Bøger udgivet af Upper Room Books

Learn to listen for the voice of God. Our soul speaks ... but can we hear it? In our noisy and overcrowded lives, it's often difficult to find the space to listen deeply to our own inner voice, let alone the voice of God. In Speak, My Soul, spiritual guide Marsha Crockett leads you through seven pathways for slowing down and discerning God's promptings in your daily life. Using the psalms as a spiritual roadmap, the journey will include seven weeks of daily meditations, prayers, practices, and prompts to help you enter and explore the quiet landscape of the soul, speaking to you even now. Speak, My Soul is ideal for both personal and group use and includes the following: - A daily and weekly rhythm for personal devotion, reflection, prayer, and suggestions for journaling - A Small Group Leader's Guide, including tips on developing listening groups, teaching active listening skills, and group dynamics - Speak, My Soul Psalms: Bonus content with reflection questions for six additional psalms - Lenten Retreat Guide - Inner Path Identifiers: a chart of traits, challenges, and disciplines associated with each of the seven inner paths for further reflections

Jesus devoted himself to uplifting the poor, reaching out to the marginalized, and fearlessly challenging systems of oppression. His message resounded with the promise of liberation, equality, and inclusion for all, and he implored his followers to pursue the same. However, the church has often struggled to reflect this good news in its own actions.In Where We Meet, four members of the Intersect network invite you to immerse yourself in the stories of Jesus and the early church. Together, they also explore their own stories, examine past shortcomings of the church, address difficult questions, and envision a brighter future that better reflects the good news of Jesus.Throughout the Lenten season, Rachel Gilmore, Tyler Sit, Matt Temple, and Candace Lewis guide you through a series of daily reflections, exploring a spectrum of critical themes-from diversity and equity to the challenges of the post-colonial church. They will also delve into the vital need for innovation and contextualization in doing the work Jesus had called us to do.Prepare to tackle challenging questions and be emboldened to follow in Jesus' footsteps, pursuing justice and love for all.

Fully Human, Fully Divine is an invitation to an embodied Advent. Over the course of four weeks, it encourages us to embrace the experience of the Advent season fully, with our whole selves and remember that Jesus showed us what it is meant to be both fully human and fully divine. It challenges us to live right here, right now as we await the birth of the Christ Child, the embodiment of God's presence in our midst. During a season that often becomes stressful and overwhelming, we are rarely permitted time to be present in our own bodies. We forget that our bodies are blessed and consecrated. God did not create the body to bring us doubt or shame, instead, God created us as living, breathing human beings who have the ability to live wholly - body and spirit together. In this book, the author, whitney Simpson, suggests practices that will help us focus on the body God created and embrace what it means to be fully human. By letting go of external demands and giving ourselves permission to be present as we listen for God in our lives, we can learn what it looks like to notice and pay attention to our bodies. Each chapter covers one week of Advent and each week focuses on one of the following themes: Slow down and hope, Simplify for Peace, Sit with Joy, and Savor God's Love. Within each week are a rotation of daily practices including breath prayer, mindful movemenet, lectio divina, visio divina (which utilizes beautiful, colorful works of art each week that are included in the book), Christian meditation, creative contemplation, and practicing presence. The book also includes tips on contemplation beyond Christmas, suggestions for small groups and small-group leaders, and advice on creating safe sacred space for small groups.

A wonderful Emmaus agape gift, this booklet was put together by pilgrims for pilgrims. Each of the 60 undated meditations elaborates on one of the 15 themes you heard during your weekend. As you read, your spirit will be nourished on your Fourth Day. You will be encouraged in your daily discipleship. You will find yourself drawing closer to Christ, participating faithfully in your congregation, and living as a Christian on mission to your community and the rest of the world.

Safe Sanctuaries has long been a trusted source of policy and procedural guidance for abuse prevention in the church. First published in 1998, Safe Sanctuaries has guided churches and other affiliated institutions as they implement abuse prevention plans for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. A changing world, however, calls for new and updated approaches to the work of abuse prevention. This new resource, Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities, builds on the strong foundation of past efforts while preparing churches for the work of the future.

Author Anne Cumings recalls growing up in a culture that scrutinized her body as a source of weakness and sin. Her church warned of "slippery slides into debauchery," and modern culture taught her that she must look a certain way to be attractive, acceptable, even lovable--something to which most women will relate. Now, equipped with a body-positive mindset, she has created an engaging and uplifting study, My Body Is Good, to guide readers through a Lenten season of celebrating their bodies.

Prayer can be wonderfully accessible to everyone. "In learning to pray, no laboratory is needed but a room, no apparatus but ourselves," Douglas Steere writes. Aware of how easily we can be intimidated by complex methods, Steere suggests that we begin by simply acknowledging our dependence on God. Prayer comes as a response to a God who "besieges us with love," he says. In Dimensions of Prayer, Steere answers common questions and concerns about prayer. Among the topics covered are petition, confession, adoration, intercessory prayer, and how to cope with dry times in prayer. This easy-to-read book offers new "pray-ers" an engaging introduction to prayer while providing valuable wisdom for mature Christians.

Are you waking several times a night, obsessing over some situation you can't control? Perhaps you're anxious about your job, a strained relationship, your children, your finances, aging parents, health issues, or the state of the world.God calls you to leave your worrying behind, Patricia Wilson reminds you in this brief book packed with helpful suggestions for letting go of your worries. Twenty-eight days of prayer can help reduce your anxiety level. Meditate on the devotions and pray the Psalms and other prayers in this practical, easy-to-use book.Let Patricia Wilson, with her warm, personal style, help you learn how to give your worries to the Good Shepherd. As you focus your attention and energy on God, you will gradually relax and see that God will take care of you, no matter what.

When The Walk to Emmaus event is over, your journey as a Fourth Day pilgrim begins. As you move into Day Four's solo daily practices of piety, study, and Christian action, you will cherish this informative booklet.

Author James Howell believes in the power of song to teach spiritual truths. "Hymns embed faith into the marrow of the soul," he writes. In Unrevealed Until Its Season, Howell takes us on a 40-day journey through well-loved hymns. A meaningful Lenten devotional guide for individuals and small groups, Unrevealed Until Its Season is also a valuable resource and perfect gift for musicians as they prepare for worship, and for ministers as they lead worship. Weekly themes include Praising God, Hymns About Jesus, Hymns of Forgiveness, Hymns of Vision, Hymns of Beauty, Hymns of Holy Week, and Hymns of Easter. Howell ponders phrases from old and new hymns, such as "Be Thou My Vision," "Hymn of Promise," "All Creatures of Our God and King," "For Everyone Born," "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "Lift High the Cross," and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

"Trevor Hudson gently but forcibly shows us how to inhabit the Serenity Prayer. His words are extremely well crafted and accessible. You can just enjoy them. The prayer will come to you through his presentations. You can sit with it and let it penetrate your body and soul. If you do that, the gift of serenity will come to you in the grace of God. You an be sure of it." Dallas Willard, author of "The Divine Conspiracy" and professor of philosophy, University of Southern California