God doesn't bless us to raise our standard of living. God blesses us to raise our standard of giving, and that's where true joy is found. The New York Times bestselling author of Chase the Lion challenges us not to settle for half of what God offers when it comes to blessings—we are BLESSED to BLESS. His discovery started with a simple experiment. Whenever Batterson received a blessing, he would give a similar blessing away. If someone paid him a compliment or gave him a gift or went out of their way to help him, he would return the favor by doing something similar for someone else. We flip the blessing by blessing others in the way God has blessed us. That’s how the blessing becomes a double blessing. It turns giving into a game—one we can’t win because God will always outgive us! It’s an ancient truth found within the Abrahamic covenant: “I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing.” In other words, we are blessed to bless. The first blessing is receiving, but it doesn’t end there. The second blessing is giving it away! That’s the double blessing. And that’s where double joy is found. In a day and age where the idea of blessing has been reduced to a hashtag (#blessed), Batterson challenges readers to pursue true, God-glorifying blessing and experience an exponential impact by participating in the double blessing. Don’t settle for half of what God offers. Discover how you can both get it and give it . . . in Double Blessing.

"Their son, Jason, a young man who initially had so much promise, is now serving a life sentence for murder in a maximum-security prison. All their appeals have be exhausted at both the state and federal levels--humanly speaking, they have run out of options. But there's more to the story. Despite their grim situation, Carol and her husband live a life full of grace. Kent reveals how life's problems are a fruitful time to discover the very best divine surprises, including peace, compassion, freedom, and adventure"--Page 2 of cover

Neil and Joanne Anderson's bestselling 365-day devotional is now available in trade paper. Daily in Christ puts a spark into devotional readings and quiet times with its emphasis on a believer's identity in Christ. A motivating challenge for Christlike living.

Reaching for your blessing and pulling them down. And I will give into thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Are you speaking the word out of your mouth, but from your heart? You don't believe what you are saying. Look at this in the natural. I have a peach tree in August. The peach is ripped on the tree. Now (get this), where are peaches? They are not on the ground. They are hanging on the peach tree ready to be pulled off or down. You need a ladder to pull the peach down and if you want them bad enough, you will reach up and get your peach. Now take that same determination and reach for your blessing. Reach God's heart. A son knows how to reach his dad. To all the young men and women who have a college education but you're still having problems, and you think that because your father or mother with a second grade education, you feel they are not educated enough to talk to, that they don't understand. You have not read the book of Proverbs 6:20-21 - My son (and daughter), keep your father's command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. The wisdom that comes from your mother and father, the biggest book cannot retain it. Life experiences are priceless. So don't look down your nose on mom and dad because you have a college degree. When have you said thank you? You call everyone except mom and dad.

Loving a prodigal is a long and desperate journey, filled with fear, worry, anger, self- recrimination. You wait for the phone call--will it be from jail or the hospital? You plead with your loved one. You search for help. You feel the shame. You cry out to God, "How long, Lord?" Author Judy Douglass knows these lovers of prodigals well. She is one herself and has created a large and growing community with others. When You Love a Prodigal is a collection of 90 essays--90 days of perspective on what God offers to you as you love your prodigal. At the end of each brief essay, response questions will help you process how God intends to use the wilderness journey to mold your spiritual life. You can work through it day by day, or you can read it straight through. Judy has traveled this road with her own prodigal--reading, learning, praying, and seeking God. Over and over he continued to give her wisdom, he sustained her, he covered her with grace, and he filled her with hope. May you, too, be strengthened and filled with hope as together you discover how God will take you through your own valley.

Singles are getting conflicting messages from today's culture, both Christian and secular. Is it okay to want to be married? Is there anything a never-married woman can do, within a biblical framework, to "assist" the process? Candice Watters gives women permission to want Christian marriage, encourages them to believe it's possible, and supplies the tools to get there - despite our anti-marriage culture. This book blends the author's personal journey from singleness to marriage with the biblical perspective on marriage. As an editor for Focus on the Family's Boundless webzine, Candice Watters knows the target audience inside and out. Whether a woman has been told to "get married" or marriage is on her lifelong wish list, Get Married points her to the source!

Picking up where bestselling 90 Minutes in Heaven left off, Don Piper reveals for the first time the sacred, intimate details of the people who met him at the gates of heaven and the profound impact they had on his faith on earth. In this incredible follow-up to his eight-million-copy bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper shares untold stories about his encounters with people who greeted him at the gates of heaven, and offers powerful insights about the way for us to live our lives on earth. Don Piper's unforgettable account of a horrific car accident that took his life, and what happened next has riveted more than eight million readers. Something happened as he shared his story in the years since. Not only did Piper realize he had more to tell, he had yet to share the most sacred and intimate details of his time in heaven about the people who met him at the gates. "I have never left a speaking engagement without people wanting to know more," he said. In The People I Met in Heaven, Piper takes readers deeper into his experience, which includes never-before-told encounters with the people who met him when he arrived in heaven-those who helped him on his journey that led to the entrance to God's heavenly home. Even more, Piper recounts the majesty of heaven and the glorious reunion that awaits us there. He offers practical insights, inspiration, and a challenging call that while we're on earth we need to obey Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations."

The author of Desiring God reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Includes a study guide for individual and small-group use. Isn’t it true—we really don’t know someone until we understand what makes that person happy? And so it is with God! What does bring delight to the happiest Being in the universe? John Piper writes, that it’s only when we know what makes God glad that we’ll know the greatness of His glory. Therefore, we must comprehend “the pleasures of God.” Unlike so much of what is written today, this is not a book about us. It is about the One we were made for—God Himself. In this theological masterpiece—chosen by World Magazine as one of the 20th Century’s top 100 books, John Piper reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Then we will be able to drink deeply—and satisfyingly—from the only well that offers living water. What followers of Jesus need now, more than anything else, is to know and love—behold and embrace—the great, glorious, sovereign, happy God of the Bible. “This is a unique and precious book that everybody should read more than once.” —J.I. PACKER, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia

Don't you wish you could give more? As Christians we are hard-wired with a desire to be generous givers. Unfortunately, many Christians are "greatly limited in their giving potential because they don't have their money under control"! Become a better steward of your money, pay off debt, save more, and give more! Join Bob in this 31-day daily devotional as he shares his own experiences, insights, questions, and discoveries about Biblical money management and what we can do to be better stewards of our money. Each short chapter will leave you with a new Biblical insight, personal challenge, encouraging thought, and even practical steps to better control your money. Reviews from Amazon customers: "The lessons are very concise, which makes them easy and fun to read. I know that I won't need to spend hours on them each night and that I'll get some great, pertinent information that I can immediately apply to my life and financial situation. I'll definitely be referring to some lessons more than once!" "This is a great book full of daily devotionals that will help you manage your money God's way. My husband and I have been reviewing our finances over the past year and have made many changes. This book will help us to continue on our path to saving and managing our money the way the Bible says we should." "This book gave me a new perspective on the importance of money to me. I have read other inspirational materials on the subject of personal finance and money management; however, this book really has made me think and feel differently about the role that money plays in my life."

Reaching for your blessing and pulling them down. And I will give into thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Are you speaking the word out of your mouth, but from your heart? You dont believe what you are saying. Look at this in the natural. I have a peach tree in August. The peach is ripped on the tree. Now (get this), where are peaches? They are not on the ground. They are hanging on the peach tree ready to be pulled off or down. You need a ladder to pull the peach down and if you want them bad enough, you will reach up and get your peach. Now take that same determination and reach for your blessing. Reach Gods heart. A son knows how to reach his dad. To all the young men and women who have a college education but youre still having problems, and you think that because your father or mother with a second grade education, you feel they are not educated enough to talk to, that they dont understand. You have not read the book of Proverbs 6:20-21 - My son (and daughter), keep your fathers command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. The wisdom that comes from your mother and father, the biggest book cannot retain it. Life experiences are priceless. So dont look down your nose on mom and dad because you have a college degree. When have you said thank you? You call everyone except mom and dad.