Todos oramos... algo.

Oramos por mantenernos sobrios, centrados o solventes. Cuando el tumor parece maligno. Cuando el dinero se acaba antes de que termine el mes. Cuando el matrimonio se desmorona. Oramos.

Pero acaso no nos gustaria orar mas? Mejor? Con mas intensidad? Con mas fuego, fe o fervor?

Sin embargo, tenemos hijos que alimentar, facturas que pagar, plazos de entrega por cumplir. El calendario se abalanza sobre nuestras buenas intenciones como un tigre sobre un conejo. Y que me dices de los altibajos en nuestra historia de oracion? Palabras inciertas. Expectativas sin alcanzar. Peticiones sin respuesta.

No somos los primeros en tener problemas con la oracion. Los primeros seguidores de Jesus tambien necesitaron orientacion sobre la oracion. De hecho, el unico manual de instruccion que pidieron fue sobre la oracion.

Y Jesus les dio una oracion. No un sermon sobre la oracion. No la doctrina de la oracion. El les dio una oracion citable, repetible, portatil. Acaso no podemos usar la misma?

En "Antes del amen" el reconocido autor Max Lucado se une a los lectores en un recorrido al corazon mismo de la oracion biblica, ofreciendo esperanza ante las dudas y confianza hasta para los mas debiles en la oracion. Destilando distintas oraciones de la Biblia en una oracion de bolsillo sencilla, Max recuerda a los lectores que la oracion no es un privilegio para el piadoso, ni tampoco el arte de unos pocos escogidos. La oracion es simplemente una conversacion sincera entre Dios y su hijo. Dejemos que comience la conversacion.

A renowned teacher and writer on prayer and the spiritual life presents a simple, profound and practical book on the most important of all human activities: communion with God.

Winner of a Christianity Today 2005 Book Award Baptism. The Lord's Supper. We recognize these church practices. But do we really grasp their meaning and place in Christian worship? Is our neglect of them hindering our communion with Christ? Are we missing the real drama of our salvation? Often the object of debate, the sacraments are likewise neglected and superficially understood. Leonard Vander Zee makes a compelling case that these problems can be overcome when we see the connection between Baptism and the Lord's Supper and the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God. Founding his discussion in biblical teaching reaching back to the creation narrative and forward to the teaching of Jesus and the apostle Paul, Vander Zee sees the Christ-centered celebration of these sacraments as essential to the renewal of the church. A reappropriation of Baptism and the Eucharist, especially in the evangelical church, holds great promise for healing the rift between the natural and the spiritual, the personal and social, the head and the heart, and between the body of believers and our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and now lives to make intercessions for us. InChrist, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, Vander Zee not only opens up a Christ-centered approach to the sacraments but also provides guidance on the practical matters that face pastors and parishioners in the pursuit of a renewed and authentic Christian worship.

For All Christians Eager to Break Through to a Deeper, More Effective Prayer Life
Here, for the first time in trade paper, Cindy Jacobs, bestselling author and recognized leader in the worldwide prayer movement, brings her passionate message to all Christians who struggle with prayer or desire to be more effective prayer warriors. This powerful guide includes questions like "Why does it take so long to receive answers to my prayers?" and "How can I take my prayer life to the next level?" Jacobs addresses these and many more concerns and provides solid biblical answers.
Written out of the crucible of her own deep prayer life, Jacobs starts with basic teaching and builds up to in-depth topics, including fasting and spiritual warfare.

Prayer, the greatest fringe benefit of being a Christian, is God's enticement to get our attention. He likes our company. Access to God means access to ultimate power. We are all on level ground here. Whether you are middle class, aristocratic, royal, rich, poor, red, yellow, black, or white, you are valued by your heavenly Father as much as anybody who has ever lived. God will take on your case as if you were the most important person who ever lived. Prayer gives you that privilege--access to ultimate power. God can make anything happen. He can heal. Solve any problem. Change your financial situation. Vindicate. Open doors. Cause everything that has happened in your past (whether it was right or wrong or whether you were right or wrong) to work together for good (Rom. 8:28). Prayer is one of the most fundamental practices of the Christian faith, yet how many of us really commit adequate time to talking to God? As R. T. Kendall points out in Did You Think to Pray? we can only benefit from spending more time with Him.

Click here to read Mark Dever's foreword. Spurgeon used to address his church at midweek meetings as well as the powerful sermons on Sundays. These addresses were generally more informal in tone and were designed to supply motivation for the church to pray. They are classic Spurgeon and are divided into 4 sections and each concludes with a hymn Spurgeon composed himself for morning prayer meetings. Section 1 - Addresses on prayer and prayer meetings Section 2 - Expositions of scripture Section 3 - Incidents and illustrations Section 4 - Addresses on practical matters in the church Together this collection is charming, challenging and cheering! If you wanted to find out how Spurgeon fuelled his church for everyday Christian living and a life of prayer then there is no better starting place.

30 Selected lectures The Festivals and Their Meaning collects thirty of Rudolf Steiner's most important lectures on the festivals of the year. He identifies and illumines the true meaning behind Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, and Michaelmas, emphasizing their inner spiritual and outer cosmic aspects. Steiner shows that the festivals do not only commemorate great historical events and truths of the Christian tradition; they are in themselves--each year--spiritual events that manifest in seasonal and natural rhythms and carry a significance that grows and deepens with the development of human evolution. CONTENTS Christmas Introduction by Ann Druitt The Christmas Festival: Heralding the Victory of the Sun Signs and Symbols of the Christmas Festival The Birth of the Sun-spirit as the Spirit of the Earth: The Thirteen Holy Nights Christmas as a time of Grievous Destiny The Proclamations to the Magi and the Shepherds On the Three Magi The Revelation of the Cosmic Christ The Birth of Christ within Us Easter Easter: The Festival of Warning The Blood Relationship and the Christ Relationship The Death of a God and Its Fruits in Humanity Spirit Triumphant The Teachings of the Risen Christ Easter: The Mystery of the Future Spiritual Bells of Easter, parts 1 & 2 Ascension and Pentecost The Whitsun Mystery and Its Connection with the Ascension Whitsun: The Festival of the Free Individuality World Pentecost: The Message of Anthroposophy Whitsun: A Symbol of the Immortality of the Ego The Whitsuntide Festival: Its Place in the Study of Karma Whitsun Verse Michaelmas Michael Meditation The Michael Inspiration: Spiritual Milestones in the Course of the Year A Michael Lecture The Michael Impulse and the Mystery of Golgotha, parts 1 & 2 Michael and the Dragon The Creation of a Michael Festival out of the Spirit The Michael Path to Christ

Empowered Through Prayer In Motivational Prayers for Men, bestselling author and pastor Dr. Tony Evans prepares you to approach God with the confidence that He will meet your every need. These insightful, inspiring prayers will guide you to seek His wisdom in every area of your life. Dr. Evans will help you come humbly before your heavenly Father, asking for His power and protection over your... family finances career health trials purpose and beyond Prayer is the most powerful tool you have for strengthening your walk with God. Draw closer to Him and be transformed from the inside out.

Christmas. Frosty nights and caroling. Family gatherings and special dinners. Warm, spiced apple cider. Cozy evenings in front of the fire. And best of all, the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Each story in this menagerie of Christmas memories, like the gifts of the Wise Men, bring a sense of awe and heartwarming joy to the celebration of Christ's birth.

"Beautifully told, catch-at-your-heart stories. Delightful!" --JoAnn Grote
Award-winning, best-selling author of Minnesota