Resources

Throughout human history, hope has always seemed essential but also somewhat elusive. We know that we need hope to survive—and even thrive—but how do we get it, and keep it? More importantly, what is the best source upon which we can build a foundation of hope? In this fifth book of the I Choose! series, the reality of hope and the answer about where to find confident hope will be confirmed. Indeed, based on events throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, your author experienced firsthand how God offers hope and help, even during the most difficult seasons of life. I Choose Hope! will reveal how you can tap into this vital resource of support too. You’ll be able to understand more about personal optimism and how you can foster a more hopeful, positive outlook. You will take a close look at the importance of persistence while learning about people in Scripture whose experiences provide proof that developing a deeper faith in God can dramatically improve the quality of your life. As you read this book, you will quickly realize that hope is a choice. My choice. Your choice. Indeed, hope is something God offers us each and every day, and its powerful impact will transform you in more ways than you may have ever thought possible.

Here are a few questions that I Choose Hope! will answer:

• How can I trust that God will provide the hope I need to survive today and in the future?
• What specific steps can I take to develop a more hopeful outlook?
• What personal impact will optimistic people have on how I feel, think and act?
• Are there specific verses in the Bible that will encourage my hopeful development?
• How can improving my level of hope affect my family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and others with whom I interact?

Rebecca Lynn Wilke, EdD, has been a teacher, professor and educational consultant for over thirty years, but she believes her marriage to her husband, Steve, and their family are her most important accomplishments. Dr. Wilke has authored numerous books and enjoys sharing her experiences with others through her work at LEADon, Inc. and Sonkist Ministries.

Even in the modern world in which we live, peace still seems quite illusive. Although men and women long to be at peace with themselves and others around them, most struggle with finding the tranquility they desire. At the end of the day, many of us may wonder if we will ever be able to experience peaceful lives and harmonious interpersonal relationships this side of Heaven. The great news is God s peace is always available to us! As you read this book from the I Choose series, you will find that peace is first and foremost a choice your choice, and my choice. In addition, you will discover that there are specific guidelines found in Scripture that can assist you in your daily decision-making. I Choose Peace! provides stories, specific strategies, and questions to reflect upon in this journey toward experiencing a more tranquil, peace-filled life one that can truly leave a legacy for others to follow.

Here are a few questions that I Choose Peace! will answer:

• Is peace possible in our world today? If so, how can I find it?
• How can I deal with painful parts of my past that are interfering with my ability to live a peaceful life in the here and now?
• Are there strategies I can implement in relating to people who don t want to interact in harmonious ways, even those who seem to be intent upon creating conflict?
• Can my choices about living more peacefully have a positive impact on my family, friends, colleagues, and others in my community? If so, how?

Don’t stop reading just because you see the word “Faith”! The truth is that everyone, everywhere, has faith in something or someone, yet not everybody grasps the critical nature of what they choose to believe. Your beliefs do make a difference now, but more importantly, for all eternity! I Choose Faith! will help you understand that faith is first and foremost a choice—your choice, and my choice. You’ll read about the faith journey of many people, looking specifically at what the Bible has to say about this important topic. You will be able to discover the amazing ways faith can help you find more contentment here and now. And, you will also find incredible peace about what the future can hold for you. I Choose Faith! is for anyone who finds themselves in one of these groups:

• If you are someone who thinks you aren’t a person of faith. You actually have a lot more faith than you realize.
• If you’ve trusted in God in the past, but now are not sure. This book will confirm that you’ve got a good foundation to keep building your faith upon.
• If you are a person of great faith, you will be encouraged about your own beliefs. You will also discover new ways to share your faith with others.

Everyone has two needs no matter who you are, where you are, or when you have lived: the longing to love and the longing to be loved. These are basic to being human and woven into the tapestry of our DNA. Yet, why is it that so many of us struggle when it comes to this vital aspect of our lives? I Choose Love! will help you analyze how and why you’ve made certain choices when it comes to love. It will offer you practical ideas to improve your relationships so they can be more satisfying and significant. No matter what your personal history, love is in your future! God loves you. He has the answers about how you can love and be loved. You truly can experience an amazing, love-filled life starting today! Here are a few questions that I Choose Love! will answer: If love is a choice, how can I make better decisions about it in the future? Does perfect love exist, and, if so, what does that look like? What does the Bible have to say about love? I’ve been so hurt by people who’ve said they loved me how can I have hope circumstances will get better? How does my decision about choosing love affect others around me?

Parenting is all about Straight Lines and there are specific strategies parents can implement that will greatly enhance their effectiveness in raising their children. Not just any children but exceptional children! Straight Line Strategies are more important than ever for parents living in the 21st century. Our society is in the midst of major cultural shifts, which can negatively impact parenting if intentional effort isn’t made to follow specific guidelines for success. Helping parents discover these practical Straight Lines to raise motivated, caring and competent children who exceed expectations is the goal of Straight Lines for Parents: 9 Strategies for Raising Exceptional Kids. These strategies are simple and straightforward and they will strengthen your parenting skill sets. You can raise exceptional children, and there’s no better time to start this critical parenting journey than today! Here are a few questions that Straight Lines for Parents will answer: Why are the Three Pillars of Faith, Family and Education so critical to exceptional parenting? How can we develop Relational Equity that will increase the potential for raising exceptional kids? Are there ways to help our children become more Self-Disciplined so we don’t have to spend so much time disciplining them? How does exceptional parenting impact this and future generations? How can we become an expert in our children so we can guide their educational experiences? How will the concepts of Scholarship and Inoculation help kids become exceptional?

Many of us struggle with experiencing joy on a regular, consistent basis, especially as we strive to handle the ups and downs of living in a less-than-perfect world. This book will help you discover what has been holding you back from enjoying daily experiences while offering you new insights on how to immediately move toward a more satisfying life.

Discover 10 critical conversations you must have before you say, “I Do.”

In this companion resource to The Sacred Search, Gary Thomas and Drs. Wilke help dating and engaged couples work through the critical issues and questions they must address before they decide to marry. The Sacred Search Couple’s Conversation Guide features 9 sessions of biblical study for couples, as well as a pastor/counselor’s premarital plan for walking a couple through the guide.

Whether you are a young couple, or simply young at heart, marriage isn’t an easy journey. There are many cultural shifts that are negatively impacting the institution of marriage today, and Christian couples need support and time-tested principles in order to maintain strong, successful relationships. The great news is that there are amazing guidelines for modern-day couples that can be found in Scripture. God has given specific strategies that every husband and wife can implement, and that’s exactly what New Beginnings: Devotions to Develop the Greatest Romance provides in an easy-to-use format. Each month has a specific theme related to marriage, and every day offers Scripture, a commentary, and a prayer. As you continue your journey together, why not start with a new beginning in the wonderful romance the Lord is developing just for the two of you? Here are a few topics that New Beginnings will address: How can we keep our relationship strong in the midst of challenging circumstances? What kind of advice does the Bible offer 21st-century couples about love and romance? Are there strategies to improve our struggles when it comes to money and finances? What if we’ve had problems in our past that have caused division? Is there really hope for restoration and a fresh start? How can we make time for fun and fellowship when life is so busy?

Feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and meaninglessness are universal, and depression is as old as human history. It knows no boundaries, and affects people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Depression is not always explainable, and it can strike even when things seem to be going well. While some people may experience mild forms of depression, others are almost paralyzed by the disorder – which can result in devastating consequences. One in five people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Fortunately, there are effective ways to help depressed individuals overcome the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual struggles that are burdening them.

Do you ever feel anxious? Have you experienced panic attacks? How about obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors? Or do you assure yourself that worrying is effective because most of the things you’re anxious about never become reality? Anxiety is a serious problem facing many of us. Drs. Steve & Rebecca Wilke will help define the causes of worry and fear in our lives and give clear steps on how to control anxiety in their new booklet, Answers to Anxiety.

Leadership in the 21st century is extremely multifaceted. Many of the skills and habits necessary to fulfill these responsibilities are not taught in colleges or business schools, so how do people acquire the expertise to improve themselves and increase their team’s performance? The solutions that leaders require are found in The Leading Edge: 9 Strategies for Improving Internal and Intentional Leadership. Our straight line approach to leadership equips men and women with critical personal and professional skill sets. Some of the dilemmas addressed in The Leading Edge include: 1. Does the culture of my organization really impact the bottom line? 2. How can I develop Leaders and Managers? 3. What does it mean to be a Cultural Translator with the generational groups in my workplace? 4. Is my company more of a Corporate Family than a group of employees? 5. What solutions can I implement in order to build a High Performance Team? 6. How can I improve my Emotional Intelligence so I can effectively work with people – inside and outside my organization?

Every business whether it’s comprised of two or two thousand people – is a corporate family. Men and women in our professional families also behave in surprisingly similar ways to our personal families. Leaders who guide the corporate family are looked up to like parents, while all employees experience varying degrees of sibling rivalry. And many of the stresses, strains, and secrets in our companies are often due to family history and dysfunction. Helping leaders discover this unique professional perspective is the main objective of Corporate Family Matters: Creating & Developing Organizational Dynasties. Anyone can own a business, but exceptional leaders understand their most valuable asset is people. Productivity and profitability will increase when leaders and their teams build strong family ties that leave a lasting legacy. Here are a few questions that Corporate Family Matters will answer: 1. Can addressing corporate family secrets impact the bottom line? 2. Does accountability in my business include parenting my corporate family members? 3. In my corporate family, does sibling rivalry take away from profitability? 4. Do generational groups in my organization distract our corporate family from meeting the objectives of our business plan? 5. How do mergers and acquisitions create a blended corporate family?

My Pocket Guide to the Old Testament is a helpful tool enabling Christians to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word. Designed for easy reference, this pocket guide gives background and historical information on each book of the Old Testament. Noah’s ark, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Joseph and his coat of many colors, David and Goliath, the weeping prophet…the Old Testament is rich in human drama and divine revelation. But sometimes it’s hard to know where familiar Bible stories fit into the whole picture historically, chronologically and prophetically. My Pocket Guide to the Old Testament is a helpful, easy-to-use reference, which provides readers with a clear understanding of each book of the Old Testament. Important themes, significant stories, historical events, and the promises and principles of God are clearly defined, in an easy to use format. My Pocket Guide to the Old Testament is for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Old Testament and of God’s revelation to the human race!

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed the course of history forever! My Pocket Guide to the New Testament will enable readers to understand how the message of the New Testament impacts our world and how it applies to each of us personally. This easy to use reference will help readers grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and His revelation. Background and historical information on each book of the New Testament are clearly outlined. Significant stories and chapters are summarized, and important verses highlighted, revealing the promises and principles the Lord provides His children. As you use My Pocket Guide to the New Testament, may you experience Jesus’ assurance that “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Wrapping up in a cozy sweater on a crisp, autumn day brings a subtle sense of comfort to us. This same feeling of protection is offered by our Heavenly Father who waits each day to wrap us up in His loving care. Fall into the Hands of the Father is a devotional designed to lift your spirits and draw you closer to the Lord. The themes of healing, harvest, and happiness are developed in each daily devotion to allow you to let go of the problems that have got you down and let God be your source of support this season – and always!

Although some days the skies may turn gray with the approach of another winter storm, somehow there’s an added sparkle to life this time of year. What could cause such excitement and joy in a busy, bustling world? it’s the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord, that’s caused this kind of stir! While reading Walking in His Winter Wonderland, you’ll be refreshed as you study more about who Jesus really is – and how special you are to Him. So deck your halls, plan your parties, and celebrate with family and friends . . . but be sure to spend time with the Savior so you truly can experience all that He has in store for you during this wonderful season of life!

Spring brings so many blessings – including the promise of new life. What better way to start this season than to dive into God’s Word for our support and strength as we discover how He wants us to truly live! The daily devotions found in Put A New Spring in Your Step begin with a verse or two from the Bible followed by some thoughts on the topics of life, love and light. Finally, a prayer closes each devotional to help send you off to experience those showers of blessings you’ve been waiting for! Are you ready to feel renewed and refreshed this season? Then Put a New Spring in Your Step is just what you need to get started!

The summer season can seem awfully busy with travel, trips to the beach, visitors from out of town . . . and even swim lessons sprinkled in between! Summer Under the Son is a devotional designed for this sometimes distracting time of year. Each daily Scripture reading draws you back to the Son of God who loves you so much! Despite all of the busyness, the themes of rest, reflection, and re-energizing will refocus your attention on the simple truths that the Word has for you. So slide a copy of Summer Under the Son in your beach bag or carryon – or send one to someone you love before the season slips away!

Women were made by God to have a specific purpose, yet many experience emptiness and dissatisfaction in their roles in life. This Bible study workbook looks at several beautiful examples of how God worked in extraordinary ways in the lives of ordinary women. By studying the characteristics and qualities of these women, you will learn how to apply their experiences to your own life and discover how you can become extraordinary in the eyes of the Lord!