The Parables of Jesus

It seems like there is a coloring book to suit every interest and genre and while most started out for just children, now adults are experiencing a sense of peace and creativity in coloring as well. Whether you are a kid or a kid at heart, I believe you will love The Parables of Jesus Coloring Book Devotional by Laura James and Katara Washington Patton. This is something a bit different than your standard coloring book because while there are only 46 illustrations to color, the remainder is a devotional based on the parables of Jesus found in the Bible.

Each of the 46 illustrations takes Scripture directly from the Bible and applies it to real world learning, like struggling with a difficult boss at work and how we can use this to help us not only get through the situation like God would plan for us, but also incorporating prayer into as well to remind us not only to pray for our own situation but for others as well. Some of the lessons focus on Being Humble, Building a Solid Foundation, Dealing with Debt, Being Aware, Reminding Us About Our Treasures Being Stored in Heaven, Bearing Fruit, When Weeds Grow and so many others,

I chose A Fine Pearl to focus on from Matthew 13:45-46. It illustrates not only where pearls are formed and found, but understanding how Jesus uses this illustration pertaining to the Kingdom of God. A person who harvests pearls know when he has found a rare and perfect one, like the hidden treasure it was until it is opened and revealed, much like us. We fail often times to find value in ourselves, but we need to understand how precious we are to God and how important our relationship is with Him to secure our eternity with Him. It isn't something that can be bought or sold. Are you willing to do what is necessary to secure your eternal future? What are some of the things you need to rid yourself of to better enjoy the Kingdom of God today? Then a beautifully illustrated picture follows so you can focus on finding the beauty in what you color and create.

I received The Parables of Jesus by Laura James and Katara Washington Patton compliments of FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Groups.In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. The best part of this coloring book is that each image is one sided so that when you use a media form that bleeds through like markers, as long as you add a blank piece of paper in between, you don't ruin other pages in this book. Crayons and Coloring Pencils will not have any issue with bleeding through the pages. What a great way to get some devotional time in while also enjoying the tranquility of coloring as well. I'd give this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Parables of Jesus Coloring Book and Devotional and where to pick one up today, please click on the links below:

The Parables of Jesus Coloring Book and Devotional by Laura James and Katara Washington Patton

You can purchase a copy of The Parables of Jesus Coloring Book and Devotional at Amazon and other find retailers today.

To get a free download of one of the parables and coloring page, visit Faith Words' website. 

Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book

When you look around in the world today, what do you think of when you consider God? Do you think of beautiful sunrises or sunsets? How about the wonder of a bird taking flight? Perhaps it is a field of colorful flowers of every shape and size? Or the beautiful stained glass windows in a church that reflect the colors from the sun? Or even the laughter of a child? Within each of us, we can see evidence of God's creative power in the world around us in unique ways and Robin Mead has brilliantly captured that in Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book.

Beautiful illustrations capture the beauty in the world around us in coloring pages we can make our own using various types of media from crayons, coloring pencils, gel pens or you name it. There are 96 pages of pages for you to color including the types I have mentioned above and more coupled with beautiful biblical scriptures to invoke a sense of beauty and peace. What better way to take a moment to slow down from our busy days and just appreciate all the God have so abundantly blessed us with. We don't live in a world of black and white but vibrant and brilliant colors.

I think this is a perfect way to simply take some time for yourself and spend time coloring and reflecting on those beautiful biblical promises. Maybe even grab your kids and teens and have a coloring day and post the pictures prominently on your refrigerator or even frame some. This are simply ways to remind you of the beauty that is all around us each day and so often we are too busy that we fail to take time and smell the flowers or even catch our breath as busy moms, and women!

I received Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book by Robin Mead compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I would recommend not using markers in this coloring book as the pages have print on both sides. Some markers might bleed through and compromise the illustration on the reverse side. I used Prisma Coloring Pencils on mine and had no issue. Crayons and some gel pens might work depending on their absorption rate, so use caution when coloring in them. For that reason I give this coloring book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion just because of the issue with having bleed through issues. Would love to see single page illustrations to prevent that from ruining other pages you might want to color. Simply using other media forms would prevent that as well.

For more information about Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book, Robin Mead or where you can pick up a copy of this coloring book today, please click on the links below:

Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book by Robin Mead

You can find Robin Mead on Facebook to stay up to date with all her products.

To read more reviews on a Joyful Inspirations Coloring Book, please visit Faith Words' website. 

 

A Giving Heart

I have been a fan of coloring my entire life and love that coloring books are making a comeback and not just for kids either. You can find coloring books on virtually any subject or genre and even some of your favorite movies have spawned their own coloring books as well. Something as simple but meaningful is a coloring book designed not only for moms, but to encourage moms during their day. What better way to spend some quality time coloring with your  kids or teens and having a wonderful coloring book that celebrates motherhood is A Giving Heart by Stephanie Corfee.

These coloring pages are beautifully illustrated to capture all kinds of things that celebrate being a mom. Some of these are beautiful quotes from various speakers and even Scriptures that capture the beauty, strength and essence of being a mom. This would make a wonderful gift for that creative and artistic mom who is looking for something beautiful and unique. There is even a dedication page that you can fill out to give to that special mom in your life. Some quotes include ones from such notables like Billy Graham, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Michael O. Adesanya, Edwin Hubbell Chapin and so many others.

What I absolutely LOVE about A Giving Heart is that each page is uniquely separated by blank pages or a simple quote on the reverse side. This is really exceptional because so many coloring books print on both sides and depending on the media source you use to color your pages with, some may bleed through, like markers. I find that even using a spare piece of paper helps to prevent bleed through on some markers no matter how lightly you use them.

I received A Giving Heart: A Coloring Book Celebrating Motherhood by Stephanie Corfee compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I love using all kinds of things to color with and perhaps my new found favorite is Prisma coloring pencils because they don't bleed through the pages and the ability to blend your colors together makes shading and highlighting so much easier. For me, I will use this whenever I simply need to take a breather in my day, perhaps taking on too much and the need to slow down, coloring helps. I easily give this coloring book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Giving Heart: A Coloring Book Celebrating Motherhood, Stephanie Corfee or where you can pick up this coloring book today, please click on the links below:

A Giving Heart: A Coloring Book Celebrating Motherhood by Stephanie Corfee

You can find Stephanie Corfee on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest projects and books.

To read more reviews on A Giving Heart, please visit Faith Words' website.

Tranquility Journal and Coloring Book

Having a prayer journal is vital for me. It helps me to keep my thoughts from wandering but it also keeps track of those I pray for and what I am praying for. I can always look back and see God's faithfulness not only in answering my prayers but often times in ways I never could have imagined had these been my ways of answering them instead. It helps me keep my mind focused on the present day and not praying for healing that may never come this side of heaven, but one that will come with 100% certainty knowing God always keeps His promises to those who are faithful to Him.

I absolutely had to share my latest find with you from Tyndale House Publishers, a prayer journal and adult coloring book all in one, called Tranquility! The name is perfect because once our prayers are cast before the throne room of God, we can rest assured that He hears them. Just the name tranquility conveys a state of calmness, peacefulness, quietness and even serenity. In a hectic and busy world, just trying to achieve this can seem impossible. We all know that meditative art, like coloring, can provide a wonderful outlet for expression and relaxation to our Creator God.

Coloring, journaling our prayers and thoughts, and drawing can also provide effective tools for deepening our faith. And when we allow our minds to center on the Truth of God's Word while adding color and inner creativity, our devotional time can soar with greater dimensions. Let the experience of writing down your prayers, thoughts or ideas take you to a greater level of connection with God. Suggestions are offered in this book to further inspire you in this time of quiet reflection and prayer. Don't worry about your results but let God lead the way as you experience the tranquility that can only come from spending time with Him.

I received Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal by Living Expressions compliments of Tyndale House Publishers. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. There are so many great pictures to color and let your creativity and imagination go free with your expressions in this coloring journal coupled with Scriptures from the Bible and some suggestions about prayer for that particular day. There are pages for doing your own drawings as well as those that accompany their own illustrated prayer pages. There are even places of notes or ideas you might want to keep and reflect upon later. 110 pages full of great Biblical inspirations to make this hard cover prayer journal truly unique. I give this a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and would make a perfect Mother's Day gift!

For more information about Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Color Journal, Living Expressions or where you can pick up this today, please click on the links below:

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Color Journal by Living Expressions

You can find Tyndale House Publishers on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest books and products.

Everything Beautiful - Coloring Book Review

"Life is beautiful."

"We say it all the time. Our Instagram feeds are full of picturesque scenes where the light shines just perfectly so our go-to filter makes our surroundings look like they came from something out of Tolkien novel. We talk to our coworkers about our beautiful adventures outside of work, we tell the most adorable stories of our children, and we make sure we humblebrag about the sweet, romantic gesture our husbands made last weekend.

"But no one sees the fight you two had before he got you those flowers. No one sees you losing your temper after your kids kept banging on the bathroom door asking for a snack - because apparently using the bathroom in peace is an outrageous request. No one sees how hard you fought to get out of bed under the crushing weight of depression, and no one is there to watch you try to picture your life after a terrifying diagnosis. When the entire world seems to be embroiled in war, injustice, and disease, it can be hard to see real beauty anywhere - despite the perfect image we curate online."

"We like on an unwell earth, and each moment of brokenness only serves to remind us of that fact. Any attempt at finding hope, beauty, or anything remotely good to cling to can sometimes feel like an impossible task. But you and I serve a big God. We serve a God who can't be held back by what ails this earth. We serve a God who promises to give us a "crown of beauty instead of ashes" (Isaiah 61:3)."

"Still in the midst of the brokenness of this world, that can be hard to remember. The hope for this book is that, as you color and meditate on the words, you are gently reminded of the beauty that can still be found in the bleakest of moments and that this book becomes a bit of a lifeline to remind you our Savior is always there with us. This book reminds you that He has the power to redeem every moment of our lives. Yes, this world is broken, but our Jesus is not."

WaterBrook Multnomah has published Everything Beautiful, a coloring book for inspiration and reflection with illustrations by a variety of artists on each page. On one page is a beautiful illustration to color while on the back of the page is a Bible verse or description as to where the illustration was inspired from, such a hymn or a well known person like Helen Keller who was inspirational in what they did or how they lived.

There are 45 individual illustrations to color and even more is a Spotify playlist called "Everything Beautiful" which you can play while you color or even when you need a pick me up to your day. It is a reminder that God has made everything, including YOU, beautiful. The pages are also perforated to allow you to remove them to make coloring the full page much easier whether you are a lefty or a righty! The only issue I had with this coloring book is that I wish there were blank sides to the page to prevent bleed through depending on the type of media you are using to color like markers or some gel pens. I received Everything Beautiful compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers. I would rate Everything Beautiful a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and would be a great gift to anyone who needs to be reminded that in Everything, God has a plan and a purpose.

For more information about Everything Beautiful, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Everything Beautiful by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers 

You can find WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers on Facebook to stay up to date on all their products.

Christmas Quiet

I can't help it! I love to color! I have loved coloring since I was able to hold a crayon and now there are so many coloring books to choose from, there is something for everyone. Yet I found a true treasure you will want to order for anyone this Christmas season that combines both a 25 day devotional along with some amazing coloring pages all in one book!

Christmas Quiet by Maisie Sparks and Lauren Younis is designed to have you spend some time just appreciating the time that December brings. Too often we are racing against the clock to get presents bought and wrapped, baking complete, and all the items off our to do list checked off. Yet when it's all over, we feel we missed out on what is important and that is understanding and spending some time with Jesus since it is His birth we are celebrating.

Christmas Quiet takes one page and simply reflects on some theme about this time of the year coupled with a Bible Scripture verse, it takes readers into the quiet time of meditating on the meaning of the theme of the day, from gifts, waiting, worship, hope, joy, Sabbath celebrations, AWE, and even pain. As the author shares in the preface of this book, "I didn't have to rush around at Christmas; I could just wait for it. The Gift of Christmas can't be bought. But He can be received. And to receive Him we must be present. We must sit with the mystery that God became human and came to live among us."

"At first, for many of us, it felt unnatural to slow our pace when everyone else was speeding theirs up. How can a respite be possible with the onslaught of activities the holiday can bring? But for those of us who had the faith to be still - to be present to God's Presence - the Christmas experience had become more than crowded shopping malls and unending to-do lists. The Presence of Christmas is a gift we gave, and continue to give, to ourselves. The gifts of Christmas Quiet came with questions to ponder, as well as contemplative practices that enrich the time given to noticing Christ in Christmas."

I received Christmas Quiet by Maisie Sparks and Lauren Younis compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups. Since I had a dear friend going through cancer for her third time, I was drawn to Christmas Pain and the coloring page associated with it. It reflects on the pain of birth is real when it is happening but the joy of bringing new life into the world is more powerful than the pain of giving birth and is quickly forgotten to enjoy the moment of new life in a mother's arm. The scripture reference of Isaiah 66:9 ~ "I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born." seemed to speak encouragement to my friend as she was going through her second chemo treatment this round. At the conclusion of this devotion, there came a question, "If you are entering the Christmas season with grief and pain, how might it be an invitation to know God, yourself, and others in new and deeper ways?"

This is just how this book is laid out, designed to get you to spend some time reflecting on the deeper meaning in each day of the advent along with a beautifully designed coloring page. The one thing I really LOVED about this coloring book is the white space between each page, that even if you are coloring with markers and experience bleed through, if you add a couple sheets of paper in between, you won't ruin the next pages. Finally someone is getting it right. For me, this one is one I will enjoy working on throughout the month of December with my kids and thus a 5 out of 5 star rating.

For more information about Christmas Quiet, Maisie Sparks and Lauren Younis or where you can pre-order a copy of Christmas Quiet, please click on the links below:

Christmas Quiet by Maisie Sparks and Lauren Younis

You can find Faith Words on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest releases.

To read more reviews on Christmas Quiet, please visit Faith Word's website.

Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit - Review and Giveaway

Who would have ever thoughts that coloring books would be making a come back in a big way, and not just for kids, but for adults? I love coloring and doodling and as a corporate trainer for over 10 years, I understand the amount of learning that still happens when the mind is engaged in this type of activity, despite how it looks. It is also soothing and relaxing at the same time, while creating a creative outlook for those who choose to pick up their media of choice, whether crayons, coloring pencils, water colors, paint or markers, the results are amazing.

I am so please to introduce you to Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit, Coloring Book by Health Communications Inc and Lorrie Bennett who designed the artwork you will find tucked inside. Beautiful illustrations accompany so of the best Scriptures from the Bible and I have added my own flair and creativity in Isaiah 43:2 "When you go through deep waters I will be with you." Such a powerful truth we can apply to whatever situation we find ourselves facing, knowing the God is always our present resource we can depend on.

The coloring book also shares some great features like coloring tips and tools, and knowing which ones to use and where, to how to decide what colors to use, from primary colors, secondary colors and tertiary color choices. My favorite was the Harmony How-To's which show you how certain colors within a color pallet can play off of each other picking shades either lighter or darker and use them together to create a blended effect. The coloring books also shares some of the same pages colored by a variety of talented artists so you can see how the pages might look before you begin for some creative ideas.

There are 32 full color pages, with another 32 more with some designs on the adjoining pages to give you a smaller pattern to complete. Illustrator Lorrie Bennett thoughtfully pairs stunning original art with powerful scriptures that eloquently embody the fruit of the Spirit, inviting you to immerse yourself in the meaning of the messages and cultivate them in everyday life. With perforated pages for framing or sharing, this is the perfect way to relax and unwind as you create beautiful works of art while rejoicing in the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

I received Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit by Lorrie Bennett compliments of Health Communications Inc and TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from complimentary copy of the coloring book in exchange for my unbiased and personal opinion of the product. What I love is that depending on your color medium, (mine were gel pen based) I didn't experience any bleed through on the subsequent pages. I would have like to have seen blank pages on the backs so if there were bleed through issues depending on the type of medium you employ, you wouldn't ruin the other designs. That being said, I would rate this coloring book a 4 out of 5 stars and think the design choices compliment the scriptures perfectly.

Now for the very best part! Thanks to Health Communications Inc and TLC Book Tours, they are offering a giveaway copy of Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book to one lucky follower based on the guidelines below:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. 

3. Must be a resident of the US or Canada or have a US or Canada mailing address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy of Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. Without an email address, I have no way to contact you if you are the lucky winner. Winner will be announced by email on August 24th.

If you would like to know more information about Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book. Lorrie Bennett or where to pick up a copy of this coloring book today, please click on the links below:

Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book by Lorrie Bennett

To read more reviews on Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book, please visit TLC Book Tours page. 

You can purchase a copy of Ink Inspirations Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Book from Amazon or your favorite book or online retailer.