PODCAST: Praying for your Future Husband From Head to Toe by Sharon Jaynes
On the 12th Day of Christmas…Classic Books, Timeless Wisdom
We all know them.
They’re the ones with a degree in English literature, theology, or philosophy. (Maybe even all three!) They pin quotes from great thinkers, writers and artists on their Pinterest boards. These people say things like, “As the great apologists say…”, and they head straight to the musty, dusty bookshelves in every antique store.
These are the Classics-lovers.
If you gift wrap a gorgeous, leather-bound tome with fragile pages full of long-standing wisdom, these people will talk about your excellent gift giving skills all year long. But let’s face it–the books that aren’t leather-bound are pretty great, too.
On this 12th Day of Christmas, I wanted to share a few of my favorite classic authors and books with you. These books are bursting with soul-nourishing, timeless wisdom, but manage to be as accessible and enjoyable a read as [ … ]
SNEAK PEEK: Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick
Read the first chapter of Crash the Chatterbox.
Crashing the chatterbox = Overpowering lies of insecurity, fear, condemnation, and discouragement with the promises of God.
I used to think that someone who struggled with the kinds of weaknesses I deal with daily was useless to God. I felt so often like I was drowning in internal dialogue I couldnt control. It had been the soundtrack of my life for as long as I could remember. Yet everything changed when I began to realize God has given us the ability to choose the dialogue we believe and respond to. And once we learn how, we can switch from lies to truth as deliberately as we can choose the Beatles over Miley Cyrus on satellite radio.
On the 10th Day of Christmas… Christmas Facts and Figures to Astound and Amaze!
Ever wondered where your Christmas tree came from? How many candy canes get made each year? Well, wonder no longer. Presenting The Great Christmas Infographic! We’ve scoured the web, compiled government data, and delved into the history books to bring you the answers to some questions about Christmas you never asked (but we’re sure you’ll find super interesting). To our fellow data nerds, know-it-alls, and generally curious folks everywhere: Merry Christmas!
Brought to You by Rick Gingrich, Online Marketing Associate at WaterBrook Multnomah
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[Click Image to Enlarge]
A Christmas Tree Witness
“The Christmas tree is a beautiful reminder of why Jesus was born in the first placeto die for you and me. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24, NIV)
Have you ever noticed that the boughs of your tree extend out like the arms of Jesus stretched upon the cross as He offered His life to anyone who would come to Him in faith? And your Christmas tree is very definitely pointing toward heaven and, as Jesus did with His words and His actions, drawing our attention to the Father who loves us.
So when you stand before your Christmas tree, stand tall, as the tree does, and be a witness for Jesus. Let it direct your attention to the Father above. [ … ]
God’s Virtue
Mary was full of Gods grace simply because God chose to bless her. We have no description of her being holy or pious or deserving. She was a virgin, yes, but not perfect, not without sin. For Jesus to be fully the Son of Man, his mother had to be fully human.
What made Mary worthy of her calling was not her virtue; it was Gods virtue. Thats why her story gives every woman a generous measure of hope. God takes us as we are and uses us as he will, for our good and for his glory. Talk about being endued with grace!
Excerpted from The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs
Watch Liz’s Christmas video special with Ann Voskamp here.
Daily Reflection: How is God using you, just as you are, for His glory [ … ]
SNEAK PEEK: Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn
One womans fight to provide hope for the hopeless
Seven ex-cons who changed her heart forever
Click here to download chapter one of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies.
For Brenda Spahn, entrepreneur and businesswoman, wealth was a lifestyleuntil a brush with the law threatened to send her to prison. In those dark moments, Brenda made a promise to God. Spared incarceration, a renewed Brenda glimpsed into the lives of women serving time in one of the worst places in Americathe Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama.
What she saw prompted a God-inspired vision.
Click here to download chapter one of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies.
On the 4th Day of Christmas…Finding the Real Meaning in Christmas
What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer follows the lives of individuals and a community effected by a devastating fire. It’s a story that deals with loss, grief, and recovery, and are real-life issues that my family and I have experienced.
While living in Florida, our family of six was hit by the “No Name Storm of the Century.” Hitting our home at high tide, the 14-16 feet waves ripped off the hurricane shutters and broke out windows, as the water rushed through our house, sweeping furniture, household items, toys, and personal items out into the Gulf of Mexico.
During the storm, none of our possessions seem to matter anymore, only the safety of each other and our four daughters.
Surviving through the storm surge, we were evacuated the next day, and spent the next [ … ]