Books by Markus McDowell

There are hundreds of passages about prayer in the Bible: teachings about prayer, mentions of prayer, and, of course, actual prayers. These are excellent resources for learning about the types of prayers, styles, content, when and where, and so much more. This series, Praying Through the Bible, examines each instance of a prayer passage, looking at the historical and cultural background and the context, the meaning of the prayer, and then offering a brief idea of how it might be used as a model.Each short study is also perfect for a brief analysis, a personal devotional study, or a group or class study.This volume contains the 25 prayers located in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. There are also introductions and summaries of the prayers for each book, offering an overview and context to better understand the prayers within the story of the book. An appendix is included, listing all the prayers under each of nine categories: Praise, Thanksgiving, Petitions, Intercessions, Prayers of Confession and Repentance, Laments, Prayer-Vows, Blessings, and Curses.

Chaos rattles our arrogance, shakes loose the dust, breaks rigor mortis. In chaos, you find out who you are-what matters, what you fear, what you love…Here is a collection of nine short stories about chaos in multiple genres: historical, speculative, stream-of-consciousness, poetic, literary, and more. Morty loves his job. Really loves it. Perhaps not so strange, except that he is an embalmer at a funeral home. What happens when someone loves their job so much they don't want to do anything else? Becky's husband is away on business, in the cold of a snowy winter, when her youngest of four girls develops diphtheria. In the late 1800s, what can a young mother do? What if everyone had a hat but you? And it really mattered? Poor Charlie. He really needs order in his life. He prides himself on schedule, structure, and sameness. So did his grandmother…and they found her dead in a house crawling with thousands of insects she had collected.Included stories: "Three Days," "Turn and Face the Change," 'Three Hours and Thirteen Minutes," "Ringing," "Hats," "Preparation," "Ten More Days," "Behind the Bar," "What Does the River Say?"

Enriching Your Prayers is a key companion to McDowell's expansive project, Praying Through the Bible. With the goal of studying every prayer in the Bible, this series explores Biblical prayer in their original contexts and then draws meaning from them for the purpose of expanding and enriching our own prayer practice. This book delves into each of the nine prayer types found in the Bible, studying their structure, content, and purpose, with examples of each. The latter part of the books delves into the method of study used in the series: a standard three-part method of Bible study that seeks to place the prayer in its original historical and linguistic context, examine its literary character, and then ask how it can be understood (and misunderstood) from our point of view. Whether you read this book as an introduction to the other Praying Through the Bible books, or read it later for more detail and application, Enriching Your Prayers is an excellent insight into the prayers of the Bible and how to use them in your own prayer life.

Based on a true story, Onesimus is the tale of a young, unhappy slave who lived during the first century Roman Empire. The world is a highly structured society of deities, slaves, masters, prostitutes, government corruption, soldiers-with little opportunity to move out of one's role. But he has a plan to become free and make something of himself-until he is betrayed. His response leads him on a path of danger, deceit, and discovery until he comes into contact with a famous leader of a young new religion based on the Jewish faith. What he finds will test his will and his courage, and through it, Onesimus becomes part of one of the most charming stories in history.

This book taught me more about prayer and grew my prayer life more than any single resource I have found. Janet Severson (London)A unique study and devotional book on prayer-McDowell's knowledge of the prayers and ability to apply them to the practice of prayer is unparalleled. Jonathan Schneider (Tampa)Those of us who pray often feel that our prayers could do better. We might wish we prayed more often, or that the words of our prayers were better (whatever that means to us). Maybe we wonder if we are praying correctly. (We should remember that, since God is our Father, He is pleased if we talk to Him at all-even if it is infrequently or shallow.)Most of us never had anyone teach us how to pray. We mimicked what we heard from others. So we find ourselves saying the same things in the same way. We yearn for a way to enrich our prayers and add variety and depth. This book can help. Scripture contains hundreds of passages about prayer, with much richness and variety. Studying them is an excellent way to enrich our own prayers.This volume contains a chapter for each of the 40+ prayers in Genesis through Joshua. Each chapter includes the text of prayer passage, followed by a study of its background, an exploration of its meaning, and an application of what we learn. The introduction includes an exploration of studying the Bible and an overview of every type of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, vow, confession, repentance, lament, blessing, and curse.Well-suited for either personal or group study and devotional.