Showing results by narrator "Carla Mercer Meyer" in All Categories

"I do" is only the beginning of a successful marriage. Filled with inspiring scripture and thought-provoking questions, #staymarried: A Couple's Devotional helps engaged and married couples strengthen their relationship with each other and God - in only 30 minutes a week. You and your spouse will learn to connect meaningfully and communicate honestly over the course of 52 couples devotionals. Guided discussions teach you to explore the joys and challenges waiting in your new life, while closing prayers offer you the chance to give thanks and meditate on what you've learned.

Young children live with awe and wonder as their daily companions. But as they grow, worries often crowd out wonder. Knowing this, how can parents strengthen their kids' love for the world so it sticks around for the long haul? Thankfully, parents have at their fingertips a miracle vaccine - one that can boost their kids' immunity to the world's distractions: stories. Well-chosen stories connect us with others, even those on the other side of the globe.

Many believers know in their heads that God cares about them. But it's hard to hold that truth in your heart when you're worn out and weary from the mundane, everyday battles and struggles - when you lose your temper again or give into that persistent temptation or feel paralyzed by overwhelming circumstances. The truth is that the Holy Spirit is right there - waiting for you to let him help. With warmth and encouragement, Sarah Bowling shows how he longs to be part of every situation you face in life.

The Maiden Thief by multiple NYT and internationally best-selling author Melissa Marr is a dark fantasy novelette about a teenager whose town is plagued by the annual disappearances of girls and young women.

Stay follows Abbey, a young woman from Canada now living in a village outside Galway. She falls in love with Dermot, an older Irish man, in an unconventional, affectionate but troubled relationship.

They've escaped the Breeders. They've broken out of the Citadel. Now, after all they've been through, Riley, Clay, and Ethan know one thing for sure: nothing tastes sweeter than freedom. And no one can rest easy with Auntie Bell in bondage.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical audiobook explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Emily Miller tells her personal story of how being a single, female victim of a home invasion drove her to try to obtain a legally registered gun in Washington, D.C. The narrative - sometimes shocking, other times hilarious in its absurdity - gives the listener a real-life understanding of how gun-control laws only make it more difficult for honest, law-abiding people to get guns, while violent crime continues to rise.

Jesus Everlasting includes thought-provoking questions, journaling space, and unique explorations of six hymns to draw listeners closer to their Savior. This is a timely invitation for women to understand more of who Jesus is, was, and will be for every tomorrow.

Throughout scripture and church history, women have been central to the mission of God. But all too often women have lacked opportunities to minister fully. Many churches lack visible examples of women in ministry and leadership. Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of her denomination's flagship church, issues a stirring call for a new generation of women in ministry: to teach, to preach, to shepherd, and to lead.

In The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations, psychology professor Dr. Jaime Kurtz applies the large and ever-growing body of research on happiness and decision-making to enhance the experience of travel. An avid explorer, study abroad instructor, teacher, and happiness researcher, Dr. Kurtz shows how anyone who has a vacation in his or her future can create the most meaningful, fulfilling, and joyful experiences possible.

To the people of Sweet Water, a fading railroad town on the Western plains, Mrs. Forrester is the resident aristocrat, at once gracious and comfortably remote. To her aging husband she is a treasure whose value increases as his powers fail. To Niel Herbert, who falls in love with her as a boy and becomes her confidant as a man, Mrs. Forrester is by turns steadfast and faithless, dazzling and pathetic: a woman whose charm is intertwined with a terrifying vulnerability.

Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope, even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story. In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts, even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith.

Whether it’s the TV or radio continually playing in the background or the persistent pinging on our phones, the constant noise and frenetic pace of modern life can be overwhelming. The cacophony of cultural messages that permeate the air produces an inner restlessness that says, “You should be doing more, saying more, posting more, and sharing more.” More than ever, we need sanctuary, not only as a refuge from the noise around us but also as a place where God’s truth can be clearly heard.

At age 12, Ashlee Nichols fell in love with her brother's best friend, Beau Jacobsen. Everyone thought she was cute, and that her crush was simply a crush. But her young heart had known he was the one, and she had planned on marrying him as soon as she was old enough. Unfortunately, when she confessed her feelings to Beau, he'd laughed, patted her on the head and told her he was flattered. Sure, Beau had been 22 at the time, but she knew she wouldn't always be a little girl. Just when she turned 18 and was finally old enough to date him, Beau joined the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan.

Spring is a time for a fresh start, which is exactly what Coroner Olivia Jones needs. A small town where no one knows who she is. Except the future proves to be uncertain when the blizzard snow thaws and a dead body is found. Olivia determines the woman didn't die of natural causes. She was murdered. When another body shows up, the FBI is called in. Agent Hank Masters specializes in profiling. He works closely with Olivia when a third body is discovered and they realize they have a serial killer on the loose.

Sarah Ivill contends, “As we study prayer through the lens of the unfolding story of Scripture, it will teach us how to pray, but more importantly it will reveal the Covenant God to whom we pray.” And such an endeavor provides the foundation and motivation necessary to enrich our prayer life. See how Old Testament prayers find their fulfillment and transformation in Christ. Discover boldness and joy in prayer because Christ is the high priest who gives us access to the throne of grace. Moreover, look forward to an eternity in which our prayers will consist of unhindered praise.

These 50 true inspirational stories as told by the people who lived them will encourage your heart and fill you with hope. No matter what life circumstances you're facing, God is right there with you. He's with you in the middle of the pain, the heartbreak, and the unknown. You'll be inspired, awed, and comforted by these intimate real-life moments of when God showed up mysteriously, tangibly and gloriously offering his love, his peace, his deliverance, his comfort, and his healing power.

God delights in transforming lives. In Broken into Beautiful, singer and songwriter Gwen Smith's first book, she tells the real-life stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls and the God who makes them beautiful again. Each chapter features a compelling personal story coupled with relevant biblical teaching and application. Listeners will meet women wounded by infidelity, abortion, widowhood, abuse, and other tragic events, only to discover the joy of being restored by a loving heavenly Father.

While many leadership books focus on the individual, Lifelong Leadership offers a comprehensive mentoring community model to support and develop Christian leaders, extending the work of God in and through ministry. This model was inspired by Leighton Ford as a way to inspire and support young leaders. MaryKate Morse is the inheritor of this leadership legacy. Her team has developed the mentoring community model, which is easy to replicate in a variety of settings.