April Book Recommendations

Here are this month’s recommendations of books I’ve enjoyed. I hope you’ll find them encouraging and entertaining as well! 

 

Fiction – Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap 

 

This story was laugh-out-loud funny, heartwarming, and entertaining! Four elderly ladies who live onboard a cruise ship are the self-appointed matchmakers for staff and guests in need of help in the romance department. Their current targets, Lacey and Jon, are not very cooperative, requiring drastic measures. Of course, in the end love triumphs, and the wily ladies foil some drug runners while they’re at it. This story is clean with a Christian message of forgiveness and trusting in God. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can’t wait for the next book in the series! 

 

 

Non-Fiction – Heart of A Champion: True Stories of Character and Faith from Today’s Most Inspiring Athletes by Steve Riach

 

This book is a fun and inspiring read for any sports fan. Each chapter is about a different famous athlete, describing their challenges, successes, and faith journey. Through their stories, the author illustrates specific character traits such as commitment, leadership, teamwork, integrity, and compassion. I enjoyed reading about God’s work in the athletes I’d heard of as well as those I wasn’t familiar with. This book reminded me that there are many people living out their faith and making a difference, even if we never hear about them in the news. A great read for young people interested in sports as well!

 

 

Devotional – 31 Days of Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

 

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author, so it’s no surprise that I absolutely love this book! My theme for this year is trusting God, so I was thrilled when I came across this devotional. Each chapter is powerful, convicting, and encouraging. Bridges is able to put profound truths into simple words that stick with you. Each chapter has a clear focus on one meaningful truth and plenty of Scripture to strengthen our hearts. I plan to reread this book often for the beautiful reminders of who God is and that He is infinitely trustworthy. 

 

We Are His Body

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” –1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)

On Easter Sunday I spent some time worshipping God while listening to songs by Keith Green. His Easter song always makes me feel nostalgic and reflective. It takes me back to Easter when I was a teen, when we got up early and had a sunrise church service on a little hill near our house. Our small group sang Easter hymns acapella as we watched the sun rise in the sky. It’s one of my favorite memories. 

And that got me thinking about Keith Green. As a teen, I read the story of his life, No Compromise, written by his wife after his life was cut short by a plane crash. He was a prolific songwriter and had quite the ministry before he died. But I wonder, did he have any idea how far-reaching his impact would be? 

Somehow, I doubt he could have imagined that all these years later people would still be listening to his music and inspired by his life. Maybe he saw himself as ordinary, just following Jesus and doing what God led him to do.

It got me thinking…if the Lord took me home to heaven tomorrow, would those who know me feel like the world is a poorer place without me? 

I hope so. 

I don’t know how far-reaching any impact from my “small” life will be, but I hope that the ones I know and love have felt Jesus’ love through me. 

And I know if the question was reversed, for all the “ordinary” yet incredible people I know, I could say a resounding yes! The world would be poorer without you. No matter how “small” your life may feel, I want you to know that I see you. 

I see you raising your kids to love Jesus, teaching the next generation, nursing the hurting, pastoring, mentoring, cleaning, taking meals, leading small groups, caregiving, writing, singing, bringing laughter, giving your time, energy, and money to love your neighbors, strangers, and people overseas you’ve never met who have yet to hear the gospel…

Isn’t it beautiful how God expresses His grace and love in myriad ways through us, His kids? Together our lives create a masterpiece lovingly designed by the Savior who lives in us. We are the body of Christ. We are His hands and feet and voice – in all the “small” places and everyday ways.

Yes, friend. I see you. I thank God for you. I hope you remember that your life is lighting up this dark world. And I pray you’ll keep on following Jesus and doing what God leads you to do…one day at a time. You can pray the same for me. =) 

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” –Ephesians 4:15–16 (NIV)