Monday, July 13, 2015

NIrV Study Bible for Kids







I have been impressed with the NIrV Study Bible for Kids. At first glance you can tell right away that this Bible is for kids who are a little older. Thankfully, there is a nice balance between the questions, facts, and added information that kids can handle at various ages. I particularly like this kids Bible because it definitely allows kids the freedom to begin learning how to study the Bible on their own. The Brain Game section is not too difficult but challenging enough to get kids to think further about the passage that they read. The Soak It Up section is not too hard for kids to memorize verses.

Overall, if you are looking for a Bible for your kid to help bring the Bible to life as well as help challenge them to grow more, the NIrV Study Bible for Kids is a Bible you must get for your child. I would have liked more pictures but that is a minor detail that does not matter in the long run. This Bible is great for all learning styles, which means it has a little bit of everything for each child. For those who believe that kids can begin to learn how to properly study the Bible and apply it to their life, this is a great way to help them start.

I have received the NIrV Study Bible for Kids for free from booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

"Whenever You Come Around"- Robin Lee Hatcher




 
I had such a great time reading Robin Lee Hatcher's book, "Whenever You Come Around." This is the first book by Robin Lee Hatcher that I have read and I was very surprised to find how much I was caught up in the story. She does an excellent job setting up each character, which helps you connect with them, making it very hard to stop reading. It was a great way to escape life for a while and relax.

If you enjoy realistic love stories that are clean and filled with God's love, then you must read this book. From heartbreak, life, success, failure, love and new beginnings, "Whenever You Come Around" has it all. Your heart will go out to the main character Charity, who struggles to confront her past while heartthrob, Buck, does his best to help bring down her walls. Although this book is not as long as others, it is one that will keep you reading late into the night just to get to the ending. It is worth your time!

There will be more books to follow this one, which I am excited about.

This book was given to me for free by booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.


Thursday, April 30, 2015

Prison by Toni V. Lee... A Fun Read







 
If you are looking for a fun read for a relaxing evening, I encourage you to read Prison by Toni V. Lee. It is a simple yet enjoyable story of two undercover detectives that find more than just a killer. Prison is filled with a little bit of suspense as well as sweet romance intermingled into the story line. It is an easy ready.

I strictly read this book for pleasure as a way to unwind for the night and de-stress from my life. Normally I like to read series of books and complex plots thick with new words and a different life. Prison is set in modern day and was a cut and dry, yet fun story to read.  Even though I did not get too connected with the characters as I would reading a longer book, Prison was a great book to escape to.

I received this book free from booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

No Greater Valor: The Siege of Bastogne and the Miracle that Sealed Allied Victory- Jerome Corsi






I realized very quickly that war books just are not my cup of tea. But that is all right. I believe that this book, No Greater Valor: The Siege of Bastogne and the Miracle that Sealed Allied Victory by Jerome Corsi, will be wonderful for all of you that love to read true stories of bravery, and victory coming forth from impossible circumstances. What I really enjoyed about this true account was that faith was interwoven throughout the pages. This is important because too often we give man credit for something that only God could accomplish.

To read about the depravity of the battles, and the despairing circumstances shed light on the fact that it was only by a miracle that victory had taken place at Bastogne. It is a true story that not everyone hears about but it is an important one. In fact, I would say that this book should to be shared in order for the American people to remember that God is the one that saves and delivers us from evil. WWII was evil and as you will read, the miracle that sealed Allied Victory was one that was essential in the war. We need to read stories like these so as not to lose hope in the darkest of circumstances. We must remember those before us. We must remember their sacrifice and not lose sight of what America once was.

Go read, No Greater Valor and remember the sacrifices that many made for so many. May you remember that our God works miracles today.

I have received this book for free from booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Fight Back With Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears- Margaret Feinberg

Fight Back With Joy Bible Study
Fight Back with Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears.- Margaret Feinberg (Click on the link to watch a video)

Fight Back With Joy

I found myself laughing and crying my way through Margaret Feinberg’s newest book, Fight Back with Joy. One of the things that I appreciate the most about Margaret is how she opens up about her painful journey through cancer. With her honesty it allows each of us as the reader to be able to be honest with ourselves. Too often when we walk into a path that is filled with darkness and loss, we sometimes can get lost within the depths of those powerful emotions of sadness and hopelessness. What Margaret so beautifully describes in this book is how there is always hope, and that we can choose joy as our greatest weapon against the darkness.

At the very beginning Margaret addresses the common misconception about joy that I think most of us have believed. She states, “For most of my life, I had thought of joy as a natural byproduct of a life well lived. A complimentary add-on, a tacked-on freebie.” I, too thought the same thing as Margaret. Although, I have had moments in the past 5 years where I slowly but surely have had different hints of what joy was really supposed to be, I have not fully grasped the truth about joy until my Mom passed away. Sometimes, just like with Margaret’s journey fighting cancer or like a life without my Mom, we find that joy is right there for us to take up for ourselves amidst the darkness, amidst the pain and sorrow. It is always our choice.

You must read this book to understand Margaret’s journey searching for joy is often much like our own. She tried a “yes experiment”, which failed. Each of us search for more in life. We want to be happy. We want fulfillment in life. We want things to go as we plan them. I am in full agreement with her when she says, “Many people live joyless lives because they don’t understand what joy is, what joy does, how to discover joy, and what to do with it once they find it.” I have lived joyless not because I did not want joy but because I did not understand what it was. I thought that joy meant always feeling happy and having my life circumstances just right.

“Practicing defiant joy is the declaration that the darkness does not and will not win. When we fight back with joy, we embrace a reality that is more real than what we’re enduring and we awaken to the deepest reality of our identity as beloved, joyful children of God.” Joy is a choice. It is as basic as that. As Margaret so beautifully points out, “we are created for joy”, and “we are destined for joy.” Jesus made it possible for us to have joy. It is definitely a part of our heritage.

Joy is your heritage

As I live and let go, and choose Jesus, I realize just how much joy is a choice for us. Too often people will play a blame game about their lives. Too often we can remain angry. Too often we think that our bitterness is because of how bad life has treated us. The reality is, is that our life is a gift. God extends grace to us everyday. He chooses to love us and pursue us even when we choose to ignore him. I can tell you from experience that when we choose Him, there is no end to the things that he wants to show us. Joy is one of those great gifts. It is a fruit of the Spirit and as such, if we choose Jesus, it should be an action in our daily lives.

When you choose joy, you will find that life is great even amidst the pain, the sorrow, and the darkness. Joy is powerful. Will you Fight Back With Joy? Margaret Feinberg has written an exceptional study on joy by being very honest and raw about her darkest journey so far. Through her testimony, we see how "life's thorniest paths can lead to great joy."

To purchase the book today please follow this link: http://mar.cta.gs/0bi


 Great Joy

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Nelsen's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition

 


This book is huge! And I must admit that the new and enhanced edition of Nelsen's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is amazing. If you are a visual learner this book is a great tool as there are updated color photos to go along with some of the definitions of terms. This edition comes with over 7,000 updated entries, over 500 color photos and maps and it has been cross-referenced to major translations. It even has "enlarged type size for ease of use'.

I think what I love most about the Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is that it is a great asset to any biblical research, sermon prep, Bible story teaching as well as for personal use. One can never stop learning more about the Bible. One can never stop researching something to help ones own sermons and Bible lessons. This book will only add to what you will need or want to use in being properly educated and informed about the culture, geography, and time period throughout the Bible.

If you are wondering whether this book is well worth your time and money, doubt no longer. I strongly suggest that you add Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary to your own personal study time and library.

This book was given to me by booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Love Letters from God: Bible Stories, written by Glenys Nellist and Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp




            The book, Love Letters from God: Bible Stories, is by far one of my favorite children’s books that I have seen in a while. It was written by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. Each time that I pick it up I literally have a smile from the inside out. Not only is it written well with the amazing art to enhance the pages but also the lift-the-flap love letters from God make one feel so special. It says, “Your Love Letter from God” and then when you lift the flap, there is a section to write your child’s name on the line within the letter. I can see how this will make kids feel as if God had handwritten each page just for them. This is the point of the Bible is it not; to make each person understand that it is one, amazing, love letter to the world!

            The Bible stories give a brief outline of the book of the Bible from beginning to end, which describes perfectly God’s love story to us. Not only does each Bible story have a love letter from God but there is also a section titled: God’s Wonderful Words to You, which gives a short verse that the kids can easily memorize. At the very end the kids have an invitation, which invites them to join Jesus’ team, as well as a section to write a love note back to God.

            If I had the choice as a Children’s Pastor, I would make sure that every family in my church who has kids would be able to add this book to their family Bible reading. It teaches anyone, especially kids, that the Bible is a love letter to each of us.

            I received this book for free from booklookbloggers.com and these opinions are my own.