 2017 was a year filled with excellent books, and I would be remiss if I didn't share some of these amazing titles with all of you. Books titles are one of my favorite things to share. One of my goals for 2017 was to read 36 books. Well, I ended up reading 24, which isn't too bad. I thought I would share the ten best books out of the bunch to recommend to all of you.  Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson Why I Loved It: Hannah Anderson has a way of taking biblical principles and helping to draw them out in everyday moments and events. The main focus of this book is how humility gives us a firm foundation and actually helps us to flourish. What Hannah fleshes out is that anxiety and stress in our lives is a result of pride, and humility before the Lord helps us find peace in the midst of those struggles.  12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke Why I Loved It: This book challenged and impacted me in a number of ways. I will never look at my phone the same way ever again as a result of the observations that Tony Reinke shares in this book. It's amazing to think how much our phones affect us and how little we care or pay mind to it. Tony Reinke calls us to prayerful reflection about our phones and their control and pervasiveness over our lives.  You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are by Rebekah Lyons Why I Loved It: A thoughtful memoir by Rebekah Lyons as she walks in freedom in Christ in the wake of anxiety and depression. I didn't know I needed to hear this message until reading this book. There are some books that encourage you simply by a person sharing their personal journey and finding freedom in the midst of it. This is one of those books.  Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard by Jennie Allen Why I Loved it: I appreciate Jennie Allen's down-to-earth writing and her way of taking deep theological truths and helping ordinary, everyday women understand them. After a year of studying the gospel of John, Jennie Allen shares the insights she gained from observing Jesus' ministry and being reminded that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have nothing to prove and can stop trying so hard to earn our salvation or prove ourselves to others.  Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Endless Demands by Shona and David Murray Why I Loved It: This book was like an ice cold glass of water in the middle of the summer sun. Immensely practical and encouraging, Shona shares her journey of fighting for rest in the grace of God in the midst of a world that makes a lot of demands upon us. I did not expect for her to give so many practical ways to embrace a grace-paced life, but I am immensely thankful for her gospel-focused insights.  Zeal without Burnout by Christopher Ash Why I Loved It: At this point you might be sensing a theme. I've read a lot of books about rest, resting in the Lord, and freedom from sin and anxiety. Well this book was the cherry on top. Short and sweet, Ash gives seven keys to a life-long sustainable ministry. This book is for more than pastors and full-time missionaries. I would recommend this book those that serves in the church in any capacity. We all need to be reminded that while we can work hard for the gospel, we need to rest in God's grace and not our own efforts.  Honest Evangelism by Rico Tice Why I Loved It: This is an area where I am continually learning to grow. It is not easy or natural for me to talk about Jesus with random strangers or even with close friends that are not Christians. I often fall into the fear of man, and need to be reminded to choose love over fear and talk about Jesus even when it's tough. This book was practical, encouraging, and it made evangelism less fearful and more exciting and fun.  The Circle Series by Ted Dekker Why I Loved It: This is my husband's favorite book series, and I've owned a copy since we became friends my freshman year of college, but didn't read it until this year. I'm sad I didn't read it sooner. It is a fiction series, but tells the story of the gospel in lieu of an alternate universe. I laughed. I cried. I desperately didn't want it to end.  The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines Why I Loved It: I'll be honest. I'm a big fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines. I appreciate their business model and the ways that they model working together as a married couple. I don't know what I expected from this book, but I appreciated them sharing how God was the one that wrote their story and opened up the doors for their business, Magnolia, which led to the TV show Fixer Upper. They started from almost nothing, and now they use the something that they have have given to bless others and their community.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey Why I Loved It: This book is different from the others on this list. This is an organizational book, but boy does Stephen Covey give a lot of helpful insights and lessons about personal growth and being effective. His habits are different from what most might think, but helpful in that they truly are effective. I've found them helpful since first reading this book. Reading is a discipline that many do not take the time to enjoy, but I hope sharing these titles encourages you to pick up one and enjoy the good gift of a good book. As you make your list of books to read for 2018, I would highly recommend reading these ten. I've already started working on my list for 2018, and can't wait to share with you the books that I read over the course of this year. What books are on your list for 2018?  The links to the books above are affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing a book or other products She Laughs Without Fear receives a small commission. When you buy books, you allow me to buy more books for review. Thanks for helping to fund my reading habit and supporting She Laughs Without Fear at no additional cost to you!
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 As of December 26, 2017 I officially read the entire Bible in one year. Whew! What a ride. One of my goals for 2017 was to be devoted to the Word, and it took a lot of devotion to read the Bible in a year. While it was encouraging in the home stretch, there were moments in the middle where it was difficult to maintain my Bible reading plans pace of 3-5 chapters a day. Part of it is that I wasn't just reading for reading's sake. I also kept a document of summaries of every chapter of the Bible for my training plan for the campus ministry that I work with. Summarizing made reading an extra layer. While it was hard work and quite a commitment, I'm deeply thankful that I made reading the Bible in a year as a goal for 2017. And there are a number of things that I took away from reading the Bible in its entirety. Here are a few reflections: God Is Merciful And Gracious From Genesis to Revelation Reading the Bible in it's entirety gave me a scope of biblical history that affirmed from Genesis to Revelation God's loving, merciful, and gracious character. Time after time God was gracious and merciful to his people, even after they sinned and rebelled against him. Halfway through the Old Testament, Israel is sent into captivity as a result of their sin and idol worship. You would think that captivity would soften their hearts, but their hearts are hardened towards God once again even after he frees them. Even though Israel rebelled and disobeyed and sinned, God still promised to send a Messiah that would save them and that one day he would give his people new hearts. He has fulfilled that promise. Returning to God is a Major Theme of Scripture Along with God's merciful and gracious character, there is a repetition of God calling his people to return to him. This theme is all over the Bible, but I particularly noticed it while reading through the book of Ruth and Joel. One of my favorite passages: “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:12-14) Joel is sent to tell God's people to return to Him. To turn from their sin and their idol worship and to return to the merciful and gracious God that loves them.
Here's the thing: God is calling us to return to him as well. And here's why... We Are Just Like the Israelites I'm like the Israelites. You're like the Israelites. We're all like the Israelites in that we turn from God to other things (fame, success, relationships, looks, money, etc), YET EVEN NOW we can still return to the Lord. It's an open invitation, and it's a choice that leads to life. This invitation is different from other invitations because it means life or death. If we turn from our rebellion and stop running after other gods in our lives and we return to the Lord, he will show himself to be merciful, gracious, and loving. Conversely if we turn from God to other things, we face disaster as well as God's wrath, anger and judgment. I don't know about you, but I would rather return to the Lord and receive God's mercy and grace. It's easier said than done, and I'm learning that returning to the Lord daily in my own heart requires humility, but I would rather live my life within God's love, mercy, and abounding steadfast love. There's Always More to Learn From The Bible This is probably the biggest thing that I took away from reading the Bible in a year. I gained a full scope of Scripture in reading it in it's entirety, but I missed out on some of its treasures by reading through it quickly. I'm looking forward to taking time over the next year to study and dig for more treasures about God's character over this next year. There's always so much more to learn from the Bible about who God is. While I enjoyed reading the Bible in a year, my goal for 2018 is to actually focus more specifically on a deeper study of specific books of the Bible. After reading for breathe, it's time for me to take time to read for depth. So if this post has intrigued you, might I encourage you to make it a goal to devote yourself to God's Word over this next year and read it as a whole as well. If that's something you're interested in, here are a few resources to help you on the journey: Knowable Word's 2018 Bible Reading Challenge 5 Reasons To Read The Entire Bible In a Year She Reads Truth Bible Reading Plan (which is what I used, and you can find it for free on their app as well.) The Bible App (which has a number of great Bible in a year plans you can use via your phone) (P.S. If reading the Bible in a year is not for you, and you would prefer a more in depth study method might I recommend this resource: 3 Ways I Plan to Read the Bible Less in 2018) In either case, happy reading! Leave me in a historic house with a cup of tea for a day and I will be quite content. I think this is why I enjoyed the television show Downton Abbey so much. It combined a number of my favorite things: historic homes, afternoon tea, heartfelt story lines, historic fashion, family life, and British accents. While this television series isn't everyone's cup of tea (see what I did there hehe), it is one that my husband and I enjoyed watching together in our first few months of marriage. Which is why I was so thrilled to get to go to the Downton Abbey Exhibition in New York City, a museum of sorts based around the television show. Since a number of my dear friends will not be able to see this exhibit with it's location and limited engagement in NYC, and I thought I would share some of the photos we took while there, so that others can enjoy it as well. If you have a chance while in NYC, I would definitely recommend going if you're an avid Downton Abbey viewer. Here are a few of the highlights:                              We thoroughly enjoyed it!
 November came and went faster than I anticipated. I can hardly believe that it is already almost half way through December. I remember a friend once sharing that the days are long but the months and years are short, and I keep finding that to be true. It's always a joy to share things that I've found in this little corner of the interwebs, so I thought I would share a few favorites from November and December so far. Enjoy. Nine Questions To Ask Yourself To Prepare For 2018 - I can hardly believe that it is almost 2018, but I've already started thinking and praying about goals for next year. This post was particularly helpful as I prepare. Did you know that Aaron Burr's grandfather was Jonathan Edwards, the preacher? I didn't either until Emily P. Freeman pointed it out on her What We Learned This Fall post. In her words: "I am sure everyone else knew this but I did not! And now that line in Wait for It make’s sense: “My grandfather was a fire and brimstone preacher (preach-a, preach-a, preach-a) . . . ” Thank you, Hamilton soundtrack, for teaching me so much about Aaron Burr, sir." I found out this month that I'm an Enneagram type 7, and it explains so much about how God made me. What type are you? If you don't know, you can take the free assessment at Your Enneagram Coach's website. Brandon and I watched/devoured the first season of Victoria abut the life of Queen Victorian of England. It was so good that I spent the morning of Black Friday researching about Queen Victoria and her descendants. The BBC and PBS' Masterpiece are doing an excellent job of creating beautiful television content. I'm almost done with the She Reads Truth Bible in a Year reading plan, and it has been a joy and a challenge to read and summarize the Bible in a year. I'm currently reading Daniel, and reading most of the Bible before reading this book has given more flesh to the bones of the context of this book. It makes me look forward to studying books like Daniel more in-depth in 2018. Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Endless Demands - one of the few books that I read and finished in November, but a book that I needed all year. If you're looking for a practical book on rest and refreshment in the Lord, particularly for women, might I recommend this little book. It is very practical, more practical than I was expecting, and it gave me helpful ideas to think about implementing more rest and refreshment in my life in the midst of busyness. What are some of your favorites from the month of November and December?  The links to the books above are affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing a book or other products She Laughs Without Fear receives a small commission. When you buy books, you allow me to buy more books for review. Thanks for helping to fund my reading habit and supporting She Laughs Without Fear at no additional cost to you! |
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