Junk food is scrumptious. Sweet and gooey, or savory and crunchy, there are some snacks that I love to gorge, even while I’m fully aware that overindulging is bad for my waistline. Who am I kidding? I have no waistline. Still, those empty calories may have even worse health implications than a few extra pounds. So, I have to practice moderation unless I want to reap the consequences.
But what about junk food for my brain? There are pastimes that entice and delight my mind in the same way that junk food appeals to my tastebuds. Some forms of entertainment are just as bingeworthy as a tube of Pringles or a box of chocolates. It’s hard to stop after only one. Unfortunately, the nutritional content of some entertainment is just as harmful for my mind and my spirit as junk food is for my body.
I try to feed my mind with a diet that includes intellectually stimulating material, and I read my Bible and faith-based non-fiction to help me grow in my walk with the Lord. This takes discipline and is something I could always do better.
And yet our minds do need rest and play. I can’t be the only one whose brain craves relaxation after work and study. There are so many entertainment options, but not all of them are good for me. Scrolling the Internet and social media, playing video games, disappearing into a YouTube rabbit hole, binging shows on Netflix or listening to back-to-back podcasts are all ways in which I’ve spent—and squandered—hours of time.
These pastimes are fine in moderation, but there are occasions when I’ve overindulged and come up feeling the same way that I would after eating a family-sized pack of cookies washed down with a massive bottle of cola. Bloated, and wishing I’d stopped after the first two or three.
And there are some pastimes that make me feel not just regretful of the wasted time, but queasy about the things I’ve put into my mind.
This is where Christian fiction is such a blessing.
I know there are those who would say that Christian fiction, and especially Christian romance, is also junk food for the brain. But I believe that Christian fiction is uniquely placed to provide entertainment that can also feed our minds and our spirits. The books I’ve read by our InspyRomance authors have given me guilt-free pleasure and left me feeling encouraged and inspired.
Could you call out some specific books by InspyRomance authors that have both uplifted and entertained you, giving you wholesome fare for your mind and spirit?
I could name so many, but these ones spring to the top of my mind:
The Promise of Picnics by Emily Dana Botrous
Not Until Now by Valerie Bodden
The Billionaire’s Secret by Meghann Whistler
Her Unlikely Hero by Valerie Comer
Postcards by Elizabeth Maddrey
I write fiction that reflects my Christian faith. I love happy endings, heroes and heroines who discover sometimes hard but always vital truths, and stories that uplift and encourage. My family and I live in the east of England where we enjoy rambling in the countryside, reading good books and making up silly lyrics to our favorite songs.
I loved Valerie Comer’s Riverbend series. I want to read some of her other series this year! Like you, I’m reading some Christian non-fiction right now. Sometimes it’s hard to balance when those tbr piles are so out of control! 🤣
Hi Milla! This retired reader has been following IR authors for over a decade. I started with Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh series. My favorite uplifting series by Valerie Comer was Pot of Gold Geocaching. My grandkids enjoy geocaching. I also find Elizabeth Maddrey’s romances uplifting. Been frigid days in Michigan with lots of time to read. Best wishes.
Thanks for your comment, Judith. Indeed, all my TBR piles are teetering and ready to topple. Balance? What’s that? :-D
Thanks for your comment, Renate! We’ve attempted geocaching, so that series caught my attention, although I haven’t yet read it. Cold weather is definitely reading weather! Stay warm and take care.
When I started reading your post I recalled my grandmother shaking her head at us children and quoting “rubbish in, rubbish out” but as children we thought we knew it all and were bullet proof.
When I finished reading your post the book that had popped into my mind was Match Made in Heaven by Julie Arduini – it was exactly what I needed to read at the time. I think I you might have inspired me to reread it!
Totally agree about the rabbit hole, lol, I ended up running out of data this week after 3am binging on the gilded age, I think it’s like being drawn to watch a car crash, I often wonder what God had in mind when he created our brain chemistry ;)
Thanks for a great post :)
Ha ha, the struggle is real! I’ve emerged from YouTube rabbit holes wondering what on earth I went in there for.
Thanks for the recommendation. I just grabbed Julie’s book–the description looks like exactly the kind of story I love.
It’s a great story and Julie is another great Inspy author.
Have a great weekend :)
Actually, all of the CF I read meets your requirements! There are some that do it in a light and fluffy type of way, and there are others that are a lot grittier. I’m reading a book now that I won from a Goodreads giveaway. It’s by Liz Tolsma, What I Promise You. It’s going from 1942 to 1955 to 2022, things from each time, all tying together.
Good morning, I love books by Heidi Gray McGrill, she has written such beautiful books they are faith filled. Have a great weekend .
Ooh, I haven’t read that one. I’ve seen Liz’s books being recommended, but I’m yet to read any of them. I’ll look out for that title. Thanks for your comment!
Heidi’s books are great! Thanks for your comment, Alicia.
I so agree Milla- I’ve always read a lot of sweet romance, books are the thing I turn to when times are hard, but Christian romance has that extra element of spirituality which provides a real solace. I only discovered it a couple of years ago and I’m so thankful to God that he led me to it. I can remember reading Elizabeth Maddrey’s Hope Ranch series and Evangeline Kelly’s Blind Date Disaster series at times when things were tough and it really helped.
Thanks for your comment, Ruthie. Elizabeth and Evangeline’s books never disappoint. Her Blind Date Disaster series is the first of Evangeline’s work I ever read.
Thanks! You, too.
Aww, Dianne! I am catching up on emails and my favorite blog posts. I loved this post and saw my name in the comments. Thank you so much. That novella came from a bout with bronchitis when I didn’t have the energy to work on what eventually became Anchored Hearts, so I took an old story from the 90’s and revised it. It was loosely based on my faith start, and I added my daughter’s health challenges to it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Milla,
I commented to Dianne that I’m catching up and am just now at your Inspy post. I saw my name and it really blessed me. Thank you for picking it up. That’s an older novella, I believe my writing has grown since then, but that message in Match Made in Heaven was always one I wanted to get out. Blessings on your writing!
Thanks, so much Julie! Blessings to you, too.