Christian Shelves

It shouldn't be surprising that we live in a world where there are many troubles, but it is still nevertheless a painful experience to encounter them. For Christians who have been fatigued to the point of being unable to adopt the usual spiritual practices, In the Company of the Weary by Becky L. McCoy presents suggestions for alternate ways to worship or spiritually engage with God that don't have to feel like additional burdens. The author's personal story is heartbreaking, and it's completely by the power of God that she has been able to endure, become resilient and reliant on Him, and help guide others facing similar journeys through sharing her spiritual beliefs and practices. It's not my usual type of reading, but I think there are others out there with a differing theology than mine who may be interested in contemplative spirituality and this book. Many thanks to  Kregel Publications  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. ...

Just in time for the release of the next  Timeless series  book, I'm delighted that I'm caught up and able to enjoy my soon-to-arrive pre-order. I'm grateful that I've been able to read several of the previous books as ARCs and have found that with all of its popularity, demand must be exceedingly high for them, which is always a good sign for the series and author 😄 As a result,  Through Each Tomorrow by  Gabrielle Meyer  became a post-Christmas gift to myself. And what a gift it was where I could savour the story and enjoy returning to this world! Book Synopsis In 1883, Charles enters elite circles entwined with intrigue, but suspicions of his identity arise among the upper crust. In 1563, Cecily serves Queen Elizabeth while her stepbrother Charles seeks to save the ailing monarch. As their futures hang by a thread, they must race against time to prevent their secrets from ensnaring them in an inescapable destiny. Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts What an a...

Rounding out the last of Carolyn Miller 's books in the Trinity Lakes Romance series  for me to read, I was thrilled to catch Ellie Reilly's story in Tangled Up in Love . There was so much I could relate to, including having wanderlust captivate you to the point of wanting to pick up everything and move abroad, so I appreciated getting to relive those experiences through her perspective. Content to be aware of : brief reference to vibes and speaking things into existence Book Synopsis One kiss didn't mean much. One kiss could mean everything. When Ellie Reilly returns from a dream overseas trip, a too-long hug from her best friend Jasper Cohen clues her in that his feelings might be more than what she suspected. He's unsure about pushing their friendship further, and doubly uncertain when her European friend, Sebastian, seeks her out in Trinity Lakes. Uncertainty is something Ellie knows all too well. Since returning from her vacation, Ellie feels like she doesn't f...

Do you ever close a book and wish that there was a second volume to follow with even more examples because you've gotten lost in the pages? This is one such book for me and it's one that I immediately pre-ordered open completing it, although I'll have a little bit of a wait as it releases on August 25, 2026. A Woman's Place Is in the Story by Sandra L. Glahn is a book that is much needed for the church today and it's one that will help you understand the Bible even more. Many thanks to  Intervarsity Press  and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis We Misread the Bible When Women Are Left Out Ignore them, marginalize them, or dismiss them as brief cameos―these have long been common approaches to Christian teaching on the women of the Bible. The result? We miss their significance in the biblical story and, in turn, misunderstand Scripture itself. Scholar Sandra Glahn challenges...

I am beyond grateful that this story about Valentine has been shared, intentionally pointing to his faith and his life and service poured out on behalf of others in the early Christian church. Of course, you can read this book any time of the year, but I'm pretty sure that I won't look at February 14 the same now that I've experienced this fantastic history lesson. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle is both a heartbreaking and a heart-mending book that gives deep meaning to true love. Content to be aware of : violence, torture, and death Book Synopsis Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything. Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valent...

Today is Chinese Language Day! It’s a day that has meaning for me because I speak a Chinese language (a language that isn't easy to learn as an adult), so I'm grateful I didn't have to go through the process of mastering tones later in life! At the same time, I acknowledge that it also brings about mixed emotions when I reflect on my journey of language discovery. Despite Chinese being my first language, I still feel like an outsider to the culture and world because I don’t speak the main Chinese languages that everyone thinks of. It’s been one of my pet peeves over the course of my life where a lot of non-Chinese people have attempted to guess what I speak, maybe not realizing that there are so many languages that exist (guessing for other people doesn’t always bode well 🫠). Lacking Mandarin and only knowing select phrases in Cantonese, this feeling of separation from other Chinese people is even more pronounced in living overseas as part of the Chinese diaspora. While...