Personal Ministries

We may be leading a life, but what will determine living an examined life is the use of our brain powers. We make a living through our natural abilities, but we live a life through the use of our brain powers. The power you have as a human who has the capacity to differentiate you from others in the world is your brain, and you might as well develop that brain to its utmost level. One can mainly be great through the development of one's brainpower as well as sharpening one's thinking ability in order to reason and think out what an ordinary person cannot think of in life.

Today’s spiritually searching culture is less inclined than ever to attend church. Yet, no time of the week is filled with more life-changing potential than Sunday morning. Imagine . . . experiences that bring people heart-to-heart with God.messages in which God’s truth connects to everyday...

Ministry isn’t supposed to drain your soul. But far too many pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders find themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and on the edge of burnout—wondering if excellence in ministry is even possible without sacrificing their health, family, or joy. This practical, biblically grounded guide is for leaders who are passionate about serving God with excellence—but are ready to do so in a healthier, more sustainable way.

"I was born with the choice to pass as Black or White. Everyday I ask myself whose blood is it that rushes through my veins? My own blood is making me hate who I really am. I feel two opposing ancestors at war within me - one fighting to be free, the other fighting to control me by denying me my true identity. When I visit my family in Mississippi, I'm Black. When I return to Chicago, I'm White again. I find myself taking on the values of the people who would squash me if the knew. I find no wholeness in either role."

Through his journey to overcome personal obesity and develop a healthy lifestyle, Drew learned successful strategies that all people can put into practice in their daily lives. Oftentimes, we are not conscious about our health until we run into a problem. Hopefully that problem isn't so severe or fatal that it is too late to fix it.

We never know when panic and anxiety will grip us, but there is a way out. You don't have to live this way anymore. Troy Maxwell shares his personal experience in an intimate story of tragedy and growth as he walks you through how to make it out if the Panic Room.

Michael Gagné once viewed God remotely, knowing him only as he might a sports figure. The turning point came when Michael became a parent. The trials, tribulations, and joys of his own children became the lens through which this dad recognized God as his own true parent and source of being, bringing purpose to life. Finally, he saw how God wanted to spend time with him. Michael now knew that every situation in life was a bridge to better build an understanding of God's love and desire for him.

A Mother's life is often encumbered with numerous daily activities besides the responsibility of caring for and raising her children to be responsible adults and fulfilling her own God given assignments. It is a great asset to any mother when she resigns to the fact that she cannot navigate life's journey all by herself. This place of humble strength enables her to embrace the better and sure way to live victoriously and fulfil her destiny and assignment with no regrets; that is, living from the presence of God; abiding in the secret place of the most high.

When we talk about pregnancy, we too often end up talking clinically and sentimentally. Pregnancy is medical details and a whirl of emotions. It is vitamins and baby showers and feelings. But it is so much more. In Showing, Agnes Howard takes us beyond clinical reductionism and fluffy sentimentality to show us how to take pregnancy seriously as hard but important work. It is not just a bodily process, she argues, but an active work of care - one that underscores the generosity and mutual dependence we all require in order to live.

In this beautifully crafted memoir, best-selling author and business leader Joe Sweeney weaves a remarkable tale of friendship, spirituality, and even some of the mischief that characterizes the unlikely 32-year relationship he enjoyed with a modern-day saint. She had a way about her, he said, and it was unlike anything he had encountered as a lifelong Catholic with honest questions about his faith, spirituality, and the meaning of life. A Light Shines Through Us guides listeners of all faiths, and those claiming no faith, on a journey of spiritual exploration and discovery.

For many, "being rich" could be defined simply as the accumulation of money. For others, it has become the ultimate goal of life. CEO of Crown Financial Ministries Chuck Bentley writes of his own life, admitting, "the desire to be rich...grew beyond a mere financial goal; it became a status and an identity that I hungered to achieve. Although my relentless pursuit of it eventually drove me to the brink of financial ruin and beyond, I could not rest until it was mine."

In Lead Me, Matt identifies the tension many men experience when trying to balance work and home life. With bracing honesty, vulnerable storytelling, and practical application, Matt challenges you to be faithful both to God's vocational call and to His call to lead your family well. Discover the extraordinary joy of actively and intentionally pursuing your wife and children. Matt reminds us that it's messy. It's difficult. And it's the most rewarding thing you can do, beyond following Christ.

Normal for Me tells the story about the author hitting rock bottom when she received the diagnosis that her second oldest son was on the autism spectrum. One evening she fell to her knees asking God, “Why can’t we be a ‘normal’ family?” God whispered, “This IS normal for you.” This epiphany began her journey from anguish and grief to acceptance, peace, hope, and joy. This audiobook is ideal for not only families struggling with autism but anyone who has had to face a life detour or help someone along the way.

Motherhood is often noisy and rarely silent. Learn to hear God speaking above all the noise in these daily devotions that can be completed in five minutes or less. As moms know, even when there isn't noise around us, there is usually noise within us. The constant to-do lists that spin in our minds, the worry and wonder if we are doing a good job, and the need to stay two steps ahead of our families when we feel two steps behind keeps our minds routinely restless.

Ever wonder why mothers and daughters can be so different and even seem to speak different languages? Mended gives you conversation starters to speak life into your relationship with your mother or daughter. Discover powerful words that usher in healing for wounded hearts and rebuild, restore, and reconcile your connection. Set new patterns going forward as you find common ground and put your relationship ahead of your differences, learn what to say when you don't know what to say, and grow closer when you do hard things together.

With an understanding voice that will speak into your own circumstances, Kristen Strong walks beside you along the less traveled but more satisfying third way - the back road way - to belonging: remaining in Christ and relaxing into the unique role God has for you. Along the way, you will learn simple, doable actions that not only will help you feel and know that you belong but will welcome others in as well.

Today's children and teens are growing up more anxious, depressed, and fearful than previous generations. But if we help this generation, often called "Gen Z", to discover true God-confidence, instead of chasing the illusive self-confidence, we can empower them to embrace their uniqueness and find their purpose, passion, and peace as they grow into humble, compassionate, and resilient young people. Cyndie Claypool de Neve, an associate marriage and family therapist, shares her personal journey from feeling anxious and suicidal to learning God-confidence.

As a Christian parent, you want your children to develop good character and godly wisdom. But how do you go beyond hoping and praying to teaching them ethical knowledge, practical skills, and virtuous habits? This innovative guide provides practical, effective ideas you can use to help your children build their faith and character in 50 ways, including engaging with the Bible and culture, interacting with God and others, making good decisions, becoming better learners, and managing conflict.

Filled with real-life stories and practical advice, Called to Care starts by helping you honestly assess your motivation to help - sometimes the wrong motivation sets the stage for an unsuccessful experience. From there, the book shows what adoption and foster care really look like in a variety of situations, from domestic and international adoptions to short-term foster care and foster-to-adopt arrangements. Also included is how churches and individuals can minister to refugees.

With deep compassion, Maria Furlough delves into the root causes of our insecurity, offers biblical guidance for seeing ourselves as God sees us, and shows how to model our newfound confidence to our impressionable daughters. Speaking as a daughter, a youth leader, and a mother, Furlough shares her own struggles and triumphs, as well as expert advice from a pediatrician, a nutritionist, a Christian counselor, and more.