These spiritual inspirations and illustrations nourish and uplift the heart, mind, and soul. Readers will find encouragement enabling them to find and follow their own path and live each day as a celebration -- all while embracing God's love. A divine collection of empowering love and wisdom, God Danced the Day You Were Born is a reminder that everyone is unique and created for a special purpose.
Jerry Kalb grew up on a farm near Bucyrus, Ohio, in rural Crawford County. Although his lack of affinity for all things agricultural led him away from the farm, his rural upbringing influenced his down-to-earth, informal approach to ministry. Part 1 of this book offers condensed "nuggets" of sermons preached over a two- to three-year period at the Painesville United Methodist Church, where Rev. Kalb has pastored during the past two decades. In part 2 readers will find some of his "One Minute Messages" broadcast daily over local radio station WKKY FM 104.7. Topics range from a personal relationship with God to family life, the fellowship of believers, and outreach in the greater community. Rev. Kalb's style is conversational and accessible, sprinkled with humor and everyday anecdotes. His positive, inspirational thoughts point to a God who is above all loving and forgiving and who welcomes all people. He has often told the congregation, "If you only remember one thing I've ever said, always remember that God loves you."
Linda Thomas expected that when she grew old, she'd be a quaint little grandmathe kind that sits in a rocking chair and knits blankets for new grandbabies. But God and her husband had other ideas: Africa! This is Linda's story of her first four years working in Africa as a missionary. In this narrative, uniquely told through letters to her granddaughters, Linda shares how she stumbles into adventures most grandmas could not imaginea hippo charges her, a Maasai elder spits at her, and a baboon poops in her breakfast. As she faithfully answers Gods callingand its challengesshe recounts both hilarious and frightful incidents, joys and heartaches, answered prayers, and those God seemed to leave unanswered. While drinking tea from a pot cleaned with cows urine, suffering through an embarrassing breast exam, and narrowly escaping a carjacking by a murderer wielding an assault rifle, Linda falls in love with Africa, its people, and the work God presented her. Grandmas Letters from Africa is a chronicle of Gods heart, His delightful creativity, and His amazing power to help those in need.
Clinical psychologist Sandra Shaw Dawood, Ph.D., shares her heartfelt and playful communication with God through the symbols He has provided her. Through wordplay, poetry, and autobiographical excerpts, she exposes her struggle to turn negative thoughts and events into positive healthy thoughts by her interpretation of God's symbols that are just for her. Dr. Dawood delves into everyday events and creates meaningful interpretations of what she sees and experiences as being symbols from God to assist her in the daily rigors of life-these are her Eye Statements from God. She has developed her own symbols that bring her particular joy in her relationship with God. She recognized many patterns throughout her life in positively overcoming tragedy, abandonment, fear, pain, and depression.
Uniquely inspired, and written as a memoir with practical application elements, Widowed Twice shows how joy will come “in the morning.” It offers a burst of refreshing hope and excitement., explaining that your life is not over and that God still has a plan for you. It features practical ideas and information that can enhance your life. This book is not about doom and gloom but reveals that you have a choice to be sad or glad. It is a story of a woman twice widowed who became like an eagle, soaring above her circumstances and overcoming them. This book is about stepping out into God's purpose for you and then letting go of the past, whether it was good or bad, looking forward to your future. It will motivate you to listen to God's still, small voice and let the next season in your life unfold.
This memoir details the events and emotional struggles surrounding the authors teen pregnancy in the 1970s Midwest. Shunned first because of her interracial relationship and second for her out-of-wedlock pregnancy, Ruby Cornelius ends up against her will in the homea place created to temporarily house and hide the shame of these girls condition. Spanning more than four decades, the author poignantly shares a journey of motherhood lost and gained.
Lyn Brakeman was among the first women to enter the ordination process in the Episcopal Church just after the General Convention voted in 1976 that women could be priests. The bishop of her diocese had voted against ordaining women priests and hospitality towards female aspirants was guarded at best. So why would a forty-year-old institutional naif, suburban housewife, and mother of four enter such unfriendly territory to seek priestly ordination at a time when her personal life was in chaos? Things would have been easier had she been a man and had she not read Betty Friedan, not been headed for divorce, and not engaged in sins beginning with "a." How did she manage to stay this course? Brakeman offers no easy answers but tackles difficult issues--addiction, death and grief, divorce, the nature of priesthood, church politics, Christian feminism, and Jesus the Christ--with candor. Her story is held together by her spiritual connection to the voice of God from within and her growing conviction that the nature of divinity is gender-free; hence, theological language in sanctuary and classroom must reflect this truth in a balanced way.
Imagine the Panic and trauma when accepting you must choose to die in order to truly live. I Should Have Worn Heels is a story of death and new life- from Charles to Christine. It is my story of placing trust and faith in God as I sought comfort while confronting my death--a spiritual death God was calling me to accept and a loving wife, family, and home I was being asked to relinquish. My journey was one of hopes and promises that seemed uncompleted and unfulfilled, an unknown journey I initially struggled to comprehend, though a journey I always felt safe abd secure experiencing. I felt a constant spiritual presence that was there, To Watch Over Me.
In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God's kingdom.Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.
