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.  

PENS FOR PRAYER

Don't get me wrong, buying yourself a bouquet of fresh flowers is always a good idea. But sometimes  treating yourself to a bouquet of special lettering pens can be just as wonderful (and sadly, equally expensive.)

I've always loved taking notes, pretty penmanship and expensive writing implements. The internet hasn't helped. Who knew there were so many kinds of exotic Japanese calligraphy pens, just a click away? Over the years, I've fallen in love with a couple kinds of pens, specifically ones that are ideal for prayer journaling. My only tip would be to run hard and faster after "Love is blind" when purchasing these pens. Just ignore the price tag and follow your heart. 

Prayer journaling is a huge part of my walk with the father. These pens make writing in said journals all the better. Therefore, I have no choice but to take the plunge and purchase them, right? At least, that's what I tell myself. Maybe it'll work for you too.

1.) Le Pen

By now you know full well that anything in French is automatically my favorite. I love these pens because they're fine, small and come in a bunch of colors. The size is by far the best part, as they're very easy to slip into a purse or pouch and hardly take up any space. That being said, the size is also the worst part: they're very easy to misplace. Proceed with caution!

2.) Tombow Dual End Brush Pens

Wow, that's a mouthful. So are these pens. They're bold, bulky and beautiful. I wouldn't recommend these pens as ones to use in church/take notes anywhere, they're a bit excessive and extra for everyday use. I normally use them for writing out verses, highlighting in the bible or jazzing up some sermon notes after reading through them the next day. 

3.) Staedtler Triplus Fineliner

HEAR YE HEAR YE, Not all Staedtler pens are created equal. Don't be fooled by the other imposters, these are the best. I once fell for the rollerball pens and wow, big mistake. These pens are a little big to use in church (in my opinion) but I love the color selection so at the end of the day, color normally wins over convenience. 

And now, a pen test! Just so you can see how they write. Granted my staedtler's are a little old, so the ink doesn't flow as freely as it did in former years (months, lets be honest) but they're amazing when they are in their prime. 

Buying fancy pens for fancy prayer journaling isn't necessary. Obviously Jesus could care less if you used Le Pen, a sharpie or a tube of lipstick to prayer journal. But if you have it in your budget and you love pens and prayer, these three types should be a good start to your Christ-centered calligraphy pen collection.

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}

FRENCH, FRANCE AND JESUS: THE UPDATE.

I'm sure this has kept you up at night. You've been tossing and turning wondering, "What did she get on her French final?"

Or you didn't even know I was taking French! That's another very likely possibility.

I wrote about it in this post (and included some very favorite photos from The Paris Market in Downtown Savannah!) but basically, my grade sucked. And yes, we all get bad grades from time to time, save a select few of academic angels. But for some reason, this grade was especially disappointing to me, and I was probably a bit salty about the fact that I didn't fall into the academic angel category probably. At any rate, French was my least favorite topic. Yet the one I needed to study most for.

One day as I was studying (sort of) (mostly just dozing off) I had a weird thought "What if I actually get an A? If I do, I'll buy myself a nice lipstick." The thought was mildly motivating and kept me awake for another solid study session. But still, an A? That seemed pretty far fetched.

The thought of a lipstick at the end of the road was enough to motivate me slightly. But also I knew it wasn't a reality, so I wouldn't have to spend money on it at the end of the day. Kind of a win-win! Except a lipstick (and an A) would have been cool.

Directly after my exam I came home for bible study. I knew I had done okay on the test, but also knew I messed up a lot as well. We prayed, talked, potentially cried but I can't remember, watched the bachelor and I checked my grade.

For some perspective, the last test I got a 73.
Yet somehow on the final, I ended up with a 114. Bringing my grade from a C to an A! Also bringing my jaw to the floor.

(photos from paris in 2014)

My point in writing this post isn't to publicly celebrate my grade of flaunt my Phoenix abilities. I'd been discouraged about this class for months. I had mentally accepted the final B or C. Life would go on. God would still be in control. Really, it would all be fine.

But then God said, "Wait, I have something better in mind."

The beauty of this situation, and the life lesson I hope to learn and remember, is that God always waits till the right time to work. If he had given me a great grade from the get-go, I probably wouldn't have prayed as much. Had I started off with a higher standing in the class, I wouldn't have been humbly driven to my knees. He held out on me, until I was fully sold out for Him.

God want's our best days and our worst days. He loves us through bad grades and good grades and He will bless us when HE knows we are ready for it. Not when we think we deserve it.

This is just a small situation in life, but one where I saw God moving and working so clearly. And on that note, I know it won't be the last time God waits to bless me, even when it seems like its too late. It wont be the last time I see Him moving and working in my life. And while I've already forgotten every word of French, my hope is that I never forget what Christ has shown me through this situation.

Now obviously it's not really practical to put up a pillar of stones in my bedroom, but hey! This lipstick is my proverbial pillar of stones. So naturally, I had to go all out.

I ended up picking out a YSL lipstick. I mean, after passing french, a French lipstick brand seemed only fitting. After spending 14 years in Sephora going back and forth (cute or practical? Fun or extra wearable?) I settled on Smoking Plum, a rich purple with a glossy finish that I truly love/want to wear everyday. 

It sits on my vanity now. For one, the packaging is ridiculously pretty. And secondly, the price tag is high enough to quality this as not only a lipstick but also a piece of decor. And thirdly, every time I pass it or use it-the lipstick seems to say, "Hey, remember the time that God to bless you and you passed French? And not because you deserved it either, but because He is the epitome of goodness itself."

So yeah, I guess you could say it's my proverbial pillar of stones. In all honestly, it's a way better reminder of God's love than stones would be. I use lipstick everyday! And what else do I need daily?

To be reminded that God is in control and He will move when He is ready, not when it's easiest or most convenient for me. 

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK

Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with poetry and the written word. I think it was after reading the Great Gatsby - the incredible syntax, word choice and imagery makes me weak in the knees.

And that being said, I've never felt that way about the bible.

The bible has always been great, of course! But lately I've been noticing how freaking beautiful it is. Not only does God share His Word, but His word also happens to be composed in such a magnificent way that it puts any work of F. Scott Fitzgerald to utter shame.

Because it's not just a story. Not only is the word of God beautiful but it is REAL.

Recently on my Instagram stories, I've been sharing the verses that stand out to me. The bible is beautiful as is, but when you pull out individual verses it really highlights the poetic quality and how thoughtful and intentional every. single. word. is.

I use the YouVersion app, highlight the verse that stands out to me, then take a screenshot. After that, I open Instagram and upload the photo to the stories. From there, I just use white pen tool to cover over the surrounding verses and any other text on the screen. And I always use the NKJ version! 

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, I hope you too can enjoy how utterly perfect the bible is, even on a stylistic level. 

Man, God really knew what He was doing, huh?

A DELIGHT TO WRITE

In case you just can't get enough of this blog (and the nearly seven years of archives that are full of typos and pathetic analogies) you can find even more of my writings on the Delight Ministries blog. While I've never actually had the chance to attend a Delight meeting, I have followed them on social media for a couple years and love the heart behind their ministry. When a writing internship popped up a couple months ago, I applied and actually proofread my post a couple times (something every blog post on this blog is jealous of!)

If you're interested in reading, my posts always go up on the 25th of the month, till September!

The power of Pink

The idea of couples leaving love notes strewn about the house, hidden in cupboards and under pillows, has always been extremely idyllic to me. You thought you were just pouring cereal...till a handwritten love note landed on top of the Lucky Charms as well.

(maybe I'm just buying the wrong brand of cereal?)

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are little love notes for me strewn all over my house and my town and in every detail of life. In sunsets, in flowers, in Vespas and clothing, God's little love letter to me is everywhere.

One day I was in Atlanta and it was just, one of those days. I don't even have to go into detail, You know how it is. As Hannah Montana once put it, "Everybody has those days." I needed encouragement, a hug (and some chocolate), and to know that everything would be okay.

(And then a little more chocolate, for good measure.)

My mom and I happened to be driving through the city on the way to visit family. It had been a stressful trip but we stopped at a trendy place in ATL to have lunch and feel like our lives were slightly put together (it sort of worked!) We ordered a burger to split and an latte to share, and by share I mean I shared one sip, and then went and sat down.

And then the burger came out. And when I saw it, I started crying.

Now, don't deny the fact that you too get teary eyed over a beautiful burger but this one was extra special. Instead of the classic American fixings, this burger was topped with an undeniably pink homemade beet thousand island sauce. In retrospect it kind of looked like a Krabby Patty but at the time, all I could see was the fuchsia hued sauce....
and the goodness of God.

Maybe you see God's glory in goodness in an beloved animal, or in the face of a person you adore or a beautiful sunset. Whatever it is, I know I'm not the only one. God speaks to us all in a million ways. And one way He continues to encourage me is through my favorite color, pink.

I love pink. I always have and I'm equally convinced that I always will. Over the years,  my love of pink has certainly grown just as I have. And while it sounds cheesy to say, I know its more than that. When I see pink, I see God's goodness. I see His love, His creativity, His generosity in sharing glimpses of His unlimited creativity with us - I feel all of that when I lay eyes on a vivid fuchsia or soft shade of salmon.

God didn't have to give me that pink burger to show me he loved me. He could have just given me a plain burger or an undercooked one or the restaurant could have been closed- and His love for me would have been the same.

But He did. Because He Loves us. And furthermore, He loves to bless us. In little, unique, individual ways. He doesn't have to do anything for us really, but He loves us. He loves enough that He sent His only son to die and take the punishment for our sins. He loves us enough to forgive us daily. He loves us enough to prepare a place in Heaven for us.

And He even loves us enough to give us a pink burger on a bad day. Just to show that He cares, about everything.

No matter what it is that makes you stop, smile and remember God's goodness, I hope that whenever you see it, whether it be a vibrant sunset or the quadruple chins of a baby, I hope you're reminded of how fiercely God loves you, and how much He loves to bless you.

And I hope that one day you get to try the infamous pink burger. Who knows, maybe you'll burst into tears too?

(a lot of christian water analogies)

"Your grace abounds in deepest waters...."

I took living so close to the beach for granted for most of my life. It's a block away, I can hear the waves lapping on the shore from my bed each night. When I'm happy, I go to the beach. When the sun is rising, I go to the beach. When I'm sad and need to run away from the life, the beach is where I go. When it's January and my skin is as white as a sheet...you know where to find me.

I think one reason I love the beach is because it makes me feel very small, and as a result, it reminds me how big God is. He's vast, unsearchable and His love is deeper than we could ever comprehend. And while I think Christians have thoroughly worn out the water references, it's pretty true to some degree. His grace is like an ocean, His love washes over us. And when I'm standing on the shore facing the seemingly endless ocean, I'm met with the goodness of our God and the realization that 

I am so so small compared to His greatness. 

"When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace..."

When to get baptized is different for everyone. And even though I would only say I've known that the Lord was leading me to it for a year or so, the timing never quite worked out. I was either out of town or had a test the next day or was trying new churches and it just didn't work.

Switching churches, which I did a couple months ago, is always a little rough at first. Discouraged by the amount of awkwardness and icy conversation, I hadn't been in a couple weeks. But one Sunday a sweet friend texted me inviting me to come and that was the Sunday I heard about the baptism. 

It was also a week before.

But even still, I knew this was it.

Baptism is a beautiful thing no matter where it takes place, but having the opportunity to be baptized at the beach was such a blessing. I know my days near the beach are numbered and I have been doing my best to soak it up (both literally and figuratively) as much as possible 

( s e c o n d )   f a m i l y   i s   f o r e v e r

"And there I find You in the mystery.
In oceans deep,
My faith will stand."

I may not be able to run to the beach at midnight and cry when life is hard forever. But in doing so, I've learned that His Love is just like the ocean: endless, deep and oh so beautiful. 

(COWGIRL) KRYN GOES TO COLLEGE, Part II

This is as close as I'll get to wearing cowboy boots but in an interesting turn of events (also known as Jesus and His plan) I'M GOING TO TEXAS Y'ALL.

For college, not just for the tacos. Though if I could major in breakfast taco's, I for sure would.
Here's to texas, tacos and a whole lot of trust.

Perfect, imperfect Sense.

If there is one thing I've learned this year it's this:  following Jesus doesn't always make sense. 

We're human right? And even worse, we are sinners. Our logic, sense of right and wrong, our ethical values, common sense and all that jazz are all so...human. And earthly. And sinful. And lame, frankly.  Our natural tendency is to focus on ourselves, what benefits us, how we can make the most money and have the most friends and be the happiest with ourselves.

That's who we are, but that's not who we are supposed to be.

Following Jesus doesn't really make sense, in our limited human thinking.

It doesn't make sense to give up all your desires and dreams for one man, who doesn't even promise that life will be easy. It doesn't make sense to be nice to people who openly hate you. It doesn't really make sense to put your entire life in the hands of a God we can't even see...

But yet at the same time, it totally does. 

Following Jesus makes no sense to our sinful, human earthy flesh. Our earthy nature is hard-wired against a lifestyle like this making much sense. It's more than just something we hear on the internet or from people; we're told everyday to live for ourselves. We believe it. It's in us. 

That's why following Jesus is so radically different from anything on this earth, even our very flesh. Giving up yourself for someone else? That's not really logical. 

Giving up your cushy job to move to Africa? Makes zero sense.

Giving 10% of your income to the church? Weird.

But it isn't actually. 

Today is Easter Sunday, which happens to be a wonderful day because it is overflowing with peeps, floral dresses and of course, Jesus (literally all the best things in life.) Easter Church services, especially to those who have been Christians a while, can seem kind of redundant. Yes we know Jesus died. Yes we know our sins are forgiven. Yay we get to live in Heaven forever! Now...where are we going for lunch?

You know the drill.

But when you think about it, from a mere human perspective, Easter is weird and makes NO sense.

Why would Jesus come and die for us? That's a lot of work, for literally no reward.

Why would God send Jesus to earth? He could have just stayed in Heaven, way more enjoyable I'm sure. Why would God forgive us after we sinned so greatly?

None of that makes much sense either.

And that's why it's so painfully, awesomely beautiful.

None of it makes sense without God's love and His grace and His infinite wisdom. He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us? THAT MAKES NO SENSE. In my limited range of thinking on earth, I can hardly comprehend. I won't even let people merge in front of me in traffic sometimes. It doesn't make sense to, I was there first right? 

Thank Goodness Jesus is a bit more loving than I am on the freeway.

None of what Jesus did made sense. Considering what a wreck we are, the way God loves us and fights for us and cherishes us makes equally no sense. None of the creation or resurrection story is "logical" by any earthly means. To our flesh it's not rational.

But it is real. 

And if Jesus died on a cross, his hands pierced with nails and His head pierced with thorns, for me and you and endured the pain of the weight of all our sins and being separated from His Father, the most seemingly "senseless" act in history- doing something that makes no "sense" on an earthly level for Christ is the very least I could do.

Less choices that "make sense" to my flesh.

More choices that give everything to Jesus.