2014 Reading List

For 2014 I had the goal of reading more books than I had in 2013. I "beat" 2013 by one book. As you can tell, I keep my goals pretty simple after years of having lofty ideals that came crashing to the ground months, or maybe even just weeks, after the start of the new year. I would then be left feeling as if I'd ruined the entire year. As a result I've simplified, perhaps overly, but I must say it leaves me with far less guilt on New Year's Eve.

The list for 2014 is:

The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover

Help for Women Under Stress by Randy Alcorn

Breaking Free: Discover the Victory of Total Surrender by Beth Moore

When Godly People Do Ungodly Things: Finding Authentic Restoration in the Age of Seduction by Beth Moore

Give them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Believing God by Beth Moore

A Mom's Battle Cry to Overcome Fear by Laura J. Marshall

A Women's Guide to Making Right Choices by Elizabeth George

Way of the Wise: The Simple Truths for Living Well by Kevin Leman

Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up by Larissa Murphy

To Live Is Christ by Beth Moore

A Thankful Heart in a World of Hurt by Joni Eareckson Tada

Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman


Thanks to Beth Moore making a lot of her Kindle books free last year I was able to get a good collection of them in addition to a small collection of paper backs. I would say my favorite of the ones I read this year was To Live Is Christ, which is based on the life of Paul.

Last year and this year I read a book by Joni Eareckson Tada. She has a nice writing style and one of the best things about her books, for me, is that you know she means what she says. And she's also "earned", for lack of a better word, the right to say what she says. You can't take offense at her message when you know the life she has lived for others and for the Lord in spite of her physical suffering and disabilities. I would love to hear her speak in person some day.

Elyse Fitzpatrick is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors and I hope more of her Kindle books are discounted this year. Give Them Grace was exceptionally convicting and probably a book I should read every year. If you are a mother or work with children, it is definitely a must-read - for yourself and your children's sake. I must say old habits die hard and I must be very purposeful in applying what I learned from this book, which principally is that every situation with our children is an opportunity to teach them what grace really is. To teach them how Jesus died for them and how God forgives them of their sin. To teach them that they can do nothing on their own BUT sin. This in itself gives them hope for the future because they see themselves as God sees them and helps them to learn we cannot earn favor with God - we can only accept the gift of salvation He has given us and live our lives to serve Him. The second book of hers, Found In Him, was also eye-opening in reminding me of the way God views me. I so often have the idea that God is a judge, albeit a just one, that is extremely saddened or disappointed when I sin, rather than looking at me through His Son, Jesus. I often think it is all about me, rather than about what Jesus did for me. Not in a self-centered way, but rather that I must do this, this, and this and not do this, this, and this in order to keep God happy with me.

Eight Twenty Eight is written by a young woman whose boyfriend was critically injured in a car accident and suffered brain damage. It is an easy and interesting read, though at times I was left pondering some of the things she thought or believed. I won't go into more detail for fear of ruining the story line, but I would encourage anyone to read it.

For this year I'll be reading some more of the Beth Moore books I snagged last year, as well as some literary classics I've never read. Thanks to Am*zon, lots of classics are free for Kindle. I started Pride and Prejudice this week. And of course I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for free our discounted books throughout the year!