7 Quick Takes Friday ... February 20th

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Well I missed the link-up with the Not Alone Series Gals this week, so I'm going to write about my Spiritual Reading books for my Quick Takes and make this a Double Take!

Prompt: What are some of your favorite or go-to books, devotionals or even blogs that help encourage you in your spiritual life?

I don't know how great I'll be at giving suggestions, but I do have a few in my mind to share about, so here goes nothing...

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I've written about this book before, but in recent memory it's been very helpful. Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence.

The author discusses suffering a lot and how we get to where we are in the Spiritual Life. Some areas are a lot to take in, that all things are necessary and desired by God for our good. That's hard to handle a bit when we are thinking about bad things that happen to us. Overall the Lord wills the good in our life - the good that will get us to Heaven to be with Him for eternal life! Oh, and it's also just 99 cents on Kindle! A steal!

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I spent almost a year reading this book when my friend Elisabeth gave it to me for a bday/Christmas present a few years back. St. Therese of Lisieux' The Story of a Soul is a beautiful story of her life. The amazing things that she went through, how she lived, the faith of her father, the encouragement of her sisters - all of this for a little soul so was just striving to get closer to Jesus and be with him forever. I think of her a lot when little things about people begin to annoy me.

I'm now reading this spiritual memoir about her book and so far, just two chapters in, it's good. A great reminder of the highlights of Therese's book!

I pretty much love reading anything about this particular Therese - she's one of my favorites!

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Last year a friend and I read through this retreat book, Consoling the Heart of Jesus. A few years back at my former parish, I went to a retreat led by him and it was a lovely weekend. He uses a lot of Therese's theology and the Divine Mercy to walk us through a spiritual journey.

It is great for a weekend, a week, or a few months. I do recommend reading it with a friend so you can have great discussion!

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This little book is my absolute favorite novena. The 54 Day Rosary Novena is a beautiful. The reflections for each of the mysteries provide much food for thought and keep my mind on track throughout the praying of the Rosary.

If you've never done it before, it's 27 days of Petition followed by 27 days of Thanksgiving. A powerful novena!

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Last year a few of us from the Not Alone Series Facebook group read this book together. I have been reading Jennifer's blog, Conversion Diary, for years and was happy to read her spiritual journey. Since I have never experienced life as an atheist, I was happy to walk along with her journey toward the Church and learn a few new ways of thought as I went along!

The title of Something Other than God reminds me about how we are all searching ... and desperately hoping that something besides God will fill that hole in our hearts and lives.

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My last Spiritual book is a comment on my Lenten Practice - beginning a year long process to read the entire Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church. I'm two days in, ie: Genesis 1&2, Psalm 1&2, Matthew 1, CCC Intro through 10. Seems like it's going to take a while to get there, but I guess that's why there are 363 more days to the plan! If you want to join in - this is the reading plan I'm using!

See you next week for more quick takes and another installment in the Not Alone Series - oh, and part 3 of my Latin & Me journey!

For more Quickity, Quick Takes, check out the gang with Kelly over at This Ain't the Lyceum!
For more from the ladies in the Not Alone Series check out Jen this week (& Morgan too)!
See you next week, or stop by this week for more musings and antics!