Each year my Christmas list always starts with a list of books I want to read over the next year. That tradition started several years ago, when I was preparing to head into the mission field. Life was white knuckled, exciting, and often a unique mix of exhilaration, sleepless nights, and a lot of prayer!

One thing that God used to anchor me through that season of transition was a good book. Actually, there were several!

If you're in a season of transition, looking to deepen your walk, or just want a good read, consider checking these out. There are tons of great titles out there, but these were really meaningful to me.

Book 1: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

This beloved classic will give new meaning to the ageless Shepherd Psalm, enriching your trust in and love for the Lord who watches closely over you. One of my favorite quotes from this book was "The only real, practical measure of my apprehension for the goodness and mercy of God to me is the extent to which I am, in turn, prepared to show goodness and mercy to others." If you'd like to get it on Amazon, here's the link.

Book 2: Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

What would your Christianity look like if it was stripped down to the simplest, rawest, purest faith possible? You would have more, not less. You would have the beginning of a new reformation—in your generation, your church, your own soul. You would have primal Christianity. One of my favorite quotes from this book was "In my experience, it's much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one. Anyone can put on an act. But your reactions reveal what is really in your heart. And if you love God with all your heart, you won't just act like it. You'll react like it." If you'd like to get it on Amazon, here's the link.

Book 3: The Master Plan of Evangelism

For more than forty years this classic study has shown Christians how to minister to the people God brings into their lives. Instead of drawing on the latest popular fad or the newest selling technique, Dr. Robert E. Coleman looks to the Bible to find the answer to the question: What was Christ's strategy for evangelism? One of my favorite quotes from this book was "We must decide where we want our ministry to count—in the momentary applause of popular recognition or in the reproduction of our lives in a few chosen people who will carry on our work after we have gone. Really it is a question of which generation we are living for." If you'd like to get it on Amazon, here's the link.

What are some of your favorite? I'd love to hear them — especially if you're in a season of transition. Shoot me an email!