EST.
2019
S E E K P R A Y R E A D
NEW!
Free Indeed is a practical and inspiring guide to experiencing true freedom in Christ. This book provides valuable insights and answers to commonly asked questions about the abundant life promised by Christ. With its Christ-centered approach and real-world solutions, you'll be equipped to recognize and overcome the lies that may be hindering your spiritual growth. Get ready to unlock the abundance of life that God has in store for you with Free Indeed.
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Big Empty Box
This one-of-a-kind book takes young readers on a creative and fun-filled adventure through the boundless expanse of their own imagination. With vibrant illustrations and a faith-filled message, this book encourages kids to be creative and believe in the power and love of God, who is always with them. It is sure to become a cherished favorite!
ABOUT US
“Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 3:12-14 (Amplified)
We are all on a journey. For us here at The Upward Press, the best part of our journey has been actively pressing onward and upward to "take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold" of us and made us His own. But what does that even mean, you might wonder? Many take this passage to mean that we are to be without fault, that to be perfect here means to do everything right all the time. We do not believe that is the heart of the message. The word "perfect" here means "whole and complete" not "flawless." So, we actively press into the process of being made whole and complete by the One who is already "whole and complete." We press on to take hold of the One who has made us His own. We can't make ourselves complete, but we can press into the One who can. His love-soaked presence is the prize we pursue, the "upward call" we're responding to, and the joy in our journey.
How is The Upward Press different from other Christian blogs and resources out there? Our hope is to reveal the truth of Scripture in a way that is fresh, from a perspective you may not have seen before. We all have "filters" or "lenses" through which we hear and see God, ourselves, others, and Scripture. In our experience, many passages in the Word are typically heard with a "tone of voice" that isn't truly God's tone of voice. As most of us know from texting, tone of voice is easy to misinterpret. The better you know someone, the more likely you are to hear their tone appropriately, but even then you might not always "hear" the text the way it was intended. Sadly, many have been taught to "hear" Scripture with a harsh or demanding tone of voice. Yet we believe the heart of the Father is always for us, and he wants us to see His love reflected on every page and in every word. He is not constantly scolding us or expressing His disapproval of our performance. Christ performed the perfect (whole and complete) act of love on our behalf. God doesn't expect us to add to that. He wants us to receive the love that He's poured out through His Son.
So here at The Upward Press, we will forget the harsh tones of the past and press on to know the love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We hope that you will press onward and upward with us as we seek to know the Lord more and more through the filter at The Upward Press, we will forget the harsh tones of the past and press on to know the love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We hope that you will press onward and upward with us as we seek to know the Lord more and more through the filter of His infinite goodness, kindness, gentleness, and love.