Kristin Saatzer - Purposeful Encouragement

My Best-Loved Books of 2021

January 5, 2022 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

Let’s talk about books. Since 2015, I have shared my best-loved books of the year on the blog. I enjoyed most of the 45 books I read in 2021, it was another great year of reading for me.

There are far too many good ones to review, but I pulled out some of my favorites…

Novels:

Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool: I immensely enjoyed this young reader’s book that is not just for kids. I often look for Newberry Award winners that I have not read, and this one is delicious. It is a story about a town, a girl, friendship, and so much more. It is a historical fiction that transports the reader to Kansas in the early 1900’s.

All She Ever Wanted, by Lynn Austin: One of my favorite Christian writers. This one focuses on four generations of women with heartbreaking stories and riveting writing. The best is that God wins in the end!

The Downstairs Girl, by Stacey Lee: A book geared to Young Adult readers that I couldn’t put down. The protagonist is half Chinese and it takes place in post-Civil War Atlanta with the beginning of segregation laws.

Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery: Yes, another “kid” book that delighted my heart. It was just what I needed this summer. Anne brings out all the feels and her outlook on life and chattering on and on is a pleasure to read. I just adore her.

Next Year in Havana, by Chantel Cleeton: If you want a fantastic history of the 1950’s Cuban revolution wrapped in romance, this book is for you. The author was inspired by her family’s stories of their Cuban past. This is the first one in a series of four and it is my favorite.

Scripture for the Season

November 29, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

Happy Advent friends! Here is a handy tool to use for your scripture reading this season. You can take a screenshot on your phone and look up each verse each day of Advent.

Also, if you are new here, you might not know that I wrote a Christmas Advent book! Here is the link to the page with the info on where to get a copy:https://kristinsaatzer.com/savor-the-savior-book/

Blessings,

Kristin

Fall Book Talk

October 7, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Autumn Greetings

It is fun to think about a new season, new possibilities, and of course, new books! Of late, my reading trend is books about books. Books about libraries and librarians. Books about bookstores and their dealers and owners. This all began with The Library Book, my book club read in early summer (see:https://kristinsaatzer.com/happy-summer/)

Here are a few I’ve enjoyed since then:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes: This was my second time to read this one. It was a book club selection, and I enjoyed re-reading the tale of Packhorse librarians in Kentucky during the Great Depression.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fickery by Gabrielle Zevin: An ornery bookstore owner, the people who come into his life, and the changes they bring. Lots of bookish references and humor.

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson: In this story, a young woman inherits a bookstore, sending her life into a tailspin. There is a scavenger hunt, family secrets, and lots of books (of course).

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: A quick read. A record of letters between an American woman and a used-book dealer in London. Utterly delightful, touching, and funny.

There are two more in the queue:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan

A shout out to another literary delight (I have read it three times): The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is another gem written exclusively in letters from one character to another. It is set on the Island of Guernsey after its WWII German occupation, focusing on a book club and its quirky characters. Sweet, sad, beautiful, and funny. Also a fantastic Netflix movie.

Literary accounts I like on Instagram:

@sweetbookobsession

@booksandbeans

@bookstrofficial

@librarygram

@prettybookplaces

Happy fall reading, friends.

“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.”

~ Jane Austen

PC: unsplash.com/@alexgeerts

Declare His Truths!

August 25, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

It seems the world has gone crazy yet again. It is normal these days to tread in the river and drown in the surge of fear and bad news. Sometimes we need reminders of God’s presence when we can’t understand what He is doing (or not doing).

I know I do.

I have written many scriptures in my journal in times of desperate ache and despair in the last year. The moments, hours, and days when I did not feel God’s presence, I would declare His truths as a reminder to myself that He indeed was there.

Today I’d like to share verses that give me great comfort. I pray these words will help lift your gaze to God. May they bring you a measure of confidence and courage to face what the world or your world throws at you.

Spiritual blessings:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NLT

Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you. Isaiah 46:4 BSB

Prayer:

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 NLT

Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20 BSB

Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:24 NLT

Rest:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NLT

Peace:

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 NLT

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33 AMP