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Books

The Reading Room {Kick-off!}

by Jessica on January 28, 2011

in The Reading Room

I love words, books, stories. I love to hear the other side of an argument…to know someone else’s experience. What is reading for if not to explore the world?

One day I thought what if we gathered once a month to share the words that move us. The words that make us think and inspire us. One’s that cultivate our heart and turn up the dry ground.

Words that push us to the edge, forcing us to see that our way is not the only way of seeing. Words that offer perspective, hope, challenge, and joy.

Would you join me?

Share what you’ve been reading. It could be a book, essay, or even a blog post that’s moved, challenged, or inspired you. Fiction or non-fiction, Christian or secular, poetry or prose.

Slip in with the linky below.

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These days my books are perched on the arm of our couch, atop the bookshelf, or fallen between cushions. These days the pile is stacked with the words of a few (in)courage bloggers: Ann Voskamp, Tsh Oxenreider, and Serena Woods.

One Thousand Gifts. Organized Simplicity. Grace is for Sinners.

I finished One Thousand Gifts last week and can’t say enough about what a blessing that book and Ann is. It’s a simple answer to living fully…counting His gifts. So easy, but so often missed. I wrote about it earlier this week.

Organized Simplicity is one of the books that I hope will propel me in my goal to live more simply and content in the coming year…and life. I’ve only just begun it, so not much to say yet except that it’s making me want to purge, purge, purge, beautify what I have, and enjoy my family more.

What I was most drawn to hearing Serena Woods speak at The Relevant Conference was her wisdom. Having been on such an incredible journey unveiling and experiencing God’s grace in a way she didn’t expect has drawn me to her story. I’m in the middle of reading Grace is for Sinners and it’s good. Thought-provoking. Life examining. Am I a grace extender? Do I hold a standard of living–of grace–that’s not God’s?

My favorite quote of Serena’s from the conference is this: When you hoard grace, you kill it.

Since Otto’s birth I’ve done most of my reading on my phone via blogs. One of the blogging communities I’ve been pouring over in the last weeks is A Deeper Story. I’ve so enjoyed hearing this group of ladies sharing “the story behind the stories” as they talk about the hard things amid Christ and culture and life. It’s good. Dive in.

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It’s your turn.

Share the words that have moved you.


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Sacred Chaos Winner

by Jessica on January 25, 2011

in giveaway

The winner of the Sacred Chaos giveaway is…

Congrats! I’ll be e-mailing you within the next couple of days to get your address and mail the book to you!

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One Thousand Gifts

by Jessica on January 24, 2011

in Book Review,Books

It’s simple. The answer to fully living.

So simple we miss it time and time again. We breathe in, breathe out looking for it. Walking right past the answer we’re searching for.

Grace. Gratitude. Joy. Eucharisto.

These words of Ann’s are so beautiful, lived out and breathed. It’s the journey we all want to make. One of peace, joy, fulfillment, and union. Completeness.

This book, her story wrapped in words, will challenge you to live this life filled with wide-eyed wonder in awe of His grace and love.

There’s so much to be absorbed, so much to walk away with. It will change your life, your perspective, your hope if you let it.

And those two words that follow Ann’s name,

“All’s grace”

take a new meaning.

Because all is truly grace.

Join the Bloom Book Club!

Jessica and Angie, the two (in)courage ladies behind Bloom, have invited us to read One Thousand Gifts with them! Starting February 6th and with each chapter is a video discussing the chapter with Ann!

Head on over to Bloom to read more about the details, find other ways to join the Bloom community, and see  the video where they chat with Ann.

I know I’m looking forward to reading it again and joining with others as well. I hope you will too!

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