5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – April 2019
Every month I share my list of Favorite 5’s.
- 5 interesting things online
- 5 articles about books or podcasts
- 5 pictures of things I love (and yes, at least one will be my granddaughter)
- 5 blog posts from the month
What is bringing you joy in April?
1 Second Everyday
[If you can’t see the 1 Second Everyday video, click here]
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5 Things Around the Web
1. Why Do We Ask God for What He’s Already Given?
by Brad Jersak
God has already forgiven us, given us mercy, blessed us with his constant presence. So why do we keep asking him for those things again? Jersak responds.
2. Win a Free Ticket to This Online Conference
at DoNotDepart.com
Here are 4 ways to win a free ticket to the Enjoy God’s Word online conference taking place April 23-25 from your own home, hosted by Katie Orr. Deadline to enter the giveaway is Thursday, April 4.
3. Teach Kids What to Do Instead of Only Saying “Sorry”
by Michelle Woo
We want our children to say “I’m sorry” when they hurt someone. But what else?
“Our guys said — as soon as he went down — they said, ‘Let’s pray.’
“I think in those moments, you begin to see what these guys are made of, both teams, the fabric,” Coach Bruce Pearl said. “We started to pray. We asked God to watch over our brother. And Carolina did it, and our guys did it.”
Auburn’s Chuma Okeke, our star player, tore his ACL in the middle of our Sweet 16 appearance. (Watch Coach Bruce Pearl’s emotional response after the game.)
#DoItForChuma quickly popped up as a Twitter hashtag. And Auburn won the next game, too! Now Auburn is going to the Final Four! It’s a big deal for a football school to make it this far in the basketball tournament. We’re very excited.
5. 100 Things to Throw Away Now
Things like: window bill envelopes, expired batteries, dried-up nail polish, etc. Just seeing this list helped me throw away quite a few things.
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5 Things with Books
1. 6 New Nonfiction Books Perfect for Spring Reading
Here are 6 new books picked by some of my favorite authors (Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink). The Next Big Idea Club sounds like an interesting book group.
2. How to Declutter Some of the Hardest Things of All: Books
by Jennifer Geddes
Ugh. I know I have too many books, but it’s hard to get rid of any of my friends.
3. Why Many Introverts Are Drawn To Writing (And Are Really Good At It)
by Jenn Granneman
Not all writers are introverts, but many are, including J.K. Rowling, John Green, Agatha Christie, Charlotte Brontë, Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Homer, Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, George R.R. Martin, Ayn Rand. Why does writing appeal to a certain type of person?
4. Recommend Reading 2019
by Farnam Street
This is a good recommended reading list that also includes older books. I also like looking at their past lists. (The “new” books on the old lists are more available at the library by now.) See Recommended Reading for 2018 and Recommended Reading for 2017.
Here are 3 non-fiction books I recommend from my own readings last month.
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5 Pictures of Things I Love
1. Tornado Cleanup
Although I don’t use a chainsaw like Jeff, I’m still glad I get to participate in tornado cleanup with our PAR group. They always need helping hands to drag limbs to the road, etc. On this trip we worked through Samaritan’s Purse.
I got to meet Monica on our trip to Columbus, Georgia. Her front yard was covered in broken trees after the tornado came through. She had quite an amazing story and is an incredible woman.
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2. Stan’s AU Funeral
If you picked up on it above (we’re going to the Final 4!), we are big Auburn fans around here (and okay, we have quite a few Alabama fans here also). Nobody has been a bigger Auburn fan his whole life than my friend Stan. For his funeral, his daughter suggested orange and blue clothes for those who had it. Stan would have loved seeing that (and hopefully he did see it). There were also Auburn stickers available for everyone to wear.
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3. And for his birthday . . .
The day after Stan died, he would have turned 60 years old. So the Four Corners (including Kathy, Stan’s wife) went to Outback and celebrated his life. He is leaving a huge vacuum. We all have our own special and funny memories with him.
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4. Took My Grandbaby to the Zoo for the 1st Time!
Jenna and I met Morgan and Riley at the zoo. We had a wonderful trip introducing her to the animals she had only seen in books. Hopefully it’s the first trip of many to come.
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5. Just for fun – 636 Months Old
We’ve all seen the pictures from new moms of their babies at 1 month, 2 months, 10 months, etc. So this meme made me laugh out loud.
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5 Things on the Blog
1. Make a Spiritual Growth Notebook + More
Do you keep up with your spiritual history? Learn how to make a spiritual growth notebook. Coming soon at Enjoy God’s Word 2019 Conference.
God is still writing His story. Bring your two fish. How God started House of the Harvest. Review of Adam Walker’s book,Two Fish.
Here’s to the nurses, doctors, caregivers. Thank you for what you do with your hands. But also for what you do with your hearts. We need the healers.
4. 3 Things to Do with Your Stuff
Do you have too much stuff? What are you supposed to do with it all? See how these parables relate to our stuff.
5. When God’s Plan Isn’t Our Plan
Do you find it easy or hard to release your own plans when God surprises you with a different plan? He is still trustworthy.
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What was a highlight from your March? What do you have planned for April? Please share in the comments.
Your links made me both laugh and tear up this month, Lisa! Thanks, as always, for sharing your heart and your life with us!
Thank you, Stacey. It’s cleansing for me each month to go back and look at both the fun and the hard things, and be appreciative for a fresh start in the new month!
I always get a kick out of the things you share.
And I had an exciting March, but am ready for a much tamer April.
A much tamer April sounds delightful to me, too, Michele. We’ve got a couple of quick trips planned, but other than that, I’m ready for an enforced staycation! 🙂
Loved the thots one Lisa! To another!! ????♀️??❤️
Thanks, Lisa. 🙂
No one captures a month like you do, Lisa! Your 1 Second Every Day video does it for me every time. And sweet baby girl is no longer a baby anymore, is she!
God is so good …
No, she isn’t a baby anymore. Everyone said it would fly by and they were right! She’s really wanting to walk everywhere now, although still very carefully. 🙂
I definitely need to check out the list of 100 things to throw away! It seems cleaning out and simplifying is never quick or easy for me. LOL
This list of 100 things might make it easier for you, Donna! Some of them are no-brainers (but others are still difficult for me, ha).
Great list, and I’m with Donna! I need to check out that list of things to toss!
I did throw out a few things myself immediately after reading that list! lol. I heard about it on a podcast I started listening to: “A to B Podcast: Simplicity, Organization, Fun.” They have some very practical and doable ideas.
I love, love, love this list! As a sports fan, I felt the pain of the Auburn player and knew they were praying for him. Your list is encouraging and heartwarming. I’m going to check out a few of those books, as well. Oh, and isn’t being a grandmom the most wonderful thing, ever? She’s precious! Thank you!
Yes, it was so sad watching the Auburn player go down, not just for the immediate pain, but for knowing it ended his season. Hopefully not his career though. He had surgery yesterday so time will tell if he can make a comeback.
Yes, being a grandmother has been so awesome! I’ve loved it even more than I imagined I would, and I had really imagined I would. 🙂
So cute to see your granddaughter walking! And how fun to be part of her first trip to the zoo!
Congratulations on your team making it to the Final Four! And what a neat idea to use the team and its colors as a theme for the funeral. My heart goes out to Kathy.
That meme is too funny.
You asked me to let you know if I saw the previous commenter’s information in the name and email sections again. Susan’s information was there when I added my comment just now. But it’s been a long time since that has happened.
Well, it’s not the news I wanted to hear, but I do need to know the truth so thank you very much for letting me know, Barbara. Back to the drawing board (again). Sigh….
We saw our granddaughter yesterday and she really is putting a lot of effort into walking as much as possible. 🙂 It’s so cute to see how carefully she tries to carry something and walk at the same time.
Awesome list. I’ll be adding a couple of books to my list for sure!
I’ve added so many books to my to-read list that it would be impossible to read them all before I die, even if I added nothing new between now and then. ha. But I’ll keep trying. 🙂
I love this list! It actually gives me some inspiration for my email newsletter!
I’m glad this gives you some inspiration, Erin! There’s so much good content out there; it’s handy to have people who can narrow it down for us. Good luck with your newsletter.
Lisa, you always have such a diverse and inspiring list each month. Of course, I loved seeing the picture of you with your granddaughter at the zoo. She is just adorable! I bet she liked seeing all the animals with her grandma. And that book – 100 Things – I need to read it NOW! Thanks for sharing!
My granddaughter did like the animals at the zoo. Maybe not as much as me! ha. (I love the zoo.) But she just loves being outside so it was all good to her. 🙂 Thanks, Laurie.
The 100 list was interesting. I just gave a friend my mason jars. They had jam in them, and she is the one that made them for me. Haha.
The hotel shampoo. I think that depends on how many you have. Those are good for keeping in a bag that you take on trips or visits to people’s house.
March feels like a blur. Haha. I shot my first gun in March.
April. I’m going to the local IF:Gathering next weekend.
Maybe your friend will refill the jars and give them to you again. lol. You know where our hotel shampoo goes: Manna House. 🙂 I’m excited you’re going to an IF:Gathering! I’ve never been to one. I’m sure it will bring some powerful words from God. Keep me posted.
Thanks for leading by example. For being the hands, feet, and heart of our Father. And thanks for that look behind the scenes of Auburn. I had no idea… way cool.
And the little one is walking!!! That’s awesome!
She’s still not steady on her feet, but she’s definitely upright now! 🙂 It’s going by too, too fast….
So much good stuff here, Lisa. The grandbaby, the links, the book suggestions and is that a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under that I see in one of the pics?!! 🙂
Very good eye, Lois! You know your desserts! That is indeed a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. I’m impressed, friend. 🙂 It was delicious.
Loved that book too, by Keely Corrigan. And the link of 100 things to throw away, had me laughing. Why do we keep all that stuff? Enjoyed your list and your video.
I don’t know why we keep all that stuff. I always think I might need it someday. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Theresa.
Lisa,
Love the pic of you and your granddaughter…oh the joy of discovery through the eyes of a child!! Enjoy. I always have to check in for your book choices – you have good taste in books. I was just getting ready to plan for March and it was over. Maybe I’ll have better luck in April?!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I agree that March flew by before we hardly had time to think! I’m trying to slow down this week so that April won’t seem like a blur, too. 🙂 Hope you’re doing well, Bev.
Going to have to check out the article: Why Many Introverts are Drawn to Writing. Thanks for linking up over on my site.
I appreciate you keeping the linkup alive, Shannan. I always enjoy reading everyone’s favorites!
great list plus a great new list of books to check out. Thanks. I laughed at the article about getting rid of books. My solution is to buy another book case. She didn’t mention that one. LOL
Oh, true, Jean! Buying another bookcase is always a viable option. lol. I laugh when I see pictures of bookshelves with only 3 or 4 books on them. Not mine! 🙂