Reading, Writing & Pondering

    The Quiet Resistance by Andrea G. Burke seems to me to be a book full of essays written to encourage readers to live a slower life. I am all for living a slower life so I thought The Quiet Resistance sounded appealing. Some of the essays I could relate to and others I struggled to relate to.  The Quiet Resistance covers stories of family history, the night skies, raising children, traveling outside the house to reach out to those close to us and staying home to tend to those near us. It is a big variety of stories. As I said, some of Burke's stories resonated with me and some didn't. The first chapter included a story about something happening in nature that showed nature isn't all pretty--I didn't enjoy that story much. I did especially enjoy the chapter on slow food meals. All in all, it was interesting but it was a different book than I was expecting. I was expecting a book that would encourage me to live a slower more meaningful life. This felt like more auto...

  Do you struggle with your inner critic? Or feel like you think negative thoughts about yourself?  The Christian Self-Compassion Workbook for Women may be just the helpful guide you need to re-think how you talk to yourself and how you think about yourself. This book is divided into ten chapters along with three appendixes. The book gives food for thought by guiding the reader through information as well stories shared about real life people. This book is aimed at women but there are stories about men in the book too. Outside of the floral cover, I'm not really clear on why the book is just aimed at women. I think the book could be helpful to both genders especially since the examples included in the chapters include both genders.There are questions with plenty of space to write included throughout the workbook. I have another book about self-compassion from an expert that I also found helpful. However, that book was more general and this one is aimed specifically at Christi...

  A More Beautiful Way to Live by Bethaney B. Wilkinson was a beautiful book to read for me. A lot of what this author said resonated with me and while I am sure we have differences, she really felt like a kindred spirit. A More Beautiful Way to Live is divided into three sections: 1. Groundwork 2. Cultivation 3. Sustenance There are three practices within each section that make up the 9 practices the author recommends to unlearn anxiety, fear and urgency through time, body and soul. I share interest with Wilkinson in that she likes to garden, write in her journal with a fountain pen and read, among other activities she shared. These are all activities that I enjoy too--well, I haven't used my fountain pen much, but I plan to use it more now :). At the end of each section, and in other parts in between, she gives suggestions for writing in a journal and self-reflection. I learn well this way so I especially liked that aspect of this book. I could also relate to some of her strug...

    Bringing Heaven Here by Brad Gray and Brad Nelson takes a look at the Lord's Prayer. So many of us can say The Lord's Prayer from memory and I think it is so easy to just say it and not really focus on the words.  Brad Gray and Brad Nelson are co-creators of The Lord's Prayer film and The Sacred Thread film series. While I am not familiar with that series, I don't think you need to be to appreciate this book. I like how this book goes through the whole prayer and peels it back layer by layer in an up-close look that could make it more personal for you.  Bringing Heaven Here released from Thomas Nelson on November 25, 2025 and is available for purchase now.  From the Publisher: From the creators of the global television series  The Sacred Thread  comes a transformative exploration of how the Lord’s Prayer unlocks the power of God to guide, heal, and renew our lives and the world around us. The Lord’s Prayer is the most iconic and widely spoken ...

  Slow Burn: The Work and Wonder of the Wait by DawnChere Wilkerson is a book that I think we could all read and learn from. Life definitely includes a lot of waiting for one thing or another. We don’t ever graduate from waiting. After one prayer is answered, a new one begins, putting us back in the “space between.” Are you hoping for an illness to subside, a job to open up, a relationship to develop, or some other heartfelt transformation? This slow burn is the human experience—and the greatest invitation to become intimately acquainted with a faithful God. Waiting is hard, but it’s not a punishment; it’s a process. God is not delaying; He’s developing. He is not leaving you; He’s loving you. He’s saying,  Come closer. Let me lead you into wonder and show you how you can live wholeheartedly right here, right now. DawnCheré Wilkerson will speak strength to your soul and give you tools to live confident that God is working more powerfully than you know; wrestle with t...

  Brave the Page: How Writing Our Hard Stories Brings Healing and Wholeness by Megan Febuary released on June 3, 2025. I just started this book and am looking forward to learning how the writing process can help heal my own hard stories. When you’ve endured a traumatic experience or loss, it can feel like your mind, body, and spirit have been hijacked. Frightening, negative, or depressive thoughts intrude out of nowhere. Muscles tighten, teeth grind. Your sense of self-worth plummets. Amid all the swirling chaos, you may even question your faith and the goodness of God as you long for peace, wholeness, and holy calm. One of the best and most effective weapons against the turmoil and pain you feel is quite possibly within arm’s reach right now. It’s waiting in your desk drawer, in your car’s glovebox, at the bottom of your purse. It’s a pen. And if you wield it with courage, it can open the door to freedom. Weaving personal storytelling with research-based insights, gent...

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted? I think probably many of us have had that happen to us at one time or another or maybe even more than a few times in our lives. Lysa Terkeurst wrote a book dealing with that issue called I Want to Trust You, but I don't . There is also a Bible study workbook to use with it that comes with a streaming video. I have followed Lysa for a lot of years and have read several of her books. I always appreciate her honesty and integrity in writing about her struggles from a Christian perspective. I also think she shares her voice in such a way as to turn the reader towards God and towards having wisdom in their own situations through prayer. I appreciate her honesty in how she shares her story and I also appreciate how she shares that it was not an easy journey to walk. I think her truthful heart and down-to-earth words could be helpful the readers who needs it. Lysa also clearly explains types of abuse and how to talk about the abuse. She...

  Have you ever been stuck in a pattern of negative self-talk? I admit that I have in the past. I do better most of the time now but there are days it can still be a challenge. Maybe we all have those days? Being Fully Known starts off with an introduction where the author explains how she hopes the reader will use the book. The book is divided into three sections and she suggests reading the book over the course of three weeks (21 days) so each section would take a week. She also encourages readers to read the book with another friend or two. This could also be a good book for a study group to use together.  Being Fully Known has three main sections: Beholding, Belonging and Becoming. I previously read this author's book, Sacred Rest, and she shares about that book in this one. I like how she writes in such a way that I feel like she is chatting with just me. She also has a way of bringing things to light. I think I find it easier to rest than to let someone truly know me, ...

  Breaking the Patterns That Break You: Healing From the Pain of Your Past and Finding Real Hope That Lasts by Tori Hope Peterson •  Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (February 4, 2025) •  Paperback:  240 pages At some point everyone finds themselves wondering,  Why do I keep falling into the same patterns that leave me feeling broken? Will I ever move past the pain and experience healing? Is there something wrong with me? While Tori is most known for authentically sharing her childhood journey in and out of the foster care system, in her new book she vulnerably shares the profound ways she finally found relief and healing from the pain of her past. As she marries vulnerable storytelling, therapeutic insights, and biblical teaching, Tori will make you feel as though she’s sitting across from you, holding your hands, and inviting you into a journey that changed her life and can change yours. In  Breaking the Patterns That Break You , Tori gently sho...

  Do you choose a word for the year? My word for this year is CREATE. I want to create time to make time to create--to draw, to collage, to write, to journal, to spend time just enjoying nature in a creative way, and however I am led to create instead of feeling like I am just alive to be "productive." I think this book is helpful:     Making Time: A New Vision for Crafting a Life Beyond Productivity •  Publisher:  Baker Books (January 21, 2025) •  Paperback:  224 pages We are constantly fed the line that more productivity will bring more ease, satisfaction, and meaning to our lives. But what if all the gold stars and checkboxes are just a distraction? What if we could stop project-managing life and act from our  being  instead of all our  doing ? If you long to leave the pressure to do enough behind in favor of a life full of meaning, creativity, and joy–a life where you don’t feel rushed because you can’t fall behind– Making Tim...

    Do you ever feel lonely? I imagine many of us have those moments when we feel lonely from time to time. The New Loneliness by Cindy McMenamin is a book designed to "nurture meaningful connections when you feel isolated." The New Loneliness is divided into three parts: The first part is Reconnecting with God. This section focuses on realizing that God is always with you, that He always loves you, and the you are created for a purpose. The second part is Reconnecting with Your Heart. This section is all about having a better mindset. It encourages the reader not to enter into comparison, to make time and space for friends and not strive for busyness, learning to be yourself and more transparent to others, and learning to love again after you have been hurt by others.  The third section is Reconnecting with Others. This section is encouraging Real Life connections with other people and less on-line connections. The author definitely shows this book is up-to-date for ou...

  The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips blends faith, trauma/mental health information and gardening illustrations into a book that I think many people can relate to. The Garden Within starts out with a forward by Sarah Jakes Roberts. I am not familiar with her but she wrote a nice introduction to the book that shows she knows the author well and that she has related much of this information to her own personal life. The Garden Within is also divided into three parts: Part one is Soil Power. This section starts with relating your faith and emotions including the need to be nurtured to seedlings. The second part is Deeply Rooted. If you have grown anything at all, you know how important roots are to a plant. The third section is The Embodied Garden. This section relates the heart and body to the garden. Also, how our emotional health affects our physical health--with more answers from the garden. This book was interesting for the most part. It was also easy to read and understa...

  Chasing Sacred: Learn How to Study Scripture to Pursue God and Find Hope in Him •  Publisher:  Tyndale Momentum (September 10, 2024) •  Paperback : 272 pages In a culture full of chaos, stress, and confusion, we can find firm grounding in the Bible . . .when we truly take the time to understand and experience what it says. In  Chasing Sacred , Bible teacher Mikella Van Dyke breaks down the misconceptions and reservations so many of us have about what it means to study the Bible. Using her story alongside the  Inductive Bible Study Method  to teach a systematic, empowering approach, she will help you: Learn a practical, step-by-step method to understanding God’s Word Gain a fresh perspective on what it means to study the Bible for a new generation Engage in a healthy habit of Bible study that encourages confidence and eliminates shame Feel equipped to lead a small group or ministry in your community As you chase the sacred narrative woven throu...

      Book Spotlight:  Lead Like the Real You:  Wisdom for Women on Finding Your Voice, Pursuing God’s Calling, and Leading with Courage •  Publisher:  Brazos Press (August 13, 2024) •  Paperback:  192 pages Amy Orr-Ewing has learned a lot of lessons the hard way. As an internationally known speaker, theologian, and apologist, she has navigated through many challenges: battling abuse, finding and using her voice, building a lasting ministry, leading with confidence, thriving in friendship, relying on God in hard times, and more. Now, she’s sharing the wisdom she has gained over 25 years with other women so they, too, can grow in Christian leadership. In  Lead Like the Real You , Orr-Ewing pens a deeply personal and engaging collection of letters that explore the unique challenges women face. Rooted in honesty, practicality, and biblical guidance, these letters speak to women who lead in the workplace, classroom, church, and home, a...

Are you a fan of Charlie Peacock? Honestly, I know he is a Christian music artist and imagine he has many fans but that is not why I picked up this book. I liked Why Everything That Doesn't Matter, Matters so Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt by Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth because it offers a lot of food for thought.  Don't let the long title of this book intimidate you, Why Everything that Doesn't matter Matters so Much is full of down-to-earth stories and encouragement for living in our world today. I enjoy cooking but I didn't do a lot of cooking growing up so right off the bat, I could relate to the first letter, Why Bother Learning to Cook? I also appreciate this couple, who has been married many years, sharing their stories and their heart on paper. They don't call them essays, the authors call them letters to their readers, but I do think they are like thought-provoking essays. This is a good book to read a chapter, spend some time thinking abo...

  Teach Me to Feel by Courtney Reissig is sub-titled Worshiping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life. The psalms are among my favorite parts of the Bible maybe because I feel a little less crazy when I see some of the ups and downs of the psalmist's emotions. In Teach Me To Feel , Reissig shares some personal stories, her emotions that relate, and the psalms.  I like how down to earth this author is. I found this book to very easy to read and relate to. I have been through miscarriages and I had a fairly difficult time birthing my son, although my story is different than hers. The book starts off with her sharing this story and her tangled emotions. I could relate to a lot of what she wrote. She covers 22 emotions from grief and envy to pain and worthlessness throughout the book so actually there is a lot to relate to through the whole book. She also covers gratitude, contentment and hope. From one end of the spectrum to the other, I could relate to her stories in this ...

  Are you grieving or do you know someone who is? A Hole In the World by Amanda Held Opelt may be just the book to read right now. Opelt is the sister of New York Times' bestselling writer, Rachel Held Evans, who passed away in 2019. Opelt also had three miscarriages nad her grandmother passed away shortly before her sister. This writer suffered a big season of loss and she chose to write about it in this book. A Hole In the World is a mix of her personal stories along with some history of the rituals of grief in both our modern world and through the ages from Bible times forward.  The book begins as the author navigates Ash Wednesday after her sister died. She is struggling to understand her own grief process and what it means to grieve well. As she struggles to find those answers, she takes the reader through the rituals of grief through the ages: Keening, Covering Mirrors, Sitting Shivah, Wearing Black, Sympathy Cards and more. I found a lot of this information to be fasc...

  Carved In Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us by Jasmine L. Holmes tells the stories of ten black women of faith in the United States. Holmes tells readers in the introduction that she is a writer, a teacher and a mother. She wrote this book as "part biography and part memoir--part research, part love letter." She tells us that these women were not perfect but that "every one of them represents a beautiful fact of Christian womanhood that has inspired me in my own walk. . ." She hopes that the reader will also see God's handiwork in each of the stories and also be inspired to live and proclaim God's goodness. The ten women featured in Carved in Ebony are: Elizabeth Freeman, a midwife; Sara Griffith Stanley, an abolitionist and missionary; Frances Ellen Watkins Harper,a poet and writer ; Amanda Barry Smith, a preacher and founder of an orphanage; Maria Fearing, a teacher and missionary; Maria Stewart, an abolitionist, speaker, teacher and wri...