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Study the Bible and Sacred Endurance Giveaway
Over the next three weeks I’ll be doing some wonderful giveaways, all leading up to two exciting announcements. These aren’t giveaways just to give you more stuff. My hope is that each giveaway will serve you as you run your race of faith. Each week will have a theme based on one of my chapters in Sacred Endurance. This week is all about studying the Bible.
A Testimony of Endurance in Transition and Grief
I’ve invited friends to share their own stories of endurance or the stories of others. My prayer is that you would be inspired and encouraged as you read each guest post. Learn more about my new book: Sacred Endurance. By Jennifer Lucy Tyler…
“Sacred Endurance” Available Now!
Often you’ll hear writers equate the book writing process to giving birth. As one who has given birth a few times, I’ll say it’s quite close. Today is Sacred Endurance‘s birthday!
I’d love for you to grab a copy! You can order your copy where books are sold or find it at these links: IVP, Amazon, ChristianBook.com, Barnes&Noble…
Sacred Endurance Book Launch Event Highlights, Quotes, and more
Thank you to all who were able to come out to the Sacred Endurance book launch event. It was a night I’ll never forget. One surprising gift was the people who drove hours upon hours to attend from Minnesota to Birmingham to Chicago; we were blessed to visit with people from all over the country. I realize that most people would not be able to take the trek to good ole’ Tennessee, so I wanted to provide a few highlights including quotes from speakers and pictures.
Sacred Endurance Podcast: catch up on Kelly, Card, Tada, and the Loves
While I was traveling around Rwanda, the Stories of Sacred Endurance podcast launched into the world. Here’s a brief update on each episode that has aired so far.
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
God’s Word tells us that to endure in this life we must fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2). But what does it mean to fix your eyes on someone you can’t see?
The Gospels tell stories about Jesus that show us his character. We learn how he interacted with people and the world around him. By studying these stories, we learn to set our eyes and hearts on him.
Jesus interacted with all kinds of people, but there’s something beautiful, convicting, countercultural, and transformative about Jesus’s interactions with women.
Charlotte Forten: A Testimony to Grace
I’ve invited friends to share their own stories of endurance or the stories of others. My prayer is that you would be inspired and encouraged as you read each guest post. Learn more about my new book: Sacred Endurance. By Catherine Parks
A Fresh Look at Proverbs 31
This past week I joined five storytellers in Rwanda to meet the incredible men and women served by HOPE International and capture stories. The stories are wonderfully encouraging but their lives were a lesson to me. On Tuesday, we drove out with another organization (Aziza Life) to learn from women of the Abumurvava Village, which means “The Courageous People” and experience the typical lifestyle of a woman in the countryside. As we drove out to this village and as I interacted with the women, I couldn’t get Proverbs 31, the famous Hebrews poem, out of my head.
Sneak Peek at all things “Sacred Endurance”
On November 12, Sacred Endurance will launch into the world and I want you to get a first look! I’m praying this book encourages us all to run the race with endurance fixing our eyes on the One who will sustain us till the end.
Join us (virtually) in Rwanda!
In a few short days I’ll be embarking on a journey to Rwanda with five storytellers to meet the incredible men and women served by HOPE International. We’ll be sharing stories and images and would love for you to join us virtually! You can follow along on social media by searching #2019InvestinginDreamsTrip. Learn more about HOPE and the trip via https://bit.ly/2Be6V1H
Many of you have offered to pray for us. I wanted to provide specific ways to pray along with however the Lord prompts you.
Introducing the Stories of Sacred Endurance Podcast
I’m excited to share with you about the Stories of Sacred Endurance Podcast. In conjunction with my book Sacred Endurance (releasing November 12) we’ve developed a podcast to take the biblical call to run the race with endurance and bring it to life with stories of modern day Christians.
The words we use to care well
Last week the ERLC hosted a national conference focused on sexual abuse and assault. The Caring Well conference was attended by over 1500 people. Overwhelming. That’s how I would describe witnessing a sea of laymen and pastors, counselors and caregivers, survivors and others pour into the conference. Emotions were high. There were moments of tears, laughter, and yes, grief. But one theme stood out to me: naming the abuse. Unfortunately, naming the offense can also start a war. Too often victims are shamed, not believed, and belittled.
Will God really fight for you?
Do you believe that you must avenge yourself? Many of us do, whether we use those terms or not. It’s why we react the way we do when we are wronged by others. God calls us to a radical love that includes loving our perceived enemies. We won’t do it perfectly, but by the grace and power of God we can do more good than harm. We can strive to live peaceably with all no matter what the cost and no matter what they’ve done or who they are.
Suffering, faith, and singing
Lately, I’ve found myself gravitating towards hymns. This isn’t anything new for me. I tend to listen to contemporary worship for a time but then always find my way back to older songs. There’s something so rich about them—theologically and worshipfully. This is not a critique of contemporary worship songs, although perhaps it could be, but rather it’s simply that my heart needs deep truth. I love the catchy, rhythmic tune from time to time and I’m grateful for the simplicity of many of the songs today. And yet I’m still drawn to hymns.
Today, Trevin Wax has a post highlighting the potential problem of one of those catchy songs. Here is an excerpt:
There’s a popular worship song I’ve heard in recent years that I just can’t sing. The heart behind the lyrics is right, and the overall focus of the song is the goodness of the Lord, but at one point, it repeats a line over and over again—that God is never going to let us down. Every time I hear it, I just can’t bring myself to sing those words…
All work matters and other stuff
I enjoy social media and at times I try to share something that could be useful for building up those who engage with my sites. Yesterday, I shared a thought that I hope to expound on soon. But until then, I thought I’d share it with you, too…
A new devotional study by Kristie Anyabwile and friends!
’m excited to share a new book with you! My dear friend, Kristie Anyabwile, had a desire to gather a diverse group of women together to create a devotional study on Psalm 119. And My Testimonies, His Heritage was born. I’m grateful to be one of the contributors!
I’d love for you to check out this video of Kristie sharing her heart behind the book.
What others are saying about “Sacred Endurance” and more exciting news…
It’s rare that people grab books they haven’t heard anything about. I generally ask a few friends or refer to social media before a purchase. I also tend to read reviews to see what others are saying. Last week, I invited you to join the launch team and book club for Sacred Endurance. Many of you have decided to join the book club already. Thank you! But I realize that I haven’t shared much about the book! To help you decide whether or not you’d like to grab an early copy of Sacred Endurance, I thought I’d share what others are saying.
Don’t forget those who mourn
I think there is a problem with our responses to controversy. It isn’t that we respond, though many could argue reasons why our responses aren’t helpful. Rather, it’s that we move on so quickly. Trillia Newbell: Mourn with those who mourn…
When writing and life meet
Over the past several weeks, we’ve read about or heard of prominent leaders leaving the faith. Some ministry leaders have decided to no longer follow Jesus. Some have decided they no longer believe. Others have fallen due to unrepentant sin. This isn’t anything new—people make these decisions often. But it has seemed to be a unique time. And over the past two years, I have been writing and editing a book on enduring in the faith, Sacred Endurance.
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