Christian Living

What If You're Not a Failure? What If You're Not Falling Behind? What If You're Learning?

"Every single thing that used to work has stopped working, all at the same time."

Award-winning author Shauna Niequist's mom wrote down this phrase in her mid-forties and shared it with Shauna in her mid-forties. It was exactly the way Shauna was feeling at the time. Many of the beliefs and practices that had been useful in her life no longer worked. After trying--and failing--to move forward using the same old tools, she realized she required new ones: courage, curiosity, and self-compassion.

Throughout the five sessions of her I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet video series, Shauna talks about unlearning what is no longer helpful, embracing curiosity, and making peace with the unexpected twists and turns of life. She shares candidly about the challenges and blessings she has experienced and invites participants to explore what happens when we release our expectations for how we thought life would look and open ourselves up to the freedom and peace that come from choosing to be a beginner again.

Whatever you're trying to navigate, Shauna's honest reflections offer hope for healing and encouragement to begin again. Discover that life is more about questions than answers, more about forgiveness than force, more about tenderness than trying hard.

This study guide includes:

Individual access to five streaming video sessions

A guide to best practices for leading a group

Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time

Solo study section with questions and biblical passages for reflection between sessions

Sessions and video run times:

1. When Change Comes (And It Always Does) (19:30)
2. Tender Toward Ourselves (20:30)
3. Questions, Questions (24:00)
4. Learning to be Brave (19:00)
5. Coming Home (15:30)

This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:

The study guide itself--with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.

An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!)

Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

This volume offers a timely look at the important topic of integrity. What does integrity mean? What does it involve? How do we do integrity? Drawing on his experience as a Christian, a minister, and a pastoral counselor, Ronald J. Greer explores the two sides of integrity: personal integrity and moral integrity. Personal integrity involves an integrated life, where we are in harmony with ourselves, while moral integrity reflects the evolution of the word, as the idea of morality and ethics merged with the concept of wholeness Perfect for the graduate or as a gift for anyone at a key turning point in their lives, this small book provides the insight and guidelines that will become the touchstones for a good, well-lived life.

How does the heart understand grief when it is broken by the death of a husband or wife? To survive and live forward, those who grieve must find answers. Inside the Broken Heart is for anyone who has ever grieved the death of a spouse and asked 'why?' The book meets the reader at a spiritual place reserved specifically for widows and widowers. Author Julie Yarbrough survived the sudden and untimely death of her beloved husband, a prominent United Methodist minister. As a lay grief facilitator, she believes that those who seek comfort and inspiration in grief best identify with an authentic point of view. We grieve because we love, in direct proportion to the depth of our love. Spousal love is a sacred gift ordained by God, the death of husband or wife unlike any other experience of loss. The marriage vow moment 'until death do us part' forever changes those who survive. Grief cannot be understood until it is experienced. Grief is not a crisis of faith, it is a crisis of the heart. Inside the Broken Heart uses topical references from the Bible to illuminate the unfamiliar emotions and questions of grief for the surviving spouse. Because we must grieve in order to live, the book explains spiritual and practical issues of grief and suggests specific coping strategies for widows and widowers. As journey through 'the valley of the shadow of death, ' Inside the Broken Heart guides the way back to fullness of life. Through rediscovery of hope, pain and sorrow are vanquished, death is rendered powerless, and grief is no more. We are healed by God's triumphant adequacy, 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' (Psalm 147:3). "Julie Yarbrough has walked through the valley of the shadow of death and experienced the pain and anguish of great grief, and she knows firsthand the comfort and strength that only God can provide. I commend this remarkable grief ministry program to you highly." James W. Moore, Pastor in Residence, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas "With wisdom informed by her own experience and a warm regard for those who grieve, Julie Yarbrough guides the brokenhearted on an honest journey toward acceptance and hope. A refreshingly excellent resource for grief support." Stephan Bauman, Senior Minister, Christ Church New York City "Julie Yarbrough weaves understanding, care, and comfort together in such a way that the seemingly intolerable becomes tolerable, one breath at a time. This resource provides everything you need to promote, establish, and conduct grief groups throughout the year." Judith Bone, Director of Adult Discipleship, Brentwood United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee

Justin McRoberts dares you to move beyond "it is what it is" thinking and become an agent of love and redemption in your household, neighborhood, and workplace.

"It is what it is"--a common phrase you hear and maybe even say yourself. But the truth is that there is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence that simply is what it is. Justin McRoberts invites you to embrace a new mindset: it is what you make of it.

With warmth, wisdom, and humor, McRoberts shares key moments from his twenty-plus years as an artist, church planter, pastor, singer-songwriter, author, neighbor, and father, passing on lessons and practices learned about making something good from what you've been given rather than simply accepting things as they are.

Thought-provoking but actionable, It Is What You Make of It declares that love doesn't just win, mercy doesn't just triumph, and light doesn't just cast out shadow. Rather, such renewal requires the work of human hands and hearts committed to a vision of a world made right (or at least a little better). When we partner with God in these endeavors, we love the world well and honor the Creator in whose image we are made.

We will not be remembered for who our parents were or where we were born or what our socioeconomic circumstances were. We won't be remembered for our natural talents and strengths or the opportunities we were given or the challenges we faced. In the end, each of us will be remembered for what we made with what we were given.