You're Not Enough (And That's Okay) by Allie Beth Stuckey

This was such a refreshing read from Christian culture commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. Her empathetic discussion cuts through five messages permeating Western culture.

Honestly, this is a must read book for all Christian women. That is not something I say lightly. We are all sinners, saved by the grace of a loving, just God. Everywhere we go we are inundated with messages from culture telling us that we have everything we need inside of us, that we get to decide what's true, that feelings are fact, and that we can and should achieve anything and everything we set our minds to. None of that is true biblically, as Stuckey explains in detail.

I also loved and appreciated Stuckey's vulnerability. By sharing her own experience, and the stories from others, she shares how women have fallen into believing these lies and the damage they cause. And I love her heart behind this, as a woman who wants to reach other Christian women with to help remove the scales from their eyes.

This book definitely reminded me of Alisa Childers' book "Live your truth and other lies", and would be a welcome addition to any Christian woman's bookshelf. We should all be reading material like this, to help renew our minds and to teach one another. In today's culture, we must be armed with truth and Stuckey's book is a great tool to help us do that.

Favourite quotes:

"We are corrupted, helpless, and spiritually dead on our own, but God, through his power, saves us, sanctifies us, and makes us alive in Christ. We are less than “not enough”; on our own, we're nothing. But God."

"But if we were really enough as is, we wouldn't have to try so hard to convince ourselves it's true."

"This book is about why the world's answers to our very real feelings of self-doubt, self-loathing, incompetence, and insecurity aren't sufficient and how God's solutions are better."

All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Mackenzie has been crushing on coworker Jeremy for two years and when their boss tells them they're both up for a promotion, they attempt to out-Christmas one another to earn the job.

Mackenzie struggles with social anxiety, which makes it difficult for her romantically. She even says all the things she wishes she could do if she didn't struggle socially:

"The person I wish I was would enjoy this one on one time with an attractive and available man. She'd look him boldly in the eye and smile. She wouldn't feel nervous or grasp for the simplest thing to say."

Mackenzie's best friend, Kari, is a great support; she's patient and encouraging. After Mackenzie has a panic attack, she gently challenges Mackenzie to seek professional help for her mental health. I thought the author's portrayal of Mackenzie's mental health felt genuine and authentic (and after reading the acknowledgements, I know it's because the author herself has struggled).

I also really liked how Mackenzie's faith was discussed; it never felt forced or like an afterthought, but always heartfelt and real. Her short pleas in prayer, Bible meditations, and discussions about faith and healing all felt so very relatable. I love a Christian book that portrays what life with God is actually like.

The romance felt like a secondary story to Mackenzie's mental health). I liked seeing Mackenzie open up to Jeremy and Jeremy's response was so touching and tender. It was also unclear if Jeremy was interested in Mackenzie, and felt a little rushed and forced near the end. I would have liked to see a few more scenes between these them to watch their relationship grow.

Honestly, I just loved so much about this book; it had heart and depth. The mental health, the promotion, the Alzheimer's, the parenting, the friendships. I didn't want it to end! I would love to read a sequel about these characters, maybe as Mackenzie

Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin

Goodreads: Sermon on the Mount

Published: January 2, 2024 by Lifeway Press

Source: purchased, print 

Teacher and author Jen Wilkin takes students on a verse-by-verse study through three chapters in Matthew known as the Sermon on the Mount. 

Things I liked: 

• Reading through all three chapters at the start of every week 

• Marking up the text with keywords (I printed off my own copy of the text, but it is at the back of the workbook for reference) 

• Using the dictionary or thesaurus to write out definitions

• Looking up other passages to note what they teach about the day’s topic 

• Rewriting sections of the sermon in our own words 

• Weekly videos to summarize the teaching and delve deeper into interpretation and application 

This was easily one of the best studies I’ve done. Wilkin’s studies are challenging and she teaches readers to study the Bible on their own, saying something like “these are the kinds of questions we should be asking” she says. Highly recommend!