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Book Review: Wonder

Jan 09 2018

Today’s book review is a departure from the norm for me. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that I semi-regularly post reviews on Bible studies and other books related to spiritual development. But today, I’m writing about Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

This review isn’t intended to be an in-depth look at the literary features that Palacio uses. But rather, a reminder to parents to know what your children are reading and have open conversations about it. Because, to me, there was one terrifying lesson that I came away with after reading Wonder.

Book Review: Fervent

Aug 15 2017

My first introduction to Priscilla Shirer was her Bible study on Jonah (Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted). I loved it! I was an almost-college-graduate who joined this study with the married women in our church. Each week we gathered together to watch Priscilla’s teaching videos and discuss our homework.

Since then, I have followed Priscilla Shirer on social media but haven’t had the opportunity to participate in another study. So I was absolutely thrilled when I came across her book Fervent.

I eagerly began to read. The book was incredibly timely because my prayer life had been gradually fading and her entire emphasis was prayer. Then, it felt too timely. So I quit.

I walked away from the book. Every chapter was more convicting than the last and I just couldn’t deal.

I moved onto a long string of just-for-fun books. The stress level of adding a foster child to our house caused me to withdraw from my spiritual growth books. I’ve always favored literature and fiction, but I had been carefully selecting at least one spiritual book to read every month or two.

It was time to finish what I had started and put Priscilla’s fervent prayer life into practice. So early August, I picked it up again. And it was every bit as challenging, convicting, and encouraging as it had been the first time.

Christmas Traditions: Books

Dec 23 2015

Merry Christmas! As we count down the final hours to Christmas Day, I wanted to share one more fantastic Christmas tradition with you.

This one comes from the Preston family and I’ll let Stacy Preston’s own words explain how it works:

Book Review: The End of Me

Sep 10 2015

When I say that The End of Me by Kyle Idleman is worth reading, I mean it. I’ve read 23 books since January (not an easy feat since I work full-time) and this one ranks in the top five.

The End of Me uses Scripture to show how God is most glorified, not despite our weaknesses, but through them. Kyle Idleman interweaves true narratives with Scripture to show how people who have reached the end of themselves have finally returned their eyes to Jesus.

Because I cannot accurately convey my enjoyment in my own words, here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

Brokenness is not trending on Twitter. It’s not written on anyone’s résumé, and it’s no business strategy at all.

We tend to tweak the word sin and substitute mistake or one of those other more innocuous phrases. Sin is “preachy.” It wags its finger at us too much. It meddles. So we talk about unfortunate choices or slipups.

I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else. Before we pray that God will fill us, I believe we ought to pray that He would empty us.

When we hear a good zinger in church, we always tend to assume it’s about somebody over in the next pew. We think, “I hope she takes this to heart,” rather than, “Does this fit me?

Book Review: 90 Days with a Heart like His

Jan 20 2015

As 2014 came to a close, I needed a Bible study to get me in the word personally. Ever since I attended a Christian-based university, I have believed that a person’s quiet time should not be the same passage that they are reading for homework, studying for a paper, or researching for a sermon. I do well with personal goals so I decided to start this study because it had a reading plan, thought, and prayer for every day. I love that.

There is a video that goes along with the study that I did not watch, so I cannot speak for the video portion.

On a physical, non-spiritual note, this book is HUGE! It’s 437 pages long and a beast to haul around with you. So this book took a permanent home in my car and I read and reflected on Scripture every day on my lunch break. I don’t know about you, but by 12:30, I need more Scripture in my life to make it through the afternoon with a Christ-like attitude.

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