Jen Pollock Michel

In A Habit Called Faith, each devotional reading is paired with Scripture, taking the reader through most of Deuteronomy and the entire Gospel of John. The book includes discussion questions and a chapter from the above Scriptures to read each day. I typically do not use devotionals; however, I actually purchased this one by accident after a friend sent me the link (a tap and scroll mishap!) So I decided I should definitely read this one!

A Habit Called Faith became a daily enjoyment and encouragement in my walk with the Lord as I read along. The author’s insights highlighted elements in the Scripture that are easily glossed over, helping the reader connect the Old and New Testament readings with God’s purpose in sending Christ. This devotional is a worthy tool to add to your arsenal. Each day’s reading will help you cultivate a habit of trusting God and faithful living. In A Habit Called Faith, you will dive deep into the redemptive purposes Jesus fulfilled through Deuteronomy and John’s Gospel.

Author Jen Pollock Michel communicates the importance of viewing faith habits not as religious ritual that leave us empty but authentic ways to pursue growth in relationship with God. It is full of purpose as we seek to know, love and obey God, intentionally seeking to practice our faith in a way that demonstrates love for God and others.

A few of my favorite quotes from the book:

“…the Bible is God’s book—and God’s story. As we turn its pages, we look to grow in understanding of God’s character: how he loves, why he forgives, what he promises.”

“To love God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our might, we will need more of his help to keep at the habit of remembering.”

“Christian faith . . . is not a grappling with ideas about God. Instead, it’s an encounter with—and surrender to—the living, speaking God of Jesus Christ: the God to be seen and touched and heard. As the Evangelist tells us at the end of his Gospel, John hasn’t written simply to convey information about this Jesus. Rather, he wants us to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Sent One, the Son of God—and to have life in his name.”

The devotional ends in a way that touched me deeply, because the truths quoted were those I once sung verbatim even before God opened my eyes in salvation: “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again”. Those words in the book are followed with the question, “How will you respond?” And I am so grateful that God moved upon my heart to respond to Him, enabling me to come to Him and believe these truths in my own heart. In this another great habit of faith was brought to mind: remembering what God has done, remembering when He brought us to Himself in salvation.

This book quickly became one of my favorites, a huge surprise for someone who typically dislikes devotionals. I highly recommend it!… (mehr)

I didn't love this book, but it has some solid material. I appreciated that it wasn't a Wendell Berry-esque adulation of place and rootedness--it comes, rather, from an author who's mostly lacked those things in her life, which gives some weight and texture to her reflections. It *is*, as the title suggests, more of a set of meditations on home and housekeeping than an argument or sustained exploration of a concept. Michel looks at some of our contemporary ambivalences about "home," at God as "housekeeper" throughout scripture, at our "housekeeping" in this life as we wait and work toward the stable, eternal home only God can provide. She does this through personal narrative, discussion of recent research and journalistic thinkpieces, references to literature, and biblical scholarship. Her writing style isn't my favorite--a touch too clever for my taste? I'm not sure--and her use of the phrase "the housekeeping" in the second half of the book was a bit distracting. I also thought she gave short shrift to the Puritan view of Sabbath-keeping. Overall, it has that serial feel that a lot of thematic, semi-autobiographical works of this kind tend to have--as if it might have worked a bit better as a blog series than as a book. But I appreciate her constant emphasis on Christ as the answer to our longings for home, in a way that will be tangibly satisfied someday, even if we only get a taste of it in this life.

A few quotes I liked:

"Our inbetween places--between jobs, between cities, between houses--can easily feel like a bookmark, as if their only job was separating past from future. But these places are indeed part of the story, even when we have failed to give them a name. And most peculiarly, a generic, in-between place can even become a temple in the desert--a house of God."

"God's work is not nearly as glamorous as our self-glorifying ambitions."

"Home, on this earth, is no perfect place, and one of our greatest acts of faithful courage might be abiding the weariness of imperfect company, both that of ourselves and others."

"Housekeeping is home's daily chore of faith, hope and love. It doesn't hold out for what might never be. Instead, it wrings good from what is."… (mehr)

“A kingdom life is always a nonconforming life, and subversion is a form of witness.”

Often, when we think about what the Kingdom of God will look like, we forget that we are called to be witnesses of that kingdom, and we forget that that kingdom is already here among us. Surprised By Paradox by Jen Pollock Michel does a wonderful job explaining the concept of paradox in God’s kingdom, reminding us that God’s kingdom is an upside down one, where the righteous are not the rich but those who are poor, where children are to be heard and not just seen.

As I read through Surprised By Paradox and reflected upon the questions at the end of each segment, I found myself longing for this upside down kingdom, and hope that my life begins to act as a witness to that kingdom. Everyone should read this book out of longing for an upside down kingdom, one where tears are no more but one where everlasting joy and peace reign. The only way for this kingdom to be made among us is for the kingdom to change us first. We can’t change others using fear or suffering, but when we meet others in their suffering,there we’ll see change.

We should not fear the mystery of the kingdom life; rather we should embrace it, reminding ourselves that in the mystery, God is found. In the mystery, we worship the God who sees, who knows our suffering, and who knows our hearts’ desires. May Surprised By Paradox remind us that the mystery of God is not a terrible thing, but is a gift that blesses each of us who seek God diligently, as we strive to see Him face to face.
… (mehr)