The Spice Retreat: helpful resources for participants.

The books below have each been of enormous help and I do recommend them.

You’ll have other books you’ve read that have helped you - please add them in the comments below and tell us what’s been helpful about them for you.

And I’ve started with some ideas for keeping your SPICE RETREAT journal, so that it becomes a special and memorable resource for you to keep, refer to (find easily?!) and use again and again.

Recently published, this is a wonderful resource full of ideas to help us to embrace the wonder and joy of a God who delights in us. It will help you to develop a deeper spirituality of fresh exuberance and imagination! I loved it and have used it as a resource for the SPICE RETREAT.

Ruth Haley Barton writes beautifully and helpfully in ways that invite us into the presence of God and make that seem possible even in daily life. The first one was published some years ago, the second one very recently.

It does what the title says! Great resource for groups especially but you can use a lot of the ideas personally for imaginative and creative ways to pray.

Sheridan’s book is a reflection for when you find yourself saying “I don’t know who I am any more.” When you walk with shattered dreams, wondering if you’ll ever find purpose or joy again.

‘Finding God in Disappointment, Doubt and Delay.” Tanya writes, ‘My whole life has been a long wandering, a long hunger that hasn’t yet been satisfied’ and she explores disappointment, doubt, perspective and purpose through the lives of four Biblical characters. David Lamb says that the book will help you to renew your strength, refresh your soul, and reconnect to God. I used it as a daily devotional during Advent, but it can be used at any time.

I find The Passion Translation of the Bible by Brian Simmons a refreshing and inspirational way to read Scripture with fresh eyes. He hasn’t yet finished the whole Bible, and Isaiah has just been published as a separate book; but this edition is the whole NT plus Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon.

“The TPT is a new, heart level translation that expresses God's fiery heart of love using Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts-merging the emotion and life changing truth of God's Word. God longs to have his Word expressed in every language in a way that unlocks the passion of his heart. If you're hungry for God and want to know him on a deeper level, The Passion Translation will help you encounter God's heart and discover what he has for your life. This edition includes: In-depth footnotes with insightful study notes, commentary, word studies, cross references, alternate translations, and more Extensive introductions and outlines for each book.”

This lovely book was written out of pain and long illness, out of being bullied as a child, out of difficulties and disasters; yet in and through it all Liz has found the contentment she craved: God-given. The book covers four types of contentment: Confident, Courageous, Captivated and Contagious. Under those headings, there are sections such as Hope, body image, all littered with her personal stories, her prayers and poems, her knowledge of God and his word. Highly recommended!

“Do you want to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin? When we decide to improve ourselves the ripple effect to others is contagious. When we feel comfortable in our own skin the benefit can be redemptive for those we love. What does your ripple look like? Unpacking your personal journey and seeing what is really going on emotionally at a deeper level, is a challenge, yet also a privilege that each of us can go through. 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.” Written by Sarah Grace, who is a psychologist and trained counsellor, this is an extraordinarily helpful book. Sarah is also my publisher and I can recommend her writing and her wisdom! There is also a journal to accompany the book which you can find here: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/journal-with-grace/9781912863303?aid=2413

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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! But absolutely no pressure and it’s great if you can order these from your local Christian bookshop.