Chasing God

Dates Read: January 2014 
This is another amazing book from Angie Smith! I always try to do the right thing and live a "good" life but this book was definitely eye-opening in its honest message that sometimes these things lead to us Chasing God instead of simply loving Him.
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
Maybe you’ve never asked the question out loud, but you’ve wondered. You do the things that look good on paper: read your Bible, pray, attend study groups and go to church on Sundays.
 
But you aren’t convinced you really know Him.
 
Angie Smith understands, because she had run circles around the same paths searching for Him, frustrated at her lack of progress. And she probably would have continued to do so had it not been for one realization that changed everything.
 
She wasn’t following God; she was trying to catch up with Him. 
 
And without realizing it, you may be as well.
 
It’s a distinction that affects every aspect of our lives with Christ, and it begins with learning where we’ve relied more on man’s explanation of God than God Himself.
 
So many requirements, so many rules, and so much guilt where there is supposed to be freedom. It’s the reason you wonder if you’ve measured up, and the nagging voice that tells you you’re a failure as a Christian.
 
Three simple words changed everything for Angie, and she believes they can do the same for you.
 
Stop chasing God.

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms

Dates Read: January 2014
I heard a lot about Angie Smith but had yet to read her blog or her books. While Bobby was buying some stuff for the Kindle, he asked if I would like her books and I said yes. I started with What Women Fear and oh my goodness! This was such a great read! It's so reassuring to hear that some of the "stupid" and silly fears that I have are perfectly normal and other women have the fears, too. For some reason, hearing that they're normal makes it easier to take work through the fears and take them to God on a regular basis (because let's face it, some of these fears, sadly, might be around for a while).
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
A woman's faith in God is challenged by the first question Satan asks Eve in the Bible: "Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the garden?" That seed of doubt and the story it begins to unfold breed a concept of fear still haunting each of us on some level every day-the idea that our actions could ruin something beautiful, and God might not have control of things. 

In What Women Fear, acclaimed writer and speaker Angie Smith admits, "fear is a major part of my testimony" and talks openly about her treatment for anxiety as a child. Giving a voice to the problem, she says, "I truly believe every single one of us struggles with some type of fear, whether it's fear of flying or fear of being 'found out.' Maybe you don’t worry about dying, but you get sick thinking about the fact that you might fail." 

Rather than suggesting that those who truly love the Lord would never fear, Angie blends her own experiences with those of men and women from throughout Scripture to help us start dealing more effectively with these true, human emotions. Whether it’s a constant "What if?," a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, fear of your own or someone else’s death, fear of trusting God's plan, or even the fear that God's existence is a lie, Angie will walk you through stories of others who have simultaneously loved God and struggled with fear. Join Angie and discover how to let Jesus redeem this struggle as only He can, that He will be glorified, and you will be transformed!

A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet

Dates Read: January 2014 
(I honestly don't remember when I read it but it was sometime in the last couple months.) I love reading Sophie Hudson's Boo Mama blog so I knew I wanted to read her book. Bobby got it for me on the Kindle and thanks to some late nights with a precious little one, I read this book in no time and thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the stories she shared about her friends and family. It made me thankful for my friends and family and made me excited to see what the future will hold for our little family - hopefully it will be full of wonderful conversations around the dinner table.
  
Summary: (from amazon.com)
There's nothing quite like family--and some people would say that there's nothing better. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do about the people sleeping right down the hall, it's easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There's even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time's-a-wastin', we need to be careful that we don't take our people--and their stories--for granted. 

Whether it's a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.

Written in the same witty style as Sophie's BooMama blog, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet is a cheerful, funny, and tender account of Sophie's very Southern family. It's a look into the real lives of real people--and a real, loving God right in the middle of it all.

Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship, and Life Together

Dates Read: October 2013
Bobby and I started attending Mars Hill Church with Pastor Mark Driscoll. So far we love it! I love hearing Mark speak and we have both found that what he says has been exactly what we needed to hear. Bobby bought several of Mark's books and while we were at the bookstore the other day, I saw this book and decided to pick it up. Let me preface this by saying that Bobby and I are doing great, there's nothing to be concerned about - but we also feel like our marriage could be even better, even stronger, and we want to have a strong and healthy marriage for Taylor so I was hoping that reading this book would challenge us to get our marriage to that point. Let me tell you, this book was great! I loved that Mark and Grace (his wife) wrote it so you got two perspectives. I loved that they were open and honest about what has and has not worked for them. I also love that it's not a "how to" manual but instead it presents thoughts, suggestions, challenging questions, etc., that you're supposed to use as a starting point to have a conversation with your spouse so that as a couple you can figure out what will work best for you. The main theme of this book is friendship, which I think is sooooo important for a marriage. I think the underlying main theme of the book is communication - every single chapter has pointers and questions that you should use as a starting point to have a conversation (sometimes a difficult one) with your spouse. I honestly haven't read any other marriage books so I have nothing to compare this one to, but if you're looking for a book to challenge or encourage you to be a better spouse, I strongly encourage you to pick up this book!!
 
Summary: (from amazon.com)
Most marriage books assume the author did it right. Most marriage books barely mention friendship. Most marriage books use “intimacy” as code for “sex.” This is not one of those books.

In Real Marriage, Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, share how they have struggled and how they have found healing through the power of the only reliable source: the Bible. They believe friendship is fundamental to marriage but not easy to maintain. So they offer practical advice on how to make your spouse your best friend – and keep it that way. And they know from experience that sex-related issues need to be addressed directly.

Five chapters are dedicated to answering questions like:

• Should I confess my pre-marital sexual sin to my spouse?
• Is it okay to have a “work spouse”?
• What does the Bible say about masturbation and oral sex?

Stunningly honest and vulnerable, Real Marriage is like a personal counseling session with a couple you cannot surprise, you cannot shock into silence, who will respond to every question with wisdom, humility, and realism.

If you want to have a long-lasting, fulfilling marriage you should read this book. Wrestle with this book. Pray over this book. Share this book. And discover how God can use it to change your life.

The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty

Dates Read: September 2013
After reading Sicology and Happy, Happy, Happy, I finished out the month by reading Willie Robertson's book. This book was a little different from the previous two as it told more about the history of the company and the history of Willie and his wife. Again, some of the stories overlapped with the stories told in the other two books, but I still thought it was a great read and I enjoyed the additional perspective on the stories. As with the other two books, if you enjoy the show, you'll enjoy reading the history and learning more about this great family.
 
Summary: (from amazon.com)
Faith. Family. Ducks—in that order.

This book gives readers an up-close and personal, behind-the-scenes look at the family in the exploding A&E® show— Duck Dynasty®. This Louisiana bayou family operates Duck Commander, a booming family business that has made them millions. You’ll hear all about the Robertson clan from Willie and what it was like growing up in the Robertson household. You’ll sample some of Willie’s favorite family recipes from Phil, Kay, and even some of his own concoctions; and you’ll get to know the beautiful Robertson women. You’ll hear from Korie about the joys and hardships of raising a family, running a business, and wrangling the Robertson men while staying fashionable and beautiful inside and out. Discover more about the family dynamics between brothers Willie, Jase, Jep, and parents Phil and Kay. You’ll even meet a fourth brother who isn’t in the show.

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander

Dates Read: September 2013

After reading Sicology, I decided to keep with the Duck Commander theme and read the book by Phil Robertson. It was great to read this book after Sicology because the stories overlapped slightly but were told from a different perspective so that was fun to read. As with Sicology, I highly recommend this book if you enjoy the series - it's a great, low key and fun read!
 
Summary: (from amazon.com)
Duck calls—though the source of his livelihood—are not what makes Phil Robertson the man he is today. When asked what matters in his life, he’s quick to say, “Faith, family, ducks—in that order.”

It isn’t often that a person can live a dream, but Phil Robertson, aka The Duck Commander, has proven that it is possible with vision, hard work, helping hands, and an unshakable faith in the Almighty. Phil’s is the remarkable story of one man who followed the call he received from God and soon after invented a duck call that would begin an incredible journey to the life he had always dreamed of for himself and his family. In the love of his country, his family, and his maker, Phil has finally found the ingredients to the “good life” he always wanted.

If you ever wind up sitting face-to-face with Phil, you’ll see that his enthusiasm and passion for duck hunting and the Lord is no act—it is truly who he is.

If you’ve watched the exceedingly popular A&E® program Duck Dynasty®, you already know the famed Phil Robertson. As patriarch of the Robertson clan and creator of Duck Commander duck calls, he fearlessly leads his family in a responsible work ethic and an active faith.

But what you don’t know is his life before the show. In the pages of this book, you’ll learn of Phil’s colorful past and his wild road to the “happy, happy, happy” life he leads today. Before the “happy,” Phil’s passion for the outdoors and wild living led him down some shady paths. As a young husband and father, he became the proprietor of a rough bar and lived a life, as he says, of “romping, stomping, and ripping” for a number of years. He even left his wife and young boys for a short period of time.

Through it all, Phil Robertson has lived his life as a “called” man. Called to live off the land, called to leave a starring role in Louisiana Tech football (playing ahead of Terry Bradshaw) for duck hunting, called to wild living, called to create a new kind of duck call—and finally, called to follow God and lead a life of faith.

In this eye-opening and rousing book, you’ll find stories that will shock you, as well as those that will inspire you. You’ll get to know the man behind the legend, and you’ll come away better for it.

Sicology 1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle

Dates Read: September 2013

The other day, Bobby and I wandered around Barnes & Noble. We happened to see this book by Uncle Si and we couldn't resist, so we bought it and then I went home and started reading it and loved it! It's not the world's best writing, but it is full of great, funny, family-friendly, motivating, and wonderful stories. It's stories from his childhood, from adulthood, and from recent years. I highly recommend this book if you want a good, clean, relaxing, fun read. 
 
Summary: (from amazon.com)
As you read this book, there are a few things you have to understand: 95 percent of my stories are truthful. Every member of the Robertson family has the God- given gift of storytelling. Hey, when you’ve sat in a duck blind for more than half of your life, you have to figure out some way to pass the time! It’s better than looking at Willie and Jase for six hours! Many of the stories I like to tell happened when I was a young boy or when I was in Vietnam. At my age, a few of the details are cloudy, but I’ll recollect the coming stories as best I can. Hey, just remember it isn’t a lie if you think it’s true! It’s up to you, the reader, to figure out what’s truth and what’s fiction. Best of luck with that, Jack! May the force be with you.

Hey, another thing you have to know: my stories are kind of like my vocabulary. You might have noticed I like to say “hey” quite a bit. “Hey” can mean anything. It can mean “yes,” it can mean “maybe,” and it can mean “no.” Hey, it could mean “next week.” The bottom line is, you have to understand “hey” to understand me.

And if you know anything about Silas Merritt Robertson, you know I’m a hard rascal to figure out.

—From the Prologue