{Live with Purpose. Lead with Passion.}
I am a blogger, worship leader, and speaker who helps worship leaders and team members connect with purpose and passion in life and leadership by offering encouragement, community, and practical resources so that they can thrive in life and leadership, both on and off the platform.
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What if Jesus never asked you to avoid your feelings, but instead wanted to meet you in the hard places? In this personal reflection, I share the heart behind the Purpose Project Podcast and why emotional and spiritual health belong together.
Read More“No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Isn’t it true? A good book can be like spending the day with a friend.
Have you ever finished reading a book and somehow felt more understood than when you started? I love books like that. And then there are books that stretch you — the ones that make you think differently, see more clearly, and grow in ways you didn’t expect. I love those, too. And of course, there are books that teach you something new about the world, about people, about yourself.
And every once in a while, you find a book that leaves such an impression that you’re convinced the whole wide world should read it. Those are the ones I often go back to again and again.
This year, I read books in all of those categories — books that showed up in my life at just the right time, like a good friend does.
Being human is hard. Leading is hard. Loving Jesus and trying to live with clarity, courage, and emotional health in a complicated world can be hard. These books helped ways I didn’t expect. I’ve linked them below in case one of them might help you, too.
Side note: There are affiliate links in the list. You can click the title of each book and grab it for yourself! I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
This book felt like the real talk every girl needs when she gets stuck trying to take responsibility for all the things. Control issues, anyone? Fear of being misunderstood? Yeah… me too. Mel leads with a simple idea: let people be who they are, and you be who you are. That brings a surprising amount of freedom.
This one is especially helpful for the people-pleasers in the room. Or if you’re the kind of person who replays conversations, worries about how things came across, or feels responsible for managing other people’s emotions.
This book made me laugh out loud more than once. It is all about the subtle signals (or cues) that we send and receive during a social interaction.It is fascinating, funny, relatable, and practical. If you are a communication nerd like me, you will love this.
Lisa Harper makes complex theological ideas feel like a conversation with a wise, funny friend over coffee. I laughed. I cried. I smiled. By the end, I was filled with awe and gratitude for Jesus.
This book reminded me how our theology shows up in our everyday lives. And, that’s an important reminder!
This one felt like a deep exhale. It speaks honestly about the emotional and spiritual weight of calling — the parts people don’t always talk about. Dr. Molloy is wise, compassionate, and real. Burnout is no joke. But healing is possible, and this book helps you understand all of it. I’m so grateful I found this book when I did.
This book is such a beautiful picture of what it looks like to go above and beyond for people. It is about creating experiences that make others feel seen, valued, and cared for in unexpected ways.
Even though it is not a Christian leadership book, the principles reflect the heart of the Kingdom. It made me rethink hospitality in my home and how I show up for people in everyday moments.It also made me want to take a trip to NYC and go to Eleven Madison Park!
Practical, reassuring, and incredibly helpful if you tend to overthink what to say (or replay what you already said). This book offers simple frameworks for navigating hard or important conversations calmly and with clarity. And that’s something we could all benefit from.
I added some fiction back into the mix this year. And, this series completely swept me off my feet. I loved it — truly. It’s full of courage, loyalty, sacrifice, resilience, and the slow, brave becoming of a woman who learns who she is and what she’s willing to fight for. So many nights I stayed up far too late reading just one more chapter! I read the entire series in just a few months. I loved the story, the characters, and the brilliant writing. If you love strong female leads, rich world-building, and can’t-put-it-down stories, this series is a must read.
I did something this year I said I’d never do… I bought a Kindle.
And not only did I buy one, I love it. It’s lightweight, easy on the eyes, and it’s pink (yay!). I still love the feel of a real book in my hands, but somehow reading felt easier this year. And, I’m here for it!
Your turn!
Have you read any of these books? What’s on your 2026 reading list? I’d love to know. I’m always looking for my next great read.
Every January, I feel the same tension — this quiet pressure to decide, commit, and get it right. But what if there’s a better way? A brain-based, faith-centered approach to starting the year without the hustle and burnout.
Read MoreI’ve been in one of those moods. You know the kind of mood where I’m all in my feelings, remembering, thinking, reflecting, asking all the questions.
Recently I saw a handful of people from way back when and it stirred up all kinds of things.
Like sadness because life can sometimes change so quickly that it takes your breath away. One minute you’re living your best 17-year-old life. You have plans and people and places. But in the blink of an eye, your best 17-year-old life seems to vanish into thin air. It morphs into something you couldn’t have imagined and, in some ways, didn’t choose even if just for a season. And the plans, the places, and people vanish right along with it. Sometimes they come back around, and sometimes not. And, I’m not being dramatic.
Like gratitude because some people feel like coming home. Do you know what I mean? It’s like your soul breathes a deep sigh of relief at the sight of them, because once-upon-a-time they were your people. And while 17-year-old Valerie didn’t have language for it, these people were safe, steady, and oh-so-significant to me. To have known them for any time at all is a gift. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to know them again.
Like grief because when you stand across from people who somehow still feel like home after decades of distance, you feel the sense of loss all over again and a tiny hint of wishful thinking that you could pick right back up where you left off. Because how can it possibly be that thirty years passed.
Like regret because I didn’t understand how to invite my friends into hard, messy things, so I let them go instead. I’m not sure many 17-year-olds really understand how to do that, at least not 17-year-olds like me. Now I know better.
Like curiosity because you want to know all the things. ALL of them. But to bombard my friends with all the questions would have been a tiny bit obnoxious. And I’m sure I was ridiculous, but I don’t even care.
Like joy because when you’re looking for it, you can find it in the most unlikely places. These people represent something good and right. They’re part of moments I look back on with fondness that make my heart smile even today. My best 17-year-old life was turned upside down by trauma and tragedy. But here we are, all these years later, because Jesus. And, my best life is this one. Also, because Jesus.
Like hope because God is strong and kind. He will never be one without the other. He is patient, full of unfailing love, and always present. He’s perfectly faithful, and friends, He’s paying attention. This weekend, He knew just what my heart needed.
That’s who He is —the God who sees. And, this is what He does — the God who cares.
In the meantime, if you have people in your life who feel like home let them know. Today. Tell them that they matter. Make it weird. Otherwise you might find yourself standing on the other side of thirty years, wishing your 17-year-old self had known better.
Love your people. Love them well. Love them on purpose. And, love them out loud. Yeah, what if we did that?
So I’ve been thinking…
There have been many instances over the last few years where I’ve come away shocked by people who have been unkind, manipulative, dishonest, and insensitive without a shred of self-awareness or empathy. I’ll be the first to admit we all have our moments, and I certainly don’t get it right all of the time. I’ve hurt people unintentionally, and I’ve been hurt by people. Anybody else?
But, here’s the thing: my heart is FOR people. Do you know why? Because, Jesus. People matter. YOU matter.
How we show up in the world matters; we are ambassadors of Christ. And, it’s not just in doing the “right” things — just like with everything else, it’s a posture of the heart. It’s doing the right things with the right attitude.
Sometimes, I get disheartened when I see people wounding others, not out of love but with malice. Because, here’s the thing: God is kind. He has demonstrated His kindness to us in big and small ways. And sometimes, He uses people to do that.
I’m so grateful for the people I’ve encountered who are kind, generous, and willing to see others. They have demonstrated the goodness and kindness of God to me in ways that are beautiful and beyond words. That’s the kind of girl—the kind of Christ follower—I want to be
How about you? When you walk into a room are you more concerned with being seen than you are with seeing others? Do you walk into a room with an attitude that says, “Here I am! Do you see me?”
Friend, there’s a better way. Can I encourage you today toward a heart that says, “There you are! I see you.”
It’s a small but powerful shift in perspective. Because, we all want to know that we matter. To be seen. To be heard. To be known.
Show up and see people. Really see them. And demonstrate the kindness of the Father. Always. Have the same attitude that Jesus had (Phil 2).
Yeah, what if we did that?
Friends, never underestimate the impact of kindness.
Be kind. Even when it’s not convenient. Even when there’s nothing in it for you. Even when the other person isn’t. Do it anyway. Kindness matters. We can’t love them if we refuse to see them.
It may not always be easy—because, people. But it’s always worth it—because, people. We are for people, because Jesus.
