Longing for God's Closeness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Daily Prayers What does it take to feel closer to Him when our daily prayers seem to falter? *** Oftentimes, there is this distant feeling within us when we meet God in our prayers. And it breaks our heart because we try so hard to connect to Him, yet we are just distracted with the worries of this world. What then can we do, to reawaken this longing for closeness to Him, the longing to rely on His forgiveness and mercy? It is not easy to call upon the heart to be present in prayers. We try our best to connect to Him, but still we find our mind wandering someplace else. Thus, in this book, Ayesha Syahira shares with raw honesty about her reflections on discovering the beauty of prayers through patience, surrendering and hope.

Do you long for the closeness with God that you've tasted in fleeting moments? You can begin to fill that longing by developing your capacity to receive and respond to God's love. In this rich resource Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe introduce you to people from the past who have known God deeply and model the seven paths to intimacy with God from Christian history.

Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? The good news is that “something more” does not mean “doing more.” God is not waiting for you to get your spiritual life “right.” He wants to be with you right where you are. The real question is not “What does God want from you?” but “What does God want for you?” Sharon Jaynes understands what it’s like to have a “glory ache”—a longing to experience God’s presence on a daily basis. She also knows how easily working for God can get in the way of intimacy with God. And she’s discovered that we tend to make our faith journey much too hard. In A Sudden Glory, Sharon uses Scripture and story to help you erase the line between your “spiritual life” and your “daily life” as you enter the sanctuary of God’s presence even in the middle of your busy, messy day. Here you will find your eyes opened to moments of sudden glory in which the Creator assures you of His love as you live and move and have your being in Him. Here you will discover true freedom—the freedom of experiencing God in a deeper and more intimate way than ever before. Includes Bible study and discussion guide.

Experiencing God can at once inspire worship, incite fear, melt us in love, and increase our desire to experience Him more. Such is the unique relationship we have with the Once we call Almighty as well as dead Friend. In Rhythms of the Inner Life, Howard Macy Plumbs the depths of one of Scripture's most heart-tugging books, the Psalms, to explore seven typical heart responses to God's interaction with each of us--longing, waiting, trembling, despairing, resting, conversing, celebrating. As we become alert and sensitive to these inner spiritual rhythms, we will learn to walk ever more closely with the God who holds and delights in us.

We admire these men for their greatness, but the truth is Augustine grappled with sexual passions. Martin Luther struggled to control his tongue. John Calvin fought the battle of faith with worldly weapons. Yet each man will always be remembered for the messages he declared-messages that still resound today. John Piper explores each of these men's lives, integrating Augustine's delight in God with Luther's emphasis on the Word and Calvin's exposition of Scripture. Through their strengths and struggles we can learn how to live better today. When we consider their lives, we behold the glory and majesty of God and find power to overcome our weaknesses. If ever you are complacent about sin, if ever you lose the joy of Jesus Christ, if ever you are dulled by the world's influence, let the lives of these men help you recapture the wonder of God. Part of the The Swans Are Not Silent series.

"In order to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus, we need to reevaluate our perception about the Holy Spirit," states author Tommy Almonte in his new release, The God That I Know: A Journey to Intimacy. Almonte chronicles his journey towards greater intimacy with the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit radically transformed his life. He writes: "I have come to understand that the pursuit of intimacy in a relationship is like water or oxygen to our bodies. The desire and pursuit of intimacy keeps a relationship alive. As time passes by, intimacy in a relationship becomes the road map to a long and happy friendship and life." Written in an easy-to-read style, this book is formatted in six different sections, including a study guide that allows readers to go deeper into the concepts highlighted in the book. Among the many topics covered in The God That I Know: A Journey to Intimacy are: How to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit The personality of the Holy Spirit Requirements for intimacy with the Holy Spirit What God expects from our relationship with Him About the author: Tommy Almonte is a native of the Dominican Republic. His family relocated to the United States when he was very young. Tommy has devoted his life to helping others develop a closer relationship with God, and he has developed curricula and classes for this purpose. He and his wife, Theresa, reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with their daughter, Sophia.

Written in a clear and down-to-earth fashion that weaves together daily life and faith, The Nearness of God draws extensively on scripture and on key elements of the Catholic faith in order to lead the reader on a journey of rediscovery. The journey follows the story of God’s love and longing for his people, God’s gift of his life to creation, God’s gift of himself in covenant and in Christ.