“To read His message in moments, I’ll need to read His passion on the page; wear the lens of the Word, to read His writing in the world.”

~Ann Voskamp

          As January came to a close, I exceeded my goal and accomplished reading five books, although they weren’t exactly the books I had intended to complete. I read:

• Heart Sisters: Be the Friend You Want to Have by Natalie Chambers Snapp

(Although I thought some parts of this book were a bit redundant, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and gleaned a lot out of it. I am now enjoying sharing it via an online Bible study.)

• Prince Caspian (Book 4 in The Chronicles of Narnia) by C.S. Lewis
• Main Street: ‘Tis the Season by Ann M. Martin

(I remember reading the Babysitter Club books as a girl and loving them, and this book was good, but it was too old for my daughter, who is six.)

• Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy by Barbara Park

(I’m not sure I should count this book, but I will throw it in the mix anyway. The point of view of a kindergartener, complete with bad grammar, made me a little batty!)

• How to Be a Best Friend Forever by Dr. John Townsend

(Less than 100 pages of digital copy, this book was complete with a study guide and valuable tips to strengthen my friendships and add to my Bible study resources.)

But the best book I read in January, I haven’t yet completed. I jokingly called it the “best book I’ve read this year” because I know it will at least make my top five. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is one of those books that beckons me to read, and I get lost in its pages. I both look forward to reading it each day and don’t want it to end at the same time. The book was actually published in 2010, and I’ve had it sitting on my electronic “shelf” for quite some time. I only began reading it because I stumbled across Ann Voskamp’s videos and immediately fell in love. She writes with such language that enraptures the soul, and the depth of her thoughts are both challenging and encouraging. Her ministry through this book has brought to light some things in my own life and has served as a crucial reminder of God’s abundant grace in many ways and places that I would miss if I were not looking for them.

“For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.”

John 1:16 AMP (emphasis mine)

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What’s on my reading playlist for February?

Books to Read Out Loud to my Kids:

• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
• More Junie B. Jones (For my daughter, but I hope to throw in some American Girl in the mix!)
• Never Ever Give Up by Erik Rees with Jenna Glatzer (This is a hard one.)
• Phase One: Thor (Book based on the movie, I think. Admittedly, not my favorite one on the list.)

Books for Me:

• Finish I, Saul by Jerry B. Jenkins with James MacDonald
• Finish One Thousand Gifts
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (for the 4^th time!)
• And . . . ?