Come Sit with Me

(in)courage

Description

Being human is hard. Being in relationships with other humans is even harder. People are complex and relationships are messy but loving one another well is possible. Whether navigating political or religious differences, or dealing with toxic people or our own unforgiveness, this book tackles the struggles no one really wants to talk about. But there is hope! We can actually grow closer to God and others through the circumstances we'd rather run from.In Come Sit with Me, 26 (in)courage writers help you navigate tough relational tensions by revealing their own hard-fought, grace-filled learning moments. They show you how to· delight in your differences· honor and value others even when you disagree· connect before you correct· trust that God is working even when people disappoint you· live and love like Jesus by serving othersWhether you're in the middle of a conflict without resolution or wondering how to enter into a friend's pain, this book will serve as a gentle guide. Discover how God can work through your disagreements, differences, and discomfort in ways you might never expect.

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 novembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493438778
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Endorsements
“Not giving up on ourselves or each other is increasingly crucial in a culture weathering hard things. I love the voices of (in)courage in this book, representing real-life issues and helping us find strength in our shared hope in Jesus.”
Lisa Whittle , bestselling author, Bible teacher, and podcast host
“In the midst of a world that can often feel fractured and divided, Come Sit with Me is a welcome breath of fresh air. The stories of friendship across political divides and theological differences and despite difficulties touched me deeply. This book left me feeling so encouraged, and it infused me with practical suggestions and ideas on how to be a better friend to others. It is a much-needed message in this hurting, lonely world!”
Crystal Paine, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and founder of MoneySavingMom.com
“Our lives can often seem so disconnected. What I love about Come Sit with Me is it reminds us that God intends for our worlds to collide—both lovingly and distinctively. Our differences, our doubts, and our desires are actually designed to lead us individually and collectively into our destiny. A must-read for all who desire heaven on earth.”
Marshawn Evans Daniels , Godfidence® coach, TV personality, reinvention strategist for women, and founder of SheProfits.com
“Encouraging, inspirational, and practical—these are the first three words that come to mind as I read Come Sit with Me . If ever there was a time we needed a book on loving through disagreements, living with discomfort, and delighting in our differences, it’s now. This book is a friend as well as a gentle guide for those of us neck-deep in these struggles. Hearing the stories of others doesn’t solve all our problems, but the wisdom of those who’ve been where we are helps. And the wisdom of those who point us back to Jesus at every twist and bend? Well, that is one way God redeems those heartbreak moments. We all struggle. I’m grateful for the storytellers who allow God to use their suffering to minister to others. I needed this book. My guess is you need it too.”
Kris Camealy , author of Everything Is Yours and founder of Refine {the retreat}
“ Come Sit with Me is a beautifully written collection of stories covering relevant and challenging scenarios we face today. A wide range of women from different life stages, experiences, and ethnic backgrounds share from their personal lives in helpful and hope-filled ways. Honest, relatable, and practical, the pages in this book contain Scripture-based principles and perspective to help readers navigate differences, disagreements, and discomfort.”
Vivian Mabuni , speaker, podcast host, founder of Someday Is Here, and author of Open Hands, Willing Heart
“In Come Sit with Me , incredible women from all walks of life invite us to sit with them as they have hard conversations with Jesus and wrestle through issues of faith that we all can relate to. While reading this book there were several times I simply would say ‘Amen!’ because someone would speak specifically to an issue of my heart.”
Jennifer Lucy Tyler , Bible teacher, founder of SoulCircles Ministries, and national presenter for Logos Bible Software
Half Title Page
Books from (in)courage

DEVOTIONALS
Take Heart: 100 Devotions to Seeing God When Life’s Not Okay
Empowered: More of Him for All of You
TRADE BOOKS
The Simple Difference by Becky Keife
Come Sit with Me
BIBLE STUDIES
Courageous Simplicity: Living in the Simple Abundance of Jesus
Courageous Joy: Delight in God through Every Season
Courageous Influence: Embrace the Way God Made You for Impact
Courageous Kindness: Live the Simple Difference Right Where You Are
Create in Me a Heart of Hope
Create in Me a Heart of Peace
Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom (available January 2023)
Create in Me a Heart of Mercy (available May 2023)
For more resources, visit incourage.me
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2022 by DaySpring Cards, Inc.
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-3877-8
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations labeled CSB are from the Christian Standard Bible®, copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
To protect the privacy of those who have shared their stories with the authors, some details and names have been changed.
(in)courage is represented by Alive Literary Agency, www.aliveliterary.com.
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Contents
Cover
Endorsements 1
Half Title Page 3
Books from (in)courage 4
Title Page 5
Copyright Page 6
Introduction: If You’re Tempted to Give Up on People, Read This 11
1. Table of One 17
Jennifer Dukes Lee
2. Mending a Marriage That Was Falling Apart 26
Grace P. Cho
3. What If Pain Is the Stage for Miracles? 32
Becky Keife
4. Setting Seats at the Table for My Political Opponents 40
Michelle Ami Reyes
5. When Forgiveness Is Exhausting 47
Lucretia Berry
6. From Heartbreak to Grace 53
Patricia Raybon
7. Staying Friends When You Share More Differences Than Similarities 60
Kristen Strong
8. Standing Ovations and Longing to Be Loved 67
Anjuli Paschall
9. When You Feel Alone in the Struggle 73
Kathi Lipp
10. How to Deal with Toxic People 79
Bonnie Gray
11. The Unexpected Gift of an Age Gap 88
Melissa Zaldivar
12. Tenderness Is the Only Way Forward 95
Tasha Jun
13. The Messy, Beautiful Power of Speaking the Truth in Love 102
Holley Gerth
14. The Loving Work of Biting Your Tongue 109
Mary Carver
15. Exchanging Envy for Celebration 114
Aliza Latta
16. Will You Be a Flamethrower or a Fire Extinguisher in the Dumpster Fire of Internet Comments? 121
Jami Nato
17. How to Carry the Weight of Rejection 129
Simi John
18. The Question That Changes Everything 135
Robin Dance
19. Staying Curious When You Want to Run Away 142
Michele Cushatt
20. I Thought I Was Over the Hurt 150
Renee Swope
21. How to Stop Running from Someone’s Hard Places 155
Jen Schmidt
22. Learning to Disagree While Still Honoring My Parents 163
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
23. Love Your Friends and Let Them Go 172
Rachel Marie Kang
24. When to Offer Your Presence over Positivity 178
Joy Groblebe
25. Keeping an Open Heart after a Friendship Failure 185
Dawn Camp
26. Forgiving before an Apology 192
Stephanie Bryant
Final Thoughts 199
Questions to Ask When You’re Sitting Together 205
About the Authors 209
Back Ads 217
Back Cover 223
Introduction
If You’re Tempted to Give Up on People, Read This
I can’t believe she said/did/believes that.
The pain is too much.
The divide between us is too wide.
We’ll never see eye to eye.
They don’t understand me.
I’m tired of arguing.
We have nothing in common.
I haven’t walked in their shoes, and they haven’t walked in mine.
They aren’t willing to try.
This is too hard.
I don’t know what to say or where to start.
I’m not equipped to build that friendship.
It’s impossible to repair this relationship.
I’m too hurt to move forward.
Have you ever had thoughts like one (or all) of these? Maybe you’ve even said something like this out loud? If so, you’re not alone. Being human is hard. Being in relationships with other humans is even harder. And it just seems to be getting more complicated every day.
Sometimes the unspoken tensions between us make it difficult to breathe. The tiny fractures. Silent assumptions. Fresh wounds or decades of scars. A widening divide between sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, neighbors, coworkers, college roommates, online acquaintances, best of friends and could-be friends. Do you feel it? Do you know how to move through it?
We each come to the kitchen table, the bus stop, the office coffeepot, or the church potluck with our own gifts and our own junk. We carry the weight of past hurts, strong opinions, and well-founded fears. We also carry with us our unique and delightful differences. We show up to boardrooms and living rooms with our distinct languages and cultures, personality types and perspectives, experiences and convictions.
Both the beautiful and the broken parts of our stories can make connecting with others challenging—or sometimes infuriating, disheartening, or just plain impossible.
Have you felt this way? When it comes to d