About Me

Hello!

I'm Stephanie, your (hopefully) helpful smalltown Church Librarian. This blog is where I talk about the books I recommend for Christian readers, especially books which have been curated for my church's library. I sometimes read and review Advance Reader Copies. If you're a Christian author who has written a Christian book you'd like reviewed, you may contact me with your book's synopsis. (The contact form is in the sidebar menu.) However, I reserve the right to decline accepting your ARC as I'm often quite busy with my church library duties as well as homeschooling my highschooler.


My Story

I've been an avid reader my whole life. At the end of 2019, I opened a new Instagram account, and at the start of 2020, I began Bookstagramming. This was after following several bookstagram accounts for a few years. I enjoyed all the pretty book photos and learning about new or new-to-me books. And I decided I wanted to do that too! It's been a delightfully creative outlet, as well as an opportunity to form new friendships.

Now at the beginning of 2024, I've been given the opportunity to take care of my smalltown church's library collection, continuing to update it for our reader's needs. I can see how God has prepared me for this new position, in part by the connections I've made over these past few years. And He has also given me a passion for seeking out quality Christian fiction in particular. (I do enjoy quality nonfiction too, but I tend to take FOREVER when reading those books.)

The name of this blog, Read in Order to Live, was actually the phrase on the paper in a fortune cookie my younger son got ten years ago. At the time he was struggling with learning how to read, so I thought it was kind of appropriate. All our hard work paid off, and he enjoys reading now too. As a good friend commented back then, “How else can you learn to follow God’s WORD??? Read, read, read!” 

Read {God’s Word} in order to live!

So that's the quick story as to how this blog has come about!

Happy reading!

Popular posts from this blog

On Curating a Church Library

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As I'm just getting started as librarian for my church, I've been contemplating what exactly it is I will be doing.  Besides the weekly tasks of reshelving returned books and collecting the library cards for checked out items (our church library is open pretty much any time the church is open), I'm also expected to choose which books to add to our library collection.  As Church Librarian, I will be the primary curator of materials for the edification of our congregation. In regards to our fiction collection, I will be a "Story Steward." (I love this term which I heard a couple years ago on an episode of the Fantastical Truth podcast). Careful curation for our collection is necessary. A church library is not a replacement for the local public library system. There is a wonderful selection of both Christian books and classics available there.  Here is my current list of criteria questions I will use to determine whether to consider adding an item to our church libra
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My 2023 5-Star Reads

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It’s time to start talking about BOOKS!📚🤍 I’m trying to plan out a posting schedule for this blog. I’ll get there eventually, maybe. But in the meantime, I think I’ll just start with a quick post sharing the titles of my 2023 Christian Fiction 5-star reads! What does it take to get a 5 star rating from me? Well, I have to have absolutely loved the story. It’s excellent, IMO. It’s also a book I will definitely reread someday. And because of this book, I want to read more of the author’s work. Regarding Christian Fiction, there’s no unsound doctrine that isn’t corrected as an untruth within the story. If you want to know the rest of my rating system, go HERE .  To be clear, I won't be adding many of these books to my church’s library (for a variety of reasons), but they are all Christian-made fiction books I love.  And now, without further ado, here’s my list of 5-star reads from last year in the order I finished them.  *Blind Trust (The SNAP Agency #3) by Natalie Walters Paper Hea
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Equipped for the job

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Today, I'd like to share a few of the ways I see, looking back over the past several years, how God has prepared and equipped me to take on this role as church librarian.  First, I'm a Christian. Jesus is my Savior; I can't imagine living this life without Him. And I'm a church member in good standing, which is necessary when taking on any ministry leadership role at our church. Second, I'm a reader. Some might even call me an avid reader. I love a good story! A large percentage of what I read is Christian published and/or Christian-made fiction. (I do read Christian nonfiction too.) Reading as much as I do will definitely help me find the best books for our church! Third, I'm a homeschool mama. With my youngest in high school, I'm nearing the end of my homeschool career, but I've homeschooled my sons from the start (almost 20 years now). Most years, our curriculum of choice for history, reading, literataure, and Bible has been Sonlight, which is a liter
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