2018 Christian Book Award finalist (Devotion and Gift category) He Holds My Hand is a page-per-day 365-day devotional. Based on Scripture, this devotional is written as if God the Father is speaking His words of comfort and protection directly over you. When Carol Kent’s son was sentenced to life in prison without parole, Carol was consumed with grief, sadness, and despair. She was distraught wondering why God permitted this to happen. She had prayed for her son since he was a small child. He had been raised with biblical principles and daily prayer. As Carol tried to make sense of everything, she couldn’t help asking, Where’s God when it hurts so much? In the middle of her sorrow, Carol turned to the place where she had always gone for comfort—the Bible. She was desperate to hear God’s voice. She soon discovered that the best way for her to “listen” to His voice was to meditate on Scripture and then write out what she believed He was saying. She wrote it as if it was His prayer over her life, and it comforted her. It was as if He took her by the hand, as a father would guide a child, and He gently led her in the direction of unconditional love, renewed hope, and fresh faith. Know without a doubt that God is with you and stands ready to protect and guide you. He holds your hand, and He won’t let go. Listen to God’s voice and put your hand in His. He is your Comforter, your Healer, your Teacher, and your Joy. Remember He holds your hand, and He won’t let go.

This heartwarming picture book reassures children that a parent’s love never lets go—based on the poignant lyrics of JJ Heller’s beloved lullaby “Hand to Hold.” “May the living light inside you be the compass as you go / May you always know you have my hand to hold.” With delightful illustrations and an engaging rhyme scheme, this book offers the promise of security and love every child’s heart longs to know. From skipping stones and counting stars to climbing trees and telling stories, every moment is wrapped snugly in the certain warmth of a parent’s presence and God’s blessing. With poignancy and joy, this bedtime read captures the unconditional love parents want their children to know but so often fail to express amid the chaos of daily life.

Why write this book now? Well, I’ll tell you. I’ve been thinking about writing this book for a very long time. When the thought of this book would become fresh in my mind, I would put it off. I graduated from high school on May 18, 1955. I often wondered about my classmates—where they were and what they were doing. Some of my classmates I had not seen since that day years ago. One particular day, September 27, 2004 to be exact, I was thinking about a female classmate of mine named Jeanne. I had not seen her since the day we graduated from high school. I called Roger Polk, who was also a classmate of mine and now resides in Los Angeles , California , to inquire about Jeanne. While making the call to Roger, I was in the process of cutting my grass. Roger and I talked for a while and he assured me he would try to locate Jeanne. During the conversation, I told Roger, once he located her number, to call me and put her number on my answering machine, because with the lawn mower going, I would not be able to hear the phone. We hung up and I went back outside to cut the grass. When I got to the third post of my backyard, the phone rang so I went back inside, answered the phone, and said “hello.” The other end said, “Hello, Johnny Springer.” I answered the phone and said “hello” again and asked, “Who’s speaking please?” And the voice said Jeanne. Quite naturally, I thought Roger had already spoken to her, and had given her my number and told her to call me. So about three to four minutes into the conversation, I asked her if she talked to Roger, and she used one word that surprised me, and that word was no. I immediately asked her if she meant she had not spoken to Roger. She replied yes, and that she had not spoken to him in a long time. I said, “You have got to be kidding me.” She said, “No, Johnny, I am serious.” I told her that about forty-five minutes earlier, I had called Los Angeles and asked Roger if he could find your number and ask you to get in touch with me. So, we continued to talk about her job, when she retired, and what she had been doing since then. She replied that she had experience in writing books. So I mentioned that I was interested in writing a book but didn’t know how to go about it. She said she probably would be able to help me, and that is why I stopped putting this book off and made the decision that day to write this book. In my heart, I believe that God inspired her to call me forty-five minutes after I called Roger to inquire about her. I know that this is going to be a helpful book for the saved and the unsaved. This is one place where we all must play by the same rules. He is a fair and a just God and he changes not. Romans 2:11 - “For there is no respect of persons with God” Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever”

You’re never ready for calamity to strike. Carol Kent and her husband Gene were devastated by the news that their son killed his wife’s ex-husband. Gene and Carol were buoyed in their faith by eight principles, gleaned from the story of Abraham and Isaac: Over the course of eight chapters Carol explores the power of unthinkable circumstances, relinquishment, heartache, community, hope, faith, joy, and speaking up.

Praise for Serena Mackesy: "A modern day Rebecca, mixed with a suspense-filled Gothic novel and served up with generous helpings of wit--a real treat."--Associated Press When Bridget gets a job caretaking a country manor house, she thinks it will mean a fresh start for herself and her daughter. With their new names, she has hope for the future. But Rospetroc House has its own dark secrets. Serena Mackesy is a journalist and novelist. Her first novel, The Temp, soared into the Sunday Times Top 10 and was followed by Virtue and Simply Heaven. She lives in London.

After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior’s voice and listen for what He was saying to her. The result was Jesus Calling, a collection of personal reflections based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace found in the Scriptures. Through these messages, countless people have been encouraged to experience a deeper relationship with the Lord as they also learn to listen for His voice in the pages of the Bible. In Experiencing God’s Presence, the first study in the Jesus Calling Bible Study Series, you will be encouraged to lay down your cares and just spend time each day with your heavenly Father. As you follow the Lord’s instruction to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), you will encounter His peace, be filled with His strength, gain a new perspective on your situation, and experience the full life that only He can provide. Each of the Jesus Calling Bible Studies include devotional readings from Jesus Calling, selected passages of Scripture for reflection, Bible Study questions, and additional questions and activities to help you apply and live out the material. This study can be used for personal reflection and Bible study or in a small-group setting.