The God Who Gave You Birth

Over time our ideas about God and religion tend to match the stage of our own maturity and the level of our own consciousness. In addition to our different ideas of God, there are also those who profess some form of monotheistic religion but worship other gods: the power of the economy, military strength, fame. Perhaps they even use––or misuse––the name of God or credit God with whatever is gained. Thus, the challenge for our times is this: how do we think of God as Jesus introduces God to us? While exploring Scripture, the thoughts of theologians, Benedictine monasticism, Jewish and Islamic traditions, along with his own personal reflections, Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam, shows us what it means to be church, to be a follower of Jesus, and to be like God: to imitate the self-emptying of God and Christ. We are called to show the world God as Jesus reveals God to be: merciful, compassionate, healer to all.

The process of pregnancy and giving birth doesn't change because you are a Christian, but he way you handle the challenges of this special time does. The Lord of Birth helps you dig into what the Bible has to say about being pregnant and encourages you to use this spiritually fertile time to grow closer to God.

With real-life stories from many moms and practical tips this book is an indispensable guide for navigating the physical and spiritual dimensions of pregnancy and birth. Expectant mothers will find the tools they need to approach birth as a gift, and to invite God into the experience.

We all struggle with sin, whether its pride, lust, anger, or something else. In this gospel-centered resource, five church leaders offer practical advice for "acting" the miracle of sanctification God has already worked within us.

Is God a man? If God is our Heavenly Father, does that require God to be male? Does the Bible ever describe God as a mother, as well as a father? If human fathers can show us what God is like, can we see God's image in our mothers too? How do women uniquely reveal the nature of the One who created both male and female in the image of God? Mothers as the Image of God explores answers to these important questions, along with many others. This book guides the reader on a series of biblical reflections designed to help both men and women experience the motherly love of God revealed in Scripture, and to nourish women with the deep confidence that the most feminine aspects of their nature are a profound reflection of the very image of God, an image that is exquisitely displayed through mothering--whether that takes place biologically, through adoption, or by pouring into spiritual children.

This very day God is actively inviting you to know him better, and Meet My God can help you think about God in a different way each day. Meet My God meets you right where you are in your spiritual walk as you explore these engaging daily meditations. With 366 unique snapshots of what God is like and the ways he is involved in your life, these daily meditations range from the (very) big picture to his relational commitment to you. Each page features a word or phrase of the day, a commentary regarding what it means, as well as two to three supporting Scripture verses. The author’s corresponding prayer gives you a glimpse into her own heart response. Finally, one or two thought-provoking questions on each page invite you to journal your own thoughts as you capture what the Holy Spirit is laying on your heart. Whether you are new to the Bible or an experienced believer, Meet My God provides food for thought for each day of the year. Don’t miss the blessing of drawing nearer to God. Consider treating yourself to Meet My God or giving a copy to a loved one.

A perennial problem for spiritual traditions of all sorts is dualism—either a positing of a false distance between the Divine and the created or a rejection of creation and the human body. Many contemporary spiritual seekers have sensed this problem and sought to remedy it through myriad solutions drawn from various spiritual traditions and secular wisdom, both Eastern and Western. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam, explores Christianity’s contribution to the discussion. He offers a revisioning and rearticulation of this teaching, based on the prophetic seminal work of Bede Griffiths, toward a practical and integral spirituality that reverences all aspects of our being human—spirit, soul, and body.