5 Books to read if you are a woman who wants more then fluff

Modern women's ministry is such a huge "thing" in the church. We have more resources than ever, more voices than ever and more standing in the church than ever before. But what does all this mean? What is being marketed to women? What are we being taught? It should mean we have strong theologically women who know their God, their Bible and themselves but, if we are honest, that doesn't seem to be the case.

There is still a lot of women (and men) who only go skin deep in their faith and we seem to be pushing that agenda in the church.

Raise your hand if you have heard you are a beautiful daughter to God. Maybe you've heard you are more precious to Him than gold and silver and your identity is in Christ and that's all you need. Although that is all totally true, when the rubber meets the road and real-life comes into play do those truths help you through? How about when your fighting with your husband? When your kids seem completely out of control? How about during a pandemic? Does knowing that you are a beautiful woman of God get you through?

Me neither.

I wanted more. I needed more. And it was super hard to find that more I needed.

Maybe you are in the same place. Maybe the theology or Biblical truths you have been taught really do nothing for you in the real world.

Maybe you know there is more and know that we, as women, were created for bigger and better truths.

Well, you're right.

The first place you need to go is the Word of God because you are only as strong as the amount of time you spend in God's Word.

Start with Genesis (helps you understand the creation of women - hint: click here to understand why God calls women "ezers". Then start reading through some of Paul's letters to the church (keep the context and situations in mind) where you will find some amazing instructions (hint number 2: find out about Priscilla).

Then, try some of these books that I believe will really help you be a strong and beautiful woman of God who pushes beyond those truths.

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1.When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James

Really, anything by Carolyn Custis James will suffice but this one is so powerful. She opens the book with a chapter called "No Great Women Theologians" where she tells a story about a Professeur who made that exact comment and it just gets better. This one is great if you want to dig deep into Biblical truths and learn where you may stand between real life and beliefs.

2. When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley

This book is all about making space for slow, simple and good. Crushing some of the cultural lies we believe about women and offering some amazing and practical "how-tos". Emily is a Christ-follower, wife, mom of three and business owner who hit some hards walls that helped her realize that hurry and perfectionism is an epidemic that specific prey on women. You'll finish this one in one sitting I promise.

3. The Right Kind of Strong by Mary A. Kassian

Again, game-changer, specifically if you have ever got stuck on some of Paul's thoughts in 2 Timothy about women who need to "sit down and be quiet". This book gives you tactical and Biblically based habits that spiritually strong women need to practice. We live in a world that keeps telling women that we are stronger, better, more valuable and more capable than men. This book helps us understand the balance between knowing our value and purpose while practicing Biblical principles.

4. Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer

This book totally hits the nail on the head. She had me at; "Cute Instagram quotes, Bible verses, and 15 - minute quiet times are not the sum of the Christian life." This book is all about facing lies that we are told as women and correcting those lies with biblical truths. It is a must-read for anyone who leads women's ministry to be able to truly understand what we are facing in today's Christian women world.

5. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Yes, this is a male author. No, I am very far from the idea that men cannot speak into women (and vice versa). Men and women were created to be a blessed alliance, working together and complementing each other. This book is a must-read for this day and age. Hurry is a problem. Hurry kills our joy. As women, we need to push back against the cultural belief that if we hustle hard enough we can achieve anything and start resting in God's simple promise of "come to me and rest" coupled with His beautiful and perfect design for women. This book will help you understand these Biblical commandments and open your eyes and soul to the beautiful truth is Sabbath and rest.

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This is not a women's empowerment post. You will never see me call myself a feminist (in the way the world plays this out). I do not believe that women are more powerful and better equipped than any of our counterparts. I believe we were created equally and complementary to men. But I do believe that we, as women, have been feed surface level theology for far too long, far more then men and it needs to stop.

Educate yourself, read God's word, don't be afraid of theology, push back against so many of these cultural lies and steep into the identity that God created women to be -- Strong, ezer warriors who make any ministry better with her passion and knowledge.

Proverbs 31:17 shows us a woman grows spiritually stronger by incorporating strength building habits into her life. Friends, no one is going to do that for you. You have to commit and do it yourself. But even before that, you have to come to the realization that skin-deep Christianity isn't Christianity at all.

Want more for yourself. Want more for your families. Want to give more to God.