How to Keep Your Love On When Relationships Get Rocky, Mustard Seed Faith, Peonies, and More!

Photo by andrik langfield on unsplash

Happy August!

As you know (unless you're new to my online community—in which case, welcome!), at the close of every month, I share a few of my favorite listens, reads, and resources.

I'm clearly a little late this time around, but I still wanted to get these resources out to you. As we move into August, I hope these resources encourage and inspire you as you pursue a life of purpose, joy, and intimacy with God!

As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below!

In purpose and faith,

 
 

Finding Joy in Everyday Life...

Before we get to the resources, here are a few things that brought me joy this month!


Paul and I took a day trip down to Otto Lake at the base of beautiful Mount Healy and had some fun motoring around in our little boat!


One of my favorite summertime activities is walking at our local botanical gardens. The garden is full of blossoms in July!


I enjoyed these gorgeous peonies from my neighbor’s garden.

What brought you joy this past month? I'd love to hear about it!


Resources to Inspire, Encourage, and Equip


I've been reading...

Keep Your Love On: Connection, Communication and Boundaries by Danny Silk

“Adults and children alike thrive in healthy relationships where it is safe to love and be loved, to know and be known. Yet for many, relationships are anything but safe, loving, or intimate. They are defined by anxiety, manipulation, control, and conflict.

The reason is that most people have never been trained to be powerful enough to keep their love on in the face of mistakes, pain, and fear. Keep Your Love On reveals the higher, Jesus–focused standard defined by mature love―love that stays ‘on’ no matter what.” —from Keep Your Love On

What does it mean to love like Jesus? How do we navigate rocky spots in our relationships without “turning off” our love? How do we lovingly set healthy boundaries?

In this book, Danny Silk dives deep to answer these questions. One of the things I’ve most appreciated about the book is how he explains what it means to be a powerful person from God’s perspective and how that can look in our relationships.

I also found his two chapters on healthy boundaries to contain some of the most profound perspectives I have yet to read on that topic. I highly recommend the book for that section alone. You can learn more here.


I’ve also been reading…

“Faith as Big as a Mustard Seed” by Becky Beresford

“Are we supposed to muster up more faith by our own strength or are we supposed to put our little bit of faith in Someone bigger? I think Jesus was saying the latter.” —Becky Beresford

This Instagram post is a few months old, but I came across it the other day and I just loved Becky Beresford’s thoughts and encouragement on mustard seed faith. You can read it here.


I’ve also been reading…

When Interrupted Plans Are for Your Benefit by Sandra Adcock

“Each and every time Joseph's plans were interrupted...God was protecting him and his family.
Each and every time Joseph's plans were interrupted...God's purposes were fulfilled.”
—Sandra Adcock

Feeling frustrated that your plans or dreams have been interrupted? In this Instagram post, Sandra Adcock offers encouragement and insight from the life of Joseph. You can read it here.


I've been listening...

“Show Me Your Face” by John Wilds/Bethel Music


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I wrote this post because I’m on a mission to encourage and equip women to live the life of faith, passion, and purpose that we were made for. You can help make a difference by sharing this post with a friend (or friends!) who you think would be encouraged or inspired by it. Thanks!


 

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, with no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”