Enjoy and join in the journey of an Italian Catholic woman who discovered that the meaning and success of life had nothing to do with money and prestige. It had to do with finding out who she was and to whom she truly belonged. This journey has many facets, from humble, loving beginnings to neglect and abuse, from one love to the next, addiction, adultery, avoidance, along with some humor, humble charisms, and most of all--number one--the encounters with the heavenly realms. Because you too can receive the gifts of ordinary miracles...if only you believe.
Where do you seek God? Are you waiting for him to appear in a monumental, life-altering event? In God Moments, Catholic blogger Andy Otto shows you how to discover the unexpected beauty of God’s presence in the story of ordinary things and in everyday routines like preparing breakfast or walking in the woods. Drawing on the Ignatian principles of awareness, prayer, and discernment, Otto will help you discover the transforming power of God’s presence in your life and better understand your place in the world. Andy Otto found God’s presence in surprising moments during his life—when, as a Jesuit scholastic, he taught children in Jamaica and also as he discerned the call to marriage with his wife. By combining elements of Ignatian spirituality with the lessons that came from his experiences, Otto identified three practices that helped him find God in all things: Awareness—Gain an understanding that God is present in the ordinary messiness of our lives such as battle with depression or sharing in the struggle of a friend. Prayer—Develop a prayer life using Ignatian practices such as asking for a morning grace and examining how your prayer was answered at the end of the day. That way you can focus on a personal relationship with God that finds everyday physical activities such as making a meal as an opportunity to talk to him. Discernment—The more you are aware of God’s presence and draw closer to him in prayer, the better you can learn how to plug into God’s narrative of the world in a way that enables you to participate in the divine story through the use of your gifts and talents. With God Moments as a guide, you’ll have a better understanding of how to seek personal wholeness in the reality of God’s presence in the ordinary and learn to accept his invitation to participate in his transformation of the world.
For as long as the idea of "miracles" has been in the public sphere, the conversation about them has been shaped exclusively by religious apologists and Christian leaders. The definitions for what a miracles are have been forged by the same men who fought hard to promote their own beliefs as fitting under that umbrella. It's time for a change. Enter John W. Loftus, an atheist author who has earned three master's degrees from Lincoln Christian Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Loftus, a former student of noted Christian apologist William Lane Craig, got some of the biggest names in the field to contribute to this book, which represents a critical analysis of the very idea of miracles. Incorporating his own thoughts along with those of noted academics, philosophers, and theologians, Loftus is able to properly define "miracle" and then show why there's no reason to believe such a thing even exists. Addressing every single issue that touches on miracles in a thorough and academic manner, this compilation represents the most extensive look at the phenomenon ever displayed through the lens of an ardent nonbeliever. If you've ever wondered exactly what a miracle is, or doubted whether they exist, then this book is for you.
It only takes ordinary miracles to change your life. Jasmine Smith: forty next month and not ready for it; married to a man she likes and not prepared to give up on love; smothered by life's mundanity, and yet drawn towards its mystery. She wants the sort of love that makes her feel more alive, she wants wild sex in stalle d lifts with film stars. She wants something else.... Jasmine Smith is in desperate need of a miracle. And with the help of an adventurous school friend, a man called Charlie and a pig called Rosie she is about to find one. A sharp, funny, moving novel and an exhilarating invitation to step out of quiet desperation and re-discover the magic in life and in love.
When Norman and Molly Hawkins visited a little full gospel church in the tiny village of South Chard in Somerset, England, in 1968, little did they know then what an incredible lifes journey awaited them as a result. This book is an account of some of the true and amazing miracles they and others experienced after encountering Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ. To some they sound unbelievable, but to our extraordinary God they are simply ordinary miracles!
Nothing shows God's amazing love and power like a miracle. Do You Believe in Miracles? by author and veteran publisher John Van Diest is an extraordinary gathering of uplifting stories that reveal how God works through people and life events in surprising ways. This inspiring collection includes contributions from popular Christian authors such as Max Lucado, Billy Graham, James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Joni Eareckson Tada, and others. Believers, skeptics, and anyone who loves a well-told story will be inspired by true tales of answered prayers, miraculous events, evidences of Divine intervention, and interactions with mysterious helpers, and the miracles of healing, prayer, and transformed lives. This captivating source of awe and wonder will fill readers with the hope and assurance that God is active in the world and in their lives today.
A life filled with miracles is one of incredible happiness and wonderful experiences. Once you accept that this is your natural right as a spiritual being, you'll find that the Universe works right alongside you in the miracle-making process. From The Author: "I want you to know that miracles happen every single moment of every single day. Big miracles, small miracles, and everything in between. Honestly, they aren't as rare as you probably think they are. And you know what? You can experience miracles in your own daily life! As a spiritual being in a human body nothing "out of the ordinary" is beyond your reach. We've only become accustomed to thinking that miracles are totally out of the realm of common experience. Why deprive yourself of something that should be completely natural?" What Readers Are Saying: "Real guidance and techniques that work. I've experienced several miracles already!" - Elizabeth C "Kelly feels like a dear friend walking with you along the path and showing you how to create your very own miracles. :)" - Claire D "Truly transformational! My life has changed so much after reading Kelly's book!!" - Annie B
After nearly three decades of providing medical care for women and men facing breast cancer, surgeon S. David Nathanson calls the survival rates today an ordinary miracle. Ordinary because the vast majority of patients now do live at least 20 years after diagnosis due to enormous progress that has been made in medicine; and a miracle too because of the intangible qualities such as faith and hope that seem key to success in battling the disease. In this book, survivors describe their experiences, emotions, and means to overcome the disease. S. David Nathanson is an esteemed, longtime surgeon who calls the survival rates today for women and men facing breast cancer nothing short of an ordinary miracle. Ordinary because the vast majority of patients live at least two decades after diagnosis, due to great advances that have been made in early detection, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But also a miracle because we know that key elements for a woman or man succeeding in a personal battle against breast cancer include completely intangible qualities of courage, fortitude, trust, persistence, faith, and hope. Although science cannot completely explain it, a supportive network of family and friends with those qualities also empower patient survival and recovery. In these pages, Nathanson shares stories from his patients, teaching us about the experience of breast cancer and explaining how they found and fueled the will and power to defeat the disease. Even surgeon Nathanson himself cannot fully describe what goes through the hearts and minds of breast cancer patients as they discover, deal with, and finally triumph over the diagnosis. So in this book he acts as a narrator, letting his ordinary yet miraculous cancer survivors tell their stories, certainly filled with fear of the known and unknown, and with pain, but opening up to courage, love, sometimes humor, and finally hope. It is hope that firms up their resilience; hope that initiates their fortitude. Hope is an important component of healing, says the surgeon. Seventy-one survivors, including one man, tell their stories to ilustrate every step of the experience.
Conception seems to be quite an ordinary occurrence, for the fertile world. But for Krissi and her husband Rob, having a baby was almost impossible. No one dared to say they were infertile, not even their doctors. And suddenly the deep ultimate fear of never being completely fulfilled kept them awake night after night. But giving up was not an option. Krissi and Rob were soon immersed into in-vitro fertilization, their only chance for success. It was a world of hormone injections, countless blood tests, anxiety, and exhaustion-all mixed with hope. IVF represented both an amazing, wonderful medical advancement and a demanding, frightening regimen with no guarantees, and often, heartache. Whether or not you've struggled with infertility, Krissi's journey will touch your heart with its honesty and devotion. From the bittersweet news that her twin sister conceived in her first month of trying, and her own mother's death, to the joy of hearing her daughter's heartbeat for the first time and the sweetness of a 2:00 a.m. feeding after her twins were born, this is a story of acceptance, perseverance, and love.
Does God Still Do Miracles Today? A Simple Guide to Experience Miracles will give you confidence in and awareness of the supernatural realm as you learn how to flourish spiritually by experiencing more miraculous interventions in your life and ministry. Internationally renowned philosopher J. P. Moreland looks at the nature of miracles and explains why bearing and receiving credible testimony to God's miraculous acts is a crucial feature of a mature Jesus-follower. He also shows how to distinguish a real miracle from a mere coincidence. Miracles bring comfort to believers, strengthening faith in God and creating boldness in our lives. While miraculous healings have occurred frequently throughout church history, Moreland provides data showing how the last fifty years have seen a massive outbreak of miracles and supernatural activity. Today, he argues, the church should humbly expect to see more of these miraculous works of God than we do. Moreland looks at topics like: The relationship between sickness and suffering, along with two different ways to pray for healing How to discern clearly the difference between a genuine miracle and a mere coincidence How to increase your faith that petitionary prayer really works and what to make of unanswered prayer Six ways God speaks to us and advice for hearing God wisely and biblically The role angels play in our lives, how they appear to us, and how to combat demonic influence The biblical basis for most Near-Death Experiences and what we can learn from them A Simple Guide to Experience Miracles increases your expectation and hope that God can and often does miraculously intervene to bring help and comfort. Moreland shows that it makes rational sense to step out and engage in employing Kingdom power and to strengthen courage to witness and act on behalf of the gospel of Jesus. Filled with inspiring, credible, motivating accounts of miracles, he covers five different kinds of supernatural activities and provides practical wisdom about how to begin practices such as healing prayer and learning to deal with the demonic.
