So many books, so little time! As I read, I'm putting together a list of books I consider helpful, inspiring and enjoyable. If you'd like to send in your review of a book you've read, I'll be glad to post it here. Happy reading!
Reader Reviews
Enjoying Intimacy with God, J. Oswald Sanders. This is a great little book. It talks about what intimacy with God is, where it comes from and includes chapters on worship, God's greatness, the need for cleansing, love, discipline, spiritual maturity, discouragement, discipleship and others.
The Gospel Solution, Was Jesus Looking for "A Few Good Men?" Tom Weaver with John Souter. Have you ever had trouble with the demands of Jesus: to be perfect, to forgive as a condition of being forgiven, to love our neighbor as ourselves the keep the commandments? This book will challenge your ideas of what Jesus really said in the four gospels.
Legend of the Celtic Stone and An Ancient Strife (the sequel), Michael Phillips. If you like historical and Christian fiction, you'll love these books, which combine both. Especially interesting if you've been or plan to visit Scotland.
The Reflective Life, Ken Gire. This book is subtitled Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to the Everyday Moments of Life. A great book to help you slow down and reflectively appreciate all of the "God moments" of life.
When the Soul Listens, Jan Johnson. This book could be called "Enjoying the Presence of God, Part II," which I also heartily recommend. Jan explains the what, why and how of comtemplative prayer in her down to earth, no nonsense style.
Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster. I was glad I read Willard's book first, because it gave me needed background. Foster's book is also brilliant. He gives practical suggestions and rich insights.
The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard. This isn't a quick read, but offers many insights to the spiritual disciplines. This book will help you understand why we practice the displines and why we should practice them.
Glorious Intruder, God's Presence in Life's Chaos, Joni Eareckson Tada. This is a great collection of devotionals, many of which are lessons the author learned as a result of being confined to a wheelchair.
Thale's Folly, Dorothy Gilman, author of the Mrs. Pollifax novels. I don't normally recommend fiction here, but this book really touched me. It's about a city man who learns how wonderful it can be to leave behind everything he thinks makes up his life, and get back to nature and a simple life.
Artist of My Soul, Sandi Patti. It's a cd not a book, but it has the most beautiful and worshipful songs I've heard. I identify with many of them because of our journey in the WCG.
Bad Girls of the Bible, Liz Curtis Higgs. Do you have trouble identifying with the Proverbs 31 Woman, Esther and Ruth? Then this book is for you. Higgs humorously explores the lives of the First Bad Girl, some Bad for a Moment women and some Bad for a Season, but Not Forever women and what we can learn from them.
Moments with the Savior, A Devotional Life of Christ, Ken Gire. This devotional, arranged with scripture, reflections on the scripture, then a prayer, is very moving and helps you read between the lines. This book is "a richly textured tapestry woven with threads of humanity and divinity. (It) reveals afresh the Lord who calls you closer to a more intimate relationship with him." This volume combines all 4 books in the Moments with the Savior series. Must read!
Praying the Bible for Your Children and Praying the Bible for Your Marriage, both by David and Heather Kopp. These are great books to help you pray more effectively for your family.
The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence, updated in today's language by Ellyn Sanna. This is a delightful little book that will help you focus on what is most important - being with God every moment of every day.
Too Busy Not to Pray, Bill Hybels. The pastor of Willow Creek Church in Chicago wrote this book to help you "slow down to pray, listen to God, respond to what you hear, practice the presence of God and overcome prayer barriers." Includes questions for reflection and discussion.
In the Footsteps of Jesus, Bruce Marchiano. If you've seen the movie Mathew, you must read the book, and if you haven't seen the movie, read the book and enjoy the movie even more. Reading about how Jesus revealed himself to Bruce through the filming of the movie brought tears to my eyes and made me love the Lord even more.
The Perfect Love, Ruth Myers. If you would like to understand the indescribable love of God more, and be encouraged about how much he loves you, read this book. It started out a little slow, but there are many gold nuggets and valuable insights regarding how to understand, accept and live in the love of God.
The Strength of a Woman, R. Ruth Barton. Sub-title: 14 Life Challenges for Women - and the Men Who Love Them. This book helps women identify their strengths, maintain spiritual priorities, relate and work with both men and women, fight for their marriages, achieve sexual fulfillment and balance love of family with other life callings. This book will challenge you to think about your life and deal with issues that affect you.
A Small Book About God, Roy Hicks, Jr. "His ways, His dreams, His promises for you." This is a great little book about the way God works in our lives. Very inspirational!
What's So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey. The "last best word" in Christianity, grace is best understood by seeing it in action. Through stories and personal anecdotes, the author explains how we live in a world of ungrace and how that world desperately needs the grace only Christians can give it.
How to Listen to God, Charles Stanley. Learn how God speaks to us today, how to be receptive to Him and how to be more of a Spirit-led Christian.
The True Woman, Susan Hunt. Using the Puritan ethic of female piety as a reference, Susan Hunt shows how the true woman is not the new woman of this society, but one who reflects redemption in every area of her life. Gets a woman back to "old-fashioned" values.
The Pursuit of God, The Human Thirst for the Divine, A.W. Tozer. Classic book that will help the hungry soul actively bring God into the heart.
Dancing in the Arms of God, Connie Neal. The author shows, through various trials in her life, how she learned to let God lead in the dance of life.
Living and Praying in Jesus Name, ed. Dick Eastman and Jack Hayford. Thirty-one days of the different names of Jesus, in the Old and New Testaments, provide a rich way to get to know Jesus better.
Enjoying the Presence of God, Jan Johnson. Jan shows how to practice the presence of God, pray without words, hear God and revamp your quiet time.
Anything by Jack Hayford! Another one of his, which I found very helpful, is I'll Hold You in Heaven. For anyone who has lost a child through miscarriage (I've lost two), abortion, stillbirth or in infancy, this book will be very encouraging and give you scripturally based hope that we'll see those babies when we are with God.
The Power and the Blessing, also by Jack Hayford. This book helps you become a disciple of Jesus, not as an education process, but as an incarnational experience.