Five Books That Changed Who I Am

I’m altering my style of blogging for this post.

I was “tagged” to give a list of “five books that changed who I am.” Thank you Kellie http://bluehouseacademy.blogspot.com/ for tagging me, it gave me something to ponder (and type) while at church camp with all of the kids last week.

My “list of five” are books that are reflections of God’s Word, the Bible – which is the ultimate Book. The stories I have chosen are ones that show God at work in the lives of His people, some fiction, and others non-fiction.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.
I’ve read this book twice, first on my own and the second time to my children who at that time were ages nine, ten, twelve, and thirteen. After reading it (and re-reading it) I have become much more thankful and have a better awareness of God’s blessings which He has bestowed upon me. When difficult experiences arise, I often find myself thinking, “If Corrie and Betsie can go through all of THAT, then I can do…..” The following verses come to my mind as I think back on how I have grown as a Christian after reading The Hiding Place.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Psalm 119:11 Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Eric Liddell: Running For a Higher Prize by Renee Meloche
This is actually a children’s book that I read to my kids when I homeschooled them. (We watched the movie, Chariot’s of Fire, after reading this book). Eric Liddell’s convictions were an encouragement to me to continue to put God at the top of my priorities on Sunday and to rest from my labors, which has been challenging, especially with four children who are involved in many activities that sometimes occur on Sunday. It also gave my children a clearer understanding (not just a lecture from their parents or pastor) of why we need to rest from our weekly activities.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Isaiah 58:13-14 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
Two words that sum up this book: spiritual maturity. I read this when I had a couple of toddlers and a baby. I thought I was quite mature regarding my spiritual life. And then I read this book. It made me look deeper into my life and my heart. I grew up in a Christian home and went to church every Sunday. I heard, read, and memorized the Bible; and I prayed before and after meals, and at bedtime. However, applying all of that to my heart and life was a bit lacking. This book pushed me to do so, to be of service more for others, not just for myself and my family.

James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing.

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
After reading Pride and Prejudice a few years ago, I fell in love with Jane Austen. I went on to read all of her books. While P&P is probably my favorite, Mansfield Park was the one that I could relate to the most. Throughout high school, I was considered a “goody-two-shoes.” Although this book didn’t “change who I am”, reading this book made me realize that what I thought was not very common for a teenager was and is actually a struggle for many young Christians: that it is alright to follow the straight and narrow as a teen, that Christianity isn’t something you start to do when you become an adult. I also know that only by God’s grace was I able to withstand the temptations and grow as a Christian, even at a young age.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright
I just read this book last year. I am intrigued by diaries and letters and decided to Google books written in that format. This happened to come up so I checked it out from the library and read it. I immediately had my mom read it, who then bought the book and passed it around in our family for others to read it, too. It is absolutely wonderful. The story is the epitome of forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

The rules say to (1) tag between three to five people, (2) link back to this post, (3) call the post "Five Books that Changed Who I Am," and (4) enjoy.
However, I don’t read very many blogs. So, I’m sort of breaking the rules and skipping that part. If you aren’t (or are) a blogger, I’d love for you to share your list of “five books that have changed who you” are in the comments section.