February 2021 Lately List

Here’s a snapshot of Scripture study ideas, pondersome reading, and yummy recipes! Enjoy the February 2021 Lately List!

I hope these lists give you some ideas of what YOU might want to try or consider for your life. You do what works best for you.

For me, this has become an excellent opportunity to reflect on where I’m actually at each month. Do my expectations for myself need to pivot? What’s been super awesome? Not?

Who knows – perhaps you’d like to do your own monthly check-in (it doesn’t have to be on a blog!) to see where you’re at with your own cup-filling activities. (Or identify what’s NOT filling your cup that needs to be tabled…)

Head’s up! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you. I’m committed to only recommending products that have made a positive, meaningful impact in my life. My readers deserve no less.

Here we go!

Dwelling on these Scriptures

Some of these are repeat hits from the December 2020 Lately List. These include:

Reading the Bible in a Year

If you’d like a pre-structured, carry it in your pocket read the Bible in a year plan, the YouVersion CCV: the Bible in ONE Year plan might fit the bill.

Reading through the whole Bible has been so good for:

• Reading books I don’t typically go to (like most of the prophets)
• Gaining more context about the Jewish world pre-New Testament and during Jesus’ ministry
• Knowing the Bible better

In many ways, it’s been a marathon reading experience. While phenomenal, I’m also really looking forward to dwelling in one book at a time.

Earlier this year, I had big plans: reading the Bible in a year, sitting in Philippians for a deep study, and studying John as my women’s group co-leader.

So my Abide study of Philippians got tabled until we finish reading through the Bible in the year.

I’m coming back for you, Philippians! Maybe the hubs will join me, too!

Memorizing these verses each week at mealtime

In the January Lately List, I shared that during our weekly planning, my husband and I pick out a verse to memorize together.

Then, every time we sit down for mealtimes, we recite it and pray it.

Let’s do the math. If you eat three times a day (most likely more, if you have a small child), then you’re reciting your Scripture 21 times a week (3 meals x 7 days).

More than just reciting it, it also gives you an opportunity to THINK about it. What does this mean?

Each week, I’ve been updating my Trello goals board with the verses we’ve chosen. I think it’ll be fun to see at the end of the year all the Scriptures we’ve been consciously dwelling on 🙂

Like some verses to get started with? Here’s our list so far:

Reading

I should mention that I tend to be a quick reader, so if you read at a normal pace and/or don’t enjoy reading as much as I do, please don’t ever hold yourself to the standard I’m presenting!

Binged the whole Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke (books 1-7). Seriously, add nostalgic feelings for childhood + some sicky ickiness = a solid reading binge is born.

Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, Joanna Sawatsky – If you’ve grown up in the Christian sphere, you’ve most likely been taught SO MUCH good about sex, male and female. You’ve probably also, like me, picked up some messages with some unhealthy aftereffects. This book digs into those messages given by top-selling Christian books and reframes more positive messages to dwell on and speak into each other’s world. It’s a controversial read that I found really powerful.

Repeat hits

If you’ve read previous lately lists, these books were listed before!

Like you, sometimes I’m not able to hit all the goals I had in mind. Not reaching them yet, though, doesn’t make them impossible. Just pivotable.

So, if you’re struggling to hit some goals (reading-related or not), give yourself some grace! If it takes you longer than you expected, that’s okay. You’re still making progress.

I’ve finally realized that for non-fiction books, I need to set a few days or windows during the week when I’ll dig into them. As a result, I enjoy them more and look forward to them more. (What?!)

Hidden Potential by Wendy Pope

Finally finished it! Once I got going, it was such an encouraging read. I’m glad I picked it up again when I was in the right head space.

Toddler Book Picks

As I’ve shared before, we read a lot with our toddler and have many favorites.

Lately, a few of his current top picks are listed below. (These are the ones he quotes throughout the day or immediately grabs for reading.)

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Little Man has gotten really great about saying “please,” which this book has further encouraged. Of course, he often says, “Thank you very much. I love doughnuts!” arbitrarily, too…