Picks for Book Lovers

What is truth? This has become the defining question of our time. But while everyone has an opinion, truth, it seems, is getting harder and harder to find. Perhaps that's because we are searching for something when we should be looking for someone.

Truth has a name. Truth is not a river that changes with the cultural currents but a rock and the cornerstone of all we are and ever dream to be. Adamant will be an anchor for your soul in a raging sea of opinions, giving you a clear sense of direction in a wandering world.

• Appendix 1 - Additional Scripture Passages for Chapter 6
• Appendix 2 - Lessons From Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

The dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can't focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie's boat. Ellie knows her sister isn't on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn't kill her-would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth-and family-is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it's too late.

There's a secret place under the Almighty's wings where we can enjoy liberty and protection. How can we discover it? Using personal examples and profound biblical insights, John Bevere explores the sovereign authority of God, highlights the difference between submission and obedience, and shows how surrendering to the divine unlocks the kingdom's provision.

This revised and updated edition includes a brand-new chapter, discussion questions, and highlighted themes.

Nothing lifts us out of fear and weariness like hope. An anchor through life's storms, hope buoys our spirits and seeks to make a way when we face tough times. After 40 years of ministry and speaking to hurt hearts, Max Lucado has learned that the promises of God will give you the strength you need. Each chapter in Unshakable Hope explores one Biblical promise that will help equip you to face every day with courage. Includes reflection questions for individual or group study.

Encourage your children to pray circles around their biggest dreams! Weaving the ancient story of Honi the Circle Maker with 100 easy-to-understand messages, Batterson teaches kids how to be brave and bold in their petitions---and assures them that God will always respond in big or small ways. Ages 8 and up. Hardcover.

If God had it His way, what would our churches look like?

In his most powerful book yet, Pastor Francis Chan digs deep into biblical truths, reflections on his own failures and dreams, and stories of ordinary people God is using to change the world.

As Chan says, "We've strayed so far from what God calls Church. We all know it. We know that what we're experiencing is radically different from the Church in Scripture. For decades, church leaders like myself have lost sight of the inherent mystery of the Church. We have trained people sitting in the pews to become addicted to lesser things. It's time for that to change."

When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride-even more than for our own lives? Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was … and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be.

Bonus Videos: The 4 videos from Francis Chan's BASIC Study series (Fellowship, Communion, Teaching, Prayer) are included here as additional material for you to feel free to use in your church. They are not part of the "Letters to the Church" series.

With a fresh voice, Debra Fileta invites you to explore why a lifelong commitment is truly worth the sacrifice. From her experience as a counselor and wife, she'll help you see the beautiful exchange that occurs when couples choose we before me.

Many couples say "I do" with high expectations but the reality is that a joyful marriage takes work! In Choosing Marriage, Fileta highlights eight powerful choices that will help you take your relationship from average to exceptional.

There’s no doubt the world is in trouble. We see tragedy in the streets and violence in the news. We hear increasingly divisive political debates that spotlight the deep and bitter divisions in our society. We feel the pain and confusion of a culture that seems to be coming apart at the seams.

How do we explain so much chaos? How do we live with such turmoil? And is there any hope for peace in our time?

As one of the world’s most beloved Bible teachers, Dr. David Jeremiah is the perfect voice to help answer these questions. And in Escape the Coming Night, Dr. Jeremiah walks through the perfect Scripture for these uncertain times: The Book of Revelation. In Dr. Jeremiah’s hands, this exploration of Revelation is shocking and eye-opening, but also consistently uplifting—and a vital message for our time.

This book details the remarkable life of Billy Graham-a life described not as a legend or a spiritual giant, but in the way Franklin Graham has always seen it: through his father's eyes.

Many have written about Billy Graham, the evangelist. This is the first book about Billy Graham, the father, written from the perspective of a son who knew him best. In Through My Father's Eyes, Franklin Graham delves into the lessons his father taught him through the years. Special features include:

• 24 pages of family photos – some never before seen.
• Strong scriptural teaching in every chapter with practical wisdom.
• Never-before-shared family stories rich with history.

As the founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Rachel Hollis developed an immense online community by sharing tips for better living while fearlessly revealing the messiness in her own life. Now, in this challenging and inspiring book, she exposes the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively, lies we've told us so often we don't even hear them anymore.

Magnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines' warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight from the heart of her home, with recipes inspired by dozens of Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple's new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table.

Jo believes there's no better way to celebrate family and friendship than through the art of togetherness, celebrating tradition, and sharing a great meal. Magnolia Table includes 125 classic recipes - from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to small plates, snacks, and desserts - presenting a modern selection of American classics and personal family favorites. Complemented by her love for her garden, these dishes also incorporate homegrown, seasonal produce at the peak of its flavor. Inside Magnolia Table, you'll find recipes the whole family will enjoy, such as:

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Asparagus and Fontina Quiche
• Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Balsamic Reduction
• Peach Caprese
• Overnight French Toast
• White Cheddar Bisque
• Fried Chicken with Sticky Poppy Seed Jam
• Lemon Pie
• Mac and Cheese

Full of personal stories and beautiful photos, Magnolia Table is an invitation to share a seat at the table with Joanna Gaines and her family.

In Unstoppable, best-selling author, global evangelist, and human-trafficking activist, Christine Caine enthralls us with true stories and timeless principles that will equip us to run the race of our lives, receiving the baton of faith in sync with our team, the body of Christ.Your race is now. This is your moment. When you run with God in his divine relay, you can't lose. You're running the race you were born to win. It's time to run a new way. It's time to realize you are unstoppable.

Young Amish woman Maggie Esh struggles with rheumatoid arthritis---and her desire to marry. Meanwhile, her widower father has taken a much younger wife. Maggie's anxiety about her health, unsettled family situation, and meager marriage prospects is eased by the words of a traveling evangelist---and the friendship of his son. Dare she hope for a brighter future? 352 pages, softcover from Bethany.

We all know it's important to study God's Word. But sometimes it's hard to know where to start. What's more, a lack of time, emotionally driven approaches, and past frustrations can erode our resolve to keep growing in our knowledge of Scripture. How can we, as Christian women, keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible?

Offering a clear and concise plan to help women go deeper in their study of Scripture, this book will equip you to engage God's Word in a way that trains your mind and transforms your heart.

For many years, missionary Sarah Young kept a prayer journal, recording her thoughts and prayers. Then she decided to start listening for what Jesus might be saying to her in her daily journey. The journey she started encouraged her heart, along with thousands of others the world over. Her meditations became the now classic devotional, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. These 365 days of readings share the words and scriptures Jesus laid on her heart to share. As you read these words of inspiration and encouragement you'll be brought closer to Jesus presence, experiencing His love and peace. Hardcover.

What happens when we stop worrying about difficult people and simply love them? A revolution! In this follow-up to his best-selling Love Does, Goff shares how he learned to accept others without inhibition, insecurity, and restriction---including when he befriended a Ugandan witch doctor. Discover how a no-limits embrace of everybody can transform the world. Paperback.

A Brand-New 3-Book Series from New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter. What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?

Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.

Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?

Sometimes we ask What is God's will for my life? when we should really be asking Who should I be? The Bible has an answer: Be like the very image of God.

By exploring ten characteristics of who God is - holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious, faithful, patient, truthful, and wise - this book helps us understand who God intends for us to be. Through Christ, the perfect reflection of the image of God, we will discover how God's own attributes impact how we live, leading to freedom and purpose as we follow his will and are conformed to his image.

Fierce Marriage is a call to put Christ at the center of your marriage, measuring everything you do and say to each other against what Christ did for you. With passionate personal stories and practical, gospel-centered advice, the Fredericks help you handle five key areas of marriage: priorities, communication, money, sex, and conflict.

Their hopeful approach will help you to see marriage as not just a relationship you should try to keep healthy but also one worth fighting for - in every situation.