“It is the Lord who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The Lord is his name!” Amos 5:8, NLT.
There’s no mountain so high that the Lord can’t see over it. No ocean so wide that he can’t cross it to reach you. No desert so dry that he can’t rain down his love and mercy.
God will stop at nothing to love you. He spares no expense for his children. We can slow him down with our disbelief or miss his tenderness if we keep our hearts hard. But stay soft and pliable, trust him with your needs, and he’ll surprise you. God has all power at his fingertips. But it’s you he wants above all else.
Trieste Vaillancourt, One Minute with God
Lord, thank you for chasing after me with your love even though I don’t deserve it. Please know you have my whole heart. I don’t want to miss one single opportunity to experience your presence in my life. Thank you for setting my feet firm on your unconditional love for me. I honestly don’t know how I would live without it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. ‘Wait!’ he said. ‘Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!’
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’
Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph*), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.” Mark 15:33-41, NLT
He came to pay a debt he didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. May his love fill every day with wonder and thankfulness.
Lord, it can be so hard to receive the truth of what you paid to release me from darkness and death. Open my eyes to the beauty of freedom in you. Show me how deep and wide your love is—so that I can live a full life of joy and so that joy spills out to the world around me.
Do you ever have moments when you wonder whether you’re somehow missing the spiritual boat? Maybe at church, while listening to a sermon, everyone else seems enthralled but . . . you just aren’t feelin’ it. Or how about this one? All your friends are into this new inspirational book (“It’s a must-read!” they say), so you order it, crack it open, and . . . no fireworks.
What am I missing? you wonder. The answer may very well be nothing. Most of us have discovered that faith isn’t an exact science. There’s no spiritual equation that guarantees a certain outcome; our hearts aren’t made that way. What speaks to you one day may not register with the friend beside you. What lights your friend’s fire may not even make yours flicker. And that’s good! We’re God’s workmanship, not his minions.
We’re kind of like specially made locks, and he possesses the one-of-a-kind key to each of us. The more we embrace that about ourselves, the more authentic our faith journeys will be.
As we fix our eyes on him and stop comparing ourselves with those around us, we lose the pressure of conforming in ways that don’t speak to our hearts. Then we can encourage and celebrate each other without compromising ourselves.
by Shanna Noel and Paige DeRuyscher , 100 Days of Prayer
Lord, help me to see all the ways you made me special. Guide me as I use my unique gifts to helps others experience your everlasting love. In Jesus name, amen.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
“O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” 1 Chronicles 29:14-19
When we struggle to know ourselves, we can rest in the fact that God knows us fully.
When we are misunderstood, God knows and understands us. When we feel isolated or alone, God knows us and is with us.
When we feel like no one cares, God knows us and loves us. Rest in the fact that you are known—fully and completely—by the God who loves you more than you can ever imagine.
“Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.'” John 12:44-46, NLT
God isn’t afraid of the dark. He’s not scared of the secret places in our hearts. The ones that haven’t seen daylight for years. The kind with the locks on the doors.
God isn’t afraid of the dark. He’s not running scared from the tragedies in our lives. He’s not backing away from the brokenness and the bitterness and the shattered dreams.
God isn’t afraid of the dark. He’s not avoiding the struggles or the addictions. He’s not waving His hands in surrender to the enemies of our souls. He’s not saying, “This is too much for me.”
God isn’t afraid of the dark. In the beginning he spoke life-words into it and said, “Let there be light.” Then he came as a baby into a midnight world and announced his arrival with a shining star. He conquered death in a dark tomb and rolled the stone away, making a way into the brightness for us all.
God isn’t afraid of the dark. This means we don’t ever have to be either. Even when we can’t feel him through the longest nights, right in the thick of it—he is always there.
Holley Gerth, Promises from God for Life’s Hard Moments
God, you have never been afraid of the dark and you won’t ever be. Instead, you turn the darkness into light. You have done so from the very beginning of creation, and you still bring light into each of our lives and hearts today. We ask you to radiate your love where it’s needed most. Amen.
“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.’
‘I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.'” Zephaniah 3:14-19, NLT
You are the Lord’s wonderful creation, fashioned first with his heart and then with his hands. He rejoices over your talents, gifts, and abilities because he chose them just for you. He delights in the details of who you are—the color of your eyes, the curve of your smile—because he is the designer of each one. So every day, remember the Lord loves you, he celebrates you, and he’s so glad you’re his.
God, show me all the ways I reflect your personality so that I can be confident of your love for me, so that I can share that love in my own unique ways with the people in my life.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” John 10:14-16, NLT.
Being called sheep doesn’t carry much prestige. Sheep can be pretty clueless and helpless. We’d probably much rather choose to be known as something noble—like a lion, a cheetah, or an eagle.
But we’re called sheep because we tend to wander, we get lost, and we need constant protection and provision. The real blessing in all this is that we get to have a Great Shepherd.
He’s not just an okay shepherd; he’s not doing it for a hidden reason. He loves to look after his silly sheep, and we definitely benefit from his care.
We are so excited about what is coming this fall! And in addition to those, we’re even going to give you a quick look at a Bible releasing in early 2022 and show the new look for a beloved Bible brand. We would love to hear which ones you are most excited about!
September 2021
This September TheFilament Bible Collection will be adding compact editions! These small, portable, Filament-enabled Bibles have a 6.1 point text font and a slightly bigger than 4 x 6-inch trim size so that you can easily take them with you. Two of the four editions releasing will have zipper covers!
Speaking of on-the-go Bibles, all six volumes of Immerse: The Reading Biblewill be available in most places you purchase books and Bibles. As a paperback with single-column Bible text on each page and no interrupters such as chapter or verse numbers, it will feel more like you are reading a novel, allowing you to dive more deeply into the narrative of the Bible. It’s the perfect take-it-wherever-you-go Bible. Just throw it in your bag, and enjoy at the beach, cabin, in the lunch room, on the commuter train, or wherever you read.
October 2021
We are so excited to be working with DaySpring to publish the timely DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible. This wide-margin Bible has over 250 reflections and 52 full-page devotionals scattered throughout the text that amplify twelve indisputable truths about who you are in Christ, such as: you are known, you are blessed, and you have a reason for hope. These truths equip you to recognize and embrace your treasured place in God’s heart.
We’ve heard wonderful things about the 3rd edition of the Life Application Study Bible in the NLT and the NIV. This fall, the KJV version will join the group in an updated 3rd edition. The KJV edition will release in full size and large print.
Our Inspire Bible line is growing as well. Inspire: Luke and John portion will be releasing this fall. This is the fourth book in our popular coloring-book-style, square-trimmed portions.
November 2021
From personal tragedies to world disasters, there are so many reasons to pray. This year we are releasing the 3rd in our One Year Pray for series. This year we are asking you to join us as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for their faith. We have partnered with The Voice of the Martyrs to create One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible. Each day’s reading includes passages from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. It also includes a daily prayer prompt bringing the needs of those who are persecuted to the top of our prayer list. Spend the next year in the Word and on your knees in prayer.
Just like many of our kids the Boys Life Application Study Bibleline will be growing to include a blue glow-in-the-dark cover. This first step into a study Bible brings the truth of God’s Word into the realities and decisions kids face today.
Premium Value Thinline editions in our Filament Bible Collection will also release this fall. These are some of the most affordable Bibles with beautiful covers and include access to the Filament Bible app content. They will be available in full size and large print.
December 2021
We know many people are already excited for the Filament Bible Journal Collectionthat will release just in time for Christmas! These individual volumes contain one or more books of the New Testament. Every other page is blank, allowing space for art, journaling, prayer writing, and note-taking. Also available in boxed sets.
And There’s More…
One of our most beloved brands, The One Year Bible, is getting an updated look. It will still have the same great reading plan, but the covers have been updated for the NLT, NIV, NKJV, and KJV editions. The new will look will roll out gradually, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek.
Later in 2022, the Filament Bible Collection will be gaining several additional editions (you larger print fans are going to be super excited). We aren’t sharing those yet, but we will share that in early 2022 we will be releasing the NLT Wide Margin Bible, Filament-Enabled Edition, which will have an 8 point text font with 2.25-inch, lightly ruled wide margins.
That is a lot of Bibles! Though we are always excited about the Bibles heading out our doors, we are even more excited about the lives that will be transformed through God’s Word!
“He never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” Acts 14:17, NLT
If you could bottle the moment, it would sell for over a million dollars. Actually, it’s priceless—this peace you feel—as your family sits gathered around the table, laughing and sharing the day’s stories. Your soul stirs. Something deep is happening here, you realize, though you’re not sure of the source. This is good. We were made for this. And your heart overflows with thanks.
More than the food, we crave belonging. We crave connections that confirm we are not alone—and never will be. We long for confidence that the good will not only last but grow stronger as time goes on. It’s an appetite for eternal love and community, the kind our hungry souls seek to have satisfied.
For many, the search persists, with only momentary pleasures patching the deeper ache. What on earth are we to do with this raging need no place or person on earth can permanently ease?
The Father says to come. Sit at the table of eternal provision he offers through relationship with his Son. Breathe in his reality through his written Word, and rest from your wearying quest to satisfy the search elsewhere. With unlimited resources and riches, our Father stands ready to supply all that you need.
What worries you today? Are you afraid you can’t make ends meet? That your future plans will fail? That you’ll lose someone you love? Child of God, your Father knows . . . and he will fully satisfy the deepest needs of your body and soul.
God, thank you for knowing my biggest fears and guiding me in your peace in the darkness of anxiety. Help me to release my fears and worries and rest in you, my all-knowing, all-powerful, loving Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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