In a world that's difficult to make sense of, and a season that's so often overtaken by consumerism, here you'll find heart-stirring illustrations and thought-provoking meditations designed to show you the raw, powerfully sacred story of Christmas in a new light. Has the joy of the holiday season become painfully dissonant with the hard edges of life? Do you feel weary from the way Christmas has become a polished, predictable brand? You aren't alone. For too many of us, Christmas has lost its wonder. What if we stopped treating the Christmas story as something that happened a long time ago and started believing that it's a story that's still happening today? From celebrated artist and storyteller Scott Erickson comes Honest Advent, 25 days of illustrations and meditations that will help you rekindle the wonder of this season. Honest Advent creates a space for you to encounter the Incarnate Christ in unexpected places: like a pregnancy announcement in an era of political unrest and empirical bloodshed, the morning sickness of a Middle Eastern teenager, and the shocking biology of birth that goes far beyond the sanitized brand of Christmas as we know it today. Within the pages of Honest Advent, Erickson teaches us the valuable lessons he's learned about: Finding hope and light in the darkest winters What it means to embrace the unexpected How God uses everyday vulnerability to help us understand ourselves, and our faith, better Through powerful benedictions, prayers, and questions for honest reflection, you'll discover how the wonder of God-with-Us is still happening today: in your unexpected change of plans, your unaccomplished dreams, your overcrowded lodging, and your humble stories of new beginnings. Praise for Honest Advent: "Scott Erickson's beautifully crafted book helped me see God-with-Us with fresh eyes. Honest Advent is no shallow seasonal gift book; it's an invitation to explore the divine flourishes of everyday human vulnerabilities. A transformative read, regardless of the time of year." --Jonathan Merritt, author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch "Beautiful. Evocative. A wake-up call to the mystery of life." --John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

The act of blessing is a powerful one in Christianity with deep biblical roots, reaching back to the early chapters of Genesis. It expresses a very basic human instinct - the longing for protection, peace and happiness. So it is not surprising that the world is full of blessings for that most basic of human provisions - a place to call home. Peter Watkins has collected together over 100 house blessings from widely differing cultures and sources - the Bible, Celtic spirituality, Latin prayers (translated here!), prayers of St Francis and other saints, poems of blessing from Robert Herrick and other literary figures, contemporary liturgies for rites of blessing for each room of a home - and much more.

Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community draws on the spiritual practices of Northern Ireland's longest established peace and reconciliation organisation. For over fifty years, it has been bringing fractured communities together and resourcing others in the work of healing conflict. At the heart of its life is a simple pattern of daily worship. This prayer book captures the essence of the Corrymeela prayer experience to help you incorporate its spirituality into your practice of prayer. Structured over 31 days, it offers a daily Bible reading with accompanying prayer by Padraig O Tuama. as well as an introduction to the spirituality that sustains Corrymeela's remarkable work.

Known author and sure-footed Bible teacher

This is a beautiful gift edition of beloved prayers. The small size means it will fit in a pocket or bag. This special pocket edition of features an elegant bonded-leather binding, distinctive gilt edging, and decorative endpapers. Durable and collectible, it puts a range of beloved prayers in the palm of your hands.

In History Makers, Dutch Sheets and William Ford III reveal how God wants us to connect with the powerful and timeless things He has done in the past so that we can become empowered for the future. We must look to our Christian forefathers and pray for the renewal of the covenants God made with them, building on God's past work to move closer to His ultimate goals for us as a nation and a planet. Now is our chance to connect with the past, shaping the outcome of the future, and turning it back in God's direction!

Based on the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 2 is an invaluable aid that provides liturgical pieces needed in preparing for worship each week. Written and compiled by a team of eleven ecumenical and seasoned liturgy writers under the creative leadership of Kimberly Bracken Long, this resource offers a multitude of poetic prayers and responsive readings for all parts of worship and is meant to complement existing denominational resources. In addition, the weekly entries include questions for reflection and household prayers for morning and evening that are drawn from the lectionary, allowing churches to include them in their bulletin for parishioners to use throughout the week.

During times of the year when two different tracks of Old Testament texts are offered by the RCL, this resource offers an entire set of materials for each track. Also, a CD-ROM is included with each volume that enables planners to easily cut and paste relevant readings, prayers, and questions into worship bulletins.

From Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II. Fr. Michael masterfully summarizes their teaching, making it easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice. More specifically, he weaves their thought into a user-friendly, do-it-yourself retreat that will bless even the busiest of people. So, if you've been thinking about entrusting yourself to Mary for the first time or if you're simply looking to deepen and renew your devotion to her, 33 Days to Morning Glory is the right book to read and the perfect retreat to make.

Oraciones poderosamente honestas para cada desafio en su vida. Sabemos que Dios esta ahi para nosotros. El nos llama y nos anima a confiar nuestros problemas y preguntas a Su cuidado. Pero muchos de nosotros luchamos por plasmar nuestro dolor, deseos y esperanzas en palabras. En este libro de poderosas oraciones, el doctor Charles Stanley, pastor respetado internacionalmente y autor de exitos de ventas, lo ayuda a iniciar conversaciones con Dios de una manera transparente, honesta y humilde que profundizara su relacion con Cristo y sanara su corazon. Cuando las emociones nos abruman Cuando la vida es dolorosamente dificil Cuando otros necesitan nuestra intercesion en oracion Cuando Dios nos encomienda con llamamientos especificos . . . y mas Llena de conocimiento sobre como escuchar y caminar con Dios, cada oracion esta disenada para adaptarse a su situacion unica. Pero mas que eso, estas oraciones fueron escritas para llevarlo mas a la presencia de Dios, permitirle sentir las impresiones del Espiritu Santo y ayudarlo a obedecer mientras el Senor lo guia en el camino que debe seguir. Como escribe el Dr. Stanley: "El proposito de este libro es que escuche a Jesus, que lo conozca mejor y lo ame mas en el area precisa donde esta resistiendo la tormenta". When You Don't Know What to Pray Powerfully honest prayers for every challenge in your life. We know God is there for us. He calls to us and encourages us to entrust our troubles and questions to His care. But so many of us struggle with translating our pain, desires, and hopes into words. In this book of powerful prayers, internationally respected pastor and bestselling author Dr. Charles Stanley helps you start conversations with God in a transparent, honest, and humble way that will deepen your relationship with Christ and heal your heart. When emotions overwhelm us When life is painfully difficult When others need our prayerful intercession When God tasks us with specific callings . . . and more Full of insight on listening to and walking with God, each prayer is designed to be customized to your unique situation. But more than that, these prayers were written to draw you further into the presence of God, allow you to sense the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and help you obey as the Lord guides you in the way you should go.