Recommended Resources
The resources recommended here (all affiliate links) are those which I have not only read from cover to cover (with a few noted exceptions) but which are also my favorites and many have had a significant impact on my life. If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask away!
Nonfiction For Parents and Their Children
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Illustrated by Jago – This book taught me how “every story whispers his name” and significantly increased my understanding of the big picture of the Bible.
8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters by Dannah Gresh – I did this with both of my girls and WE ALL LOVED IT! This opened doors of communication and helped knit me together to my daughters and gave me guidance in guiding them. which I really needed! Perfect for late elementary school girls.
The Action Bible by David C Cooke and Illustrated by Sergio Cariello – My kids have each read this Bible MULTIPLE times and they always come away with new insight on the character of God and man. I like to read it alongside scripture. It helps me understand Old Testament History and it often brings me fresh revelation.
God’s Names by Sally Michael – This book was a HUGE help in growing in the knowledge of God’s identity. Also has brought me fresh revelation.
Nonfiction For Parents and Their Teens
What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh – Did you know there are two different kinds of sex as defined by the Bible? YOU GOTTA READ THIS BOOK.
Passport2Purity Getaway Kit from Family Life – Did this with all three of our children. Recommended to do RIGHT BEFORE kids hit puberty and especially if they are immersed in a secular environment. Has timeless illustrations that we STILL talk about today with regards to dating at age 17 and 18.
Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh – God is tearing down lies for his people right now left and right. This is a book targeted at giving Him room to do just that with your daughters. We read it in 7th and 8th grade. Opens the door to wisdom. Yes, teenagers can be wise.
You Have a Brain: A Teen’s Guide to T.H.I.N.K. Big by Ben Carson – Don’t be a victim. You have a brain. You can think well and solve problems.
Testimonies
Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs and Lived to Tell My Story by Brian Welch
The Con Man’s Daughter: A Story of Love, Desperation and Finding God by Candice Curry
I am Second by Dave Sterret and Doug Bender
Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
The Noble Dream by Charles Mugisha Bureygeya
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
Nonfiction For Married Couples
Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs – I have not read this one yet, but know it’s a goodie!
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn – This Bible study changed my life because God used it to save my marriage and make me an awesome wife during a tough time.
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian – Carried me through times when I was desperate and desperately praying.
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman – Words of Affirmation mean everything to me and that’s how you can fill my love tank, but when I pour them on my husband and I think I’m loving him well, they mean nothing. His love language is Acts of Service. Read this book so you can know the love language of those you want to love well and, with laser focus, fill their love tank more efficiently.
Nonfiction For Adult Learners
With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray – Easy Biblical read.
The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson – A main thing that stuck with me is sometimes we have our own thoughts we must overcome. We may have formed this thoughts over years through habit and we must purposefully form habits to reshape them. And sometimes we have thoughts our enemy, our accuser, speaks into our life. These can be more quickly and easily cast out.
Freedom Tools by Andy Reese and Jennifer Barnett – What has had the biggest impact on me are the parables in Luke 15. Freedom prayer opens the door to make room for God to bring freedom regardless of which parables fit you.
Perhaps you are the lost coin, of great value, but abused, neglected and cast aside in the dirt, you have forgotten your value. God seeks you out. He finds you and restores your knowledge of your great worth, which was never diminished by said neglect and abuse. He celebrates you!
Perhaps you are the lost sheep. For whatever reason, maybe even naivety or lack of knowledge, you are separated, entangled and stuck. God seeks you out. He finds you. He untangles you. He carries you himself, on his shoulders, (you don’t even have to walk!) and brings you home. He celebrates!
Perhaps you are the prodigal son and have defiantly left God. You’ve come to the end of yourself and you want to return home but you’re afraid because you know you did wrong. You come back slowly with a lot of fear and a little hope. God is waiting for you. When he sees you coming, he runs to you quickly. He restores your position in the family and, you guessed it, He celebrates!
Perhaps you are the older brother and you’ve stayed with God. You’re a little jealous (a lot jealous?) about all this celebration over everyone else and begin to grumble a bit and remind God how good you’ve been. He reminds you of his love and that it’s not about your performance. He reminds you there are no limits on your inheritance with him. He encourages you to enjoy that which is yours! Celebrate!
The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast by Kristen Feola – I used this book to prepare for and walk through my first Daniel Fast.
Confessions by Saint Augustine, Translated by Henry Chadwick – Heavy reading. I learned darkness/evil is not something God created. It’s what we have in the absence of God. Was also struck by the heart of Augustine’s mother who wept and prayed for him for years on end before he found Christ.
Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey – Dave can sometimes sound like a jerk on the radio, but if you listen to him long enough, you quickly learn he has a big heart. Might not want to follow his advice, BUT if you’re struggling with debt or financial issues, probably need to rethink your ways and follow the hard advice of his tried, true and proven program.
Beyond Ourselves by Catherine Marshall – My great grandmother’s book. Catherine taught me I could laugh at a hard thing, such as an extreme illness. Brought back a memory of when I dealt with a terrible rectal prolapse issue with a child that brought me great fear. One day, I laughed when dealing with it and it never came back.
My Favorite Devotion
Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman – I’m not a big fan of reading devotionals. This is the only one I enjoy.
Fiction (Adult and Juvenile)
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery