It’s been a while my friends.. And I just realized, October must pull out the “OMGSH I LOVE BOOKS!! LET ME TELL EVERYONE!!” side of me.  My last post on books was last October when I gave you my top 10 Fall Reading Guide. I’ll admit, I only read 5.. (wah wahhh). Looking to the bright side, I shall read them this fall!! ( I FIND READING VICTORY AGAIN!)

ANYHOO… If you are a lover of all types of books like myself, you will know the concept of “I am always reading at least 3 books at one time” type of story. You have to have every type of fill right?  Well I have read some incredible {and not so incredible}  works of fiction & nonfiction this year; however, I want to suggest a different type of book – YES, the lovely “Self-Help” books.

Self-Help… I kind of hate that term. Let’s call it … Wisdom for the Soul books. That sounds way better!  Anyways, I learn so much from these books. The authors always seem so aware of themselves and the situations going on in their lives. I kind of want to write these books…OH BOOK GODS, if you are out there, send me the knowledge to write a 100+ pg book about my “messy/yet I will pull together because I learned this lesson” type of book. Or just send me $100,000 Amazon Gift Card so I can keep giving these people a living. Either and/or All of the above, I will accept.

But enough about my future writing career — on to those books and self aware authors!

Scary Close by Donald Miller

This guy… well he is a genius. He is the most honest writer I have ever read.  He has the ability to write everything I have ever felt and questioned before, yet I wasn’t sure how to put into words. Well he finds the way perfectly. This book is all about learning to be intimate in relationships. Not just romance, but all relationships in life. The majority of it talks about his relationship with his wife while they were dating. It confronts issues like putting on a false-self, selfishness, sincerity and more. If you love people {which I hope you do!}, this will show you out to love them so much better. And yourself :)

“Real love stories don’t have dictators, they have participants. Love is an ever changing, complicated, choose-your-own adventure narrative that offers the world but guarantees nothing. When you climb a mountain or sail an ocean, you’re rewarded for staying in control. Perhaps that’s another reason true intimacy is so frightening. It’s the one thing we all want, and must give up control to get.”

Chasing God by Angie Smith

Raise your hand if you have ever felt like you a running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to find God’s will for yourself. (You can’t see me, but both of my hands are raised, and I would raise another if I could). Angie’s book is amazing. First off, she is hilarious and honest and such a relatable writer. Much more than that, she understands the difference between “checking off the checklist” and being still to know God.  Why? Cause she has been there. I love this woman. {Is it weird if I say that?} Anyways, I do. She made me want a new relationship with my Father that isn’t about perfection, but instead about so much more.

“Salvation isn’t about sets of words. It’s an attitude of the heart. The words have no power in and of themselves; it’s not a formula we have to perfect in order to be accepted.”

“(Note: If you don’t appreciate a little humor in the midst of critically important theological issues, you may not have come to the same conclusion I have, which is this: I don’t have to take myself too seriously in order to take God seriously.)”

 Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson

This book was suggested to me by friends of mine, and I am actually still reading it. Only on Chapter two. Yes, chapter two. However I can’t seem to move quickly because EVERY PAGE IS INCREDIBLY AMAZING. <– I go for the dramatic flare, its fine. But seriously, this book is packed with so much truth. It’s all about being awakened to the incredible story of the gospel. We as Christians grow so numb to the greatest gift that will ever grace us, and we shouldn’t.  The gospel should be our motivator in every situation in life. It should be our life. WOOF,   i’m so pumped I’m going to go find my favorite quote thus far in the first 30 pages. Wish me luck!

“Really there are only two steps to gospel wakefulness: be utterly broken and be utterly awed. But neither of the things you can really do. They are only things God can do for you.”

Now go grab a book and tell me what ya think!

xx

Han