Why am I passionate about this?

It has been an incredible journey, starting with $200 in assets 45 years ago and finally starting to achieve what I had dreamed of in life and business after struggling for two decades. I learned through the value of reading and building quality relationships, with God's help, I would be successful in life and business. Based in Cave Creek, Arizona, I've spent my career building Desert Star Construction, known by clients and industry colleagues as "the best team in the luxury home business." It is an online community that helps overwhelmed Christian marketplace leaders rediscover their eternal purpose and find unending joy in their life and leadership. 


I wrote

While You Wait: Finding Purpose in the “Not Yets”

By Jerry Meek,

Book cover of While You Wait: Finding Purpose in the “Not Yets”

What is my book about?

We've all found ourselves between where we are and where we want to be. That's the story of While You…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality

Jerry Meek Why did I love this book?

In business, we all have the skills to succeed in our given fields of expertise. Being good at something does not guarantee success. Integrity shows the value of having the Integrity to succeed in business and life. Everyone has Integrity, but how well has it been developed? Like a boat, what are we leaving in our wake? It is more than the money we make; it is the relationships and results. Dr. Cloud teaches the actual cost of a bad employee, regardless of how much money they bring in. If you genuinely intend to be successful in all areas, you must understand that Integrity is the courage and skills to face the demands of reality. Maturing your character will allow you to build a prosperous life and business that will last beyond your lifetime.

By Henry Cloud,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Integrity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In "Integrity", Dr. Cloud explores the six qualities of character that define integrity. He uses stories from well-known business leaders like Michael Dell and sports figures like Tiger Woods to illustrate each of these qualities. He shows us how people with integrity: are able to connect with others and build trust; are oriented toward reality; finish well; embrace the negative; are oriented toward increase; have an understanding of the transcendent; and, success is not related to only talent or brains. There are a lot of bright, talented people who are never successful. And the most successful are not only the…


Book cover of God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask About Faith, Life, and Business

Jerry Meek Why did I love this book?

This book allowed me to read 45 questions from Fortune 500 executives asking about faith, life, and business. Have you ever felt you were missing the answers to success in business? If you aren't getting what you need to know, you may not ask the right questions. With God in The Marketplace, we see the emphasis on not letting anyone do your thinking for you. We all consider what we can do to change our family, business, and church. Nothing can happen without first seeing how God wants to transform us. We all know that without solving problems, our company has no profits; by applying the principles in the book and trusting God, we can become more like Christ in every situation. When you finish this book, you will realize that God will raise you up, and people will observe your conduct as a Christian Businessperson. At the end of your business career, people will not keep a score of how many corporate conflicts you won; they will remember if you acted like a genuine Christian.

By Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked God in the Marketplace as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Aside from Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby has made his greatest impact by ministering directly to Fortune 100 and 500 CEOs, advising them on how to effectively blend their faith with their business. Out of that ministry’s success comes God in the Marketplace, a book to help everyone from the front desk to the executive suite best experience God’s will in his or her work.

Blackaby believes that just as Jesus had businessmen among His original disciples, so may God be calling out businesspeople today in preparation for a worldwide spiritual revival. However, while those in the marketplace may have excellent…


Book cover of A Life of Excellence: Wisdom for Effective Living

Jerry Meek Why did I love this book?

Excellence comes from two Latin root words which together mean: "to rise out from." Excellence is the quality of rising to one's expected potential. The author finds a way to capture an area we all can get off track. We can be excellent when we stop worrying about being better than someone else. Our destinies are yet to be determined, and we can still become exceptional. Excellence is about leading our lives in a way that we will leave a legacy. Another reason we do not achieve excellence in our personal lives is that so many people are not on a quest for truth and wisdom but instead on a search for pleasure and happiness. We see how doing the right—far exceeds being right. The quotes from John Maxwell and Darren Hardy, among others, give valuable insights that you can start where you are today to Live a Life of Excellence.

By Richard E. Simmons III,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Life of Excellence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Life is governed by certain laws and principles. These laws and principles are not “good” or “bad”, “moral” or “immoral”, they are simply true. However, what is so crucial for us to grasp is that these principles actually make life predictable.

Such an understanding creates the potential for more predictable outcomes in our lives. Most significantly, our lives will flourish when they are in harmony with these principles.

"This book lays out three principles that clearly point to a life of excellence. I am convinced that if one lives in accordance with these principles, his or her life will flourish…


Book cover of Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership

Jerry Meek Why did I love this book?

I like Jesus, CEO for many reasons. I read it when it first came out in the mid-1990s. It is a staple in my library because the principles it brings forth are timeless. It focuses on the strength of self-mastery, action, and relationships. These were crucial elements that Jesus used with the disciples. I was challenged to see life's opportunities and do something new to celebrate them. We all want the next big thing, yet it is ok to start small and do your best. It was the realization that we all want to be successful in business but are we taking time for people in need? Jesus always had a plan and gave clear instructions. Lastly, when profit is the only measurement, the results lead to exploitation. Jesus changed the measure from self to others, and He came to give and not to get.

By Laurie Beth Jones,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jesus, CEO as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bestselling author Laurie Beth Jones brings you the ultimate guide to transforming your team and sparking inspiration in your business. In Jesus, CEO, Jones compares Jesus to a CEO who turned a disorganized "staff" of twelve into a thriving, long-lasting enterprise. Now more than ever, employees expect their leaders to be motivating, understanding, and ready to follow up their words with actions. With the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Jesus, CEO, Jones revises and updates her original modernized guidance, ensuring that everyone can continue to apply the ancient wisdom pulled straight from the Bible.

Filled with fresh, practical, and profound advice,…


Book cover of Trusting God

Jerry Meek Why did I love this book?

Trusting God reinforced the benefit of putting our faith into action. It was constructive learning what will happen when we view our circumstances through the eyes of faith, faith in God! We see the simple yet profound knowledge that no detail in our life is insignificant to our creator. If you believe in Christ, you will see that God has a plan and the power to carry out your life's pursuit. As your trust grows, so will your personal and business success. We will gain confidence to see that our true destinies are in His hands, not anyone else's. God Guides us step by step. When we trust, we will avoid needless detours. No matter what happens in your life, you will see that nothing is impossible for God and that things meant for your harm will turn into something good when you trust God.

By Jerry Bridges,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trusting God as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Over 500,000 copies sold

“Why is God allowing this? What have I done wrong?”
Many of us have asked these questions when life hits us hard. When our circumstances defy explanation, it is difficult to untangle our emotions from the truth. Before long, we feel confused and frustrated. We doubt His care for us. We wonder how He could allow these circumstances at all, or if He is really in control.

During a time of darkness and adversity in his own life, Jerry Bridges dug deep into the Bible for answers on God’s sovereignty. What he learned changed his life—and…


Explore my book 😀

While You Wait: Finding Purpose in the “Not Yets”

By Jerry Meek,

Book cover of While You Wait: Finding Purpose in the “Not Yets”

What is my book about?

We've all found ourselves between where we are and where we want to be. That's the story of While You Wait. Our decisions today will determine what kind of lives we will live tomorrow. What matters to God is not just that we wait but how we wait.

What happens if we invite God to refine and prepare us as we experience His timing? Do we spend our time fearful and anxious, pursuing everything we think is urgent and nothing truly important? Or do we press into God, allow Him to grow our character, and learn from whatever season of waiting we find ourselves in? Together we can focus on the magnitude of our God, not the size of our struggles.

Book cover of Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
Book cover of God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask About Faith, Life, and Business
Book cover of A Life of Excellence: Wisdom for Effective Living

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My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

Book cover of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

Ruth F. Stevens Author Of My Year of Casual Acquaintances

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

From the time I was a girl, I’ve loved stories that put a lump in my throat even as I’m laughing. As a fiction writer, that funny-sad tone is the one I go for in my own work. I gravitate toward female protagonists of all ages who break the mold—women who are intelligent and strong but who also have unconventional, quirky personalities. Women who can be hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once. Because they are complex and unique, these women tend to struggle with life’s challenges more than their contemporaries. That’s what makes their stories so interesting, and why I have chosen the books on this list. 

Ruth's book list on smart, quirky women facing personal struggles

What is my book about?

When Mar’s husband divorces her, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy starting over, she’s ready for new adventures—as long as she can keep things casual. Each month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant. . . and a handsome novelist who wants more than she can give. Mar learns from each encounter. But can she open herself up to true connection?

Surrounded by quirky, endearing characters, Mar navigates her…

My Year of Casual Acquaintances

By Ruth F. Stevens,

What is this book about?

"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author

When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.

With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical…


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