When the challenges you've faced threaten to destroy your life, how do you find your way back to the truths you thought you believed? I Am Restored tells the untold story of how Lecrae's past nearly ruined his future--until he learned that the wounds we carry can have the potential to be unlikely guides to healing and freedom for ourselves and others. Throughout I Am Restored, Lecrae documents the shattering yet hopeful story of how he faced the scars of his past--sexual abuse, physical trauma, addiction, and depression--and emerged more fully human than ever before. With remarkable transparency and vulnerability, Lecrae reveals that at the height of his professional success, his life was spinning out of control, driven by a past that he had never confronted and a religious perspective that was incapable of meeting the challenge. I Am Restored takes an unflinching look at the personal and public spaces that are too often at the societal core of our pain and heartache--culture, politics, family, church, and more--and teaches us that forgiveness can be the birthplace of the life that God has created for us. Throughout this powerful, deeply personal account, Lecrae shares the life lessons he's learned about: Confronting the pain and trauma that has shaped your story Breaking the cycle of sin and shame and embracing joy and authenticity Finding hope and healing in the midst of chaos The simple practices that can change your mental, emotional, and spiritual health Leading a life that's bursting with creativity and true freedom I Am Restored is a hopeful, inspiring charge to start your journey to lasting healing today. No matter what your past has held, God is near you, he hears you, and he's not done writing your story.

This book is written for those like me, who have been in a spiritual battle of tests and trials that seemed to be long and drawn out. You thought you were coming out when all of a sudden you sunk deeper into the test. Your faith was shaken and you felt like things were never going to get better. You begin to live with just getting by day by day, and expecting that God was soon to come and you didn’t have long here on earth. You were settling with what you were dealing with. Beloved God has great things in store for you. You don’t have to be complacent or taken down by anyone. You are the light of the world. You are the child of a king. 1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV says “ But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” So, stand up, speak the word of God, study the word of God and trust the word of God. He is a faithful and loving God. He is ready to restore your faith and trust in him.

A 35-year veteran of Notre Dame’s athletic department chronicles one of the most exciting seasons in Fighting Irish football history, providing details on the team’s rise to a number 1 ranking and offering insights and anecdotes on team stars like Everett Golson and Manti Te’o as well as AP Coach of the Year Brian Kelly. Taking readers inside the locker room, to the practice field, and on the sidelines for game days, this book covers all aspects of the historic season—from the season opening with over Navy in Dublin, Ireland and the thrilling overtime win over Stanford to the ousting of rival USC to complete a perfect, undefeated season and secure a spot in the national championship game. Providing unprecedented access to the Notre Dame football program, this guide includes interviews with Irish coaches and staff, making it the book no Domer will want to be without.

Can two polar opposites meet in the middle to achieve a winning outcome?Sunset Meadows' activity director Melinda Brewer has her work cut out for her. As a five-year veteran with the cutting-edge retirement community, "Mel" wears many hats. But her job is more than a title. The residents at "The Meadows" are like family-some of whom she's known her entire life. Ruby-this little niche in the Ozark Mountains-may be a mere dot on the Missouri map, but it's also Mel's birthplace, the land of her heritage, reminiscent of old ways while cognizant of new seasons.Leave it to new kid on the block Matt Enders to upset the apple cart. When Enders is hired as the facility's new social worker, his idea of a well-oiled machine is to eliminate a few rusty cogs-chiefly, some of Mel's most successful programs. Mr. City Slicker doesn't care about making waves. He delivers a hurricane!Matt Enders isn't budging. Let Mel Brewer think what she will. While he's willing to meet the pint-size package of TNT halfway regarding new ideas and innovation, he won't sacrifice improvement for the sake of hurt feelings. Can he convince Mel that a team approach is better than a single-handed effort?Ironically, crabby Clinton Farley, a Meadows' resident and devout non-believer, is the catalyst that draws Matt and Mel closer. Together, the two must set aside differences to work for a common cause-introducing Clinton to a sunnier side of life and a new way of living.When they finally learn Clinton's story, can Matt and Mel open their hearts to new opportunities, as well as each other?

Judaism in the Postmodern Age.

You'll find comfort, inspiration, and wisdom in these stories from women just like you. Every encouraging account shows hope and renewed faith as they have come through trials and tough times, including family struggles, infertility, health challenges, doubt, fear, human trafficking, depression, heartbreak, loss, and more. In these examples of forgiveness, starting over, renewed joy, fresh faith, love, healing, acceptance, and refined hope, you'll be inspired to experience your own story of transformation. Plus, thought-provoking questions to use on your own for reflection or for group discussion. Authors: Amy Marcoux, Amy Moin, Annette Warsaw, Becky Hofstad, Betty Predmore, Christina Ryan Claypool, Daphne Tarango, Darla S. Grieco, Diana Leagh Matthews, Dr. Marlene Carson, Alba Corva, Joanie Shawhan, Jodie Cooper, Kathy Carlton Willis, Kolleen Lucariello, Linda L. Kruschke, Maureen Cresencia Kambarami, Maureen Hager, Meaghan Jackson, Meg Glesener, Michele Morin, Nancy Graves, Natalie Lavelock, Ree Boado, RLSeaton, Robyn Mulder, Ruth Black, Sarah Buckland, Shannon Anderson, Sue Donaldson, Susan Macias, Teresa Janzen, Terri Prahl, Tracey Russell

It started with a Tootsie Roll. The day then-18-year-old Faith Hakesley was to testify in court against the well-liked Catholic priest who had raped her, a court guard pressed a Tootsie Roll into her hand. It was the first glimmer. The little piece of candy reminded her of the Scripture about "faith the size of a mustard seed," and this bit of encouragement, by way of the guard, but really from God, gave her the courage she needed to endure the trial. In Glimmers of Grace: Moments of Peace and Healing Following Sexual Abuse, Faith shares what she has learned about the gifts God wants to give victims throughout their journey of healing. Practical, personal, and versatile, Glimmers of Grace accompanies readers step by step from acceptance to true freedom. In each reflection, you'll explore the healing gifts God offers, including: Hope Kindness Perseverance Self-compassion Joy Each reflection includes a gratitude prompt, positive affirmation, achievable to-dos, and journaling questions to help you embrace each gift. Like Faith, you can learn, slowly but surely, to see where and how God is speaking to you and find hope and healing after sexual abuse. Glimmers of Grace can also help spouses, friends, loved ones, or anyone who works with abuse victims gain perspective and understanding. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Faith Hakesley is a wife, homeschooling mother of three, and blogger. In 2008, she was one of five victims of clerical abuse to meet privately with Pope Benedict XVI during his trip to Washington, D.C. She is passionate about sharing her personal story of healing in order to offer hope, healing, and peace to those who are suffering. Visit her website www.faithhakesley.com for more information.

Restored Christianity, co-authored by a Christian counselor and an historian of early Christianity, integrates historical analysis with an in-depth examination of the current state of Christian belief toward restoring the earliest known, foundational beliefs of Christianity and applying those restored beliefs to contemporary life in order to bring healing to the aspects of today's church that can be detrimental to its members or may keep non-believers away. The authors don't shy away from controversy, challenging both the Church, and individual Christians and non-Christians, to evaluate currently held beliefs and embrace an intimate relationship with God. The authors confront current beliefs about such topics as the nature of God, the mysteries of God, the intention and use of the Bible, the meaning of faith, the sovereignty of God, our purpose, suffering, and the efficacy of prayer. The authors use Paul's letters for their evaluations, based on these documents standing as the earliest known Christian writings. According to the authors, "It became apparent to us that historical knowledge is vital for understanding Christianity, both at the time of its conception as well as today. At the same time, we have witnessed how some of the present-day beliefs espoused by the Church have wounded its members, and given those individuals outside of the Church a negative impression of Christ's character. We wrote this book with the hope of planting a seed that could grow and blossom into a renewed understanding and experiencing of a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ."The 2nd Edition adds 200 pages of information, including a new chapter devoted to prayer. It is like getting two books in one.According to William Houser, Ph.D., author of Who Is This Jesus Christ?, "Restored Christianity may be likened to a purifying process, where the authors, like patient jewelers, heat and purify their material until all the dross has been removed and the simple precious metal remains. Of course, their project and scope is giant in size: finding the elemental core of the Holy Scriptures after separating out centuries of wrongful, if well-intentioned, interpretations which have reduced the pure and simple content of God's Word and Will. The authors work in tandem, one dealing with the linguistic and historic roots of the original Bible writings, and the other setting them in a context of Christian living for today. The effort works, and is gratifyingly successful in helping the earnest reader understand God's intentions, His plans and hopes, and greatest of all, His unconditional love for humankind represented forever by the incarnation and sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ. This is not a Reformed work, or a Protestant work, or a Catholic work, this is a Christian work and is refreshingly focused on the Gospel basics that ignited the world when the Good News was first preached in its truest and most earnest forms to a desperate world." Dr. Colin Harris, Professor Emeritus of Religion, states, “The serious reader…will be led on a theological and historical journey that will both inform and sharpen the perspective for participating in what I'm sure will be one of the major conversations of the twenty-first century. It is an excellent and systematic treatment of central areas of theological concern – a unique blending of rigorous historical/critical scholarship, careful and penetrating analysis of…theological themes and concepts, and creative application to contemporary human experience through a wholesome partnership of theology, philosophy, and psychology. A careful and attentive reader will be rewarded with a new window, or “lens,” through which to see and think about concepts that have been a part of religious life for a long time. A reader who has not been around church much will find a challengingly and refreshingly sensible presentation of Christian faith with an appeal not unlike C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.”