2013 Book List

I read some amazing books this year. Some that I would highly recommend. Just Do Something, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, No Graven Images, Tortured For Christ, and Early Would I Seek Thee are probably at the top of the list.

Absolute Surrender   Andrew Murray

Trusting God in a Twisted World   Elisabeth Elliot

Just Do Something Kevin De Young

Treasures We Leave Behind Joy Gage

Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Family Gatherings Helen Kay Polaski

The Good and Bad of Ninety Plus Years Bob Jones (Grandpa)

When God says Go Lorry Lutz

The Pursuit of Holiness  Jerry Bridges

No Graven Image Elisabeth Elliot

Sex Isn't the Problem (Lust is) Joshua Harris

The Autogiography of George Muller

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die John Piper

Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer (Abridged)

The Faith of Helen Keller

Not I, But Christ Corrie ten Boom

Maria Eugenia Price

Tortured For Christ Richard Wurmbrand

The Lighthouse Eugenia Price

New Moon Rising Eugenia Price

Early Will I seek Thee Eugenia Price

A Step Further Joni Eareckson and Steve Estes

The Waiting Time Eugenia Price

When I don't Desire God John Piper *

To Live is Christ To Die is Gain Matt Chandler *

Respectable Sins Jerry Brides *

God's Smuggler Brother Andrew

Slave John MacArthur

*audio books

Perks of Singleness

Last week I posted a status message about my mental list of the perks of singleness. While the stat was written totally being silly I received requests to share my "list".  We will see how well it goes to write it down.

I will start out with a disclaimer: This is meant to be lighthearted. I do not mean to demean the blessing of children or even of marriage. These are just things I enjoy in this stage of my life.

There will be no particular order. They definitely aren't in order of importance. Just as they pop into my mind.

1. Travel: I love to travel. Single I am much freer to pick up and go than if I was a wife and mother.

2. Sleep: I like sleep. Who doesn't? Whenever I am really tired and I watch a mother having to get up very early, or in the night it makes me thankful for my freedom to sleep.

3. Clothes/Fashion: Some guys (not all) are very particular about what their women wear. I bought a pretty winter hat a few weeks ago. I know a lot of guys don't like hats but since I don't have a man to please I wear what I want. :)

4. Freedom to give: Singleness means more time and money (usually) to be able to help others.

5. Reading: Anyone who has known me more than five minutes knows I love to read. There are times I don't think I could have a conversation of any depth without referencing books. A family would greatly diminish the amount of time I get to spend in books.

6. No husband = no pregnancy = no labor! Enough said on that one! :)

7. Parenting: I am not sure what to say about this one. The older I get the scarier parenting looks. Parenting is an awesome (and I mean that in the deepest sense of the word) responsibility. I am in no hurry to rush into it.

8. Singleness means more time with my parents. Though I am gone five days a week now, I still get to go home every weekend and I love it.

So there you have it, Ladies. There are many, many little things I am always finding that belong on this list but most of the things fit in these categories.

Passage from What is the Gospel

I read the book What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert a few months back. One section at the end jumped out at me. It pretty much slapped me across the face. Just thought I would share.

  Also, Christian, the gospel should drive you to a deeper and livelier love for God's people, the church. Not one of us Christians has earned his or her way into the inheritance God has stored up for us. We are not "self-made" citizens of the kingdom. We are included in God's promises only because we know that we are dependent on Jesus Christ to save us, and we are united to him by faith. But here's the kicker. Do you realize that the same thing is true of that brother or sister in your church who annoys you? He or she believes in and loves the same Lord Jesus that you do, and even more, he or she has been saved and forgiven by the same Lord who saved and forgave you. Think about that brother or sister you've not really taken the time to get to know because you just don't think you'd click. Think about that person with whom you have broken relationship that you've refused to repair. Now consider that he or she loves and trust in the same Lord you do. Consider that the same Lord who died for you, also died for him, for her.
  I wonder if your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news that Jesus saved you even though you didn't deserve it - is deep enough to swallow up that little criticism you have of your brothers and sisters. I wonder if it's deep enough to sink the offenses they've committed against you, even the most painful ones, and lead you to forgive them and love them just as Jesus himself has done for both of you.
  I wonder if the vastness of God's love for you has increased your love for others.

Book List for 2012

A few years ago I started keeping track of the books I read. When I finish a book I write down the title, author, and date I finish it. It has been so much fun to be able to look back and remember each one. Here is my 2012 list.

If: What do We Know of Calvory Love - Amy Carmichael 

Call the Sabbath a Delight   - Walter Chantry

The Radical Cross - A.W. Tozer

Loneliness - Elisabeth Elliot

Discipline: The Glad Surrender - Elisabeth Elliot

Don't Waste Your life - John Piper

These Strange Ashes - Elisabeth Elliot

Future Grace - John Piper

L'Abri - Edith Schaeffer

Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right and lived to take all (or Almost All) of It Back  - Frank Schaeffer

What is a Healthy Church - Mark Dever

Let's Just be Friends - H. Norman Wright

Secure in the Everlasting Arms - Elisabeth Elliot

Outrageous Forgiveness - Larry Lilly

Treasures of the Snow - Patricia St. John

Worldliness - C.J. Mahaney

Winning Him Without Words - L. Donovan & D. Miller

I Will Carry You - Angie Smith

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

Surrender - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Around the World in 80 Days -Jules Verne

Love Has a Price Tag - Elisabeth Elliot

Let Me Be a Woman - Elisabeth Elliot

Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot

The Explicit Gospel - Matt Chandler

Mistaken Identity - Cerak, VanRyn

The Prayer Matrix - David Jeremiah

WHat is the Gospel - Greg Gilvert

Radical Hospitality - David and Ruth Rupperecht