Forgiveness is one of the hardest things Christians are called to do in the Scriptures, especially when they have been hurt deeply by the actions of others. We are well aware of the Scripture’s call to forgive, but we can’t let go of what happened to us. Relationships are destroyed, bitter words are exchanged, and the pain afterwards refuses to let us move on. It often feels like forgiving is letting our offender off the hook, so we are holding ourselves captive to our pain, all while thinking that we are holding our offenders responsible. This leads to a vicious cycle that seems like it will never end. It makes us ask the question: how can I learn to forgive what I can’t forget?
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In her book Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, Lysa Terkeurst takes her readers on a journey toward discovering how they can let go of the pain of what others have done to them and learn how to forgive. While not diminishing the pain and suffering they have been through, Lysa walks through many facets of forgiveness, bitterness, and the pain caused by conflicts with others. Instead of offering platitudes of instant solutions, she instead offers hope that with time, diligence, and support, you can make peace with the past and live life again. Speaking with honesty and vulnerability from the pain of her husband having an affair, Lysa shares her personal journey of her husband having an affair, sharing it in a way that makes it relatable, regardless of what you may need to forgive. If you have ever struggled with forgiveness, this is a book you need to read. Get your copy today!

In their devotional, Shine Bright, sisters Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal help young women get into God’s Word with 60 days of Scriptures, journaling prompts, and other spiritual exercises. Sharing stories and insights that are both new and familiar to the followers of their ministry GirlDefined, Kristen and Bethany connect the Scriptures they share with real-life experiences in a way that is engaging and relevant. Through the variety of Scriptures and topics they discuss, you are given a picture of what it looks like to become a woman defined by God’s Word, which will give the readers the ability to “shine bright” for Christ, if they choose to embrace these truths. This book is well-written and well-designed (the cover is so cute!). Designed to encourage the reader to build consistent Bible study habits, this book would a great option for any teen girls or young women that want to develop the discipline of doing devotions. Get your copy today!
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*I received a copy from the publisher for the purpose of this review as part of my involvement in the book’s launch team

NOTE: There have been issues with their book distributors and keeping the books stocked. If you are interested in ordering the book to support the launch (which I totally recommend), their publisher Baker Books is currently running a sale of 30% off and free shipping. For more info, click here

​Everyone has dreams we want to pursue, but many of us get scared and stop pursuing them before we even start. We are often so afraid of failing, we allow our fears to prevent us from pursuing our God-given dreams. We often make excuses to not pursuing them, but are evitable aware that our fears are parlaying us. It makes us ask the question: how do we overcome our fears to pursue our God-given dreams?

​In his book Chase the Lion, Mark Batterson teaches us how to stop running away from dreams and opportunities that scare us and instead choose to run towards them. Once again using the story from Scripture about Benaiah defeating the lion in a pit on a snowy day with only a spear, Mark helps us to see that it’s only when we stop fearing failing that we can seize opportunities in their tracks, especially the types of dreams that would be impossible without God’s intervention. This engaging book will inspire anyone to take action that the dreams that have scared them for far too long. This is a book I highly recommend. Get your copy today!

​To read my review of this book "prequel" In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, click here
To read my review of Batterson's best-selling book The Circle Marker, click here
To read more about my story of "running toward the roar", click here

​From the moment heard about this book, I was intrigued by the title. This book has been on my review list for over a year now and on my “To Be Read” list for a few years, especially after I read The Circle Marker. When I finally did read it, I could not put it down. I felt like the author spoke my creative language. Mark has a way of inspiring his readers to a new perspective on the struggles of our lives, especially this book and its follow up book, Chase the Lion. For anyone that wants to learn how to face your fears and prepare yourself for the opportunities, this is definitely a book I recommend ~ Bethel

All of us face regrets for opportunities we missed. Whether by not recognizing an opportunity or by fear of failure, we often look back at opportunities we missed out on with regrets and fear that they will never come again. We want to better prepare ourselves for opportunities, especially when we know that God gave them to us, but we become afraid of our own dreams and ambitions, which starts the cycle all over again. It makes us ask the question: how do prepare ourselves to pursue and not run away from God-given opportunities?

​In his book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson explores how to face our fears and failures so that we can be prepared to thrive when life gives the best opportunities. Mark shares the story of Benaiah in 2 Samuel 23, where he managed to kill a lion in a pit on a snowy day using only a spear as a weapon. Using this short story as his primary analogy, Mark explores we, like Benaiah, can face our fears and regrets so we can be ready to pursue God-ordained opportunities when they come. Using this obscure but powerful story as well as stories and illustrations from his own life, Mark empowers his audience to rise above missed opportunities from the past so they won’t miss what God may have in store from them in the future. Engaging from cover to cover, this is a book that I highly recommend to anyone that is looking to live a life that is ready to seize opportunities that comes their way.

Get your copy from Amazon today (#commissionearned) by clicking here

To read my review of Mark Batterson's book The Circle Maker, click here
To read more about my first book Beyond Your Wardrobe, click here
To see my latest spoken word video "Running Toward the Roar", click here

We are currently living in unprecedented times. As we are navigating the covid-19 pandemic, many of us are uncertain about the future. We are unsure how long it will be before we can leave our homes without fear. We are unsure where our next paycheck is going to come from. We are unsure when we will times will return to normal. As we try to figure out where to go next, we often struggle to turn to the best source of strength and hope: our Lord and Savior. As I have tried to figure out how to navigate this pandemic, some of the books I've reviewed have come to my mind and have helped me to find joy and peace in the middle of difficult circumstances. If you are looking for books to read during this time, I give you 5 recommendations as a place to start:

A powerful story of a young women who learned to hope through a series of difficult and trying circumstances, Daring to Hope is an inspiring testimony that will encourage you, regardless of what season you are currently facing (as is her previous book Kisses from Katie).

To check out my review of Daring to Hope, click here.

A collection of stories from their personal lives, the lives of friends, and the lives of characters from the biblical narrative, this book is a powerful reminder that we can trust God to work in any and every season of our lives.

To check out my review of You Can Trust God to Write Your Story, click here.

A biblical exploration of the concepts of gratitude, this virtue is important for us to develop, especially with the circumstances that we are currently facing. Our outlook on our circumstances will change significantly if we learn to choose gratitude in any and every season of our lives.

To read my review of Choosing Gratitude, click here.

One of the best books I've read about trials and suffering, Through the Eyes of a Lion is a book designed to help you face your current and future trials in the strength of Christ. When we face painful situations head on instead of hiding from it, we find the strength to "run toward the roar".

To read my review of Through the Eyes of a Lion, click here.

An incredible perspective on prayer, The Circle Maker is the perspective you need to help you change your prayer life. I am currently read through the devotional book Draw the Circle and enjoy its unique perspective on how to pray for God's glory in all that we face. 

​To read my review of The Circle Maker, click here.

Have you read any of these books? Are there any books that you would add to this list? Be watching for more recommendations over the next month!