WHAT'S ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?

If you ask my mom, she'll tell you she instilled a love for reading in me when I was very, very young ... and she's right. She did. And I hope that I am instilling that same love for reading in my children.

 

During daylight hours, there really is no time for reading, what with a full time job, four kids and a full volunteer schedule (and a full heart for 300 kids in Ethiopia!) as well.

 

But once the kids are in bed, and the lights are turned off, my bedside lamp gets switched on, and I settle into the pillows within a soft circle of light ... and read. Sometimes for 20 mintues ... and sometimes for a few hours.

 

If a particular book is especially good, or if they have several profound nuggets of truth or revelation that need further thought or examination, they'll remain on my nightstand until I can circle back again. I underline as I go, so finding the nuggets again is made easier.

 

Ann Voskamp's "1000 Gifts" is one that I have circled back to on a few occasions.  It's a beautifully and poetically written book that provides some deep and sometimes hard to fathom insight on living daily with gratitude on the forefront of your heart and mind - and what a life-changer that can be!

 

So, since we're talking books. I stacked a few of my favorites from the past few months in case you are looking for some profound reads to add to your nightstand. 

 

 

 

Tim Keller's book, King's Cross, is an outstanding commentary on the Gospel of Mark - tons of insight in this one!  And the tiny little book on top, Yohannan's "Revolution in World Missions" I think should be read by everyone involved in mission work at any level.  It has truly shaped my approach to working with the 300 kids at our 2 care-points in Ethiopia. 

 

When our team of 26 people travels to Ethiopia in November, we will be visiting and spending time with the kids AND we will be teaching and mentoring to them from the Gospel with 10 different, carefully prepared lessons.  Each lesson is reinforced with a small project that they can then share at home with their care-givers.  We will be demonstrating the love of their Heavenly Father to each child, and we will be teaching it too!

I start to get a bit restless and uneasy when the stack of books on my nightstand starts to dwindle. It's time to replenish.

So - what's on your nightstand or on your top 10 "must read" list. I'd love to know!