Selecting a Daily Devotional – 5 Things To Consider

If you’ve been connected to me via social media you’re well aware that I am a champion of daily devotional time.

Like many other things about me, I can also thank my mom for that.  She made sure that I knew how important it was to read a devotional that included both scripture and practical application –this application usually came by way of answering questions and/or meditating on scriptures from the daily reading or engaging a companion text or additional reading from the Bible.

Continue reading

Book Review: 30 Days of Goodness, Love and Grace

This insightful 30-day, eBook Bible study contains selections from the Faithgirlz Secret Power Girls Bible Study series.

I am less familiar with this series, but I enjoy reading books like these because of the work I do with the youth ministry at my local church– specifically our Girls of Destine mentoring program.  I know I’m getting older and more removed from things that younger girls are doing and reading, so I try to take advantage of review opportunities like these.

This text was written especially for girls between the ages of 8-12 years old. In the text, author Susie Shellenberger shares deep truths in each daily devotional that will challenge, inspire, and nourish a reader’s growing soul.

I’ve included a few selections from the publisher’s description that provide a good example of how the text takes classic bible stories and uses modern day examples to connect them to more common day stories/movies that young girls may more readily know and understand (like Cinderella):

  • The Secret Power of Love (book of Ruth),
  • The Secret Power of Grace (1 Peter), and
  • The Secret Power of Goodness (Colossians).

The Secret Power of Love: Like Cinderella, sometimes it’s easy to feel left out and ignored. Maybe things with your family aren’t right, or you don’t feel very lovable. But something amazing happens when you discover God’s love. Journey through the book of Ruth and study one girl’s real-life “Cinderella story,” and see how God transformed her world.

The Secret Power of Grace: You probably want to achieve great things. You probably want a happy life. And you probably want to look incredible every step of the way, sporting a style that makes you sparkle. For a girl like you, that’s no problem—because you’re about to discover the secrets to true success, lasting joy, and a killer style you’ll never outgrow. Cruise through the book of 1 Peter and learn God’s ideas about a beauty and style unlike anything money can buy at the mall.

The Secret Power of Goodness: Sometimes it seems everyone has a different idea of what is true. Some people say that truth is simply whatever works for you. But what if you found reliable truth—as solid and real as the ground you walk on? What if it changed your life? What if it changed you? Come explore the book of Colossians and learn to sort through what you hear about other’s beliefs while discovering what makes our faith special and what it means to be a Christian.

While, I do believe that this type of approach is very effective for the target age group (8-12 years old) I think that it should also be partnered with a “real talk” dialogue that also addresses the issues that these young girls are facing at an increasing rate in this day and age.

Overall, I think this is a great text and approve of the author’s move to create an e-book bible study guide for young girls.  Much of our work and social activity is conducted using electronics and an e-bible study will be a great method for attracting an already captivated audience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

John Hagee NKJV Prophecy Study Bible Book Review omy FixItWithFran.com

Book Review: NKJV PROPHECY STUDY BIBLE

 

_240_360_Book.1756.cover

I spend a good bit of time engrossed in personal bible study and was very excited for the opportunity to review this text.

The pages are clear and very easy to read and the read along study aids are great! I found myself understanding the material I read much more quickly especially when using the “Superior R’s” and “Superior T’s.”

If I had to give this bible a major critique, it would be the size of the margins. I like to use the margins to take notes and date my study readings and there’s not much space to do so on these pages.

I’ve also included a few images of the pages and study features since I’m that person that always likes to see how those features appear within the text. I hope you find them useful :)!

Overall, I think this is a great text for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the prophetic and for those looking to study the bible and prophetic linkages throughout the Old and New Testaments.

 

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a promotional copy of this text in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”