Best Books I've Read Lately (and an Update on the 2018 Reading Challenge)

Welcome to my monthly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and what I’ve been reading aloud to my children. If you missed it, check out my Reading Goals for 2018 and the 2018 Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge.

It’s been a little while since I shared an update on what I’ve been reading lately, and I’ve received several emails asking if I would share some book suggestions.

Since I have been reading so many great books lately, I thought I would update here.

I’m not sharing all the books I’ve read since my last update, but I am sharing THE BEST books I’ve read.

Truly, many of these are now in my top best books ever read. So here we go…

What I’ve Been Reading Lately:

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Reading People by Anne Bogel

I read this book on a camping trip with my family, and I couldn’t put it down. Admittedly I am fascinated with personality tests, both for myself and for others, so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this book.

I found Reading People to be a concise breakdown of the various personality tools available today. I am a big believer in people being who God made them to be. I think we all have such unique perspectives and outlooks, and I buck hard against molds and putting people into boxes. This book is a great summary of how to use the various tools available to us to help understand others better and live in harmony with one other.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say I think churches would benefit more from utilizing and teaching members self-awareness and how other personality types think in furthering our mission to be unified. But that’s another conversation for another day.

This was a great read and one I would recommend.

Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer

I’ll say at the outset that I do not agree with all of John Mark Comer’s points in this book.

However, and it’s a BIG HOWEVER, I think he offers a perspective on work that everyone should read.

I found this book refreshing, especially as a woman. His break down of God’s original design for work and how we can return to that original design was thought-provoking. I especially liked his take on the Sabbath.

Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne

This is hands down the best book I’ve read in the last five years. I’ve shared about this book on Facebook and Instagram, and I wrote an entire email series for my subscribers after reading this book.

Rankin does an incredible job of breaking down what it means to live united to Christ. He answers the basic questions:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I headed?
How will I get there?

My favorite quote from the book is this one:

“Christ now sets you free to be your true self: the self you are by grace, not the self you are by nature.”

This was a true paradigm shifting moment for me. This book offers the message needed to those who desire to “live their best life now.” It unravels half-truths and lies and helps us see with gospel clarity what it means to be truly united to Christ which is the best life there is.

Dance, Stand, Run: The God-Inspired Moves of a Woman on Holy Ground by Jess Connolly

I will be honest. I totally expected this book to be fluffy because so many women’s books are these days. However, this was an incredible book on holiness for the modern woman.

Jess unravels the lies of cheap grace our culture feeds us in the name of authenticity, and informs our perspective with the call to live holy lives. Because grace isn’t cheap. True grace compels us to change.

Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot

I read this book almost a decade ago, and I don’t think I quite understood it then. At the recommendation (and coaxing) of a friend, I picked it back up and decided to re-read it.

Reading it now as a woman who has been wrecked and put back together, and a woman who is genuinely seeking God’s truth for womanhood, I found this book to be a breath of fresh air.

Elisabeth Elliot’s perspective on womanhood transcends culture and time because what she stands on is God’s original design for womanhood and the beautiful privilege it is to be made a woman in the image of God. This is a must read for every woman.

Love Lives Here: Finding What You Need in a World Telling You What You Want by Maria Goff

I listened to this book on ChristianAudio, which meant it was read by Maria Goff herself.

Reading the description of this book now, I’m surprised because I think this book is more about hospitality and creating an atmosphere for giving life in the home. She writes from her perspective and experiences but the focus is on the work of Christ in others and the love we all crave.

With that said, I found the book inspiring and filled with ideas for creating an atmosphere of love and grace within and from my home.

I would consider this an easy read for when you don’t want to be challenged as much as inspired. Does that make sense?

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

Y’all this book series is magnificent! I could not put it down, and I simply cannot wait to read them aloud to my children.

There were several times I had to close the book and just sit in silence in order to process the events. It was just so very good.

And yes, I realize I told you nothing about the book…you just need to read them. 🙂

Want to take the Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge? Click here to get the details! (Plus I share my recommended reading list for each category on that post.)

2018 Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge: Breakdown & Favorites

Goal: 12 books
Current Books Read: 9
Number of Books to Go: 3

Note: Below are the books I have read so far for each category. In parentheses beside each book, you will find a link to the post where I share my thoughts on the book.

A biography: George Mueller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans , by Janet & Geoff Benge (February list)
A book about prayer: Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, by Timothy Keller (April list)
A book about worship:
A book about Christian living: Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
A book about the Holy Spirit: The God I Never Knew, by Robert Morris (January list)
A book about the Cross: Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne
A Christian classic:
A book about discipleship: With: A Practical Guide to Informal Mentoring and Intentional Disciple Making, by George Robinson and Alvin Reid
A book about Church history:
A book about holiness: Dance, Stand, Run: The God-Inspired Moves of a Woman on Holy Ground by Jess Connolly
A book about evangelism: Billy Graham: America’s Pastor, by Janet & Geoff Benge (March list)
A book about relationships: Love Lives Here: Finding What You Need in a World Telling You What You Want by Maria Goff
A book of your choice:

What about you? What have you been reading this month?

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