Lately, I’ve been excited about trying some new things, and one of those is my new DJI Osmo Action 4 vlogging camera! I’m really happy to finally have a camera that I can use for vlogging instead of always having to film everything on my phone.
I’m still learning how everything works, so I’ve been testing the camera, trying out different settings, and figuring things out as I go. That’s actually pretty fitting because learning is something I want to focus on a lot this year!
You’re Never Too Old to Keep Learning 📚
Even though I’m not in school anymore, I still really enjoy learning new things. I’ve decided to put together my own little learning schedule for myself.
Since I was homeschooled growing up, I like the idea of creating a learning routine that works for me. There are so many resources available now that you can use to continue your education right from home.
My plan is to use YouTube videos, notebooks, playlists, and ChatGPT to study different subjects. I can watch lessons, take notes, practice what I’m learning, and even have ChatGPT give me questions or quizzes afterward to see how much I remember.
Some of the subjects I want to work on are:
📚 Math
✏️ Creative writing
🚗 Driving and directions
U.S. history
🔬 Science
📖 Reading
I’m especially excited about creative writing because writing is already something I love. But I also want to challenge myself in subjects that may not come quite as naturally to me.
I think learning as an adult can be a lot of fun because there aren’t grades or tests hanging over your head. You can learn simply because you want to learn!
A Little Everyday Life ❤️
Of course, the day wasn’t all studying and camera testing.
Abby spent some time hanging out with me, which always makes my day better. 🐶❤️
My mom and I also played Barbie Monopoly together. I really enjoy simple family moments like that. Sometimes it’s the ordinary things—playing a game, talking together, or running errands—that end up being some of the sweetest parts of the day.
I also showed my traveling Bible and Bible journal. I love having something that I can easily take along with me so I can read my Bible, study Scripture, journal, or write down things I want to remember wherever I happen to be.
My faith is an important part of my everyday life, so I love finding practical ways to keep God's Word close to me throughout the day.
Why I Removed Social Media Apps From My Phone 📱
Another thing I talked about was my decision to remove social media apps from my phone.
Social media can be useful, especially when you create content online, but I also don't want it taking up too much of my time or attention. Sometimes having an app right there on your phone makes it way too easy to open it without even thinking about it!
Removing the apps gives me a little more separation and helps me be intentional about how I'm spending my time.
There are so many other things I want to fill my days with—reading my Bible, learning, writing, spending time with family, reading books, getting outside, and simply enjoying the life God has given me.
Then It Was Time to Head Out!
After all of that, it was time to head out to the grocery store.
That's one thing I enjoy about making vlogs: they don't always have to be about something huge or exciting. Sometimes it's just nice to document an ordinary day.
This day had a little bit of everything—my new camera, learning plans, faith, family time, Abby, games, Bible journaling, and everyday errands.
And that's real life. ❤️
I'm excited to see how much I can learn this year, and I'm also looking forward to getting better at using my DJI Osmo Action 4 and bringing you along for more of my everyday adventures.
Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me!
One of the saddest things I see today is how much worldliness has been allowed to creep into the church.
Instead of being different from the world, it sometimes seems as though churches and professing Christians are trying harder and harder to look, act, and think just like the world around them.
But Jesus didn't call us to blend into the darkness. He called us to be a light in it.
Jesus said:
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” — Matthew 5:14 KJB
As Christians, our lives should point people toward Jesus Christ. There should be something different about the way we live—not because we think we are better than everyone else, but because Christ is changing us.
We Are Not Called to Conform to the World
Romans 12:2 says:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...”
Notice that Scripture doesn't tell us to become more like the world so that the world will accept us. It tells us not to be conformed to the world.
Yet compromise can happen so gradually that we don't even recognize it.
Something we once believed was wrong becomes something we tolerate. What we once tolerated becomes something we accept. Eventually, we can become so accustomed to the attitudes and practices of the world that we stop recognizing how far we have drifted.
That is why we continually need to return to the Word of God and allow it—not culture—to determine what we believe and how we live.
We need conviction where there has been compromise.
We need discipleship instead of merely entertainment.
We need holiness, not popularity.
We need God's approval, not the world's acceptance.
What Does the World See When It Looks at Us?
As Christians, we have a responsibility to represent Christ well.
Sadly, many people outside the church look at professing Christians and see hypocrisy. They hear people talk about love, honesty, forgiveness, holiness, and faith, but then sometimes see those same people living no differently from everyone else.
Of course, Christians aren't perfect. Following Jesus doesn't mean we will never stumble or make a mistake. But there should be a genuine desire in the life of a believer to follow Christ, obey His Word, repent when we sin, and continue growing in Him.
Our lives should support the message coming from our mouths.
If we tell people that Jesus changes lives, but there is no evidence of Christ working in our own lives, what message are we sending?
People may begin to wonder:
“Why should I want what Christians have if their lives don't seem any different from mine?”
Instead of seeing Christ reflected in His followers, they may see gossip, pride, bitterness, fighting, compromise, dishonesty, and division.
That should cause each of us to examine our own hearts.
The Answer Isn't Becoming More Like the World
Sometimes people believe the way to reach the world is to make Christianity look more like the world.
But the world doesn't need another version of what it already has.
The world needs Jesus.
The answer isn't for the church to become more like the world.
The answer is for the church to become more like Christ.
We need Christians who pray.
We need Christians who read and obey God's Word.
We need Christians who aren't ashamed of the Gospel.
We need Christians who will stand for truth even when that truth is unpopular.
We need Christians who genuinely love people.
We need Christians whose faith doesn't disappear when they walk out of the church building.
Christianity isn't supposed to be something we put on Sunday morning and take off Sunday afternoon.
Following Jesus affects every part of our lives.
Being Different Doesn't Mean Thinking We're Better
There is an important distinction here.
Being separate from the world doesn't mean walking around believing that we are better than everyone else.
We aren't.
Our righteousness doesn't come from ourselves. Our hope is in Jesus Christ.
When people see something different in us, our desire should never be for them to think, “What a wonderful person!”
Our desire should be for them to see Christ.
Jesus said:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16 KJB
The purpose of shining our light isn't to bring attention to ourselves.
It's to glorify God.
Revival Begins With God's People
It is easy to look around at everything happening in the world and talk about how much the world needs to change.
But perhaps we should begin by looking at ourselves.
Revival doesn't begin with pointing our fingers at everybody else.
It begins with God's people humbling themselves before Him.
Second Chronicles 7:14 says:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Before asking what is wrong with everyone else, maybe we should ask:
Lord, is there anything in my life that doesn't please You?
Have I become comfortable with something Your Word warns against?
Have I allowed the world to influence my thinking?
Am I more concerned about fitting in than standing for Christ?
Am I spending time in prayer?
Am I reading Your Word?
Does my life point people toward Jesus?
Those can be uncomfortable questions, but they are important ones.
Called Out of Darkness
First Peter 2:9 gives us a beautiful picture of who God's people are called to be:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
God called us out of darkness.
Why would we want to go back and imitate the darkness He called us out of?
Our world desperately needs Christians who aren't ashamed to live for Jesus.
Not Christians who are hateful.
Not Christians who are self-righteous.
Not Christians who act as though they are better than everyone else.
But Christians who are humble, loving, faithful, truthful, prayerful, and committed to God's Word.
Christians who love people enough to tell them the truth.
Christians whose lives demonstrate that the Gospel really does change people.
May We Look More Like Jesus
My prayer is that Christians everywhere—including myself—will continually examine our hearts and ask God to show us where we need to change.
The world doesn't need us to look more like it.
The world needs us to point people to Jesus.
May we refuse to allow worldliness to slowly creep into our hearts and lives.
May we stand firmly on God's Word even when doing so isn't popular.
May we love people while refusing to compromise truth.
May we live in such a way that when others look at us, they don't simply see another person following the culture around them.
May they see evidence of Jesus Christ working in our lives.
May we be known not for looking like the world, but for looking more like Jesus.
I really enjoyed Leaving by Karen Kingsbury! It was very engaging and kept my attention throughout the whole book. I loved getting to follow Bailey Flanigan as she entered a new season of her life, pursuing her dreams and dealing with all the changes that came along with them.
One thing I especially liked was that the book didn't focus only on Bailey’s story. We also got to follow Cody and see what was happening in his life, along with Brandon Paul and the other characters. I liked seeing Bailey’s relationships with both Cody and Brandon develop and change. There were definitely moments that made me wonder where everything was going to lead!
I also really enjoyed the Baxter family side of the story, especially Ashley and Landon’s storyline. Having several different stories going on at once made the book feel fuller. Instead of feeling like completely separate stories, the characters and their lives connected in different ways, which made me want to keep reading.
I liked the Christian themes throughout the book too. The characters are dealing with dreams, relationships, family, changes, and difficult decisions while also trying to trust God with what comes next. I think that added a lot of heart to the story.
The title Leaving fits the book really well because so many of the characters are entering new seasons of life. Bailey especially has to leave behind what is familiar as she begins chasing her dreams and figuring out what her future might look like.
I just borrowed the next book in the series, Learning, and I’m excited to keep reading! :) I really like this series so far, and I definitely want to know what happens next with Bailey, Cody, Brandon, and the rest of the characters.
I also have to thank Courtney Whitaker for introducing me to this series of Karen Kingsbury’s books in the first place. I’m so glad I decided to give this series a try!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars! I finished Soul on Fire by Courtney Whitaker, and I really enjoyed it! ❤️📖 One of my favorite things about this book was how each chapter went back and forth between the different characters’ points of view. I loved getting to see the story through each character’s eyes, and once I got to know everyone, the chapters flowed together so well. At first, I’ll admit I was a little confused trying to follow the story because I didn’t know all the characters yet or understand how they fit together. But once I got to know them and their connections, the story became really easy to follow—and it was definitely worth continuing! I really loved the plot and the characters. They felt real, and I enjoyed seeing how all of their stories came together. I’m giving Soul on Fire 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m so glad I kept reading!
I recently started Bre’s Writing Space Podcast, a place where I can talk about something that has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember: writing!
On the podcast, I plan to share writing tips, updates on stories I'm working on, behind-the-scenes looks at my books and characters, and both the joys and struggles that come with being a writer.
For my very first episode, I thought there was no better place to begin than at the very beginning of my writing journey.
And believe it or not, it all started with a tiger named River.
I Started Writing at Seven Years Old
I learned how to read when I was six years old, and by seven, I was already writing my own stories.
One of my biggest inspirations was River, my stuffed tiger puppet. I absolutely loved tigers, and River quickly became much more than another stuffed animal to me.
He became a character.
My imagination was filled with ideas about River and the adventures he could have, so I started putting those ideas onto paper.
Once I started writing, I didn't want to stop!
Out of everything I wrote as a child, I probably wrote more stories about River than anything else. Looking back, I think those little River stories were where my love for creating characters and telling stories really began.
More Than 50 Stories by Age 10!
As I got older, my love for writing continued to grow.
By the time I was ten years old, I had written more than 50 stories! Some were little stories, while others were actually pretty long.
Of course, seven-year-old me had no idea where writing would eventually take me.
I wasn't thinking about becoming an author or what I might be doing years later. I simply knew one thing:
I loved telling stories.
My writing has changed a lot since then. I've learned more, grown as a writer, and created many different characters and stories.
But it all traces back to that seven-year-old girl sitting down and imagining adventures about her tiger.
And I think there's something really special about remembering where God allowed it all to begin.
Just Start Writing
If you're a new writer reading this, I want to give you the same encouragement I shared on my podcast:
Just start writing.
Your first story doesn't have to be amazing.
It doesn't have to be perfect.
You don't have to understand everything about writing before you're allowed to call yourself a writer.
Do you have a character you love? Write about them.
Do you have an idea that keeps popping into your head? Put it on paper.
Is there a story living inside your imagination? See where it takes you.
You never know what God might do with something that seems small right now.
For me, it started at seven years old with a stuffed tiger named River. Years later, River became part of a ministry through YouTube and books.
I'm incredibly thankful to God for taking those little beginnings and allowing them to grow into something much bigger than I could have imagined.
And I'm excited to see where the next page takes me.
Write with faith. Create with purpose. And trust God with your story.
I love that each chapter is told in first person from a different character’s point of view. It really helps you get to know each character and understand what they’re thinking and going through.
The story moves along really well, too! There’s always something going on, which keeps it interesting and makes me want to keep reading. 📖 I also love how real and relatable the characters feel. I think a lot of people will be able to see a little bit of themselves in them.
