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~

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~

Book Review- More Than a Bucket List by Toni Birdsong

Everyone dreams about places to see, people to meet, and things to do in their lifetime. But too often we lose sight of those dreams and get buried in everyday busyness and demands. More Than a Bucket List will inspire you to seize and act on a range of dreams—anything from visiting the Holy Land, donating your time at a soup kitchen, learning to climb a tree, or helping a child learn to read. The book also includes ideas to make lasting memories as you marvel at a new sight, laugh like crazy with an old friend, or change a life.
The compilation of bucket list items is divided thematically and blended with Scripture and personal stories. Pages at the back allow you to write your own bucket list items. Are you ready to finish this life well and start checking off items from your bucket list?

 After reading the description I knew I wanted to review More Than a Bucket List by Toni Birdsong. Several years ago my sister and I each wrote our own “Bucket List.”  I was anxious to see if there would be anything in the book that I would add to my own list. It didn’t take long for me to start adding to my list. I have added Yellowstone National Park, Washington’s San Juan Islands, Big Sky Montana a family mission trip and panning for gold to my “Bucket List.” I was surprised to see a few things found in More Than a Bucket List had already been crossed off my list, the most recent one being seeing Mount Rushmore.
While the book offered many things to see and do, I especially enjoyed the Scripture references provided throughout. I would highly recommend More Than a Bucket List to anyone looking to add fun and meaning to his or her life. 

This book was provided through the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Booksneeze Review- Chase by Jennie Allen

 

Today, I am reviewing a new Bible study, Chase by Jennie Allen. This is a study based on the life of King David, a man after God’s own heart.   When I opened the box not only did I find the DVD, but also a leaders guide, a study guide and a box of conversation cards. The study looks as if it will be easy enough for me to lead, even though I have never led a ladies study before.

 The study is meant to be completed by a small group of women, so I invited my sister and a friend to preview the DVD based study. Right away we knew this would be a good study for us. We are looking forward to going deeper into the study once the study guides are released, and we each have our own copy. Right away we noticed that Jennie comes across as being very authentic.  We have each done various women’s Bible studies and attended women’s conferences and look forward to more studies by this author.

The study questions are good for getting to the heart of the matter and allowing women to share in a non-threating way. My goal to become more like David and to Chase after God.

This Bible Study was provided to me by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Until later~

The Gaither Homecoming Bible- review

The Gaither Homecoming Bible will make the Bible come alive for those seeking truth in the twenty-first century, even for those who think they already know it. For years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have reached millions of people across generations with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their music of joy, thanksgiving, and praise ushers people into the presence of God so that He can do His wondrous work in their lives. Featuring inspirational and insightful Scripture devotions by the Gaithers and other favorite Homecoming artists; articles on beloved hymns, gospel songs, and Gaither classics and the inspiration behind them; original poetry by Gloria Gaither to enlighten and inspire; and quotes by greats of the faith, reflecting on the importance of music in the life of believers, this beautiful Bible featuring the New King James Version^®  (NKJV)  is one that readers will treasure for years to come.

 As soon as I saw that The Gaither Homecoming Bible was being released I knew I had to have it. Not only am I a huge Gaither fan, but also a huge Bible fan. I am always on the lookout for a new Bible, and this one is certainly one I will enjoy for years to come.  I enjoy reading how different verses of scripture have impacted the live of some of my favorite Homecoming Friends.  The stories have a way of making the scriptures feel more personal.

I also enjoy the stories behind many songs and hymns that I have heard many times.  The Gaither Homecoming Bible is a welcomed addition to my Bible collection. I am looking forward to using the schedule to read thru the Bible in 60 days.

The Gaither Homecoming Bible was provided through the Booksneeze program in exchange for  my honest opinion.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~