*Where Love Is, There God Is Also* by Leo Tolstoy is a profound short story that delves into the themes of love, compassion, and the divine presence in everyday life. Set in a humble context, the narrative follows the life of a poor shoemaker named Martin Avdeich, who grapples with feelings of loneliness and despair after the loss of his family. As the story unfolds, Martin has a transformative dream in which he receives a divine message: he will encounter God the next day. Filled with anticipation, he prepares himself to recognize the divine in those he meets. Throughout the day, he encounters various individuals—each struggling with their own hardships. Rather than a grand revelation, Martin discovers that God's presence is manifested in acts of kindness, compassion, and genuine connection with others. Through his interactions with the needy and downtrodden, Martin learns that love is the true essence of divinity, bridging the gap between humanity and God. Tolstoy masterfully weaves a narrative that challenges readers to perceive the sacred in the ordinary, highlighting that every act of love contributes to the greater tapestry of existence. Readers are drawn to *Where Love Is, There God Is Also* for its simplicity and depth. Tolstoy’s eloquent storytelling and moral insights make this work a timeless reflection on the nature of love and spirituality. This book serves as a poignant reminder that love and compassion are pathways to experiencing the divine, encouraging readers to embrace these values in their own lives. Owning a copy of this remarkable tale is an invitation to explore the profound connections that bind us all, making it an essential addition to any literary collection.

"What you are doing I cannot do, what I’m doing you cannot do, but together we are doing something beautiful for God, and this is the greatness of God’s love for us.” —Mother Teresa, from Where There Is Love, There Is God In this book, Mother Teresa’s relationship with God and her commitment to those she served—the poorest of the poor—is powerfully explored in her own words. Taken largely from her private lessons to her sisters, published here for the first time, Where There Is Love, There Is God unveils her extraordinary faith in, and surrender to, God’s will. Love is perhaps the word that best summarizes Mother Teresa’s life and message. She sought to be an extension of God’s heart and hands in today’s world. She was called to be a missionary of charity, a carrier of God’s love to each person she met, especially those most in need. Yet she did not think that this was a vocation uniquely hers; she believed each person is in some way called to be a carrier of God’s love. Through the practical and timely advice she offers, Mother Teresa sets us on the path to closer union with God and greater love for our brothers and sisters.

“God is love is the radical claim of Christianity,” writes Frederick Bauerschmidt at the beginning of this little meditation on the essentials of Christian faith. In a rich yet accessible style reminiscent of C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton, Bauerschmidt breathes life back into that claim, drawing from Scripture, great Christian and non-Christian writers of the past, and his own lived experience to show just how countercultural and subversive Christianity is actually meant to be. Eschewing the abstract and dogmatic in favor of the relational and inviting, he offers something for everyone, from lifelong churchgoers and students of religion to the growing population of “nones” among younger generations who are increasingly seeking spiritual fulfillment outside of institutional Christianity. With further reading suggestions (both scriptural and nonscriptural) at the end of each chapter, The Love That Is God is the perfect starting point of a spiritual journey into deeper relationship with God. Michael Ramsey Prize (2023)

Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible. Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra. What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived? What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence? What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans? John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others. This simple phrase, "Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible," could help us practice what we preach by creating a world where: spiritual community provides a sense of belonging where all people are received as we are; the most important question we ask of a religious belief is not Is it true? but rather, is it helpful? it is morally impossible to pledge complete allegiance to both Jesus and America simultaneously; the way we treat others is the most tangible and meaningful expression of our belief system. In If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk, John Pavlovitz examines the bedrock ideas of our religion: the existence of hell, the utility of prayer, the way we treat LGBTQ people, the value of anger, and other doctrines to help all of us take a good, honest look at how the beliefs we hold can shape our relationships with God and our fellow humans—and to make sure that love has the last, loudest word.

Her family secrets burst in the spotlight when Aimee and her sister went to the authorities. In this riveting memoir Aimee Cabo shares the inside story of a young girl's courage to stand up to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse while facing her abusers in a trial the media dubbed "The Case from Hell." As she fought court battles, poverty, abuse, and addiction Aimee always turned to love and God. Love is the Answer, God is the Cure is a story of a woman who triumphed against all odds, persevered to find true love and form a family that could withstand anything.

"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16). In this famous passage, St. John expresses the heart of the Christian faith and the essence of the Christian image of God. In the same verse, he also offers a kind of summary of the Christian life: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us." In God Is Love, Anthony Kelly, CSSR, takes this phrase as a concise and profound expression and unpacks it for thinking Christians today. He explores seven ideas that are necessarily implied in the love that God is-the Trinitarian terms, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the cross and resurrection as events within the paschal mystery; the church as the revelation of God's love being worked out in history; and finally, the ultimate hope for eternal life and heaven itself.

Ryan and Selena Frederick were newlyweds when they landed in Switzerland to pursue Selena's dream of training horses. Neither of them knew at the time that Ryan was living out a death sentence brought on by a worsening genetic heart defect. Soon it became clear he needed major surgery that could either save his life--or result in his death on the operating table. The young couple prepared for the worst. When Ryan survived, they both realized that they still had a future together. But the near loss changed the way they saw all that would lie ahead. They would live and love fiercely, fighting for each other and for a Christ-centered marriage, every step of the way. Fierce Marriage is their story, but more than that, it is a call for married couples to put God first in their relationship, to measure everything they do and say to each other against what Christ did for them, and to see marriage not just as a relationship they should try to keep healthy but also as one worth fighting for in every situation. With the gospel as their foundation, Ryan and Selena offer hope and practical help for common struggles in marriage, including communication problems, sexual frustration, financial stress, family tension, screen-time disconnection, and unrealistic expectations.