Each year I love sharing with you some of my favorite things – books, podcasts, and organizations I’ve enjoyed reading, listening to, and being connected with during the year.

There’s a plethora (that means a LOT!) of stuff out there. Perhaps this list will help you find a resource you didn’t know about before.

Books

I usually have a few books on the table beside my chair. I read almost every evening.

And here are some of my favorites I’ve read this year. (Some of them were published a few years ago but are new to me.)

• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton (IVP, 2018). One of the most enlightening – and challenging – books I’ve read in a long time. From deep personal experience and theological reflection, this paradigm seems the only way to keep one’s sanity and wholeness in ministry long-term.
• The Gift of Thorns: Jesus, the Flesh, and the War for Our Wants by A. J. Swoboda (Zondervan, 2024). Humans are beings of longing. Some Christians try to kill all desire, while others nearly worship it. The way of life and wisdom in following Jesus calls us to content with our desires, and submit them for healing – sometimes by the thorns. More practical than the title may imply.
• The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Egers (Scribner, reprint edition, 2018). Imprisoned along with her sister by the Nazis in Auschwitz, she survived both the horrors of the camp but flashbacks and survivor guilt for decades. She became an eminent psychologist who here shares her story of healing and how it became a powerful gift for many others. Deeply moving, full of inspiration.
• Building True Intimacy: Creating a Connection That Stands the Test of Time by Dan Drake, Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith (Independent, 2023). Building true intimacy seems elusive for many couples. This helpful guide dissects the Intimacy Pyramid, and offers a path for any couple of good will to build intimacy that will last.
• His Face Like Mine: Finding God’s Love in Our Wounds by Russell Joyce (IVP, 2024). Born with a rare craniofacial disorder, Russell Joyce spent years struggling with physical and emotional scars. I was deeply moved as I read the stories and insights of how God loves us not in spite of our wounds, but through those very wounds.
• The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality by Sam Jolman (Thomas Nelson, 2024). Sam Jolman contends that men in our culture are hypersexualized but starved for sexual formation. Here he helps men reconnect their God-given sexuality with innocence, awe, and joy.
• Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself—and to God—When You’re Wounded, Weary, and Wandering by Chuck DeGroat (Tyndale Refresh, 2024). Trauma is not so much what happens to you, but what happens within you. Prepare to take a courageous journey inward in order to experience God as a compassionate and curious witness inviting us to reconnect with Him, ourselves, and others.
• Love Has a Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God, by Quina Aragon (Moody, 2024). The weaving together of Scripture, story, and personal poetry of love and trauma make this book a unique and artistic experience that provides an unexpected transformation of your own life story as you encounter the love of God.
• No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship by Rebecca McLaughlin (Moody, 2023). Contemporary culture idolizes romantic love. But Jesus said friendship love is the greatest. As anyone trying out friendship love knows, it’s messy – and lacking in many Christian circles. Rebecca talks through what this kind of love looks like for all followers of Jesus.
• Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships by Tanksley (Chosen Books, 2024). OK, shameless self-promotion. This was my book released this year. If your sexual story needs some help, this will show you how to see your story with honesty and compassion, and experience Jesus coming right into the middle of your story.

Podcasts

The podcast feed on my phone is full of episodes. You can gain an education while you jog, drive, or clean the house. Here are some I find especially enlightening or nourishing.

• Ransomed Heart with John Eldredge. Conversations about the life of the heart, and the ongoing restoration God intends us to all experience.
• Being Known Podcast, with Curt Thompson MD and Pepper Sweeney. Conversations about the mind, spiritual formation, and interpersonal neurobiology. One of the most life-changing podcasts I’ve encountered.
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader, with Pete Scazzero. Exploring themes around spiritual authenticity and growth in the Christian life and church. I don’t miss an episode.
• Java with Juli, from Authentic Intimacy. Conversations about sexuality, intimacy, and culture from a solidly Biblical worldview. Unafraid to “go there!”
• THINQ Media Podcast, with Gabe Lyons. Educates, equips, and empowers Christian thought leaders in creating conversations that lead to wisdom.
• Restoring the Soul, with Michael John Cusick. Spiritual director and licensed counselor, Michael shares conversations that help people become whole by cultivating deeper connection with God, self, and others.
• Rule of Life by Practicing the Way, with John Mark Comer, friends, and guests. Guiding you in arranging your life as you apprentice under Jesus in the 21^st
• The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast. Interviews with top leaders from the church, business, and culture about leadership, change, and personal growth.
• Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. Practical insights from the leader of one of the largest multi-site church organizations in America.
• Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast. From successful pastor, author, and awesome communicator, helping leaders go farther faster.
• Relationship Prescriptions with Dr Carol. OK, shameless self-promotion again. This is my weekly podcast about the deeper matters of the heart around relationships with each other and with God, and I’d love you to join me!

Other Organizations

Here are some organizations I connect with, believe in, and am glad to recommend.

• Christian Healthcare Ministries– believers helping each other by sharing the costs of necessary medical care. (I am honored to be a member of the Board of Directors.)
• Emotionally Healthy Discipleship– helping believers move from shallow Christianity to depth in Christ. At least take the free personal assessment on their website, and discover if you’re a spiritual/emotional infant, child, adolescent, or adult.
• Compassion International– releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. (I sponsor a precious child in Columbia, Luz Esther.)
• Charity Water– they do water – and charity – right. I love donating to this organization.
• Covenant Eyes– amazing organization providing help for those who want to break free from pornography and related sexual bondage. (Use code DrCarol for a free month.)
• Be Broken– Helping individuals and families move from sexual brokenness to wholeness in Christ.
• SHE Recovery – resources and online community helping women seeking recovery from porn, sex, or love addiction.
• Ransomed Heart– led by John and Stasi Eldredge, a bunch of resources, events, and more helping men and women regain the life of the heart as Jesus intended.
• JuicePlus+ – the only nutritional supplement I take. It’s the next best thing to fruits and vegetables.
• The Sex Talk – are you as a parent equipped to have “the talk” with your kids? This video course with top experts answers your questions and equips you to be the parent and have this decade-long conversation. (Use code DoctorCarol for 10% off.)

May these resources be inspiring and fill your winter days and evenings with meaning and growth.

Your Turn: What are your favorite things? Leave your comments below.

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• My current list of favorite things for 2024; books, podcasts, and organizations I support.   Tweet that.

** Note: Listing a resource here does not imply that I or Dr Carol Ministries endorse every idea promoted in these resources. Amazon links and links to Covenant Eyes, SHE Recovery, JuicePlus, and The Sex Talk are affiliate links, whereby you can also support Dr Carol Ministries by purchasing/connecting with them.

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