I Dared to Wait – Reclaiming the Soul in the Season of Waiting

Brief Summary The title comes from research that shows people are happiest on Fridays. Pastor Joel Osteen writes how we can generate this level of contentment and joy every day of the week. Known as a man who maintains a constant positive outlook in spite of circumstances, Osteen has described this message as a core theme of his ministry. Combining his personal experiences with scriptural insights and principles for true happiness, he shows readers how every day can hold the same promise and opportunities for pure joy that they experience at five o'clock on Friday." " ISBN:2147483647 Author:Joel Osteen

A biography of Pope Francis that describes how this revolutionary thinker will use the power of his position to challenge and redirect one of the world's most formidable religionsAn expansive and deeply contextual work, at its heart The Great Reformer is about the intersection of faith and politics--the tension between the pope's innovative vision for the Church and the obstacles he faces in an institution still strongly defined by its conservative past. Based on extensive interviews in Argentina and years of study of the Catholic Church, Ivereigh tells the story not only of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the remarkable man whose background and total commitment to the discernment of God's will transformed him into Pope Francis--but the story of why the Catholic Church chose him as their leader.With the Francis Revolution just beginning, this biography will provide never-before-explained context on how one man's ambitious program began--and how it will likely end--through an investigation of Francis's youth growing up in Buenos Aires and the dramatic events during the Perón era that shaped his beliefs; his ongoing conflicts and disillusionment with the ensuing doctrines of an authoritarian and militaristic government in the 1970s; how his Jesuit training in Argentina and Chile gave him a unique understanding and advocacy for a "Church of the Poor"; and his rise from Cardinal to the papacy. ISBN:2147483647 Author:Austen Ivereigh

Do you dream of making a difference for God--but wonder how to begin? Do you find it difficult to keep your focus amid the urgency of everyday living? Do you feel ill-equipped to help those who turn to you for guidance? Are you searching for direction for your life--a ministry that matters? Pam Farrel has been there, as have so many countless other women she has discipled. In this book she shares what she has learned about disciplemaking, discovering a personal ministry, and staying focused on your goals. By the time you work your way to the end, you'll have discovered why a woman of influence: is impassioned is an individual is intimate with God is idealistic is interdependent takes initiative has integrity is intense is inquiring is infectious Though many still debate the proper role for women in leadership, no one denies that women have a great influence on their families and friends, on the job and in the church. In Woman of InfluenceFarrel shows how you can be a faithful servant of God in all of those relationships and circumstances. Here's a book that women everywhere will welcome--full of encouraging counsel for finding God's leading in your life and then following him. This revised edition--containing even more stories of women, updated examples and a Bible study--can give you fresh perspective and direction in your life as you discover all the ways God wants to use you to influence others for him. ISBN:2147483647 Author:Pam Farrel

Joyce Meyer's best-selling devotional, now available in beautiful, purple imitation leather binding, helps readers begin each day ready to receive God's blessings. God wants you to enjoy your life. And you can experience happiness each day when you learn to start your mornings right—by spending time with God, reading His Word, listening, and praying for His direction. When you do, you will be filled with the expectation of better days that are promised to you, and those better days add up to a better life. If you seek God, He will calm your fears, give you greater confidence, and direct your path. Once you experience the empowerment of starting your day with Him, you will never want to begin your day without Him. ISBN:2147483647 Author:Joyce Meyer

The Church needs believers who are willing to learn to spiritually mentor others, who are willing to act as spiritual elders, fathers and mothers in the faith. To mentor and nurture other believers to help them grow spiritually, be fully equipped to serve Christ and to do the works of Jesus wherever they live and work. Authentic Spiritual Mentoring gives step-by-step guidance on how a believer can move from being an observer of other believers to being a truly impacting spiritual influence for Christ in another believer’s life. Larry Kreider offers input for the lives of spiritual parents on healing past relationships and becoming secure in God’s love, as well as how to mentor other believers through encouragement, daily prayer, etc. ISBN:2147483647 Author:Larry Kreider

This uneven effort by the indomitable Jakes (The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord) inadvertently contains two discrete books--one on family, and one on personal finance. The sections on family are the best; Jakes compares the ideal Christian family (two parents, one of whom is a stay-at-home mom, and both of whom were virgins when they wed) with the more diverse reality of contemporary America. He quite effectively addresses nontraditional configurations such as blended, one-parent, and grandmother-headed families in a supportive and nonjudgmental tone. Jakes speaks specifically to African-American families like his own, who were left ""emancipated but incapacitated"" after generations of slavery. The finance portion of the book reflects Jakes's desire to avoid preaching the health-and-wealth gospel while simultaneously telling readers that God wants them to be financially comfortable. Jesus, says Jakes, desires Christians to have the kind of worldly influence that only wealth can bring. Much of Jakes's financial advice is typical of other Christian money gurus such as Larry Burkett and Mary Hunt, though without their detailed plans for debt-free living and profitable investing. Jakes stands out with his memorable biblical examples of prudent money management and his clear stance that Christian tithing should be from gross, not net, income.