Recently I was having coffee with my wife and talking about books. And as I thought about it, I was convinced it would make an encouraging and interesting blog post. Christie has been a Christian for nearly 18 years. While being a pastor’s wife, homeschooling our (6) kids, loving me to death, and serving in the church—every once in a while she gets some time to read.
Here are a list of some of her favorite books that she’s read as a Christian and then a few that she is planning to read this upcoming year.
Recently Read
Saved by Grace, by Anthony Hoekema. I read this book after being saved for years, and it gave me a fresh reminder of the grace I’ve received. I came away refreshed and refocused. Hoekema writes with the precision of a theologian but with the tender heart of a seasoned Christian.
When People Are Big and God Is Small, by Ed Welch. This book helped me on two fronts: as a pastor’s wife it helped me to not fear man and what others might think of me or my family (or our various choices or preferences), and with helping others. I’ve returned to this book to help articulate this framework of the importance of fearing God instead of man. Overall it increased my devotion to the Lord.
The Excellent Wife, by Martha Peace. I read this as a new believer; it was a practical help for me in thinking through and applying what it means to be a godly wife. Do you have a house full of kids? Do you have a busy schedule? This book is easy to read and its benefits immediately realized in your heart and home.
90 Days in Ruth, 1 Corinthians, and Jeremiah, by Mark Dever and Mike McKinley. I was super excited when I found this in my husband’s stack of books. I like it because I am in a busy season as a mother of six, who homeschools, and have the joy of my sister and her family moving in with us during a tough season for them. The book keeps you focused on your Bible reading and provides questions that begin with basic observations but work down more deeply into immediate and fresh application.
Letting Go: Rugged Love for Wayward Souls, by Dave Harvey and Paul Gilbert. As Christians we feel immense compassion for those who are struggling in sin or the consequences of sin. Our impulse is to help; and rightly so. However, sometimes after a period of time and cycles of sin the most loving thing to do might be to let them go. This book helped me to deal with compassion, love through hurt, shame over loving someone who doesn’t love me, and confidence that God’s will cannot be thwarted. All of this while confronting the idols of control and personal glory.
Planning to Read
Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age, by Erik Raymond. Obviously, I want to read this because my husband wrote it! Contentment is absolutely applicable to every area of life. Often times instead of being content with what I have there is a temptation to find sanctified ways to get what I want. I am looking forward to training my heart to recognize sources of discontentment and to find Christ as the source of my contentment.
Praying through the Bible for Your Kids, by Nancy Guthrie. Although I pray for my kids all the time, this is an intriguing title that has me excited about how to intentionally use the Bible to pray for my kids over the next year. Prayer is one of those things that is super accessible but also super elusive. I am looking forward to the instruction and the opportunity to focus. I’m excited to see what next December brings!
Habits of Grace, by David Mathis and John Piper. The Bible commands us to be holy. Just like successful people are known for doing certain things and not doing other things, so too holy people have made important decisions. This book looks like helpful instruction toward godliness.
Faker, by Nicholas McDonald. I want to read this because it could be a self-diagnosing book: “Where am I being phony? Where am I fearing man?” I’m hoping this will help me to address the needs of my teenagers as well.
The Ology, by Marty Machowski. I’m really excited about this because of the age span it reaches. It’s a systematic theology for grade-school up to pre-teens. I’m looking forward to the content as well as the focus and the direction it’ll give my devotion time with the kids as I train them during homeschool.
The Genius of Ancient Man, by Don Landis. This is purely a fun and refreshing book for me. I love science, and I’m excited to read it. The authors have put in a ton of time researching and studying; I am excited to read and interact with the book.
There you have it, an everyday conversation with an ordinary pastor’s (extraordinary!) wife about books.
