Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops

In this life, we are bound to have difficult days, most of the time whether we want them or not. I find that humor can often help us get over some of the really difficult days and I want to ensure that everyone single woman I know reads, Rhinestones on my Flip-Flops by Jane Jenkins Herlong. Think of her as a bit of Erma Bombeck coupled with a southern Lady and you might just have touched the ice berg of what you will find tucked behind the covers of this wonderful book.

The reason why I would recommend it to every woman alive is that there are things only women can relate to being a woman that is, from our periods, which Jane refers to that should be renamed as exclamation marks instead. Just reading that, I knew I found someone I could relate to and thus the adventure into this book begins. Using examples of both her own life's humor married to those classic examples we find in the Bible are woman, Jane refers to as WOW, women of wisdom. Sometimes those might come in the form of a mother, sister, best friends or just people you might make that connection with in the world. It unites us and makes us all look at life through a different perspective at times, and we all definitely need those when we feel we are at the end of our rope and its unwinding quickly.

She labels these women by their own chapters like Deceived Eve, Domestic Diva Martha, to even Whiny Naomi and more. There are things we can learn from these women of the Bible even though we have read about them more times that we can recall. We all know that Eve was the first who didn't read Apple's Terms and Conditions thoroughly. Sound like you? I can relate, if I am being honest. So what might you learn from Eve besides learning that her husband would point the finger of blame at her when God asked, what happened? We have to remember that the crafty serpent was initially to blame and even though he tickled her ears with wanting to know everything like God, he failed to specify the consequences that might go along with those seemingly innocent choices she made. Do you know of anyone in your life that might be playing with a little fire themselves or maybe you are dealing with a moral dilemma.

"I bet that serpent in the garden had Eve so mixed up that she could have been convinced to count Adam's ribs just to make sure that there was not another woman around. The enemy's greatest tool is deception and many, beyond reason and common sense, fall prey. Eve truly had it all and didn't even have to wish for world peace. If there had been a label to read it would have said 'perfect.' Did Adam wear the "plants" in the family? When God questioned him, he blamed Eve. Then Eve blamed the serpent. What else could she do? There was plenty of blame to go around, so God said to both Adam and Eve, "Sorry, out you go."

I received Rhinestones on my Flip-Flops by Jane Jenkins Herlong compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups and I am so glad I got this book. It would be such a fun study for women to work through this book together at church. I can imagine the friendships that would be made providing us with more WOW to hang out with, pray with or even cry with at times in our own life. The small section above it just a few short paragraphs of the wonderful eye opening humor and life lessons you will take away from this. I think at times reading this that Jane is my relative, we just don't know the connection yet or perhaps we are related by God's wonderful bloodline. If you know of someone going through a tough time, consider picking this book up for them as a huge encouragement and even a way to bring a smile if not a laugh back into their day. For me, hands down a 5 out of 5 winner in my opinion.

For more information about Rhinestones on my Flip-Flops, Jane Jenkins Herlong or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Rhinestones on my Flip-Flops by Jane Jenkins Herlong

You can find Jane Jenkins Herlong on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Rhinestones on my Flip-Flops, please visit Hachette Book Group's website.

A Woman Overwhelmed

"So much to do. So little time."

So much can be said in those two statements and most of the moms, wives, sisters, women, and more can attest to how truthful it feels like for us on a daily basis. What about you? Feeling like at times your day can feel overwhelming? How can women handle the day to day stresses without falling apart? How can we hold it all together when it seems like it is all falling apart at the seams some days?  Where is God in all of this and how can He help?

You might want to pick up a copy of Hayley DiMarco's latest book, A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life. It might just provide the encouragement we all need. What overwhelms you? Is it finances, trying to make ends meet when there simply isn't enough to go around? What about a health issue you've been diagnosed and it seems like prayer just isn't working and it's getting worse? What about your marriage that you've been struggling to hold onto knowing God can do all things? Do you ever wonder if the reason you feel overwhelmed is because we are NOT in charge? Tough question but one easily answered. If you were in charge of those situations, would they overwhelm you any longer? Not a chance.

Whatever is out of our control is what is overwhelming us. So often our goal in life is to find the best way to control, well, everything, including those around us. Especially the ones we consider our people, our kids, our spouses, our friends and family. In fact if you take any of the online stress surveys available, if four or more symptoms stress you out, they suggest a bigger problem. A problem with too much to handle. Let's see how you do. Do you struggle with any of the following, and be sure to be honest, at least with yourself.

Emotional eating
Insomnia
Digestive Problems
Ulcers
Anxiety
Tension Headaches
Weight Gain
Quick Irritation

When life is more than we can handle, just looking at it reveals our complete inadequacies, and failures and all we long to do it simply to go back to bed. We know we are overwhelmed and not in a good way. When our bodies are begging us for a straightjacket and a padded cell, and we start to at least consider it, we know its time to reassess our priorities and to look for the flaws in our logic and planning. Aren't you tired of being overwhelmed by life. Don't you want something more? Don't you?

I received A Woman Overwhelmed by Hayley DiMarco compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity. Almost every single woman can identify with feeling overwhelmed at some point in their life and she gives you the tools and encouragement you need, not only to realize you are not alone, but how to manage quickly through them and get to the other side of the issue. She opens up her own life and that is how I feel she wins readers over. We realize someone else has been there with us and the feelings she relates are exactly how we have felt. By the conclusion of this book, hopefully you can see the depths of God's love for you and maybe even the ability to catch a glimpse of the comedy of an overwhelmed life seen from the rearview mirror or the passenger seat of our car, and you will discover freedom. You will find grace to begin to close your worldly eyes to the messiness of life as you open your spiritual eyes to the beauty surrounding our messes. I easily give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars and plan on referencing it often along with prayer to get through my own issues that threaten to overwhelm me.

For more information about A Woman Overwhelmed, Hayley DiMarco or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Woman Overwhelmed by Hayley DiMarco

You can find Hayley DiMarco on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on A Woman Overwhelmed, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


"A woman overwhelmed"-is this a phrase you can relate to? If you answered yes, you need to read Hayley DiMarco's new book, A Woman Overwhelmed. The best-selling author shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God's love and power. Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

Become a woman less overwhelmed by life and more overwhelmed by God and enter to win Hayley's $75 Merry Maids Visa Card Giveaway to help lessen your daily load.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Woman Overwhelmed
• A $75 Merry Maids Visa Cash Card

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 3. The winner will be announced November 6 on the Litfuse blog.

Included in Christ

The Book of Ephesians from the Bible is perhaps one of my favorite books. There is so much wisdom to be gleaned and it is a surprisingly short book at that. Yet don't be confused that just because it is short, doesn't mean that there isn't much to learn. In fact, Paul probably used so many concise specific topics that not only applied to the people living in Ephesus, but also is very relevant to us in our current modern day age. Ephesians is a letter from Paul that you can understand best by thinking about seven operative or most important words in this short study. These words happen to be vivid verbs. The seven words in the 8 week study of Ephesians surely change you. It represents deeply transformation material. The hope is that after you finish this study people will begin to wonder and ask if you are a different person.

To complete this study you will need, a Bible ( one that you love the most will benefit you the best and everyone has their preferred choice), something to write on and with. Even though this study comprises eight weeks, five days each, keep your own pace and what works best for you. God may be calling you to spend time on something in this book that might be relevant to what He wants to teach you and what you are going through. I guess what anyone needs in completing any Bible Study is an open mind and a willing heart. This book can be used in an individual, couple or even a small group study through the book of Ephesians.

Each chapter in this book will ask you to think carefully about the crucial verb in each section and to picture a scene in our mind about this verb, such as 'how does a person understanding this verb live?' You first begin to answer the question bu first identifying their opposites or contrasts to enhance how we make sense of our new identity in Christ. You will begin with a shadow narrative about the particular verb you are studying. How that applies to your life, what are you doing or should be doing  and then using your five senses see if you can develop a short story about how He is currently writing about this verb in your life. These can be positive or negative and can be things you want to share or just keep to yourself. By the end of the study you will quickly identify ways your Shadow Narratives prevent you from fully embracing and fully inhabiting God's Word and you will have new stories to tell, your Savior story, to truly learn from the Scripture.

I received Included in Christ by Heather Holleman compliments of Moody Publishers and Side Door Communications. Each of this daily and weekly studies are to help you understand how you can become a new creation in Christ and embrace that and learn to let go of the old you, the former person who is trying to keep you from all Christ has in store for you. Think of it like spring cleaning for your soul and its about time to learn to let go of that excess baggage we've been carrying and lighten our loads and embrace the joy that comes from having a Christ centered life. These are perfect for small group studies or even a couple's study that will enrich your relationships in ways you never dreamed possible. I would give this a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Included in Christ, Heather Holleman or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Included in Christ by Heather Holleman

You can find Heather Holleman on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest information.

For more reviews on Included in Christ, please visit Moody Publisher's website.

The Unexplainable Church - Bible Study

How does the grace of God work harder within us? How do we promise its fruit in our lives? Can we accept the grace of God as an intellectual assent and not experience any of its effects? Many Christians rest in the assurance of God's grace to take them to heaven, yet experience little of its ramifications in their daily lives. Or they yearn for more. There is a stirring in their soul, ushering them to experience the fullness of God's grace in their lives. But how?

This fifty-day journey is an invitation to walk alongside a man who never got over the awe and wonder of God's grace. For years he had sought God's favor through a religion of works, spiritual disciplines, knowledge and service. Then he met Jesus, and after approximately a decade of understanding Jesus as the Messiah, he finally came to the realization of the fullness of His grace. And he was never the same again. Rather than resting on a bed of laurels at the gift of grace he had been given, he strove even harder to ensure that God's grace to him was not in vain. He accepted the divine invitation and most likely met his Savior with a clear conscience and no regrets.

In The Unexplainable Church by Erica Wiggenhorn, readers will use this study guide to work their way through the Acts, chapter 13-28 over fifty days to discover the invitation that not only went out to Paul and his disciples after the ascension of Jesus but also to those who began believers at that time, and the beginning of what we know now as the church age believers. It helps us all understand our own unique place we have not just to be followers of Christ, but understanding the importance the role of the church plays in spreading the gospel message. Each day's study begins with a thematic title and Bible passage that should take you about 20-30 minutes to complete. The version used in this study is the English Standard Version, but you can use any version you are most comfortable with to do this study. You will encounter questions in blue working through your daily assignment. These questions are geared to help you stop, pray, collect your thoughts, and write out the answers.

Writing responses will take you into a deeper understanding of these passages of scripture to see how they can apply to your life today. On certain days, you will come across blue frames and these are your time to be creative, draw, doodle or ponder and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in the quietness of your heart. Bible Study is not meant to be a task to complete. Instead, it is an avenue for building a relationship with God. This resource can be used in small group Bible studies and the leader's guide for this study indicated which questions work best for groups. You can access this resource through the website provided in this book as well as additional resources that will take you deeper into the daily studies if you want to as well.

I received The Unexplainable Church by Erica Wiggenhorn compliments of Moody Publishers and Side Door Communications. 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. Each days study can be completed in as little as 30 minutes or less and is designed to take you into a deeper study of the early believers that make up the age of church age believers which began when Jesus left and sent His Holy Spirit to begin to minister into the hearts of those willing to be open to His message. I especially love this study in Act because we have a common place with the invitation of the early church age believers. We are still adding to them daily and it helps to understand the various roles the church plays in making this the success that it has in the world today. It helps us all understand the individuals roles we all play to continue this ministry until we are called home. I easily give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars and I especially love the additional resources that can be found online that can incorporate this into a small group Bible Study.

For more information about The Unexplainable Church, Erica Wiggenhorn or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Unexplainable Church by Erica Wiggenhorn

You can find Erica Wiggenhorn on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on The Unexplainable Church, please visit Moody Publishers website. 

Kids' NIV Visual Bible

I am always on the look out for things I can give my kids or future grandkids and for me, the one book I want for any child is a great Bible that is friendly, fun and filled with things that will keep them interested and wanting to read God's Word. I am so happy to review the Kids' NIV Visual Bible. While the font may not be what I would call "kid friendly" more suited for kids a little older from 8-13, it does contain amazing photos that illustrate the points being made on each chapter or section of the Bible. There are full color maps that show that places beginning talked about as you read so you can take your teaching even further than you thought possible before when comparing the places in the world today as to the places historically being referred to in the Bible.

Perhaps so of my favorite parts are the story of Noah and the Ark. There is a colorful picture that outlines how long Noah was really on the ark and how each of those time periods is broken down, from the 7 days Noah enters the ark a week before the flood; 40 days of the rain surging on the land; 150 days the water recedes and rests on Mount Ararat, and finally the 178 days for the water to continue to recede and the releasing of the birds until Noah finally leaves the ark.

For me, as a teacher, kids respond well to visuals and this Kids' NIV visual Bible offers more than 700 images to take your child not only into learning more about the Bible but more importantly retaining what they have seen and heard. There is even an image showing how large the Ark was in comparison to a football field or a modern day house so kids can really understand the magnitude of what Noah accomplished without modern tools or electricity. There are some great questions to engage your child with as well, such as why  was an olive leaf special? Why does the Bible include lists of names? Why did Abram lie about his wife? It even includes important information about why woman and men are made differently and what God's plans were for them. I absolutely love the simple illustrations that help me understand things better like the age of our early ancestors, how some lived to be almost 1000 years and who were they? What the differences were in the staff that Moses used and Aaron used; a great visual on the differences between biblical calendars and current modern day calendars that your child can use to tell what the months are in Old Testament chapters.

I received the Kids' NIV Visual Bible compliments of ZonderKidz, a division of Zondervan Publishing and Handlebar Central. 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 things that I know parents would love in getting this for a child they know. It would make a great children's study Bible as well using the New International Version to help children understand the meanings of what is being said and it helps them to stay engaged. There is a presentation page that makes this a perfect Bible to give any child as a gift, a table of contents to help them find their way to specific books of the Bible, an infographics index in the back to show the locations of all illustrations in case you're looking for a particular one for your child, and a maps section. There are simply too many great things to list, but rest assured, it will be one for your child to love and growth with. I would give this a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and it even includes a ribbon marker to keep track of where your child is!

For more information about the Kids' NIV Visual Bible, or where you can pick one up today, please click on the links below:

The Kids' NIV Visual Bible by ZonderKidz

You can pick this up at any retail location or online like Amazon by clicking here.

NKJV Woman's Study Bible

I love Bibles, and I can say I do have quite a few, but what makes a Bible truly unique for you? For me there are features that I am always looking for in any Bible I consider to use for my Bible Study or just daily readings. I love study Bibles because they contain so much back story information about any particular passage you are reading. It's like getting a commentary and a Bible all in one. So what makes Thomas Nelson's New King James Version of the Woman's Study Bible so special?

First of all, I love the New Kings James Version. It is what most pastors teach from in reading from the Bible because it is accurate in its translation from the King James Version which was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and makes them a reliable source to reference in any of your Bible Studies. Just the box alone makes this Bible appealing. It pertains to women in each section you read. If there is some reference to a godly woman quality such as Commitment, found in the Book of Ruth. It highlights why that is so important for women that it is the very bedrock of any relationship along with other references on where you can find more notes on commitment like Matthew 16.

Just the comparisons of Ruth and the Virtuous Woman are highlighted in Ruth and cross compared to those specific traits in Proverbs 31. Her family commitment is noted by others, she provides sustenance for her household, her selfless lifestyle drew praise from others, and she committed herself to Yahweh as God. It even takes special consideration to note Orpah, the daughter in law with a wavering faith, as well as Naomi the wise mother-in-law. There is a section on Ruth the faithful Moabitess and what made her truly unique that an entire chapter was devoted to her actions while Orpah was never heard from again.

There is even a illustration of the family tree of Ruth and why it was so important in the line of David's descendants and later in Jesus Christ. We even get a description of grandparenthood when we dive further into Naomis' life as a live-in grandma and what impact that has in not only her life but in the life of Ruth and Boaz and how if that is your situation, how you can benefit from that in your own life exemplifying for your grandchildren, that forgiveness is the highest form of giving, right and wrong are defined by God's Word, and that great joy can be experienced in each day, rather than dwelling on the past or future.

I received the NKJV Woman's Study Bible by Thomas Nelson compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity. 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 especially love the Large Print 11-point font format and the fact that this Bible is so wonderful to hold. It is a soft leather cover with embossed flowers on it and the best part is that it lies flat! Full color illustrations are found throughout the Bible as well as maps that highlight each chapter and show you exactly where that took place in the world. There are over 100 biblical profiles of women in the Bible as well as insightful essays by women who are experts in the fields of theology, biblical studies, archaeology and philosophy. Also included are topical index, concordance, quotes from Godly women throughout history, book introductions and outlines. This is such a beautiful Bible that would make the perfect gift to any woman in your life and would be perfect for Mother's day or Easter! I give this Bible a 5 out of 5 stars and now is my new morning devotional Bible of choice!

For more information about NKJV Woman's Study Bible or where to pick up a copy of this Bible today, please click on the links below:

NKJV Woman's Study Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishers

You can find Thomas Nelson on Facebook to stay up to date with all their newest products.

To read more reviews on the NKJV Woman's Study Bible, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


You're invited to receive God's truth for balance, hope, and transformation in the fully revised and redesigned The NKJV Woman's Study Bible. The new edition features a beautiful, full-color redesign and poignantly reveals the Word of God with Scripture insights and the contributions of more than eighty women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Special features designed to speak to a woman's heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman's identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

This spring, cultivate your heart's spiritual roots and enter to win the Grow in the Word Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The NKJV Woman's Study Bible (winner's choice of design)
• A decorative plaque
• A rose gold Tree of Life necklace

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on April 27. The winner will be announced April 28 on the Litfuse blog.

Kingdom of Grace

Grace as defined by a dictionary is unmerited favor or goodwill. Think of it as kindness, charity, or even mercifulness. It is what sets being a Christian or Christ-follower apart from the world's religion. There is nothing you can do to work your way into heaven, it's a free gift. You don't have to do anything to earn it, just simply take it and accept it from Jesus. Yes, it's that simple. That is why most in the world reject it or spend their lives trying to earn their way into heaven by what they do. Now, don't get me wrong, works are important, but they are a reflection of that grace we have accepted. It is what defines whether we are loving as Jesus would have. It is a by-product of Jesus transforming our lives and now that is what comes out of who we have become, a changed person reflecting the love and grace of Christ in our own lives, much like a mirror.

Cho Larson in his wonderfully written book, Kingdom of Grace, the fourth book in his Kingdom Series, allows us to see this very nature at work in the lives of believers. Using the way Jesus chose to heal people, He never punished them for their way of life up to the point of His healing touch. He didn't worry about what people might think if He touched an unclean man with leprosy, it was all done out of love and compassion for the person He healed. It doesn't mean others were simply neglected either. It was to demonstrate what the simple act of grace could do, not just in the transforming of the outside of someone but more importantly what it did on the inside. It just couldn't be contained! Jesus even asked those He healed to tell no one about what happened, but they couldn't help it. They were forever changed on the inside and out.

I guess it is easy for some people to see it in order to believe it. Imagine how many more people might be won over for Christ, if He simply appeared and healed all the diseases and illnesses in the world. But it is that kind of faith that won't last. It's like thanking someone for a gift you wanted, and then when you no longer desire that gift, you lose interest in it and even possibly the person who gave it to you. That isn't the kind of grace Jesus provides when it is genuine. It changes you from the inside so much, you can't go back to the way you were before. You don't want to! This is a wonderful book that explores that life changing grace in a way, you might not have considered before. Believers and non believers alike will all get something amazing out of it, if you are willing to be open to see what the grace of Christ looks like!

I received Kingdom of Grace by Cho Larson compliments of Westbow Press. This is such a profound book using the scriptures found in the Bible to illuminate the differences of the grace the world sees and the one that Christ offers to all who put their faith and trust in Him. They will be forever changed by the simple definition of grace according to Jesus. For this reason I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. This would make for a great small group Bible study along with the previous books in the series to help you grow in your spiritual walk.

For more information about Kingdom of Grace, Cho Larson or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Kingdom of Grace by Cho Larson

You can find Cho Larson on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To see more reviews on Kingdom of Grace, please visit Westbow Press' website. 

Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle: God's Promises

I've been wanting to dive deeper into the Scriptures after going through my Bible now for a third time. Even though I find new meaning each time, I revisit those familiar books I wanted more in my personal study and devotions. Now there is a great way to do just that, thanks to April Knight, author of Scripture Doodles and Scripture Doodles: God's Promises. These beautiful books incorporate a deeper study into the promises we find in the Bible along with some colorful coloring to accompany your personal or small group studies. Each of these books incorporates a six-week devotional experience for the reader through your own individual creative expressions with God.

There are enough exercises to do one per day for six weeks with a few bonuses at the end, but you can work at your own pace or with a small group Bible study meeting one a week. It is intended to be progressive, so you might want to follow the books in chronological order, but you might want to jump around to whatever inspires you or for a specific Bible Book study you might be working on. There are no rules and the only way to do it wrong is simply to not do it at all.

Some things you need to have on hand when completing either book is a Bible, a sharp pencil or two any color, pencil sharpener, a large eraser, colored pencils or your media of choice, pastels, ruled notebook paper (for lettering practice) and some blank index cards. The books come with some great tips to get you started. Each exercise begins with a Bible verse and proceeds into a creative worship activity. Don't worry about trying to be perfect, just go with what creativeness you feel at the time and let God inspire you. The books also encourage you to share your creations with others at @scripturedoodle or #scripturedoodle.

 I received Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle: God's Promises by April Knight compliments of David C Cook Publishers and Litfuse Publicity. For me, these books have allowed me not only to focus on specific Scriptures in the exercises but to remember these verses better, something I have been struggling with more as I get older. Now I can create something truly beautiful while I work on these each day. I would love to get a group together to work on them over the duration of a year and share not only our own artistic creations but also to see what God does in each of our lives along the way. I would easily give these books a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle: God's Promises, April Knight or where you can pick these books up today, please click on the links below:

Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle: God's Promises by April Knight

You can find April Knight on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Scripture Doodle or Scripture Doodle: God's Promises, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Waiting for Wonder

Waiting.

No one that I know of like to wait for anything.

Even in our prayers waiting on the answer, seems like the hardest thing to do. Perhaps it is because we aren't sure of what the answer will be, or when that answer might even come. There have been some who have prayed and have their prayer answered years from the day they prayed and others have gotten the answer to their prayer on the other side of this life. So how does one learn to be patient in the waiting? How can we maintain our faith, knowing God is working it out on His end and on His timeline, which is not the same as ours?

Marlo Schalesky has written a wonderful book, Waiting for Wonder: Learning to Live on God's Timeline and the best way to describe this book is half Biblical fiction in a sense and Christian self help using Scriptures from the Bible to help us what we can do in the waiting. Using a character from the Bible, that I have to be honest, I glazed over without really considering her in a better light and digging deeper to see if there might be some spiritual treasure I overlooked. Marlo uses the life of Sarai who later became Sarah which all of us are familiar with. She was Abram's wife who was promised by God that her descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, yet in her old age, she failed to conceive.

I even failed to understand on how this was something as a failure in those times when a woman could not conceive and in most cases was merely property for a man with the sole purpose for procreating and having a family to care on the family legacy. Poor Sarai couldn't do any of that even though Abram had been told that God was going to bless Sarai with off-spring. So how long did Sarai have to wait? Was it just a few days, a couple of weeks, months or even years for that miracle to happen? What did she do while she was waiting? Maintain her faith in God's promises or did she take matters into her own hands when she thought God forgot about her?

Using what might have been an extended portion of what the Bible alludes to using what we know historically of women from that time in history, Marlo Schalesky gives us peeks at what Sarai might have had to deal with in her interactions with other women, how her husband might have viewed her, and even the secrets they both kept when Abram and Sarai went to Egypt and lied to Pharoah to save Abram's own skin.

Is there something we might glean from this story of Sarai, something we might learn in our own season of endless waiting like she did? Yes, there is and this book is a wonderful way to take the lessons of Sarai and teach us how to wait while God is working in our lives despite how long it might take. This would be perfect for a small woman's Bible Study to work on a chapter of this book each week. I know for me, it greatly increased my admiration that God has a purpose in the very people we meet in the Bible no matter how much or little is mentioned of them and has caused me to dig deeper in my own study. I love the duality of the way this book is written and will be referencing this one often as I find sometimes waiting can be the hardest thing in my own walk of faith, and for this reason I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I received Waiting for Wonder by Marlo Schalesky compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity.

For more information about Waiting for Wonder, Marlo Schalesky or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Waiting for Wonder by Marlo Schalesky

You can find Marlo Schalesky on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Waiting for Wonder, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


Because God’s timing is so rarely our own and we lose the wonder in the waiting of life, desperation strikes, plans backfire, and we begin to wonder why God does not fill the emptiness. Be encouraged to find strength and hope in Marlo Schalesky's new book, Waiting for Wonder. Journey into the heart of God where you will wrestle with personal questions, think deeply about God’s true character, and learn to appreciate His divine work as you discover your own path to the promised land. Recapture your hope, restore your soul, and renew your vision of a wondrous Savior when you learn to live on God’s time.

Learn the true purpose of waiting on God and living on His timeline and enter to win Marlo's giveaway.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• Two copies of Waiting for Wonder (one for you and one to give to a friend)
• A KEEP Collective watch set (with a band and watch)

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 23. The winner will be announced December 27 on Marlo's blog.

Experiencing God Through His Names

The one thing about believers in Christ is that we know the name of God. He actually has many names that speak the the character, nature and the abilities that He can possess at times, from a provider, a protector, a shield, our strength and even healer. That is why is is so wonderful to understand the meanings behind these and how the appear when they are reference in Scripture in their original context from Hebrew. We don't see it when we read our revised versions or modern day translations and whenever we see the word God mentioned, while it does reference God the Almighty and Creator but more importantly how that is referenced in the context of how God is being addressed.

This can lead us into very specific prayers when we are praying to Jehovah Rapha or the God Who Heals when some is sick, going through illness or breathing their last breaths that God can and will at times heal this side of heaven, but He always heals even on the other side in heaven if He has bigger plans in store for us. When prayers are based on solid truth such as praying the very nature of God's names, our prayers become deeper in substance and combined with prayer and worship, it provides God such great delight in His heavenly throne room.

Just as Jesus knew the very essence of who God was and what He could do, by learning this names of God we can make our prayer life more powerful and our prayers more specific. When we study the names of God, we find out about His unique character qualities and experience His Holy Spirit presence. This book is designed to spend 31 days experiencing and studying the individual names of God, how to experience God's power in fresh ways, and increase our intimacy through prayer with God. Exodus 20:24 says, "Wherever I cause My name to be  honored, I will come to you and bless you." God wants us to understand Him as we study His character through His names.

I received Experiencing God Through His Names by Sheryl Giesbrecht compliments of Bold Vision Books and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased and fair opinion of the book. I had known a few of the names of God but always wanted to understand more of His personal attributes so I could personalize my prayers more specifically to my needs or the needs of people I was praying for. This is such a great way to spend the next 31 days getting to meditate and study the nature of who God is in many different ways. It has transformed my prayer life and it is a reference book I keep nearby to respond to my call to prayer for others. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Experiencing God Through His Names, Sheryl Giesbrecht or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Experiencing God Through His Names by Sheryl Giesbrecht 

You can find Sheryl Giesbrecht on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Experiencing God Through His Names, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Seize The Day - Study Guide

Yesterday, I share with you a review on Seize the Day, Joyce Meyer's latest novel to encourage and motivate readers on how to learn to live your life with purpose and in making every single day count. What is so wonderful today, is that I am sharing with you a Study Guide that goes hand in hand with the book Seize the Day. You can either read through the entire book, Seize the Day and then follow up with the Study Guide or like I chose to do, after each chapter, I picked up the Study Guide and completed the corresponding chapter to help drive the points made from the book home for me.

There are 22 chapters in the book and thus, there are 22 individual studies you can complete on your own or in a small group Bible study. These books are designed to help you make the most of the days you have left on earth, and to help you life on purpose. Have you ever felt like life was ordering you around instead of you ordering your life? If so, like me, you know something is wrong in how we are choosing to manage our lives and even doing the important things we know need to be done. Most people live their lives day in and day out without accomplishing much of what they truly intended to. They are busy, but not sure what they are busy with. Do you ever feel that way?

I'm busy has become the standard excuse for all the things we should have done but didn't do. I truly wonder how many people at the end of their life feel they lived the life they were meant to love? How many have only regrets about the things they did or did not do during their life? You only have one life, and if it is not going in the direction that you want it to, now is the time to make changes. This Study Guide includes several parts to help you stay on track towards making those changes and to digest all the material in Seize the Day.

Get Ready prepares you for the subject matter in the chapter and reviews what was learned in the previous chapter.

Get Set digs into the heart of the chapter and gives you questions and activities to help you think more deeply about the subjects presented.

Go! Is designed to help you implement the new ideas and strategies learned in the chapter.

Remember captures the main points of the chapter as well as a scripture to remember.

I received Seize the Day: Study Guide by Joyce Meyer compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this study guide in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of the product. This is such a great resource to help readers understand the way we are using our time, how to make the necessary changes to have a more productive and joy-filled life knowing you are using time wisely and how to ensure we are living our lives up to the potential God gave each one of us. I love that I am able to look back and analyze my own life at 52 and decide to take charge now on how I choose to live each day, and ensuring myself that I am stepping out in God's will and not my own for what I choose to do each day. I hope that when I get to the end of my life, I have a life of few regrets and know I lived my life up to the potential God created me to live. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Seize the Day's Study Guide, Joyce Meyer or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Seize the Day Study Guide by Joyce Meyer

You can find Joyce Meyer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books and resources.

To read more reviews on Seize the Day Study Guide, please visit Faith Word's website.

Treasures of the Kingdom

If you have been a believer in Christ long enough, then you understand the meaning behind spiritual gifts. However if you're a lot like I am, you might be confused at what they are in comparison to natural abilities versus spiritual gifts. Is there a way to know for sure? Aren't they simply the same thing anyway? I mean as long as God gets the credit, does it really matter? You just might be as surprised as I was.

God, we know, is never changing. But has He changed when we look at what is happening not only in the world around us but more importantly what is happening inside the church and in the hearts of the believers? Is He ministering the grace of healing to His people today? Is He still a God of miracles? Is it possible that He would ever desire to withdraw His power and authority from the church? Why would He covenant with His church and then withdraw any part of His covenant? These questions and more drove Cho Larson, to search for these as if lost treasures. Ones that we might be missing because we believe we haven't lost them.

Christians are the branches of the Tree of Life, branches of the Vine, and we are to receive power given by the Holy Spirit, to take this Good News of Jesus Christ to every nation. But what does Christianity look like without Christ? "We become like dry vines or withered branches from the Tree of Life. We no longer receive our sustenance from the Vine. These shrunken offshoots hold to a form of godliness, but deny the power and are in danger of being cut off or burned. We are trying to please men rather than God and are not serving under the authority of Christ. We have abandoned the Spring of Living Water for a well we have dug by our own efforts." (pg. 36).

In Book 2 in the Kingdom Series, author Cho Larson, helps readers to search for and discover Treasures of the Kingdom. He outlines in perfect detail the mystery surrounding the gifts of the Spirit from our natural God-given talents. He showcases with Biblical scriptures, the way we can tap into the Spirit and discover who God has designed us to be and what role we can play in what God has ordained for us to do, not simply filling out a role in the church that needs to be filled. I love his questions for how we can tell if we are even in the right place within the church or ministry by his eye opening and truth revealing questions. By far, my favorite chapters are on natural gifts versus spiritual gifts. Now I believe I have the answers I have been searching for instead of looking for them on my own.

I received Treasures of the Kingdom by Cho Larson compliments of Westbow Press and the author, himself for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion of the book. There is so much to be shared in this book, that this review would be much to long to read and explore, but if you question what God's spiritual gifts truly are, how the church is losing its way in these last days, and how to find out what God has called for you in your own spiritual walk, I would highly recommend this amazing resource to accompany in your own personal Bible Study or with others in a small or large group setting. I would give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Treasures of the Kingdom, Cho Larson or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Treasures of the Kingdom by Cho Larson

You can find Cho Larson on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books and resources.

This book is available in paperback, hardcover or eBook formats wherever Christian books are sold.

The Forgotten Way - Meditations

Ted Dekker is by far a house hold name for most Christians! Besides being a well known and best selling author, Ted Dekker's novels take the reader into places they never expected to go and always come away with a sense of having experienced something a bit more than most readers do after a great novel. Their lives are changed. It is more than to say its a sense of bewilderment, but I would call it an awakening instead. Its like we have known this all along and have to be reawakened to remember who we really are.

Whether it is through a novel surrounding any variety of genre's, Dekker awakens the soul in all of us. In The Forgotten Way, it is a book that is much deeper than anything he has ever written. Almost prophetic in nature, you feel as if the words he writes are from someone much older and with that sage like wisdom and mystery about them. This is a book of meditations geared to take the reader on the path of Yeshua for power and peace in this life. Often throughout this book he utilizes the analogy of Clark Kent who forgets that he has the ability and power of Superman and so spends a vast part of his life living in the darkness of who he could be.

Much like us as believers we find ourselves trapped into getting so immersed in the world and what is going on that we forget that as believers in Yeshus, we are merely passing through hoping to make this world a better place and remind other of His love. This isn't getting all caught up in religious dogmas of various religions but in understand who we are as sons and daughters of Yeshua and what power we have once we realize that. We don't have to be bound by the standards of the world. When we learn to let go of the worldly and embrace our spiritual awareness we can be free to love as Yeshua loved even his enemies. It is why most people don't understand the very nature of who Jesus was and the life He lived when he was with us. This book helps believers to understand that somethings what happens in this life, is not what God sees. We need to change our spiritual perspective in order to deal with life here on earth. Perhaps my favorite quote in the entire book is simply, "Remember, what you believe about yourself never defines you' only what your Father believes about you truly defines you. Your beliefs and perceptions, however, do define the experience you have in this world."

I received The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker as a self purchase and was not required to give a favorable review. However being such a fan of his literary works and how much novels like A.D. 30 and A.D. 33 along with the Outlaw Chronicles series like Hacker, Identity and Water Walker, have created a spiritual awakening, I knew I wanted more. It's like getting inside a brilliant man's mind to see what makes it tick and you might be surprised at what you'll find when you do. For me the journey is just begin but now I am wide awake, with eyes wide open and aware of whom I am in Yeshua. Can't wait to go back now and reread not only the Forgotten Way but these other books I've mentioned. Great minds when synced up think alike not only spiritually but on a different conscious level and this the reason I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Currently this book is not available for sale at this time but may become available at a later date.

For more information about The Forgotten Way, Ted Dekker or where you can join a Facebook study group, please click on the links below:

The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels and projects.

The Forgotten Way on Facebook to join in the conversation about the book. 

Illustrated Life of Paul

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find a Bible that was illustrated in such a way that it gave you a sense not only of what life may have been like, but what it looked like as well? We read of some many towns and cities in the Bible but unless you have a Bible map and a modern day map, it is hard to trace where the locations of those cities or towns might have been. The Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles does just that utilizing the letters that the apostle Paul wrote to many of the churches of the New Testament from the towns of Corinth, to Thessalonica, to even the cities of Ephesus and Smyrna.

Except for the Lord Jesus Christ himself, no person has been more influential in the history of the church than Saul of Tarsus who would later be renamed Paul. Paul's influence upon the early church's most cherished convictions is so clear and powerful that scholars debate whether Paul is a mere follower of Jesus or the actual founder of Christianity. Paul himself settled that debate when he described Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of the church and the head of the church. Paul insisted that Jesus has preeminence in all things, in both the church he founded by his death and resurrection and the creation he fashioned by his indescribable power.

Approximately sixteen chapters of the book of Acts focus on Paul's persecution of the church, his conversion, his missionary labors, and his arrest and imprisonment. Paul laid more bricks in the foundation of the church than any other apostle. He wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Nearly half of the New Testament documents bear his name. Although some of Paul's letters are brief compared to other New Testament books, his epistles comprise approximately 1/4 of the total volume of the New Testament. Paul's influence on the development of Christianity is without parallel. He was a highly effective Christian missionary and church planter and is a key interpreter of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and return. Except for Jesus of Nazareth, no man's life has been more fascinating. It truly does provide the reader more background detail about the cultures, the cities and towns as well as people surrounding the ministry of Paul along with some amazing photos throughout the books as each chapter is dedicated to a portion of Paul's life and travels along the way.

I received Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside of a free copy of the book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. I love being able to take this book side by side with the Bible and get a truly visual perspective of what is happening either through the book of Acts or even in the time of one of Paul's letters. We know that there is more than went on and this background is key along with the photos to give the reader a broader view of the urgency of the letters for example or what was happening in the day as the church began to grow and at times get divisive. For me this makes a wonderful visual commentary to aid me in my daily Bible reading in regards to the life and ministry of Paul and thus rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I would love to see these for all the books of the Bible!!! It makes it truly come to life in a more powerful way.

For more information about Illustrated Life of Paul, Charles L. Quarles or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L Quarles

You can find Charles Quarles on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

You can pick up a copy of this book at your local Christian retailer or through Amazon.

The Devotional for Women

Every year I try to faithfully find a great devotional that I can read in just a few minutes that helps set my tone for the day. I believe it is what creates a foundation for how our day might play out. I found an exceptional one that might just be the perfect gift to give this Christmas to a special woman in your life. The Devotional for Women by Rhonda Harrington Kelley and Dorothy Kelley Patterson is just the right size to tuck in your purse, (measures 7.5 by 5 by 1) for some much needed faithful inspiration designed just for women in a purple leather book! It is designed to equip you to faithfully read God's Word daily and comes with 366 daily Bible devotions for women of all ages.

It really is friendly, and offers a quick-read format with a strong emphasis on what God has to say to women from Genesis to Revelation. It even includes a Bible Reading Plan and really places emphasis on biblical applications. What I really love besides the purple leather cover is that each of this daily devotions tries to focus on a woman from the Bible beginning from Genesis all the way to Revelation. Far too often we might not think women made much of an impact from the Bible, but as this devotional points out, there are more women than you might realize. They don't need an entire book of the Bible written about them to be important but even the smaller roles women played like servants, helpers, midwives and others show us how much value a women offers in the sight of God.

It profiles both named and unnamed women of the Bible and each day's message includes application and encouragement for you as the Lord writes His truths on your heart, molding you into His image, and using you as a conduit for glorifying Him in every aspect of your life. The single and married women who have written these daily commentaries come from different seasons of life and various geographical areas and several generational groups from a mother, a daughter and pairs of granddaughters in one family' several mother-daughter duos; a mother in love and daughter in love. There are teens in high school, college, and seminary students, young mothers and grandmothers. All are committed to women-to-women ministries.

The Devotional for Women has a reading for every day but it is undated. You can pick it up and begin your spiritual journey any day of the year. Each devotional stands alone. You can read the extended passage, or you can simply read the focus verse(s), printed for you as the devotional unfolds. Use the guide prayer pattern to approach the throne room of grace with your own petition and praise. Make your personal notes in the space for "Personal Reflection" as reminders of what God has been doing in your life. This is truly a remarkable devotional and one I am honored to share with you.

I received The Devotional for Women by Rhonda Harrington Kelley and Dorothy Kelley Patterson compliments of B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this devotional, in exchange for my honest and personal review. What I love about this devotional is that it is not dated, so you don't have to feel like you've fallen behind if you buy this at any time. You simply pick it up and begin. I also love the Personal Reflection section so that I can note prayer requests or answers to prayer in the space provided to see how God is working in my life through my spiritual journey of faith. For me, this one is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars and would make an exceptional gift to a special woman in your life.

For more information about The Devotional for Women, B and H Publishers or where you can pick up a copy of this devotional, please click on the links below:

The Devotional for Women by B and H Publishers

You can find B and H Publishers on Facebook to stay up to date on all their products.

The Real Force

I don't think there is anyone who hasn't see or heard about Star Wars. From those of us that were fortunate enough to see it play on the big screen back in the 70's to being able to share it with a new generation, there is something played out on the big screen that applies to all of us. A sense of good overcoming evil in the world and author Paul Kent takes readers into a 40 day devotional in his book, The Real Force.

In this book, he takes readers to 40 different devotions that begin with a famous quote from one of the six movies and then takes readers back to that particular part of the movie. He teaches us what happened in that poignant moment and how we can apply those same principles in our daily lives in a contemporary sense. As Master Yoda might say: "Inside this book, the answers are. Read it, you must."

An example of what you will find is Day 27 - I Hear Voices. "Mind what you have learned. Save you it can." ~ Yoda from the Empire Strikes Back.

"Everyone, it seemed, wanted Luke Skywalker's ear. Uncle Owen either barked out orders or begged Luke's help, depending on the day. Newly purchased from the Jawas, C-3PO kept up a barrage of questions and commentary. Han Solo cautiously probed Luke's thoughts on Princess Leia: "You think a princess and a guy like me - " Luke's quick "No" brought an end to that conversation.

The Jedi master Yoda taught, shamed, and cajoled Luke. Darth Vader shared shocking news that he was Luke's father - then urged the young man to join him on the dark side, suggesting they could rule the galaxy as father and son. The emperor coaxed Luke, over and over again, to give in to his aggression and hatred....

At times, we all need some affirmation and guidance. It would be great to have that in an authoritative, audible voice like Obi-Wan Kenobi's. God, however, tends to speak to Christians in different ways. In the Bible, He did sometimes talk directly with people. "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11), and Jesus, after His ascension to heaven, got a proud Pharisee's attention by shining a bright light and asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4).

God's voice may never be as clear to us as Obi-Wan's was to Luke.But if we keep our ears tuned for God's "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12) and confirm what we hear by God's Word, we will know exactly what He wants us to know.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (excerpt pg 111-113).

This is truly a must have for any Star Wars fan as well as a firm believer who wants something unique in the way of devotionals that taps into that side of their life. How they can relive those famous moments in Star Wars films as well as get a bit of back story from the novelizations of those characters as well along with an applicable Biblical side we can apply in our lives today.

I received The Real Force by Paul Kent compliments of Worthy Inspired for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This would make a great Christmas gift for any Star Wars fan especially in light of the new movie that comes to theaters in December this year. My family and I even had fun trying to guess who said the famous lines and from what movie they were from as part of our morning devotion. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Real Force, Paul Kent or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional by Paul Kent

You can find Paul Kent on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional, please visit Worthy Inspired's website.

The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

The Christian walk of faith is certainly one of that requires a lot of faith, but also a trust in a God that we, as a generation has never seen. The world for most students who are attending public school and colleges are those in whose faith will be put to the ultimate test, to stand for the truth in an ever changing world that is growing more hostile to the Christian faith. Will our generation of children be able to stand strong in the coming storm? Will they have all the answers they need to defend what they believe? Is there a tool that can help them with the challenging questions that will be asked of them? I believe there is!

Sean McDowell is the general editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for student, a tool I believe will be useful for answering those difficult and heartfelt challenges about their faith and the life that they have chosen. It is designed to help students be equipping them with the truths of Scripture that enables them to articulate their faith. A better way to think of it, is Christian apologetics 101, which isn't about apologizing for their faith, but helping them understand how to defend it in today's growing and changing world.

The HCSB or Holman Christian Study Bible edition offers them introductions into each of the sixty six books of the Bible along with some amazing study notes to provide evidence of the reliability and truthfulness of Scripture. There are also 120 articles scattered throughout written by today's leading Christian thinkers like Sean McDowell, Bayard Taylor, Daryl Rodriguez, Alison Thomas, Frank Turek, Steve Russo, Ryan Sharp, and many, many more that deal with such topics like "Why Are Some Christian's Hypocrites, How Can I Be Sure I am Saved, If God Made Everything, Why Shouldn't I Smoke Pot, Why Would A Good God Send People to Hell and so many others that deal with the kinds of questions being asked by people today that our children and teens deal with. What better way to answer them than with the right tools and scriptures to reference!

There are also those Scriptures that other religions and people try to twist to make us question our own understanding of the Bible, along with 50 Bone and Dirt features that highlight important archaeological discoveries with an apologetics value with quotes from influential people throughout history. There is also 25 tactics to equip students to withstand opposition to Christianity by outlining tactics and strategies for handling frequently heard anti-Christian arguments. Finally there are also 20 personal stories that will help encourage and strengthen readers in their faith by describing how God has worked dramatically in other people's lives and 20 Fast Facts that compare such differences as the Bible versus the Koran, Atheism, America's Christian Heritage, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Darwin's Evolution Theory as well.

This is the perfect gift for your middle school student and up because it is more than the Bible it is a tool that will enable them to stand up for what they believe in and know right where to go for the answers. A wonderful graduation gift for any student of the Christian Faith and one that I highly recommend. It comes with indented tabs to enable quick reference into the Bible, and my favorite is how it is written to appeal to students in each section such as "What is going on here?" helps them to understand why a particular book of the Bible was written and what had been happening in the land as it was addressed! My 16-year-old daughter LOVES having this Bible to use in her youth group and loves the videos that you have access to by picking up a copy of this Bible as well. They have encouraged her in ways reading articles would never reach her for defending her faith! I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 perfected stars and think every student should own one! I received The Apologetics Study Bible for Students compliments of B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of the Bible. The opinions contained here are my own. I think our generation of teens deserves the gift of a Confident Faith and this is just the right resource for them to find it! Now for the best part.

Thanks to the generosity of B and H Publishers, they are offering giveaway copy of the Apologetic Study Bible for Student to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. Be a resident of the US or Canada. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave me a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and how you plan on using it. Don't forget to include your email address so I can make sure if you are the lucky winner, I have a way to reach you. You can even use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of this giveaway on October 12th, so make sure you include your email address with your comments below to be eligible to win.

For more information about The Apologetics Study Bible for Students HCSB, Sean McDowell or where you can pick up a copy of this amazing Bible today, please click on the links below:

The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

To access the Study Videos, simply click here and begin your own journey into Apologetics!

To purchase a copy of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, please click here.

For more reviews on The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, please visit B and H Publisher's website. 

Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide

For some people to study subjects they want to know more about, some use books, reference materials of some sort, or a DVD which offers both an auditory and visual perspective, but when you pair these resources alongside your Bible to understand the meaning behind why God selected the Israelite people aside from all the other people living in the world, with a mission to bring the "sheep back into His kingdom," you want to probe into the context that really makes up a true Bible study. That is where the DVD, Israel's Mission: Experience the Bible in Historical Context, along with the book, Israel's Mission: Discovery Guide, from Ray Vander Laan, renowned teacher and historian of the "That the World May Know" series, comes into play.

Using five very different segments from Abraham and Sarah and the three strangers, Israel at Sinai, Jesus Renews the Mission of Seeking the Lost, The Lost Son in a Far Away Country, and finally The Seeking Father: The Lost Son Returns, we can unlock the meaning behind God's plan to reclaim His world that had been broken by sin and to use people as His partners in that effort. By choosing a people, Israel, and a place, the promised land at the crossroads of an ancient world, to make His name known. By living in the Promised Land and obeying God's commandments, his chosen people couldn't help but display his character and make Him known to the entire world.

Yet they struggled to be faithful. They were blessed repeatedly by God's hand, but turned away to worship the gods of the nations around them. Prophets of God called them back to Him, back to their mission, but when they refused God allowed pagan nations to conquer the land and carry His people away to foreign lands. The arena has changed in time, but the mission has not. God's partners have always struggled to carry out this task faithfully and this series and study is designed that people will seek to engage this culture and be a blessing to wherever God places us. Using real life locations through the DVD portion of this study, readers are engaged to revisit the Bible and see how even in modern day times, these lessons are still applicable. So many things from the Bible are culture based to apply to the people living in the areas at this time and for those of us that fail to really understand the concepts we miss how it applies to our life today.

I received Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide by Ray Vander Laan compliments of Zondervan Publishers, Focus on the Family and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the DVD and Discovery Guide for a favorable review and the opinions found here are my personal honest ones. For me this series takes all the necessary learning elements, auditory, visual and kinetic and brings the Bible to life in a whole new way. From understand the culture references, to rereading the Bible and seeing it from a different perspective it encourages the reader and viewer to an entirely new perspective into understanding the Bible, God's great commission and how we all need to do our part to share it with a lost and hurting world. It allows all of us to become a kingdom of priests in a prodigal world! For me these both rated a 5 out of 5 stars. This is the 13th Volume in the That The World May Know Series and now I can't wait to pick up the rest!

For more information about Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide, Ray Vander Laan or where you can pick up a copy of this Bible Study series today, please click on the links below:

Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide by Ray Vander Laan

You can find That the World May Know on Facebook to learn more about the Bible Study lessons that are available.

To read more reviews on Israel's Mission, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Our task as Christians is to bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. How are you doing at welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace? Learn how to work on your task with Ray Vander Laan's Israel's Mission, volume thirteen in the That the World May Know® DVD series. Discover the mission that can give your life—and the lives of those around you—greater meaning than you ever imagined. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Celebrate the release of Israel's Mission by entering to win the entire That the World May Know® series—perfect for working through with your family, Bible study, or Sunday school class!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• All 13 DVDs in the That the World May Know® series

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced September 21st on the Litfuse blog.