Enjoy heartwarming true stories of God’s loving presence in your life. You’ll be amazed how the “chance” meetings and remarkable “coincidences” in your life are really God taking care of you and showing you how much He loves you.
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Book Description In this exclusive collection, you’ll find articles that best epitomize Pat’s spunkiness and storytelling skills. She travels back and forth in time, remembering and celebrating different moments of her life. As a successful single parent of four now-grown children, she has learned over the years what is important and what isn’t.
Family is key. So, too, are friends, freedom, adventures, hard work, playtime, goals and dreams, health, and most importantly faith in God. This is the important stuff in life, the things that count, and by sharing her experiences with us, we all come away with a richer understanding of this gift called life. With every chapter, she serves up bite-sized Scripture, which is the foundation of her faith and which keeps her grounded.
Chapter Preview
You can’t have a party without “Invitations,” and that is what Pat does in the first chapter of this entertaining gathering. She invites us to do something new, whether it’s following Grandma and Grandpa Knapp’s no-stress, no-fuss example of drop-in hospitality or creating a “love fund” box for those times when others are in need. Then we focus on how to enjoy life’s surprises in “Ribbons, Bows and Wrapping.” Pat delights in her son Andrew’s unexpected placement of a Baby Jesus figurine, and she discovers a commonality in her parish and a neighboring Lutheran church.
“Party Time! Participate in Life’s Celebrations” takes us to birthday parties and weddings, lets us rejoice in the sounds of Christmas, and acknowledges life’s achievements and quieter times. We’re all susceptible to embarrassing moments or occasions when we’re not at our best, and Pat doesn’t sidestep hers. In “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” she makes light of those instances and reveals lessons that contribute to her “graceful aging.” It’s when we can laugh at ourselves or forgive ourselves that we’re on the right track.
In “The Birthday Cake,” Pat dishes out stories that reveal that little something extra about herself that brings her joy. Whether it’s asking the question, “Am I really happy doing this work?” or recognizing how to overcome SAD (seasonal affective disorder) by looking for the light, Pat tells us how to get the most out of life. After we’ve stuffed ourselves silly with cake, we’ll move on to those Kodak moments in “Say Cheese! Treasure Special Memories.” From “brown cows” with the folks to Pat’s education with the Sisters of Loretto, from first dates to the first grandchild, memories add a sweetness to life that is unmatched.
What’s a party without gifts? “Presents” is about how to receive gifts of love, and “Party Favors” tells us how to pass on kindness—two similar yet distinct facets of living a happier life.
And after the celebration is done, what’s left is the “Post-Party Cleanup: Age Gracefully and Stay Young at Heart.”
Here Pat reflects on those who’ve reached their golden years and those who’ve passed away. She takes stock on how hard we work and why, and she talks about prayer. It always comes back to that—our conversation with God. So welcome! Pull up a chair and visit awhile. And share in the celebration of this gift called life. —–
About this Author
Patricia Lorenz has packed quite a bit of living into fifty-eight years. This book is a celebration of her life and, in turn, our lives. It’s about growing older gracefully and staying young at heart.
Pat has been a friend of Guideposts since 1982, when she wrote her first story for us, “The Smock,” about her mother’s well-worn shirt that was playfully exchanged between the two of them for years in a love-filled game. Since then, Pat has contributed to the devotional book Daily Guideposts and is the author of several books, including Life’s Too Short to Fold Your Underwear.
Put the world on hold and have a good-hearted laugh with humorist and inspirational writer, Karen O’Connor.
Karen’s musing and reflections on life, marriage, friendship, courage, resilience, aging and more, will help you bask in life’s funny side and view challenges as opportunities for praise and prayer. Her witty perspective on everyday life will help you make new choices, take new chances, and open new joy-filled chapters in life. Best of all, you’ll feel as if you have a good friend at your side making you laugh, and cheering you on to face the future, confident in God’s love and provision.
A GUIDEPOSTS EXCLUSIVE PLUS A FREE GIFT Not Available In Stores
Edward Grinnan, Editor-in-Chief of Guideposts magazine shares some of the most inspiring Guideposts stories ever, and how they helped him in his own heart-lifting journey of faith and recovery, in his new book, The Promise of Hope. This is Edward’s story…the story of the love of his family, and the stories of people like you…stories so powerful that they can uplift us in ways we could never dream, allowing us to break free from our own fears to strengthen our connection with God, and find lasting happiness.
This powerful collection, featuring a special foreword from Guideposts Editor-in-Chief Edward Grinnan, is full of awe-inspiring tales that prove God never leaves us alone. These are more than just coincidences — they are His Mysterious Ways.
Stories have power. Stories connect us. And connection brings healing and recovery. That is the purpose of One Day, a journal filled with stories of inspiration and sections where you can begin to craft your own story.
The real life stories in this book revolve around people who are battling addiction and winning. Their journeys are not smooth, nor their victories easy. For many, overcoming addiction remains a daily struggle. Still, they overcome. The additional pages in this book, whether they be blank, graph, or lined are there for you to write down your struggles, your successes, your journey. We trust that by helping connect with others, through their stories – this book will provide comfort, inspiration, and hope to those seeking to claim the promise of a better tomorrow. This journal is a perfect gift for those working to create their own story of recovery. Read. Reflect. Recover. Give the gift of hope and encouragement to those in need of support as they take on the path to recovery.
When we stumble and struggle in our prayers, God knows our hearts and is with us always. Author Marci Alborghetti knows firsthand how even the strongest of believers can experience a prayer life that is frozen in place. She knows the pain of feeling too lost or defeated to pray. Drawing on her personal struggles and on the stories others have shared with her, Marci has fashioned one of the most practical and profound guides to prayer that you’ll ever read. Her encouraging examination of prayer obstacles and the effective antidotes to overcome them will help you restore and expand your prayer life as never before.
When it comes to Christian literature, it can be hard to find reputable nonfiction books that capture the depth of your faith. ShopGuideposts is home to a wide variety of Christian nonfiction books to suit everyone from the beginner in faith to the most committed Christian. Whether you’re looking for stories from disciples, collections of prayers and devotions, unique bibles designed for seasonal use, or faith workbooks, we’ve got it.
If you’re looking to read about unforgettable encounters with angels or uplifting stories of God’s glory, check out the Witnessing Heaven series, where real people share their experiences of going to heaven and back, meeting angels, and near-death experiences where God saved them. You’ll also love Angels All Around Us – a collection of encounters with God’s heavenly messengers, edited by our in-house editors at Guideposts.
For daily prayer and practice of faith, check out Pray a Word a Day, Peace with the Psalms, or Cast Your Cares, which is a beautiful 40-day journey to find rest for your soul. If you have kids who are being raised in the faith, they’ll love our books that are a bit more playful. Try out our two book set Help, I Can’t Stop Laughing and Laughter Is the Spice of Life. We like to say that Christian nonfiction books like these are “God’s Rx for better health and happiness!”
Whatever you choose, we hope you’ll find what you’re searching for in our collection of Christian nonfiction books. May God be with you as you make your next purchase of literature!