Feast

Many of you are summer people, folks who revel in the blaze of sun while enjoying this whimsical season of long, unstructured days.

Personally, summer is a trial as I am forever an autumn person, awakened by brisk temperatures. Come fall, I relish my morning walks around our sprawling, leafy neighborhood as the blaze of maples turns golden, fiery, and crimson. On Saturdays, I make a batch of crockpot applesauce–college football volume up–and then chop onions for soup or chili.

The productivity of highly structured weekdays makes work richer and weekend rest sweeter.

This summer has been a wild child: a wedding, a hefty workload, a book launch, some heartbreak, and in God’s providence, something beautiful; new. Jon and I celebrated our 30th anniversary this week, and over a delicious dinner, we smiled and agreed that simple, holy living is good. It is our theme heading into a fresh season.

As we reminisced over our empty nest, we thanked God for his tender provision and for the gift of our precious, growing family. And then we went home and enjoyed a bowl of ice cream.

When walking through a taxing season, it can be tempting to veg out, binge shows and read fluff. Resist the impulse. In times of exhaustion, stress, and mental whiplash, I have learned to feast. Not on ice cream, mind you, but on good books.

When Christianity Today’s senior books editor Matt Reynolds kindly asked me to share 5 books on cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, I was delighted. Sharing noteworthy books is one of my favorite pastimes.

As we prepare to wave goodbye to summer and embrace autumn, I encourage you to set your table with good books. Prepare to feast, carving out time to renew your mind and strengthen your heart.

These five books are soul food that will not disappoint. Promise.

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“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” – Charles Spurgeon

In the sidebar, you will find this same bundle of books. Click to view book recommendations and return often as I will continue to add more.