Devotional
I am so grateful that God uses people to write devotional guides to help us along our spiritual journey. It’s nice to listen in on the things that God has spoken to other humans that may also be relevant to the paths on which we must travel. It’s important to remember however, that a devotional reading should never take the place of reading God’s Word, the Bible. Devotion begins with our covenantal commitment to a loving and holy God. It’s a time for us to build deeper intimacy with Him; listening and learning as He guides through our daily lives.
Non Fiction
As we mature in Christ, God may highlight particular areas that will enhance our knowledge of Him. Topical books on subjects like prayer, spiritual disciplines, or love can offer insights that facilitate a deeper understanding of what He is requiring of us during a given season of walking with Him. This is just a sampling of some of my favorites that have made a profound impact on my spiritual growth. Some of them also have study questions in the back of the book that makes it easy to share with others in group study.
Fiction
Many people underestimate the power of a fictional story. It can have a profound impact when written by someone who lives their lives from a biblical worldview. The Frank Peretti series helped to shed light on the realities of how spiritual warfare unfolds in the lives of believers. Early in our ministry, these books made quite a difference in how my husband and I faced some of the hardships of ministry. It’s important not to utilize these books as factual references, but rather to enjoy them as helpful tools for looking at complex issues we may face.
Teens and Young Adults
The bible tells us that parents are responsible for training their children. The fast paced world we live in may at times tempt us to leave this training to others. There are many great teachers in our society, in public and spiritual education, but none of them can replace the power of connection between a parent and a child. Faithful bible instruction and prayer are the foundation to everything else. The books below are just a few that we utilized to help clarify some of the developmental changes young people go through in life. They are helpful tools to start a dialog between you and your child.
Children’s Books
There is nothing more precious than bonding with children through Read Aloud books. When my children snuggled all around me for story time, they had no idea how I was using the stories to help shape their character and their view of God. The books I listed below have left an indelible imprint upon my children. Even though they are all grown now, they constantly reference these stories. My oldest son recently commented that “The Song of the KIng”, by Max Lucado influences his decision making to this day. I am looking forward to continuing this legacy with my grandson and future children to come.
