Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Love at Last Sight

If you find yourself snowbound, my latest good read is Love at Last Sight.  In a culture where "love" is all about what makes me feel good, this practical guide on how to really love people is a welcome change.  This book is filled with short chapters, practical action steps, and simple common sense (that is not so common), making it a must-have for anyone seeking to invest in their relationships.  The book gives you four weeks of emphasis: Being All There, Acting Intentionally, Risking Awkwardness, and Letting Go. The only thing missing for me was that I wanted it to take me a little deeper into the scriptural wisdom on this topic.  But I think this book's strength is not in its depth, but that it spells it out so simply that anyone could relate and apply what it says to make real changes in their relationships.

Voices of the Faithful

Well, the New Year has started...time for making resolutions that usually last a week or two...or not.  So if your resolution has anything to do with spending some time reading, here is a worthwhile pick.  Voices of the Faithful is a different kind of devotional book, in that it is a compilation of various writers, all international missionaries, meant to spur you on in your own walk of faith.  The author listed in big print on the cover is Beth Moore, and she does add so much with her introductions to the topic for each month's collections, including God's Character, God's Word, Persecution and Compassion.  However, she is quick to draw the focus to the authors of each daily entry, as her "friends who put their lives on the line for God".  Their stories are inspiring and so interesting to read, as they take me out of my narrow focus on my tiny little corner of the world.  What a great way to start the day and the new year!