Weathering the Storms of Life


Book Description

Longfellow said, Into every life a little rain must fall. Most adults have found this to be true; what's more, for many of us it has been more than a little rain. Our lives may have experienced storms and tests that have left us feeling like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Storms from relationship failures, family problems, health problems, and financial problems have blown into our lives and have wreaked havoc on our calm seas.In Weathering the Storms of Life, author and pastor Ricky D. Bishop provides guidance for enduring the storms of life while keeping faith intact and experiencing growth at the same time. Using his family's encounters riding out Hurricane Isabel in eastern North Carolina in September of 2003, Bishop discusses storm at sea passages from the Bible and relays principles for preparing, finding peace, finding power, and rethinking our priorities in the storms that come our way.Providing encouragement and simple lessons, Weathering the Storms of Life weaves scriptural insights and the threads of modern-day life to help you not only survive the tough times in your life, but learn from them as well."




Help, I'm Drowning


Book Description

Life is filled with unexpected storms that take you by surprise. In these storms of life, it's easy to feel helpless, exhausted, afraid . . . and alone. We can feel like victims to circumstances out of our control. Beloved author Sally Clarkson understands deeply. Through almost seven decades of life, she has found herself tossed about in overwhelming life storms through many different seasons. In Help, I'm Drowning, Sally identifies the challenges that took her by surprise and then leads you to the wisdom she gathered from her experiences. Finding grace to walk through the darkness and hope to make it through will give you the comfort and encouragement you need in knowing you are not alone. Though there are no easy, formulaic answers that apply to every situation, Sally leads us to the One who is with us and will see us through. Sally found the anchors that held her steady in the midst of every storm, and she wants to help you find your anchors too. She invites you into her own personal story of anchoring well, and then--with honesty, grit, and her trademark wisdom--she will help you heal and move forward with courage and strength.




Why?


Book Description




Weathering the Storm


Book Description

Resilience enables us not only to survive adversity, but to be transformed by it. This book offers simple and proven strategies to develop resilience that will be of enormous benefit to anyone who is yearning to feel more peaceful and prepared. Coast Guard veteran, interfaith chaplain, and pastor Tracy Mehr-Muska shares the stories of her own struggles with self-esteem, sexual assault, and miscarriage that inspired her to research resilience and to enthusiastically reach this conclusion: resilience is not something that is inborn, but instead is a set of characteristics we can cultivate. Mehr-Muska brings these characteristics to life using inspirational secular and multifaith stories, as well as compelling scientific evidence. She ties each chapter together with an uplifting story of a personal friend that bravely and gracefully overcame obstacles and embodies each of these essential characteristics. Weathering the Storm also poses insightful questions for reflection and offers concrete strategies for implementation that can be used individually or in group contexts such as faith communities, families, and therapeutic relationships. Just as we practice fire drills before a fire happens, this book will help us be better equipped for the eventual storms of life so we can live with greater peace and preparedness.




The Forgive Process


Book Description

The Forgive Process reveals a simple process to forgive the hurts and pains that hold people back. Life is full-contact. There are hurts and joys at every turn. But those hurts, when they are not released, hold people captive. The way through a hurt is forgiveness. Yet many people do not understand forgiveness. The misunderstandings and myths make it even more difficult—unless you have a simple process to work through. With Lee Baucom’s principles, forgiving is a simple, six-step process. Anyone can forgive, move forward, and find peace and healing.




Into the Deep


Book Description

Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee sunny skies and smooth sailing. In fact, the waters of life are often tumultuous, crashing over us. Sometimes we can feel that we’re drowning in a sea of confusion, division, frustration, complacency, or disillusionment. We need more than a shallow faith to survive these deep waters. Into the Deep is an invitation to dive headfirst into a life of courageous faith. With endearing warmth and authenticity, Lauren Gaskill shares how she and others have learned to swim with Jesus in the deep waters of life—facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, and chronic illness—only to discover a more authentic, enduring faith that cannot be shaken by circumstances. In addition to examining the character of God and the lives of women and men of the Bible who chose to dive deeper with God, she provides practical examples and tools that help us take our faith to the next level by learning to make decisions by faith alone, control our reactions to overwhelming situations, and live a life rooted in love. Get ready to exchange fear and frustration for the boldness, courage, and holy confidence that lead to a life of deep faith and joy!




Fiery Darts


Book Description

Janet Warren Lane has been a Christian for 54 years, a school teacher for 15 years, a minister’s wife for 33 years, a mother of four grown and married children who are all involved in ministry and/or missions, and a grandmother of 8 and counting! For most of that time she was unaware of Satan’s most formidable weapon used against Christians - Fiery Darts. Since becoming aware of this weapon, Satan’s motives for using it, and how to wield the power of God’s Word against it, Janet’s release from years of captivity has been wondrously secured.Most people agree that negative thinking can have a debilitating effect on a person’s life. But just knowing this does little to help combat such thinking. By comparing negative thinking to the weapon of fiery darts, Janet exposes the weapon and the tactics used by Satan to manipulate. After the weapon and its tactics are exposed, detailed instructions are given as to how to counter-attack and live life free from the bondage negative thinking can impose.




In the Middle of the Mess


Book Description

How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances. Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she shows us we’re not alone in our struggles, guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.




Beyond the Storm


Book Description

A handbook of help and hope when facing personal tragedy. When the storms of life blow in unexpectedly, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction, why does one person fall apart while another perseveres and even finds a deeper sense of purpose afterward? In Beyond the Storm, Debra Morton reveals why, providing the techniques and strategies that helped her and many others not only survive but also thrive, even in the most painful of circumstances. While ministering to victims of Hurricane Katrina and grieving the death of her granddaughter, Morton realized that the key to pushing forward in the midst of setbacks was having a defined set of coping skills. So she created the “Storm Playbook,” which teaches how to renew your hope, reclaim your passion, and experience fulfillment and joy again. That playbook is here for you to use immediately, along with interactive tools, journaling questions, and scripture studies that will guide you through pain and struggle and into strength and victory once again. Beyond the Storm is an essential help for flourishing after the devastating effects of life’s blows so you can actively pursue the purpose you were designed to fulfill.




Calming the Storms of Life


Book Description

Betty Tope, the wife of gospel preacher Gene Tope, writes about the struggles of life experienced by women as they go through the various stages of life, including such issues as loneliness, rebellious children, unfaithfulness in marriage, rejection by God, church troubles, moving, financial difficulties, civil upheaval, loss of health, death of a loved one, widowhood, and facing one's own death. The book also includes questions which makes it an excellent study guide for women's classes.