I’m not usually one of those people who like to be in the middle of more than one or two books at a time. I have a husband and friends who seem to always be reading like seven different books, and I guess I’m just too much of a results-oriented person because being in the middle of more then one or two makes me feel so behind and like I’m failing at keeping up!!!!!!!
But the other day I took stock of all the books I’m in the middle of was like whoa. Who am I and why am I reading so many books at a time?! I’ve just come across so many good ones recently and I can’t seem to make up my mind which ones to stick with…so we have more than normal with bent page corners (yes, i’m one of those people) marking my stopping point.
Here’s what I’m reading currently::
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris – I love this one, and I want to read through it both fast and slow because it’s so good and yet I want to really get it all. Ben brought this one home one day and I just casually cracked it open to see what it was about and couldn’t put it down. It’s about living and giving generously and on how following the principles of God enables us to receive great blessing and favor. Some of the author’s stories and testimonies of giving and receiving blow my mind!
Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker – This is an account (not a novel) about a journey Ted D. took with a friend into the Middle East to meet and interview some of the most notorious figures of the Arab world. He records their travels and some of the harrowing adventures they encountered along the way, as well as transcripts of actual conversations they held with different leaders in that region: Hamas, Hezbollah, muftis, sheiks, etc. The book was written in 2010, so it’s not totally current…but it has been eye-opening to learn about the actual hearts behind a culture and religion that can seem so daunting and frightening to Americans.
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp – I’ve read a few different parenting books since having a child, but this is the one I’ve loved and connected with the most so far. I feel like the author brings such a great balance between discipline and grace. Some of the other parenting books I’ve read have been really big on grace, which I agree is definitely needed in parenting. But yet I also think you need discipline and structure. I love how he directs discipline as a way to get to the child’s heart and as a way to show them the Gospel and their own need for Jesus. I’m definitely way more of a disciplinarian than a grace-giver, but thankfully I married a grace-giver and so I guess we make a good parenting team.
Destined to Win by Kris Valloton – I was almost finished with this one and then got distracted with all these other ones. But this is a good one! I love Kris’ writings and teachings, because he is practical yet so full of solid truth. This one focuses a lot on finding and walking in our true identity in Christ, which will then enable us to walk fully in the purposes and destinies that we have been created for.
A few other recommends::
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines – This one needs no explaining or marketing arguments, so if you haven’t read the story of America’s favorite couple, do it. I feel like it’s so easy to look at successful people through rose-colored glasses and forget the journey that they had to walk to get to where they are today. They have a fascinating story that is so relatable and inspiring.
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown – This book was life-changing for me when I read it a few years ago. It’s all about identifying shame in your life and using the power of vulnerability to walk free of it. A vulnerable life is a
And David Perceived He Was King by Dale L. Mast – This book has also been life-changing for both Ben and I in the past eight months or so. It’s all about identity identity identity. We’ve been hammered (in the best way!) by the Lord about identity in the past year, and this little book has been instrumental in learning to walk in a new authority and level of identity that we have as children of God.
The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers – This series is my absolute favorite set of novels. It’s set in the Roman empire days and centers around the story of a young slave girl, a wealthy Roman family, and a fierce German gladiator. I’ve read the whole series at least five times in the past years, and I think I’m about to pick it up again.
What about you:: what are you reading currently and/or what are some of your faves?
