Last year was the biggest of my life. I experienced large amounts of growth in certain areas and witnessed several massive changes. I began the hardest school year of my life, was elected as captain of my basketball team, and began this blog. Three massive responsibilities on a sixteen-year-old back. And I wonder why I have back problems.

I’ll admit, it was hard. In fact, 2019 was the hardest year of my life. I struggled with feelings of depression, doubt, anger, and anxiety. And yet, through it all, God was (and is) good. With that, I owe a few thanks to the people that stood by me in 2019.

• My parents. You stood by me through thick and thin, counseling me when times were hard, helping me up when I fell, keeping me from falling when I stood, and somehow withstanding my temper. I owe you more than I can possibly repay.
• My grandparents. You are two of the most gracious people I know. My grandfather, Jerry Soen, who has loyally read my boring blog posts and given fantastic suggestions for edits or post ideas. My grandmother, Kathie Soen, who has spiritually critiqued posts and given me her thoughts. May God bless you a thousand times over
• My siblings. Though you didn’t know it, you stood by me in the tough times and made the good times even sweeter. My brother Noah has been my most loyal blog follower, helping me edit grammatical or factual mistakes before most of you wake up. I love you guys.
• My friends. So, so many names come to mind. Josiah Kegg, Qwesira Daniel, Sammy Katabazi, Beau Henneman, Logan Wright, Karleigh Provost, Katelyn Vergakis, Abby Swanson, Anne Short, Frances and Frank Platt, Brianna and Jessica Clay, Essence and Loring Ray, Britton, Hannah, and Hudson Forney, Ariana Evans, Kevin and Toby Britton, Landon Stewart, Daniel Adams, the Thunder Squad guys/girls, and the rest of you that I’ve forgotten- you are fantastic. Thank you for your love and support.

Wow. I somehow got through that without crying (too much). Thank you so much, everybody. I love you guys.

However, there have been times in which I’ve needed to be alone. It was during these times that I read and, through reading, learned. The following books were part of shaping me. I hope they can help shape you too or, at the very least, help you with your blogging journey (see number 3).

1. The Bible

Despite being the most obvious answer, given my Christian stance, it’s true when they say that you can read the Bible your entire life and never understand it fully. The more you read, the more you understand God and, through Him, understand yourself. The Bible really is the ultimate tool.

“The more you read the Bible, the more you understand God and, through Him, understand yourself.”

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2. Joshua McDowell’s More Than a Carpenter

More Than a Carpenter is the second-greatest tool for a Christian. Mr. McDowell uses his relevant atheistic background to bring difficult arguments, then uses facts and logic to prove or disprove them. A must-have for any Christian, whether young or old. If you have any questions about the Christian faith or any doubts about your beliefs, this is the book to read.

3. Steve Scott’s My Blog Traffic Sucks!

The complete guide to being a relevant blogger, I have read this book five times in the last four months, and I still haven’t retained all the information presented therein. If you have any questions about blogging, this is your book. Mr. Scott rid me of much confusion about my role as a blogger and seriously changed my writing style, my blog goals, and my page setup. His book is free on Kindle Unlimited and only costs $3 to buy. Get it today.

I’m not going to make any predictions as to the quality of 2020. Only a fool believes he can convince people that the upcoming year holds blessing. For all I know, God could have some extremely difficult times coming. Until then, I rest in His unchanging grace and trust his promises.

Alright, that’s all for today. Thanks so much for reading! I hope these books change your lives too. Be sure to tell me your favorite books in the comment section below. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to click that Follow button below (or to the side), so as to not miss out on posts like these. Thanks again for reading, and have a wonderful day!

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