What a journey! The 366 mariner metaphors were pulled from the first 60 volumes of the 63-volume New Park Street Pulpit & The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, a set of 3,561 sermons delivered between 1855-1872. We edited freely. More, it seems, than any other metaphor, Charles H. Spurgeon used the mariner to illustrate the voyage of the Christian in service to God. As the trade winds bellow our sails and push us towards our Fair Haven, many spiritual challenges wash our decks. One masterpiece after another. See www.PreciousHeart.net/Spurgeon-10.pdf for the 1st ten days.

The Spirit is speaking. Can you hear him? If you're longing to become more attentive to God--to listen to him, know his voice and experience his love, spiritual direction can point the way. In Seeking God Together, experienced spiritual director Alice Fryling offers a unique introduction specifically for group spiritual direction: a place where individuals can experience what it means to be listened to and loved by others, so that they can learn to listen more attentively to God in their daily lives and be used by God. Out of her years of being both director and directee, Fryling offers practical, step-by-step guidance for those who would like to start, lead or participate in group spiritual direction. Her book will help you know what to expect and fully equip you for the different aspects of the group experience, including learning to listen to God, using Scripture in a group, navigating different personalities, setting group expectations and asking life-giving questions. She also provides an appendix with opening exercises for use in your meetings together. "The intentional goal of group spiritual direction," Alice writes, "is to help each participant become more aware of God in their lives, for the sake of others. Spiritual direction leads you to an awakening of the soul." The Spirit is speaking to you and to others. Here is a book to help you and a group of soul friends listen for and with each other as you seek God together.

On January 16, 1599, the Most Holy Mother of God appeared to Mother Marianna of Jesus Torres in the convent of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Quito, Ecuador, asking her to have a statue made of herself as she appeared, with the Child Jesus in her left arm and a crosier and the keys of the cloister in her right hand. Our Lady holds the crosier as a sign that she herself governs the convent and likewise asked that that her statue be placed in the throne of the abbess, where this statue is still kept to this day. The statue was consecrated by the bishop of Quito on February 2, 1611 with title, "Mary of Good Success of the Purification or Candlemas." During the various apparitions granted to Mother Marianna until her death on January 16, 1635, Our Lady of Good Success foretold the evils of our times in great detail. She was told that her visions and life would only be known beginning from the twentieth century, and was asked to help by her prayers and penances the souls of that time in which there would be an enormous decadence of the faith. It was God's will to reserve these revelations and the story of the life of Mother Mariana for our time, when the corruption of behavior is universal and the precious light of the faith is almost extinct, fulfilling the prophecies of Our Lady. The Mother of God also foretold that this devotion would obtain mercy and pardon for all sinners who have recourse to her with a contrite heart since she is the Mother of Mercy. Likewise she said, "The consoling title of Good Success... will be the support and safeguard of the faith in the presence of the complete corruption of the twentieth century." The novena presented here was written by Fr. Jose Urrate which has an imprimatur by the Archbishop of Quito, Carlos Maria de la Torre, on July 31, 1941.

Cardinal James Gibbons' famous and eloquent defense of Catholicism stands as one of the finest religious documents of his era, employing the Bible and devotional wisdom much more than arcane or complex theology. Writing in the 19th century, Cardinal Gibbons was moved to author this book after working for years in the priesthood. Seeking to remind readers of the vitality and merits of Catholicism, Gibbons attempts to both clarify the principles of the faith and spurn unjust criticisms. Religious concepts such as The Holy Trinity, and the important relationship the Bible has to the life of the church is investigated. The festivals and ritual sacraments that Catholics undertake, such as the taking of bread and wine to symbolize the flesh and the blood of Christ, are described in detail for their founding principles. Other traits of Catholicism, such as celibacy among the priesthood and the customs of matrimony, are explained.

"An overwhelming number of us are lonely," writes Marva Dawn. "Sometimes we are lonely for a specific reason: our spouse has recently died or left us; our children have just gone from home or have been tragically killed; we are fighting a particular battle against illness or suffering the ravages of chemotherapy; we are new in the neighborhood; our values are different from those of our work colleagues; it is a Friday night and all our other single friends have dates. Sometimes our loneliness is a general, pervasive alienation: we just don't feel as if we belong in our place of work, in our community, in our family, even in our church." Our struggle with loneliness often results in a lament directed at God. We might say something like "How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" When we cry out words like these, we find ourselves praying the words of the Psalms. In My Soul Waits, Dawn guides us through psalms that reveal the burdens of our souls to God, and in turn reveal God's profound, intimate concern for our pain and a promise to abide with us in it. Readers feeling the sting of loneliness will take great comfort in this very personal book. Those who strive to support the lonely among them will take wise counsel from the Scriptures it expounds. All will encounter a renewed hope in the One who lists our tears only to wipe them all away.

Have you been longing to learn more about spiritual disciplines but haven't known where to start? Through brief daily readings and simple ideas on spiritual practices, this book introduces the core disciplines of the Christian faith. Rather than being another burden to an already full schedule, these devotions provide an opportunity to develop holy habits that will lead you into the joyful, rich life God has created us for. Each month focuses on one of the twelve core disciplines of the Christian life. This will allow you to soak in the rich principles behind each practice in a brief daily format. Within each discipline, there are readings for five days a week (built-in grace ). Each session contains a Bible verse and a short teaching on the discipline. With the introduction to each discipline, there is an array of practical application ideas that you can incorporate into your week. By devoting just ten minutes a day to reading and practice, you can set yourself on a journey of lifetime riches. Make this the year you discover the disciplines. Also includes ideas for weekly family activities.

Your power in spiritual warfare
is as close as a whisper,
as near as a prayer.
As a follower of Jesus, you are engaged in a battle against a treacherous enemy. But the mighty power of God is yours through Christ's victory on the cross of Calvary.
The daily readings in this uplifting devotional are steeped in Scripture and blended with praise to bring foundational truths to life--to help you wield the power of God that's available in all our afflictions, in every trial and temptation.
The truths in these pages will equip you to resist the forces of evil, to stand firm in a day of deepening darkness, and to know firsthand the truth of Romans 8:37:
"In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us."