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Hi friends,
I have been mostly quiet around here lately, due to needing a break to focus on other things. We are getting set to move again (seriously praying and planning for this to be the last time!), plus slowly starting to work part-time, plus finishing up our home school year, etc.
One thing I determined at the first of 2016 was that I want to take better care of myself, in all areas. One of those ways is in purposefully taking time to do some things that I enjoy, one of which is reading for pleasure (as opposed to reading for reviews). So here are some of the titles I have read recently or am currently working on . . .
First up, Heart Made Whole: Turning Your Unhealed Pain Into Your Greatest Strength by Christa Black Gifford. Oh. My. Word. People, seriously, I think I am going to recommend this one to every person I know. If you're not familiar with Christa, she and her hubby, Lucas, have been some of my favourite people to follow on social media in the last few years. They have both been through tragedy and have come out strong and healed because of the love and power of Jesus. (Disclaimer: I am on Christa's launch team for this book and received an ebook copy for the purpose of review, but I applied to do so because I knew I would benefit, and I knew I would want to share this one with you.) Even if I had not been chosen for the launch team, I would be reading this one and sharing about it. This book is important. Every person I know has some kind of hurt, whether a skin-deep scrape or the deep, soul-crushing wounded-ness kind. We all need healing. I believe this message that Christa shares can be the catalyst for that healing. Thank you for writing this one, Christa!
Here is a photo I took of some of the others:
From this stack, the ones I have read so far are:
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin - Have you read this one or seen the movie that came out recently? It is a charming story, and I'm looking forward to the film, which I understand is equally endearing.
The Blueberry Years: A Memoir of Farm and Family by Jim Minick - I have been going to the library, not just to drop off returns or pick up holds, but also to meander the aisles and peruse the shelves at leisure (well, mostly). I have found myself these last couple of months, sticking close to the biography shelves, which is where I found this gem of a memoir. Jim's writing is delightful, and I not only wanted a big bowl of delicious blueberries every time I picked it up, I also found myself longing to buy a farm in the mountains of Virginia!
Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell. This was a long read and one that I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to at first, but man, I'm so glad I did. I knew absolutely nothing about Clementine, the wife of Winston Churchill before I picked this up. She was quite the character, and the author makes a strong point that Winston would not have been the man that he was nor could he have accomplished all that he did without his "Clemmie" to help guide and influence not only him, but many of the leaders of that time. I am glad to know more of her story and her tenacity.
I am currently reading (and loving) Shawn Bolz' Translating God: Hearing God's Voice For Yourself and The World Around You. If you don't know of Shawn and his ministry, I recommend looking him up ASAP! I heard him speak when I watched the recent Azusa Now live stream. He was prophesying to folks in the crowd he had never seen or met before. The words he had received from Father were incredible. Tears were streaming down my face. It's always beautiful to see how the Father loves His children and this was evidenced in the words Shawn received (in how personal they were and in how encouraging they were). This is a message that is dear to my heart, and I am looking forward to diving more into this one!
And in addition to the three or four in the above photo that are waiting in the library basket, I also just got a book in the mail (for review) that I am excited about - The Healing Breakthrough: Creating an Atmosphere of Faith For Healing by Randy Clark. I'll get back to you on this one.
What have you been reading recently? Anything to recommend?
Blessings and love. xo
