The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones Book Review

 

The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones

The First Easter Ever tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection using kid friendly words and illustrations. My 8 year old and I read the book together, she most definitely could have read this one on her own, but enjoyed sharing it together.

Some of the things I like about The First Easter Ever are that the story is pretty accurate and age appropriate, the book is a good value price-wised book, and being a paperback is very kid friendly.

 The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is one my children know well, but each year as we prepare for Easter we like to read it again. The First Easter Ever will be re-read many times in our home.

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review- Duck Commander Devotions for Kids

 

Duck Commander Devotions for Kids by Korie Robertson & Chrys Howard

 

The first devotional for kids by the Robertson family of Duck Dynasty fame!

With the Robertson clan’s flair for down-home wisdom and their wholesome family values, this devotional reveals the heart and faith of this much-loved family from A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty. The more than 6-million moms, dads, and little ones who are loyal fans of the Duck Dynasty family will love this collection of inspirational messages.
Our family, like many other have grown to love the Robertson family while watching them on TV each week. Having recently reviewed the Duck Commander Bible when Duck Commander Devotions came up to request and review I jumped at the chance. Just a couple of days before requesting this devotional book for my children they had seen it at a local bookstore and had begged to get it. Once the book arrived they were anxious to begin reading the daily devotionals and gaining insight to not only some of their favorite characters but also new insight in the Word of God.
As a parent I appreciate that each devotion includes a story involving one of the Robertsons, scripture, a prayer and a Duck Commander in Action section. I like that my kids are learning more about  people that I consider to be good role models.


The Duck Commander Devotions for Kids comes in a hardback version, perfect for little ones! It is a good size (6x8) for little hands. And even though the target age group is 4-8 years, the message is presented in a way that my 10 year old is really enjoying it too. Korie and her mother, Chrys, deserve 5 stars for Duck Commander Devotions for Kids!!
**I received this book from the publisher through the BookLook program in exchange for an honest review.**
Thanks for stopping by!
~Until later

NASV Note-Taker's Bible Review

I am a self-admitted Bible collector! I am always on the look out for a new Bible. Up until a couple of years ago that meant I was searching for a new King James Version, I then received a New International Version as a gift from my husband and things began to change. I have taught children’s Sunday School since 1983 and I found for the little ones I like to read the New Living Translation. When the New American Standard Version Note-Taker’s Bible came up for review I knew I had to have it!
 New American Standard Version Note-Taker’s Bible is the first Bible of this translation I have read. It is written in easy to read and understand modern language. This Bible also has the words of Christ in red; something I am finding to be more rare. In the back of the book there is a concordance, Promises from the Bible, Prespectives from the Bible, Ministry of Jesus, Teaching of Jesus, Miracles of Jesus and Parables of Jesus sections. These are nice additions to the NASV Note-Taker’s Bible, even if this is not an actual study Bible.
 Other than the version the thing that sets this bible apart from my other ones is the large margins for writing notes or Bible Journaling. I prefer being able to make notes right where I am reading instead of keeping a separate journal. I have taken advantage of the wide margins to doodle, draw and share my thoughts. 
I do not mind the hard cover, for once I think it actually works better for note taking. I do wish there was a little more space for writing.

**I received this Bible through the BookLook program in exchange for an honest review.**
Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Just Sayin' by Carol McAdams Moore Book Review

 

 I gave my daughter Just Sayin' by Carol McAdams Moore for the 90 day devotions. What she gets out of this book will be lessons she will carry with her for a lifetime.
Each devotion is a 2 page spread, short scripture thought on the left page, and then for some there are more scripture recommended or questions to get her to thinking about the passage. There are ample spots for doodling, gluing and drawing, things that she loves to do anyway. I will be getting her a set of colorful pen to use in her book, the gray, black and white pages will look amazing after she adds her won personal touches to them! And it nice knowing she is thinking on God's word while having fun!
"Each of the short devos was designed for girls just like you, with relevant topics, quotes, Scriptures, plus doodles, journal prompts, lists, puzzles, quizzes, fill-in-the-blank prayers, or unique activities that explore Bible truths and ways to apply them. Just Sayin' challenges girls to follow Jesus every day. Best. Idea. Ever"

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later~

Book Review- Move On: When Mercy Meets Your Mess by Vicki Courtney

“My healing journey began when I finally granted myself permission not to be okay. Not to stay there forever, of course, but rather to acknowledge that not being okay is a perfectly normal part of the Christian journey."

 That has got to be my favorite quotation from Move On When Mercy Meets Your Mess by Vicki Courtney. Many times it is hard for us, especially women to be okay  (even embrace) with our imperfect selves.

Vicki’s transparency is refreshing and very commendable. I think too often we as Christians conduct themselves in a way that makes it hard for unbelievers to identify with us. Some times we need to let others see our struggles.

Move On showed me that I need to be real and that “sometimes I feel like I’m playing a part I’ve been cast into, but it’s no truly who I am!”

 Move On is a good personal study that would also be great in a group setting as well. The questions at the end of each chapter are very thought provoking and would lend well to meaningful discussions. This is one book I will definitely keep!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through  Book Look.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thanks for stopping by!! 
Until Later~

Goodnight, Ark Children's book review

 

We received Goodnight, Ark today. Right away my daughter wanted me to read it to her. She enjoyed the story, but the illustrations are incredible!!
 The author tells a story about Noah and the animals at night during a thunderstorm. I thought it was cute that the animals were afraid of the storm. My daughter identified with the animals wanting to crawl in bed with Noah, she might have done that a time or two. :-) The pages have short, rhyming sentences- just what little ones find appealing.

There are no scripture quotes and the illustrations are more modern than we are used to with the story of Noah, but Goodnight, Ark is still a five star book for us.

I received this book from the publisher through the BookLoook program in exchange for an honest review.
The hard covered book will stand up to lots of re-reading.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Book review- Arms Open Wide by Sherri Gragg

 

Come near. Stop striving. The Master of the banquet has raised His glass to welcome you as His dear child.
So often Christians view Christ as someone who’s far away and can’t be approached until they have their lives in order. In Arms Open Wide, author Sherri Gragg proves that Christ is a kinder, more tender, more loving Savior than many understand Him to be.
Sherri writes in fictional narrative form while mixing biblical history with scripture, creating a setting that transforms readers back in time and places them right in Jesus’ presence. For thirty-five days readers walk with the Savior to witness miraculous healings and events, and give fresh insight into His power by thinking and feeling with people whose lives became instantly transformed by His love and grace. Readers journey with Jesus and His disciples in the most important time in history.
Hearts will be stirred and lives will be changed as readers draw near and walk with the Savior as never before.

Before choosing books to read from the BookLook program I always look at reviews for that particular book. Seeing that Arms Open Wide very good reviews I decided to give it a read. 

Some things I like about Arms Open Wide:

 My copy is a hardcover. That is always a huge selling point for me!
The cover is very visually appealing and blurb on the back cover had me excited to dig in and start reading right away.

The chapters are short and easy to read.

I think that the Arms Open Wide book would make a good gift.

The author’s heartfelt prayers at the end of each chapter add a good touch to the stories.

Sherri Gragg’s Arms Open Wide is okay to be used as a devotional.

What I didn’t care for were the actual “stories”. The author has chosen several well know Bible accounts and has rewritten them adding her own ideals of how the event played out. I have never been a fan of this type of story telling. I guess I am a purest when it comes to the Bible. J

 I never did find the “Call to Linger in the Savior’s Presence” which is a part of the book’s title.

Even though Arms Open Wide is not the style I prefer, I do have friends that like that style, and I will be passing along my copy.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through the BookLook program. 

Thanks for Stopping By!!

Until later~

BookLook book review- Young Women of Faith Bible

ZonderKidz provide the Young Women of Faith Bible, NIV through BookLook program for me to review. The target ages for this Bible are from 8-13 and after opening the box and seeing this Bible I would say they are spot on. The cover is pink and orange and is very appealing to young girls. Upon opening the Young Women of Faith Bible I noticed there is flower, heart and butterfly images along with more pink, again it is very visually appealing. Aside from all of the “girly” touches you will also find solid, useful resources- overviews of each book, memory verses, devotions, maps, an extensive concordance and journal spots.

 My seven-year-old daughter claimed the Young Women of Faith Bible for herself as soon as she saw it. She is proud to carry it to church with her every week, and enjoys having it read to her. This is a Bible that she will use for many years. I am anxious for her to record her thoughts on the journal pages and I am sure she will enjoy reading it, as she gets older.

I love that the Young Women of Faith Bible is such a hit with my daughter. I would enjoy reading this Bible (if I could pry it away from my little girl.) I wish I had had a Bible like this one when I was a young girl. When I asked my daughter if she would recommend this Bible for other girls, her answer was, “Everyone should buy it!”

Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~

The Jesus Bible Book Review

 

The Jesus Bible is a hardbound Bible geared toward children 9-12 years old. The Jesus Bible is not a children’s Bible storybook, but the New International Version full Bible. I love that this Bible is one that my children will find useful for many years to come with daily devotions, maps and charts and the handy concordance of key topics, place and people to aid and encourage Bible study, this is the first Bible I have seen that is geared for children to include these things.

 The Jesus Bible includes a “Where’s Jesus in…” section at the start of each book pointing out scripture that shows the presences of Jesus in that particular passage.

 The Jesus Bible is visually appealing to preteens/teens and has a contemporary feel to it. I know both of my children are excited to read, study and carry this Bible with them.

 Overall I am very pleased with The Jesus Bible and I am excited for my children to discover all that this Bible holds for them.

The Jesus Bible was sent to me in exchange for an honest review through the BookLook program.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~

Book Review- Restless by Jennie Allen DVD study

I started the New Year with a new DVD Bible study; I received Jennie Allen’s Restless from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Unlike the previous Allen study I had review from the same publisher this one did not come with the leader material. Before I started watching the series of 8 videos I wondered how it would be possible to use the video on its own. Once I started watching it became very obvious that the DVD could be used independently. 

 Restless is divided into 8 video sessions lasting about 20 minutes each. I really like that each session starts with a question and various ladies one by one shares her personal thoughts. Jennie then gets right into sharing her heart with a small gathering of ladies, in an intimate setting. She encourages them and the viewer to not get lost I the mundane of everyday life, but to strive for more, to seek and strive for what God has in store for us.
 Jennie uses scripture and true-life stories to inspire us to not settle for less than God’s plan for our lives.
 I find Allen to be very personable and completely likeable. She is transparent, admitting her failures and not afraid to let us see her tender heart.

 I will be watching the DVD videos again (and again, and again…) and will definitely purchase the study guide.  

Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~ 

Booksneeze Book Review- NIV Essentials Study Bible

  I recently received the NIV Essentials Study Bible: Easily Grasp the Fundamentals of Scripture through Lenses from 6 Bestselling NIV Resources (Hardcover) through the Booksneeze book review program. I was pleasantly surprised at all of the study aids contained in one book.

 The NIV Essentials Study Bible offers different 8 lenses as different ways to explore God’s word.

Flyover Lens: Start each book of the Bible with the right perspective from easy-to-read introductions from the popular Essential Bible Companion. This one is probably my favorite lens. This is where you will find key concepts, information about each book and key verses.

Unpack Lens: Easily understand and interpret Bible passages with bottom-of-the page study notes and in-text charts from the best-in-class NIV Study Bible. This lens is the one I am most familiar with. This is where you will find more information and cross-references on various verses.

Dig Deep, Look Close Lens: Understand the fascinating historical significance of the Bible with articles and photos from the bestselling NIV Archaeological Study Bible. This lens offers more information about the people, history, archaeology, artifacts or reliability in the text.

Q&A Lens: Get concise, easy-to-grasp answers to your most perplexing questions about the Bible with questions and answers from the beloved NIV Quest Study Bible. I enjoy reading the Q&A lenses. The questions really get me to think about what I believe and why I believe that way.

People Lens: View Scripture from the perspective of the 100 most important people in the Bible with notes for the student of any age excerpted from the timeless NIV Student Bible. Here you will find insight about various characters in the Bible. This tool also has questions meant for reflection.

Guided Tour Lens: Get a bird’s eyes view of Scripture with a Guided Tour, also excerpted from the category-leading NIV Student Bible. This is where you will find a brief overview of the scripture and a related Life Question

Insight Lens: Find meaning in the Bible by reading these magazine-style call-outs from the NIV Student Bible. My favorite aspect of the Insight Lens is the Life Questions.

R&R Lens: Reflect & Respond with this quick inspirational focus time, which unveils the sweeping narrative of the Bible as seen in the award-winning The Great Rescue, NIV. This lens can be used for your personal devotions. Each R&R Lens is broken down into 4 different sections: Read, Think, Live and Next Level. There are page references to help you find the next devotional.

I am delighted to add the NIV Essentials Study Bible to my ever-growing Bible collection. It is convenient to have so many Bible study resources in one book; I can now do an in-depth study in a small space or on the go. While some may find the NIV Essentials Study Bible a bit over whelming as a “reading” Bible with so much information added to the pages, I think it is an excellent study Bible. I personally prefer a soft cover Bible, which I find easier to lay open while I take notes, but the hard cover will probably be more durable.

I was sent this book through the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later~

The Mercy Prayer Book Review

The Mercy Prayer By Robert Gelinas

Lord, Have mercy
A raw plea for intervention. The most prayed prayer in the Bible. And a request that God always grants, often in surprising ways. In The Mercy Prayer, Robert Gelinas blends biblical wisdom with penetrating personal encounters and keen insight into familiar stories. The result is a practical guide for receiving the mercy we all desperately need and letting it flow from us into the lives of others.

 Having prayed, “Lord have mercy” more times than I can count, I was curious to read what Gelinas had to say on the subject. I was pleased to find a good balance of scripture references and personal accounts of the prayer for mercy.  And I appreciated the author using familiar passages such as the blind men and the 10 lepers and their pleas for mercy. It was the plea for mercy that brought not only mercy, but also healing to each of these men.
 Gelinas reminds us that we can ask for God’s mercy for those around us as well as for ourselves. This can be done as a part of the “homework” of praying for mercy as we drift off to sleep each evening. It is amazing what takes place in our lives when we ask for God's mercy.

I received The Mercy Prayer through the Booksneeze blogger program through Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

Booksneeze review- Intentional Parenting Autopilot is for planes

Several months ago I requested Intentional Parenting Autopilot is for planes by Sissy, Goff, David Thomas and Melissa Trevathan. I had started reading the book and then life happened and I laid the book down. When the kids went back to school recently I decided it was time to do some reading. I am so glad I picked Intentional Parenting up again.

 With 12 chapters this book covers many relevant topics, such as Being an Intentional Parent, a Balanced Parent, a Playful Parent and so on. I am sure you will find lots of helpful information in each chapter, no matter where you are in the parenting journey.

 Goff, Thomas and Trevathan run Daystar Counseling Ministries in Tennessee, their book is very encouraging letting the reader know that they are not alone when feeling the pressures of “perfect” parenting. I appreciate the Biblical scriptures and the questions pertaining to each chapter. Even with three authors the book flowed smoothly and it really didn’t make a difference who was writing.  

 Some of my favorite quotes from Intentional Parenting:

“Parenting is not about you. In other words, you are not in control. Even if you could, for a few moments, be a perfect parent, you could not create the desired outcomes in your child.”

“We want godly kids, rather than to be godly parents, or even just to know God better. Parenting is so much less about me and so much more about God.”

“You can be free, as a person and as a parent, no matter how much pressure you feel today. You can’t do it right. You can’t be the perfect parent, and you can’t create the desired outcome in your child. But you can immerse yourself in the better hope that Hebrews 7 speaks of. You can fix your eyes on Jesus. You can entrust your child to Him. He’s really the one in control, anyway. And He loves you both more than you could ask or imagine.”

  There is so much helpful advice no matter the age of your children, do yourself and your children a favor and pick up a copy of Intentional Parenting. I will be reading it again (and I bet I highlight and mark new sections as I read it again.)

Intentional Parenting Auto Pilot is for planes was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Until later~

Booksneeze Book Review- Just Like Jesus

Today I am reviewing Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado.  I will be the first to admit I am not a big Lucado fan, in fact it took me several days to read the first 3 pages of this book.  In order to write an honest review I knew it would require me to actually read the book, so I trudged on. Much to my surprise just a few short pages later I found I did not want to lay Just Like Jesus down!  The chapters were short and pretty concise making the 12 chapters a quick read.

I enjoyed the theme of each chapter- A Heart Like His, A Forgiving Heart, A Compassionate Heart………and so on to be both encouraging and thought provoking. Each chapter is filled with plenty of scripture references and everyday practical examples to express the point being made.  It is refreshing to see things in a new light. I appreciated reading Lucado’s description about the celebration in Heaven when a wayward soul repents. I have read that scripture many times but I have never given it much thought. I shared the thoughts of Jesus being kind and showing friendship to Judas at the Last Supper with my son who is 8. He has been struggling with being kind to those who do not treat us well.

I recommend this book to anyone who is striving to be more like our Savior. You will find lots of good, useful information in Just Like Jesus.

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson, the publisher, through the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

The Secrets of Intercessory Prayer- Book Review

Here are the keys to unlocking effective intercessory prayer. With encouragement, powerful testimonies and keen biblical guidance, pastor and bestselling author Jack Hayford offers the insight you need to pray more effectively for God's grace, goodness and power in the lives of those you love.

 The Secrets of Intercessory Prayer by Jack Hayford is probably one of the best books I have read on this subject.  This book is filled with helpful suggestions on how to pray for those who are not Christians, as well as ways we can relate to them. I especially appreciated the information about remembering to let God do His part, praying for our children, praying for those we don’t want to pray for and praying without ceasing.

While I found the title to be slightly misleading (I really did not find any ‘secrets”) the content was very useful and invigorating. I have already shared portions of The Secrets of Intercessory Prayer with my Bible study friends.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later~

Book Review- Fix-it and Forget-it Holiday Dishes and Sides

This is the time of year where I spend countless hours in the kitchen. While I have many tried and true recipes that I keep falling back on, I am always on the lookout for new recipes. I thought that during the busy Christmas season I would take advantage of some new crockpot recipes from the Fix-It and Forget-It Holiday Main Dishes and Sides eBook cookbook.
Looking through the book I found several recipes I will be trying in the next couple of weeks. (No-Fuss Pork and Sauerkraut on page 28 will be the one I will try for New Year's Day.) I was pleased to find the recipes use common,easy to find ingredients, many I already have on hand. I found recipes suitable for entertaining as well as comfort foods for our family to enjoy on the many cold nights we have during the winter.
While reading through the recipes I was surprised to find several recipes with a question mark instead of the actual measurement of certain ingredients. I wish the correct amount would have been listed.

I was provided an eReader copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review- The Truth About Forgiveness by ohn MacArthur

“The greatest measuring rod of love in the life of a Christian may be forgiveness, because God showed His love to us in terms of forgiveness.” —John MacArthur

Does anyone really want to forgive? Or admit that we need forgiveness? Whether we’re giving or receiving, forgiveness is hard. It seems unfair. It feels unnatural. And as best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur demonstrates, forgiveness apart from Christ is unnatural. It is only as we understand our need, Christ’s power and example, and what it really means to love that we can embrace two of the most liberating acts of love: forgiving and being forgiven.

My husband enjoys listening to John MacArthur and when I told him that The Truth About Forgiveness was available to be reviewed he strongly encouraged me to read it. I chose the ebook version.

 As I began to read the first chapter I realized the book was not quite what I thought it would be. Having read other books on forgiveness I thought this would be another “someone did you wrong, God wants you to forgive them” book. It didn’t take long to see that was not where MacArthur would be taking me.  I will admit that the first chapter was more “clinical” than I care for but it helped to lay a good, strong foundation for the following 6 chapters.

 What I took away from The Truth About Forgiveness was thoughts about my own personal need for forgiveness from God. The teaching on the very familiar story of the Prodigal Son offered some new insight into the story. I had never considered the actions of the father and the repercussions he could have faced. I was also able gleaned more insight into the story about the four friends and the paralytic and the calling of Matthew.

 I appreciate the teachings in The Truth About Forgiveness and give the book four stars.

I received this eBook through the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Bob's Booger by Scott Black

 

I am sneaking in a quick book review today. With all the busyness of Christmas (and Hailey needing to go to the Emergency Room during the night-her ear is feeling much better this afternoon) it is good to share a good read with the kids.

I downloaded Bob's Booger by Scott Black and we read it right away! (I love that about ebooks- instant access!!) I recommend taking some time out of the hustle and bustle and read a book to a child! They will be glad you did (and so will you!!)

 Hunter is the perfect age (8) to enjoy Bob's Booger, he still thinks all kinds of bodily output and noises are hilarious! I think other kids his age would enjoy the book too. As an adult, I can relate to Bob. How many times have others not told me something because they didn't want to embarrass me, and a true friend stepped up to tell me. (Although it has never been about a booger. LOL)
 The illustrations are very nice and the story is told in rhyme- which I think all children love!

Thanks to Broccoli Press providing this ebook for me (and Hunter) to review.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~