We can be defeated by life's disappointments, or become stronger because of them. Kay Arthur examines the dangerous downward spiral of disappointment that can lead to discouragement, dejection, despair, and demoralization. She shows readers how to break that cycle and embrace disappointment with a faith that recognizes trials as tools God uses to make us, as silver refined, more beautiful and valuable.
What Can You Do When Life Doesn't Turn Out Like You Planned? How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions? When your boss fires you unexpectedly? When you lose your life's savings? When the child you've loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values? When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, "How could God let this happen?" But what if God didn't just "let it happen"? What if the things you call disappointments are really His appointments--events He is using to make you more like Christ? What if your circumstances are actually the flames of His grace, intended to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in your life, leaving you pure and radiant--like refined silver? You can be defeated by life's unavoidable disappointments, or you can become stronger because of them. Life's disappointments can send you on a dangerous downward spiral into discouragement, depression, or even despair. But in this eye-opening book, Kay Arthur guides you to biblical truths that will help you break that cycle and instead embrace disappointment as the cleansing fire God uses to make you--as silver refined--a reflection of His goodness. Now includes a 16 week Bible study!
What Can You Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned? How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions? When your boss fires you unexpectedly? When you lose your life’s savings? When the child you’ve loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values? When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, “How could God let this happen?” But what if God didn’t just “let it happen”? What if the things you call disappointments are really His appointments—events He is using to make you more like Christ? What if your circumstances are actually the flames of His grace, intended to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in your life, leaving you pure and radiant—like refined silver? You can be defeated by life’s unavoidable disappointments, or you can become stronger because of them. Life’s disappointments can send you on a dangerous downward spiral into discouragement, depression, or even despair. But in this eye-opening book, Kay Arthur guides you to biblical truths that will help you break that cycle and instead embrace disappointment as the cleansing fire God uses to make you—as silver refined—a reflection of His goodness. Now includes a 16 week Bible study!
Popular teacher and speaker Kay Arthur has developed a study specifically for those who are unfamiliar with the Bible. It introduces readers not only to God's Word but to the God of the Word. In this exciting study, Kay Arthur takes readers by the hand, gently leading them through the Gospel of John and introducing the inductive method of study. Readers will come away with solid, tested Bible study methods and an understanding of who God is and how to know Him better. God, Are You There? is a life-changing adventure into a beloved gospel. It's easy to use—a "quick-start" program for anyone new to the truths of God's Word or for a group needing just the right number of lessons.
Enjoy the expanded and updated editions of the best-selling "Lord" Bible Study Series from Kay Arthur. The "Lord" study series is an insightful, warm-hearted Bible study series designed to meet readers where they are--and help them discover God's answers to their deepest needs. No Matter How Deep the Wounds, God Can Heal Your Hurts. Everyone hurts. The pain runs deep, the scars never seem to fade, the memories torment us. As a result, our growth is stunted, our walk crippled, our relationships infected. Will relief never come? Yes -- when you put yourself in the hands of Jehovah-rapha, the God who heals! No matter what you've done or what's been done to you, He wants to be your refuge. He loves you. And He offers healing for your deepest wounds. Discover how God can turn your sorrow into joy in Lord, Heal My Hurts. Let Kay Arthur guide you through the Scriptures so you can be set free from past hurts by the power of God. This powerful, insightful study will minister to you in deeply restorative ways. And these are truths you will want to share with others.
Bestselling author Pat Conroy acknowledges the books that have shaped him and celebrates the profound effect reading has had on his life. Pat Conroy, the beloved American storyteller, is a voracious reader. Starting as a childhood passion that bloomed into a life-long companion, reading has been Conroy’s portal to the world, both to the farthest corners of the globe and to the deepest chambers of the human soul. His interests range widely, from Milton to Tolkien, Philip Roth to Thucydides, encompassing poetry, history, philosophy, and any mesmerizing tale of his native South. He has for years kept notebooks in which he records words and expressions, over time creating a vast reservoir of playful turns of phrase, dazzling flashes of description, and snippets of delightful sound, all just for his love of language. But for Conroy reading is not simply a pleasure to be enjoyed in off-hours or a source of inspiration for his own writing. It would hardly be an exaggeration to claim that reading has saved his life, and if not his life then surely his sanity. In My Reading Life, Conroy revisits a life of reading through an array of wonderful and often surprising anecdotes: sharing the pleasures of the local library’s vast cache with his mother when he was a boy, recounting his decades-long relationship with the English teacher who pointed him onto the path of letters, and describing a profoundly influential period he spent in Paris, as well as reflecting on other pivotal people, places, and experiences. His story is a moving and personal one, girded by wisdom and an undeniable honesty. Anyone who not only enjoys the pleasures of reading but also believes in the power of books to shape a life will find here the greatest defense of that credo. BONUS: This ebook edition includes an excerpt from Pat Conroy's The Death of Santini.
Life hurts when it is experienced through the flames of tragedy, but there is hope. There are answers. There is a purpose for it all. Todd had the perfect life: a thriving ministry, a happy and healthy family, and a bright future. All of it was interrupted when his oldest daughter, Makenzie, was killed in a traffic accident. Needing to heal, Todd took a leave of absence from ministry and went to work for a friends company that refines gold and silver. As a refiner, Todd realized that the process of refining metal paralleled the grief and healing that he and his family were experiencing. In his book, Refined, Todd examines principles that help answer the questions that surface when pain and tragedy poke their noses into our lives. Whether you have experienced the tragic loss of a loved one or struggle with the daily frustrations of life, Refined will help you understand what God may be up to. Each chapter includes discussion topics.
What’s the Big Deal About Sex? Birds do it. Bees do it. And when you turn on the television, log on to the Internet, or watch a movie, you can’t help but notice that everyone else seems to be doing it too. Our culture has embraced the message that sex is just a basic bodily function, as irresistible and harmless as satisfying your hunger and thirst. But is it? Or have we bought into a lie that is rapidly corroding our souls and our society? When it comes to sexuality, you can’t ignore the Manufacturer’s directions and escape unharmed. That’s why everyone–teen or adult, single or married–needs to know The Truth About Sex. This compelling, interactive study provides an antidote to the world’s subtle yet insidiously dangerous lies. You’ll learn… ·why God created sex in the first place ·what happens when you don’t follow His design ·why virginity matters ·what consequences follow sex outside of marriage ·how to find healing if you’ve been harmed because you or someone else violated God’s instructions With this knowledge comes the power to stand firm, resisting the pull of temptation. Whatever your past–whether you’ve remained sexually pure or endured the pain of misusing God’s precious gift–you’ll find your eyes opened and your life transformed as you discover for yourself The Truth About Sex. Includes a companion study guide for personal use or group discussion.
ARE WE IN THE FINAL DAYS? For years, preachers have warned us about the Last Days and although all commentaries are based on the same Bible verses, no two sources seem to agree! This guide will bring understanding to 24 intriguing questions and help clarify complex prophecies in the books of Daniel, Prophets and Revelation. Key Bible passages that were previously “closed up and sealed until the time of the end” will be used to unveil what is meant for us today! The LORD is not willing that any should perish. II Pet 3:9 HE IS COMING, BUT NOT YET!
Much-Afraid had been in the service of the Chief Shepherd, whose great flocks were pastured down in the Valley of Humiliation. She lived with her friends and fellow workers Mercy and Peace in a tranquil little white cottage in the village of Much-Trembling. She loved her work and desired intensely to please the Chief Shepherd, but happy as she was in most ways, she was conscious of several things which hindered her in her work and caused her much secret distress and shame. Here is the allegorical tale of Much-Afraid, an every-woman searching for guidance from God to lead her to a higher place.
