Soul on Fire book review

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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! 

Where My Writing Journey Began — With a Tiger Named River

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'll see you on the next page! 📖❤️

Book Update: Soul on Fire

I’m on Chapter 26 of Soul on Fire by Courtney M. Whitaker.

Instagram: @authorcourtney1, 

I LOVE this book! It’s SO good. ❤️

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.

I’ll update you when I’ve read more!

UNFORGIVENESS IS SERIOUS

 As Christians, we cannot claim to follow Christ while choosing to live in unforgiveness.

Jesus gave a very serious warning:

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:15 KJV

If we refuse to forgive others, yet expect God to forgive us, we are ignoring the words of Jesus.

Forgiveness is not optional for a follower of Christ.

This doesn't mean what someone did to you was okay. It doesn't mean you have to trust them again or put yourself back into a harmful situation. Forgiveness means you refuse to hold hatred and bitterness against them, and you surrender the matter to God.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” — Matthew 6:14 KJV

We cannot knowingly live in unforgiveness and assume everything is right between us and God. If we will not forgive, Jesus says we will not be forgiven. And without God's forgiveness, we are not saved.

Examine your heart. Is there someone you have refused to forgive?

Give that hurt to Jesus. Ask Him to help you forgive—even when it is difficult.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:32 KJV

Don't allow unforgiveness to separate you from the forgiveness you desperately need from God.

Bible Journaling & Study Notes

There is something special about slowing down, opening your Bible, and spending time really thinking about what God’s Word says. 💕 Sometimes it can be easy to read a chapter and move on with our day without stopping to think about what we just read. That’s one reason I enjoy Bible journaling and taking study notes.

Bible journaling doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need beautiful handwriting, expensive supplies, or a perfectly decorated Bible. You can simply grab your Bible, a notebook, and a pen and start studying. 🌷

✨ Why Take Bible Study Notes?

Writing things down can help us slow down and pay closer attention to Scripture. Instead of simply reading the words, we can stop and ask ourselves, “What is this passage teaching me?”

Sometimes I’ll write down a verse that really stands out to me. Other times, I may write down something I learned, a question I want to study further, or something I want to remember.

You could even keep a special Bible study notebook where you collect your notes over time. 📓💕

📖 What Can You Write Down?

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few simple ideas:

📖 A verse that stood out to you
Write down a Scripture that caught your attention and think about why it stood out.

💭 What the passage is teaching
In your own words, write down what you believe the passage is saying.

❓ Questions you have
It’s okay to have questions! Write them down so you can look at other Scriptures and study the subject more deeply.

❤️ Something God’s Word reminded you of
Maybe the passage reminded you to trust God, forgive someone, pray more, show kindness, or be thankful.

✏️ How you can apply it to your life
Ask yourself, “How can I live this Scripture out today?”

🙏 Write a prayer
You can finish your study by writing a simple prayer about what you’ve read.

🌷 Your Bible Journal Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

Don’t compare your Bible notes with the beautiful Bible journals you might see online. Your Bible study isn’t about creating the prettiest page.

It’s about learning God’s Word, hiding it in your heart, and allowing Scripture to guide the way you live.

The Bible says:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105 KJV

God’s Word gives us direction. The more time we spend reading, studying, and thinking about Scripture, the more familiar we become with what God has said.

💕 Let’s Talk!

Do you take notes when you study your Bible?

What does your Bible study routine look like? Do you use a notebook, write in the margins of your Bible, highlight verses, or do a little bit of everything?

Share your Bible journaling and study ideas in the comments! 📖✏️💕

What does James 5:16 mean?

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Here’s what that means:

• Effectual — effective; prayer that truly works or accomplishes something.
• Fervent — earnest, sincere, and deeply engaged rather than careless or merely going through the motions.
• Righteous man — someone seeking to live rightly before God in faith and obedience.
• Availeth much — has great power or accomplishes much.

So, in simple words: The sincere, earnest prayer of a person who is walking with God can accomplish much through God.

The next verses give Elijah as an example. James 5:17–18 says Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and later prayed again and God sent rain. James also emphasizes that Elijah “was a man subject to like passions as we are,” showing that he wasn’t some superhuman person—he was a man who earnestly prayed to God.

How I’ve Been Loving My Kindle E-Reader 📖🤎

Lately, one of my favorite things has been reading on my Kindle. I’ve always enjoyed books, but having a Kindle has made reading feel even easier and more enjoyable for me.

One of the things I love most about my Kindle is how simple it is. Instead of having my phone in my hand with notifications and other distractions, I can pick up my Kindle and just read. There’s something peaceful about that.

I’ve also been trying to spend less time on my phone and social media, so my Kindle has been a great way to replace some of that screen time with something I actually enjoy. Instead of automatically reaching for my phone when I have a few free minutes, I can reach for my Kindle and read another chapter. 📚

Having So Many Books in One Little Device

Another thing I love is being able to carry so many books with me without actually carrying a stack of books!

I can finish one book and have another one ready to start. I can also change the font size, adjust the screen to make it comfortable for my eyes, highlight things I want to remember, and easily pick up right where I left off.

What I’m Reading Right Now

Right now, I’ve been reading Soul on Fire by Courtney Whitaker, and I’ve really been enjoying it. 🤎

I especially enjoy Christian books that encourage me in my walk with the Lord and give me something to think about after I’ve finished reading for the day. Sometimes I’ll read something that sticks with me even after I’ve put my Kindle down, and those are some of my favorite kinds of books.

I love that my Kindle gives me a place where I can slow down and focus on what I'm reading.

Making More Time for Reading

One thing I want to continue working on is making 

reading a regular part of my life.

There are so many things competing for our attention these days, especially our phones and social media. 

I'm learning that I don't always have to fill every quiet moment by scrolling.

Sometimes I can read.

Sometimes I can write.

Sometimes I can study my Bible.

And sometimes I can simply enjoy a little quiet time. 🤎

My Kindle has become a small part of helping me do that.

So yes, you could definitely say I love my Kindle! 😂📖 I'm looking forward to all the books I'm going to read on it and hopefully discovering some new favorites along the way.

Do you have a Kindle or another e-reader? And if you do, what are you reading right now? I'd love to hear your book recommendations! 📚✨

You can comment your book recommendations below!

Why I Took Socials Off My Phone: AGAIN

I’ve decided to make a little change in my everyday life: I’m taking social media apps off my phone.

Now, before anyone thinks I’m leaving social media completely—I’m not! 😂 I still enjoy sharing things online, posting updates, talking about my faith, books, writing, and other things going on in my life. I still plan to post and interact with people.

I’m just changing how I do it.

Instead of having social media available on my phone all day long, I want to mainly use it from my computer. When I actually want to post something or spend some time online, I can sit down at my computer, do what I came there to do, and then log off.

I think that will help social media become something I intentionally choose to use instead of something I automatically open because my phone happens to be in my hand.

I Want More Time for the Things I Love

One reason I’m doing this is because there are so many other things I genuinely enjoy doing.

I love reading my Bible and spending time learning more about God's Word. I love reading books on my Kindle. I love writing stories and working on my characters. I enjoy creating videos and podcasts, working on different projects, and simply having time to think and be creative.

And sometimes I think our phones can quietly take little pieces of that time away from us.

Five minutes of scrolling can easily become much longer than we intended. Before we know it, the time we could have spent reading, writing, praying, creating, or enjoying something around us is gone.

I don't think social media itself has to be a bad thing. It can actually be a wonderful tool. I've been able to share my faith, my creative projects, things I'm reading, and pieces of my everyday life with other people.

But I also don't want it to have too much control over my attention.

I Still Want to Share—Just More Intentionally

You'll still see posts from me!

I'll still share things I'm reading, updates about my writing, faith-related posts, videos, and little pieces of my life. The difference is that I want to sit down and intentionally decide, “Okay, I'm going to work on social media for a little while.”

Then when I'm finished, I can close the computer and go do something else.

I actually think this might make social media more enjoyable for me because I won't feel like I need to constantly check it throughout the day.

Making Room for Quieter Things

I've been enjoying slowing down and making more room for reading lately. My Kindle has become one of my favorite things, and I love being able to sit somewhere quietly and get into a good book. 📖🤎

I want more moments like that.

I want more time in God's Word.

More time writing.

More time creating.

More time enjoying hobbies.

More time talking with the people around me.

And even more time just being still without feeling like I need to pick up my phone and see what's happening online.

I'm sure I won't do this perfectly, and I'm not trying to make some huge rule for myself or tell anyone else what they should do. This is simply something I think will be good for me personally.

Social media can still have a place in my life—I just don't think that place needs to be in my pocket every minute of the day. 🤎

I'm excited to see how this little change goes!

I’ve done this before, but this time I really want to stick with it and keep social media off my phone.

I know the temptation to download the apps again will probably come, but I’m hoping I can stay committed and remind myself why I made this decision in the first place. 🤎📱✨

Have you ever deleted social media apps from your phone while still using social media on your computer? Did you notice a difference in how much time you spent online? Let me know in the comments...

My DVD-Making Journey Has Hit a Little Bump

If you’ve been following along, you know that lately I’ve been really excited about the idea of making my own DVDs from my home videos and memories. I love the thought of taking videos that are sitting on my phone or computer and turning them into something physical that I can actually put on a shelf, pop into a DVD player, and watch years from now.

But there’s one little problem…

Trying to find the right DVD-burning software has been a battle! 📀

I’ve been trying out different programs, looking at different options, and trying to figure out what will actually work for what I want to do. I thought it would be as simple as putting my videos together, adding a menu, and burning them onto a DVD.

Apparently, it’s not quite that simple!

Some programs don’t have the features I want. Others are confusing to use. And then there are programs that look promising at first but end up not working the way I expected.

So, I’m starting to think that I might have to go a different route.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on my idea, though! 💗

I still LOVE the idea of creating my own little collection of home movies. I may just have to rethink exactly how I want to store and share them. Maybe instead of traditional DVDs, I’ll find another creative way to organize my videos and make them feel like my own personal movie collection.

Sometimes a creative project doesn’t turn out exactly the way you pictured it in your head—and that’s okay. Part of the fun is experimenting, learning new things, and figuring out what works!

So the Home Movie Project continues… just maybe in a slightly different direction. 🎬📀💗

I’ll keep you updated on what I decide to do!

Faith Under Pressure by Courtney M. Whitaker

This book by Courtney M. Whitaker was so well written and inspirational! 💗I especially loved how there were Bible verses before each chapter and how the story showed that one person walking with Jesus can make a difference in the lives of so many people around them. ✝️

It’s such a good reminder that what we do really does make a difference, whether for good or bad. The way we live, the words we speak, the kindness we show, and the stand we take for Christ can have an impact on people we may not even realize. Jesus said: 📖 “Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 KJV So let’s choose to make a good Christian difference in the world around us. ❤️ Let’s live in a way that points others toward Jesus! 📖 “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 KJV ⭐️ A beautiful and encouraging read!

Being Creative with Physical Media

Lately, I’ve been wanting to try something that sounds SO much fun—making my own DVDs! 📀💗

Even though we live in a time when almost everything is streamed or saved on our phones, computers, and in the cloud, I still love the idea of having something physical that I can actually hold onto. There’s just something special about putting a DVD into the player and watching memories that mean something to you.

So, I’ve decided that I want to start turning some of my favorite videos into my own custom home movies on DVD! 🎬

I have so many videos from different times in my life—family memories, holidays, trips, special days, funny moments, videos with Abby Gail, and everyday memories that I never want to forget. Instead of leaving all of those videos scattered across my phone and computer, I think it would be so much fun to edit them together and turn them into actual movies.

But I don’t want to stop at just burning the DVDs!

🎨 Making My Own DVD Cases

This is probably one of the parts I’m most excited about! 😂

I want to design a custom DVD cover and case for every movie I make. Each one could have its own title, pictures on the front, the year it was filmed, and a little description on the back—just like a real movie!

I think it would be so neat to eventually have a shelf filled with my own DVDs, each one holding different memories from my life. 📀💗

It would almost be like creating a video scrapbook, except instead of flipping through pages, I could pop in a DVD, sit back, and watch those memories all over again.

And honestly, I think designing all of the covers and cases is going to be just as much fun as making the movies themselves! 🎬✨