Reading Women (pt.2)

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

I read a year ago a good suggestion: to have a reading plan for a year. We plan for other things to get done in a year, so why not plan for what to read? You may not be ready for the 15 minutes a day/10 books in a year plan, but you might find your goal more attainable if you record your goal and the titles. Planning in advance can help you stay balanced in your reading. For example you may want to read one book on the character of God, one on biblical womanhood, one on marriage, one on parenting, one biography and one novel. For me, I find it easy to zip through a novel but in reading non-fiction I have to slow down. I also can have two or three books going at one time. A lighter read for short spurts and another weightier read for extended, and more focused times slots.

I suggest keeping a book journal (something I've not yet done but plan to - starting now). Book journals can be helpful in remembering what was read, when it was read, the general content and page numbers of key points for future reference.

Do you need a reading partner? Just as those who exercise with a partner tend to stay exercising longer, so it can be with reading. A reading partner could be a husband, mother, sister, friend.

Where do you start? I would encourage you to ask your husband, your pastor, your caregroup leader or our bookstore manager, Bruce Bradford. Trinity's bookstore is a gold mine for truth. All the books you find there take theology and bring it to bear for daily living. These are tools that help us to be trained by scripture in righteousness that we may be equipped for every good work. If you do not see a book that you need Bruce will be happy to order it for you.

Here are a few suggestions from your bloggers and the wives of the pastoral team.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Humility by C.J. Mahaney
Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey
Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman
Elisabeth Prentiss "More Love to Thee" by Sharon James
Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
Abigail Adams by Phyllis Lee Levine

Happy Reading!!!