Here are fifty-two lessons for a full year of study and contemplation, each using an ordinary, everyday object to demonstrate God's truth about the world in which we live. You may see things quite differently after reading these lessons about mousetraps, maple syrup, credit cards and perfume. A bowl of fruit might never look the same to you, and pears might never taste the same again. Taught in a simple conversational style, each lesson is accompanied by relevant verses of Scripture, a beloved hymn and a brief prayer, presenting a well-rounded, full lesson to help each reader live triumphantly in this often dark and difficult world. Whether used for personal devotions or as a vehicle for a weekly discussion group, Walk Well the Winding Way will at times pique your curiosity or give you a chuckle, but in every case, it will draw you nearer to God as you journey with Him along life's road.
In these never-before-published stories, sayings, and biblical teachings, the beloved author and translator of The Message Bible shows us how the wisdom of deep faith helps us live well. “Calming, encouraging, and profound.”—Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church “Jesus’ words bring us the news of an expanded world, a bright world, a full-dimensioned world, a world in which God rules, mercy is common experience, and love is the daily working agenda.” Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was one of the most beloved authors, pastors, poets, and professors of our time. While millions have read his bestselling paraphrased Bible translation, The Message, far fewer have heard his direct practical insights and wisdom about how to live well. Eugene knew the extraordinary spirituality of ordinary life. He understood that we actually become more, not less, human as we grow to live like Jesus. And living like Jesus means living well. On Living Well collects some of Eugene’s best never-before-published short writings to help you walk in the way of Jesus with a little more courage, passion, and hope—by offering new ways to practice generosity, community, prayer, simplicity, worship, inner peace, and so much more . . . even with the challenges of today. This book is a rich feast for the soul, ideal as a daily spiritual touchpoint or simply to nourish a heart hungry for pastoral wisdom. It is your invitation to enter into the meaningful simplicity of life with Jesus in a world of immense beauty, real difficulty, and endless wonder.
Jennifer Chiaverini's bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series continues with The Winding Ways Quilt, in which the arrival of newcomers into the circle of quilters heralds unexpected journeys down pathways near and far. Quilters have flocked to Elm Creek Manor to learn from Master Quilter Sylvia Compson and her expert colleagues. There's Sarah, Sylvia's onetime apprentice who's paired her quilting accomplishments with a mind for running the business of Elm Creek Quilts; Agnes, who has a gift for appliqué; Gwen, who stitches innovative art quilts; Diane, a whiz at the technicalities of quick-piecing; and Bonnie, with her encyclopedic knowledge of folk art patterns. But with Judy and Summer, two other founding members of the Elm Creek Quilters, departing to pursue other opportunities, will the new teachers be able to fill in the gaps created by the loss of their expertise—and more important, their friendship? "When I think of all the different paths I could have followed in my life, all the twists and turns that could have led me anywhere," muses incoming teacher Gretchen, "it's something of a miracle that I ended up here, surrounded by loving friends." But what of friends departed? As Sylvia contemplates a tribute to the partnership of the Elm Creek Quilters, she is reminded of a traditional quilt pattern whose curved pieces symbolize a journey. Winding Ways, a mosaic of overlapping circles and intertwining curves, would capture the spirit of their friendship at the moment of its transformation. Will Sylvia's choice inspire the founding members to remember that each is a unique part of a magnificent whole? Will the newcomers find ways to contribute, and to earn their place? The Winding Ways Quilt considers the complicated, often hidden meanings of presence and absence, and what change can mean for those who have come to rely upon one another.
Abuse is insidious. Like a silent serpent, it slithers into your soul, spreading its venom. Be it substance, sexual, physical or emotional, abuse wraps you in a constricting embrace, crushing the hope, the joy - and sometimes the life - from all it touches. It traps you in a prison from which few escape. For most who live through it, the poison left in their soul most often spreads out, affecting all who touch them; turning the abused into the abuser. 1968 - A year of violence, war, unrest and fear. King and Kennedy are assassinated. There are riots in all across America. Thousands of young American men are killed, maimed and wounded in Viet Nam. Thousands more live in fear of the Draft. Amid this turbulent time, in Simi Valley, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, a group young people are bonded together by mutual backgrounds of abuse, tragedy and violence. Together, they must learn to break the coils that surround them and forge new futures - or be condemned to a cycle of destruction.
From her early years, Thérèse of Lisieux desired to be a saint, so the primary focus of her life was to walk the path of love—what she called “the science of love.” But she often asked herself if her love was pure and authentic. With sensitivity and insight, author Joseph Schmidt shows us how Thérèse discovered certain qualities of the heart that told her that she was indeed walking the path of authentic love. These qualities—inner freedom, creativity, compassion, willingness, self-surrender or abandonment, and gratefulness—“opened her heart to a new depth of God’s life in and through her.” Eventually, they played a very practical role in Thérèse’s ordinary day-to-day life relationships—and they can in our own as well. As he did in his earlier book on Thérèse, Everything Is Grace, Joseph Schmidt breaks new ground in his latest book and offers tremendous food for thought and reflection on the spirituality of this great saint.
There must have been a time when you just could not get a certain song out of your head. Perhaps it was the last sound played at the disco or perhaps theres a certain riff in a song that haunts you? Perhaps its one of those songs which have a special meaning for you or a special person in your life? Whatever the reason we all have had musical influences throughout our life and some we have deliberately chosen whilst others have crept in because we watch television and listen to the radio. We also have been subjected to other musical influences from shops, restaurants, churches, dance halls and anyone whistling or singing near us. Why was it almost impossible to remember Shakespeares quotations when I tried to learn them for school yet I can remember words to songs without even trying to memorise them? As someone who has made a living from playing music for others to listen to it has interested me greatly to find out whether any of the records which have made the popular music charts has had a greater influence on me than I have realized. I will also try to remember the words to the songs I heard in my younger years without using either reference books or a safety net! I will also attempt to put the music in some kind of time frame looking at what else was happening aside from the music. I will also identify how my own appreciation of music has evolved and that charts become less important with age. This will be the basis of a large part of my book. I will also try to show that I have had to show a good amount of true grit and determination in order to eventually find the job I had always wanted from my childhood days of listening to Radio Luxembourg and Radio Caroline. Moreover, it takes a lifetime to really see your priorities. Join me now in my musical voyage of discovery.
According to biblical doctrine, God first created people in the universe with a hierarchy of holy angels, with the highest order being identified as "cherubim." One of them, who was anointed and perhaps the most elitist cherub amongst them, knew he was created beautiful and perfect in his ways. Alternately, with pride and arrogance at the forefront, that same being became the supreme architect and advocate for sin, evil and untold suffering. Henceforth, the diabolical Satan was loosed upon the world. Tragically, from time to time, beauty is in the fabled beast. Handsome man and beautiful women may be pleasing to the eyes and their good looks may even grant them unearned favor but their inner nature is a virtual mystery. They might be evil incarnated. Meanwhile, the not-so attractive individuals are oftentimes ignored and generally devalued, all dependent upon the beholder. But possibly, the inner core of that select person could render him or her almost angelic-like. Life's long and winding road is lined with so-called beautiful and so-called unattractive people. However, through faith and God's grace (and not the naked eye), the lonely traveler may be able to distinguish which is which. And that'll make life's journey worthwhile. All too often, a young man fathers a child and assumes that that, in itself, validates his manhood. Initially, as a new dad, he might even feel that all is right with the new world, and his future looms bright. In many cases, it's a heartfelt euphoria that defies description. However, when the novelty wears off and reality returns, a rather lengthy journey commences. To the mother's credit and merit, she usually accompanies her offspring on life's long and winding road but, far too frequently, the once proud father falters or completely vanishes along the way. Arguably so, it's serious and impactuous tragedy for the mother, the absentee father, the child and sometimes, the world at large. The good news is this, however, "One-size-fits-all" meager, gloomy or dire it might be, does not necessarily dictate their impending future. Through their own resilience, paired with a burning desire to overcome their childhood's deficiencies, they, alternately, walk a pathway less hazardous. And sometimes, when sincere loved ones step forward, it renders life's journey well worthwhile and almost superlative. And that's a road well worth embarking upon.
