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What’s on your nightstand?—February ‘11

click for a closer look of each book on ShelfariI’m holding back.

What I’m not reading yet is Think (Piper), Pujols: More than the Game (Lamb and Ellsworth), Heaven Is for Real (Burpo), and Always True (MacDonald). But they’re on my nightstand.

Between the books I’ve already started plus the Depend and Delight books I’m studying, I’m about to get overwhelmed with books!

So please do me a favor:
Don’t tell me about any great books you’re reading. :-)

What I am reading are these gems below, all good!

Just started

1. One Thousand Gifts
     by Ann Voskamp
* All the hype is true! Get it. Read it. Watch the videos. Do it.
* From Chapter 5, “What in the world, in all this world, is grace?”
   I shake my head, shake off disbelief, shake off this weight pressing hard on the chest.
   They can whisper it in the dead boy’s house too.
   God’s grace, God’s grace.

2. God in the Yard
     by L. L. Barkat
* I’m committing to 12 weeks with this outside spiritual discipline.
* From Week 3: “Contemplation”
  Have I gone completely off the map of acceptable spiritual practice, in coming outside with an openness to moth and monarch, white clover and catbird?

3. One Thing
     by Sam Storms
* I’m enjoying hearing much about God’s glory.
* From Chapter 2, “Confessions of a Christian Hedonist
  Let me go even further and say that when it comes to satisfying our spiritual appetites, there is no such thing as excess.

4. Mindless Eating
     by Brian Wansink, Ph.D.
* Very, very interesting about our eating habits we don’t realize we have.
* From Chapter 10, “Mindlessly Eating Better”
  With more than 200 daily decisions to make about food, this much micro-thinking can joylessly grind a person down.

Still Reading

5. Trusting God
     by Jerry Bridges
* From Chapter 8, “The Wisdom of God”
  The good that God works for in our lives is conformity to the likeness of His Son. It is not necessarily comfort or happiness but conformity to Christ in ever-increasing measure in this life and in its fullness in eternity.

Finished from January’s nightstand

6. Crazy Love
     by Francis Chan
* I think I enjoyed it more the first time I read it. And I think that’s a good sign. The ideas are more familiar now instead of shockingly new.
  You do not need to preach to your pastor or congregation; you simply need to live out in your daily life the love and obedience that God has asked of you.

7. Couples Who Pray
    by SQuire Rushnell & Louise DuArt
* Be praying: Jeff and I agreed to take on the 40-day Prayer Challenge during Lent this year. So although this book wasn’t overly impressive, if something wonderful comes out of it, the time reading it was well spent.

8. When Organizing Isn’t Enough
     by Julie Morgenstern
* Another re-read. Worth it.
  SHEDing is not a de-cluttering crusade. It is getting rid of the old and obsolete so that you have space to discover what’s important to you [not just organizing things].

9. What’s So Amazing about Grace?
     by Philip Yancey
* When you thirst for more books on grace, reach for this one.
   Church should be a haven for people who feel terrible about themselves—theologically, that is our ticket for entry. God needs humble people (which usually means humbled people) to accomplish his work.

10. The Notebook
     by Nicholas Sparks
* I checked it out of the library on a whim when I saw it. I knew nothing about it except I’d heard it was a movie. The book was good but too sad, hitting so close to home about Alzheimer’s. Maybe the movie was better?
  We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken us a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. This is the great paradox.

11. The Love Dare
     by Stephen and Alex Kendrick
* My third re-read this month. Last week I finished the 40-day challenge to give more unconditional love to Jeff. Stephanie was a superb hostess for keeping those of us participating on track and encouraged. I highly recommend this doing book for all marriages—young, old, healthy, hurting. It’s not easy, but it’s very beneficial.
  The experience and challenge of loving your mate is something that never comes to an end. It goes on for the rest of your life.

* * *What's on Your Nightstand at _5 minutes for Books_

Tour the links at Jennifer’s to see what’s on our nightstands.

19 comments:

Sandy@ Jesus and Dark Choc said...

Great list Lisa, I know I can always check here for ideas for books to read. I enjoy reading, but it's hard to find time these days. I will def have to check into One Thousand Gifts. :)

bekahcubed said...

Because I'm such a great blogging friend, I'll let you know in advance to NOT read my post tomorrow--'cause I'm planning on writing about books I've been reading, some of which happen to be great!

I know you mentioned "Mindless Eating" in a comment somewhere--I haven't read it, but it definitely looks fascinating. I'm a big proponent of eating and enjoying food--rather than guilt-tripping on food. And does that sentence there mean what I think it means? Is Wansink perhaps suggesting that we don't necessarily have to be counting calories, fat grams, carbohydrates, and Weight Watcher points every time we sit down to eat? If so, I might just like this fellow!

Lisa notes... said...

Sandy,
I think you would enjoy One Thousand Gifts if you like Ann Voskamp’s blog, A Holy Experience. Her style of writing is very poetic and thoughtful. It’s a small book but packed full, full, full. I think you would find much grace for the journey you and Curt are on through Ann's stories.

Lisa notes... said...

Rebekah,
Thanks for the warning! You are a true friend. :-) But will I have the willpower to resist? Not! Now I’ll be doubly tempted to see what great books you’re reading. Ha.

I’ll do a review of Mindless Eating soon because I really enjoyed it so much. I think his philosophy would match what you’re saying here—enjoy food thoughtfully. It’s not a technical book like what you’re probably used to, but if you ever do read it, I’d be curious to know what you think about it.

Unknown said...

Mindless Eating -- yeah. Been there. Don't even want to know!

L.L. Barkat is so deep and thoughtful.

If you decide to watch the Notebook, we'd love a Books on Screen guest post!! I saw the movie (a long time ago) but I don't think I ever read the book. I think I read Message in a Bottle around the time the Notebook movie came out. Make sense?? HA.

Melissa said...

I always get great reading ideas here...but like you, I'm getting overwhelmed with books. So I'm not paying any attention to your list ;-)

Kara said...

Love your list...and of course need to add to my own list now, of course! :-) I really like Sam Storms, but haven't read that particular title. And I've been trying to hold off on One Thousand Gifts until I pare down my stack, but I just don't think I can wait much longer...I'm dying to read it!

Barbara H. said...

I have Ann's book on my shelf. I should probably pick it up next to get in on some of the things going on in the blog world in connection with it.

Mindless Eating sounds like something I should read even though I don't want to. :-)

I've seen parts of The Notebook but not the whole thing at one time. I was incredibly touched by the ending but I can see how painful it might be so soon after your mom's passing.

Carrie said...

I just finished Think (finally) but I won't tell you about it. ;)

Crazy Love. Still on my stand.

And One Thousand Gifts seems to be rocking the book blogs these days. Hmm....

Always enjoy seeing your list!

Lisa notes... said...

Jennifer,
I’ll let you know if I watch the movie. I think my sister has seen it; I’ll ask her first if I should watch or not. ha.
And yes, I actually did follow your train of thought about Message in a Bottle. :-)

Melissa,
I SO understand. :-) I’m trying to NOT write down any suggested titles this month from anyone’s lists. There’s always next month. (as if I’ll be caught up by then! Ha.)

Kara,
One Thousand Gifts is at least a shorter book. Not that that’s a good thing necessarily, but maybe that will help you feel less guilty if you resist the urge to hold off. :-)

Lisa notes... said...

Barbara,
I knew I would want to read Ann’s book eventually so when I saw all the blog tie-ins now, I decided to go ahead and start. And I have no regrets! But I’m sure the videos will stay posted for quite awhile so you can always view them whenever you do start reading (if you want). I’ll post soon about Mindless Eating because it was so interesting.

Carrie,
It’s a deal: I won’t tell you about Crazy Love if you’ll keep quiet about Think. :-) I know you have a review of it on your blog, but I’m not peeking. Yet. :-)

Cassandra said...

Mindless Eating sounds really interesting.

I haven't read the Notebook, but I did see the movie. The movie was good. I got pretty attached to the characters, by the end of the movie.

And I hear you on not telling about really good books! I've already added five to my to-read list because of the Nightstand posts. Actually, since I'm about to add one of yours, that makes six. ;)

Ashley Wells said...

I second all of that about One Thousand Gifts. It is amazing!!!!

denise said...

I wouldn't watch the movie for a few more years if I were you. I'm not a huge crier but I cried.

Amy said...

What about you? Tempting all of us with your lists...
God in the Yard and Mindless Eating are new to me.
Amy @ Missional Mama

morninglight mama said...

I've never read anything by Nicholas Sparks, but I know some folks who are HUGE fans!

-Dawn, 5M4B

Brenda said...

I was going to say what someone already said... do NOT watch the movie for a while, Lisa. :-) I saw it in the theater and there was not one dry eye in the whole crowd when it was over. You know I've never been much of one to cry, but I was sobbing. Ha.

Lisa Spence said...

An eclectic list; I love it! Yes, I imagine The Notebook was a difficult read for you. I read it years ago and remember thinking it was far too sad, a feeling all the more compounded in your case. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on these other titles!

Trish said...

Sounds like a pretty intense list! I have definitely been focusing on the lighter side so far this year.

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