This is a story of one woman's journey through horrendous obstacles and terrible injustices. Broken Not Shattered reflects the molding of a true warrior of God. From the day she was born, Zara Banks was in a struggle for survival. After being exposed to abuse, neglect, rejection, and being bullied most of her life, Zara struggled to understand if she even had a purpose in this world. Once becoming a mother herself, Zara questioned why God would allow so many horrific things happen to her. How could she be the mother she knew she wanted to be, when the torment of her past continued to haunt her? Zara continued to face trails in her life that seemed to rival that of Job, but through every trial, she continued to fight for what she felt was right. Facing a millionaire that tried to take her only child, suffering the abuse of her past, and fighting her addictions, by never giving up, Zara became a stronger woman who overcame adversity worse than most of us can even imagine. In the end, she emerged from the flaming depths of hell that continued to surround her in life. Broken Not Shattered proves that you can come out of the darkness in this world much stronger, confident, and victorious. This heart-wrenching, detailed real-life story is a must read for social workers, educators, and all human service professionals. Zara represents our mothers, daughters, aunts, sisters, and neighbors. The unconditional love she reflects for God and her daughter, with her humility and capacity for forgiveness, is an inspiration for all women. (Kim Wasik, retired and still currently a licensed social worker, LMSW) I cannot express how much this book changed my life and exposed faith I never knew I had. Broken Not Shattered opened my eyes to realize that I was worth the fight. This book truly saved me from giving up and gave me the confidence to make changes, not only for myself but also for my children. I realized that if this woman could go through hell and come back, then I could too! (Laci Hall)
Being abandoned in a relationship truly strikes us in the heart. Even in the middle of turmoil that the end of a relationship brings, a life on your terms is waiting for you. When stuck in emotions that make you feel lousy, it is difficult to sleep or even function at times. The common response is to try to win your ex back, then you feel even worse when they don't reciprocate your feelings. Your dignity is hanging in the wind. When a tragedy strikes in life, this is the very best time to make changes that will define a more meaningful life. This is the perfect time to place the focus back on you. Abandoned and Shattered offers solutions to overcoming the unbearable pain. The book is written by Daryl Moore. He not only went through a divorce after 26 years with his wife, he also had a house fire that shook the family. When he thought it could not get any worse, his 14-year-old son took his own life. Daryl shares how he overcame these setbacks to build a life that is full of peace and meaning. He lived the heartbreak you are experiencing and turned it around. The book includes: How to effectively address fear, uncertainty, rejection, and get life under control Stories and examples that will illuminate a path for you to follow How to create a plan that addresses the immediate emotions and transitions you ahead The "must take" steps after learning the breakup is real Abandoned and Shattered is written from the perspective of a real-life example. The past doesn't need to be an indication of what the future holds. Most relationship breakup books are generic and address the breakup as a whole. When you get abandoned there are a different set of emotions and requires a different framework to recover. This book offers the perspective from being abandoned and emotionally shattered.
Acclaimed author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings her signature twists and high-stakes action to the fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Ascendance Series! King Jaron has outwitted the Prozarians and returned to his own kingdom with one secret in his pocket that not even his friends know about. He's hoping that secret will help him finally bring stability to Carthya. But a surprise attack on his own land -- on the castle itself -- reminds Jaron that nothing is easy. The Prozarian Monarch threatens to crumble Jaron's entire kingdom. And that's not the only thing in danger: With old enemies and new rumors circling around him, even Jaron's relationship with Imogen is uncertain. This former False Prince will need his best tricks and many allies at his side to hold Carthya together.
Recovering the Lost Art of Contentment The biblical practice of contentment can seem like a lost art—something reserved for spiritual giants but out of reach for the rest of us. In our discontented age—characterized by impatience, overspending, grumbling, and unhappiness—it’s hard to imagine what true contentment actually looks (and feels) like. But even the apostle Paul said that he learned to be content in any and every circumstance. Paul’s remarkable contentment was something grown and developed over time. In Chasing Contentment, Erik Raymond helps us understand what biblical contentment is—the inward gracious spirit that joyfully rests in God’s providence—and then how we learn it. Giving us practical guidance for growing in contentment in various areas of our lives, this book will encourage us to see contentment as a priority for all believers. By God’s grace, it is possible to pursue the high calling of contentment and anchor our joy in God himself rather than our changing circumstances.
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in Abandoned in Death by New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb. The woman’s body was found in the early morning, on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child. Eve Dallas turns to the department’s top profiler, who confirms what seems obvious to Eve: They’re dealing with a killer whose childhood involved some sort of trauma—a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues suggest a perpetrator who’d be roughly sixty years old, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge? When Eve discovers that other young women—who physically resemble the first victim—have vanished, the clock starts ticking louder. But to solve this case she will need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the cold depths of a shattered mind.
A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle—especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard. For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life. In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to: Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts; Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances; Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps; Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.
In "Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream", internationally acclaimed photographer Matthew Christopher continues his examination of the ruins dotting American cities as quiet catastrophes that have affected not only the nation's past but also its present and future.--Matthew Christopher