My Top 3 Books for 2010

Classic Christianity by Bob George: This book completely blew my mind!  The simple thought that we have been preaching only half of the gospel has completely challenged me. Too often we think Jesus came to sort out our sin thought His death, and He did, but that is only half of it.  He also came to give us a new life through His resurrection.

One phrase section deeply impacted me. "If you were to see a butterfly, it would never occur to you to say, 'Hey, everybody! Come look at this good looking converted worm!'  Why not? After all, it was a worm.  And it was "converted."  No, now it is a new creature, and you don't think of it in terms of what it was.  You see it as it is now - a butterfly.  In exactly the same way, God sees you as His new creature in Christ. Although you might not always act like a good butterfly - you might land on things you shouldn't, or forget you are a butterfly and crawl around with your old worm buddies - the truth of the matter is, you are never going to be a worm again!"

I'll Have What She's Having by Bobbie Houston:  This woman is a legend. Her heart shines through in all of her books and whenever I have heard her speak my life has been changed!  This book is quite old now, which is why it impacted me this year.  In this book she shares her story from the early years of Hillsong Church, which greatly encourage me as our church is in it's very early years.

As I read I noticed how she spoke of all the lovely Hillsong ladies such as Christine Caine, Donna Crouch & Darlene Zschech. I found myself thinking that I would love to have an awesome circle of friends like that!  As soon as I realised how silly my thought was and that I do have amazing friends, I also realised something life changing.  When she wrote this book these ladies were not yet the high profile ministry leaders that we know them to be today.  This book was written ages ago and Bobby was friends with them before "it all happened!"  I heard what could have been the gentle voice of God, telling me that Bobby was friends with ordinary people but she invested in them which is why they have become the awesome women that they are today.  This lead me to a life changing conviction - I will invest whatever I can in the people I am doing life with because I just don't know what potential they have and what awesome things God has placed inside of them. Perhaps, just like Bobby, I will have the privilege of being a part of their awesome journey!

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado: If you don't want to be challenged to the core and moved to action, DON'T read this book.  Rather go to Argos to pick up a catalogue and plan your Christmas shopping.  Seriously!  Even a person with the hardest heart imaginable will be moved to tears within minutes of reading  'Out Live Your Life'.  The first two and a half pages, before chapter one even begins, gave me goosebumps! The first chapter caused me to start the Human Trafficking section of my blog because I had no excuse not to. My selfishness has been challenged to the core and my excuses have been obliterated.  I don't know when last I read a book that has impacted me this much.

I have read quite a few books but these three have changed me.  Have you read a good book this year that has impacted you in any way?