she can’t sit in front of her computer without trembling. A trip to Port Revere, MA recalls memories of the summers spent there with her family when she was a girl, and Meg decides to buy the Christmas Cottage, an abandoned little house on a bluff near town. She refurbishes it, and with the help of her nephew Zack, starts to come out of her shell. But then the holidays, a time for families and celebrations, arrive, and Meg must again face her loneliness, and guilt over something she can't forgive herself for – she wasn’t there when her sister died and never had a chance to say goodbye. With the cottage almost completed, Meg has one last thing to do; she has to find out if her plumbing is up to snuff, and arranges for a plumber to visit the cottage. On Thanksgiving Day, she is sipping a cup of coffee when someone knocks on the door. She looks out the window and sees an old man, an old truck, and an old dog. Lettering on the truck announces that Angus O’Malley, Plumber Extraordinaire, is standing on her doorstep. What she doesn’t know is that Angus is on a mission and that his appearance heralds the beginning of something wonderful, and the best Christmas Meg has ever had. The Little Cottage by the Sea was formerly published as The Christmas Cottage. The content has not changed. It is a short book of 20,000 words.

    You'll get to know Sarah, Hannah, and Rachel very well! Each of them are featured in their own book, with their own story of finding Christmas love. In this first book,you'll be introduced to all three girls, but this story features Sarah, who's desire all year has been to find her special 'someone' by Christmas. Circumstances certainly seem that this will not be the case, however, as Christmas is just around the corner. Although her good friend Mose would love to court her, he seems more like a brother to her and she has no desire for a romantic relationship with him. Does God have a special person for her? And by Christmas? Find out what God has in store for Sarah...

    They’ve experienced all kinds of things but with each other, their families, prayer, and God; they’ve made it through 2019, to the month of December. But not every relationship salvaged will make it to the future. In this Holiday Short Story, Special Edition of When the Vows Break, you’ll get to peek into the lives of these friends and see how they’re spending their Christmas holiday. Will the past they’ve endured affect their present, attempting to shatter their future? Or has the past given them instruction to treasure the present while preparing for the future? You’ll have to read to find out.

    But not to worry, whether you're negotiating with vendors in Asia, exploring potential markets in Africa, or leading a diverse team at home, you don't have to master the nuances of every culture you encounter. With Cultural Intelligence, or CQ, you can lead effectively in any context.Featuring fresh research, case studies, and statistics on the ROI of improving your CQ, this new edition of Leading with Cultural Intelligence details a powerful, four-step model for becoming more adept at managing across cultures: Drive--boost your motivation for and confidence in interacting with other cultures Knowledge--understand the relevance of differences in religion, values, norms, and languages Strategy--plan ahead for unfamiliar cultural settings, but remain flexible if actual experience differs from expectations Action--successfully adapt your behavior to each situation With Leading with Cultural Intelligence as your guide, you'll be able to thrive in any business environment--whether it's across the world or in your own backyard.

    Eliot to be the most important and influential poet of the 20th century, and Four Quartets to be his finest poem and greatest literary achievement. Dove Descending is a journey into the beauties and depths of Eliot's masterpiece written by Thomas Howard, bestselling author, professor and critic. In this line-by-line commentary, Howard unravels the complexities of the sublime poem with such adept adroitness that even its most difficult passages spring to life. During his many years as a professor of English and Literature, Howard taught this poem often, and developed what he calls "a reading" approach to its concepts that render their meaning more lucid for the reader. Dove Descending reunites the brilliant insights of a master teacher whose understanding and love of Eliot's writings are shared here for the great benefit of the reader.Dove Descending is:The first in-depth exposition of Eliot's masterwork ever publishedThe fruit of Howard's many years of teaching Eliot and his unique understanding of the complexities of the great poemA must-have book for fans of T. S Eliot, and anyone who wants to understand his greatest work.

    This lively and engaging book will be a help to seekers as well as a comfort to believers who may find themselves questioning some of the assumptions they grew up with.Many people in the twenty-first century hunger for an expression of Christian faith that is different from the judgmental and narrow-minded caricatures they see on television or in the news. With an accessible style that's grounded in solid biblical scholarship, Thielen shows how Christians don't need to believe that sinners will be left behind to burn in hell or that it's heresy to believe in evolution. And while we must always take the Bible seriously, we don't always have to take it literally. At the same time, Christians do need to believe in Jesus--his life, his teachings, his death and resurrection, and his vision for the world. Thielen articulates centrist, mainline Christianity in a way that's fresh and easy to understand and offers authentic Christian insights that speak to our deepest needs.This is an ideal book for individual, group, or congregational study.

    Owning the bake shop my parents always dreamed of means everything to me. And when opening day happens, I think I've finally got everything I've ever wanted. Until he walks in and reminds me of what used to be. Tall, dark and dangerous - that's what Caleb has always been. For my heart, at least. But when he places a special, sweet holiday order for his mother, I can feel my defenses crumbling just like the biscotti I'm teaching him to make. Can I save myself this time? Or will my heart be broken all over again?CALEBAn unexpected trip home turns my holiday plans upside down - especially when the girl I can't forget has come home too.I should have known my mom was setting me up, but I walked right into her sweet little trap. When I see Melissa standing behind the counter of the brand new bakery in town, I can't help but remember that she's the one that got away. Her curves are still as delicious as they used to be and I can't deny I want a taste. Can I convince her to give our love another try? Or will she get away one more time?Sugar & Spice Nights is a multi-author series of holiday inspired instalove stories with curvy women and their hot guys. Come find out how steamy and sweet the nights can get today!Don't forget to meet ALL the hunky sweeties!

    Some of her most precious memories are sitting with her three daughters Daisy, Ginny and Fern, stitching together pieces of material - and their hopes and dreams.But this Christmas the family is coming apart at the seams: Fern feels like she's failing at motherhood and marriage, Ginny's passion for her job as a midwife is fading, Daisy is desperate to prove she ' s changed since her wild younger years - and most of all, Loretta seems to be hiding something...As they come together to create a new festive quilt, the bond between the sisters begins to heal. But when Loretta reveals the real reason she's brought them all home, can the sisters mend the quilt, and their family, in time for Christmas?Full of kindness, community and festive magic, this is a treat to curl up with this Christmas! Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Ali McNamara

    However, it's the way you use them that has the real power. When you have an optimistic frame of mind, you're far more likely to recognize opportunities when they arise. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. The way you use and choose words defines who you are. Words have power. God created the world with words. The Bible plainly says, we shall decree a thing and it shall be established. Are you ready to harness the real power of spoken words?

    Whether it’s a good transition like a job promotion or a bad disruption like a devastating health diagnosis, it’s stressful. Gina Brenna Butz shares her personal stories of struggling with change and encourages you to trust God. She writes with compassion as she urges you to rely on God’s goodness, lean on Him for strength, rejoice that He is constant, and ultimately to find satisfaction in Him rather than in circumstances. Scripture helps you see change from the viewpoint of your heavenly Father. You can rest knowing He works all things together for the good of His children, even in seasons of stress-inducing change.

    In a series of hilarious and heartwarming mishaps, Rachel writes a letter to Santa explaining her cause, pays him a visit at the mall, and covertly decorates her house on Christmas Eve (right down to latkes for Santa and his reindeer). And while Rachel may wrestle with her culture, customs, and love of sparkly Christmas ornaments, she also comes away with a brighter understanding of her own identity and of the gift of friends and family. "will help introduce young readers to other cultures while allowing them to preserve the magic of their own."—Booklist "There’s lots of humor in the text (“Dear Santa…I know that you are a fair person and will not mind that I am Jewish. After all so was Jesus, at least on his mother’s side”) and in the lively, scribbly, colorful illustrations. But the authors wisely don’t gloss over Rachel’s feelings—which can be common for anyone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas that time of year."—The Horn Book