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

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.

There are many storybook-style Bibles available to purchase for your younger children. With all these resources comes debate, too. Should we provide a watered-down version of the Bible for our children? The Bible is not a fictional story, so why create a "storybook" Bible? If you are a family planning to include storybook bibles on your bookshelves, or if you already have one or two, I have a recommendation for a new book to add to your collection. 

From the beloved Berenstain Bears of my own childhood, there is a new book for my own children. The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find is a relatively new publication from Zonderkidz. This hardcover, colorful book presents several stories from the Bible with short text and graphics featuring bears in place of the humans. 

If your children are already familiar with the Berenstain Bears, this will provide a fun way to bring the Bible into your reading time. In a typical search and find, children will be on the lookout for a number of images within the larger picture. As this is a hardcover, the idea is not to circle the pictures when found but merely to point them out to the parent or grandparent reading the book. 

Stories include: 

• The Creation 
• Noah's Ark
• Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt
• David as a shepherd
• Daniel in the lion's den
• The Birth of Jesus 
• The Storm at Sea
• The Last Supper (Passover supper) 

Ways to Use The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find

In addition to reading the text aloud with your child(ren) and searching for the objects listed, there are several ways in which you could use this particular storybook Bible. For example, find the story depicted in The Berenstain Bears' book with the one in your copy of the Bible. Look for passages or quotes from the Bible itself to share with your child. 

For the first set of pages depicting the Creation, create a mini-book with your child to depict the first seven days based on the Bible. Add the pictures from the Search and Find book to the mini-book on the appropriate days. Encourage your children to copy the pictures from the Search and Find book in their own mini-book to create a strong connection. 

On the pages that ask children to find certain numbers of objects, such as the ones showing David as a young shepherd, you could expand on the math lesson. Bring physical representation of the objects to the table. Do you have six mini apples or four toy ducks? You can collect the objects and work on addition and subtraction with them. Ask your child to add all the birds or all the plant objects (apples and flowers). 

Can you think of any other ways you could use this fun book in your home? Please share in the comments!

My Thoughts 

I really appreciate that the Search and Find included stories from both the Old and New Testaments. My only recommendation would be to add a few more. For example, maybe something from Proverbs and the Psalms from the Old Testament. And I would be very happy to see the Crucifixion and Resurrection depicted from the New Testament. Or maybe something from Acts or one of the letters. I understand that the Crucifixion is a heavy topic for 3 to 6-year-olds (the recommended age), but it is a very important part of the "story." 

For the pages illustrating Noah's Ark, I would have preferred the rainbow to have all the colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). This is something we personally emphasize in our household to distinguish God's rainbow from other depictions. And some may have problems with the fact that the book illustrates it in a typical storybook fashion and not based upon Biblical research. 

Our eight-year-old daughter was very happy to see this book arrive. She still reads the copies of The Berenstain Bears' books we have collected over the years. So even though this book is recommended for ages 3 to 6 years old, those who enjoy the Bears will also enjoy this Search and Find book. 

I would recommend this book to families with young children who wish to introduce the Bible to their children in a fun way. It is also a great supplement to the Bible readings you may already be doing with your children. 

Book Club: Book Review of The Worry-Free Parent Workbook

 

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.

I recently shared a review of The Worry-Free Parent by Sissy Goff, and now I would like to share about the workbook that can go along with it. The Worry-Free Parent Workbook is a 156-page paperback book that provides "the space and tools you need to grab hold of peace, embrace grace, and become the person, parent, and family you want to be." 

About The Worry-Free Parent Workbook 

Sissy Goff shares that one of her goals for The Worry-Free Parent book was to create conversations. The workbook gives parents the space to have a conversation with the text and dig deeper and more thoughtfully.  Some of the text is the same as in the book, but there is more content so that you can go beyond the book when using the workbook. 

Just like the book, the workbook has 3 sections with 12 chapters: 

1. Understanding Worry and Anxiety 
2. Understanding Ourselves
3. How Anxiety Impacts You
4. How Your Anxiety Impacts Your Kids
5. Help for Your Body
6. Help for Your Mind
7. Help for Your Heart
8. Help for Your Kids
9. Admit Failure, Know Grace
10. Try Softer
11. Trust Your Gut
12. Trust God 

Each chapter ends with a space for you to list three things you are grateful for, three things that bring you hope, and three truths that you want to remember. There is a spot for "today's check-in," which repeats the same questions, including: "What have you learned about yourself as a person?" and "What do you want to put into practice?" 

My Thoughts 

You could use the workbook alone, but you really do need the companion book to be able to fully understand everything in the workbook. I read the book and used the workbook together. I think they complement each other very well. Both offer practical advice. 

There is lots of space to answer the questions. So, if you are someone who likes to take notes in the margin, you'll find this a good book for note-taking. The pages are also thick enough that the ink isn't showing through the other side, too.

I would recommend The Worry-Free Parent Workbook for those parents who are seeking to uncover what keeps them filled with anxiety and worry. It will help them work through worries using Scripture as the basis. Keep your Bible ready in case you wish to look up the verses in your preferred translation, as Goff uses several translations, including The Message.

Other Reviews 

Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World

Braver, Stronger, Smarter: A Girl's Guide to Overcoming Worry & Anxiety

Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety

Affiliate links 

Book Club: Book Review of The Worry-Free Parent

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.

I have had the joy of reading several other books by Sissy Goff and sharing reviews previously. The most recent book by Sissy Goff that I have read to review is The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too. The idea behind Goff's latest book is that "worry is contagious but you can stop its spread." She has found that for every anxious child or teen, there is often at least one parent who is anxious. The Worry-Free Parent provides advice, encouragement, and tools to help parents make a difference in their own lives. 

About The Worry-Free Parent 

The 252-page paperback book contains an introduction, notes with references, and three sections broken into 12 chapters. Sections are divided into Understanding the Past, Help for the Present, and Hope for the Future. Many chapters are divided further into five key things that Goff wants to share with the reader, such as "five ways the anxiety of parents impacts the anxiety of kids" or "five things to know about anxiety and your heart." Each chapter also contains numerous questions for you to answer (space is provided in The Worry-Free Parent workbook reviewed separately) as well as "Worry-Free Takeaways," which are the most important parts of the chapter. 

Inside The Worry-Free Parent, you will dig deeper into: 

• How anxiety misinterprets and distorts our thinking 
• How to understand our own anxiety so we can break the cycle 
• How anxiety distracts us or makes us angry 
• The way that anxiety impacts our parenting of our children 
• The science behind anxiety 
• Bible verses that will help calm our anxiety 
• How to find and give ourselves grace
• And more 

My Thoughts About The Worry-Free Parent 

As a parent who is a worrier and quite anxious, I was very happy to see that Sissy Goff had written a book for parents. I have reviewed her other books for children and teens previously and found them useful and informative. 

I was able to relate to a lot of the content in The Worry-Free Parent. I found myself taking notes in the margins and underlining key parts. (The workbook was also very helpful.) While I have read other works about anxiety and worry, it was very nice to read a book rooted in Christianity.  Being presented with Bible verses to read and reflect upon or memorize is a great tool for Christian parents who are anxious. 

While I found The Worry-Free Parent helpful overall, I did have a few concerns. One of my main concerns is how many times Goff references Enneagrams. Personally, I am not convinced that this is a Biblical way to view ourselves or the world. So, while I know it is the popular thing in many circles, including Christian ones, I would have preferred to see less mention of them. I was also concerned with the Bible version quoted frequently. For many of the longer passages, Goff quotes from The Message. I may not hold to just one translation of the Bible for my own reading, but this is one I tend to avoid due to my own research.

And finally, I was taken aback by the reference to Leave It to Beaver and Parenthood. Goff writes, "The older show is Leave It to Beaver, which you're probably too young to have heard of" (209). So, am I too old for the book's demographics because I remember that show and probably watched reruns when I was a child, and I don't know anything about Parenthood? I wish authors, particularly Christian authors, would be more careful when including cultural references, because – as Christians – we do not all hold to the same standards in relation to TV, movies, and music.

Now, I would like to highlight some of the parts that I enjoyed and found very helpful. When discussing help for our heart, Goff writes, "For us to work through our anxiety, we have to do the scary thing." And she continues towards the end of the paragraph that "we can trust in Someone who does bring comfort more than any amount of certainty or control ever could" (147). Since one of my worries causing problems is the desire to know what is going to happen and have control over situations, I found this section very useful. And bringing it back to God is wonderful. And she brings her points back to God a number of times. Goff reminds us to take care of ourselves and how to include Jesus and Prayer in those moments. She also shares a number of verses that speak specifically to our worries (just the verse not the passage of Scripture itself). We can look those up in our Bibles to reframe or replace our anxious thoughts with more positive ones and the truth. 

I would recommend The Worry-Free Parent to those who are anxious parents themselves or who counsel anxious parents. Even with my concerns, there is a firm path to a Biblical approach to help alleviate worries and anxieties. I will be referencing this book for years to come. 

Other Reviews 

Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World

Braver, Stronger, Smarter: A Girl's Guide to Overcoming Worry & Anxiety

Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety 

affiliate links 

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." 

 

Book Club: Book Review of Giving Your Words

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.

How do we guide our children to love and follow God? As parents, there are many questions we must answer and a multitude of decisions we must make in relation to our children. My husband and I would like our children to take our words as they relate to God and their beliefs in the Bible and Jesus as their Savior. In order to help parents like us, Sally and Clay Clarkson have written Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation. 

About Giving Your Words 

This hardcover book of 254 pages is split into three sections and contains a number of resources to help your family on their faith journey. From personal stories of their faith journey with their own children to references to Scripture, parents will gain the words they need to pour into their children. 

But wait... the words of Giving Your Words are not meant to be poured into your children's heads but instead to start conversations to help your children build their faith. Through reading the book, you will be creating a verbal home. In ten chapters, you will read: 

• About words as described in Scripture 
• Examine the kinds of words to give to your children
• How to impart words to your children 
• About specific kinds of words to give your children 
• How to witness the truth of Scripture to your children 
• How to model your own lives 
• Examples of ceremonies and get-togethers to have with your children to impart words 

Some key points to remember when reading Giving Your Words: 

• Words are God's idea (from the very beginning of the Bible we read how important words are as God uses words to create the world) 
• As society changes, we need to be authentic and connect with our children as often as we can so we can build their faith 
• Love, grace, forgiveness, and more are very important 
• We need to show we are committed to our children

The Clarksons do not just provide you with ideas, they share how they applied their ideas to their own family over the years. For example, they provide examples as to how they conduct their family devotions after breakfast before they start their day. Their children even share in the epilogue how important their verbal home was to their upbringing. Sarah Clarkson shares, "Words were wielded in my childhood home with a kind of creative enhancement, used in the very way that God himself uses them throughout Scripture: to call things into being, to name, to order, and to bless" (218). What better way to see how effective the Clarksons methods are than reading the words of their grown children?

My Thoughts 

I don't believe I have read any books by the Clarksons before reading Giving Your Words. I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this beautiful hardcover book. I knew that the Clarksons were well-loved by many of those in my social media circles. As a parent, I want the voices of my husband and me to shape our children. This is one of the many reasons why we homeschool. We want them to know and follow God. We want their faith to be firm.

I really appreciated how Giving Your Words was divided into smaller sections within its ten chapters. The format made it easier to fit the reading of the book in between homeschooling, working from home, and everything else. But I think the fact that I had to break up the reading of this book into many different sessions also made it more difficult for me to understand all the points presented by the Clarksons. 

I did underline quite a few key passages and took notes, but I think I need to read Giving Your Words again in order to fully appreciate the book. I would recommend the book to those who are looking to build their family's faith. I think you have read other works by Sally and Clay Clarkson, this would be a valuable addition to your library. 

Book Club: Book Review of Brave Quest: A Boy's Interactive Journey Into Manhood

 

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.

Raising children can be difficult. Add into that task all the messages that the world pushes onto our family, and our job as parents is even more complex and complicated. It can be even more difficult for fathers to usher their sons into manhood. Fathers and sons are met with a myriad of expectations that are not Biblical. So where can fathers turn for assistance? Dean Briggs presents a journal that will help boys on their quest to manhood. 

About the Book 

Brave Quest: A Boy's Interactive Journey Into Manhood by Dean Briggs is a journal that your son can make their own as they read the 50 entries. Each entry provides space for the boys to write answers to specific questions that will help them become a man. They are leaving behind their boyhood and must choose an easy life or a worthy life. 

The book is separated into eight sections: 

1. The Waypoint
2. The Cliffs of Cowardice
3. The Valley of Curves
4. The Hall of Shame
5. Adverse City 
6. Mount Transformation 
7. The Palace of Pleasure 
8. The Swamp 

Each day within these sections opens with a Bible quote that connects directly to that day's passage. The Questor, your son reading the book, must decide how he will answer questions that ask him to examine his decisions. 

Questions include: 

• Traits he looks for in close friends 
• What does your son find attractive and confusing about girls
• In what areas does your son fail the most
• How has your son handled challenges 

Warning to parents: Some days also discuss sex and physical attraction, but the book is trying to explain that sex is a gift for your son to give to his future wife. So, it would be a good idea to preview Brave Quest prior to handing it over to your son. 

Your son will also read about repentance, pride, adversity, rewards, endurance, and other topics as they move through the 50-day journal. He will remember times he was brave and write those in the book as well as what he is willing to stand for as right. The book closes with your son realizing everything was a dream, and he is ready to start his new life.

My thoughts 

I really think this is a well-thought-out book for young boys as they approach manhood. Since many boys do not like writing, I appreciated that the questions are direct with a short amount of space to write. Yes, they could want to write more, but I don't think your son will feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing in Brave Quest. 

The descriptions of the places and people remind me of Pilgrim's Progress. Your son will meet individuals who will help them and those who will try to slow them on their journey to manhood. There are paths to take and decisions to make that will help him move through the journal on the worthy path. 

In closing, I want to share one description with you so you can see how well-written Brave Quest by Dean Briggs is.

"Suddenly, the stream empties over a cliff, spilling into miles of empty air, turning into rain. You stand on a precipice overlooking a steep gorge, but dwarfed by the mountains that surround it—a needle of weathered stone that flattens and expands at the top to a base roughly even with your own height." (96) 

Book Club: Book Review of Lies Girls Believe

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

Do you believe lies? Every day we are being lied to, and so are our daughters. The world around us spews lies left and right to everyone. How can we combat these lies? How can we help our daughters find the Truth? In Lies Girls Believe and the companion book for Mom, A Mom's Guide to Lies Girls Believe, Dannah Gresh helps moms and daughters with lies and find Truth. These two books make for the perfect mother-daughter Bible study.

Both books are from True Girl, which hopes to bring moms and daughters closer to each other and to Jesus. Moms can raise daughters who are confident in their faith and in themselves. True Girl offers a variety of resources, including these books to help moms and daughters. There are live and online events, Bible studies, helpful blogs, and fiction and non-fiction books.

About the Books 

For Your Daughter - Lies Girls Believe 

The 170-page paperback book is designed and written for your nine to twelve-year-old daughter. If they are thinking or talking about boys, frenemies, report cards, fashion, and other things that are "normal" in today's world, then this book will help them. There are twenty lies and twenty Truths to help our daughters navigate the world. 

The majority of the chapters begin with an introduction from the fictional character of Zoey (although her problems are based upon those revealed in a survey given to 1,531 girls). Readers are then introduced to several Truths and the lies associated with them. This is accompanied by Scripture verses, personal anecdotes, information from the surveys, and finally, a Truth Lab. In the Truth Lab, our daughters will provide advice for Zoey and work out just which lies they have been believing. There is room for our daughters to write in the book and make it their own.

Part Three focuses on how the Truth will set our daughters free. They will learn how to identify lies and dig them up, roots and all. After the lies are removed, Gresh shares how to find the Truth in the Bible and provides specific places in the Bible to look. 

For the Mom - A Mom's Guide to Lies Girls Believe 

The guide follows the same basic setup as the book your daughter will be reading, with introductory sections and side notes for the mom. The guide also provides more details on the survey given to the girls and the moms who participated in focus groups that helped guide the books. There are personal stories and anecdotes shared in the margins and places for you to write your own note and ideas. Most chapters end with a spot for you to write out a prayer based on a particular Bible verse and a suggestion to talk with your girl.

How Did I Use the Books? 

Our daughter just turned seven this spring, so I didn't want to hand her Lies Girls Believe just yet. So, I read through the book for girls first and then the guide. I have found quite a few Truths I can share with her immediately. When our daughter gets a little older, I will share the book with her. 

What Did I Think? 

I found myself digging into both books deeply. I had my Bible next to me so I could read the Scripture quotes in context and take notes. While I am happy to think that our daughter doesn't believe a lot of the lies, I could remember times I believed the lies myself. Both books were very eye-opening.

I think these are valuable books for a Christian mother and daughter. there are even a few lies that I can discuss with our sons. The Truth nuggets are wonderful to share with everyone. I also appreciate the author's perspective on marriage, gender, and a woman's roles. These are all important to discuss with our daughter and having a starting point is great for moms today. 

Please visit the Homeschool Review Crew to read more reviews of Lies Girls Believe and A Mom's Guide to Lies Girls Believe.

Journaling Through the Bible: Do Not Worry

 

While taking care of my mom as she needed intense care during the last weeks of her battle with Alzheimer's, I turned to the Bible more and more often. There were many times I merely flipped through my Bible and read excerpts here and there until something stuck out to me. Then I would sit and read a few verses or chapters and make notes in my Bible as I felt comfort or had questions or ideas.

In addition to reading my Bible for comfort, I also read it to find what I would like to share at my mom's memorial service. Over time, I found four different pieces of scripture that I thought would be appropriate. One is from the book of Luke (chapter 12). 

Do Not Worry 

I am a worrier. So much so that I have periods of very high anxiety where I have trouble with decisions and often forget to turn to God for comfort. I think it is very fitting to want to share the verses in Luke about not worrying. Jesus told his disciples not to worry. God takes care of the birds and flowers. He will take care of us in our need. Do not worry about the treasures here as long as you trust the Father.

As I was talking about what verses I would like to share at my mom's memorial with my husband, he suggested I look at the same advice in Chapter 6 of Matthew.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing." Matthew 6:25 

God takes care of us at all times. I often felt very alone – even with my immediate family helping – as I took care of my mom. As my mom needed more and more care and communicated with us less and less, I worried about everything. If only I would remember to trust God.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6: 33-34

God knew exactly what steps needed to happen in order to provide me with solace and ease my worry.  As our family navigates life without my mom, I only hope we can turn to God and not worry. 

Book Club: Book Review of Unexpecting

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.

There are some books that are so powerful and moving that I read the inspiring words through tears in my eyes. In Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss, I found the words and wisdom that I wish were shared with me when I suffered a miscarriage before our youngest son was born. Rachel Lewis has shared her own stories of pregnancy loss as well as the stories of others to help moms and dads find the encouragement they need. 

"What to expect when you are no longer expecting." 

No matter where your loss falls – early to late miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss – Lewis tries to present useful information for you and your journey. In four parts, she goes over loss lamentations, love, and legacies. In each part, Lewis leaves readers with journal prompts for those who need to work out their loss on paper. One could easily skip from section to section as you seek the knowledge you need most at your time.

Rachel Lewis asks us to join her on this journey and offers love to us and our baby or babies. The book is written from a place of love in an attempt to comfort parents in the most difficult of circumstances. And while she opens her own heart, throughout Unexpecting, we read personal experiences from other moms and dads, too. There was more than one experience that resonated with me during the reading of the book.

"You get to grieve however you need." 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to grief presented in Unexpecting. Everyone's loss is different, and everyone approaches their grief differently. We have choices to make after our loss as our bodies, our spirits, and our minds need time to heal. We must work out our own grief triggers and decide when and how we will face those triggers. No one knows our journey better than we do, but it is so helpful to read that we are not alone on that path. 

Some of the specific things Lewis writes about include: 

• Needing to care for a postpartum body without a baby 
• Facing a myriad of emotions such as jealousy, betrayal, guilt, and joy 
• Seeking help if grief becomes depression 
• Finding comfort in God or the Bible when suffering 
• Helping your other children grieve
• Finding the new life you will lead
• Pregnancy after loss
• The decision to try or not to try again 
• Creating a legacy  

My Thoughts 

I found Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss to be a wonderful book to read. One of the parts I felt the most connected to was in the very introduction. People often see the loss as just losing a baby. But Lewis writes you lost: 

"Your daughter's first smile.

The first time your son rolled over. 

The look on your sweet girl's face when you soothe her tears."

And so much more. 

"A whole generation, a whole lifetime of memories – gone the instant your baby's heart stopped beating" (13-14). This is the way I still feel all those years later. Whenever my due date rolls around, I wonder what our child would be like and enjoy doing. Would he or she like Minecraft like the rest of our children? What would our child look like? 

There are many points that hit home with me from Lewis' book. I think many parents – moms and dads (there is a section just for dads) – will find Unexpecting to be very helpful to endure their loss or losses. I would recommend this book to those who have suffered a loss or know someone who has. It can help those on the journey and those who walk alongside individuals on the loss journey.

Book Club: Book Review of Praying Mom

 

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 must admit that I often look at my prayer life as something to do when I have time. I join my husband in praying with our kids each evening at their bedtime but I often put off my own prayers and prayer life. yet I need to look beyond this idea of 'waiting for the perfect time.' Brooke McGlothlin has a chapter in which she addresses this in her new book, Praying Mom, so I was very happy to read and review it. 

So Many Challenges 

Brooke McGlothlin examines seven challenges moms face as they attempt to pray in Part One of the 203 paperback book. From not knowing what to pray to finding those moments to pray when taking care of our family, there are real world examples from the author's colleagues and friends to verses and prayer examples. There is also no assumption that those reading Praying Mom will only be Christian (she includes information for those who have recently accepted Jesus in the appendix), but she does assume readers will believe in God. 

To help combat all the challenges presented, McGlothlin presents many great points in Praying Mom. Readers could easily use the chapter titles to help direct their reading to find exactly what they need to support their own prayer life and journey. Some of the key ideas I pulled from Praying Mom include the following: 

• Pray the Scriptures. 
• When our lives are difficult, God has the strength we need. 
• God does hear our prayers but His plans are not our own.
• God is the only one who can fix our lives. 
• We need Jesus every day. 
• Prayer is important for mothers. It can help us see beyond the moment and get closer to God. 
• Take our lack of time and allow it to motivate us to pray. 

While Part One looks at the challenges a praying mom might face, Part Two provides specific quotes from Scripture and inspired prayers. These pages provide a great jumping point for those moms who feel they don't know where to start. Now they have Bible quotes they can examine in their leisure and prayers that they can pray. 

The key ideas I shared are just the tip of the iceberg for what the books has to offer moms who are struggling to find the time to pray. Readers could easily read through the entire book in a short period, but there are so many points that readers may go back and re-read the book several times. I recommend Praying Mom for those who are seeking to form a stronger relationship with God. It will help moms reach out to God as they raise and teach their children. God told us to pray, and I believe this book will help you to do that with confidence.  

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. 

Book Club: Book Review of Talking with Teens about Sexuality

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.

One of the topics that can be quite challenging for parents to discuss with their children is sexuality. Just how does one have critical conversations with their children – especially their teens – when there is so much information available online? Parents can seek the advice of professionals such as Beth Robinson, a licensed professional counselor, and Latayne C. Scott, who has written more than two dozen books. In their latest book, Talking with Teens about Sexuality: Critical Conversations about Social Media, Gender Identity, Same-Sex Attraction, Pornography, Purity, Dating, Etc., parents will find a very well-organized Biblical approach to have open and honest conversations with their teens. 

I have previously read and reviewed Robinson and Scott's book, Protecting Your Child from Predators (also published by Bethany House Publishers), prior to selecting this book to read and review. I think, with both of these books in hand, parents will be well equipped to sit down with their children and tackle what are often seen as difficult and scary conversations. If you are looking for something specific, you can look through the table of contents of Talking with Teens about Sexuality, rather than reading the book cover to cover. Personally, I started at the beginning, but I was then curious as to the point of view that Robinson and Scott had regarding several topics from later in the book. So, I skipped around a bit. 

What Can You Expect? 

This 203-paperback book will help you see just why you don't understand the world in which your teen is living in regards to sexuality. Things are different than when we were young, even if we don't want to admit it. As the back of the book states: "Drs. Robinson and Scott provide scientifically reliable and biblically-based information about gender fluidity, types of intimacy, online dangers, setting boundaries, and much more." Our children have questions, and if we don't provide them with answers or help them seek answers, then they will find those answers elsewhere. Those people or places may not align with what we believe. So, we need to be ready to talk with our teens about sexuality. 

Divided into fourteen chapters with a recommended resources lists in the back, parents will find scientifically-based information, references to Scripture, and questions to help explore with their teens. There are personal stories shared from the experience of both authors, as well as questions that parents can ask themselves so they can discover just what they know and think about each topic. For example, readers will discover that teens probably don't have a firm understanding of social and relationship skills as most of their communication is done via texting or online.  

What Do I Think? 

I must admit I was concerned when I started reviewing Talking with Teens about Sexuality because I didn't want this book to turn about to be too steeped in the culture of today. I was very happy to see direct references to the Bible and what God wants and expects of us and our teens when it comes to sexuality. I truly appreciate reading this sentence in chapter two: "I'm assuming you have and want Christian values and a Christian lifestyle, but finding a way to first make those part of your own heart-thinking can be difficult" (23). This was the start of a chapter that addresses four foundational issues for Christian parents. And the chapter closes (before conversation starter questions for our teens) with a reminder that we, as parents, have the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God behind us. "You can do this" (31). 

I would recommend Talking with Teens about Sexuality to Christian parents who wish to raise their children according to God's wishes and not the wishes of today's world. It is not an easy task when so much of what our teens see every day does not always align with God's teaching but books like this one are so helpful in parenting our children.