New Favorite Things

Used my Christmas money to buy two of my new favorite things. Red Toms:

And a Flip camcorder. Here's the first video to be shot on the Flip. Quality is so awesome. Gonna be great to have this for videos of Baby K. And these two crazy characters.

A Billion Reasons Why - Kristin Billerbeck

Kristin Billerbeck has been a favorite author of mine for the past five years. I was introduced to her by a friend in St. Louis. I was excited to have the chance to review her most recent book, A Billion Reasons Why. BookSneeze® provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. This book is about Katie McKenna, a spunky special education teacher who receives a blast into her past when a former boyfriend asks her to sing at his brother's wedding. Although engaged, she agrees to sing and finds herself back at home, confronted with a life and a relationship she ran away from.

Overall, this book was an excellent read. It was apparent that the author researched the history and culture of New Orleans - which I loved to learn more about. The only area that this book fell short for me was in the writing style. And it was really only because of my past experiences with the author. Nearly all of her books have left me laughing out loud with the honest humor of her characters. I was anticipating that same type of writing style for this novel. I didn't laugh quite as much with this book. Regardless, it was a great story with great characters. There is no question, Kristen Billerbeck knows how to tell a story!

Sun Stand Still - Pastor Steven Furtick

Without question, it was an honor to be able to write a review of my Pastor's book, Sun Stand Still. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. At a basic level, this is a book about audacious faith. But digging in, making personal application, and praying your own Sun Stand Still prayer, gives the reader the opportunity to experience and live out the faith of the Bible's greatest characters - Joshua, Moses, and the disciples to name a few.

One of the things I love about this book is the way it is written. The style it is written in, makes me feel as if I am having a conversation with Pastor Steven. My vote for favorite chapter title? Pray like a Juggernaut. Simple, yet challenging. He speaks truth in a way that is easy for anyone to understand. This is a book for everyone - for the jr. higher who is just beginning to walk with Jesus to the seasoned pastor. My children are preschool age, and even we have had discussions about what it means to believe God for the impossible.

As I think about the impact this book had on me, there is one chapter that sticks out like a sore thumb. Hear. Speak. Do. This chapter contains twelve audacious faith confessions to speak over my life. Growing up in a conservative Grace Brethren church, I didn't learn how to speak biblical truth over my life. That was something they did at the pentecostal church down the road. Now, when I feel worry creeping in I speak #3: "I have no fear or anxiety; I trust in the the Lord with all my heart." When I question whether or not I have what it takes I preach #5 to myself: "I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do." And the best part... Each audacious faith confession comes with at least 3 verses of scripture to back it up.

If you read this book, I promise it will change the way you think about faith. It helped me tap into the power of God -- available to me as a believer in Jesus Christ. This book isn't just about the major life events that require believing God for the impossible. There is application for the stay-at-home mom pouring into her children on a daily basis. It is for the high school student who's Sun Stand Still prayer might be staying pure. It is for the couple who is about to call it quits after years of marriage. It is a book for people who want to change the world.

One more thing I love about this book: The vast amount of FREE resources available to individuals, small groups and churches. Check it out at: www.sunstandstill.org.