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the latest:
I’m probably doing this wrong. I wasn’t raised in a tradition that observed Lent. I had never even really heard much about it until a friend I’d met at a summer job in college asked what I was giving up for Lent.
“I’m giving up coffee,” she said.
“So it’s like a fast?” I asked.
“Sort of.”
She talked a bit more about it and then listed some things people usually give up.
“Um, ok, I’ll give up sweets,” I decided.
Life Lessons & Reflections:
I’m probably doing this wrong. I wasn’t raised in a tradition that observed Lent. I had never even really heard much about it until a friend I’d met at a summer job in college asked what I was giving up for Lent.
“I’m giving up coffee,” she said.
“So it’s like a fast?” I asked.
“Sort of.”
She talked a bit more about it and then listed some things people usually give up.
“Um, ok, I’ll give up sweets,” I decided.
The other day, I sent a meme to a friend (meme-sending is my love language), and after sending back a laughing emoji, he asked, “How are you doing?”
In slower seasons of life, when I’m in a time of transition or waiting on God to open a door, I hate answering this question because I always want to share something new or exciting that’s happening. So to avoid answering with what I feel, (“My life is going nowhere!”) I usually respond with something like, “Oh, you know, same as always.” After I’d said that I asked him, “How have you been?” and his response caught me off guard.
Are the leaves changing or are they being changed? Or both?
That’s how this season has been for me: I’m changing while being changed.
I sat down to read in my daily devotional, Streams in the Desert, and I couldn’t get past the last line: “The fruitful life seeks rain as well as sunshine.”
I had to read that again. Seeks rain?! As in, looks for it? Wants it? Puts itself in a position to be rained upon?
It makes sense, and of course I’ve heard adages about flowers and plants needing rain as well as sunshine, but seeking rain? That’s what got me.
From time to time, I’ll catch myself feeling “behind” everyone else in almost every area of life.
For example, as an adult, I’ve often found myself thinking, “I should be at such-and-such place in my life. Why am I always behind? I’ve got to catch up with everyone else…”
When I get caught in this thought pattern, I feel behind, I feel late, I feel like I’ve wasted or lost time and there’s no way to get it back.
Don’t we all feel like that sometimes?
It made me think, “When was the last time I looked forward to something, and actually enjoyed looking forward to it?”
When was the last time I enjoyed waiting for something, even if it’s just waiting a few minutes for something small but yet something I find joy in?
I can say I definitely don’t wait for the bigger things like that - all peaceful and expectant, sitting on a bench with my hands folded in my lap and a smile on my face.
Books:
Here are five books that have helped me grow spiritually. I hope they help and encourage you, too.
Here are five books that have encouraged me and helped me grow during my waiting seasons. I hope they help and encourage you, too.
It’s time to share my favorite reads from the past year!
This year and last year, I committed to read books that I already had on my shelves and to keep purchasing new books to a minimum. I found myself eyeing new books and realized that I already have so many that I’ve never read or that I haven’t read in a long time, so I’ve been working my way through many of them for the past two years.
Here are my favorite books I read in 2021:
Earlier this year a good friend of mine asked if I had any recommendations for books on prayer. I thought and thought, and while I’ve read books on prayer before, none of them were books I felt I could recommend as being helpful.
I was both surprised and saddened that I didn’t have any favorite books on prayer, so for the last several months, I’ve been reading books on prayer and finally have some that I can recommend, as well as a few that have become my own personal favorites.
I hope this list is helpful! I tried to include books for everyone, no matter where you’re at in your journey, as well as books that cover different aspects of prayer.
Each of us faces hard seasons when our faith is being strengthened like never before, and while the Bible should be our primary source of comfort and encouragement, reading books that nourish our faith and understanding of difficult seasons is also helpful.
Here are some books that have encouraged my faith during some challenging seasons in my life.
In many ways, it was a real challenge for me to narrow down a list of book recommendations for new believers, but I tried to choose the areas I thought a new believer would benefit from studying, and from there, I chose some books to cover each topic: spiritual growth, identity in Christ, the Bible, prayer, and spiritual disciplines. I included a few other books on topics such as the Holy Spirit, understanding grace, etc. at the end of this article that would also be great for new believers.
Devotionals can be a powerful tool to go along with our daily Bible reading. The problem is many devotionals, especially those targeted at women, are fluffy and shallow. That’s why some Christians won’t read them and insist on a Bible-only approach to quiet times. That’s also why some Christians go from devotional to devotional to devotional because so many devotionals don’t offer any lasting support beyond the initial reading (if at all).
monthly favorites:
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Free Journal Guide
Are you where you want to be in your life and faith?
If your answer is no, you’re not alone.
I know what it's like to coast along through certain seasons of life, doing the bare minimum, and missing things God has for me. I definitely don't want that to happen to you!
That’s why I created this journal guide; because whatever season you find yourself in, taking the time to check in with yourself and with the Lord is absolutely crucial to living each day of each season to the fullest.
If you want to:
get clear on what living with purpose looks like to you
brainstorm how to start becoming more intentional with your time and habits
identify your priorities and focus your attention on them
learn how to start and end each day feeling accomplished
…then this is the guide for you!
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Here’s what I’m reading this summer…