by Elizabeth

I’m excited to start a new series! From time to time, I’ll be sharing links to my favorite blog posts, books, songs, videos, etc. I wanted to put all my favorite resources in one place, rather than scattering them around Facebook the way I’ve done in the past. I’m super excited to share things that have been an encouragement to me, and I hope they will be to you, too. This launch post might be longer than usual because it has some of my “old” favorites along with the newer ones.

BOOKS

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller. I read this book this spring and cried on nearly every page. I cannot do the book justice here without quoting entire chapters. It’s a short read anyway, so you should just read it yourself!

Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman. I’m just starting this book and really enjoying it so far. I so relate to the way she describes herself in the first couple chapters! I wish I had read this book in college and saved myself a lot of spiritual pain and effort. I’ve learned a lot of truth about grace through trial and error, but it’s always good to take a refresher course, if you know what I mean! You can get a taste of her material for free by watching her book club videos.

Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning. Still loving this book and reading it almost daily. Occasionally I post exceptionally good quotes on Facebook.

VIDEOS & PODCASTS

IF:Equip on Matthew 5:4. I love subscribing to IF:Equip! The 2-minute video discussions each day are very interesting and insightful. This one is closely related to what I learned about repentance earlier this year, and so it was very dear to my heart.

More IF:Equip on Matthew 5:4. More video discussion on the same ideas. Such richness.

Who Do You Think You Are? Short video at Self Talk the Gospel. I love Self Talk the Gospel’s tagline! “We must embed the Gospel so deep within our conscience that it transforms the way we think, which, in turn, will transform the way we live.” Don’t you just love that?

How Christians Find Hope for Anxiety by Meghan Alanis. This 15-minute interview at Self Talk the Gospel mirrors my own experience with anxiety: that it can be helped and healed. I’ve gone back to the interview a few times because it simply overflows with grace and hope for those struggling with anxiety. I truly believe that with God’s help (which sometimes includes medication and almost always includes counseling), we don’t have to be bound by anxiety. God can set us free. If you struggle with anxiety, you don’t want to miss this video!

Finding Permission to Rest. This is a one-hour interview with Bonnie Gray, author of Finding Spiritual Whitespace, at Kat Lee’s Inspired to Action podcast. I first found Inspired to Action through Kat Lee’s other blog Hello Mornings, which I also love. Oh man, was this podcast good! So rich with biblical insight and ideas for approaching God like a child and finding space for your soul to breathe. I haven’t read the book yet, but it’s on my list.

How To Do a Greek Study Using BibleHub.com by Katie Orr. This short tutorial taught me how to look up Greek words on BibleHub.com, something I didn’t know how to do before — and something that has been very useful because I left my Hebrew/Greek Study Bible in the States when we moved here. (I found Katie Orr through Hello Mornings as well.)

BLOG POSTS

God Can Heal Our Broken Potatoes by Chris Bowman. A blog post I’ve returned to again and again ever since Chris first published this post on his own blog a couple years ago. I was honored to repost it at A Life Overseas this year.

Airplanes are Time Machines by Angie Washington. Encouraged me to lift the timeline off my expectations of others and introduced me to The Message version of Matthew 11: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” I think this was the first post I ever read at A Life Overseas, and it hooked me. I so needed its message.

When You Have to Wash Seven Times by Erin Duplechin. A gorgeous story of the restoration that comes slowly but surely. We all need the healing of Jesus every day of our lives. Erin’s words are life and hope for the soul.

I Broke Up With My Therapist by Megan Gahan. Hmm . . . breaking up with your therapist? Except it’s not what you think! So good. Reminded me of a book I got free on Kindle a few years ago. I have definitely had this problem in my life.

Ask Me in 10 Years by Kathy Escobar. Super-encouraging post about personal change being S-L-O-W.

Slowly, Then All At Once by Tanya Marlow. Another encouraging piece about perseverance, slow change, and waiting on God.

Dwell by Chris Lautsbaugh. God wants to dwell with us. Best news ever!

TELEVISION

When Calls the Heart from Hallmark Channel. My husband found this on Netflix, and I fell in love with it (though I’m a little upset the second season ended in such a cliffhanger!). It’s based on Janette Oke’s Canadian West novels, and the show inspired me to read the book on Kindle. I’m into the second book now, which is basically the story of a woman crossing cultural lines, so I have a lot of fun with that. The TV show deviates pretty far from the books, but I love how clean and family friendly both of them are.

North and South by the BBC. I just found this 2004 adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel on Netflix. Will someone please tell me how the internet has been keeping this jewel from me all this time??! It’s one of the most achingly romantic stories I’ve ever seen — and you know I have high expectations in that area (think Anne of Avonlea, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma). North and South is like a Dickensian version of Pride and Prejudice, except it doesn’t focus solely on the marital aspirations of British young ladies. It also has a wider social commentary on poverty in Industrial England, making it acceptable for viewing even by husbands — and it just so happens to be a story of crossing cultures as well.

 

What about you? What are your favorites lately??