Devoted To You

Being a Christian is not an individualistic or isolated activity. Believing also involves belonging. Being a Christian, by definition, involves belonging to the church. This is not a book full of ideas about how your church ought to change or what it needs to do in order to grow or to be successful. Rather it is about how we fit into our own church. There are hallmarks of church life that should be stamped on all our churches because they are applicable everywhere and anywhere -- New Testament values for any size of church, in any part of the world, at any time. Devoted to God's Church will serve to help new Christians understand what it is to be part of a church, and will also be a refreshing reminder to every Christian of what it should look like to belong to the family of God.

R. Andrew Chesnut offers a fascinating portrayal of Santa Muerte, a skeleton saint whose cult has attracted millions of devotees over the past decade. Although condemned by mainstream churches, this folk saint's supernatural powers appeal to millions of Latin Americans and immigrants in the U.S. Devotees believe the Bony Lady (as she is affectionately called) to be the fastest and most effective miracle worker, and as such, her statuettes and paraphernalia now outsell those of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Saint Jude, two other giants of Mexican religiosity. In particular, Chesnut shows Santa Muerte has become the patron saint of drug traffickers, playing an important role as protector of peddlers of crystal meth and marijuana; DEA agents and Mexican police often find her altars in the safe houses of drug smugglers. Yet Saint Death plays other important roles: she is a supernatural healer, love doctor, money-maker, lawyer, and angel of death. She has become without doubt one of the most popular and powerful saints on both the Mexican and American religious landscapes.

This collection of autobiographical essays explore failure, planetary movement, and love, among other topics. All use the scone-person point of view which allows them to be tempered by distance, intimacy, humor, and unsentimental tenderness.

Christians are transformed by the renewing of their minds. They understand that in large measure how they think about the gospel will determine how they will live for God's glory. They learn to allow the word of God to do its own work, informing and influencing the way they think in order to shape the way they live. In a series of Scripture-enriched chapters Sinclair B. Ferguson's Devoted to God works out this principle in detail. It provides what he describes as 'blueprints for sanctification'an orderly exposition of central New Testament passages on holiness. Devoted to God thus builds a strong and reliable structural framework for practical Christian living. It stresses the foundational importance of fundamental issues such as union with Christ, the rhythms of spiritual growth, the reality of spiritual conflict, and the role of God's law.

“A spiritual innovator for the new millennium.” —Time “Byron Katie’s Work is a great blessing for our planet.” —Eckhart Tolle Inspirational quotes to help you along your journey of self-inquiry as you navigate love and relationships; sickness and health; work and money; and much more. The profound, lighthearted wisdom embodied within is not theoretical; it is absolutely authentic. Here, she discusses the most essential issues that face us all: • Love, Sex, and Relationships • Health, Sickness, and Death • Parents and Children • Work and Money • Self-Realization Not only will this book help you with you these specific issues, but it will point you toward your own wisdom and will encourage you to question your own mind, using the 4 simple yet incredibly powerful questions of Katie’s process of self-inquiry, called The Work. 1) Is it true? 2) Can you absolutely know that it’s true? 3) How do you react when you believe that thought? 4) Who would you be without the thought? Katie is a living example of the clear, all-embracing love that is our true identity. Because she has thoroughly questioned her own mind, her words shine with the joy of understanding. “People used to ask me if I was enlightened,” she says, “and I would say, ‘I don’t know anything about that. I’m just someone who knows the difference between what hurts and what doesn’t.’ I’m someone who wants only what is. To meet as a friend each concept that arose turned out to be my freedom.

Unlikely Friendships meets Marley and Me. This heartwarming gift book from National Geographic presents a collection of inspiring dog stories and touching photos—dogs who comfort veterans, dogs who learn to surf, dogs who detect cancer, and dogs who save the day: Each one is devoted. These 38 uplifting dog stories showcase the most amazing dog rescues, accomplishments, and abilities that fascinate us and touch our hearts.

THEY WERE WORLDS APART, CONNECTED BY A BOY… Why would a former football star like Logan Murray pay attention to her? Bianca Wright was a far cry from the beautiful women she'd seen him with in the tabloids. He was just being kind. Or even worse—felt sorry for her. He knew she was a widow with an autistic son. That had to be too much baggage for any man, and Bianca wouldn't accept anything but the best for her child. But if Logan could use his connections to match her son Drew with a therapy dog, she'd swallow her pride and accept his help. And yet, after fifteen minutes with Drew, Logan seemed to "get it" better than Drew's own father ever did. Had Bianca misjudged him? Maybe he had hidden depths. She would've liked to find out, but that was a risk she just wouldn't take…not when her precious boy was involved.

The wedding is planned, but are you spiritually prepared for your wedding day? Trusted relationship author Gary Thomas coaches engaged couples on how to grow closer to the Lord in the days leading up to the wedding as a means of preparing them for all the days after the wedding. Engagement is bursting with promise, hope, joy, and anticipation of all kinds. It can also be one of the busiest times your life. For some, planning a wedding, with all the decisions involved, can feel less like the exciting onset of marriage and more like a tedious to-do list. Amidst the busyness, this devotional is designed to encourage and guide you through the spiritual priorities and challenges that lie ahead in order to grow a joy-filled marriage filled with love, grace, and God's blessing. In addition to helping you celebrate the joys of marriage and become radically connected as you create an even deeper passionate relationship, this lovely book also provides encouraging entries that will help you deal with common issues such as: Building physical and emotional intimacy Repairing trust Celebrating differences Being a team player Managing finances With a special section on the marriage vows and thoughtful meditations for the bride and groom, Preparing Your Heart for Marriage will help you grow in your relationship as a couple on your journey from “me” to “we.”

Jesus started His ministry saying, “Come, follow Me,” and finished it by saying, “Go, make disciples.” Between these two challenges, His followers learned they could trust Him completely with every area of their lives. From the writing team behind The Love Dare and The Battle Plan for Prayer, and the movie producers of The Forge and War Room, comes an exciting new resource for anyone who desires to grow spiritually and become an on-fire, all-in follower of Jesus. Have you ever been personally discipled? Do you desire to walk closer to Jesus but wish someone would show you how? How can your faith become a thriving relationship instead of a religious duty? What are the keys to assurance of salvation, abiding in Christ, praying effectively, overcoming trials, and deeply loving others? Packed with 52 topical chapters—ideal for reading daily or weekly—and presented with refreshing clarity, Devoted to Jesus is designed to help both new and mature believers grow together. This is a journey you’ll first want to experience yourself and then utilize to invest into others. They first learned to be His disciples, then helped others as disciple-makers . . . and so can you.