List Ten Books That...

My brother recently challenged me and my sisters to 'list 10 books that have stayed with you or affected you in some way.'

Turns out my real challenge was not to find 10 books for the list, but to keep the list to 10. That was nigh impossible for this girl. In truth I probably have more like 100 books that I could list as having stayed or affected me in some way. But to follow the rules: 

• List 10 books that have stayed with you or affected you in some way.
• Don't take more than a few minutes and don't think too hard.
• They don't have to be "right" books or great works of literature.
• Challenge friends to do the same.

  Except for my bible, this list is in no particular order ...

1. My Bible. Heavily-underlined and starred, it’s my ‘go-to’. The Book of Psalms is a top favourite.

2. Rose in Bloom by Lousia May Alcott, Sequel in Little Women series. The loving, trusting relationship between young Rose and her guardian uncle gave me a beautiful picture of how love gives one the ability to trust… and then obey. My relationship with Jesus started to be became a love affair as a result.

3. First I loved the red-headed snippet Anne of Green Gables and later I fell in love with her creator, L.M. Montgomery.

4. His Gentle Voice, author’s name long forgotten. The true story of a young woman who, in her desire to meet her life partner and be a missionary, learned to listen for His gentle voice. It was the first time I’d ever felt God nudging me to a specific book to read.

5. Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard. She became my mentor for living life more beautifully in every way.

6. From the Father’s Heart by Charles Slagle. Written as short notes and letters from Father God to the author. The Father became a real Person to me, someone with whom I could share real conversation and my daily stuff. It changed my concept of God.

7. Heaven, The Heart’s Deepest Longing by Peter Kreeft. Years ago I didn’t know why I had this ever-present homesickness down deep inside. When I saw Kreeft’s book sitting on a library cart it was as if it was there waiting for me. It confirmed what my heart began to know -- I was homesick for Eden, for what we lost in the beginning... and for heaven, what we look forward to in the end. Interesting, once I recognized that was what I was pining for, the homesick feeling resolved, I think because I knew one day it would resolve for real. And so it was okay to feel this way.

8. Martin Luther – Reflections from His Writings. Especially the essay The Freedom of a Christian -- the divine exchange of the Bride’s brokenness for the Bridegroom’s glory. I fell more in love with Jesus, the Bridegroom.

9. Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. I was happy to learn that I wasn’t the only one who struggled with feeling disorganized and over-busy on the wrong things. MacDonald shared some helpful things for me.

10. If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. I turn to it whenever I need inspiration or encouragement in my writing life. Love that my last name and hers are similar.

Adding List Two:

1. At Home From Mitford by Jan Karon
2. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
3. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
4. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
5. Love the Way to Victory by Kenneth E. Hagin
6. The Winged Life by Hannah Hurnard
7. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vaunaken
8. Heidi by Johanna Spry
9. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
10. Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore by Laura Lee Hope

Adding List Thee:

1. Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen
2. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
3. Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau
4. My Dream of Heaven by Rebecca Ruter Springer
5. The Shack by William Young
6. One Hundred Names for Love by Diane Ackerman
7. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
8. Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle
9. The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
10. Keeping the Feast (memoir) by Paula Butterini

Adding List Four:

1. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
2. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
4. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor F. Frankl
5. Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber 
6. Delighting God by Victoria Brooks
7. Mr. Popper's Penguins (children's) by Richard and Florence Atwater
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
9. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
10. Not My Will (teen novel) by Francena H. Arnold   ...

What are the first ten books that come to your mind?

Wanna share here or on your blog?

Wishing you a*´¨)
> ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
> (¸.·´ (¸.·´ * bookish kind of day! *

Hugs,

Brenda

xox