Böcker av Shannon Guerra

We never know how far our callings will take us when we start pursuing them. Our initial rose-colored ideas only get us ankle deep along the shore before reality sinks in, and we're faced with opposition from out of nowhere, obstacles we don't know how to solve, and expenses that threaten to suck us under.At some point, we have to decide if it's really worth the sacrifice to turn our vision into reality. And if it's a daydream, maybe it's not worth it. But if it's a mission the Lord has called you to, then it's a different story.This, friends, is a different story: One about family, grit, and the cost of saying yes.It turns out that achieving a dream is not about walking into the sunset with romantic fanfare playing, because redemption and accomplishment rarely look like the end of a sugar-coated, feel-good movie. It's more about God moving in deep and lasting triumph in spite of everything the enemy throws at us.

What do we do when God calls us out of our comfort zone, but we're fighting fear, doubt, and insecurities? How do we take that step when we're overwhelmed with our excuses and all of the unknowns?We abide. God knows we need to hear Him in these steps, and He wants to be heard. He knows all of our obstacles and inabilities, and He's deeply in love with surrendered hearts that obey Him anyway.In volume four of Abide: A Year of Growing Deep and Wide, we find bravery for the next step.We learn that we gain nothing by withholding. We lose big time when we grasp at perfectionism and pride, but we gain everything when we lean in and know our need for Him. God is still taking the Red Seas in our lives and holding the water back for His people.So if He asks us to step out, are we willing? Bravery for the next step comes when we live by faith, not shrinking back, ignoring all of our excuses and fears. And the victory we step toward is never just for ourselves; nations and generations will be transformed by our brave obedience.

What does God think about the longings of our soul? Are our dreams for real, and for now? And if they are, how can we know what to do about them?We abide. God doesn't put these things inside us to tease us, and we don't have to fear missing His direction because He is big enough to make it known as we abide with Him.In volume three of Abide: A Year of Growing Deep and Wide, we find clarity for our longing. We learn that we are doing big, significant things with our daily, small, steadfast moves of obedience. We learn to hold our expectations with an open hand, because without surrendering the dream to God, it becomes an idol - and then a nightmare. And we see that there is a messy beauty to works in progress...and we are all a work in progress. Clarity in the longing comes when we take Him at His word, knowing He is faithful, even as we work toward something we cannot see. Because we are the ones He is growing, and He doesn't waste a thing.

What do we do when we're hungry for answers and breakthrough, but it feels like we've been taken for a ride? How do we find answers in the middle of chaos, hard situations, and heavy feelings of hope deferred?We abide. We meet the God who brings the fire, and He brings light to our dark seasons of restlessness.In volume two of Abide: A Year of Growing Deep and Wide, we find hope in our waiting.We learn that God is moving in our unexpected terrain, and bringing healing to our brokenness. And we find that He is the beginning and end of every promise we have.Sometimes we think God is telling us no, but He is always offering a bigger Yes while we wait. He has unexpected color, answers, and joy for us in this time, and He is positioning things so we can start seeing them. When we hope in the waiting, we are moving forward - even if our path is unexpected. We find His favor as we worship and yield, knowing that God rewards the obedience of His kids.

How can we know we're getting somewhere when we feel like we're running in place? And, if we are getting somewhere, how do we know we're going in the right direction? We abide. Because God knows we're headed to a beautiful place, and He has wisdom for us every step of the way.In volume one of Abide: A Year of Growing Deep and Wide, we find rest in our running. We take a break from spinning our wheels - no more settling for less because we're fighting fear and anxiety of the unknown, and no more striving for control. Because control is not power - surrender and faith are. And He brings those as we abide. We learn that we're stronger when we know how weak we are without Him. We go farther by slowing down in strategic, deliberate ways. We learn to breathe when we feel like we're drowning. And we stop getting ourselves into hot water, and we create a culture of rest and refilling, instead.We rest in the running when we prioritize His presence over our production...and somehow we find that the fruit we bear is bigger and healthier as a result.

It's significant that paper is made from the same material He was nailed to. He still uses it to heal us, show us more of Him, and conquer what's harassing us.God speaks when we listen. And sometimes, we listen better with paper in front of us so we can write down the revelations and insights He gives us. This guided journal is for writers, emotional processors, deep thinkers, and anyone who wants to dig deeper in their own journey of hearing God and knowing He is with them in every moment. Using excerpts from Oh My Soul in conjunction with thought provoking questions and prompts from scripture, Christian classics, and classic literature, the Oh My Soul Companion Journal will help you grow further with God and press into more powerful breakthrough with every page you write.

Adoptive families working through attachment issues often feel alone. It doesnt have to be this way, though. The communities around them want to help, yet they usually dont know how to help when it comes to attachment issues.A little perspective can change all of that. Upside Down shares stories from dozens of families healing through the spectrum of attachment issues, from general attachment concerns to Reactive Attachment Disorder. It demonstrates ways adoptive families can explain these often invisible special needs to the community around them, and also shows how these communities can provide support without causing more damage to a hurting child and further isolating the families working so hard to heal them. Topics include: - the reality behind the rose-tinted movies - the why behind the weird limits - the tangle of community - what adoptive families really want...besides coffee- sample letters for care providers - links and further resources The message of Upside Down is two-fold: Adoptive families are not alone, and the communities around them can be equipped to make sure they never feel that way again.