Experiencing God In Everyday Ordinary Things

2021 Illumination Book Awards, Silver Medal: Theology God’s presence is not “out there” but right here. We tend to look for God in dramatic or miraculous moments, but such expectations can blind us to God’s ongoing presence. What if God is already with us, in the life we have this moment? When we experience ordinary but meaningful events, such as our first love or a favorite novel, we are in fact encountering God’s presence. As we learn to notice spiritual movement within and around us, we can recognize the many facets of God’s love that touch us daily. “As a priest and spiritual director of many decades, my driving desire is for people to experience God’s limitless love for them and to recognize it when it emerges in what they consider just ordinary life happenings and conversations.” —William A. Barry, SJ Whether we are in pain or crisis, questioning if we are really worthy of God’s attention, or are simply wondering why God would be in the mundane details of our lives, Experiencing God in the Ordinary can nurture our hope—that God is always present and can be found in an ordinary day. Complete with personal stories and various suggestions for prayer and meditation, this book is perfect for devotional reading, retreat, or small-group discussion.

This 8-session ready-to-teach curriculum guides and equips both leaders and participants in concrete ways to embrace the very real person of Jesus Christ in everyday life Christ entered our broken world to give us life in all its fullness. Not just in pinnacle experiences, but in every situation, every relationship, every activity. As you learn to recognize and welcome Christ's presence into every moment, ordinary days become filled with a tangible sense of God's presence. Suddenly, you are experiencing all of life with God--not just Sundays or 'quiet times.' Even more, he is transforming you in the process. You begin to experience the kind of ongoing, close connection to God you've longed for.Take the first steps toward that kind of life today. An Ordinary Day with Jesus is designed to show you how. The practices and teaching detailed here can literally change your life, one ordinary-extraordinary-day at a time. Experiencing God's presence in your everyday life doesn't necessarily mean doing new things. It means doing the things you already do in new ways---with him. An ordinary day with Jesus truly can be the greatest day you've ever had. Best of all, it can lead to an extraordinary life!The complete kit includes:* Leader's Guide* Participant's Guide* 45-minute video cassette* PowerPoint CD-ROM

The simplest, most transformative prayer you may ever pray—the five senses prayer. This book invites you to a simple practice of prayer and awareness that can turn each ordinary workday into a deepening spiritual journey. No matter where you are or how busy you get, your five senses are always “on,” your mind and heart responsive to what you perceive. These channels of awareness can take you deeper into God's great mystery if you practice the discipline of submitting them to the One who is closer than you imagine. The beauty of such a contemplative path is that you can follow it anywhere—alone or in company, in quiet meditation or amid the bustle of your craziest day. Moment by moment, you invite God to open you up—eyes, ears, nostrils, hands and mouth, heart and mind. And moment by moment, as you open yourself, you’ll find yourself closer to God’s grace-filled and wide-open heart. Simply Open.

In Everyday God, Paula Gooder explores the hidden depths of richness and the potential of ordinary times. Through the lens of thirty-three biblical passages, which all touch on the theme of ordinariness, you will discover the extraordinary in the most everyday things: in the lives of ordinary people; in a God who defies being put in a gilded palace; in a Kingdom that is best likened to seeds, yeast, and fishing nets; and in everyday decisions which, lived out with God, have extraordinary consequences.

Prayer is first and foremost a personal relationship and that the most fruitful prayer is that builds upon and enhances relationship. It shows us how we can develop an intimate relationship with God.

Acclaimed writer and pastor Jared C. Wilson reveals how God has a plan for you that involves doing the ordinary, mundane stuff of life in a supernatural way. Would it change your life to know that there is a way to live your everyday life supernaturally? Most of us would say “yes,” and Jared C. Wilson’s new book reveals how. For the homemaker wondering how to get through the stress of washing dishes and making meals nobody seems to appreciate; for the cubicle jockey punching her time-card every day wondering if what she does really matters; for the teacher or leader wondering if he is making an impact; for the student afraid of the future; for every believer struggling to get through daily life, Supernatural Power for Everyday People offers the hope of meaning and purpose, and also the promise of power. We can get beyond just “getting by." We can prevail and live a life of far more joy, contentment, and peace than we ever thought possible. A practical book written in a devotional tone, Supernatural Power for Everyday People shows readers how to rely more fully on the power of the Holy Spirit for growth and satisfaction in their lives.