Good Reads to Add to Your Christmas Wishlist
I love to read theologically rich books written by women and then recommend them to other women. Here are a handful that I’ve read in the last couple months. If your loved ones need some ideas for your stocking stuffers, I encourage you to share the books below with them.
Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been
I loved this book. I actually listened to the audio version, which may be the best way to go, as Jackie Hill Perry is a spoken word poet and she reads the book herself. It is part memoir, part theology. Hill Perry does an excellent job of shining the light on Jesus rather than herself. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the intersection of homosexuality and the scriptures.
In All Things: A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study on Unshakeable Joy
This Bible study workbook by Melissa Kruger takes the reader verse by verse through Philippians. My women’s Bible study did this together and we all loved it. There was nourishment there for the newest believer, as well as the most seasoned believer amongst us. The substance was both accessible and robust—my favorites in Christian writing. You could do this on your own or with a group of other ladies (I love group settings, but if you don’t have one, doing this alone will be a blessing too). In my opinion, we need more books like this on the market.
All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment
Hannah Anderson bases this, her third book, on Philippians 4:8, which says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Through beautiful prose Anderson invites the reader to ponder the broken, but good, world around us. Reading it really is a treat. In addition to being refreshed and encouraged you will gain insight and wisdom for life in our current cultural context. This book will leave you rested, hopeful, and discerning. Also, consider reading Anderson’s Humble Roots. I loved it and my Parker BF like it so much she read it twice.
Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed
I read this book after a friend and fellow pastor’s wife enthusiastically recommended it to me. She said she read it three times. The author, Sara Hagerty, is an adoptive mom and so is my friend (and so am I). I can see why the book encouraged her so much! Hagerty explores the unseen work of God as we serve him in unseen places. The book is part memoir, part testimony about God’s work in her life and in her family. The prose is a bit more flowery than I typically like (what can I say, I’m a black and white, use as few words as possible kind of girl), but I would definitely encourage any adoptive mom to read it.
If you need more book ideas here are a few posts of mine from the past. Also, stay tuned for my New Year’s Day post in which I list and briefly review all the books I’ve read in the last six months. The list for the first six months of 2018 is below too.
Three Books: For the Skeptic, For the Christian, For the Disciple
Three Theologically Rich Book Recommendations By and For Women
Three True Stories About Three Remarkable Women: Three Book Recommendations
2018 is Halfway Over: Here's What I've Read So Far
The Gospel Comes With a House Key - Book Review
Three Audio Books to Check Out
Theologically Deep and Sweetly Relatable Books By Women in 2017