My Purpose Is My Story

Why am I here? What is God's call in my life? How do I fit God's call with my own individuality? How should God's calling affect my career, my plans for the future, and my concepts of success? First published in 1997 by distinguished author and speaker Os Guiness, The Call remains a treasured source of wisdom for those who ask these questions. According to Guinness, "No idea short of God's call can ground and fulfill the truest human desire for purpose and fulfillment." In this newly updated and expanded anniversary edition, Guinness explores the truth that God has a specific calling for each one of us and guides a new generation of readers through the journey of hearing and heeding that call. With more than 100,000 copies in print, The Call is for all who desire a purposeful, intentional life of faith.

WHAT’S GOD DOING IN YOUR STORY? Our kids beg us for stories at bedtime or while we drive; we gather around firepits and dinner tables to tell and retell our favorite tales—the more dramatic the better. But when it comes to our actual lives, we prefer something less sensational, even boring—sunny skies and smooth sailing, please and thank you. We want our own stories to be predictable, safe, controllable, and catastrophe-free. When plans fall apart, jobs are lost, kids wander off, doctors give bad reports, we often wonder, "What are you doing, God? Are you sure you have this under control? It doesn’t really seem like it right now." God is the master Storyteller. He’s writing your story and it’s a part of His bigger, grander, eternal Story. But we’re still in the middle. We haven’t gotten to the happy ending yet, and it can be hard to trust Him in the thick of our struggles. That’s why Robert and Nancy share their own story, friends’ stories, and the stories of people in the Bible who have faced life-altering challenges, but, in the end, have found God to be faithful. Learn why you really can trust God to write your story—no matter what plot twists you may encounter along the way. "This is a unique and charming book, integrating stories of God’s providence from His people and His Word. Nancy and Robert write personally and beautifully, infusing readers with a Christ-centered vision, hope, and trust for the future." -Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven, Giving is the Good Life, and Deception "You Can Trust God to Write Your Story is an amazing book whose title says it all. For if you are a follower of Jesus, every day of your life—whether you feel like it or not—is weighted with kingdom purpose, eternal significance, and a royal destiny filled with joy and contentment. Let my dear friends, Robert and Nancy, help you embrace the mysteries of the Lord’s Providence. For when it comes to happy endings, you can’t find a better Author than the God of the Bible. Happy endings are His forte—turn the page, trust Him, and discover it for yourself." -Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

God still has a plan for you--not in spite of your past, but because of it! Do regret and shame over your failures, sins, and shortcomings make you wonder how you could ever be loved, much less used, by a holy God? Tracie Miles felt the same way until she discovered the path to healing, peace, and significance. She helps you recognize that God not only has a purpose for you, but He has prepared you for your divine purpose based specifically on the experiences of your past. Through her own story and stories from other women who have discovered God's purpose for their lives because of adverse experiences, Tracie helps you see how God can turn pain into purpose. You will find forgiveness and healing from the troubles of your past, discover the courage to step out of your comfort zone to help others find hope and strength, and be inspired to step into the beautiful future God divinely designed for you. "No matter what you've been through or what's been done to you, if you're still breathing, God isn't finished with you yet! Let Tracie Miles help you discover your calling and the way you are uniquely equipped to make your life count!" --Renee Swope, bestselling author of A Confident Heart and Proverbs 31 Ministries' radio cohost, "Everyday Life with Lysa & Renee"

The Best Leaders Aren't People Instead, innovative and emerging research shows that a compelling and other-centered authentic purpose--The Invisible Leader--may be the most powerful influencer of our behaviors, attitudes, and motivation in organizations, work, school, and life. Yet despite the increasing evidence of purpose's power, many of the organizations, systems, and institutions which dominate human life aren't built to elicit and leverage the fundamental human search for purpose and meaning. In this must-read book for anyone who considers themselves a leader, international speaker, trainer, and organizational performance scholar Zach Mercurio shows business leaders, educators, students, athletes, and parents how to AWAKEN, CLARIFY, and DELIVER their reason for existence--their authentic purpose. Personal, researched, and even mind-shifting, the tools in the The Invisible Leader will help you lead with authentic purpose and build a life and organization that matters. "Zach Mercurio has written a compelling book filled with powerful stories, cutting-edge research, and practical tools that shows us how to lead with purpose..." - Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO at Thrive Global, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Thrive and The Sleep Revolution. "If you are seeking both practical guidance and powerful inspiration to unlock the power of purpose in your life or organization, The Invisible Leader is for you. Through vivid storytelling and compelling research, Zach Mercurio proves yet again that the pursuit and achievement of a world-bettering purpose is the most powerful driving force in life and work." - Aaron Hurst, National Bestselling Author of The Purpose Economy, CEO at Imperative "At KPMG, our purpose-driven culture inspires us to make a tangible difference for our clients, our people, and society. In The Invisible Leader, Zach Mercurio explains why bringing purpose into the workplace is a business imperative and shares valuable insights on how to unleash its power within yourself and your organization." - Lynne Doughtie, U.S. Chairman & CEO, KPMG "Nothing inspires or motivates people more than purpose - to know that our lives and our work can make a difference. The Invisible Leader is a profoundly practical guide to empowering people with purpose so that your organization can make the greatest possible impact." - Andrew Ripley, Co-Founder & CEO, PurposeMatch.com "A compelling, research-based case for elevating a shared "why" to its rightful place: as the invisible leader that pulls us all forward. Zach is a clear leader in the #lovework Revolution; get this book and join him in the movement!" - Josh Allan Dykstra, CEO at Strengthscope U.S. & Author of Igniting the Invisible Tribe: Designing An Organization That Doesn't Suck

An insightful, inspiring, “candid and warm” (Booklist) memoir from Karamo Brown—beloved culture expert from Netflix’s Queer Eye—as he shares his story for the first time, exploring how the challenges in his own life have allowed him to forever transform the lives of those in need. When Karamo Brown first auditioned for the casting directors of Queer Eye, he knew he wouldn’t win the role of culture expert by discussing art and theater. Instead he decided to redefine what “culture” could—and should—mean for the show. He took a risk and declared, “I am culture.” After all, Karamo believes culture is how people feel about themselves and others, how they relate to the world around them, and how their shared labels, burdens, and experiences affect their daily lives in ways both subtle and profound. Seen through this lens, Karamo is culture: his family is Jamaican and Cuban; he was raised in the South in predominantly white neighborhoods and attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University); he was trained as a social worker and psychotherapist; he overcame personal issues of colorism, physical and emotional abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, and public infamy; he is a proud and dedicated gay single father of two boys, one biological and one adopted. In “this soul-soothing memoir” (O, The Oprah Magazine), Karamo reflects on his lifelong education. It comprises every adversity he has overcome, as well as the lessons he has learned along the way. It is only by exploring our difficulties and having the hard conversations—with ourselves and one another—that we are able to adjust our mind-sets, heal emotionally, and move forward to live our best lives. “During every episode of Queer Eye, there’s at least one touching moment where Karamo Brown drops some serious wisdom about self-love and makes everybody cry. His moving memoir about overcoming adversity captures that feeling in book form” (HelloGiggles).

"This is an incredible story!"--Steve Harvey Each of us is living a story--the story of our life. For Sam Collier, his story started with rejection, because when he and his twin sister were born, their biological mother gave them up for adoption. Through the many obstacles and challenges throughout Sam's life, God would prove to him that in spite of the opposition, he was truly writing a story Sam could never have written in his own strength. In this deeply personal yet remarkably universal book, Sam Collier tells his inspiring story of abandonment, sacrifice, gratitude, and rescue, revealing how God is always doing something bigger and better than we might imagine. That he has a purpose and a plan for every single one of us. That he is always telling his greater story through our trials, our relationships, and our triumphs. If you're in the middle of a challenging time and long to know that God is working through it, Sam's story will teach you how to see the big picture, even when there are pieces missing.

Whether you want to improve your impact in speeches, staff meetings, pitches, emails, PowerPoint presentations, or any other communication setting, this book provides a novel approach that teaches you how to go from simply sharing a thought to making a difference. --