Everyone goes through the wilderness. But not everyone makes it to the promised land. We all know what it's like to feel trapped in the most painful seasons of life. To taste the tears, wince under the pain, and watch our best days fade away into the past. In other words, we know what it's like to feel stuck in a desert. Fortunately, there's hope. The words inside are liquid hope to drink while you walk through whatever wilderness you're in. You'll laugh and you'll cry. Light bulbs will pop in your mind, strength will flood your soul, and direction will surge to your feet. And in the end, you'll find a way out. In refreshing honesty and down-to-earth style, Russ draws revelation, humor and strength from his own story along with a strange people out of the pages of Scripture who endured their own wilderness journey. He paints a compelling picture to lead us out of the fog and agony of our toughest seasons and into new places of perspective, clarity, healing and courage. You may be in the fight of your life. But you don't have to die there. Nor do you just have to survive. You can learn how to thrive. In fact, your best days just may be up ahead.

Everyone goes through the wilderness. But not everyone makes it to the promised land. We all know what it's like to feel trapped in the most painful seasons of life. To taste the tears, wince under the pain, and watch our best days fade away into the past. In other words, we know what it's like to feel stuck in a desert. Fortunately, there's hope. The words inside are liquid hope to drink while you walk through whatever wilderness you're in. You'll laugh and you'll cry. Light bulbs will pop in your mind, strength will flood your soul, and direction will surge to your feet. And in the end, you'll find a way out. In refreshing honesty and down-to-earth style, Russ draws revelation, humor and strength from his own story along with a strange people out of the pages of Scripture who endured their own wilderness journey. He paints a compelling picture to lead us out of the fog and agony of our toughest seasons and into new places of perspective, clarity, healing and courage. You may be in the fight of your life. But you don't have to die there. Nor do you just have to survive. You can learn how to thrive. In fact, your best days just may be up ahead.

Life is painful. Everyone's story comes with unique challenges, difficulties, bumps, and bruises that leave you lost and drowning in their wake. It could be a financial disaster, a health issue, a broken relationship, or the loss of a loved one. Dr. Tony Evans, bestselling author and pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, understands life's hardships firsthand. In a span of less than two years, he lost his brother, sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, father, and wife. At the same time, both of his daughters received cancer diagnoses. In the wake of all this pain, Dr. Evans had to put into practice, at the deepest levels, the truths he has preached about God for more than forty years. God's Word doesn't promise us a life free from pain and trouble. It promises us something else—Someone else. Someone who will walk with us through all of life's trials and troubles. There is hope for the hurting: His name is Jesus.

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.

"Shane Hipps reveals the subtle secrets of electronic culture and the hidden ways it is shaping the church. Looking beyond the details of what's happening in communities of faith, Hipps analyzes the broader impact of technology and media on the church."--BOOK JACKET.

For sixteen years Moy served as an Officer (Pastor) with The Salvation Army in the Southern California area. After struggles with his wife seemed irreconcilable, he moved to Central Florida where he experienced the darkest days of his Wilderness Experience. During the past five years God has began to rebuilt his life including the restoration of his wife and children. It is from the depth of this experience that this book was born in the hopes of helping others as they journey through their own dark nights of the soul.

The Book of Numbers is a story of identity, wilderness, and God. Numbers continues the historical narrative begun in Exodus, the story of God's people newly freed from Egypt's shackles and wandering toward the promised land. While Numbers accounts for the next 39 years of their wilderness wandering, it's also a story of God's presence among His beloved. Even when they rebelled--and this book tells of many rebellions--God's love and promises remained. It's in that love and those promises the children of Israel found their identity and where we must find ours today. (7 sessions) Features: Leader helps to guide questions and discussions within small groups Personal study segments to complete between 7 weeks of group sessions Interactive teaching videos, approximately 15 minutes per session, for purchase or rent Benefits: Leverage Old Testament truths for your life today. Recognize God's faithfulness in keeping His promises. Discover your identity as His beloved even in seasons of wilderness wandering.

The visionary behind the million-strong IF:Gathering challenges Christian women to discover what it means to do life with God rather than always striving to impress him, in this trade paperback edition of her perspective-shifting work, which now includes bonus material to enhance your book club experience, including discussion questions and easy-to-create recipes. All too many of us struggle under the weight of life, convinced we need to work harder to prove to ourselves, to others, and to God that we are good enough, smart enough, and spiritual enough to do the things we believe we should. Author and Bible teacher Jennie Allen invites us into a different experience, one in which our souls overflow with contentment and joy. In Nothing to Prove she calls us to… * Find freedom from self-induced pressure by admitting we’re not enough—but Jesus is. * Admit our greatest needs and watch them be filled by the only One who can meet them. * Make it our goal to know and love Jesus, then watch what He does in and through us. As you wade into the refreshing truth of the more-than-enough life Jesus offers, you’ll experience the joyous freedom that comes to those who are determined to discover what God can do through a soul completely in love with Him. * * * * * “These pages are what your soul is begging for" —Ann Voskamp “Nothing to Prove takes us on a journey toward freedom from the need to measure up.” —Mark Batterson We love this glorious and universally resounding message.” —Louie and Shelley Giglio “This book will help you take your eyes off your problems and put them back on God’s promises.” —Christine Caine

GROUP PARTICIPANT WORKBOOK - Imagine waking up every single day convinced that the twenty-four hours ahead of you are a precious gift to be used wisely. Now imagine that you know exactly how to spend them to be a force for God’s good. All too often we wander through life without appreciating the gift of every moment we’ve been given. The result? An unsatisfying life, missed opportunities to experience the joy of being in sync with God, and days marked with apathy instead of passion. Our time on earth is measured. We should want to make every moment count—not only because we aren’t guaranteed the next one, but also because this is exactly how our Savior spent His time here. How, then, do we walk out unwavering joy-filled faith every day, determined to let go of the things that keep us from experiencing abundant life and fulfilling the plans God has for us? The answers are found in following the footsteps of the One who lived fully, because He was determined that we might do the same. In this six-week study of Luke, we will follow the life and ministry of Jesus as we consider the choices He made on His way to the cross. We’ll intimately connect with a Savior who remained laser-focused on His mission to love the world. In return, we’ll receive a model for intentional living that we can replicate to ensure we are living each day to the fullest and making a difference for God’s kingdom. And together we’ll determine to embrace the abundant life we are promised in Jesus. It’s time to stop wandering and start living!

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.