I love to read. I love entering the lives of the characters in the stories I read. I used to do it a lot more. I can remember in high school bringing 1500-page books home over holidays and always finishing them. Now I have to fight for reading time—my list/stack to read is so big. I am always getting new recommendations, and discovering new delights.
In Transforming Reads I am just beginning to create a list of some of the books that have influenced me. Many of these are recent, some are from the past. This is not at all an exhaustive list. I will add and subtract in the days and months ahead. I am sure you have many others on your list.
But here is a first pass to gather some Transforming Reads in hopes that God might use some to impact your life as well, to be kindling for your heart and mind.
Books from My Past
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard—the book I turned to repeatedly in my young Christian life at times of emotional distress
Making of a Man of God by Alan Redpath—a motivating look at the life of David
Tapestry by Edith Schaeffer—a powerful vision of God at work in lives, families, generations
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God’s Spirit Invades the Heart of His People by Jim Cymbala—now is the moment to ask God to ignite His fire in your soul
Witnessing Without Fear by Bill Bright—the secrets that turned a shy businessman into a confident, caring witness for Christ
Strengthening My Soul
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen—a personal life journey
Embracing Grace by Scot McKnight—a gospel for all, being embraced by grace
The Beautiful Ache by Leigh McLeroy—the hurts of life that produce beauty
Almost anything by Amy Carmichael—simple and profound insights into God’s Word
Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning—a call to be enfolded into the love of our Father
Objects of His Affection: Coming Alive to the Compelling Love of God by Scotty Smith—profoundly impacted my understanding of God’s love for me
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp—a beautiful call to a life of gratitude
Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin’s Path to God by Brennan Manning—Great insights into what it means to trust God
Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps by Leigh McLeroy—Leigh is a master of words and the Word, cutting deeply yet gently to soul issues
Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba’s Embrace by Brennan Manning—beautiful reflections on God’s gentle, insistent tug on our hearts.
The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning—a love story for the broken-hearted, of God’s fierce love for us
Hungry for God: Hearing God’s Voice in the Ordinary and Everyday by Margaret Feinberg—pursuing a divine appetite for a deepening relationship with God
Invitations from God: Accepting God’s Offer to Rest, Weep, Forgive, Wait, Remember… by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun—a study of the healing and restoring available in God
Grumble Hallalujah: Learning to Love Your Life Even when It Lets You Down by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira—a serious, humorous look at the reality and results of grumbling with some helpful responses
Widening My World
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristov—a profround look at the status of women around the globe
Terrify No More by Gary Haugen—harrowing but hopeful stories of rescuing young girls from trafficking
The Help by Kathryn Stockett—the stories of black maids working for white families in Mississippi in the 1960’s
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See—a novel about girls and women in China in the mid-1800’s
The Girl in the Orange Dress by Margot Starbuck—a memoir of an adopted girl searching for a father who does not fail
A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman by Lisa Shannon—A tale of horror and hope for women in Congo
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson—A story of peace and a future through education for girls
Making Me Think
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller–a funny and challenging call to living a better story
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Tim Keller—an outrageous God who pursues the rebellious ones he loves
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight—reading the Bible as story, with tradition rather than through tradition
When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference by Carolyn Custis James—what you believe about God is your theology
Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James—amazing fresh vision of God’s intentions in creating women
“Are Women Human?” Essay by Dorothy L Sayers—a witty, thought-provoking and convincing look at what women can contribute
Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan—an important emphasis on the Holy Spirit—almost like reading Bill Bright again
Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women by Carolyn Custis James—a compelling look at God’s call to His daughters to impact the world—I will give many away!
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt—a convicting read on the meaning of true discipleship
The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules by Carolyn Custis James—this story of Ruth and Naomi is no sugary romance, but a battle for redemption
One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow by Scot McKnight—a powerful call to follow Jesus in the life he modeled and taught, to consider how doing so will change how we live?
Lives that Inspire
Not Less Than Everything: The Courageous Women Who Carried the
Christian Gospel to China by Valerie Griffiths—incredible stories of how God used (mostly) single women to take the good news to the interior
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliot—Amy went to India as a missionary and became the mother to thousands of rescued children
The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway—a story of persecution and faith and miracles
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas—A biography of a true hero
Out of the Far Corners: An Epic Tale of Rejection, Grace and Deliverance by Peter Iliyn—Peter honors his father and the difficult journey he took as a Russian orphan across the world, filled with gratitude in the face of great challenges.
Thin Places: A Memoir by Mary DeMuth–a hard story of painful events and learning to live and trust and love anyway
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Lauren Hillenbrand—An amazing story of an Olympic runner who spent almost 3 months floating on the Pacific, then two years of torture and deprivation in Japanese prison camps.
Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot by Elisabeth Elliot—the amazing story of 5 young men who gave their lives for the gospel of Christ in the jungle of Ecuador
Devotionals
Intimate Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire—powerful telling of encounters with the Savior (and the other 3 books in the series)
Many Amy Carmichael books: Whispers of His Power, Candles in the Dark, Edges of His Ways, Gold by Moonlight
By Bill Bright
God: Discover His Character: “We can trace all our human problems to our view of God” was one of Dr. Bright’s favorite comments. So he wrote a book to help expand our understanding of who God is and what He is like. A powerful picture of the God we love and serve.
The Secret: How to Live with Purpose and Power Bill Bright probably did as much as anyone else to help believers understand what it meant to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit moment by moment. He also played a key role in bridging the chasm between evangelicals and charismatics—opening communication and growing trust.
The Journey Home: Finishing with Joy Written from his sick bed, as he slowly succumbed to pulmonary fibrosis, Dr. Bright paints a beautiful picture of what it means to finish well with the Lord. He gives a strong but gentle challenge to make life meaningful to the very end!
My Life Is Not My Own: Following God No Matter the Cost I can’t count how many times I heard Bill say, “I am just a slave of Jesus Christ.” In this book he
portrays that all he did to serve God had little to do with his own excellence and everything to do with becoming a “royal slave” to the King of kings. He presents a compelling vision of the freedom that comes from giving ourselves to Jesus as a bond slave.
A Little Help
The 11 Secrets of Getting Published by Mary DeMuth—an e-book that will get you on your way to being a published writer
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Great idea for a page, Judy, I can’t wait to see what you recommend.
I’ve read Hinds Feet on High Places… I like this blog.
Thanks, Judy. This was a very practical and helpful idea. I love good books and am always looking for my next good read. I copied down many of these titles and look forward to getting acquainted with some of these authors. Would be very helpful if someone could give a list of excellent books in large print. I am always searching for something for my 92 year old mom and need ideas. I think CRU should consider getting large print books for their store even at staff training. Some of us are going to be heading in that direction ourselves. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing Judy! I love knowing what others are reading and the books they would recommend to others which then expands my own reading list. I’ve found some great mentors through my own reading 🙂
Always glad to share the books that have blessed–and challenged me!
I read Unbroken this summer, an incredible story….what a challenge to be thankful for everything God has provided for us!
[…] I also recommend you visit Judy Douglass’ list of Transforming Reads. […]
Judy, really enjoyed reading your past blog posts and especially this page of books that made a difference! Every blessing to you!
Wonderful story! “happy Anniversary yo you both.” may God continue to shower his love
On all who are part of your circle of love.
I keep a list of the title & author of each book I finish. That way, I can recommend books later (or next week). I also keep track of fiction vs. non-fiction. I try to keep the scale balanced, not getting stuck in one or the other. Someone once told me they read fiction because “they tell the truth.” There’s validity there as we can never fully tell the exact truth while protecting folks in our own story. Even so, I love memoir: am currently reading The Train in Winter which describes in detail the role of French women who protected their countrymen at the beginning of WWII. Survivors of the holocaust who’ve written their stories are also great teachers. Re: One Thousand Gifts, I heard Ann Voskamp interviewed at The Faith and Writing Festival in April, this year. That Festival happens at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, every second year: real inspiration for anyone who loves to read/write. I’ll try for greater concision the next time I post here. 🙂
Sandra, you’re great in my book–anyone who can use words like concision. 🙂