Books published by Multnomah Press

Women today seek encouragement and affirmation as they confront their own questions, doubts, and fears about womanhood. In Fearlessly Feminine, author Jani Ortlund supplies much-needed answers, calling Christian women to be joyfully confident in who they are before God, to welcome the privilege of womanhood, and to show the world the beauty of Christian femininity for God''s glory. Tackling such sensitive subjects as submission and materialism, feminism and beauty, motherhood and marriage, Ortlund leads women to a deeper understanding of scriptural teaching and helps them fearlessly embrace all that God would have them become.

This rerelease of the popular original edition continues to speak to parents in a society where "family values" no longer seem to exist. If anything, today''s community standards threaten the family. Airwaves and movie theaters are drenched with obscenities; perversion is glorified; divorce is cheap and easy; "safe sex" is promoted instead of abstinence; parental authority is undermined; sex roles are confused. For children, such cultural chaos is crippling. But in Real Family Values, parents will learn how to sort through today''s moral confusion, remove it from their homes, and change the world by zeroing in on the part they love most: their families.

More than a book about praying together, this collection of dynamic resources motivates and guides couples into meaningful prayer! Statistics show that when couples pray together divorce rates plummet to less than 1 percent. Outspoken "prayer warrior" Cheri Fuller takes aim at interference to couples praying together by providing accessible tools to unite them before God. Each chapter offers a brief vignette about real people, a Scripture verse, a prayer exercise, and a "parting thought" for couples to ignite them in prayer. Fuller promises a "double blessing" to readers who pray this way -- the joy of experiencing answered prayer and the fulfillment of deepening marital intimacy.

A follow-up to the popular original, A Match Made In Heaven: Volume II is brimming with stories that will encourage singles, stir happy memories, ignite romance for married couples, and comfort the widowed. Despite the negative publicity and grim divorce statistics that surround marriage today, many unions survive and thrive because of couples'' faith and commitment to God and to one another. Featuring married couples from all ages and walks of life, this book of inspirational love stories offers hope, exhortation, and biblical values, reinforcing the truth that God cares about every aspect of our lives...including marriage.

Alice Gray has compiled 110 inspirational stories that are sure to touch the hearts of teens in this title in the bestselling Stories for the Heart series. Through an even blend of humorous, often poignant tales, teens will be encouraged in life''s journey and reassured that they are not alone on the road to becoming adults. Many popular CBA authors offer valuable insights into the human condition in a manner that is warm and uplifting. Stories for a Teen''s Heart will revitalize the spirits of young people.

Warning: Laughter ahead! Liz Curtis Higgs delivers again with "Fine Print," where a businessman and the speech coach he''s hired have no idea there are matchmakers at work on their behalf! Her novella is part of a delightful triple-header in Three Weddings and a Giggle. The "giggle" comes from Carolyn Zane, whose "Sweet Chariot" drops readers in on two little old ladies who purchase a motor home sight-unseen, then drag their adult grandchildren along for cross-country antics. In Karen Ball''s "Bride on the Run," an heiress defies her father''s demand that she marry a man she doesn''t love. If only she hadn''t waited until her wedding day to do so! So it''s out the window, down the rose trellis ... and headlong into one escapade after another. Thoroughly fun!

A fresh approach to an old topic is this unique treatise on Spirit-Controlled Living. Focusing on impulses -- those pesky little "triggers" of idea and energy that may lead even well-disciplined people toward brilliant or regretted actions -- Clark Cothern''s third book provides readers more than "white knuckling" techniques for self-control. His step-by-step biblical model of impulse management shows how to use spontaneous anger, overspending, overeating, misplaced sexual desires, and other impulses to identify weak areas and partner with God toward achieving peace and freedom.

In this first book of the Seaside Seasons series, Leigh Spenser, a young teacher and the single mother of ten-year-old Billy, is thrown into conflict. Clay Wharton, the boy''s estranged father, comes home to Seaside, New Jersey, to await his twin brother''s death from AIDS. Threats against Billy''s life ratchet the tension tighter, as Leigh wrestles with both tough and tender feelings for her old flame. Clay''s own conflict, as he seeks to come to grips with his brother''s lifestyle choices and the needs of the boy he fathered, underline the issue of God''s forgiveness in the hearts -- and lives -- of this modern-day family. An emotionally gripping read!

At last, popular speakers and authors Nancy Cobb and Connie Grigsby take the guesswork out of understanding the biblical "job description" of a married woman. Through illustrations and everyday applications, a wife can learn the biblical parameters of her vital role; discover that obedience to God''s Word, apart from her husband''s response, is the key to her fruitful and joyful life in Christ; and ultimately see God''s order

In this sixth installment in the popular Mail Order Bride series, Dorianne DeFeo is a lovely, loyal daughter to widower Franco DeFeo, who works on the docks in Brooklyn. When Franco catches two fellow workers smuggling diamonds, they stab him and he dies in Dori''s arms. Persevering through her grief, Dori finds her employment opportunities diminishing and finally answers an ad from Arizona lawman Stone McKenna for a mail-order bride. Traveling west, Dori experiences another shock, and her tired mind shields her from more hurt with a psychologically induced blindness. Will Stone still want his bride now that she''s blind? Will the young couple let God penetrate their pain? Can a miracle accomplish what medicine can''t? Together Dori and Stone await the daybreak in the darkness of their lives.

In this fifth installment of the bestselling Mail Order Bride series, two young couples seek freedom and love amidst slavery-rich Charleston, South Carolina. When nineteen-year-old Benjamin arrives from South Africa, he is scheduled to be sold into slavery--but is set free by a Christian who takes him in as a paid worker. The man''s son, Dan Johnson, befriends Benjamin, and the two make plans to start a cattle ranch in Texas. With bold dreams and the support and courage of their mail order brides, they struggle against bigotry and hatred to find their dream of happiness.

Sometimes life just stinks -- people disappoint, bad things happen, and hardship comes. Who Put the Skunk in the Trunk? is a collection of stories that shows the difference between those who resign and those who rejoice when reality bites. Readers will be encouraged to choose joy, to find hope, and to discover the abundant life Christ offers all who follow Him. Author and humorist Phil Callaway -- once described as "Dave Barry with a message" -- employs his revealing and hilarious style to remind readers that "It''s always darkest just before the fridge door opens."

Shaken by events in the closing days of the Civil War, young Dr. Quint Roberts flees the Union army to start a new life in Bozeman, Montana. In this seventh installment of the bestselling Mail Order Bride series, the challenge of reconstructing relationship losses is explored. When his brother is killed, Dr. Quint suddenly finds himself responsible for three young children. Can he alone provide for their needs? Annamarie Taylor -- a bereaved Southern belle in Atlanta -- also searches for answers to the age-old question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

Continuing the adventures of Old West heroine Breanna Baylor Brockman, Book Ten of the popular Angel of Mercy series incorporates several well-known historical 1860s outlaws. When eighteen-year-old Ginny Grayson moves to Missouri, she falls in love with hardware drummer Wesley Logan. But Logan''s gambling debts force him to join the infamous James-Younger gang, and Ginny willingly enters the fray! When her old friend Dottie and Dottie''s sister Breanna enter the picture, Ginny realizes that she wants out of the gang. But is it too late for a new start...as a woman whose worth is far above rubies?

In this day and age it''s no longer shocking to hear of an athlete who has strangled his coach or one who has been arrested for violence and drug use. One can drive down the street and see bumper stickers suggesting people "Question Authority" or "I don''t lie, cheat or steal unnecessarily". Respect for authority in both professional sports and in society is at an all time low. In his book It Takes Respect, Aeneas Williams describes the biblical model for honoring and submitting to those in authority over us.

In this ninth book in the Angel of Mercy series, nurse Breanna Baylor Brockman is temporarily assigned to Dr. McClay Lowry at a clinic in Redstone, Colorado. Soon after she arrives, someone starts a methodical killing spree in the town, murdering even Dr. Lowry''s wife. Breanna suspects who the killer is -- but before she can confirm her suspicion, he kidnaps Breanna and imprisons her in a mountain cabin, where he promises to execute her in a few days. While he''s gone, storms and a rising river threaten the cabin, testing Breanna''s faith even more. Al Lacy delivers another dramatic story that demonstrates the power of a faith based on Things Not Seen.

Sometimes a lost love is found years later and other times divine intervention is the only explanation for A Match made In Heaven! Then as now we find ourselves in a world where news of the spectacular and the sensational often overshadows the small but special moments of greatness, of extraordinary acts by ordinary men and women. Such is the story of a German war bride and an American soldier, or an 85 year old doctor who thought she was only wedded to her work, or a widow with three children and very little money, or a workaholic who couldn''t find love right under his nose. . .read on and learn to believe again that life is full, exhilarating and love is all around us

As the millennium draws near, only a handful of books on Bible prophecy will approach the clarity and scope of this one. Three Worlds in Conflict satisfies the growing curiosity of both Christians and non-Christians about God''s vision for the future by simply yet fully explaining the facts and philosophy of scriptural prophecy. Unlike many titles, this book presents the whole range of Bible prophecy in chronological form, not just bits and pieces. And the style is contemporary and approachable, unfolding the whys, whats, and whens of God''s plan for His world with more twists and turns than a bestselling novel.

Have you experienced those times in life when you''re zooming along on a course bound for your destination when suddenly, CLANK-some outside force beyond your control (be it accident, event, circumstance, or someone else''s decision or action) changes your direction? Then off you go down another road, one you wouldn''t otherwise have traveled. Maybe you''re in the midst of a detour right now. The road is rough. The scenery is strange. The landmarks are unfamiliar. Clark Cothern invites you to travel with him on a few of his detours and discover a renewed sense of purpose. Yes, He is Lord of those smooth, wide interstates in your life. But He is also Lord of the detours.

Kathleen O''Malley Stallworth a mail order bride? Not likely! But the Lord works in mysterious ways. Her parents and siblings died in the great Chicago fire; her husband was killed by a mugger; now her fabulously wealthy in-laws have taken her daughter Megan from her, claiming she''s not fit to be a mother. In a newspaper ad for a mail order bride, Kathleen sees a chance to seek revenge on the Stallworth family. Instead, her westward adventure transforms her world and restores her faith. She returns to Chicago to fight for Megan but soon discovers God has prepared a victory she could never have imagined.

Original and inspiring, this unique volume offers readers a collection of creative writings based on Scriptures that relate to the life of Christ. Each episode takes the reader through a cycle of friendship with Jesus-from acquaintance to deeply committed friend. Along the way, the reader will be drawn closer to Jesus through the eyes of characters who literally met him and, in so doing, discovered the likability and lovability of the Master.

What character qualities can be found in every great father? Love, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control-the fruits of the Spirit, in fact! And the One who produces that fruit in us is the One who is At the Heart of Every Great Father. Clark Cothern shows dads how to be truly great fathers-no matter how old their kids are-by allowing the Father to cultivate His character in them. Powerful, straight-talking stories in each chapter are guaranteed to grab men''s attention, entertain them, and inspire them to be better dads by actually showing-not just describing-great fathering in action.

A sequel to Stories for the Heart, More Stories for the Heart offers up over one hundred stories that hug readers'' hearts and encourage their souls. This treasury of timeless tales-written by some of the best Christian communicators today-offers a wealth of compassion and love certain to minister to multiple generations. Readers will find themselves sharing these uplifting tales in conversation and letting the stories'' wisdom inspire their thinking. These are stories that will add flavor to readers'' views...and will be carried in their hearts. Whether read during peaceful moments spent cuddled up by the fire, during moments basking in the sunshine...or during read-aloud family times with loved ones, More Stories for the Heart is certain to encourage the soul.

Continuing with the adventures of Old West heroine Breanna Baylor, book five of the Angel of Mercy series finds Breanna once again facing danger and reaching out to those in need of love...and Christ. After accidentally learning of a planned assassination attempt on the life of President Ulysses S. Grant, Breanna risks her own safety to protect the country''s leader. Afterward, she is invited to Washington to receive a commendation before Congress, and on the way home the traveling nurse comes across an "orphan train" carrying children out West to find adoptive families. A special bond forms between Breanna and three of the children who she leads to the Lord. But when the children''s new family is not all that it appears, Breanna is called upon to once more help the three precious ones in Suffer the Little Children.

The second book in the Orphan Trains Trilogy from writing duo Al and Joanna LacyWhen 62 orphans and abandoned children leave New York City on a train headed out West, they have no idea what to expect. Will they get separated from their friends or siblings? Will their new families love them? Will a family even pick them at all? But their futures are wilder than any of them could imagine, and range from kidnappings and whippings to stowing away on wagon trains, from starting orphanages of their own to serving as missionaries to the Apaches. No matter what, their paths are being watched by someone who cares about--and carefully plans--all of their tomorrows.

Anne's daughter Faith is the answer to her lifelong prayer to be a mother. But her dream is shattered when the teenager rejects Anne's love and the love of God. After years pass, and God heals their relationship, Anne falls seriously ill. Faith watches her mother weaken, struggling with role reversals and leaning on God as never before. Through all the intricacies of their relationship, all the joys and trials, they learn that God is with them. He brings them peace in the darkness, joy in the midst of sorrow, and hope in the face of death.A Mother… Anne knew God would answer her fervent prayers for a baby. That's why, when her daughter was born, she named her Faith. But as Faith grows into a teenager, mother and daughter rarely see eye-to-eye about anything-including God. When Faith erupts in rebellion, Anne's world is shattered. Now Anne must leave her precious daughter in God's hands. A Daughter… By God's grace, Faith survived a turbulent youth-a terrible time when she hurt those she loved most. Faith has since grown close to her parents, especially her mom. But then her mother falls seriously ill. As Anne weakens, Faith struggles with the reversal of their roles. Though she finds strength in God, fear is her constant nemesis. Will God answer her prayers as He did her mother's? And the God Who Loves Them Both. A Test of Faith explores the intricacies of the mother-daughter bond and celebrates the rich, enduring love that often flourishes. Follow these two women through a lifetime as they learn to surrender their relationship and dreams to God-and trust that His love and faithfulness are unending. Story Behind the BookI hope to give women a sense of celebration in this wonderous connection God has given us with our mothers and daughters, to help them releate to each other in a more healthy and biblical manner. To find joy in our differences and to find ways to praise God together for all He's given us. This is a story that comes from my own experiences and will address issues I've seen Christians struggle with for years. This is an honest, sometimes difficult, and yet ulitmately encouragin and uplifting book.

More and more teens find themselves growing up in a world lacking in godly wisdom and direction. In Piercing Proverbs, bestselling youth fiction author Melody Carlson offers solid messages of the Bible in a version that can compete with TV, movies, and the Internet for the attention of this vital group in God's kingdom. Choosing life-impacting portions of teen-applicable Proverbs, Carlson paraphrases them into understandable, teen-friendly language and presents them as guidelines for clearly identified areas of life (such as friendship, family, money, and mistakes). Teens will easily read and digest these high-impact passages of the Bible delivered in their own words.

Continuing with the adventures of Old West heroine Breanna Baylor, book four of the Angel of Mercy series traces the growing friendship between Breanna and fellow certified medical nurse Stefanie Andrews. When she arrives in Denver to work at the new Mile High Hospital, the lonely young Stephanie is nursing deep wounds from her childhood, caused by the death of her mother and abandonment by her father. Yet Denver holds new beginnings for the woman of faith as she faces danger, builds touching new friendships, confronts the father who once left her, meets the man of her dreams, and miraculously rediscovers the mother she believed to be lost in the heart-warming story of Love''s Enduring Promise.

Sharing principles that work, these wise counselors offer parents the chance to build solid, memory-filled family relationships today that will encourage their children tomorrow to return to where love is freely given -- home.