reading thru the new year . . .

It's the first Tuesday of the month.  That means it's Bibliophile File day! Hurrah!

Last year I set up a challenge for myself to read four different types of books each month. I'd choose a book that had been recommended, a book I'd borrowed from the lending library (physically or digitally), a book to review (blogging for books), and a book that was a faith/walk strengthener.  I did fairly well through the year and even typically managed to throw an extra couple of books in there a month.  For example, during the month of December, I threw caution to the wind and devoured about eight Melody Carlson Christmas stories, in addition to some other fluffy, Christian Christmas-themed tales.

I have no desire to set any particular challenge this year, but I have already picked four books to read throughout the year and I thought I'd share those for this first BF linky party of the year!

These are the devotionals/daily readings I've selected for 2015.  The first is Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young. I'm familiar with this one -- I've had the app and two of my sisters have the devo. It's filled with short but stout daily readings that have already this year pierced my heart.  

The second one is called Designed for Devotion:  A 365-Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation, by Dianne Neal Matthews. This one is also filled with shorter daily readings designed to set focus on God in all His glory and invite personal relationship with Him, why relating His story as told in Scripture, from beginning to end!

The third one is already such fun -- this one is Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture, by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda.  Oh my goodness -- fifty-two women from God's word . . . the good and the bad . . . the pure of heart and the evil . . . and what we can learn from them!  Because this is weekly studies, I started this one last Monday, so I'm actually into week two.  Eve was our first subject and Sarai is this week's focus.  I can already tell that this one is going to be GREAT!

And finally, the challenge of the four, Reading God's Story: A Chronological Daily Bible, by George H. Guthrie.  Don't get me wrong -- Guthrie didn't write the Bible -- it's actually the Holman translation.  What Guthrie wrote was the introductions of each week's readings and the act and plot summaries.  It's fascinating reading as he has the reader reading God's work in the order in which it took place, historically.  I've already had understanding of Scripture that I'd never put together before. It's the meat of my reading and it's a great way to read through the entirety of Scripture in a year's time.

And then, just for fun (and girls do need their fun), I'm also doing a little light reading . . . If Teapots Could Talk, by Gloria Hander Lyons. This one is filled with "fun ideas for tea parties"!  Hmmm . . . who could I have tea parties with?! It's got some nice recipes and I love tea party themes and there are plenty of those, as well. I'll get some good use from this one, I'm sure!

Anyway, that's it for me for this month.  Head on over to sarah did it! to see what has others turning pages!

:)

t'was the month before Christmas . . .

You know what??  It's the *first* Tuesday of the month!!  That means it's Bibliophile Files day! This month my reading is mostly completely centered around the season . . .

 

Ummmm, yes.  You'll notice that they're all by Melody Carlson. She writes the most darling, sweet stories, and I've been a fan of her work for a long time. These are all simple reads, but fun . . . with food for thought, Christmas, and a little romance (generally speaking) thrown in for good measure. Fluff, yes, but happy fluff for a busy time of year! And even though there are seven pictured, I'll have no trouble at all getting through them!  One of them fills my library quota and one of them fills my review quota, and the rest fill my need for fluffiness.  :)

That leaves my 'recommended' and my 'spiritual food' books, which is also easy enough:

I mentioned on Sunday that I was preparing to celebrate the season of Advent. I'm using these three devotionals.  One (The Christ of Christmas) was recommended . . . and the other two just looked good to me! Two of the three have short daily readings, which I ponder in my morning quiet time. The third is broken up into weekly sections that I'll probably digest and study on weekends! I started all of them yesterday and I'm so excited about what I've read so far! I want to spend the next month appreciating what Christmas means.

So, that's what's on my Kindle book shelf for the month!  Head on over to sarah did it! for the book linky party and to see what others have on their reading plates!

:)

a review - unglued devotional: 60 days of imperfect progress . . .

I have long been a fan of Lysa Terkeurst.  She is an amazing woman, member of the Proverbs 31 team and a straight-to-the-heart-of-matters kind of author.  So it was a no-brainer for me when I was offered the opportunity to read and review Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress. 

The devotional is a companion piece to her book, Unglued.  And it's perfect.  After I'd read Unglued, I walked through the devotional and was so pleased to have daily, bite-sized chunks of wisdom to continue to ponder. The companion devotional reinforces all the treasures she covers in the book, opening daily with a Scripture verse, a daily *thought*, a couple of paragraphs of devotional material and a closing prayer.  A fantastic way to start off a day!  Lysa is honest and transparent and while she doesn't pull punches--let's face it, we're all imperfect people trying to function in an imperfect world with lots of other imperfect people!--she's also very compassionate and empathetic in her dialogue.  While there were many times the words resonated with me, leaving me feeling quite convicted, I never felt condemned. Instead, the devotions are inspiring and give hope.

I highly recommend this devotional -- even if you haven't read Unglued.  The material is cohesive and well-written and *so* meaningful!

And I've got a giveaway copy, too -- so if you're interested, leave me a comment and I'll select a winner on Tuesday.

:)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers,
 as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. 
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the 
Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: 

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.