A few months ago, an author I admire, Lysa TerKeurst, announced she had a new book coming out called Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That’s Beautiful Again. I read the book description and instantly pre-ordered it. I have always had a really hard time with forgiveness, and have a few things that weigh heavily on me... I bought the companion journal too, hoping that Lysa's wise words + getting the deep stuff out on paper = some weight lifted. I was ecstatic when the book showed up a month ago. I started reading it that night, fell asleep 4 pages in, anddddd haven't picked it up since 🤦
I see it every day on my nightstand, aching to read it, but
cautious to pick it back up. I'm not sure if it's fear of what will ensue? Or the fact that I'm already in the middle of 9 books? Probably a combination of both.
You may know that we were devastated when our Prairie Lakes Church campus closed 1.5 years ago. I was part of an amazing small group bible study with other people my age who attended PLC, but unfortunately our group stopped gathering shortly after our church closed. We church-hopped for a year, but never felt at home. We have been watching Prairie Lakes' services online since the beginning of the pandemic. We get to worship to the band that we love, and listen to our favorite pastors, but we really miss that personal connection with our peers.
Then yesterday, a Godwink. I got an email from Proverbs 31 Ministries announcing their first Online Bible Study of 2021 will be based on Lysa's book that had been side-eying me from my bedside, slightly dusty and speckled with dog hair. The email shared the top reasons why January is the best time to join the bible study—one being 'new friends' and another was 'support system'—two things I've been missing since we lost our church family. Having friends that allow and encourage us to spend more time with God and love and obey Jesus is so important to us and our future family. Two more reasons to join were 'a clean slate' and 'fresh perspective'. We could ALL use a little bit of both to begin the new year. PLUS the bible study is free! A few clicks later, I was signed up.
If you are interested in signing up for the study too, here is the link and this is how it works: There is a facebook group where other women reading along will discuss the book, reflect, and offer support to one another. Guides, videos, blog posts, and printables will be emailed to you regularly January-February. Discussion and engagement are optional, but encouraged. Sounds pretty low-key!
I have wanted to start a little book club for years... and I figure, if not now, then when? Who wants to read along with me?!
You don't have to be Bible expert (I'm certainly not) or even own a Bible to participate. I'd love to mix up the genres of what we read together...memoirs, self-help, thrillers, sci-fi, historical fiction...whatever the group decides. We will start the year with Forgiving What You Can't Forget, and then see where we head next! I'll start a group chat for those who want to read with me, and you can chime in whenever works best for you. There won't be any in-person meetings, thanks covid!..
We receive a portion of book sales if you purchase the book using our link to Amazon. If you're an audiobook lover like me, you can also support our family by signing up for audible using this link.
If book clubs and Bible studies aren't your thing (although I bet you'd love it), and you read the book on your own, I'd love to hear what you think of it. Hopefully the holiday shipping craziness will die down soon and it won't take too long for your copy to arrive 😏
So, if you are...
A. Itching to join a book club 📚
B. Feeling like you need some healing 💓
C. Looking for an excuse to chit-chat 💬
D. All of the above 👭
Read along with me!
Comment on this post or message me on instagram or facebook to join me :)
P.S. Here are a few totally unrelated books I've read recently that I LOVED, and they're all on sale right now!
*We receive a portion of sales from these books too.