Embracing Divine Appointments: Finding Strength and Hope Amid Life's Unexpected Turns


Book Description

Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, highs and lows, moments of joy and seasons of sorrow. Along the way, we encounter moments that leave us breathless with wonder and awe, as well as moments that leave us shattered and bewildered. It is in these moments of disappointment and disillusionment that we are faced with a choice - to succumb to despair or to rise with resilience. In this book, "Embracing Divine Appointments," we embark on a journey of exploration and discovery into the depths of the human experience. Guided by the wisdom and insight of Lysa TerKeurst, we delve into the heart of disappointment, uncovering its transformative power and its potential to lead us closer to the divine. Through poignant stories, practical wisdom, and profound insights, we learn to navigate the turbulent waters of disappointment with grace and courage. We come to understand that disappointment is not the end of the road, but rather a doorway to growth and renewal. It is through our struggles and setbacks that we are refined, that we discover the depth of our resilience and the boundlessness of our faith. Throughout these pages, we will journey together through the valleys of grief and loss, the wilderness of doubt and questioning, and the storms of uncertainty and fear. Yet, amidst the darkness, we will discover rays of hope shining through, illuminating the path ahead and guiding us toward a brighter tomorrow. Together, we will learn to embrace disappointment as a divine appointment - a sacred invitation to encounter God in the midst of life's unexpected turns. We will discover that even in our darkest moments, we are never alone, for the divine presence is with us, guiding us, sustaining us, and leading us toward a future filled with hope and promise. So, dear reader, I invite you to embark on this journey with an open heart and a willing spirit. May these pages be a source of comfort and encouragement to you as you navigate the ups and downs of life's journey. May you find strength and solace in the midst of disappointment, and may you emerge from the darkness with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper faith in the goodness of God.




It's Not Supposed to Be This Way


Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER What do you do when God’s timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention hurtful, and his promises doubtful? Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances, inviting you to live assured when life doesn't turn out like you expected. Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a season, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned at best and overwhelmed and hopeless at worst. We quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness and why he allows us to suffer and experience grief and loss. Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But after many tears, godly counseling, and prayerful seeking, she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God. In It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa invites us into her own journey of faith and, with grit, vulnerability, and honest humor, helps us to: Stop being pulled into the anxiety of disappointment by discovering how to better process unmet expectations and other painful situations. Train ourselves to recognize the three strategies of the enemy, so we can stand strong and persevere through unsettling relationships and uncertain outcomes. Discover the secret of being steadfast and not panicking when God actually does give us more than we can handle. Shift our suspicion that God is cruel or unfair to the biblical assurance that God is protecting and preparing us. Know how to encourage a friend and help her navigate hard realities with real help from God's truth, the Bible. Look for additional biblically based resources and devotionals from Lysa: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes Forgiving What You Can't Forget Uninvited You're Going to Make It Embraced Seeing Beautiful Again




I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die


Book Description

A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.




Baxter's Explore the Book


Book Description

Explore the Book is not a commentary with verse-by-verse annotations. Neither is it just a series of analyses and outlines. Rather, it is a complete Bible survey course. No one can finish this series of studies and remain unchanged. The reader will receive lifelong benefit and be enriched by these practical and understandable studies. Exposition, commentary, and practical application of the meaning and message of the Bible will be found throughout this giant volume. Bible students without any background in Bible study will find this book of immense help as will those who have spent much time studying the Scriptures, including pastors and teachers. Explore the Book is the result and culmination of a lifetime of dedicated Bible study and exposition on the part of Dr. Baxter. It shows throughout a deep awareness and appreciation of the grand themes of the gospel, as found from the opening book of the Bible through Revelation.







She Reads Truth


Book Description

Born out of the experiences of hundreds of thousands of women who Raechel and Amanda have walked alongside as they walk with the Lord, She Reads Truth is the message that will help you understand the place of God's Word in your life.




Learning Through Life's Trials


Book Description

"You can choose to see a trial as a roadblock or an expressway. If you see it as a roadblock, it will obstruct your way. However, if you see it as an expressway, you can use it to learn and grow." "The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan whereby we can become what God wants us to become. In fact, we become great people because of our trials, not in spite of them." This booklet reviews the nature, origins, and purposes of adversity and includes suggestions on how to patiently trust in the Lord and His eternal plan and how to use these trials to learn and grow stronger. You can benefit from your trials if you: Develop a relationship with God Let others help you Let God carry your burdens Trust that the Lord is in control and allow His will to be done Remember that everyone has challenges Let adversity make you a better person Live with integrity Be patient Make the best of your situation Serve others Keep a positive attitude Keep an eternal perspective




Brothers, We are Not Professionals


Book Description

John Piper pleads with fellow pastors to abandon the professionalization of the pastorate and pursue the prophetic call of the Bible for radical ministry.




Loving God with All Your Mind


Book Description

Elizabeth George shares six simple yet powerful Bible truths that God uses to transform a woman's life . . . truths that will permanently change the way you think, feel, and live.More than 10,000 thoughts pass through our minds each day. Wouldn't you like every one of those thoughts to be pleasing to God? That can be a challenge with the pressures of daily living. When we find our thoughts overwhelmed by fear, worry, and depression, it's difficult to keep our minds focused on truth and joy!




Made to Crave Devotional


Book Description

Most of us know “how to” get healthy. Where things often fall apart is with our “want to.” In Lysa TerKeurst’s book Made to Crave, she helps women find the missing link between our desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. But when French fries are so close and God feels so far away, we need more than nineteen chapters to stay motivated and on track. That’s why Lysa wrote this daily devotional with sixty inspirational entries. There is plenty of new material not in the original book, as well as your favorite nuggets of wisdom from Made to Crave. In this devotional you will find: A daily opening Scripture Thought for the Day Devotion Closing prayer Just like the Made to Crave book, this Made to Crave Devotional is not a how-to-get-healthy book. It is the road to finding the lasting “want to” that extends far beyond the surface issues of weighing less and wanting to wear a smaller clothes size. There’s a spiritual battle going on. It’s real. And it’s amazing how perfectly the Bible gives us specific ways to find victory over our food struggles. Even for girls who don’t crave carrots.