Non-Fiction and Studies

This is my attempt at a condensed post on Non-fiction books and bible studies I have liked. I will state if you are interested in me posting on Bible commentaries and aids please let me know and I will do so. (You may want to check back at this post from time to time and see if I have added a new book as I am doing now). 

C.S. Lewis - Narnia Series, Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, Till We Have Faces
I loved the Narnia Series! I did not read the series until around 4 years or so ago and bought it in a $20 paperback that had all of the books in it, in reading order. Fantastic! Mere Christianity I read several years ago and I remember really liking it. The Great Divorce was a wonderful, imaginative book on Heaven and Hell. Till We Have Faces is an intriguing book on the struggle between true (agape) love and our own human love that doesn’t come close.

Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest. This is one of my favorite devotionals filled with so much wisdom and insight.

James MacDonald - LORD CHANGE MY ATTITUDE, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE (see previous post).

Beth Moore – Let me clarify that I am talking about the Bible studies and not the books here. I have loved doing her studies… Beth brings so much energy, insight and wisdom in her studies. She has a gift for making the Word come alive. A few of my personal favorites of her studies are: Daniel; A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place; Believing God. I have done almost all of her studies and would recommend them to you.  For those of you who think the longer studies sound overwhelming try starting with her study called Living Free (it is a mini version of Breaking Free). 

John (and Stasi) Eldredge - Wild at Heart, Waking the Dead, Captivating. I have really enjoyed reading Eldredge’s books; they are well written and insightful.

Joanna Weaver - Having a Mary Spirit (see previous post).

John MacArthur - 12 Ordinary Men. It has been a while since I read this book but I remember really liking it.

Francis Chan - Crazy Love. I thought this was a great book… really helps you do some looking in the mirror and thinking. Crazy Love encourages you/The Church to not be lukewarm and to show the world what it will consider to be Crazy Love, the kind of love that Christ shows us.

David Nasser – A Call to Die. A wonderful 40 day (or however you break it up) journey on fasting from the World and feasting on God. Looking at and learning what it means to follow Christ.

Max Lucado –  Grace for the Moment. I had this as a journal/devotional book and it was wonderful!

John Ortberg - The Life You've Always Wanted (This was not on my original post.  A friend just jarred my memory.)  I actually listened to this book on cd back when I had some long drives (6 or 7 years ago).  Any way I wish I could remember more to tell you other than I liked it.

Kay Arthur – How to Study Your Bible. A great book. Kay leads you through how to study your bible using the Inductive Method.

Lee Strobel – The Case for Faith and The Case for Christ. I enjoyed reading these books and going through the journey Strobel went on in questioning Faith and belief in Christ.

Josh McDowell - The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today.  I haven't read through all of this book yet, even still I highly recommend it!

The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren. I thought there were some good take away things from this book. It is not a personal favorite of mine but it is worth a read.

John Piper - Don’t Waste Your Life. I read this book a while back but I know that I thought it was really good. It is about living a life that counts, living a life to the glory of God (now).

Don Richardson - Eternity in their Hearts. The title and idea is taken from the verse in Ecclesiastes and from real life occurrences that God has prepared people around the world for the message of Salvation, by setting eternity in their hearts. I think it is a good read – the stories are fascinating. However I think scripture at times may be used out of context to try to prove his point.

Steve Gallagher -  Irresistible to God

Elisabeth Elliot – Passion and Purity, Quest for Love. I read both of these books a while back but I remember really liking them. The personal life testimonies of Mrs. Elliot and other couples left a deep impression upon me.

Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall - Lady in Waiting. Another book I read many years ago that I remember thinking was a great book to read.

Tommy Nelson - The Song of Solomon. We have done this study a couple of times and it is wonderful! If you can, try to do the study with the videos!

Gary Chapman - The Five Love Language. Another great and insightful read for couples!

Keith and Karen Peterson - Heart Transformation. The Petersons came and did a few sessions at our Church and then we broke off in home groups and did the study. I do recommend it. It isn’t a thrilling read like a Beth Moore study. It is however a very personal, hard at times and hopefully heart changing study.

Ezzo and Ezzo - Let the Children Come Series, Along the Virtuous Way. I did not get to do this book/study with the videos (sad)… However, even without the videos and without a group, just reading it on my own I found it to be insightful, helpful and give some concrete examples.

Jennifer Vanderlaan - 40 Weeks: A Devotional Guide to Pregnancy. I had several pregnancy week by week books to read during my pregnancy but this was by far my (and my husband’s) favorite!

Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent - Same Kind of Different As Me. This is a very interesting true life story about life-changing love that will inspire you.

Ok, I am sure there are so many other books I would like to mention but my brain is maxed out right now and I can’t think of them. Hopefully some of these will be of interest to you.