A Net in Time

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Bibles and Devotional Plans

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What with the new year coming up and people starting to think about making a new start I thought I would talk with you abit about doing regular devotions (yes, talking to myself here as well) and about some of the different bibles you could use in your journey.

First up, what do I use? 

This is the bible I use almost exclusively when I am not at home. 

It’s the ESV bible app.    It’s on my phone, I use it for church, devotions with the lad and whenever I need quick access to God’s word.  

I love it’s portability, and how this translation was done.  Suits me all round. 

 

Devotions on line catch me using this site: BibleGateway.  I like that I can toss the footnotes out, and customize it to my preferences.   

One of the things I really like is that if I am struggling with understanding a passage is just how easily I can switch from one translation to another.   Different translations bring insight. 

Bibles:

Over the past year or so it’s been my delight to review a number of different bibles, I’d like to point out some of our favourites.

Hubby’s Choice: The NIV Reader’s Bible. 

This is just a lovely book.  Good paper, great readability.  Just read the bible just like you would any other book. Not looking for verses or section headings, just the words of God written down for you.    He’s not a fan of the NIV but he likes this bible just for it’s readability.

My Son’s choice: Kids NIV Visual Study Bible.  

For my son’s church youth group he needs to have a physical bible and over the year he’s had a chance to see different bibles and the various elements that make them useful.  He had one he used a lot until he saw this Visual Study Bible and asked if he could have it instead. 

 

 

 

Some other bibles of note that we’ve seen:

Faith Builders Bible.  There was much we liked in this theme based bible. 

The Jesus Bible.  Which I know I reviewed but in the change from one site to another I can’t find it.  A nice bible that my son preferred until The Visual Bible came along.  And I have to admit, if I needed to pick one from this list, this bible would be the one I would use.   It was very simple, just a nice solid bible. 

NIV Revolution Bible.  This is a bible geared to guys.   Good bible this one with lots of helps to encourage young men in their journey of faith. 

ANYWAYS, Before I forget the point of this post… It’s the start of a new year coming up.  Have you thought about becoming more focused in your study of God’s word?

Devotional Readings/Bible Study

Navigator’s have some bible reading plans. 

Bible Study Tools has a number of differently focused bible reading plans for you to consider. 

BibleGateway has some bible reading plans you might like to follow. 

You can follow along on this blog as I do my devotions.  I tend to read through books of the bible and post my thoughts as I go through sections. 

You can follow along with Traci’s Group on Facebook. 

If you simply want to read through the bible in a year and are good with checklists, go here!

 

Original Photo: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Review: NKJV Study Bible For Kids

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Theme bibles are all the rage you know?   We have bibles for kids, women, men, boys, girls, outdoor bibles, readers bibles… bibles of all shapes and sizes, translations and focus groups.   That’s not necessarily a bad thing you know?  Because helping people read God’s word is one of many steps that can help reach lost souls for the Lord.    We have so many, you might ask, why do we need more?  For this simple fact: We don’t know if THIS translation or THIS style will reach even one more person for the Lord.   So today I bring you a really colourful bible called “NKJV Study Bible for Kids”.

Tommy Nelson has come out with a colourful bible to intrigue your children.  The bright colours on the cover attract, and those colours are repeated throughout the bible with the various topical helps they have inserted. Printed on slightly heavier than normal bible quality paper, it is easy to carry for youth. 

Each of the topics is presented in a “let’s make it relevant to the children” manner, from defining more difficult words, to helping the reader to connect with important biblical people.  The NKJV Study Bible for Kids is “The Premier NKJV Study Bible for kids”.

The features/articles include:

Timelines
On Location: Maps
Spotlight: Stories of the Bible – e.g. God’s Gift to Joseph, Living Wisely
Starring Rolls: Profiles on major people of the Bible – e.g. Deborah, Eunice, Stephen, Samuel
Action!: Articles on day-to-day articles that are relevant to kids – e.g. Learning, community, obedience
In Focus: Definitions
Epic Ideas: Info on must-know topics – e.g. God keeps promises, God loves honesty, The Scarlet Cord

What I liked:

What I like in the NKJV Study Bible for Kids, is the myriad of helps contained within the pages.  850 different topic boxes under such headings as “Behind the Scenes”, “Spotlight”, “Action”, “Epic Ideas”, “Starring Roles”, “In Focus”, “On Location” and “Time Lines”.   You will also find a dictionary/concordance, an index for all the topics, and a quick reference section.  The scripture reference is on the edge of each page which is rather helpful.

I liked how each topical area is clearly delineated as to the focus and separating it from the text of the bible. 

I liked the fresh look of the cover, seriously.. all those colours intermingling on the cover.. just seemed bright and cheerful to my eyes.  🙂

Things I wasn’t as keen on:

Each page is outlined in colour. Just wasn’t my thing, I prefer clean edges in my bibles for ease of note taking. It is quite pretty and eye-catching so it might be a draw for some… and it does fit with the theme of the cover so THAT’s a good thing.  🙂

NKJV Study Bible for Kids - 
     The Premier NKJV Study Bible For Kids
Tommy Nelson
Study Bible, 
Trade Paperback, 

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers. 

Where you can find it: Amazon Link.

 

Review: NIV Reader’s Bible

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The NIV Readers Bible is a really nice book.  Hardcover, well bound that comes in a protective sheath.

Do you know what a reader’s bible is?

No?

Well.. A reader’s bible is one that doesn’t break up the whole bible into chapters and verses.  You just open it and read it like any other book.  No headers to interrupt the flow, no verses to break up a sentence of thought.  Just straight-forward text to make just setting down and reading a pleasure.

Now this version puts reference notes at the top… so that let’s say you are reading along and go.. ooh.. interesting thought, let me grab my commentary and explore that a bit more.. you don’t end up having to find a bible with verses to track it down.  The quiet page header let’s you know where abouts you are in the book and you can just look up that thought catcher easily.

I love how this bible has the 10.5 point type font printed in a single column, reading just like a regular book.   The footnotes are included at the end of every book. The footnotes are broken down per chapter.   The lovely grey ribbon is excellent for holding your place.

This Bible was designed to provide a seamless reading experience.  This bible is so well made.  Cloth over book cover, easy reading font.  Cause you know how most bibles have this tiny font… this one doesn’t..  It feels good in the hand, not too heavy, kinda like a regular bible for weight, but nice a solid like a normal book.

As with any bible, there is a set of references in the back, helping you understand the historical measurements and other such things.

NIV Reader's Bible
Zondervan
Soft cover over board
Bible, 1984 pages, all ages
Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers.

Where can you find it?   Amazon Link.

 

A Letter to Titus

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So.. I finished Romans yesterday which left me wondering…what book should I study next.  Hubby dear suggested 1 Corinthians and I thought oh.. maybe, but it didn’t sit well.  Started leafing through my on-line ESV bible and Titus felt like it leapt off the page so I said “okay, we’ll do Titus”. 🙂   Easy enough eh?

Titus 1:1-4 tells us these words: 

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Just like Romans, Titus was written by the Apostle Paul.   

Paul starts this letter being very clear about who he is and who he serves.

  • servant of God
  • Apostle of Jesus Christ

He then goes on to say just what that means.  for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior. He preaches to encourage faith in God’s chosen people…wanting them to know truth and through truth encourage their godliness.  Showing God’s truthful promise from long ago…eternal life.   God showed how this promise would be fulfilled (through his son Jesus Christ) at the proper time in history.    And so Paul preaches.  A command entrusted to him by God.   God says preach, so Paul does.

This letter is written to one man named Titus.   Paul calls him “my true child in a common faith“.  That statement makes me think of Titus as a power house of a believer… knowing God’s call on his life and following.  (because that’s how I think of Paul).   One often thinks like father like son eh?  🙂  So if Titus is like Paul’s child in the faith…. see where I’m going here? 🙂

Anyways, it will be interesting to read what Paul has to say to Titus eh?

Paul closes these first four verses with a greeting “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” Imagine if we greeted each other that way eh?   Or started off our letters to each other that way?   Isn’t it a great way to keep The Lord foremost?  Passing on God’s grace and peace to those we are in contact with?   

I have to admit…it would seem odd to me to do so…but I recall my brother writing us a letter once in the New Testament style and how it made us all in the family smile to get it.  Isn’t that smile worth it?  Worth it to help people see the Lord more clearly?

Photo by Ahmed Saffu on Unsplash

 

 

 

Think of the Weaker

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Did you know that being sick sucks!   Means you get terribly behind on things… including things like doing devotions.  I’ve been starting to feel a bit away from the Lord and realized I really need to get back to spending time with the Lord.

So getting back to Romans, today it’s chapter 15:1-7.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Oh… I read that first verse… it makes me so aware of my frailities.
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Let me explain, this morning my son did something that was a bit less than kind, and since I’m not quite myself, I burst into tears and he apologized up the wazoo.  Appropriate to feel sorry for hurting someone, but he kept on apologizing.   This gave me the opportunity to help him understand the difference between guilt and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is immediate.  He was being thoughtless, apologized and was forgiven.  The guilt was a way for God to say “Hey, mind what you are doing lad, learn and let it go” and ALSO a way for Satan to get his hooks into him “You’re such a nasty thing, how dare you even breathe”.   

It gave us a change talk about how guilt is such an easy hook for Satan, causing us not to thank God (or the person forgiving us) for their forgiveness and then choosing to MOVE FORWARD in our relationship instead of lingering in the past. Guilt holds us in the past.

Anyways, So when I read those words it brought that whole conversation back to mind.  About the stuff in the physical helps us to see the spiritual more clearly.

And God helps us ALL THE TIME.  The weak vessels that we are.  
So our helping our fellows, the weaker ones among us, is just us showing God’s love and concern for us in a tangible  way.
 
 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
So Let us then do what verse two says… build each other up.   Not seeking after our own good, but for the good of the weak ones among us.  Building them up in their faith.

 I will continue this passage tomorrow!  🙂

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: NIV Revolution Bible

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The Revolution Bible is a bible geared toward young men, from teenagers on up.It’s actually a fairly neat bible with some interesting features.

It’s actually hard to know where to start with this review.  It has so many features and I can’t list them (lest the review get too long and wordy) so I’m pondering how to break it down for you.

 For instance, I love the introduction “We don’t call the Bible “God’s Word” for nothing.  The wisdom, instructions, and lessons in it come straight from the Almighty”.   Truth eh?

It’s presented in the New NIV translation, hard cover with a dustcover, with 50 match ups found throughout the bible, and interesting little cut outs, and all sorts of advice geared toward a teen guy, helping him to understand God’s word and delve into it deeper.

 What are the special features?

  • 12 full-colour pages with life-impacting ideas.
  • in-depth book introductions
  • Battlelines that answer tough questions.
  • “Be the Change” cutouts showcasing biblical truth
  • “God Calling” notes that focus on key verses
  • “Live the Revolution”, change your life, revolutionize your impact
  • “Matchups” that compare villains and heroes.
  • “Beliefs 101” that help shape personal worldview.

I have to admit, there are so many features to this Bible for Teen Guys that it’s easy to get distracted.  At the same time, I see the value in all these add-ons.  Regular language, challenging guys to take their faith seriously, to dig into God’s word and consider what it really means for their lives.

For instance this “live the revolution” thought.  “Do you ever feel as though there are “walls” between you and other people?   Some walls are built because of race or social standing.  Some are built because of differences in backgrounds and upbringing… No matter what kinds of walls you have….none of them can stand against Jesus’ power….. When you’re serious about following him, he will help you eliminate the barriers that separate you from others….”   Neat statement eh?  Good call to action in faith.

My Thoughts:
It’s a nice bible, the hardcover makes it a durable bible, and it looks nice to the eyes, the green/blue exterior is pleasing to the eye.   My son says “it’s a good blue”.  

I like the variety of helps contained within, though I wonder about the distraction level they also possess…some might be tempted to meditate upon the points made, rather than on the scripture itself.  Some of the revolution thoughts seemed to take a verse out of context, but overall I found them thought provoking and on point. I appreciated that all of the aids were scattered throughout the whole bible. 

At the close of the bible, you find a good subject index listing all the helps found within the bibles’ pages, as well as Beliefs 101, Christianity 101, and a Reading plan.

The Revolution Bible
Editors: Livingston Corp. and Christopher D. Hudson
Zondervan
Translation: NIVr
2017
Hardcover, Bible
Audience: Male, teen, young adult

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers

Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca       Amazon.com

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Have you discovered this?

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Discover Defined
 – find (something or someone) unexpectedly or in the course of a search.
 – Divulge (as in a secret)

Proverbs 16:19-21

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
 
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

I read those words tonight and oh.. it was like sweet music to my ears.
Do you see it yourself?
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good.
The word is good.

Oh that makes me want to ask you reader…have you discovered this? 
Have you learned this secret?
Has this truth be divulged to your heart?

When you go to the word of God, do you see it’s goodness?
Turn to it.
Learn it.
See this secret for the truth it holds.
The word of God is good. 

 
—– 

This is a five minute Friday post. the word prompt is brought to us by Miss Kate over at Five Minute Friday.  What is Five Minute Friday? 
Well it’s a party of a group of like minded folks who gather on Friday
to do a five minute free write around a singular word.  AND THEN (and
this is the most important part) we take the time to offer up
encouragement to each other on this writing journey.  It’s fun, though
it’s not always easy, but it is always good.   Come join us won’t you? 
You are always welcome.

—–

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites