So, you need a few more gift ideas for the ones you love, and bonus points if it doesn’t involve a charging cable. I got you! The following recommendations come from my own personal experiences (yep, I’ve read all these!) and are #notsponsored. I’m going to do a series on books I love (for me, personally) as well as books for kids. That’s coming soon.
Today, it’s Books by SPIRIT 105.3 Artists
When God Doesn’t Fix It by Laura Story
(If you’re familiar with the song Blessings, then you know Laura Story! What you may not know is that song was born out of a season when her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Don’t be fooled – this is not a sad book. Quite the contrary, Laura shares so much of how she laughed her way through some of the ache: including the short-term memory loss Martin experienced after an operation, as each time she visited him in the hospital, she had to remind him she was his WIFE. He remembered her from college, so each time she told him they were married, day after day, he would smile and say “YES!” like a real-life adorable version of 50 First Dates.
Eye of the Storm: Experiencing God When You Can’t See Him by Ryan Stevenson
Ryan wrote Eye Of The Storm, and co-wrote Speak Life with Toby Mac. Memoirs are my favorite books to read, because I love hearing someone’s story from childhood all the way to where they are now. I listened to the audio version of this book, because Ryan reads it, and its always my preference to hear the tone of voice from the author. If you want to hear chapter after chapter of overcoming adversity, and some pretty incredible God moments (an actual lightening strike led him to his career as a singer! No joke) then this book is for you!
Hello My Name Is by Matthew West
Matthew is the ultimate storyteller. When I saw he finally released a book, I was like “duh.” And I inhaled it in a few days. My favorite story was when he was trying to impress his wife (they were only dating at the time) and he found himself all unkempt in a hospital gown, letting her see him at his worst. Matthew writes with his trademark humor – and shares the spotlight with everyone in his life, knowing he didn’t make it this far on his own.
Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story by Steven Curtis Chapman
This could quite possibly be one of my favorite books ever. If you know someone who grew up on SCC’s music, this is the gift to give them. You get to hear his backstory as a boy, his relationship with his dad, how he met his wife Marybeth, how his career began, the ups and downs of it all, and ultimately the chapter that is hardest to read: when they lose their precious Maria. But don’t let the ache of reading that chapter keep you from buying this book, or you would miss out on some of the most faith-infusing words that will inspire you to trust God more. I don’t want to ruin anything for you, but the final photo in the final chapter took my breath away. As in, literally took it away, and my jaw dropped and I said out loud, audibly, at around Midnight because I read the whole book in one weekend, “Jesus, you are real.”
(and if you love that book, his wife has an equally exquisite, book as well! Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope)
Finish First: Winning Changes Everything by Scott Hamilton
Ok, so Scott isn’t a SPIRIT 105.3 artist, but I’m throwing this one in there because he’s FRIENDS with all your favorite SPIRIT artists, like Bart Millard of MercyMe. This was another one I chose the audio book to listen to. Despite his self-described hobby of “collecting life-threatening illnesses,” Scott remains an eternal optimist. Not some annoying type that just has rose-colored glasses, but rather someone who has seen deep pain, and chosen to keep a hopeful mindset. The highlight of this book for me was hearing Scott talk about his relationship with his mother, who passed away from cancer far too young, and the impact that had on him and the way he chooses to live his life. It shaped me in my own mothering, wanting to have that type of relationship with my kids. HIGHLY recommend. BONUS: I got to interview him recently and you can check that out too.
Live Your Days – An Inspiring New Project from Scott Hamilton, US Olympic Gold Medalist
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