"Beautiful Christmas" indeed! What an awe inspiring coloring book. Our family very much appreciates the artist's
(Megan E Gilbert's) talents.

Great inspirational book

Love it!

Wow! I cannot say enough positive about this very timely and inspired book! This book is a must read for ANYONE. Of course, this book is particularly geared towards those who are experiencing, have experienced, or know anyone who has experienced infertility. This book helps to give words to a much too often silent group of mourners who need the loving arms of empathy and understanding from their community.

What is so powerful about this readable and relateable book about a difficult topic is that it is not only for those who have wrestled with the grief of infertility or the pastors who attempt to shepherd couples who are navigating those waters. This book is for anyone who has ever struggled with any of life's griefs and disappointments. One can simply replace the word "infertility" with any other struggle. The final chapter on Thanksgiving is priceless.

For full disclosure, I did receive an advanced copy for my honest review.

Shepherding Sam was a delight to listen to! From the adorable inflection and joy in Melinda’s voice, to the length (perfect to engage a child on a road trip), to the humor, and finally the lessons learned... my son and I highly recommend this book to your family. The only thing I would advise parents of is the repeated use of the word, “dumb” between the children, though it was a very brief part of the story. I would highly recommend this book!

The Barn and the Book was a delightful sequel to Shepherding Sam! It was fun to continue to watch the transformation of Sam and the increasing bond between him and Saucer the Corgi, as well as between him and his friends. What a sweet story, and what an adorable human being Melinda is! Having this read aloud by her is a gift, and y’all need to listen to these stories today! I appreciated how it was a great length to listen to in the car (under two hours), how the humor was easily caught by my 4yr old, and the moral taught was instructional to me as well as my children. Very sweet story and I highly recommend it!

I like them for the grandkids. I live in Canada, but had them send to my daughter in M.D. she will bring them for Christmas. I thank you. I wish everyone a very blessed Christmas.

I was asked to do an honest review of this book which recounts the sayings of Abba Matta (Matthew) the Poor, who was an Egyptian elder who reposed in the Lord in 2006. Abba Matta was an elder at St Macarius Monastery. I was given the Audible version which I have enjoyed because it is a clear recording and well read. You can sense Abba Matta's meek and humble nature through his words, which burst with spiritual joy and goodness. One of his sentences felt to me like a paragraph of explanation, so deep and simple at the same time. I understand Abba Matta's prayer for God to give him either a long life or to open the eyes of his understanding to the Scriptures. Starting later in my spiritual life, I feel the same way and throughout this book, Abba Matta touches the essence of what man desires from God. Similarly, what God wants from man. I often felt like Abba Matta was speaking directly to me, with suggestions for practical application of God's Word. Little by little, as in our own spiritual journey, Abba Matta explains how the Bible started to open up to him and he felt Christ speaking to him through those words. Christ showed him his faults and sins, and he sensed that these words were speaking directly to him. He points to the need to pray before reading the Bible, as he did, and that he also prayed that the Bible was written for him, in his time. What wonderful words dear brothers and sisters to remember! The Bible is written for us, in our time and this is but one example of how Abba Matta's words are so poignant and direct, and so easy to understand that we can, with God's help, apply them to our lives. Abba Matta properly reminds us that we were aliens without God and without a hope in the world. We need to remember this, where we came from so that we are not lured by the world which promises us endless wealth and pleasures if we abandon God's plan for us. the only thing, says Abba Matta, which satisfies is God's Word. This not to say that he looked down on wealth, since many of Abba Matta's spiritual children were extremely wealthy. But their relationship to God and His word was important. Once we draw near to God, to Christ, our lives will start to correct themselves with His help, says Abba Matta - how we need to remember this in these modern, complicated times! It's so simple, it's something we all know as Christians yet Abba Matta has a way to communicate God's truth so that even an atheist, who came to see Abba Matta with a wealthy friend, came to understand.

Another part of the book (and there are so many to mention here!) which had a great impression on me was about the fluctuations we have in our spiritual lives. This is a reality for many Christians, and it's something that we grapple with as we walk with God. It makes us feel less than a Christian but we need not despair! Abba Matta encourages us in saying that our lives will shift between darkness and light, a rising and falling, a holiness and foulness , honesty and deceit, courage and cowardice - we receive the Word as a double edged sword but when we allow it to infiltrate our soul, it is sharper than any double edged sword and will help us to discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. A soul that goes after the flesh, says Abba Matta, is more vile than the flesh itself. And this is it - we are often caught between the flesh and the spirit. This is the battlefield in which we walk each day. Abba Matta will give a simple example to illustrate - tell a worldly man to eat more, and he will eat to the point of gluttony. He will, like so many today, invest his energy into the flesh, food, drink and entertainment. But compare a spiritual man who will say "I have eaten, thank God! I'm content" This man will echo the words of our Lord and say "Man does not live on bread alone. Health and strength comes ultimately from God. The spirit is stronger than the flesh". What an amazing example of the kind of treasures you will find in Abba Matta's words!

I could keep going but then you will need to get this book or audiobook to see for yourselves. This book is a treasure chest and I would highly recommend reading it over and over.

Beautiful calendar! Love the layout that coincides not with the traditional months of the year, but with the Orthodox seasons of the year. I am looking forward to using this in 2020. And the photos are gorgeous.

A great psalter. Well laid out and easy to read.

I originally purchased this book to help me better understand many of the people I work with at the homeless shelter where I am blessed to be employed; however, I learned so much more. We all suffer from addiction to the passions and the entanglements of the world. I now routinely purchase the book as a gift to others to help them in their spiritual growth - whether or not they have an addiction to alcohol or drugs.

On the whole the icons are well synchronized with the Christian themes of the seasons of the months with which they are associated.

This is an inspiring calendar with brilliant colors, icons that show the. writing of our Lord's life in color and form. It lights up every place it is hung. I look forward every year to the latest calendar in praise of our faith and saints.

Love the calender

A delightful and engaging devotional that serves as an invitation to live one's Orthodox Christian Faith with intent and purpose. In this book, Father Barnabas offers his personal reflections, as well as simple lessons, on various scriptural passages (five passages a week for fifty-two weeks), while also inviting the reader to actively reflect upon the readings independently with challenge questions on the thoughts he shares. In this way, he encourages the reader to live their Faith "on purpose" and with intent- to engage Jesus Christ actively through His Word. This is an excellent tool for Christians striving to to deepen their relationship with Christ through the daily contemplation of His teachings on a more personal level. I particularly enjoyed Father Barnabas' down to earth writing style. This is not a hefty and intimidating biblical exegesis by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, this is a simple read, written in everyday language, easily understandable to most. Yet even in this simplicity, there is a richness in wisdom and much to ponder. After reading the various passages, I found myself mentally returning to the lessons throughout that day- jotting down my thoughts, reflecting upon the challenge questions posed, and just seeing the teachings in a new light. All in all, a wonderful tool for spiritual contemplation and growth, as well as an extremely useful and practical guide for all Christians hoping to embed the Word of God more deeply into their hearts.

I buy this calendar every year, and I love it. I always know what’s being commemorated and whether or not it’s a fast day. The icons chosen for each month are always stunning.

In trying to be more consistent with daily (or, at the very least, weekly) reading, I am always on the lookout for devotions and books/anthologies that provide structure. This book certainly fits the bill! There are 52 weeks (Monday through Friday) of small, thoughtful readings centered around the lectionary readings of the day. There's a short devotion/exposition connecting the reading of the day to the modern life of the striving Christian, and at the end there's a small bunch of questions to chew on.

As a fairly recent convert to Orthodoxy, I struggle with reading Scripture through the eyes of the Church instead of through the eyes of Sola Scriptura. The accepted Protestant understanding of some New Testament verses don't line up with Tradition, and Fr Barnabas does a great job of gracefully melding Holy Tradition, the Church Fathers and their understanding of Scripture, the liturgical life of the Church, and the Scriptures themselves in such a way that it gives new, fresh perspectives on verses that you probably grew up hearing (and, dare I say, are likely inoculated against). In typical (though constantly surprising) Orthodox fashion, what is easily pushed only to the realm of ideology and theory is made visceral and pragmatic in this thought-provoking yet simple book that makes the devotion format of reading easily accessible, even for this mom of 4 babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

A delightful and engaging devotional that serves as an invitation to live one's Orthodox Christian Faith with intent and purpose. In this book, Father Barnabas offers his personal reflections, as well as simple lessons, on various scriptural passages (five passages a week for fifty-two weeks), while also inviting the reader to actively reflect upon the readings independently with challenge questions on the thoughts he shares. In this way, he encourages the reader to live their Faith "on purpose" and with intent- to engage Jesus Christ actively through His Word. This is an excellent tool for Christians striving to to deepen their relationship with Christ through the daily contemplation of His teachings on a more personal level. I particularly enjoyed Father Barnabas' down to earth writing style. This is not a hefty and intimidating biblical exegesis by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, this is a simple read, written in everyday language, easily understandable to most. Yet even in this simplicity, there is a richness in wisdom and much to ponder. After reading the various passages, I found myself mentally returning to the lessons throughout that day- jotting down my thoughts, reflecting upon the challenge questions posed, and just seeing the teachings in a new light. All in all, a wonderful tool for spiritual contemplation and growth, as well as an extremely useful and practical guide for all Christians hoping to embed the Word of God more deeply into their hearts.

A book of daily reflections from Abbot Tryphon, an Orthodox Christian monk and a well known podcaster and blogger from Ancient Faith Radio. The book is divided into daily devotionals, one page for each day of the year. No particular pattern is followed, though some topics align with feast days or fasts.A broad range of topics are covered. Abbot Tryphon reflects on church theology, church tradition, and offers guidance about how to live out the Orthodox faith in our day to day lives. Some of these topics are repeated, but if the book is read as it was designed, they will serve as refreshers and reminders, not repetition.The book is written in an approachable tone and style, and is wonderfully non-academic in character. I have seen many people worried that Orthodoxy is 'too complex' or 'scholarly' of a faith, but Abbot Tryphon displays the teachings of the faith with simplicity and warmth. If a reader does not know much about the faith, they will learn plenty. If they already know a good deal, then they will find straightforward reflection to carry through their day.The only potential drawback is that many of the reflections were original posted on Abbot Tryphon's blog, so the book is not wholly original. But it is great to revisit them on paper, and this will pose no problem for those who have not read his blog.

I just received the new catalog and it’s very beautiful! It will be a blessing as I journey toward the church.