LIFE

LIFE, a new devotional recently released by Lisa Harper caught my eye, with its bright pink cover and its tag line: 

An Obsessively Grateful, Undone by Jesus, Genuinely Happy, and Not Faking it Through the Hard Stuff Kind of Devotional

Yet, it is not exactly what I was expecting in a devotional. It's one that relies more on the author's stories, experiences, and anecdotes rather than scripture. And it goes fairly off base in translations (to one I'd never heard of or used) to find the word happy in the Bible. 

I struggle with reading it because off the bat, as Christians, we aren't called to being "happy" but we are called to JOY. Happy relies on emotions and circumstances but joy relies on God and therefore it isn't turbulent or fickle. And yet Harper takes us to this place of trying to make happy the goal justifying it by using that there are words in scripture that are in the "happy" family.

I'm sure there are some people who would love this devotional because of the seeming transparency but yet I do not see the transformation in it nor the focus on Jesus rather than self.

FYI: I received this devotional from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kitchen Table Devotions

 So, what if your family devotions went through the bible from A-Z?

What that be fun?

And here enters, Kitchen Table Devotions by Sergey Sologub. 

This is a light devotional made just for families, especially those with younger ones who can correlate the alphabet with these devotions or those learning about the bible for the first time.

The book is first broken down into three sections. The first one sets the foundation for "why" to adhere to family worship. The second one is where the devotions lie. And the third section is the "for good measure" section, where we are sure what's being planted is not only in good soil but that the soil is watered. 

There are 26 devotions. One for each letter of the alphabet. The devotions are short because as most parents know, children's attention spans are short. So no more than 2-4 pages per devotion. 

It's also a lightweight book so it can be easily tossed in a bag when travelling so that the family keeps up with their devotion no matter where life takes us each day. 

One of the best parts is that the word choice for each day is not predictable. Another is the style of writing. When reading, you can tell with ease that the author revers God and wants the reader to get to that same place of reverence. 

For family's who are just starting out with family worship and coming together for daily family devotions, I recommend you start here. Somewhere that sets a foundation for your family worship and devotions together. 

To read a quick excerpt before purchasing, click here.

And as always, please note that I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Moody Publishers, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.)

Settle My Soul....a Pressing Pause Devotional

This is my second devotional authored by Ruth Schwenk. This, however, is co-authored with Karen Ehman (currently a writer & speaker with Proverbs 31 ministries).

This is one of those devotionals that you completely enjoy and devour. That you sit and linger in because of the daily journaling prompts to respond. And it is completely beautiful. The theme like the previous one (and The Better Mom Devotional) is floral. It's a hardback book with a nice ribbon bookmark (never realize how much I use bookmarks until I come across a book/bible without the ribbon already in it).

There are 100 devotions with each author writing 50 devotions. They trade off First Karen then Ruth and going back and forth for the rest of the devotional. Rest and indulging in Jesus, kindness and disappointment are some of the many topics discussed. Each devotion starts with Scripture and ends with a prayer as well as a journal prompt along with journaling space to write in the book. I enjoy these devotions greatly because there is enough to chew on. I also greatly enjoy the journaling prompts and lined space to write. I enjoy their different yet similar writing styles. I also enjoy the differing perspectives offered (as Karen has been married longer with older children than Ruth). It feels like the cover both the older mom and younger mom demographics.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

(FYI: as always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.)

Jesus Calling (Cloth, Botanical, Large Print)

This is the second Jesus Calling devotional I've reviewed you can read Jesus Today here.

I've read SO many negative reviews for this series of devotionals. And they ALL stem from Sarah Young's writing style. She writes as though God, Himself is speaking to you. And while usually, I'd be against this, I have not read anything that went against Scripture. As Christians, we're ok with reading Paul's words (Jude, John, Peter, James) and treating it on par with the literal words from Jesus and God. 

So how do we get so riled up over this series of devotionals? In the introduction of this book, Sarah explains why she writes in this manner: to help readers feel more personally connected with Him (God). She also makes it clear that the Bible is the only infallible, inerrant Word of God. She's not attempting to usurp the Bible's role in our lives. Contrary to that she provides Scriptural references that back up what she writes, that shows that God does indeed feel this way about us.

I like this specifical copy because while it is beautiful, it is large print, which is GREAT because of my poor vision. On average I can read this devotional without glasses in the morning.

Check out a few snippets (4 days worth) below:

(FYI: this is my honest opinion. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Preparing Your Heart for Marriage

This is like only the second couples devotional I've ever come across and yet the first one that is specifically for engaged couples. 

Gary Thomas is known for his Christ-centered books for families. Most of them (especially the ones I've read) are on marriage. My favorite is Sacred Marriage. It has really progressed how I view marriage. 

So recently Gary Thomas released this devotional. It is for 30 days prior to marriage and has a day of the wedding devotional for both the bride and the groom. What I love is that the devotions are not expected to be read by just one person, they are expected to be read by both the bride and the groom. AND there are reflection questions for them to discuss. Also, the devotions are about 3 pages each. The devotions are broken down into 3 groups: God's Plan for marriage, Preparing for your vows, & The wedding vows. If you look below at the photos, you'll see the titles of each devotional in each section. One thing to note is that Gary Thomas is addressing the marriage, not the wedding. He isn't addressing the literal wording of the vows BUT the meaning behind those vows and what it looks like in action. He's addressing engaged couples' headspace going into marriage. He's giving them a tool to help them succeed. To know that marriage is full of forgiveness and grace and service unto each other. 

Table of Contents pg 1

Table of contents pg 2

Back cover

This back cover captivated me because it made me think, was I spiritually ready for marriage when I got married 8 1/2 years ago? Honestly no. I was not ready on spiritually and while I thought I was ready emotionally, I actually was not. And because of that, my marriage suffered a bit under my immaturity. There are days now, when it still may suffer from my attitude.

So I recommend this book along with good godly pre-marital counselling (preferably by a neutral party).

{As always, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

The Better Mom Devotional

The is the devotional follow up to Ruth Schwenk's novel The Better Mom (my review on it here) named after her blog, The Better Mom. And I must say it is quickly becoming my favorite devotional! It literally speaks to my often overwhelmed, sometimes weary mom heart. That part of me that questions just how well am I doing at this job. 

And on top of that, it is insanely beautiful. It comes as a hardback which means...longer lasting quality. HUGE plus. And the pages are of great quality, they're heavy enough to be read and turned many times without worrying about them ripping so easily. 

Each day starts with a bible verse/passage and ends with a prayer prompt and questions for pondering that I use as daily journal prompts. There are exactly 100 devotions, so that's just over 3 months of devotions.

Below are a few shareable images: 

THIS is one of the main themes of this devotional.

This is an often prayer of mine, that we are acceptable representatives of Christ in all we do & say. That people want to join His family when they interact with mine and feel God's love in action.

This one is such a HUGE truth that we have to remember daily as moms and wives. We are supposed to be a gift to each other AND an example to the WORLD of Christ's relationship with His bride, the church

God's Blessings Day By Day

If you knew me personally and could view my home bookshelf, then you'd know I love kids devotionals. Why? Because usually, kids have a shorter attention span, so giving them the Word in nuggets each day works SO much better and easier until their attention spans get longer and they're ready for full on bible studies.

So a couple of things to note about this devotional. First, it is of course for kids. Second, it is a compilation of devotionals written by people from around the country. There are 52 weeks of devotions, with devotions for Monday-Friday and then one for the weekend of each week. Each devotional starts with a focus bible verse, which can be easily used as a daily memory verse (make it fun with treats or rewards for actually memorizing) and then has the actual devotional. Ending each devotional with a prayer or praise prompt.

This book is hardback with solid pages, not too thick yet not too thin that they'd easily rip.  I definitely recommend this for kids, up to around 9 years old. After that, it may seem babyish to them and they may require a pre-teen devotional.

(FYI: I received 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. 

Ever Faithful: 365 Devotional

This is the latest devotional from David Jeremiah, a conservative evangelical Christian author, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church. 

While there are a plethora of topics covered, they all seem to point back to God's faithfulness and trusting Him no matter what. The devotionals are only a page each, starting with a verse that will guide the rest of the devotional. The author weaves in bible stories and life stories from around the world. He even takes little snippets of some famous people's life and interweaves them with lessons from the Bible.

Now on to the book itself. It is linen hardback, grey and black. There's a nice grey ribbon marker. The devotions are dated. The pages are thick enough to highlight and not bleed through. And at the end of the devotional are some notetaking pages that you record your thoughts in. The book is a small enough size to take with you to work or school so you never have to miss a day's reading. There is not a table of contents or index to look up specific topics however there is an appendix of sorts where there's a reference list for some of the stories/outside resources used. 

Below is a three-day snippet.

I'll be honest, this is not one of my more favoured devotionals. It isn't personal enough for me. And there are a little too many worldly influences in the devotions for my taste. I think it could be great for someone who like a not so personal devotional or one that is deeply rooted in Scripture. Don't get me wrong there are some devotions that are deeply rooted in Scripture but the devotional as a whole is not.

My hope is to pass this one on to someone who would get more enjoyment out of it than I did.

{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.}

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.}

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.}

Unshakeable

Unshakable is a new 365 day devotional from celebrated speaker and writer Christine Caine.

It is of decent size and hardcover.

The colors are rich and vibrant. They give me the feeling of being relaxed at the beach.

As can be seen above the devotional and it’s entire color scheme is of this teal and gold. Reminds me of the beach.

Each day starts off with a Bible verse before it selves into a short (no more than a couple paragraphs) devotional. It ends with a payer prompt of sorts. Nothing dramatically different from most other devotionals. The only difference is that you get small glimpses into different experiences of Caine’s. She tells short stories that relate to that day’s devotional.

Below is a few days excerpt, so you can get a feel for this devotional.

So my personal opinion is that you will be most interested if you are familiar with and already a fan of Christine Caine’s writing. I personally have not found anything extraordinary about this devotional thus far.

I’d give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

It’s not a top devotional on my list of recommendations.

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

100 Favorite Bible Verses for Children

This book operates like a devotional for children. These is a devotional and a scripture along with a cute illustration/drawing.

I like that it is like a starter into using devotionals. And for the parents who read a daily devotional (*waves hand*) this may be a nice addition to your library to get your kids involved in that daily reading time as well.

These are an example of what the two page devotional looks like. The first page is the actual devotional and the second page is the bible verse in a children friendly translation and a cute illustration. It's nothing too heavy yet enough to get them in God's Word and help them understand God's word and how it relates to their little lives.

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

The Words of Jesus

The Red Letter Words Of Jesus takes the Words of Jesus in the New Testament and uses them for the Scripture references in a devotional.  It starts off in Matthew and makes its way through the Gospel with the ending devotional coming from Revelations. Over 100 verse of Jesus' words are in this devotional. The devotions are not numbered nor is there a table of contents.

I like that it is small enough to toss in a bag when you're on the run but don't want to miss out on your daily devotional. It is also built pretty sturdy, you don't have to worry about the cover bending up or pages ripping so easily.

I think this devotional is great for any age of believer, from the teen to the elder of the church. 

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

Kingdom Family Devotional

Every family that chooses to walk as followers of Christ is a kingdom family. And as much as we would like it to be just ingrained knowledge. It isn't. It takes consistency in boundaries and consistency in trusting God to guide us in guiding our children.

Many Christian parents will tell you that they know they need God and His Word in rearing their children BUT they don't know where to start in scripture or how to make spending time in God's Word a consistent element of their family's routine.

That is what Kingdom Family Devotional does for Christian families. It helps us with the framework for actively and consistently engaging in God's Word as a family. It doesn't require a whole lot of knowledge to do but the willingness to do.

It is a weekly devotional with individual devotions for Monday-Friday. Each week focuses on a specific topic and each day in that week delivers on that week's topic. Each day starts with a Scripture reading (which you have to look up so it is quite wise to keep a bible handy) and goes into the devotional.

I definitely recommend this for families that want or need that initial guideline to spending time together in God's Word.



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

Earth Psalms

Earth Psalms is a collection of devotions paired with beautiful photographs of nature. The devotions are meant to spark reflection and application. There are 52 devotions for weekly reading. This devotional is a collaboration between Francine Rivers and Karin Buursma. Francine knew she wanted to write a devotional with added photos of nature so we can see the beauty and work of God in the nature around us but she wanted the devotional to have a bit more depth so that's where Karin Buursma comes in at adding in the hymns, quotes, reflections, and applications throughout the devotional. 

The book is very well put together with hardback and nice thick pages with full vibrant color photos. Each devotion is themed with a color as can be seen below the second devotions pages all have deep teal color coordination. Don't get me wrong this is a beautiful devotional and is very good on content but also because of its beauty it can be put on a coffee table of sorts to spark interest and conversation with visitors. Because they'll see the beautiful photos then possibly read the devotional or at least skim the devotional that goes with the photos. 

I think this would make a great gift for the believer, new or old, who enjoys nature.

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

Devotions for a Deeper Life

A deeper life?

What exactly does that mean? Deeper in what aspect?

Well for the devotional I picked up by Oswald Chambers, deeper is spiritually deeper.

And considering the world and everything going on, can't we all go a little spiritually deeper, a little more intimate with God?

I raise my hand yes we do (at least I do).

Oswald Chambers helps us get there with this devotional. Each one starts with a passage, nothing too cheesy but enough to provoke thought. To cause me to stop and really ponder what I am reading. And then the full context of the main verse is given so that we can study further, study deeper on that day's topic. 

The book itself is nice sized not too big, its adequately sized to throw in a bag to read while commuting (train/bus/plane) or even to just take along to work to read while on break. There's also a bookmark ribbon to mark where you left off. Plus it is dated so no matter what just go to today's date and jump right in. 

Before I was really adhering to using my Jesus Calling devotional but after coming across this one, I've become a tad bit more interested in this one because it is clear that the speaker is not Jesus but is inspired by God. 

The Store

I just wanted to share with you some bible studies (and a journaling devotional) that I've written. They all come in PDF format. And are extremely affordable: roughly $3 each. 

You can find them here!

If you purchase a copy, I'd love to hear your feedback and if you have a suggestion on a topic for the next study, comment below :)