We’re over half way through the year already. Time sure flies.

This year I set a goal to read 1 book per month. But not just any book – A feel good, make me better, and point me in the right direction book. I also decided to read real books, no electronic version. I’m much less distracted this way, plus I like to underline and highlight things I can reference back to easily. Nerd alert I know! I’m slightly behind schedule, but without further ado, here is my mid-year list.

It’s All Under Control
by Jennifer Dukes Lee

I loved this book – so much that I wrote a whole post about it – which you can read here. If you struggle with worry and control, this is a MUST read! So far it’s my favorite on the list!

Unglued
by Lysa Terkeurst

This is a great book about not letting your emotions rule you and letting those unglued moments find a purpose. I’m not the greatest at controlling my temper, so this book was very relatable for me! Some good quotes from the book:

“Feelings should be indicators, not dictators.”

“My job isn’t to fix the difficult people in my life or enable them to continue disrespectful or abusive behaviors. My job is to be obedient to God in the way I act and respond to those people.”

“When someone else’s actions or statements threaten to pull me into a bad place, I have a choice. I do. It may not feel like it. In fact, it may feel like I’m a slave to my feeling – but I’m not. Remember feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate there is a situation I need to deal with, but they shouldn’t dictate how I react. I have a choice. “

The last quote was a struggle. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a choice – like I was wronged so bad that what I’m feeling must be an exception. I wish! But nope! We have a choice in how we react.

40 Days of Decrease
By Alicia Britt Chole

I read this book at the start of Lent season and finished it on Easter Sunday. I had high expectations for this book based on the reviews, but I struggled a bit. I like the idea behind it, but had a hard time applying the “fasts” in my day to day life. I guess it felt a little over my spiritual head, if that makes any sense.

Despite it not being my favorite, I did walk away with some good tidbits.

“God seems more interested in what we are becoming than what we are giving up. “

“Faith, in general, is less about the sacrifice of stuff and more about the surrender of our souls.”

At the end of each day, there was a passage from the book of John to read. A good point was made on day four in regards to this. ”We heard no hesitation in John’s voice from the Jordan: Jesus was the one he had been waiting for. However, a year later John’s voice from prison sounded less certain. Surrounded by paid guards instead of volunteer crowds, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Ah – doubt. All too familiar with that!

The book also had a few other good quotes – one of my favorites: “No matter how we rationalize, God will sometimes seem unfair from the perspective of a person trapped in time…Not until history has run its course will we understand how ‘all things work together for good. Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” – Philip Yancey

I probably wouldn’t read this book again, but it did have some good takeaways.

I’m Happy For You (Sort of…not really)
by Kay Wills Wyma

I liked this book because I could relate to it so well! Comparison is the thief of joy and I am on the struggle bus when it comes to this topic!

“Being preoccupied with how we measure up personally leads to either pride or humiliation, whereas choosing to focus on and congratulate the other person lifts us both up.”

Comparison is nothing new. The book references Adam and Eve – “Utterly content with all they had and enjoyed in their relationship with God and each other, Adam and Eve accepted that limitation – until Eve’s eyes were opened to the fact that someone else had something she didn’t: the knowledge of good and evil.” I never really thought of their situation in this way until now. Turns out the comparison trap is nothing new!

The book also references Andy Stanley’s message on the land of –ER – I’ve heard this sermon and I think it’s so sadly accurate. “We are daily engaging in a lose-lose activity and we may not even realize how destructive it is. Being rich-er, smart-er, funni-er may feel like a short term win, but for ourselves, our family, our marriage, comparison is a game with no winners.”

Social media struggles and referenced, including some real life examples from normal people like you and me!

The chapter titled Mirror, Mirror was painfully relatable. “My point is, the kids are watching and listening, learning from us how to define what a normal life looks like. We may think the danger lies in the messages sent through music, media, and advertising, but our kids are continually digesting our casual comments to friends over dinner, overheard phone conversations, and daily actions that solidify the message that worth is defined by outward appearances.”

Ouch.

I think at one point or another, every one of us has struggled with comparison. This book is a great read to help with avoiding the comparison trap!

LOVE DOES
by Bob Goff

Very, very interesting book! This guy has had quite the life. Several times throughout the book I found myself saying “No way.” His stories are humorous and supposedly true, although I still can’t believe some of them! I love how he downplayed so many of the unique events as if they were normal! I don’t want to include any spoiler alerts, so I will just leave it at that.

He’s definitely a guy that says “Yes” to God and just about anyone else that wants or needs his assistance. And he goes BIG! It’s a light hearted read that will make you smile, laugh, and think! (And probably think that your life is a little dull and boring!)

The Case for Miracles
by Lee Strobel

The Case for Miracles is about a journalist investigation into the supernatural. I LOVED reading all of the miraculous stories throughout the book. Some of them definitely made me say “Wow – there could be no other explanation but God.” I was surprised that some people will go to great lengths to try to prove it was anything BUT God.

The book was very deep. If you are science minded, this book is for you!

I hope you check some of these out and enjoy!