Today in church, I whispered to my daughter that Jonah was my favorite book of the Bible. Her eyes widened with surprise and disbelief. “But it’s so painful!” was her response. She doesn’t love reading the account of the many failures of Jonah. My deep love for this book started in college. As a literature... Read More
Our Amazing God: Three Lessons from the Book of Jonah
Conscience by Andrew Naselli and J.D. Crowley: A great book on a much-needed topic
This book review is by my husband, Dave, who loves reading and sharing book recommendations. He recently wrote questions to help our church as we study through this particular book together. If you are like most Christians, there are some words that you hear a lot—grace, gospel, maybe worship—and some that you probably don’t. It’s... Read More
New Prayer Journal: Organize your prayers and track God’s work in your life
Are you yearning for greater faith and an effective prayer life? Prayer Journal: A Record of God’s Answers to Prayer can help you organize your prayer practice, align your petitions with God’s truth, and bear witness to the miraculous ways in which He answers. Within this journal, you’ll find two essential tools to cultivate a life... Read More
12 Ways Your Smartphone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke: A Truly Beneficial Examination of Smartphone Habits
My smartphone is changing me. But this book changed me as well, and it did so in incredibly valuable ways. I highly recommend it to each and every person who holds a smartphone in the palm of her hand. In the sea of bad news about how smart phones and social media usage are changing... Read More
Learning and retaining God’s truth: Being doers of the word
As a college teacher for nearly 20 years, I taught my students how to improve their English skills. But I knew that the brief sessions I had with them in the classroom weren’t going to be the primary thing that led to their improvement. I was giving them opportunities and methods for change, and what... Read More
Avenues through Loneliness: The Steps out of Loneliness and into True Friendship and Intimacy
I couldn’t believe the loneliness that accompanied childbirth. Now, trust me when I say that I have no regrets about having children, but I wasn’t prepared for the loneliness that would ensue upon transitioning to motherhood. Overnight, my entire daily and weekly routine had to change, and I could no longer go out or be... Read More
Amy Carmichael’s “IF”: A small and intensely valuable devotional work
Amy Carmichael’s missionary labours extended over five decades beginning in the late Victorian period and sweeping through the Edwardian period of Britain’s history. Though she began her work in Japan, the majority of her years were spent ministering to women and children in India. A serious evaluation of her soul’s health was a daily habit with... Read More
How to Start Bible Journaling without Being an Artist: Benefits of Bible Journaling and Tips for Success
Should 2024 be the year when you start Bible journaling? Here are some easy steps to get started in Bible journaling, as well as some tips for ways to make your Bible journaling effective and not distracting. I have been journaling in one form or another for decades, and it has greatly benefited my study... Read More
Reading that Glorifies God: 7 Missionary Biographies to Add to Your Library
Earlier, I wrote about several categories of books we should read to encourage our faith. (See that list, with some suggestions, here.) The final category I suggested was that of Missionary Biographies. Here, I would like to recommend several specific missionary biographies for your consideration. These are among my favorites, because the missionaries described are portrayed... Read More
Reading that Glorifies God: A Guide to Great Books to Build our Faith Each Day
Never in the history of mankind has there been such a proliferation of written materials so readily accessible to the general public. Written material is clamoring for our time and attention, luring us with slick covers or bold advertising to delve into its pages. As Christian women we need to have some guidelines for selecting good reading... Read More