Connecting to God A Journey Over 50 Years


Book Description

In my book "Connecting To God, A Journey over 50 Years," I describe how I came to terms with my own spiritual development and self-awareness over the course of my life. I thoroughly introduce many facets of spirituality based on more than fifty years of study and practice. There are twenty chapters in total, and each one delves into a different aspect of spiritual development. First, I provide an introduction in which I talk about who I am, why I wrote this book, and how it might help others grow spiritually.




The Race Before Us


Book Description

Turning 50 years old and facing some of life’s biggest questions are daunting challenges. A crisis of faith and crisis of health lead towards significant changes in one’s life. For Bruce Matson, a family man with a successful law practice, the struggles of health and doubt led to action. Combining to podcasts from notable Christian leaders Ravi Zacharias, Allistair Begg, and Tim Keller, careful research and preparation, and encouragment from family and friends, Bruce ran his race for physical and spiritual health. The Race Before Us by Bruce Matson is a wonderful memoir detailing the path of doubt to faith and spiritual malaise to running with God. Come alongside Bruce as he navigates the windy roads of faith and health in his pursuit of physical and spiritual well-being.




The 28-Day Prayer Journey


Book Description

For anyone who longs for a consistent prayer life yet struggles with distractions, doubts, or knowing where to start, bestselling writer and beloved speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst offers a simple and heartfelt method for having meaningful conversations with God, one day at a time. The kind of intentional, fervent prayer life we'd like to experience often seems intimidating or just out of reach. Chrystal knows how that feels and shares her own relatable journey through the challenges and joys of deepening her prayer life. Showing up to pray just one day at a time, Chrystal found a simple yet powerful practice that made consistent prayer amazingly doable. A warm and encouraging writer, Chrystal shares the same supportive help she found for talking with God specifically and intentionally throughout the day. With relatable stories and timeless Scripture, The 28-Day Prayer Journey offers three prompts each day to guide you through an easy yet intimate prayer experience. From giving thanks, hearing God, and making requests to simply knowing what to say, Chrystal gives practical explanations and easy steps for the core tenets of prayer, including: Praise and Thanksgiving--offering gratitude to God Repentance--seeking forgiveness from God Asking--presenting your requests to God Yielding--surrendering to God The 28-Day Prayer Journey will strengthen your faith and transform your life with the profound experience of communicating with a loving God. Whether you are new to prayer or well-versed in communication with God, this hopeful and supportive guide will help you experience God's presence in ways you never have before through the practice of meaningful prayer.




40 Days with God


Book Description

How much time is enough to be with God? While it could be the 40 days or years used so often in the Bible, it’s also possible that simply stealing a few minutes from the busy-ness of each day is enough time to be in Kairos, “God time.” The same is true for the space needed to find God. Whether it be in a deserted place or one filled with activity, whatever space we can carve out to find God—or to make enough room to be found—is enough space. This book is about being with God in short time and tight spaces. The journey is taken through and with the Bible, 40 reflections based on 40 passages from Scripture, starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation. For the prayerful reader, it is an opportunity to carve out God-space and God-time, a pilgrimage with God, toward God.




Unsinkable Faith


Book Description

For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle—especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard. For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life. In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to: Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts; Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances; Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps; Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.




A Couple's Journey with God


Book Description

Bill and Pam Farrel, authors of the bestselling Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 280,000 copies sold), bring their keen insights into relationships to these devotions that celebrate marriage, encourage open communication, and provide meaningful ways for husbands and wives to draw closer together. Our busy world often pulls couples apart, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Spending time together each day in devotion and prayer will strengthen and bring joy to a relationship as couples learn to connect their love with God’s wisdom. A Couple’s Journey with God will expose readers to practical ideas for staying in love, personal tips for great interactions, and passionate prompts for adding that extra spark to their relationship. It’s the perfect book for all couples at any stage of life and relationship.




Connections: Year C, Three-Volume Set


Book Description

Designed to empower preachers as they lead their congregations to connect their lives to Scripture, Connections features a broad set of interpretive tools that provide commentary and worship aids on the Revised Common Lectionary. For each worship day within the three-year lectionary cycle, the commentaries in Connections link the individual lection reading with Scripture as a whole as well as to the larger world. In addition, Connections places each Psalm reading in conversation with the other lections for the day to highlight the themes of the liturgical season. Finally, sidebars offer additional connections to Scripture for each Sunday or worship day. This nine-volume series is a practical, constructive, and valuable resource for preachers who seek to help congregations connect more closely with Scripture. This eBook set contains Year C, volumes 1, 2, and 3.




Dispatches from the Front


Book Description

China, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq . . . God is at work. Christians are testifying. The gospel is advancing. In this captivating travelogue, a veteran missions mobilizer leads readers to experience global Christianity, exploring the faith and lives of Christians living in some of the world's most perilous countries. The incredible accounts recorded here—stories that span the globe from the Balkans to Afghanistan—highlight the bold faith and sacrificial bravery of God's people. Ultimately, this book magnifies Christ's saving work in all the earth and encourages Christians to joyfully embrace their role in the gospel's unstoppable advance!




A Sudden Glory


Book Description

Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? The good news is that “something more” does not mean “doing more.” God is not waiting for you to get your spiritual life “right.” He wants to be with you right where you are. The real question is not “What does God want from you?” but “What does God want for you?” Sharon Jaynes understands what it’s like to have a “glory ache”—a longing to experience God’s presence on a daily basis. She also knows how easily working for God can get in the way of intimacy with God. And she’s discovered that we tend to make our faith journey much too hard. In A Sudden Glory, Sharon uses Scripture and story to help you erase the line between your “spiritual life” and your “daily life” as you enter the sanctuary of God’s presence even in the middle of your busy, messy day. Here you will find your eyes opened to moments of sudden glory in which the Creator assures you of His love as you live and move and have your being in Him. Here you will discover true freedom—the freedom of experiencing God in a deeper and more intimate way than ever before. Includes Bible study and discussion guide.




A Spiritual Journey to Unwavering Faith


Book Description

Almost everyone at some point in their lives questions their faith and/or belief in God. Even the most learned religious scholars, ordained and lay readers and faith-based teachers admit to having doubt at times. The author wrestled with faith and a belief in God for many years but feels blessed to have experienced a series of life-changing events that opened his eyes, heart, and mind. Today he has absolutely no doubt in the existence of God and that there is an afterlife. A Spiritual Journey to Unwavering Faith is a multi-denominational and multi-dimensional book written for every reader regardless of their religious backgrounds or spiritual beliefs. It details the writer’s unique experiences, and the purpose in sharing his spiritual journey is to give those with doubt, a sense of comfort, peace, and hope. It also provides confirmation and inspiration to those who already have faith, and to hopefully strengthen their existing belief. The author’s spiritual journey began about a year before the passing of his father-in-law and continued to grow and become stronger with the passing of his father and mother. Each died in the author’s arms and as they took their last breaths, he asked them to please give him a sign or do whatever they could to confirm the existence of God and the afterlife. Literally moments after they each passed and many times since, each communicated with the author and provided profound signs that were personal connections known only between themselves. Initially the author viewed these After Death Communication (ADC) signs as sheer coincidences, but after experiencing a series of unique, strange, unexplainable encounters the writer finally realized he was witnessing events that went beyond the obvious or what could be identified by using his five key senses. Once he accepted the possibly a higher power was at work, he allowed his eyes, heart, and mind to be opened to a whole new world or realm. He also discovered the incredible power of prayer. During his research and the discovery process the author read many books that included historical mythology, afterlife experiences, spiritual enlightenment, faith, the Old and New Testaments of several different Bible translations, excerpts of the Koran, Divine interventions, and devotionals written by lay persons from around the world. He especially enjoyed reading devotionals from people of all walks of life who told their stories through essays that connected to specific scripture. Their personal experiences relating to selected scripture were genuine, insightful and deeply moving. The author found it interesting how philosophies and life recommendations quoted in so many modern day spiritual and self-help books and materials are rooted in scripture. As the author connected his own personal events to specific scriptures, he realized everything he was searching for was already compiled in one comprehensive best-selling book of all time … the Bible.