A Good And Perfect Gift

An Honest, Hopeful Look at Unexpected Challenges Challenging surprises often lead to unexpected joy. Amy Julia opens eyes and softens hearts as she brings readers into her own story of disappointment turned to blessing. This is a journey of discovering strength through weakness, and the author learns to embrace the face that we are all dependent on God and one another. This books will inspire readers who appreciate beautiful writing coupled with deep insights about life and faith. "Amy Julia Becker has the courage and grace to tell the truth. Whether you are a parent or not, whether the children in your life are 'typical' or not, this story will shake you, change you, and encourage you."--Andy Crouch, author, Culture Making

In the tradition of Kaye Gibbons, Sheri Reynolds, and Dorothy Allison, Brenda Jernigan is an exciting and original Southern voice. This novel concerns a miraculous event -- with a contemporary spin -- that sets in motion a profoundly moving and often warmly human coming-of-age story. This is beautifully crafted writing, rich with unforgettable characters. Every Good and Perfect Gift is set in a small town in North Carolina, a place that is comfortable with tradition, including the traditional image of God. On a sultry Sunday morning when ten-year-old Maggie Davidson swoons from the heat and sees God -- and God is a woman -- people are quick to ascribe her vision to the fantasies of an overheated girl. But when Maggie begins to demonstrate a gift of healing, people's attitudes change. This is a story of a family of three strong women -- grandmother, mother, and daughter -- who live by the laws of love, loss, and pride. It is also the story of a community of good people gone wrong and bad people who find good in themselves. It is a knowingly detailed account of a particular part of America -- and of the wide landscape of human hearts and souls.

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.

A tiny bird has found the most beautiful red strawberry to give her grandmother, but PLOP! it falls into the river. Not even the help of all of the bird's friends can get it back before a hungry crocodile snatches it up. But the friends put their heads together and come up with the perfect idea for a new gift for Grandma: They'll create a book about their adventure with the strawberry!With bright, colorful illustrations and cute characters bursting with creativity, Mary Newell DePalma's newest picture book will be beloved by teachers, parents, grandparents, and aspiring young authors everywhere.

God has blessed us with many gifts—the greatest being His only Son, Jesus Christ. This new devotional celebrates “every good and perfect gift” from the heavenly Father. Ideal reading through the Christmas season—or at any time of the year—Every Good and Perfect Gift provides 31 encouraging, easy-to-read devotionals that turn your thoughts away from the stress and busyness of this world to the beautiful love, joy, and peace of heaven. Be reminded of God’s great love for you through Jesus Christ. . .and find your life refreshed and renewed all year long.

What's Your Vision for a Perfect World? Recently, while doing a recycling workshop with a group of three and four-year-olds, I asked what they thought would make a perfect world. Their answers made sense to me--ice cream, pizza and chocolate. Then they tackled harder problems by coming up with great ideas to re-purpose containers often tossed away with little thought. Their ideas were bold and creative. The Perfect Gift, an interactive story, was written to remind them how special they are and the important role they play in creating a beautiful world. "This delightful, interactive story invites readers and their parents (and grandparents, teachers, friends) to consider what makes a 'perfect world' while acknowledging it isn't always so. It encourages exploring options for less than perfect days, developing resilience and encouraging the love of family. The Perfect Gift is a great book for all ages." --Margaret Hill-Daniels (experienced mother, grandmother and counselor) "This is a good book because kids can draw from their imagination what a perfect world would look like. Their worlds will all be different, because all kids have different ideas in their heads. I wish I had this book." --Lucille Williard, age 5 "I love The Perfect Gift! The message is clear and simple enough for children yet also poignant and inspiring for adults. It explains the simple truth that, despite our best intentions, life doesn't always go as planned. The book offers space for readers to generate ideas. By following the drawing and writing prompts, readers will discover internal strengths. They will find that, when they tap the creative visions that are alive within them, they can positively change how they feel and how they react to what's going on around them. The Perfect Gift is given when this book is read and experienced together. --Jan Thrope, LSW, community activist Learn more at LaurenPersons.com

The Perfect Gift aims to cultivate and enlighten our philanthropic imagination. It addresses us all as present and future philanthropists-as human beings who give, serve, and seek to promote the well-being of others. It suggests that we are continually confronted with choices about giving, and offers literary selections intended to help us reflect more seriously on these choices.Editor Amy A. Kass has gathered an intriguing and inspiring collection of readings from many cultures, genres, and time periods. Classical literature, philosophy, and religion are well represented, but so are contemporary and popular writing. The Perfect Gift draws from the works of Aristotle, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, C. S. Lewis, Alexis de Tocqueville, Martin Luther King, P. G. Wodehouse, and Shel Silverstein, among others. Kass's thoughtful introductions guide reflection on when, why, how, to whom, and what we should give.