June Book Recommendations

Here are this month’s recommendations for some fun summer reading! I hope you’ll enjoy them. Let me know what books you’re loving this summer!  

 

Fiction – Starring Me by Krista McGee

 

If you like YA fiction, this is a clean, sweet, funny read about a teenage girl who gets the chance to chase her acting dream. In the process, more Christians keep coming into her life, and she begins to consider if God really exists. As circumstances, both good and hard, propel her forward, she eventually finds the best love of all in Jesus. The story is loosely based on the biblical story of Isaac and Rebekah. It’s an enjoyable read with heart, humor, and a happy ending!

 

Nonfiction – By the Sea: Glimpses of Eternity, Reflections of Simple Hope by Robin Jones Gunn 

 

This beautiful book contains poems, reflective essays, quotes from classic authors, and stunning photographs—all about the sea. It’s a peaceful, encouraging, uplifting read, a good way to pause and be refreshed in our busy days. Though I’m slightly more of a mountain person than an ocean person, I enjoyed the stories, reflections, and insights the author shares about her connection to the sea and how God has touched her life in so many ways through it. 

 

Children’s – Wild Feelings by Joel Crumbley

 

I liked the fun, rollicking style of this book, yet it still communicates a meaningful message for children. The colorful pictures and rhyming text illustrate different feelings we have in a way that kids can relate to. The book also talks about how to let Jesus help us with our feelings. At the end, there’s a one-page, simple study with a few questions and verses. There’s also a brief explanation of the gospel for anyone who hasn’t heard it. Parents can have fun reading this book with their kids, and they can also talk about the precious truths of Jesus giving us peace, being with us, and being the source of our joy and strength.

 

Seriously, Lord?

When God Asks You to do Something that Doesn’t Make Sense

“This is what the LORD said to me: ‘Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.’ So I bought a belt, as the LORD directed, and put it around my waist.” –Jeremiah 13:1–2 (NIV)

When I read this passage recently, I felt such a kinship with Jeremiah. Though his life, circumstances, and calling were radically different than mine, some things don’t change even hundreds of years later. God told Jeremiah to do something that sounded silly, pointless, even like a waste of time and money, but Jeremiah did it. No questions, no excuses, no stalling. He just obeyed. 

Then God gave him another instruction that seemed odd. And Jeremiah obeyed. 

“Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: ‘Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.’ So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD told me” (vv. 3–5).

 

Then God gave him a third instruction, and once again Jeremiah obeyed. 

“Many days later the LORD said to me, ‘Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.’ So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless” (vv. 6–7).

 

And then God explained. And it all made sense. 

“Then the word of the LORD came to me: ‘This is what the LORD says: “In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,” declares the LORD, “to be my people for my renown and praise and honor”’” (vv. 8–11).

 

This wasn’t just a passing moment in Jeremiah’s life. This experience was recorded, written down, and preserved, so that hundreds of years later, I ended up reading about it…and feeling encouraged. Because I’m not the first person God has interacted with this way. I’m not the first person tempted to say, “Seriously, Lord? You want me to do what? That makes no sense. There’s no point. That’s a waste of time and money.”

 

Jeremiah didn’t say anything like that. But I wonder if he thought it. I wonder if he rolled his eyes while he obeyed. Or if he did it with full confidence that his actions were meaningful.

 

I’d like to be someone who just obeys God’s voice with a smile on my face and faith in my heart. But sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I have a doubting conversation with God—even though I know He is GOD! 

 

“You sure you want me to email that person I just met and share that verse? What if they think I’m a pushy Christian?”

 

“Why do I need to park on this side of the parking lot? What could it possibly matter?” 

 

“I don’t need to go to that event. It’ll just be a waste of time.” 

 

Looking back, I have to laugh at myself and my pathetic attempts to tell God why, in essence, He was wrong. I’m so glad He is patient with me. Because each time I obeyed, I saw Him work—making me a blessing to someone else, giving me blessings I didn’t expect, and reminding that not only does he know all things, but everything He does is for good. 

 

Maybe Jeremiah understood that better than me. Maybe that’s why he didn’t question or hesitate. Maybe when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him about it. =) 

 

Frankly, I’m glad Jesus invites me into an unpredictable adventure with Him. I want to follow and obey Him—even when it doesn’t make sense, even when I laugh, even when I doubt, even when I can’t imagine what good could possibly come from it. Because my Savior never ceases to amaze me. And I end up saying “Seriously, Lord?” in amazement at how awesome He is!

 

For Real – 

When has God nudged you or clearly directed you to do something that made no sense, maybe even sounded ridiculous? How did you respond? I’d love to hear your story of how He amazed you!