Chasing God

Dates Read: January 2014 
This is another amazing book from Angie Smith! I always try to do the right thing and live a "good" life but this book was definitely eye-opening in its honest message that sometimes these things lead to us Chasing God instead of simply loving Him.
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
Maybe you’ve never asked the question out loud, but you’ve wondered. You do the things that look good on paper: read your Bible, pray, attend study groups and go to church on Sundays.
 
But you aren’t convinced you really know Him.
 
Angie Smith understands, because she had run circles around the same paths searching for Him, frustrated at her lack of progress. And she probably would have continued to do so had it not been for one realization that changed everything.
 
She wasn’t following God; she was trying to catch up with Him. 
 
And without realizing it, you may be as well.
 
It’s a distinction that affects every aspect of our lives with Christ, and it begins with learning where we’ve relied more on man’s explanation of God than God Himself.
 
So many requirements, so many rules, and so much guilt where there is supposed to be freedom. It’s the reason you wonder if you’ve measured up, and the nagging voice that tells you you’re a failure as a Christian.
 
Three simple words changed everything for Angie, and she believes they can do the same for you.
 
Stop chasing God.

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms

Dates Read: January 2014
I heard a lot about Angie Smith but had yet to read her blog or her books. While Bobby was buying some stuff for the Kindle, he asked if I would like her books and I said yes. I started with What Women Fear and oh my goodness! This was such a great read! It's so reassuring to hear that some of the "stupid" and silly fears that I have are perfectly normal and other women have the fears, too. For some reason, hearing that they're normal makes it easier to take work through the fears and take them to God on a regular basis (because let's face it, some of these fears, sadly, might be around for a while).
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
A woman's faith in God is challenged by the first question Satan asks Eve in the Bible: "Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the garden?" That seed of doubt and the story it begins to unfold breed a concept of fear still haunting each of us on some level every day-the idea that our actions could ruin something beautiful, and God might not have control of things. 

In What Women Fear, acclaimed writer and speaker Angie Smith admits, "fear is a major part of my testimony" and talks openly about her treatment for anxiety as a child. Giving a voice to the problem, she says, "I truly believe every single one of us struggles with some type of fear, whether it's fear of flying or fear of being 'found out.' Maybe you don’t worry about dying, but you get sick thinking about the fact that you might fail." 

Rather than suggesting that those who truly love the Lord would never fear, Angie blends her own experiences with those of men and women from throughout Scripture to help us start dealing more effectively with these true, human emotions. Whether it’s a constant "What if?," a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, fear of your own or someone else’s death, fear of trusting God's plan, or even the fear that God's existence is a lie, Angie will walk you through stories of others who have simultaneously loved God and struggled with fear. Join Angie and discover how to let Jesus redeem this struggle as only He can, that He will be glorified, and you will be transformed!

A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet

Dates Read: January 2014 
(I honestly don't remember when I read it but it was sometime in the last couple months.) I love reading Sophie Hudson's Boo Mama blog so I knew I wanted to read her book. Bobby got it for me on the Kindle and thanks to some late nights with a precious little one, I read this book in no time and thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the stories she shared about her friends and family. It made me thankful for my friends and family and made me excited to see what the future will hold for our little family - hopefully it will be full of wonderful conversations around the dinner table.
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
There's nothing quite like family--and some people would say that there's nothing better. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do about the people sleeping right down the hall, it's easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There's even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time's-a-wastin', we need to be careful that we don't take our people--and their stories--for granted. 

Whether it's a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.

Written in the same witty style as Sophie's BooMama blog, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet is a cheerful, funny, and tender account of Sophie's very Southern family. It's a look into the real lives of real people--and a real, loving God right in the middle of it all.