Your prayer was answered. Now what?

The spouse you prayed for is here, but a sadness sets in that you can’t explain. The job you prayed for came through, but now you are overworked and overwhelmed. The baby you prayed for has arrived, but you haven’t slept since. You wonder, Isn’t an answer to prayer supposed to feel better than this?

Melissa Miller knows the feeling. She prayed for a job opportunity across the country and wanted to grow her family through adoption, but she didn’t expect to wake up every morning disoriented and wondering if God had picked the right person. She was tempted to push down her struggles because, after all, this is what she prayed for (and she didn’t want to seem ungrateful). Instead, she dove deep into Scripture, research, and therapy to learn how to keep showing up in a story that was different from what she’d imagined. In But I Prayed for This, Melissa helps you face the hard parts of “good” transitions as you:

• Drop the guilt and recognize that mixed emotions are normal (and not forever)
• Grow in gratitude by reframing your thoughts and reclaiming your peace
• Let go of the lie that you are stuck or that you prayed wrong
• Allow Jesus to shape your story and your heart in new ways

But I Prayed for This provides a pathway to care for your soul, permission to be in process, and reassurance that God’s love is big enough for both your gratitude and your grief.

The post But I Prayed for This first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

The world’s main criticism of Christians: Too judgy.

Judgment. We feel it. Husbands feel judged by their wives. Parents are judged by their kids. Moms judge other moms. And maybe you’re worried that you’re the “judgy” one. Whether you’re conflicted over your son’s lifestyle, your daughter’s messy room, or social media outrage, you’re not alone.

At the same time, we live in a “Who am I to judge?” culture. And since the Bible both supports and warns against judgment . . . to judge or not to judge, that’s one touchy question.

With warmth and wisdom, Shannon invites us to step inside six stories: Noah, Rahab, Jonah, Simon the Pharisee, the Blind Man, and the cross. We’ll find biblical clarity on judgment and mercy and be moved by what matters to God. If you’re exhausted by conflict and judgment, you can trade condemnation for compassion and encounter God’s lavish mercy.

The post Kinda Judgy first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Two generations of a Muslim Indian family grapple with what parts of life we control and what we must humbly accept in pursuit of the American dream.

In suburban Miami, sixty-year-old Sakeena—co-owner of a Dunkin’ franchise along with her husband, Ramzan—has nine months to live unless she consents to an organ transplant. Thirty years ago, at Ramzan’s behest, she left her beloved Rawalpindi, India, for the United States. In the years that followed, she compromised her belief in naseeb, the Muslim notion of destiny, and acquiesced to fertility treatments. This time, she is adamant that she should live as intended—without medical intervention. As her health deteriorates, Ramzan desperately seeks to reunite their grown children with the hope of convincing Sakeena to extend her life.

But there are complications. Eldest daughter Fareen is consumed by an important business deal that, if successful, will land her a highly desired (and lucrative) promotion. Meanwhile, youngest son Adnan is living abroad and unable to return to the States due to his own unscrupulous business practices, a pattern stretching back to his adolescence. If they have any hope of saving their mother’s life, the siblings must take extraordinary action to wrestle with their life choices, actions that reveal the always-present tension between ambition and fate.

Brought to life by prose that captures the spirit of contemporary Miami as effortlessly as it conveys the challenges of running a Dunkin’ franchise, Abundance is a beautiful, moving read from an exciting new American voice.

Story Locale: Miami, FL; India

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Resilience isn’t about returning to who you were before; it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be after you’ve been knocked down. Sharing her personal experiences and biblical wisdom, a gifted writer shows how you can lament, learn to stand again, and ultimately rebuild a beautiful life.

A Roadmap for Coming Back Stronger After Life’s Hardest Falls
· How to lament, learn to stand again, and ultimately rebuild a beautiful life
· Helps you understand how you grow and change as a result of life’s challenges and disappointments
· A hopeful, encouraging, and energizing book for the hurting

There’s no such thing as bouncing back. Whether that sentence made you frown in disagreement or sigh with relief that someone finally gets it, this book is for you. There’s a lot of talk about resilience these days, but true resilience isn’t just maintaining a positive attitude in the face of obstacles or returning to where you were before some difficulty or trauma occurred. It’s a lifelong practice of falling, learning, and rising again with each new challenge. It’s about becoming who you’re meant to be.

With deeply personal stories and biblical reflections, Charaia Rush guides you through a process of building resilience through the cycles of failure, faith, and transformation. She shows you how to
· face your fears
· own your story–yes, even the hard parts
· release relationships, roles, or mindsets that no longer serve you
· reclaim your intrinsic worth apart from achievements or approval
· redefine success
· trust the process
· hold on to hope even when the future feels uncertain
· and more

Firmly grounded in God’s promises, this practical and hopeful book offers a road map for rising again after life’s hardest falls–while finding purpose in the process.

The post The Myth of Bouncing Back first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Riveting stories brought to life in a novel brimming with factual accuracy, beautiful prose, and historical characters.

The Nazi regime’s bloody wake in Europe persists as they brutally send “undesirables” to their deaths in concentration camps. As a young Jew, Hannah leaves behind her mother and sister as she flees certain death, arriving in Le Chambon in search of refuge.

Driven by their deeply rooted faith in God, Protestant pastor André Trocmé and his formidable wife, Magda, have turned the unassuming community in the foothills of the French Alps into a quiet resistance-a haven where they shelter escapees from Hitler’s ever-tightening fist. It’s here that an author pens his Nobel Prize-winning novel and finds answers to his questions about God; and just outside the village borders, a one-legged female American spy sets up an operation to organize the French Resistance.

But a sadistic crew is on the rise. Under the supervision of the Butcher of Lyon, Gestapo officer Herr Lauer pursues the Jewish girl. Hannah was in his sights, but when she evaded him, his explosive rage and thirst for revenge set him on a spiraling mission to track her down-leading him straight to Le Chambon.

With lyrical prose and historical accuracy, Mark Buchanan weaves together a thrilling narrative from the real-life stories of a pastor, refugee, spy, and author, tangled together in a plot against the Reich.

The post What Is Left of the Night first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

God is speaking to you in your dreams, more often than you know. This insightful guided journal based on the lessons from the national bestseller The Power of Your Dreams helps you decipher those messages and put His wisdom into practice.

The average person spends twenty-six years of their life sleeping. That time was created not only to enjoy the physical benefits of rest but to engage in the presence of God and access His guidance for day-to-day life and spiritual growth. Written by pastor and bestselling author Stephanie Ike Okafor, this dream journal offers a practical companion to The Power of Your Dreams, while also standing on its own as a biblical guide for anyone longing to understand how God speaks at night.

Designed to help you remember and understand your dreams, this interactive resource will allow you to give your dreams back to God as an act of both prayer and worship. In addition to offering ample writing space for recording your dreams, the journal includes:

• reflections on sleep and hearing the voice of God
• insightful prompts
• biblical meanings of common symbols and numbers
• practical interpretation tips
• and soothing prayers for sleep

As you pour out your wondrous, difficult, or confusing dreams onto these pages and better learn how God might be speaking to you through them, may you gain a deeper understanding of God’s presence in all aspects of your life…including your times of sleep.

The post The Power of Your Dreams Guided Journal: Record Your Dreams and Discover How God Speaks Through Them first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Take Notes alongside Scripture with this ESV Journaling Study Bible Featuring 12,000 In-Depth Study Notes.

The  ESV Journaling Study Bible pairs the content of a robust study Bible with extra-large, 2-inch margins that are perfect for writing observations, prayers, and more as you study God’s Word. Featuring more than 12,000 study notes adapted from the ESV Study Bible, this journaling Bible also includes nearly 900 special facts, 120 Bible character profiles, 10 topical articles, a glossary of key terms, more than 80 maps and illustrations, and 80,000 cross-references. These and many other features make it the most comprehensive and content-rich journaling Bible available today.

• Perfect for Journaling: 2-inch ruled margins are ideal for taking notes during a sermon, recording prayers and praises, or illustrating alongside Scripture
• 12,000 Study Notes: Accessible study notes on every page help readers dive deeper into Scripture’s meaning and application
• Robust Bible Resources: Includes 80,000 cross-references, 80+ maps and illustrations, 10 topical articles, 120 Bible character profiles, and more
• Easy-to-read Layout: Double column format with 7.5-point type

The post ESV Journaling Study Bible (TruTone over Board, Paris Sky, Fleur-de-lis Design) first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Love covers a multitude of sins… but sometimes it needs a well-timed push.

Between three teens on the brink of independence and triplets who never sleep past dawn, Dana and Josie already have their hands full. But when two grumpy, love-averse coworkers make their lives even messier, the frazzled moms step in with a little matchmaking to turn their nightmare colleagues into each other’s blessing.

What could go wrong?

As family drama unfolds and a village of volunteers descends upon a women’s shelter, the well-meaning meddling turns into mishap. Soon Dana and Josie discover that love in all its forms isn’t something you can manage, organize, or fix, no matter how hard you try.

With humor, heart, and a cast of characters you’ll want to invite over for coffee, The Frazzled Moms Play Matchmaker is a mom-com about motherhood, friendship, and the surprising ways love shows up when you least expect it.

The post Frazzled Moms Play Matchmaker first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, Boston, and Dubai, can a storyteller win back the love of her life through tales sprinkled with faith and love?

Boston-based Delphina Tulasi, a therapeutic storyteller, has shunned men. A year after a major betrayal, she accompanies her mother Lucia, a matchmaker, to Las Vegas to help her run an exclusive speed-dating event.

Alexander O’Hara, a CFO with secrets of his own, accepts Lucia’s invitation to attend. He meets Delphina. They go out on a date in Las Vegas and return to Boston where their love blossoms. All goes well until Alex goes on a long business trip to Dubai. A visit from someone in her past confuses Delphina, lures her back to a previous relationship, prompting her to break up with Alex.

After a few dates with her ex, Delphina recognizes the mistake she’s made and becomes determined to win back Alex. She uses her creativity, spins stories based on truth, and sends them in videos across the internet.
But will it work?

The post Mesmerize first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.

Don’t Try to Pray Like Her will fill you with confidence that God wants to hear your prayers, no matter how you pray.

What if you could actually enjoy praying?

Believers know praying is a commandment and not just a good idea but being told to pray doesn’t automatically birth a love for prayer in anyone.

We know we should pray, but precious few of us enjoy a healthy prayer life. If we manage to squeeze prayer time into our busy lives, we often end up feeling like our efforts are wasted and fruitless because we aren’t doing it right.

Author Shellie Rushing Tomlinson knows how it feels to be stuck in a hit-or-miss prayer life while longing for a deeper connection with God. Shellie helps believers move past this common struggle so they can enjoy the life-transforming gift of prayer.

Don’t Try to Pray Like Her: Fifteen Simple Habits to Enjoy a Realer, Richer Prayer Life is packed with Southern charm, humor, and fifteen prayer habits drawn from Shellie’s own experience. They’re each built around a short story and a practical prayer support that will help you learn to enjoy lingering in God’s presence.

Scripturally anchored and perfect for personal reading or small groups, Don’t Try to Pray Like Her will reshape how you experience God in prayer, one real conversation at a time.

The post Don’t Try to Pray Like Her: Fifteen Simple Habits to Enjoy a Realer, Richer Prayer Life first appeared on Shelves Bookstore.