What Are Your Best Summertime Reads? by Sandi Somers

 

Image by learningscientists.org on Pixabay

There Is Power in Reading!

What a better way to spend a summer afternoon relaxing and reading. Especially these days when Alberta and Western Canada have been sweltering in an unprecedented heat wave. As I finish this post, it’s 36 outside at 4:30 in the afternoon; this week we almost reached Calgary’s all-time high of 36.5 C.

This summer I’ve been grateful for a time away from responsibilities of volunteer activities of this past year. Instead, I’m relaxing as I putter in my garden and house. And I’m reading!

I begin reading in the early morning, spending long leisurely times in God’s Word, meditating more thoughtfully on the Triune God and on what God is saying to me. Currently I’m reading through the Book of Acts, a post-Gospel narrative I’ve read many times and could reread almost continuously. Add a praise Psalm and a devotional by David Wilkerson, God Is Faithful, or Lloyd John Ogilvie’s Lord of the Impossible, and a time of prayer, and the hours can fly by.

In my other reading, I’ve always been a non-fiction aficionado—biography, personal essay, prayer, creativity, and more. Our church library has been closed due to Covid and remodelling, and so I'm missing out on my usual faith-building books. However, I'm borrowing books out of my normal range from the public library. 

With Covid restrictions, I've missed my own travels to exotic places, and so I’m reading The Best Women’s Travel Writing series. These books are ideal for me to pick up now and again, choosing a shorter or longer essay depending on my time and attention span. In my imagination I revisit countries such as South Africa, Egypt, and Haiti, absorbing their stunning landscapes, bright colours, and wonderful people. Or other countries I’ve only read about: Mongolia, or Cambodia, or Bangladesh. Then I copy some of the essayists’ word nuggets in my “Quotes Journal”, to sharpen my own writing.

But not all my reading is nonfiction. This summer I rediscovered two novels with stunning detail, metaphors, and word images that are nourishing my senses: Fugitive Pieces by our Canadian Anne Michaels, and All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. These two books on different aspects of World War II have challenged my intellect as well as my spirits. They had the power to grab and hold my interest until I finished—but I declined to read until 3 o’clock in the morning!  

I do take my reading seriously. As I absorb other author’s writings and plan ahead to impact my readers, I think of Annie Dillard’s words: "The writer studies literature...He is careful of what he reads, for that is what he will write....Only after the writer lets literature shape her can she perhaps shape literature."

I also respond with the words from the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 10:31): Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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Now over to you.

What genre(s) do you enjoy most? What books are you are reading this summer? What books are meeting your need of release and renewal? How has God used books and their genres to touch your heart and change your life? What has been the impact on your writing and purpose for your readers?

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Thanks to Lynn Dove for inspiring this month's theme, as she described her love of reading. "I was an avid reader from a very young age, disappearing whole-heartedly into a book, where I lived, breathed and took on the persona of the main character."  

God-honoring Writing Tips by Wendy L. Macdonald

As Christians we are to honor God in all we do. As inspirational writers we are to honor God in all we write too. When we do this, our writing will glorify God and bless our readers.  I’d like to share some tips that have spurred me to write faithfully for Christ.

So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, 

do it all for the glory of God.

 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

The first and most important tip is to spend time alone with God daily. I need privacy and silence, so I go to bed early and get up early. In order to do this, I rarely watch movies. Trying to have time alone with God later in the day doesn’t work because I’m rarely home alone. Even as I write the first draft for this, my grandson is napping nearby.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

 in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

 Psalm 5:3 NIV

The second tip concerns quiet times too. They are more fruitful when I write my thoughts, prayers, and confessions in my journal. It keeps me alert to His still small voice. Honesty is an absolute policy when conversing with God. He knows what’s inside us, and it’s important for our spiritual growth if we allow His Light to shine into our soul so we become fully aware of our need to grow in each area of our Christian walk. This will overflow into authenticity in our writing. Authentic authors draw authentic readers.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

 pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

 Psalm 62:8 NIV

The third tip is to include daily Bible reading in our morning routine. I enjoy choosing a #VerseOfTheDay for my journal entry that I also use on my social media sites. My daily Bible reading time is the perfect opportunity to harvest a special Scripture to share on one of my nature pictures I’ve taken in our lovely Comox Valley. I post them on my Facebook page from Monday thru Saturday. These mini-daily-devotionals are intended to spur believers to walk with joyful hope in God.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

 Psalm 119:11 NIV

The forth tip is to meditate on Scriptures throughout the day, especially if we’re feeling extra stress from unusual life events. The past few months I’ve even been making up songs to soothe my soul when adrenaline flows. They are inspired by the verse of the day and enable me to focus on whatsoever is godly.

Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 

who meditates on his law day and night. 

Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

The fifth God-honouring writing tip is to pay attention to tears. I’ve already shared a six-minute podcast called: Tapping into Tears that you may listen to at HopeStreamRadio.com. It’s a wonderful way to discover poignant topics to write about. If the author is deeply touched by a piece, the reader will also be moved. I believe the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to pay closer attention to something by drawing tears. Tears are seeds that grow into short inspirational memoir pieces when planted on a blank page. It’s fun—and oh so rewarding—to show up and write while tears are present. Being vulnerable on the page helps other engage better because it lets them know they’re not alone.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 

Psalm 126:5 NIV

I’m nosey-to-know if any of my tips have inspired you.

Blessings ~ Wendy Mac 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.