Posts Tagged ‘Books’

Why I’ve Written a Book (or two) When I Hate to Write

by Kim Avery

I never wanted to be a writer. Exactly zero of my childhood moments were spent envisioning my name on the cover of a book. Writing is not my gift and not my first love. It’s lonely, thankless, and it’s hard.

Instead, I like to talk.  I like to talk a lot. So, as an extrovert, my youthful dreams were a bit different. I liked to imagine standing in front of a crowd spewing wise words that changed the world. I pictured mass conversions when I spoke of Jesus’ love. My name might not grace the front of a book but instead would be emblazoned on the front of a marquee.

I’ve not changed much since those days long ago.

When God lays something on my heart, I want to tell others. When an idea pops into my head, it leaks out of my mouth. If one of my words happens to land in someone’s heart, I want to be there to see the gleam in their eyes.  Talking is social, rewarding, and it comes very naturally to me.

That is why it is so astonishing to be telling you, “I’ve just published two books: Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life. & Uniquely You: Discover Your Life Purpose.”

Why have I written two books? Good question.

As much as I dislike writing and adore talking, what I love even more is watching God change people’s hearts and lives. When women go from sorrow to joy, even though their circumstances haven’t changed, I get excited. When a friend who was lost and aimless, begins vitally contributing to the world by living with intention and purpose, I light up like a 100 watt bulb. When God’s promises move from the printed page to someone’s heart, I am fully alive.

Thus, against all my natural inclinations, for months I shut myself up in a lonely room.  Tied to my chair without a soul in sight, I cried out to God, wrestled words into submission, and began to capture a bit of what God has so graciously taught me on to the printed page.

My goal was to write a short, daily study for today’s busy woman that was more than informational, it was transformational. These two books are now a part of the Day by Day Series: Invest Ten Minutes ~ Experience True Change.

Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life. will walk you through God’s process of true change leading you to be secure, confident, purposeful, joyful, and fulfilled.

Uniquely You: Discover Your Life Purpose takes you step by step through the process of discovering why God made you the way you are and placed you on this planet just when He did. You will finish the study knowing who you are, why you are here, and rejoicing as you move forward in the path God has intended just for you.

So, now you know why I write when I hate to write. Because God is so beautiful He can’t be contained but inevitably spills over the edges of my heart wanting to be shared. Life is all about Him.


A Few Books that I Love

by Kim Avery

Future Grace by John Piper

This book forever changed the way I do battle with sin. John Piper explains once and for all why resolutions, ten steps, and rigid discipline will never be enough – only faith in the future grace of God will cut the power of sin off right at its root.

This book is theologically deep while still being profoundly practical as it teaches the reader how to have victory over anxiety, depression, pride, impatience and more. I never knew my God was this big.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

This is an often humorous, always accurate, tale of a senior demon instructing his nephew in the finer points of tempting a human to sin. At each turn of the page, as Lewis unmasks another one of Satan’s diabolical techniques, I found myself saying, “Oh, I’ve fallen for that one… and that one… and that one, too. ”

I am a much better spiritual warrior thanks to this book.

The Signature of Jesus by Brenan Manning

The Signature of Jesus calls my heart back to a passionate love and a radical commitment to my incomparable Savior. Whenever the embers of my love for Jesus grow cool, I simply pick up this book and they are fanned back into a raging inferno worthy of my Lord.

The Signature of Jesus

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

This simple collection of letters always challenges my mediocrity and reminds me that every moment can be lived in the exquisite awareness of my All-Present God.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I don’t like romance novels which makes it doubly impressive that I would love this book.  In Redeeming Love, Rivers retells the biblical account of God calling his chosen prophet Hosea to unconditionally love a common prostitute who would break his heart.

It is a breathtaking reminder of God’s relentless love that left me wishing it would never end.

What’s on your bookshelf?

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