Billy Graham devotional for children

I think few would argue that Billy Graham is one of the most Godly men of our age.  How blessed many have been by his preaching, his writings, and his Godly wisdom.  How thankful I am that, now in his later years, he hasn't ceased writing and sharing and has released this new volume of devotional readings for children.

One for each day of the year, each devotion has a one verse scripture reference and a brief story or situation helping the young reader apply the Biblical truth to their own life and understand the relevance.  Your child will be comforted by Graham's words, assuring him/her that God loves him and is watching over him/her, God is a forgiving and patient God, God prepared a way for us to be with Him for eternity, and many, many more Truths.  The world is certainly doing Satan's job for him today, filling our youth with lies so it is all the more necessary to equip them with the Truth so they can put on the armor of God every day and fight the good fight.  Personally, I can think of none other that I would rather have come alongside me as a parent to saturate my child with Biblical Truth than Billy Graham.  Each devotion corresponds with the adult version devotional by the same title which will encourage you and your child to talk about how God is using the book to deepen your understanding of Him.

Along with a daily devotion, Graham includes two suggested Bible reading plans.  One is 30 days with Jesus that walks the reader through Jesus' life and his works here on earth while the other is a 90 day plan of scriptures that encourages your child to read the major happenings of the Bible from Creation to Revelation.  Nicely bound in hardback, this devotional is bound to be a family favorite. Thank you Mr. Graham for being such an incredible servant throughout your life.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.

I had forgotton how much I love mysteries

When an old school buddy who Drew hasn't seen for years arrives with a story of a murdered vicar, he and his wife, Madeline, don't hesitate to lend a hand to try to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings.  What Drew has trouble overcoming is his suspicion of his friend's relatively new bride whose husband is concerned won't stick around if the truth isn't revealed.  In order to find answers, Drew is forced to see the events from a clear lens to stop the murderer.

This volume appears to be volume 5 of the Drew Farthering Mysteries by Julianna Deerling.  How that thrilled me to know that there are more similar mysteries waiting for me.  While it is volume 5, I didn't realize that at all until looking back over the book for the review. In other words, this volume easily stands alone and doesn't leave the reader trying to fill in gaping holes in the story.  The characters are well developed and believable, making the reader almost feel as if they too are walking through the English areas in the 1930's.  I love how Deering has given readers what I would consider a very "clean" mystery without all the gruesome details and good clean cut characters.  Twenty years ago, a mystery would have been a top choice for my reading selection but it has been awhile since I have found an author I was willing to commit the time to but I think I have one now.

If you are accustomed to mysteries you can figure out long before the story ends, this one might just surprise you.  There are a number of twists in the storyline that kept me guessing and I'm usually pretty intuitive.  Off now to find more Drew Farthering mysteries and, this time, I think I will begin with volume 1, Rules of Murder.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Every Bible story points to Jesus

From what I have gathered, this volume is a special gift edition of a timeless Bible story book for children published over ten years ago.  I must admit that children's Bible story books are volumes I look for as baby gifts so was anxious to look this one over to see if it might be the Bible storybook for 2017 babies I purchase for.

I love how this book starts off, not with "in the beginning" but rather with how God uses the Bible to show us how much He loved us, not as a book of rules or heroes, but as a Book in which every story and person included points to THE hero, or Savior.  All the major well-known stories are included from Adam and Eve through Paul's journeys and John's "Revelation" but while the scripture is included so you can easily locate the story in your Bible to read to your child, the verse within this book makes the story very real and personal to those who read and hear.  There is enough background to each story as well to help fill in the gaps, connecting one story to another in some ways.  The volume ends with the Gospel, telling children that the stories they have heard is their story too.

I think readers will find the book a fun one to read and one that children will be requesting.  The illustrations by Jago are simple and brightly colored.  What may surprise is the placement of some of the text on the page.  You may find a story written from top to the bottom of the page or you may find it turned sideways.  The end even has the text written diagonally.  The only caution I might give is that the volume is fairly heavy, one that I don't know little hands can manage.  If dropped, the corners are pointed and somewhat sharp should they find a little foot.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  Two thumbs up to Zonderkidz for this beautiful gift volume of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

So very timely

Today, I gave up social media for awhile.  Why?  I had to search for something good, kind, and lovely.  The world seems so full of hate and hopelessness and I have had enough.   I may not be able to change the world on social media but I certainly have the power to take measures to keep it from changing me.

Enough of that soapbox but I hope you see the connection.  One of my New Year's "resolutions" was to give effort toward two meaningful friendships this year.   My children are grown.  I am married to my best friend and am with him almost 24/7 since we work in the same building.  But I find myself lacking true female companionship so this new book by Shaunti Feldhahn caught my eye immediately.  It may not have been the purpose for which she wrote The Kindness Challenge  but it has been a number of years since I felt I had the time to cultivate relationships with other women so thought it the perfect place to begin.  The one thing that struck me right off was Feldhahn's showing me how kindness didn't just matter and make a difference to those I wanted to improve a relationship with but it also change me.

Feldhahn's down to earth way to saying thing and her writing style make this an easy read in a day but the challenges and ideas will remain with you much, much longer.  She is quick to point out how I may be messing up my relationships with others and gives easy to put into practice ideas/strategies for improving your relationship with your spouse and others.  Her ideas are more than just being nice, it is about being kind.  I recently saw a commercial or quote about nice being just a simple, perhaps one-time thing you do.  Kindness is more about who you are as a person.  Feldhahn brings that straight home.

It seems as if, with my husband, I have been on track with the first of Feldhahn's three step process but can always use a reminder to "never say anything negative to or about another person....ever".  That is a practice I have tried to incorporate into my entire marriage.  I never wanted anyone else to think anything other than that my husband was "perfect"--at least not from my mouth.  Her second suggestion--find something you can genuinely praise and appreciate in that person and make certain they are aware of it.  Third--do an act of kindness for the person.  While these all seem like simple steps, Feldhahn suggests we're not quite as good at being kind in this way as we may think we are and provides simple strategies that you can incorporate into your day and relationships.  If taken to heart, this book WILL change your relationships...guaranteed.  

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one. Two thumbs up to Shaunti Feldhahn for her new release, The Kindness Challenge: Thirty Days to Improve Any Relationship.

Prepare for Easter

If you have been in church for your whole life as I am blessed to have been, you have heard the stories of Mary (sister of Martha), Mary (mother of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene.  All three of their lives were changed because of Jesus and were never the same after having known him.  What is unique about this book is Higgs' talent of taking their stories and weaving her own making them seem as if they could be somewhat of the girl next door and allow us to learn and apply their experience so well to our own lives.  Another eye opening focus of this writing is how Jesus treated these three women at a time when women weren't esteemed as they are now.  While I knew women of Biblical times were treated somewhat as a lesser human, I hadn't made the connection that these women, and others, sort of "made the cut" when God inspired the Bible and He obviously doesn't see any of them as lesser than the men of the Bible.

I have always appreciated Liz Curtis Higgs' humor.  Few people can consistently make me laugh out loud as she can.  Another aspect that drew me to her in the beginning is that she too is a Louisville girl.   Several years ago, I read The Women of Christmas and even picked it up again this holiday season.  The real life connections found in that book didn't make me question at all that The Women of Easter would be equally good.  I wasn't disappointed. Higgs' writing style is easy for me to read and doesn't feel preachy at all.  Curl up with your copy and a cup of tea.  The timing of the paperback volume release is perfect as we all look to the Easter season.  I know it has helped prepare my heart for the celebration and trust it will do the same for you. 

I did receive this advanced proof from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one. 

Bill Martin does it again!

Who doesn't love Bill Martin's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  I must have read it so many times to my children that I can almost say it by memory.   Well, he has taken that same lyrical language and created a similar book around Biblical characters all the way through the Bible from Adam and Eve to Paul.  For example, you may enjoy "Joseph, Joseph, what do you see?  I see a father with a coat for me".  Or perhaps your child may by comforted by "Little child, little child, what do you see? I see Jesus watching over me".   What better way to introduce your young child to the Bible than through an author he/she already loves and the sing-song writing that Martin is known for?  Each page also includes the Biblical reference to the story so you can read the entire piece to your child as he/she grows a bit older.

Melissa Iwai provides the perfect child-like illustrations to compliment Martin's writing.   This particular volume is a board book which I love in case you haven't noticed my thoughts on them in other reviews.  As a previous school librarian, there is nothing sweeter than a child cherishing a book he can hold onto and call his/her own so I love the durability and stability that board books provide to little hands.

Two thumbs up to Mr. Martin for giving us another children's book destined to be read over and over again and helps parents introduce even their youngest to God's love and protection.  I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  The thoughts and  comments are my own.

Baa! Oink! Moo!

From sheep that go baa to cows that moo to bunnies that go hippity-hop, only God can make each one. Baa! Oink! Moo! is a sweet conversation between a little boy and his mother as the child notices each animal and asks who made them that way.  As the mother responds, she says that only God can make them and the moon in sky and crickets that sing a lullaby as the little boy drifts off to sleep. 

The watercolor illustrations by David Walker are precious.  The lyrical verse is perfect for teaching your little one about God and how much He cares for us as well as the sounds the animal makes.  After a reading or two, I am confident your little one will be helping you along with those animal sounds.

The book is a sturdy board book making it nice for smaller children to hold and look at without fear of tearing.  The cover itself is a bit padded.   The overall size is a generous 8.5"x 8.5" , with rounded corners, making it a bit larger than many board books.

This book definitely goes on my list of baby gift books.  I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  Thank you Zonderkidz for another sweet story to introduce young children to God's love and provision.