Comparison Girl

So a new book is hitting the shelves and it’s definitely one for self reflection and allowing God to grow us in the ways that may be uncomfortable and definitely humbling but absolutely necessary for our good and God’s glory.

Comparison Girl is a book for the girl who is looking to do something different so she gets different results in life.

It’s always easy to compare ourselves with others even if we don’t know them. It’s even worse when you compare yourself to perfection and Shannon shares her first hand experience on how the attempt at perfection (whether for yourself or for appearances) is just as big an issue as comparing yourself to the lady you follow on Instagram or the lady on Pinterest whose life you never really see but just the carefully curated highlight reel. 

This one that goes in the arsenal for when life gets to the point that I’m comparing or doing ministry for likes or I’m posting simply for likes rather than to simply share something good and beautiful and educating.

So here’s the fun part: a giveaway! 

Here’s the link:  

http://www.audrajennings.com/2020/05/how-do-you-measure-up-win-copy-of.html

Women compare constantly—on social media, in their neighborhood, at church, even in the school drop-off lane. They glance sideways and ask themselves, "How do I measure up?" All this assessment feels like a natural way of finding a place in the world. But it pulls them into feelings of inferiority or superiority, guiding them into a trap of antagonism by the enemy. Satan would like women to strive to measure up, constantly adding to a tally sheet that can't ever be balanced. The way of Jesus is completely upside down from that philosophy. Instead, he says the last shall be first--and the greatest are those who empty themselves, lay down their lives, and serve each other.   Through conversations Jesus had and parables he shared, Shannon Popkin has created a seven-week Bible study to address this tendency to compare and judge ourselves and others. Each chapter is divided into lessons, allowing women on a time budget to read a Bible passage, engage in a complete train of thought related to the topic, and then make the content personal--all in one sitting. And the informal teaching tone will make women feel like they're meeting with a trusted friend. Suited for both individual and group study, Comparison Girl will guide women to leave their measure-up ways behind, connect with those around them, and break free from the shackles of comparison!

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.

New Review: Play to Their Strength

So our next book is a parenting book. I'm almost always up for reading someone else's take on parenting because as parents we don't know it all. And if someone has advice that can make me a better, more God-honouring parent then I'm all ears.

From the cover, this one promises both.

So in this book, we meet parents who have got it wrong then strove on how to get it right.  Their goal is to not parent from a place of fear but one of working to uncover what their children's gifts and talents are, then parent their children in such a way that nurtures those gifts and talents. Some practical tools they offer are to find the 5 e's (your child's enthusiasm, ease, excellence, energy, and enjoyment) regarding what your children are involved in; creating a vision board, which works with children the same way it does us, adults; and keeping an eye out for red flags that trigger frustration and keep parents from reacting and disciplining out of anger.

Then the last 80 pages of the book is the Bonus Playbook which helps parents actually used what they've read. There are practical tips to go with every chapter.

This book has been an interesting book to read, especially since we have five (5) children that span in an age range from 1 to 12. For me, Chapters 12 and 13 have been the most useful and implementor. I see this book as an ongoing reference book that would get a reread every so often for recharge. But all in all, I like their approach to parenting, its encouragement and cultivation at its best.

I also like that they encourage really learning our children and not taking the approach that we know them because we birthed them.

I definitely recommend this book to parents. 

{Also, please note that I received this book from the publisher, Harvest House, in exchange for my honest opinion.}

God Made Boys and Girls

So here's another series of God Made books by New Growth Press.

This first book is about helping children understand gender from a godly perspective, which is hugely needed in today's society considering the constant discussion around gender and transgendered persons.

The story starts revolves around a little girl named Maya who prefers to play sports like football at recess. She's also really fast. So fast that when they line up for recess, her classmate (a boy) remarks that if she keeps playing with boys then she'll turn into a boy. This sparks a discussion about gender and how it does not change because of what we do or how we act. Gender is a gift from God and even if you like to do things that are considered "boy-ish" it doesn't change that gift. Gender is what you're born with and it doesn't change. It's ingrained so deep in us, it goes beyond what we can physically see down into our DNA and cells.

Again!  New Growth Press does it again with another good book with a much-needed lesson.

This is definitely worth reading, especially those who may have children or even teens who are struggling with gender identity and as a parent, you want to take a God-honoring approach to discuss it. This book does that and points them back to Jesus.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

Good News for Little Hearts: Gus Loses His Grip

Our third book in the series! Such a good series so far. Each one is just as good as the last. 

Each book takes place in Mulberry Meadow and introduces another animal family. We've met Henry and Tori, now we meet Gus. 

Now Gus is a going through a sneaky phase. It starts with disobedience, eating candy in his room, which is a no-no. Then it delves into stealing candy at the market. All of this falls around Easter.

When Gus confesses to his dad he says he just had to have it (candy). So when he was offered a piece without any supervision he did what the kids next to him did, took more than he was told he could. Gus also confesses to eating candy in bed and hiding the wrappers knowing it was against the rules.

But the best part? His dad's response. His dad acknowledged what Gus did was wrong then self-reflected that even he as an adult needs to practice restraint and self-control. Then his dad tells him to return the candy, confess to the shopkeeper and apologize. 

Parents, a book that deals with disobedience, lying, and theft in a godly manner? Win!

Again add it to your home library for when the situation arises.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

Good News For Little Hearts: Henry Says Good-bye

So we have TONS of new children's books to review from New Growth Press.

So Good News for Little Hearts is a very cute series that helps children address their feelings.

First Up: Henry Says Good-Bye

This is one of the  BEST books. It deals with grief and how feelings are real and how many times we can be mean when they are grieving. Henry's pet ladybug dies while he is at school one day and he's so sad and grieving, that even at times he takes it out on his friends. But then his parents help him to address his sadness and to grieve. They have a memorial service for Lila and all of Henry's friends come to say their good-byes he starts to not be so sad because he realizes his friends loved Lila the Ladybug too. 

Parents, this book is good to just have. Keep it on the bookshelf because death and loss are inevitable and as parents, we have to help our children through the losses that are sure to come. Even if the good-bye isn't due to death but perhaps moving and having to leave behind friends and family, a loss is still loss and our children need our help navigating the waters.

A must-have.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

New Q&A with Author Natalie Chambers Snapp!

So a new book that is releasing this fall is The Bathsheba Battle. And to celebrate, we have a short Q&A with the author to answer some really great questions about the book and her reasons for writing it.

Q: You describe Bathsheba as one of the most misunderstood women in the Bible. How is she typically misrepresented?

Bathsheba is often portrayed as the adulteress—as though she was a vixen with the intent to tempt David and hopefully, take her on as his wife. However, the fact remains that she was a victim of David’s own desires and paid a very dear price for his sin. Sadly, victims can sometimes be blamed and in the case of Bathsheba, that’s exactly what happened. 

Q: What were some of the tragic circumstances that Bathsheba found herself in that were out of her control? How can we relate to her story today?

First of all, some commentaries claim Bathsheba was trying to entice David by bathing in the courtyard of her home. However, during the time in which Bathsheba lived, indoor plumbing didn’t exist! Therefore, most families had a basin in the courtyard for bathing purposes. When David saw her bathing, she was obeying the cleansing ritual required of women after monthly menstruation. She was not trying to entice David—she was simply following the rules of her culture! How would she even know David was going to be walking on his rooftop at the precise moment she was bathing? 

When David saw Bathsheba, he was immediately impressed with her beauty and summoned her to his palace. During those days, when the king summoned you to the palace, you did not have a choice, you went. So off Bathsheba goes to meet David and once there, they have sex. We have no way of definitively knowing if David assaulted her, but she did go to his palace against her will. For that reason, we can speculate that was a likely possibility. Bathsheba became pregnant which is when things start to go off the rails! 

David tries to hide his sin by summoning Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, one of his most valuable warriors, home from the war (which is where David was supposed to be as well). Once Uriah reaches the palace, David proceeds to feed him a large meal and encourages him to drink a lot of wine so he will go home and have sex with Bathsheba. Problem solved! He can then pass his child off as Uriah’s, and no one needs to know about his sin. However, David failed to consider the fact that Uriah was a man of honor and refused to visit his wife when his men were still waging a war. Instead, he slept on the front porch of the palace with the servants. David tried a second night to get Uriah to visit his wife, but Uriah refused.

At this point in the story, we can see how sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go. Instead of confessing and coming clean to everyone, David orders Uriah to the frontlines of the battle, and of course, he is killed. Now, Bathsheba was possibly raped by the king, pregnant, and her husband is dead. All these things were out of her control. 

After Uriah’s death, David takes Bathsheba as his wife. However, the restitution of David’s sin is the life of the child Bathsheba was carrying. Soon after the birth of David and Bathsheba’s son, the infant died. We see Bathsheba as a grieving mother, another event out of her control. 

I think so many people can relate to Bathsheba’s story because 1) suffering happens to all of us and 2) sometimes, our suffering is the result of someone else’s actions and choices. In no way should we remain victims, but I think Bathsheba’s story is God’s way of telling us that He sees us, understands our pain, and is the Ultimate Justifier. 

Q:  Can you share about a hardship or disappointment in your own life that provided the inspiration to write The Bathsheba Battle?

Absolutely! When I was in my late twenties, I was married to a man with a drug problem, but I did not know it. As many who have loved addicts understand, there are often behaviors corresponding with addiction that are not healthy for a young marriage and therefore, we divorced. Two months after I filed for divorce, my father, who was in and out of my life due to his own addiction issues, passed away unexpectedly. 

Life had definitely taken a very unexpected turn and was not at all going the way I had planned. It was a dark season, and yet also the very season in which I became a follower of Jesus. My deconstruction led to my reconstruction. I have been remarried for fifteen years and have three beautiful children; however, periods of suffering have also been peppered throughout those years as well. Suffering is often cyclical and that has been true of my life!

Q: Explain how transformation happens during renovation. Where does renovation take place?

It sounds so trite, and I’m not going to lie, there were times during my own periods of suffering when I just wanted to scream when people said this to me. But the fact remains, when we are deconstructed by trauma and circumstances in or beyond our control, if we humble ourselves to the process, we will indeed emerge with greater wisdom and grace. Suffering is the great equalizer—it does not discriminate between gender, race, beliefs, or socio-economic status. No one is immune. However, if we humble ourselves to the process, we will emerge with new eyes of strength and dignity. 

Q: Do we always have the ability to choose how we respond to our situation? Why is this such a significant choice, especially when we must endure a consequence of someone else’s sin?

Yes, I believe we do. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we will respond. Living life as a victim will ultimately make you feel powerless, depressed, and distrustful of people. It will lead to a life of bitterness, resentment, and anger. On the other hand, when we respond to our trauma with a humble heart and a willingness to be molded by our suffering, we feel empowered, strong, and able to help others when their time of suffering emerges. When we choose to live as victims, we give others power over our lives. When we choose to live as survivors, we understand that we possess the power ourselves. 

Q: How does your study on Bathsheba shift from part one of the book to part two?

In Part One, we discuss the byproducts of our suffering: fear, shame, anger, and comparison. In Part Two, we look at how to overcome these negative emotions and live empowered and with hope. 

Q: What does Bathsheba’s story teach us about forgiveness?

We don’t really know about Bathsheba’s forgiveness process because it’s not discussed in the Bible. However, we do see her stand before David in 1 Kings 1 with an empowered and confident voice that exhibits love and respect towards her husband. Perhaps somewhere during the course of their marriage, Bathsheba made peace with her circumstances—she chose her response and not to live as a victim. 

Not living as a victim involves forgiveness and yet, this does not mean she might not have felt like a victim for a while. It doesn’t mean that she didn’t feel shameful. And it doesn’t mean that she didn’t grieve the loss of the life she thought she might have. It does, however, indicate that she chose to keep moving forward without allowing her grief and shame to negatively impact who she ultimately became. A woman who is victorious over suffering is the most beautiful and inspiring to us all.  

Learn more at nataliesnapp.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@AuthorNatalieSnapp), Twitter (@nataliesnapp) and Instagram (@nataliesnapp).  

You can also purchase a copy of the book here.

New Review: Strong

SO if you all remember a little while back I did a review of an anthology called Empowered. Well here is the companion book for boys titled Strong.



Much like Empowered, Strong features the biographies of 11 men who have championed their faith in Jesus. Prior to reading this book, I'd only heard of two of them Jim Elliot, husband of Elisabeth Elliot, and famed baseball player Jackie Robinson. Each man has been chosen for a specific attribute that they represented such as humility, compassion, and endurance. I'll be honest I'm not much of a Jim Elliot fan, so his inclusion is one I'm not particularly interested in. (That is an entirely different topic that would need its own blog post on a different platform)

I also noticed she chose men who have no controversy and reform attached to them. It is as if she stuck to appeasing to a conservative audience. There is no mention of men like Martin Luther King Jr who as a pastor used his faith to help bridge gaps and bring positive progress during the civil rights movement.

For the most part, I think it is a decent book. It would be an interesting read for youth of all ages to read and learn about people who followed their beliefs no matter the cost. My plan is to have my kids read both this book and Empowered as I think they could learn a great deal about apologetics from them. And for that reason, I definitely would recommend to other moms for their home library as people of all ages could learn from their stories.




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

New Review: Life In Community

Community is a concept was hugely believed in and lived by in the early church. So much so, that it has survived through hundreds of years and is still written about to this day. I realize there is no shortage of writers that are writing on community or hospitality.
And therefore I find myself interested in reading this book to see what does Dustin Willis have to say on the topic that hasn't already been said or how does he present the material in a fresh way.

You can purchase the book on Amazon.

So after reading this book, which is split into three sections: forming community, the values for living in community, and next steps for a strong community. What I have found is that I do have a great appreciation for Dustin's message on returning to the idea of community as close to what it looked like in the Early Church as possible. I love the idea of holding each other accountable, of showing our true selves (the one our family sees), of forgiveness, and having real relationships. I think I expected more on the topic of hospitality. This book has exactly one chapter on hospitality, which is (in my opinion) a huge part of community, of being able to invite people into your life and to do life together.

I also appreciate the discussion questions at the end of each chapter as it encourages the reader to really engage with the book and self reflect on how we are apart of or encourage community around us. I personally noticed that I do not quite engage in the community around me like I want. And it gave me a nugget to chew on to engage in community and develop deeper relationships with those around me. My favorite quote from the book is "This was mot a Sunday activity that took place for an hour and ended with a prayer and a song. Community is more than a Sunday." I also enjoy the analogy of the after-church potluck meal to the need for everyone to bring their gifts to the body christ in community. No one is quite trying to make the same dish, just like each of our gifts our not quite the same or even used exactly the same. And we have to appreciate that both on an individual personal level and on a corporate level.

A great feature found in this book is the small group leader's guide. I really appreciate this because all too often, great books will have the study guide in a completely separate book that you have to buy and this one bundles it together for an easy way to do a book study and everyone is able to follow along.

All in all, I think this book is a solid read. It's great for those looking for the reasons why we should develop community and the values to base community on. It is also great for the book guide in the back, which breaks the book down into 6 weeks of reading that everyone in your newfound community can do together so everyone has the same understanding and appreciation for the community you are building. 

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

Empowered

Rarely do I read books about the saints of the past. Yet here is a book that tells the story of 11 women who stood strong in their faith. 

Catherine Parks effortlessly weaves short stories about these women that leaves me ready to research their lives. And at the end of each chapter are questions and Scripture and encouragement that we can be just as effective as these women. These are women who faced persecution simply because they believed in Jesus Christ and they didn't back down. That's FAITH. To know torture, prison, starvation is coming yet to stand strong in the faith and not deny Jesus. We are called to this level of faith even now. Granted some of us may live in a country where Christianity is accepted, even as it is twisted to fit others agendas. So many more of us live in countries where Christianity is not accepted and to believe is to be persecuted. And we must stand strong and support those in those countries where their faith can mean torture and persecution.

Now mind you this is a book for preteens & teens, it is just as good for adults as well. That's how well written it is. I am enjoying learning about these women, and am looking forward to each of my kids learning about these women as well. (And don't worry there is one for boys as well. I'll review it soon.) 

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

Soaring Through the Bible

How awesome is a Bible overview book made specifically for kids?? I think it is awesome and it helps with actually teaching the bible.

So this book goes book by book explaining who wrote it, why they wrote, who they wrote it to, and how it relates to the BIG picture of the Bible: The Gospel. Each chapter is about 4-5 pages long and encompasses helping with learning little tidbits about the Hebrew language and how the words really translate from Hebrew to English. And of course, it wouldn't be a Bible overview if each chapter didn't share a summary of the book in question, generally by theme.

My plan is to incorporate this book into our morning basket this school year as it will help my kids learn the books of the Bible, where to find them in the bible and how they relate to the gospel and God's overarching picture. 

I do recommend adding this book to your library for your kiddos too.

And if you choose to do so, you can get a copy on Amazon.

{As always I received this book in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Student Planner Review

So this may be my first time reviewing an academic planner, and this one is a student planner which I am totally excited about because we are back homeschooling this year so the planner will be used by my oldest who will be starting 7th grade in a few short weeks.

So this is what the exterior of the one we received looks like. It is hardback with the ability to lay flat to write in. It isn't super bulky so she can drop it down into her backpack to take with her when we go on road trips or to the library.

These two pages are to set up what courses the student will take on a weekly basis and which days each week as well as a semester overview. This is awesome for us because as homeschoolers we can use these pages to keep up with (for record-keeping purposes) exactly what was learned throughout the school year.

The each month's calendar is spaced out over two pages which allow the student to keep up with activities. Especially for the busy kid who may be involved in extracurricular activities like our kids are planning for. There's a notes column to jot down notes and things to remember. And down in the lower right-hand corner is a monthly memory verse for the student, so over the course of the school year they should be able to memorize at least 10-11 verses.

And last is the weekly planning pages which have a check-box layout rather than a time slot layout which in my preference is better because we often do not always adhere to a time schedule but we do tend to maintain our routine. With the checkboxes, I informed my student that she would write down all of her assignments the weekend before and check off each one as she completed them and I would review and grade the following weekend. My goal is to allow more self-governance for our oldest and give her more responsibility for keeping up with her assignments and chores.

So for me, this planner gets 5 stars!! It is well thought out and simple enough to use without too much explanation. I definitely recommend. And if you want one a little more feminine they do have another cover option:

{FYI: as always this planner was provided to me for FREE from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

New Interior Design Review: Restoration House

So this is the first of its kind here on Reviews with Kris. It is a book on interior design and it is beautifully written with gorgeous photographs of the author's home. She speaks of restoring home and restoring our hearts. 

This book yall! It is so refreshing and beautiful and hardback (my fave). 

This book is the story of a woman (Kennesha Buycks) who realizes that God met her while she was restoring furniture. And He used this newfound hobby of hers to pour into her and transform her from someone who was more superficial and discontent to someone who could see the beauty below the surface and who is now content with her portion in life. 

There is so much in this book that it goes beyond coffee table book to a handy resource. I'll share some excerpts (photos) of the practical tips and guides that the author shares with us; the deep and meaningful prayers she shares at the end of each chapter; the hospitality hacks spread throughout. There is even a guide on creating your own cheese board for entertaining (I included a photo of the shopping list). She goes to great lengths to ensure that this doesn't become a book that just sits on a table never to be used. There's so much to glean throughout the book and heart nuggets to draw us closer to God.

Cheeseboard shopping list.

 I greatly appreciated the reflection and prayer sections at the end of each chapter because it brings God into our homes and into our designs and gives Him glory through it all. 

Prayer and Reflection...this one from chapter 6.

 Hospitality tips

Seasons Greetings: ways to spruce up our homes during every season.

Recipe for a natural bug repellent. Like seriously, don't we ALL need this once the weather gets warm?

This book gets 5 stars from me and is DEFINITELY worth adding to your library! You can head over to Amazon to get your copy here.

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST review. In other words, I genuinely LOVE this book and my payment is the book itself.}

A Standard of Grace

A Standard of Grace is the third book by Emily Ley. And Omgosh I wish I'd known about her before. After getting my hands on this guided journal, I am itching to read her other books, Grace, Not Perfection and A Simplified Life. 

So starting on the outside, it is a beautiful and bright hardback. The front lettering is embossed in gold. Also, there are 3, yes THREE, colorful (navy, yellow, and pink) ribbon bookmarks. Yep, excited! This journal is smaller than the average notebook yet larger than the average journal (9x6.6). 

Now for the inside, this is the GOOD paper. I mean you can use gel pens or even a highlighter without worry of it bleeding through. The guided journal is organized weekly instead of daily, with about 2 journaling prompts per week. It's enough to really get into but not so much that it takes us too much time. So it is PERFECT for the busy mama (like myself) or even the busy gal on the go who wants to stop to smell the roses but still has a full plate. There are also loads of beautiful photography found in the book.

Back cover...

The purpose of this guided journal is to get us to slow down to create the life we want and will be proud of. Not a life of perfection but one full of grace and mercy. One that has room for margin, which means less stress and frustration when disruptions to our day come. She also encourages us to dream in our journaling. And there are plenty of nuggets of inspiration and motivating quotes sprinkled throughout the journal. 

I'd definitely recommend, especially for those who could use help in staying on track in journaling. *hand raised*

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

God's Good News (children's book)

I love a good children's book. Why? Because my husband and I have five (5!) children and having a home library is so important to me. Books are a complete necessity in life to me.

So here's a new book by Billy Graham. (my first time reviewing a book by him)

So to start this book is very colorful. On average each story is about 2 pages long with some being longer. There are also short takeaways or devotions to go with each story, penned by Billy Graham. The great thing I like about this book is that roughly half the book is Old Testament and half the book is from the New Testament. Most children's books I've come across usually have a majority of the book come from the Old Testament and a smaller portion from the New Testament.

So far, We're reading select stories as my children point out who they would like to read about. However, I am pleased with what I have read thus far. In every story you see that it is quite close to Scripture and the love & grace of God is shown. And even though it is a children's storybook, I can see it being used to help someone with absolutely no knowledge of the Bible to ease into understanding what they read in the Bible.

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

New from Veggie Tales & Jelly Telly!

So you guys know I am always on the hunt for the great homeschooling and learning tools to use with my children and Veggie Tales' new imprint Jelly Telly has released SIX new items this January!!

There are FOUR board books:

1. God Made the World
2. God Made Me
3. God Made Night & Day
4. God Made the Animals

Check out this video!

That actually tell an interesting story, featuring brothers Clive and Ian, and explain to children about creation. We love these books. They are board books, so no worries about ripped pages. They are bright and colorful. They are biblical. From the 2-year-old to the 7-year-old, we enjoy reading them.

Then, there are the Old Testament & New Testament Coloring books. 

• Buck Denver's Bible Coloring Book Old Testament Stories
• Buck Denver's Bible Coloring Book New Testament Stories

My kids LOVE them! There are 60 pages in each book. And the pages are perforated which is awesome since we have 4 kids who often want to color the same thing, I can neatly take the page out and make copies of it. And voila! Everyone can color the same page without any arguing over the page.

What's also awesome is that Jelly Telly is this amazing kids resource that's like a biblical Netflix just for kids. It's about $5 a month or $50 a year. They have access to over 122 shows and movies that are bible based and created specifically FOR children.

After perusing their online store, I realize I cannot wait to order some of their resources, they have a complete bible series called What's in the Bible that goes with the coloring books I received. They also have Bible curriculum which is great for churches' children's ministries and homeschoolers, like us. You can also buy toys and games as well as VBS materials. It's like a one-stop shop for a children's pastor.

I highly recommend! Like, get it asap!

Also here are a few FREE downloads for your kids too!!

Old Testament Coloring Pages
New Testament Coloring Pages

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

Praying God's Will for Your Life

Stormie Omartian is highly regarded in Christian circles for her writing and so I was quite interested to finally review a book by her. 

One thing to note from even the beginning chapters of this book is that it is quite personal. It's as if Stormie walks her audience through her life and how she became a Christian. Guiding the reader through becoming a Christian as well. She guides the reader through praying for salvation and if the reader is already a Christian, she guides them through recommiting themselves to Jesus. She recounts how she became a Christian so that others who may be on the fence about becoming a Christian can have that encouragement. 

 The book is organized into three sections: The Intimate Relationship, The Solid Foundation, and the Obedient Walk. Each section focuses on a specific part of the believer's life. The first section is helping the believer come into relationship with Jesus. The second section is to help pour the firm foundation of faith. The third section is living out that faith; obediently walking out the faith.

The chapters are bite sized and have a prayer section at the end of each.  The first four chapters have two prayers: one prayer for the new believer & one prayer for the seasoned believer. The bonus journaling space is at the end of the book. It would have been perfect to have it at the end of each chapter where its easier to journal in response to each chapter. There's also a tools of truth section at the end of each chapter which contain Scripture verses that relate to each chapter. 

At first I was a bit skeptical, but I see why her books are so beloved. This one is good for both the new and the seasoned believer. It requires you to put in work on your end to see results. And it prompts us to open up to the work of the Holy Spirit.

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

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.)

The Better Mom

The Better Mom is the long-awaited book by Ruth Schwenk from the blog, The Better Mom.

So the first thing to note is that The Better Mom does not mean the comparison of one mom to another but that we are striving to be better moms...together.

Ruth does an amazing job in reminding us moms that we aren’t called to perfection but to grace and to Jesus. We are called to steward the hearts of our babes. And it’s ok that the season of parenting that you are in is hard. Parenting was not made to be easy but give yourself grace and turn to Jesus to allow Him to refresh you, to be your refuge, to give you wisdom as you parent your children.

As you see above in the table of contents Ruth covers the real topics and seasons of life. There are days when I feel like I need alone time. I’ve got 5 kids and stay home with 3 of them. There are days when I question if I make a difference. There are days when I question my identity because I feel all consumed with my husband and children. And that’s where I NEED God’s Word to refresh me and remind me of why I do what I do and who I am. And Ruth helps us that struggle with this. But in everything, she points back to the cross instead of to herself. And THAT is what I love most about this book & is my biggest takeaway from this book.

2 thumbs up! 👍🏽 👍🏽

(FYI: I received my book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST OPINION.)

The Lifegiving Trilogy

If you've been following along, then you know that there are 3 books in the Lifegiving Trilogy. 

The Lifegiving Home (review found here)

Two words that sum up this book: Cultivating HOME.

The Lifegiving Table (review found here)

Two words that sum up this book: Intentional discipleship.

And lastly The Lifegiving Parent (review found here). 

Two words that sum up this book: Intentional parenting.

As you may have read, these are well-written books that expound on being lifegiving. Intentionally Lifegiving in our homes, Intentionally Lifegiving with the meals we serve, Intentionally Lifegiving in how we parent our children. We want to cultivate the intentionality because it does NOT come naturally. It doesn't come naturally for me. If I am not intentional then I will spend entirely TOO much time on social media (if you don't believe me ask my husband). I have chosen to use Lifegiving Table this fall/winter season (along with another book, you can find here) to disciple the hearts around me by simply inviting people for dinner. Inviting my neighbors to Thanksgiving dinner will allow me to use a meal to be intentional in being hospitable and loving towards them. The same with Christmas. I want not only my family but those around us to want to come to our home. And that starts with me. 

I recommend this trilogy to everyone who wants to cultivate something special in their home, in their family. Even if you do not have children, you can still appreciate at least 2/3 of the books.

Thank you, Sally, for this oh so needed reminder! And if you want to know more about Sally or her books, you can connect with her here. And thank you, Tyndale, for allowing me the chance to experience these books! 

You can purchase the entire trilogy HERE for only $24.49 (prices subject to change).