In Praise of When Life and Beliefs Collide.Sooner or later, life’s difficulties bring every Christian woman to God’s doorstep with questions too personal to ignore. “Why does God let me go through such painful circumstances?” “Why does he seem indifferent to my prayers?” We’re tired of spiritual pie in the sky. We want authentic, God-as-he-really-is faith—the kind that holds us together when our world is falling apart and equips us to offer strength and hope to others.When Life and Beliefs Collide raises a long-overdue call for us to think seriously about what we believe about God. With passion, brilliance, and eloquence, Carolyn Custis James weaves stories of contemporary women with episodes from the life of Mary of Bethany to illustrate the practical benefits of knowing God deeply. Examining the misperceptions and abuses that discourage women from pursuing a deeper understanding of God, this insightful book demonstrates how practical and down to earth knowing God can be.“This outstanding book offers the best demonstration that everyone needs theology, the best expository account of Mary and Martha, and the best trajectory for women’s ministry in modern North America that I have yet read.” —James I. Packer“Thoughtful, scholarly, and motivating . . . should inspire and encourage women for years to come.” —Joni Eareckson Tada“You will not think the same way, nor hopefully be the same, after reading this thought-provoking book.” —Vonette Zachary Bright“. . . affirms women in their calling, chosen-ness, and gifting, and makes us know we are cherished and planned for.” —Jill Briscoe

Few things seem to press more on the minds of Christians than the search for God's will for their lives: Where is God leading me, how can I know, and what are the signs? As he cites the various methods people use for finding answers to these questions, along with the disappointment and disillusionment many have suffered, author Dan Schaeffer examines this subject from a new vantage point. "We will look at the will of God as a journey, rather than a destination; something to walk in, rather than just seek out." An insightful, inspiring, and healing examination of an ever-popular subject.

Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is viewed as a beautiful love story between Ruth and Boaz. But if you dig deeper, you'll find startling revelations---that God makes much of broken lives, he calls men and women to serve him together, and he's counting on his daughters to build his kingdom. Now in softcover.

You know the women of the Bible, but you don’t know them like this... It’s easy for Christian women—young and old—to get lost between the opportunities and demands of the present and the biblical teachings of the past. They live in a confusing world, caught in the crossfire between church and culture. Although home and family still remain central, more women than ever, by choice or by necessity, are blending home, career, and ministry. They need strong biblical role models to help them meet these challenges. Building on solid scholarship and a determination to wrestle honestly with perplexing questions, author Carolyn Custis James sheds new light on ancient stories that brings the women of the Bible into the twenty-first century. This fresh look at the women in the Bible unearths surprising new insights and a powerful message that will leave readers feeling challenged, encouraged, and deeply valued. Rediscover and be inspired by: • Eve • Sarah • Hagar • Tamar • Hannah • Esther • Mary • and others

Women comprise at least half the world, and usually more than half the church, but so often Christian teaching to women either fails to move beyond a discussion of roles or assumes a particular economic situation or stage of life. This all but shuts women out from contributing to God’s kingdom as they were designed to do. Furthermore, the plight of women in the Majority World demands a Christian response, a holistic embrace of all that God calls women and men to be in his world. The loudest voices speaking into women’s lives in the twenty-first century thus far come from either fundamentalist Islam or radical feminism. And neither can be allowed to carry the day. The Bible contains the highest possible view of women and invests women’s lives with cosmic significance regardless of their age, stage of life, social status, or culture. Carolyn Custis James unpacks three transformative themes the Bible presents to women that raise the bar for women and calls them to join their brothers in advancing God’s gracious kingdom on earth. These new images of what can be in Christ free women to embrace the life God gives them, no matter what happens. Carolyn encourages readers with a positive, kingdom approach to the changes, challenges, and opportunities facing women throughout the world today.

The media-driven world places enormous pressure on people to conform to its secular point of view—and young people are especially susceptible to this ploy. Writing to a student audience, authors Mike and Daniel Blackaby (the grandsons of Experiencing God author Henry Blackaby) explain how Christians typically respond to this pressure in one of three ways, assigning names for each group: "Cave-Ins" are Christians who accept the world's values and compromise their faith or abandon it altogether. "Cave-Dwellers" are believers who fear the world and seek to insulate themselves from it and its influence as much as possible. "Colliders" are the Christians who remain true to their faith yet effectively engage the world and are used by God to change peoples' lives. When Worlds Collide is the Blackabys' case for becoming a Collider. In chapters packed with story-based devotional thoughts, plenty of humor, and easy steps for application, they prove it's possible to live an authentic Christian life that meets the world head-on without spiritual compromise.

Women of Faith, renowned for their unique combination of personality and truth, offer fresh new messages in their fourth series of popular topical study guides. Titles include: Receiving God's Goodness Experiencing Spiritual Intimacy Contagious Joy Understanding Purpose Each study guide, teeming with insights and quotes from the conference speakers provides twelve weeks of Bible study, a leader's guide for small groups, and a special take-home reminder for each week's lesson.