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

Crafts: Praying for our Leaders

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Loving, Learning, Living, and Leading are all important things to teach our children in a Biblical Worldview. How can we do these things in our own lives? How can we be purposeful in the way we love as God taught us? How can we focus on learning about God and His world? How do we live our lives according to the Bible? And how can we lead others as God would want us to?  Over the course of four days, The Canadian Schoolhouse's Virtual Family Retreat: A Purposeful Life has touched upon these four areas. The whole family has a place in this virtual retreat. There are special speakers addressing both homeschooling moms and dads, crafts for your children, devotions, giveaways, and more. 

I want to start with several questions... Who are our leaders? Who has come before us in the Bible? Where can we look for leadership? How can we be leaders? 

We may not answer all these questions in this post, but I would encourage you to think about them as you create your craft, as you pray for our leaders, and as you read your Bible. 

Today's craft is inspired by a quote from Hebrews. 

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7

Remember those who serve as your leaders – those who lead your family, your church, your town, your province, and your nation. This verse in the New Testament helps us to remember the leaders of our church. And we can also remember the leaders of today.

Materials 

Today, we are going to make a simple craft that will help us to pray for our specific leaders. So, let's gather our materials! You will need two paper plates – the cheaper ones are perfect for this craft. You will need a pencil and markers (or you can use crayons or colored pencils). 

• Two paper plates
• Paper fastener 
• Pencil 
• Scissors
• Markers
• Notebook paper to list names 

Steps 

1. After you get your materials together, write down the names of the leaders who you want to include. Depending on where you live, you will be writing down the names of different people or even different titles. 

2. After you have your list of leaders, split your paper plate into three equal sections.

3. You will cut away one section for the top paper plate. Make sure when you cut away, you leave enough space around your paper fastener hole so it will not tear. 

4. Then, you will use your marker to make lines for each section. 

5. After the sections are divided, write the names of the leaders in the sections. You can add as much or as little decoration to your prayer plate as you want. Decorations can be complicated or just squiggly lines. 

6. Add on the top plate, "Today we pray for our church leaders and our ____________."

7. As you spin the prayer plate, you see the names you have written of your different leaders. Find a specific time during the day to pray for them.

What are the names of your leaders? Who can you pray for today?

Crafts: Purposeful Living – Bring a Light into Your Home

 

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I have been sharing crafts and activities that I designed and created for The Canadian Schoolhouse's Virtual Family Retreat: A Purposeful Life. If you are homeschooling, this is a wonderful virtual retreat for you! From devotionals focused upon the Bible verses that inspired these crafts and activities to special guest speakers, there is something for everyone. 

The focus of the retreat this year has been living a purposeful life. So, how can we be more purposeful in our lives? How can we remember that God will be there to guide us? 

Let's look at today's Bible Verse, and then I will share about two different crafts we can make to help us remember these things and the verse.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV

Today, we can make two different versions of the same craft. We can make it so our craft looks like a light bulb or an oil lamp. 

Materials 

• Coffee Filter (two, if you are doing both versions of the craft) 
• Pencil
• Markers
• Spray bottle
• Scrap paper 
• Tape 
• Laminating supplies

You will need at least one coffee filter (two, if you want to make both versions of the craft), a pencil, markers, a spray bottle for water, scrap paper (the markers will bleed through the coffee filter), and – for displaying your artwork – tape.

Steps 

1. You can either sketch your picture using a pencil and then draw it with markers or you can go straight to the markers. I took inspiration for my light bulb from a piece of clip art online. You can be as creative as you want. 

2. I recommend you color the entire picture in because you want to make sure that there is plenty of ink from the markers for the final step in the craft project. 

You can use the traditional colors for the light bulb or pick out others that will complement the room where you will hang your sun catcher when you are finished. 

When I drew my oil lamp, I started with the markers. I wanted to leave enough room for the cup and the flame. 

At the top and bottom of my picture, I wrote out Psalm 119:105 along with the month and year. You could write out the entire Bible verse if you leave enough room. BUT...I recommend saving the writing for after you use the spray bottle. 

3. You want to spray the coffee filter with water from your spray bottle. The coffee filter should be wet but not soaking wet. Do this over a piece of scrap paper. The ink from the markers will run. You want to make sure you spray where you want the ink to spread but NOT where you don't want it to spread. 

4. After my pictures were dry, I was able to add a few more touches. When my oil lamp picture was done, I needed to add a few lines for definition. I simply used the same markers and drew the shape I wanted to see. I also tried to fix November 2022 but it didn't turn out as neat as I wanted. But that is okay...because crafting, art, etc. is not always perfect. It is all a learning experience. 

5. When you are done (and the coffee filters are dry), you can hang them in your window. 

If you want to make sure they last for years, you can laminate them. I've done that in the past with pumpkins and snowflakes we created, and they are so nice in our windows year after year. 

Depending on how much sun the window gets, your artwork may fade over time. But that is okay because you can make more! 

Where will you hang your finished artwork? 

Book Club: Book Review of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible

 

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.

A brand new wonderful resource available to help parents on the journey to teaching their children about the Bible has been published by Bethany House Publishers. Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley gives parents "the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family." In three parts and only 199 pages, Cooley provides advice, experience, and personal stories that will help parents "initiate and strengthen your child's relationship with the Lord through His Word." 

About Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible 

Sandwiched between an introduction where readers are introduced to the idea that they are Generation Bible and a conclusion that reminds us of several real-world stories that "the whole Christian history is full of faithful parents" (184) are three parts that give you the practical advice and concrete ways in which you can help your children learn and love the Bible. 

The message at the heart of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible is that as a family you can read the Bible from cover to cover, no matter if you have preschoolers or high schoolers. Reading the Bible as a family can become a natural part of our day using the plan and advice of Cooley.

Part One: You're the Leader 

Cooley helps put to bed the myth that the Bible is too difficult to read as a family. Our children can appreciate the Bible as we find a translation that works for our family, look at which parts we can skip for our younger children (for now), and find ways to go to God and His Word every day. And yes, there will be times when we need to adjust our plans, but that is okay. 

Part Two: Faithful Reading 

To help parents understand the Bible, Cooley looks at the authors of the Bible, all the "i" words - inspired, inerrant, and infallible, how the Bible is organized, and the primary themes of the Bible. I truly appreciated Cooley's reminder to look for the main themes and read the Scripture in context. 

Part Three: A Daily Walk 

In this final section, Danika Cooley shares how to actually help your kids learn and love the Bible. From round-robin Bible reading to concrete hands-on activities, there are so many wonderful ways shared to help parents. Songs, puppet shows, memorizing scripture, praying the Bible, and other ideas will help you make your Bible reading time come to life. 

My Thoughts 

I loved Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible. The practical advice and suggestions for teaching your children, like creating a 'bookcase' of the genres of the Bible, to the personal stories the author shared were wonderful. One of the things I liked the most about Cooley's book is the fact that she speaks of her homeschooling experience. As a homeschooling family ourselves, it was nice to read about how one mom incorporated the Bible into her family's homeschooling day.

While reading Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible, I had my pen ready because there were so many parts that I wanted to notate and revisit. Even though we use several different homeschooling curriculum pieces that allow us to bring the Bible into our daily lessons, I found many new ideas from Cooley's book. I want our family to work on Scripture memorization more and create more crafts with our younger children. I also want to go through the list of works consulted to find more information to help our family grow in the Word of God. 

I recommend Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible to parents whether their children are homeschooled or attend public or private school. There is so much useful information and advice to help us set up a routine of Bible reading. Churches would also find the book helpful so they can minister to their families and help them bring their children to the Bible. I feel this book will help our children fill their hearts full of Scripture. 

Journaling through the Bible: Wise Love

As a member of the Homeschool Review Crew, I was blessed with the opportunity to review a four-week Bible study of Philippians by Julie Polanco. I am currently in the beginning steps of this journey through Paul's letter to the Philippians but I am thoroughly enjoying reading more and learning more about the wisdom and advice that Paul has to offer. The Crew will share a complete review of both this Bible study and the Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Romans bundle (which I will start after I complete this one) in mid-November, but I wanted to share this wonderful resource in relation to my Bible Journaling.

I must admit that, as a child, I did not completely understand the letters included in the Bible. Perhaps, this is because I did not have a firm understanding of the history of this particular time period. After viewing Drive Thru History® - Acts to Revelation, I felt a lot closer to the men who journeyed around the Mediterranean during the early years of Church History. I now know how to properly say the names of all the places and peoples. It was with this relatively new knowledge that I entered into the Bible study by Julie Polanco. 

God has started so many good works in my own life and the lives of those in my immediate family. I feel that, through His guidance, I have come closer to Him and will continue to come closer to Him through Jesus until the day of Jesus Christ. This is what Paul wishes the people of Philippi to do – come closer to God. 

"While we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

There has been a lot of suffering in the world and in the lives of many individuals I hold near and ear to me – including my own life. I hope that, through the reading of the words of Paul, I can see that these tribulations do produce perseverance. The perseverance that grows in me will hopefully lead to a stronger character. And what will that character bring? Hope. I am more hopeful than I ever have been before even with all the suffering and tribulations in the world and my own personal life. I pray that everyone can find that hope.

May you find hope each and every day!

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.

Book Club: Book Review of Psalms for My Day

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.

Quality books that are based in the Bible are so important to include in our homeschool. I loved having the opportunity to read and review Psalms for My Day: A Child's Prayer Devotional by Carine MacKenzie and Alec Motyer. We received a beautiful hardcover book to read to our children from Christian Focus Publications.

About the Book

Psalms for My Day is recommended with a read-to-me age of 4-6 and a read-myself age of 7-11. I found this to be right on target. While our five-year-old daughter has been able to read part of it with me, she still needs help with some of the words as well as help understanding the Psalms. Our six-year-old son could read most of the Psalms to himself but I still think he needs help with the meaning by the Psalms quoted as well as the devotionals included.

The hardcover book is really easy to hold while our children sit on my lap or next to me on the couch. I have also spent some time reading the book to our children during their lunch. Again, the book is quite easy to hold and share the pictures with them while I am reading it.

There are 86 pages with an introduction, a glossary of new words, and thirty-one Psalms represented in the book. There is even a red ribbon to mark your place. Each Psalm is usually spread out over two pages. Some pages contain absolutely beautiful illustrations such as one with herons and another featuring an underwater scene. There are also some quotes from Alec Motyer scattered throughout such as:

"I cannot remember a time when I did not Love the Bible as the Word of God." 

What Do We Think?

I really love the fact that Psalms for My Day: A Child's Prayer Devotional provides children with not only direct readings from the Psalms but also devotions and prayers. Each one can be read independently and turn into a wonderful lesson with our children.

So how did we use this wonderful resource in our homeschool? On some days, I read them one or two Psalms while they were eating lunch and, on other days, I chose to read them at bedtime. I also read through it myself to inspire my own Bible-journaling time. The Psalms themselves are always inspiring but with the gorgeous illustrations, explanations, and prayers of this book added in, I was able to be very creative with my journaling time.

Our six-year-old son liked being able to read the Psalms with me using this book and our five-year-old daughter liked reading the prayers aloud. Our six-year-old son told me his favorite one in the book was Psalm 23. He liked the picture of the shepherd and the image it created in his mind.

I would recommend Psalms for My Day to families who are seeking more Christian books for their children's bookshelves. It would make a beautiful present for a birthday, Christmas, or Easter. I feel like it opened a new part of the Bible up to our children. It is very easy to share the stories of Jesus and individuals from the Old Testament with our children but sometimes more difficult to share parts of the Bible that are not telling a narrative. Psalms for My Day is a great way to introduce beautiful poetry to younger children.

Do You Want to Learn More?

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The Homeschool Review Crew had the option to review several different works in addition to Psalms for My Day published by Christian Focus including 30 Prophecies: One Story and Not If, But When: Preparing Our Children for Worldly Images. Please visit the Crew's page to find more reviews.

Journaling through the Bible: Trust in the Lord

"Those who trust in the Lord..." Why is trust such a difficult thing? It should be very easy when we have example after example in the Bible about God always being there for us. In the past few weeks, I have found myself yearning to find the truth in God's word. Looking through my Bible for words of encouragement and inspiration. I stumbled across Psalm 125 when I was looking for something to help me through a stressful day.

"The Lord surrounds His people,
From this time forth and forever..."

What a comforting image. I can picture God around me – all around me. I, as a mountain, with the Lord's strong presence providing me protection from the wind and the rain of cruel words that fall around me. I needed His comfort and His protection. As a family, we are moving through some changes. Knowing that God is there helps as what we once thought we would be long-lasting is no more.

As I try to provide protection for my children, it is so important to remember that God protects me. He protects my family – my children. They are His children, too.

"Those who are upright in their hearts" will find favor with God. If, as a mother, I can turn my children away from the wrongs of the world and the wrongs they commit as children, then I can turn them towards God. He will always be waiting for us; providing strength to all His people.

Looking to Connect with God Using The Action Bible Anytime Devotions

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.

Our son enjoys reading different youth bibles and devotionals so he was very excited to review The Action Bible Anytime Devotions from David C Cook. We approached this devotional in several ways in our homeschool. From my passing it to our first grader to read independently, to our son and I sitting together to read some of the devotions together, to our daughter and I reading a few of them together before bedtime. There are quite a number of ways in which one could incorporate The Action Bible Anytime Devotions: 90 Ways to Help Kids Connect with God Anytime, Anywhere into their children's' lives.

The Basics of the Book

The paperback book is 193 pages with a set of illustrations by Sergio Cariello that repeat as you read through the book. There is a place to write the name of the child to whom you are presenting the book, along with your own name and the date. It is geared for children ages 8-12 years old to help them learn about God's world, relate to the people in the Bible as real people, think about the Bible in a way that will help them grow, and apply the lessons to their own life. There are eight general topics covered that address many important difficulties and problems that children may be facing in their everyday lives. In total, there are 90 devotions to read.


The topics include:

• Love
• Courage
• Hope
• Trust
• Faith
• Kindness
• Strength 
• Service

If you or your child wishes to focus upon a specific topic, you or they can flip through the book as the topics are listed on the top right-hand side of the pages. Or you can look through the table of contents where the topics are listed behind the devotion title but before the Bible reference. The manner in which the book is laid out makes it easy to find topics that might help address your child's current worry, problem, or concern.

Each two-page devotion opens with a quote from the Bible and then a story to help make connections to the real world. From there, children are introduced to questions that will help them explore the topic on their own, a prayer relating to the topic, and a way they can take it further by reading in their Bible (the book references The Action Bible).

Each devotion does not take long to read – probably only a couple of minutes. We were able to read several different ones before bedtime one evening.

How Did We Use Anytime Devotions in Our Homeschool?

Like with most books, I gave The Action Bible Anytime Devotions book to our first grader when it arrived for him to read on his own. He read through several devotions, flipping through and picking and choosing from the book based upon the various specific topics. He then pointed out some that might be helpful for his sister to read or have read to her.

Taking a break from our writing curriculum that includes Bible stories, I incorporated the Devotions into our everyday lessons. Our first grader and I would sit down together and read through one devotion. We talked about the quote that was chosen as well as the story that was shared. We then went through the story and talked about whether or not our son had ever felt like the boy or girl in that story. We answered the questions provided. I read the prayer and on one occasion our son said, "I really need to remember this prayer." Finally, we sometimes looked in my Bible "take it further."

One of the devotions I read with both our younger children was "Always Time to Forgive." Like many siblings, our son and daughter get into arguments. The story shared in this devotion was about a brother and sister who play video games with each (much like our children) but on this occasion, Sarah ended her brother's turn playing the game early. There have been a number of times that our daughter has 'ruined' something in the Minecraft world, upsetting her brother. And of course, he has said he never wants to play games with her again. But they always do – sometimes after a long period of cooling off or lots of intervention and discussion from myself or my husband. After reading through this devotion, my hope is that both will remember how important it is to forgive not just seven times but seventy times seven times.

When I asked our son which devotions he wanted to read, he would flip through the book and look at the different topics to pick and choose which to read. Having the topics listed at the top of the pages was very helpful!

He would also use the table of contents to pick and choose which devotions he wanted to read each evening. The table of contents had lots of useful information that he used to choose from the topics to Bible references.

What Did We Think?

I think that The Action Bible Anytime Devotions is a great resource for children and their families who are looking to connect with God through His Word. The use of 'action verses,' prayers, and references to Scripture really brings the Devotions to life in my eyes. I appreciate that the book is not just a collection of stories or prayers for children. It really does try to meet multiple needs for children. I also really enjoyed the illustrations. I just wish there were more than one set that repeated as well as ones that were more directly connected with each devotion.

Our four-year-old daughter likes the pictures in the book, too. One of her favorite illustrations was Jonah and the fish. As she was looking at the pictures, she would recount the stories she was familiar with from the Bible. She was also impressed with how large Goliath was in the illustration of him fighting David.

When I asked our six-year-old son what he enjoyed the most he said, he liked the inclusion of the real-world struggles and how they tied into the rest of the devotion. He liked reading about the examples of other children and their problems. One of the devotions that stuck out to him was "For Times When You Need a Guide." The real-world struggle presented is that of Chad approaching a group of older boys who are looking at bad videos on someone's phone. Chad knew it was wrong and walked away. The devotion then goes on to remind children that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit as a guide to help them when they might not know what to do. I think this is a great devotion to include in the book because too many of our children will be tested with inappropriate content when we, as parents, are not around to offer advice.

I would recommend The Action Bible Anytime Devotions to families who are seeking a book for their preteen to read either independently or with their parents that will help guide them to God's message. It is the perfect size for them to carry in their backpack and take with them to use at any time.

Do You Want To Learn More? 

David C Cook publishes a great number of excellent books and they also help spread the Gospel around the world when people purchase books, music, and curriculum.

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – Pinterest – YouTube 

Our family was only one of many that had the opportunity to read and review The Action Bible Anytime Devotions in their homeschool. Please visit the reviews to see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this newest book from David C Cook.

Journaling through the Bible: Daniel Explains the Second Dream

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

Seeking some wisdom during a moment of extreme stress, I turned to my Bible. I thought I wanted to read some of the wise words of Jesus. Perhaps read through a parable or two. Maybe turn to the Acts or the Letters but I opened to Daniel. I am more familiar with the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den than that of his explanation of the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar but here I was – right in the middle of it all.

"...It is you, O King, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth."

I have to admit this sounded great as I was reading it. A powerful image of a strong tree who provides shade, food, and protection for all. Isn't that what I want to be as a mother? But that isn't the whole interpretation. The king will be brought down low and no longer rule his kingdom if he does not turn from his sins and show mercy.

I cannot be strong, powerful, and wise without giving my all to God. He is the one who has given me life. As a wife and mother, I must honor God and ask for His help and mercy. I cannot be so proud of what I have already accomplished without giving praise and honor to God. One does not want to be cut low or barred from the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Prayer:

Please God accept my praise and help me be a better wife and mother.

Book Club: Review of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls

I received a copy of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) for this review. This post is sponsored by Zondervan.

The NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls is truly a beautiful book! It comes with a slipcover to protect the leathersoft book cover that is pink with silver polka dots. In the front of the book is a place to inscribe who you are presenting the Bible to and there is a space for the date or occasion of the gift. What a wonderful gift this would make for a young lady!

Inside the 1,456 pages are 500 verses intended to be colored. The verses chosen are ones you may wish to memorize or they may draw your attention to a part of the Bible that is unfamiliar to you. These have been drawn by ten artists (you can find their names and the pages where their work appears at the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls). During the review period, I picked two different books of the Bible to color: Nehemiah of the Old Testament and the Gospel of John of the New Testament.

No matter what part of the Bible you are reading, this book lays flat on your desk or on your lap. I love not having to make sure to place something over to keep it open. So whether I am reading about Joseph being sold by his brothers or reading one of the letters of John, I do not worry about the Bible closing before I choose to close it.

I love how this Bible lays flat while you are reading it or coloring the verses. 

In addition to the verses to color, there are also lines in the margins on which readers of the Bible can make notes or add their own illustrations or drawings. I love that there is space for me to try my own hand at Bible Journaling.

My husband purchased me the NKJV Beautiful Word Bible in 2016 for Christmas. My edition is not a coloring Bible so I was very pleased to see how the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls was different. The quality of the book is the same: excellent. There are some differences in illustrations due to them being different translations but I could see each edition being a valuable resource to read the word of God. Zondervan produces beautiful books!

The NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls is recommended for girls 8 and up. I would say anyone that enjoys coloring and wants to move closer to God could thoroughly enjoy this edition from Zondervan. Our own daughter, who is only four, thinks it is a beautiful Bible. We will probably gift her with one of her own in a few years.

I really think this would make a lovely Christmas gift for a young lady in your life. With the easy-to-read black letter 8-point text, it is perfect for young girls who are just starting to read the Bible on their own. And the lovely ribbon will help them mark their place in the Bible for when they need to take a break from reading or coloring.

Read my review of 365 Devotions for Young Women from Zondervan

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Coloring Bible – Zondervan 

If you are interested in trying your hand at coloring a few of the pages from the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls, you can check out the free downloads here.

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