What I’ve Been Reading- The Wired Soul

The Wired Soul has to be one of my favorite review texts from the past couple of months. It made me think very critically about the time I spend engaging in social media and how often I use my phone and computer. I changed a number of my habits– some were minor (like putting my phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode during certain portions of my day and others were more significant. In fact, we’ve instituted a nightly reading habit where my husband and I read for at least an hour (Yes, think back to the D.E.A.R. program some of us participated in during grade school 🙂 ). Not digital books– physical, hard copy books. Crazy right? 😀 It makes our evenings SO PEACEFUL. We’re still sharpening the habit, but I thoroughly look forward to it and I don’t miss watching TV.

Working on a blog and “building a brand” can cause a person to become entirely TOO CONNECTED. I know we all set our own boundaries, but for me, it started to become too much. I needed time away from Facebook, Instagram, etc to just enjoy those that I can physically interact with. One-on-one meetings and outings are SO IMPORTANT to me. I miss being in a city with my closest friends and family, but I am enjoying making new acquaintances and I’m believing God for even greater connections in 2017!

Here’s a bit more about the book from the publisher. You can also find it on Amazon.

The Wired Soul by Tricia McCary Rhodes

If you had time to slow down, you’d notice: You’re more easily distracted lately. You forget the details of your life more often than you used to. You get easily agitated and have trouble resting, even though you’re more tired than you remember ever being. Even your spiritual life is not immune: You struggle to pray, to read the Scriptures, to be still and know that God is God.

Welcome to now. Our technology has greatly improved much of our lives, but in the process our brains are being rewired on a daily basis, and our capacity to be centered in our souls, in our lives, is at risk.

Brain scientists are aware of this unprecedented change, but the solutions aren’t found in science: They’re found in the ancient practices of the faith. Tricia McCary Rhodes reintroduces us to the classic disciplines of Scripture reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, not just as technologies to aid our faith but as tools to keep us focused and mindful in an increasingly disorienting digital age.

Book Review: From Marriage to Divorce Thru Depression to Remarriage And What God Taught Me Along the Way

I write about marriage and family, because those are often topics that are on my heart. When people ask me for advice on being a wife and being married, I always tell them, “Marriage is a lot of work. It can bring you your greatest joys and your deepest sorrows. It’s a ministry. It’s challenging, but it is one of THE MOST rewarding things that you can partner with another person (who was once a complete stranger if you really think about it) to do during the course of your life.”

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Book Review: HONESTLY

This book is just what the title implies…

Honestly speaks on so many realities of our walk with Christ.

It’s messy, it’s challenging, we fall short, but our love for Jesus is GENUINE and REAL.

That’s part of the heart of this blog. I truly want people to understand that people of faith are just like regular people. Or maybe that’s just my testimony. People always tell me that I “have it all together” and I’m so good at this or that. But I can be honest and say that I still struggle and I don’t always get everything right. Sometimes my temper and strong-will can get the best of me. Honestly. It’s true. And I have to pray and spend time with God to allow Him to work on those less than pleasant parts of my nature. I have not yet arrived, but I press.

Here’s more about the book from the Publisher:

Your life is messy, hard, and uncertain right now—and if it isn’t, it has been or it will be. Messiness is the human condition. Part of the messiness is the unpredictability of life, not the unrelenting evil of life. And Jesus shows up inside all of that, because He experienced every aspect of what it’s like to be human: joy, physical pain, family arguments, frustration, existential trauma, and more. If Jesus is a real person, we should expect to meet Him in all of life. And only through the Good News and love of Jesus can we learn how to thrive in the midst of our mess.

Daniel Fusco, a pastor and jazz musician, riffs on the major themes of the book of Ephesians to help each of us find God in the midst of our mess.

Book Review: Jesus Today

Reading is TRULY one of my favorite things to do.

Despite my increasingly fast paced lifestyle, I still enjoy taking time out to read books, especially in hard copy form.

I was blessed with the opportunity to review another book from Sarah Young, “Jesus Today.”

I didn’t know what to expect from the text, but it was just what I needed.

I like having a daily devotional at my desk in my home office and this text provides a perfect morning meditation– just enough to digest before starting the day, but not so short that it leaves you feeling like you need to read an additional days devotion.

Here’s a bit more about the book from the publisher:

Whether you need a lifeline to lift you out of discouragement or are simply longing for an encouraging boost in your day, this devotional—a sequel to the #1-bestselling Jesus Calling®—will speak powerful hope into your life.

Based on truths in Scripture, it is written as if Jesus Himself is assuring you that He is in control, that He is good, and that a glorious future awaits all who anchor their hope in Him.

Reaching out with peace-filled reminders of Jesus’ Presence from the Word of God these devotions will intimately, quietly connect you with Jesus, the One who meets you right where you are.

Book Review: Initial Impressions of “Jesus Always”

I’m so excited to share my initial impressions of the soon to be released text, Jesus Always.

First, let me start with a quick nod to the earlier text, Jesus Calling.

That book still speaks to my soul, DAILY. This really amazes me because I’ve been re-reading the book for years. I have it in a hard copy version; a Kindle e-book that I can access from my phone, laptop, and various Kindle apps and devices ; and a desktop calendar that sits in the guest bathroom (aka, “my bathroom”) in my home.

Yet and still, every time I turn those familiar pages, the words fall fresh on my heart EACH and EVERY time and something will speak to the depth of my exact situation with THE EXACT encouragement I need. Long story short, I love that little book!

On top of all of this, Sarah Young has written SEVERAL BOOKS over the years, but this is her FIRST 356-day devotional since since Jesus Calling was released in 2004, so I am tooooo excited to add this new book to my devotional collection.

Initial Impressions of Jesus Always:

The Cover:

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (Did I mention, LOVE?) The purple cover! Purple is one of my FAVORITE colors!

The cover has an irredessecent sheen that is actually very subtle (I really only noticed this as I attempted to take a photo and caught a glimpse of the book aganst the light from my the flash on my phone).

Photo of the Cover (Fresh Out of the Box)!

The Content:

While, Jesus Calling is a filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year written from Jesus’ point of view (thus the title Jesus Calling), Jesus Always invites the reader into a new way of living—a life of joy.

The new 365-day devotional was written as part of Sarah Young’s exploration of the promises of joy in scripture.

It continues in the style of Jesus Calling and is written as if Jesus, Himself is speaking directly to the reader with joy-filled reminders from the Word of God.

Each devotion includes companion scriptures that will intimately and gently connect you with Jesus—the One who meets you where you are.

Today’s Devotional Page (Note: the Ribbon Bookmark on the Left 😉🖒)

Other Things I Like!

I’m a sucker for a book with a ribbon bookmark. I’ve even started hot gluing my own ribbon bookmarks into books.

Little known fact about me: One of my first jobs at UNC was in the Walter Davis Library as Book Preservation Specialist. As a result, I can deconstruct and reconstruct a book in 30 minutes flat!

That also means that I can be a stickler on book construction. I really am a fan of the pocket-friendly size of Jesus Calling and I was happy to see that Jesus Always remained in that same vein (and had the bookmark ribbon 😁)!

The Inside Cover

You Can Reserve Your Copy, Now!

The text will officially be released to the public on October 4, 2016.

You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com and get their price guarantee!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”