Emily Hoisington

This is how I can is less of a devotional and more of a workbook that guides you through scripture by providing a Bible verse on a relevant topic then asking reflective questions based on that verse. Each entry gives you ample space to process and contemplate the scripture and how it applies to your life as well as discover negative thought patterns and reframe your attitude. At the end of every devotion is the prompt: God, through you I can: _____, which encourages you to apply what you’ve learned through the Holy Spirit and Gods word and pray through what you’ve processed! You will get out as much as you put into this book, which is a lot if you think carefully and prayerfully through the guided questions. I always enjoyed opening up this book and working through the questions. Some devotionals just tell you about the Lord, but This is how I can leads you to him. This is how I can would be a great resource to buy going into the New Year if you are seeking to grow in your Bible reading and walk with the Lord but aren’t sure where to start. This devotional will guide you but will still require a lot of interaction and engagement on your end! Also included are some fun graphics, grounding exercises and word searches to center yourself or relieve some stress before or after your study! Topics include: •Intrusive thoughts •Anxiety •Loving yourself & others •Healing •Hope •Success •Rest •Doing Gods will … and more!!

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” It took me a while to get through this book (try 1.5 years lol) but that’s only due to the nature of it- kind of like the old tv shows where every episode had its own storyline and conclusion, each chapter focuses on a specific narrative which made it very easy to put down and forget about. James Herriot is a great storyteller and his reflections about vet life in the English Countryside are both humorous and heartfelt… his words shed light on a time where life was both simpler and more complex… a time where people were tougher, grittier, more honest and in touch with reality. His stories made me wish I could spend a day chasing after sheep and cows with him in the rolling green hills of Yorkshire! All creatures Great and Small is a truly delightful read- especially if you’re an animal lover like me.

This is book is a sequel of sorts to Eric and Leslie Ludy’s popular book, When God Writes your Love Story, which talks about surrendering your ideas and pursuits of romance to God and trusting him to satisfy your dreams and desires. This book is centered around that same idea, but instead of only talking about one aspect of your life, it centers around your whole life. It struggles with the age old questions, “Who am I?” and “What am I here for?” Honestly at times I had to put this book down and pray over some of the concepts because there are hard, hard truths written in these pages. Believing in Jesus costs us nothing, but truly following him costs us everything from removing distractions, shaking off our “settler” mentality, disciplining our bodies, minds and souls and developing Godly habits. It’s a book I will definitely keep on my shelf and re-read because the truths and challenges in it are timeless and so important to remind yourself of.

My number one read of 2021 was actually one of the first books I read during the year while I was recovering from wisdom teeth surgery in January. Although it is a work of fiction, many of the characters are based on real life stories of persecuted Christians. The book is about two college friends who reconnect after twenty years- one who is living a comfortable life far from God in America, and one who is living a life of intense persecution in China but is closer to God than ever. This book is a page turner. It’s beautiful. It’s dramatic. It’s tragic. But it’s also full of so much hope. Interwoven throughout the story are heavenly perspectives that help the reader gain a better picture of God’s plan for suffering and reminds us to live in light of eternity. Safely Home probably made me cry more than any other book I’ve ever read, but for good reason- we are to suffer with our persecuted brothers and sisters, for “if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.”

A gripping contemporary novel about identity, family and the power of redemptive love. When the Ice Melts features two sisters who share a dark past but are estranged due to choices that have torn them apart. After Addisyn, the younger sister, who is a competitive figure skater, loses the chance to compete in the Olympics, the soul crushing disappointment takes her on a journey that will reunite her with her sister and with her sister's God- El Shaddai, the God of the mountains. 🏔 You would never guess this book is the authors debut novel- it's engaging, inspiring and thoughtful with deeply emotional characters and strong settings. Her descriptions of Whistler, B.C. and Estes Park, Colorado made me feel like I was there and the successes and struggles her characters experience make them relatable and all the more lovable. ❤️ I am so excited for this book to grace the world! Not only will it entertain and engage you but it will draw you deeper to the God who loves each and every one of us and yearns to give us a second chance. I can't wait to read what comes next from this author! I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In this easy to read road map into intentionality, Christian Pastor Glenn Packiam with his wife Holly use stories and scripture to encourage personal, relational and spiritual growth. This was a great book to read at the end of one year looking forward to the next and I would definitely recommend it as resource entering into 2023 as it focuses on reflecting on the lessons and celebrations of a past season, identifying themes and purposes for the season ahead and implementing rhythms of prayer, rest, renewal, and relationships. I definitely enjoyed this book, however the content was pretty basic, so if interested, I would consider listening to it as an audiobook.

“Joy flows to us when we wade in the river of Thanksgiving.” Some books are like a glass of cool lemonade on a hot Summer day. They’re life-giving. They’re refreshing. They put a smile on your face. The Grumblers Guide to Giving Thanks was this kind of book. Written by a “grumbling, pessimistic, need to smile more, glass-half-empty kind of guy,” this book explores four aspects of biblical thanksgiving, builds out its theology, and lists its benefits in our daily life. As Crowe explains in the book, we are people who are around each other, but not present with one another. Similarly, we are in Gods world but not awake to it. Our busyness and distraction blind us to the reality of Gods faithfulness all around us. Not only are we ungrateful, we are unaware of Gods day to day involvement in the inner workings of our lives. Teaching ourselves to recognize and remember Gods providence leads us to thanksgiving, an act of obedience and worship. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a grumbler, but this book challenged me to stop, see, and thank God for everything he’s doing in my life.

“God doesn’t want you or me to suffer. But He will allow it in doses to increase our trust. Our pain and suffering isn’t to hurt us. It’s to save us. To save us from a life where we are self-reliant, self-satisfied, self-absorbed and set up for the greatest pain of all….. separation from God.” What do you do when Gods timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention hurtful, and his promises doubtful? In this book, written by the president of Proverbs 31 ministries, Lysa Terkeurst attempts to unpack these questions- difficult but not unanswerable as she journeys through her own season of despair in the face of a cancer diagnosis and her husbands infidelity. Lysa helps readers change their outlook on life’s challenges, saying that “disappointments are really divine appointments to see God work.” Using scripture, her honest humor, and heartfelt compassion, she helps readers understand that nothing catches God off guard and he never wastes pain, but uses it- in our lives and in others. Something unique about this book was how Lysa spent a chapter talking about Satan. Typically, Christian writers only focus on God and the bible when encouraging fellow believers during difficult times- which is definitely important and necessary. However by understanding how limited Satan is and how he is still subject to Gods authority, we can truly grasp the verse that says “In all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” As Lysa quotes, “Satan may be vicious- but he is not victorious.” “It’s not supposed to be this way” is like a hug from a wise Christian woman. It’s not an in depth study of trials, packed with doctrine or theology. But when you’re going through something hard- that’s not the book you want. All you want is some strength and solace from a source who understands- Lysa does, and her book will encourage you.

I thought twice about posting a review of this book. The title is so in your face. But so is the touchy subject of sexuality. And it needs to be talked about. The thing that I liked most about this book was that it was Jackie’s story of breaking free from gender confusion, but it also wasn’t. It was a book about sexuality, but it also wasn’t. It was so much more. It is a memoir of one woman’s imperfect journey from darkness to light full of brutally honest scripture, real life stories and profound quotes and prose from a fellow poet. It is raw but not vulgar and it’s focus is on God, not on the author or the sin she was set free from. In “Gay girl, good God”, Jackie exposes how we in the church are guilty of preaching a “heterosexual gospel” where we encourage people struggling with their sexuality to come to Jesus so they can become straight instead of coming to Jesus because he is worthy of our love and devotion. This is wrong. God cares about so much more than our sexuality. He cares about our souls. As Jackie states, “For the unbeliever that struggles with same sex attractions, God is not calling them to be straight. He’s calling them to himself. When he is the aim of their repentance and the object of their faith, they are made right with God and given the power by the Holy Spirit to deny all sin- sexual and otherwise.” This is so important for Christians and non Christians to know and understand about God. He’s so much bigger than our sexuality. After all, he’s the one who created it. And nothing is too messy for him to unravel. No sin is too great for him to forgive. No story is too broken for him to redeem. I took my time with this book, as I encourage you to do if you read it. The topics of fatherlessness, abuse, same sex attraction, identity, lust and the misconceptions of woman-hood are definitely heavy, but so, so necessary to unpack and ponder in our current times. Thank you Jackie, for your brave and beautiful words. I didn’t expect your story to make me love Jesus more- but it did. And to you- read this book. Experience the wonder of Gods goodness. 🙏🏻💗

This book was one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. It is also one of the most harrowing and heavy books I’ve ever read. Educated tells the true story of Tara Westover, a woman who not only was kept from school for her entire life but was also abused, brainwashed and lied to about healthcare, the government, God, and other people by her eccentric, survivalist family. Against all odds and despite her upbringing, at the age of 17, Tara attends college and later goes on to earn her PhD from Cambridge University. Tara tells her story like it is and leaves you to react to it, which I appreciate. Her writing is beautiful and gripping, but she is also extremely careful in the way she talks about her family and describes the trauma she went through. This book is so high on my list because of the way it opened my eyes and educated me about how far one can go with the wrong convictions. However, at the same time, I felt pretty depressed when I finished this book. It was missing the redemptive factor that would have only been part of the authors story had she met Jesus Christ after leaving her family and experienced his true healing and restoration. Because of that absence, Tara’s story feels lacking. Nevertheless, “Educated” was one of the most unbelievable books I’ve ever read and gave me a glimpse into a life that I will thankfully never know!