Editor's Picks: January 2019

I don’t know about you but during Christmas break all I did was lounge around wrapped up in cozy blankets and read to my heart’s content. It was pure luxury. But now, it’s time to replenish the bedside table book stack! Here are some titles (including a couple of new devotions because it’s a great time to start) that I know you’ll love. Hidden gem — I am loving Everyday Holy by Melanie Shankle especially. Enjoy!

31 Days to Happiness — Don’t you deserve a little happiness? Do you ever wonder . . .

• Why is life so frustrating?
• Is happiness within my reach?
• Is it too late for me?

Dr. David Jeremiah takes a look at history’s wisest and most successful man, King Solomon, and challenges readers to find what really matters in life. Solomon tested life’s haunting questions head-on. Tasted the fullness of life’s riches. But found his answers in the last place he thought to look.

If you thought happiness was only an empty hope, maybe you’ve simply been looking in all the wrong places. In this book Dr. Jeremiah reveals the way to the happiness you have longed for, the never-dimming light of your fondest dreams. Buy now…

Sacred Parenting —

Parenting is a school for spiritual formation, says author Gary Thomas, and our children are our teachers. The journey of caring for, rearing, training, and loving our children profoundly alters us forever… even when the journey is sometimes a rough one.

Sacred Parenting is unlike any other parenting book on the market. This is not a “how-to” book that teaches readers the ways to discipline their kids or help them achieve their full potential. Instead of a discussion about how parents change their children, Sacred Parenting turns the tables and demonstrates how God uses children to change their parents.

Stepping beyond the overly-tilled soil of method books, parents can learn a whole new side of parenting. They’ll be encouraged by stories that tell how other parents handled the challenges and difficulties of being a parent – and how their children transformed their relationship with God.

The lessons the author writes about are timeless. But in this edition, Thomas adds in some additional insights and stories that he’s learned and lived over the past fifteen years of his own parenting. Gary has found that the lessons have remained much the same but there are new applications for the readers in this generation who are just now coming to his book. Buy now…

Everyday Holy —

It seems to be a rite of passage for every woman: you wake up one day and think, “Wait. THIS is the life I signed up for?”

We’ve all been there. Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and writer at The Big Mama Blog, is just brave enough to say it out loud. And Everyday Holy is your invitation to reexamine your life and find the little pieces that create a beautiful picture of a big God.

On any given day, you may be asking yourself:

• Is Instagram making me crazy, or am I actually supposed to have a perfectly curated cup of coffee on my artfully rumpled throw blanket every morning?
• Doubts about my faith are normal, right?
• Is eating cookie dough straight from the fridge fine as long as it’s organic?
• Could it be that loving my family well is my spiritual gift?

It’s a common theme: Am I okay? Is my life significant? And how do we measure significance, anyway? Melanie’s hilarious and poignant insight offers you the deep breath of relief that God is working in all the moments, no matter how big or how small. In 100 devotions, Everyday Holy: Finding a Big God in the Little Moments invites you to see your life as God intended: rich with opportunity, significance, and beauty, even on days that feel overwhelmingly ordinary.

If you’re looking for the line that connects the dots, Everyday Holy is for you. If you wonder where God is in this mess or how exactly He’s working behind the scenes, this book is for you. Whether you feel overwhelmed or disillusioned or frustrated by how your life feels, there’s room for you at this table. And here’s the best news: We’re all in this together. Buy now…

5 Minutes with Jesus: Quiet Time for Your Soul —

Step away from the noise and into the arms of your loving Savior.

Bright screens, beeping notifications, a never-ending list of activities and to-dos… when do we ever stop? Is it any wonder we are deeply weary?

Jesus longs to give you the gift of rest — to lead you beside quiet waters and refresh your soul. He stands with open arms, saying, “Come as you are!”

With her signature honesty, vulnerability, and humor, bestselling author Sheila Walsh helps you seek Jesus in the quiet. Every entry features an encouraging devotion and takeaway along with powerful scriptures that guide you in drawing near to your life-giving God. Buy now…

The Bright Life —

Life takes it out of you. But the reset you’ve been desperate for is within reach.

Writer and Bible teacher Jen Wise knew that holistic faith — that reaches into every facet of life — is what brings grace and renewal. But she didn’t begin to live this truth until her world fractured. So as she searched Scripture for a better way, she discovered Jesus’ invitation for just that: small steps able to lead us into a bright new beginning.

So to the woman who feels her all is never enough, The Bright Life is your invitation to a new start. You were created to be healthy, strong, vibrant, and to rest in the unforced rhythms of grace Jesus so lovingly makes available to us all. Come along and learn how to avoid habits that seem smart but are deceptively self-sabotaging, pick up habits of wholeness that actually stick, and try surprising ways to practice kindness toward yourself and generosity toward loved ones.

The Bright Life extends a daily invitation with striking insights, tips to reclaim your energy, and a three-part practice of looking inward, upward, and outward as you step into a brighter way. This 40-day reset weaves story and Scripture together to cultivate a peaceful place where, through the attentive love of Jesus, you can experience the unforced rhythms of grace. Buy now…

Redefining Red —

What Makes You See Red?

The red light in TV means you’re on—go!

A red light in your life is a warning—stop!

But what if you could turn these red-light moments into encounters with God, insights on deeper faith, and motivation to go forward and thrive.

Learn to redefine red when:

• You’re dreaming
• You’re afraid
• You’re lost
• You’re stuck
• You’re weak

With highlights from her intriguing career as a broadcast journalist, along with a unique look into the lives of beloved Bible heroes, Elictia explains how red-light moments can become green lights to go forward — trusting God and embracing who you’re meant to be.

This book on jump-starting your faith and living intentionally is perfect for fans of Priscilla Shirer and Christine Caine. Buy now…

Decoding Your Dreams —

What is God saying to you in your dreams?

Decoding Your Dreams provides an in-depth explanation of the true source of our dreams, dream classifications, and even dream symbols.

There are dozens of mentions of dreams in the Bible. From Abraham to Joseph, from Daniel all the way to Pontius Pilot’s wife, God has communicated with His people through dreams throughout recorded history.

Why would God choose to speak to us while we sleep?

Perhaps it’s because we are too distracted during the day to sit still long enough for Him to share the deep secrets of His heart.

Jennifer LeClaire is convinced God speaks to us in ways that are very personal. At times he may use pictures, memories, impressions, or even a still small voice.

Let Decoding Your Dreams help you embrace your Spirit-inspired dreams. Buy now…

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Your Turn

What are reading this winter? Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Laurie McClure, FaithGateway Editor