Here are the books I'd accumulated at bedside before my recent pare-down (I kept about half bedside). The ones I removed are now on an office bookshelf—still appreciated as faithful “book friends” to which I will return for spiritual challenge and hope.
*The Disciplines of Life by V. Raymond Edman (c. 1948). He was the fourth president of Wheaton College in Illinois (1941-1965) and then was college chancellor. He died in 1967 while speaking to students in the college chapel. Today, the chapel at this well-known Christian college bears his name. So do the titles of 19 Christian books. This one develops 31 seemingly negative circumstances (all starting with the letter “d,” like “danger” and “disillusionment”) and draws from them their hidden spiritual blessings. In other words, looking at the “good” that can come out of life's “bad.”
*The Amplified New Testament (c. 1958). I have my mother's copy of this devotional (she died in 1978). I appreciate the “enlargement” of original Greek word meanings in its text (designated by parenthesis) plus am touched to see which verses she had underlined in red.
*My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (c. 1935). Based on devotionals he delivered in England and to English troops stationed in Egypt (1911-1917).
*Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman (c. 1966). Classic devotional by former missionary, draws heavily from classic Christian literature.
*Be Worshipful by Warren Wiersbe (c. 2004). An insightful and practical study of Psalms. I had the privilege of meeting this pastor/teacher/writer when he spoke to my graduate class at Wheaton College.
*The Practice of Godliness (1983) and The Pursuit of Holiness (1978) by Jerry Bridges. Lived-through, challenging studies of these spiritual qualities by a man long associated with The Navigators ministry.
*Hurt People Hurt People by Dr. Sandra Wilson (c. 2001). This former family therapist's insights helped me navigate past emotional wounding.
*Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands (c. 1981). Helpful for healing from challenging relationships, meaningful for same reason as Dr. Wilson's book (above).
Yes, I also have a Bible on my bedside table—actually, a small, lightweight New Testament for those “final moments of the night” that I like to close with something from God's Word. Its small size also helps me with scripture memorization. No more hoisting my heavy reference Bible back and forth for that discipline of getting God's Word “inside” me.
I have to confess that a few years ago, my evening “habit” included one of the prime-time TV game shows. I enjoyed trying to beat the contestants to the right answer. But the Lord drew me away from that, reminding me of the better priority of absorbing His love letter to me with its messages of hope and help for life's challenges. I rarely watch television anymore.
I get little reader feedback from this blog, though the internet statistics show many are clicking into it. Would you care to share your favorite bedside books in the comments section below?
