Let God Surprise You

For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, says the Lord. . . . Joseph the slave becomes a ruler in Egypt. Corrie ten Boom seems destined to die a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, but survives to speak to millions. The apostle Paul encounters Christ on the road to Damascus. Bud Paxon meets Jesus in a Las Vegas hotel suite. A Jewish girl named Esther convinces a king to save her people. A young deaf woman defies the odds and is crowned Miss America---and later is able to hear through the miracle of modern medicine. From the chapters of the Bible and the pages of today's newspaper, Let God Surprise You introduces you to men and women whose extraordinary stories demonstrate how God can turn any situation around and bring good out of even the most difficult circumstances. This book also shows how God answers our prayers---sometimes through unexpected avenues. Heather Whitestone McCallum offers her experiences of amazing grace and divine timing along with stories of biblical and modern men and women that demonstrate how our loving and lavish God is ready to surprise us with his goodness and mercy. No matter what challenges you are facing, these stories will inspire you and remind you that God can do anything with a heart surrendered to him. Let God Surprise You will help you see that God never sets limits on what we can become as long as we are willing to put our faith in a limitless God. God loves to surprise his children in the way he works out the plans he has for us, the dreams he has planted in our spirits. He loves to do the unexpected, even the outrageous. Come with me now as we look at stories of people who chose to believe---and were surprised by this outrageous, outlandish, and loving God we serve. Heather Whitestone McCallum dreamed of dancing as a prima ballerina. But how could a deaf girl from Alabama reach such an 'impossible' goal? By dancing before millions at the Miss America pageant and capturing the coveted crown. What an unbelievable way for God to make a dream come true! This is only one of the inspiring stories you'll find in Let God Surprise You. Heather not only shares stories of the ways God has surprised her, but also brings to life other accounts of men and women who have discovered the surprising and often amazing ways God's grace works in human lives. Whether you are currently experiencing tears or triumph, tragedy or comedy, within these pages you'll find anecdotes and insights that will inspire you to trust the God who delights in helping his children find their hearts' desires. Each chapter of Let God Surprise You is like opening a beautifully wrapped gift from the loving heart of an incredible and wonderful God

Joseph's Heart: A Story of Adoption tells about the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Saint Joseph. It is the miraculous story of how Joseph becomes a father in a way he never could have imagined. Written to encourage all whose lives are touched by adoption and inspire those who are considering it, Joseph's Heart is a children's book for all ages.

"A magnificent book, bursting with profound spiritual insights, from a man who has quickly become one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time." --James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage In the year since he was elected, Pope Francis’s simple message of mercy, service, and renewal has spread to every corner of the world. Through his gentle demeanor, selfless actions, and welcoming call for service to others, Pope Francis has captured the attention of a world longing for an authentic message of hope—we want to hear what he has to say. Collected from Pope Francis’s speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, The Church of Mercy is the first Vatican-authorized book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God’s call for evangelization, Pope Francis's deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully bring God's mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists. Named TIME Magazine’s 2013 “Person of the Year,” Pope Francis is helping the Church continue toward an authentic Christianity that is faithful to the Gospel and resonant with the world’s greatest needs. The Church of Mercy encourages each of us to ignite the flame within to help share the light of Christ and revitalize the Church.

Find a new sense of hope and security as you witness the thoroughly unpredictable ways God intervened in the experiences of men and women in the Bible. Examining six “But God…” moments in Scripture, popular Our Daily Bread author Bill Crowder focuses your hope on the eternal wisdom and perfect purposes of God in every situation.

"Well written, often poignant and surprisingly relatable." - Kirkus Reviews "A hugely readable journey of cultural and spiritual discovery, sparkling with wit and wisdom." - Alister McGrath "Carolyn Weber's memoir reads like a fast-paced novel. I loved the humor, skillful use of language and her compelling account of her steps to finding God at Oxford. I was totally captivated from beginning to end." - Marilyn Meberg Surprised by Oxford is the memoir of a skeptical agnostic who comes to a dynamic personal faith in God during graduate studies in literature at Oxford University. Carolyn Weber arrives at Oxford a feminist from a loving but broken family, suspicious of men and intellectually hostile to all things religious. As she grapples with her God-shaped void alongside the friends, classmates, and professors she meets, she tackles big questions in search of Truth, love, and a life that matters. From issues of fatherhood, feminism, doubt, doctrine, and love, Weber explores the intricacies of coming to faith with an aching honesty and insight echoing that of the poets and writers she studied. Rich with illustration and literary references, Surprised by Oxford is at once gritty and lyrical; both humorous and spiritually perceptive. This savvy, credible account of Christian conversion and its after-effects follows the calendar year and events of the school year as it entertains, informs, and promises to engage even the most skeptical and unlikely reader. "Surprised by Oxford is a sprightly contribution to the genre of spiritual memoirs in the vein of C.S. Lewis's Surprised by Joy and Lauren F. Winner's Girl Meets God. Carolyn Weber is an unconventional thinker whose engagingly told faith journey will speak to folks who still believe that thoughtful people cannot be Christian." - Lyle W. Dorsett

Do you ever feel like a second-class citizen in this world? Do you wonder how God could possibly use you to change lives? For women in Bible times, these weren't even questions they thought about. Being overlooked, marginalized, having your contributions discounted because you're a woman...it's just the way things were. In this 10-lesson workbook, Max Lucado tells some of his favorite accounts of women in Scripture and the remarkable way God broke down cultural barriers to use them in the unfolding of His story. You will discover... Sarah, the woman whom God promised would give birth to a nation, but who tried to rush things when God's promises didn't seem to be coming to pass. Rahab, a prostitute in the Canaanite city of Jericho, who would save herself and her family through her faith in the one true God of the Israelites. Abigail, a woman forced to play peacemaker by the barbaric behavior of her husband. Esther, a young queen whom God placed in the Persian court for “such a time as this” to prevent the genocide of the Jewish people. Mary, the young virgin pledged to Joseph, whom God would choose to give birth to Jesus, the promised Messiah who would save the world. The Samaritan Woman, who would meet this Messiah at a well one day. His words would forever after change her life. The Canaanite Woman, who made God smile with her wit and faith, and who received from Jesus an answer to her prayer. Mary of Bethany, a friend of Jesus who witnessed the resurrection of her brother, Lazarus, and then anointed Christ in anticipation of his death and resurrection. Mary Magdalene, who followed Jesus despite the injustice of a world that judged her for her past and said she would always be considered a failure. Sapphira, a woman in the early church who, along with her husband, made the unfortunate (and deadly) decision to lie to the Holy Spirit. These stories show us there is a God who sees us where we are and loves us for who we are. He is the one who hovers over all the pages of the Bible, shaping lives, rescuing hearts, healing sicknesses, raising what was dead to life, and passing out high callings to those who choose to follow him and have faith in him. Each lesson includes: 5 Daily in-depth Bible studies to help you explore the stories in Scripture Daily points to remember to help you summarize the key points Daily prayers to help you focus your thoughts and move into your quiet time Weekly memory verses to help you hide God's word in your heart Additional notes to help you lead a group through the study Ten Women of the Bible is a standalone workbook, ideal for both individual use and for study in a small-group setting.

Seeking God is a journal of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It traces the highlights of the life of Jesus Christ from His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry in Galilee, and through to His Resurrection and Ascension in Jerusalem. It is also a book about the spiritual messages of Our Lord, set in the landscape in which He gave them, providing the reader with a deeper dimension to the Gospel stories, which come alive. It is also the history of the shrines and their link to the biblical, cultural, historical, and political aspects of the Holy Land from the time of Jesus to the Byzantines, and from the Crusades to our time. In the parable of the sower and the seeds, the seed that fell on rich soil grew a hundredfold. Has the seed of the Word of the Lord fallen on the rich soil of your soul? If so, then perhaps this book will spark a desire in your heart to visit the Holy Land, following in the footsteps of Our Lord.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER • The question isn't whether God speaks. The question is what does He have to say to you? The New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker teaches readers how to listen to God. WINNER OF THE ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING The voice that spoke the cosmos into existence is the same voice that parted the Red Sea, and made the sun stand still in the midday sky. One day, this voice will make all things new, but it’s also speaking to you now! That voice is God’s voice, and what we’ve learned from Scripture is that He often speaks in a whisper. Not to make it difficult to hear Him, but to draw us close. Many people have a tough time believing God still speaks. Sure, in ancient times and in mysterious ways, God spoke to His people, but is He still speaking now? Mark Batterson certainly believes so. And he wants to introduce you to the seven love languages of God; each of them unique and entirely divine. Some of them you might suspect but others will surprise you. By learning to tune in to and decipher each language, you’ll be able to hear His guidance in simple as well as life-altering choices. God is actively speaking through: Scripture, Desires, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain. Batterson gives you the tools you need to unlock each of these languages. God’s whisper can answer your most burning questions, calm your deepest fears, and fulfill your loftiest dreams. Discover how simple it is to hear God’s voice in every aspect of your life! He’s speaking, make sure you know how to listen!