A major theme in the Gospels is 'peace'; indeed Jesus proclaimed: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you'. Yet when we look at the world, peace can seem an elusive dream. Mary Grey looks at how the Advent story encourages forgiveness and reconciliation, both essential for peace, and how the Gospels can be key tools to help Christians work towards peace. She ties the Advent story in with current situations in the UK and in the Middle East and the book has both a personal and a global outlook. The book will make ideal reading for Advent and Christmas, either on your own or in a group. It is sure to challenge you to ask 'how can I help to make peace a reality for all God's children?'

Among Christian devotional works, My Utmost for His Highest stands head and shoulders above the rest, with more than 13 million copies sold. But most readers have no idea that Oswald Chambers's most famous work was not published until ten years after his death. The remarkable person behind its compilation and publication was his wife, Biddy. And her story of living her utmost for God's highest is one without parallel. Bestselling novelist Michelle Ule brings Biddy's story to life as she traces her upbringing in Victorian England to her experiences in a WWI YMCA camp in Egypt. Readers will marvel at this young woman's strength as she returns to post-war Britain a destitute widow with a toddler in tow. Refusing personal payment, Biddy proceeds to publish not just My Utmost for His Highest, but also 29 other books with her husband's name on the covers. All the while she raises a child alone, provides hospitality to a never-ending stream of visitors and missionaries, and nearly loses everything in the London Blitz during WWII. The inspiring story of a devoted woman ahead of her times will quickly become a favorite of those who love true stories of overcoming incredible odds, making a life out of nothing, and serving God's kingdom.

Everything changes when God visits this world in the person of Christ.The holiday season exposes a tension that many of us feel--mourning and rejoicing, loss and gratitude, fear and faith. And many of us experience this tension from the front row. But there is hope and peace that is available right here and right now. The birth of Jesus Christ is a declaration of God's commitment to peace on earth and peace forever. This Advent devotional is written to help you consider how the peace of God can be experienced in your daily life. Everything changes when God visits this world in the person of Jesus Christ.What People Are Saying:"If we aren't careful, we can get so distracted by the busyness and the business of Christmas that we miss the peace and joy for which the season should bring to us. Jason has provided a helpful resource to center our hearts and minds around the true reality of Christmas. Cheryl and I will enjoy this as a part of our daily discipleship." - Ron Edmondson, Pastor and Consultant, Author of The Mythical Leader"In Jason Davila's book, The Hope of Peace: An Advent Devotional, he writes a Christmas devotional that addresses the root of many Christian's anxieties with gospel hope and clarity while offering a practical path towards peace. This devotional is especially helpful during the Christmas season, but is relevant year-round." - Jamaal Williams, Lead Pastor, Sojourn Midtown; President, The Sojourn Network"In a year unlike any other in my memory, filled with fear and void of form, I can't think of a better way to reset your life with the peace God gives to us through Jesus. Jason Davila's "The Hope of Peace: An Advent Devotional" will do more than help you understand true peace. The timeless truths presented in this fresh devotional will help you experience peace in your everyday life." - Dave Bruskas, Campus Pastor, The Village Church Fort Worth"Jason Davila's Advent devotional is perfect for our challenging times. It calls us to remember the true meaning of the Christmas season and invites us to experience the peace and joy that only Jesus can bring. A great devotional!" - Sherrinda Ketchersid, author of Lord of Her Heart

Open a window each day of Advent onto the natural world.

This introductory textbook establishes theatrical improvisation as a model for Christian ethics, helping Christians embody their faith in the practices of discipleship. Clearly, accessibly, and creatively written, it has been well received as a text for courses in Christian ethics. The repackaged edition has updated language and recent relevant resources, and it includes a new afterword by Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. Wayman that explores the reception and ongoing significance of the text.

John Dear, SJ, believes that social activism and faith are inseparable. Acting in the name of the nonviolent Jesus, Dear has been arrested more than seventy-five times, has spent more than a year of his life in jail, and has been mocked by armed U.S. soldiers standing outside the doors to his New Mexico parish. A Persistent Peace, John Dear's autobiography, invites readers to follow the decades-long journey of social activism and spiritual growth of this nationally known peace activist and to witness his bold, decisive, often unpopular actions on behalf of peace. From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, John's incredible story of social activism will touch anyone who believes in the power of peace.

Where is God when life is filled with so much suffering? How can I be sure of God's presence and affection, even in my pain? Can you believe in God and still wrestle with questions and doubt? These are the questions honestly explored in Relentless. Whether in struggle, illness, death, or failure, the presence of pain causes us to question the presence of God. We pray and watch the sky, crossing our spiritual fingers for hardcore proof of God's nearness. And in the silence, we sense something more sinister: perceived abandonment. But what if we could collect evidence that God hasn't left us? What if we could be absolutely certain of God's presence and affection, strengthening our faith against any assault? Woven throughout Scripture sits a single, extraordinary theme: God is with us. Ours is a God who speaks through burning bushes and leads through pillars of fire, who responds to a broken world by giving himself. Like the Old Testament story of Joshua's altar of twelve stones, Relentless delivers twelve key biblical stories that demonstrate God's unfailing presence. Each chapter offers an invitation to identify a "stone" in your own life as tangible evidence of God's nearness. With the turn of the last page, you will have discovered twelve markers of your own, an altar of memory to carry you through questions and losses, even ones yet to come. For the truth-seekers, those drowning in impossible questions, and those who find themselves swallowed up by the dark, Relentless is an invitation to search for divine presence in our everyday stories. With Michele Cushatt's engaging narrative style, this transformational journey reassures us that God, indeed, is with us.

Imagine immersing yourself in scripture with this unique prompt journal for Advent Season. Follow the different themes during the four weeks of Advent. Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Features: A different scripture for six days a week and one hymn. Questions to ponder. Pages for reflection and prayer. Soft Matte Cover 6"x9" 53 Pages Add to cart now to prepare and remember the true meaning of Christmas with this Advent Journal.

Embracing Advent includes four weeks of short daily readings to encourage you to: Hold on to HOPE, Find PEACE, Choose JOY, and LOVE and Be Loved. This is an Advent devotional meant to prepare you for the Christmas season. These readings can be used as individuals or in a bible study. Use this daily devotional to take a few minutes each day to step away from the holiday chaos and prepare your body, soul, and mind to whole-heartedly celebrate Christmas this year!