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.

Pocket Prayers

"Hello, my name is Max. I'm a recovering prayer wimp. I doze off when I pray. My thoughts zig, then zag, then zig again. Distractions swarm like gnats on a summer night. If attention deficit disorder applies to prayer, I am afflicted. When I pray, I think of a thousand things I need to do. I forget the one thing I set out to do: pray.

Some people excel in prayer. They inhale heaven and exhale God. They are the SEAL Team Six of intercession. They would rather pray than sleep. Why is it that I sleep when I pray? They belong to the PGA: Prayer Giants Association. I am a card carrying member of the PWA: Prayer Wimps Association. Can you relate? It's not that we don't pray at all. We all pray some.

On tear-stained pillows we pray.

In grand liturgies we pray.

At the sight of geese in flight we pray.

Quoting ancient devotions, we pray.

We pray to stay sober, centered or solvent. We pray when the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the unborn baby hasn't kicked in a while. We all pray...some. But wouldn't we all like to pray....

More?

Better?

Deeper?

Stronger?

With more fire, faith, or fervency? Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. We want to pray, but when? We want to pray, but why? We might as well admit it. Prayer is odd, peculiar. Speaking into space. Lifting words into the sky. We can't even get the cable company to answer us, yet God will? The doctor is too busy, but God isn't? We have our doubts about prayer.

Prayer is not a privilege of the pious, not the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. My friend, he wants to talk with you. Even now, as you read these words, he taps at the door. Open it. Welcome him in. Let the conversation begin. "
(Pg 5-7, 12)

In typical easy reading fashion, Max Lucado introduces readers to Pocket Prayers, 6 uniquely designed books to help Dads, Moms, Friends, Grads, Military, and Teachers with 40 specific prayers designed to help inspire and encourage your prayer life. They will bring joy and serenity in Pocket Prayer for Friends with Max and Betsy St. Amant. They bring peace and rest to Pocket Prayers for Moms with Max and Andrea Lucado. In Pocket Prayers for Dads, 40 simple prayers help bring strength and faith to our men with Max and Mark Mynheir. Pocket Prayers for Grads promises 40 simple prayers that bring hope and direction in the life ahead of them with Max and Andrea Lucado. 40 simple prayers that bring faith and courage can be uncovered in Pocket Prayers for the Military Life, with Max and Mark Myheir, to anyone serving in our military. Finally 40 simple prayers that bring peace and renewal in Pocket Prayers for Teachers, with Max and Jennifer K. Hale.

These simple but encouraging books provide just the right kinds of prayer in every single life of a believer in just the way they need it. I gifted Pocket Prayers for Dads, to my own father, who is just beginning to discover his life as a believer in Christ, to encourage him in his own prayer life. I have gifted Pocket Prayers for Military Life to a close friend who just made the decision to enlist in the army to help him realize that no matter how far from home he is, God will always be right there for him. Pocket Prayers for Graduates is given to my 17-year-old daughter who is graduating in June to help her always realize that when she faces uncertainty in her future, she can always trust God for the right path in her life. I have given Pocket Prayers for Moms to my own mother, because she has always inspired me that prayer is the one thing we always have any time day or night no matter what we are enduring. Finally Pocket Prayers for Teachers I have gifted to our Youth Pastor who's responsibility it is to help lead the next generation to trust and have faith in God.

I received Pocket Prayers by Max Lucado compliments of Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from these free books, in exchange for my honest and personal opinions. The one thing I love about any of Max Lucado's books is the down to earth feel you get when reading them. It's not like reading a book, but having a heart to heart conversation with a close friend. He meets you right where you are, and you feel like you're on the same page with him.

For me, I struggle a lot in my own prayer life, first doing it and then staying focused when I do. These unique hard covered books are perfect for that person in your life that needs the inspiration and encouragement in their prayer life and that is why I give these a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Pocket Prayers, Max Lucado, or where you can pick up a copy of these today, please click on the links below:

Pocket Prayers by Max Lucado

You can find Max Lucado on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

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

To enter a giveaway for the Pocket Prayer's Prize Pack, please click here.