Peace in the Dark by Jessica Herberger

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
 In a world of instant gratification and exceptions of a Pinterest or IG-able life, how do you deal with pain, loss, and suffering? Even more, how do you deal with waiting for rescue and life to resume? "Our days here are spent living in a broken place, recovering from a loss or a hurt, holding on to joy and hope, longing for peace, and navigating the in-between we find ourselves in."

In this look at the time between Good Friday and Resurrection Day, Herberger offers comfort and hope. My friends and I have been talking about the hardest time - when there's a promise ahead but we're waiting for God to appear, to open a door, or to release us from discomfort and death.

Whether you are grieving, waiting for a new season, or stuck in silence, this book offers ways to adjust and rest through such times - and offers confidence that you are neither forgotten nor abandoned. 

As a gift or solace for yourself, this is worth reading.

The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Wisdom is hard to find. Understanding and discernment? They're fragile in today's world. "Seek the ancient paths," says the scripture.

Villodas goes back to the teaching of Jesus to draw out universal principles of a good life - counter to the world's values and advice. Some of his insights will be familiar. Others will make you pause and take inventory of your own expectations. 

Well worth considering - where you are and where you long to be. Take this one along on a day or more of retreat and reflection.

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Whether you think you've gone beyond redemption and salvation - or if think you're too good for the world - you'll enjoy this book. This love story of transformation, forgiveness, and new life gives hope that anything is possible.

You'll like the characters, find yourself cheering for a happy ending, and enjoy the descriptions. It offers the reader a chance to consider the effects of rushing to judgment and condemnation of others. In Ephraim and Birdie's relationship, there's joy and growth - and yes, that happy ending. 

Good for passing time in a quiet week, as a bedtime novel, or speeding along your commute.

What's Next Is Now by Frederik Pferdt

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
What does it mean to balance faith and works? I felt this was an essential question as Pferdt explores the meaning and working out of our salvation. I like the use of tools like the Johari Window; the affirmation of every believer as created uniquely and purposefully for his/her time and place; and the encouragement to servanthood.

Where you're exploring what it means to have Jesus as "the Way," whether you are seeking "the Truth," or living in abundance in him as "the Life," there's something here for you. There are reminders of what you know, what you haven't thought of, and ways to live out your commitment to God.

Recommended for those seeking spiritual direction, teaching or growing in spiritual formation, and those who are considering the path of faith in Jesus.

Trust the Whisper by Kathy Izard

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
How do you know when God is speaking to you? How can you be sure that your purpose and path are the right ones? That you are being guided and led?

I liked the stories of how God has spoken to others. It gave me ideas of ways God has whispered to me in the past and brought life and light to my journey. It's a tale of progress in the faith, of understanding how ordinary life unfolds day to day. Sometimes we see the steps we are taking. Other times, we look back in wonder at how far we've come. 

If you aren't certain that God is a speaking and interacting One, if you think God is far away and uninterested in you, read this book. It will help you look at the voice and the voices around you - how the Living Word is present in and through you. 

Even After Everything by Stephanie Duncan Smith

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Love is risky. We know that after the first disappointment, the first heartbreak. Yet are we willing to stay open to new people and fresh experiences when those things happen and those people crush our expectations (not in a good way ...)?

I came late to the Christian calendar, growing up in a low-Protestant environment where liturgy and church feasts were suspect. This book reconciles the human need for connection and being a conduit for living water with the reality of a broken world. 

Smith makes personal the idea of having hope amid distractions and disappointments. She offers stories and pathways to see life as abundant and glorious even in seasons of pain. She invites the reader to connect to the life of Christ and the life of others: of "joining" this unfolding of the Kingdom of God.

I enjoyed it. I recommend it to spiritual seekers, those distrustful of Christ's community of faith, and to those maturing and opening their hearts to the joy offered in the Body of Christ.

Being a Sanctuary by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
 The dedication gives the hope of the contents: radical love, radical labor, radical life that is sacred, soft, and safe for the Church and the world around it.

Contrasting the perceptions and realities of an unloving, not-serving Body of Christ with the hopefulness and possibilities of Christ's nature, Dominguez opens the possibilities of a collective reflection, repentance and restoration of what Jesus intended.

Each chapter starts with a quote, a verse and a story or observation on how things are. And it ends with reflections in meditations, questions, and scripture. Well worth picking up. Because the concepts are worth pursuing wherever God has placed you in this world of hurt and hopelessness.

Be the body! I'm recommending this for spiritual formation, ministry leadership, and ministry team members - so that through you will flow living water as you reach and teach others in the same.

Becoming by Beholding by Lanta Davis

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
I've enjoyed recent trends and discoveries in spiritual formation. It takes a while for a book to come to press so the ideas aren't completely new to me. 

This book highlights the mysteries of our faith: the beauty of art, the thoughtfulness of writing, the history in orthodoxy and orthopraxy. I was fascinated by the threads of care- and carefulness related to Christian beliefs and praxis.

If you are teaching, experiencing, or considering a spiritual director or spiritual formation, I recommend that you ponder these explorations and exercises. Caution is advised: stay close to the scriptures and examine what you read as you open your heart to experiencing God-with-us-in-Christ in new ways.

A Wondrous Mystery by Charles Spurgeon, ed. by Geoffrey Chang

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

Christmas is coming - and with it come many reflections on the mysterious coming of Jesus, God-with-us. If you want light reading, skip this one.

However, if you want a deep dive into the theology and biblical purpose for the incarnation, you will love this book. Spurgeon examines who Jesus is and why he came. How did the events unfold? What are the effects and benefits of God coming among us?

If you've never heard of him, Charles Spurgeon was a Victorian-era preacher in the 1800s. He loved Christmas but didn't fuss about it at church. Instead, his preaching highlighted the beauty of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection all year long. And from those sermons comes this book.

I'm glad the language has been updated - but the message is the same. He has come! Celebrate what he has done! Recommended.

Jesus, Make Me Fully Alive: 30 Holy Hour Reflections by Fr. Tim Anastos

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
Though its intended audience is young adults, this is very relevant for all ages. Most Western youth don't grow up as quickly or as solidly as in generations past: the plethora of choices in spirituality and work/vocation, and mobility in where to live and work make settling down harder.

It's an era of confusion and chaos: many voices challenge the Christian faith and rootedness in prayer and scripture. Fr Anastos assures us all that a holy hour - time set aside with God for meditation, prayer, journaling, and other spiritual disciplines - is not only possible. It is worthwhile.

The author offers counsel on intentionality, spending time, mindful focus on Jesus, and modeling our prayer life on the withdrawal of Jesus to commune with his heavenly Father. He stresses personal integrity and a willingness to engage God's presence.

Highly recommended for spiritual formation, no matter what your stage of life.

Walking the Theological Life by Timothy Gaines

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
With low expectations, I flipped to the first chapter and started to read. I was quickly engrossed in the stories and theology. Gaines' presentation of methods of exploring are simple yet profound. My husband is a theologian and teacher so the descriptions of joy and abandonment to learning about God felt familiar to his "I love learning about God and sharing that with friends."

"This is for every student starting Christian Thought 101 - and for every seminary graduate," was my gut reaction by the time I'd read a few chapters. 

I'm going to recommend it to coworkers and theology professors, to my fellow adventurers and Christ-followers, and to everyone who is curious about what draws Christians into a relationship with a personal God.

Each time I picked up this book, I read much longer than I had time for. I was pulled again and again into the wonder and mystery of God-who-wants-to-be-known. In a phrase: "Highly recommended reading."

The Justice and Goodness of God: A Biblical Case for the Final Judgment by Thomas Schreiner

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
How can we expect justice from the courts and other people and limit the justice of God? Schreiner examines the roots of our alienation from God as nations, groups, and individuals. He brings together the Jewish and Christian theologies of God's justice and the consequences of our separation from God - sins committed, good left undone.

In a world that demands a happy ending to every fairytale and universal salvation for every person, this book will be neither popular nor accepted.  The idea of God as sovereign Creator and moral center goes against the liberal norm - until we are harmed by others' actions. (In which case we demand punishment for the perpetrators.)

Well thought out and researched. I may disagree with finer points or come to other conclusions, but I want a good and just God to be ruling the universe. Better to have an all-knowing Creator telling me what to do and meting justice than fickle and bribable humans.

Through the Valley of Grief by Mattie Jackson

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
Here's a companion for the year - or if you skip days here and there - for the whole season of grieving. you can feel the emotions and spiritual progress on each page, written by someone who has experienced the deepest sorrow and the process of restoration and healing.

"The book I wish I had," writes the author, who lost her husband a year into marriage. There are 4 kinds of devotions: wait (lament); connect (a defense against utter withdrawal); worship (honesty in offering praise from the heart); and hope (peace in the storms that follow a loss).

Each day offers a scripture, a short devotional, and a question to help you consider what you are experiencing. It's a hopeful and compassionate journey from devastation to acceptance. Highly recommended after closure of many kinds - loss of relationships, persons, jobs, and other expectations.

What if you're right? by Emily Colwell

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review
Colwell writes with empathy and integrity about her exploration of sickness and need, beliefs and worldviews. While you may not agree with her current state of faith or her conclusions, the journey is an interesting one.

Scripture tells us that each person is uniquely shaped in the image of God with purpose and meaning. Often the people around us try to shame and shape us into their own image. I was blessed with parents who affirmed that God was amazing and able to handle questions and doubts. Human life was a great adventure and there was a reason for the way I was made.

"Don't let anyone put you in a box," was my dad's reoccurring warning.

In this book, Colwell chronicles her journey as a doctor and adviser from the viewpoint that she gets to decide who she is and who she is becoming. I'm heartsick at the direction she's going (the universal god-squad) but interested to see how her life will be shaped by honest enquiry in the future.

The Joy of an Uncluttered Life by Joyce Meyer

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

How do you function when there are multiple demands, many people tugging at you, and lots of things to maintain? 

"Everyone" has probably heard of Joyce Meyer, a high-capacity female pastor with a global reach. If not, this will be a good introduction. She's got a lot of irons in the fire and a lot to say, but somehow she manages to find balance. How? Be keeping the most important things as the core and not focusing on trivia and distractions.

You can do the same. If you feel like your life is too full, Meyer offers 100 days of finding freedom by evaluating what is true, noble, and right and shedding the rest. Each practical snippet highlights a scriptural principle that will anchor you in what matters most: loving God and loving others.

Field Notes for the Wilderness: plus the accompanying, A Guided Journal by Sarah Bessey

 ★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
I read and enjoyed Bessey's spiritual formation book Spiritual Practices for Soul Care: 40 Ways to Deepen Your Faith. To explore my journey of faith with this new book is a privilege. NOTE: it will be published in February 2024 ... so put it on your advance reading list and set up a "notification of publication" with your bookseller. 

It's worth it. Why?

If you feel like your journey of faith has landed you in the wilderness - scrub-land and deprivation on every hand, or maybe even in the desert - where it seems there is no life, nourishment, or water for you, this set of 2 books will provide sustenance and refreshing along the way.

You'll see the path behind and around you as it is: God's provision for developing in you depth, character, and trust. I highly recommend the book but then also hope you pick up the journal and work through it. If you yourself are not in this season, you will gain empathy, words, and a spiritual companion (the author) to offer solace to others who are walking through grief, pain, and doubts.

The journal offers prompts, prayers, and questions to guide you through an honest appraisal of where you are and where the Holy Spirit is leading you. 

I may not agree with all of Bessey's theology, but that's ok. Her understanding of God-among-us in the unlovely times, in the times we feel unwanted and unwelcome, is unmatched. Get the book. Remember, it's coming soon.

Spiritual Practices for Soul Care: 40 Ways to Deepen Your Faith by Barbara L. Peacock

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
Soul care is an emerging trend in modern Western Christianity. Its ancient roots and disciplines originate in the early Church and practices of discipling in the Middle East and Europe as the Church emerged beyond its Jewish foundations. Peacock presents another layer of observation and practise that include her African American traditions and solid academic career.

The 40 units or chapters can be approached by topic, personal need, or by categories such as Soul Care living, directing, discipling, restoring, etc. "Whether you are committed to practicing four or all forty spiritual disciplines on a regular basis, you must be mindful that the process of God-centered transformation is designed for those who year to live their best authentic life." (Peacock)

Theological reflections are fleshed out with stories from her life, observations, and heritage. Using scriptures, poetry, and questions for active worship, the author invites the reader into a deep life of spiritual hunger and satisfaction.

Every Season Sacred by Kayla Craig

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

These reflections will help you to pause and to practice the seasons of faith. I'm recommending this to families, spiritual directors, contemplatives, and those who think they are too busy to reflect on their faith. Craig provides weekly guidance in every season; you'll enjoy the prayers, ideas, and activities. 

Mission Possible Bible Study (and Goals Guide) by Tim Tebow

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

The two study books are intertwined and can be done individually or in a group. You'll have to buy the videos that go with each week's exploration, but most materials are included. 

Tebow's style is simple and appropriate for young adults or older teens needing encouragement. This method of finding  purpose and meaning will help young people live fully as God created them to be. Recommended for youth groups, young adult Bible studies, and college kids trying to find their way.

Preparing to Meet Jesus: A 21-Day Challenge to Move from Salvation to Transformation by Anne Graham Lotz; Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright

★★★ ☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

Spiritual direction is all the rage. Spiritual formation is a buzz word. But is it transformational? Has your character or longing for the presence of God grown?

Lotz and Lotz-Wright offer a challenge to be changed by a worthy goal, preparing for the day when you will come face to face with the Savior. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.

Sometimes you go on a journey with a group, sometimes by yourself. Sometimes you have a sabbatical or retreat coming up. Take this 3-week book with you. It offers a scripture, prayer, stories, questions, and a challenge for each day. If you do even half of this, you'll be changed. 

I recommend that you take it a week at a time and think about where you're headed after every week is done. Keep a journal of the trip - you'll be amazed at how scripture and the Way comes alive to move you to intimacy and action.