New Interior Design Review: Restoration House

So this is the first of its kind here on Reviews with Kris. It is a book on interior design and it is beautifully written with gorgeous photographs of the author's home. She speaks of restoring home and restoring our hearts. 

This book yall! It is so refreshing and beautiful and hardback (my fave). 

This book is the story of a woman (Kennesha Buycks) who realizes that God met her while she was restoring furniture. And He used this newfound hobby of hers to pour into her and transform her from someone who was more superficial and discontent to someone who could see the beauty below the surface and who is now content with her portion in life. 

There is so much in this book that it goes beyond coffee table book to a handy resource. I'll share some excerpts (photos) of the practical tips and guides that the author shares with us; the deep and meaningful prayers she shares at the end of each chapter; the hospitality hacks spread throughout. There is even a guide on creating your own cheese board for entertaining (I included a photo of the shopping list). She goes to great lengths to ensure that this doesn't become a book that just sits on a table never to be used. There's so much to glean throughout the book and heart nuggets to draw us closer to God.

Cheeseboard shopping list.

 I greatly appreciated the reflection and prayer sections at the end of each chapter because it brings God into our homes and into our designs and gives Him glory through it all. 

Prayer and Reflection...this one from chapter 6.

 Hospitality tips

Seasons Greetings: ways to spruce up our homes during every season.

Recipe for a natural bug repellent. Like seriously, don't we ALL need this once the weather gets warm?

This book gets 5 stars from me and is DEFINITELY worth adding to your library! You can head over to Amazon to get your copy here.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST review. In other words, I genuinely LOVE this book and my payment is the book itself.}

100 Favorite Bible Verses for Children

This book operates like a devotional for children. These is a devotional and a scripture along with a cute illustration/drawing.

I like that it is like a starter into using devotionals. And for the parents who read a daily devotional (*waves hand*) this may be a nice addition to your library to get your kids involved in that daily reading time as well.

These are an example of what the two page devotional looks like. The first page is the actual devotional and the second page is the bible verse in a children friendly translation and a cute illustration. It's nothing too heavy yet enough to get them in God's Word and help them understand God's word and how it relates to their little lives.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Woman of Influence

As a Woman of Influence, we want to be a godly influence on the people around us. 

Even if you aren't married or have children, you have some influence over the people around you. Influence them in such a manner that it brings God glory. We do that by always pointing past ourselves to Jesus. 

We do that by the way that we carry ourselves, the way we act. 

It all speaks for us. 

And how we carry ourselves is a reflection of the ONE who sent us, who we claim to follow. 

The Woman of Influence Tank Top available at www.thejesuscollection.storenvy.com

The Woman of Influence T-Shirt available at www.thejesuscollection.storenvy.com

Miracle In Music City

So this is a children or rather tween book.

So I allowed my daughter to read the book and tell me what she thinks of it.

Her initial reaction is that she loves it!

She loves the adventure and the fairies. 

The book is about three sisters which she can relate to as she has two sisters of her own. 

She loves that they go on an adventure (she's also read a Dolphin Wish by Natalie Grant and about the same sisters). The story starts out with them helping their mom and delves into them going on an adventure, with adult supervision in the form of their nanny. It is a mystery.

I love that its good wholesome entertainment. I don't have to worry about if its going to have a poor message or profane language.

I love that it teaches teamwork among siblings. Something that I see taking root in my children at home.

{I received this book in exchange for my HONEST review from the publisher through the BookLook Blogger program.}

The Jump to Trust God

This book addresses a few different topics of application of the Christian faith: 

• When we trust God's love for us, 
• when we choose to walk with Jesus, 
• when we choose to relax
• when we take the time to notice God in everything, 
• when we choose to invest our time and finances into God's kingdom, 
• when we choose to be kind to everyone, 
• and when we place our hope in God. 

When we do these things, Rusty then explains the different ways God shows up in our lives. Each topic of application is explain in an "if then" circumstance. IF we choose to walk with Jesus, THEN God will show us how. Too often we forget, all of the Christian life starts with a choice. A choice to trust God, to accept Jesus Christ, to confess our sins and turn our backs on that sin (repentance). But after we make that choice, we must live our lives in such a way that we start to look like Jesus Christ: walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, point people past ourselves and on to Jesus.

This book is endorsed by Kyle Idleman (he wrote the forward) and I truly have enjoyed his books (Not a Fan & Gods at War). So that helped me become interested in the content of this book. And after reading it, it puts me in the mind of the Believe series of books by Randy Frazee. They seek to aid us in our walk in Jesus, in our relationship with God. And this book does the same.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to the application and benefit of application of walking with Jesus, trusting God, choosing God.

{fyi: I got this book through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for my HONEST review.}

A Dolphin Wish

So we got this book in the mail. And I was stoked to get it for my oldest girl because it is by Natalie Grant and she loves Natalie Grant's music.

So this is just ONE book in a series of books Natalie Grant is releasing. And I love it because the older siblings don't leave out their younger sister, and I have that exact amount of girl children.

It's a chapter book, which is good because the longer the book, the more it captures my daughter interest. The series is about sisters Mia, Maddie, and Lulu. Mia and Maddie are twins. In this book they are supposed to be on vacation however, the girls learn of a mystery at  Captain Swashbuckler’s Adventure Park. And with these girls loving to solve mysteries, they enlist their nanny Miss Julia to take them to the Adventure Park to the solve the mystery. 

One thing I love about this series is that the girls are not off on their own with no form of supervision in place, as many of the TV shows out now, we see children going on all sorts of adventures with no visible supervision. And of course, Natalie Grant is a contemporary Christian music artist, the references to God is in the book (trust in God) but it is not overpowering that it takes away from the fun of the story.

I do recommend that mamas get the book for the their daughters although it is best suited to those who are comfortable reading (I'd say at least 8-9 years old at the youngest).

{FYI: I received this book thru the BookLookBlogger program in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

A new devotional!!

As an adult, how many of us have benefitted greatly from Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life?

 

I mean everyone, right? I remember my mom reading this book back in the late 90s, early 2000s then passing it along to my aunt so she could benefit from the book as well. And now here I am at least 15 years later, reading the same book and recommending it to my friends.

 

When a book is like that, that's when you know you've stumbled upon something transformational!

So imagine my joy when I get the option to read and review:

 

 

As a mom, I am overjoyed because Rick Warren's foundational teaching is now available to my children to read and understand. They won't have to wait until they are older and can understand the language and context to read the original book.

And let me tell you, our oldest daughter (who is now 8 years old) really enjoys the book. She's an avid reader (wonder where she gets that from, lol). And she loves to get her hands on anything that will help her understand God and her relationship with Him!

 

I love that the book is set up in the format of a daily devotional, meaning it is in bite sized chunks where each devotion is barely a page long. Long enough to get across knowledge, short enough not to bore children. I also like that the pages are not dated, which means we can pick up the book at any day of the year and start in from the first page if we wanted. We have a hardback copy, which I think is absolutely necessary in a house full of tiny hands.

 

I definitely recommend this to parents with curious readers who want to deepen their relationship with God. I recommend this to parents who want a devotional they can read over breakfast or dinner with the kiddos. A great addition to the family library. And definitely get the hardback so it lasts several years (a definite plus with three soon to be four children in this house ranging from 8 years old to 18 months old and a newborn coming in the spring).

 

 

 

{FYI: I received this book as a member of BookLookBloggers, in which I exchange free books for my honest opinion of the book!}



What if Marriage was intended to be sacred?

How often do we go into marriage with the understanding of being made happy by the marriage and our spouse? How often do we hear people end marriages because they were "unhappy?"

Now what if you were to learn that God did not design our marriage with our happiness as its central focus? What if our marriage is designed to make us holy before Him? What if marriage was not designed for our happiness but to completely glorify God?

That is what Gary Thomas is answering for us and opening our eyes to see in his book Sacred Marriage.

When I got married and throughout a great portion of marriage and even at times now, I get angry because of the times when we are unhappy and it is chaotic. I am still learning that my marriage was not designed for me to be happy. Yes happiness can be a by product of marriage. But that is not the original design for marriage. 

This book is filled with examples of couples who had been going about marriage (and in some cases divorce) the wrong way. They'd been consumed with themselves and what made them happy. Yet they either forgot or were completely unaware of the fact that happiness is fleeting and that is not marriage's purpose. That is not our spouses purpose. We cannot burden our spouses with the task of making us happy all the time. Our joy must come from the Lord and when that happens we become content to let marriage be what God designed it to be.

A really good example of this is Hosea in the bible. Hosea was instructed to marry a harlot (a prostitute) who would give birth to children that may not have even been Hosea's children. Yet God had a purpose in this. He wanted to use marriage, specifically Hosea's marriage, to demonstrate His purpose for marriage. God wanted to show that there needs to be constant forgiveness and not human forgiveness but Godly forgiveness. God wanted to show His relationship with the people and how before we get married to our earthly spouses we have a heavenly spouse. And in our submission & obedience & loving to our earthly spouse, we are essentially doing that unto our heavenly spouse. The same goes for the message Paul gives us in Ephesians 5.

Gary Thomas seeks to give this knowledge to the believer. To live out marriage the way God intended for it to be. To stop being prideful and selfish in our marriages. To allow God to use our marriages to make us holy before Him.

 As a wife one of the things my husband is charged to do is to "that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:26-27 NKJV) And in response my job is to submit and allow him to do so. No matter how hard that may be or how hard my flesh wants to fight. (And trust me my flesh has been and is fighting.)

That is what I have been learning from this book.

FYI: I received this book as a member of BooklookBloggers for free in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Who God Is defines Who I am

We learn who we truly are in the context of who God is.

I have learned who Kristin is because I have learned who God is and what He has said about me.

God has said that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

He has said that I am to love God and love others. And He said that in a specific order. God first, others second. How can I love others if I have not the love of God in me?

I encourage you to learn who God is and in turn learn who you truly are.

Read His Word and Read what He says about you. In that you come to learn who God is. You learn that He is loving and patient. He is gracious and merciful. He is a faithful and selfless Father. Who sent His selfless and faithful Son to die for our sins. 

And when you understand that, truly accept it, live your life based on that. 

Then you understand your worth and how valuable and loved you are.

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

(Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)

Women of Influence

Women of Influence is a mini-study that is two weeks long and seeks to encourage us in our walk as women of influence. Even if you are unaware of it, you are a woman of influence. Each and every day you have some influence over someone.

 I personally influence my children and husband on a daily basis with my words and actions. And because of this, I must be careful to guard my spirit against any impurities so that I do not influence them in a negative way. This is an on going thing, you won't get it right once and that's it. Nope it's a daily dying to self so that you can be a godly influence in the lives of those around you.

Today's passage is: Titus 2::3-5

 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine,but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (NIV)

This is one of those passages I need tied around my wrists and fastened to my forehead. Why? Because I fill both of those roles. For some I am that woman of influence who is to teach and encourage, to be an example of what a woman of influence looks like. And yet I am still a young wife and mom who has to be self-controlled and pure, to be submissive to my husband and humble. It's hard to be that person, but its definitely worth it.

It's easy to snap and be angry, to follow our emotions. It's hard to practice self-control and patience.

It's easy to point out your husband's mistakes, to try to usurp control. It's hard to praise his good and let love  cover the mistakes and submit to the authority given to him by God.

It is so easy to gossip and do what everyone else does. It's hard to mind your own business and put out love, to pray for those that others gossip about.

Choose what is hard for you now but is in your best interests and pleases God.

Ladies, I am NOT perfect. I will be honest just yesterday I allowed my emotions to lead me into being disrespectful and being offended. It's hard to rein in those emotions because those emotions tell us we're right, especially when we are wrong. But today I am thankful for a husband that puts on love. Today I am thankful for another chance to get it right and rein in these emotions (and the additional pregnancy hormones). 

So this is my charge to you, I am not telling you anything that I myself am not learning and everyday going to God for help with. Die to yourself and take up the mantle as a Titus 2 woman. You may be the seasoned woman who can help and counsel the younger woman, or you may be the younger woman who is seeking godly counsel. Or you may be like me a mixture of both and fighting to stay on track. Not just for myself but for those who I influence (whether intentional or not).

God LOVES you. Grab on to it and put it on EVERYDAY.

~Kris

Intentionally Focused week 5 sum up!

Week Five in the Intentionally Focused study is on friendship.

I think friends are so important because many times they provide fresh perspective. They hold our hands when we're hurting. They pray for us and laugh with us. They relate to us and love us unconditionally.

And thus its important that we take time to understand our individual roles in our friendships. It is so easy to say I want a good friend, a godly friend, an honest friend. However the question to pose to ourselves is: Are we the friend we want in others? We have to self access, are we a good friend? Are influential in a godly manner? Are we honest? Are we unconditional? Do we love in such a way that our friends would have no doubt in us? 

Let me put it this way, have you ever had a friend in which you only scratch the surface with? You know the one, you never get too deep or go too personal. That means that's an indication of your friendship with that person as you don't trust them to share with them. I have certain acquaintances in which I don't go very deep with, we talk but we never touch on heart to heart issues. Why does this happen? 

But then we all have that friend that no matter how frequent or infrequent you talk, we you do talk the floodgates open and you both share everything . There's a certain level of confidence in that friendship.

My point is not really for you to try to categorize your friendships BUT for you to see how do you measure up. What type of friend are you? Are you the friend YOU want to have in others?

I have been evaluating who I am as a friend. As I have noticed, I am a better friend to others than I am to my own husband at times and thus I am making a conscious effort to be the BEST friend I can be to my husband because he's the closest to me. 

Yes, I love my mom. Yes I love my friends. BUT they are NOT closer to me than my own husband. And thus he deserves the best of my friendship, the best of my time, the best of my love. It requires actual work to be a friend. It requires developing your listening skills as people want to be listened to.

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Granted most people associate this verse almost instantaneously with marriage. It can also apply to friendship as many are not married and need friends to be there for them. And even in friendship, God is to be apart of that friendship. 

So where do you see you can improve yourself as a friend?

~Kris

Restless: Because You Were Made For More

Whew!!! Hands down one of the best books I've EVER read. This was my first Jennie Allen book and it definitely will not be my last. This book covered way more than I thought it would be about and I am so glad I stuck through it beyond the first few chapters.

This is a VERY interactive book. Jennie Allen encourages you to journal your way through the book or use the book itself. I wrote in the margins and on the journal pages. I love that it really made me think and really consider that what I fear failure in doing is just exactly what I am called to do. She also reminds me, as a wife and mother, that there is nothing insignificant about staying home and caring for my family. This is just one thread of my life. Jennie Allen taps into the threads of our lives, she encourages us to see the threads of our lives and then to connect those threads to our passions (there are journal pages for this). 

One thing that Jennie encourages that has been hard for me is to step outside of my circle, outside of my little box to meet new people to share God with people. Dear Lord do I fear doing such a thing. BUT I want to. I want to share God with people who have no relationship with HIM. I want to reach the lost souls in need of God's love and grace. So I've got to get past me, so that I can reach them. 

I also learned that its okay to dream. It's okay to want to fill the restlessness. It means that we have something else we should be doing. So my job is to take my threads and allow God to make something absolutely wonderful of them, and them run with them. Run with reckless abandonment of sharing the gospel for God's glory and my joy to see light in dark eyes.

I am so looking forward to reading other Jennie Allen books, particularly Anything (she also has two published bible studies, Stuck & Chase)

So are you restless? Do you feel like there's something else you should be doing? What's your passion? What lights a fire in you? Write it down and see how what you have a passion for can be used to share God with others. And run with it.

~Kris

(p.s. I got this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, to give my HONEST review on.)

You can find this book for $12 on Christianbook.com

Happiness

So much happiness is waiting to be tapped into. Every second of the day is a chance to obtain that happiness, a chance to put a smileon your face that may put a smile on someone else's face. Did you know that some of the most simple things can generate happiness of the highest degree? For me I have so much excess happiness in my life because I try to stop to enjoy the roses. I understand that some people are career focused and that's GREAT. However what happens when all you have in life is your career but no one to share in the joy of your achievements or you've past up some great opportunities to enjoy life? Don't miss out on some of life's simple pleasures. Parks are a simple pleasure, Beaches are a simple pleasure. Friends are one of life's richest pleasures. Children are one of life's most beautiful and treasured pleasures. Some people don't understand why people {most} with children are thankful for their children. Life may seem a bit harder with children... However there's a certain quality to life that children bring, an attained level of smiles & laughs that you experience with them. The smile of a child is so beautiful and pure. How can you see a child that is happy and healthy and not be happy yourself?

Happiness can come from things that you do. For me I enjoy writing and reading. They bring a different type of joy to my life because I enjoy knowledge. I like to learn to new things and stay abreast of new technology. Thats joy for me. However I know how to take some time out to go to the park and enjoy the scenery.

Then there are people who genuinely enjoy their work. I know people who go to work faithfully everyday because they enjoy their job. And those are the BEST jobs to have. When you can go to work and actually enjoy what it is that you do...that's success.

You can only obtain happiness from within.
To be passionate about the job you do is SUCCESS.

No matter how much you may make....you are successful because you are happy.