10 Books that Changed My Life

Today I am participating in a Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Book Carnival. We were asked to post about a book that changed our life.

I have to say that I have been thinking about this for a week or so and was having a hard time coming up with just one.

Soo…

I will share 5 childhood favorites

1. The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street) (Big Little Golden Book)
was the first picture book that I went back to over and over again. I was a reluctant reader as a child and would have rather been riding my bike than reading, but this book was always good for a laugh with my sisters.

2. The Cricket in Times Square (Chester Cricket and His Friends) is the first chapter book that I can remember loving enough to replay the story in my mind. And since I really didn’t like to read as a younger child, this book convinced me that maybe books weren’t THAT bad.

3. Those Kids in Proverbsville  is a title of short stories that taught Biblical values. My mother would sit on the end of my bed and read them to us before we fell asleep. We learned to be truthful, obedient, faithful and kind to those who are sick through this series.

4. The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set because they are just so awesome. And now my kids think they are awesome. (My fav being the Silver Chair!)

5. The Little House Collection Box Set (Full Color) – my aunts would give me one book in the series on my birthdays, and I still have my original hardback set with the inscription “To Sarah, on your birthday, Love Auntie Linda, 1980.”  I would read them and wonder what it was like to be Laura living among wild indians and having to haul water from the creek.

AND 5 Current FAVORITES 🙂

1. We Would See Jesus by Roy Hession. This book brought me face to face with my own religiosity and busy-ness for Christ as a replacement for a vibrant relationship WITH Christ. Christ doesn’t want or need our “service” or “ministry” as much as He wants us to know Him.

2. Changed into His Image: God’s Plan for Transforming Your Life  by Jim Berg. A really excellent look into why we act the ways we do, and how to change our lives to look more like Christ. I also highly recommend the teenage version of this book. Emily is working through it right now and it is excellent.

3.Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives)Again, a big picture world view manual on how we change and how we can help others change.

4. The Gospel According to Jesus: What Is Authentic Faith? shook me to the core and brought me face to face with some hard questions. Would I really forsake all for Christ? Am I willing to die to self and take up my cross? Can I really consider myself a disciple of Christ if I will not do what he asks of me?

5. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts  I think I read this at exactly the time in my life when I was ready to grow. My sister, Hannah, had experienced the death of her firstborn daughter, and I just really needed to know if I could trust a God that allowed babies to die like this. This book lays out the principle of the sovereignty of God like no other.

Looking for a good book to read on the beach this summer? There are still a few hours left in our Lydia Brownback book giveaway! Enter!