Reading is like singing to me. I do not remember a time I have not done either one. Although there have been seasons when they were lacking, my life has been most fulfilling when they were present.
I have never been one who enjoyed being instructed on what to read (i.e.- school). But that fact aside, I am an avid reader. You may even say I am a voracious one to be more exact. If I have invested in anything to a great extent, I have invested in books and knowledge. Wisdom, as the Word says, is more valuable than silver or gold. I whole heartedly agree!
I love the power of reading. I read for the purpose of learning, growing in wisdom and understanding, knowing God at a deeper level and being better at my positions in life. I have never read one book at a time that I can think of. I usually have a stack of three of four screaming out for my attention, and I do my best to please the pages by making time for each one. Maybe that is why I felt so compelled to take on the new title of “author” last year. My love for the written word drove me to creating 200 pages of it for others to read. I will soon begin writing my next one!!
I was taken aback the other day when I happened upon a blog which recommended my new book “Defeating Fear” as a must read for 2011. I was excited about the mention needless-to-say, but what surprised me the most was my inability to get the blog off of my mind since then.
The author of the blog mentioned all of the books she had read over the year and why. It made me wonder how many books I had read in 2010. (It made my husband wonder how much money I had spent on books over the year!!) As I quickly added it up off of the top of my head, I was well over 25 books and that was without traveling for the year (which always increases my reading). That was also not including my intensive Bible study, the countless books I have read to the kids about history, the Bible, character, the Great Depression, etc., or the books I have read and loaned out or borrowed and returned and cannot remember to add to this list. After reading over my list, I realized it is no wonder people find me to be such an anomaly!
I cannot say that I recommend all of the books on this list, but if I read them all the way through it was either because I was writing a review for it, interviewing the person who wrote it or I love loved it and learned much from it. A few of the books fall into all three categories. So without further ado, here is my reading list for 2010 in no particular order.

1. The Spirit of Divine Interception by Dr. Francis Myles
2. Fearless by Max Lucado
3. Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge
4. Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets
5. Defeating Fear by Carrie C. Stone (seriously, I read this one about 15 times in 2010!!)
6. Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O’Dell
7. Revealer of the Enemy by Jack Serra
8. Esther by Charles Swindoll
9. Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado
10. Jesus on Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes
11. Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham by Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley
12. Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore
13. Home Educating with Confidence by Rick Boyer (A must read for home schoolers)
14. Everyones a Coach by Ken Blanchard and Don Shula
15. The G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck (great for new Celiacs)
16. The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson
17. The Truth Behind the Secret by James K. Walker and Bob Waldrep
18. How to Reach Your Full Potential for God by Charles Stanley
19. Fasting by Jentezen Franklin
20. The Bait of Satan by John Bevere
21. Jesus by Charles Swindoll
22. The Way of the Worshiper by Buddy Owens
23. Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit by John Paul Jackson

I ended the year by reading three Richard Paul Evans books in three days while I was sick. I have never read one of his books which I would not recommend. When you want a fast read which will have a good, positive story, he is a great choice. I also concluded 2010 in the middle of reading “Intercessory Prayer” (for the second time) and “12 Extraordinary Women” by John MacArthur.
I can already see that 2011 is going to be a year of learning more about Christian leaders of the past. I am already enamored with Charles H. Spurgeon and am reading his devotional “Evening by Evening.” I will focus more on books about people who have overcome great obstacles to live out their destinies. I will also focus heavily on any books which will draw me into a closer and more intimate relationship with God.
What will you focus on this year? What will you put into your mind through the written word? Whatever you use to entertain your brain will impact your life for good or for bad. Which will you choose? I pray you will decide this year to go deeper than you have ever gone before. You have a destiny and a purpose only you can accomplish. Choose not to waste time on the trivial when you can be triumphant instead. Do it now! Your destiny is waiting!!