KDanae Reads

I have never thought of myself as a leader. I have always been more content with being someone who blends into the background and isn't seen or followed or looked to for guidance. My husband on the other hand... loves leadership stuff and even got his Masters of Divinity in Leadership Studies from our beloved Lincoln Christian University. So when I got the opportunity to read Tyler Reagin's (president of Catalyst) new book,  The Life-Giving Leader,  before it released as a part of the launch team with Waterbrook & Multnomah, I was a little on the fence about it. I didn't want to be challenged to step into a leadership role or have my comfortable "let others do it" mindset stripped down. And while it wasn't the deepest of leadership books or provide me with a life-changing attitude towards leadership, it did challenge me to think about how I can lead in a way that fits who God created me to be and the way He designed me to think and work. One of the quo

"Imperfect courage is the only kind I possessed, but it was courage nonetheless. Instead of waiting for fear to subside, I had made it my friend. Because when you've got a vision, you don't have time to wait around for your fears to vanish before you start moving. Perhaps the hero's journey is not for a few brave people after all but is an invitation to me, to us all, to rally our courage and go do the thing we're meant to do...  What are you afraid of, and what toll is that fear taking in your life?" - page 9 -  Jessica and her family with Imperfect Courage on launch day! Jessica Honegger, founder and Co-CEO of Noonday Collection, has written her story of imperfect courage and invited us to go scared into our own stories. And honestly, this book is probably going to make it into the Top 5 books I've read this year.  I have been going scared for what seems like forever, although it's really only been for about 6 months. Between having

What an interesting novel! I had heard of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin numerous times from the What Should I Read Next? podcast with Anne Bogel (the brilliant mind behind Modern Mrs. Darcy). So I added it to my list (and my bookshelf) and this first weekend of our campus' fall break seemed like the right time to pick it up. And well, I finished it in less than 8 hours thanks to some quiet hours of reading after the boys I was babysitting went to bed and staying up until 1am myself. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to get into it. It seemed very choppy, staccato-like and I couldn't quite keep track of how things were going to fit together. But then about three chapters in, I figured out the storyline, the pattern, and was lost in the pages for the rest of the night. The oldest boy I was babysitting kept checking in on how far I was getting and he could not believe how fast I was reading (I should note that while I was reading, he was curled up on th

"I have a secret for you: Nobody is okay, fine, great.   But goodness, we are all tired of trying to pretend we are."  I have had Jennie's latest book, Nothing to Prove, on my bookshelf since the day it came out last spring. And if I'm being honest, I have been afraid of picking it up. You see, Jennie's books have a tendency of breaking me in some way when I read them. They tend to crack open my heart, make me see the ugliness of my sin, embrace the beautiful grace of my Savior and set me on a path of living differently (mostly in quiet, unseen ways). And well, this one followed suit as expected. Jennie has this amazing ability through her words to make you feel as though you are a part of her world and that she is a part of yours. She makes it clear that while she leads a growing ministry, authors books and teaches the Bible alongside other major giants of the faith, she wrestles with the same things you and I do. Feelings of not being enough or too much.

In Jessi Connolly's words, her new book Dance, Stand, Run  is "for women who want their lives and their faith walks to feel purposeful. It's written for women who know there is something more out there, but they're not sure what it is." And since I have now read it from beginning to end (twice), I can honestly tell you the book is that and oh so much more! Jessi has written a book that will bring you to your knees in prayer and confession one minute. Then the next minute, pull you to your feet in proclamation of the holiness and grace you can claim as a woman of faith, as well as the holiness of the God who is drawing us near to Him. She has threaded her personal story of struggles, confessions and triumphs with solid teachings from Scripture that pull you in and help you see how your own story is one that can be used to bring others into holiness. And each chapter ends with a set of questions to help you not just read, but to soak in the truths she is speakin

I haven't done one of these Top Ten Tuesday posts from the Broke and the Bookish in, well, years. But today's topic was intriguing and while these are really more my favorite male characters than boyfriends, I wanted to share them with you. So, without further ado... here are my top ten favorite male characters (or book boyfriends)! 1. Laurie Laurence from Little Women. I fell in love with his curly headed, mischievous, big-hearted self. And he proved to be loyal even in the face of heartache and rejection. 2. Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. I loved him first when Vigo Mortenson played him in the movies. But then I loved him even more when I read the books. 3. Almanzo Wilder from Little House on the Prairie. Who doesn't love Almanzo and the way he rode through the blizzard to bring Half-Pint home?? 4. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Do I need to explain this one? Really? 5. DJ from Weddings by Bella. I love his southern gentleman charm. 6. Peta from Hunger Games.