Karen Ehman

MORE THAN 300,000 COPIES SOLD! Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue and the kind of power it has. In his New Testament letter, James tells us that it can corrupt the whole body. The book of Proverbs claims that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Biblical, encouraging, and humorous, New York Times bestselling author Karen Ehman has included an all-new bonus devotional as well as a new chapter in this updated and expanded edition that will help you:Learn the essential practice of using your words more constructivelyUnderstand what God has to say about our tongues and how we should use themSee how your words have power--whether it's in private, in public, online, or in prayerGain practical insights into breaking habits of gossip, flattery, verbal retaliation, and people-pleasingKeep It Shut explores the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with our own words (and our silences), so that you can reduce regret and relational tension and deepen your relationship with God, the one true Word. Also available: Keep it Shut video study and study guide.

Have you ever said something you wished you could take back? Are you ever unsure when to hold your tongue and when to speak out? In this six-session video study (video access included), Karen Ehman—who readily admits that her mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble—shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue. Far more than a "how not to gossip" study, this video-based small group Bible study will challenge you to dig deep into what the Bible says about the ways we use our words—both in person and online—and when we should just keep our lips zipped. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself—with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and Scripture exercises. An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (DVD also available separately). Sessions and video run times:Sparks, Squabbles, Spats, and Such: Our Words Matter (19:16)On Filling Gaps and Zipping Lips: Listen to Others, Talk to God (18:11)Opinion-Slinging and Salty Speech: Assessing Our Digital Tongues (22:36)Gossip, Flattery, and People-Pleasing: How to Speak the Truth in Love (22:32)Pause Before You Pounce: On Cultivating Soft Speech (22:59)As Sweet as Honey: Wonderful Ways to Use Your Words (23:39)Streaming video access included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2029. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Because Life's Too Short Not to Love It If someone watched how you spend your days, would they be able to tell what your passions and priorities are? Sadly, sometimes we allow the trivial activities of life to crowd out what's truly important. Offering a road map back to a life of purpose and passion, bestselling authors Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk help you unlock a vibrant life uniquely suited to your personality, season of life, and schedule limitations. Packed with encouragement, biblical advice, real-world help, and personal discovery, this 40-day journey includes interactive workbook components to help you· discern and pursue your passions and priorities· craft a personalized action plan deeply rooted in Scripture· manage the tension between your relationships and your responsibilities· cultivate a life-giving routine of rest and productivity· impact others for eternity through your life and giftsWhen you focus on what matters most, you can live with confidence and joy.

In this twelve-session video Bible study, some of today's best-loved Christian authors and speakers look at the spiritual lessons learned from twelve daring women in the Bible and what they mean for you today. As you look at each of these women’s lives, you will discover how to:Apply biblical lessons to your own modern-day struggles. Live through your failures as well as your successes. Draw near to God in a world filled with trials. Find lasting contentment in every situation. Overcome rejection and insecurity . . . and much more. You’ll study the lives of . . . Shulamite Woman: We Had God at Hello (Lisa Harper) Deborah: Fight Like a Girl (Bianca Juarez Olthoff)Proverbs 31 Woman: How Not to Do It All (Karen Ehman)Ruth: Staying Focused in a World of Distractions (Chrystal Evans Hurst)Puah and Shiphrah: How to Fight Your Fears (Margaret Feinberg)Esther: Letting God Be in Control (Courtney Joseph)Priscilla: Living a Life of Blessed Ordinary (Karen Ehman)Mary and Martha: Finding Life in Death (Bianca Juarez Olthoff)Bent Woman: We've Got God's Complete Attention (Lisa Harper)Woman with the Issue of Blood: When Persistence Pays Off (Chrystal Evans Hurst)Elizabeth: How to Win the Waiting Game (Margaret Feinberg)Anna: How to Live a Life Devoted to God (Courtney Joseph Fallick)This study guide includes:Individual access to twelve streaming video sessionsBackground information on each womanVideo notes and a comprehensive structure for small group discussion timePersonal study and reflection materials for in-between sessionsGroup leader helps Previously published as Twelve More Women of the Bible.

When Life is Filled with All the Things,Begin Your Days with the Most Important Thing of AllLife is just . . . a lot. Relationships are hard. Responsibilities are piled high. And it seems like all the things are distracting you from the very best things of all. There's little time left for yourself--or for connecting with Jesus. No wonder you feel anxious in your mind and hurried in your heart. You desperately long for calm amidst your clamoring duties, stacked schedule, and life's unexpected circumstances. But where do you begin? More than anything else, your heart needs a refreshing encounter with God each day. Trusting God in All the Things offers women like you a way forward so you can experience the confident calm you crave. These 90 encouraging devotions will help you face life with God's peace and renewed strength. Start your day here, on these pages, where you'll find the calming reassurance of God, who is the only One who can truly be trusted in all the things.

¿Estás abrumado por las expectativas poco realistas de los demás de ti? ¿Te sientes arrastrado en demasiadas direcciones mientras tratas de hacer felices a todos los que te rodean? Si está listo para terminar el ciclo de búsqueda de aprobación, ¡Karen Ehman, la autora de best sellers y una persona en el proceso de recuperación de complacer a la gente, está aquí para ayudarlo! Cuando hacer felices a los demás te hace sentir miserable comparte las refrescantes y sinceras lecciones que Karen aprendió de primera mano durante su propio viaje de liberarse de complacer a la gente para vivir su propósito dado por Dios. Deja que Karen sea tu nueva guía mientras que aprendes a romper con éxito el patrón destructivo de complacer a la gente y comienzas a abrazar completamente la vida que Dios te ha llamado a liderar. Con humor y vulnerabilidad, Karen explora por qué es tan fácil caer en comportamientos de complacencia con la gente y nos recuerda que no podemos cumplir nuestro propósito divino si estamos demasiado ocupados viviendo el de los demás. Ella ofrece sus consejos oportunos para vivir con menos agobio y con más paz y propósito, compartiendo palabras de sabiduría que te ayudarán:Priorizar lo que Dios dice por encima de lo que piensan los demásVivir tu vida sin preocuparte por las opiniones y expectativas de los demásCultivar una estrategia para saber cuándo decir sí y cómo decir noCrear y mantener límites saludables con los que te presionan, los que hacen pucheros, los que te hacen sentir culpable y otros que intentan tomar las decisiones en tu vida. Aprender a navegar la tensión entre agradar a Dios y amar a tu comunidadÚnete a Karen mientras ella te anima a caminar de cerca, y con confianza, con nuestro amoroso Creador, a pesar de las opiniones y expectativas de los demás. Es hora de terminar con el juego de complacer a la gente y finalmente disfrutar de la vida pacífica y decidida que te mereces. When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable Are you overwhelmed by others' unrealistic expectations of you? Do you feel torn in dozens of directions as you try to make everyone around you happy? If you're ready to end the cycle of approval seeking, New York Times bestselling author and recovering people pleaser Karen Ehman is here to help! When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable shares the refreshing, heartfelt lessons that Karen learned firsthand during her own journey of breaking free from people pleasing in order to live out her God-given purpose. Let Karen be your new go-to guide as you learn to successfully break the destructive pattern of people pleasing and start fully embracing the life God has called you to lead. With equal parts humor and vulnerability, Karen explores why it's so easy to fall into people-pleasing behaviors and reminds us that we can't fulfill our divine purpose if we're too busy living everyone else's. She offers her timely advice for living with less overwhelm and with more peace and purpose, sharing words of wisdom that will help you:Prioritize what God says above what other people thinkLive your life without worrying about the opinions and expectations of othersCultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say noCreate and maintain healthy boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt bombers and others who try to call the shots in your lifeLearn to navigate the tension between pleasing God and loving your community

Do you struggle with people-pleasing? Learn how to develop a Biblically-centered strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say no. Karen Ehman knows firsthand how people-pleasing locks us in a prison, trapping us in unhealthy habits which distract us from our true selves and our God-given purpose. With honesty and practical wisdom, Ehman explores why we fall into people-pleasing behaviors and offers advice for how we can break out into the freedom God has called us to. Because the truth is we cannot fulfill our divine purpose if we’re too busy living everyone else’s. In this six-session video Bible study filled with vulnerable and humorous stories, biblical insight, and encouragement from someone who’s been there, Ehman will help you:Discover how to live out your priorities despite the opinions and expectations of othersCultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say noImplement boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt-bombers and others who try to call the shots in your lifeLearn to navigate the tension between following God and loving the people around you When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable is the Bible study you need to quit the pleasing game, reclaim your life, and walk with God in peace and confidence. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself - video teaching notes, group discussion questions, Scripture memory verses and personal study of Scripture and context. An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!). Sessions and Run Times:People Pleasing (20 mins)Just Who Is Calling the Shots? (23 mins)To Tell the Truth (18 mins)You're Capable, but Are You Called? (20 mins)Must Be Nice (20 mins)Your People and Your Punch List (20 mins)Watch on any device! Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Do you struggle with people-pleasing? Learn how to develop a Biblically-centered strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say no. Karen Ehman knows firsthand how people-pleasing locks us in a prison, trapping us in unhealthy habits which distract us from our true selves and our God-given purpose. With honesty and practical wisdom, Ehman explores why we fall into people-pleasing behaviors and offers advice for how we can break out into the freedom God has called us to. Because the truth is we cannot fulfill our divine purpose if we’re too busy living everyone else’s. In this six-session video Bible study filled with vulnerable and humorous stories, biblical insight, and encouragement from someone who’s been there, Ehman will help you:Discover how to live out your priorities despite the opinions and expectations of othersCultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say noImplement boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt-bombers and others who try to call the shots in your lifeLearn to navigate the tension between following God and loving the people around you When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable is the Bible study you need to quit the pleasing game, reclaim your life, and walk with God in peace and confidence. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself - video teaching notes, group discussion questions, Scripture memory verses and personal study of Scripture and context. An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online. And the physical DVD. Sessions and Run Times:People Pleasing (20 mins)Just Who Is Calling the Shots? (23 mins)To Tell the Truth (18 mins)You're Capable, but Are You Called? (20 mins)Must Be Nice (20 mins)Your People and Your Punch List (20 mins)Watch on any device! Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Are you overwhelmed by others' unrealistic expectations of you? Do you feel torn in dozens of directions as you try to make everyone around you happy? If you're ready to end the cycle of approval seeking, New York Times bestselling author and recovering people pleaser Karen Ehman is here to help! When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable shares the refreshing, heartfelt lessons that Karen learned firsthand during her own journey of breaking free from people pleasing in order to live out her God-given purpose. Let Karen be your new go-to guide as you learn to successfully break the destructive pattern of people pleasing and start fully embracing the life God has called you to lead. With equal parts humor and vulnerability, Karen explores why it's so easy to fall into people-pleasing behaviors and reminds us that we can't fulfill our divine purpose if we're too busy living everyone else's. She offers her timely advice for living with less overwhelm and with more peace and purpose, sharing words of wisdom that will help you:Prioritize what God says above what other people thinkLive your life without worrying about the opinions and expectations of othersCultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say noCreate and maintain healthy boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt bombers and others who try to call the shots in your lifeLearn to navigate the tension between pleasing God and loving your community Join Karen as she encourages you to walk closely--and confidently--with our loving Creator, despite the opinions and expectations of others. It's time to end the people-pleasing game and finally enjoy the peaceful and purposeful life that you deserve.

You dream of making your presence really count in the lives of others, but you don't know where--or how--to start. You want to be remembered as a woman who scattered kindness to everyone she knew, but you feel like your busy schedule constantly gets in the way. In this practical and deeply touching guide--inspired by her book Reach Out, Gather In--popular author Karen Ehman gives you 101 actionable ideas you can implement today to truly make a difference in the lives of other people. Make Their Day is filled with creative ideas to connect with your family and friends on a deeper level throughout the year. This book will help you develop habits of kindness, reconnect with friends and family, and make encouraging people a priority. You'll be able to put these ideas into action in real time with everyone in your life--even if hospitality doesn't come naturally to you or you don't think you have time. Let's outshine the negativity and hatred in our world, and reach out to others with love, just as God intended.

Like most women, you want to open up your home and connect with others. But you don't think you have the time or ability. Along comes Reach Out. Gather In. Through devotionals and practical tips, New York Times bestselling author Karen Ehman will inspire you to put love into action in this 40-day journey of hospitality. Karen will help you with the how to and why of reaching out to others in meaningful ways. This book--part devotional, part practical handbook--will help you find loving ways to feed both the bodies and souls of the people whom God has placed in your life. In Reach Out. Gather In., Karen will share· some of her favorite recipes and hospitality traditions· ideas for menu planning and themed gatherings· sorta-from-scratch shortcuts for busy days when you need something delicious in a snap· motivating stories and biblical inspiration· space for answering reflective questions so you can journal your own 40-day excursion· sidebars on decluttering and cleaning strategiesThis beautiful book highlights the why of hospitality, so that your home and life will grow to be a place where the gospel is displayed, drawing others closer to Christ and making a difference for eternity.

Many women are wired to control. You're the ones who make sure the house is clean, the meals are prepared, the beds are made, the children are dressed, and everyone gets to work, school, and other activities on time. But trying to control everything can be exhausting, and it can also cause friction with your friends and family. This humorous, yet thought-provoking book guides you as you discover for yourself the freedom and reward of living a life "out of control," in which you allow God to be seated in the rightful place in your life. Armed with relevant biblical and current examples (both to emulate and to avoid), doable ideas, new thought patterns, and practical tools to implement, Let. It. Go. will gently lead you out of the land of over-control and into a place of quiet trust. A companion video-based study for small groups is also available.

Find peace for your heart and rest for your spirit with these encouraging devotions for moms. Are your days full? Are you tired and craving quiet for your soul? You're not alone. If days filled with obligations and never-ending to-do lists leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed, you can find the peace your soul longs for. In Settle My Soul, authors Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk invite you to carve out a few moments in your day to deepen your relationship with the Lord through 100 encouraging devotions. Karen and Ruth are women who understand all that you're juggling, and they desire for you to experience the refreshment that comes only from the Lord. Settle My Soul is the companion to the best-selling devotional Pressing Pause. With just a few minutes each day, you will discover:How you can connect with GodWays to set aside your busyness and worriesHow to center your thoughts on Him and His wordRestoration of your peace of mind. Each devotional includes a brief but meaningful devotional message, applicable scripture, guided prayer, and reflection questions. Throughout the devotional, you'll also find journaling pages for deeper reflection and it is the perfect gift for birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, or other special occasions. Your life is loud. But if you will just press pause for a few minutes each day, you can discover what Jesus longs to give you: His peace.2020 ECPA Christian Book Award winner for the Devotion and Gift category.

Discover how your differences can become the strength of your marriage in this real-life guide to both living with and loving your spouse. It is true that opposites attract--for a while. But often as the years go by in our marriages, opposites may also begin to attack. The habits and characteristics we once found endearing about our significant other are the exact things that drive us crazy years later! Whether you and your spouse disagree about finances, parenting, or how to load the dishwasher, your differences don't need to divide you. They can actually bring you closer together--and closer to God. In Keep Showing Up, Karen Ehman shows you . . . How to play to each other's strengths as you work on your own weaknessesThe difference between having a soul mate and having a sole mateHow to become a faithful forgiver who also forgetsStrategies for avoiding the social media comparison trapWhy it's dangerous to mimic a friend's marriageHow to unearth the magic in the mundaneWhy a spouse who drives you crazy can drive you straight to JesusThroughout Keep Showing Up, Karen also includes ideas to implement in your marriage right now, such as powerful statements to speak to your spouse, date-night-on-a-shoestring suggestions, and discussion starters.

The world has always been full of trials, disappointments, temptations, fractured friendships, and financial hardships. Yet Paul's letter to the Philippians claims we can discover contentment and joy in the midst of it all by prioritizing what matters most--Christ. Over 7 sessions, study the ever-relevant Letter of Philippians to deepen your relationship with Jesus, turn your worries into worship, and develop gospel-centered tools for navigating relational conflict and thriving in Christian love. Features: Leader helps to guide questions and discussions within small groupsPersonal study segments to complete between 7 weeks of group sessionsSeven interactive teaching videos, approximately 25-30 minutes per session, available for purchase or rentVerse-by-verse study for comprehension and application Benefits: Learn to live in joy despite your circumstances. Unearth the secret of contentment--knowing Christ. Banish anxiety by implementing biblical practices to rest in the peace of Christ. Prioritize the Lord above all else. Develop gospel-centered tools to navigate relational conflict.

This follow-up devotional to the New York Times bestseller Keep It Shut takes a deeper look at the advice and commands of Scripture concerning the tongue, offering practical how-to's that will inspire you to use your words to build, bless, encourage, and praise. Each day we speak thousands of words in dozens of places. One thing is certain about the words we speak, type, and text: they are powerful, and they have consequences. They can impart love and life or deliver discouragement and defeat. No wonder Scripture contains more than 3,500 verses about the power of the tongue. This devotional will take you on a journey over the next forty days to learn to choose and use your words wisely--saving you a boatload of regret and wounded relationships. Each of the forty interactive entries includes a Scripture-verse focus for the day, a story or teaching point, and reflection questions. Each entry ends with both an action that will help you carry out the directive in the verse and a prayer prompt. The entries in Zip It build upon each other, equipping you with new tools for how--or how not--to use your words. Ultimately, Zip It will challenge you to use your mouth with godly purposes. To build . . . not to break. To bless . . . not to badger. To encourage . . . not to embitter. To praise . . . not to pounce.

In this six-session video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Karen Ehman, New York Times bestselling author of Keep it Shut, helps you rediscover the life-changing joy that comes from putting others first. In a culture that tells us a me-first, you-second way of living is the key to happiness, Ehman explains that the key to moving forward in almost every facet of your life is to embrace backward living. Becoming a person who thinks about others first takes effort. It requires you to live alert. To be on the lookout in conversations for “heart drops”—hints of kindness you might grant to the person right in front of you, right where they are. But it is worth it. Listen, Love, Repeat gives you both the encouragement and practical, daily ways you can reach out to others with both planned and random acts of kindness. Topics include loving your family and friends, encouraging coworkers, reaching out to the lonely, blessing the “necessary people” who help you get life done every day but often go unnoticed, and many others who could use an act of thoughtfulness. An additional focus on modeling for your children a lifestyle that listens and loves is accompanied by doable ideas for you and for your family. The Listen, Love, Repeat Study Guide includes video notes, group discussion questions, individual activities, Scripture memory verses, and between-sessions personal studies. Sessions include:Finding Your Big "Why?" Let Love Complete the CircleWhen You Live a Life of WelcomeHow to Hug a Porcupine and Squeeze a SkunkFamily MattersThe Boomerang of BlessingDesigned for use with Listen, Love, Repeat Video Study 9780310082668 (sold separately).

Our culture is self-obsessed – in our schedules, relationships, and especially online. (Can you say selfie?) But in this near-narcissism, people are less content than in decades past. Why? Because we forgot the joy that comes from putting others first. Doing so requires us to live alert, listening for “heart drops,” hints from those in our lives who need a helping hand or a generous dose of encouragement. Living alert lifts our own spirits, showing us that blessing others blesses us even more. Listen, Love, Repeat offers biblical teaching and suggests doable actions that are simple, heart-tugging, sentimental, even sneaky and hilarious. This message:• Presents scriptural examples of those who lived alert, including Jesus, who noticed those who least expected to be seen.• Explains the role of good works for followers of Christ. They aren’t our ticket to heaven but they are our marching orders on earth.• Gives creative ideas for showing love to friends and family, and suggests practical ways to reach out to the lonely, the marginalized, the outcast, and the odd duck. Additionally, it helps you comfort the grieving, showing what you can do when you don’t know what to say.• Provides inspiration for blessing the “necessary people” in your life, those often-overlooked souls who help you get life done every day, and teaches you how to hug a porcupine by genuinely loving the hard-to-love. As we scatter love, we create a safe space where we can openly share the gospel. We get to see lives changed right before our eyes. Most importantly, Listen, Love, Repeat will enable you to live a life that is full of kind deeds, not to selfishly shout, “Hey! Look at me!” but to humbly implore, “Will you look at Him?”