Hi all! Since several of you liked last month’s update about what I’m reading, I thought I’d share again this month.  I did finish a couple of books and will {eventually} get real reviews written.  But mostly, this month, I’ve been a slow reader of non-fiction.  {Most of these links are affiliate links which simply means if you purchase through them I will receive a small commission which I will use to buy more books.}

The Power of Persistence: Breakthroughs in Your Prayer Life by Michael Catt —Michael Catt is the pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church {you know, as in Sherwood Films, like Fireproof and Courageous}. I am really being challenged by his writing to be a more effective and persistent pray-er. I am about halfway through this book and have underlined and written in the margins on almost every page. If you want to grow in your understanding and practice of Bible-based prayer, I highly recommend this book.  {Side note and a little commercial: My book, Prayers from the Pews, is a simple way to pray for your church with Scripture as a foundation. You can find out more about it here.}

Counter Culture: A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion, Persecution, Orphans and Pornography by David Platt — Y’all, this one is tearing me up! I’ve been reading it as part of my preparation for my October series. So good. I love this from the introduction,

In a world where everything revolves around yourself—protect yourself, promote yourself, comfort yourself, take care of yourself—Jesus says, “Crucify yourself. Put aside all self-preservation in order to live for God’s glorification, no matter what that means for you in the culture around you.

And isn’t this, after all, the main issue in any culture? Maybe better stated, isn’t he the main issue in any culture? What if the main issue in our culture today is not the poverty or sex trafficking, homosexuality or abortion? What if the main issue is God?

Trust me, y’all, this book is a must read and I’m not even through with it. You can definitely expect to see more quotes from it in October.  While my series is not focusing on specific action areas, the core of this book and of my series is our hearts … when our hearts chase after God, our lives will not conform to the world’s culture and standards.

My fiction reading this month has been The Selection series by Kiera Cass. Sandra first mentioned this series to me and I’ve finished the first three books. If you like YA fiction coupled with a dystopian context, you will like these books.  I’ve read The Selection, The Elite, and The One.  I will probably start the final book, The Heir, this week.  And since I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the books, I feel pretty sure I’ll end up reading the companion book, Happily Ever After, which includes four novellas telling the story from the perspective of other characters as well.

I finished a couple of books this month, both written by wise friends.
Reclaiming Home: The Family’s Guide for Life, Love, and Legacy by Krista Gilbert.  This one will become a well-marked resource for me. I loved every word.

Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You Through Life’s Transitions by Kristen Strong. Kristen is one of my favorite people on the planet.  This book is a gentle and kind guide for those facing the changes life brings … in other words, all of us.

I’m still teaching the Gospel of John on Wednesday nights at my church.  We will cover chapters 7 through 9 in our class this week. Of all the things I get to do, not one is more rewarding and fulfilling than the privilege of teaching the Word to women every week.

And, as usual, I’m loving the current She Reads Truth plan.  We finished up Galatians and are in Ephesians now. I think next week Philippians begins and then Colossians.  Y’all, if you are looking for a Word-centered community, I can’t speak highly enough of SRT.

I also noticed Russell Moore shares his reading list also. You might want to check it out.  And, Sandra shares what she’s reading every week in her weekly wrap-up posts.  I always find something good in there!

So tell me, what are you reading right now?

xo,

Teri Lynne