August Ranch Table Books:
These are the books that I’ve been reading through July and August, and to be honest with you, I’m only partway done with them! But isn’t that the way summer is? We are outside until late, and by the time we get dinner eaten and cleaned up I am only able to read a few pages before my eyes get heavy and I have to give in to sleep!
That being said, these books have all been rich and thought-provoking. . . including the fiction! Sometimes I have to go back and re-read in order to unpack and untangle the deep truths of what is being said.
Restoration Novel Series by Terri Blackstock
Last Light
Night Light
True Light
Dawn’s Light
This is a four-book fictional series surrounding the story of the Brenning family in Birmingham Alabama, who find themselves, along with the rest of the world, plunged into darkness with no electricity or modern-day technology, meaning no forms of communication or transportation. Civilization has to adapt to life without convenience or comfort.
I am currently halfway through book three, “True Light”, and am completely engrossed in this story.
I found these books in our church library after being introduced to them by a friend. The first book, “Last Light” was written in 2005, but I’m so glad I am reading them now, in the summer of 2021, in light of the worldwide Covid Pandemic. It’s much more relatable than it would have been if I would have read the series pre-covid. Like the way civilization has faced the challenges brought to us from the virus, Terri Blackstock weaves a wonderful story that reveals what difficult circumstances tend to bring out in people. . . good and bad. . . and what determination, tenacity, and resourcefulness can accomplish in the face of any kind of disastrous situation.
The deeper message of the Restoration Series is that in the midst of difficult trials, we can trust that God always has a greater plan and purpose, and that He never leaves us to our own devices.
I love when a fiction book works to grow my understanding of how God works; in the book “True Light”, one of the characters, Mark Green, struggles with the testing he has had to endure:
“Or was it a test for him? If so, who was testing him? God or Satan?
He thought of what Jesus had told the apostle Peter, before he betrayed Christ: ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
There was so much to learn from those statements. First, Satan had to ask permission before he could sift. Satan’s power was limited. That knowledge comforted Mark. But an even greater comfort was the fact that Jesus had been on Peter’s side – praying for him through his trial. Mark knew that Jesus was interceding for him as well.”
I found the Restoration Series in my small church library, but you can find the entire series here:
30 Days to Growing In Your Faith by Max Anders:
This is a book that I’m honored to be part of the launch team for. I was intrigued by “30 Days to Grow Your Faith” as a comparable title as I work through the book proposal process for my own book on faith. What I have found is a treasure trove of wisdom about growing your faith in God. As Max says, this book is not “the end of your learning about the Christian life; it is the beginning.”
Salvation happens in a moment, sanctification takes a lifetime, and growing in faith is a never ending practice.
This is a great resource especially for anyone new to the Christian faith, or anyone who is feeling stagnant in their faith. The book, with study questions at the end of each chapter, is split up into three key parts in growing in faith:
- Know what you need to know
- Become what you need to be
- Do what you need to do
I loved what he had to say in the introduction to the book, “Christians are not people who have turned over a new leaf. Rather, by the work of God, they have turned over a new life.” And that new Christian life requires daily cultivating of our faith.
Max has also written the book “30 Days to Understanding the Bible” which I plan on reading next, I feel that it will be another great resource as I disciple women in digging deeper into God’s Word.
“30 Days to Grow Your Faith” releases this week; so grab a copy, and join me on this never-ending of growing our faith!
You can order it here: https://www.amazon.com/30-Days-Growing-Your-Faith/dp/0310116856/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
I have been reading “Gentle and Lowly” as part of my morning quiet time this month, and I’m not going to lie, the first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. . . I’m a sucker for a good book cover! The second thing was the Title; “Gentle and Lowly, The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.”
Based on Mathew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”, this book points to that part of Christ’s Character which delights in showing mercy to the sinners and sufferers of the world.
Mr. Ortlund’s love and knowledge of writers such as C.S. Lewis, John Bunyan, and Jonathon Edwards to name a few, helps to weave a beautiful and rich narrative that tenderly shows the heart of Jesus for those who are hurting because of suffering or sin. The book is a reminder to us that we are never alone in our hurt and that Jesus longs to give us rest for our weary and battered souls:
“Consider your own life. . . Our tendency is to feel intuitively that the more difficult life gets, the more alone we are. As we sink further into pain, we sink further into felt isolation. The Bible corrects us. Our pain never outstrips what he himself shares in. We are never alone. That sorrow that feels so isolating, so unique, was endured by him in the past and is now shouldered by him in the present.”
~ Gentle and Slowly by Dane Ortlund
You can order Gentle and Slowly here: https://www.christianbook.com/gentle-lowly-heart-christ-sinners-sufferers/dane-ortlund/9781433566134/pd/566134?event=HPTWS
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