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ECPA BESTSELLER • The lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for award-winning contemporary Christian band Tenth Avenue North shows readers that by seeking God first and focusing on serving Him, we can live daily in His will."Perhaps God isn't giving me the plan because He wants to be the plan."This was the aha moment for Mike Donehey after years of wrestling with his obsession to know God's specific plans for his life. He came to the realization that waiting for absolute certainty from God before making decisions may seem uberspiritual, but it can lead to a life of intense stress, paralyzing fear, and crushing regret--just the opposite of the freedom granted to those living a Christ-filled life."This is my story...how I gave up begging to know God's will and began to ask His life to come and change my will."With his signature humor and relentless hunger for God, Mike will show you that discovering the Father's purpose and plan for our lives is not the shell game that we all too often make it out to be. If you're unsure what to do next, take heart and accept the ultimate invitation: learn to see God as the plan, not simply the formula to the plan.

The winner of The Next Food Network Star season five and New York Times best-selling author of Ten Dollar Dinners shares how God used food to invite her into His love.It wasn't until Melissa d'Arabian evaluated her relationship with food in light of her relationship with God that she began to appreciate food as not only a gift from him but also as a deeper invitation into his love. As she prayed, studied Scripture, and reflected on the stories from her own life, Melissa saw how God had used food to draw her into community, to redeem her moments of greatest tragedy, and ultimately to connect her more to him.In Tasting Grace, Melissa shares sixteen invitations that will transform your perception of food and the role it plays in your own life, from equality to connection to hospitality to stewardship and more. She explains how through her experiences, she learned to trust the ingredients--in recipes and in life--and join God in the act of creation.Whether you are a mom struggling to throw together a healthy meal for your family each night or a single woman longing for fellowship around your table, you will draw encouragement and inspiration from Melissa's reminder that all food, first and foremost, is a gift from God. When you return to him as the source, you will find the freedom to enjoy his beautiful and delicious creation.Advance praise for Tasting Grace"What a beautiful book. Using stories of her own triumphs and pain, Melissa digs past the surface layers of food as we see it on television, in cookbooks, and on social media. Rather, she helps us think about it in a whole new way-as nothing short of a spiritual force, a vessel through which we can experience (and extend) compassion, comfort, fellowship, love, enjoyment, and grace. It has given me a brand-new lens with which to examine the deeper significance of the food I cook, eat, and share."-Ree Drummond, author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks"The intersection between faith and food is endlessly interesting to me, and Melissa articulates the significance and beauty of that intersection so well. Melissa is a great storyteller, and she invites us into her story and gives us a seat at her table with graciousness and wisdom. This is a lovely, meaningful book."-Shauna Niequist, New York Times best-selling author of Present Over Perfect and Bread and Wine"This is a beautifully written book. These aren't just words on pages; they are an invitation to a feast, to hospitality, and to finding lasting purpose in your life. Melissa has set a table fit for a King, pulled our chairs, and reminded us there's a place for us here. This is a book that will not only feed your imagination but also your soul." -Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody Always

The Old Testament book of Daniel comes to life in this novel for readers of Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series or Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series.FINALIST FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD®Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

Discover the three secrets to happiness--and much more--in the later years of life.Never before in human history have so many people lived for decades beyond their working years. 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, and their average life expectancy is another 20 years--and many will live longer. But will they just live or have a meaningful life? The truth is that many--if not most--people approaching the latter years do not have a plan, much less a strategy to thrive instead of just survive. Packed with information based on research as well as common-sense wisdom, here are some examples of what readers will discover:  •  How retiring at the wrong time increases the likelihood of dying 89%.  •  What can delay Alzheimer''s onset an average of 9 years.  •  How everything that makes you happy comes in just 3 forms.  •  Which partner is most likely to initiate divorce after decades of marriage and why.<

Based on the story of the apostle Paul's near catastrophic shipwreck (see Acts 27-28) , this is a call to individuals to "shake off" problems and disasters in life and move forward to new health and wholeness. Some days you feel as if you take one step forward only to fall back two-or ten- steps. You struggle and push through one obstacle after another. You know God is present, but when is he going to rescue you from all the storms, shipwrecks, and snakes surrounding you? The apostle Paul faced a great crisis such as this on his epic voyage to Rome, which ended with a disastrous shipwreck-yet every person aboard was saved by grasping broken pieces of wood. In Shake Free, Samuel Rodriguez issues a powerful call for you to shake off your problems. He writes, "When the storm breaks in your life, you will be driven by: • the past or the future • the pathetic or the prophetic • problems or promises • nightmares or dreams • the flesh or the Spirit • Google searches or godly churches • the drama of the storm or God's destiny for your life." Rather than merely surviving circumstances, you can discover how to navigate through life's challenges to truer wholeness and bigger victories from God. "Shake Free…will help you break free of emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens.… This book is necessary for all those who are ready to take back control of their lives!" -DeVon Franklin, producer and New York Times bestselling author "In Shake Free Samuel Rodriguez explains that God's way is not just the best way; it's the only way.… This book…will change your life!" -Robert Morris, founding senior pastor of Gateway Church and best-selling author of The Blessed Life and The God I Never Knew

My First Rodeo is a heartwarming collection of stories that reveal the ups, downs, and delights of being a family man, from a guy who never dreamed of being one.Happily unmarried with no desire for a change in status, Stoney Stamper met a beautiful lady with two daughters, and to his surprise fell head over boots in love. At the encouragement of family and friends, he decided to chronicle his new life and created the popular blog--The Daddy Diaries. My First Rodeo will inspire those just starting out with families to hang in there, they can do it. And for those well beyond the child raising years, it will be a poignant reminder of the enduring goodness of family.

For readers who love a heartwarming romance and a rich historical setting comes a tale of a young woman with a heavy burden, the International Cotton Exposition, and the pursuit of true love.Eighteen-year-old Laurel Millard, youngest of seven children, is expected to stay home and "take care of Mama" by her older siblings, but Laurel has dreams of starting her own family. Operating a silk loom at the Atlanta Exposition will give her the chance to capture the heart of a man wealthy enough to take care of Laurel and any children she might bear, as well as her mother.Langdon Rochester's parents have given him an ultimatum: settle down with a wife or lose his family inheritance. At the Exposition, Langdon meets Laurel. Marrying her would satisfy his parents's command, she would look lovely on his arm for social events, and in her besotted state, he believes she would overlook him continuing pursuing rowdy adventures with his unmarried buddies. Langdon decides to woo Laurel. Willie Sharp is not well-off and must take on an extra job at the Atlanta Exposition as a security guard. When mischief-makers cause trouble in the Women's Building, Willie is put in charge of keeping the building secure. He enjoys visiting with Laurel, who seems like the little sister he never had, but his feelings for Laurel change to something much deeper. Can Willie convince Laurel that he can give her better life--even with so little to offer?

Who doesn’t have questions about God? But where in the world can you go to get answers?  Eric Metaxas has been there, so he gets it. Which is why he’s written this shockingly down-to-earth book on the big questions everyone asks (but not always out loud). Totally conversational and sometimes flat-out hilarious, this book asks: * How can a good God create a world that has evil and suffering? * Is God anti-sex? * Doesn’t science make God obsolete? * What’s the real story on miracles? * If God is everywhere, why go to church? * Don’t we already have God within us? * Isn’t God too busy running the universe to care about the details of my day? These questions (and many more) get no-nonsense answers that don’t hide behind dull theological language. So get the lowdown (and more than a few laughs) on what are probably the most important questions anyone has.

This guidebook, packed with wisdom, practical advice, resources, and encouragement, explores how moms can equip their sons with what they most need to succeed in life.Monica Swanson knew she''d tapped a heartfelt concern when nearly two million readers shared her blog post "What a Teenage Boy Needs Most from His Mom." In this helpful book, she takes mothers deeper into the insights they need for the boy-raising journey, covering topics from dealing with the daily influences of friends and technology to helping a boy grow to be physically, spiritually, and emotionally healthy. She also addresses learning and finding passions, perspectives on relationships and dating, and work ethics and money management. Each chapter features relatable stories, handy checklists, and practical advice based on a combination of research, experience, and biblical truth to guide and equip a mom in helping her son achieve his God-given potential.Praise for Boy Mom“In Boy Mom Monica Swanson offers readers practical advice and resounding hope that parenting our sons well through all seasons is not only possible but also enjoyable. This book is like an essential trail guide that I’ll refer to again and again in the beautiful and challenging adventure of motherhood.”—Becky Keife, author of No Better Mom for the Job and mom of three spirited boys “Monica Swanson is the friend we all need in our lives: humble, straightforward, warm, full of wisdom, and short on nonsense—and she knows her stuff like no one else. In Boy Mom she holds the bar high yet is forthcoming about her own struggles and imperfections. Inside these pages you’ll find deeply rooted biblical and practical advice along with calls to action when you don’t know where to start. The Boy Mom Manifesto at the end will not only inspire you but also make your heart swell.”—Kate Merrick, author of Here, Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World “Monica Swanson is the ultimate Boy Mom mentor. While her perspective on parenting is grounded in biblical wisdom, each chapter holds excellent practical tools for how to work out that wisdom on a daily basis in our homes. Of course, we know there aren’t formulas that will ensure we get it all right, but we also know that gleaning wisdom from women who have gone before us (and are still in the trenches with us) is invaluable in the wonderful adventure of helping boys become all God created them to be.”—Jeannie Cunnion, author of Mom Set Free

What you read plays a pivotal role in shaping the person you will become. In the pages of Indelible Ink, you can meet the writers and thinkers who most deeply influence twenty-two of today’s top Christian authors. Each of these trusted Christian leaders–whose lives and ministries impact millions around the world–points you to the most valuable books from the past and present, including fiction, biography, theology, devotional works, histories, even commentaries and reference works. These are the books that left the greatest imprint on the lives of the leaders who are making a spiritual imprint on today’s generation.This unique collection of new essays reveals the inner life of these modern-day leaders and points you to the godly, life-giving wisdom that has shaped their faith. With direction from today’s leaders, you can discover the most important written works of our Christian heritage... and be empowered anew in your own journey of faith.

Chaos, tragedies, broken relationships, wars, disasters, plagues–in this world there is no end to bad news. Hard questions haunt us: If God really is who He says He is, how can He allow these things? If He’s God, why doesn’t He intervene? If we can’t find hope and help in the midst of these tough times, those questions can crush our spirit and deaden our faith.But now, beloved Bible teacher and author Kay Arthur guides readers to discover the answers revealed in the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, so that they can know God, understand Him, and love Him more fully, no matter what happens.In When Bad Things Happen, Kay Arthur shares bold answers to those questions and helps readers solve the dilemma. But more than that, they''ll encounter God and come to understand, love, and appreciate Him more deeply. They''ll discover that God is big enough to handle their questions, and strong enough to deliver them from pain and doubt. And as a result, they''ll be equipped with strength and courage so they can minister to others who wrestle with the same questions.

For every time you’ve tried too hard, fell too far, or struggled too much, the refreshing cups in this book–or reminders of God’s infinite grace and mercy–will renew you like cool, clear water after a long, dry walk on a dusty, pitted, uphill road.“I’ve been a believing Christian since childhood,” author C. David Baker explains, “but it’s my personal failures that have led me to the deep well of Grace.”David poured his dashed hopes, broken dreams, haunting doubts, and paralyzing fear down that well and found all that’s collected here, all he, like you, needs for living with peace, joy, and purpose: cool cups of relief, comfort, revival, and sustenance.Because Water Is Life.And 101 Cups of Water Will Quench Your Thirst.

Business degree in hand, Logan enters the immense Universal Systems building and is hired as an organizational analyst — a trouble-shooter. His job: evaluate the company’s five divisions, each on a separate level and each operating on startlingly unique principles. Which set of principles is successful? Why is most of the company’s profit generated by one tiny division? What is real profit, anyway? And who is the enigmatic executive that Logan ends up reporting to?Logan engages in a life-changing pursuit for The Next Level–a fascinating parable that will help you answer some of life’s most perplexing and vital questions. Joining Logan in evaluating each level’s approach, you’ll be inspired to consider the big picture of your own life from an entirely different perspective — one that holds the key to life’s ultimate purpose. No matter where you are now, get ready to embark on your own passionate pursuit of The Next Level.

“Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” Nobody in Skary seems to know for sure…It appears that everyone in Skary, Indiana, is having an identity crisis of epic proportions–including the town itself. Once known as the haunt of the world’s most popular horror writer, Wolfe “Boo” Boone, Skary started losing tourist business after Boo abruptly abandoned his career. Now the little town with the big marketing hook is up a creek–and on the brink of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the former best-selling author is hawking [or selling] cars and wondering, like the rest of the world, if he’ll ever write again. Yet even as Boo’s literary career gracelessly plummets, his fiancée, wholesome Ainsley Parker, is shooting to stardom as the media’s darling new domestic diva. Weave in a dreaming bride with a bargain dress and a few too many pounds on her hips, an unconventional therapist who has Skary in his thrall, a depressed cat, a dogged busybody, and a horde of strange, ghostly figures traipsing in and out of the woods, and it’s easy to see why Skary is the quirkiest–and most charming–town around.

Life is more like a marathon than a sprint. Here’s how to stay well conditioned.Bill Butterworth will make you laugh–and learn while you’re doing it! In the opening chapter of this powerful little book, Bill shares with you how, while running his rotund body in a nightmarish 440-yard dash, he learned a great lesson:Life is much more like a marathon than a sprint.The attitudes and actions that result in steady success over the long haul are what make for long-term satisfaction and achievement. To experience this for yourself, you need to understand how to deal with life’s inevitable challenges:·The “Hazies”–losing sight of long-term goals·The “Lazies”–lacking the self-discipline to bring life back into focus·The “Crazies”–allowing life to run out of controlEach of these can be conquered by three “clarifying triangles:” setting clear priorities, learning the discipline of endurance, and reaching the finish line through skillful pacing. It all adds up to a succinct and inspiring guide to balancing excellence at work with fulfillment in all of life.Also look for the On-the-Fly-Guide to Building Successful Teams!

You’ve already been set free by Christ.When are you going to start experiencing that freedom?What does it look like when a man lives out a truly authentic, loving walk with Jesus Christ? It looks like freedom.The Apostle Paul, a man made new by the gospel of Jesus Christ, presents one of the clearest images of the godly man in action. He’s committed to a life of faith, focused on the Spirit instead of the flesh, set free to love others. No longer focused on himself, he demonstrates his faith by serving others. You can be that kind of man by claiming your freedom in Christ. Being God’s man means being set free to exemplify Christ’s love.Being God’s Man by Claiming Your Freedom will stimulate personal reflection and honest dialogue with God and other men. The goal is that you will strive to be God’s man in every way–feeling his heart for others, and doing his will obediently and joyfully.Special Features:·Practical studies–for individual use or group settings–facilitate personal encounters with God and other men·Questions encourage genuine reflection and help build godly convictions·“Real Life” case studies show how the truths you discover have worked out in other men’s lives·“Standing Strong” section gives you the opportunity to identify action steps for lasting change.

Is God keeping you waiting?Does it feel like God has pushed the pause button on your life? If you’re frustrated by God’s apparent slowness, don’t assume that having to wait is a waste of time. God does some of his most important work in your life during these divine delays. Many of the men and women of faith that we read about in the Bible had to endure long, difficult seasons of waiting before they could fulfill God’s destiny for their lives. And just like these biblical heroes, you can learn how to see what God is doing–and how he is changing your life–while you’re waiting.Don’t miss out on the richness of this God-ordained lag between catching a vision for your calling and seeing God fulfill it. No matter how long you have to wait, you can be transformed as God prepares you to fulfill your divine calling.

Wellington Boone, author of the popular, well-reviewed Christian marriage manual Your Wife Is Not Your Momma, delivers the unvarnished truth about what it takes for Christian believers to become Christ-like.While becoming a believer in Jesus and joining the Christian faith are a gift of God a person need only accept, following Jesus requires much more. To walk in the footsteps of Jesus means making sacrifices like those he made if one is to imitate the example of Christ every day.In The Low Road to New Heights, Wellington Boone elucidates the often difficult path to becoming a true disciple of Christ. Through examples drawn from real life and passages from the Bible, Bishop Boone gets to the heart of the matter: by living a humble life, Christians can conform to the character of Jesus. In an engaging style, Boone offers a serious spiritual regimen–a kind of high-energy Christian aerobics routine–that will last a lifetime. For those who want to move from being Christians in name only to being spiritually committed followers of Christ, Boone provides the no-nonsense, down-to-earth advice and inspiration they need to achieve their goal.

Become the Family That Prays Together. AROUND THE WORLD, married couples, parents, and individuals have learned to pray powerful prayers for their children, their spouses, their babies, their marriages, and their own lives, aided by the spiritual encouragement and guidance of husband-and-wife team David Kopp and Heather Harpham Kopp. Now, praying with power becomes a fun-filled family affair with the help of kid-friendly activities and ideas. Designed to capture the kids’ interest and meet many of mom and dad’s core spiritual needs, this fun, story-oriented devotional tool is perfect for every parent and child who wants to have a vital, Bible-based prayer life. This practical guide includes key scriptures, prayer and devotional text, Bible trivia, prayers for special occasions, “truth to go,” and more for the spiritually growing family.

From Spelling Tests to Future Mates–Learn to Pray for Every Aspect of Your Kids’ Lives.AS A PARENT, you want your prayers to have an impact on the lives of your children. But how can you ensure that will happen? What are some of the vital things you should pray for? How can you claim God’s glorious promises for your kids? In Powerful Prayers for Your Children, you’ll find the answers to these questions, along with rich, Scripture-based prayers that will show you how to communicate more confidently, more fervently, and more effectively with the Lord. Most important, your prayer life will be forever changed as you learn to pray more intimately and wisely to the One who loves your children most of all.

Love Is Calling. How Will You Answer? One of our greatest desires is to know we are loved by our Creator. Yet the depth of our apprehension is often equally strong: If I listen, we wonder, what will God say? If I open myself up to blessings, what will God require in return? As we trace this line of thinking, the God of all goodness becomes, in our minds, the God of our worst fears.Embrace a Love That's Worth the Risk. God is far greater than our most expectant dreams. While he does often ask everything of us, he actually wants everything for us. He doesn't want blind loyalty or bored religious compliance; he longs for nothing less than our entire passionate self-something most of us have yet to glimpse. God's desire is that people lean in, listen, and wrestle with him so that they can respond to him without fear.Can this God be trusted? Absolutely. Will the journey be easy? Not a chance. But once you learn to listen to love, you'll find that there's only one way you can adore this unmanageable, unpredictable, wild, and unruly God: with your whole heart.

A Son’s Addiction. A Mother’s Heartbreak. A Family’s Crisis. As the wife of a prominent city attorney and the mother of two teenage children on the brink of adulthood, Glennis Harmon lives the kind of successful, high-profile life that many people envy. But when nineteen-year-old Jacob is drawn into substance abuse, Glennis’ “perfect” world shatters like a crystal vase rocked from its once-steady shelf. Glennis struggles to understand the response of her family as they seek to support Jacob’s recovery. Her husband appears more concerned with protecting his image than with finding help for their troubled son, but Glennis becomes determined to save Jacob no matter what the cost. Stepping into a rescuer role, she unintentionally puts her relationship with her older daughter, Sarah, and her already strained marriage on the line–and a revelation about her husband will push her to the brink of what she can bear. How far should a mother go to save her child?A compelling, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful novel about the impact of substance abuse and addiction, Crystal Lies is an intimate portrayal of one mother’s attempt to simultaneously love, trust, and let go.

Two Worlds. Two Women. One Love. In 1975, an American girl named Genevieve loses her mother when a plane full of orphans crashes in war-ravaged Vietnam. Miles away in the countryside, seven-year-old Lan, a Vietnamese girl, is forced out of her family home by her own brother who has joined the Viet Cong. Worlds apart, these two girls come into womanhood struggling to recover a sense of family–until their journeys suddenly converge. Lan has grown up in the harsh realities of post-war Vietnam, but she yearns for a better life for her children. Meanwhile, Genevieve marries and, faced with infertility, decides to adopt a child from the country her own mother loved so deeply. But the uncertainty and risk of international adoption threatens to overwhelm both women before their hearts and their families can be healed. Beyond the Blue is the story of enormous losses, unthinkable choices, and the transforming power of God''s love for the children of the world.

A Better Life Is Calling. Are You Ready to Answer?Consider the current state of your life: your work, your relationships, your accomplishments. Are you in the place you’d hoped or expected to be? Is this the best life you could be living? Or is something missing–something you have not yet discovered or articulated that could lead you to the rich, fulfilling life you desire? Fulfill Your Purpose. Decrease Your Stress. Expand Your Life. In your spirit you know the truth: You were born to walk a more fulfilling path, where the definition of success is tailored to your unique gifts and talents. Author, speaker, and life coach Valorie Burton will help you find this path and step onto it with confidence. In Listen to Your Life, you will discover powerful strategies and tools that will enable you to hear what your life is saying to you, take action, and finally live in the abundance of joy, purpose, and true success for which you were created.

It was a story Jesus liked to tell. If a man owned a hundred sheep and one of them wandered away, he would, without hesitation, leave the ninety-nine and search for the one. And when he found that lost sheep he would celebrate with great joy. In the same way, Jesus concluded, our Father in heaven–like the shepherd–is unwilling for any of his sheep to be lost. Yet all too often God’s sheep do wander from the flock. Sometimes, for reasons that are hard to discern, they stray on their own. Other times they’re driven away, perhaps wounded by an unkind word or thoughtless deed. In Bring ’Em Back Alive author Dave Burchett shows us the importance of bringing these lost and wounded lambs back to the fold–or, when we’re the ones who wandered, becoming willing to return. He explains, step-by-step, how to replenish the spiritual strength of Christ’s body. And he reminds us that we, like the shepherd, can know the joy that comes when a lost sheep returns home. Every believer is a precious part of Christ’s body. When even one is missing, the church lacks power and is less than whole. Whether we’re victims, perpetrators, or innocent bystanders we’re called by God to seek restoration. And when one of God’s sheep goes missing we have no choice: We must Bring ’Em Back Alive. Includes questions at the end of each chapter for discussion and reflection.

The Bible is the most quoted book in the western world, and likely the most misunderstood. It is often thought to be little more than religious mythology, or a collection of moral and ethical guidelines, or a series of quaint but irrelevant legends. But what if the Bible were read on its own terms, as a highly personal and unbelievably passionate love story? What if the Bible is really a wild tale of relentless pursuit, the diary of a God who can’t bear to be separated from the people he loves? In God on Paper you’ll share in a conversation that takes a new look at Scripture, a dialogue that entertains doubts and questions about the value–and the validity–of the Bible. And you’ll encounter an amazing love story of divine proportions. Go ahead and join the conversation. You might be surprised by what you find.

Worship leader Dennis Jernigan opens his heart to help you overcome the persistent problems in your life.Persistent sins. Troublesome fears. Powerful addictions. Is there any hope of overcoming these giants that keep us from experiencing God’s freedom?Dennis Jernigan enthusiastically answers, “Yes.” And he shares his personal story to show how God has helped him overcome the giants in his life.In Giant Killers you’ll meet Goliath and other giants in the Bible that represent overwhelming problems that plague everyone–fear, discouragement, shame, and more. And you’ll discover five God-given “stones” that, when fired from a sling, are sure to fell these giants.Having overcome homosexuality–a behavior pattern many consider unchangeable–Dennis Jernigan speaks with authority on the subject of defeating spiritual enemies. Through his inspiring devotional approach, you’ll draw closer to God, the source of all power for victory.

“When it’s time for me to go, I just want to know that my life made a difference, Lord…”–Emma Estes’s journal, January 1During her long and rich life, Emma Estes had a powerful impact on the lives of countless people–from the neighborhood’s latchkey kids to the community of elderly women who all consider themselves her “best friend.” It seems the only people Emma could not reach were those in her own family.After Emma’s death, however, something strange happens: her personal “Living on Purpose” journal mysteriously disappears. As the search for it unfolds, Emma’s life continues to have a dramatic, unexpected, and miraculously healing influence on those she loves most–as well as those she has never met–including her henpecked son Stuart; her tormented daughter, Judy; her emotionally fragile granddaughter, Ashley; and brokenhearted widower Ben Shoffner and his young daughter, Sunshine. A story of hope, inspiration, and real-life encouragement, Emma’s Journal offers comforting assurance that a life lived in faith truly can make a difference.