Books...
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J.M Nouwen: Finding that I am beloved is changing the way I move in the world.
Training vs Trying by John Ortberg, Judson Poling and Laurie Pederson (In process): One of those books that you will have for a very long time.
The inner voice of Love, A journey through Anguish to Freedom by Henri Nouwen: if you have deep feelings and big emotions like me then this book is for you. It’s a healing salve. He manages to give language to complex emotions while also guiding you to the light. It’s broken up into little snippets so you can read a page a day or read the book over the course of months. He described his enlightenment as salt and prescribed you not read too much at a time. I love analogies and metaphors so this is perfect for me!
Love in Color by Bolu Babalola: an African mythological twist on romance
Live by Sadie Robertson: do you feel like you’re alive but not living? Then this book is for you as much as it is for me. She reminded me that the likelihood of me existing was 1 in a million and my presence here was a gift. If Psalm 139 was made into a handbook, this would be it.
Flow by Lola Ayodele: I wrote a poetry book for the restless soul to encourage us to slow down, rest and appreciate the mundane. Slowing down is a message I come back to often.
Love lives here by Maria Goff: a life in process, lived in love.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer: a call to sabbath. This book is centered around the teaching of Jesus specifically Mathew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Scary Close by Donald Miller: For those of us who are tired of being actors in our own lives, tired of putting on performances and struggle with being known. This book changed my life.
All about love by Bell Hooks (in Process): Bell does a great job of describing where our society finds itself in - in a state of lovelessness, greed and lust for power. She doesn’t end there, she advocates why love should be our highest calling and explains how communal living has the potential to save us all.
More than Enough by Elaine Welteroth: This memoir chronicles the path of Teen Vogues former Editor-In-Chief Elaine Welteroth. When I worked in corporate America, Elaine’s book was a welcome sidekick for me in my predominantly white work environment. I found her voice refreshing and filled with hope.
Atomic Habits by James Clear (in Process): I am currently reading this book and it is dynamically altering my habits! in the best possible sense of the word. I have better habits since listening to this audiobook.
Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson: a simple yet profound book on following your dreams.
The Way of The Warrior by Erwin McManus: Pastor Erwin really helped me with my thought life by calling out the ways of the warrior was a battle for the mind. I was so encouraged and inspired when I read this book.
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence: I struggle with feeling like I am glorifying God when I do mundane things such as dishes, eating, or listening but Brother Lawrence showed me we are always in his presence if we keep him in our hearts.