Seeking Him

So here’s a new bible study that feels more like an experience journal by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom.

So I’ll be honest I had no expectations going into reviewing this bible study because of the personal revival aspect in the title. I didn’t know if it would be super rigorous.

However, what I found is a journal of sorts. The questions in the study are first geared towards scripture then they turn inward. There’s also many passages for additional reading and study. Each week starts with the memory verse and going deeper passages. Then it goes into the study, which broken down into roughly 5 days per week. And studies through several topical passages that are meant to spark an internal revival in us.

I haven’t finished the study yet but I am confident in the writing of it and would highly recommend it for a women’s bible study group as the format of the study is much more conducive to group study (each week has a section to be completed with the group and if you’re doing the study solo you would likely just skip over that section) than to individual study.

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this book through from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Women of Courage

So perhaps, you have heard of the (in)courage bible. I received a free hardback copy of it last year for being a B&H reviewer. Well towards the end of last year, the same ministry released a 40-day devotional, Women of Courage. 

So for each day of this devotional, you will focus on a different woman of the Bible. Some of these women are very well known and others are less known but none the less worth learning about. And they are grouped together in the same manner as they are in the (in) courage bible. There are the women of beautiful brokenness, women better together, women of daily grace, women of leadership and the women of friendship. One thing I love about this devotional and it’s accompanying bible is the emphasis on these amazing women of the Bible and learning about them. There’s also much to learn. 

In my opinion this devotional is best used along with the (in) courage bible and is especially helpful when studying the women of the Bible. 

(As usual, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Interview with Barb Roose, Author of I’m Waiting, God

Here's another author interview, this time its Barb Roose, author of 4-week Bible study I'm Waiting, God. I hope you enjoy the following interview with the author and make sure to pick up your copy of I'm Waiting, God.

Do you ever feel like God is taking too long to answer your prayers? Have you ever taken matters into your own hands, only to discover that you’ve made the situation worse?

In her new four-week Bible study, I’m Waiting, God, (Abingdon Press) Barb Roose invites us to explore the stories of women in the Bible who had to wait on God. If you’ve felt anxious, angry, discouraged or depressed because God isn’t giving you what you want, their stories will breathe fresh hope and practical next steps in your life. As a reforming control lover, Barb mixes in her personal stories of learning how to wait for God during long seasons of unanswered prayers, family difficulties, and challenging times in ministry. Together readers will discover that there is goodness and blessing to be found in times of waiting, including a closer relationship with God than they’ve ever dared to dream.

Q: Which women from the Bible do you use as examples for women who grappled with unanswered prayers?

·         Hannah wondered if God loved her or had forgotten about her.

·         Ruth’s life took a tragic and unexpected turn.

·         The unnamed bleeding woman suffered for over a decade with an embarrassing medical condition.

·         Martha prayed, but God said “no” to her prayer.

Q: What would you say to encourage someone who feels as if God has forgotten her or doesn’t love her because her prayers have gone unanswered?

First, I would sit down with her and ask to give her a big hug. Living with unanswered prayer is hard—especially when we’re praying for good things, like a baby, a spouse, a clean bill of health or for a struggling child to get back on track.     

Rather than give advice or tell someone to “buck up,” I believe an overwhelmed, discouraged woman needs what Tim Keller calls “the ministry of presence.” When someone feels the pain of unanswered prayer, she doesn’t need advice, but rather listening, love and reassurance.

Some of my favorite go-to encouraging statements when hanging out with a friend who is struggling are: “Tell me how you’re really doing,” “I know that you are doing the best that you can!” and “You are loved and you aren’t alone.”

Q: What are some of the reasons the Bible gives for God not answering prayers?

The Bible reveals numerous reasons God delays in answering our prayers. Some of those include:

1. God might not answer because of our unforgiveness, secret sin, pride, or wrong motives.

2. God wants to protect us from harm or heartache down the road.

3. God is allowing more time to pass so that we’ll have the chance to see His power on display in our lives.

4. God allows a delay to teach us to trust Him in the hard place and develop persistence in prayer.

5. God may delay the answer to your prayer because He’s working in someone else’s life first.

Q: When an unexpected event throws life off course, what do you pray for when you don’t know what to pray?

A few years ago, my dad got sick. In just a few weeks, he’d lost more than 30 pounds off his athletic frame. A biopsy revealed advanced metastasized lung cancer and doctors told us that Dad only had a few days to live. At the time, I’d been on the road speaking and half-way through writing a new book, but the news that I was about to lose my beloved dad upended my entire life.

In devastating moments, I rely on praying God’s promises. In the hardest moments, I don’t know what to say, but God’s promises give me life and hope—even when I’m numb or not even sure if I can believe them in the moment.

In the study, I’ve included one of my favorite rituals, a tool that I call the “God-Morning/God-Night Technique” that’s gotten me through a lot of hard and heartbreaking days. Basically, I repeat five of God’s promises before I open my eyes and begin the day. By starting with a “God-morning,” with his promises, I can beat back the feelings of fear, uncertainty and impatience by reminding myself that God is with me and for me no matter what I’ll face that day.

Q: How can we protect ourselves from bitterness during our wait?

In I’m Waiting, God, I explain bitterness like this: “Bitterness is the story that blames God for the pain in our past. Better is the story that believes God will be faithful in the future.”

Bitterness always begins small, but the more we repeat the stories of how God or others hurt or betrayed us, we begin to believe that is the story of our lives—and the story of our future. I watched my grandmother nearly die of bitterness after my grandfather’s affair when I was a little girl. She spent a lot of time in the hospital before finally confronting her bitterness and changing her story.

For me, gratitude is the antibiotic that kills any little bitter roots in my life. Each day of the I’m Waiting, God study features a gratitude exercise. Just taking a moment to reflect on God’s blessing not only kills little roots of disappointment, rejection or regret that could grow into bitterness but also uplifts our hearts and gives us joy, even as we’re waiting for God to answer our prayers.

Q: Is there ever a time to let a prayer go? How do you know when it’s the right time, after weeks, months, or maybe even years?

This is a hard question because there’s no easy answer to this question. On one hand, we’re instructed to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but we also know that there is a starting and ending to all things (Ecclesiastes 3). The point of prayer is to authentically connect ourselves to God so that His Spirit can lead and guide us. However, as circumstances change, there are times when it is no longer safe, wise or life-giving for us to pursue certain situations.

For many years, I prayed for God to save my marriage. I’d made a commitment before God over 25 years before, and I believed God could do the impossible. I fasted and prayed for years for God to restore a relationship that addiction had destroyed. Even after I had to move out of my home because of the issues, I still kept believing and praying for restoration and healing.

It’s hard to pray for years when nothing seems to be happening. I received some great encouragement from a wise friend: “You pray until you sense God releasing you from that prayer.”

I continued to pray until I realized that it was no longer safe or wise for me to go back into that situation. I didn’t give up on God, nor did I stop believing in his almighty power. But I did realize that it was time to shift from praying for what I wanted to praying for God to help me let go and trust His plan for my future, even though it wasn’t what I wanted.

To help me let go of the pain, disappointment and anger, I use a tool that I call my annual “funeral.” This is fully explained in the final week of the study, but it’s a tool to help me let go of my anger, disappointments and fears. This funeral process helps me surrender my unanswered prayers to God so that my heart and hands are open for Him to bring new direction, opportunities and blessing into my life.

Q: How is I’m Waiting, God: Finding Blessing in God’s Delays, your new Bible study, set up to be used? What other resources are available?

As a Bible study teacher who loves creating experiences for women in every season of life, I’m excited that I’m Waiting, God is designed with a flexible format to fit everyone’s schedule. This is a four-week study, and each week offers three days of Bible study homework, plus two optional days for more personal reflection to be enjoyed as time or energy permits.

I believe that application is a key component of effective Bible study, so I’ve created weekly personal reflection exercises and practical tools. Additionally, each day’s study includes a daily gratitude exercise and lots of life-transforming scripture to set readers up to experience a-ha moments so they can see and experience God’s blessing, even as they’re waiting on God to answer their prayer.

For those who like video, there is a separate teaching DVD for each of the four weeks. Best of all, anyone can lead a group study because the facilitator’s guide is been included in the study workbook.



One more bonus! If readers would like additional encouragement, they can sign up for “The Patience Path,” a 30-day email devotional that I’ve created to go along with the study. To sign up, go to barbroose.com/patiencepath.

New Book Review: The Wonder of the Word

The Wonder of the Word is the second book in the Kingdom Pastor's Library authored by Dr. Tony Evans (father of authors Priscilla Shirer and Chrystal Hurst Evans as well as singer Johnathan Evans).

So the purpose of the Kingdom Pastor's Library is to put carefully written resources in place for pastor's who cannot quite afford to go to a seminary school for formal biblical training. The goal is to give sound resources and information and knowledge to those of us who cannot afford seminary. 

And that is why I could not wait to review this book because as a stay-at-home mom, my family lives on one income so going to seminary is not in the cards for me in the foreseeable future. But being able to read the vast knowledge available from sound theologians and pastors is much more affordable and allows me to learn on my time as my schedule permits.

So, my first reaction: Dr. Tony did NOT disappoint.

As you can see from the above table of contents, Dr. Tony Evans starts with the authority of Scripture helping the reader to understand that the Scripture has great authority as divinely inspired by God. Not only that but it is inerrant, meaning without error. Then the second chapter is on the sufficiency of Scripture, meaning that Scripture is sufficient for us in all seasons. No part of Scripture is insufficient or lacking. It is good in every season of life and therefore all of it is worth preaching and teaching. The third chapter is on canonicity which is how the books of the bible were chosen and set as the Bible as we know it. This is one of the best chapters because as many believers know there are many who seek to undermine the Bible by stating that there was ungodly bias in choosing which books made it into the Bible. But Dr. Tony Evans helps the reader to understand and be assured of the canon of the Bible. Some books lacked doctrinal consistency, in which all books of the bible are consistent and all support each other rather than contradict each other. 

The New Testament books were chosen based on the fact they were written by eyewitness apostles or those within the circle of the apostles (like Luke and James & Jude, brothers of Jesus), they also had to retain the consistency of the rest of the books written. All of the epistles regardless of the writer has a certain level of consistency where they can be referred to each other for greater understanding. For example, you can look to Peter's letters to understand something Paul wrote, and you can look to the Old Testament to further understand what is written in Hebrews Now mind you this was not even chosen during their lifetimes, as Scripture during their lifetimes would have been the Old Testament, the books of law, the books of the prophets, the books of poetry, and the books of history, which had already been gathered as Scripture. 

Then we come to the fourth chapter Transmission which is transmitting the message, preaching and teaching. Dr Evans covers four concepts involved in studying and preparing to teach Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration, Illumination, and Reception. Revelation is that part of the bible study where the Holy Spirit literally reveals God's heart in what you are studying.  Inspiration in this sense is the same in which books of the bible were written. Inspired by God, meaning that we allow God to guide our writing. Illumination is to be enlightened, as pg 90 puts it: "it is the work of the Holy Spirit that allows us to understand, experience, and apply the truth of God to our lives." Now Reception got its own chapter based on the fact that when we've studied God's word and we've gained an understanding of its truth, we're now in a position to receive Scripture and apply it to our own lives BEFORE we even preach or teach it. We can't preach or teach anything until we have come into submission to it. The Word of God sanctifies you and promotes intimacy with Christ, a personal relationship with Jesus. Then, the last chapter is Application which helps the reader to understand how personal application then needs to relate to the congregation and encourages them to not only study for themselves but to actually apply what they learn in their own lives. 

When the Bible says to study to show thyself approved (2Timothy 2:15) its more than just studying God's Word but to show thyself approved is to apply that studying to your life and when you consistently apply, then you've shown yourself approved because you're living what you're preaching. 

And so my rating: TWO thumbs up for this book. It's not too long a read but it packs a great punch and it definitely worth reading for anyone wanting greater confidence of Scripture and the due diligence in not only gaining confidence in Scripture but what's necessary ethically to teach Scripture.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament

This one of the most massive undertakings on reviewing a book that I've done. The closest I've come was the Inductive Bible Study textbook I reviewed two years ago.

First the surface, this book is over 600 pages and has a large contributory team to give us a comprehensive overview and introduction to the New Testament of the Bible. There are also additional articles on the New Testament in the appendixes to the book (authored by the contributors of course). And thankfully there is an abbreviation guide at the beginning of the book to help forgetful folk like myself. 

Another thing to note is that this overview of the New Testament is written from a reformed theology approach, as all of the contributors are either current or past professors at Reformed Theological Seminary. Beliefs of Reformed: 

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone): the Bible alone is the highest authority. 
•  Sola Fide (faith alone): faith is the sole instrument of our justification. 
• Sola Gratia (grace alone): we are saved by the grace of God alone, not by works. 
• Solus Christus (Christ alone): Christ is the only Mediator between God and man. 
• Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone): all of life is lived for the glory of God alone.

Biblical theology is considered biblical because it focuses on "its principle of organizing the Biblical material is historical rather than logical", as stated in the introduction.

Each chapter is focused on a specific book of the Bible, with the chapters flowing in the same order of the Bible from Matthew to Revelation. So in each chapter, we get an introduction and extensive background & context information on the book:

• author
• audience
• the date it was written
• the purpose of the book,
• a structured outline of the book
• an overview of the book (a quick breakdown of the book almost like a commentary)
• The authors also cover the message and theology presented in each book of the New Testament
• Each author also presents their bibliography which presents the reader with the chance for further study.

So my personal take on this book is that while it is not exhaustive, it is quite comprehensive and provides a solid foundation to build upon during study. I like this book as a great study companion especially when it comes to getting the context correct. Inaccurate context and understanding can lead to inappropriate messages and application.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.}

Artisan Collection Bible

I expected so much more from this Bible. The only thing to set this journaling Bible apart from the many others is the music note artwork that shows up on the page edges when the Bible is laid flat. Other than that there is no additional artwork found inside the Bible to prompt you to create artwork. There is the standard center column with lined margins.  The exterior cloth over board handprinted artwork is beautiful enough and definitely will catch your eye. There's just so much more that could be in this Bible that just isn't there.

However, if you're in the market for a beautiful note-taking bible, this is PERFECT. It's low fuss without the artwork to distract you from taking notes. There's also additional notes space in the back of the Bible. There are two bookmark ribbons, which is also a great bonus as most Bibles have only 1. It's also (in my opinion) small enough to take with you to church. It is apart of the Journal the Word series of bibles.

{FYI: I received this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Sacred Holidays: Less Chaos, More Jesus

Sacred Holidays, what started as a ministry to bring advent and lent bible studies & reading plans have morphed into a book about making the holidays sacred. There are some things Becky Kiser gets right and there are still some things I feel she misses the mark on.

So let's start with what she gets right. She offers solid planning ideas and space to plan your holidays and birthdays. She offers grace about being different and doing holidays differently. She's adamant about learning how to say no so that you can say yes to the valuable things. I love that she wants us to plan 30-60 days in advance the holidays and birthdays, which would make my life so much easier, as we have 5 children and birthdays can be quite hectic since they seem to come back to back (March 4, May 3, May 7, May 30, & August 9). 

She helps us tackle budgeting because while some are natural budgeters, some of us are not (*raises hand*).  She helps us set realistic expectations of ourselves because it is easy to try to do it all the first year and it may not happen or it may not be consistent. And the goal is consistency. 

So, baby steps (Becky's words). 

So, with all that said, what could have possibly gotten wrong?  For me, it lies in the chapter on Halloween. That's one holiday I refuse to celebrate. Regardless to how you dress it up as having some Christian roots, it is a day that satan worshippers revere & celebrate as much as we, Christians, do Resurrection Sunday and Good Friday. I can appreciate what she attempts to do by suggesting that we engage our neighbors on the holiday and share the gospel.

Maybe we're those Christians because for us it's simple either you serve God or you serve satan by turning from God. Revelations is quite clear, being warm isn't acceptable to God. You're either all in or you're out.

For what this book intends to do, for the most part, it hits the mark: to have less chaos and have more Jesus during the holidays.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

The Unexplainable Church

The Unexplainable Church, the second bible study by Erica Wiggenhorn on the Book of Acts. This one covers Acts 13-28. It covers what happened to the church! And this is a big deal because we are to live this out daily, so what better way than to study what happened with the church and how God grew them and used them for His glory to further spread the Gospel around the world. The study is ten weeks long with specific questions and reading for five days.

(table of contents)

In the first week, you will go back into the earlier part of Acts (mind you this Bible study is a continuation from an Unexplainable Life Acts 1-12) and read on the forming of the church as well as Paul's conversion because that plays a huge part in early church history.

I really enjoyed this book because it's Scripture driven and centered. It seeks to help us understand and interact with God's Word. Not in it being focused on us (because the Bible may APPLY to us it is not about us) but in its actual context. And by helping us to understand God's Word, Erica helps us to connect with God through His Word. Oftentimes we are called to pray God's Word and speak it back to Him, but how can we do that if we do not know it? So we must study.

Hugely recommend this book as well as its predecessor, An Unexplainable Life, to study your way through the book of Acts.

{FYI: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Unwrapping the Bible

Honestly, I did not know what to expect when waiting for this book to arrive. 

However, when it arrived it turned out to be a literal workbook type of study book. Not just mere words telling us what to do but with questions and space to answer. This is the type of book I would think one may end up with in Seminary because it forces you to interact with it, to answer the questions, to build on what you learn and understand. 

Usually, we (or at least I) think Seminary only comes with Academic books that only requires you to read. But I think this book should be in Seminary, likely first semester, to establish a foundational base for new students. 

(The table of contents)

It covers what the author believes to be seven core foundational doctrines (God, humanity, Revelation, Christ, Salvation, Sanctification, and the Church). Then, those are further broken down into bite-sized sections. 

To me, the only thing that could have made this book better is if the book was a hardback with larger font.

I recommend to the new believer heavily. It can help with many questions and to help lay a base foundation from which one can build upon. I also recommend to the seasoned believer who may be in need of a revival of sorts or may be experiencing their foundation being shaken up.

FYI I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.

Before I go: New 3 week FREE Bible Study

Pre-registration for Sarah Koontz' Fall Bible Study is now open and I could not be more excited! 

I was able to review the study early, and it is awesome. For me, it reads like an in-depth devotional. However, I've always been one of those meat and potatoes type of girls. It definitely reignited my love for John 14. So this is good for getting in some focused reading when I only have 10-15 minutes to spare. Something to remember is that while John is one with the Gospels, it differs from the other gospels in that John seeks to get his audience to see Jesus as one who loves us infinitely. There are some teachings of Jesus you find in John that you can't quite get the same anywhere else in the Gospels and THAT is one of the many things that Sarah focuses on in this study. This study focuses specifically on John 14-17.

Here are 5 things you need-to-know about the #JesusBeforeIGo study:

▪        It's a FREE email-based online Bible study.

▪        It is a 21-Day study with two rest days per week.

▪        It takes just 15 minutes per day to complete.

▪        It is full of powerful truths and practical takeaways.

▪        It will help you get to know Jesus Christ better and authentically share your faith with others.

The study starts on October 15, but you'll want to pre-register today! Everyone who signs up early will be entered for a chance to win a beautiful handpainted Bible from Wheat and Honey Co. Visit LivingbyDesign.org/Jesus for all the info & to sign up. 

The CSB Study Bible for Women

One thing I love is a good bible. Especially a good study bible, with great features and great study notes.

The CSB Study Bible for Women actually falls in line with the other two Woman's Study Bibles that I've reviewed You can find them here. While yes, they are published by different publishing houses and are different translations, what they do have in common is the editing team is the same. So you will notice A LOT of similar features. The blue floral design is similarly found in the CSB and the NIV versions. The opening pages are similar. They both feature a Ketubah breakdown and family lineage pages.

Now, this study bible has word studies, which feature a frequently used word on a certain page then that word is broken down to its root word.

This is the edition I was given to review. I quite like it. It's simple yet beautiful. There are also TWO ribbon markers which is awesome!! Especially since I am known to be reading in more than one place at a time.

So this is what a book introduction look likes it includes an outline of the book as well. For those of us who tend to study more deeply and want to know the specifics of when a book was written, the timeline at the bottom of the page is quite helpful. It offers biblical events and world events of that time period.

This is where we can see a word study in action. Some word study sections feature more than one word as seen in the previous set of pictures. Also featured is "hard question" where certain questions are answered (each hard question section relates to the passage it is found near).

The "doctrine" sections, break down certain doctrine's within the Christian faith. Each doctrine section is found where the foundation of that doctrine is found in Scripture. 

I personally like the CSB Study Bible for Women better than the other versions I've come across that was edited by Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley. This one has more useful information embedded. The concordance is larger in the CSB as well. I also like that this bible does not feel as heavy as other full-size study bibles. 

It is also quite beautiful and as I've noticed quite popular among women (I'm in a facebook war binder group with hundreds of women). I've seen it recommended MANY times. I would definitely recommend it. The only thing I would add is in-text cross references. However, I'm sure it would make the bible much bulkier.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Everyday Holy

So the title of this devotional is what drew me to it. Prior to this book, I'd never heard of the author. I guess I came to this book with my expectations a little too high. With the title that it has, I expected more Scripture. However, this devotional is very personalized to the author's encounters and experiences in life. It does start with a bible verse and that's all the Scripture you get for that devotional. Everything else is an experience of the author's where she saw God in her circumstances. In some way each day's verse is to relate to that day's devotion and her encounter. It would have been awesome to at least add a prayer prompt in response to the devotional, where the reader could pray themselves through similar situations.

There are 100 devotions, so that's about 3-4 months (depending on if you include the weekends). It's hardback with a nice ribbon marker. It does have a very luxurious feel to it.  The devotions are anywhere from 2-3 pages long and there's a wide range of topics but there is no topical index or table contents to help you navigate in case you're looking for encouragement in a specific area. There's a mix of translations for the verses, although NIV is the main translation used.

All in all, it's a decent devotional. Not my favorite and I will likely pass it on to someone else who may be in need or would like to have a devotional.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

Lies Women Believe

I remember the first time I heard about this book, it was a number of years ago and I was quite curious as to what it contained. Then the expanded edition was set to launch and I applied for the launch team, didn't make it. But then the book showed up in the book reviewer program as an option and I JUMPED AT IT. Thankfully, one of the admins even allowed me to received the study guide as well to review at the same time. AWESOME. Usually its only one book at a time.

I have literally taken my time reading through this book to review it. Studying through it with the companion study guide and it has been eye-opening. 

So there are three sections in the book: Foundations, Lies Women Believe and Walking in Truth.

Chapters 2-10 cover the lies women believe in specific areas: 

1. Lies we believe about God
2. Lies we believe about ourselves
3. Lies we believe about sin
4. Lies we believe about priorities
5. Lies we believe about sexuality (note this section is not in the original)
6. Lies we believe about marriage
7. Lies we believe about children
8. Lies we believe about emotions
9. Lies we believe about circumstances.

     The companion study guide further expounds on the book. Each chapter in the study guide starts with what section of the book it covers, recaps that section of the book, then has three question sections: Realize, Reflect, and Respond. 

     It asks you personal questions that help you to identify if you believe this root lie and how the belief and action upon that lie affect your life. Sometimes we say we believe one thing but the way we act and live our lives shows that we really don't believe what we said. For example, we can say we trust God but does every action we make show doubt? We can say we believe that the Bible is incorruptible and the absolute truth but do our actions show that? Because if we did, we love more and forgive more. We'd love people, treat them well, and still rebuke the sin in their lives, without fear of their reaction or anyone else's reaction. 

     I can tell you off the bat, the chapters on sexuality and children will immediately ruffle many feathers as these go heavily against the culture we live in. We live in a culture where it is fairly acceptable to be gay and if you refuse or do not accept it, you're labelled as judgmental and hateful. We live in a culture that says it is fairly acceptable to have abortions. We live in a culture where premarital sex is not a bad thing and adultery is ok if you're not happy and even glorified on TV and in movies.

     Now depending on where you are on the spectrum of beliefs will tell you just how offended you might be by this book. If you're pro-choice and accepting of LGBT then you will be offended. And you NEED to be. Maybe then you may read God's Word and realize that culture does not dictate TRUTH. Just because it has been regarded as acceptable by people, does NOT make it acceptable to the Lord. The ancient Israelites learned that with pagan worship and lost their hedge of protection for a number of years because of it.

     I HIGHLY recommend this book and the companion study guide to EVERY generation of women. We are in a place to influence those around us and we need to be a godly influence. We aren't called to sound like or look like this world so why do we attempt to do so?

{FYI: I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

The Daniel Key

So here is Anne Graham Lotz's latest book. I was quite excited to dig into this book and completely devoured it. It is my first time reviewing a book by Anne Graham Lotz.

I really enjoyed her writing style. It's not overly personal and incorporates a friendly tone. The book is about 20 short chapters (160 pages). It has MANY nuggets to treasure. Each chapter is about a choice that Daniel made in his determination to remain faithful to God in spite of his circumstances. We read about his worship and faith, his forgiveness and humility. We read how daily prayer time makes a HUGE difference in our lives, even if it means going against the grain (like it did for Daniel). She points out much of Daniel's life that we can use in our own lives to strengthen our faith.

I think the main thing I dislike about this book is how she refers to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah by their pagan, Babylonian names (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) rather than referring to them by their Hebrew/Israelite names. I think if the goal is to glorify God, then we need to use their Hebrew names that identified them as belonging to God than using their pagan names, which were given in the hopes of wiping out their loyalty to God.

Other than that, no complaints whatsoever. I do recommend to others, especially those who may be struggling with identity and even discipline.

Embraced....a devotional

Lysa TerKeurst is a fairly well-known Bible teacher and author. So usually when she puts out new material, I am often interested. This material is a new devotional, completely undated with 100 devotions.

Lysa walks us through 4 sections (Embracing the Pursuit of Him and His Direction; Embracing the Fullness Found only in Him; Embracing Him in the Midst of Hurt and Heartbreak; and Embracing His Call to be Transformed) of devotions meant to help readers feel completely embraced by God. 

In her unique writing style, Lysa shares snippets of her life and what she's been through that makes this devotional so special. If you follow her on social media, then you may be aware of the health battles she's been through. 

There's a topical index in the back, so if you're looking for some encouragement on a specific topic you can indeed find it quicker than shuffling through the entire book. Some topics you will find are parenting (Lysa has FIVE children, majority of them adults), marriage (she's recently divorced after 25 years of marriage, so she understands the ups and downs of married life), personal identity, decision-making, as well as some of life's other sticky moments. 

Each devotional starts with Scripture and then flows into her sharing the devotional itself, often weaving bits of her life into the message for the day. Each day's devotional ends with a prayer. These aren't short devotionals either, each one being about 2-3 pages long. Here's  an excerpt (the entirety of the first devotional):

I am apt to give this devotional a good thumb of recommendation, its good authentic content. Just remember what type of devotional you like. If you want one more focused on the Lord and less personal testimony then you may want to look into a different devotional. This one has LOTS of personal testimony found in each day's devotion.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Journal the Word Reference Bible, NIV

So this Bible came last week (one of two that came for review). And I was SO thrilled. Why? One is it is a journaling bible but more because it is a reference journaling Bible. This is quite rare. Usually, most bibles do not have cross-references in them like so. The last couple of study bibles I received did not have cross-references. And for good studying, you NEED cross-references. Why? Because it allows the Bible to speak for itself and be its own commentary.

As you can see it is actually quite thick. So I do not recommend this become a Bible to tote around with you because it is heavy. There's also a ribbon marker. 

This is what the average page looks like. It is a single column with ample writing space. And there's a single column that shows verse by verse cross-references. The pages are thin but not so thin that my gel pens (I use these instead of highlighters) bleed through.

This is the back of the packaging so you can get an idea of all of the other resources in it. For example, the dictionary-concordance feature is really nice, of course not quite as comprehensive as having a completely separate book for it but still good enough. Also, as you can see this is a red letter Bible (words of Jesus speaking are printed in red). And I love the elastic closure as it allows me to leave a thin notepad with my Bible without losing it.

All in all. 2 thumbs up. Literally one of the most resourceful journaling Bibles that I've had the pleasure of coming across. 

FYI: I received this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.

NIV Journal the Word Bible for Teens

This is what the Bible looks like. Absolutely stunning!

So, the first thing I noticed is just how beautiful this Bible is. It's gold leather with colourful flowers on the front. The font is black and pink (writing prompts). Its a single column journaling Bible with writing prompts. I look at those prompts more like thinking points because while it makes me reflect on the Scripture on that page, it also makes me want to cross-reference (unfortunately this Bible does not contain cross-references). I also like that it is made to lay flat, which is awesome for taking notes in it.  There is a short subject index in the back, but no concordance, dictionary, or maps.

I think this is good for devotion time when you want to just read and journal what you're reading. It's quite pretty and would make an awesome gift for any woman, young or older, she'll appreciate it. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the "for teens" portion of the name of the Bible because it is literally just feminine and made to get you to think as you read. Anyone could appreciate it. 

My daughter (10 yr old) likes that it is pretty but she's more taken with a different journaling Bible that has illustrations in it, so she can colour in it.

All in all... This book gets two thumbs up!

{FYI: I received a copy of this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

One Year Praying Through the Bible for your Kids

So when I first got this book, I was expecting it to be a one year bible with prompts for praying for our children. However, it is actually a dated devotional to assist parents in praying for their children every day. It starts with a passage of Scripture, then there's the actual devotional, and it ends with a pre-written prayer. 

Each day has a topic. For example, today is 2/1, the topic is What the Lord Hates. The August 22 (topic: Godly Parents) is an example of how that day's prayers won't always be exactly focused on the children but sometimes on the parents to help us with being better parents.

I think this is a great resource for parents. Especially those that are new to praying Scripture for their children. Also if you notice in the top corner there is the reading for the day if you are reading through your bible in a year. So that is a neat addition as well. It allows us to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

The only drawback I see is that there is no colour inside the book. I think if the tops of the page where the date is was coloured, it would be a great enhancement to this book and really catch the eye.

(an excerpt of what a day looks like)

{FYI: I received this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.}

The Woman's Study Bible NIV

Sounds like I am reviewing the same bible again, right?

Well, I am and I am not. 

 (Left is NKJV and Right is NIV)

Technically the same book yet a different translation. I was really looking forward to doing this for the comparison. See this bible is the exact same as this one. Same publisher, same editors. Same nice sized concordance and index as well. Same maps in the back (could be a few more maps but I can always Google for more).

So I wanted to see if there would be any difference between two and what I've found is that the section headers are different. For example Genesis 1: (NIV) The fall (more simple) and (NKJV) The temptation and fall of man (more in-depth). 

 (Left is NKJV, Right is NIV. Also you can see that the footnotes are actually fairly generous.)

All of the charts are identical, the design is nearly identical except where one is pink the other is blue. I attribute that as well to one being mere hardback and the other cloth over board. Both are equally beautiful. Equal in size. They have identical footnotes, quotes, book introductions, and articles. Both are also red letter Bibles (Jesus' words are in red letters). 

{The preface to each bible is different as well, which can be expected.}

Another thing I looked for was translation manuscript differences. If you ever researched what was the difference in translations, it often comes down to the manuscript used and if the translation is word for word or thought for thought or paraphrase (i.e. the Message Bible translation). NKJV falls between being a word for word and a thought for thought translations whereas NIV falls as a true thought for thought translation.

In Mark 7:24, NKJV says Tyre and Sidon whereas NIV says merely Sidon with a footnote that early manuscripts say Tyre and Sidon. So I noticed that the editors of this Bible want to make sure that readers have access to what the manuscripts that they used but also to know that there may be some discrepancies.

Another difference in translations is Mark 7:6-7. 

 (Top is NIV, bottom is NKJV)

I think these are really nice study bibles. And a preference of translation I think is more of a personal choice than to say one is better than the other. Some people may feel one is better for them than the other. And the goal is to get into God's Word. Now granted I generally stay away from the paraphrase Bibles. We do have a couple NIrV Bibles since they are created with children in mind and make it easier for our littles to grasp the Word.

I do recommend this as a Woman's study Bible. As the quotes and articles are unparalleled and are often the encouragement we as women could use. Plus its absolutely beautiful. Who doesn't like a beautiful study Bible? The footnotes are fairly generous (although not as extensive as a Life Application Bible) and the font is readable, even without my glasses (much better than my Life Application Bible). 

I plan to use this one a bit more as I am more comfortable studying from the NIV than the NKJV and I could definitely use the encouragement that it offers.  There are many articles on marriage and family life. As a wife and mom, there's always room for improvement.


{FYI: I received this Bible from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.}

Creating a Vision Board

I see a vision board like a vision goal list. It lists the things I want to do, the things I entrust to God's capable hands. My expectations are that IF what I want to do is in God's will for me then it will happen and if it is not is God's will for me then that's perfectly fine as well. As my main goal is to be in the centre of God's will for my life, not my will or anyone else's but GOD's will. 

There are some negative connotations to the vision board and that often stems from 'The Secret' which follows the thinking that you can compel the universe to do what you want by simply visualizing it and that's not quite how it works. 

There are some things you need in order to create your vision board. First, think of the things in life you want to accomplish and entrust them to God's hand. Second, write them down (make the vision plain). Third, gather your supplies: poster board, magazines, markers, tape/glue/stapler. And lastly, create. You decide how you want to put everything up, do you have an organized way you want to put it up or perhaps you're adding as you go. There is no right or wrong way as long as it makes sense to you. Cut out photos and inspirational phrases that match your goals. Even add a prayer or two that you can pray over your goals and your tribe (your family/friends).

Check out mine below:

So this year I decided to do something I have not done in several years. Create a vision board and intentionally create goals (something I have not ever really done) for things I want to do in the future. It's nothing fancy or from Pinterest.

As you can see above, My vision board is not very large and has quite a few inspirational quotes and bible verses on it. But then there are the things I want to accomplish this year, such as ongoing on a cruise with my husband and children for our summer vacation this year. I also want to accomplish creating a stream of revenue for my family. One that is totally home-based so that after I have baby #5 this Spring I can be okay with staying home with him/her (we don't know the gender yet).

Also, you'll see my WORDs for this year: THRIVE, ENGAGE, and JOY. Most people usually stick to one word that they choose to emphasize in their life over the coming year. However, for me, I need these 3 words as they are very intentional and are related to one another. Apart of thriving and being engaged is to choose joy. I choose to be joyful in all things, no matter the circumstances and not to stress when I have a Savior who bears my burdens and offers me a lighter load of simply trusting Him.