10 Great Dates


Book Description

Finally, a Way to Connect Spiritually That You'll BOTH Enjoy! While juggling the kids, work, church, and community commitments, are you and your spouse finding time to connect? When was the last time you had a good talk about faith or did a devotional together? To help you jump-start deeper connections, four marriage experts have come up with 10 creative date ideas, each centered on a spiritual theme, including · Appreciating your differences · Experiencing God together · Facing the storms of life · Connecting through prayer With the planning taken care of--including flexible suggestions for before, during, and after the date--you and your spouse can simply enjoy the time sharing what's important in life. Download a free leader's guide for small groups at 10greatdates.org. "Finally, here is a book that helps couples connect spiritually, and all in the fun format of Great Dates. I highly recommend this book for couples, small groups, and churches who want to strengthen and build godly marriages."--Gary Chapman, PhD, author of The 5 Love Languages "This book goes beyond spending time together. It offers guidance on deepening an emotional and spiritual bond. Each exercise provides insight and opportunities to authentically know and be known in new ways, bringing honor to one another and glory to God."--Gayle DiMartino, marriage ministry director, Willow Creek Community Church "This book is both practical and fun. It gives couples tangible ways to grow together spiritually all in the fun, guilt-free format of great dates. The Larsons and Arps have done the work. All you need to do is carve out time for your 10 Great Dates!"--Gary Smalley, author of The DNA of Relationships "Don't settle for an individual faith walk when connecting spiritually as a couple could transform your marriage. This book provides an effective road map for couples who want to journey together."--Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, #1 New York Times authors of The Good Fight "This wonderfully written book takes what often is an elusive and mysterious discipline for couples and provides 10 life-building opportunities to move past the mundane of life and get to what really matters. Experience it!"--Ron L. Deal, author of The Smart Stepfamily and coauthor of The Remarriage Checkup "Few things possess the potential to add to the overall satisfaction and meaning of marriage like really connecting spiritually. The Larsons and the Arps do an amazing job of gracefully and playfully helping us walk together toward fulfilling our deepest longings and desires."--Robert Paul, co-president, National Institute of Marriage "With its focus on spiritual intimacy, this book is a refreshing change from the standard marriage materials on emotional and physical connection. The Larsons and Arps have provided us with an amazing resource."--Shawn Stoever, PhD, senior director, WinShape Foundation "This book will refresh your marriage. You can't beat the life-changing content, 10 meaningful dates, and the wisdom of some of America's finest marriage experts."--Jim and Cathy Burns, authors of Closer: 52 Devotions to Draw Couples Together; speakers at Creating an Intimate Marriage seminars




More of God


Book Description

This book will help you make small steps towards God and experience more of His power and presence. Many of us long to experience more of God in our daily lives, yet we're too distracted by a busy schedule, our own anxious thoughts, and even social media to hear His voice. We can't slow down long enough to receive what God wants to give us.Betsy de Cruz has learned that opening small windows to invite God in can make a big difference in our day. In More of God, Betsy invites us to a fresh sense of God's presence as we rediscover:*How spending 20 minutes with God leads to more peace and joy all day*Ways to conquer distraction and grow our prayer lives*Simple solutions to help us hear God's voice as we read Scripture*Creative ideas for making quiet time a delight instead of a duty*Hope and help when life gets too hard to have a quiet time"Betsy writes with an engaging blend of personality, humor, spiritual depth, and practical help for equipping women to draw closer to God."--Ginger Harrington, author of Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life.




Divorced Girl Smiling


Book Description

Smile! It's not just the end of your marriage, it's the beginning of your second chance!Missy Benson has a two and a half carat diamond engagement ring with color grade H, VS2 clarity and a value of $36,000. It's absolutely gorgeous, practically flawless, and let's be honest, really big!But what the successful Chicago realtor doesn't have anymore is a husband. After 12 years of marriage, her husband, Paul, a handsome, wealthy attorney has devastated her by breaking up their marriage for Priscilla Sommerfeld, a young, personal trainer, who according to Missy's sassy assistant, J.J., looks more like a Las Vegas stripper than a fitness expert.Not sure what to do with her ring, and with no financial issues to worry about, Missy decides to put it up for sale on Craigslist. The price: 99 cents! The catch: She gets to pick the buyer. In essence, she's looking for the perfect guy, but not for herself. Her hope is to regain faith that good men do exist, and that marriages can last forever.Now referring to herself as "the divorced girl," Missy interviews dozens of young men who are vying for the huge ring. It's a contest that includes outrageous characters, hilarious and sentimental stories, and two finalists, both of whom Missy adores and who she must choose between. Then there's Parker Missoni, the sexiest contestant by far, who drives her crazy with his brutal honesty, and at the same time stops her heart with his deep brown eyes.Divorced Girl Smiling is the story of a woman's journey to do whatever it takes to heal herself from divorce. It's about acceptance, reflection, taking accountability for mistakes, and appreciating all of life's wonderful gifts. In other words, if you have the guts to put the past behind, admit your mistakes, embrace your future, and give love another chance, you will surely be a divorced girl smiling.




Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe


Book Description

Powerful, effective prayer for your husband is easier than you think. “I have never seen a more practical book on how to pray for your husband.”—Gary Chapman, PhD, author of The Five Love Languages As a wife, no one is more called or qualified than you to pray for your husband. Yet sometimes, it’s hard to find the words. You wonder: What should I pray? How should I pray? What prayers does he need right now? In Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, Sharon Jaynes maps out sixteen areas of a man’s life to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. From his mind and the thoughts he thinks, to his eyes and the images he sees, all the way down to his feet and the path he takes, Sharon teaches you how to pray for your husband in ways that are powerful, practical, and life-changing. You’ll learn how to: • Cover each area of your husband’s life with specific scriptural prayers, knowing that when you pray the Word of God, you pray the will of God. • Become a prayer warrior who is equipped and empowered for intercession that makes a difference in the physical and spiritual realms. • Stop your mind from wandering during prayer by following a pattern that helps you stay focused and fervent, with faith-filled expectancy. • Establish a habit of purposeful prayer in just a few dedicated minutes each day. Whether you’re newly married or you and your husband have grown gray together, you’ll use this prayer guide again and again to bless your marriage and your man.




Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?


Book Description

Answers one of the biggest barriers to belief. Christians are increasingly seen as outdated, restrictive and judgmental when it comes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and homosexuality. In fact for many people, this issue is one of the biggest barriers for them considering Christianity. Sam Allberry, author of many books including Is God Anti-gay sets out God's good design for the expression of human sexuality, showing that God himself is love and that only he can satisfy our deepest desires. It is a great reminder of the Bible's positive blueprint for love, sex and marriage and ideal for giving away to people who may see this as a stumbling block for belief.




The Best Year of Your Marriage


Book Description

This beautiful 52-week devotional provides Christian couples with an easy way to read Scripture, pray, and engage in spiritual discussions and activities to strengthen their relationship and marriage. Perfect for younger couples in building a strong spiritual foundation early on, it's a great resource for couples of any age or stage who want to grow closer as they follow God together. Presented in a relaxed and easy-to-use way and edited by Focus on the Family president Jim Daly and his wife, Jean, each devotional offers foundational, practical, and wise material from members of the Focus counselling staff. The content is divided into 13 sections, with topics including getting to know each other better, listening, mastering money, building a Christ-centered home, going the distance, and more. Each section is introduced by the Dalys, and each of the 52 devotions is followed with discussion questions and activities.




Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others


Book Description

A groundbreaking book--based on years of the same thorough research that made the "Dress For Success" books national bestsellers--about how women can statistically improve their chances of getting married.




What a Husband Needs from His Wife


Book Description

What do men really need from their wives? And what is the best way for wives to meet those needs? This engaging and thoroughly biblical guide demonstrates that a woman meets her husband's needs most effectively by maintaining her own vibrant personal relationship with Christ. Filled with useful tools that will help women understand their husbands better, this enlightening resource includes... ideas for dealing with addictions, infidelity, and financial challenges explanations of personality types and love languages resources that offer help for the helper A study guide at the end of the book makes this a perfect tool for individual or small group use.




Love Her Well


Book Description

Now an ECPA Best Seller—Kari Kampakis's Love Her Well gives moms ten practical tips for how to build strong and lasting relationships with their daughters. For many women, having a baby girl is a dream come true. But as girls grow up, the narrative of innocence and joy changes to one of dread as moms are told, "Just wait until she's a teenager!" and handed a disheartening and too-often-true script about a daughter's teenage season of life. Author, blogger, and mom to four daughters Kari Kampakis thinks it's time to change the narrative and mind-set that leads moms to parent teen girls with a spirit of defeat instead of strength. Love Her Well isn't a guide to help mothers "fix" their daughters or make them behave. It's about a mom's journey, doing the heart-work necessary to love a teenager while still being a steady, supportive parent. Kari offers wisdom about how moms can: Choose their words and timing carefully. Listen and empathize with her teen's world. See the good, and love her for who she is. Take care of themselves and find a support system in the process. By working on the foundation, habits, and dynamics of the relationship; mothers can connect with their teen daughters and earn a voice in their lives that allows moms to offer guidance, love, wisdom, and emotional support. Kari gives mothers hope, wisdom, and a reminder that all things are possible through God, who is the source of the guidance and clarity they need in order to grow strong relationships with their daughters at every age—especially during the critical teen years.




Radical


Book Description

New York Times bestseller What is Jesus worth to you? It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily... But who do you know who lives like that? Do you? In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus. Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment -- a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.