lydiajlong's reviews
156 reviews

Creating Community by Andy Stanley, Bill Willits

informative fast-paced

3.75

“Jesus is saying that the credibility of his life and message in the eyes of the unbelievers is dependent upon the way we as followers relate with one another. Somehow their belief and our behavior are connected.”
•
Quick read and straightforward. Definitely would recommend to new small group directors or those stepping into small group ministry. Definitely feels like it was written over a decade ago, but lots of timeless truths and questions you can ask of your own strategy and mission. 

The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene H. Peterson

challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

“I knew one thing for sure: the work of prayer was at the heart of everything. Personal conversation with God had to intersect with everything I thought or said, whether in the sanctuary or on the street corner.”
•
This is one of those books that I think will always be so pivotal for me and my ministry. I picked this book up at a sacred moment and I will always remember the impact this book has had on me. Probably one of those books that will need a re-read every few years or so. Eugene Peterson just gives so many beautiful stories and pieces of what it means to pastor and enter into life with others. 

Sticky Church by Larry Osborne

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

Super helpful for anyone starting out doing sermon-based small groups! My copy is littered with flags to refer back to frequently. Very inspiring, challenging, and helpful.

I do wonder how much of this is outdated, or will be outdated soon. There were some parts of the book that argued something that I had experienced the opposite of. But I think overall, this is a helpful model for a lot of churches. 

The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P. Freeman

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I loved how Emily walked us through this process and simplified making decisions. This is an empowering book that can be a helpful guide if you’re feeling a little lost. I love how she weaves her personal insights and stories into super helpful principles and ideas. She includes a prayer and practice at the end of each chapter so you can even go slowly and meditatively through this book. 

The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany by Jane Williams

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

“But in Acts 1, there is Mary, in the upper room, among the disciples. She has allowed herself to go on saying yes to the Holy Spirit, and to make her grief and pain a source of life and hope for others.”
•
This book was phenomenal to use through this last Advent season. The paintings included are helpful in slowing down and meditating. The devotionals are so beautiful written with great reflective questions and prayers. This is such a valuable and healing resource to use during Advent.

Be a Circle Maker: The Solution to 10,000 Problems by Mark Batterson

challenging inspiring fast-paced

4.0

“His prayer was resolute yet humble, confident yet meek, expecting her unassuming.”
•
“Our biggest problem is our small view of God … it’s a high view of God that is the solution to all other problems.”
•
Super quick and encouraging read. Inspiring for someone who wants to grow in their prayer life. I would recommend just picking up The Circle Maker book. I’m honestly not even sure how I received a copy of this abbreviated version! 

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

“The soul learns which activities bring God’s presence nearer and remains in His presence by practicing those activities.”
•
This was a quick, helpful read for anyone who wants to grow in their prayer life and their connection with God. There is so much to glean from the life and words of Brother Lawrence. 

Walden, Or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

“It is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves.”
•
I have wanted to read Walden since high school and now picking it up a decade later, I’m realizing I’m not used to reading this type of literature anymore! I struggled a bit to get through the writing style but there are so many amazing pieces in this work.
•
I loved the emphasis on simple living and the ideas of narrowing down life to what really matters most to you. I loved his quick comment about being offered a rug for his home but he contemplated his physical space and his time spent cleaning the rug — and he declined it! Especially in 2022 America, it is far too easy to accumulate things that we don’t actually need. We could live a much more peaceful life (for the person making the item and for the person consuming/using the item) if we sought a simple life. 

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

4.5

“The world is too unpredictable these days to permit assumptions about outcomes: we need to take responsibility for moving things to clarity.”
•
I’ve heard about this book for a while now! I think this system and process would be super helpful for me and how my mind works. I read through the book first before attempting to start this in my own life. So pieces of this book can get very in-the-weeds so that you have an in-depth explanation of setting things up. 
•
David Allen doesn’t just leave you in administrative-details land though. He gives so many inspiring pieces that help you see how freeing up your mind in this way actually frees up so much in your personal life, your mission, your values. I’m keeping this book on the shelf for future reference and will be trying this out for myself.

Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. by John Mark Comer

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

“I love that language: building for God‘s kingdom. We can’t build the kingdom, only Jesus can do that. But we can build for the kingdom. We can make bricks, and God, the master builder, can find a way to unfold them into his masterpiece.”
•
I found this to be such a helpful read that I’ll be keeping on my shelves to come back to over the years. I need this reminder of how work and rest is woven into who I’m created to be. Comer gives some very helpful questions to work through if you’re feeling dissatisfied in your work. I have been on a personal journey concerning Sabbath so the chapters on rest were also so helpful for me. Definitely would recommend people read and slowly work their way through this one. I could also see this being a great gift for a high school or college graduate!