Weeks Two, Three & Four

Resources for participants.

And don’t forget to look back at the resources on week 1 - you might find something there that now resonates more than it did at first.

Sarah Grace is a psychotherapist who has had her own traumas to cope with. From her own experiences and those of her clients, she has learned to find freedom through a transformed life in Christ. She is also a publisher (an imprint of Malcolm Down) and published my own Walking Back to Happiness and is now working on my next one! I highly recommend her book. Here’s the blurb:

Do you want to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin? Reading this book can turn confusion into clarity, fear into peace, anxiety into creativity, doubt into trust. You will discover confidence in your path ahead and find new freedom in your everyday life. The challenge of unpacking our personal journey and seeing what is really going on emotionally is a privilege that each of us can go through if we choose to. When we decide to really get to know ourselves improve ourselves and feel comfortable in our own skin the ripple effect to others is contagious. So often we are afraid of appearing self-centred but who else is going to do it? We need our own journey. Sarah Grace shares how she and others have gone there and hopes you can too. Journey with Grace so you don't have go there alone.

A good read for these strange times! John writes about simple graces in a series of practical, ready-to-implement practices for putting yourself back together. These simple steps will enable you to begin recovery, help you focus on what matters most, disengage from the tragedies of this broken world, and discover the restorative power of beauty. Things such as the one minute pause; using creation to help us appreciate God; being kind to ourselves; unplugging from technology. This will top up your soul with renewed goodness and joy!

Two things are for sure. One is: you have a soul. The other is: if you don't look after this one you won't be issued a replacement. Bestselling author John Ortberg’s classic that will help readers discover their soul and take their relationship with God to the next level.

Let go of broken identities and live the life you were made for. In this powerful book, Jo examines Biblical figures and shares her personal story as she invites you to turn to the One who knows you intimately and loves you deeply. He sees all you’ve struggled to hide. He hears the voice inside you that others have silenced. He knows the potential and purpose that no one valued. He longs to redeem the story of your life and set you on the path to reclaim The Dream of You.

Jo is geat - highly recommend her and her book!

Written a while ago, but still a goodie! Ebook top, paperback below.

If God has a perfect vision for your life, why does spiritual growth seem so difficult? John Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be.

Debbie has considerable insight into what constitutes resilience: the ability to cope, to stay on course, to bounce back. In this helpful book she considers what is required for physical, mental and spiritual durability, interweaving biblical teaching, prayers, with personal anecdote, and sound advice.

An inspiring, practical guide to finding rest and getting closer to God. Top link is ebook, lower link is paperback.

Sabbath-keeping not only brings physical refreshment, it restores the soul. God commands us to "remember the Sabbath", but is it realistic in today's fast-paced culture? In this warm and helpful book (Also available on Audible) Shelly Miller dispels legalistic ideas about Sabbath and shows how even busy people can implement a rhythm of rest into their lives - whether for an hour, a morning, or a whole day. With encouraging stories from people in different stages in life, Miller shares practical advice for having peaceful, close times with God. You will learn simple ways to be intentional about rest, ideas for tuning out distractions and tuning in God, and even how meals and other times with friends and family can be Sabbath experiences. Ultimately, this book is an invitation to those who long for rest but don't know how to make it a reality. Sabbath is a gift from God to be embraced, not a spiritual hoop to jump through.

Shelly used to host The Sabbath Society and you can find more about it here She sadly died in the autumn of 2020 following a rapid cancer diagnosis.

Kindle/paperback.

Liz Carter is lovely! She also has had to endure a lot including ill-health. She writes powerfully about contentment, based on Philippians, even when things do not go according to plan. There is an excellent chapter on contentment with the body and another on contentment in brokenness.

There is also a 6 week Bible Study available:

Each of the above authors are known to me and I’m glad to be able to recommend them to you.

Kindle/paperback

An invitation for overachievers to discover what it means to rest as God’s daughters without compromising their God-given design as doers. To learn how to embrace their God-give personality and also discover how - and when - to rest and retreat.

Kindle above, paperback below

This is a beautiful written book, exploring the theology of walking and how it changes us. If theology sounds heavy, this is not! Using Biblical texts, personal anecdotes and secular quotes, this book shows us why walking is ‘so unspeakably good for heart, soul and body.’

Jesus invites us to walk with him - moving at the speed of our soul. This book has only just been published and it’s on my To Be Read pile. I’ve read other books by Mark and loved them and am excited to read this. The cover says “part theology, part history, part field guide, God Walk reminds us of the physical, spiritual, curative, relational and emotional benefits of walking and offers practical ideas for adding this life-changing habit to our lives … as we slow down and travel at the speed of our souls.”

One of my favourite books, which helped to bring me out of PTSD. “In this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted ...a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved - by God. Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!”

Sheridan’s book “The Making of Us - who we can become when life doesn’t go according to plan” is a beautiful account of losing our identity only to discover who we really are. He walks from Lindisfarne to Durham and along the way he discovers peace and who and what God intends for him.

I wrote this book 20 years ago, and my belief that we are designed by God and designed for purpose is still strong! As it says on the back cover, “Penelope believes God has a plan for each of us, tomboy or princess, whether we have short fingers or large ears, blonde curls or grey layers. She believes he chooses, calls and equips us to be women of integrity and influence, just as he made us. This book helps each of us to be different, by being free to be ourselves - as women designed by God.”

There are a limited number of pre-loved/pre-read copies available at a discount. Signed by the author! To order, click here

With personal examples from the author's life, and reflections on the inspirational life and writings of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen, this book helps you understand more about becoming who you are, based on the life of Jesus, and becoming the person that God created. It has some helpful thoughts about the True Self and the False Self.

And a wonderful resource for your prayer life: GODSPACELIGHT is a website with a marvellous array of helpful ideas, suggestions, prayer resources, and a regular blog. There are a number of lovely creative prayer ideas on the right hand side of this page which you might find very helpful as you spend time with God in new and restorative ways.

There are some affiliate links in this blog post. If you click through to buy one of the books, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!