Faith Growing Reads

At the beginning of October, I had the opportunity to speak at a MOPS Community Event (leadership training) for the greater Des Moines area. The theme of the event was "Your Life Speaks" and my speaking topic was simply "Lifestyle Evangelism". A broad topic, but as soon as I really put my hands together in prayer about what to say the Holy Spirit took over for me, in a big way. In the weeks leading up to the event, I would be sitting in church listening to the message, sifting through the verses in the Bible and I would hear "this would be good for MOPS" or "use this for your MOPS talk".

I have had opportunities to speak to crowds in the past. Hello, Master's degree. It was either paper writing or presentations, every day. And there were two semesters of teaching intro-level accounting at Drake. But this opportunity was different.

I have always loved sharing my faith in conversation, even if it is a complete stranger. You never know who's life may change when you let the Spirit speak through you. There is passion in conversation about Jesus. It's inevitable.

So, I spoke to this group of Mom's. A few days prior, Satan really started pushing against me. You're probably the youngest mom there. They don't care what you have to say. Who are you to speak about your faith, when you fail all of the time? You have the least leadership experience of any of these people. Your oldest kid is only three, how could you really have anything to teach these people. 

Well, lucky for me, Satan, this isn't about ME.

The night before, as I dutifully picked out my outfit, gathered my belongings and quadruple checked the address of the church it came to me that I should bring in some of the books {other than the Bible} that have grown my faith "Faith Growing Reads", if you will. And, because these four books have had such a great impact on my life, I thought I would share them here, too.

Love & Respect
During our first year of marriage, I worked and traveled for work, a lot. I lived and breathed my day job with a little bit of time to sleep and squeeze in some exercise. On one of these late evenings, I was listening to Life 107.1 and a Focus on the Family segment was on. The talk was moving enough that I immediately ordered the book they were talking about, Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. This book really grew my faith, most importantly in the area of being a wife and serving my husband. An eye-opener that I am so thankful God placed in my life in the very beginning of our journey as husband and wife.

Successful Christian Parenting
Coincidentally (but not, because God planned it), on another late drive home from work, mid-pregnancy with M, another Focus on the Family segment was on, this time John MacArthur, from Grace To You ministries, discussing his book Successful Christian Parenting. I loved this at the time, and still do, because it is not a "if your kid is strong-willed" or "if your kid is sensitive" or "change your child's behavior by doing this". It was simply, no matter who you are, where you are from, or what special needs you may have this is what the Bible says about parenting. I love anything that can point me right to a verse in the Bible for reference. In fact, now the book's title has changed to "What the Bible Says About Parenting".

Fearless
Max Lucado has the ability to grow my faith every time he opens his mouth or picks up a pen. But, of all of his books, that I have read, "Fearless" had, hands down, the biggest impact on my faith. I think as women we tend to fear {worry} more about things, both big and small. Many times, our fears or worries are so unrealistic and Satan is planting stories and ideas in our heads.


"Fearless" was placed in my lap by my amazing Bible study small group back in Des Moines. When this book was placed in my lap it was a very visible sign of God's perfect timing. Because we started reading it in January of 2010 and life in Des Moines was, for the most part, stable. But during the first six weeks of reading and studying this book along side of the Word, God rocked our world.

Jon's job security changed. The house we were planning to buy fell through. We started taking "Financial Peace University". We moved two hours from "home" and left our church family and friends, my sister, and life as we knew it to start a new journey. Oh, and all the while I was just about to give birth to sweet O. God knew all of this was going to happen, and He also knew that we could handle it with more grace because of the words he had given Max Lucado for this book.

Financial Peace
Dave Ramsey. The man's work has changed our family tree, if you will. Everything that you will read in Financial Peace is common sense, there is nothing in this book that is revolutionary information. But Dave has a way of teaching it to you and presenting the information that compels you to change and be a responsible steward of the gifts that God has given to you. And, speaking for Jon and I, to simply GROW UP. We started FPU at the same time as "Fearless", once again not aware of the rapid change ahead of us. We started it at a time where we did have fear. Fear of not having enough.