Reflections from my soul to yours.
12 Books from 2024
Although we’re still two months out from the close of 2024, I take a break from blogging at the beginning of November until the New Year. Since that leaves only one more blog post before 2025, I’m sharing some of what I’ve read this year, and maybe it will make your list for next year.
From books covering theology to methodology, my goal is to grow by considering perspectives that challenge, adjust, or reinforce what I think and believe.
I also try to learn at least one lesson from those whose lifestyles might feel foreign to me. I learned from a Quaker steadily boycotting slavery long before the American Revolution and from a legendary rock star shouting injustice in the spotlight that I have a role to play in my generation, but its effect may not fully be realized in my lifetime.
Reading equips me a little more for that role. I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these!
A Non-anxious Presence, Mark Sayers
All My Knotted Up Life, Beth Moore
Developing Female Leaders, Kadi Cole
The Journal of John Woolman, John Woolman
The Paradise King, Blaine Eldridge
The 6 Types of Working Genius, Patrick Lencioni
Practicing the Power, Sam Storms
Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer
Streams of Living Water, Richard J. Foster
Surrender, Bono
Timothy Keller, Collin Hansen
Write Useful Books, Rob Fitzpatrick
For Life & Home
I came across the interior designer, Jean Stoffer, a few years ago, and I loved her attentive, thoughtful restoration of historic houses. It was intriguing to me that she seemed to have “suddenly” appeared in the popular design world, yet she was in her 60’s. From her demeanor, it was clear that there was something deeper about her.
When her book Establishing Home arrived on Target’s shelves, I wanted to know more.
You’ll be inspired by her story if you’re holding loosely to a dream that hasn’t had much momentum because of your stage of life; if you’re chipping away at a project that hardly looks different from one day to the next; or if you’re feeling like slow might just mean never.
Jean consistently kept her values of God and family at the forefront of her business decisions, although it was agonizing to do so at times. After turning down a large-scale design opportunity, because it would have interfered with her family life, she writes this, “I was saying yes to growing my business slowly, one project at a time. Would I ever see an opportunity like that again? I had no idea.”
She believed that God would bring the next right opportunity within her priorities, but that didn’t make the choices obvious or easy along the way. Building her business at a pace that fit her family’s rhythm required faith, and in a culture where going viral is the goal, she models what it means to go step by step.
Check out Establishing Home
A resource for devastation
I just returned from speaking at a weekend retreat at Lake Ann Camp in Michigan. A highlight for me was to hear women’s stories of what God is doing in their lives, but, most often, woven within the threads of God’s activity, is deep pain.
One of the ladies crocheted while she waited for the session to begin, and it made me think about the colors God weaves in as he knits His plan for our lives together.
The dark and the light.
The dark that makes the light pop.
The dark that recedes when it’s next to the light.
Color stands out when its opposite force is present. While seemingly working against it, the opposing color actually makes the other even more visible, purposeful, and - eventually - beautiful.
But what if God doesn’t seem to be at the light part yet in the crocheting of my life? Someone I admire for her reaction to the dark pain that came into her life, is Carol Kent. Her book When I Lay My Isaac Down, tells the story of redemption through tragedy, even though the tragedy lingers and is life-long. If you’re walking through loss, grief, and ongoing trials, When I Lay My Isaac Down might be your guide like a flashlight in the dark.
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Parenting: a halftime report
Our church has been going through a series this summer in the book of Proverbs, and last Sunday morning, Nate & I had the privilege of sharing what God has taught us up to this point in our parenting journey.
Although we still have a long way to go in wisdom as parents, this is what we’ve gained so far :) We looked back in time to our earliest days and dug down to the foundations of parenting, so if you’re a young mom or dad, maybe the formative lessons we’ve learned along the way can be a resource for you.
You can watch here. Click sermon archives, The Narrow Path, July 28.
Some of our favorite books to read as a family with toddler to elementary-age boys:
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
With love, Cherith
Playlists & Podcasts
Whether I’m working out or washing dishes, I’m motivated by music and by insightful conversations. Maybe you are too, so I thought I’d share a few songs that have been filling my heart with worship lately:
Love of God, Brandon Lake and Phil Whickham (how can I pick just one of theirs?!)
Holy Forever, Jenn Johnson
Lead Me On, Chandler Moore
Daily Bread, Pat Barrett and Kari Jobe
Prince of Peace, Josh Baldwin
Thank you Jesus for the Blood, Charity Gayle
…and some of my favorite podcasts:
Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast for anyone leading people in some way.
The Graham Cochrane Show for anyone who owns a business or wants to start one.
Don’t miss this three-part interview! Jennie Allen and Jamie Winship:
Part 1: Conflict Zones, the CIA, and Listening to God
Part 2: Why are you Afraid?
Part 3: Finding Freedom from Fear
I hope one of these resources moves you to worship more fully with all that you are today!