This post was getting fairly lengthy so I decided to split it in two.
Spoiler alert, my favorite book this month was #11 but you'll have to wait until the next post for that one. 💖
- Wrecked & Redeemed by Benji Kelley
Our pastor did a sermon series based on this book starting after the new year. I was intrigued enough to search out and order the book. Benji Kelley is a pastor himself, in it he tells his story of coming to know Jesus in jail after overdosing on drugs, leading police on a high speed chase, hit and runs, and finally crashing and totalling his car.
In a lot of ways I thought this book was the answer to my unsettled feelings after reading Rachel Held Evans books. Benji speaks the truth generously peppered with Grace.
My favorite quote from this book: "The Lord still longs to be our living water so that we can then go and share His refreshing Grace with others."
I think if we worry more about loving people instead of pointing out what we perceive as wrong or sin, or just arguing over how we disagree. If we show a lot more kindness and love. The world would be a better place and more people just might might come to know Jesus. - I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb
I listened to this book on audio in my Libby app. I found Malala's story amazing and inspiring. Isn't it funny how people can be so different, cultures so different and yet so much the same. We are all just people. With fears and feelings and dreams.
One night as I listened to this book while cooking dinner Ryan happened through a few times. It was the part where she was talking about being in the hospital recovering after being shot. He said "What- was she in a car accident or something?" I said "No, its the story of a girl shot by the Taliban." "Oh, do you mean Malala?" he said. My heart swelled with pride that he already knew her story, while simultaneously wondering how I had never heard of her before this.
A few favorite quotes:
"Let us pick up our books and our pens,” I said. “They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world."
"We human beings don't realize how great God is. He has given us an extraordinary brain and a sensitive loving heart. He has blessed us with two lips to talk and express our feelings, two eyes which see a world of colours and beauty, two feet which walk on the road of life, two hands to work for us, and two ears to hear the words of love. As I found with my ear, no one knows how much power they have in their each and every organ until they lose one."
“Kindness can only be repaid with kindness. It can’t be repaid with expressions like ‘thank you’ and then forgotten.” - Exhale by Amy Carroll, Cheri GregoryI purchased this book at Ladies Retreat last fall as Amy Carroll was our speaker. I read this book in my devotion time in the morning. I simply loved it. So many reminders to embrace who God created us to be.
- Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
I checked this one out of the library because it was by Lin-Manuel Miranda and my girls love him. Mikayla read it in a single sitting over Christmas break. I also found it enjoyable. =)
- Get Over Your Damn Self: The No-BS Blueprint to Building A Life-Changing Business by Romi Neustadt
I felt like this book took me forever to read. I renewed it to the max and then it was still overdue before I returned it. I actually read it quickly when it was in my hands and took quite a few notes. But overall it left a sour taste in my mouth. I found myself wondering if I had squandered my life so far. I found myself tallying my regrets and wondering if I was cut out to be a direct sales consultant after all. But I guess my business is my business and the only person I have to prove something to- if ME.
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