I love to write; words fascinate me. I love to read for the same reason. My dream is to someday write my own book, but like many writers, I wonder if there are any new ideas left unwritten. Even though that question might discourage some from fulfilling their dreams, there are many others who have written amazing books that encourage, challenge, inspire, and motivate us. Wonderful stories have the power to captivate us and pull us right into the pages, wishing we could become part of the adventure. The great news is there is a plethora of books just waiting for us to read them. Here on the blog we want to review some of those books for you, hopefully making some of your choices easier.

In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson is a wonderful read. Great title, right? This is a repeat book for me, because I loved it so much the first time I read it. Beniah’s way of living life to the fullest is the main theme. If you’re like me, I’m guessing you never had a flannel graph lesson about him in Sunday School. Basically, he chased a lion on a snowy day into a pit and he killed it. #SpoilerAlert You can read about this fellow in 2 Samuel 23:20-39. He was a valiant warrior and David made him captain of his bodyguard. The book is all about God-sized dreams and opportunities that may seem as impossible and scary as killing a lion. Batterson writes, “Lion-chasers aren’t afraid of doing something that seems ridiculous to others because they know anything is possible with God.” The challenge is, do you want to be a lion-chaser? It requires prayer, faith, courage, and pursuing God-given dreams. Batterson says, “I think there are two kinds of people in the world: creators and criticizers. There are people who get out of the boat and walk on water. And there are people who sit in the boat and criticize water-walkers. Here is what I think: Sinking is better than sitting.”

I trust you will enjoy reading what Pastor Mark Batterson has written. He is a New York Times best-selling author and Lead Pastor of National Community Church (one church with eight campuses that owns Ebenezers Coffeehouse in D.C.) What’s not to love about a man who prioritizes Jesus and coffee?

SHERRIE SMITLEY

Follower of Jesus. Life Group leader. Writer. Wife. Mom. Grandma. Friend.