Rhonda Quaney: {5} Of My Favorite Things

They are scattered around the house. A few are sliding under the seat in my car. I've given trunk loads of them away. I download them just because they are cheap or free. I've been know to search bins at second hand stores for them. They indiscriminately line shelves, are stacked loosely on any flat space and because of my affair with them, few empty places exist in my office.

Mostly I just love books.

Flipping through their pages makes me feel like I've entered the authors home and get to peer into their soul. Sometimes I read the last chapter first, because I'm weird like that and hope they saved their best stuff for the end.

With color markers I underscore and asterisk my favorite thoughts and phrases. I'm seldom able to pass my books on if I liked them, because of all the highlighting and scribbles. They become part of my soul and a work of art that few could appreciate.

Still I'm very selective about what I spend time doing with my mind and the things I give my time away to. So if a book makes it into my hands it has to be something special to begin with. There are so many ugly things in the world, I want to read things that bring beauty, inspiration and maybe some motivation to my realm of life.

Books have taught me deep truths and rocked my little cosmos of the universe. They quietly open their pages like welcoming arms of a friend.

Too often I have to steal small blocks of time to read. Perhaps a few minutes while waiting for an appointment, ten minutes when I should be heading into a meeting, or late at night when I need. to. be. sleeping.

It is a rare and wonderful day when I can actually sit in my favorite chair with a cup of hot chocolate, a quilt and the latest book that I am in love with. But when it does happen, it's like slipping quietly through a beautifully adorned door to feel light streaming on your face and fresh breeze on my soul.

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Here are the hard fought, top 5 Favorite books I'm currently convinced are worth some of your valuable time.

Magical Journey by Katrina Kenison

Katrina Kenison is my new favorite author. She is a professional at writing beauty. This book has put into words some of the journey from one life season to another. She speaks truths about so many things we all stumble over, with an overriding theme of contentment and wonder in the right now. Thank you Michelle De Rusha for the suggestion.

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

If there is a book in me, it probably has something to do with speaking love and truth to women about who they really are in Jesus. I see all women as stunningly beautiful, intricately designed to do amazing exploits for the kingdom while living lives that have eternal impact. I've met precious few women that truly embrace their beauty and design.

This book is a must read for every woman and I dare say any man who loves a woman. And it is a book that should be revisited every year or so to remind us of the wonder of God's design for women and satans assault on them. The pages that describe how women are the pinnacle of all that God created, like the crown jewel on all His amazing creation, still causes me take a deep warm breath of awe.

Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg

This is what I'm reading right now. (well one of the books) It is fresh. Margaret brings to light our need and deepest gift of living life astounded by God. She is speaking my soul language. I have no time to live an ordinary life and neither do you friend. She has me praying for wonder. Who doesn't want more of this stuff?

You're Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth

This girl just looks sweet. And she writes sweet. And I get to hear her speak this coming weekend! I am beyond excited. Holley says this: "God-sized Dream = A desire in your heart for more of what God has for you." And I believe this too: "God puts dreams in your heart, so you can pray to Him about them, so He can bless us with them. All so we can give Him the glory." Well I think she said this, and if not the exact quote I think it's in her book somewhere.

Anyway. I believe it enough to be praying for more of it. No. I'm praying for ALL of it.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Draw The Circle by Mark Batterson

This book needs a warning label attached that reads: "This book may change your life." His "The Circle Maker" is a great book. But "Draw the Circle" is my favorite. It is a forty day devotional, stuffed full of examples of prayer straight from the Bible and testimonies of real people who lived a radical life by praying crazy prayers. It's not a safe book. It has rocked the way I approach the throne and helped me journal bold prayers, so I can give God the glory as I see Him move in and through them.

CS Lewis is quoted as saying, "We read to know that we are not alone."

I think there is so much truth in that. Stories are a part of our history and I would dare to say part of who we are. We need to hear each others stories and what is stirring in each others hearts.

It might change the direction of a life which will change the direction of a legacy.

My husband is a minimalist.

He likes "The Book."

The one that has the real secret to all of life.

The all time #1 best seller because the Author. is the Author of Life. He wrote the book using the pen of over forty men, spanning more than 1600 years, divided into 66 chapters. It's pages weave the multi-genre of ultimate non-fiction, epic novel, resplendent love story, manifold mini series, suspense, terror, a Knight in Shining Armor and a compelling climatic happy ending for those who believe.

I hope you read it.

The '5 Favorite Books,' I've listed have spoke life and perspective into my journey. But even the best books are tiny jewels that can accentuate the Crown Jewel. The most important book ever written. No matter what you think about the Bible, it will always wash fresh grace over your soul and cause life to grow where the soil is hard.