We all have times when we feel trapped by life. A world of dysfunction seems to hem us in on every side as our hearts yearn for horizons that seem just beyond our grasp. We search for pathways forward we just can’t seem to find. But, as Derek Webster demonstrates, God wants to lead us to health. How do we do that? Viewed through the lens of the familiar Old Testament Bible story of Joseph, Your Mess, God's Masterpiece shows us a way to journey from trapped to triumphant living. This book will help you move from the mess you’re stuck in, to become the masterpiece God longs for you to be.

Turning Tragedy into Triumph Do you ever feel stuck? Overwhelmed by fear? Do you worry that if people really knew the secrets you hide, they wouldn't want you? Do you wonder why you're even here? The things you hate about your life are the very things that excite God most. Your past doesn't repel Him and your present doesn't intimidate Him--because He knows what He can do with them! The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity, and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories. In Broken and Beautiful, Christine Soule shares the message of hope as she tells how God took the pieces of her own broken life--childhood abuse, poverty, human trafficking, and more--and turned them all into breathtaking joy and purpose. Told with honesty and humor, this is the story of a drug-addicted stripper's transformation into an exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for meeting others in their journey and watching God's love mend them together.

What if your pain and struggles were not punishments to endure--but opportunities to showcase God's glory? Inspired by the story of the blind man in John 9, bestselling author and pastor Samuel Rodriguez shows us that sometimes Jesus makes your situation a muddy mess first--and out of that mess emerges a miracle. With biblical inspiration, scientific findings and true stories, Pastor Sam lays out the practical, hope-infused roadmap for anyone with the audacity to replace fear with faith, wash away the mud of the past and walk through their mess into God's miracle. "A must-read for every believer for the hour we are in."--JENTEZEN FRANKLIN, senior pastor, Free Chapel; New York Times bestselling author "You will never see your situation the same again. I was blessed by this book."--DR. WILLIAM M. WILSON, president, Oral Roberts University "Spiritual vision is essential. Samuel Rodriguez opens our eyes to the reality of seeing the unseen and what matters most. I love this book!"--DR. JACK GRAHAM, senior pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church "A reminder that no matter where you are in your journey, you can expect a miracle."--KEVIN SORBO, actor, director, author "This book is theology on fire."--JESSE BRADLEY, senior pastor, Grace Community Church "Will encourage and empower you. I thoroughly recommend this book."--RUSSELL EVANS, senior pastor, Planetshakers Church "Wow! This fantastic book has unique insights for the Church we need to hear."--PHIL PRINGLE, senior pastor and founder, C3 Church Global Also available in Spanish.

Dr. Howard has crafted a careful and balanced blend of Bible exposition, theology, real-life illustrations from his vast ministerial experience, and practical applications to those who yearn for their lives to be transformed from a messy situation to a message that honors and glorifies God. Each chapter expounds the miraculous way God used an unlikely individual with a messy life and turned his or her life into a positive message. The woman at the well, Zacchaeus, Jabez, Ruth, the thief on the cross, and Jephthah all faced challenging circumstances. Sin, genetics, the unexpected death of a spouse, rebellion, and poor family heritage placed these Bible characters in the most likely not to succeed category. All had three strikes against them. God, in His infinite mercy and grace, had a plan for each of these lives. He turned their mess into a positive message. Regardless of what mess you find your life to be in, this book gives practical ways of how to get out. Everyone faces trials and difficulties in life. Dr. Howard likens the trials and difficulties in life to potholes. Potholes appear out of nowhere unexpectedly and can be destructive and hurtful and take away our joy and sense of well being. Dr. Howard says, Being a Christian does not mean that we will not be faced with trials and tribulations, which are like potholes in our lives (some are big while others are small). Regardless of how messy your life is or how many potholes are causing you concern, Turning Your Mess into a Message will give you hope and lead you to the Savior, who alone can turn your life around. He did it for the six Bible characters expounded upon in the book and He continues to change and transform messy lives into a message today.

We all have "messes" in our lives. Some are big ones, and some are small ones. Some we make with our choices, some are made for us by others or by sickness. This book is the result of the "mess" I created with my sin. I found my life turned upside down. I was locked up in prison without my freedom, I disgraced my family, I drove my friends away, and I had lost my job. I hit bottom, and I finally realized that I needed a savior. I cried out to God to take back control over my life. Once I did that, I needed a place to start, and God lead me straight to His word. The devotions you will find on the pages of this book are the very words God gave me, as He gave them to me. They are His messages of hope and salvation to a hurting child that He loves. He carried me through that season of my life. No matter what it is you are going through in your life, as you read the pages of this book, you will feel the overwhelming love and care Jesus has for you. Day after day, the words He shares with you will heal you and clean up those messes you made by doing it without Him. God will get so much glory as we walk together watching Him turn your messes into His messages. He did it for me, I Know He will do it for you too.

What if the mess of your life is where God is about to do his best work? Life can be a tangled mess. Luke Lezon's mess came in the form of alarming health issues, transforming him from fun-loving and God-fearing to angry and hopeless. As Luke's health deteriorated for months without answers, the stress of not knowing suddenly spiraled into a mental and emotional breakdown. As a pastor, he wasn't supposed to struggle with life's mess - but then maybe we've been wrong about the mess all along. As Luke learned, you are not made of the mess, you are made through it. If you're feeling lonely or less-than, ashamed of where you've been or anxious about where you're going, this is a message crafted just for you: God is never afraid of a mess. He's never run from some dirt and blood. In fact, the mess is exactly where he does his best work. If we believe that God created us from dust and redeemed us through the blood of the cross, we can trust him with our tangled lives. Your Mess Matters is a lifeline to hang on to, a light in the dark reminding you that God is still at work, making your life more beautiful than ever before. Through vulnerable stories of his own journey and profound biblical truths, Luke will guide you through the process of entrusting your story to Jesus and letting him work his biggest promises through your greatest regrets. With Luke's encouraging insight and bold truth-telling, your mind will be comforted, your heart inspired, and your soul empowered to let God transform your mess into a masterpiece.

A pastor's wife's shattering yet ultimately hopeful story of her husband's death by suicide, her journey to understand mental illness, and the light she found in the darkness. On August 25, 2018, Kayla Stoecklein lost her husband, Andrew--megachurch pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino, California--to suicide. In the wake of the tragedy, she embarked on a brave journey to better understand his harrowing battle with mental illness and, ultimately, to overcome the stigma of suicide. Fear Gone Wild is her intimate account of all that led to that tragic day, including her husband's panic attacks and debilitating bouts of anxiety and depression. Despite their deep faith in God and the countless prayers of many believers, Andrew was never healed of his illness. Turning to Scripture for answers, she discovered that God uses wilderness experiences to prepare His children--including Jesus--for his greater purpose and to work miracles inside our souls. With a clear-eyed acknowledgment of how misguided and misinformed she was about mental illness, Kayla Stoecklein shares her story in hopes that anyone walking through the wilderness of mental illness will be better equipped for the journey and will learn to put their hope in Jesus through it all.

God can turn your messy life into a masterpiece. Every life gets messy at times. Sometimes these messes are literal, like a house that would be easier to condemn than to clean. But sometimes they are intangible messes such as illness, conflict, depression, abuse, bankruptcy, divorce, and job loss. And these messes can be painful, hurting our hearts and our homes. But as we see in the Bible, God loves to use messy people! In this six-week study, we will dig into the lives of biblical heroes who were messy people just like us but who were used by God in powerful ways. Together we will examine the stories of five wonderful but messy people and one messy parable character: Rahab, the Prodigal Son, Josiah, Mary, David, and Daniel. From their stories, we will learn how God can use broken people, restore damaged hearts and relationships, give us power to handle our critics, and help us deal with the hard moments of life. Along the way we’ll discover that we don’t have to just endure messy lives but can actually learn to thrive with God’s guidance and help. In the hands of God, our messes can become His masterpieces! The participant workbook, to be used along with the study's DVD, includes five days of lessons for each week, combining study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer. Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Leader Guide, and DVD with six 10-15 minute sessions.

Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson, and award-winning TV news anchor Robin Marsh share a passion to encourage teen girls. In this relevant, engaging devotional they show the cell phone generation of girls why accepting God’s call is the best decision they’ll ever make. Each devotion includes a question in teen lingo, God’s “text response” from Scripture, insightful reflections, and a daily spiritual app to help girls relate biblical wisdom to everyday needs as they explore: how to deal with the drama of other girls decisions about boys and sexual purity do’s and don’ts of social media the fun of living out a bold faith their identity and uniqueness in Christ A cleverly presented, timely look at God’s help for the needs young women face today. Perfect for individual faith growth and as group discussion and study material.