MSI Press Blog

  One of the most surprising things about the stories of people who heard God's voice is that many of them did not recognize it immediately. We often imagine a booming voice from heaven that leaves no room for doubt. The biblical accounts are usually more complicated. Samuel thought God was Eli. Moses argued. Jonah ran. Even the prophets sometimes questioned what they were hearing. The challenge was not simply hearing. It was discerning. Recognition Often Came Through Relationship Just as we learn to recognize the voice of a friend or family member through repeated contact, many believers throughout history have said they came to recognize God's voice through an ongoing relationship with God. The biblical metaphor of shepherd and sheep captures this idea well: the sheep know the shepherd's voice not because it is the loudest voice, but because it is familiar. People who report hearing God often describe years of prayer, reflection, worship, and spiritual practice that help...

  Sadness and depression are often confused because they can look similar from the outside. Both involve tears, low energy, and emotional pain. Yet understanding the difference matters because one is a normal part of being human, while the other is a condition that may require support, treatment, or both. Sadness Is an Emotion; Depression Is a Condition Everyone experiences sadness. It is a natural response to disappointment, loss, rejection, grief, loneliness, or life's inevitable setbacks. Sadness has a purpose. It signals that something important has happened and invites us to slow down, reflect, heal, or seek comfort from others. Depression is different. It is not simply a stronger version of sadness. Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and functions. While sadness is usually connected to a specific event, depression may arise with or without an obvious cause. It often lingers long after circumstances have changed. A sad person can usually...

  At as early an age as I can remember, Shane had a heightened sense of fairness. And, if something was not fair (in his mind, at least), nothing could persuade him to accept it. As he grew into adulthood and took on supervisory positions, that sense of fairness blended with strong logic (which underlay his sense of fairness all along). Case in point: Grade 5. Recess In home room, Shane's teacher, Mrs. D, had trouble one morning quieting down one row of kids. It was the row that quiet, introverted Shane sat in. Finally, in exasperation, she told the class that the kids in Shane's row had to stay in at recess for punishment. Shane raised his hand, and the ensuing conversation went like this: Shane: That does not include me; I was not being noisy. Mrs. D.: It does include you; you are in that row. Shane: I do not accept your inclusion of me; I did not choose to be in this row; you put me here. Mrs. D.: Discussion over. The entire row stays in at recess. At recess, the row of kids...

  Children who survive abusive homes often carry their childhood sibling relationships into adulthood, but those relationships are usually shaped less by genetics and more by how each child experienced the family system. The result can be deep loyalty, profound estrangement, or a mixture of both. Adult Survivors and Siblings Who Were Also Abused When siblings shared similar experiences of abuse, they sometimes become each other's closest allies. They are among the few people who truly understand what happened because they witnessed it firsthand. Adult survivors may find comfort in having someone who remembers the same events, understands the same fears, and can validate memories that others might question. These siblings often describe feeling as though they survived a war together. Yet a shared history does not always create closeness. Trauma affects people differently. One sibling may seek therapy, confront painful memories, and speak openly about the past. Another may prefer to ...

  MSI Press currently welcomes submissions, We accept first-time authors into our San Juan Books program. Experienced authors with strong platforms and history of superior sales can qualify for traditional publication. Check it out on our web page: Contact Us | MSI Press MSI Press is more than a publisher. We work closely with authors to produce award-winning books, gain reviews, and share their stories. And we stay with them after the book has been released to assist with promotion and marketing and feedback and other kinds of support for the life of the book.  We publish books in English or Spanish (query about other language) in the following categories: animals, health & fitness, parenting, self-help, transformative personal development, foreign language and culture, leadership, spirituality, lay psychology, humor, religion, inspirational, and memoir. Learn more: About Us | MSI Press Prefer to self-publish? Don't go it alone. We can guide you through our Author Au Pair...