Creating a Rule of Life is one of the most popular downloads and posts on this blog.  I can see when people download a pdf of a resource from one of the past pages on a post on a topic and journaling and rule of life continue to be two main interests of people seeking […] This post Creating A Rule of Life – A New Book is Born was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Spiritual Retreats: A Guide to Slowing Down to be with God by yours truly was first published in May 2016.  I have never celebrated a book birthday before and thought it would be fun to revisit this book, its message and its birth.  Happy Birthday, Spiritual Retreat little book! Spiritual Retreats: A Guide to Slowing […] This post Book Birthday – Spiritual Retreats: A Guide to Slowing Down to be with God was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

The book, Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning, begins with this story and quote from his spiritual director: “Brennan, you don’t need any more insight into the faith, you’ve got enough insights to last you three hundred years. The most urgent need in your life is to trust what you have received.” Recently I revisited my […] This post Ruthless Trust was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

One of my favorite authors, Emily P Freeman, just released a new book, How to Walk into a Room. The host of a wonderful weekly podcast too, Emily accompanies us as we discern the decisions we face in life. As a spiritual director, discernment is often the doorway that directees seek an appointment with me […] This post Practical Discernment Tools from a New Book by Emily P Freeman was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Sacred Surroundings, Finding Grace in Every Place is born! Sacred Surroundings is my latest book and man oh man, has this work been through ups and downs, and twists and turns but wouldn’t let go and die. Sometimes as a writer a book takes on its own life – demanding to be released at its own time and in its own way. This book is my stubborn, resilient baby – insisting to live.  Celebrate with me today if you will. Here is some basic info about this book now available on Amazon both as an e-book and print editions. What is Sacred Surroundings about? We go through life so blind to God’s ..read more

This month I have been revisiting my bookshelf, spending time with “old friends” and seeping in their wisdom.  On the August 8 blog post, I shared this wonderful quote about the value of this practice: “A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.” – Robertson Davies Today I will finish with a book that I didn’t originally consider, but leaped into my heart for rereading after revisiting my bookshelf.  My own journals! Harvesting my Journals Harvesting my journal ..read more

“Meeting God in Scripture” by Jan Johnson is the next book to reread, to immerse myself into its wise words over this summer. What fun I have had perusing my shelves, listening to their invitations.  To be honest, sometimes many of the books shout, “Pick me!” so I pause and listen quietly to which voice resonates within my heart. I have been revisiting my bookshelf this summer and decided to make this a series in the month of August. Each week I will rediscover an old friend, reread its wisdom and share a title, its theme, a few quotes, and a small reflection/application. Meeting God in ..read more

The Cup of Our Life is a wonderful image to hold, ponder and be a conduit to lessons from God. I hunted for this book by Joyce Rupp the other day, wanting to drink again from its wisdom.  I smiled at all the sticky notes, underlining and tattered edges of this loved book. Words once again inviting me to reread. What would stand out to me this time? I have been revisiting my bookshelf this summer and decided to make this a series in the month of August. Each week I will rediscover an old friend, reread its wisdom and share a title, its theme, a few quotes, and a small reflection/applicat ..read more

I have been revisiting my bookshelf this summer and decided to make this a series in the month of August. Each week I will rediscover an old friend, reread its wisdom and share a title, its theme, a few quotes, and a small reflection/application. When I slowly took the books from the shelf it felt like I was holding treasure. I can’t help to think that wisdom in these pages call to me for this particular time. And the excitement of possibilities! “A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noo ..read more

I do love books. My hubby says I have too many – I say let’s just get a new bookshelf. I was looking for a specific book a few weeks ago and came across a book I started but never finished. It called to me. Then another one. Then another. I made myself stop at small stack of six books – old friends wanting to visit. I longed to turn their pages once again. I needed to linger in their words. Their message summoned me back once again. Whitney wrote on her blog a few weeks ago, “But if we truly love reading and love building a home collection of books, our shelves should fill us with JOY – yes ..read more