Terribly Interesting

Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz My rating: 5 of 5 stars I remember the first time I heard Anne speak over a decade ago. As she was talking, I had this palpable overwhelming sense of the peace of God. I loved her clear and powerful way of conveying the rich love of God. This book is much the same. I could curl up in it. I have read and reread portions to simply feel the beauty of the character of the Holy Spirit. Reading his names and attributes have brought calm, joy, and resolve to my spirit. In the last few years, Anne has lost her father, her husband, and gone through breast cancer. This book is her journey to experiencing the Holy Spirit as a constant companion. Her personal, vulnerable stories touch the heart. Seeing that Billy Graham's daughter is traversing difficult paths helps me to see that I am not alone on this journey of life. When I opened the book, I stared at the dedication page for quite some time. I...

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation by LaTasha Morrison My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have never in my life understood the racial divide in our country. I was always asking questions about why there was clearly a spot of town where black people lived. It was on the other side of the tracks, down where the river floods. The houses were different from the houses on our side of the tracks. I would hear people say words and be worried about how it might look to mix races in any way. There has always been a part of me that wanted to fix this. That is why I was drawn to read this book. I want everyone to feel fully human. I will admit, some of this was hard to read. I cannot wrap my head around torture and murder. I most definitely cannot understand it when it is done with the blessing of the church. It has made me sick to read these stories recounted. It goes beyond ignorance. How on earth is there so much willful hate inside of us and how do we g...

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book made my heart stop beating a time or two. The author did a powerful job giving these characters humanity. Her years spent working with refugees and her careful study of people is clearly reflected throughout these pages. This gut wrenching story gave me a view into a world I would never want to see. It cultivated a mercy that will never leave me. My eyes are open to the tragedy that is swept away from public view. The story is so well told that I feel like I know the people in it. I wanted the beekeeper to find his way and his wife to be healed. I grieved with them. I cried. I was in shock.  This is a powerful story. View all my reviews

The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture by Dee Brestin My rating: 3 of 5 stars There were some good points in this book. There were words that challenged me and made me think. The thing I found lacking was how Jesus surprises us. A large portion of the book doesn't talk about it at all. It comes back to try to tie it in at the end. I wanted to relish it and enjoy it more, but unfortunately I didn't. View all my reviews View this post on Instagram I read all of Miracle on Voodoo Mountain yesterday while my kids swam in the pool. It was such an encouraging read. I needed the reminder to keep my focus on God and expect him to move mountains (or build things on them in Haiti). I’m moving on to Dee Brestin’s new book The Jesus Who Surprises (releasing Tuesday July 23rd). I’m looking forward to this! #surpriseme #Jesus #deebrestin #book #books #📚 #instabook #read...

View this post on Instagram Beach reading. #books #bookstagram I tried to get a cute floppy hat photo, but ... {swipe right} #😎 #micahberteau #lovechangeseverything #hoseaandgomer A post shared by Steph Cherry (@heystephcherry) on Sep 10, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in a World Full of Fake by Micah Berteau My rating: 3 of 5 stars I wanted to like this book. My husband and I named our 105 year old house after Hosea’s wife because of the lengths he went to in order to restore her. I love the story. This felt like a poorly retold sermon filled with Christian clichés. I raised an eyebrow at some of the points given and how he was relating the story to Gomer. It felt like a cheap observation of the story. I wanted to like it. I looked past the title and the fact that I did not know the author hoping to love the story because I love the original story, but sadly did not. It was ...

Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society by Judy Christie My rating: 4 of 5 stars After I read Before We Were Yours, I was moved by the tales of the orphans that went through the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The thought of thousands of children kidnapped in a modern society in the middle of America with the help of corrupt politicians is bewildering. They estimated number of children that died there is grievous. After Lisa’s novel was published, so many of the people who were stolen from their families began reaching out to her. She formed a reunion and documented many of their stories. These stories are equally beautiful and devastating. There are lives that turned out well and those that have suffered for generations because of torment. There was one story that spoke to my heart. A couple had been offered a perfect boy and when they went to pick him up, they heard a baby whimpering in the corner o...

Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus by Glenn Packiam My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is powerful and beautifully written. The author has a wonderful gift of story and eloquence. I was moved many times while reading. His words on church hurt, lament, and being given out are some of the best I have read. If you are wondering how God could ever use the wreck that is your life, this is a healing balm. I loved it. View all my reviews