I haven't managed to pull together my "best of" reading list for 2012. I didn't stick to the plan, as they say, though I did muddle along. I read four works of fiction, which is quite the feat, since my book lists tend to be heavy on discipleship and theology.
Ink and Jake are quite proud of me.
I finally tackled a Wodehouse book, and I'm officially hooked! Yes, he's a make-you-laugh-out-loud kind of author, whose books every Mom should keep by her bedside.
My least favorite book this past year was Jen Hatmaker's
Seven. I know. I don't go with the flow on this one. In fact, I haven't come across one negative review. While Jen had some great ideas and some substantial food for thought, her low view of the church was disappointing, as well as her admitting that spiritual disciplines are low on her priority list compared to feeding the homeless, living with less, etc. If you're going to read this one, please read it with caution, remembering that our acts of service should never replace time in the Word and in prayer and worshipping with the saints. A much more Biblically sound option to this book is
The Micah Mandate by George Grant.
There's so much to read that sometimes it's hard to know where to start. But I
know these are books that you will need at some point. How do I know this?
Because...
Every one of us will want to be more organized and use our time wisely.
Every one of us will battle wanting what someone else has and not wanting what God has given us.
Every one of us will be tempted to make decisions influenced by the foolishness of popular culture instead of the wisdom of the Word.
Every one of us will encounter Christians who tell us worship isn't being part of a church but rather climbing to the highest mountain and breathing in the fresh air while listening to our own inner voice.
Every one of us will be tempted to put aside the important disciplines of prayer and Bible study for the tyranny of the urgent.
Every one of us will face circumstances that tempt us to question God's sovereignty and goodness.
Ok, so it's not my psychic powers that tell me this, it's my own battle with my flesh, a battle every Christian faces every moment of every day of the year. There are ways in which all of us are very much alike.
These are some of my favorite reads for beginning the new year:
1)
The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin: Who doesn't want to be more organized at the start of a new year, and yet, how many of us fail to stick to the plan by the time February rolls around? If you want to be more organized, start with this book. It lays a sound foundation for whatever method or plan you're using.
2)
Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney: Who doesn't want to be a better steward of their time? This book is a fun, short read that packs quite the convicting punch. I love that Mahaney doesn't compromise on our time in the Word, as many authors today are doing. His Word is essential food, and we must feast on it daily.
3)
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes by Ken Myers: I first heard of this book from R.C. Sproul, Jr. When his wife asked him how to know what she should read, he directed her to this book. You'll be surprised by how much your thinking is affected by popular culture.
4)
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney: Yes, there are some valid criticisms of this book, but it is one of the best I've read on cultivating spiritual disciplines. Whitney quotes heavily from the Puritans and maintains an encouraging tone throughout the book.
5)
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs: You will battle discontentment at some point in the year. And murmuring and grumbling are grievous sins that question God's wisdom and sovereign care of us. Reading this book is humbling and convicting and powerfully instructive in how to be content, whatever our circumstances.
6)
All Things for Good by Thomas Watson: There will be something that will happen in 2013 to tempt you to question His wisdom and goodness and sovereignty. I remember sitting in a parking lot reading from this book and just weeping, weeping over my ingratitude to the LORD and weeping over His goodness to such a worm as I.
7)
The Love of God, Vol. 1 and 2 by D. A. Carson: Reading through the Bible in a year or two? These books offer brief, yet deep, commentary that bring the Old and New Testaments together. It's so important to see the "big picture" of the Word and not just settle in the New Testament. All of the Word is about Jesus.
8)
Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck: If we love Him, then we will love His people and want to be in fellowship with them, not just at the local Starbucks, either. In our individualistic society, we've bought into the lie that corporate worship and church membership are not important. They are. DeYoung and Kluck offer a sobering yet humorous look at the importance of commitment to the body of Christ.
Do you have a book that encourages you at the start of a new year?
With love,
Trisha
