Product Description
The first Christians “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) shaking the gates of hell even in the face of severe persecution. The result: People all around “were filled with wonder and amazement” (Acts 3:10).What can give Christians today the same impact?

God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments.You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.

Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life – as He releases you to serve God as never before.

About the Author
Dr. Henry Blackaby, president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries, is the author of more than a dozen books, including the bestselling classic,Experiencing God. He has spent his life in ministry, serving as a music director and as a senior pastor of churches in California and Canada. Today he provides consultative leadership on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening on a global level. He and his wife make their home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Melvin Blackaby coauthored with his father, Henry, the Gold Medallion winner Experiencing God Together. He travels extensively as a conference speaker and serves as a senior pastor of Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. He and his wife and their three children live in Canada.

My Review: I used this book as part of my morning devotions and was reminded again how when we do God’s work in our strength it falls flat, but when we do God’s work in the Holy Spirit’s strength His will is accomplished.  The book has a back and forth style between father and son.  I liked that.  Between the two of them are years of experience walking with God.  This book made me desire an even closer relationship with God and to experience His moving in my life.  I read one or two chapters a day and was reminded anew that Christianity is a relationship, and a relationship takes time and is ongoing.  Christianity is a supernatural faith and we should expect to see things happen.  The Blackaby men reminded me of this truth.

About the Book: This is the tragic story of Kent Whitaker’s heart-wrenching journey toward forgiveness and faith after the brutal murder of his wife and one of his sons.

Straight from the headlines comes an incredible true story of a son’s treachery. For the first time, readers are offered inside access to the emotional drama that went on behind the scenes. At the core is the remarkable healing power of forgiveness, demonstrated by Kent Whitaker, which shows how the survivors of such atrocious events can still forgive those who have permanently damaged their lives.

One evening, the Whitaker family returned home after dinner, celebrating a son’s impending graduation from college. On opening the front door, they faced a gunman lying in wait. The gunman opened fire, instantly killing the younger sonand Kent’s wife, leaving Kent and his older son lying wounded until police and ambulances arrived. While recovering in the hospital, Kent resolved in his heart to forgive whoever was responsible for the deaths of his wife and son.

Over the next few weeks, it was discovered that the whole murder plot had been orchestrated by the surviving son — whom Kent had unknowingly forgiven. After a trial that resulted in a death sentence for his son, Kent emerged from this harrowing ordeal to share their astonishing journey toward forgiveness and redemption.

My Review: This story is nothing short of incredible. When I read the synopsis, I hadn’t heard of the crime and could only think that this was pretty much one of the worst things you could imagine happening to someone. For that very reason, it’s an incredible story about God.

What amazed me was that within just the first few hours of this all taking place, Kent felt compelled to forgive the person who had murdered his wife and son, and shot him and his other son. He is able to give this forgiveness right away, which sets the stage to offer even more healing and forgiveness. That’s not to say that there isn’t a tremendous amount of pain left to work through…there is, but taking that initial step of obedience made the rest of the story possible.

The writing is actually very good in this book as well. It at times almost reads like a novel. One of the things I really liked about this book was the way that Kent was so honest. He wasn’t afraid to share what his honest emotions were in certain situations, but he didn’t make excuses for them.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a great reminder of the power of God and the way He can use even the most damaging and painful situations in our lives for good.

Product Description
“A willingness to go is all they have in common,” exclaims Beth Moore, speaking of her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom she collaborated to create this book. This brilliant 365-day devotional features incredible stories of God’s faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide. 

My Review: I’ve been using this devotional as part of my quiet time for about a month now, and I love it.  The true stories from real live missionaries are truly inspiring.  Having been part of the Christian and MISSIONARY Alliance since I’ve been married, I love missionary stories.  They are just real people, who in many ways battle the same things we do, with the added aspect of being in another country.  I highly recommend this devotional.  Beth Moore compiled this book and wrote the introduction.  The missionaries are from all around the world.

Product Description
In Multiple Blessings, Kate Gosselin shares the gripping details of her rollercoaster ride of emotional highs and lows when she discovered she and her husband, Jon, would be expecting sextuplets while still basking in the light of their twin girls’ toddlerhood. Strongly encouraged to consider selective reduction for the sake of both mother and babies, she and Jon instead decided to accept the extreme challenge God had handed them. After suffering the long and winding road of infertility, the young couple felt stressed but blessed as they fought valiantly to help their babies survive the fight for their lives. Kate reveals excerpts from her private journal as she describes the daily struggle to carry the babies for thirty weeks. In addition to their uphill medical battle, the family suffered many emotional setbacks such as the loss of Jon’s job, forcing the pair to look to God as their sole provider and sustainer of life. 

After the miraculous birth, the couple coped with months of neonatal intensive care for their newborns as well as Kate’s physical recovery from such complete and prolonged bed rest. Later as the entire family of ten finally arrived home reeling with exhaustion, they still managed to feed, bathe, clothe, and monitor the health of their fragile infants as a steady parade of necessary and helpful volunteers turned their home and family life into a public arena.

The young family lived moment to moment at first, not knowing what each new day would bring and how they would survive on such depleted sleep, money, and emotional reserves. However, as the months progressed, they grew into the next stage of development, proudly letting go of yesterday and looking forward to a brighter and ever-changing tomorrow. Their small home was soon filled to capacity with six cribs, six bouncy seats, several changing tables, never-ending piles of laundry, tubs of colorful toys, stacks of diapers, cartons of formula, rows and rows of bottles, bibs and pacifiers, two triplet strollers, six car seats, and so on. Yes, life was hectic and cramped, but with each major milestone Jon and Kate rejoiced at the miracles that unfolded around them. The crew of six growing babies along with their proud big sisters, Madelyn and Cara, did their part to fill those rooms with squawking, squealing, laughing, and of course, a healthy dose of crying. Kate and Jon eventually came out of the fog of the first precarious two years feeling eternally grateful for the love and support of family, friends, community, and indeed a nation. More important, they felt the ever present hand of a faithful God upholding them and giving them just enough strength and courage to take one day at a time.

My Review:  Jon and Kate plus 8 became my new favorite show last summer.  The children are so darn cute!  The book goes a little deeper into the spiritual lives of this family.  I appreciated that because I noticed Bible verses posted all over the kitchen, but it was never mentioned on the show.

The book is mostly written from Kate’s point of view.  I got a little more insight into who she is.  The TV show tends to portray her as very type A and very bossy.  From the show you assume she loves her husband, but in the book you KNOW she does.  This book was very enjoyable and answered questions I had that the TV show didn’t.  If you enjoy reading about families, you will love this book.

Product Description
A unique collection of devotional insight and empowerment geared toward making your work and life a much more fulfilled and Christ-centered journey. Maximize your opportunities to advance the work and message of Christ through your everyday life. Don’t settle for mundane when God seeks more from you and can give so much to others through your work. Are you ready to make a difference? Are you tired of going through the motions and want to make what you do matter in a divinely eternal way? We have 40 powerful principles to set you on the path to a more enriching life of faith and insight.

My Review:  This devotional helps those of us called to ministry in the marketplace to keep our ministry in the proper perspective.  I enjoy the format and emphasis of this devotional.  Each chapter has two or three pages and ends with a short page including a Scripture, a thought or quote to take with you for the day, a suggested prayer request that goes with the chapter, and an application.  The book is divided into three sections: 1. True Riches – Thinking Biblically About Money and Wealth; 2. Kingdom Business – Your Marketplace Ministry;  and 3. Leaving a Legacy – For Christ, His Commission and His Kingdom.    I find the format and content challenging, very helpful, to the point, and user friendly.

When you bring a new dog into your home, a wash of great joy can become a trial of perseverance as your furry pal chews, digs, yaps, and yes, piddles her way through every room in the house. Allison Pittman learned this all too well when she adopted a “tiny, shiny puppy of indefinable breed(s).” Stella wasted no time in turning her home upside-down as only a pup can.

As could be expected, six weeks of obedience school covered the much needed basics–sit, stay, come, and down. What Allison didn’t expect was the spiritual benefit she would receive as each Saturday lesson revealed a fascinating metaphor. In this heart-warming, thoughtful, and often hilarious tribute to her beloved Stella, Allison Pittman shares how she came to understand what it means to follow the ultimate Master, including how to: 

Sit!–at the feet of Jesus and listen for His voice
Drop It!–and let go of personal agendas 
Come!–when it’s time to run in the right direction
Stay!–in God’s presence 

My Review:  If you are a dog lover – you will adore this book.  We have always gotten mutts from the Humane Society and they were a huge part of our family when our kids were growing up.  Stella is just about as typical as you can get for a dog.  You just want to reach through the pages of the book and hug her!  I have always appreciated our dogs’ unconditional love, but never really thought about how other things dogs do are so like my relationship with God, but they are.  I could definitely relate.  This book could be used as a daily devotional.  Otherwise, it is a rather quick read with 161 pages.  The chapters are rather short.  The pictures at the beginning of each chapter of Stella are adorable.

About the Book: You’re suddenly single again. What do you do now? Where do you turn? Starting From Scratch When You’re Single Again serves up poignant stories from twenty-three widowed or divorced women who survived a horrific deathblow to their dreams for a happy, secure future.

Somehow, with white-knuckle faith, each one found enough strength in themselves and in their God to move forward. Let each woman’s story and the guiding principles she offers be an encouragement to you, and as a bonus, let the taste and aroma of her favorite recipe comfort and nourish your soul.

Amy’s Thoughts:Well, I’m still single, but I think this book is a magnificent resource. This issue is something that’s often overlooked in Christian circles that focus heavily on traditional family units. But this book offers hope in the form of true stories from women who have been there. As they address different aspects of the struggle in finding themselves single again, they also offer hope and…recipes. How fun is that? Additionally, guiding principles are pulled out and highlighted. Since this book is in the form of individual stories, it’s very easy to read and laced with hope and inspiration.

Here’s a question and answer with the authors, Mary and Sharon!

Mary, why did you write this book?

Mary: I’m neither divorced nor widowed, but I, too, have a heart for those who are starting from scratch. My father died when I was 16, and although she was never aware of the impression she made, my mother was an inspiration to me. While my faith in God faltered, hers remained intact. I watched how she made decisions—how she continued to put one foot in front of the other—how she guided my younger brother and me.

Today I work with my husband in the financial services business. We meet many women who, because of the loss or absence of their spouse, are faced with decisions that were once shared.

I wanted to offer all of these women hope and encouragement so they wouldn’t feel alone or overwhelmed. I want them to know that others have survived and that they will, too. I also want them to know—if they are young mothers—that their children are learning how to cope through the example they set. Children are not harsh judges, but will admire them for their willingness to learn new skills, and for listening to, talking with, and leading them even when the road is strewn with uncertainty.

Sharon, do you think widows and divorced women are treated differently? In what way?

Sharon: When my marriage failed after thirty years, I was filled with tremendous guilt and shame. I had been a devout believer in Christ, an active leader in my church, the parent of two beautiful daughters, and the kind of person who loved both my own and my husband’s extended family. It was as if I had received a ten-foot tall letter “F” on my imaginary “Report Card of Life.”

Widows don’t carry that kind of shame around, although they are consumed with grief, as was I. Friends and relatives know what to say to a widow—they offer counsel and comfort.

Mary, as you talked with women, what did you find helped them cope with their situation?

Mary: Many of the women we visited with often spoke of turning to Scripture. While some had a strong faith that allowed them to draw comfort from great passages in the Bible, others questioned God at first, or had feisty conversations with Him.

All were needy of, and appreciated, kind words and gestures from friends and family. But I was struck at how they all found comfort when their supporters were not available. Many of the women we visited with mentioned a devotional, a workbook, or some special story that encouraged them. Some started blogs or began a ministry. Many swallowed their pride and accepted help from others, including the government, recognizing that this was just for a season.

For most of these women, dependency on God Himself seemed to be the key ingredient when tragedy first struck. After that they allowed others to minister to them. And then eventually they took that one small step necessary to move forward and accept change.

Sharon, the first story in the book is from your personal experience and is titled, “Telling.” Why is talking to others—even friends—about your situation so hard?

Sharon: When I suddenly got divorced, no one knew what to think or say. It was a complete shock to everyone (including me), and it felt like a bomb had gone off in the night. People want an explanation, and if one is not readily apparent, they make their own guesses as to what probably happened. Some gossip and take sides. Some get very angry and feel betrayed: in a way, their own security is threatened and they wonder, “If that could happen to her, could it happen to me?”

“Telling”came right out of my journal. It was written as I grappled with how to tell people what had happened just a few months after the divorce. We have included this as a book excerpt on our blog.

Mary, what is your best advice to a woman who finds herself single again?

Mary: As tempting as it might be, do not stay in bed with the covers pulled over your head. Accept invitations from friends and learn something new, no matter how small. If God seems far away, ask Him for just a little bit of faith. Eventually, it will grow.

Sharon, do you have a quote from the book to close with?

Sharon: Mary and I designed beautiful bookmarks to give away, and they express what the stories in this book convey. The bookmark says, “Be thankful for whatever God is doing in and through your suffering. TRUST that eventually He will make everything right” (from page 212). God is in the business of redeeming and restoring lives, and this holds true for those who believe in Him no matter what.

Giveaway: Interested in owning a copy of this book? Leave a comment with a valid email address!

I love using Calvin Miller’s Devotionals. I found the first one I used, “The Christ of Christmas” when browsing in a local Christian bookstore in St. Louis. I bought it to help me really get ready for the spiritual significance of the holiday. It did just that. The next one I bought was “The Christ of the Easter” which helped me again zero in on what Easter is all about. Because I loved these books so much I also bought “The Christ We Knew: Eyewitness Accounts from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.” Even though I have had this book for several years, I am just now getting into it. It is thought-provoking and very helpful. The devotionals have really given me something to chew on for several days a piece. The format of this particular book is you first read the devotional on a particular passage of Scripture in one of the Gospels, then you read the entire chapter from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. This book includes classical art and explanations of each picture and gives a little information about the artist.

Calvin Miller’s writing is profound, yet easy to read and practical. The Christ We Knew takes you through the birth of Christ right to the Ascension of Christ. Each book is divided into 31 days of devotions. I usually spend about 5-10 minutes each morning before work reading them – that’s about how long it takes. I have gone back to reread several.

Calvin Miller is a writer and speaker. He worked with others on the translation of the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Miller is a career pastor and teaches at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information on Calvin Miller visit his web site at www.calvinmillerauthor.com

I have been doing Beth Moore Bible studies on my own for many years. I buy the workbook and the CDs and go from there. Now I am just finishing up “Stepping Up – a journey through the Psalms of Ascent.” I am always challenged by these studies and Stepping Up is no exception. I do five days of intense study on the passages – in this case Psalms 120-134, then I listen to the accompanying teaching cd. The new feature is that now you can download each teaching session online through LifeWay. I will do this for the last session.

For the six week study, Beth has us read each psalm in two different versions of the Bible, then we “Say It, Work It, and Pray It.” After saying it and working it, you are very ready to pray it – praying Scripture in your own words. This has been very beneficial to me. By the way even though it is set up to be a six-week study, I take my time. I’ve been working on this since the end of January. So this six week study will take me 8-10 weeks.

The Psalms of Ascent were sung on the pilgrimage to the three great feasts – Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles. The pilgrims go through many situations which we can easily relate to and they and we can learn many truths about God and His Word to apply to our own lives in difficult situations.

I highly recommend this and all of Beth Moore’s Bible studies. It is available through LifeWay bookstores.