Here are just a few of my favorite things that keep my soul refreshed…
For the past couple of years, I’ve set a goal for reading a certain number of books. Now, I love to read but most of the time I come up short of my goal (and now that I’m in graduate school, reading for pleasure is rare!) However, I read some great books this year, so I’m sharing my faves below in no particular order! I’ll update this page when I find new favorites!
All of the “about the book” descriptions come directly from the Amazon book summaries.
Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt
This planner has changed my life. It has everything you want in both a planner and in life…yearly, quarterly, weekly, and daily goal setting, daily rituals, and pages for reflection. However, this planner is not for the faint of heart. If you’re willing to put in the work to learn how to maximize this planner by watching the tutorial videos, I promise that you won’t regret it.
You can buy one planner at a time or have them sent to you quarterly. I prefer the quarterly plan because I like avoiding decision fatigue, and I love being surprised by which color I will receive next.
I personally prefer the planners designed by Megan Hyatt Miller in Bold.
Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
Genre: Spiritual Growth; Self-Help
About the book: “ If you’re tired of being a chronic starter and want to become a consistent finisher, you have two options: You can continue to beat yourself up and try harder, since this time that will work. Or you can give yourself the gift of done.”
Why I loved it: This book was easy to finish! And, like Shauna’s book, it was a great read for a recovering perfectionist! I often find myself making grand plans and setting goals, but then I look back over the year only to realize I didn’t complete half of what I started. Jon gets to the heart of the matter when he says, “When you don’t finish it (a goal), you’ve broken that promise. You’ve lied to the person you spend the most time with. You” (p. 13). Instead of trying to finish our goals perfectly, Jon focuses on the “day after perfect”–the day that we mess up after having a perfect streak (which for me, is about one day!). THIS is the day that “separates the finishers from the starters” (p. 12).
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
Genre: Spiritual Growth; Self-Help
About the book: “In The ONE Thing, you’ll learn to * cut through the clutter * achieve better results in less time * build momentum toward your goal * dial down the stress * overcome that overwhelmed feeling * revive your energy * stay on track * master what matters to you The ONE Thing delivers extraordinary results in every area of your life–work, personal, family, and spiritual.”
Why I loved it: In the season of life I’m in as a full-time student and employee along with my personal roles as wife, mother, mother-in-law and friend, this book cuts through the lengthy to do lists and clutter that fills our lives and urges us to focus on the ONE thing. I can do ONE thing. I’ve tried to do it all, and every time I fail miserably, but Keller sweeps away all of the lists and failures by bidding us to choose the one thing that will bring the most results.
Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas
Genre: Non-fiction
About the book: “What makes a great woman great? In Seven Women, New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas provides an answer by telling the captivating stories of seven women who changed the course of history and impacted the world in astonishing ways.”
Why I loved it: Although this is an older book, the stories are timeless. In a world where many people are trying to be famous, this book tells the stories of women who lived and loved authentically for the good of others and the glory of God. I was inspired by their bravery, courage, and willingness to step out and stand up because they were driven by something greater than themselves.
Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority by John Eldredge
Genre: Spiritual Growth; Prayer Life
About the book: “In a world filled with danger, adventure, and wonder, we have at our disposal prayers that can transform the events and issues that matter most to us and to God. Moving Mountains shows you how to experience the power of daily prayer, learn the major types of prayers—including those of intervention, consecration, warfare, and healing—and to discover the intimacy of the cry of the heart prayer, listening prayer, and praying Scripture.
Things can be different, and you personally have a role to play with God in bringing about that change through prayer. It may sound too good to be true, but this is your invitation to engage in the kind of prayers that can move God’s heart as well as the mountains before you.”
Why I loved it: Again, this is an older book, but it was suggested to me at a time when I needed a deeper understanding of prayer. Since I read this book, I’ve learned (once again!) the power of prayer, especially in seasons of confusion. This book is not for the faint of heart as it requires time for reflection, deep thinking, and searching the scriptures. I’ve read many books on prayer, but this one has proved to be the most powerful one yet!
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jenny Allen
Genre: Spiritual Growth; Thought Life
About the book: Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.
As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
Why I loved it: The battle for the mind is something we all face. In this book, Jenny Allen, gives both scripture and practical application for overcoming toxic thinking. This one is a book you will just have to read for yourself because the truths are too powerful to capture in a small paragraph!