Summer Reading List

Hey girls!
Here's a great start to your summer reading list, if you'd like to read some hip books that will lift you up in your faith and help you apply it to your everyday interactions. I've included many different genres and styles, and all books have been read and recommended by myself and many of my friends. :) Enjoy!

Revolve Devotional Bible

Of course, the Bible should be at the top of your reading list! I love this Bible (and many of my friends have the same one) because it's cute, it has commentary inside, and it has a great index where you can look up relevant topics. If you're in the market for a new Bible, I highly recommend it!

Just Ask by Melody Carlson

Fiction (series, book 1)

Kim, a teenager adopted from Korea, tries amidst tragedy to write an advice column for her school newspaper--while holding her own life and relationships together. Captivating and thought-provoking.
If you enjoyed this book, try John 3:16 by Nancy Moser.

More Beautiful You by Gwendolyn Diaz

Non-fiction (devotional)

Based off the song by Johnny Diaz, More Beautiful You looks through what the Bible says about worth, weight, popularity, appearance, boyfriends, and more. Written in a casual conversational style, with places for journaling and recommendations for further Bible passages to read.
If you enjoyed this book, try God Called a Girl: How Mary Changed Her World--And You Can Too by Shannon Primicerio.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Non-fiction (autobiography)

Corrie ten Boom's well-known story of surviving a World War II German concentration camp is grippingly told in this autobiography. Packed with Corrie's insights into living out a Christian faith in hard situations.
If you enjoyed this book, try Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

For Young Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa A. Rice

Non-fiction (advice)

The pages of this book are bursting with facts from an eye-opening survey conducted by the authors. The survey, which went in-depth with guys on a number of topics (including modesty, purity, dating, and others), can be summed up in one question: what are guys really thinking?
If you enjoyed this book, try For Young Men Only: A Guy's Guide to the Alien Gender by Jeff Feldhahn and Eric Rice. (no, really--it's just as eye-opening!)

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
Non-fiction (advice)

Joshua Harris looks at the modern dating game, showing how it causes more broken hearts than happily-ever-afters. But don't worry, you don't have to become a nun--dating, when done right, can be both God-honoring and fun.

If you enjoyed this book, try Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Fiction (historical romance)

One of Jane Austen's lesser-known novels, Persuasion is a short but moving book demonstrating the importance of staying true to yourself in the midst of tumultuous relationships and...dare we say it....cute guys.

If you enjoyed this book, try Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

Those are my favorites. What are yours?

God's warning against gossip

"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.  Among them are...[those] who have wandered away from the truth....and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.' In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:16-17a, 18, 19-26

What's important to you?

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16, The Message

Look at your life. Can people tell what's important to you? Have you posted about God in your Facebook status? Do you "keep open house" about your faith?

I'm going to talk about bookshelves in this post (because I love books), but this applies to everything--your social network profiles, your blogs, your journals, everything.

Owning romance novels, "get-rich-quick" books, or other non-Bible books isn't bad by itself. My bookshelf reads like this: Girl to Grrrl Manga: How to Draw the Hottest Shoujo Manga, Country Gourmet, The One-Year Chronological Bible, In Search of Excellence, The Starbucks Experience, Succeed with Math, Learn French the BBC way, Pride and Prejudice. God wants us to explore and celebrate the world around us, and we can do that through secular books.

However, when you look at your bookshelf, you will see a reflection of yourself. Take a look at my above list. You can probably tell that I like to draw and cook, enjoy reading the Bible, study business techniques, work on math, learn French, and read Jane Austen books.

Now, let me give you a different list. Say you came to my house and saw that my bookshelf read like this: The Starbucks Experience, The Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting a Successful Business, How to Be a Teenage Millionare, Dave's Way--but there were no Bibles or devotionals that were easy to get to (pretend I had them all packed up in a box somewhere). Well, that says something else about my life, doesn't it? If that scenario were true, you could probably honestly say that my goal in life is financial success--it's what I worship.

You see, it's okay if you reflects your interests, but your life should always be centered around Jesus and reflect Him. I have an entire shelf-level of books dedicated to foreign language dictionaries, because I love to study foreign languages. That's an interest God gave me. Because it's important to me, I keep those books handy--right in my bedroom in a place where I can quickly get to them. However, my life goal isn't to learn the languages perfectly or fluently. That's a good goal, but it's not my #1 life goal.
Right next to my shelf of foreign language books I have a bookshelf I've dedicated to Bibles, devotionals, and Christian books. God is also important to me--much more important than foreign languages--so I make sure that those books that help me grow in my knowledge of Him are also readily available for consultation.

Like I said above, this concept doesn't just apply to bookshelves. The girls I know who shine brightly for Jesus are obvious Christians in every area of their lives. Those who are on Facebook just can't keep Him inside--they're so excited that they have to share Him in their statuses and posts! Those who blog, even just as personal blogs, write about His work in their lives. I know a girl who runs her own business. Almost every time I ask how her business is doing, she replies "It's going really well--God has really been blessing it!" Sometimes she tells me about what God is telling her about the business: things to change, areas to expand to, etc. Every time, though, it's about God.

Let me make one more comment: all of this should come naturally. When I think about how much God loves us, I can't help but want to share it with everyone I know. The girls I mentioned above would say the same thing.

I'm going to close by re-stating the Bible passage I started with. As you read it, ask God if there's any area of your life in which He'd like you to shine brighter or more obviously.

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16, The Message

Dress to Communicate

The way we dress communicates a lot about what we think. Different people dress different ways for different reasons. Sometimes, we dress a certain way to fit in. Sometimes, we dress a certain way to stand out. Sometimes we dress a certain way because we don't know how else to handle something in our life. But we usually dress to communicate. "Accept me." "Love me." "Look at me." "Admire me." "Envy me." Help me."

Maybe you're one of those people who are looking for help, but you're confused. You try to communicate "help me" through the way you dress. Or maybe you're trying to tell people about something that's going on inside of you, like "I'm depressed" or "I'm upset." If you are one of those people, it's okay--everyone needs help sometimes.

I've put the following in prayer-format for you, but you don't have to pray it if you don't want to. Maybe not everything below applies to you; that's okay. Like I said above, different people dress differently for different reasons. I'm posting the prayer below for those who need it.

And please know that you're not judged. I know that life is tough. Maybe you're not ready for the prayer below, and that's okay too. As long as you're following God, He'll lead you to His heart in His timing--and that's where you want to be.

"Dear God,
I've been wanting help. I've been crying for help, wanting to tell people that something is wrong. Wanting to tell people that I don't have all the answers, and that I'm looking for someone to help me learn them. Wanting to let people know that I don't always make the right choices, and that I need someone to rescue me.

Thank You so much for loving me, for knowing me intimately, and for dying on the cross for me. I love You and I want to follow Your ways.

If anything, I can communicate that I don't have all the answers, but that I have some--and that I'm willing to follow what I've learned right now, not at some future date when I have life all figured out. After all, I won't have all the answers until I die and go to heaven. So, since I'm following You, even though I don't have all the answers in my life, I'll follow what You've told me for now and learn more every day. You know that I sometimes head down the wrong path in life. You know that everyone sometimes chooses the wrong things. That's why You died for everyone. In fact, everyone already knows I'm not perfect. But what You want me to tell people is not that I make some wrong choices every day, but that You have rescued me from my sin. Help me communicate that.

Thank You so much for loving me and caring about me, and please help me to follow You every moment of my life. I love you.
In Jesus' name, Amen."

READY: April 18

Today's passage: 1 John 4, NIV, courtesy of BibleGateway.org.

Highlighted characteristic of God: Jesus is God. There are so many facets to that statement that we can't examine them all in one paragraph--Jesus gave us commandments, Jesus loves us enough to come to earth, Jesus lived a perfectly exemplary life, etc.--but the main point in this passage is that remembering Jesus' life (and following it) can help us stay strong in God. God wants us to have a relationship with Jesus, and He wants us to follow Him.
In two words: Jesus empowers.

Highlighted characteristic for us: Test your moods! Okay, the passage deals with spirits, but I think it's a point worth making...girls, we know we're moody, and as teens, it's pretty easy to be moody most of the time. So stay on your guard. What you perceive as "unfair" may or may not be worth your time arguing about. What you perceive as "defending your--and God's-- reputation" might actually be a flare-up of pride. Be careful. Ask yourself the WWJD question, remember Bible verses you've memorized about Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit if your mood is from Him or from sin.
In three words: Strength through alertness.

READY: April 6, 2010

Today's passage: Mark 4, NCV, courtesy of BibleGateway.org

Highlighted characteristic of God: God is willing to share His love with those who will stay growing strong in Him (the subjects of His kingdom, if you will). God's kingdom is always growing, even if we don't always see it. God, like a true Divine regent, has power beyond what we could imagine--and He's willing to use that power to help us, if we ask and if it's His will.
In two words--God rules.

Highlighted characteristic for us: We can read the Bible all we want, but if the Holy Spirit isn't explaining it to us, we won't truly get the full meaning and the full benefits...but that's why it's important to ask God questions about what He means by His words and how He's working in our lives.
In three words--Listen to understand.

Mark 4 (New Century Version)

A Story About Planting Seed

¹ Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. ² Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said, ³ "Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed.⁴ While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up.⁵ Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep.⁶ But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots.⁷ Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop. ⁸ Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more."

⁹ Then Jesus said, "Let those with ears use them and listen!"

Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories

¹⁰ Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.

¹¹ Jesus said, "You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories ¹² so that:
'They will look and look, but they will not learn.
They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
they would come back to me and be forgiven.' " — Isaiah 6:9–10

Jesus Explains the Seed Story

¹³ Then Jesus said to his followers, "Don't you understand this story? If you don't, how will you understand any story? ¹⁴ The farmer is like a person who plants God's message in people.¹⁵ Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.¹⁶ Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy.¹⁷ But since they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up.¹⁸ Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching,¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit in their lives. ²⁰ Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more."

Use What You Have

²¹ Then Jesus said to them, "Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. ²² Everything that is hidden will be made clear and every secret thing will be made known. ²³ Let those with ears use them and listen!

²⁴ "Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more. ²⁵ Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them."

Jesus Uses a Story About Seed

²⁶ Then Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.²⁸ By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. ²⁹ When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time."

A Story About Mustard Seed

³⁰ Then Jesus said, "How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? ³¹ The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed you plant in the ground. ³² But when planted, this seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches, and the wild birds can make nests in its shade."

³³ Jesus used many stories like these to teach the crowd God's message—as much as they could understand.³⁴ He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone, Jesus explained everything to them.

Jesus Calms a Storm

³⁵ That evening, Jesus said to his followers, "Let's go across the lake." ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them.³⁷ A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water.³⁸ Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, "Teacher, don't you care that we are drowning!"

³⁹ Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.

⁴⁰ Jesus said to his followers, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

⁴¹ The followers were very afraid and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"