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Showing posts with label Reading List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading List. Show all posts

Friday, March 14, 2014

Reading List Update

Well, I thought I'd give you all an update on how I'm doing on my reading list for 2014. I cannot believe we are already into the month of March for 2014! This year is flying by!

Reading List


January's book, A Mind for God by Dr. James Emery White, was really a great one to start the year off with. Encouraging readers to develop a mind for God, he challenges us as Christians to break free from secular cultural influences that threaten to take us from the spiritual disciplines of reading, study, and reflection. Dr. White includes an appendix of books and resources to help "grow your brain". Needless to say, I discovered many other titles that I want to read at some point. I bought the Kindle version, but it is also available in paperback if you prefer. I go back and forth with the versions I buy. I love my Kindle, but also love the feel of an actual book in my hands.

I have to say here that our Women's Ministry at my church started the year off with a book study of Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind by Joyce Meyer, so I've been reading it each month as well. We are dividing up the chapters and doing the work in the study guide each month. We are taking our time so I'm not sure how long it will take to finish. It is a great book! One of the main points that I've learned through the book so far is that I need to think about what I'm thinking about.

Just last month my Pastor assigned those of us on the leadership team and all the pastoral staff to read Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People by Pastor Jim Cymbala. My husband who is our Children's Pastor and I are reading this one together. It is powerful! In this book, Pastor Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle shares all that has happened in his church since the people there got serious about prayer and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. Their journey has God's fingerprints all over it! It has created a fire in my heart and my husband's also for a more focused prayer life.

So I'm deep into those two books currently, which means I have yet to get into what I had planned on reading in February, Gideon: Your weakness. God's strength. by Priscilla Shirer, and A Woman's High Calling: 10 Ways to Live Out God's Plan for Your Life by Elizabeth George, which I was supposed to read this month. I was so excited about reading them, but I don't want to be reading too many books at one time because I don't think I'll be able to get the most personal growth out of my reading that way. Since our Women's Ministry book study will probably be going on for several more months, I'll just read it alongside the books I have on my reading list. I'm almost finished with Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. I'm not sure if I want to pick up Gideon or A Woman's High Calling for the rest of this month. Ahh, decisions, decisions...lol!

How's your reading going so far this year? Have you found yourself adding to your ever-growing reading list like me? I'd like to hear how it's going with you, so feel free to leave me a comment!

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie
 

Monday, December 23, 2013

My Reading List for 2014

I love to read, and since we are almost ready to say goodbye to 2013, I thought I would create a reading list for 2014. I did not get to read as many books this year as I had hoped, but then again, I didn't sit down to make a reading list either. The books I did enjoy reading this year include:  


I have blog posts on the book studies I did this year with What Happens When Women Say Yes to God and How to Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You: A Mom's Guide to Overcoming. I really enjoyed reading these books with other like-minded women - we learned a lot! If you've never been a part of a book study, I highly recommend it. I'm praying about leading a book study of Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms in the new year, so stay tuned...I'd love to have you join me!

I hope to read more in 2014, so with that goal in mind I thought I'd better come up with a written plan. My goal is to read one book a month.

I enjoy reading books for spiritual growth (my Bible being my main source). I'm always on the lookout for books that fit into this category. Whenever I find a deal in our local Christian bookstore or a freebie for my Kindle or Nook, I always get it! Needless to say, I have lots of titles to choose from on my Kindle and Nook. I also have a bookshelf in our homeschool room that holds the books I have enjoyed as well as the books I've bought with the intention of reading one day. To say it was hard to pick from such a plethora is an understatement! I even requested book recommendations of a pastor friend who enjoys reading as much as I do. I'm so glad I did because I found some great books from his suggestions that I'm looking forward to reading.

So after much thought and consideration, here is my reading list for 2014...



January - A Mind for God by Dr. James Emery White

February - Gideon by Priscilla Shirer

March - A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George 

April - The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

May - The Power of Suffering: Strengthening Your Faith in the Refiner's Fire by John MacArthur

June - Be Committed (Ruth & Esther): Doing God's Will Whatever the Cost by Warren Wiersbe 

July - Women Living Well: Find Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids, and Your Home by Courtney Joseph

August - The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

September - The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

October - Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado

November -  Knowing God by J.I. Packer

December - God in the Manger by John MacArthur


I didn't realize it would be so hard to make my choices...there are so many wonderful books that I wanted to include! Who knows, maybe I'll be disciplined enough to read more than one book per month. We'll see! I'll keep you updated on what I'm reading each month with a blog post.

So...how about you...do you have a reading list for 2014? I'd love to hear if you do, and the titles you have on your list, so please share in the comments!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie