books

On the journey to being wholehearted, we need a lot of encouragement. So much of mine has come through my literary friends. These authors have been spiritual companions and guides, and I hope they may be for you as well. Let me know if you read them, so we can geek out about them together. Abba's Child Brennan Manning grabbed my heart with The Ragamuffin Gospel, but this book was the one that cemented the importance of "defining yourself radically as one Beloved by God." This is where I was introduced to the concept of the "imposter" or "pharisee within"-the false sense we present to the world that we think is more acceptable than who we are. Manning says of the heart, "wholeness is brokenness owned and thereby healed."  To Be Told I'm a huge Dan Allender fan-this man speaks the language of the heart. In this book, he encourages us to ask the question, "Do I really believe that God not only wrote my story but that He also loves my story?" There are two versions of this - the book and the workbook. The book is a great place to start; the workbook is like the book on crack. You could spend a lifetime answering the questions in it! If you find yourself wanting to dig deeper into your story after the book, then pick and choose questions from the workbook to help you. They would make great discussion starters for relationships! Strong Women, Soft Hearts I was given this book after a tough international move; it set me on a new trajectory. She touches on so many issues of the heart-trust, vulnerability, desire, control, relationships, fear, hope. It's not a book on transition per se, but it has been one that I returned to each time my life has shifted significantly, because it reminds me that life is not found in staying in the safe, small places of my heart, but in embracing all that God gives me. Bottom line-it makes me want to be brave. Soul Keeping John Ortberg is one of my writing heroes. I have a theory that he shares the same Enneagram* type as me (I'm a huge fan of the Enneagram) which makes me like him even more. This book is a gentle punch to the gut reminder that we cannot thrive if we are not caring for ourselves at a soul level. It's a call to slow down, recognize our needs, and learn to drink deeply from the Source of life. "The unlimited neediness of the soul matches the unlimited grace of God."  Rising Strong I first encountered this book in audio form, read by Brené Brown herself; it was like walking with her every morning, which is ah-mazing. It was so good, I had to re-read it in paper form so I could take notes. My favorite quote? "grace will take you places hustling can't." It's given me words for the moments when I hustle for my worth, instead of trusting that I…