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Christian Books You’ll Be Reading in 2022

Christianbook.com — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 12:27:01 +0000

As we prepare to step into a new year, our minds naturally turn toward the raft of new reads that will be soon hitting our desks!

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.

The Heart of a Father: An Eternal Perspective by Pierce Brantley

Christianbook.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 20:55:06 +0000

This article is an excerpt from Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work, Pierce Brantley’s new book (David C Cook, May 2020).

“Son, you need a sense of urgency.” When I was a boy, my dad would say this to me whenever he wanted me to treat some task around the house with the same importance as he did. Some tasks are time sensitive. Some tasks are really important because they affect other people. Still others are meant to mature us into more skillful workers. The same is true for your calling.

Your Father God first provides you with a job, and then he waits to see how you treat that work before allowing you to partner with him on bigger things. This isn’t punishment or cause for concern; it’s just the natural order of supernatural work. Hammers before jackhammers. Plumb lines before power tools. Agreement with God before awakening in calling. So often we think of our current jobs as if they have nothing to do with our calling, so we don’t approach them with the reverence they deserve. We’ll never discover our holy work with this attitude.

Jobs are provided supernaturally by God’s hand. When we revere God in that work, honor it as holy, and treat it with intention, it demonstrates to him that we’re ready for what we are really meant to do. That ought to bring an importance—an urgency—to whatever job you have.

This is spiritual urgency. It is agreeing with God that the task right in front of you requires an earnest and persistent attitude. This attitude in and of itself will give new meaning to your work—though it’s really just the start of all that’s in store for you. After all, all kinds of things can awake in others a deep desire for God.

God is looking for you to understand that every moment of your workday—even the mundane parts—is ripe for action. This is the same attitude that great men of the faith had by the time they were in the middle of their own called careers.

A HOPEFUL EXPECTATION

Jesus is coming again. We don’t know the day or the hour, of course, but the Bible is clear that the awareness of his imminent return ought to be in our minds, giving urgency to everything we do.

For the Christian man, the reality of Christ’s coming is the undercurrent beneath every calling and job. We all desire God’s will to be done on earth just as it is in heaven (see Matt. 6:10). Since we don’t know when Jesus might return or even what might happen and in what order, the desire to spread his message ought to become the driving force for what a Christian man does during any day, at work or at home or wherever he is. (We still have to do our actual jobs too!)

The opportunity we have as Christian men is to look out over the world and see it as Jesus does: as a field ready for harvest (see John 4:35). God sees humanity—including that portion you interact with at your job—as being full of potential. He has strategically set you in this time and place, not to mention this place of employment, for just such a time as this.

One thing the sobering reality of Jesus’ return may do is clarify for us what is important. It ought to give us a clear sense of what is useless, hamster-wheel work and what is work that will endure. How much time do we have to tell our family, friends, and coworkers about Christ before it’s too late?

This awareness of our finite opportunity to share the good news ought to give our jobs—whatever they are—a new urgency. Talk about finding meaning in your work!

This urgency will lead us to manifest him throughout our workday.

When the Christian man goes to work, he is colaboring with Christ in the expectation of his return. You cannot overlook it. God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9 KJV). This truth makes any job an urgent, critical, meaningful, purposeful, mission-related job.

It gives you your calling.

An expectation that Jesus’ return could happen at any moment is a great lens for looking at all your labor and discerning what needs to be done more, what needs to be done less, and what needs to be undone. Paul said it like this:

No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:11–15)

In other words, your work matters. No matter what job you have, Paul said you are a builder. If you’re a cook, you’re building with gold or wood. If you’re an accountant, you’re building with silver or straw. Let’s build with the best materials—what do you say? That means having your mind set on demonstrating Christ to those you encounter wherever you spend time.

We don’t know what day or hour the Lord will return. Neither do we know how many days we have on earth if Jesus tarries. In our jobs—and all the parts of our lives—we need to live in light of the possibility that we may not have a tomorrow to talk to our coworkers, bosses, or employees about eternal life.

This article is an excerpt from Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work, Brantley’s new book (David C Cook, May 2020).

The post The Heart of a Father: An Eternal Perspective by Pierce Brantley appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Christian Beach Reads for Summer 2019

Christianbook.com — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:14:38 +0000

Who else loves picking up a new book (or two, or three!) during the summer months? It’s one of our favorite ways to pass those long summer days! Now, we like to mix things up a bit – sometimes we read Christian fiction, other times we read Christian Living.

But whatever we are reading, we like to make sure it’s going to be something that grabs us from start to finish. That’s why we thought we’d round up some of our favorite new releases we think you should give a go this season.

So ,sit back in that comfy chair – or roll out a picnic blanket – and turn the cover on one of these books!

Christian Fiction

Summer By The Tides

by Denise Hunter

The latest release from Denise Hunter is one that will really tug at your heartstrings. Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke about is a struggle. In the midst of the storm, sparks fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy. As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become… Before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

The Printed Letter Bookshop

by Katherine Reay

Once you open this book, you’ll likely not put it down until it is done! In The Printed Letter Bookshop, readers are introduced to Madeline Cullen. Madeline’s happiest childhood memories are of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly 20 years later, family troubles and bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasure aunt. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn, and when a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. She allows herself to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop.

No Ocean Too Wide

by Carrie Turansky

Here’s a read that will have you hooked from the very first page! No Ocean Too Wide is a compelling read that will also provide readers a history lesson about British Home Children. Laura McAlister, a young lady’s maid, learns her three siblings have been taken from their mother and emigrated to Canada without her mother’s knowledge. Laura determines to search for them and reunite the family. But lack of funds and resistance from authorities push her to use a false name and take a position with a child emigration society to gain passage to Canada. Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young lawyer, is suprised to see his mother’s former lady’s maid on board a ship escorting a group of child immigrants. Laura eventually convinces Andrew to help her search for her siblings. Along the way, romantic feelings grow between the unlikely couple, and though they have different backgrounds, they share a growing faith and desire to seek justice.

Christian Living

Don’t Give Up

by Kyle Idleman

The parent with the wayward child. The couple whose marriage is in jeopardy. The man who is out of work. The woman stuck in crushing debt. Do you ever feel like sometimes in life, the giants just seem to big? Ever feel like you want to throw in the towel, preserve yourself, and hide? This is the inspiring book for you. Our lives are minefields of challenges that take their toll on our courage, our conviction, and even our faith. In Don’t Give Up, Idleman explores these seasons of life where we feel as if we are hanging by a thread. Through relatable stories and Biblical encouragement, he encourages us to cast our concerns on God, trust in his love and timing, pray for patience, and seek out support in the family of God.

The Essential Diet

by Eric Zielinski DC and Sabrina Ann Zielinski

Are you interested in learning more about to how to harness essential oils for your health? We recommend trying The Essential Oils Diet. This book features a sensible, evidence-based, two-phase program – first, the 30-day essential fast track. This helps you banish the excess pounds quickly. Then comes the second phase, the essential lifestyle, a gentle, practical maintenance program you can follow for life. The Essential Oils Diet also features easy recipes, meal plans, and strategies to keep you on track. You’ll learn how bioactive plant compounds found in essential oils and foods like almonds and avocados, can aid in weight loss and trigger the body’s natural immune defenses.

Reforesting Faith

by Matthew Sleeth

In this groundbreaking walk through Scripture, readers will discover how the hidden language of trees are essential to every Christian’s understanding of God. Author Matthew Sleeth explains why the Bible mentions trees more than any other creation except humanity. He navigates the Bible’s trail of trees to explore the wonders of life, death, and rebirth. This is a rare book that connects those who love the Creator with creation, and those who love creation with the Creator. It offers inspirational yet practical ways to express our love for God – and our neighbors – by planting spiritual trees and physical trees in the world. Your walk through the woods will never be the same again!

For more Summer Reads, click here!

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The 2019 Christian Book Award Finalists!

Christianbook.com — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 21:11:45 +0000

The best books of the year have now been announced by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) for the Christian Book Award ®Program!

Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Award program honors titles in eleven categories: Bibles, Bible Reference Works, Bible Study, Biography & Memoir, Children, Christian Living, Devotion & Gift, Faith & Culture, Ministry Resources, New Author, and Young Peoples Literature.

Here are the 2019 finalists in each award category…

Bibles Finalists

Bible Reference Works Finalists

Bible Study Finalists

Biography & Memoir Finalists

Children Finalists

Christian Living Finalists

Devotion & Gift Finalists

Faith & Culture Finalists

Ministry Resources Finalists

New Author Finalists

Young Peoples Literature Finalists

Looking for more Christian book inspiration? Click here to check out our bestselling books!

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New Christian Living Books for Spring

Christianbook.com — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 21:49:01 +0000

Booklovers rejoice! There are so many incredible new Christian Living reads that have just hit our shelves – so many that its hard to decide which ones to read first. We’ve asked our editors here to create a list of some of the new books they absolutely wouldn’t want you to miss. There is a book for those who love to read AND love to cook, a book to help those experiencing grief, an empowering book for women and more!

If you still want more, make sure you check out all the new Christian Living books we have available by clicking here!

Taste and See

by Margaret Feinberg

God is a foodie who wants to transform your supper into sacrament. That’s the message of Margaret Feinberg’s latest book, Taste and See. In this groundbreaking book, Feinberg provides a culinary exploration of Scripture. Readers will descend 400 feet below ground into the frosty white caverns of a salt mine, fish in the Sea of Galilee, bake fresh matzo at Yale University and more! With each visit, Margate asks “How do you read these Scriptures, not as theologians, but in light of what you do every day?” The answers to questions like these will forever change the way you read the Bible – and approach every meal. Readers will also receive dozens of recipes to try themselves at home!

Suffering is Never for Nothing

by Elisabeth Elliot

Hard times come for all in life, with no real explanation. When we walk through suffering, it has the potential to devastate and destroy, or to be the gateway to gratitude and joy. Elisabeth Elliot was no stranger to suffering. Her first husband, Jim, was murdered by the Waoroni people in Ecuador moments after he arrived in hopes of sharing the gospel. Her second husband was lost to cancer. Yet, it was in her deepest suffering that she learned the deepest lessons about God. Elliot discovered that suffering and love are inexplicably linked, as God’s love for His people is evidence in His sending Jesus to carry our sins, griefs, and sufferings on the cross. An important read for anyone walking a path of grief who needs a reminder that suffering is never for nothing.

Praying Circles Around Your Marriage

by Joel and Nina Schmidgall with Mark Batterson

Prayer is the most powerful way to transform your marriage. Drawing from the life-changing principles in the bestselling book The Circle Maker, become empowered to fulfill the God-given dreams for your marriage. Readers will discover seven key prayer circles for their marriage – Vision Circle, Romance Circle, War Circle, Dance Circle, Support Circle, Storm Circle, and Legacy Circle. Through these circles, readers will discover a shared vision, find a new combined purpose together, turn the tables on conflict, all while building a foundation for marriage that will help you weather the trials that are sure to come. A powerful read for those newly married couples as well as those married for 40 or more years!

What If It’s True?

by Charles Martin

Years ago bestselling novelist Charles Martin opened his Bible and began to wrestle with profound questions like: “What if every single word of this story is absolutely true and I can trust it?”. This book is the result of that exploration. Writing as a guide, Martin uses a storyteller’s imagination to illuminate key moments from Scripture. What If It’s True is an insightful book that reads like an intriguing novel – a striking exploration of truth that helps u not just to think differently, but to live differently.

Pathways: From Providence to Purpose

by Tony Evans

God has a purpose for your life, and every action or event that occurs within it has been used to make that purpose a reality. The story of Esther appears to be a series of coincidences strung together to deliver the Jews from certain death. However, God selected Esther for a particular purpose at a particular time. In Pathways, Evans shows how God leads us along “pathways to purpose”, just as he worked in Esther’s circumstances, appointing her to the throne and empowering her to save the Jewish people. Discover your own pathway to purpose through learning principles on providence as Tony Evans takes us on a journey of epic proportions.

Brave Love

by Lisa Leonard

Women today feel pressure to be the best wide, mom, and professional possible – often at the expense of their own identity. In Brave Love, the founder of the multi-million dollar company Lisa Leonard Designs inspires women to find themselves again amidst the noise and competing demands of real life. Brave Love is about what it means to be human, how it feels to be broken and afraid, and what happens when we dare to love deeply. You don’t have to try harder or be better. You don’t have to prove yourself and you don’t have to make others okay. In this freedom you will find more peace and joy. An empowering read for women everywhere!

If you still want more, make sure you check out all the new Christian Living books we have available by clicking here!

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Q&A with Lisa Harris, Author of ‘A Secret to Die For’

Christianbook.com — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:38:34 +0000

Christy Award winning suspense author, Lisa Harris has returned with her latest release, A Secret to Die For. This book introduces readers to Grace Calloway, a psychologist whose patient has been murdered. Grace soon realizes she holds a secret worth killing for – but what is it? Step in Detective Nate Quinn, a man with a mission to find out just what this secret is.

Lisa Harris sat down to kindly answer some questions about this latest book, and also gives readers a little clue as to what it is she is working on next…

A Secret to Die For is now available for purchase, click here for more.

Q: What was your inspiration for A Secret to Die For?

A: As with a lot of my stories, my inspiration started off with a random idea for a heroine, who quickly became Grace Callahan. She was a psychologist, but more than that, she had her own personal giants that she was facing in her life. After I began to flesh out her character, I brought in the hero who was also dealing with loss, and the ideas for the plot line started to come together – both for them personally and for the greater danger they were facing.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your new book?

A: I ended up having to do a lot of research, particularly on the nation’s power grid, survivalists and preppers, and hackers. Next to romantic suspense, my favorite genre is apocalyptic-type stories where someone has to save the world. So while there is no monstrous tidal waves, falling meteors, and definitely no zombies, the research was a lot of fun. In fact, I tend to get a bit too caught up in my own research sometimes.

Q: Detective Nate Quinn struggles with PTSD. How did his disorder come in to play in A Secret to Die For?

A: At the beginning of the story, Nate has just gone back to work after an explosion took the lives of his partner and several co-workers. And while he wants to be back on the job – even needs to be back – he’s not a hundred percent sure he’s ready. He encounters a number of triggers and begins to realize how his life has changed. He also has to deal with the guilt of being a survivor, which is something very real for those who have gone through trauma and lost people they care about. Grace becomes the perfect person to help him heal, which I love watching play out in the book.

Q: Was there any part of this book that really surprised you once you began writing it?

A: As with a lot of the stories I write, I’m usually not sure who the villain is until the end of the book, and that was definitely true for this story. On the positive side, I’ve decided that if I’m not sure until the end who did it, then hopefully the reader won’t figure it out either!

Q: You have written more than thirty books, including Vendetta, Missing, Pursued, and Vanishing Point. Have you always written in the suspense genre of do you also write other genres?

A: I started out writing romance novels, but they always had a string of mystery in them. I just couldn’t get away from that thread in my stories. So it’s safe to say that I really love writing suspense and can’t imagine writing anything else!

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your book?

A: While I definitely want my readers to be entertained – and maybe a bit (okay, a lot) scared – while reading my books, I also want them to discover how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for him. People like you and me have the chance to allow God to use us in spite of all our fears and insecurities. I see the spiritual thread in my stories as a part of my characters’ reactions to life. How they react and deal with things on a spiritual level is crucial. Just like in my own life, I don’t want my faith to be simply tacked on but an intricate part of who I am.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: Next up is another stand-alone novel that I’m super excited about as it takes my hero on a treacherous path I’ve never taken them on before. (Sorry, no spoilers!)

A Secret to Die for is now available for purchase, click here for more.

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10 Valentine Gift Ideas They’ll Love

Christianbook.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 21:54:50 +0000

Forget a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates, here are some heartfelt gifts that they’ll surely love this Valentine’s Day. You’ll find mugs that help convey how much they mean to you. Faith-filled jewelry that will show they’re the sparkle in your eye. Photo frames to help them remember all those good times. Records with songs of love that explain how you feel… and much more!

These are our top gift selections for this Valentine’s Day…

For more Valentine’s Day inspiration, visit our Valentine Gift Store!

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Christian Books We’ll Be Reading in 2019

Christianbook.com — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 21:58:58 +0000

A new year brings with it a whole lot of new reads! We don’t know about you, but sometimes we get completely overwhelmed with just how many incredible Christian books there are out there. Which is why we thought we’d round up some of the books we think might excite our readers this year. This is a list combining books we’re sure you might have heard of, with some lesser-known reads we also think might be notable.

Now, believe us, it was very hard to limit ourselves to just ten books, so if you are looking for a full list of the great books we have coming soon, click here.

Whether you want a book to inspire, a book to help you grow in your faith, or a book to help break bad habits – these are the books we think you should look out for in 2019…

The Bright Life by Jen Wise

Releases January 8, 2019

To the woman who feels her all is never enough, The Bright Life is your invitation to a new start. You were created to be healthy, strong, vibrant, and to rest in the unforced rhythms of grace Jesus so lovingly makes available to us all. Come along and learn how to avoid habits that seem smart but are deceptively self-sabotaging, pick up habits of wholeness that actually stick, and try surprising ways to practice kindness toward yourself and generosity toward loved ones. The Bright Life extends a daily invitation with striking insights, tips to reclaim your energy, and a three-part practice of looking inward, upward, and outward as you step into a brighter way. This 40-day reset weaves story and Scripture together to cultivate a peaceful place where, through the attentive love of Jesus, you can experience the unforced rhythms of grace.

Brave Love by Lisa Leonard

Releases January 29, 2019

Women today feel pressure to be the best wife, mom, and professional possible – often at the expense of their own identity. In Brave Love, the founder of the multi-million dollar company Lisa Leonard Designs inspires women to find themselves again amidst the noise and competing demands of real life. Brave Love is about what it means to be human, how it feels to be broken and afraid, and what happens when we dare to love deeply. Join Lisa on a journey where you will discover you are worthy and lovable just as you are. You don’t have to try harder or be better. You don’t have to prove yourself and you don’t have to make others okay. In this freedom you will find more peace and more joy. Most importantly, you will learn that as you stop trying to be everything to everyone, you will love others better.

Taste & See by Margaret Feinberg

Releases January 22, 2019

This groundbreaking book by Margaret Feinberg provides a culinary exploration of Scripture. You’ll descend 400 feet below ground into the frosty white caverns of a salt mine, fish on the Sea of Galilee, bake fresh matzo at Yale University, ferry to a remote island in Croatia to harvest olives, spend time with a Texas butcher known as “the meat apostle,” and wander a California farm with one of the world’s premier fig farmers. With each visit, Margaret asks, “How do you read these Scriptures, not as theologians, but in light of what you do every day?” Their answers will forever change the way you read the Bible – and approach every meal. Taste and See is a delicious read that includes dozens of recipes for those who, like Margaret, believe some of life’s richest moments are spent savoring a meal with those you love.

How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns

Releases February 19, 2019

Peter Enns, the controversial evangelical Bible scholar, popular blogger, podcast host, and author of The Bible Tells Me So and The Sin of Certainty explains that the Bible is not an instruction manual or rule book – but a powerful learning tool that nurtures our spiritual growth by refusing to provide us with easy answers but instead forces us to acquire wisdom. How the Bible Actually Works makes clear that there is no one right way to read the Bible. Moving us beyond the damaging idea that “being right” is the most important measure of faith, Enns’s freeing approach to Bible study helps us to instead focus on pursuing enlightenment and building our relationship with God—which is exactly what the Bible was designed to do.

Keep Showing Up by Karen Ehman

Releases February 26, 2019

It is true that opposites attract–for a while. But often as the years go by in our marriages, opposites may also begin to attack. The habits and characteristics we once found endearing about our significant other are the exact things that drive us crazy years later! Whether you and your spouse disagree about finances, parenting, or how to load the dishwasher, your differences don’t need to divide you. They can actually bring you closer together–and closer to God. In Keep Showing Up, Ehman will show you how to play to each other’s strengths, find magic in the mundane and so much more. She also offers helpful ides to implement in your marriage, such as powerful statements to speak to your spouse, and date night suggestions. Discover how your “incompatibility” can become the strength of your marital team!

9 Common Lies Christians Believe by Shane Pruitt

Releases February 19, 2019

God won’t give you more than you can handle. Really? Do you cringe whenever you hear someone speak a cliche like that? If so, this is the book for you! Pastor and speaker Shane Pruitt guides readers in identifying the Christian cliches we’ve all heard that are actually unbiblical lies keeping believers stuck in spiritual immaturity. In 9 Common Lies Christians Believe, Pruitt counters these cliches with the truths about God as presented in the Bible.The truths that bring encouragement and freedom to all of our lives. This is a book that will help you to get real about Scripture and live honestly before God and others so that you can experience the peace that passes understanding.

Don’t Give Up by Kyle Idleman

Releases March 5, 2019

The parent with the wayward child. The couple whose marriage is in jeopardy. The man who is out of work. The woman stuck in crushing debt. People hanging by a thread, losing faith and short on strength. What do they all need to hear? Don’t give up. Our lives are minefields of challenges that take their toll on our courage, our conviction, and even our faith. But God whispers to the weary, Don’t give up. Drawing from inspiring biblical stories and first-person testimonies of perseverance, bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman encourages readers to cast their concerns on God, trust in his love and timing, pray for patience and strength, and seek out support in the family of God. Don’t Give Up is a book for the believer that needs a little courage to keep on going through tough times.

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Releases March 12, 2019

Rachel Hollis has seen it too often: women not living into their full potential. They feel a tugging on their hearts for something more, but they’re afraid of embarrassment, of falling short of perfection, of not being enough. In Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. In Girl, Stop Apologizing, she delivers a bracing challenge for women everywhere: stop apologizing for your desires, hopes, and ambitions – and go after them with passion and confidence. Learn to break the crippling habit of letting others define you. Instead, remember who you are – and become who you are meant to be!

Transformed by Remi Adeleke

Releases April 16, 2019

What are the odds? Statistics tell us that African American males who grow up in a single-parent household are nine times more likely to drop out of high school and twenty times more likely to end up in prison than any other demographic. But what would it take for one young man not only to rise above those statistics but also become a Navy SEAL, actor, entrepreneur, writer, and person of faith?In Transformed, Remi Adeleke delves into being raised by a single mother in the Bronx and doesn’t shy away from the illegal activities that threatened to derail his future. How could a person with this past end up where he is now? Having gone through times of intense struggle, pressure, and failure, Adeleke answers those questions in his inspiring story of overcoming the odds.

Fish Sandwiches by Troy Schmidt

Releases April 1, 2019

We all have this in common: We get hungry. Inevitably, we eventually notice something we lack, and we wonder how we’re going to get our needs met. And then sometimes we notice that someone else has already taken care of our needs. And then sometimes we notice that the One who is taking care of our needs is God. This warm and down-to-earth book invites you to sit in on one of the most miraculous moments of human history, when one Man took a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread and fed an entire village. In Fish Sandwiches, you’ll meet the Jesus who dares you to ask Him to give you each day your daily bread, who makes promises and keeps them, and who does immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine on a regular basis.

Are you a fiction lover? Keep an eye out for an upcoming post about the most anticipated Christian fiction books coming in 2019!

To see more Christian books set to be released in 2019, click here

The post Christian Books We’ll Be Reading in 2019 appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

The Best of 2018: Our Christian Book Picks

Christianbook.com — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:05:38 +0000

We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’re kind of a little bit obsessed with books. Especially Christian books. Those reads that enrich our faith and ultimately help us grow closer to God. Now, we know better than almost anyone that there is an incredibly long list of amazing Christian books out there and sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.

This is why we thought we’d compile a list of books released in 2018 that we absolutely wouldn’t want you to miss. These are the books that have inspired us, moved us, made us laugh and made us cry. These are the books we wouldn’t want our friends to miss. We hope you find a little something you might like to read on this list as well!

Girl, Wash Your Face

by Rachel Hollis

As the founder of the lifestyle website, TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Rachel Hollis developed an immense online community. In her challenging and inspiring new book, Rachel exposes the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively. Lies we’ve told ourselves so often we don’t even hear them anymore. With painful honestly and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and examines the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy. She then reveals specific practical strategies that helped her move past them. Prepare to be encouraged, entertained, all while have your butt kicked a little! By the end of the book, Hollis will convince you to do whatever it takes to get real and become the joyous, confident woman you were meant to be. Girl, Wash Your Face will show you how to live with passion and hustle – and how to give yourself grace without giving up.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way

by Lysa TerKeurst

We can all probably say that life sometimes looks very different to what we had hoped for or expected. Some events may catch us off guard just for a moment, but others can shatter our lives completely. These moments can leave us feeling disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness. This is something that Lysa TerKeurst understands deeply – and it’s easy to see this in her new book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. But TerKeurst also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God. In this book, she invites us into her own journey of faith, and, with grit, vulnerability, and honest humor, she shows readers how to live assured when life doesn’t turn out as we expected.

There Is More

by Brian Houston

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Ephesians 3 is a call to release the immeasurable potential within you and the exceeding plans and purposes of a Holy God that are beyond your greatest imagination. In There Is More, Brian Houston, the Founder and Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church shows how you can achieve a life that exceeds earthly expectation. Houston explains that when you surrender control and follow God’s guidance, you become empowered and equipped to do the impossible. It’s the most incredible read for anyone who wants to be challenged to live with expectancy.

Everybody Always

by Bob Goff

In his entertaining and inspiring follow-up to the bestselling phenomenon, Love Does, Bob Goff takes readers on a journey into the secret of living without fear, constraint, or worry. Goff shows readers that the path toward the liberated existence we all seek is in something so simple – love people. Even the difficult ones, without distinction and without limits. Everybody, Always reveals the lessons Bob learned – often the hard way – about what it means to love without restriction. Whether losing his shoes while skydiving solo or befriending a Ugandan witch doctor, Bob steps into life with a no-limits embrace of others that is infections. Everybody, Always reveals how we can do the same.

Yes, No & Maybe

by Wendy Pope

For many women, life can be full with family needs, home duties, work obligations, and church service. Does it feel like you’re doing everything you should be doing, yet something’s still missing? Does it feel like there should be more? In Yes, No, & Maybe, Wendy Pope shares how women can find the God of “immeasurably more” at the intersection of the Bible and their obedience to it. As a Bible study teacher, Wendy will walk women through her own journey and the power that she found through truly studying the Bible. She teaches readers how to say “yes” to God and “no” to self and to embrace the freedom of “maybe” that comes as a result of honing and filtering the commitments and priorities of life.

Enough

by Sharon Jaynes

Do the voices in your head say you’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough… or just not enough, period? Popular author and speaker Sharon Jaynes says it’s time to stop listening to lies that sabotage your confidence and embrace the truth of who God says you are. Jaynes exposes the lies that keep you bogged down in shame, insecurity, and feelings of inadequacy. Your confidence and faith will grow when you trade self-defeating thoughts for God’s truth. What better time than now to embrace your incredible worth as a woman who is uniquely fashioned and spiritually empowered!

Switch on Your Brain Every Day

by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Today our culture is undergoing an epidemic of toxic thoughts that, left unchecked, create ideal conditions for illnesses. According to researchers, the vast majority of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life. What we think about truly affects us both physically and emotionally. In Switch On Your Brain, Dr. Caroline Leaf gave readers a prescription for better health and wholeness through correct thinking patterns. Now, in this companion devotional to the bestselling book, she helps readers live out happier, healthier, more enjoyable lives every day. In Switch On Your Brain Every Day readers will find encouragement and strategies to reap the benefits of a detoxed thought life – every day!

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

by Sheila Walsh

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? When Sheila Walsh came to realize “I’m not good enough and I’m good with that,” he life started to change. In It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, she helps women to overcome the same old rut of struggles and pain by changing the way they think about God, themselves, and their everyday lives. Readers will be reminded that it’s never too late to start over again – no matter what the situation. Take the first step to implementing some of the practical, daily strategies provided by Sheila that will help you move forward one step at a time – knowing that God is there and will never let you down.

Fully Alive

by Susie Larson

In this eye-opening book, Susie Larson shows how intertwined our emotional, spiritual, and physical health are. Spiritual difficulties can have physical consequences, and physical illnesses can have emotional and even spiritual ramifications. So in order for true healing to occur, it must happen holistically. Mind, body, and spirit. Larson explains we cannot keep ignoring the mental and emotional symptoms that are trying to get our attention. Fully Alive is an uplifting guide for anyone who longs to know the health, freedom, and wholeness that Jesus wants for us.

Finding Holy in the Suburbs

by Ashley Hales

Commuters. Tract homes. Strip malls. Is this what you think of when you think of the suburbs? Or do you think of safety, beauty, comfort, and ease? More than half of Americans live in the suburbs. Hales writes that for many Christians, however, “The suburbs are ignored, denigrated and demeaned, or seen as a cop-out from a faithful Christian life. In everything from books to Hollywood jokes, the suburbs aren’t supposed to be good for our souls.” So, what does it look like to live a full Christian life in the suburbs? This book is an invitation to look into your soul as an suburbanite and discover what it means to live holy there.

More Notable Mentions from 2018

We’d love to keep listing all our favorite reads from the year, but that could go on forever! So here are some other books from 2018 we don’t think you should miss…

Through My Father’s Eyes by Franklin Graham

The Prodigal Prophet by Timothy Keller

Overcomer by Dr. David Jeremiah

Called for a Purpose by Tony Evans

Healing the Soul of a Women by Joyce Meyer

Courage, Dear Heart by Rebecca K. Reynolds

Irresistible by Andy Stanley

Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado

In His Image by Jen Wilkin

Suffering by Paul David Tripp

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan

Every Step an Arrival by Eugene H. Peterson

Defiant Joy by Stasi Eldredge

I Declare War by Levi Lusko

Eternity is Now in Session by John Eldredge

For more Editor’s Picks from 2018, click here!

The post The Best of 2018: Our Christian Book Picks appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Christmas Books for Young Readers

Christianbook.com — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:43:44 +0000

The Christmas season is upon us again! While children get excited for Christmas day, it’s also important that we show them there is more to the season than just presents. What better way to do this, than through books!

Fortunately, there are so many Christian authors out there who have penned books sure to capture the imaginations of children. Here are just some of our favorite children’s books sharing the true message of Christmas…

Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas

by Sarah Young

Featuring bright illustrations, kid-friendly devotions, and Scripture verses, Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas teaches the Christmas story to your children. Unfolding God’s majestic design, Sarah Young takes your little on from the dawn of creation to the foot of the manger to reveal the babe who would grow up to save the world. Bible verses and Jesus Calling devotions are on every spread of this beautifully illustrated book.

Mouse’s Christmas Gift

by Mindy Baker

When the pastor gets sick and the traditional Christmas Eve service is canceled, can a tiny church mouse find a way to brighten the spirits of his little town? Sweetly illustrated with glitter-enhanced pictures, the Mouse’s Christmas Gift story is sure to bring cheer to your holidays and become a year-round favorite for children and adults alike!

‘Twas the Evening Before Christmas

by Glenys Nellist

It’s a beloved holiday tradition to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas aloud. But now, families can gather around to share the real Christmas story – the story of Jesus’ birth. ‘Twas the Evening of Christmas echoes the familiar rhythm and language of the original, but shifts the focus to the birth of Jesus. All families will delight in this simple retelling of the most famous story ever told. It’s sure to become a Christmas classic!

The Christmas Cradle

by Meadow Rue Merrill

The Christmas Cradle picture book is an engaging illustrated book for children four to seven years old. Every Christmas Eve, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Gerry hold a huge Christmas party at their home – this year, Molly gets to help prepare. Disaster strikes forcing the party has to move to the barn. With help from cousins Jacob and Sammy and neighbor Rosa, the children clean up the barn and decorate cookies, while discovering the story of the Christmas cradle.

God Gave Us Christmas

by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Another heartwarming story about the polar bear family from the author who wrote God Gave Us You! In the enchanting book God Gave Us Christmas, you can help young children celebrate the most special day of the year and learn the true meaning of Christmas. It also offers the perfect opportunity for little ones to discover the awesome truth of how much God loves them. Children will discover that at Christmas, Jesus is the best present of all!

A Very Noisy Christmas

by Tim Thornborough

Here’s a book worth shouting about! This fun and fresh retelling of the Christmas story shows children that at the heart of the Christmas story is something we should all be quiet and see: God’s son Jesus was born, so that we can be friends with God forever. A Very Noisy Christmas comes with sound effects so that children can join in as parents read to them.

Itsy Bitsy Christmas You’re Never Too Late for His Love

by Max Lucado

Itsy Bitsy Christmas Board Book by Max Lucado brings the Christmas message to even the smallest of children with a revised edition of his classic book, Itsy Bitsy Christmas. When Itsy and Bitsy – two little mice – hear that a King is coming to Bethlehem, they set off with great enthusiasm to find Him. This is a book that will help children understand God’s great love and know that He sent his son for all of us – little or big, young or old.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a classic Christmas read for younger readers! The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. No one is at all prepared when the Herdmans invade church one Sunday – and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever even heard of the Christmas story before! Their interpretation of the tale has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year’s pageant the most unusual and, just possibly, the best one ever.

One Small Donkey for Little Ones

by Dandi Daley Mackall

In One Small Donkey, little ones will discover the very first Christmas, seen through the eyes of an unlikely narrator – the donkey that carries Mary to Bethlehem! The donkey is not the biggest, fastest, or strongest of all the animals but he had an important job all the same. The story delivers an important Christmas message to children – God has big plans for little ones. We think this is a story that both children and adults will love!

The Littlest Watchman

by Scott James

Benjamin is a Watchman. It’s his job to watch for the sign that all God’s promises are coming true – to watch a stump. Trouble is, it’s hard just waiting. And one night, Benjamin finally gives in and stops watching. But that same night, as he sits outside Bethlehem, he gets to watch something wonderful. Kids will be gripped by what Benjamin saw, and will be excited by the Christmas story all over again after reading The Littlest Watchman.

The Legend of the Christmas Cookie

by Dandi Daley Mackall

Read along and discover The Legend of the Christmas Cookie written by Dandi Daley Mackall. A young boy named Jack learns that the family who began the Christmas cookie tradition baked the holiday treats for the needy – and told the story of Jesus’ birth while handing them out! A sweet book that encourages kids to become cheerful givers and share the true reason for the season with others.

Leo’s Gift

by Susan Blackaby and Joellyn Cicciarelli

In Leo’s Gift, an intensely shy six-year-old boy overcomes his self-doubt to discover that he has beautiful gift to share with the world – just in time for Christmas! With the help of his sister, Leo discovers music and develops a passion that gives him a big voice and helps his confidence soar. A beautifully illustrated book filled with heart and hope that will inspire kids to believe in themselves and learn that not all gifts come wrapped in a box.

My Merry Christmas

by Sally Lloyd-Jones

From Sally Lloyd Jones, author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, comes the wonderful My Merry Christmas! What can lovingly wrapped presents tell us about the true meaning of Christmas? How about twinkling lights, angels, and stars?In this illustrated rhyming storybook, children will learn the significance of favorite holiday symbols – and in the end, they’ll discover the sweetest gift of all.

The Christmas Story for Children

by Max Lucado, Randee Frazee and Karen Davis Hill

This retelling of the Christmas story, taken from The Story for Children, is sure to become a favorite family reading tradition. Beautifully illustrated by Fausto, The Christmas Story for Children tells about the birth of a special baby whose story is filled with love for us all. Young readers as well as their parents will appreciate the beautiful words and artwork that convey the message that we are all loved and cherished. A wonderful new tradition to begin this Christmas!

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