Joyful Generosity

A steaming cup of coffee, a heart-warming story, a poignant time of meditation and prayer in your favorite place of solitude. A few quiet moments alone with God?what a great way to begin . . . or end . . . your day. Now, Charles, Swindoll, the master communicator whose compelling stories and eye-opening insights have helped millions of people find and build meaningful relationships with God, brings you this moving collection of 365 daily devotionals. Based on the Bible and his best-selling classic, The Finishing Touch, this new book provides just what you need to open your heart to the Lord's love and leading every day. Your soul-strengthening journey through this volume can begin at any time during the year. And you will be drawn ever nearer to the heart of God through these brief encounters with Him as you study and worship Day by Day with Charles Swindoll.

Our God is no distant God. In the earliest days of the church, when His manifest presence was unleashed through the power of the Cross, He revealed Himself to believers in an amazing new way. The promise of the prophets and Jesus--that God would live with us--was being fulfilled. And lives were being changed. In The One Year God with Us Devotional, Chris Tiegreen writes with clarion insight as he calls us to share in the excitement and passion of the early believers. Through yearlong reflections on Acts, Revelation, and the New Testament letters, we witness God making Himself known more fully than ever before. And, in these daily reflections, we will experience Him deeply and completely ourselves. (Deluxe LeatherLike edition; previously published in softcover as The One Year Wonder of the Cross Devotional.)

Do you tithe without joy or know someone who does? How exactly does God want us to give and is tithing the principle way? These and many other questions are answered here. God wants us to know how much He loves us and wants our giving and living to be an outflow of our love relationship. I am confident, the more you read this book the more peace you will experience. Whether reading for self enlightenment or to become a more effective instructor, you will experience the joyful revelation and freedom of giving. You will learn about: What tithing is The beginning and Biblical history of tithing Some of the misconceptions about the tithe Is it a Biblical mandate today Being cursed with a curse (Malachi 3) if we don't pay the tithe And much more Meisha Lorraine Smith is a Bible teacher, Registered Nurse, and making her writing debut. She has had almost 20 years of ministry experience starting at the age of 16. She was a student at the College of Biblical Studies. She is the daughter of Pastor Charles and Elnora Smith, and presently lives in Houston, Texas and attends Lakewood Church. This book will enable thousands to know what it really means to give the tithe. What are you waiting for?

If you have ever been out boating, you know the importance of an anchor. Whether you’re fishing or hanging out with friends, when you find a good spot, it’s impossible to stay there without an anchor. An anchor stops you from being blown around at the mercy of the ocean. Jesus is an anchor for your soul. When you find yourself drifting aimlessly in a sea of doubt, he secures you in the certainty of his truth. If you’re rocked by unforgiveness, he can lead you to the quiet waters of love and grace. If bitterness and hurt overflow, let Jesus secure your heart in a bay of healing waters and remove the weeds from your hull. As you meditate on these Scriptures, devotions, and prayers, may your heart find confidence in the one who holds you steady. The anchor of your soul will keep you from drifting with the shifting tides and winds. When storms come, place your security in the King of heaven and earth. He is faithful, and he will not fail you. Remain firmly planted in his love and peace. He will not let you go.

The subject of financial giving to the church can create tension and anxiety if not understood from the scriptural perspective of the Christian's heart for Christ. In this theological treatment of giving, Steve Swartz examines the biblical basis for obedience in giving to the Lord's work, which is, ultimately, because of his love for and loyalty to Jesus Christ. The gospel of Christ compels the Christian to respond in gratitude for God's grace in salvation, and giving is one such tangible response.Dr. Steve Swartz (M.Div., The Master's Seminary, D.Min., The Master's Seminary) serves as the senior pastor of Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield, California. He is the author of several books such as Shattered Shepherds and Strength in the River and is a regular lecturer at John MacArthur's Grace Advance, a post-graduate academy for church-planting pastors. Steve is the featured Bible teacher at Steadfast in the Faith (www.steadfastinthefaith.org), the online media ministry of Grace Bible Church."The call to give is often met with tension in today's church. But with the mind of a theologian and the heart of a shepherd, Dr. Swartz carefully tackles a sensitive subject with grace, compassion, and clarity, guiding the reader to a better understanding of the heart of God... This book includes practical teaching on giving, but even more, provides a pathway to a life of real joy focused on worshiping the Lord with a generous heart... After reading Joyful Generosity: Responding to God's Grace, I have a greater desire to give to Kingdom work, a clearer view of God's heart, and a more intense longing for heaven."-Dr. Michael Staton, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Mustang, Oklahoma, and featured speaker of Every Word Preached, www.everywordpreached.com."Joyful Generosity: Responding to God's Grace is a spiritually powerful, biblical-theological approach to the subject of financial stewardship. Dr. Swartz avoids the heresies of prosperity theology while teaching God's clear commands and promises related to giving ... I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a God-centered and audience-sensitive exposition of biblical giving. I will be providing this book to the pastors in all our capital campaigns."-Dr. Rod Rogers, Owner/principal consultant with AMI Church Consulting Services, www.abundantgiving .com.

Could sharing your faith be the secret to developing your spiritual maturity? For many followers of Jesus, discipleship means doing certain things to deepen our connection with Jesus Christ. But our spiritual growth checklists are often disconnected from the mission of reaching a lost world with the gospel message. Taking a holistic approach that unites evangelism and discipleship, Kevin and Sherry Harney demonstrate how God's plan for our spiritual growth is intimately connected to his mission to the world. In Organic Disciples, the couple lead ordinary followers of Jesus through seven markers of spiritual maturity, showing how simple shifts in our Bible reading, prayer, community life, giving, service, and other biblical practices can connect us with God's work of reaching people with his love. You'll learn: Why true spiritual maturity will always lead believers outward to engage the world with the good news and truth of Jesus. How to overcome the common roadblocks and false narratives that stand in the way of spiritual maturity. How to design a personal pathway of growth to be more like Jesus in character and mission. Along with the Organic Disciples book, churches and individuals can utilize a free, self-directed online tool at OrganicOutreach.com to help each person identify where they are in their growth journey. Also look for eight-session small group curriculum—Organic Disciples Study Guide (9780310139089)—to take congregations and Christians deeper on this journey.