I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and refreshing reminder that wonder and joy and playfulness have just as much place in our lives as spiritual disciplines and habit formation. Aroney-Sine does a great job of illustrating the ways that God is the author of beauty, hope, love and art. That it's important for our souls to breathe deeply and be present so as not to miss the gifts He gives us through his creation.

If you are looking to spark your imagination or need Something to lift you out of the dulldrums of everyday life Read this book. And more than read it do it. Every chapter has activities that will spur your imagination and get your creative juices flowing And for this weary traveler it did the trick. I was inspired and reading it helped me to break out of a creative block I was stuck in the middle of. You’ll want to read this one with a journal or sketchbook by your side it’s also designed to use for group practice.

I give The Gift of Wonder by Christine Aroney-Sine 3 stars. Initially I was really into this book, the concepts of losing our ability to see things like a child and how we are lacking the art of play, time in nature and more really resonated with me. I also found that most of the chapters were really compelling topics and stirred up a lot of conversations and contemplations. But where things fall flat are some of her suggestions on how to put these concepts into practice, and some of the sources she quoted. A few of the teachings she quoted from, and the practices she suggested are arguably inappropriate for her target audience. So I found this to be a chew the meat, spit the bones kind of book for me.

Most Christians feel like their spiritual practices need to be serious and follow a set routine. Aroney-Sine realized, though, that faith in God is not meant to always be serious or dull. This former Mercy Ships doctor turned author, blogger, and speaker set out to discover new ways to worship that re-awoke the wonder in her spiritual life, that encouraged her spirit to connect to God. She asked herself and others, “What are the childlike characteristics that make us fit for the kingdom of God?” And then she set out to find creative spiritual practices that helped her approach God in those childlike ways that sparked joy, kindled wonder, and renewed her love for her heavenly Father and Creator.

Each chapter in this book shares Aroney-Sine’s journey to discover creative spiritual practices that made faith less stagnant and cold to her. She shares ideas for personal and group practices and each chapter ends with a group gathering activity idea. The creative practices suggested range from walks focused on the wonder of God, doodling, painting rocks, working in a garden, following labyrinths, being as hospitable as a child, and more. Most are easy to do and use readily found materials, but are out of the box ways to reconnect with God. I appreciated the way Aroney-Sine writes. It is like sitting down with an older mentor who has been walking in the faith for a long time and learning from her more extensive experiences and observations. She challenges you to have joy in your faith and find daily practices that help you really connect with God, not just go through the motions. Some of the ideas are a little challenging if you’ve never thought how much broader your daily devotion practices could be. She definitely makes you think. Readers will most likely find some ideas that sound appealing and others that they decide not to try, and that is fine. The author makes it clear that different things are for different people, but the point is to find things that awake the childlike aspects of your faith and bring wonder and joy back into your Christian walk. Recommended for those who feel like their Christian faith has become stagnant or who are seeking new spiritual practice ideas. Also recommended for small groups and Bible studies as the book is set up with both individual and group practice ideas.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.