The spread of devotion to St Therese of Lisieux is one of the impressive religious manifestations of our time. During her few years on earth this young French Carmelite was scarcely to be distinguished from many another devoted nun, but her death brought an almost immediate awareness of her unique gifts. Through her letters, the word-of-mouth tradition originating with her fellow-nuns, and especially through the publication of "The Little Flower" soon came to mean a great deal to numberless people; she had shown them the way of perfection in the small things of every day. Miracles and graces were being attributed to her intercession, and within 28 years after death, this simple young nun had been canonized. In 1936 a basilica in her honour at Lisieux was opened and blessed by Cardinal Pacelli; and it was he who, in 1944, as Pope, declared her the secondary patroness of France. Born to a devout Catholic bourgeois family, Therese and her four surviving sisters all became nuns. Therese had long assumed she would die young and looked forward to it as her reunion with God and her lost loved ones (her father died when she was 21).;When her health began to fail in 1894 (she was 20 years old and the tuberculosis that was diagnosed would end her life aged 24) she suffered her first pulmonary haemorrage on a Good Friday and rejoiced in the fact that God had announced her imminent death to her on the anniversary of his own crucifixion. Her sainthood and the continuing attraction of her life and belief stems from self-sacrifice.

The Burden Of Freedom explains that too many people use past oppression to remain mired in hatred and irresponsibility today. The spirit of oppression has specific telltale effects on individuals, communities, and nations. These are identified by Myles Munroe as a hatred for work, laziness, fear, low self-esteem, selfishness, lack of creativity, low initiative, and distrust of those in authority. To break free from these self-replicating cycles of oppression there must be a mental transformation. Paradoxically, freedom requires the need to impose control on self, require more responsibility than slavery, and the decision to accept a destiny of freedom, recognizing the process and discipline that personal and political freedom require. Simply put, The Burden Of Freedom should be available to every citizen and on the shelves of every high-school, college, and community library in the country.

The "official" biography of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a matter of violent argument within the early Christian movement, culminating with the Council of Ephesus in 431, which established the idea of the immaculate conception and Mary's lifelong virginity. In the centuries that followed, she has become a symbol of the beautiful virgin bride, grieving mother, heavenly queen, compassionate intercessor, leader of armies, and mistress of the world.;Michael Jordan demonstrates that the real Mary was none of these things. In this study of the mother of Jesus, he reveals that Jewish factions were so antagonistic towards her that, at her death, they attempted to seize the body and destroy it by fire, a sentence traditionally reserved for those found guilty of cultic prostitution and incest.

The "Saints Alive" series introduces the reader to the lives of the great saints. Each book looks at the featured saint's continuing relevance and includes a section of writing by or about that individual. This volume focuses on Saint Benedict.

The "Saints Alive" series introduces the reader to the lives of the great saints. Each book looks at the featured saint's continuing relevance and includes a section of writing by or about that individual. This volume focuses on Saint Francis of Assisi.

The "Saints Alive" series introduces the reader to the lives of the great saints. Each book looks at the featured saint's continuing relevance and includes a section of writing by or about that individual. This volume focuses on Saint Augustine of Hippo.

This work reveals an individual in the joys and agonies of life lived to the full in search of truth. Saint Augustine's confession of sin becomes a confession of Christ as Saviour, and a testimony to the grace of God.

This study edition contains both the translated texts of the "Life of Saint Catherine" and the "Life of Saint Lawrence" and commentaries upon them. The "Life and Saint Catherine" is an Anglo-Norman narrative by Clemence of Barking, one of the first women writing in Britain after the Norman Conquest. In her work, Clemence responds to the genre's representation of the torture of women and provides a role-model for her own medieval female community. The account of Catherine's life is complemented by an anonymous life of St Lawrence, a young martyr and object of particular devotion for medieval women in post-Conquest Britain.;The two texts share conventions but differ thematically and technically, providing insight into the relationships between exemplary figures and audiences.

This illustrated book is full of information about the patronages and lives of modern and early saints and how they relate to the world of the 20th century. It brings together image, myth and history, revealing which saints are and have been invoked for particular purposes, and why.;Including St Valentine for love, St Jude for lost causes, St Notkar Balbulus for stammering children, St Zita for losing keys, St Bibiana for hangovers and St Gratus of Aosta for insect phobias, all sorts of life's problems, both serious and not-so-serious, can be shared with the appropriate patron saint. Illustrations, including paintings, sculptures, icons and stained glass windows, show how the portrayal of individual saints has evolved over the centuries.;Their lives and mythologies are entertainingly sketched and their feast days and symbols authoritatively listed, making this a reference book for the religious and historically minded alike.

In this groundbreaking devotional book, Peter Scazzero reintroduces and expands upon the ancient spiritual discipline of the Daily Office. The basic premise is simple: Christians need to intentionally stop to be with God twice each day to create a continual and easy familiarity with God's presence for the rest of the day.In the same powerful rhythm as Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day, each day offers two Daily Offices-Morning/Midday and Midday/Evening-where each devotional time will reflect on emotionally healthy relational themes, such as clarifying expectations, deep listening, and clean fighting. Readers will be ushered into a transformational practice that will deepen their daily walk with Jesus.

Bestselling author Rebecca Barlow Jordan encourages readers to spend 40 days embracing a more intimate relationship with God. Through character studies from the pages of Scripture, readers are brought face-to-face with a God who loves them more than they can imagine.

Paul of Tarsus is one of the most famous and influential of the early Christinas and is widely regarded as the founder of organised Christianity. Edward Stourton's fascinating exploration of this historical figure and the land he lived in involves both a first hand account of the author's journey following in St Paul's footsteps as well as relections on St Paul's life, reference to previous written commentaries and the implications and contempoary relevance of St Paul.

The extraordinary lives of the saints have been celebrated since the first martyrdoms of the early church: their manifestly human stories have encouraged millions of ordinary people around the world. The Daybook of Saints features 365 saints, a feast day for every day of the year, and the defining moments - the courage, miracles, sacrifices - of each one's life are rendered in a dramatic text. Each entry has a list of other saints who share the feast day. Beautifully illustrated with reproductions of paintings, mosaics and manuscripts that celebrate the splendour and humanity of the saints, this book will inform, inspire and uplift Christian and non-Christian readers alike.the general editors - Accessible, dramatic and informative: a fascinating read for Christians and the curious - Beautifully illustrated with 'period' paintings, mosaics and manuscripts - A perfect gift book for confirmation, Christmas, Easter and birthdays

Laughter lightens the heart and helps you discover grace in the moment In a mother s land of milk and honey, the milk is often spilt and the honey is usually smeared all over the face of the baby in his high chair. Linda Vujnov has been there and knows exactly what it feels like. Between packing lunches, drying the dishes in the sink, returning emails, and making sure mascara is applied without smudges, Spilt Milk offers a delightful alternative for busy moms that will lighten your day and remind you that God s grace is found in the most unlikely places. You ll discover the ways God uses the everyday adventures of an imperfect woman to emphasize his grace."

The Bible portrays King David as an exceptional man and a paragon of godly devotion. But was he? Some scholars deny that he existed at all. Did he? This challenging book examines the written and archaeological evidence critically in an effort to paint an accurate picture of one of the Bible's central figures.

Neither defending nor rejecting the traditions about David, Baruch Halpern, a leading scholar of biblical history and the ancient Near East, traces the origins and development of David's persona. Because the biblical text clearly responds to concerns that can only be contemporary with David himself, we can believe that David was both real and a central actor in the historical drama of ancient Israel. Yet at the same time, the written record also shows that contemporaries understood David's character to be much more unsavory than the tradition has hitherto allowed.

Halpern digs beneath the layers of tradition to understand David as an individual, as a person. The man he uncovers turns out to have been complex, ambiguous, and--above all--surprising. According to Halpern, the image of David grew over time. He was the founder of the dynasty that perpetuated the texts about him, and they progressively exaggerated his accomplishments. But in the earliest writings David remains a modest figure, as this book shows for the first time. To understand David as a human being, one must keep in mind that he was primarily a politician who operated in a rough-and-tumble environment in which competitors were ready literally to slit throats.

Halpern's work raises many provocative questions: Was David an Israelite or a Philistine? Was Solomon really David's son? Did David take the throne ofIsrael by the consent or against the will of the people? How many murders did he commit on his way to the crown? Indeed, was David someone it would have been wise to even invite to dinner? The challenging arguments in "David's Secret Demons are sure to provoke all kinds of discussion among biblical scholars and general readers alike. In addition--a big bonus--Halpern's accessible, at times humorous prose will itself draw readers everywhere into the compelling story of David found between these covers.

At the age of ninety, and with a mind as lively as ever, Norman Pittenger can look back on an impressive series of books. In this, his last, he sees Mary as a model for Christian discipleship, a type of the church and a symbol of the world redeemed by God. Before presenting the main substance of his view of Mary he discusses what we may claim to know about Mary and how we know it, going on to see her as the consenting case for what God accomplished in the event of Jesus Christ. Then he surveys the devotion given to her during the centuries of Christian history and ends with comments on the practical value of mariological devotion and an indication of what that can contribute to Christian faith in God. He expects that conservatives will think that he is too sceptical about history, Catholics may think what he has said inadequate, and Protestants may regard the whole exercise as absurd and unbiblical.Yet he is convinced that what he has to say is important and valuable, and has written for those who appreciate the beauty and richness of mariological devotion. Norman Pittenger was a senior member of King's College, Cambridge.

A steaming cup of coffee, a heart-warming story, a poignant time of meditation and prayer in your favorite place of solitude. A few quiet moments alone with God―what a great way to begin . . . or end . . . your day.

Now, Charles, Swindoll, the master communicator whose compelling stories and eye-opening insights have helped millions of people find and build meaningful relationships with God, brings you this moving collection of 365 daily devotionals. Based on the Bible and his best-selling classic, "The Finishing Touch," this new book provides just what you need to open your heart to the Lord's love and leading every day.

Your soul-strengthening journey through this volume can begin at any time during the year. And you will be drawn ever nearer to the heart of God through these brief encounters with Him as you study and worship "Day by Day with Charles Swindoll."