The Loft is open, come on up!
Welcome to this special edition of The Loft! Why is it so special, you ask? Because it is also a giveaway!! This week we are talking about favorite books because, we all do love a good read! ANNNNDDD…to help celebrate the release of Arabah Joy’s latest book Trust Without Borders: A 40-Day Devotional Journey to Deepen, Strengthen, and Stretch Your Faith in God
To enter the giveaway, simply participate in this week’s link-up. All bloggers who link are automatically entered 🙂 Alternatively, you can share your favorite book in the comment section to be entered in the giveaway. Here’s to happy reading and finding great new books!
Leah’s Favorite Books
Next to Jesus, few topics could put a smile on my face like today link-up topic of favorite books. I adore books. I have a NOOKcolor, and it is good for traveling, but give me a hold-it-in-my-hand book any day. I love the feel of a book in my hand. I love the smell of a book. I love the possibilities of a book. I just love to read. So, when the topic of favorite books was announced, I was a giddy as a 16 year old on her first date. I am such a book nerd that I even organized one of my bookshelves by color a few years ago.
Someone called me a bad name after that. They said I was obsessive-compulsive. I represent that remark completely!!!!
Enough about me! Forbid it that I should delay any longer. Here are a few of my favorite books.
The Bible
It is the ultimate self-help, love-story, comedy, text-book, feelin-kinda-low, pick-me-up, smack-me-around book there is. The Scriptures are everything we need for life and godliness. Almost 15 years ago, the Holy Spirit caused me to fall in love with the Word of God, and I am still completely smitten with it. It is life to me. What versions do I like? I like the New King James and the NIV best.
ANY BOOK by Joel Rosenberg
Just prior to my first trip to Israel in 2006, I had been introduced to Joel Rosenberg’s writing. So, I decided to take his first and second fiction offerings with me. They were titled The Last Jihad and The Last Days. My pastor made terrible fun of me…taking a book about jihad into Israel. I think he was fairly sure I might not make it out of The Land alive. Rosenberg, a Messianic Jew, wrote about current events months before they ever happened. U.S. News & World Reports called Rosenberg ‘a modern Nostradamus’, while the New York Daily News says that Rosenberg’s writing is ‘eerily prophetic. Rosenberg wrote about 9/11 months before it happened. Ditto for the deaths of Sadam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. Rosenberg’s books read like they are ripped from TOMORROW’S headlines. His first fiction series, The Jihad Series, is based on Ezekiel 38 and 39. He is an expert on the Middle East and Biblical prophecy. Rosenberg regularly consults with government officials from around the world. I promise you….you definitely want to read anything Rosenberg writes. The day in which we live demands that you do.
Trusting God’s Heart: Finding Peace in Times of Sorrow
I read Trusting God’s Heart about a year before I would end up needing it. Written by Dr. Frank Cox, it is the story of the brain cancer diagnosis, and ultimate death of his young wife, Debbie, leaving Frank with a 4 year old son to raise. Trusting God’s Heart is one of the most encouraging, faith-boosting books I have ever read. Dr. Cox experienced everything that anyone who loses a loved one experiences, and writes about it in such a way as to encourage the reader to trust the heart of God in the good times and the bad. I have literally given scores of copies of this book to people going through difficult times. One year after I read it for the first time, my Daddy was diagnosed with cancer. Because of this book, my faith in God was steadfast, and I was able to trust the heart of my heavenly Father to do what was best for my earthly Father. Copies can be purchased from Dr. Cox.
Tired of Trying to Measure Up: Getting Free from the Demands, Expectations, and Intimidations of Well-meaning People
I wrote about the impact this book had on me in my journey with anorexia. You can read about it here. FYI: The book is NOT about anorexia. It is about what underlies issues like anorexia, drug addiction, people-pleasing, and so much else.
Next Week’s Topic: “Heroes” (Do you have a hero? Was there someone you looked up to growing up? Do you think it is important we have others to admire and mimic?)
Now it’s time to link up!
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About #TheLoft
The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth. Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.
PLEASE NOTE: We want to foster community and transparent conversation with one another, just like we’d do if we were meeting in real life. So we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic and that you mention The Loft in your post. Thank you so much!
Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic. We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section. So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.
To Participate:
1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic 🙂 2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink. 3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.
When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 5 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Jen Rebekah Leah Kathy Arabah
