July Book Recommendations

Here are this month’s favorite book recommendations. I hope you’ll be blessed by these! Please share some of your favorites in the comments.

Fiction – 

Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter (KU)

A Regency book with horses – what could be better? I loved this story about a sister and brother who’ve lost everything except each other and her horse. The sister tricks her way into a job as a jockey, while her brother recovers from an injury. And, of course, she falls for the horse trainer. This story has compelling characters, fabulous horses, trick-riding, racing, and true love overcoming all obstacles. =) Seriously though, it’s one of my favorite books, and I reread it often.

 

Non-Fiction – 

Catch a Star: Shining Through Adversity to Become a Champion by Tamika Catchings

I really enjoyed this memoir about Tamika’s life. She experienced numerous challenges and obstacles, both early on and later in life. She shares openly about those and the ways that she overcame to become a champion basketball player (including four Olympic gold medals). I appreciated her humble perspective throughout the book and her heart to serve others. For sports lovers, there’s plenty of basketball details in this book, but more importantly life lessons she’s learned and a testimony of God’s faithfulness. 

 

Children’s – 

Great Grammy’s Black Velvet Hat by Holli Bryce Fry 

This is a sweet book that can help children with impending or recent loss of a loved one, especially a grandparent. In the story, little Lily visits her great-grammy every day. Each visit, Lily tries on a different hat from her grammy’s collection, and Lily learns more about her grammy’s life through them. After Grammy passes away, the family gathers together to honor her life. All the women in the family decide to wear one of grammy’s hats to remember what a special person she was. The story shares a simple gospel message as well, giving comfort to Lily that her grammy is now in heaven with Jesus. 

 

(KU – available in Kindle Unlimited)

 

You Can Thrive

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.” –Isaiah 61:3c 

I stared at the missionary sitting across the table from me. 

 

“What would it take for you to thrive?” she asked me.

 

Several thoughts rolled quickly through my mind. 

 

Thrive? Are you kidding me?

 

I just want to survive. 

 

I’m just grateful I can finally manage the laundromat and neighborhood grocery store on my own. 

 

I just want to avoid any language disasters, getting lost in this city without cell service, or accidentally offending my host family. 

 

Thrive? Are you kidding me?

 

Of course, I didn’t say any of that to the missionary. I was a short-term volunteer, only there for a few months. Thriving was not on my radar at all. I just hoped to manage all the adjustments the best I could and do whatever good I could during my short time there.

 

Our conversation quickly took a different path that day, and I didn’t give the word “thrive” a second thought…for the next four years.

 

Then, one day, I picked up a book, and I was surprised when the author presented a different picture of thriving than I had ever seen. 

 

What do you picture when you hear the word “thrive”? 

 

I had thought of thriving as being at the height of success (whatever success is for you), like a garden in full bloom. To me, thriving meant being your best, doing your best, and living a life where everything was great! 

 

And that always seemed out of reach for me. 

 

What if I told you that the basic definition of thrive is “to grow well”?

 

Consider that – to grow well.

 

Not be the best. Not do the greatest thing you could possibly do. Not have the dream life. But simply grow well – regardless of circumstances, challenges, trials, suffering, loss, weakness, etc. The beautiful reality is that none of those things can stop spiritual growth. In fact, they can actually enhance our spiritual growth.

 

It’s in trials, hardships, and weakness that we are more likely to run to Jesus for His comfort, wisdom, and strength. The more we run to Jesus, the more He transforms us to be like Him. He grows us in grace, in truth, and in godliness.

 

That is thriving. 

 

In nature, and in our lives, thriving doesn’t only happen when conditions are perfect or when there’s no opposition. Thriving is something God implanted in His creation, with very few elements required. A little water, a little sun, a little time…and growing things grow. 

 

God created you and me to grow as well. We have the water of His Word and His Spirit. We have the Son of life living in us. We have the eternal God as our refuge and strength. We have everything we need to thrive! 

 

For me, it was my mindset that needed changing. I needed to believe that I can grow well by growing even a little every day. A little time in the Word. A little gratitude expressed. A little smile for others. A little whispered prayer. A little faith, like a mustard seed.

Sure, I’d love to spend a lot of time in the Word and have a lot of smiles every day. But when life is crazy, when the pain won’t relent, or when we get blindsided yet again…it’s the little things that help us keep taking the next step forward – that help us keep growing.

 

So, I’ll you ask the same question that took me by surprise years ago. 

 

What will it take for you thrive?

Today, right where you are, what will help you to grow well? 

What little thing can you do, believe, receive? 

Whatever you’re facing today, even if your only goal is survival – hold on to the hope that God created you to grow. And by His grace, He will keep growing you, little by little, day by day, for His glory. 

 

You can thrive.

 

“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” –Philippians 2:13

 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.” –2 Peter 3:18