Ordinary Life Extraordinary God

Present reality is transfigured when it encounters another world in this one, disseminating the miraculous in the ordinary every day to effect a process of limitless transformation and possibility. Here is living witness to the bounty of a God who is alive and ever-present in the universe and infinitely available to all, Christian or not. In all his grandeur he appears to the most ordinary, not just the giants of the faith, in his commitment of inextricability from the human race whom he calls beloved. Cross-pollinating the here and now with the extraordinary God of the Old and New Testaments, this chronicle marries memoir and academic research effortlessly. The capacity of God to do absolutely anything at any time for anyone without blowing his own trumpet, both masks and marks the power and extent of his love to improve human circumstances. Over a lifetime of difficulties, dreams, visions, miracles, and doctoral research on God as love itself, the author joins Job whose response to God after a prolonged encounter is, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you” (Job 42:1).

Present reality is transfigured when it encounters another world in this one, disseminating the miraculous in the ordinary every day to effect a process of limitless transformation and possibility. Here is living witness to the bounty of a God who is alive and ever-present in the universe and infinitely available to all, Christian or not. In all his grandeur he appears to the most ordinary, not just the giants of the faith, in his commitment of inextricability from the human race whom he calls beloved. Cross-pollinating the here and now with the extraordinary God of the Old and New Testaments, this chronicle marries memoir and academic research effortlessly. The capacity of God to do absolutely anything at any time for anyone without blowing his own trumpet, both masks and marks the power and extent of his love to improve human circumstances. Over a lifetime of difficulties, dreams, visions, miracles, and doctoral research on God as love itself, the author joins Job whose response to God after a prolonged encounter is, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you" (Job 42:1).

Ordinary People Extraordinary God tells the true stories of 17 modern-day heroes who encountered God's transforming love in their broken state and answered His call. They may never be as renowned as biblical heroes or regarded as especially gifted by the world's standards, but each of these ordinary, modern-day heroes contains infinite value in the eyes of God. He has transformed them by His redeeming love, gifted them for service, and used them for His glory in amazing ministries which have blessed thousands. You, too, are one of God's ordinary people, redeemed and transformed by the blood of Jesus. But is fear of failure and disappointing Him holding you back from living your destiny and serving in the Kingdom? If so, this book will challenge and encourage you with the reality that you are good enough and gifted enough. All it takes is a yes. Allow the stories in Ordinary People Extraordinary God to increase your faith as you step into the transforming work of a loving God.

This collection of snapshots from the lives of women of the Bible is not a reference work, but a series of Bible studies filled with personal insights and challenging applications. Each author highlights one or two women, reminding us of the rewards of faith and the consequences of sin. From Mary Magdalene to Hannah, Dorcas, and Ruth?you will see yourself in women whose destinies were transformed when their simple faith met the power of God. You will also see yourself in their flaws and gain new hope to move beyond failure to a life of victory. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter invite you to draw your own conclusions and apply biblical truth to your life. Ordinary Women, Extraordinary God will leave you longing for more of our extraordinary God!

“In a world that rushes at breakneck speed, these devotions slow us down to consider. Reflecting on nostalgic moments from the past and connecting points between everyday sights, sounds, and impressions with the timeless truths of God’s Word, Helen McCormack reminds us of what we may already know but need to pause and ponder.” —Cynthia Ruchti, bestselling author of more than 30 books “Where the rubber meets the road” is an oft-repeated saying. Similarly, in Helen McCormack’s devotional, Ordinary Life, Extraordinary God, she puts shoes on God’s Word, the Bible, by showing how the clear truth and rich wisdom of the Bible walks through her own life, whether that life be in Lithuania, Germany, or here in the U.S. A wonderful read that will challenge, yet bless the reader. —Patricia E. Linson teacher (retired), author of the Allister of Turtle Mountain series Just as nutrition and exercise are essential for physical growth, nutrition and exercise are essential for spiritual growth. The 52 devotionals in this book are designed to offer the reader an opportunity for spiritual nutrition through applying Biblical truth to everyday life. Sometimes we face simple daily life challenges but sometimes it is necessary to grapple with deeper issues. We’ll consider issues such as guilt, near death experience, integrity, obituaries, pickles, a distant God, temptations, future expectations, particle board, escalators, and mistletoe.

“He Speaks” is the story of God speaking into an ordinary life. I used to think that I was the exception, the only person who didn’t hear God. I was wrong. God speaks a lot more than we think. This book is my story—the product of looking back at my life only to find that God was all over my past. He was and is truly present in your every step. My hope is that my story will be a catalyst for you to look back over your own life and see what you thought to be coincidence was God speaking to you. God is not hiding; He is not in the shadows. He is present and will be as involved in our lives as we let Him. I invite you to look into an ordinary life and find an extraordinary God.

Radical. Crazy. Transformative and restless. Every word we read these days seems to suggest there’s a “next-best-thing,” if only we would change our comfortable, compromising lives. In fact, the greatest fear most Christians have is boredom—the sense that they are missing out on the radical life Jesus promised. One thing is certain. No one wants to be “ordinary.” Yet pastor and author Michael Horton believes that our attempts to measure our spiritual growth by our experiences, constantly seeking after the next big breakthrough, have left many Christians disillusioned and disappointed. There’s nothing wrong with an energetic faith; the danger is that we can burn ourselves out on restless anxieties and unrealistic expectations. What’s needed is not another program or a fresh approach to spiritual growth; it’s a renewed appreciation for the commonplace. Far from a call to low expectations and passivity, Horton invites readers to recover their sense of joy in the ordinary. He provides a guide to a sustainable discipleship that happens over the long haul—not a quick fix that leaves readers empty with unfulfilled promises. Convicting and ultimately empowering, Ordinary is not a call to do less; it’s an invitation to experience the elusive joy of the ordinary Christian life.