I want to write a book someday. And if there’s one thing I know about becoming an author, whatever I write needs to matter—it needs to be capable of changing a life.
And there are many books that have done that for me–books that left me changed. Books that have a message that stays with me long after I have read the last page. I have become better because of them, and that’s why they matter.
And while there are many books that have been helpful to me, I wanted to share with you just 5 of the books that have changed my life in the past few years. And it’s my hope that at least one of them could change yours too!
5 Books that Changed my Life
Found: God’s Will, by John MacArthur, is a short book that packs a punch. He answers the question almost every Christian asks: How can I know God’s will? And while the answer to this question eluded me for the majority of my Christian life, John’s words brought clarity to my mind, and relief to my heart. If you long to know how to find God’s will, this book is a must read, and I think you will find your life practically changed because of it.
One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp is a book I will read over and over again because the power of its message has transformed me, and I never want to forget. Ann dares me to notice the gifts in my life–to search for what I can be thankful for. She inspires me to write them down, to count them, and to give thanks for them in the midst my daily moments–those moments where the messes of my life challenge my willingness to give thanks. As I have read her poignant and transparent words, my perspective has shifted, and I am endeavoring to live life practicing the discipline of gratitude in every moment, even amidst suffering.
Love and Respect, by Emerson Eggerichs is absolutely the most practical book on marriage I’ve ever read! We use the strategies of this book every day in our marriage to break the crazy cycle of misunderstanding and communication differences. Wow! If you are married, I must say, you HAVE to read this book. It will change your marriage, I promise!
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, is the best book on children’s sleep I have ever found, and as a mom of 5, I have lived the moments where I was desperate for my kids to sleep. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover this book until after my 5th child was born, but I have still learned and benefitted so much from it. Dr. Weissbluth, is a pediatrician who conducts sleep research, and this book is a very practical resource for parents: I learned that sleep-wake cycles are separate from hunger cycles, that daytime sleep is different from nighttime sleep, and how essential sleep is for the healthy growth, development, and maintenance of our bodies. If you have children of any age, you will learn so much from this book, and use it as a resource that is just so practical!
Love & Logic, by Cline & Fay presents strategies for training and disciplining children. And after reading numerous books on parenting, these are my absolute favorites! They’ve written a general book, and also one that is specifically for parents of adolescents. In a very practical, down-to-earth way, they explain how to provide natural consequences so children are motivated to independently choose what is right. They also call us out on our “hovering” parental ways, and instead, empower us to teach children the reality of their own decisions. I use these concepts daily, and wish I would have read these books years ago!
What book are you currently reading?
Which book has changed your life? How?
Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1401-1415} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with April’s printable.
#1401 Uninterrupted sleep night after night
#1402 Swim lessons and watching them learn
#1403 Oldest and his friends “breaking-in” our pool
#1404 The littlest wanting to wear a dress and her hair in a bun and all the opinions of her 4-year-old personality
#1405 The ‘My Fitness Pal’ app, and how it scans labels too!
#1406 My sincere and much needed apology, and for the grace I received
#1407 A very sweet and very special surrogate delivery…and the privilege to be present to witness it
#1408 Podcasts from Michael Hyatt and The Simple Mom, keeping me company on my drive to work
#1409 (in)RL meetup with the food, flowers, laughter and being present in real community…such a gift
#1410 Twitter and connections it brings
#1411 Amazing worship and prayer service
#1412 Runs in the sunshine with my sweet husband
#1413 Flowers from a friend
#1414 Joining Instagram and learning to take pics
#1415 God’s GREAT love for us, even when we disappoint…and the way He chooses to use us anyway
“And if there’s one thing I know about becoming an author, whatever I write needs to matter—it needs to be capable of changing a life.” I love this, Jacque–although it’s daunting!
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child changed MY life, too–on 2 levels. I read this book early on in my motherhood career and hated it, and didn’t put one smidge of the advice into practice. I didn’t think I was THAT kind of mom–the one who’d let her kids cry it out.
But when my 4th child started waking up every 30-45 minutes around the clock, I decided to go back and give Weissbluth’s advice another try.
Well, he started sleeping through the night, which changed my life. And I suddenly had oodles of empathy for mothers who were making different parenting decisions than I was, which definitely changed my life as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jacque,
Oh, how I love to read! Right now I’m reading a Christian fiction by Terri Blackstock. I just finished 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and 31 Days of Faith by Tracie Stier-Johnson. Love Tracie’s book, I keep going back to it. I think Found: God’s Will may be one I add to my to-read list. Thanks!
Blessings,
Laura
Love and Respect is on my list of favorite books. Its message is so true, even if it is not always easy to actually live!
I currently have “One Thousand Gifts” in my stack to read. I have heard a lot about it!
I am going to my Paperback Swap account to add “Found:God’s Will” to my wishlist!
I am currently reading “He Heard Hannah”. I highly recommend it!
Uh-oh. I’m a sucker for parenting books all of a sudden (twelve weeks pregnant with our first today!), and the books you list sound good!
And writing what matters–yes. This. As Anne said, it’s daunting, but that’s what we’re all trying to do, isn’t it?
Thank you for sharing! ^_^
I rad about 20-30 books a year. I keep coming back to these ones…
Victory Over The Darkness by Neil Anderson
Transforming Grace or The Pursuit Of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
simply Christian by NT Wright
First Things First by Steven Covey
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Along with Love & Respect, Jayme and I have couples also read His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F Hartley.
Oh Anne! What you said is so true. Oh how we learn as we go along! And your book carnival is so fun!
Katie, congratulations! Enjoy and happy reading 🙂
Yes! His Needs, Her Needs is great too! I’ll have to check out the others…thanks for visiting me here 🙂 Tell Jayme hi!
Doesn’t reading just open up a whole new world of possibilities? Have a blessed day!
Oh, you’re so right…it’s the living it out that is a challenge for sure! Blessings to you!
Right now I am reading The Power of Praying for Your Adult Child by Stormie Omartian. It is such a help to me and is changing how I pray for my sons.
Healthy Sleep Habits… has made our lives so much better. Everyone my ten-month-old meets comments on what a happy, well-adjusted guy he is. I think his good nature is partially because he gets enough rest!
The other parenting book that really changed my life was The Wonder Weeks. The evolutionary biologists who wrote it suggest that kids go through predictable fussy phases while they learn new mental skills. (So far, the book has predicted when our son would be difficult to manage to the day!)
One Thousand Gifts changed so much in my life as well. It opened my eyes to blessings and thankfulness and changed my perspective on so many things. I also really liked the message in Love and Respect which came to me at a time I really needed to learn how to do marriage in a godly way. I haven’t read Parenting with Love and Logic but I have dear friends who rave about it. I guess my book list is still growing…
Well of course Ann’s book…I have lost count of how many times I have read it…it you have not listened to her read it…oh my what a treat. Another author…much like Ann…Mike Mason…what a gifted writer…I am rereading Practicing the Presence of People right now. He wrote a most profound book on marriage…Mystery of Marriage…and another one I love is Champagne for the Soul.
I hope your meet up went well…a time of blessings….Happy Monday to you:)
Love when I pray, and God has the answer already sitting in my inbox! I spent quite a bit of time this morning praying for Godly wisdom on how to deal with my 9-going-on-17 year old son. Everything has been a fight with him, but I know that God has a plan for him. I just ordered the Parenting books that you recommended, and I can’t wait to read and implement them. I discovered Dr. Weissbluth with our second son. He made such a phenomenal difference in the way that we worked with our younger children. Currently, I’m in the process of reading 1000 Gifts, along with two big stacks on my side table. I’m truly obsessed with books, but I struggle to find time to read them all. Thanks for the reminder to tackle a couple more.
Hi, Wow! Found God’s Will was also one of the first books that changed my life too!!! Most recently One Thousand Gifts is my companion. However I found a Praying Life, Connecting with God in a distracing World. Paul E. Miller. It deserves life changing status. An amazing read!! Grace Blake
Yes, the list always growing, I can SO relate!
Alida, that’s wonderful!
Great, I’ll have to add those to my list 🙂 Trusting your meet up was wonderful as well! Have an amazing day, my friend!
Oh boy! Me too…such a struggle to find the time. I sometimes get the audio version, but there’s something about turning the page and underlining on the paper that helps me learn. And I love how God gives us exactly what we need in the most unlikely places! Have an amazing day!
Ok! I’m adding that to my list too! I’m still, daily thankful for John MacArthur’s book…soooo freeing. Yay! So nice to meet you 🙂
I agree, it was such a helpful book! I’ll have to check out The Wonder Weeks…
1000 gifts hand down! and probably sacrilege.
i haven’t read parenting with love and logic yet but i read boundaries with kids- it sounds similar. i will have to check it out. thanks for posting all these!
I share your desire to one day write a book. I love your list. I just read Stephanie Nielson’s book, Heaven is Here – it was life changing and inspiring and heartbreaking all wrapped up in one.
Janelle
You wrote this post over a year ago, but I just stumbled onto your blog…I hope you are writing your book! 🙂 I was touched by your story and think that it would make a wonderful book, so I just wanted to say that I look forward to reading it someday. 🙂