Book Review | The Gospel Gallery

“The only one worthy of life, laid down His for mine. Now I am welcome into the Kingdom, for the tree awaiting me has already been occupied.” -The Gospel Gallery

Releases October 14, 2025

Synopsis
From Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament tells more than the story of a people–it unveils the Devine narrative of redemption, a prophetic tapestry woven by the hand of God Himself. Hidden in its pages are glimpses and shadows, promises and symbols, each pointing forward to the coming Messiah. In The Gospel Gallery, these timeless accounts are brought to life through the artistry of poetry, revealing the Good News of salvation was present from the very beginning, concealed in plain sight until the appointed time.

The Gospel Gallery was like a glimpse into the depthless wisdom and truth found in Scripture. The poetry paints beautiful pictures while also acting much like a Bible study, in that it emphasizes the Word of God while expanding on the incredible prophetic messages that point to Jesus.

The idea of poetry delving further into the Old Testament to portray the prophetic messages of Jesus Christ is a marvelous idea, bound to pull readers in and spark a desire to know more of what the Bible has to say. We often limit Jesus to the New Testament and disregard how He has been present all along–from the Garden of Eden to the promises in Revelation. It’s astounding how both the Old and New Testaments point to the coming and fulfillment of Jesus Christ. Not only does this show God’s intentional and sovereign hand, but it also leaves infallible evidence that the Bible is a reliable historical source of truth and wisdom.

The Gospel Gallery highlights this.

I love the Scripture at the top of each new section, followed by poetic images that encourage readers to engage with the Bible. I read the references before the poetry, as was intended by the author, and this made the journey through The Gospel Gallery all the more powerful. The poetry itself was lovely, flowing with Scripture and painting intricate pictures of God’s mighty and merciful hand. Before I read The Gospel Gallery, I had fallen into a slump in my personal Bible study. My motivation was waning, and it was taking a toll on my spiritual health. But God surely used this book in some ways to encourage a new desire for His Word. Enhanced by beautiful chapter art, each poem presented a new opportunity to embark on an adventure into the past, where truth and wonder were beheld.

It was a joy to journey back through the Old Testament, guided by poetry that spoke of the love and intentionality of God. Thank you to the author for reaching out and sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review.

Final Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Recommended Age: all ages

Genres: poetry, theology, Christian living

Follow the author on Instagram: @jamin.step

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 ESV

Book Review | Overbooked and Overwhelmed

*Releases August 5, 2025

Loved this book. In a world so focused on overworking itself, in a culture so set on hurry, this book is a burst of light and truth. I don’t know Tara, but she apparently knows me! Overbooked and Overwhelmed helped me in more ways than one, covering all the facets of distraction and the overwhelming results of people-pleasing.

I was going through a particularly busy season when I picked up this book. I felt overwhelmed and empty, knowing I had failed once again in prioritizing God first and giving Him more than a few minutes of my day. I’ve gone through this cycle before, and thankfully I quickly recognized the signs:
–Saying yes to everything social in fear I’d miss out or hurt someone’s feelings
–Feeling guilty for not doing “more” to prove I can work hard or love people
–Hitting burnout, mental, and spiritual exhaustion to the point where I was unmotivated to do anything
–Reverting to old mind-numbing habits like doom-scrolling to avoid exhaustion

And then I saw an ARC copy of Overbooked and Overwhelmed at my workplace and thought, “That’s exactly how I feel!”

Tara’s words are filled with a refreshing Biblical truth, reminding one that our ultimate purpose here on earth is not to do everything or overbook, but to glorify God in everything and to keep our eyes set on Him. This is a difficult task when the world around us is so loud, echoing the busyness of our schedules, but praise God we rely on His strength and not our own. Tara tackled all I’ve struggled with in the past and am currently battling with in the present, as well as opening my eyes to new things keeping me from diving deeper into my relationship with God. By His grace, God used this book to help me grow closer to Him.

I’ve been learning that saying “no” is okay and allowed. I even started to practice it. At first, there was guilt, questioning whether I had made the wrong decision or acted rudely and selfishly. I felt the fear of missing out. But then, a weight lifted from my shoulders, and I could feel my soul ease to a calm knowing I prioritized rest over overwhelm and striving to please others instead of God. There is balance to be found in rest and work. Both are important, and Tara’s book helped me see that. God didn’t call us to be distracted. He called us to be efficient, to work hard, but also to rest and be still in His presence.

Thank you for this reminder, Tara. I pray God uses this book to help people find comfort and satisfaction in Christ alone, teaching them to lay down the need to fill something only God can.

I had to return the ARC copy to the bookstore I work at. But as soon as it releases in August, I’m buying my own copy to annotate!! There are too many quote-worthy things not to highlight and underline, like these:

“The life we long for is found in spending our energy on assignments, callings, and situations that are worth it. The life we long for is found in putting our focus on the God things.”

“So when that time comes, remember that you don’t need to say yes to the things that everyone else is doing for the sake of being relevant or liked or approved. You’re only accountable to give your eyes to the One who called you to build, just like Nehemiah. You are here to please God, not man. Yes you’re here to love people, but true godly love does not give in to the fear of man.”

“The effort we put into our relationship with God, whether it’s a great effort, little effort, or no effort, will produce something.”

“Distraction opens the door to distancing ourselves from God, distance opens the door to disconnecting ourselves from God, and disconnection opens the door to complete soul overwhelm.”

“Burnout wasn’t the result of my busyness. Burnout was the result of putting God on the back burner and not allowing Him to sustain me.”

“One of satan’s tactics throughout Scripture is to get God’s people to forget what He has said and promised. When that happens, it’s easier for the enemy to convince them they continually need to do more and to be more. Yet Jesus reminds us in John 10:10 that ‘the thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.'”

This book felt like a hug from God. His faithfulness is astounding, and Tara’s book is a wonderful reminder of it. If you find yourself overwhelmed with everything going on in your life, if you feel exhausted and incapable of rest and stillness, if you wonder how you can balance the busyness of this life while still keeping God first, I highly recommend this book. Overbooked and Overwhelmed provides deep and lovely insight into the root of distraction and exhaustion, giving the reader hope in knowing that even in our burnout, God is still faithful. Even when we’re not all there, God is always here.

Final Rating: 5/5 stars

Recommended age group: all ages, but those in their teens and older may find this book the most helpful

Genre: Christian living, nonfiction, self-help

Faith Doesn’t Promise Comfort

Daily writing prompt

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

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As an introvert, taking risks isn’t something I do. Or, at least, it wasn’t. But as I grow closer to Christ and seek to follow His guidance and prompting, I often have to step beyond my comfort zone into a somewhat uncomfortable and unfamiliar situation. It can be scary, strange, and a whirlwind of emotions. But when it’s a place where God is leading me, He always equips me for the situation (2 Peter 1:3). After all, the things we’re called to aren’t reliant on our capabilities but dependent on a God with no limits.

Even though faith often requires us to be uncomfortable, we can be comforted in Jesus, knowing He is with us every step of the way.

A recent “risk” I took happened almost a year ago. It wasn’t necessarily a risk, as it was a leap of faith. Would the two be considered the same? I’m not quite sure. All I know is, risk implies recklessness, while faith means trust in a Greater Power.
Since I was fourteen, I’ve loved to create stories, particularly fiction and fantasy. It was never my plan to focus on nonfiction or some other genre, but I always dreamed of being a published author and selling my books in bookstores. Then came 2023, and I found myself in a familiar pit of anxiety and inner turmoil, a battle I thought I was over with back in 2020. It was brutal, lonely, dark, and foggy. But during my darkest days and nights, poetry would flood my mind. Now, mind you, I am NOT a poet. In fact, to this day, I still don’t quite understand how poetry works. Of course, there are more liberties than a normal fiction book, but one can’t ignore the standard rules we learn in school. In 2019, I wrote some poems for fun or to voice certain things I was struggling with. But they were never supposed to be public!
So why were all these poems surfacing during a time when I never thought I’d see the light again? And why were poems I had written years ago suddenly coming to mind, grouping to form an entire book of poetry? I’m sorry, me writing a poetry book? You’re kidding, right?

Nope.

The thing is, I didn’t mention this all started after I finally surrendered my writing to God. Sure, I would say I’d write for Him, but the moment I actually let go and gave in to God’s guidance, something changed–inside me and around me. God can do far greater things than me, that’s for sure.
Writing became new, something more potent than it ever was. It became hope as God flooded me with His Word through these new poems I’d cling to when I felt I was falling. Even while writing them, I never planned to share them with anyone. I kind of dreaded it. They were raw, vulnerable, and real, and they showed just how much I struggled and how broken I was.

Why would I want anyone reading that?

And yet, as I wrote and watched God pour into these poems, they soon became reminders of His faithfulness and evidence of His love and goodness. A light so bright, I couldn’t bear putting a basket over it (Matt. 5:15). No, God showed me, as difficult and uncomfortable as it was, that these poems were being called to be shared. Not for me, but for Him. People needed to see just how powerful my God was and how He completely transformed me. Then came the idea for a poetry book, which turned into “He Is Faithful In Every Season.”

My “risk” I do not regret:
“He Is Faithful In Every Season” is a book of fifty poems, all written from 2019-2023. It took an entire year to edit, compile, and publish. It was complex, challenging, and beautiful. I had no prior experience with publication or self-publishing, though I did much research, but everything I was doing was for the first time (and required many trips to Google). The more I wrote this book, the more I prayed over it and invited God into it–the more I surrendered, the more I saw how God was in the very fibers of my life. By the grace of God, I published my first book in August 2024 at 21. It was a moment so surreal that I still forget it some days.

In just a few months, it’ll be exactly one year since I released those poems to the world–pieces of light and declarations of faith, hope, and love for God. Since August, over 300 copies have sold, which means over 300 people are reading the Gospel. I’ve heard and read countless reviews on how God has used this book to encourage, inspire, and give hope to readers. I’ve heard how it’s reaching non-believers and even those who don’t particularly like to read.
People have gifted this book to friends, family, and loved ones who are struggling. They tell me they can relate. I can only praise God because He showed me my “why” for writing. Not money, not fame, but for Him. Always.
“He Is Faithful In Every Season” has also been placed in four bookstores worldwide–Florida, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. BOOKSTORES. No, because this is actually wild, especially as a self-published author. But God opened those doors, and the more I look back and see all the details He pulled together to get me to where I am today, my jaw drops.

I am underserving and God is forgiving, merciful, and wonderful.

I may not have been able to see the whole picture when I worried about sharing those poems with the world, but God heard my prayers and knew exactly where He was leading me. Every day, I see evidence of His mercy and grace, not just through my poetry book but also through friends, family, and those special moments of peace and love I used to overlook but will now cherish forever. I may not be a big risk taker, but I pray I continue to step out in faith, trusting God will guide me where He’s leading me. It may not always be what we expect, but whatever God has planned is far greater!

I hope this serves as a reminder to trust God even in the uncertainty (Prov. 3:5-6). To seek His guidance in all things (Matt. 6:33). And to step out in faith into what He is calling us to, knowing He will work out all things for the good of those who love and trust Him (Rom. 8:28).