Bethany Partner Review: Secrets of the Happy Soul by Katie Orr

Apparently I'm in  season of life where the best way I become a better Whisperer of the Word is continuing to delve into how to grow myself in seeing God's character, His Word, and following the Holy Spirit's lead in my second to second every changing mindset.  I've recognized that a growth mindset educationally is important to learning.  And developing a God mindset in my heart, soul, and mind, not only impacts how I connect with the Lord, but also impact who I am, and how I connect with my husband, my children, the people in my world.  And I seek to read books that will help me do this, but so rarely find high quality in depth biblically connected books that impact me and make a difference in my mindset.  So it's pretty amazing (or pretty clear what my head and heart need to focus my mind on), when I find 5 star books two in a row. 

Katie Orr is a new author to me, so I had no real expectations of this book, but reading the description I was intrigued and wanted to read it.  I've found a new author to follow!!  I loved her book and rated it five stars which I rarely do. 

Here's why: 
*The book is biblical and theologically sound
*Her book is centered on helping her readers recognize how the Word impacts our lives. 
*The book is full of verses that are key to being a happy soul. 
*The book is easy to read, with authentic examples from the author's experiences.
* Once I started I didn't want to stop reading, which is unusual for a christian growth book. 
*The secrets of a happy soul theme is threaded throughout the whole book helping me retain the strategies suggested.
*At the end of the chapters where she has explained how a "Happy Soul" person lives, she has a short personal rating scale for you to reflect on this area of your life and then she has some prompts to help you plan to grow.  (and it's not hokey or stressful- her style is so connected, you aren't intimated to answer, you are prepared.
* Experiencing deep delight- sounds like an unachievable goal, but this book shows the reader the skills, mindset, and perspective (including what we often might think and tell ourselves that needs correction). 
*God has been encouraging me to seek who He is more, and look to Him in all the minutes of my day/life.  This book shows me how. 
*As an avid reader of christian growth books, I often feel like a new book adds little to my already well researched mindset, but the author's perspective is unique.
* I learned NEW ideas that I am applying already and will check back in on my highlights and review to keep growing.  This book blessed me and has stirred my heart, mind and soul to continue to seek a deeper connection with the Lord my God. 

Honored to partner with Bethany House publishing and receive a copy of this book.   

Book Review from one of my favorite authors: Sara Hagerty- Adore

Think about all these quotes-- this is the truth you will find SIMPLE strategies and stories of how to train your mind to see who God is as a minute by minute habit or as Sara Hagerty labels it in the middle minutes.  This is what I have learned can make all the difference between a me mindset to a God mindset.  And the scripture encourages us to have a God mindset- trusting in, reflecting in, leaning into, standing in, praying for, speaking the truth of His Word to ourselves.  This is the mindset that changes me.  This is the mindset that makes my mind, thoughts, emotions, and actions grounded in God's character and how HE views me no matter what is going on.  He sees me, He soothes me, He keeps me safe, He supports me, He loves me, and He calls me His own.  This is a message worth reading. Worth applying. Worth pondering.  This book launches into the world today.  If this is a habit that needs some growth in your heart, mind and soul. Have your library order this book- Sara Hagerty recorded the audio of the book herself, and she is a naturally gifted teacher.  I've heard the first three chapters read by her and she will inspire you to learn this habit and grow.  

It's not your traditional book the first 6 chapters teach you how to adore God in all the minutes, in the grit, in the fear, in the ugly moments of life.  Then she shares with you 30 of the most popular attributes of God with actual short examples of times in her life when meditating on them, pondering them, and putting scripture into her mouth made a difference in her moments, crises, grittiness.  

I pre-ordered this book so I would have a hard copy of it.  I've read the 30 days, but now I will be pausing and reflecting on them for the next 30 days, probably also the next 30 years!  Feel free to message me if you'd like to be held accountable and learn this habit together.  It's powerful and unlike her other books, in that their is a rawness, a reality, and a soul shift that is humbly modeled for us.  

Bethany Partner Review: Thriving in Love and Money by Jeff and Shaunti Feldman

Parenting is not for the faint of heart.  Parents who trust God and His Word and strive to grow in their marriage will whisper the Word to their children by their actions and relationship.  So today, I'm featuring a book that helps couples improve their communication about money.  Often an area of great tension in relationships. 

We've been married for 25 years-- and this is a book that we both picked up to read. This book is a great resource of strategies on how to communicate-- yes it's really focused on communicating about money--but truly it's also a great plan to figure out how men and women think differently and may not be communicating or speaking the same language.

The book is researched based and has percents, comparisons, and shares perspectives of a lot of couples. Making it a believable and thought provoking book. We stopped and discussed how we are doing on the main themes of each chapter and how we are doing communicating.

Whispering the Word connection: 
The authors suggest praying and trusting God in this process as you seek to really communicate with one another about money.  

Great book for a couple at any point in their marriage, a solid foundation to expand your communication about money and the ideas transfer to many other conversations. Thankful to partner with Bethany House/Baker publishing to get a copy of the book. 

Crossway Partner Review: Enough about Me: Finding Lasting Joy in the Age of Self by Jen Oshman

This book is a solid biblical view of finding joy in God, in the gospel, in who God is, and in creating an intimate relationship with Him.  If you want to whisper the Word to your children, you need to have a life centered on God- not on self, as the world celebrates and encourages us to do.



Jen Oshman is a great story teller and made a non fiction book that teaches theology an easy read!  Jen has lived overseas sharing the gospel in other countries as a missionary and shares a diverse perspective with her readers.

The book is also a thought provoking read, that had me examining am I living for self or focused on the gospel and knowing God.  It's a compelling book even though it doesn't sound like a theology book, it is! Theology is knowing about God- and how He is in our lives- and that's what this book is about-- contrasting it to the message we hear in the culture, throughout recent history, especially as women that self is most important.





Her style is different than other books that suggest similar concepts- it's a very down to earth real life explanation- including how our culture and the women's movement has encouraged us to make it all about me.
















I think this book will appeal to a wide audience and I enjoyed reading an ebook copy courtesy of Crossway.

Book Review: Five to Thrive by Dr. Kathy Koch

The Core Needs reviewed. 

Kathy Koch is a brilliant person-- and she is SO gifted in sharing what she knows in a reachable way that all can understand and learn- and she is a natural motivator and cheerleader as she writes- she graciously thanks you for reading-- she engages you with questions as you read, and then stops you as the concepts change with an assignment-- and these are challenging but with her input so achievable.

As I found in her 8 Great Smarts and Start with the Heart books- you can hear in her writing that her faith and her personal relationship with God continues to be active and growing, and the richness of scripture she shares as it applies to what she knows as an educator and psychologist is such a fresh and insightful way to apply research! As well as her consistent perspective that we are His workmanship.

She encourages all of us to see our gifting and to see who we are through God's lens. This book surprised me as my knowledge of the core needs has always been rather dry and limited- knowing that if we don't have security or identity- we can't belong- and that all three lead us to competence and purpose... But the concept that only God can really meet these needs and He desires to make us whole! This is truth- I knew it when we fostered a child and worked first on his security, identity and belonging- and as we did- he calmed and trusted us- but that we were really helping him realize humans are broken and can't always meet his needs we will fail. But God can!!

Read this book- you won't be disappointed. The core needs are something that helps us realize who we are and Dr. Kathy helps us see and plan to IMPROVE and grow- and her suggestions are the clearest and simplest- and set to support the reader in making a real change for the positive.

The physical book is worth owning-- it's the perfect size to throw in a bag and it just feels good!! Also it's written in contrasting colors- with charts and boxes- and plans to accomplish identifying your core needs and ways to grow. I suppose the kindle will look as good- but if you waver at all- get the book!! Moody is thoughtful about making it worth owning!

Blessed- to launch this my fourth book of Dr. Kathy's and to have read and used 5 or more of her books in my personal and professional life. Thank you Moody Books and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Raising the Challenging Child: How to Minimize Meltdowns, Reduce Conflict, and Increase Cooperation

I'm an avid reader of parenting and classroom management books for 20 plus years, and I'm an avid reader so that's a lot of books!!

This resource with the examples and scripts built in is exactly what tired, weary, parents and teachers need.  The tips.  Seal the deal.
See for yourself!




I liked it so much I have two physical copies and the kindle version!

 I want to have access to it and be able to share it with other parents!





This is a parenting book for the non-reader. Achievable. Simple. Clear to understand.  Takes a heart focused on serving and growing kids to achieve the strategies.   And suggests do overs galore.  Grace as it's best modeled for us.


This is the parenting book for the reader. Well formatted. Clear Strategies.  A book to be read over and over to remind you that you are growing and improving as a parent and that it matters!!

 Whether you are parenting a child from a hard place, a neuro-typical child, or a special needs child, this book brings all the best practice strategies of research alive and models them with tips, scripts, and real life examples!


I rarely give a book five stars, but this book is well deserving of this high accolade!  And if you want to know kindle or physical book--it has such great charts and scripts- I'd say physical book is really nice to have in your hands and implement.

This book does not whisper the Word directly to your mind as you read it.  But the worldview and strategies are biblically based on the foundations of love, connection, and grace in your parenting.  Share a verse in the comments that comes to mind as you read the book to demonstrate that while the authors have been therapists, who wanted these strategies to be used by all parents no matter their beliefs, you will recognize clearly that with the Holy Spirit, being this kind of parent is pretty impossible! 

written by: Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Debbie Reed, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine

Bethany Partner Review: Braver, Stronger, Smarter A girls guide to overcoming worry and anxiety by Sissy Goff

If you have a worrier or a girl with anxiety who is young- like elementary age-- this workbook is for her. I've done therapy with a young boy for these concerns, and this book- wow! A chance for a parent or trusted friend to help a girl process and learn how to overcome fear, anxiety, or worry. It offers best practice solutions, in a gentle friendly, real approach that will appeal to girls. The therapist shares using her small dog, Lucy's, perspective she defines it, teaches strategies, asks the reader to draw, write, and reflect on her own perspective and share her thoughts, beliefs, and plan her actions. The author cautions the reader to go slowly through this book, and while I know many parents want to 'fix' concerns-- having done weekly therapy with a young child- it is a marathon and it really does need to be approached slowly over time and internalized to be effective.

I love that this is a biblically driven books and one of the strategies is to chose worry verses to recite and help overcome the worries. This perspective is needed and in me experience one of the best techniques to cope with those feelings that are not facts or logical, but yet they can control your life if you allow them to. There is also a book for adults that partners with this one- and I'd be interested in reading it as well.

I bought the kindle version today. I can't wait to work through the workbook with my daughter.  She' been too tired to be processing much with the holidays, but we will work through these books, as anxiety is a struggle for us. 

Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishing and read this book. I will be adding it to my resources and using/recommending it others who may be able to use it.