Books I Recommend

Books for Moms, Wives and Parents

2007-07-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ministry of Motherhood
by Sally Clarkson
This has to be my all time favorite book on motherhood. The approach is completely different from most books on parenting. Sally Clarkson approaches the job of motherhood as a ministry. She takes a look at the way that Jesus ministered to his disciples and applies those same methods into motherhood.

Diapers, Pacifiers and Other Holy Things
by Lorraine Pintus
This book was so much fun to read. Lorraine finds a way to allow the sometimes mundane tasks and events of motherhood to teach her something spiritual. It was a paradigm shift for me to think this way. My blog postings at Teach and Tickle are meant to be the same way.

Shepherding a Child's Heart
by Tedd Tripp
A great book to teach parents that parenting is more that just making your kids obey, it is changing and molding their hearts so they understand WHY they obey.

Creative Counterpart
by Linda Dillow
This is a great book for wives to read. I really benefitted from the Priority Planner concept in this book. I also like Linda Dillow's book, Calm My Anxious Heart

Children's Books

2007-07-28T10:01:00.003-05:00

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones

We use this Bible storybook for "family Bible time" in the evenings. It has such a precious way of presenting the big picture of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation. The subtitle is "every story whispers his name." It ties each story to Christ and God's ultimate plan of redemption. BEST CHILDREN'S BIBLE EVER!

Bible for Me Quiet Time by Andy Holmes

I can't find this book in print anymore. The link I found on Amazon is for a book of the same title, but it looks different so I don't know if the content is the same. This book has proven to be priceless. It has little scriptures on each page and immediate applications for each scripture. Our favorite page is Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining." The application part says "Don't be fussy or grouchy; Don't throw fits and don't pout. Choose to have happy feelings and see how well things turn out!" Joey and I can't help but giggle at that one. :)

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

If you don't own these books, go buy them. Now. Joey couldn't wait to have kids so he could read them to the kids. He started reading Narnia books to Jonah when Jonah was three years old. Of course, he was a bit young and mostly just played while Joey read. In fact, Jonah didn't really pay attention to the books until Joey got to the part about the "poop deck" on the Dawn Treader book. At that point, Jonah rolled on the floor laughing and couldn't get enough of the books. He is now 6 years old and really enjoys the books when we read them to him.

The Trophy Chase Trilogy by George Bryan Polivka

Joey and I are almost finished with the last book in this Trilogy. We have enjoyed the books and we will someday read them to the kids.

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton -
We like almost all the books by Sandra Boynton at our house. My favorite has to be Snuggle Puppy. The kids also like Moo,Baa,LaLaLa; Not the Hippopotamus; Dinos to Go; Pajama Time; Blue Hat Green Hat, and...well, all of them.The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper -
Just a classically good book. Jonah used to point out the elephant on every page.

God Made you Nose to Toes by Leslie Parrot -
A cute book especially if you point out all the body parts on your kids as you read about them.

No David! by David Shannon -
This book has horrible looking pictures that I thought would scare the kids, but for some reason the pictures are captivating to our kids. It is also a good way to talk about things that the kids should not do.

The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

This was my husband's favorite book as a child. Our kids thoroughly enjoy it as well.

Sidney and Norman: a tale of two pigs by Phil Vischer

This is one of my new favorite books. Perhaps because it touched me with exactly what I needed to hear the first time I read it. My kids don't exactly get the spiritual meaning behind it yet, but they will someday.

Jesus Must Be Really Special by Jennie Bishop

This is a super book for families. My kids love it.

Other books I Recommend...

2007-07-28T09:48:00.001-05:00

Epicenter: Why the current rumblings in the Middle East will change your future by Joel C. Rosenberg

EXCELLENT book! Joel Rosenberg is very knowledgeable about the Middle East as well as the Bible. He became well known when he wrote his first fiction novel, The Last Jihad. However, Epicenter is not a fiction book. He takes his knowledge of the Middle East and combines it with his knowledge of scripture and basically lines out what will need to happen in the world in order for the Biblical prophecies to come true. Read it. It will rock your world.

Live life on Purpose by Claude Hickman

This is a great book! I am not just saying that because my husband and I know Claude personally, I really think it is a great book. Claude and his wife Rebekah lead a group called "The Traveling Team" which speaks to thousands of college students every year motivating them to embrace God's call on their lives and challenging them to understand God's heart for the nations. It is not just a book for college students - it should be required reading for all Christians.

Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll is the pastor of Mars Hill church in Seattle. This is the church that my brother-in-law attends. For some reason, Driscoll is often placed in the same category as some wacky pastors who water down the message of the gospel just to get people in their church doors. I can tell you, that perception is totally wrong. Mark Driscoll sets himself apart from the shallow teachers out there by actually knowing his Bible and not watering it down the message. He sets himself apart from the opposite extreme also by steering people away from the Pharisaical fundamentalism and legalism that is found within Christianity as well. His message and methods are fresh and his style is one that can reach a generation/group of people who have become frustrated with the "churchiness" of the church now days. I enjoyed reading his book. It might be a bit edgy for some people in my home church here in Tulsa, but good nonetheless.

Preaching the Word Series by R. Kent Hughes

I discovered these books in college while leading small group studies. R. Kent Hughes is a great pastor and teacher and it comes though in his books. The "Preaching the Word" series covers almost all of the books of the New Testament. I only own 4 of them, but they are WONDERFUL resources. Note to any readers: if you are looking for anything to buy me for Christmas or birthday or whatever...you can't go wrong with one of these. I would really like to have the one over Isaiah or the Sermon on the Mount one that he did.

To Live Is Christ by Beth Moore

This is a study on the book of Acts and the letters of the apostle Paul. I was fortunate enough to do this study at our church in Oklahoma City and watch the videos of Beth Moore teaching each week. It was a great study. I know some people take issue with Beth Moore on certain issues (which I think are pretty silly, to be frank), but she is by far the best woman teacher of God's Word that I have ever heard or read.

All But My Life by Gerda Weissman Klein

I really enjoy reading about the Holocaust and the experiences of those who survived. This is one such story. Students should be required to read it as part of their history lessons.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

This is a fiction book and an old one at that (originally came out in the 70's - I think). Anyway, I found it very easy to read and interesting. It is about an atomic attack on the US and the aftermath. It is a bit scary and kind of made me want to store up a few items in a cellar just in case...

Out of America: A black man confronts Africa by Keith B. Richburg

I read this book in college for one of my history classes. While I had a very hard time dealing with the graphic nature of the situations Richburg witnessed and describes, I am glad that I read it. Richburg was a reporter for the Washington Post and stationed in Africa during some of the worst years of African history. He concludes that black Americans often mistakenly glorify the "motherland" of Africa. While he abhors the atrocities of slavery, he concedes that that institution got his ancestors out of Africa and brought them to America, and for that he is grateful. A bit controversial, as you might imagine.