Enemies of the Heart

Recently, I read Andy Stanley's newest book, Enemies of the Heart. It talks about 4 enemies that threaten our thoughts, actions, emotions, and ultimately our faith.

I've always appreciated Stanley's writing and preaching, and this book was no disappointment. Extremely practical and easy-to-read, I got to the end feeling both challenged and hopeful.

There's no reason to live in bondage to emotions like envy and greed, which sometimes hide as pride, anger, and the like. Pick up "Enemies of the Heart" today.

Just Plain Wisdom

A couple weeks ago, I picked up a book whose title and concept piqued my interest. "Plain Wisdom," coauthored by fiction author Cindy Woodsmall and her Amish friend Miriam Flaud is subtitled "An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women."

And that's exactly what it is.

Woodsmall explains all she's learned from her friendship with Flaud and the many lessons she's learned from a life that is not cluttered by technology or some of the other distractions of today's world. Flaud, in her gentle way, describes life in a way that is thoroughly inspiring in its simplicity.

What a refreshing, honest view of life that is especially encouraging for me as I long for a simpler, "plain"er existence.

Don't miss this oasis in your reading stack. It's well worth the time.

Living the One Day Way

This week, I read Chantal Hobb's latest book "The One Day Way." Having already checked our her book "Never Say Diet" I knew she had some good tips about exercise and nutrition. I'm not in the market to lose weight right now...but I am always looking for new exercise inspiration and to broaden my food knowledge.

This book is written for those who've dieted in the past and found themselves looking at the end of the chocolate bar (again). Her concept is simple: instead of trying to figure out how to lose that 5 pounds, drop that dress size, or make those jeans fit, Hobbs encourages readers to focus simply on the 24 hours in front of them, make a plan they can work with. That way, a failure doesn't mean the end of days or weeks of effort, but just a few hours, which makes it easier to get up and give it a go the next day.

The book is broken into 4 sections: changing your mindset (about weight, dieting, your ability to succeed, etc.); making a plan (preparing yourself mentally and emotionally); executing a plan (including a meal plan and some at-home exercise ideas); and going the distance (caution and encouragement for the road ahead).

I found the book to be extremely practical and helpful, without being obsessive. Hobbs' own story is inspiring, and sprinkled within the book are success stories from those who have tried her tips and succeeded.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get healthy and is looking for a solution that sticks.

The Chocolate Diaries

Sometimes we need a light book to realign our perspectives. And when "The Chocolate Diaries" by Karen Scalf Linamen arrived in my mailbox, that's what I was looking forward to.

Linamen uses chocolate, and its identity as a comfort food, to draw a parallel with the comfort we can find in relationships, the Bible, God, and other soul-lifters. She shares stories of how friends managed to find the silver lining in rough times to help us to see that no matter how bad life gets, there is hope. There are times when she has more success than others, but overall the book is a quick read.

Each chapter includes tips from her readers on how to lift a tired spirit, and the end of each chapter includes some reflection questions and, appropriately, a chocolate-rich recipe.

If God Is Good

No matter how long you've been a Christian, we all come to those moments when you question God's sovreignty. If God is inherently good in His character, how can He allow violence, tsunamis, natural disasters, and disease to fester around the world? And if He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me, why is He allowing this trial or that hardship? In a world where there seem to be few moral absolutes, how do you tell the difference between good and evil?

And these questions are just some of what Alcorn tackles in his latest book. From cover to cover, he thoroughly describes God's character in relationship to man and to the world, refusing to rest his argument on anything less than the Bible.

It would be easy for a book like this to come across as condescending, but Alcorn never gives the reader the impression that something is wrong with you if you struggle with these issues.

At the end of the day, Alcorn's book is a worthwhile addition to any library, but it seems especially valuable for those readers who are trying to better understand a dynamic, limitless Creator. I had high hopes for this book, and it did not disappoint.

Inspiration

After a LONG hiatus, I am finally returning to my bloggy roots.

I've been following friends' blogs recently, which has finally gotten me back in the mood to start writing again. This had degenerated into little more than a place to record my thoughts on things I was reading.

But now, after almost 18 months of marriage, I am excited to write about the things being a wife is teaching me about myself, my husband, and my God.

So, I've got a new look, a new name, and a host of things to share. I just hope I can resist the temptation to (1) put them all in one post and (2) post them all in one day.

Hello old friend...

It's been way too long since I actually posted something.

So, in the interest of getting back on the horse, a new profile design and a new post are just what the doctor ordered. Here's to less than 16 months between posts. They've been incredibly busy, wonderful months, but it's time to get back to blogging. I can't seem to keep up with a paper journal. Maybe this will do the trick.