My Favorite Recent Reads

I’ve been delving into a lot of books lately! Reading for at least half an hour before bed is a daily habit of ours now, and we absolutely love that time. Bjorn and I are really into being lifelong learners, so taking the time to read in the evenings just naturally flows from that! There’s nothing like reading quietly to really help you relax, reset, and wind down after a long day. At this point, that time is precious to us and evenings don’t really feel complete if we don’t get the chance to read for a little bit!

Without further adieu, here are the books I’ve been reading and loving recently (starting at the top of the stack in the picture above)!

1 // “The Shepherd Trilogy” by Phillip Keller. This book is amazing! I have always been drawn to the 23rd Psalm but this book, which was written by a man who used to actually be a shepherd, brings the truths of Psalm 23 to light in a whole new, intimate way! Keller is a poetic author and it’s a deeper read that takes some thoughtful attention. I highly recommend it if you want to delve deeper into a familiar Scripture passage. It has definitely changed my attitude towards my Savior (in a wonderful way) and has brought me more insight into humans’ relationship with Jesus.

2 // “And The Shofar Blew” by Francine Rivers. Francine Rivers is one of my all-time favorite authors. It all began with my reading “Redeeming Love” in college. She is incredibly gifted, crafting intricate plot lines, very real characters, and stunning parallels to our relationship with God! This specific book is about a young pastor and his wife who move to a new town and begin to “resurrect” a small, dying church. But sometimes, in the light of success, marriages and even the gospel can be put to the wayside. It was really eye-opening and beautifully written.

3 // “Crash the Chatterbox” by Steven Furtick. I’ve just barely begun this one and I love Furtick’s honesty and heart for truth already! I saw it recommended by a friend on Instagram and I’m excited to get further into the book. Basically, it talks about hearing God’s voice above all others (including your mind’s own lies of insecurity, etc.).

4 // “A Lamp Unto My Feet” by Elisabeth Elliot. This is a daily devotional and definitely a favorite read. Elisabeth Elliot is the wife of Jim Elliot, who was one of the missionaries killed by a remote tribe in Ecuador. Elisabeth returned years later and led the tribe to Christ, so she is awesome, to put it lightly. Her devotions are packed full of truth and I have yet to come across one that wasn’t applicable or didn’t make me think.

5 // “A Voice In The Wind” by Francine Rivers. Yep, you caught me – another Francine Rivers book! This is the first in her Mark of the Lion series. I’ve been reading it out loud to Bjorn on our longer drives around here. There are multiple characters and plot lines, and it’s really intricate and powerful historical fiction! So far, we’ve come across a Jewish slave girl, a gladiator, and several other Roman characters! Really interesting!

6 // “No Woman So Fair” by Gilbert Morris. This one is also historical fiction, chronicling the life stories of Abram and Sarai in Bible times. I got this book from my home church’s library – they were giving away tons of books for free and I got a little crazy. Bjorn and I carried out books we were interested in in a big cardboard box (don’t worry, there were multiple other people doing that, too!). I didn’t know a lot about the author Gilbert Morris before, but he is an excellent writer and I have been loving the plot and development of the characters in this book. I’m glad I grabbed a few other books by him to read next! 🙂

7 // “Quiet” by Susan Cain. I finally jumped in and began reading this as my nonfiction book recently. I love it! I’ve been realizing more and more over the past few years just how big of an introvert I am. Cain has done a ton of research and presents it in a really relatable, interesting way. I remember how I came across a quote where she described introverts as people who, when they’re out and about for a bit, soon find themselves wishing they were at home in their pajamas, no matter how much fun they’re having! I laughed out loud. (I’m in my pajamas now on this weekday afternoon, and I’m home alone and oh so content!)

(PS – Bjorn’s stack of books looks a lot different from mine, of course! Perhaps he should share his favorite book list here sometime! 😉 He’s got books on financially wise farming and historic battles, just to name a couple; he certainly keeps on learning with the best of them!)

What books have you been enjoying lately? We’d love to hear your recommendations! 

Wish you had even more time or ways to relax? Check out my post on 5 simple ways to incorporate relaxation into your busy schedule!