The Grand Reveal—Summer Reading At Its Best!!

May 28, 20126 Comments

There’s something innately satisfying to me about list-making. Everything in my life can be a chaotic jumble, but setting pen to paper and filling lines of a simple spiral notebook eases my tension.

I’ve always been a list-maker. List of books I’m reading and another list of books to read. List of classes to take. List of cleaning projects and a list for writing projects. List of summer plans (typed up in Excel and charted out with space for recurring activities, day-trips and special events). Grocery shopping lists. To-do lists. Song lists.

My brain essentially exists on paper.

It’s little surprise then that one of my favorite activities is making a summer reading list. It’s something I enjoy almost as much as actually reading the books!! Some of you shared with me your top choices, so here is our joint compilation of book recommendations. I’ve already read some, but others are sitting on my shelf waiting for their turn.

You can always click on the Bookshelf page on the blog for a list of what I’ve been reading and for book reviews.

You can also comment on this post with your own summer reading ideas. It’s never too late to add to the collection and it is one of my great joys to hear from you!!!!

Bible Studies: Looking for a study to do over the summer? Consider one of these!

Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break by Kelly Minter: Both Beth Moore and the Women’s Bible Cafe will be running online studies of this great book. If you want to participate, though, find a copy of the book now!!! With thousands of women studying together, these will be in huge demand.
Anything by Priscilla Shirer—Two of my most favorites are: Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted or One In a Million.
James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore–This book packs so much power into a few short chapters and the study was a great in-depth challenge!

Non-Fiction–Christian Living:

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg—There are so many aspects of Jesus’ teaching that become clearer when we understand what in the world He’s talking about. Many times He used Jewish idiom and Hebrew phrases that we’ve twisted and overlooked and misunderstood.
A Heart Like His by Beth Moore: This is one of my favorite Beth Moore books, a study on David’s life covering 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles and much of the Psalms. She’s re-released the book in paperbook, so it’s a great time to pick up a copy! You can read my full book review here.
What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms by Angie Smith. I read this book at the beginning of the year and it was beautiful, challenging and encouraging.
You’re Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be by Holley Gerth: This is one of those books that came from your recommendation and I am so excited to read it!
Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free From Emotions that Control You by Andy Stanley: I loved this fresh and insightful book by Andy Stanley. He discussed anger, guilt, jealousy and greed in such a unique way and he offered specific, practical ways to overcome these strongholds. You can read my whole book review here.
The Defender’s Guide for Life’s Toughest Questions by Ray Comfort: Another one of your recommendations. Here’s some of what Heather Pantano has to say: “He is an apologist who has compiled tons of questions (with his response) sent to him by detractors (primarily atheists) through his career. He covers everything from evolution to philosophy. He is irreverent and sometimes downright sarcastic but he speaks directly from the Bible and answers some really tough questions with simple straightforward frankness.”

Non-Fiction–Books on Marriage:

Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs: Hands-down, no contest my favorite book on marriage. I’ve recommended it to so many struggling couples because it so accurately identifies two huge pitfalls in most relationships, and (no surprise) it comes straight from Scripture.
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller: This is the best marriage book I’ve ever read for singles. As a tool for those already married, it offers a few practical insights to address problems. But, the majority of Keller’s time is spent talking about marriage theory—as a covenant relationship—and why God’s ideas about marriage are so good, so it’s a fantastic tool for those deciding how to behave before marriage, why to get married, and what to expect when you say, “I do.”
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O’Martian: I love praying through these prayers for my husband. My copy is worn to pieces!
The Power of Prayer to Change your Marriage by Stormie O’Martian: For marriages that are struggling, this is my go-to recommendation for prayer ideas. This book specifically prays through 14 major threats to lasting marriages.

Biography:

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas: This biography of the famous German theologian who led the German church in a resistance to Hitler does more than just tell facts about his life. It completely altered my perspective and understanding of the Christian fight against the Nazi regime and informed my theology.
Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper: This is another biography that can change how you live by reading how someone else lived. William Wilberforce, the great English politician who led the nation’s fight to abolish slavery also influenced the British church’s involvement in issues of social justice and showed how you can serve God wherever he has placed you, not just by entering into full-time ministry.

Fiction:

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn: I’m not normally a Christian fiction connoisseur, but this one came at your recommendation and I’m excited to read it. I looked up the reviews on Christianbook.com and people were saying it was a “life-changing” read. Even Jesus believed in the power of story to change lives!
If you’re looking for some classic literature to dig into over the summer, can I recommend one of my most favorites (I have so many!!)? I’m a Dickens fan and my favorite had always been Bleak House. A few years ago, though, I read Little Dorrit and it is now a rival for my top spot. With all of Dickens’s normal satire on class politics and social injustice, it’s more importantly a book about imprisonment and how even when we are physically free, we can be chained by our past and destroyed by shame and the incessant worry that others might discover the truth about us.

So, whether you’re reading in the car on vacation trips and traveling, kicked back by the pool or the beach with a good book, or flopped on your sofa during a summer storm, I hope there’s a book or two in here you can enjoy this summer!

Heather King is a wife, mom, Bible Study teacher, writer for www.myfrienddebbie.com and worship leader. Most importantly, she is a Christ follower with a desire to help others apply the Bible to everyday life with all its mess, noise, and busyness. To read more devotionals by Heather King, click here.

Weekend Walk, 03/10/2012

March 10, 2012March 10, 2012Leave a comment

Hiding the Word:

We’ve returned home after a long and exciting family day at our area Awana games. Our two oldest girls competed in Sparks-A-Rama for the first time. We cheered them on from the bleechers as they popped balloons, dodged balls, and ran like lightning-ish around the gym floor.

Our coaches and the kids worked hard for weeks to practice the games, to learn the rules, and to develop discipline, listening skills, teamwork and kindness.

I was so proud of our team. Not only that, but I loved the sweet cheerleading of my youngest daughter as she sat in the stands and picked her sisters out from the crowd. Whether they were racing or sitting on the line while another team played, Catherine didn’t stop yelling, “Go, Toria! Go Lauren!”

We all need people in the stands cheering us on, whether we’re in the thick of the battle or resting for a few quiet moments. God has commissioned us all with pom poms and asked us to call out our words of praise, perseverance, and encouragement for others.

So, that’s the verse that’s on my heart for the week. It’s a challenge to each of us to be the cheerleader that someone else needs.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV).

Weekend Rerun:

The Giving of Courage
Originally Published 04/27/2011

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 20:24-25

My sweet baby girl is my cheerleader. I finish putting the clothes in the dryer and she claps her hands excitedly for me. I change her diaper; she shouts yay! yay! and applauds with enthusiasm. I drop the last of her toys into the basket and she does a happy dance and showers me with praise. When I slide the last puzzle piece into place with her, she cheers and shouts. If you spent the tiniest bit of time in my home, you’d think I won an Olympic medal every hour all day long because my “crowd goes wild” just that often. My little crowd of one tiny, joyful cheerleader.

Has someone been a cheerleader for you before?

You sit tired in the pew at church after the rush of Sunday morning preparation, but you made it and all your children sit next to you with clean clothes on. Small victories. Then a comforting hand reaches across your shoulder and a friend tells you, “Great job. You’re such a great mom.”

You push your cart through the grocery store and try to efficiently and frugally shop all while monitoring the arms and legs of your various kids and periodically reminding them to use “inside voices,” when an unknown woman whispers to you, “Your children are so well-behaved.”

You pour yourself out into the ministry you know God has called you to and yet there are those moments and days when you wonder if it really matters, if it does any good, if anybody is blessed by it, if it’s worth the time and effort you spend on it. Then, you sort through the bills after collecting your mail and find buried in there a card from a friend, a note of appreciation and thanks, a prayer, a verse.

You’ve been struggling. Life is hard. You don’t know what decisions to make. You’re hurting and overwhelmed. Then an email arrives and a friend says, “I’m praying for you.”

God uses others to bring us these messages of hope and encouragement at just the right moments in our lives, filling needs we can’t even always identify. It’s one of the reasons He designed us to travel together—He knows our hearts sometimes need this cheerleading from others. When we stray from the group, when we go off on our own and try to live faith solo, we are easy prey for attack. The Israelites learned this on their journey out of Egypt: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God” (Deuteronomy 25:17-18, NIV).

If your heart is weary and in need of some encouragement today, look to your right and your left for your group; be sure that you are connected and not lagging behind. Perhaps the first step needs to come from you in a search for the Christian community that will walk alongside you and encourage you along the journey to the Promised Land.

But you can also ask God for the refreshing your heart needs. He knows exactly what will fill your spirit, giving you strength to overcome fatigue, guidance when you need direction, laughter when your heart lacks joy. As the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness, God led them to an oasis: “They came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters” (Exodus 15:27). Priscilla Shirer writes: “‘Twelve springs of water’ to match the twelve tribes of Israel. What a great illustration of God’s overwhelming care and specific concern for His people. He knows exactly what it takes to refresh you.”

He is the shepherd who knows His sheep. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” (Psalm 23:2-3). Sometimes we sheep feel the hunger and thirst; we know we are empty and in need of filling, but we depend on a Shepherd to guide us to the perfect place for refreshing and provision.

And when He has led us beside the waters so perfect and the green pastures so filling, we have a testimony to share with others, a story to help them along the way as well. Like the Psalmist, we declare:

“Return to your rest, my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 116:7-8).

We who have received encouragement, in turn encourage others through our testimony. This encouraging truly is the giving of courage, placing it into the heart of another. Isn’t that what this cheerleading does? It renews our strength so that we persevere and press on. God asks us to do this for one another, to stand on the sidelines of a race and cheer, shout, and applaud for the runners: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV).

How can you be a cheerleader for someone else today?

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Two steps forward and two steps back (or so it seems)

March 7, 2012Leave a comment

This was an unfortunate setback.

A few weeks ago, my husband gently suggested that it may be time for a serious attempt at potty training my two-year-old.

Now, to understand how I felt about this I first have to tell you potty training my two older girls was no easy task. In fact, it’s fair to say that I’ve never felt as much like a failure in my life as when I was pleading with a toddler just to sit on the potty chair.

I laid awake at night designing reward charts and incentive plans.
I prayed for help from Almighty God so that my kids would be ready for preschool.
I bought books, movies, stickers, M&Ms, toys, and more to bribe them into success.
I avoided all moms who proudly announced their genius 18-month old had been perfectly trained with absolutely no effort in all of a day.

But my husband is a good husband and I’m a good wife. So, when he asked me to start potty training my toddler, I plunged into what I was sure would be months and months of misery, stress and clean-up.

I pulled out the trusty movie, Potty Power. I explained underwear to my daughter. Every 15 minutes, I picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

And a miracle happened. A real live, genuine miracle of God.

She figured it out. She wanted to learn. She graduated to underwear in a matter of days. I bet God never had anyone thank Him so much for help potty training her child.

And then.

Then there was the setback. One week of sickness kicked my baby girl back into Pull-Ups and made her absolutely terrified of a trip to the bathroom. Now my sanity is loosely held together by a can of Resolve and a bottle of Febreze.

I was discouraged. She was scared and confused. We’re baby-stepping our way forward, hoping to regain lost ground.

Have you ever encountered a setback that left you dazed, uncertain, and full of fear?

Perhaps you stepped out in obedience to what you believed was God’s call, but circumstances shifted, obstacles arose, and you’re not reaching the goal. Perhaps you’ve even begun to question whether you heard God clearly and made the right decision in the first place.

Sometimes God’s plan just doesn’t make sense to us.

For the Israelites leaving slavery in Egypt, the most logical route to the Promised Land was straight along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. After a few battles with the Philistines, the Isrealites thought they’d march right into Canaan after no more than a month-long journey.

God had other plans. Exodus 13:17 tells us: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.'”

Sometimes God takes us the long way around for our own benefit. In her book One in a Million, Prisicllar Shirer writes that “the wilderness is often safer than the alternative” (p 73). God chose the wilderness for His people. Maybe He’s chosen it for you, as well, for your protection and personal growth.

Even after the Israelites followed the pillars of cloud and fire in the direction God had chosen to take them, there were still setbacks. In Exodus 14:2, God said, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back.”

Turn back?

God led them one way only to turn them around and march them off in a different direction? Did it seem like God had momentarily lost His compass in the desert?

And yet, this turning back placed the Israelites on the banks of the Red Sea and the only way across now was through His miraculous deliverance.

He turned them around so that He could save them.

So, what do we do as we make confusing desert tracks in the wilderness in our efforts to follow God’s lead?

We could give up. We could question our listening skills. We could doubt God’s leadership. We could stomp off and follow our own course.

Or we could remain focused on our goal and the passion God has placed in our hearts. That’s the only way the Israelites made it to the Promised Land. It’s the only way we’ll receive all that God has promised us.

It’s also the only way Nehemiah saw the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt. Kelly Minter in her book Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break, writes:

“After verbal assaults, physical threats, discouraged laborers, abuses of power and economic distress, Nehemiah never diverted his focus from the wall. The process may have been slowed and altered as a result of enemies and wayward citizens, but the goal never changed.”

In fact, Nehemiah himself writes, “I also persevered in the work on this wall” (Nehemiah 5:16, ESV).

He continued to build despite threats, fear, confusion, discouragement, distractions and disappointments. He continued to build despite setbacks. He never stopped placing brick on top of brick on top of brick in obedience to God.

What has God asked you to build? Choose today to place another brick on this wall instead of giving up because of obstacles and disappointments. Choose to “persevere in the work on this wall.”