Saturday, June 17, 2006

Ten Books That Have Changed My Life

I'm afraid that there isn't anything of interest to report this weekend. Yes, it was a dull week... but so much the better, because I'm really tired of having interesting weeks. *laughs*

I want to take this opportunity to share with all of you the "Top 10" books that have changed my life (apart from the Bible, of course). These are books that have truly stuck with me over the years; that have taught me lessons that I will take with me for a lifetime; that have changed the way I view and treat myself, God, or those around me. So here - in no particular order - is my Top 10 list:

1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - This is the only book on this list that could be categorized as "fiction," and for that reason it is truly special. Redeeming Love is a marvelous retelling of the story of Hosea and Gomer. It is a heartbreaking, beautiful picture of the sacrificial, faithful, and passionate love of God for the church.

2. Discovering Your Divine Assignment by Robin Chaddock - Wow! This book has given me such a sense of direction and purpose in life, and for that I am eternally grateful. Through Robin's book, a LOT of self-exploration, prayer, and meditation, I found out that my Divine Assignment is to Illustrate Wholeness. That is what I bring to the world. And it's not something that I can do on my own, but something that I have to rely on God to help me do. And, let me tell you, this Divine Assignment stuff is exciting!! I'd highly recommend that you check out this book.

3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - There is so much basic, foundational stuff to be found in Lewis' works, and Mere Christianity is no exception.

4. The Lonely God by Ronald Dart - This book has really opened my eyes a bit, and enabled me to better see God as He truly is. After a lifetime of teaching, Mr. Dart has a lot of wisdom to share in the pages of The Lonely God.

5. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning - This book enabled me to be more gracious to myself and others. The fact is, God expects us to fall more often than we do - and there is freedom in that knowledge. God is never going to become disillusioned with us.

6. Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy- As a young woman, I often struggle with feeling that I need others' - and especially guys' - approval and admiration in order to consider myself beautiful. Not so. Authentic Beauty is an honest look into what it means to be beautiful, and how we can each be made whole by our true Prince (Jesus Christ).

7. When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy - This book has profoundly shaped the way that I look at guy/girl relationships, and - I think - saved me from a few mistakes during the last couple years. When God Writes Your Love Story is a humorous, honest, and wise look relationships and how the Author of romances plays a part in them.

8. Look At It This Way by Jan Silvious - This book is chock full of wisdom. Honestly, there is so much to take away from Look At It This Way, that I tend to forget all that I've learned from it. Some chapters in the book include: "What Might Have Been Does Not Exist;" "The Last Chapter Has Not Yet Been Written;" "Attitude Is Everything;" and - my personal favorite - "There Is a God, And You Are Not Him."

9. Margin by Richard Swenson - Overload seems to be an epidemic in American these days. Margin provides the remedy. This book is all about learning to prevent or treat burn-out.

10. The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb - This book has revolutionized the way I approach God in prayer. Has it ever occurred to you that prayer could be a fun thing? That we can actually hear from God? That we can approach God as a real person and simply enjoy each other's company? That what we really need is more of God, as opposed to more from God? Most of those things hadn't occurred to me before reading The PAPA Prayer, but I've found all of them to be true in light of who God is. I've often struggled in my prayer life - not enough time, too much seeming distance between me and God, too much cluttering up my heart - but I feel like I've turned a corner in the journey, and that this book was instrumental in the change.

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