A good book can make me so smitten. :) Reading has always been a favorite hobby of mine and I can get lost in a story for hours. Lately, I have been indulging in these reads and I am so, so, so thankful for strong Christian female authors who remind me of my identity as a daughter of God. Here are a few that made me feel alive in this season. (Fun fact: I am never one to read one book at a time. I am always elbow deep in multiple narratives.)
COLD TANGERINES : SHAUNA NIEQUIST
You all know what a big girl crush I have on Shauna Niequist, when I saw that this one was less than $3 for the Kindle version, I couldn't resist myself. I read this one last semester and it was a quick one to go through. It's random vignettes of her life, but you find yourself nodding along because it's chock-full of such true words. It makes you want to be thankful for even the very air you are breathing!
"You have stories worth telling, memories worth remembering, dreams worth working toward, a body worth feeding, a soul worth tending, and beyond that, the God of the universe dwells within you, the true culmination of super and natural."THE GOOD & BEAUTIFUL GOD : JAMES BRYAN SMITH
I was given this book as a Christmas gift my sophomore year, and it drastically changed the way I practiced my spiritual walk. It taught me to slow down and shifted the way I view God into the one Jesus knew. The one who is good and beautiful. :) Each chapter goes through a different facet of God (loving, just, faithful, etc.) It corrected so many of my false views of God with new ones. :) I try to read this at least once every year, and I learn something new each time. I don't think I will ever get tired of reading it.
RESTLESS : JENNIE ALLEN
It's funny that I initially picked up this book because the cover caught my eye at a book store. They say to never judge a book by its cover, but for this one, I am very happy I did. :) I flipped through it and continued to read the synopsis on the back cover because the design inside was just beautiful. I purchased it because the synopsis was about being restless for wanting live a life the way God intended. It was the perfect read to accompany me as I entered in my second semester of senior year. It made me fall in love with the story of Joseph all over again, and more importantly, the God of Joseph. It reminded me that God is intricately writing a story for me using all of my gifts, pains, weaknesses, and strengths. All of it.
ANYTHING : JENNIE ALLEN
I love the way Jennie Allen writes and after "Restless," I wanted to read more. I just started on Friday so I'm only in the beginning of it, but I can never seem to put it down. Allen is so vulnerable in this book and really makes me question if I know God or if I just know about God—and why that difference is important. She shares on her own personal walk and random encounters with people along the way that have revealed God in unexpected places. I'm praying that as I continue to read this book, paired with my daily QT, God will reveal more of Himself to me and help me to live with freedom like I never have before.
:) I hope one of these pique your interests! Like I said, I like discovering new books so if you have any recommendations, feel free to leave a comment and tell me what books you are enjoying!
I loved Anything and am in the middle of enjoying Restless. Jennie Allen is great! I recently read and loved Christine Caine's Undaunted. I loved the way she wove personal memoir with encouraging words on following God.
ReplyDeleteI recently heard Christina Caine speak for the first time and I had no idea who she was... But I knew her name sounded familiar! i know this is a year old haha but I'm going off your suggestion and will try to read this one next. :)
DeleteOoh, these look like wonderful reads! I actually just bought Jennie's book, Restless and have yet to dive into it but it sounds amazing! I've also read Shauna's books (2 out of her 3 now) and cannot recommend her writing more. She is so incredibly wise!
ReplyDeleteAnd I cannot wait to check out those other two books. The James Bryan Smith book sounds a-mazing (especially if you read it each year!) and I also love the sound of Jennie's vulnerability in her other book, too. Thanks for the recommendations!
I love Shauna Niequist too! I haven't read that one yet, but I hope to soon!
ReplyDeleteooo i've seen these but haven't read them! thanks for the suggestions!
ReplyDeleteThese look so great!
ReplyDeleteI want to read cold tangerines! looks like it is next if it is that cheap on kindle!
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