Books

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We Are Beloved

Christians often have the head knowledge that we are beloved, but deep in our hearts do we truly believe it? When we encounter Jesus in scripture, we tend to hear Jesus’ words with judgment, thinking we cannot be beloved because we will never measure up to God’s standards. Author Kristen Vincent takes us on a journey alongside Jesus that helps break this false understanding and allows us to discover how deeply beloved we are.

This 6-week Lenten journey follows stories of Jesus’ experience of God’s love. The incarnate Son of God was made fully human, which means that Jesus had to fully mature in strength and wisdom to learn that he was beloved. Just as Jesus learned of his belovedness, we, too, can cultivate the wisdom and knowledge that we are deeply loved.

Each week begins with a scripture passage, a weekly devotion, reflection questions, an optional prayer bead experience, and a listening meditation. A Leader’s Guide for small-group study is also included.

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Beads of Healing

Beads of Healing

The first step in healing from trauma begins with telling one’s story. Many people are afraid to tell the story of their trauma; they may feel they can’t even share their story with God. Survivors often carry deep spiritual wounds, thinking the trauma was God’s punishment or that God abandoned them. They may wonder how they can ever trust a God who allowed something so awful to happen.

Kristen Vincent shares her personal story of childhood trauma and how Protestant prayer beads helped her find spiritual and emotional healing. In sharing her own story, she models how to name feelings of grief, shame, and anger and engage in honest conversations with God. Once trauma survivors have named their feelings and learned to talk frankly with God, they can begin to hear God’s words of healing and love.

Beads of Healing offers practical ways for readers to use prayer beads to enter conversations with God, stay focused when their minds begin to wander, and sense God’s presence.

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Winner of the 2018 Living Now Book Award

Learn more at Beads of Healing.

 

Another Bead

Another Bead, Another Prayer

Many Protestants discovered the benefits of prayer beads through Kristen Vincent’s award-winning book, A Bead and a Prayer. In this sequel, Another Bead, Another Prayer: Devotions for Use with Protestant Prayer Beads (Upper Room Books, 2014), Vincent and her husband provide a collection of 28 scripture-based devotions to use with prayer beads. Another Bead, Another Prayer will help you offer prayers of praise, confession, intercession, and thanksgiving, one bead at a time.

“Another Bead, Another Prayer is the second in what one can only hope will become a whole series of books for Protestants about prayer beads and their role as an enriching part of both spiritual formation and religious devotion. Even the complete novice will find here not only the prayers appointed to each set of beads but also, and blessedly, easy-to-follow, deeply pastoral guidance into both the practice and the prayers.” – Phyllis Tickle, Compiler, The Divine Hours

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A Bead and a Prayer

A Bead and a Prayer introduces Protestant prayer beads to Christians who have no experience in praying with beads.

Author Kristen Vincent explores the history and art of using beads in prayer, explains how to use prayer beads, includes instructions for making your own set of prayer beads, and offers a variety of prayers. Through this book you will learn how prayer beads can help you deepen your faith, understand Christian beliefs, and listen to God.

A Bead and a Prayer is one of the most accessible and downright delightful books I have ever read on prayer itself, not to mention being far and away the most informative about the making and use of prayer beads. Vincent has given us a veritable treasure trove of history, practical counsel, and, most important, loving instruction. –Phyllis Tickle, founder of religion department, Publishers Weekly and prolific author on religion/spirituality, including “The Divine Hours” series.

A wonderful hands-on way for individuals and groups to grow in their prayer life! 

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Winner: 2014 Book of the Year, Christian Small Publisher Association (Christian Living category)

 

 

 

 

Finalist: 2014 Best Book Award (Religion: Christianity category)

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I Love Today: A Story of Transformation

Award-winning author Kristen E. Vincent partnered with Mark Johnson to write his memoir, I Love Today(Westbow Press, 2015). Mark is a nationally-known disability rights activist and community organizer. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2007 Henry B. Betts Award, the New Mobility Person of the Year in 2001, and the National Council on Independent Living Distinguished Service Award in 1990. 

Growing up, Mark Johnson was smaller than and different from his peers, which made him uncomfortable. After a diving accident left him paralyzed, he was different in a new way.

Living with a disability, Mark struggled with the social attitudes that labeled people with disabilities as inferior. He took the prejudicial treatment personally and decided to do something about it.

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