It's easy to let self-criticism become our default setting. But as we learn to pay attention to what bugs us and identify negative thinking, we can lean into the things that bring us joy. Filled with spiritual practices and creative exercises, this book from spiritual director Cindy Bunch calls us to self-care through greater compassion for ourselves.
How can I more clearly recognize God's nearness and initiative in my life? As spiritual directors, Beth and David Booram have guided many people into deeper awareness of this living, present God at work within their lives. In this book they will help you learn to recognize God in and around you, reflect on your experience, and respond faithfully to God's presence and action in your life.
In this practical, personal book Gem and Alan Fadling outline eight key questions that offer deep insight into how we experience soul change and spiritual transformation. These questions help us unpack where we are stuck and also reveal the path to joy and to the heart of God. Spiritual inventories and exercises will guide you, along with stories from Gem and Alan's lives and ministry.
How can Christians effectively engage today's world while staying true to Scripture? Calling us to listen well to both the Word and the world, John Stott shows how Christianity can preserve its authentic identity and remain relevant to current realities. In this practical book, Stott explores four often-neglected aspects of Christian discipleship in light of Scripture.
Do you ever feel like you are walking in spiritual circles? While we might think it would be different for a Franciscan priest, Father Albert Haase shares the same struggles. Yet he also affirms that we are all called to be ordinary mystics. This book offers a daily path to help us learn to be a mystic—cultivating a life with God in which we draw close, listen, and respond moment to moment.
Jesus consistently demonstrated his concern and love for the whole person, and that task is carried forward today by church leaders. Based on the 2018 CPT conference, this volume brings together reflections by pastors, theologians, and psychologists who explore the relationships among three fields of study—theological anthropology, spiritual formation, and modern psychology—resulting in a vibrant whole-person theology.
Life is full of questions—about our identity, our relationships, our faith—and sometimes it seems like there are no easy answers. But our questioning can lead us on a journey into greater understanding and purpose. Jeffrey Keuss takes us on a tour of Scripture to find insights from people who asked questions of God and others, exploring what those questions can teach us about doubt, faith, and uncertainty in our everyday lives.
Pastor Jeff Tacklind knows that the spiritual journey can be winding and halting rather than a constant ascent of growth—full of paradox, tension, and surprises. Drawing from the natural world and following guides such as C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, and Søren Kierkegaard, Tacklind's honest and meditative account will inspire those on the winding path of following God.
The hallmarks of contemplative spirituality—solitude, silence, and stillness—have never been more important for our fast-paced society. Filled with insights and wisdom from personal experiences, Phileena Heuertz introduces us to themes and teachers of contemplative spirituality, as well as several prayer practices, and invites us to greater healing and wholeness by learning to practice faith through prayer.
What does a Christian life lived "by the Spirit" look like? Bringing together Protestant scholars and practitioners of spiritual formation, this volume offers a distinctly evangelical consideration of the benefits of contemplation. Drawing on historical examples from the church—including John Calvin, Richard Baxter, Jonathan Edwards, and John Wesley—this book considers how contemplative prayer can shape Christian living today.