This is the last challenge of the summer, and it may be one of my favorites. Along with it comes an encouragement to carry this challenge into the fall.

We are commanded in the New Testament to meet with other believers because of the way it strengthens and encourages us. My favorite verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, tells us to “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

My family has done this well through books. You can probably tell I love them a lot, but I love them even more when I get to read them with other Christians, especially mom friends. A few years ago I invited friends and strangers into my home to spend 18 months going through the book “Lifegiving Home.”

Sometimes we discussed the book; other times we just shared what we were struggling with and prayed for each other. That year was one of the most spiritually formative and lifegiving phases of my life. I’ve done that again this summer for my son byinviting his friends who enjoy reading to join him at a coffee shop to read the Junior version of “Unbroken.”

I hope this episode about books and reading encourages you. I’ll also link below both Whitney’s book and my book. Both would be amazing places to create if you want to do one of these groups for yourself!