Books I love
There are so many books that I have read over the years that have gone into shaping my soul. In the absence of women in my life to intentionally disciple me, God has used books to shape and disciple me. If you are not growing as a person, and deepening your own soul, you will have scant little to give to the souls of your children. How much our world needs children who are learning to think, who are increasing in their knowledge about God, who are exposed to great thoughts. Some of the following books, though a number are out of print, are books that have meant a lot to me. Of course I know that I will remember more as I go, so this is just a tiny list of things that come to my mind in the next few minutes.
Eugene Peterson books
Running with the Horses
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places
He has had prominent influence on my theological thinking and worship and focus on the Lord the past couple of years. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his sweet wife at a conference I attended and shared a couple of meals with them. Real heart and integrity from two older servants of the Lord who have a passion for people to read the Word and to know and love our Lord more!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship
The Focus on the Family Radio Drama of His life
Edith Schaeffer
What is a Family?
The Hidden Art of Homemaking
L’Abri (a must read outloud to with your children—a picture of ministry in the home!
Tapestry
C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce
The Space Trilogy
Till We Have Faces
The Screwtape Letters
The Chronicles of Narnia
Again, reading almost anything by him is soul-feeding and mind enriching.
Phillip Yancey
The Jesus I Never Knew
The Bible I Never Read
What’s so Amazing about grace
I have read almost all of His books and enjoy them as he helps me to grow in my thoughts and walk with God.
Prayer
Richard Foster
Simplicity
Prayer
E.Stanley Jones
The Unshakeable Kingdom, the Unchanging Person
The Biography of Patricia St. John
The Biography of Lilias Trotter
The Biography of Amy Charmichael by Elizabeth Elliot
Elizabeth Elliot books
A Mother’s Heart by Jean Flemming
Biography of Hudson Taylor, St. Patrick–riveting! , Andrew Carnegie, Brother Andrew-another must read aloud for a famiy! (God Smuggler is the title); The Hiding Place about Corrie Ten Boom
Total Truth
The Lies Women Believe by Nancy L. DeMoss
I love the writing of Madeleine L’Engle. One of my favorite books as a child was A Wrinkle in Time–I recommend this to all families to read aloud because of th relevance of the theme of the book to people’s tendancy to conform and especially now that we are so technologically driven and have forgotten how to have relationships.
I also love her spiritually essay books like Walking on Water, Bright Evening Star.
Elizabeth Gouge–an old victorian writer that Dr. Joe Wheeler introduced us to.
I love Dickens and Dickens movies and series. David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and of course the wonderful story of Scrooge.
Don’t miss Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost and the Bee Keeper, three of my favorite read alouds–(long books but worth it!) Jean Stratton Porter
More later.
To be continued at a later date; too many wonderful books, not enough time to record them all—of course these are books that have fed me as a woman–I have hundreds of books that are classics or children’s books that I will work on in the Home Education Blog some time later this month.
Sally,
Thanks for all your encouragement, now and in the many years that I have attended your conferences. I love this reading list and am going to begin attacking it. I have read many of the books on the list but, many I have not. Your recommendations are a goldmine!
Maureen
Thanks for your list of encouraging books to read. I’m at a stand still as to what to read aloud to my children ages 6-13. We just finished reading Five Little Peppers which they all enjoyed. Not only read alouds, but devotionals or material that would be uplifting to their souls and mine…have any ideas? Also, any bible studies that can be used with all 4 of the children. Thanks so much!
What a treasure trove of books to read! I’ve heard of most, read several, and have written down a few more to read this fall. Thank you
SOME I’VE READ, ALOT I HAVEN’T. BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH ALOT OF US HAVE THE SAME TASTES. ELIZEBETH ELLIOT ROCKS. SHE TOTALY SHARES IN A WAY THAT GENTLY CONVICTS THE CHRISTIAN WHO IS WILLING TO LISTEN AND BE CORRECTED.
THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL LIST OF BOOKS.
BLESSINGS,
NETTIE
FOR LORI,
HERE IS A WONDERFUL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN THAT I PUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER FOR A BOOK REVIEW.
Did you know?
· Feb. 9th was the day volleyball was invented?
· June 7th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day?
Explore a world of amazing trivia and exciting spiritual truths with 365 Trivia Twist Devotions.
Each devotion is based on a historical, intriguing invention, or off beat holiday associated with that calendar day. Everything from George Washington’s birthday to national waffle day is used to reveal the truth of God’s Word in a fun new way. Special activities, Bible verses, and additional fun facts help to give every day of the year its own unique trivia twist.
This devotional is for ages 8-12, yet it teaches this age group how to serve, pray for, and bless the whole family. It has also been used as an open door for sharing the faith with our family and the public. We have had so much fun with it so far. If it is the Lord’s will, I hope that you can invest in this devotion for your family.
Love & blessings,
NETTIE
Dear Sally,
I was so blessed beyond measure by you and your lovely daughter back on September 29th at Mariner’s Church. You are such a great encourager, this is my third year home education and I was feeling like fish out of water until I attended your conference.
I am extremely grateful for this ministry of love toward us home schooling moms. It was a blessing to have heard you and your daughter speak on the importance of good literature in our children’s life. By the grace of God, I am blessed to have an intrepid reader, whom I am eager to continue encouraging in the path of literature.
On a different note, I was unable to purchase a copy of Educating The WholeHearted Child, so I walk into my local library and ask the children’s librarian for the possibility of getting some of your books on their parenting section of their shelves, and her reply was yes. God is so good to always meet our needs! I can’t wait, for those books to arrive soon. I’m picturing how blessed will be any homeschooling mom who is looking for a refreshing breath of air from a godly point of view.
May the LORD continue to bless you and your ministry of love.
In Christ Jesus,
Jobanna L.