3 Additions To The Joyful Reading List + A Summer Reading Challenge

Here are 3 more books for your summer reading pleasure.

Local Author

The Verbal Hug, 101 Absolutely Awesome Ways To Express Appreciation – Lisa Ryan  

Lisa Ryan is a local author, speaker and most importantly – my friend.  She is one of the wonderful people I have met since Joe’s passing and I am grateful to God for putting her in my life.

The Verbal Hug is Lisa’s newest book and consists of simple but wonderful ways to say thank you to anyone in your life.  Attached to each idea is a powerful quote.  For example # 46:

Thank them for inspiring you to get out of your comfort zone and grow. 

“God gave  you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say thank you?

William Arthur Ward

You get 100 more tips just like this one and maybe those tips will give you ideas for creating your own ways to say thank you.

Download a copy and start planning what tips you will use.  Just think of the joy you will bring the people in your life.  Remember, you reap what you sow in this life so start spreading the gratitude.

Lisa’s other books are also available on Amazon and you can sign learn more about Lisa at Grategy.com.

Beach or Hammock

Here are two romance novels perfect reading for the beach or the hammock as they are light and easy to read. I finished Accidentally Married in one day and Beneath the Patchwork Moon in about 2 or 3 days.

Beneath the Patchwork Moon (A Hope Springs Novel) – Allison Kent.  Luna, the main character, is turning property, that belonged to her best friend’s family, into a non-profit center.  Sierra, her best friend, passed away in a car accident at eighteen. The only hiccup is Angelo, Sierra’s brother, returning home to Hope Springs, TX, demanding answers to questions about the crash. Luna is the only one with the answers.

Allison’s writing has me dreaming of moving to a small town and opening a cafe or other small business in an attempt to rebuild my life.

Accidentally Married – Victorine E. Lieske.  Madison, an actress returns home after trying to make it in Hollywood.  She applies for what she thinks is a job as an executive assistant to CEO Jared Jameson, only to find out she is playing the part of his girlfriend at a family dinner. Life gets very interesting for her and Jared once she opens her mouth at the family dinner.

Thanks to Char at Joy In The Moments for suggesting this book.

Summer Challenge

Our pastor threw down a challenge to those of us at church yesterday and I thought it was a good one to mention on the blog.

Read the book of Psalms between now and Labor Day. This means reading 3 a day.  There will be days you feel like reading more and some when you feel like reading less.

You will find more Psalms of lament than thanksgiving. (I first learned this in Griefshare.)  David and others who wrote the Psalms had days where they cried out anger and frustration too.  Human emotions have not changed since Biblical days. We think of the people from the Bible as perfect – they were not. The only exception is Jesus.

Will you Join me in reading the Psalms this summer? I bet we will learn a thing or two.

May they bring you comfort and joy.