What I’m reading right now…
This book by Ann Voskamp is a gold mine. Ann tells her story of transformation. She grabs you with her transparency as she talks about her first-hand trauma, grief, and loss. She shares her journey of searching for the meaning in the Eucharist and being thankful to God. She does not shy away from talking about becoming thankful in the good, bad, and hard situations of life. This book has given me hope. It has also provided practical and Scriptural steps on how to capture joy in the midst of hard places. I am currently counting my 1000 gifts on Twitter and Facebook – Check it out! I think it will become a life long practice.
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul
John and Stasi Eldredge
When you were a little girl, did you dream of being a beautiful princess? Rescued by a dashing hero? Swept away into a great adventure? In this updated edition, the Eldredge’s bring their male and female perspectives to the core desires of a woman and invite you to recover your feminine heart.
The Good and Beautiful God
James Bryan Smith
What does being Christlike really mean? Smith believes we need a pattern for transformation. He encourages us to re-examine what we think about God (our narratives), how we practice (the spiritual disciplines), and whom we interact with (our social context) to discover the life Jesus lived and grow in the knowledge of a good God.
Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The book is based on the premise that gratitude is a choice and when we frame our lives in gratitude, we develop a different perspective of our circumstances and our Savior. There is even a 30-day devotional guide for building a heart of gratitude in the back of the book. This book changed my view of deployment and encouraged me to have a joyful journey.
Madeline Stratford 