FFF Day 3: Non-fiction Favorites

Anyone else have a TBR list that’s growing by leaps and bounds? There’s been a lot of great books recommended so far this week, and today’s just the halfway point! By now, you probably know the routine. Here’s the list of fellow bloggers on my team:

Rebekah @ Read Another Page

Bethany @ A Ruby In The Rough

Cate @ Southern Scribblings

Ellie @ Ellie’s Book Haven

Rhys @ A Handful of Quietness

Savannah @ Savannah Jane Author

Now let’s take a look at some of my all-time favorite non-fiction books.

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A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want…

Travel the Shepherd’s path to the green pastures and cool, refreshing waters of Psalm 23.

As a shepherd, Phillip Keller shares his insights into the life and character of sheep— and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. This beloved classic will give new meaning to the ageless Shepherd Psalm, enriching your trust in and love for the Lord who watches closely over you.”

This was one of the first non-fiction books I ever read, and, besides the Bible, it was the first one that I found to be interesting, showing me that not all non-fiction is boring as ten or eleven year old me thought at the time. It’s such a good book with the parallels between tending sheep and God’s care for us.

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The Indwelling Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” —Colossians 1:27

“Why do we keep failing even in our best efforts to live the Christian life? Because no one other than Jesus Christ can live it, for the simple reason that He is the Christian life! And only He can live it in our lives as well. Major W. Ian Thomas takes a refreshing look at the pure thrill of living victoriously as you embrace the living Savior’s presence within you. The more you become genuinely and relentlessly available to Christ, the more He can take over so that your Christian walk becomes vibrant and effective! This inspiring devotional, along with the application questions at the end of each reading, will help you focus consistently on Jesus Himself so you can serve and enjoy Him at an entirely new level and dimension.

You can try to steer clear of sin. Avoid temptation. Refuse to steal, lie, or use drugs and alcohol. You can indeed try to be sinless. But that is still you . And you are still trying.

Jesus Christ was not holy because He focused His efforts on avoiding sin. Instead, “He refused to allow there to be any possible explanation for the quality of His life but the Father, as God, dwelling in Him, as Man,” writes Major W. Ian Thomas.

So whom do you want dwelling in you? More of you? Or all of Christ?’

This book has had a profound influence on my life, probably more than any other book, except the Bible, of course. It is written in a devotional style with short, easy to grasp sections. I would recommend it for every Christian to read, especially those who consistently feel defeated and as though they will never be good enough.

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Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

“Discover Hudson Taylor, a pioneer missionary to China, who suffered tribulation, hardship, poverty, and misunderstanding. But at his heart, he loved the Chinese people and learned through his misfortunes to trust God completely. ‘HUDSON TAYLOR’S SPIRITUAL SECRET’ is a stirring biography that challenges you to live a life of faith.”

This is an interesting look at the life of Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission. It also shows the deep spiritual work that God did in his life, enabling him to live victoriously.

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Vanya by Myrna Grant

“Out of the dark shadows of Soviet atheism rose a fearless young man whose boldness for Christ would make him a testimony to millions of believers around the world. This is the true story of Ivan (Vanya) Moiseyev, a soldier in the Soviet Red Army who was ruthlessly persecuted and incarcerated for his faith. Through two years of trial and torture, he never denied his Savior, and he never hesitated to share the gospel with anyone who would listen. You’ll be inspired to live for Christ in your own world as never before after you experience the gripping story of a believer named Vanya.”

This book holds the record of keeping me up later than any other books. (The book in the restaurant in Glasgow doesn’t count since I was already pulling an all-nighter.) I started it one evening, and I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it at almost 3 in the morning.

While sad, this is also an encouraging book of how God kept Vanya strong in the midst of such terrible persecution. There were so many instances where God performed miracles on his behalf.

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A Time to Stand: the Epic of the Alamo by Walter Lord

“On the morning of March 6, 1836, in an old abandoned mission called the Alamo, a small Texas garrison fought to the death rather than yield to an overwhelming army of Mexicans. Through the years the garrison’s heroic stand has become so clothed in folklore and romance that the truth has nearly been lost. In A Time to Stand Walter Lord rediscovers and recreates the whole fascinating story. From contemporary documents, diaries, and letters, he has mined a wealth of fresh information that throws intriguing sidelights on the epic of the Alamo. What were the defenders like? Why did they take their stand? Did any escape? Did Davy Crockett surrender?

The cast of characters includes not only famous figures like Jim Bowie but unknown, unsung men: John Purdy Reynolds, the wandering Pennsylvania surgeon; George Kimball, the industrious New York hatter, Micajah Autry of Tennessee, who was a far better poet than a businessman. And then there are the Mexicans: the fabulous Santa Anna; the smooth Colonel Almonte; the forlorn private Juan Basquez, who only wanted to stay home and make shoes.”

I first listened to this as an audiobook and liked it so much that I bought a copy at the Alamo a short time later. This is a fascinating look at what happened leading up to and during the siege of the Alamo. It does a good job of separating fact from legend, a difficult job since there were so few eyewitness accounts afterward.

What’s a favorite non-fiction book of yours? Which of these books sounds the most like something you might like? Don’t forget to check out Kate’s and Rebekah’s blogs for more book recs and the full list of all the participating bloggers.

Enter the Giveaway!