I've always loved old hymns. Something about them is just so powerful. I think it comes from the fact that the words just flowed out. People weren't trying to write songs. These hymns were just natural expressions of the faith of these old saints.

This past week, the David Crowder Band released their final album. I couldn't have been any happier to discover that one of my all-time favorite hymns was on there.

When I was about sixteen years old, I gave God my personal timeline. I had my future completely planned out. I knew what was going to happen and when. My six year plan was infallible. Or so I thought.

I turned eighteen and noticed my prior plans weren't happening. God, where are you? Are you trying to teach me a lesson in patience? Twenty comes around. Another proposed milestone. Nothing. God, why are you silent? At this point, I was beginning to panic. I didn't understand what God was doing. My plan included Him so why wasn't He going along with it?

Looking back, I can see how much I've grown those seven years of my life. God was indeed teaching me a lesson in patience, but more importantly, He was teaching me a lesson in trust. Trusting that His ways are higher than my ways. Trusting that He would guide me as long as I remain on the right path. Trusting that His timing is MUCH better than my timing.

My six year plan has nearly been accomplished in one short month. I'm excited watching what God is doing in my life and hopeful for what He will continue to do. I am blessed beyond words.

It's my first blog of the new year, and I decided to begin with a bit of honesty.

I struggle with the idea of reading books I don't agree with.

Last year, I started reading two books simultaneously that I don't agree with. I didn't finish either of them. I want to finish them this year. They are popular books written by a popular author. But it's just so hard for me. I picked one back up today, read about ten pages, and then felt like I was wasting my time.

What do you think? Do you think I'm wasting my time? Or do you think it'll only make me stronger?

I have compiled a book list of all the books I have read this year—but not just any book list, an interactive one! Click each title, and you will be taken to a page where you can purchase the book for your very own. Yeah, I know you're jumping up and down right now from the excitement. You're welcome. Oh, and the ones I hiiiiighly recommend have asterisks by them.

1. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt* - completed January 4
2. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan - completed January 22
3-4. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure* and "Buttercup's Baby" by William Goldman - completed January 22
5. The Knowledge of The Holy by A. W. Tozer - completed February 5
6. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert - completed February 8
7. The Importance Of Being Earnest* by Oscar Wilde - completed February 9
8. Sunrise (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 1)* by Karen Kingsbury - completed February 14
9. Summer (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 2)* by Karen Kingsbury - completed February 19
10. Someday (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 3)* by Karen Kingsbury - completed March 7
11. Sunset (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 4)* by Karen Kingsbury - completed April 16
12. The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life by Louie Giglio - completed April 22
13. A Year of Blind Dates: A Single Girl's Search for "The One"* by Megan Carson - completed May 21
14. Orthodoxy (Moody Classics) by G. K. Chesterton - completed June 12
15. Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology) by Mark Driscoll - completed July 8
16. Puritan Prayers* - completed July 15
17. Peculiar Treasures (The Katie Weldon Series #1)* by Robin Jones Gunn - completed August 1
18. On a Whim (The Katie Weldon Series #2)* by Robin Jones Gunn - completed September 6
19. Coming Attractions (Katie Weldon Series)* by Robin Jones Gunn - completed September 25
20. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - completed October 16
21. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - completed October 22
22. So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore - completed November 1
23. Daily Strength for Daily Needs* by Mary Wilder Tileston - completed December 31