Monthly Miscellany: March Edition

Recent Reads & Favorite Things

If you’re new here, welcome! This is my monthly recap of things that I love, whether it’s a book, podcast, song, or nail polish color. If I love it, you’re going to hear about it! I love hearing what you’re enjoying as well, so please feel free to leave a comment or hit reply to this email and share your faves with me!

Recent Reads

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

Happy spring, friends! It’s been another slow reading month. I think the problem is that I’m currently in the middle of 4 different books: Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies (so very good), Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole (weird), Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney (helpful), and Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (meh—may not finish)¹.

I did finish The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh, and it was pretty fun. The main character was interesting and quirky, and I loved the friendship she develops with an older man she meets while working. I haven’t read anything else by this author, but I’m curious to read another one of her books since this one was clean and had a sweet storyline.

I also read one of the books my youngest daughter (age 7) read: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow by Courtney Sheinmel². It’s the second book in the Stella Batts series, and since Ava seemed to really love the series, I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. After reading I could understand why Ava likes the books; the main character is very relatable, and the family dynamics also rang true. Plus, Stella’s family owns a candy store, which I’m sure is every kid’s dream. It’s a cute series for girls ages 7-9!

Favorite Music

1. “Were It Not for the Lord” by Journey Worship Co. I love the whole premise of this song. So much of my life would be different were it not for the Lord.

2. “Walk with Me” Anchor Hymns & Caroline Cobb.

3. “He Will Be” by CityAlight. This is my favorite song from the new CityAlight EP.

4. “Sparrows & Lilies” by Pat Barrett. I may have shared this song before, but I have been listening it to it a lot recently to remind me of God’s care for me.

Photo by Tobias Roth on Unsplash

Favorite Podcasts

• “Love, Patience and Suffering” by Timothy Keller from the Gospel in Life podcast.

• I’ve been following The Bible Recap plan by Tara-Leigh Cobble for the second time, and I really love it. It’s a chronological Bible reading plan that includes a brief recap from Tara-Leigh (aka TLC) with each day’s reading. Some of my friends from church are also doing it, and it’s helpful and encouraging to have the accountability. I listen to the readings on the Dwell app³, but you can find them on the TBR website or the YouVersion Bible app. The recaps are a podcast and are also on YouTube. If you’ve never read through the Bible, I highly recommend doing so, and you can start the plan anytime, not just on January 1!

• The Criminal podcast had a fascinating episode about a woman who was fraudulently charging the VA for her own sister’s medical care.

Favorite Finds Around the Web

• I had the privilege of being on a live radio show for the very first time! I enjoyed getting to chat with Kurt Goff about gratitude on Moody Radio Florida. You can listen to the interview here. The experience was fun and made me think about starting up a podcast again.

• I appreciated this short video from Courtney Doctor about John 15 and what it means to abide and to be pruned.

• “An Open Letter to Anyone Who’s Hit Rock Bottom” by Ray Ortlund. “God dwells in two places. He lives way up high, up in the holy place, in eternal heaven above. And he also lives way down low, among the lowly and the contrite, down with the crushed and devastated people, down at rock bottom.”

• Andy Patton’s rendition of Psalm 34 is lovely.

  Psalm 34—I did not know light could ring, nor faith stretch true as a plucked string.

• Renee Emerson has a fantastic poem on The Rabbit Room page.

  If I Had Not Been Writing the Poem— Renee Emerson

• J.A. Medders has a great explainer about what it means to give God glory.

  Untangling Glory: How We Give God What He Already Has

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Reader Poll

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That’s it for this month’s miscellany. What are you reading, listening to, or watching lately? Please tell me all the good stuff.

1. All Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase something using my link. Thank you for your support!

2. Did I count this in my total for the year even though it took me about an hour to read? Absolutely.

3. The app requires a subscription, but I use it literally every day and think it is well worth it.