Recent Reads

I’ve never considered myself a “reader.” Growing up, my best friend loved books of all kinds. Her bedroom was basically a library - every wall had a bookshelf, and by the time we were in high school I don’t know how she had any room for more books. She was an avid reader. (That’s probably also why she was the Salutatorian of our graduating class). But me? I was not like her. I liked stories, sure, but quietly sitting down to read them was not how I wanted to spend my time.

It wasn’t until I was finishing my degree at Liberty that I realized I could enjoy reading, and it was only a matter of finding topics that were of interest to me. It was also a matter of discipline. My natural bend is not to open a book when I have a moment of relief from my kids. I usually prefer to turn FRIENDS on the TV to numb out. So, don’t get me wrong reading still takes work, but I care, more than ever, about what I’m consuming & how I’m consuming it. This not only forms me, but forms my family as well.

Starting this “series” here seemed better than social media, because it’s more long form, and let’s be honest - I’m fairly long winded. It also keeps my thoughts on what I’m reading in one place and easy to reference back to when needed. This is probably more for me than it is for anyone else, but if you are looking for a starting place I hope this serves you well.

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

First book of 2023 did not disappoint. It’s one that has been on my list for a while, but I just never pulled the trigger. A friend gifted it to me for Christmas, and it was exactly what I needed. (Here is your gentle nudge to always gift the book… believe me, they will appreciate it.) Rooted in Jesus’ words from Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Dane Ortlund makes the case that our heart is not a part of who we are, rather the center of who we are. From it springs our reasons, our longings, our very life… it’s not hard for us to accept this about ourselves, but when we consider the humanity of Jesus we often overlook His heart. His reasons, His longings, His deepest hope and desires. This book was refreshingly all about Jesus. It had very little to do with me, except to remind me how sinful I am yet how & why Jesus turns toward me. I discovered Jesus differently, and am beginning to understand how His love for us is not a byproduct of anything, instead it is wholly who He is. That means that He is not angry first or naturally wrathful. “For he does not afflict from his heart…” (Lamentations 3:33). Ortlund references Isaiah 28:21 when stating, “Mercy is natural to him. Punishment is unnatural.” This idea of a God whose very heart is to move toward the sinner in the most loving of ways has given me so much life. For one who has been around Jesus for a long time, and in the trenches of church ministry it was a breath of fresh air to remember Christ.

My favorite excerpt, “When you look at the glorious older saints in your church, how do you think they got there? Sound doctrine, yes. Resolute obedience, without a doubt. Suffering without becoming cynical, for sure. But maybe another reason, maybe the deepest reason, is that they have, over time, been won over in their deepest affections to a gentle Savior” (p. 99).

Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith

Another outstanding book on the love of God, and how His Trinitarian nature is essential to our doctrine. If you’ve been around me for a significant period of time over the last two years I have harped on one thing - the idea that God did not create out of a lack in Himself. Genesis 1 didn’t come to be because God needed creation to fulfill Him. In fact, it would be a shame if He did, because that would mean that His beauty, His goodness, His kindness, His faithfulness, and everything else about Him would be dependent on us - His creation. Michael Reeves begins the book by writing, “God is love because God is Trinity” (p. 9). His argument being if God was a singular being with no one to love for all of eternity past, then His nature would not be love… at best, it would be a self-serving love rather than an “outgoing” love that sends and shares. Him being Triune is the best, most secure thing for our faith. One thing the Church has been coming around in reference to the Trinity has been His community within Himself. We’re a community people, so this helps put in perspective the value God places on community by reminding ourselves that He is community - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. I was wonderfully surprised when Reeves hardly touched on this idea and narrowed in on the essence of who this Triune God is - love. It was a beautiful pairing with Gentle & Lowly.

Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms

This is the first book I’ve read on parenting. I’ll admit to being a little cautious and extremely picky when it comes to what I read or listen to on parenting. However, now that I have a 3 year old with a lot of 3 year old feelings (IYKYK), I felt it was time to start looking into resources that would help me in this journey of forming little people. I’m so glad I started here. The theme throughout was, “We become our habits and our kids become us,” walking the reader through an average day pointing out how we can take hold of our habits and use them intentionally to form parents, form children, thus forming families. Mitchell and I often talk about how we play a long-game… which encourages us when we’re trying to teach Hattie how to pray or read a Bible story and she’s more interested in poking our eyes. The seeds are sown overtime. The encouragement Earley gives is, “To keep our hearts alive, we need to see the future. We need to be in awe of the not yet. Because when we can see only the present, something inside of us starts to wither” (p. 213). We must have a vision of the end to understand how the present matters. The ideas he gives to capture the moments throughout your day within your household are easy to practice. So easy that we’ve already started a couple - asking questions different ways, making the goal of discipline reconciliation, reciting Scripture together before bed, etc. It’s not hard, and it’s not weird. It’s easy to fall into the trap that we’re over-spiritualizing some things (I know because I’ve been there), but the reality is we are raising little people to love, believe, and follow God. And that extends beyond Sunday church & bedtime prayers, and matters more than whether or not I find family devotions awkward. The habits of your household are worth fighting for. I’m in it with you.

I warned you - I’m long winded. It’s your turn now, what are you reading & loving?