"It was not long after I left the hospital in 1967 that I fell into a deep pit of depression. I was but a young girl, yet I was facing an overwhelming future - a life of total and severe paralysis. I was in desperate need for answers. . . . A young friend who often cam by my home for visits stopped by one day with a special book in hand . . . . Together, we read that book through the weeks of winter . . . . I eagerly look forward to each chapter - discovering sense in sovereignty and delighting in a new grasp on God's grace. . . . May I be the friend who stops by in your life this day? You have in your hands that same special book that I read back in that first winter of my disability. Grace grew then for me. And through grace, you will grow too!" - Joni Eareckson Tada, from the Foreword. MARGARET CLARKSON of Willowdale, Ontario, was a poet, hymn-writer, and author. She has written hundreds of articles and several books. Here she offers a thoughtful, biblical exploration of the "why" of human suffering.

"Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?" addresses the issue of suffering from the standpoint of the sovereignty of God. It teaches that we need to learn that suffering exists, and we need to learn to suffer.

A flourishing, fulfilling life is possible—no perfection required! Too many of us think we have to have it all together in order to live a meaningful life. Instead of feeling put together, we end up feeling inadequate, overwhelmed, and exhausted as we try to figure out how to do it all. Author, business owner, and mom to three Lara Casey has been there, too. In Cultivate, she offers this grace-filled advice: we can't do it all and do it well, but we can choose to cultivate what matters Written as part encouragement anthem and part practical guide, Cultivate offers wisdom from God's Word alongside lessons Lara has learned in her own life--and in her garden--giving you the tools you need to: Discern what matters most to you Embrace the season of life that you're in Find the joy and freedom that comes with cultivating what matters Let Lara be your guide as you learn to cultivate what matters, little by little, with the help of God's transforming grace. Praise for Cultivate: "Cultivate is rich soil for the soul! Whether you are a new sprout, just beginning to brave life in the light; a tender shoot fighting for space among rocks and weeds; or a mature plant in need of nurture and pruning, this book will help you thrive. With her characteristic honesty, humility, and patience, Lara Casey uses her spiritual 'green thumb' to gently nudge us toward an intentional life of godliness and growth. If you are ready for a new season of spiritual growth, dig into Cultivate and get ready to bloom!" --Elizabeth Laing Thompson, author of When God Says "Wait"

On any given night, more than half a million Americans and Canadians find themselves sleeping on the streets, in shelters, cars, and other places not meant for human habitation. Yet as this crisis continues to grow, it remains one of the least talked about—especially in churches. Even where compassion and empathy exist, the complexities around homelessness can make us feel stuck, overwhelmed, or numb to the existence of unhoused people in our cities and neighborhoods. Reporting back from his work in homeless services, minister and advocate Kevin Nye introduces readers to the Christ he’s met in tents, shelters, and drop-in centers. He demystifies homelessness by journeying into complex issues like affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, and more, while reimagining our theological approach to these matters and educating us on how they intersect with homelessness. This thorough and intimate book shows us that from the margins, Jesus has something to teach us all about grace—something that could change the landscape of homelessness entirely if we’re ready to hear it.

Helping Christian parents raise their children with grace and the gospel, this book addresses topics such as the law, God's forgiveness and love, and true heart obedience--a great resource for raising grace-filled kids.

The Winter Elf speaks to familiar feelings from childhood, especially those of fear and grief, but also of love and security. It’s Christmas time, and Clara Rose is grieving the absence of her mother who is hospitalized. The resulting family stress leaves the child feeling lost and alone. In response, she keeps her worries and tears silent, trying hard to be a 'good little girl' and not call attention to herself. When an odd but proper English elf shows up in her yard one snowy night, the little girl sees her sacrifice of self in a new light as she learns the importance of embracing her pain and opening up with those who love her. Clara discovers that it is only through sharing her hurts and hopes that her heart can find healing. The Winter Elf revisits the nostalgic enchantment of wintertime and fairytales. Reading the tale aloud, families connect and bond in the cozy evening hours before bed and learn with Clara Rose the importance of sharing one’s heart, hurt, and hope.

In 1910 Minnesota, Nilda Carlson's dreams are coming true. Though her first few months in America were difficult, her life now resembles the images that filled her daydreams in Norway. She and her younger brother Ivar live in their own house, just a short distance from her older brother and his family. Together they work the farm and fell trees for lumber. They plan to grow a dairy herd, weave rugs out of their own wool, and make skis to sell. Everything is going right. The only thing missing from Nilda's life is love. But though she has two suitors--a quiet schoolteacher and a handsome lumberjack--Nilda feels hesitant. A terrifying experience in Norway has made her cautious where men are concerned. When she thinks she sees the man in question, all her fears come flooding back. Is it possible the danger has followed her across the Atlantic? If Dreng Nygaard is truly in Minnesota, all of her dreams for the future could come crashing down around her.