A Simple Path to Following Jesus Rusty George
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2 AUGUST Hope and Encouragement for Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren y The Legacy Coalition is the nation’s largest grand- parenting ministry, with rapidly growing support in churches across the country y Speakers at the Coalition’s conferences include Chuck Swindoll, Gary Chapman, Josh McDowell, Crawford Loritts, Tim Kimmel, and many others y The Coalition resources and encourages churches to develop grandparenting ministries within their congre- gations ou thought you were done raising children. But now, unexpectedly, your Ychild isn’t able to raise their own kids, so you step up to fill in the gap. But what comes next? Do you have the energy to get the job done? Are you equipped in this ever-changing world? And will you be able to help your grandchildren draw close to the God you love? In Raising Your Grandchildren, you’ll discover the practical tools as well as the encouragement you need to find hope in Christ and strength for the journey. With wisdom and compassion, this book focuses on common emotional and spiritual challenges, and along the way readers will hear true stories from other grandparents going down this road themselves. No one expects to be a grandparent raising a grandchild, and it can be a daunting task. But take courage—it can also be a blessing. Let this book be your guide to finding hope and joy in the journey. Raising Your Grandchildren GrandparentinG Matters Cavin Harper, edited by Dr. Josh Mulvihill 9 780764 231339 VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR ALSO AVAILABLE Available: August 4 Cavin Harper (MDiv, Denver Grandparenting $9.99 Seminary) is an author, speaker, 978-0-7642-3126-1 978-0-7642-3133-9 and the founder and executive Long-Distance director of Christian Grandpar- Grandparenting trade paper enting Network (CGN). He has 978-0-7642-3131-5 5½ x 8½ served as a pastor and operated Discipling Your 112 pages a Christian retreat center in Grandchildren Case Quantity: 60 Colorado. Cavin and his wife, 978-0-7642-3129-2 Diane, became grandparents in Category: RELIGION / Christian Living / Family & 1998—inspiring them to found Relationships CGN. They have two children and nine grandchildren Rights: Worldwide and live in Denver, Colorado. www.bethanyhouse.com 54 Orders: 1-800-877-2665 DECEMBER Resource to Help Brand-New Christians Thrive in Their Faith y Helps new believers focus on the essentials of the Christian life y Great for church giveaways at Christmas, Easter, and baptisms y Author’s books have been endorsed by Christine Caine, John Ortberg, Lee Strobel, Brad Lomenick, Andy Stan- ley, Jud Wilhite, and John Burke ew Christians are full of questions. What now? How do I become more Nlike Jesus? Where do I start making changes in my life? What does God want from me? This little book has the answers, based on Micah 6:8 (NIV): “What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Pastor Rusty George explains that Christianity doesn’t have to be complicated. In this one verse God has revealed the simple, practical path to following Jesus. This small book is the perfect tool for churches or individuals to give to new Christians. A Simple Path to Following Jesus Rusty George 9 780764 237928 VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR ALSO AVAILABLE Available: December 1 Rusty George is the lead pas- Justice. Mercy. Humility. $5.99 tor of Real Life Church in Va- 978-0-7642-3080-6 978-0-7642-3792-8 lencia, California. Through his Better Together 15 years at RLC, the church has 978-0-7642-3079-0 trade paper grown to over 7,000 people and 4¼ x 7 two campuses, and it attracts a 64 pages large online community. Rusty Case Quantity: 80 speaks regularly at conferences across the country and interna- Category: RELIGION / Christian Living / General tionally, and he lives with his Rights: Worldwide wife and two daughters in Santa Clarita, California. Learn more at www.pastorrustygeorge.com. www.bethanyhouse.com 55 Orders: 1-800-877-2665 JANUARY joy is the spontaneous expression FILTER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES of our willingness to sacrifice for others THROUGH evaluate the worth of something by its neces- it is next to the first, and we may be sure that the joy only having joy but also filtering all circumstances sity, usefulness, or maybe even our affection Love and joy are more interconnected than you first order in which it is placed . is meant to be in- through the lens of joy. for it, but not by how much joy it brings may realize. The placement of these attributes to- structive. The fruit of the Spirit is love first, as 1com- While our culture is comfortable using the word us. Some claim that Kondo has unknow- gether is no coincidence. Read what Charles Spur- prehensive of the rest, then joy arising out of it. love in many different contexts, joy has been re- ingly uncovered a deeper issue with our so- geon (one of the most influential ministers of the placed with concepts such as happiness, pleasure, Love covers all, and out of love arises joy. This ciety’s obsession with “stuff” as a source of joy. But nineteenth century) says about love and joy: and enjoyment. Rather than describing ourselves as description makes a lot of sense based on what we as Rachel Gilson sorts through Kondo’s methods joyful, we say we are happy, excited, or feeling good. Perhaps love is put first not only because it is a right learned about love in the first chapter. When we from a Christian perspective, she goes even further, Recently the word joy has reentered our lexicon royal virtue . but because it is a comprehensive immerse everything in love, giving up our pride “Kondo has led many of us to declutter our homes, through an unusual source. In Marie Kondo’s best- minds, and hearts, but it’s what we find underneath, grace and contains all the rest. All the command- and selfishness, the overflow of those actions is Changing Magic of Tidying tools checking your attitudes: selling book The Life- where all our things once were, that matters most. ments are filled in one word, and that word is love. joy. Practicing unconditional love as the Bible Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organiz- The problem is that Kondo is still asking for our All the fruits of the Spirit are contained in that teaches is a daily choice; joy is the spontaneous ing, she asks people to take inventory of all of their stuff to be what sparks joy. Just a smaller portion of art supplies one most . Godlike grace of love. See that you expression of our willingness to sacrifice for others. bible(We recommend the ESV. possessions, one by one, by asking a simple ques- stuff.”3 ? abound in love. For if you fail in the first point, Do you know the command repeated most often 2 People usually You can also use other transla- tions for comparison such as nd to god tion: Does this spark joy for you? 31 how can you succeed in the second? . As for joy, how do you respo in the Bible is “Rejoice”? Rejoicing means not the NIV, the NLT, and The if it be not the first product of the Spirit of God, Message.) 30 notecards(to write out verses, prayers, and quotes) helpful(guide in back terms of book) journal open heart time for pen or pencil reflection 14 www.bethanyhouse.com Orders: 1-800-877-2665 56 JANUARY Let God’s Spirit Transform You from the Inside Out y Applies the language of hen the world seems chaotic, extreme, and out of control, we sometimes find ourselves desir- cleansing and decluttering Wing to order and simplify our personal lives, hoping to gain a sense of peace and purpose. Scroll through social media, read bestselling self-help books, or watch any DIY television show, and you will to cultivating the fruit of discover there are plenty of ways to transform your home, your body, and your life. the Spirit But how do we care for our souls? The Bible teaches us how to apply the principles of self-care and minimalism to the clutter within y Gorgeous, original watercolors as well. Using the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) as a guide, this nine-week devotional will decorate almost every page help you cleanse your soul from the inside out by allowing God’s Spirit to come and produce the soul y Author is an accomplished qualities you’re longing for. Bible-study leader in Purge your past. her community Shake out your worry. Open your heart. Cleanse your mind. Declutter your attitudes. We all want more love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Let this book be your guide to the abundant life you’ve always wanted. The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul Carla Gasser and Vivian Kammel 9 780764 235184 VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS Available: January 5 Carla Gasser is a speaker, $19.99 teacher, and writer. She blogs 978-0-7642-3518-4 weekly, writes for online mag- azines, contributes to several casebound faith-based and inspirational 8 x 8 blogs, and has published an 144 pages advent devotional. Carla lives Case Quantity: 48 in Hudson, Ohio. Learn more at www.carlagasser.com. Category: RELIGION / Christian Living / Devotional © Andrew Jordan Photography Rights: Worldwide Vivian Kammel is an artist and graphic designer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has been drawing and painting for over eight years. When not designing or creating, she spends her time exploring the city with her husband, Caleb.