10 Inspirational Reads for 2017

Books and I have had a long love affair. I can remember begging my mom to order Hooked on Phonics for me when I was a kid because I wanted to learn to read so badly, I didn't want to wait until I went to school. (Any 90’s kids remember those commercials?!) 

Since the moment I could read for myself, I haven’t stopped. Books have been my companions, my escapes, and my agents of change. They just have a life-changing magic or at least I tend to read ones that inspire me to change or make me think in a different way than I did before. 

I have kept a list of books that I want to read in my bullet journal but I was inspired to share them by Gretchen Saffles of Life Lived Beautifully. She wrote a post called “Read A Mentor” that I highly recommend for even more great reads.  A valid point she made in her post is that while books can be very helpful in our spiritual life, the Bible should always be our main source of wisdom. Another friend put it this way: the Word is our main source of food and everything else is a supplement. 

Here are the inspirational supplements I plan to read in 2017: 

1. Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses by Amber Lia

2. Giddy Up, Eunice: (Because Women Need Each Other) by Sophie Hudson

3. Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist 

4. Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst

5. Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa Terkeurst

6. Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst

7. The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp

8. Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life with Everything You Have by Annie F. Downs

9. Without Rival: Embrace Your Identity and Purpose in an Age of Confusion and Comparison by Lisa Bevere

10. Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin

I have a few of these requested from the Library and I can’t wait to get them in my hands! I love learning from other people’s experiences. 

There were a few books that I read in 2016 that majorly impacted my view in life, they were:

1. Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton: Her raw honest thoroughly gutted and inspired me. Reading this book is what has made me feel so passionate about pursuing honesty in my life and relationships. 

2. The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst (basically I want to read everything by her!): She brought up many great thoughts that had me reconsidering how I was spending my time and ultimately my life. I am very thankful for her words.

Please share any impactful books you have read or plan to read in 2017! I am always looking for a good book!