I was experiencing dizziness, allergy symptoms, itching all over, tunnel vision, rapid heart rate, and low blood pressure, not to mention debilitating fatigue, body aches, and fever. My hair was falling out and all of my fingernails broke off and stopped growing. Every test came back spot on normal! I saw an optometrist, an endocrinologist, a balance MD, a cardiologist, an Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor. Each took me through a plethora of tests and exercises, all yielding the same results. An MRI and a CAT scan revealed nothing abnormal. It would appear that I was the most normal person on planet earth! The doctors were baffled as they searched for some label to attach to the strange things that were happening to me.
Start your day with one of these thirty inspiring devotionals. You will be encouraged, and perhaps somewhat challenged, as you read and pray. Know that Jesus loves you very much! I wrote ""When God Says Drop It, Chronicles of My Healing,"" after God spoke to me and miraculously, dramatically healed me. That was 8.28.2017. This devotional includes snippets from that book as well other devotionals that I have written. All of them are for your daily encouragement and growth. Some of the titles are ""Lose it to Gain It,""""Inside Out,""""Chronicles of the Brew,"" ""I Did it My Way,"" and ""Free from the Weight of It."" There are 30 devotionals in all. Read one of them a day for a month and then again next month and the next. I promise you will be encouraged and challenged! If you have any questions or comments, please email me at [email protected] Grace and Peace, Donna Martelli
Follow God's process for growth and learn how you can benefit from life's challenging experiences with this book by bestselling inspirational author T.D. Jakes. In this insightful book, #1 New York Times bestselling author T.D. Jakes wrestles with the age-old questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in all the injustice? In his most personal offering yet, Bishop Jakes tells crushing stories from his own journey-the painful experience of learning his young teenage daughter was pregnant, the agony of watching his mother succumb to Alzheimer's, and the shock and helplessness he felt when his son had a heart attack. Bishop Jakes wants to encourage you that God uses difficult, crushing experiences to prepare you for unexpected blessings. If you are faithful through suffering, you will be surprised by God's joy, comforted by His peace, and fulfilled with His purpose. Crushing will inspire you to have hope, even in your most difficult moments. If you trust in God and lean on Him during setbacks, He will lead you through.
Does it feel like God has stopped listening to your prayers? Do you approach prayer with confidence or with confusion? Perhaps you have given up organized prayer entirely, resorting to monotonous, habitual, shallow repetitions--day after day after day. This work will address these and other questions we all have about communicating with God. In these pages you will find straight talk about substantial pitfalls along the road to authentic prayer. Dr. Tom Hauff provides an in-depth investigation into the ways we pray, the goals prayer should accomplish, and how we respond to God's answers. You will find that God has not stopped listening and that prayer does not have to be confusing. It can be vibrant and life-giving, productive and encouraging, but there is a key to such a prayer life. In this book, in an easily accessible way, Dr. Hauff unfolds this foundational key: We genuinely communicate in prayer only when we learn to listen honestly to God.
Joyce Meyer has a knack for coining phrases-her fans call them Joyceisms-and one of her best loved is "Where the mind goes, the man follows." This was the basis for Battlefield of the Mind, and in her latest book, Meyer provides "power thoughts," bringing the reader to a new level of ability to use the mind as a tool to achievement. In Power Thoughts, she outlines a flexible program to turn thoughts into habits, and habits into success. Sections include: The Power of a Positive You 5 Rules for Keeping Your Attitude at the Right Altitude More Power To You bulleted keys to successful thinking in each chapter The Power of Perspective Nobody has more of a "can-do" attitude than Joyce Meyer. Now you can, too.
Although the statement, "God moves in mysterious ways", is not a biblical statement, He really does move in mysterious ways! My stories will demonstrate how God truly does use the weak and foolish to confound the strong and the wise. He can't get more mysterious than that. You'll see God willing to and capable of using anyone. In Scripture, "when God says "Go," He is putting out an invitation to "Come with Me". Although I have come short of always doing the right thing, and have been far from perfect, both physically and spiritually, I determined to still chose to follow God regardless. Although I purposed to exercise great faith and attempted a close walk with God, I did not always trust God. I didn't always treat my wife in a way pleasing to God. My methods and priorities were not always correct. Despite all my "tonterias", God still chooses to use me. These stories are rich examples of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and power. My goal is that they provide hope and inspiration. These stories will give you a clear view of the "hand of God" moving behind the scenes. You'll learn to trust God even though outward circumstances dictate otherwise. You'll see how God uses what appears to be a hopeless life to actually advance His Kingdom. Be encouraged...He desires to use yours to do the same. Shalom I was born in Bisbee, AZ, and enlisted in US Navy 1972 as an Airman for six years. I married my High School sweet-heart, Gloria in San Diego, CA in 1972 and we are still married today, residing in Sierra Vista, AZ since 2016. We were blessed with three sons-Adam, Jason and Elijah. All three married, and we now have eight grandchildren between the three of them! I graduated from Berean Bible College, San Diego, CA in 1982, and Pastored/Assistant-Pastored off and on from 1982-2012. I have been active in fifteen "Short Missions Trips" to South and Central America; Africa; Romania; and Mexico. I have been a Christian for forty-three years with many failures under my belt. Currently I am attending Shiloh Christian Ministries with Senior pastors Erick and Raquel Villalvazo as our pastors and covering from 2016 to present. At the present, I am in the school of learning obedience, God's mercy, forgiveness and power. I have a strong desire to share my Journey with anyone that can relate with my story, so that they can be inspired, encouraged and be determined to get up when knocked down, to serve our LORD with vision and purpose.
“A memoir … and a book of wisdom.” – Rev. Andy Lambkin “Brenda reminds us to live courageously in the face of adversity.” – Fr. Mark James O.P. What do we do when deep grief invades our lives? How do we negotiate the unwelcomed journey we find ourselves on? What do we do with our unspeakable pain? Even more, what do we do when we have asked God to spare the life of our loved one and he does not give the answer we hope for? In When God Says No, Brenda Smit-James tells the story of her journey with grief following the untimely death of her mother – a journey where she questioned God and his goodness, questioned whether Jesus was worth following, and questioned the relevance of the Christian life. In telling her story, Brenda shows us how grief can be engaged and not merely endured and how we can face the darkness of grief with quiet courage and, in so doing, find a way back into the light again.
No is not a four-letter word, but it certainly feels like one. It’s one thing to feel God’s love when life goes your way, but what happens to your faith when life doesn’t go as you had planned? When prayers go unanswered and dreams unfulfilled? When the sick stay sick and the dead do not rise? When you’re lost in the desert and the Promised Land seems like empty promise? When God says, “No,” how do you grapple with disappointment? Author Elizabeth Laing Thompson walks alongside readers as she tackles the difficulties that stymie our faith, stifle our prayers, and stunt our relationship with God. When God Says, “No” will help you to discover hope when life feels hopeless, good in what feels bad, and new dreams when old ones have died. This book is a fantastic reminder of Who is in charge—Who He is and how He works. How He loves us and why He limits us. The better we know Him, the more we understand that He says “No” to a few things, so He might say “Yes” to many more.
How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances. Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she shows us we’re not alone in our struggles, guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.
