Don’t settle for less than what God can do. We often face situations in life that are hard. Whether it be a job loss, a difficult marriage, or problems with the kids—harsh storms come, and we can quickly feel overwhelmed, even desperate. In the beginning of creation, God entered the darkness and void and displayed his turnaround nature. He spoke words that turned darkness into light and filled the emptiness with fruitfulness. His turnaround power brought order into the chaos. In the same way, God enters our lives with the power of his turnaround ability and offers not just a slight improvement but a complete turn around. Turnarounds by their nature are radical. They bypass nice and sensible, they freak out the orderly, and they do not line up with agendas. But turnarounds reveal our miraculous Savior to a messed-up world. Using examples from her own life and those of biblical characters, international speaker and teacher Charlotte Gambill offers that God is more than just a little bit of help, he’s all the help; we need. It’s time for us to fully understand that there is nothing that God can’t turn around!
The book Turn Around and See the Lord takes inspiration from the experience that Mary Magdalene had with Christ Jesus and His angels at the Lord's sepulchre. The author relates Mary's human frailties to the emotional discomfort, stress, poverty, famine, social mishaps and political servitude that may come upon us. These hardships, she believes, are inflicted upon some believers because of their wickedness, stubbornness, unbelief and lack of simple trust in Jehovah God. She recommends that there is a need for a change or repentance. The author has put together more than twenty renowned biblical characters and her personal-life testimony to address some of the challenges our generation is facing with idol worship and adulterous and obnoxious practices. Rev. Joy Vassal was born in Allison, Manchester-Jamaica West Indies. While she was living in Jamaica she studied at Beaumont College and graduated from Caledonia Educational College Jamaica. When she came to Toronto, Canada, she continued her education, where she matriculated in the Ministerial Affirmation and the Ministerial Internship Programs offered by the Church of God and Lee College (now Lee University) in Cleveland, Tennessee. She obtained an Addiction Social Worker's Diploma at Everest College (formerly CDI College). She is currently attending Tyndale University and Seminary. Joy is a devoted member of the West Toronto New Testament Church of God, where she serves as Missions Representative. Joy is a prolific playwright. Her playwriting skills were exemplified in The Old Man and the New Man drama production that she wrote and produced. It was an educative and insightful episode, which was developed for television in 1999. She also produced two other plays, Gloria Suffering and The King Is Coming. Adding to her writing schedule, she writes for Miles magazine, Canada's first Christian magazine covering current events, issues and testimonials worldwide.
The book Turn Around and See the Lord takes inspiration from the experience that Mary Magdalene had with Christ Jesus and His angels at the Lord's sepulchre. The author relates Mary's human frailties to the emotional discomfort, stress, poverty, famine, social mishaps and political servitude that may come upon us. These hardships, she believes, are inflicted upon some believers because of their wickedness, stubbornness, unbelief and lack of simple trust in Jehovah God. She recommends that there is a need for a change or repentance. The author has put together more than twenty renowned biblical characters and her personal-life testimony to address some of the challenges our generation is facing with idol worship and adulterous and obnoxious practices. Rev. Joy Vassal was born in Allison, Manchester-Jamaica West Indies. While she was living in Jamaica she studied at Beaumont College and graduated from Caledonia Educational College Jamaica. When she came to Toronto, Canada, she continued her education, where she matriculated in the Ministerial Affirmation and the Ministerial Internship Programs offered by the Church of God and Lee College (now Lee University) in Cleveland, Tennessee. She obtained an Addiction Social Worker's Diploma at Everest College (formerly CDI College). She is currently attending Tyndale University and Seminary. Joy is a devoted member of the West Toronto New Testament Church of God, where she serves as Missions Representative. Joy is a prolific playwright. Her playwriting skills were exemplified in The Old Man and the New Man drama production that she wrote and produced. It was an educative and insightful episode, which was developed for television in 1999. She also produced two other plays, Gloria Suffering and The King Is Coming. Adding to her writing schedule, she writes for Miles magazine, Canada's first Christian magazine covering current events, issues and testimonials worldwide.
The author of Desiring God reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Includes a study guide for individual and small-group use. Isn’t it true—we really don’t know someone until we understand what makes that person happy? And so it is with God! What does bring delight to the happiest Being in the universe? John Piper writes, that it’s only when we know what makes God glad that we’ll know the greatness of His glory. Therefore, we must comprehend “the pleasures of God.” Unlike so much of what is written today, this is not a book about us. It is about the One we were made for—God Himself. In this theological masterpiece—chosen by World Magazine as one of the 20th Century’s top 100 books, John Piper reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Then we will be able to drink deeply—and satisfyingly—from the only well that offers living water. What followers of Jesus need now, more than anything else, is to know and love—behold and embrace—the great, glorious, sovereign, happy God of the Bible. “This is a unique and precious book that everybody should read more than once.” —J.I. PACKER, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia
Scripture reveals a God who meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be. No More Faking Fine is your invitation to get honest with God through the life-giving language of lament. If you've ever been given empty clichés during challenging times, you know how painful it is to be misunderstood by well-meaning people. When life hurts, we often feel pressure--from others and ourselves--to keep it together, suck it up, or pray it away. But Scripture reveals a God who lovingly invites us to give honest voice to our emotions when life hits hard. For most of her life, Esther Fleece Allen believed she could bypass the painful emotions of her broken past by shutting them down altogether. She was known as an achiever and an overcomer on the fast track to success. But in silencing her pain, she robbed herself of the opportunity to be healed. Maybe you've done the same. Esther's journey into healing began when she discovered that God has given us a real-world way to deal with raw emotions and an alternative to the coping mechanisms that end up causing more pain. It's called lament--the gut-level, honest prayer that God never ignores, never silences, and never wastes. No More Faking Fine is your permission to lament, taking you on a journey down the unexpected pathway to true intimacy with God. Drawing from careful biblical study and hard-won insight, Esther reveals how to use God's own language to come closer to him as he leads us through our pain to the light on the other side, teaching you that: We are robbing ourselves of a divine mystery and a divine intimacy when we pretend to have it all together God does not expect us to be perfect; instead, he meets us where we are There is hope beyond your heartache, disappointment, and grief Like Esther, you'll soon find that when one person stops faking fine, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
For anyone who longs for a consistent prayer life yet struggles with distractions, doubts, or knowing where to start, bestselling writer and beloved speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst offers a simple and heartfelt method for having meaningful conversations with God, one day at a time. The kind of intentional, fervent prayer life we'd like to experience often seems intimidating or just out of reach. Chrystal knows how that feels and shares her own relatable journey through the challenges and joys of deepening her prayer life. Showing up to pray just one day at a time, Chrystal found a simple yet powerful practice that made consistent prayer amazingly doable. A warm and encouraging writer, Chrystal shares the same supportive help she found for talking with God specifically and intentionally throughout the day. With relatable stories and timeless Scripture, The 28-Day Prayer Journey offers three prompts each day to guide you through an easy yet intimate prayer experience. From giving thanks, hearing God, and making requests to simply knowing what to say, Chrystal gives practical explanations and easy steps for the core tenets of prayer, including: Praise and Thanksgiving--offering gratitude to God Repentance--seeking forgiveness from God Asking--presenting your requests to God Yielding--surrendering to God The 28-Day Prayer Journey will strengthen your faith and transform your life with the profound experience of communicating with a loving God. Whether you are new to prayer or well-versed in communication with God, this hopeful and supportive guide will help you experience God's presence in ways you never have before through the practice of meaningful prayer.
Discover God’s wild freedom as you find your identity in Jesus with 100 devotions that will help you target and banish lies and insecurities. Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan, bestselling authors of Wild and Free, walk you through the gift of truly knowing who you are in Christ in Always Enough, Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free. We’ve all been there. We know that sneaking, small voice in our heads all too well—you’re too loud. Too quiet. Too young. Too old. Too unimportant. Too ugly. Too silly. Too serious. You’re not as successful as she is—look at her perfect family, look at her high-powered job, look at her great hair and size 4 skinny jeans. Why can’t you be more like her—be more in general? Why do you expect so much from everyone? Why can’t you take up less space? Ask for less? Be less? The lies track well-worn paths in our minds and our hearts, wearing us down and making us question our role in God’s kingdom. Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan, founders of the Influence Network and bestselling authors of Wild and Free,reject those lies, and you can too with Always Enough, Never Too Much: 100 Devotions to Quit Comparing, Stop Hiding, and Start Living Wild and Free. Through the Scripture and the devotions, find the tools you need to claim the fullness of Jesus in your own life and soak in the encouragement of two girls who will never stop cheering you on! With a unique flip-book design, these 100 devotions are topical, so you can choose what you need most every time you open the pages. This book is designed for you, the woman who feels like she can be both too much and not enough—sometimes on the same day. Always Enough, Never Too Much is the daily marching orders after the anthem cry of Wild and Free. Join Jess and Hayley on a journey toward freedom with this beautiful new devotional.
New York Times bestseller What is Jesus worth to you? It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily... But who do you know who lives like that? Do you? In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus. Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment -- a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.
Brother Witness Lee was in Taiwan at the beginning of 1952. In the middle of January he conducted a seven-day conference in Taipei, Taiwan. We do not have a record of the messages given at this conference. Beginning on February 3, he conducted a ten-day special conference. These crucial messages are included in the section entitled Serving according to Revelation in volume 2 of the 1950-1951 set. On February 27 Brother Lee went to Manila, Philippines, and he returned to Taipei on June 17. During his time in Manila he conducted a conference on March 30 through April 4 on the subject of life and service. We do not have a record of the messages that he gave during that conference. However, we have Brother Lee's personal notes on various other meetings during his visit to Manila. They are included in the section on Brother Lee's personal notes that he made in 1952. After returning to Taiwan from Manila, Brother Lee conducted a two-week special conference beginning on July 13. The general messages are included in the section entitled Christ and the Cross in volume 1 of this set. There were also special messages for responsible ones on how to work, how to administrate the church, and how to conduct meetings. After the conference, beginning on July 28 Brother Lee conducted another two-week series of meetings on what the church is, the knowledge of the Son of God, Christ as the building material for the church, knowing the self and the natural man, the character needed for a worker of the Lord, the exercise of the spiritual life, and how to conduct meetings. These messages for the serving ones are included in the sections entitled Guidelines for the Lord's Table Meeting and the Pursuit in Life; The Crucified Christ; The Vision, Ministry, and Leading of the Lord's Serving Ones; and How to Administrate the Church, which are in volumes 1 and 2 of this set. Beginning on September 22 and ending on November 7, Brother Lee conducted a study, which took place five days a week, on the book of Romans. This study brought in a consecration of between four hundred and five hundred saints. The messages given during the study are included in the section entitled Revelations in Romans: Seeing God's Complete Salvation in volume 2 of this set. On November 12, at the conclusion of the study on Romans, a love feast was held with over two thousand in attendance. At the end of the love feast Brother Lee gave the following word: "A normal Christian must pursue equally in four things: life, truth, the gospel, and service. Most people pay attention to the first three things but neglect the last. This is why we need to make this up. We need to realize that all the services and expenses should be borne by all the saints; no one is in charge of everything or responsible for everything. All those who are called by the Lord to work for Him are in the Lord's work. Although they minister and lead in spiritual affairs and help the churches, they do not burden the churches materially. They look directly to the Lord in faith for all their needs. The Lord has cared for them." On December 10 Brother Lee left Taipei to visit Manila. The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1952, volume 1, contains messages given or published by Brother Witness Lee in 1952. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1952 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of this volume. The contents of this volume are divided into five sections, as follows: 1. A collection of personal notes and diary entries written in 1952. These are included in this volume under the title Witness Lee's Personal Notes. 2. Five miscellaneous articles and reports that were originally published in the periodical The Ministry of the Word in 1952. They are included in this volume under the title The Ministry of the Word, Miscellaneous Messages, 1952. 3. Twenty-two messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the summer of 1952. These messages originally appeared in the periodical The Ministry of the Word in 1952 and 1953. They were also previously published in a book entitled Christ and the Cross and are included in this volume under the same title. 4. Twelve messages given in a training in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1952. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Guidelines for the Lord's Table Meeting and the Pursuit in Life and are included in this volume under the same title. 5. Fourteen messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in the summer of 1952. These messages were previously published in a book entitled The Crucified Christ and are included in this volume under the same title.
The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.
