Just yesterday I finished a wonderful book.  I can’t decide, though, is it fiction?  Non-fiction?  Actually, I think it’s both. 

I heard a local radio personality quote from Gene Edwards' A Tale of Three Kings, and since I liked the quote, I bought the book.  It’s an easy read and pretty short (94 pages, not including the discussion questions in the back).  It’s a compelling look at Saul, David and Absalom, each one’s heart revealed by their rule.  It is written for “Christians who have experienced pain, loss, and heartache at the hands of other believers.”  Can you think of anyone that doesn’t cover?  Me, neither.  It would be fantastic for a bible study or small group.  In fact, I may even read it again, or at least scan through my highlights and dog ears, which would take nearly as long. 

I’ve been trying to decide what to read next, and I think I’m going to go with Stasi Eldredge's new release Becoming Myself: embracing God's dream of you.  My other choice, Rick Renner's Dressed to Kill: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare and Armor looks like it will require quite a bit of thought-process (and time, with 464 pages), and Stasi's will be more heart-process (and about half the time).  I need all my thought-process for the writing project that will take me through the end of the year.

The clarity and unexpected peace I feel in figuring this out confirms to me that I am on the right path, that my continually growing excitement to dig back into this project is what God has for me to do after my summer off.  

Thanks, Lord.  You’ve showed up for me today in this realization.  I invite You to continue to show up as my backside hits the chair, my fingers hit the keyboard, and the cursor mocks me with every blink.  Let’s go!  

Perhaps I am conditioned by many, many years of summer required reading lists. But if I were to answer the “What am I currently reading?” question, I would come up with a list of books. My bedside table always has a stack. And let’s be honest, that’s year-round. Not just during the summer.

So currently, I have been seeking edification from a variety of sources.

This summer, Phillip and I took a Parenting Course at a local church. Upon graduation, we got the book, “The Parenting Book” (clever title, no?) by Nicky and Sila Lee. It has been wonderful, and convicting and inspiring all at once. In a world where there is no official parenting guidebook, this one is helping to guide.

Then, a dear friend recommended “Every Body Matters” by Gary Thomas. I ate that one up. Which is ironic, because it is all about gluttony. I have been on a slow and steady journey towards improving my health and the reflections of Mr. Thomas have really opened my eyes to why some changes are so hard, but so worth it. It takes a look at body-image that is way beyond weight and pant size. Impressive food for thought. This book is on my Kindle with a million notes and highlights in it and I will definitely be going through it again.

Then, another dear friend actually gave me his copy of “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy…A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich” by Eric Metaxas.” I have always preferred biographies to fiction because I love to learn how other people lived.  I love to glean the life lessons of others which I might not otherwise have learned. I have not finished this one yet, but I am being drawn in to the story of the life of the Bonhoeffer family. They are a family who remained faithful to Jesus even when their own, beloved, homeland did not. I am so intrigued by such faith. And I find it timely as we observe the difficulties of believers in Egypt. Let us not ever forget that our life was not promised to be easy.

So I’m trying to be a better parent, I’m trying to get healthy, and I am trying to be inspired by Christian martyrs from World War II. Sounds like well-rounded summer reading, right? One would think that is about all I need to cover.

And then Jesus, Himself, comes along and says, "How ‘bout you start reflecting on your own selfishness?"

Um, what now?

Yep. So there enters the fourth book that is stacked at my bedside…the B-I-B-L-E. And I am learning about selfishness and recognizing it in a surprising number of places. I thought that was going to be a short lesson. Wrong! Oh how He loves to humble…

But He also loves to LOVE. And no matter what book I pick up, I continue to see evidence of His adoration running through each page. Praise be to Him.