The Gift of Thorns

The Gift of Thorns PDF Author: A. J. Swoboda
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310153298
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Today's follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. "Follow your heart" and "You do you" has become our moment's mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ? The Gift of Thorns, by A. J. Swoboda, addresses these questions and more. The path forward is anything but easy. It is assumed by too many in the Christian community that desire is in and of itself bad or dangerous and must be crucified for simply existing. Desire is demonic for some. But, for many others--particularly in the secular West--desire must be followed through and through. This side deifies desire. But these two options sidestep the joy in the great challenge of finding God in our desire. There exists an ancient and sacred way that is forged around the life, wisdom, and power of Jesus and his Spirit. In short, what makes a follower of Christ is not whether or not we have desires. Rather, it is what we do with the desires we have. Near the end of the story of humanity's rebellion, the theme of "thorns" is introduced. As readers will discover, the thematic repetition of "thorns" pops up over and over throughout the Bible. What are the thorns for? They will be, in the words of God, "for you" (Gen. 3:18). The premise of this book is that a world where we do not get all that we want is, well, the greatest gift ever.

The Gift of Thorns

The Gift of Thorns PDF Author: A. J. Swoboda
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310153298
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 255

Get Book Here

Book Description
Today's follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. "Follow your heart" and "You do you" has become our moment's mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ? The Gift of Thorns, by A. J. Swoboda, addresses these questions and more. The path forward is anything but easy. It is assumed by too many in the Christian community that desire is in and of itself bad or dangerous and must be crucified for simply existing. Desire is demonic for some. But, for many others--particularly in the secular West--desire must be followed through and through. This side deifies desire. But these two options sidestep the joy in the great challenge of finding God in our desire. There exists an ancient and sacred way that is forged around the life, wisdom, and power of Jesus and his Spirit. In short, what makes a follower of Christ is not whether or not we have desires. Rather, it is what we do with the desires we have. Near the end of the story of humanity's rebellion, the theme of "thorns" is introduced. As readers will discover, the thematic repetition of "thorns" pops up over and over throughout the Bible. What are the thorns for? They will be, in the words of God, "for you" (Gen. 3:18). The premise of this book is that a world where we do not get all that we want is, well, the greatest gift ever.

Son of Mary: A Tale of Jesus of Nazareth

Son of Mary: A Tale of Jesus of Nazareth PDF Author: R. S. Ingermanson
Publisher: Crown of Thorns
ISBN: 9781937031237
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 592

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Book Description
Nazareth has been cruel to my mother, more cruel than any village ever was. All the village says that my blood father is not the man who married my mother. They have shamed her on the matter all my life. Every woman asks which man of the village is my blood father. Every man scowls and says he was not the one my mother seduced. My mother will not tell who is my blood father. My mother will not speak on the matter. My mother bears her shame in silence. Some righteous man, a prophet, said a word over me when I was a babe in arms. He told how I will redeem Israel when I grow to be a man. Now I have grown to be a man, but I do not know how to redeem Israel. The scriptures do not explain the matter. My people say that the man who redeems Israel must take up the sword and throw off our enemy, Rome, which we call the Great Satan. My family says I must take up the sword. Only I am no man of the sword. I wish with all my heart to redeem Israel, but HaShem, the God of our fathers, must tell me how. Lately, there came a new prophet to Israel, who immerses for repentance at the river Jordan. I went to ask the prophet how I should redeem Israel. He said I am to smite the four Powers. I asked what are the four Powers. He could not say, but he said HaShem will reveal the matter to me. I wish HaShem will reveal the matter, only I am not a prophet. Not yet. But I will be. Here is what I know. Every hour of every day, I feel the Presence of HaShem. I do not know why I should feel the Presence always. My mother does not. My village does not. Even the prophet of HaShem does not. I think the Presence will teach me the way to redeem Israel. But I am afraid to redeem Israel. To redeem Israel is to leave my mother to the scorn of the village. The rage of the village. My mother begs and cries on me to make a justice for her. To make a justice on the village. I do not know how to make a justice on the village. I do not know how to redeem Israel. But HaShem will show me the way. I will learn how to be a prophet of HaShem. I will learn how to redeem Israel. I will learn how to make a justice for my mother. I will smite the first Power. Or I will die in the trying.

Crown of Thorns

Crown of Thorns PDF Author: Stephane Groueff
Publisher: Madison Books
ISBN: 1461730538
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 438

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Book Description
A fascinating biography of Bulgaria's tragic monarch, Boris III, based on private correspondence and extensive interviews with members of the Bulgarian royal family. The son of King Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Boris became king after the first World War. Noted for defying Hitler wishes for Bulgaria's Jews, the popular king died mysteriously in 1943 after a stormy meeting with Hitler.

The Gift of Thorns Study Guide plus Streaming Video

The Gift of Thorns Study Guide plus Streaming Video PDF Author: A. J. Swoboda
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310153336
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
Discover God's good will for our wants. The Gift of Thorns Study Guide, a companion to The Gift of Thorns, dives deep into some of the hardest questions we wrestle with in the war for our wants: What do God's desires and Satan's desires have to do with us? Which desires did God place in our hearts at creation, and why? What can we do when we start losing our desire for God? Why do some unwanted desires persist after we start following Christ? Can we want a good thing too much? How can we discern which desires to crucify and which to nurture This study guide has everything you need for a full personal or group experience. The study guide itself--with thoughtful introductions, questions for personal reflection and application, and discussion questions for leading a group or team. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Sessions and video run times: 1. God's Desire (26 min.) 2. Human Desire (24 min.) 3. Satan's Desire (17 min.) 4. Fleshly Desire (18 min.) 5. Waning Desire (16 min.) 6. Undesired Desire (14 min.) 7. Killing Desire (15 min.) 8. Nurturing Desire (16 min.) 9. Ordering Desire (19 min.) 10. Resurrecting Desire (15 min.) 11. Longing Desire (17 min.) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2029. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Prince of Thorns

Prince of Thorns PDF Author: Mark Lawrence
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101543299
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
BOOK ONE IN THE BROKEN EMPIRE TRILOGY “Prince of Thorns deserves attention as the work of an iconoclast who seems determined to turn that familiar thing, Medievalesque Fantasy Trilogy, entirely on its head.”—Locus When he was nine, he watched as his mother and brother were killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king... It’s time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what’s rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar’s men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him—and he has nothing left to lose. But treachery awaits him in his father’s castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?

A Court of Wings and Ruin

A Court of Wings and Ruin PDF Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 1619635208
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 739

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Book Description
Sarah J. Maas hit the New York Times SERIES list at #1 with A Court of Wings and Ruin!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses PDF Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1526634244
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 451

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Book Description
The first instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON and TikTok sensation, from multi-million selling and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas Maas has established herself as a fantasy fiction titan – Time Harry Potter magic, Taylor Swift sass, Fifty Shades-level athleticism – The Sunday Times With bits of Buffy, Game of Thrones and Outlander, this is a glorious series of total joy – Stylist Spiced with slick plotting and atmospheric world-building ... a page-turning delight – Guardian ****** Feyre is a huntress, but when she kills what she thinks is a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal Fae. And there's more to the Fae than the legends suggest. As Feyre adapts to her new home, her feelings for Tamlin begin to change. Icy hostility turns to fiery passion that burns through every lie she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But shadows are creeping in, and Tamlin has a dark secret that he cannot share. Fate brought Feyre to Tamlin for a reason, but saving him from the darkness that threatens his world will lead her down a path that she can never return from. Enter the world of Sarah J. Maas and discover the sweeping romantic fantasy that everyone's talking about for yourself. ****** 5* reader reviews 'This is the first fantasy book I've ever read . . . I'm hooked. I'm addicted' 'I'm a standard romance girl but this swept me off my feet' 'Her writing is exquisite; her characters complex . . . and worlds all-consuming' 'This book has ignited my spark for reading again'

The Language of Thorns

The Language of Thorns PDF Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Imprint
ISBN: 1250122538
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now! Trace the roots of Grisha power and discover this deliciously atmospheric, fully-illustrated collection of Grishaverse fairy tales filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love. Enter the Grishaverse... Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns. Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, the tales in The Language of Thorns will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse. This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, each of them lavishly illustrated and culminating in stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves. This title has Common Core connections. A New York Times Bestseller "Lushly designed and wonderfully rendered ... Bardugo doesn’t twist familiar tales so much as rip them open." —Booklist, starred review "Strong writing, compelling stories, and gorgeous illustrations make this collection a must-have." —School Library Journal, starred review "Beautiful imagery conceived from precise, beautiful prose; beautiful cover image and interior illustrations that creep across each page toward a beautiful consummation; beautiful lands inhabited by beautiful hearts." —VOYA, starred review "Elegantly crafted...stylishly intricate illustrations...all fans of the darker side of folktales and folktale-like stories will find the stories satisfyingly full of pain, danger, and vengeance." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Gorgeously otherworldly...Any lover of retellings or original fairy tales will enjoy." —Kirkus Reviews “Gorgeous, cruel and almost wistful windows onto the dreamscapes and hard lessons of [Bardugo’s] alternate universe ... fairy tales with all the darkness intact.” —NPR Book Review "Those who seem innocent are shown to be guilty, one-dimensional characters become more complicated, and mothers who once were absent are given presence and power.” —Mashable "This new collection will intrigue, awe, frighten, and inspire both stalwart fans and new readers looking for a heady spoonful of fantasy.” —Hypable "This nightmare-inducing collection is short but powerful, each tale as brilliant and absorbing as the one before... brilliant storytelling” —Romantic Times "Marvelous tales, as full of twists and delights and strangeness as anything found in the Grimm Brothers. Leigh Bardugo is a master." —Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble Read all the books in the Grishaverse! The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (previously published as The Grisha Trilogy) Shadow and Bone Siege and Storm Ruin and Rising The Six of Crows Duology Six of Crows Crooked Kingdom The King of Scars Duology King of Scars Rule of Wolves The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic The Lives of Saints Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel Praise for the Grishaverse “A master of fantasy.” —The Huffington Post “Utterly, extremely bewitching.” —The Guardian “This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times Book Review “A world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” —NPR “The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” —Entertainment Weekly “Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” —USA Today “There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” —Vanity Fair “Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” —Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent “Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

Garden of Thorns

Garden of Thorns PDF Author: Amber Mitchell
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
ISBN: 1633758486
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 385

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Book Description
“A tense, fast-paced fantasy.” —Taylor Fenner, author of The Haunting Love After seven grueling years of captivity in the Garden—a burlesque troupe of slave girls—sixteen-year-old Rose finds an opportunity to escape during a performance for the emperor. But the hostage she randomly chooses from the crowd isn't one of the emperor's men—not anymore. He's the former heir to the throne...and is now leading a rebellion against it. Rayce is a wanted man and dangerously charismatic. He’s the worst person for Rose to get involved with, no matter what his smile promises. Assuming the hostage-taking is part of the emperor’s plot to crush the rebellion, he decides to take Rose as his hostage instead. Now Rose must prove where her loyalties lie, so she offers Rayce a deal—if he helps her rescue the other girls, she'll tell him all the Garden's secrets. Well, almost all. Because there’s one secret she’s been keeping these seven years...and she’ll take it to the grave. The Garden of Thorns series is best enjoyed in order: Book #1 Garden of Thorns Book #2 War of the Wilted Book #3 Roots of Ruin

The Crown of Thorns

The Crown of Thorns PDF Author: Gerald Davis
Publisher: Banner Publishing
ISBN: 9781629113159
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
God does not let anything go to waste. This includes any instance of pain, suffering, or persecution in the life of the believer. Through God's Word, we know that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28). This was demonstrated for us in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know Christ's sufferings were the price of our redemption. We know that "he was wounded for our transgressions...bruised for our iniquities...and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Now, pastor and author Gerald Davis reveals the powerful healing purpose behind The Crown of Thorns. "When I have declared this message, it has yielded amazing results. In this book, you will read of miraculous mental healings that have directly occurred from this revelation. I know you will be blessed as you read and discover this exceptional and life-changing truth." --Gerald Davis