This is not your average, or even ordinary, collection of stories. Most young adults dream of the day when they are freed from the nest to take on the world and finally be independent! But for Kay Jemison, did this come at too high a price? A rollercoaster ride is typical but Kay didn't bargain on a never ending coaster of lies, bank robbery, attempted murder, and abusive relationships! Often stopping to ask God why her deck of cards was always stacked against her, she found herself wavering on getting to know Him. But something wouldn't let her give up on God or life, despite each negative experience. Her ambition led her to an encounter with God, hoping to get answers to her unanswered questions. Kay discovered that out of an overdeveloped sense of personal obligation she often repeated mistakes that risked her life, despite the danger signs. Enemies were camouflaged as friends; friends lacked commitment and integrity. Characters grew increasingly bizarre. God chose Kay, having His hand on her life, long before she even knew He existed. This story's heart is about perseverance and ambition for one's destiny while developing a relationship with God.

Daily Devotions for People Who Hate Daily Devotions Let’s face it. A lot of Christian resources can feel cheesy, out-of-touch, and a little boring. But when Skye Jethani started doodling and writing up some of his thoughts about God, his Twitter and email list blew up. What If Jesus Was Serious? is a compilation of all-new reflections (and hand-drawn doodles) from Skye. He takes a look at some of Jesus’ most demanding teachings in the Sermon on the Mount and pushes us to ask whether we’re really hearing what Christ is saying. The visual component of the book makes it memorable and enjoyable to read, and Skye’s incisive reflections make it worthwhile for any Christian. If you’ve traditionally been dissatisfied with Christian devotional resources but love to learn about Jesus and think deeply, this book was written for you.

Follow God's process for growth and find hope in life's darkest moments with Bishop T.D. Jakes' uplifting stories and advice from his own faith journey. In this insightful book, #1 New York Times bestselling author T.D. Jakes wrestles with age-old questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in all the injustice? In his most personal offering yet, Bishop Jakes tells crushing stories from his own journey -- the painful experience of learning his young teenage daughter was pregnant, the agony of watching his mother succumb to Alzheimer's, and the shock and helplessness he felt when his son had a heart attack. Bishop Jakes wants to show you how God uses difficult, crushing experiences to prepare you for unexpected blessings. If you are faithful through suffering, you will be surprised by God's joy, comforted by His peace, and fulfilled with His purpose. Crushing will inspire you to have hope, even in your most difficult moments. If you trust in God and lean on Him during setbacks, He will lead you through.

LeeSiegel, author of Falling Upwards, Not RemotelyControlled, and Against the Machine delivers a provocative critique ofmodern lightness and frivolity, and a timely guide to being serious in an unserious age. In the vein of The Culture of Narcissism, Shop Class as Soulcraft, and How Proust Can Change Your Life,Siegel offers a revelatory look at how a serious bearing is vital toaccomplishing any worthwhile goal in an era increasingly defined by a sardonicapproach to life.

Good things come to those who believe . . . right? People like to say, “Prayer works.” But what does that mean? Prayer works for what? Getting the answers from God that we want so much? While God certainly cares for your deepest needs, Skye Jethani wants you to know that prayer is so much more than a two-way transaction with a heavenly vending machine. Jesus didn’t pray like that. And with a pastor’s heart, Skye wants to take you deeper into what Jesus, the lover of your soul, had to say about talking with God. In What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?, you’ll benefit not only from Skye’s words of wisdom but his doodles that help the visual learner connect with spiritual truth. Prayer isn’t about getting answers, but getting God. We need more prayer in our lives—not because God can give us what we crave, but because He offers himself to us in love.

So let me start off by saying, if “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get.” (From the movie “Forrest Gump”) Some of mine are melted, because my life has not turned out the way I thought or intended it to be. Life has different challenges and obstacles that change us. This book is about some of the highs and lows of my life. The title “Are you Serious” was chosen because I believe that we sometimes take life too seriously. We don’t laugh enough at ourselves because we are too busy laughing at others to take the attention off ourselves. As you read each chapter you will see that my life has not always been easy. I had to endure some things because it comes from within. The upbringing of my Grandparent’s faith helped to sustain me while the fantastic four saved my life. I look back at some of the things I did and I have to ask myself, “are you serious right now?”