For a little while now I’ve been trying to maintain a reading regimen. I try to study through three or four books each month. There have been a few reasons why I’ve found this to be a valuable effort – first, it helps me grow my ability to cook healthy and nourishing meals, to be better steward, and most importantly to grow in godliness and Christlikeness. I think it will be fun to use a bit of space on the blog each month to review some of the books I’m reading. Of course, while I don’t necessarily endorse all things written or said by the authors, I have been encouraged by these books and they all come recommended to me. I hope you will share with me your recommendations, too! I hope you will share with me your recommendations, too!

Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Endless Demands

It was interesting to delve into why women (perhaps more than men) are more easily overwhelmed and succumb to piling demands. In this book, you will find comfort in knowing that God doesn’t call us to burn out but to thrive. Learning to live a grace-paced life will not only be a blessing to those around us, but also help us form habits of rest for our body and our souls. “He rejoices to see us taking biblical care of the bodily temple he has gifted to us and is delighted when we live conscious of our weakness and in total dependence on his daily refreshing grace.”

Alive in Him: How Being Embraced by the Love of Christ Changes Everything

This is a study on the book of Ephesians. It was not an easy read, but I grew in understanding of what unity truly means as a body of believers. This book also deepened my gratitude for the love of Christ. “The Holy Spirit will not allow you to live satisfied on the rubbish heap; he will nurture a longing for the City of God to beat in your heart.” This book will remind and encourage you that the love of Christ compels us to love others, to study His word, to speak the truth in love, to fight against false doctrine and to pray for the good of our brothers and sisters.

It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways

This is a clear and persuasive nutrition book that not only explains the Whole30 program but also the way our whole body works together in digestion. I was fascinated by the role hormones play, and the book plainly explains how what we eat has an effect on our sleep, skin, inflammation, stamina, etc. It encourages a nutritional reset that can be beneficial in changing your eating habits in so many ways. “The food you eat either makes you more healthy or less healthy. Those are your options.” “You cannot ‘out-exercise’ poor food choices and the resulting hormonal disruption.”

with love. Damaris