Where Hope Begins

According to [God’s] great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5)

What words do you associate with your salvation?

Christians usually associate salvation from God’s judgment with the word faith. After all, the Bible says you can never earn salvation through good works: salvation is received by faith alone. The Lord Jesus has done the work. He lived righteously. He died in the place of sinners on the cross. He rose from the dead. Jesus calls people to stop trusting their own righteousness and to put their faith in him alone. That is what it means to be a Christian.

But hope is also a wonderful salvation word.

People usually use the word hope to mean an optimistic or positive wish for the future. Sometimes the biblical writers use hope in this way, like when Paul says to Timothy, “I hope to come to you soon” (1 Tim. 3:14). In that situation, Paul didn’t know what God had planned and wished for a speedy visit to his friend.

For a non-Christian, wishful hope is the best they can have. A Christian has a far more powerful hope, however: the hope that comes through salvation. Because Jesus rose from the dead, your trust in him is not in vain. He proved the reality of the world to come. When he brings you to heaven, your hopes will be filled with substance. You may never receive an earthly inheritance, but you will receive a heavenly inheritance in glory. It will never perish, become defiled, or fade away. You will never get such assurances from earthly treasures. You can be confident about your heavenly inheritance because God is personally guarding it until you receive it.

Although you deserve God’s punishment because of your sinful attitudes and actions, God has given you mercy—great mercy, in fact. In that great mercy he has caused you to be born again, to come to life spiritually. As your spiritual eyes open, you begin to see through lenses of hope—dynamic living hope. When God changes you from a rebellious creature into an adopted son, you can have confidence, even certainty, that God will accomplish good plans in your life. You can have confident expectations of the future, the very meaning of hope.

Because of your salvation, you have a solid foundation for hope.

—John Crotts, Hope: Living Confidently in God (releasing 7/21/21)

---

Available for preorder at:

• Amazon: $9.99
• Christianbook: $8.49
• PCA Bookstore: $7.79

---

NEW SERIES — Prayers of a Parent by Kathleen Nielson

Across this four-volume series, beautiful poetic prayers by author Kathleen Nielson address the spiritual well-being, physical needs, and character growth of a child from infancy to adulthood. Designed for parents, each book has 31 prayers, brief reflections, and Scripture selections for meditation.

---

Prayers of a Parent for Young Children

Our children are precious to us. So how precious it is that we can lift up these dear ones in prayer to God our Father, who has shown his love to us in his own Son—and who gives us his Holy Spirit to help us to pray according to his Word. 

These poetic prayers bring praises and petitions to the Lord who knows and loves our children perfectly. Covering their spiritual well-being, physical needs, and character growth, the prayers are accompanied by brief reflections from Kathleen as well as Scripture passages for meditation.

This volume offers prayers for young children, from birth through the preteen years.

Sample Prayer:

Order from:

• WTSBooks: $4.99
• PCA Bookstore: $7.79
• TGC: $7.99
• Christianbook: $8.49
• Amazon: $9.99

---

Prayers of a Parent for Teens

Our teens are precious to us, and they face particular challenges and opportunities during these momentous years. So how precious it is that we can lift up these dear ones in prayer to God our Father, who has shown his love to us in his own Son—and who gives us his Holy Spirit to help us to pray according to his Word.

These poetic prayers bring praises and petitions to the Lord who knows and loves our teens perfectly. Covering their spiritual well-being, physical needs, and character growth, the prayers are accompanied by brief reflections from Kathleen as well as Scripture passages for meditation.

This volume offers prayers for teenagers.

Sample Prayer:

Order from:

• WTSBooks: $4.99
• PCA Bookstore: $7.79
• TGC: $7.99
• Christianbook: $8.49
• Amazon: $9.99

---

Prayers of a Parent for Young Adults

Our children’s young adult years are packed with important life decisions that shape their personal growth. They need the love and support of their parents and a firm trust in God to see them through this complicated season of life. Lift them up to the Lord with this book of short, poetic prayers.

Each of these thirty-one prayers explores a different aspect of your child’s life—from bodily health and friendships to ambitions and creativity. Kathleen accompanies each prayer with Scripture passages and short reflections for meditation. Let Kathleen’s words guide your prayers to God for your child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs that will prepare them for the path to adulthood that lies ahead.

This volume offers prayers for young adults.

Sample Prayer:

Order from:

• WTSBooks: $4.99
• PCA Bookstore: $7.79
• TGC: $7.99
• Christianbook: $8.49
• Amazon: $9.99

---

Prayers of a Parent for Adult Children

Adult children face many struggles, both earthly and spiritual. Even fully grown, they need support as they forge a life of their own. But how can we help them on their journey as they become independent from us? Bring your love for them to the Lord in prayer. God, who knows and loves your child perfectly, will satisfy their every need.

Let Kathleen’s words guide your devotions as her prayer collection tackles the challenges of marriage, parenthood, careers, aging, and more. Each of the thirty-one prayers included is accompanied by Scripture passages and short reflections for meditation.

This volume offers prayers for adult children. What a blessing it is to thank God for our precious children thorough all stages of life!

Sample Prayer:

Order from:

• WTSBooks: $4.99
• PCA Bookstore: $7.79
• TGC: $7.99
• Christianbook: $8.49
• Amazon: $9.99

---

Lament for a Father: The Journey to Understanding and Forgiveness by Marvin Olasky

120 pages | List Price: $12.99 | SAMPLE CHAPTER

Marvin played catch with his father, Eli, only once—it didn’t end well. Eli never laughed, rarely spoke with his son, and was periodically lambasted by his wife for his lack of ambition. How had a Harvard graduate failed to achieve all that he had once hoped for?

Now an experienced investigative journalist, Marvin Olasky uncovers the true story of his father’s past in his most personal work to date—facing Eli’s pain and his own in order to understand and forgive. He follows Eli from his Orthodox Jewish childhood in Boston to his days as a commuter student at Harvard to his traumatic experiences in Germany following World War II to his embrace of Reconstructionist Judaism, describing the many cuts that led to Eli’s “spiritual and psychological death”—and discovering what he himself owes to his parents.

Endorsements

“A poignant, intimate, and engaging memoir . . . with honest meditations on themes ranging from anti-Semitism to redemption. Beware: this book is addictive.”
—Robert A. Sirico, Founder, Acton Institute

“The work of a brilliant writer and thinker, Marvin consoles those who have had difficult parents and shows through his own experience they do not have to determine the course of the lives of their children.”
—Cal Thomas, Syndicated Columnist

“A sense of longing and loss pervades Marvin Olasky’s tribute to his father—a reckoning with his Jewish heritage that remains sensitive to time and culture, faith and freedom. A beautiful lament.”
—Trevin Wax, Author, Rethink Your Self

“Anyone who has experienced a difficult parent-child relationship will appreciate the wisdom in this book.”
—Wayne Grudem, Distinguished Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary

The Author

Marvin Olasky (PhD, University of Michigan) is editor in chief of World and the author of over twenty books, including Prodigal Press and The Tragedy of American Compassion. He is also dean of the World Journalism Institute and an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was a Yale Daily News and Boston Globe reporter and has published articles in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fortune. He taught journalism for twenty-five years at The University of Texas.

Click HERE to listen to Marvin Olasky talk about this book on the Life and Books and Everything podcast.

---