Literary Wonders lead to Life Changing Moments

 We have finally said good-bye to 2011!  Praise the Lord!  It was a rough year and definitely one that I'm glad is over but truly thankful for every lesson learned.


There is so much to I could go on about but I'm going to choose to touch on the incredible highlights and positive memories of 2011 this week.


In 2011, I spent A LOT of time in a variety of different bookstores.  Barnes and Noble, being one,  became a second home for me. I spent countless time sitting on the floor reading through books and having great theological discussions with my best friend. Today I want to share a few of the array of books I have had the privilege of reading this past year.  They are books that have literally changed my life as well as my walk. (You will see a theme as you scan over the books I've read.  I kind of had a favorite author this past year)

• When God Whispers Your Name- Max Lucado
• Do you find it hard to believe that the One who made everything keeps your name on His heart and on His lips? Did you realize that your name is written on the hand of God (Is. 49:16)? Perhaps you've never seen your name honored. And you can't remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. In this book, Lucado offers the inspiration to believe that God has already bought the ticket-with your name on it.
• I started off 2011 with this book in my hand.  It forever changed my view of how God saw me and thought of me.  It was heart changing!
• In the Eye of the Storm- Max Lucado
• Come face-to-face with Jesus when He experienced more stress than any other day of his life aside from his crucifixion. Before the morning became evening, he has reason to weep, run, shout, curse, praise, and doubt. If you know what it means to be caught in life's storms…if you've ever ridden the roller coaster of sorrow and celebration…if you've ever wondered if God in heaven can relate to you on earth, then this book will encourage and inspire you.
• This book should be self explanatory. If Christ endured the cross for me then surely I can endure any hardship and storm without doubting His love and faithfulness.
• He Still Moves Stones_Max Lucado
• Why does the Bible contain so many stories of hurting people? Though their situations vary, their conditions don't. They have nowhere to turn. Yet before their eyes stands a never-say-die Galilean who majors in stepping in when everyone else steps out. Lucado reminds us that the purpose of these portraits isn't to tell us what Jesus did-but rather to remind us what Jesus still does.
• This book was AMAZING!  It inspired me and reminded me that I have a purpose and that God has a plan!
• A Gentle Thunder- Max Lucado
• How far do you want God to go in getting your attention?
  Don't answer too quickly. Give it some thought.
  What if God moved you to another land? As he did Abraham. What if he called you out of retirement? Remember Moses? How about the voice of an angel or the bowel of a fish? A la Gideon and Jonah. How about a promotion like Daniel's or a demotion like Samson's?
  God does what it takes to get our attention.
  It's the message of the Bible. It's the message of this book: the relentless pursuit of God. God on the hunt. God in the search. Peeking under the bed for hiding kids, stirring the bushes for lost sheep. Searching, wrestling, pulling us back to him, over and over again.
  Kind, then stern. Tender and tough. Faithfully firm. Patiently urgent. Eagerly tolerant. Softly shouting. Gently thundering.
  God is the pilot and we are the passengers. Though we may not understand his hand, we can always trust his heart. We can trust him to do what's right.
• This book was amazing!  Sometimes in the middle of our storms it is so loud we become lost.  IT becomes difficult to hear God's voice because of the chaos but I have learned that He will do whatever is necessary in order to get my attention!
• Never Give Up! - Joyce Meyer
• Joyce Meyer is probably better equipped than anyone when it comes to never giving up. She overcame an abused childhood, a bad marriage and extremely limited opportunities to become one of the most popular author/speakers in the world. Joyce Meyer Ministries was the first ministry in America to be headed by a woman, and it's one of the largest in the world. If anyone knows how to hold on to a dream and realize it, it's her. Packed with examples of people who pursued their goals relentlessly, the book profiles nearly fifty individuals who prevailed against all odds. From the builder of the Brooklyn Bridge to the chemists who invented Post-It notes we meet people like Bessie Coleman, an African-American who had to go to flight school in Paris in order to learn how to fly. But she did, becoming the first woman in America to earn her pilot's license in 1920.
• My mom bought me this book three years ago.  For two and a half it sat on my side table where it belonged until God pressed upon my heart the need to dive in and read this book.  Little did my mom know that one day this book would change my faith and  my ability to fight through the strength of Christ and Christ alone.
• And the Angels were Silent- Max Lucado
• In And the Angels Were Silent, one of Max Lucado's most insightful and moving  book ever, he'll lead you from Friday's defeat to Sunday's victory. Like never before, believers and seekers alike will see Christ's passion, sense His power, and hear His promise.
• This book served as a reminder to me that no matter how final things seem to appear, God ALWAYS has the victory!  He alone control all things and is faithful to His promises!!
• In the Grip of Grace-Max Lucado
• SAFE IN HIS ARMS
  LIFE IS FULL OF FUMBLES AND STUMBLES. Fraught with opportunities to make mistakes, occasions to feel guilty, and the drive to "do it yourself." The pressure to be self-sufficient is high, but it isn't the life God offers.
  The way of the world will direct you to try harder and work smarter so that you can take care of yourself and even make yourself successful. But the way of the cross will point toward the place where you stop striving...stop pushing...stop every self-initiated effort—so that you can fall into the boundless, liberating, refreshing grace of God!
  Just imagine being love-driven instead of self-propelled. Imagine abandoning your life to Jesus instead of trying to save yourself. Can you imagine exchanging your fears for the peace that passes understanding? Being relaxed and free instead of stressed out and anxious? If you can imagine enjoying God instead of trying to repay him, then you can imagine grace.
  So go ahead! jump off the cliff of self-sufficiency. Leap out of legalism. Walk off the pier of guilt and condemnation. That's the only way you'll land in the strong arms of the Father who loves you...the Father who catches you—everytime—in the grip of his grace.
• I have spent years living the lie of legalism.  I was beaten down by the condemnation of those around me and lost sight of my Heavenly Father.  I felt I had to live life on my own and without making any mistakes because I thought you had to "earn" love.  I only fell and I fell hard.  Praise God, He was there to catch me!  Praise God, He picked me up and wiped away the tears! Praise God, He has lavished me with His love and grace and given me a new life!
• So You don't Want to go to Church Anymore-Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman
• So this was the only work of fiction I finished all the way through this year and let me just say that out of every book I read, this IS a much read.  If you've been hurt by a church or disappointed by the dealings of what is happening within the walls of your church, you have to read this book.  You will walk away with an entirely different view of God's ideal church.  
• Heaven is for Real-Todd Burpo
• This is a must read as well!  The view of heaven and Jesus through the eyes of a child.  This is a true story written by the father of Colton, a little boy who died and saw heaven.  It brought me to tears but made me excited for heaven!  READ IT!

• Crazy Love-Francis Chan
• God is love.  Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love.  Have you ever wondered if we're missing it? It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.
• Crazy!  This book is crazy in a good way!  After experiencing the heartache and betrayal of people that I thought loved and cared about me I began to doubt God's love as well.  Thankfully I stumbled upon this book when I read the status of a friend on Facebook and thought I would give it a read.  If you have ever questioned God's love for you then I highly recommend this book!
• How Good is Good enough- Andy Stanley
• Surely there's more than one way to get to heaven? Bestselling author Andy Stanley addresses this popular belief held even among Christians. But believing that all good people go to heaven raises major problems, Stanley reveals. Is goodness not rewarded, then? Is Christianity not fair? Maybe not, he says. Readers will find out why Jesus taught that goodness is not even a requirement to enter heaven - and why Christianity is beyond fair. Andy Stanley leads believers and skeptics alike to a grateful awareness of God's enormous grace and mercy. Good People Go to Heaven...Don’t They? Sure they do. It only makes sense. Actually, it doesn’t really make any sense at all. Smart, educated, accomplished men and women everywhere are banking their eternities on a theory that doesn’t hold water. Chances are, you’ve never really thought it through. But you owe it to yourself to do so.
• I wish I could buy this book and pass it out to everyone.  So many people walk around with the attitude that life isn't fair.  After the misguided Rob Bell book this is a refreshing read that will give you some real food for thought.  Definitely word the read and a great book for churches to hand out to their members