Sacrament Of Happy
$16.99
Imagine hearing your physician tell you that chips and queso contain more nutritional benefits than kale and quinoa. Or opening an envelope that looks like just another bill, and unfolding instead an official document declaring you the sole beneficiary of an anonymous billionaire’s estate.
In her new book, The Sacrament of Happy: Surprised by the Secret of Genuine Joy, Lisa Harper unveils a similarly extravagant, unexpected surprise, declaring that happiness-just plain feeling happy-is a gift from God that you can unashamedly enjoy.
Wearing the twin hats of seminarian and belly-laughing adoptive mom, Harper delivers a warm, vignette style built upon solid theological scaffolding. She observes, for example, that God’s choice of wording for the first verse of the first psalm (a word often translated as “blessed”) literally means happy-one of many biblical reasons for dismantling the old-school idea that joy, not happiness, is the truly spiritual one of the Christian family. In truth, they’re more like fraternal twins than distant cousins, meaning we as Christ-followers are not called to jettison happiness-like a no-longer-needed set of spiritual floaties-as we learn to swim in the deep waters of intimacy with God. Beyond merely a circumstances-based, up-and-down emotion, happiness comes from a deep conviction in the unmitigated goodness of our Creator-Redeemer, freeing us to feel and express genuine joy, fulfillment, and contentment, regardless of personal or global tumult.
The author’s personal story includes such happiness killers as sexual abuse, the deaths of near loved ones, a heartbreaking failed adoption, followed by the arrival of an adopted daughter from Haiti who is HIV-positive. Yet she writes on themes like: “The lost sacrament of laughter”-“Does happy have a personality type?”-“Tuning out the Pharisees who try to mute your happiness in the context of spiritual maturity.” So this is obviously not a book of trite, untested cliches. It goes well beneath most people’s surface understanding of happiness, gently guiding readers closer to the heart of God . . . with naturally a few genuine laughs and grins to enjoy along the way.
SKU (ISBN): 9781433691935
ISBN10: 1433691930
Lisa Harper
Binding: Trade Paper
Published: June 2017
Publisher: B and H Publishing Group
Related products
-
Devotions On The Greek New Testament Volume Two
$18.99Add to cartDevotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two contains an entirely new set of 52 devotions written by over 25 of today’s best biblical language scholars. Contributors include Christopher Beetham, Jeannine K. Brown, Peter H. Davids, David A. DeSilva, J. Scott Duvall, Nijay Gupta, Frederick J. Long, David W. Pao, Anthony C. Thiselton, Cindy Long Westfall, and many more. The main point of each devotion in Devotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two comes from a careful reading of the passage in the Greek New Testament, not from an English translation. The authors use a variety of exegetical approaches in their devotions – including grammatical, lexical, rhetorical, sociohistorical, and linguistic – and each devotion closes with a practical application or spiritual reflection. Devotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two contains a devotion on every book in the New Testament and can be used as a weekly devotional or as a supplemental resource throughout a semester or sequence of courses. These devotions will inspire you to keep reading and meditating on the Scriptures and find new treasures from the biblical text.
-
Authentic Faith : What If Life Isnt Meant To Be Perfect But We Are Meant To
$16.99Add to cart“This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”–John the Apostle Isn’t it startling how God reveals himself most profoundly in places we least expect to encounter him? He is intent on showing himself Lord in all our circumstances–in the highs and the lows alike. The faith he calls us to is far more than a glowing positivism that shields us from life’s struggles. It is one that guides us into a deepening intimacy with the God who sustains us in the broad sweep of life. Best-selling author Gary Thomas helps us sharpen our spiritual vision and fortify our commitment by examining ten disciplines God uses to forge a fire-tested faith. A biblical view of these disciplines can safeguard us from disillusionment when-not if-difficulties surface in our lives. How we respond will determine the depth and vitality of our walk with God. Sharing scriptural insights, the wisdom of Christians through the centuries, and cogent personal observations, Thomas explores the disciplines of: * Selflessness * Waiting * Suffering * Persecution * Social Mercy * Forgiveness * Mourning * Contentment * Sacrifice * Hope and Fear Drawing liberally from his storehouse of colorful and engaging stories, Thomas brings his topics to life. Find out how a message scrawled on a baseball made a big-league difference to a discouraged young pitcher. Learn how a nineteen-year-old Catholic acolyte, marked by the tragedies of war, grew up to usher in the collapse of Communism in Poland. Read the touching account of feud, reconciliation, and friendship between two of America’s founding fathers. As Gary Thomas reminds us, Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble. Paul exhorted believers to mourn with those who mourn. James wrote that God chooses the poor of this world to be rich in faith. Clearly, faith is about something other than a smooth ride through this fallen world. Rather, authentic faith is shaped, tempered, and purified in the flames of struggle. In a culture sated with blessings and comfort, Authentic Faith reveals the rich benefits that derive from embracing the harder truths of Scripture. This eye-opening look at what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus will encourage you, bolster your faith, and help you rise above shallow attachments to fix your heart on things of eternal worth.
-
Shepherd On The Search Activity And Sticker Book
$4.99Add to cart‘The Shepherd on the Search’ children’s activity book is perfect for keeping little hands busy and little hearts focused on Jesus during the Christmas season. This Christmas activity book includes two pages of stickers for extra fun and helps your child find Christ in Christmas.
From the story by Josh & Lindsey Helms
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.