What if it really wasn't that hard to find more peace, more quiet, more room in your heart for the Christ child to be born? Hawkins will guide you—calmly and simply—through the busy season of Advent, and you'll come out of the four weeks more centered, rested, and spiritually renewed. "The idea for this book arose from my own experience of contemplative prayer, prayer that finds its home, not in busy doing or speaking, but in becoming, in being," writes Hawkins. Some Advent titles promise reflective simplicity but actually require a lot of time or reading; Simply Wait is the exception. The exercises are very doable and focus on anticipation, hope, patience, and obedience. Questions and journal space are provided to help you contemplate more fully. This is an ideal individual or small-group study; a guide for groups is included. Instead of doing more and moving faster, find a way to reflect more, worry less, and connect authentically to the season with the grace-filled wisdom of Simply Wait.

Behold is an old-fashioned word we rarely hear these days. It's not in most modern translations of the Bible. Yet Pamela Hawkins says this word softens the edges of her heart. "I cannot say this word without moving, without extending and lifting a hand, palm open, toward the object of my attention," she remarks. Enter Advent this year with an attitude of curious expectancy and trustful anticipation. Linger for a while and pay close attention to the meaning of the season as you focus on a single word each week, pray the beautiful prayers and hymn texts, and try various forms of prayer. You can follow all the spiritual practices Hawkins suggests or choose the ones that most capture your attention. The spiritual practices include reflection silence prayer reading scripture reading or singing of hymn texts Christian service and action You will learn how to use the following prayer methods: Praying with Images Silent Prayer Prayer Beads Compline (Night Prayer) Behold the Word with new eyes, new ears, a new heart, and a sense of new possibilities. Let Pam Hawkins encourage and help you behold the "news of great joy," Christ the Lord, who is coming to make all things new! 4-week study for individuals or small groups Includes Leader's Guide

What the critics are saying about Just Wait Until We Get Home: "It looks like a really great book...judging it by its cover. I haven't actually read it yet, but I hope to soon."--Boston Accent & Times Tribune "A subtle murder mystery with deep, complex characters and an interesting, involved subplot make this story a real suspense-filled page turner...or no, wait, hold the line a second, that's a different book entirely. Uhm, I believe we have some sort of mix up here. Sorry about that. Nevermind!"--Southern Drawl & Globe Gazette "The book Just Wait Until We Get Home! is an abomination. It is in no way representative of the people of the great Midwest, the heartland of our country. We are not all vandals and criminals. I think Tristram Hoosier should get a day job."--Midwestern Twang & Town Crier In Tristram Hoosier's second book about his family and growing up in Gary, Indiana, a neighbor's garage burns down, a grandmother reminisces about how Tristram's great-grandfather was arrested during Prohibition, an aunt makes a drug bust, a neighbor kid builds a real, working cannon in metal shop and a church bake sale turns into a disaster. Just Wait Until We Get Home! clearly illustrates that it's never too early to start procrastinating.

Sutton Spencer's ideas for her life were fairly simple: finish graduate school and fall in love. It would be a lot simpler if she could pinpoint exactly what she should do when she graduates in less than a year. Oh, and if she could figure out how to talk to a woman without feeling like a total mess, that would be great too. Charlotte Thompson is very much the opposite. She's always had clear steps outlining her path to success with no time or inclination for romance. Her burgeoning career in politics means everything to her and she's not willing to compromise it for something as insignificant as love. Fleeting, casual, and discreet worked perfectly fine. When they meet through a dating app, it's immediately clear that they aren't suited for anything more than friendship. Right?

What is the relationship between waiting and time? Is there an ethics of waiting, or even an art of waiting? Do the internet, online shopping and text messaging mean that waiting has come to an end? On Waiting explores such and similar questions in compelling fashion. Drawing on some fascinating examples, from the philosopher Henri Bergson's musings on a lump of sugar to Kate Croy waiting in Wings of the Dove to the writings of Rilke, Bishop, and Carver, it examines this ever-present yet overlooked phenomenon from diverse angles in fascinating style.

While trying to score a date with her cute co-worker at the Scooper Dooper, sixteen-year-old Audrey gains unwanted fame and celebrity status when her ex-boyfriend, a rock musician, records a breakup song about her that soars to the top of the Billboard charts.