Hear my reviews on the No Higher Calling Podcast!
The Cross Cultural Worker’s Spiritual Survival Guide
by:
Don Mingo
This book was a fabulous resource for those who are called to minister abroad. As a missionary, every chapter was an encouragement and help to me.
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Gentle and Lowly
by:
Dane Ortlund
A most beautiful contrast of God’s just holiness and Christ’s gentle, meek spirit are portrayed in this book. This book helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the heart of my Savior, therefore endearing my heart to His even more. A must-read!
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Social Sanity in an Insta World
by:
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
We live in an age where notifications constantly ping and social media calls us to it’s addicting scroll. How do we find balance? Technology can be a wonderful tool, when used it in’s proper place. This book provided though provoking analysis, as well as practical suggestions to be in control of your devices instead of letting them control you.
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The Choice is Yours
by:
Terrie Chappell
Every day we live, we are faced with choices. Some are simple like “what will we eat for dinner.” Others carry greater weight “what will I do with my future” or “what place does faith have in my life”? Terrie Chappell writes about several big decisions we face in life and provides biblical advice on how to make the best choice- the God glorifying choice!
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The Heart of the Shepherd
by:
Stephen Chappell
Stephen Chappell studies through Psalm 23 and looks at the heart of our Shepherd. This is one of my favorite Psalms, and I enjoyed getting another glimpse at the rich truths found in this little chapter of the Bible.
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Before We Were Yours
by:
Lisa Wingate
A captivating story surrounding the historical events of the Georgia Tann Tennessee Children’s Home Society scandal in the 1920s. For more than 2 decades, she was involved in kidnapping children from poor families and selling them through adoption to wealthy socialites. This is a fictional story about these events. You won’t be able to put the book down!
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Refresh
by:
Shona & David Murray
Overwhelmed? Exhausted? Trying to spin all the plates, yet you hear them crashing to the floor around you? If you answered yes to any of these, this book will be helpful to you! It is full of practical advice to help you refocus and refresh your heart.
“I can’t do it all, but I don’t have to. I am not enough, but Christ is. If the Creator of the universe loves me enough to die and take away all my ugly sin, then He cares about the pressures of life that bear down on me daily.
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A Long Walk to Water
by:
Linda Sue Park
Wow. We have so much to be thankful for! We have so much that we take for granted! This book follows the story of two different people. One is affected by war and civil unrest. One lives a life centered around hour long walks to a water source. These two lives wind up intertwining in a unique way!
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Heartfelt Discipline: Following God’s Path of Life to the Heart of Your Child
by:
Clay Clarkson
In pursuit of wisdom regarding child rearing and discipline, I picked up this book. It was what my heart had been praying for! Clay Clarkson does a wonderful job of presenting Scripture and God’s heart regarding this area of parenting. You will be challenged to walk the path of life for yourself, and then parent your children in a way that keeps them walking the path of life.
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When Strivings Cease
by:
Ruth Chou Simons
I am a people-pleaser, a perfectionist, slightly OCD, and one who is happiest when everyone around her is at peace. That understood, I believe I’d be labeled a “striver”. This book spoke to my heart as I was reminded of God great love for me- a sinner, an imperfect striver. I do think some parts leaned too heavily on grace, alleviating personal responsibility, but the over-arching message of the book did not lend that way.
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The Hospitality Commands
by:
Alexander Strauch
A wonderful resource on biblical hospitality!
“Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time. Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly. Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand. Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving brothers and sisters is only a theory.”
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A Cancer or a Crown
by:
Niki Lott
A short but thought-provoking book on the influence and impact a wife has on her husband.
“This respect and honor I am commanded by God to give are not to be emotional responses based on my estimation of my husband’s value and position in my life; they are volitional responses based on God’s estimation of his value and position in my life.”
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The Lord was with Joseph
by:
Scott Pauley
Joseph is one of my most favorite Bible characters. So much can be learned from his life. Scott Pauley does a wonderful job drawing out those truths and making them applicable to our lives today.
“People are remembered for the extraordinary days in their lives, but they are made on their ordinary days.
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Loving Him Well
by:
Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas shares solid advice on how a woman can influence her husband towards Christ. This is a good read whether you are struggling in your marriage, or you think your marriage is great. We all can be growing closer together as we grow closer to God.
*It also had very helpful advice for wives who are dealing with a husband who has an addiction to pornography
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Looking Transitions: Starting and Finishing Well in Cross-Cultural Service
by:
Amy Young
The biggest transition I’ve ever experienced is looming in our very near future. Some days, that brings unbridled excitement, and some days it brings unwelcome tears. This book helped me think through how I’m processing the change and gave suggestions on how to best navigate the changes and emotions.
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Giving Your Words
by:
Sally and Clay Clarkson
Sally and Clay Clarkson are always a rich source of wisdom as they reflect on the years that they sought to raise their children according to “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” In their newest book, they share the power that words hold. God designed it this way from the very beginning as He gave us something no other creature had- intellectual thought and communication. They give advice on how parents can use their words to edify and encourage their children as they speak forward into their lives.
“They [parents] cannot teach God’s words to their children unless those words are first on their own hearts.”
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Emmanuel
by:
Ruth Chou Simons
This gorgeous advent devotional has been such a blessing to me throughout the Christmas season. I love the emphasis on stepping aside from the busyness and festivities to focus on who Christ is and why He came.
“God made us to hunger and thirst for Him; we shouldn’t be surprised when nothing else satisfies.
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Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born
by:
Brettnay Brazzell
It was such a joy to put together this advent resource! Families will learn about the stories behind four beloved Christmas hymns as well as the truths about God found in the hymns. Our family enjoyed singing our way to Christmas as we prepared our hearts and homes to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
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The Story of the World Vol 1: History for the Classical Child
by:
Susan Wise Bauer
This was the history read-aloud we’ve been going through this year, and it is such an amazing resource! There are four volumes of this book charting the story of the world.
Volume 1 takes you from the very beginning to the fall of the Roman Empire.
(best suited for ages 7+)
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A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
by:
W. Phillip Keller
I read through this book last year, and it quickly became one of my favorite reads! We will be studying through Psalm 23 on the NHC Podcast in 2023, so I pulled this back out to refresh my mind as I studied. Once again, my heart was blessed as I was reminded of the tender, loving care of our Great Shepherd.
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Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
by:
E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brian
I do not agree with all of the authors statements and convictions (mainly in regards to Scripture versions), but this book made me realize how we read and interpret Scripture through our own cultural lens. It was an interesting perspective to see passages from an Eastern culture mindset and in the context of the culture during Biblical times.
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Mama Bear Apologetics
by:
Hillary Morgan Ferrer
We are raising children in perilous times. Parents need to have an understanding of the culture our children face and equip them with the tools they will need to stand for Christ. This book presents the many different “isms” and ideologies that plague culture today in light of the truth of God’s Word. This is a valuable resource I will reference time and again throughout my parenting journey.