Nobody has total faith.
What do you do with your doubts? What did Jesus do when he saw doubt in others?
Our doubts can come when:
How does Jesus handle our doubts?
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I’m writing today at Do Not Depart. Will you join me there?
Here’s a free Bible Study giveaway for any who are interested. It’s sponsored by the upcoming Enjoy the Word online Bible conference.
Enter to win resources for your study time, including:
It’s only open March 1 – March 5. Sign up here. Free to anyone to enter.
Coming soon are details about the online conference, “Enjoy the Word.” It will be hosted by Jami Balmet and Katie Orr with lots of speakers and sessions (I’ll be doing a session on Scripture Memory).
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What did you do in February? What are you looking forward to in March? We share once a month at Leigh’s.
[If you can’t see the 1 Second Everyday video, click here]
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1. Things I’ve Failed to Do When People Left Our Church
by Mark Altrogge
2. Top 10 Productivity Apps for the Mac, 2018 Edition
by Brooks Duncan
3. The Virtue of Radical Honesty
by David Brooks
“This week I asked a group of students at the University of Chicago a question I’m asking students around the country: Who are your heroes?”
4. This simple solution to smartphone addiction is now used in over 600 U.S. schools
by Tara Bahrampour
I’ve never heard of Yondr. Have you? But it sounds like a great idea.
5. Holy Ghost Needed on Aisle 3
I saw this on Facebook. It just made me smile. I have a love/hate relationship with Walmart.
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1. Choiceology Podcast with Dan Heath
I have two new favorite podcasts this month, both by two of my favorite authors. Choiceology is from Dan Heath. Here’s the description:
“You’re not as rational as you think. In this new podcast, bestselling author Dan Heath performs forensic analysis on decision making. You’ll hear real stories, learn from top experts, and witness informal experiments that demonstrate the mistakes we too often make.”
2. The 1-3-20 Podcast by Daniel Pink
And this is second new podcast I love. 1 book, 3 questions, 20 minutes.
“In each episode, #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink selects 1 important book, asks its author 3 key questions (What’s the big idea? Why should I care? What should I do?), and wraps it all up in under 20 minutes.”
3. A Question I’m Often Asked: What’s My Process for Taking Notes?
by Gretchen Rubin
“When I read, I take notes. Many people have asked about my process, so here it is.”
4. I Have Forgotten How to Read
by Michael Harris
“Turning, one evening, from my phone to a book, I set myself the task of reading a single chapter in one sitting. Simple. But I couldn’t.”
5. 8 Books I Recommend – February 2018
Recommended reading from books I finished in February
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1. Still Amazed
I was so happy for the invitation to spend a lot of time with my new granddaughter in February. She’s already 1 month and 2 days old.
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2. Gramps
Jeff hasn’t gotten to stay with Riley as much as I have, but he’s loved every minute he gets with her.
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3. Surprise Blooms
My plant needed repotting years ago, but wow. It surprised me with blooms again anyway.
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4. Another Vow Renewal Ceremony
This is our second Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony to attend this year. This one is worthy of a blog post all its own, so maybe soon. For now, just know it was a God-thing how it came together. These are special friends of ours from Manna House.
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5. But Who’s Counting?
This will only matter to me, but my meditation app let me know I’d reached a milestone this week. 700 sessions with the app, yet I know I’m still a beginner. Meditation doesn’t come easy to me. But I keep trying anyway.
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What was a highlight from your February? What are you looking forward to in March? Please share in the comments.
Summaries and links to blog posts for February 2018
Here are 5 books I recommend from what I read in February. Once a month we share our current reading lists at Jennifer’s.
1. Educated
A Memoir
by Tara Westover
This almost unbelievable real-life story by Tara shares how she grew up in a survivalist home in Idaho with 6 brothers and sisters. Despite abuse and educational neglect, she somehow broke free and went to college, then graduate school, then received her doctorate. People really can overcome many obstacles.
2. Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus
How a Jewish Perspective Can Transform Your Understanding
by Lois Tverberg
How might Jesus explain the Bible to us from the culture when it was occurring? Tverberg shares many insights to get a better perspective of how early believers in God lived. Very informative.
3. The Great Evangelical Retreat
Finding Hope in Surrender (Evangelicals After the Shipwreck Book 1)
by Ed Cyzewski
Sometimes when we most need a way forward, we need to first take a step back. Cyzewski explains why Evangelicals need to surrender and refocus. Ed’s books—succinct and insightful—are always worth reading.
4. Start with Why
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
by Simon Sinek
Do you know why you do what you do? We too often start with what or how. But why is perhaps the most important thing. This book helps you learn how to ask why about a broad range of areas in your life.
“This book is not designed to tell you what to do or how to do it. Its goal is not to give you a course of action. Its goal is to offer you the cause of action.”
5. Kindred
by Octavia E. Butler
This novel written in the ’70s is still important for our times. It’s about Dana, a black woman, married to Kevin, a white man, in 1976. Through no desire of their own, they find themselves mysteriously transported back to the early 1800s. They both struggle under new roles in Maryland during slavery times.
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What good book have you read this month? Please share in the comments.
My books on Goodreads
Previous reading lists
If you want to better enjoy your Bible time, here’s a free eKit to help.
It’s from Katie Orr, a Bible study author, wife, and mom. Katie consistently creates resources to help us stay in the Word. (I started writing for Do Not Depart in 2011 when Katie was at the helm. I’ve followed her and been inspired by her faith ever since.)
Sign up for the free eKit here and get a video lesson on 5 ways to enjoy the Word, a PDF guide, two Scripture art prints, and a color-the-Word bookmark.
I’ve been enjoying the Word differently during Lent. I’ve set aside my regular daily Bible reading and am concentrating time instead in the gospels of Mark and John with Do Not Depart. It’s not too late to join in if you’re looking for a short chapter-a-day reading and a Facebook community to share about it daily.
Also during Lent I’ve been reading/doing this great devotional from Dr. Melissa McCrory Hatcher, Ordering Our Affections–Lent. (I did Melissa’s Advent devotional last Christmas.) The daily readings are short, and each include either a poem, a hymn, a painting, a to-do activity, etc. I particularly enjoy these extras because they get me out of my head and more into a heart of worship.
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We’re so blessed to live in an age with so many tools to help us benefit from and enjoy scripture. Do you have a favorite way? Please share in the comments.
