Book Club: Book Review of 'Twas the Season of Lent

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

How do you and your children prepare for Easter? Next year, you can prepare with 'Twas the Season of Lent: Devotions and Stories for the Lenten and Easter Season. This beautiful hardcover book is written by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Elena Selivanova. 

With 'Twas the Season of Lent, your family can start a new Lenten tradition. Over the course of forty days, you will share "the powerful meaning of Lent through prose and poetry, Scripture and prayer" (book jacket). Each day provides a specific message from the Bible, and most include a prayer. 

Woven through the book is a poem similar to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. If your children are familiar with that poem, they will definitely enjoy the reading of this book each day. 

The topics and messages shared are those familiar to Christian families. On day one, children learn about Lent and then move on to read or hear about: 

• Four fishermen who join Jesus 
• Jesus as a teacher
• Nicodemus and his questions 
• How to pray and what to pray
• Parables
• And more. 

And the book closes with the poem on day forty. 

Our Thoughts 

I think this is a lovely book. The content opens up the room for a lot of good conversations with children. Before or after reading the day's entry, you could read the actual verses in the Bible. These are listed where applicable. For example, on day twenty-nine, when you read about love for everyone, Matthew 8:1-3 is listed. 

"Jesus reached out to heal, hold, and bring hope to everyone" (36). 

My daughter was very happy with the arrival of 'Twas the Season of Lent. She is quite happy to sit with me as I read each day's entry. 

I would recommend 'Twas the Season of Lent to families wanting to start new traditions. It will be a beautiful addition to your bookshelves. 

Interested in Other Book Reviews? 

Book Club: Book Review of The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find

Book Club: Book Review of Tiny Truths Little Lights Devotional

Book Club: Book Review of Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Compact Edition

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Do you use a Bible reading plan to help you stay on track when reading the Bible? Or perhaps you like a plan to learn more about what you are reading? A Bible reading plan can also help you focus your prayers while reading. The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble can help with all those goals. Following a chronological Bible reading plan, The Bible Recap summarizes each day's reading, explains, and connects the Scriptures for you. 

The new edition of The Bible Recap is a 759-page compact edition. It has an imitation leather cover with a ribbon marker and a place to list your name in the front. The content is the same as the original edition, providing a one-year guide to help you read and understand the entire Bible. 

About the Book 

A chronological reading plan is listed as part of the contents, taking you through the entire Bible in 365 days. After an introduction from the author, there is an explanation as to how to use the Book. The Bible Recap quotes from the English Standard Version (ESV), but Cobble mentions other translations you might read. She recommends taking notes and writing questions. You should also keep an eye out for God as you read the Scripture, according to Cobble.

Each day is laid out over two pages. The summary and information are accompanied by "Today's God Shot." This is where Cobble relates how she thinks readers can see God's character. In some of the summaries, the information is simple and straight-forward such as when relating the searching of the sacks of Joseph's brothers:

"The squad opens the bags one by one, oldest to youngest, to heighten the suspense, and finds the cup in Ben's bag" (76). 

Sometimes, it is easy to see where Cobble shares her own thoughts, perspective, and ideas in the summaries. For example, when talking about Psalms 102-104, Cobble writes: 

"He segues from sharing God's sovereignty and might over all creation into asking God to use His power to wipe out the wicked. While this may sound harsh, we can probably view it less as some kind of personal vendetta and more as a desire for God's glory to be magnified" (263). 

At other times, you may need to look for context clues and be discerning to see where Cobble shares her own opinion or that of others on the Bible. Please remember every author of a book about the Bible brings their own knowledge, perspective, and ideas to their work. 

My Thoughts 

I really appreciate using a chronological Bible reading plan. My husband first introduced the idea to me, but I didn't start reading through the Bible in a year using a chronological plan until I reviewed the first edition of The Bible Recap. For me, it really helps put into perspective the events of the Bible as they took place rather than reading about the same event multiple times spread out through days, weeks, or months. 

With Cobble's focus upon looking for God on every page of the Bible, it is sometimes easier to see the common thread in the Bible. God speaks to us on every page – even those that are difficult to understand. I like to read her "God Shot" to see what her thoughts are on the day's reading. Using my own research and knowledge, I can accept what she says or look for a bigger interpretation. 

This new compact edition is quite lovely. The first one I received is very large and difficult to take with you. It is actually bigger than my Bible. So having a smaller, compact edition with a ribbon marker makes it very easy to bring The Bible Recap with me. And I love the ribbon marker. Now my bookmark won't fall out! 

The imitation leather cover makes this a nice gift option. If the inside cover had "presented to" rather than "this book belongs to," it would be even more appropriate as a gift. 

One thing I did like better about the first edition is that with the size of the book, you gained a lot more room to make notes in the margins. This compact edition does not leave much room for note-taking. And the pages are very thin so the ink shows through on the printed text. I haven't written in this book, but I would think anything I write would also bleed through or show through on the other side. 

If you enjoyed the earlier edition or accompanying materials to The Bible Recap, this will make a nice addition to your bookshelf. It would be a lovely gift for a family member, church member, or friend. 

Reviews of Other Books by Tara-Leigh Cobble 

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Discussion Guide

Book Club: Book Review of The God Shot by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Discussion Guide

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I have had the pleasure of reviewing several books by Tara-Leigh Cobble here at A Mom's Quest to Teach over the past several years. And I've enjoyed using the Bible reading plan that goes along with The Bible Recap for a couple of years now. So I was very excited to see a new book to help me dig deeper into the Bible and read God's Word. I've added The Bible Recap Discussion Guide to my new daily reading regime. 

About The Bible Recap Discussion Guide 

This lovely, green-covered paperback book is designed to help your Bible study group discuss the entire Bible with weekly questions. The fifty-two weeks of the year are spread out over 117 pages. Each week has eight to eleven questions for you and your group to discuss. Each week has specific questions for the Bible readings for those days, but there is one question repeated each week: "What is your favorite thing you read about God's character in your God Shots from this week?" 

While you could use many of the other resources that are part of The Bible Recap series, this discussion guide can be a stand-alone resource. The Journal and Study Guide would be helpful, but you can answer these questions verbally or in your own notebook. The only part where you would need something beyond this Discussion Guide is when you are asked about the "God Shot." As is explained at the beginning of the book, this term refers to the "snapshot" of God's character or attributes from that day's reading. It is explored further in The Bible Recap book and podcast. 

The table of contents lays out which books to read each day. You can read the entire Bible in one year, chronologically, using the table of contents or the other resources very easily. Or you and your group can pick a spot in the Old or New Testament to start and refer to the appropriate questions by referencing the table of contents. 

My Thoughts 

As I mentioned before, I have read and reviewed other works by Tara-Leigh Cobble. I have found the different books very helpful in more fully understanding the Bible. And I love that I can read the entire Bible in a year, chronologically. 

When I want to go further than my daily readings, I can pick up the Discussion Guide. These questions really help me focus on the different books of the Bible I am reading. For example, this week, I am reading Week 46, which contains the following readings: 

• Matthew 27; Mark 15
• Luke 23; John 18-19
• Matthew 28; Mark 16
• Luke 24; John 20-21
• Acts 1-3
• Acts 4-6
• Acts 7-8 

Some of the questions include: 

• Read Matthew 27:46 aloud. What do you think Jesus is communicating through this statement? 
• What new thing did you learn from the story of Jesus' resurrection in this week's reading, or what stood out the most to you? Why? 

I love questions that ask you think about what new thing you have learned. No matter how many times I have read through the entire Bible, I am always discovering something new. It is nice to have a reminder to stop and think about it frequently. 

I would recommend this book to those who wish to dig deeper into God's Word. It would be perfect for any Bible study group – large or small – or even just for a church leader to help direct them when asking their congregations questions.

Looking for more reviews of books by Tara-Leigh Cobble? Check out mine at A Mom's Quest to Teach. 

Book Club: Book Review of The God Shot by Tara-Leigh Cobble - "The God Shot is a high-quality, 216-page hardcover book with a ribbon for you to track your place."

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Journal - "The Bible Recap Journal is a 384-page paperback book where each day of the year has one page devoted to it." 

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Study Guide - "The Study Guide is very easy to navigate and to use." 

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap - "While The Bible Recap is less scholarly and provides more of an overview of the Bible, I think I am going to thoroughly enjoy using it this coming year to read through the Bible chronologically." 

 

Crafts: Wisdom Keepsake

 

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Are you looking to be more purposeful in your life? The Canadian Schoolhouse is hosting its second Virtual Family Retreat: A Purposeful Life. This virtual retreat is perfect for homeschoolers. Each day focuses upon a different aspect of living a purposeful life and features speakers, a devotion, crafts, and more. I was fortunate enough to design and create several different crafts for the retreat, including ones based upon learning. 

Where does wisdom come from? Do you consider yourself wise? One of the most important places to find wisdom is in the pages of the Bible. 

Each day of the retreat focuses upon a different quote from the Bible. The quote associated with "Purposeful Learning" is: 

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." Proverbs 1:5

Let's remember to look in the Bible for wisdom. We can also seek help when we need it from our grandparents and parents. They can guide us using the wisdom they have gained over their years as well as the wisdom they have gained from reading the Bible. 

Today, we will learn how to create a keepsake where we can keep the Bible verses from this week and others that will help us grow in wisdom. 

Let's gather our materials! 

This project will allow you to be really creative. You can use an old DVD or CD case, or you will create your own small book with the quotes you write down. If you are going to create the same keepsake as me, gather a piece of construction paper for the cover, a pencil, markers (or other supplies to help you decorate your cover), and notebook paper.

Materials 

• Construction paper 
• Empty DVD or CD case 
• Pencil
• Markers
• Notebook paper 

Steps 

1. Use the original cover of the DVD or CD to help you trace a piece from the construction paper for the case. Write on the 'binding' (or spine) your title. 

2. Write a title on the front and draw a picture on the front. What images or pictures come to mind when you think about wisdom? You and your children can draw your own picture or use clip art from online or cut out pictures from magazines. 

3. Don't forget to add artwork to the back. I drew a book and included at least two of the books from the Bible where I plan to pick my quotes from my book. I drew first in pencil and then added color with my markers. If you are creating a book from paper, you don't need to write on the spine. 

4. Take your notebook paper, and write out your quote. You may have to trim the notebook paper beforehand to make sure it fits in your case or the mini-book that you are creating. 

5. If you are using a DVD case, you can tuck the paper under the flaps.

6. Add to your quotes...I asked my children to each pick quotes from their homeschool curriculum to add underneath the one I have already written. You can keep adding quotes and pages all year long as you complete homeschool lessons or Bible studies. 

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Journal

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Do you enjoy Bible journaling? Perhaps you are looking for a new way to journal with your Bible? Bethany House Publishers has released a new book by Tara-Leigh Cobble to accompany The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible. The Bible Recap Journal: Your Daily Companion to the Entire Bible is based on a chronological reading plan for you to record what you learn as you read the Bible. 

About the Journal 

The Bible Recap Journal is a 384-page paperback book where each day of the year has one page devoted to it. It opens with instructions on how to use the journal and additional tools you can use while you journal through the Bible.

It is recommended to start at thebiblerecap.com and then complete the following steps each day: 

1. Complete your daily Bible reading. 
2. Use the journal during your reading – write down where you see God's attributes in today's reading. 
3. Use The Bible Recap Study Guide (find my review here: Book Review of The Bible Recap Study Guide).
4. Listen to the podcast or read The Bible Recap book (read my review). 
5. Use the weekly discussion guide.

I don't think you need to follow all these steps to be able to use the journal, but the more steps you accomplish or complete, the deeper you can dig into the Bible each day. I think the two most important steps are reading your Bible and using the journal. Those things alone will help you as you read God's Word.

Each day in the journal provides you with space to focus upon three parts: 

• Things I loved/learned/noticed 
• Questions/things I want to research 
• God Shot (where you see God on display in your daily reading) 

There is also space for you to write the date. And each page has either a quote from the Bible, a short prayer, or something to encourage you on your Bible journaling process. There are also a few pages of additional journaling pages in the back to write down more ideas and thoughts. 

My Thoughts 

I really like the idea of The Bible Recap Journal, but I am not sure if it is the right book for me to use as a Bible journal. I like the idea of looking for how God is on display in each day's reading. I do not know how easy it will be for me to fill in all three parts each day in the journal. Instead of being so open-ended, I would prefer to have more direction in the journal or none at all. But that really isn't the focus of The Bible Recap Journal. I think the journal will meet the needs of many who wish to dig deeper into the Bible on a daily basis. As you work through each day using The Bible Recap Journal, you will spend more time in God's Word.

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap

 

I received a FREE copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I was very excited to read and review The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible by Tara-Leigh Cobble. The beautiful hardcover book is designed to help you read through the entire Bible in one year using a chronological plan. For those who struggle with understanding what they have read after reading the Bible, this will be a great resource. Cobble sets out to explain and connect the story of the Scripture over the course of 365 days. 

What Is The Bible Recap? 

The 752-page book offers first the three mistakes that the author made when trying to read the Bible cover to cover and presents a simple explanation as to how to use the book. Cobble presents the information according to a one-year chronological plan but encourages you to use your regular Bible as she has her plan presented in the book. The English Standard Version (ESV) will be the primary translation used in The Bible Recap, but you can use your own preferred version. After you read the Bible chapters for the day, return to The Bible Recap and 

• Read the summary provided
• Visit any links provided 
• Read "Today's God Shot" where Cobble "points to one place where God's attributes are on display in that day's reading"

While I haven't read The Bible Recap cover to cover yet, it appears that each day's readings' summary and "Today's God Shot" are presented on two pages. This makes it very easy to read and digest during the time you read your Bible. For example, one of the books I find to be the most difficult to read personally is Job. The first two weeks spend time in Job. I found the summary to be one of the most clear – if not the clearest – summary of the book of Job I have read.

What Did I Think of The Bible Recap? 

While The Bible Recap is less scholarly and provides more of an overview of the Bible, I think I am going to thoroughly enjoy using it this coming year to read through the Bible chronologically. (This is something I have wanted to do for several years, but I haven't found a plan yet that I liked.) Looking through the book, the readings appear to be manageable, which is important for this homeschooling, work-at-home mom. As I started reading The Bible Recap, I discovered many places in Cobble's summary where I wanted to go back to reread the Scriptures to identify the references she was making. I really appreciate books that make me look more deeply into the Bible. 

In the "Today's God Shot," I appreciated the fact that the author points out how God's character is found in each of the day's readings. For example, on Day 160, we read Proverbs 19-21 where we see how God identifies himself with the poor and as someone who reimburses the giver. "God not only identifies with the poor, but He's also generous to the rich" (337). In each "God Shot," Cobble ends with "He's where the joy is!" This is a wonderful reminder as we read through the Bible. 

As I wrote earlier, I have not read The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible yet in its entirety. I usually do read a book cover to cover prior to writing and sharing a review, but this is not like the normal fiction or non-fiction books I review. The Bible Recap requires you to read through the Bible and this book to get the full appreciation of the author's words. Through the year, I will be sharing on social media my thoughts of the book as I progress through it as I will use this work as my main Bible reading plan for 2021. 

I recommend The Bible Recap for those seeking a Bible reading plan. As it is a chronological reading plan, you might want to keep that in consideration of whether it will work for you and your Bible reading. You could use this book at the start of 2021 or pick it up at any time of the year as it is not dated with specific days like January 1 or January 2, but each day's readings are listed as Day 15, Day 16, and so on. So whether you receive the book prior to the start of the New Year or buy it mid-year, The Bible Recap can still work as your 'reading through the Bible' reading plan guide. 

Journaling through the Bible: Joseph and Boundaries

Note: I received a FREE copy of Healing Family Relationships from the publishers in return for my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I have always enjoyed the story of Joseph from the Old Testament. Perhaps it was because I was able to connect with his story because of the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or it might be because I love to read and study about Ancient Egypt. I found an even deeper appreciation after reading Healing Family Relationships by Rob Rienow. (I reviewed the book here.)

The story of Joseph is one where we see how God can use circumstances – even really awful ones – for His own purpose. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. The family that was supposed to love him turned on him. I can't help but wonder how I would react to the circumstances Joseph faced. Would I be able to set appropriate boundaries and let my family back in if they had learned from their mistakes and were truly repentant? I pray that I have the compassion and wisdom to make decisions such as these.

God loves me – no matter how many times I make mistakes, no matter how many times I sin. Can I still love my family even when they make mistakes against me? God shows me the way. 

I love how new books, like my opportunity to read and review Healing Family Relationships, have allowed me to look at a favorite Bible story again. I have shared it with our children while using Bible Study Guide for All Ages (Reviewing Bible Study Guide for All Ages) as well as when we were reading through the various children's Bibles we own. I look forward to reading the story of Joseph each time I read through the Bible. Now I have a new perspective on an amazing Bible story.

Studying the Bible: A Review of The LIFE Plan

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Over the past several weeks our family has been using The LIFE Plan by Allen L. Elder from The LIFE Network to study the Bible. Our younger children, my husband, and I started with Volume 1: The Bible's Story: Genesis 1-11 while our teen started reading Volume 3: The Structure of the Entire Bible. I spent some time reading through Volume 4: The Life of Jesus on Earth by myself in the evenings.

The mission of The LIFE Network is to produce, publish, present, and provide Christian learning resources. They help to establish and support the growth of churches both locally and globally as well as provide spiritual training and physical resources for pastors and churches. The LIFE Plan is one of those resources. It will take the reader from the beginning with God to helping fulfill God's purpose in one's life.

What Books Did We Receive? 

There are six volumes in The LIFE Plan which contain 216 lessons. "The LIFE Plan is a discipleship curriculum which takes you from a beginning with God into a life lived according to his purpose and for his glory" (ix).  LIFE stands for Living Intentionally For Eternity. The goal of the books is for followers of Jesus to live a life according to His purpose and glory.

• The LIFE Plan Volume 1: The Bible's Story: Genesis 1-11 
• The LIFE Plan Volume 2: The Bible's Story Genesis 12-Malachi 
• The LIFE Plan Volume 3: The Structure of the Entire Bible 
• The LIFE Plan Volume 4: The Life of Jesus on Earth 
• The LIFE Plan Volume 5: The Church 
• The LIFE Plan Volume 6: Your Personal Ministry 

The volumes are paperback books (size 8.5" by 11"). Each lesson is designed in a similar manner. The lesson starts with the theme, lesson aim, and scripture reference. There is then a one- to three-page reading that addressed the topic following by an outline, Scriptures for you and your family to read to broaden your understanding of the topic, theological connections, a lesson glossary with vocabulary, and finally questions to answer. I highly appreciate it when a curriculum is presented in the same manner. It makes it easier to know how to prepare for the next day as well as provides reassurance for children as to what to expect.  

How Did We Use The LIFE Plan in our Homeschool?

When the six-volume set arrived, I looked through the volumes to determine which book I wanted to read on my own and which one would be best to hand to our teenage son for him to read independently. I knew I wanted to start with Volume 1 with our younger children. My husband and I sat down and looked through them and decided upon giving Volume 3 to our teenage son.

During the beginning of our studies, I sat with our younger children after dinner and read from Volume 1. They both sat at the dining room table with me and had their Bibles ready to start reading the Scriptures referenced. I would read through the reading selection aloud - stopping frequently to discuss the ideas and topics with our younger homeschooled children. I then used the lesson outline to review the ideas with them - to make sure they understand what I had read aloud. Next, we all took turns reading the Scriptures to Broaden Your Understanding. I loved that this curriculum allowed them the opportunity to practice finding different Scriptures in the Bible. Through our time use The LIFE Plan, they have become more family with the Bible and the order of the books of the Bible. I did skip the Lines of Theological Connection and sometimes the Lesson Glossary with our younger children and some of the questions.

Reading aloud the Scriptures to Broaden Your Understanding

One of the things that I love is that our younger children will be able to work through the curriculum twice over the course of their homeschooling studies. This will hopefully bring them into a much closer relationship with God and a better understanding of the Bible.

On some nights, our daughter sat across the table from me with her Bible.

Volume 1: The Bible's Story: Genesis 1-11 is taking us through the seven days of creation as well as reintroducing us "to the one true and living God," presenting the idea of the holy trinity, discusses sin, temptation, and other important events in the first 11 books of the Bible. As our children are young, things a bit more slowly (originally we were doing one lesson a day). But by the end of this week, we will have finished reading about the creation and start learning more about how man and woman bear the image of God.

During the evenings, I took the time to read through Volume 4: The Life of Jesus on Earth. I sometimes read several lessons each evening and skipped reading the Scriptures to Broaden your Understanding and questions, as I was more interested in reading what the author, Allen L. Elder wanted to convey to his readers. I will probably go back and use the books with all the lesson features at a future time to have a more in-depth Bible study.

Volume 4: The Life of Jesus on Earth starts with the Messianic Prophecies and quickly moves on through Jesus' birth and childhood (touching upon the fact that while we don't know a lot about Jesus' childhood, we can see that he had a great understanding of the things of God). The next several lessons discuss the plan of Jesus and disciple-making. Elder describes the steps that Jesus presented to make disciples - which we are meant to do as Christians. One of the lessons even has a matching section to help you remember the step-by-step method for making disciples.

During the writing of this review, I am in the middle of the lessons demonstrating how Jesus was a healer in Volume 4: The Life of Jesus on Earth. I am reminded that Jesus healed in various ways, as presented in the text and outline: by speaking, commanding the sick to do something, and by touch. The healing of individuals revealed to his followers and to us that Jesus is sovereign and a deity. Everything that Jesus did was for a reason to reveal who he was.

I really like how the books are written and I can see them being very useful in our future homeschooling years. While I think it might be helpful to read the books in order, since I am reading Volumes 1 and 4 I haven't really felt any confusion. So if you are more interested in one volume over another, you probably can make the decision to purchase or read that one first. And so far I haven't seen any problems with our children using different translations of the Bible to read the Scripture mentioned in the books. And finally, I love the amount of space in the books for notetaking.

Each book could be used over the course of one homeschool year. So if you purchase the entire six-volume set you have six years worth of elementary level curriculum (grades 1-6). You could then have your homeschooling students complete the work again in grades 7-12 so they will have worked through each book twice during the homeschooling years.

An Overview of What is to Come 

As we have not spent time with volumes 2, 5, and 6 yet, I would like to provide a brief overview of the information presented in those books. Each book is similar in length ranging from 183 to 201 pages – printed in the United States. Just like with the other volumes, they are presented in the same manner with text to read, an outline, scripture references, and questions.

Volume 2: Abraham and Israel focuses upon God calling Abraham, the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Readers then follow the story of the Bible through reading about the different leaders of Israel like King Saul, King David, and King Solomon. In general, Volume 2 presents a brief overview of the history of Israel and then closes with looking at the prophets in the Old Testament.

If you want to study the church from a biblical perspective then start with Volume 5: The Church. Over the course of 36 lessons (which you can complete over 36 weeks/one homeschool year), you will learn about the early days of the church, how the church spread, broke, was reformed, and continues to this day. There are also chapters on non-Christian religions, cults, and the occult. The author recommends that Christians should be grounded in the Word of God to help them in dealing with other religions.

The final volume, Your Part in the Story, helps you bring everything together so that you can make disciples. The final year (which will be 6 grade and 12 grade if you follow the suggested plan) is "focused on what you will do with your training for the rest of your life" (1). The reading text for the lessons is a little bit longer than some of the ones we are currently reading and the questions ask readers to delve even deeper into their beliefs. Some questions include: "Are you growing in Christ as a child of God?" and "Have you believed on Jesus for salvation?"

Easy-to-read font

I think The LIFE Plan would be a welcome addition to a homeschool family, a church ministry, or someone going on a mission trip. The information is presented in a clear and concise manner and provides plenty of opportunities to get back into the Bible and read the word of God. The questions also provide the perfect starting point for discussing our beliefs with others. And if you are stumped on an answer, check the back of the book for the answer key.

Do You Want to Learn More?

Website – Facebook – YouTube 

There were several other members of the Homeschool Review Crew who had the chance to use The LIFE Plan in their homeschool. Please be sure to read their reviews, too.

Journaling through the Bible: Wait

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

It seems like so much of my time of late has been waiting. This lockdown has put so many of our family's plans on hold. We are waiting till restrictions lessen so that we can gather help to move furniture and belongings. We had a timeline for future plans. Now all the deadlines have passed and we couldn't meet any of them. So we wait. Writing a new timeline is impossible as we wait to hear when our state will completely reopen.

Where can I seek encouragement as I wait? Psalm 130 is an excellent place for me to start.

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord 

"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; 
Lord, hear my voice! 
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

If You, Lord, should mark inequities,
O Lord, who could stand? 
But there is forgiveness with you,
That You may be feared." 

Psalms 130: 1-4

Can the Lord stand by me and give me the strength I need to wait? "My soul waits for the Lord." I am eager to hear His response. I pray for the day when we will no longer have to wait for things on earth.

Waiting is so difficult – even for adults. Reminding myself of God's mercy and redemption is so important. Sharing that knowledge with my children is important. We can all weather this storm of waiting with the Lord's help.

   

Learning More about Jesus: A Review of The Easter Storybook

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

I am always on the lookout for excellent books to help our children understand the amazing life of Jesus. So, I was very excited to read and review The Easter Storybook: 40 Bible Stories Showing Who Jesus Really Is written by Laura Richie and illustrated by Ian Dale with our two younger children. It is a very colorful hardcover book of 93 pages that focuses upon the life of Jesus and not just His final days published by David C Cook.

About The Easter Storybook

This is a beautiful hardcover book designed to be read during the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. There is a table of contents that you can use to find specific stories if you wish. The Easter Storybook does not just focus upon the last days of Jesus but on the many events in Jesus' life such as:

• Jesus in the Temple as a boy 
• The temptation of Jesus 
• The parable of the Lost Son 
• Jesus walking on water 
• The parable of the Good Samaritan 
• The story of Lazarus 
• Jesus clearing the Temple 
• The tearing of the curtain in the Temple 
• Jesus meeting with the Disciples 

Each page of text lists the day, a title, references to the Bible, a quote from the Bible, the text of the story itself, and a question or two at the end. Accompanying each day's story is a full-page illustration of the story.

Let's look at Day 18 – The Son of Man Shines. After a quote from John 17:24, we read the opening sentence of the day: "When Jesus lived on the earth, many people tried to understand who He was." We then continue reading about the time when Jesus asked his friends who they said He was and the time when they saw Jesus standing with Moses and Elijah. Day 18 continues with relating how God named Jesus as his Son and the fear of Peter, James, and John. Finally, it closes with Jesus telling them not to share what they had seen "until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." We then are presented with a very thought-provoking question: "What do you think it was like to see Jesus' glory and to hear God's voice?"

How Did We Use The Easter Storybook in Our Homeschool

I tried to read one day's story each day with our children either during lunchtime or before bedtime. The stories are easy to read aloud and provide great discussion points as each poses a question at the end. One could also use The Easter Storybook as part of your morning basket routine or story time or include with your devotions or Bible Study.

What Did We Think?

I love the vibrant colors in The Easter Storybook. The illustrations are so engaging and relate so well to the text on the opposite page. The text is very easy to read. And the book is easy to hold in my hands even with both kids sitting on my lap. And it is easy to hold if I am reading it to them while they are eating lunch. Because everything is contained on two pages, there is no need to flip pages which can be difficult when children are sitting on your lap.

Our first grader enjoyed the questions at the end of each day's reading. He also likes when there are answers within the reading. He also enjoys the verses that begin each day's reading. He said: "Some pictures look like the story." His two favorites were the story of Jesus walking on water shared on Day 8 and the story of Jesus calming the storm which was shared on Day 10. He would recommend The Easter Storybook to other children.

Our four-year-old daughter is enjoying the stories in The Easter Storybook. She likes that the different stories remind her of her lessons from Sunday School such as the story of the Good Samaritan. As she was looking through the table of contents, she also came across stories that reminded her of some of the songs they sing in Sunday School. I like the fact that she can relate easily to the book as well and can read some of the stories to me with help.

I would highly recommend The Easter Storybook from David C Cook. It will make a perfect addition to your bookshelves and help bring the story of Jesus to life. I can easily see the reading of this book becoming a very welcome Easter tradition in many families.

Do You Want to Learn More?

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We also had the privilege of reviewing The Action Bible Anytime Devotions from David C Cook. If you are looking for a devotional for your children ages 8-12, please visit my review of this nice softcover book. 

Other members of the Homeschool Review Crew also enjoyed reading The Easter Storybook in their homes during the past several weeks. Please remember to check out their thoughts on this lovely book.