Read and Share: Stories About Jesus
By Gwen Ellis
This colorfully illustrated and sturdy board book contains13 stories from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Included in this selection of favorite children’s Bible stories are: The Man Who Ate Locusts, John Baptizes Jesus, Jesus Heals a Sick Boy, Jesus Brings a Girl Back to Life, Jesus Walks on Water, Jesus Loves the Children, Zacchaeus, A Blind Man Sees Again, Jesus Stops a Storm, One Lost Sheep, Jesus' Best Friends, One Man Says Thank You, and Jesus Goes to Heaven. Each story is easy to read for beginning readers and each is beautifully illustrated. A great addition to any child’s library! I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Voices of the Faithful
Voices of the Faithful is a daily devotional unlike any I have seen. With a forward and book introductions written by Beth Moore, this devotional centers around daily readings written by hundreds of missionaries from around the world. Each offers a glimpse into the life of these workers of God and unique insight into a world few ever experience. I love particularly love the parts of this devotional written by Beth Moore. I agree with what she says in the intro about it being hard sometimes to grasp that there are real live people out there devoting their lives day in and day out to spreading God’s Word in the most remote of places. Missions work is something that can easily feel far removed from one’s everyday life. I liked that these devotions showed that missionaries are just people like everyone else, and it made it easier to connect with and relate to them. Some of the stories were more engaging than others, but overall I think this is a unique and uplifting daily devotional. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible
This Bible is everything you would expect from Max Lucado. It is chuck full of “life lessons” and descriptive book introductions. I like that it is a nice, sturdy hardcover and even has a protective dust cover. It is very nicely made and I would highly recommend it as a gift Bible. The print is small, but readable, and the over all look of it is attractive. While in most ways it is a fairly typical study bible, I would say that it differs in that while many study bibles are packed with historical facts, maps, and various background information, this one focuses more on life application and the deeper study of the word. If you have ever found yourself feeling bored with your study bible and wanting something more, this might be for you. I received this bible from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury
This is the second novel in a series, the first being A Time to Dance. Each of these books follow the story of Abby and John Reynolds, a couple who has been married twenty plus years and been through countless obstacles. As the novel opens, they have just rekindled their marriage after it almost ended in divorce. They are ready to face a joyous future together and have never been more in love. However, trouble brews when John’s high school coaching job is threatened. John ends up in a horrific car accident that renders him paralyzed. The couple is now faced with how they will cope and whether or not their family will make it through the many obstacles they face. This is a typical Karen Kingsbury novel filled with tragic situations conquered by faith. A feel good if somewhat predictable, story. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury
John and Abby Reynolds have been married for over twenty years when circumstances and hurts lead each of them to question whether they should stay in their marriage, or whether they will pursue the new relationships that each has found themselves in. As they come to the realization that they have grown apart and make the decision to divorce, they receive news that pressures them into holding off on dissolving their marriage, at least temporarily. As memories and reminders of their good times together start to resurface, Abby and John sort through the past and decide maybe they can try again to build a future. While I am not a fan of romance, which I believe is a big part of what this story is, I do like that there are several real life situations that this family is dealing with, and that not all the answers come easy. Overall, a good read if you are looking for an uplifting relationship story. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Start! A Bible for New Believers
A Bible geared towards those new to Christianity as well as those who just want to learn a bit more about the faith before making the life changing decision. Practically speaking, this is a nice Bible with a decent font size while still being quite portable. The translation itself, the New King James, is quite reader friendly and makes this Bible more easily assessable than a traditional King James version. There are two articles included in the front of the Bible: “The Plan of Salvation” and “Secrets to Spiritual Success” that are informative and helpful. In particular, “Secrets of Spiritual Success” offers practical yet imperative advice on how to live the life Christ wants for each of us. The article discusses 5 things that must be present in our lives to be strong in the faith, namely reading His Word, having an active prayer life, being actively involved in a church, practicing sacrificial giving, and spreading the good news of Christ. There are other nice features throughout the Bible, and the introductions to each book, while not very in depth, offer some good background information. Overall, a good Bible for the new Believer. I received this Bible from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Heaven is for Real
The true story of a four year old boy who had a near death experience and came through it with amazing stories to tell. When Colton Burpo slips into unconsciousness during surgery, he has an experience that is not easily explained away. He awakes from the ordeal and is able to tell his parents things that it would be impossible for him to have knowledge of, and the detail with which he does so is astonishing. I found the writing to be charming and easily read. I was drawn into the story and excited to see where it went. I liked that the book was not long and drawn out, it gives the needed information to tell the amazing story and isn’t bogged down with too much fluff. I still have chills from some of the remarkable events and am recommending this book to everyone. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Treasure of God’s Word
A nice little edition featuring verses of the King James version organized by topic. The cover is nicely made leather like and embossed . The pages are gold gilded. The topic section’s include “God’s Wisdom”, “God’s Promises”, “God’s Forgiveness”, and many more. This makes it easy to find a verse that references a specific topic and can be used as a guide to be lead to which book of the Bible addresses each topic. This is a small book, (less than 200 pages), and therefore isn’t an exhaustive resource or even particularly in depth. However, it does contain several articles about how the King James version came about, and the impact it has had throughout history. An interesting and useful book, especially for anyone who is a fan of the King James version of the Bible. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids
Love this book! Nice hardcover, sturdy, and attractive devotional just right for the kids. Each of the 365 readings is marked with the date and contains a one page reading, Bible verse(s), and ends with Bible reference verses for further reading and exploration on the topic of the day. I love the unique style of this devotional. It is written as if Jesus is speaking the words directly to the child, sharing a message of love, grace, and forgiveness. I think this style makes it feel much more applicable to a child’s life. My older son, 13, has been reading it each day to my youngest son, 5, and they are each able to get something out of it. The readings are not too long to hold even a young child’s attention, yet packed with a deep and personal message that allows children to get an idea of how Christ would speak to them personally. A wonderful first devotional for any child. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Good Morning Lord by Shelia Walsh
Good Morning Lord is a great little daily devotional by Shelia Walsh. Each brief reading is followed by several thought provoking question with ample space to answer each. I like the variety of topics that are included in this book. Each starts with “Good morning Lord! Today I will…” and touches upon many areas of one’s relationship with God, such as being faithful in hard times, not judging others, and being thankful. I love that each daily reading is just long enough to really get at the heart of the subject, while still being short enough that it is actually doable on a busy morning. Shelia Walsh’s humor and wisdom really shine through on each page, and her personal stories are often both amusing and touching. There is a Bible verse and prayer at the end of each reading as well, which helps to make it feel like a well rounded and meaningful time with the Lord. The only suggestion I would offer for improvement would be to include references to additional scripture that touches on each days topic. I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
One Hand, Two Hands by Max Lucado
Cute book with bright and engaging pictures. The narrative is most appropriate for preschool aged children, as it is simple and repetitive. A good lesson on ways we can bless others with what God has given us. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Dr. Jeremiah’s book follows the lives of the Apostle Paul and the former slave-trader John Newton, who went on to write the hymn Amazing Grace. God used grace as the instrumental key that turned each of these men’s lives from brutal to beautiful. A wonderful reminder of the power of grace, this book will remind you that it is by grace alone that we are saved. I was also inspired anew to freely give grace to others in light of the fact that without God’s offer of grace to me, I would be without hope for salvation. While portions of the book were dry and the flow seemed off at times, overall a good read. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Fearless by Max Lucado
“Do not fear” is a phrase that appears over and over again through out the Bible…yet so many of us struggle with fear everyday of our lives. In his book Fearless, Max Lucado describes what life could be like if we were willing to trust our Heavenly Father and take a leap of faith. There is so much that is missed when our every decision is based on fear. Jesus came in order to set us free from many things, one of them being fear. Max Lucado beautifully illustrates how we can begin to live a life that focuses on the security we have in Christ, rather than on the fear of the unknown. Whether you are fully trapped in the bondage of fear, or just know fear rules you a little more than it should, this book is for you. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Jesus Calling- Deluxe Edition by Sarah Young
I loved this book before I even opened the cover! It is beautiful, with a leather engraved cover, gilded edges, and ribbon marker. It looks like a book that has been passed down through the generations, and one that would be perfect for continuing to pass on. It is a perfect gift book just based on the appearance alone. As I read this devotional, it just kept getting better! What makes this daily devotional different is that it is written in the first person, as if Jesus himself is speaking directly into your life as you read the message for each day. Each reading is very brief, and therefore I felt, very easy to be consistent with. Each devotion consists of a paragraph or two and ends with scripture references that are helpful in digging deeper into each topic. I think the fresh style of the writing, coupled with the beautiful quality of the book itself, leads to a perfect devotional. The only way you can go wrong with this is if you don’t get one for yourself AND several to give to your loved ones. It is definitely the kind of treasure you will want to share. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for an unbiased review.
Hermie and Friends “Whose in Charge Anyway?” DVD
This is the first Hermie DVD we have watched. My four year old and I sat down together and popped it in. He is not one to sit still very long, and there are few things on tv that hold his attention. However, I was pleasantly surprised that he seemed very interested in this story. The message is a great one: that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone…even a tiny little flea. The story is of Freddie the flea and his search to find out what, if anything, is special about him. Through the flashback stories of other characters, Freddie discovers that finding out your special talents might take some time, but everyone is special. The animation is beautiful. The only downside is that the flashbacks can be difficult to follow, especially if you are not already familiar with the characters. I received this DVD from the Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson
I had a very hard time getting into this book. I was expecting something very profound that could be used to take ones prayer life to new levels. However, the first part of the book was very dry and focused too much on “praying brain research” for my taste. However, if you are interested in how thinking/praying effects brain function, it might be worth your time to read. Toward the end of the book there are some practical applications that I found helpful as far as approaching prayer, such as the use of prayer aids and the concept of praying at intervals. I think much of this information could be successfully used to get out of a prayer rut, or, as the author says, explore new realms of prayer. A lot of boring reading to get through for a little bit of insight. Just not my kind of book. I received this copy from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an impartial review.
