If, like us, you get completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of incredible Christian books there are out there, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve asked our editors here at Christianbook to round up some of the books they think will excite our readers this year!

Included in this list you’ll find much-anticipated books by well-known Christian authors alongside some upcoming authors and debut releases you might want to keep on your radar.

It was certainly difficult to limit ourselves to just ten books, so if you want to peruse some of the releases coming to our shelves in 2022, click here.

Now, let’s dive into the books we think you’ll be turning the page on in the new year…

Hope for the Hurting by Tony Evans

Releases January 11, 2022

Life can be difficult.

We all face our own challenges and difficulties in our lives – health issues, financial disasters, a broken relationship, loss of a loved one to name a few. During these difficult times it can be hard to find hope.

Dr. Tony Evans, bestselling author and pastor, understands this well. In a span of less than two years, he lost many close relatives, and both his daughters received cancer diagnoses. In the wake of this pain, Dr. Evans had to lean deep into his faith and practice his beliefs at the deepest levels.

He was reminded that while God’s Word doesn’t promise us a life free from pain and trouble, it promises us something else… someone else. Someone who will walk with us through all of life’s trials and troubles.

There is hope for the hurting: His name is Jesus.

M is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt

Releases February 1, 2022

Are you a mama in the trenches? Looking for encouragement? This is the book for you!

Mama of ten, Abbie Halberstadt aims to help women live up to the awesome responsibility of motherhood without settling for mediocrity… or losing their minds in the process.

This colorfully illustrated guide is full of scripturally sound strategies seasoned with humor to help you embrace the challenges of motherhood, deepen your commitment to parenting, and raise your children in God’s grace and to his glory.

Get ready to realize just how worthy you are of the awesome responsibility God has given you!

I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) by Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston

Releases January 25, 2022

Have you ever wondered why it is such a struggle to make and maintain friendships as an adult? You can be sure you aren’t alone!

While we are more connected than ever through social media, stats actually show the number of Americans who claim to have no close friends has drastically increased over the last few decades.

Amy and Jess, creators of the popular online community, Sister, I Am With You, share an easy-to-follow road map to the place we all want to be – standing beside other women who see us, know us, and love us for who we truly are.

In I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants), they share real-life vulnerability alongside “I’ve been there too,” wisdom to show you just how much you deserve a community of loving, supportive, there-for-you friends.

If making lasting friendships is a priority for you – this is your go-to guide!

Undistracted by Bob Goff

Releases March 1, 2022

The always-inspiring Bob Goff is back with Undistracted, a book that aims to help us get back on track so we can live our lives with real purpose and joy!

Life is full of distractions, little ones and sometimes, not-so-little ones. Often we find these distractions can cause us to drift off course and to lose sight of what is important to us. But in this book, Goff wants to reassure readers that they can harness today’s distractions, and, by following Jesus’ example, and find focus.

Through inspiring and entertaining stories, Goff show us what it looks like to live a beautiful and purposeful life rather than drifting aimlessly from one season to the next.

The perfect read for those who want to ensure their eyes are fixed on Jesus in all circumstances!

Say Yes by Scott Erickson

Releases January 25, 2022

Have you recently experienced a setback? Or perhaps you are feeling a little disappointed with how life is turning out? Scott Erickson is here to tell you… don’t lose hope!

In Say Yes, Erickson wants to remind us that our darkest moments are sometimes doorways to a deeper, more joy-filled journey. A journey that will help us recover who we are, why we’re here, and why the future is full of possibilities… if we just say yes!

Through his story, Erickson wants to help you learn how to reawaken your deepest desires, disempower for your greatest fears, and identify the destructive narratives holding you back.

Get ready to say yes to what lies ahead today!

Find Your People by Jennie Allen

Releases February 22, 2022

Back on the topic of creating your community, we have the latest release from the wonderful Jennie Allen, Find Your People.

In this book, Allen explores the epidemic of loneliness – a very real issue that has taken hold as many of us hide behind emotional walls because we’re either too busy or because relationships feel risky. But we are meant to live known and loved.

Throughout the book, you’ll read fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from Allen’s own life to help you dive into the deep end and experience the full wonder of community.

Loneliness doesn’t have to be reality… get ready to play, engage, adventure, and explore – with others!

Mission Possible by Tim Tebow

Releases March 8, 2022

Are you living with a “mission impossible” mindset? Tebow wants to help you replace that outlook with total confidence!

Tim Tebow believes that the secret to a truly meaningful life is not more comfort or ease, but recognizing the clear, unique mission that God has set before you. Having a focused sense of your personal, God-given significance will bring you a lasting sense of purpose.

That’s why Mission Possible aims to help ignite a spark in your life! Wherever you are, whatever your work, you can find God’s purpose for your life. Accomplish the mission that you have already been called to and equipped for.

It’s never too early and it’s never too late to start living a mission possible life!

I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet by Shauna Niequist

Releases April 12, 2022

What happens when everything we’ve been clinging to falls apart? Shauna Niequist invites us to follow along her journey to understand grief, reshape faith, and practice courage when all she wants to do is hide.

Just after her fortieth birthday, Niequist found herself in a season of chaos, change and loss unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She discovered that many of the beliefs and practices that had been useful up to that point no longer worked.

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet is a journey of both unlearning what is no longer helpful, embracing curiosity, and accepting the unknowns of midlife, heartbreak, and chronic pain. Niequist writes with characteristic candor and grace about the challenges and delights of a move from the Midwest to Manhattan, and also the challenges and delights of releasing our expectations for how we thought our lives would look.

This is a book about learning how to live in a new city, learning how to get back up, and learning how to trust God’s goodness in a deeper way. It’s certainly one we don’t think you’ll want to miss.

Waymaker by Ann Voskamp 

Releases March 1, 2022

Find yourself facing repeated roadblocks in a disorienting world? Bestselling author, Ann Voskamp is here to remind us that God is always at work creating the life of our dreams, often through ways we never would have dreamed for ourselves.

In WayMaker, Voskamp reveals how God is present in the totality of our lives, making a way through whatever heartache, grief, suffering, or obstacles we face. Through Him, our road will lead us to arrive exactly where we always hoped it would, though maybe not in the way we imagined.

We can encounter the WayMaker in surprising ways and begin to see Him not only making poetry out of pain but working in every miraculous detail of our lives.

Even now, the Way is making the way to walk through waves and into a life more deeply fulfilling than our wildest dreams!

Rest & War by Ben Stuart

Releases January 25, 2022

Is your focus frequently scattered or misdirected? Does this leave you full of self-reproach? Ben Stuart wants you to ditch that destructive thinking!

Rest & War is a field guide for the spiritual life offering biblical and practical guidance that will help re-establish Christ as King of your heart and achieve God’s purpose for your life. You’ll learn methods that will help you to overcome sin’s strategies; overpower personal shortcomings; optimize time, energy, and resources; and more.

Most importantly, you’ll be reminded that God has called you into the good fight of life – step into it boldly, strategically. Flee evil and pursue intimacy with your Creator. Uproot what is broken and cultivate what is life-giving. Make war on what is destructive, and rest in the God who loves you.

Are you ready to walk elegantly through the battlefield of life?

Are you a fiction lover? Keep an eye out for an upcoming post about the most anticipated Christian fiction books coming in 2022!

The post Christian Books You’ll Be Reading in 2022 appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

‘But God’ – two of the best words to hear in a story. God is so good to his children. This can be evidenced through Scripture which is full of ‘but God’ moments.

If you’re in a season where you are waiting on God, encourage your faith by reading through these, some of our favorite, ‘but God’ moments in Scripture.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 6:23

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . .

– 1 Corinthians 10:13

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

– 1 Corinthians 3:6

When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead . . .

– Acts 13:29-30

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

– Matthew 19:26

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

– Psalm 73:26

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

– Genesis 50:20

To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit.

– Jonah 2:6

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.

– Acts 3:15

Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.

– Acts 7:9-10

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

– Romans 5:6-8

David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

– 1 Samuel 23:14

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

– Genesis 8:1

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

– Ephesians 2:4-7

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The “Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity’.

– 2 Timothy 2:19

What is your favorite ‘but God’ moment to tell others about?

The post 15 But God Bible Verses appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Congratulations! You are planning for VBS 2021!

If you follow the Good News Movement (@goodnews_movement) on social media you may have seen a video this past week of a school aged girl receiving news that she would be returning to in-person learning. Her tears of relief and joy were heartwarming and heartbreaking. Our kids NEED social interaction with other children and with adults. We are hard-wired by God for connection with people.

Can I just encourage you: whatever you must do to get children and families together this summer, do it! I understand that geographical location impacts what this will look. I am in Missouri where churches are filling up more and more each Sunday and people are regularly going out to eat. Dear friends of mine are in Massachusetts and they have not eaten in a restaurant or attended in-person church since March 2020.

Regardless of where you live, the need for social connection amongst kids is constant. How churches meet said needs will vary and that is ok!

The VBS programs that are available through Christianbook come with many helps on how to meet the need safely and successfully for family and student connection. Some of these helps are from our team and other helps are directly from the publishers.

Resources are available to help you plan for:

1. In-person VBS
2. Hybrid VBS (in-person and virtual)
3. Virtual or At Home VBS

There are so many great tools and resources in 2021 to come along aside VBS directors. Thank God for the good things coming your way!

As you decide which approach to take, allow me to offer 2 suggestions:

1. Decide to host VBS in 2021 – Go ahead and commit to something. Many schools in the country have successfully had in person learning. Schools that were remote only are opening up either to a hybrid model or full time. You can learn from schools or camps in your area on what protocols to take or wording to use when communicating with the community. Bottom line – you can do VBS this year!

2. Decide with vision – I hope this does not sound too harsh. Hear me out. Your volunteer team needs to hear vision, excitement, and commitment to meeting the real needs of families in your community. People like to get behind vision and passion. Don’t be surprised if a half-hearted enthusiasm for VBS is met with a half-hearted commitment from your volunteer team. Jump in to VBS with both feet! VBS is something we GET TO DO.

VBS leader: we believe in you! And we believe in the power and strength of God to see you through this year.

– Holly Trewern, VBS Product Editor at Christianbook

The post Decide to host VBS in 2021! appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

As Easter approaches, we wanted to reflect on its true meaning and just how important this time of year is for Christians around the world. We’ve turned to well-known Christians from throughout history and modern times to see what they had to say about the importance of Easter. We’ve also thrown in some key Bible verses that are sure to inspire you.

If you’re looking for an Easter wish to share with loved ones in a card, or just some words you can place on your heart, we’re sure you will find it in this list!

We have even created some memes that you can save and share on your social media accounts this Easter. Let us know if you use them by tagging us @christianbook and using #everythingchristian

Do not abandon yourself to despair: We are the Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song.

– Pope John Paul II

He is risen; He is not here.

– Mark 16:6

Jesus didn’t ‘I am finished.’ He said, ‘It is finished.’ Jesus was just getting started.

– Anonymous

We’re the Resurrection people who believe that we can turn back, that people can turn back, that situations can turn around, because we’ve seen that the stone’s been rolled back. Nothing and no one is impossible now because impossible stones have now been rolled away.

– Ann Voskamp

There is no one God won’t use.

– Max Lucado

We live and die; Christ died and lived!

– John Stott

Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.

– Clarence W. Hall

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.

– Martin Luther

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.

– Isaiah 25:8

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

– Job 19:25

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.

– 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

– 1 Peter 1:3

Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You cannot visit His remains; you can only visit His empty grave, because He isn’t there. He Arose!”

– James Wilson

Jesus knew His followers were confused and frightened. They had hit rock bottom. And so He says, ‘Peace be with you.’ This is not simply a salutation; it’s the first application of Easter—peace.

– Robert Leroe

Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility and our ultimate destiny.

– Rick Warren

Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.

– Watchman Nee

The post 15 Bible Verses and Easter Quotes to Inspire appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Guest post by Kristy Cambron, bestselling author of the NIV Verse Mapping Bible.

2020 has changed us. There’s no doubt about that.

It’s shifted the fundamental constants of how we live, work, worship, and connect.

In a blink our families are no longer fragmented between environments and schedules. It became clear the moment I was knee-deep in the throngs of a quarantine, navigating e-learning for three kids in three different schools, in a kitchen that had become home office, restaurant, classroom, Zoom studio, and family worship center all in one. The spaces for each area of life had merged together, showing us that in order to navigate this season there may be as many things we had to unlearn as the things we actually needed to learn.

The last time I’d been in a similar season—of grief, loss, and the need to cling to the promises of God—was after losing my Dad to cancer and circumstances that sent our family in a series of life plot twists to follow. I turned to the Bible. Broken. Hopeful. Expectant. And hungry. But I needed to unlearn habits that had left me feeling alone, unsure where or how to study, and stunted in spiritual growth. What’s more, I wasn’t confident I could truly understand Scripture enough to apply its truths to this—and every season—of my life.

It’s when Verse Mapping sparked a new fire in my heart.

Out of years in a corporate training career, I wanted to apply what I’d learned there to unlock the learning that was possible in Scripture. And it’s why introducing families to the concept of Verse Mapping—5 simple steps that call us to deep, meaningful study verse by verse—could make this the right time for families to unlearn a few things, to learn a few more, and to step out on a new story road of faith… together.

Verse Mapping: Study Space

With a shift to home-learning, we’ve likely turned kitchens into laboratories and storage closets into academic arsenals. And that’s what I loved about Verse Mapping to begin with—it works in a coffee shop, church classroom, online study group or outdoor gathering the same way it does at the kitchen table. In a season where families are tackling all manner of subjects together, what better place to learn and experience the living story of God’s Word than right in our own homes?

Verse Mapping: Study Tools

Verse Mapping takes what we already have—a Bible and God as our guide—and ushers us on a journey of personal discovery. It’s as simple as gathering pens, turning on a smart device, and turning pages of an NIV Verse Mapping Bible to embark on the next step in our story. Between Bible apps, online concordance sites for Hebrew and Greek word studies, and YouTube videos of nearly any subject we could hope to research, the possibilities for deep discovery are endless. We can take what we already have on hand and begin to build the lifelong habit of studying the Bible, one verse at a time.

Verse Mapping: Study. . . Together

Establishing study habits for family units is at the heart of this Bible series. It’s why we included the same 350 maps for both adults and for girls ages 8-12 knowing that we may already have a study space and tools at the ready, but it’s that fear of tackling Bible study alone that we may need to unlearn. Building a support system with others—whether in a faith community or inside the walls of our own home—means we’ll stick with it, and we’ll learn from each other along the way.

Whatever we’re learning—our unlearning—in this season, may the strongest takeaway we receive be to turn back to the Bible. And perhaps for the first time, to find that what we truly need to build a lifetime of faith has been here all along.

About Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron is a vintage-inspired storyteller, writing both award-winning historical fiction and Bible Studies. She’s served as a Women’s Ministry Leader and speaks at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to the Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, has received multiple INSPY Award nominations, and is a 2020 Christy Award Finalist.

The post Verse Mapping: How Families Who Learn Together Build a Lifetime of Faith appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

The New Year is here and with it comes so much hope and expectation about what lies ahead. We wanted to take a step back and focus on what matters most… God. So, here are some Bible verses to help you bid farewell to 2020 and hello to 2021.

Happy New Year to you all!

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

– Ecclesiastes 3:1 [KJV]

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

– Jeremiah 29:11 [NIV]

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 [NKJV]

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

– Colossians 3:15 [ESV]

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

– Psalm 20:4 [NIV]

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

– Isaiah 43:19 [KJV]

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

– Psalm 98:1 [NIV]

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

– Isaiah 40:31 [KJV]

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

– Proverbs 16:9 [ESV]

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

– Lamentations 3:22-23 [NIV]

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

– Revelation 21:5 [NKJV]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

– Romans 12:2 [NIV]

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

– Proverbs 23:18 [NIV]

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

– Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV]

The post 14 Inspiring Bible Verses for the New Year appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

January is when we begin planning the year for children’s and family ministry outreach. Last year, this planning felt so ordinary and perhaps even boring – until it wasn’t. As we enter 2021, how do we plan our spring and summer events? How do we cross the bridge of uncertainty to make sure family ministry continues to reach students and parents?

First, remember the church’s mission has not changed since the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Evangelism and discipleship remain our great mandate. Because Jesus has guaranteed the success of The Great Commission, you can trust in the sufficiency of God in your portion of this work. The Sovereign Lord has placed you in this position for such a time as this. God has already given you the right abilities, the right people, and the right resources. Be assured that this is the right time – the kairos time – all pre-ordained by God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for calling me to serve you and help build your Church. By faith, I believe that since you called me, you also equip me to do the work. Infuse me with fresh encouragement, new ideas, and wisdom to spread your great message of salvation and hope to this generation of children in the contextual challenges of 2021.

Second, plan the best you can following current local and state conditions.

Winter restrictions are likely to be more constraining than next summer but prepare for the ‘worst-case scenario’. If you live in a state with few COVID-19 restrictions (that do not require masks and social distancing), include a “Plan B” accommodating for social distancing needs. When a vaccine is administered, and conditions improve, you can always return to more familiar ways of running VBS. Until then, plan and stay flexible.

Prayer:

Father God, your plans for us have never changed. You have plans for our well-being, plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Jesus, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). While my circumstances may change, you have promised that your Kingdom will grow no matter what difficulties or opponents might come. Help me to plan well. Please lead me, guide me, strengthen me, and give me courage.

Third, don’t wait.

Start now to assemble your team of leaders and other volunteers. Ask new people to help by speaking with them individually. It’s a perfect year to bring in new ideas and try something different. Procrastination never helps, so start early. Do whatever you can now, including choosing your VBS theme, determining your budget, and forming your team.

Prayer: 

Jesus, this virus was no surprise to you. You have unique and specific plans for our church, our families, and the kids you bring to us. You also want to bless many in our church community by allowing them to serve you by serving others. Bring more volunteers with cheerful hearts that they may have the joy of using their skills and talents for your glory. Help us bond together in a spirit of unity, work well together, and solve problems together.

Fourth, keep your “joy factor” high.

My grandfather had an old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” We ‘catch’ more volunteers to help, and we ‘catch’ more souls for Christ when we have joy, hope, and a positive outlook. Thankfully, joy and hope are not contingent on our circumstances. Remember that the same power that lifted Jesus from the grave lives in you (Romans 8:11). Further, Jesus promised that even the gates of hell would not prevail against the work of the church. You are destined to THRIVE, not merely survive because God is on your side!

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see the joy in small victories. Open my eyes to see the little things that are going well to see more clearly how you are working for good in this church, in our ministry, and in my life as a leader. The joy of the Lord is my strength! I choose joy – today, tomorrow, and every day. I ask for your grace to help me live Philippians 4:8 in very practical ways.

Fifth, communicate clearly with your pastor and with families.

Schedule your event dates and let people know in advance. If you need to limit the number of students in attendance, perhaps you can reserve more time on the church calendar to accommodate one week for each age group rather than all ages together. Also, let families know that plans are subject to change depending upon future circumstances.

Prayer:

Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. You feed your flock, carry the lambs in your arms, and hold them close to your heart (Isaiah 40:11). Please grant me the grace to care well for your sheep no matter their age or stage in life.

Sixth, learn from local educators.

Teachers and school administrators have learned so much about handling COVID-19 and state-required restrictions, particularly for children. Ask them to educate you. Talk to the principal of a local Christian school or connect with public school teachers whom you know.

Prayer:

Father God, I need wisdom. Your Word states in James 1:5 that if I lack wisdom, I should ask you for it, and you promise to give it to me in abundance. So, I am asking. Lead me to people who can help me, who can provide me with wisdom for the practical parts of holding successful summer ministry while keeping children and volunteers healthy and safe. I ask this in faith, knowing that you hear me and will answer me (1 John 5:15).

Seventh, stay connected with families and children all year.

Send postcards and birthday cards, make a phone call, bring a single flower to each household, deliver Lent and Easter activity packages at doorsteps. A simple text lets people know you are thinking about them and praying for them. You might be surprised at how much it means to people to hear from you. You may also have the joy of knowing that the Holy Spirit prompted you to connect with someone precisely when they needed encouragement.

Prayer:

Lord, your love never stops! You never sleep nor slumber, and your love never ends (Psalm 121). I pray for the families in our community to know you deeply care for them and are always with them. Lead me, Holy Spirit, to encourage the right person at just the right time so that they will feel your compassion at work through me.

Finally, the power of the gospel, our prayers for healing and miraculous divine help, our faithful service as ambassadors of light and love in this world can all bring change to our communities. At this moment in history, many are overwhelmed with worry, fear, and burdens. Hearts are yearning for security, safety, and significance. Jesus still has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). He still sits on His throne, and His plans for the children and families in your church will come to pass at such a time as this. Those whom He calls, He also equips!

Be encouraged, friends.

Maryl Darko
Senior Product Editor
Christianbook.com

The post Family Ministry Planning Tips for Another Uncertain Year appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Advent is here!

To celebrate, we’ve compiled 16 Advent quotes to help you center your heart and mind on Jesus this holiday season. As you make room for Jesus in your life, rest assured – he has already prepared a place for you.

“The word advent means “expectation.” What advent can do for us is create a sense of hope.”

– Louie Giglio

“The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.”

– Henri Nouwen

“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.”

– Pope Benedict XVI

“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent”

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger

“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.”

– Mother Teresa, Love: A Fruit Always in Season

“During Advent, we occupy our greatest longings.”

– Ruth Haley Barton

“Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things—the weather, human relationship, the economy, the political situation, and so on—will get better. Hope is trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.”

– Henri Nouwen

“Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on this earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth. Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and who are heavy and who are crying over the fact that the earth has gracelessly torn us away. Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes. Look up, your redemption is drawing near. something different from what you see daily will happen. Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come.”

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God Is In the Manger

“One who has hope lives differently.”

– Pope Benedict XVI

“I want a Christmas that whispers ‘Jesus’.”

– Ann Voskamp

“You could more easily catch a hurricane in a shrimp net that you can understand the wild, relentless, passionate, uncompromising, pursuing love of God made present in the manger.”

– Brennan Manning

“Into this world, this demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited.”

– Thomas Merton

“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before… .What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.”

– Jan L. Richardson, Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas

“Advent: the time to listen for footsteps – you can’t hear footsteps when you’re running yourself.”

– Bill McKibben

“This Advent we look to the Wise Men to teach us where to focus our attention. We set our sights on things above, where God is. We draw closer to Jesus… When our Advent journey ends, and we reach the place where Jesus resides in Bethlehem, may we, like the Wise Men, fall on our knees and adore him as our true and only King.”

– Mark Zimmermann in Our Advent Journey

“Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.”

– Anonymous

The post 16 Inspiring Quotes for Advent Season appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

What could be better on a cool, fall day than cozying up with a blanket, a mug of something warm and a really good read? There’s absolutely nothing we love more!

But, with so many new releases out there, it can be hard to figure out what to read next. Here at Christianbook, lots of new books hit our desks every week, so we wanted to round up some of our top picks in new fall fiction. Whether you love a suspense, a romance, or a historical novel, you’re sure to find something to read on this list…

Don’t forget that mug of hot chocolate!

The Stone Wall by Beverly Lewis

What would fall be without another brilliant Amish fiction release from Beverly Lewis?! Featuring love and loss, new starts and heartbreaks, The Stone Wall will not disappoint long-time fans or Amish-fiction lovers. It will certainly touch those of you who have experienced a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s.  In The Stone Wall, readers are introduced to Anna, a women who is eager to begin a new chapter in her life as a Lancaster County tour guide in the area where her Plain grandmother once stayed. Anna wishes she could talk with her grandmother about those days, but the elderly woman suffers from Alzheimer’s.

Eager to see Anna settle in, Martin Nolt, a handsome Mennonite takes her under his wing. As she finds her feet, Anna is moved to volunteer at a retreat for children with special needs where she strikes up a friendship with Gabe Allgyer, the Amish widower who manages it. Anna begins to grow close to the two men and ultimately finds herself faced with a difficult choice. Will Anna find true love? Will she find out about her grandmother’s past in Lancaster County? You’ll have to pick up The Stone Wall to find out!

Two Reasons to Run by Colleen Coble

Is a gripping, suspenseful read more your style? Love turning the pages on an adrenaline pumping read into the early hours of the morning? Colleen Coble’s Two Reasons to Run is the perfect book for you this fall! In this second book of The Pelican Harbor Series, we once again follow Police Chief Jane Hardy who is still reeling from the scandal that rocker her small town after she took over from her retired father. She is finally reunited with her presumed-dead fifteen-year-old-son and his father, Reid Bechtol… but the drama isn’t over just yet.

A murder on board an oil platform exposes and environmental terrorist’s plot to flood the bay with crude oil, forcing Jane and Reid to put their feelings for each other aside and work together. When the life of Jane’s son, Will is put on the line, their working together becomes all the more important. Can they overcome the ghosts of their past to save the bay… and their son? Phew! Reader, this book has it all – lots of suspense, drama and of course some romance. We think you’ll have this book read in record time!

Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

Oh, we do love a good read that spans the decades! Jaime Jo Wright, the author of bestselling book The House on Foster Hill, returns with her new page-turning read, Haunting at Bonaventure Circus. Partly set in 1928 and partly set in the present day, this book will keep you guessing right until the very end as you’re transported to a small town with a dark history. Readers will meet Pippa Ripley, a woman trying to search for her roots at the Bonaventure Circus in the roaring twenties. Along the way she uncovers a serial killer is afoot on the circus train and finds herself directly in his path.

Back in contemporary times, we meet Chandler Faulk, a real estate project manager who is tasked with deciding whether the old circus train depot should be torn down or preserved for historical purposes. However, Chandler gets much more than she bargains for when she uncovers the abandoned train depots dark past!

Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

Set during the Great Depression, Under the Tulip Tree is the perfect fall read for any of you out there who love a good historical read. Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland has always dreamed of living her life as a writer – but when the stock market crashed in 1929, her dreams feel so far away. Her father at his lowest turns to the bottle, her sister is married to a gambler, and Lorena is an unemployed newspaper reporter.

Eager to be working, Lorena accepts a position interviewing former slaves. It’s on this job her life is changed by hearing the story of Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old women whose honest yet tragic past captivates Lorena. She is shocked by all the woman has endured in her lifetime – especially since her own ancestors owned slaves. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation no woman sees coming? Under the Tulip Tree will have you feeling all the emotions and will certainly stay with you for long after you’ve turned that last page.

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

We’re really feeling our historical fiction reads this fall! Adding to our list of reads that will transport you to another era is A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White. In this book, we meet Zivon Marin, a man who was one of Russia’s top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world and forced him to flee to England. Here, his world collides with Lily Blackwell, a woman who sees the world best through the lens of a camera. A friendship blooms that soon takes over their hearts… but both have secrets they are unwilling to share. When Zivon’s loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple’s future dreams – it becomes a matter of ending the war. There’s suspense, intrigue and romance – the perfect combination for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Words from the Heart by Kathleen Fuller

Here’s another book for you Amish fiction lovers out there! Words from the Heart is the third book in the Amish Letters series by bestselling Kathleen Fuller. Ivy Yoder knows it’s time to let go of the idea she will one day marry John King – she hasn’t heard from him in over a year. Left feeling humiliated as one of the oldest single women in her Amish community, Ivy finds a welcome distraction when Cevilla asks her to help clean out an attic.

Cevilla also requests her nephew, Noah, to help clean out the attic. As Noah and Ivy work side by side, they come across a stack of letters written during the Korean War. They find themselves swept up in the story of two young people falling in love – will they find love themselves amongst the letters in the attic? This book is a true love story that will have you rooting for Ivy and Noah!

Nine by Rachelle Dekker

Mystery, a dark history and cross-country chases… sound like something you would enjoy reading? Well, you’re in luck with the new release from Rachelle Dekker, Nine. In this book, we meet Zoe Johnson, a woman who has spent most of her life avoiding drawing attention to herself. When a bedraggled teenager with no memory enters the diner where Zoe works, her whole life will be turned upside down. The girl can only remember one thing – she must reach a women in Corpus Christi, Texas – a place hundreds of miles away from they are. Add to that government agents who are hot on their heels trying to catch up with Zoe and the teenager before they reach their destination.

The action in this book is non-stop from start to finish and will have you asking yourself – are we who the world says we are? Or can we change our story and be something more?

Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin

Last, but certainly not least on our must-read fiction list is Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin. Readers will be introduced the the charming mother of ten and widow of seven years, Mary Katherine. A women who is always a bundle of energy, Mary is always willing to step up and lend a hand in her Amish community.

When a mysterious English stranger breaks into her house to make himself a sandwich one night, Mary Katherine realizes he needs more than just a sandwich… he needs a job. Lucky she knows just the person to help – Ezekiel, a local restaurant owner. Working together to care for the stranger, Mary Katherine finds herself drawn to Ezekiel – but the pain of loss in the past is all too real. Can two people in the autumns of their lives put the past behind them and find a future together?

Looking for more great reads? Click here to check out all new fiction releases!

The post New Fall Christian Fiction 2020 appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

This is why we’ve created these Christian-themed lunchbox notes for you to slip into your child’s school lunch to let them know that God loves them… and so do you!

In this download, you’ll find 10 printable cards with words of encouragement such as God sees good in you, Stand firm and be strong in the faith, You are a might warrior and more.

These cards can be printed on regular printer paper, however, they will keep much better (and perhaps reused!) if printed on cardstock.

Click here to download Free Printable Lunchbox Cards

Click here to download Free Printable Lunchbox Cards

The post Free Printable Lunchbox Cards for Kids appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.