Today is Tuesday Talk where once a month, I link up with Ashley and Erika who host this fun little blog link up. Every month, you are supposed to chat about anything and everything.
In January, we chatted about whether or not I should keep my home phone. (You overwhelmingly told me TO keep it!)
In February, we chatted about preparing for sitters at your house.
In April, we chatted about a book I read called Unstuffed.
In May, we chatted about what TV shows are good for kiddos.
In July, we chatted about bows and clothes for little girls.
In August, we chatted about whether or not I should get an e-reader (Whoa! Lots of opinions!!)
In September, I showed you guys my sign wall.
In November, we chatted about Instant Pots.
And today, we’re chatting about books you might want to get for the new year.
I get asked a lot about what I read during my daily quiet time and it almost always includes these first two.
Two years ago, I read through the One Year Bible and then repeated it last year. If you’ve ever wanted to read the Bible all the way through from beginning to end, I highly recommend this version. Every day, you get a little bit of the Old Testament, a little New Testament, a Proverb and Psalm. If it seems too daunting to read it through in one year, there is even a two year plan inside as well. This would be a great time of year to get started on this one!
I also love Sarah Young’s daily devotional, Jesus Calling. This is a daily devotional using scripture as the base that you can read every day. I like to make notes on the pages inside my devotional of particularly hard days or good days, and then it’s interesting year after year to see my notes on those days. My grandmother bought me mine years ago and I still use it daily.
And I’ve mentioned this a million times, but for 13 years in a row, I did a daily gratitude journal and it completely changed my life. I can’t even really describe it, but writing down five things I was grateful for every single day for 13 years was a discipline that has really changed my mindset and outlook on things. I challenge you to do this in 2018 as well!
So, as we wrap up 2017, if one of your goals is to spend more time in God’s word and really seek a daily quiet time, these are my recommendations. I also have this post HERE about books on certain topics if you’re looking for something else to read this time of year. And of course, to see what I’ve been reading all year long, click HERE.
Thanks Erika and Ashley for letting me link up all year! xo
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
A gratitude journal really does do wonders. I don’t keep one myself but I journal daily (have been doing so every day without fail since 2013!) and at the end of the week, I write a round-up of the things I’m grateful for during the week. Writing keeps me grounded and calms me down! 🙂
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Erika Slaughter says
Thank you for linking up!! I’ve already bought a gratitude journal for 2018 BUT remember how I’ve tried before and after about a week forget to write in it?! ?? I need to set an alarm or something!
Sheaffer Sims says
I love the idea of jotting down little notes in the margins of Jesus Calling!
Elspeth Mizner says
Great ideas! I have an app I use every day as a devotional and I journal in the mornings. Really helps me start the day off right!!
Narci Dreffs says
This is such great advice!! The one year Bible is so easy to follow! And, I’m going order a gratitude journal! What a great idea!!
Holly says
Because of you and your blog, I decided to make my New Year’s Resolution for 2017 to read the Bible. I cannot thank you enough for enlightening me on this version! The One Year Bible has been an excellent read for me. I can’t remember the last new year’s resolution I have actually kept all year, but now I did it and I enjoyed every bit of it! I also read Jesus Always by Sarah Young along with my daily Bible reading. I now have my gratitude journal ready for my 2018 resolution! Thank you, Shay!
Carly says
Shay, thanks to you. My New Years Resolution for 2017 was to read the Bible in a full year. I am almost done and it has changed my life. Thank you!!! For 2018, I want to try one of your devotionals. Do you have any you recommend for kids?
Mix and Match Mama says
Jesus Calling has a kid version!!
Jessica Matthews says
Have you read Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have not!
sydnee says
Love the idea for the One Year Bible and it seems it’s the perfect time to order one! Thank you for the suggestion.
Design by Sydnee | A Lifestyle Blog ?
Alyssa Perry says
Do you recommend completing your entry in the gratitude journal at the beginning or end of each day? I can see the benefit of both – starting your day in the right mindset or reflecting and processing your day in the right mindset.
Mix and Match Mama says
I always did it at the end of each day and wrote down five specific gratitudes for that day.
Laci says
I bought the one year bible per your recommendation for my brother for Christmas!
Jess Jones says
Love the daily bible and devotional! I also love the Bible studies from She Reads Truth and they have a daily reading too. So kinda off topic but still in the book realm. Have you heard of Modern Mrs Darcy? She gives her opinion on books and such but the key is she also has daily ebooks that are on sale… like $15 books for $1! And they are current books. Totally worth having to read on a kindle instead of turning pages.
Erin says
Just ordered 8 of the journals to give as gifts
Sherry says
I’ve been using The One Year Bible this year and it’s been so much easier than when I had previously read the Bible through. Tks for the recommendation! Next year I’m going to try a chronological Bible. Too, for Christmas stockings this year my three children, their spouses, and my seven grandsons are getting gratitude journals after reading your post. I think it’s a wonderful way to count your blessings! Merry Christmas to your sweet family!
Ashlee says
Just ordered the daily gratitude journal to use in 2018. Thanks for the recommendation!
Bailee says
The magic of motherhood by Ashley Gadd is GREAT!
Alexis deZayas says
I do the same thing in my Jesus Calling devotional! I also recently got a kindle and downloaded Jesus Always so that I have a devotional with me when I travel 🙂
Kelli says
Living Danishly and the Girl with 7 names are both on my 2018 reading list! Actually I just got them and may actually finish 1 or both before 2018 even gets here!
Danielle says
LOVE this list! I read through the Bible a few years ago and LOVED it.
I started a gratitude journal years ago paired with the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp — life changing!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Shay and to everyone reading this comment! 🙂
Emily Robbins says
Shay, Would you consider doing a blog post about how you commit to goals? I know you are very goal oriented — monthly goals and New Year’s resolutions, but I would love if you did a post about how you execute those goals. I think this would be more entering into your mental space of how you map out your year, months, and days. You are a busy lady with four kids, and I think I am busy but with no kids yet. I would love to glean from you on how you mentally map out all the to-do categories and actual keep yourself accountable to achieve them. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! I will 🙂 .
Emily says
Yay-I look forward to learning!
Jamie Kimberling says
I always enjoy your posts about your New Years Goals. Will you do a 2018? Please? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! It’s the first “How We Wednesday” this year!
Alexis deZayas says
I went back and ordered the One Year Bible last night 🙂 I can’t wait to start it with the new year!
MICHELLE O says
I am starting my life over and the Gratitude Journal is just what I need. I just ordered it! I have so much to be grateful for…
Detroit Duchess says
I’m almost halfway through my One-Year Bible thanks to your recommendation. I ended up getting the pink one for women, but I don’t think it’s too different, it just has some extra quotes in it. I am loving it! I want to dive deeper into some of the books when I am finished so I will have to see if there are detailed studies for each book.
Robin says
I switched from Jesus Calling to Tim Keller’s “Songs of Jesus” devotional on the Psalms this past year, and I loved it so much! My husband is encouraging our church to read through the Bible this year using the “Read Scripture” app, so I started early, and it is my favorite read through the Bible plan yet! They partnered with the Bible project and each day you read chronologically through the Bible and many days they also include a video from the Bible project that applies to that scripture reading – it’s incredible!