What We’re Reading Right Now
Alicia’s Picks
You may have heard the term “hygge” floating around the internet over the past two years, but it’s basically my favorite word ever. It’s a Danish term that was created to help people fight off depression in the months of no sunshine in Denmark. There are many variations of translation, but my favorite is “a hug for your soul.” The main thing you need to know is hygge is whatever makes you smile. ☺ Some of my favorite things that make me smile and hug my soul are the color yellow – specifically my new yellow Magnolia Farms hat and this yellow book, Meant for Good!
I’ve been loving being outside and soaking up the sunshine before it gets too hot here in Texas, and our front porch swing is perfect for reading! Oh, and I officially feel like I’ve joined the cool kids club with my new checkered vans. ;)
In August of 2020, Megan Marshman – one of my favorite authors and communicators – wrote this book Meant for Good: The Adventure of Trusting God and His Plans for You. I have had it on my bookshelf since its release but hadn’t gotten around to reading it. About a month ago, Megan’s husband died suddenly, leaving her as a single mom of two young boys. I could go on and on about why you need to read it, but, especially for those who are having a hard time seeing God’s faithfulness in a season of waiting or pain, don’t wait on it. She walks you through the very commonly quoted verses from Jeremiah 29, and I learned so much from it. Reading it now through the lens of someone who is currently walking through a really painful season of grief is incredibly impactful.
Feeling Frazzled? -- I came across this article on time management, and it was so helpful for me! I’ve been using it to help me get through the craziness of finals season in grad school, and I am so grateful. It’s similar to the time management strategy of “closing the loop.” You can thank me later. ;)
Chelsea’s Pick
What am I reading? What am I not reading is more the question. Anyone else have a stack of books everywhere, in the diaper bag, by your bed? Anytime for planned or unplanned reading is always a gift I welcome.
My current read is The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by Robert Mulholland Jr. This book is dense but so good. From the first page I felt the Spirit moving and revealing pieces of myself. It begins by talking about our false self and the religious false self, which are the pieces of us we craft to protect ourselves.
As I read his book, I continually ask myself, "Am I living in loving union with God?" This then carries through my day, and I begin to notice where I am living with God and apart. Mulholland dives into how Christ liberates us with love before the foundation of the world and how this has to be the foundation of our identity. It is God's nature as "cruciform love" to be in the darkness with us, to be in the false-self, both as the crucified one and the risen Lord of new life. He writes about how the Holy Spirit frees us from the false-self for Christ-likeness. How we get to participate with the Holy Spirit as we live in loving union with God. I love how he writes about living in loving union - that it is us and God together doing life for His glory.
I am currently loving this book because I've realized that in having children I have put on new false-selves. I knew I had done false-self work before and felt I was living as God created me, but in this season - and partly through this book - I've come to realize there are new temptations to create new false-selves, new protections and new ways of hiding. Perhaps it comes from comparison, maybe from expectations of the season, but it always feels heavy, not like an easy yoke or like living in loving union with God. I am finding as I read and pray through this book, God is bringing about deeper healing and freedom. If you are looking for some soul-stirring work and to unfold pieces of you that are products of this world and not of your original creation, I highly suggest this book.
Denika’s Pick
This year I set a goal to read 52 books, and I love the way it’s pushing me to carve out more time to read on a daily basis. I recently finished the book Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and I absolutely loved it! It’s mostly written for business owners and entrepreneurs, but it could really apply to anyone. It talks about the value of understanding why you do the work you do, and how when we are clear on our why it can change our entire approach to work and life.
Although I would consider myself to be very clear on my “why” in both a personal and professional context, it was helpful to revisit those values and evaluate if they are truly driving the choices I make each day. While I may know what my why is, my actions don’t always line up with that. Becoming aware of this has challenged me to be more mindful with the decisions I make and how I show up in my life.
If you aren’t sure what it means to get clear on your why, here’s the definition Sinek uses, as well as some questions I created that you can ask yourself to uncover your own why!
What is a why? Why is the purpose, cause or belief that drives every one of us.
What is my why? What is the impact I want to make in the world? Why is being part of this impact important to me? How does this desire line up with my faith or what God calls us to?
Once you start to gain a better understanding of your why, here are two ways to keep it front and center in your mind!
Use specific colors and symbols in your home and work environments to remind you of your why.
Communicate your why to your close friends, family and colleagues, and let them know what really drives you! Those closest to you will be able to keep you accountable and can call you out when you aren’t working at your best.
Katelyn’s Pick
There’s just something about spring and reading that fits together perfectly for me. I’m always more motivated to pick up a new book when the trees start to bloom and the temperature warms up.
Recently I’ve been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and this book has been a game changer.
I remember passing the book with a bird’s nest and little, blue eggs on the cover, but I never thought to pick it up until a mentor recommended it. It has helped shift my perspective from one of self pity to one of gratitude.
Voskamp shares about her own experience of wrestling with God, contentment and gratitude. She addresses a lot of the big questions we often ask God, and she processes them so beautifully. Many Christian books similar to this one often feel basic and very much like self-help, but Voskamp shares wisdom in practical, applicable and Christ-centered ways. The focus isn’t on the reader, but rather on how the reader can rightly honor and glorify God in their everyday life and perspective.
Nyla’s Pick
I'm reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain..
I always thought something was wrong with me for sometimes being the quietest person in the room or my class at school. But, this book has been so healing in helping me realize that can't be further from the truth! It's not wrong to be quiet. Introverts have unique strengths. Many amazing things wouldn't have happened had an introvert not been an introvert and approached a situation in that way. Introverts can also lead in special ways.
I found it so refreshing to have the author speak over me that it was okay to be me.
Our world can say we have to look a certain way - sometimes that way being extroverted - to be worthy. We are forced to do group projects in school, docked marks for not participating in class discussion, and sometimes told in a demeaning tone that "you are so shy," or "you just always go into your shell!" When really we are just designed to approach life differently, and different doesn't mean worse.
If you are an introvert like me, I'd recommend you check out this book. It was fascinating and healing after multiple decades of thinking I was broken for not having an extrovert personality, for enjoying staying home on Fridays, not loving big crowds, and only having a handful of close friends instead of hundreds. Now I know there is nothing wrong with having those preferences. God made me the way he did on purpose for a purpose, and a world with only introverts or only extroverts would be lacking. We need both. Both are okay! Go read it. So. Good!