Fridays are going to take on a new feel! Welcome to Fabulous Friday Finds.  I’m going to use it as a platform to recommend all sorts of things: blogs, books, movies, music, events, what to get me for Christmas…  You get the idea.

I’ve received several messages this week requesting some suggestions for small group and personal reading.  I’m mildly obsessed with reading, so I am more than happy to oblige.  People are different.  (Shocking.)  We have varied tastes and we absorb material in completely unique ways.  That being said, these books made the list because they have spoken into my life at one time or another.  Some are topical, others are devotional.  Not all of these books would be great for every age group – so I’m also going to try and give a rough summary of the book and the target audience.  Here we go.

Relationships
Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones (Good book for teen girls especially.)
Dateable: Are you? Are they? by Justin Lookadoo and Hayley DiMarco (I read this as a confused 20-something.)
The Art of Rejection by Hayley and Michael DiMarco (This tiny book was a huge help after a break up.)

Taking Risks, Living Adventurously, Embracing Life NOW
Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus (Read this book on the plane to Arizona.  It gave me courage!)
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (This book was perfect for dreaming big.)
I Married Adventure by Luci Swindoll (I love this book AND the journal that goes with it.)
Revelations of a Single Woman by Connally Gilliam (Another great 20-somethings book)

Beliving Truth/Body Image
The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee (This is a great book for teens and college students.)
Me, Myself & Lies by Jennifer Rothschild (Although addressed to Moms, I went through this with a group of teens last year.  We giggled at some parts but it brought about great discussion.)
Breaking Free by Beth Moore (I have read the book and gone through the Bible Study 3 times.  This book was a catalyst for change in my life.)

Developing Relationship with God
The Organic God by Margaret Feinberg (ANY of Feinbergs books have a way of challenging me to view my pre-conceived ideas about God.)
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (Breathtaking and beautiful, this book is for the faint of heart.)
Dangerous Wonder by Michael Yaconelli (A reminder to live with childlike faith.)

Devotional
Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeath (This was the perfect answer for a girl [me] who couldn’t focus when she prayed.)
God Is No Fool by Lois A. Cheney (I fell in love with this poetry as a freshman in college.  My grandmother found it in my apartment last year and has since introduced it to her book club.)

As I considered the countless books on my shelf, these are the books I selected for a short list for one simple reason: I reference them on a monthly basis.  These contain the quotes I pull for messages, letters, and blog posts. These are the thoughts I reference when looking for and giving encouragement.  These are the books that have pushed me along in my own stumbling way.  This list will probably change in another two months.  I am currently being challenged humbled by Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.  I’m fairly certain this will be a book I reread over and over again.

The important thing to remember is that these authors are human.  Their writings, the outpourings of the heart, are not infallible.  That’s why it is always important to be putting a healthy dose of God’s Truth in your diet. The Bible should still be your primary source for encouragement and guidance.  I don’t agree with everything in every book that is on the list but I connect with the hearts and imaginations of the authors.  I am looking forward to continuing new reading with the goal of recommending and reviewing books that can challenge and encourage both students and youth leaders alike.  If you’d like more information on any of the books listed feel free to comment or ask.

Last thing before I send you off to enjoy your glorious weekend: What books should I be reading?  What books did you find encouraging at different stages in your own personal growth?  What’s a book you read over and over and over?

Following,
Ginger