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.

Real Change

Real change for students. I was expecting a bit more. However, I had to remember that this is a study meant for teens and young adults who seem to have a fairly short attention span, so they need to get the point across without taking up too much time or losing their attention. The book itself is less than 100 pages and and the study is less than half. It is very direct and to the point. Each week, has scripture, reflection sections and homework. Then the leader guide has pointers on how to conduct each week of the study and roughly how much time that is recommended to spend on each section each week.

So half the book is the actual study and the other half is the leader guide. The point of the study is to do internal change, transformation that leads to external change. There are six sessions in the study, which could be done one per week. The first four sessions are mostly internal change and the last two  sessions are where the internal work moves into external fruit that can be seen. And this is huge because Jesus said we will know them by their fruit and the fruit of our lives is what can actually be seen. So it doesn’t matter that Jesus knows my heart if the effects of knowing Jesus isn’t shown in my life. And THAT is the true purpose of this study to help the next generation produce fruit in keeping with being a follower of Christ.

(FYI, I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.)

Bible & Breakfast!

So, as I am learning mealtime and bible time can go hand in hand. And what better way than with Asheritah Ciuciu's latest book Bible & Breakfast.

31 days having Breakfast with Jesus. That is the promise of this book. As a mom, Ashertiah understands how hard it is as a mom to get consistent time in God's Word each morning. And one of the best features of this bible??
RECIPES!!! There's a recipe for each day that you spend with Jesus. This makes me happy because it is so easy to run out of new recipes to make and here are 31 new recipes.

Each day features several things:

1. That day's recipe which is also illustrated and tells you if its "gluten-free," "kid-friendly," "freezer-friendly," or if you can meal-prep it.
2. The morning snack, which is a quick 3-minute devotional.
3. The feast which is a longer more in-depth study that is intended to really get us in the Word.

I love that from the beginning this book assumes that it is a we thing. That perhaps there will be a group of parents doing this study together or a group of girlfriends, or even a group of grandparents. I also love that she has both a short devotional AND a deeper bible study. That way even if I cannot sit down to study, I can at least grab a quick snack in the Word then come back during lunch or nap-time to sit, savor, and study the Word.  And it is hardback which means it can withstand being in the kitchen around little hands or some messes.

HIGHLY recommend. I am personally digging into this book starting January 1st to kick off my year. And I invite any and everyone to join me. You can grab a copy here. 

{A huge thank you to Moody Publishers for allowing to be a long-term member of its Blogger Program. As a member, I have received this book (along with many others reviewed on this blog) for free in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

NLT Illustrated Study Bible

So, after a while, we have a new study bible to review and my, my is it a beauty.

IT is the Blush Rose Linen NLT Illustrated Study Bible.

 Gorgeous Right?

It comes encased in a hard sleeve, which I've kept for storage purposes as I've learned cloth exterior bibles get dirty easy. One thing I noticed upfront was the blush rose bookmark ribbon, a very nice addition to this bible. I also noticed that it is slightly thicker than my NASB Life Application Study Bible. I want to attribute the thickness to the near verse by verse footnotes and many articles found throughout the bible. 

This short article on Greece and the Greeks show their impact on the world and therefore the culture of Israel (which was under Roman rule) at the time of Jesus' birth.

I also noticed that with Nebuchadnezzar's person background there's a running list of places in Scripture that make mention of him.

This article helps to understand the visions/dreams in the book of Daniel and their relation to each other as well as who they referred to in history. Something that always interested me is that the feet of the statue (iron mixed with clay) is rarely spoken of or given as much attention as the upper parts.

I have noticed that major players or authors of books get the full page character background page like Daniel and John do.

And as you can see these are all heavily illustrated and actually quite beautiful, even if somewhat inaccurate as to the racial appearance of the people of the Bible. They are still given white-washed appearances as if they are ignoring that Israel is in the Middle East and ancient Israelites are not as white-washed as today's Israelites and therefore should look Middle Eastern. 

I do appreciate the use of maps throughout the bible and not just in the appendix at the back like they are put right there in with scripture so you have that visual while reading. And that is invaluable.

This map is found in the book of Daniel and shows the Persian Empire at the time as well as the stretch of the Royal Persian Road which connected much of the kingdom. 

Then there are these short topical studies found throughout the bible that has cross-references to back up the study, which can be quite nice to read and study further as you may come across it while reading. 

As you can see this one is about justice and the God who gives justice. Throughout the short article, it gives scriptural references. Then in the column to the left, there are more scriptural references to read for further study.

I have to admit this is one of the best study bibles I have come across since my Life Application bibles. Don't get me wrong I like the CSB Study Bible for Women but its a bit narrow in its concept and does not have the same amount of articles and footnotes. I would highly recommend this Bible (it does come in other colors) to anyone looking for a good study bible. 

Big Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for creating this beautiful well put together bible and allowing me to review it.

New Review: Adorned

So a fairly big name in the Christian arena of authors, especially those that write on upholding biblical marriage and womanhood is Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. A release of hers that I'm just getting to read this year is her first book post-marriage: Adorned.
Beautifully written and well thought out.

And yet it is not about marriage but about living out the gospel, per Titus 2 with the women around us. She gives the perspective of being both the older woman who seeks to exhort and the younger woman who accepts the exhortation.

The book is written in three parts with each chapter corresponding to part of Titus 2:1-5, 10. The end of each chapter has a section of questions for older women and one for younger women. It has the feeling of being read in a group or partner setting OR even used as teaching material for discipleship between women.
The first section focuses on submission to God and how that is fleshed out in a Titus 2 relationship. She starts with understanding that doctrine (regardless of what doctrine you adhere to) guides your beliefs and actions. She addresses teaching in the Titus 2 context, woman to woman, older woman to younger woman. I appreciate how she acknowledges that we are always in BOTH positions. Always in a position to learn and a position to teach. Even when we think we have nothing to teach, there is always some lesson you've learned that can be passed on to someone younger.
The second section focuses on being a woman under control. This is huge because we are in a culture where we have the liberty to do almost anything we want. But we have to understand and practice self-control; knowing that everything that I can do is not beneficial to us and much of it is harmful.
The third section focuses on our home. As we know part of Paul's advice is that older women instruct younger women in being wives and mothers. This is taking into account the older women are living in a manner that brings God glory and honor. And the last chapter focuses on tying it all together to be beautiful in God's eyesight.

So Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth's writings, in my experience, have always brought up some discourse or discontent from women, especially those who lean heavily feminist.
Generally, I enjoy the majority of her writing. And this book does not disappoint. It is very engaging and the questions at the end of the chapter beget us to sit still and reflect to see where we can improve. With her being a newly married woman, I will admit I was cautious in reading because there's so much she still has to learn but because she has spent much time in a Titus 2 setting and studying it, it gives her an advantage to be better prepared for marriage in a way that I was not.

I HIGHLY recommend for those who want to promote Titus 2 relationships among godly women, among the church. We need even the young women who are in college and pursuing God to reach back to the highschool aged women around them and help them pursue God as well so the younger generation sees that it is not just "old" women pursuing God.

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

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 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: 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.}

On Bended Knee

So if you know me, I love to review a good bible study and I love being on launch teams!

And this spring I got to do that TWICE.

The first was on Crickett Keeth's On Bended Knee. 

This is one of the very few bible studies I've come across that tackles prayer like this. She doesn't focus on one specific prayer or one specific person but she covers many prayers across both the Old and New Testament. 

So above you'll see the Table of Contents where each week the author takes on a new prayer and guides us through that prayer. 

She starts off with THE prayer by Jesus (you know the one: Our Father....). 

Then we go into intercessory prayer by Paul in Ephesians (and even get to cover one in Colossians). Next is Job's prayer in his despair and Hannah's prayer as she was longing to have children (the prayer that brought forth Samuel). 

By week 5 we get to David's prayer in the Psalms of Lament where we find how to be sad & hurting and yet still trust God to be God. 

Then there's Asa's prayer who was seeking God and trying to turn the people towards God. 

Then Jehoshaphat, Asa's son and the monarch after him, who is depending on God for his decision making.

And we end the study with Nehemiah whose prayer was very bold, especially for someone still in captivity in Persia. 

Then at the end, there's this section with MORE prayers found in the bible that we can study and replicate in our own prayer time: Jacob, Moses, Solomon, Elijah, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezra, as well as others by David and Paul.

And if you choose to do this study in a group there's also a leader's guide in the back.

I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I read over it during the launch and even more so now that I am taking my time going through it, studying the prayers and praying them over friends and family. I highly recommend as a good study on prayer that's not warfare praying (which is not covered in this study).

{FYI: I did receive this book for FREE as a member of the launch team.}

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.}

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 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.}

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.}

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.}

Inductive Bible Study

So I was absolutely stoked when I saw that I had the chance to review this book.

Why?

Because I had been wanted to study more in-depth and I had always heard that the Inductive Bible Study Method was one of the best ways to study the bible.

Now here's the kicker, I had always been studying the bible (on a very basic level) in an inductive format. But after reading this book, which is actually a textbook, I learned just how much can go into studying the bible and how there is ALWAYS something to study and learn. You can never exhaust the bible.

This particular book examines studying the bible in an inductive format: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the perspective of History, Literature and Theology. Now what I gather this to mean is:

Observing the bible (passage, book, verse) by checking out its historical context (what prompts the author to write), literary context (how is it written, genres, literary devices are used), and understanding theology that everything flows together, nothing with contradict the other and it all points to Jesus. 

The same holds true for interpreting the bible. I love how the authors state that there is essentially one interpretation of any given verse BUT near unlimited ways that it may be applied in relation to individuals lives. 

Application is important. Nothing in the bible means anything if it is not applied. It is not to read about love than to act with love. It is not enough to read about doing the will of God BUT you must actually act upon it. James says it best: faith without works is dead. Faith can only do you so much good if your works do not echo what you profess to believe in.

So my reaction: one of the best reads EVER. This book and Searching the Scriptures by Charles Swindoll have been absolute game changers in how I study the bible.

Would I recommend? Yes, I recommend any and everyone that intends to study the bible, to get this book and read it, kind of use it as a guide on questions to ask yourself as you study. And it all starts with prayer.

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