Some of my favorites, I highly recommend—

Quiet: Creating Grace-Based Rhythms for Spending Time with Jesus by Naomi Vacaro

Quiet: Creating Grace-Based Rhythms for Spending Time with Jesus is a life-giving—and perhaps life-altering—book which encourages a closer relationship with Jesus Christ by spending time with him. Vacaro shares insights from her life which have deepened her relationship with God. At the end of each chapter she invites readers to Read, Reflect, Grow, and Pray over passages from the Bible, developing their own ‘rhythm’ with Jesus. Developing a habit of reading the Bible and praying each day is challenging in our busy lives, but Quiet shows us how it can be done without prescription or formula—positively impacting our relationship with God and everyone in our lives. I highly recommend this book for all those serious about pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ.

VACARO, NAOMI. Quiet: Creating Grace-Based Rhythms for Spending Time with Jesus. TYNDALE MOMENTUM, 2022. 

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Although first published in 1978, The Pursuit of Holiness is relevant and applicable for the 21st Century Christian. The holiness of God and Christ is the basis on which we are called to holiness. Help in the daily battle, putting sin to death, and personal disciplines are some of the topics covered in practical and personal ways. I appreciate the transparency of the author and upon reading this book I recommited myself to striving for holiness.

I highly recommend this book for all Christians serious about honoring God in their lives.

Bridges, Jerry. The Pursuit of Holiness. NavPress, 2016. 

Alisa Childers, of Zoe Girl, does a fabulous job working through the Christian world view in her book, Another Gospel. The strong progressive influences which deconstructed her faith were the beginning God’s reconstruction.

Another Gospel is a great tool for apologetics. Every Christian shoud read this book and evaluate whether progressive views have infiltrated the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

I highly recommend this book!

Childers, Alisa. Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity. Tyndale Momentum, the Tyndale Nonfiction Imprint, 2020. 

Godmothers: Why You Need One and How to Be One by Lisa Bevere

My goddaughter gave me this book for Christmas and I’m forever grateful. Lisa Bevere encourages women of all ages to embrace their role as mentor and mentee at every age.

I was encouraged and challenged by Bevere’s transparency and example. This is a must-read for all women wondering how they might serve the Lord.

Great read. Thank you, Lisa Bevere!

Bevere, Lisa. Godmothers: Why You Need One, How to Be One. Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2020. 

Surprised by Motherhood by Lisa-Jo Baker was a lovely surprise. Picking up the book I expected to read about motherhood, instead Lisa-Jo Baker took me on her spiritual journey which ultimately led to motherhood. She grew up a missionary kid and lost her own mother when she was young.

This book is a testament of God as our healer. God faithfully leads Baker forward while at the same time heals her broken heart. What a lovely book, thank you Lisa-Jo Baker!

I recommend this book for mothers of all ages! You’ll find spiritual encouragement on its pages as well as joy as you relate to Lisa-Jo’s experiences.

Baker, Lisa-Jo. Surprised by Motherhood: Everything I Never Expected about Being a Mom. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2014. 

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

This is a must-read for everyone who is married—no it’s a must-read for everyone in any relationship. Why? Because every relationship will encounter conflict. Ken Sande effectively communicates the role of our heart desire in creating conflict. His progression of an idol follows James 4 accurately—What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 (NIV)

Sande’s book is a handbook that should be on everyone’s bookshelf!

Sande, Ken. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. Baker Books, 2007. 

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund

I read Gentle and Lowly and understand why so many find it encouraging to their faith. Ortlund clearly communicates the compassionate and seeking heart of God in Jesus Christ. The most profound point which hit home with me was recognizing Jesus sought me when I was a sinner and continues to seek me despite my failure to perform perfectly. Dane Ortlund uses Scripture to display Christ’s heart to sinners and sufferers. Good read!

ORTLUND, DANE C. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. CROSSWAY BOOKS, 2021. 

The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World by Melissa Kruger

I was convicted and encouraged throughout Melissa Kruger’s book. I am grateful for the transparency which Kruger communicates the truths from the Scripture. Each chapter identifies a way in which a Biblical character coveted and the solution we find in Christ to that temptation to covet. I found it particularly helpful to read with my sisters in Christ. I recommend The Envy of Eve highly.

Kruger, Melissa B. The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World. Christian Focus Publications, 2014. 

New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp

When I look for a devotional book, I seek those which focus on scripture rather than personal stories. I want a devotional to point me to longer passages from the Bible—so I can study if I have the time. I also prefer devotionals with questions to stimulate deeper consideration. Paul Tripp’s New Morning Mercies is just that!

I love the way Tripp talks straight to the reader and causes us to look at our walk with the Lord under the scrutiny of God’s word. At the end of every page, he points us back to the Bible for further study.

If you’re looking for a daily devotional, this is for you!

TRIPP, PAUL DAVID. New Morning Mercies. CROSSWAY BOOKS, 2021. 

(A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ by Abigail Dodds

Abigail Dodds writes to the Christian woman in contemporary society and communicates what a Biblical woman might look like. Her (A)Typical Woman looks at issues facing women and identifies how Jesus Christ redefines our womanhood. We are indeed free, whole, and called in Christ. This book includes questions for discussion and would be a good resource for mothers of teen and adolescent daughters.

Dodds, Abigail. (a)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ. Crossway, 2019. 

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

This book was written many years ago but is a foundational resource for contemporary Christians. A Normal Christian Life works through the first eight books of Romans and provides a network in which to frame the truth of Jesus Christ in life. I had difficulty working through the first couple of chapters due to the writing style but found the perseverance paid off—toward the end I couldn’t put the book down and had underlined passages on almost every page. You won’t regret reading this book!

Nee, Watchman. The Normal Christian Life. Kingsway Publications, 1957. 

Becoming: As Christ Is Formed in Us (Identity and Story) http://www.becomingmag.com 

These two beautiful Bible studies can be done in a group or by yourself. Identity focuses on who God is and who he calls us (women) to be. Story looks at the story of the Bible and how we fit into God’s plan. Both come with workbooks for personal introspection. 

The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis

Ten addresses by C. S Lewis given during World War II are compiled in this thought-provoking book. I had to stop after each address to work through my questions and Lewis’ wonderful reasoning. “To please God…to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness…to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so, it is.”(The Weight of Glory, by C. S. Lewis, William Collins, 2013, p. 39.) 

Lewis, C. S. The Weight of Glory. William Collins, 2013. 

Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller

Miller walks us through the gospels, showing us how Jesus moved toward people in love—seeing them, responding with compassion, and loving them in practical and supernatural ways. You’ll fall in love with Jesus all over again! 

Miller, Paul E. Love Walked among Us: Learning to Love like Jesus. NavPress, 2014. 

Working from a Place of Rest by Tony Horsfall 

I am quick to accept most requests for ministry without truly listening to God. Rarely do I work from a place of rest. In this book, Horsfall looks at Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and shows us what it truly looks like to listen and obey God. 

Horsfall, Tony. Working from a Place of Rest: Jesus and the Key to Sustaining Ministry. Bible Reading Fellowship, 2010. 

Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas 

In this book, Gary Thomas altered my understanding of marriage. Our marriages are to reflect the relationship of Christ and his Church. Thomas identified common wrong attitudes in marriage which need to be redeemed by God’s word. Hard, but so good! 

Thomas, Gary, and Gary Thomas. Sacred Marriage. Zondervan, 2018.