Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist
This was my first introduction to Shauna Niequist and a lovely one at that. I’d heard such good things about Bread and Wine, but since food and entertaining are not my forte I searched for another of her books. It amazes me how talented people are in expressing the simplest of things in the most profound ways. Shauna speaks of simple things….everyday life, even the mundane…but in a way that encourages you to stop and notice the extraordinary in the ordinary…and don’t we all need a lot more of that?
Favorite Quote: “I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing loud in the car with the windows open, and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift, who will use it up and wring it out and drag it around like a favorite sweater.”
Daily Love: Growing into Grace by Mastin Kipp
I have to say that there was quite a bit of “theology” I had to work around to get to the truth contained in this book, but I learned quite a while ago to eat the meat and pick out the bones concerning sermons, commentaries, books, opinions and the like. Mastin Kipp’s website catapulted to popularity after Kim Kardashian tweeted about it, which is kind of like Oprah picking your book for her book club…instant exposure! Mastin’s story is a colorful one. From fame to failure as a result of succumbing to the pitfalls of drugs, ego, and the glitz and glam of the fast lane, Mastin hit rock bottom but them made some rock solid decisions that changed everything. What Mastin shares concerning our comfort zones, the nature of fear, and the need to act as opposed to analyze are powerful inspiration for change.
Favorite Quote: “Personal growth without action is …spiritual entertainment.… Most of my spiritual work was just spiritual entertainment; I wasn’t backing it up with action. As much as we want to change we are also terrified of uncertainty. We’d almost rather stick to our old patterns than risk doing something different. That’s why it’s so easy to get lost in self-help books. We feel like we are making progress, but in truth we may actually be spinning our wheels and not taking any action.”
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
I can’t tell you how glad I am that I read this book. It not only helped me understand myself but made me recognize and appreciate some things I’d judged as faults in quite a few others in my life. Similar to the insight I received in realizing the unique giftings in God’s people, this thoroughly researched, comprehensive look at the traits of introverts and extroverts and the incredible benefits that each bring to any number of situations was enlightening to say the very least. I highly recommend this book.
Favorite Quote: “Love is essential, gregariousness is optional.”
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer
My number one favorite read of the year is Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak. Books that speak of finding your destiny, calling, passion, and purpose are endless. I’ve read many of them as I, like so many, look to ensure that I’m living a life of meaning. This little book (only 128 pages) is a breath of fresh air in that search. Encouraging us to look at our life instead of some elusive purpose that might be eluding us and just out of reach, Parker brings a whole new way of thinking to the idea of vocation, bringing the peace and calm that comes from finding answers to the inner struggle that often accompanies a quest for meaning in our lives. You might just discover you’re not as far from the answers as you might have thought.
Favorite Quote: “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent.”
Breathing Room: Letting Go So You Can Fully Live by Leeana Tankersley
Searching for books that speak of space, quiet, and peace…permission to relax and just be? This delightful, insightful read stands out as one of the best in my recent reading repertoire.
In the midst of the challenges of motherhood, miscarriage, and moving her family to follow her Navy Seal husband to the country of Bahrain, Leeana found herself in a dark place. Sharing her story in a transparent, relatable way she creates for the reader a sense of being understood and uplifted, as if sharing one’s struggles with a caring and wise friend.
No matter the unique nature of your individual circumstance everyone can benefit from the wisdom Leeana offers as she exposes the insidious nature of the myriad things that bind us…toxic voices, a desire for control, self-bullying, fear, grief, lack of accomplishment and direction, or just the fact that life, at times, is undeniably hard. Coming through loud and clear is the message almost every woman needs to hear…show yourself compassion.
Not just preachy but practical, Leeana offers substantial, sound advice that provides welcome relief from the diverse challenges of simply being human…of being alive. Her relaxed, relatable writing style make this book breathing room in itself, creating a sense of calm and comfort simply in the reading. You will come away refreshed…and relieved.
Favorite Quote: “If your insides aren’t peaceful it matters not what’s outside.”
The Financially Confident Woman: What You Need to Know to Take Charge of Your Money by Leeana Tankersley
I’ve never read a book on finances before, and seemingly, that’s precisely why the author wrote it…to encourage women to become knowledgeable and thus confident to actively participate in their own financial well-being.
What I loved about Mary Hunt’s The Financially Confident Woman is that it’s not a treatise on how to get more money, but more importantly how to manage the money you have. Before tackling the cure, Mary insightfully questions the cause, the financial beliefs responsible for irresponsible behavior. Exposing six insidious beliefs we might hold unaware that wreak havoc in our financial lives, Mary then thoroughly and methodically shares nine habits that, if implemented, will radically change anyone’s financial future no matter what shape their finances are in. Topics include giving, saving, investing, debt, frugality, emergency funds, financial assessment, getting what you pay for, and planning for retirement.
Complete with explanations of terms, nuggets of wisdom, terrific tips (her “Seventy-Seven Ways to Spend Less Money” and “Ways to Raise Cash for Your Stash” really get the juices flowing), The Financially Confident Woman covers the basics and so much more. The concluding Six-Week Plan of Action is meticulous, methodical, and entirely inspiring, stirring the reader to act, not just analyze, which to me is the sign of a worthy and worthwhile self-help book.
John Bevere’s book Extraordinary might serve as a fitting, one-word review.
Living an extraordinary life is God’s plan for each of His followers, yet most of us forego the extra and settle for the ordinary.
I have quite a collection of Bevere books. What can I say…there’s no one quite like him. Having known him personally, if I had to describe this man in a word it would be passionate. I’ve read most of John’s books and am confident to highly recommend them. His careful interpretation of God’s Word make him a trustworthy teacher. Expounding the scriptures with gifted revelation, powerful truth unfolds; the method of a teacher…in the mouth of a preacher.
In this thought-provoking book John challenges us to take an honest look at our lives in comparison to the extraordinary lives of Jesus and those in the early church. He asks us to examine what might be keeping us from being extraordinary…from reaching our highest potential.
Typical of all his books, John isn’t satisfied to theorize, he’s concerned that we do something to elicit change. He provides abundant, valuable explanation along with practical, real-life solutions that, if implemented, will foster real transformation in our lives.
John covers all the bases as he summarizes the three principal areas of God’s will for our lives: that we…
- be saved, coming to the knowledge of the truth
- live a life of holiness
- advance His kingdom by fulfilling our individual, God-given assignments.
These are the things that bring God pleasure and pleasing God should be our number one desire. Nevertheless, desiring and doing are two entirely different things. How to live a life that pleases God is a point of struggle for many. It certainly was for me. Masterfully unraveling this mystery, John begins by echoing the good news found in II Peter 1:3 declaring that we already have everything we need to be pleasing to God, and it’s all because of grace. However, accessing everything grace has made available is another story altogether. Leaving no stone unturned, John painstakingly guides us concerning how to actually make effective use of grace in each area of God’s will.
While most of us have received grace for forgiveness, John systematically details how to see its effect in empowerment for holy living, declaring, “Grace…is God’s unmerited empowerment, which gives us the ability to do what truth demands…” . Meticulous and thorough, John not only puts forth but also powerfully puts to rest the tough questions concerning the role of grace as it pertains to life not just for eternity, but before eternity.
- Are we or are we not under the Law? (After all, in Matthew 5 we see Jesus up the ante, surpassed the Law’s requirements)
- Is grace the big cover up, giving license to sin?
- What about the flesh and the sin nature?
- Faith or Works? (reconciling Romans 3:28, a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law, and James 2:24, a man is justified by works and not by faith alone)
But John doesn’t stop here. He advances further and presses deeper, not excluding what many have…that third area of living a life that pleases God. He questions whether or not we have found and are fulfilling our part in advancing God’s kingdom, using the unique gifts He has given us. This is the part of the book that moved me the most, exposing an application of grace that I had totally overlooked. What hinders us from accomplishing our purpose? How can we walk in our divine destiny? The answer might surprise you. It did me. I am encouraged, and I am reminded…that grace is for sufficiency in every area!
Extraordinary is just that….extra ordinary. Refreshing and revelatory….you will not be disappointed.
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