On My Bookshelf

It's that time again... time to share the stories we've read and wisdom we've gained in the last year. I continued my commitment to read at least one book a month, and now I want to share my favorites with you. Be sure to check out the post for 12 Books of 2025 for Young Readers, too!

I've said it before but reading requires discernment. We must be wise and discerning of what thoughts and information we allow into our minds and our hearts. For this reason, I practice the "chew and spit" method to reading and choosing new material. I take a first bite, and if it's nourishing, that is, if it aligns with the truth of God's Word, I take another bite. If it doesn't, I spit it out. These are a few of the books which I have chewed and chewed on this year, which the Holy Spirit has come alongside and nourished me - mind, soul and spirit. I share in hopes one or a few might intrigue you to read and chew upon.

12. You are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D. and Rebecca Gladding, M.D.

I'm particularly fascinated to learn about the brain. This book is written by two psychiatrists: Schwartz, who is a leading researcher in how the brain changes also known as neuroplasticity, and Gladding, who specializes in anxiety and depression. Though it does not present a Christian or scriptural perspective, it is incredible to see how science is catching up with scripture, particularly in how to renew your mind. Through the four steps outlined, you can begin to separate your brain from your mind and recognize you are not a victim to your thoughts, but as scripture teaches us, we can take our thoughts captive and choose a higher perspective. They put it this way:

Again, since this is not written to a Christian audience, when they speak of the "Wise Advocate," we know this as the Holy Spirit, our helper. Their patient examples include overcoming addiction, surviving a stroke, eating disorders to anxiety and depression and other erroneous thought patterns which may or may not be clinical but impact our daily life.

We cannot experience change or growth without the renewal of our minds, and we know the enemy comes to plant seeds of doubt - where? In our minds! The problem is these doubts have become so familiar, they are like highways in our minds and we don't even recognize them as deceptive. We're racing down a well-paved thought pattern and can easily become completely oblivious to taking these thoughts captive, so we accept it as true rather than questioning why we are thinking this or if it is helpful to continue in this thought. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2:

Transformation and discernment comes through the renewal of our minds and the help of the Holy Spirit.

11. Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage by Jodie Berndt

'Dubs and I received this as a wedding present from a mentor of mine and though I did not engage with it until this year, it was such a beautiful way to start the year. The devotional format Jodie uses is easy to read and engaging, telling funny and relatable stories as she walks through various scenarios in marriage and teaches the power of praying the scriptures over our marriages.

It goes back to what we were saying before about a renewed mind - living a transformed life and experiencing marriage the way God intends requires being firmly rooted and daily reminded and prayerfully surrounded by scripture. Praying these scriptures over my marriage has also been a new way for me to practice memorizing scripture and soaking this truth in my heart - and paving new pathways and highways for my thought life.

10. What to Eat When You're Pregnant: A Week-by-Week Guide to Support Your Health and Your Baby's Development by Nicole M. Avena, PhD

As much as I'm fascinated by the way God created our brains, I'm even more in awe of how He created our bodies to bear new life. It is nothing short of a billion miracles all taking place within, so learning even just the slightest bit each week of the baby's development has been so fun for me. Usually before bed, 'Dubs would hear me say something like, "Our baby may be developing eyelashes this week!"

Though she provides recipes each week, I didn't follow these, though I'm sure others have found them helpful. Rather, I chose to focus my nutrition based on her suggestions, throwing in some of her recommendations for the week like raspberries or an extra glass of milk.

If you or someone you know is expecting, this book or something like it may be fun and insightful.

9. The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Selections from the New International Version

If you're interested in reading the Bible in a year, or maybe you've done this and want to approach it in a different way, or perhaps it's not a yearly plan you're seeking but feel a little lost when you try to read the Bible, especially the Old Testament - for all the reasons above and more, consider this one.

The Story uses scripture but it's written intentionally without the chapter and verse so it flows as one cohesive story from creation to revelation. It's been so helpful for me to grasp a greater understanding of history and grow in my knowledge and love of God.

Give it a try and see if this format is helpful in connecting some dots for you, too.

8. Freely and Lightly: God's Gracious Invitation to a Life of Quiet Confidence by Emily Lex

My mom added this book to a little gift she put together for me for my first Mother's Day. It proved to be timely.

"You wear contentment well." These words have stayed with me from Lex's journey of learning the unforced rhythms of grace Jesus spoke of, recorded in Matthew 11:28-30, which says:

Of all the things my daughter will see me wear, I hope she sees grace. I hope she sees love. I hope she sees contentment. Contentment comes from trusting God and knowing your identity firmly rooted in His love for you. I hope as she sees this in me she learns to dress freely and lightly and lives with quiet confidence all her days.

7. What to Expect the First Year 3rd Edition by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

Parenting takes a village, and this book was part of our village, walking us through this first year. For me, it worked well to read one month at a time. For example, if it we were in month 6, I would read month 7 to know what to expect or prepare for next. There's no right or wrong way to do it. It covers a lot of your real questions as a new parent.

6. Vegetable Gardening Made Easy: Simple Tips and Tricks to Grow Your Best Garden Ever by Resh Gala

To say I was shoulder-deep in vegetable gardening books this Fall would not be an exaggeration. I was eager and ready to learn next steps for my garden. Out of all the books I read, I found this one most helpful for a beginner such as myself. Resh is a self-taught gardener, originally from India now residing in New Jersey. In her book, she covers everything from designing and planning your garden space, how to start from seed, growing and maximizing your production, fertilizers and soil amendments, managing pests and diseases, harvesting and preserving what you've grown, preparing your soil and extending your growing season if desired. She also includes some easy recipes, for once we do get this gardening thing down, what do we do with all of it?

Another book I read was a helpful reminder how we can organize tasks into the time it takes to complete them such as: 5-min, 10-min, 20-min, 45-min to 1-hour. During growing season, we can create helpful routines during our week based on our schedule so maintaining and tending the garden does not become overwhelming but is do-able and enjoyable.

• 5-min tasks may include: watering flowers, deadheading zinnias, pruning roses, pulling weeds in one or more sections, harvesting produce, etc.

• 10-min tasks may include: transplanting seedlings, fertilizing, etc.

• 20-min tasks may include: dividing or trimming irises, trimming boxwoods, planting bulbs, etc.

• 45-min to 1 hour tasks may include: laying mulch, planting a tree, structural projects, etc.

More than anything, it was helpful for me to see most of the day-to-day care are 5-min tasks. If I wait to do all of them on one day, I likely have an hour or more of work, but if I schedule them in 5-min pockets of time throughout my week, it's much more manageable.

5. The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian

In addition to praying scripture for your marriage, I'm learning to pray these for our family and over our child. Stormie has prepared such beautiful and comprehensive prayers to help guide us and give us the words to intercede for our child(ren). I want to be intentional to pray these regularly, so I made cards for myself and for you too. Download your copy here.

Consider praying one aloud each night before you go to bed, over your children, grandchildren and/or great grandchildren. Prayer is powerful and it is our joy to get to go to the Father for our loved ones.

4. Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff, MEd, LPC-MHSP

Of all the parenting books I've read this year (and there have been a lot), this has been one of the most impactful. Reading it, I realized it was as much for me as it is a tool to help me guide our family. It was eye-opening to hear Sissy describe her typical patients who struggle with anxiety and it is empowering to hear how we can help kids overcome their worry monsters.

It's the best book I've read on this topic and one I will return to when I need refreshers on how to help my family navigate the pressures and worries that rise up - be it friendships or school or all the other cares that weigh on them. She shares insights from others as well, such as Stixrud and Johnson's guidelines for being a non-anxious presence:

• Make enjoying your kids your top priority

• Don't fear the future

• Commit to your own stress management

• Make peace with your own fears

• Adopt an attitude of nonjudgemental acceptance

As Goff points out throughout her book, neither for our child nor for us can we do this alone. We need God's help to overcome worry and His grace to to trust Him more fully with the cares on our minds and hearts.

3. The Gospel of Mark

It was on last year's list and it's back again. We're slowly working through Mark again and goodness, I don't know how to explain it except to say it starts with a conscious decision to get in the Word, to not just read a verse or passage but study and ask questions. This conscious decision for me has become a deep well of fascination and desire. I know it will be the same for you, too. If you're looking for a good place to start reading the Bible and really studying it, Will and I recommend the Gospel of Mark. It's one we quite literally can't put down.

2. The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard

It makes the top of the list because after reading The Hundred Story Home, I couldn't wait to tell Will about it. He stopped me mid-sentence, "Wait, you mean the book you started last night at bed? You already finished it?" Yeah... the last two sentences of the prologue gripped my heart. Kathy wrote,

Kathy's journey of learning to trust the words God was whispering to her heart led her to a greater purpose than she could ever have imagined, helping provide homes for homeless in Charlotte, NC. Through this seemingly impossible "build an ark" task, God revealed Himself to her in a powerful and personal way. Her faith became real.

She helps us see homelessness not just as an issue in our communities but with compassion as we see the people impacted - the families impacted. I've been so touched by her story, she's joining us in a few weeks on the podcast and I so hope you'll tune in and be encouraged to listen and trust the whispers God is stirring inside of you.

Additionally, she has written Trust the Whisper as well as two children's books to pair with these to help young hearts see how they can serve the homeless in their community and learn to hear God and trust the whispers He is telling them. You'll want to read A Goodnight for Mr. Coleman and Grace Heard a Whisper for yourself and with a child in your circle!

1. Heavenly-Minded for Earthly Good by Karen Chaffin

Do you wonder where your loved ones are who have passed away? Have you ever thought you want to go to heaven but "not today"?

Last Summer, I attended a Bible Study which Karen led and she helped me have a better understanding of the promise of heaven, so much so, I went from thinking about heaven as "one day but not today" to "I absolutely cannot wait!" Her study is rich in Scripture and her funny, relatable personality brings moments of much-needed relief throughout. In one of our weekly sessions, she shared how those with the most hope live with the most diligence. I believe this is true, and now equipped with a heavenly mindset, I'm motivated to let go of the temporary things that don't matter as much and press on to the ONLY thing that really matters.

It's been humbling to see how I started this year with a simple prayer for God to do a new work in my mind and my thoughts. Reading You Are Not Your Brain marked the next step in this journey, and then to realize by the end of the year, God had answered this prayer as He has transformed my mind and led me to live more heavenly minded. If He did/is doing it for me, He will do it for you too!

If you are starting the new year wanting your life on earth to be different, to leave a legacy that matters, I suggest starting with this study. I pray the Holy Spirit meets you in the Scriptures and in every question which comes to you and leads you to the Hope of Jesus Christ is a new and life-changing way.

As Karen explains, "We are citizens and ambassadors of Heaven with a divine assignment to manifest Heaven's reality on Earth (Phil. 3:20; 2 Cor. 5:20). We are most effective in our assignment when we live from Heaven to Earth, rather than from Earth to Heaven. We truly are called to live in the two realms at once. Jesus taught us to declare God's will to be done on Earth - as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10)."

Pick up a copy of this study (available on Amazon), you will be so encouraged and emboldened, and truly humbled by the love of God and the work of Christ for you.

Reading cultivates curiosity. Let's be curious and intentionally choose to learn from people who have fruit present in their lives. In doing this, our strength builds and our joy is renewed. Making time to read uplifting stories offers peace that God is moving all around us, and we are able to rest in His truth and connection with others.

P.S. Learn how you can soothe the wintry sinus pressure with this simple tea/lemonade drink.

The amount of lemonade is up to you. I like to fill half my mug with lemonade and top it off with water. Heat, steep tea, then enjoy!

Buh-bye sinus pressure!

If I can do it, you can do it, too! Whatcha say? Let’s try that...sinus pressure soother!

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.