Five books I’m reading right now

Or at least attempting to.  I’m sick.  So very, very sick.  It’s hard to read when even putting glasses on hurts so this pile of books has sat by my side as I’ve cuddled under my warm brown blanket from Indigo that my husband bought me ’cause he loves me.  Today has been the first day I could actually get my glasses on my face without wincing so I think I’m turning a corner.

Anyways I’m reading, or trying to and a few books lately have caught my eye.  I thought I’d share them with you to inspire the reader within or at the very least get some conversation flowing.  Here are the books, some inspirational and others not in the least.

Book One:  The Book of Common Prayer

I may be the only person in the world who walks into Walmart and thinks ‘The Book of Common Prayer at 25% off? I’ve always wanted my own copy‘.  That’s actually how this went down.  I found it.  I bought it.  I love it.  I’m a sucker for old prayers that speak the language of days past because while the words may seem different, the sentiments rarely are.  We are connected through our desire to commune with God and feeling that transcend time and space is a marvelous thing.

Book Two: Whirlbirds and Ordinary Times by Katie Savage

I love this book.  I had to take a break from reading it but what I’ve read so far is really rather delightful.  I received a copy from the publisher, Howard Books to see what I thought and I think it’s great.  It’s a collection of essays by a new author, Katie Savage which reflects on faith throughout the year and is really open, honest and real.  Too often when I read books on faith and life reflections they are light and fluffy. This digs in, offers a real look at the human side to faith and is a really nice early morning read.  I’ve been reading a chapter each day after my devotions and it’s been lovely.  If you have a woman to buy for this Christmas, can I recommend this book?  If you are a woman, go get it yourself!  You won’t regret it.

Book Three:  From Notting Hill with Love…Actually by Ali McNamara

Have I mentioned how much I love romantic comedies?  I feel as though the art of the romantic comedy has deteriorated as of late and I am drawn to movies like Sabrina, Notting Hill and Love Actually.  Imagine my delight and surprise to find two of my favorite movies in the title of a new novel.  So far I’ve read one chapter.  Not enough to review but enough to say that I will continue reading.  She has a fresh voice and it’s your standard chick-lit so I think I’ll stick it out.

Book Four: Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. 

My husband brought this book home to read for work. He’s hugely interested in Plant Based Diets {and we follow one here at home}.  I am sneaking some time with it while he mulls over his fantasy football team. This book seems to dive into the science behind it while being easy to read and approachable for someone like me who let’s face it didn’t get the best of grades in her high school science classes.  So far I am enjoying it as a bit of refresher from what I’ve read before. What I really like about it are the recipes found at the back of the book.  I love trying new things so my kitchen will definitely be getting a work out when I’m feeling 100%.

Book Five:  Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith

Truthfully I just got this.  I haven’t even read one word but with a recommendation on the front saying it fuses Game of Thrones with the Gospel of Luke I knew I needed to read this for a few reasons.  One, because the main story is about the three wise men {who in this story are murderous thieves on the run} and we all know that the wise men weren’t in the gospel of Luke.  Two, because this is a New York Times best seller and that means that people are in some form interested in the story of Jesus, even if it’s an imagined fantasy version.  I like to know what it is people are reading about faith and it sounded like an interesting premise.  Also, I have to admit I rather enjoy Game of Thrones so I thought I’d give it a shot.

That’s what I’m reading right now.  What are you reading?  Let us know in the comments below.
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Disclosure: I did receive a copy of Whirlybirds and Ordinary Times from Howard Press. I did not receive any compensation for this review beyond the free book and these are my honest opinions based on reading the book.  I was not influenced in any way by the publisher.

God doesn’t quit.

I’m wading through Leviticus right now and am awfully thankful I was not a priest back in the day.  I don’t think I could have done it.  I really would have had a hard time killing a cow/sheep/insert animal here.   I’d make friends with it and then when the time came to say good bye I don’t think I’d be able to do it.  It’s really not something I would have to worry about though as I’m a women and therefor unclean a lot of the time and also unworthy of the task.

Have I mentioned how thankful I am not to have been a priest back then?

A few days ago I decided to read the Bible from front to back as I was jumping all over the place.  I started to wonder if I was missing key things because I wasn’t following a plan.  This forces me to hit areas of the Bible that I forget about. Leviticus is one of those areas.

As I’ve been reading through from Genesis to Leviticus 16 and what I’m really appreciating about God this run through is that God lays everything out neatly in great detail {in fact some might argue too much detail} so that the people of God ‘get it’.   God’s people make mistakes and he stays with them.  Explaining things over and over again.  He doesn’t quit.

We worship a God who doesn’t quit.
This is great news!

God doesn’t quit.  God is there.  Persevering through the ages.  Trying to catch our attention and draw us back into right relationship with him.  God loves us so much he even joins us on earth for a bit to see if that helps.  God is pretty great that way.  We’re pretty lucky people.

I think this is something we need to remember.  We think if we’ve made a mistake it’s over.  We think we can’t turn back but the truth is we can.  We can always go back.  Even when we build a golden calf, we can always go back.

We worship a God who doesn’t quit.
Even when we as individuals don’t ‘get it’.
Even when we as a church don’t ‘get it’.

God doesn’t quit.
We shouldn’t quit either…

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