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Biographies are one of my favorite genres to read. They record a person's life. The good choices and the bad. The unintended consequences that result from those choices. The lives touched, the places visited, the sorrows endured, the joys discovered. The impact one life can have on others inspires me and gives me hope.

Kisses From Katie

Kisses From Katie, A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis and Beth Clark, is one of THOSE books- a book that inspires and convicts me to live a life in complete trust and reliance on God. It also warns me- when I do decide to do that, God may just turn my neat little life completely upside down.

Katie Davis grew up in a privileged, suburban, American community. She was blessed with all the advantages of such a lifestyle: private education, travel opportunities, a nice car, lovely home, and other items of the realized, American dream.

Then the unexpected happened- God shook up her neat, planned future with a unquenchable desire to serve in Africa. It started with a mission trip, then a longer stay, and finally with not only a permanent move, but also the eventual adoption of 13  daughters.

This book brought a question smack-dab in front of my heart, "Am I willing to have Jesus 'mess up' my world and plans that much? Will I REALLY do anything He asks?"[tweetthis]Am I willing for Jesus 'mess up' my world and plans that much? Will I REALLY do anything He asks?[/tweetthis]

One of her daughters asks her, "Mommy, if Jesus comes to live inside of my heart, will I explode?"

She answers:

"No! I proclaimed...Then I though about the questions a bit more.

"Yes, if Jesus comes to live in your heart, you will explode." That is exactly what we should do if Jesus comes to live inside our heats. We will explode with love, with compassion, with hurt for those who are hurting, and with joy for those who rejoice. We will explode with a desire to be more, to be better, to be close to the One who made us."  -Katie Davis (Page 108)

Yes, Jesus does explode our hearts- and makes a holy, beautiful mess of everything.

Recommendation : Highly Recommended

This is one of those books I read in a few days because I just couldn't put it down. It is authentic and challenging and presents enough of the real life difficulties to represent reality.

Who should read this book?

For young people: ages 14 and up. What would God do with you if your heart was completely His? This generation seems to crave adventure. But what if that adventure was completely in God's hands? He is looking for ones willing to trust Him: "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)

What are you willing to do for Jesus?

For parents: We say we want our kids to serve Jesus. To do hard things. To fully trust Him.

But are we really ready for what God might want to do with our children? If God gives a call for your child to serve Him in hard places, it is also a call for you as a parent to support, pray for, and trust God with that child. Because honestly, I am a lot more ready for God to send me to Africa, than send my child.

Here is one more challenge: we don't have to wait to go to Africa to serve God in hard places and fully trust Him. What is He calling you to do now? What is He asking of your son or daughter? Will you trust Him?

I look around and I know that I am nothing without Him. That none of this, none of this life I have, would exist without Him...My good God gives only good things; He planned this and He will use this. In Him, even sorrow is Joy. - Katie Davis (page 256)

Here is her ministry page where you support her ongoing work or sponsor an individual child: https://amazima.org/