If you are looking for a place to dive into great books, unpack big ideas, and connect with a community of readers, you made it! My mom, Sheila Barnes has taught and inspired young minds as an elementary teacher for 40+ years. Her passion is reading and it is contagious. My name is Kate Matthews and I am an artist, seeker of wisdom and lifelong student. We decided to start a book club a couple of years ago which has impacted and grown us tremendously. We hope you will join in on the fun and get lost in the magic of reading with us.
Greetings listeners! Book 4 of Psalms starts with Moses’ prayer which ends with, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us…”
This group of psalms 90 - 106 is powerful! God is our refuge and our fortress, He is the one in whom we trust! May we be rooted and grounded in Him like the cedars of Lebanon! Cedar in Hebrew is firm/strong, these trees grew to be 120 feet tall (think about a 10-12 story building!!!).
Discipline draws us closer to God who is our Stronghold! His steadfast love holds us up!
Psalm 96:9 “Worship the Lord, in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!”
Kate’s one word summary was sovereign! God is all knowing, all powerful and He is everywhere! He knows our ‘frame’ and remembers we are dust (103:14), but He wants a relationship with us!!! Amazing!
Sheila’s one word summary was steadfast because it describes God's love for us, through the ebb and flow of our lives.
Psalm 100 is a beautiful psalm of thanksgiving, “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Kate challenged us to memorize these five verses before Thanksgiving! Let’s do it!
Thank you dear listeners for taking the time to reflect so we’re able to connect on God’s Holy Word! Blessings!!!
13 Oct 2026
Restart by Gordan Korman
If you've ever wished for a do-over Gordon Korman’s 2017 book Restart is right up your alley!!
We meet football star and renowned school bully, Chase Ambrose, after he fell from a two-story window. He has amnesia so bad his personality changes. The rattiest rat changes into a super kind guy! It is quite a transformation! Confusing friends and enemies alike!
Each chapter comes from a different viewpoint:
Shoshanna Weber: She hates Chase mightily because of what he did to her twin brother, Joel. Chase and his goons (Aaron and Bear) were the cause of Joel having to transfer to a private school because of the trauma he suffered when they blew up Joel’s piano!
Brendan Espinoza: Wannabe famous YouTuber who forgives Chase’s past bullying against him from the get go. He takes a risk and asks Chase to help shoot a video while Brendan rides a tricycle through a car wash.
Mr. Solway: Feisty nursing home resident who strings a necklace out of all the gout pills he’s refused to take. He was awarded a Medal of Honor from Harry Truman for his service in the Korean War, but mysteriously the medal is missing! He and Chase have a bond.
Summary Words:
Titus: Connection/relationship and Disguise (a curse, like Chase’s injury, was a blessing in
disguise).
Jonah: Humble-Chase 2.0 is much more humble and thinks of others.
Kate: Redemption-Chase’s old persona had him stuck on himself and unable to grow.
Sheila:Transformation-We all can change, that’s how we grow. Chase wasn’t the only one transformed in this book!
The principal told Chase that his injury was an opportunity to start over. Chase takes the ball and runs with it and becomes Chase 2.0. Join us as we discuss, Restart, and Kid Approved 5 star read!!! Blessings dear listeners! Let’s connect to reflect!
6 Oct 2026
Next Conversation Ch. 6 by Jefferson Fisher
Chapter 6 of The Next Conversation focuses on the importance of controlling the pace of communication, particularly through the use of pauses, to enhance understanding and engagement in conversations. Kate and Sheila discuss various examples and personal experiences that highlight how effective pauses can lead to more meaningful interactions and better emotional control. The conversation explores the importance of effective communication, the impact of stress on health, and the need to slow down in life to appreciate beauty and foster meaningful connections. It emphasizes the significance of being aware of one's body and emotions, and how numbers can help in recognizing and addressing issues.
Takeaways
Control the pace of conversation
The power of pauses Effective communication is essential
Slowing down enhances well-being
Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Controlling Pace
03:03 The Power of Pauses in Communication
06:01 Brevity and Impact in Speech
08:48 Silence as a Tool for Clarity
11:56 Creating Safe Spaces Through Pausing
15:09 The Role of Silence in Conflict Resolution
18:01 Personal Strategies for Effective Communication
20:59 Memory Techniques and Learning
24:25 The Importance of Communication
27:02 Managing Stress and Health
30:39 Controlling the Pace of Life
34:33 Planning for Beauty in Life
39:29 Embracing Change and Self-Improvement
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.4 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
4.1 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
84
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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