What’s On Your Nightstand?

Really?  It is time for the May edition of “What’s on Your Nightstand?” How is that even possible?!  Where have the weeks (and months!) gone?

 

Oh, right. They were lost somewhere in the sea of cardboard moving boxes, and the general chaos of settling in to a new home and town.

 

How long do you think I’ll be able to milk that excuse?  Because, it’s been almost 5 months…I think I’ve got at least one more “blame it on the move” month before it becomes obsolete. What do you think?

 

Actually, some (not all!) of the after-move chaos has passed, and, we have been able to settle in to something that is beginning to resemble a normal routine.  It has been lovely!

 

What was not so lovely, once all the books were unpacked, and placed on their respective shelves (organized by genre, and then alphabetically by author, of course) was the startling revelation that I had read every single book I own (or, I was in the process of finishing up the few that I hadn’t).

 

So, my husband took pity on me.  Within a matter of days, new books began arriving in our mailbox!  (Yep, he’s a keeper!!)  So, I have a nice little stack on my nightstand once again…

 

 

The Bible, ESV

 

Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth, by Albert Mohler – I always appreciate Al Mohler’s thoroughly biblical approach to current events and trends.  In this book, he addresses issues like politics, terrorism, natural disasters, abortion, public schools… I’m only a few pages in, and already, I’m hooked.  Looking forward to the rest!

 

Your Child’s Profession of Faith, by Dennis Gundersen – I wholeheartedly believe that it is possible for young children to be genuinely saved.  (I was.)  However, I also believe that it is possible for young children to make professions of salvation that are not rooted in genuine belief in Christ as Savior.  (I’ve seen many childhood professions recanted, as well.)  So, what is a parent to do?  I want, more than anything in this world, for my daughter to know and love Christ as her Savior.  But, I also do not want to be guilty of coaxing, or rejoicing at a false decision.  “I am very sympathetic to the concerns about misleading children into considering themselves saved individuals…The deceptive dangers of false profession are abundant…But do not allow your zeal for avoiding those to dampen you passion for your children’s conversion.” (pg. 24)

 

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love, by Milton Vincent – We have a number of duplicates on our bookshelves.  Some might see it as extravagant, and perhaps it is.  This is one of them.  This little book has been on our shelves for some time, but “technically” it belonged to my husband.  We do occasionally share books (though not often, because I like highlighters, and my husband does not).  But, every time I picked up this one, and tried to begin reading it, it disappeared.  And, I would find it in my husband’s bag, or on his desk, or at his office.  He was reading it…again.  Anything that he found that compelling simply had to be added to my list.  But, in order to maintain peace, we opted for a second copy.

 

The Family Daughter: Becoming Pillars of Strength In Our Father’s House, by Sarah L. Bryant – This actually goes in the already completed column.  I won’t say much about it here…but be on the lookout for a more thorough review in the near future.

 

Joyfully at Home: A Book for Young Ladies on Vision and Hope, by Jasmine Baucham – I, obviously, am not longer in the “target audience” for this book.  I am married, and a homemaker (by both choice and conviction).  So, why in the world am I even interested in this book?  I discovered Jasmine’s blog (by the same title) a little over a year ago, after reading the book that led her to the decision to become a “stay-at-home daughter.”  While I appreciated her father’s preaching and writing ministry, I also appreciated that Jasmine seemed to have her own unique voice, opinions, and convictions on her blog, and was not simply parroting what she had been taught.  So, when I discovered that she was writing a book based on her blog, I was excited to hear what she had to say…because, while I may no longer be in her shoes, I have a daughter who will be, someday.

 

Texas Gardener’s Resource: All You Need to Know to Plan, Plant, & Maintain a Texas Garden – We (well, I) am new to Texas.  And, I don’t know the first thing about keeping a plant alive.  However, it seems mandatory that, if you live in Texas, you plant a garden.  And, at the very least, it must include tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and cucumbers.  None of which I have ever grown before.  I tried to plant a bean sprout once…my cat ate it.  (Yes, I was 4. And yes, it scarred me for life!)  All that to say, if our fledgling garden has any hope of survival, I am going to need all the help I can get!  And, this book seems to have it all!!

 

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What is on your nightstand (or, your reading list) for this month? I’d love to know!!