Books about Jesus that aren't the bible

When I began walking with the Lord, let it be known that I had NO IDEA what I was doing. Being raised in a Christian home didn't even truly prepare me for the what was to come. The beginning steps of my faith were so shaky and timid...not because I didn't trust but simply because, 
I didn't know where to start. 

Being a Christian is the best thing ever. But also, it's a little daunting. There's so much to learn, so much wisdom to glean and an endless amount of glory giving stories to be heard! And while I should preface this by saying that the bible is hands down the best place to start, there are other books that the Lord used to encourage me in my walk and help me to grow closer to him. Maybe you're unsure of your footing, like me. Maybe the endless amounts of christian books and blog posts seems daunting. I get it! But if you're like I was, a girl searching and yearning to fall even more in love with The God of the Universe, then you might like these books as well.

But like I said, the bible is always the best! :)))

PRODIGAL GOD // TIM KELLER
(buy it here)
Read this book if: You want a new perspective on a classic bible story.

UNINVITED // LYSA TERKURST

(buy it here!)

Read this book if: you need to hear an encouraging story about not fitting in at the world's table.

 GOLIATH MUST FALL // LOUIE GIGLIO

(buy it here!)

Read this book if: You have things in your life that you just can't seem to face. Even if you can't think of any giants at the moment, I promise that reading book will reveal a couple

THE END OF ME // KYLE IDLEMAN

(buy it here.)

Read this book if: You want more of God in your life and less of you

GARDEN CITY // JOHN MARK COMER

(buy it here)

Read this book if: you're burnt out of school or tired of working and need a refresh and a new understanding of working in this world for the Lord.

THE PATH OF LONELINESS // ELISABETH ELLIOT

(a great valentines day read ;) .... buy it here!)

Read this book: if you're single, married, dating or fully committed to carbs. Good for everyone!

GOD HAS A NAME // JOHN MARK COMER
(buy it here)
Read this book if: YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO BE CHANGED. I read this book over spring break and you guys, it's insane. It gave me a total new outlook on God and who he really is. If you read any book from this post, PLEASE let it be this one. And if you're too cheap to buy it, lmk and I'll send you mine because it's that good.  

Winter Break

'Tis the season for a great compilation post!

It wouldn't be a true winter break without a lack of posts and then a post months later that's as long as a child's Christmas wish list. Due to the stress of finals, it hardly felt like Christmas until...after Christmas? It will definitely be an adjustment for the next couple years. Trying to cram in Christmas festivities while also cramming for finals doesn't really work out too well. Ho-Ho-Homework, but I digress.

Still, I had a magical winter break. And I got to wear a coat more than once! Firs time for everything.

WINTER BREAK I LOVE YOU

2018 - A YEAR OF WILD HONEY

When I think about the difference between who God designed me to be and who I actually am…well that’s depressing. I know I’m not the only one, we all fall short everyday. We forget to call our mom back, ignore a red flag here or there, explode on a friend. Life on earth is a vicious cycle. 

Without Jesus, that is.

But in Him, there is so much freedom. Joy in circumstances that are anything but positive. 

There is space for growing into our calling and grace for when we fall short. 

I am starving to be all that Christ called me to be. Even if it hurts. Even if it doesn’t make sense. Even if it means laying down things that aren’t “necessarily” bad in pursuit of my God who is the epitome of goodness. I want to create art because I am made in the image of the holiest creator. I want to learn to love those around me because I am in love with the one who designed every emotion and feeling and thought. I want to taste the wild honey of the metaphorical promised land of who I am in Christ. 

Each day I make choices. Each choice has a flavor. I have tasted enough of the wild honey of God’s goodness to know consuming His love is supremely satisfying to the zest or aroma of anything here on earth. The sweetness of saying no to a movie and yes to reading the word. The delight of spending an hour in his presence, instead of scrolling through social media. The joy that comes from speaking words of compassion and kindness. 

2018 may not be a walk in the park. In fact, it might feel more like the walk to the promise land than anything else. But God has promised that His land for us is flowing with milk and honey. And each step in that direction, however uncharted or wild the path might seem, is closer to the honey that is the sweetness and goodness of the presence of God.

YEAR TWENTY: A YEAR OF WILD HONEY

“WILD HONEY TASTES OF FREEDOM - THE DUST OF SUNLIGHT.”

ANNIHILATE // Anxiety

I'll be the first to admit that anxiety interferes with a lot of things I do. And also there's a lot of things I DON'T do because fear or nerves or overthinking or whatever lame excuse I manage to come up with. I hate that it dictates decisions, feelings, emotions and basically my life. This is the resolution I am most passionate about working on, because I am SICK OF IT.

DO // Opperation Christmas child!

Every year I swear I will drink more water, chew less gum and do operation christmas child. And while this year I'm not even going to bother with the first 2, I'm excited to finally, actually, after years of anticipation, actually follow through with operation Christmas child. 

WRITE // The Bible

I'll talk more about this, but I want to start writing out passages of the bible. Like chapters and books and all that Jazz. This is definitely a fluid process that I don't want to be too rigid about, but I'm excited. I love the bible! I love writing! And boy do I love any good excuse to go buy nice pens.

LEARN FROM // Find a creative mentor and a spiritual mentor

The more I learn...the more I learn how little I know. This is definitely something to pray about and be patient with, but I'm really hoping by the end of 2018 to have both a spiritual and creative mentor. I need accountability and guidance in both areas. Inspirational Pinterest quotes only can go so far!

REFINE //  brand/resume/portfolio

It might take 2000 years and an equal amount of money to get my domain name back, but this is the year to tackle all these details that I typically avoid like the plague. 

SHARE // My testimony and faith in general

Remember how fear holds me back from a lot of things? Sharing my faith and the testimony of what God has done in my life is one of those things. The Lord has really been putting this on my heart lately and I'm praying for opportunities and boldness in 2018.

CLOTHED IN // Capsule Wardrobe

I went to college and realized this: I wear the same 10 things. Sure I have cute dresses and skirts and flowy tops, but do I wear them? Ha! Hopefully completing a seasonal capsule wardrobe will help me a.)wear more of what I actually own b.)stop buying things because "I have nothing to wear" and c.)be more creative than leggings and a sweater. 

GET // Abs

Never have I ever had a fitness goal but boy, college can do things to you. And by do things I mean, make you really, really lazy. I'm not saying I want a six pack, but getting my abs back would be lovely! 

CREATE // Bullet journal

I'm terrible with details. And I don't love that. Because like it or not, the adult world is full of details. I've begun my bullet journal already and I'm excited to track everything and actually be organized with information that normally I approach with my classic "ignorance is bliss" mantra.

CONNECT // with more creatives!

Creativity is so important to me. And creative people are an important part of my creative journey. I have a couple in mind for coffee dates, hang outs and shoots. And a whole lot of instagram  posts! 

BECOME //  Ordained.

This is not clickbait. Last year my friend and I, both very single at the time, made a joke that our goal for the year was to kiss a boy. And then it happened for both of us and we were like, okay? this is a thing! So we decided in 2018 we can become ordained. Just in case someone needs a wedding real fast! But mostly it's just so we always have an interesting fact on hand for those dreaded icebreaker games. 

FOR FUN // 

Shoot a stranger (with a camera), 5k on insta, visit Saside and Seattle, be about my fathers business, girls trip to waco, more fun makeup and earrings!

"TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD."

Ready. 

Hungry.

Let's eat.

// 2017 // 2016 // 2015 // 2014 // 2013 // 2012 //

Sunset at the Shepard Inn

Have you ever been to West Texas? I'm just going to warn you, in case you ever find yourself there, that there seems to be a shortage of Sprint Cell coverage and hotels with wifi. It's beautiful and wild and there's a lot of barbecue restaurants, but be prepared for some forced unplugged time. (Which isn't bad! Just bring a book.

We stayed at the Shepherds Inn, an air&b out in the boonies...I mean Buffalo Gap, Texas! Unfortunately we didn't realize there was no cell coverage for us there, and unfortunately we didn't think to ask the  homeowner for the wifi password before we got there at midnight. I grew up in Montana, so normally no wifi isn't an issue for me but with orientation the following morning, I had some last minute info I needed to access. 

So what else is there to do but drive back into town and park in the McDonalds parking lot and mooch the free wifi till 2 in the morning. Ah, country living.

After we got back from orientation the next day, it had just stopped raining and I can't even explain it, but the light was warm and red in the most magical way I'd ever seen. Several deer were enjoying the wild grasses in the empty field across the street and the sun was setting behind the mountains. 

And I was ruining all the serenity by running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, trying to capture everything before the sun slipped away. 

(not an uncommon practice for me)

Even though our arrival to the Shepherds Inn was a little tumultuous, the following evening made up for it. The way the golden light spilled across the flowers and courtyards was beautiful....and the deer didn't hurt either ;) Last time I visited West Texas it was the dead of winter, but this time it was in full bloom and such a treat to see it in all it's Texan glory. After all, They say everything is better in Texas, and I'd have to agree.

(except where cell coverage is concerned!)

Texas or Tuscany?

Texas or Tuscany? You decide. 

We were driving around and found this adorable little area outside of Dallas. It felt like we had been transported to Tuscany, but the best part is everyone spoke english. And there was starbucks! And it didn't require an 8 hour flight.

Now that I think about it, I'll take Tuscan Texas over the real deal anyway. 

TWENTY-SEVENTEEN: A SUMMER OF SABBATH

Summer always comes knocking with a list of fun activities following close behind. From beach trips to acai adventures, I always have a fairly extensive and ambitious list of things things to do/explore/eat over summer break.

Well, every summer except THIS one, that is.

I spend a lot of time striving for earthy success. And they're not even bad things- good grades, a job well done, investing in specific friendships. After a hard semester, I was completely burnt out. Every second after my alarm went off at 5:30 each morning was spent in an attempt to be as productive as possible and check everything off my never ending to-do list. Email my boss. Prep speech presentation. Connect with a speech pathologist. Edit photos. Do the dishes. Don't forget to eat dinner.

Life, even a simple and well intended one, can be exhausting. 

Each week I had to repeat to myself, "Just make it one more day." Everyday. And when I made it to the weekend, I spent every second catching up on sleep, cramming or cleaning and prepping for the next week ahead. I felt guilty going anywhere but class or work related places, thinking I was wasting time. I'd go over flashcards at stoplights. No music during the 39 minute drive to school, just biology lectures....for 3 months. Putting on makeup and driving to church seemed like a waste when I could just watch it at home, so that's what I started doing.

I know, this sounds so dramatic. I mean, come on girl. We see you posting on instagram all the time! Well what if I told you I scheduled out 35 posts so I wouldn't have to be on the app?

Yeah, I am that dramatic.

It got to the point where rest was just a thing of the past. Relaxation was equally extinct, in my mind. Why rest when you could work? Why relax when you could get stuff done? Why watch Tv when you have a to do list looming?  However, over Spring Break I read a book that talked about the sabbath. "HONOR THE SABBATH AND KEEP IT HOLY." is what the bible instructs, yet somehow I had twisted that into "accomplish as much as humanly possible on this one day to be a good person"

The New King Karissa translation somehow omitted the honor the sabbath and rest on the seventh day part.

And so as a result of that, my summer list is quite different this year. Other than my goal of finishing The Inferno, my summer list for 2017 revolves solely around honoring the Sabbath and learning how to keep it holy in this busy, distracting, demanding world. It's hard to turn it all off. To power down on everything in life, even for a day, has its challenges. But I can honestly say that the best way to recharge is to mute the distractions of the world and fully zone in on Christ.

And isn't it great that God made a day of the week specifically for just that?

The ways  in which we feel called and convicted to honor the Sabbath might be different, but at the end of the day, it's about giving our time and energy back to The Lord. I know I have a long way to go on this journey, but I'm grateful that Jesus is changing my attitude, heart and thoughts toward the Sabbath.

Instead of attempting to pack my summer full of beach days an acai bowls, my main focus is to spend less time on superficial fillers and more time, specifically The Sabbath, with my Heavenly Father.

And with that, Happy Summer and Happy Sabbath!

Previous Summer Lists:
{2012}
{2013}
{2014}
{2015}
{2016}

Orlando City Irony

Three weeks ago I went to an Orlando City Game. Also three weeks ago, I lost my credit card. Today I uploaded all these photos for this blog post. Also today, I got a text saying, "HAHAHAH OH MY GOSH I STILL HAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD FROM THE GAME."

So that's where it went!

Moral of the story, if you're going to and Orlando City Soccer game, don't give a boy your credit card because he might forget to give it back. It will save you a lot of time and energy (and tears, because misplaced valuables generally result in a mini meltdown) and the hassle of having to order a new one, only to get it in the mail the exact same day you find out it isn't really lost at all.

Alternate moral: life is full of ironic timing. I'm pretty sure we have Jesus to thank for that one.