Devotional

Prepare Him Room

November 27, 2021 By Annette1 4 Comments

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Prepare Him Room) through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Travel through the birth, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ during this advent season. Susie Larson walks us through the book of Luke in her daily advent devotional entitled Prepare Him Room. Multi-page devotions that help you think more deeply on each chapter in Luke. Prayer and encouragement to look more to God a daily encouragement indeed. 🙂

Prepare Him Room is an daily advent devotional written by Susie Larson who takes us on a meditative journey through the book of Luke. Within the pages you’ll not find short, pithy devotions. Instead you’ll find meaty articles to help you think more deeply on the birth, life and death of Christ. Included in the readings is an encouragement to fast, to use that fasting as a time to reconnect with God. Bethany House published this 192 page, 24-day devotional. My review for this well made, beautiful book is for Nuts about Books.

Digging Deeper into Prepare Him Room

There is so much to like in this devotional. From the beauty of the cover, to how it feels in the hands, and to the lovely bookmark ribbon included. You’ll find the font clean, the use of white space helpful,

It’s fantastic that not only do we study our way through the book of Luke, but the Ms. Larson also includes other scriptures for the readers consideration. Scriptures are normally taken from The New Living Translation, but The Voice, the Amplified bible, the NASB, and the NIV are also quoted.

Most scripture is quoted fully, with the context being used as well. Is there some cherry-picking of verses? Yes, but that’s pretty normal in most any bible study. I love that often context is used as well.

Occasionally text is pulled out and highlighted so one can pay special attention to it.

You’ll also frequently find quotes included. Some from people I recognized (like CS Lewis) and others from people I haven’t the foggiest who they are! 🙂

Each study ends with a prayer and an encouragment to fast. These aren’t your normal fasting options but include such things as fasting from doubt, cynicism, worry, obligations, busyness and the like. Always, the encouragement is to give up these harmful elements and to see God more clearly. LOOK UP! See God, not your anger, resentment, fear etc.

Should Prepare Him Room be on your shelves?

I’m a hard one on devotionals eh? I always expect too much from them. But this one? I pretty much like! Shocking eh? I HAVE NOT read it all the way through. That would take 24 days and that would bring us well into Advent and really close to Christmas! Not really in time for you to see it and decide to use it as an Advent Devotional.

BUT I do think it would be good any time of the year. Seriously. This is not just an advent/Christmas devotional even if Christmas thoughts creep into many of the messages. It’s a lets spend some time seeing Christ, through the book of Luke, devotional. I love that the readings aren’t short, pithy things. Instead they are 3-4 pages of thought and encouragement to see Christ more clearly, to see GOD at work!

Now, just as with all devotionals you will occasionally run into things that are assumed by the author. For instance, the author assumes that Christ was born in a cave. The bible doesn’t tell us that. Some ancedotal evidence encourages that idea from history, but we don’t know for sure. Making assumptions can change how we read the bible and interpret it’s messages. So pay attention, just as you always have to do when reading anyone’s work.

Prepare Him Room, a devotional that encourages us to do just that. Prepare Christ room. Fast from the ills of this world. Look up and see God at work, Christ living his life, dying for us. This is a good thing to take the time to do. A good devotional, like this one, just helps us do it more easily.

Women of the Bible

October 9, 2021 By Annette1 4 Comments

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Women of the Bible) through Ascot Media. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so. 🙂

Take a moment and think about how nice it would be to learn from other women of faith. Marine Hofman takes us into the lives of several women of the bible, helping us to dig their lives and grow in our faith. Discover new ascepts to leadership, explore character traits, explore friendships and see God working in women throughout history.

Ascot Media provided me with my review copy of Marina Hofman’s book Women in the Bible Small Group Bible Study. 112 pages with 8 chapters, a softcover book suitable for small group bible study or individual use for a devotional time. You’ll find free videos to supplement the course. Watch the videos before you begin your study, they aren’t long running on average about 5-6 minutes. You’ll delve into the lives of Sarah and Hagar, Tamar, The Midwives, Rahab, Naomi and Ruth, Hannah, Esther and Mary (the mother of Jesus).

How is Women the Bible Laid out?

The first couple of pages are testimonials to Marina Hofman and her small group ministry. She then walks us through how to use her bible study. She is very clear that people use it in a variety of ways such as small group bible study or as a personal devotions time. Each chapter can be completed at one time (making for an eight week bible study) or can be broken down into two-three sessions each chapter.

An integral part of her study are the free videos provided for each lesson. The link for these videos is found on the page just after the table of contents. It’s well worth checking them out.

Each lesson begins with a thought provoking time of sharing that relates to the woman being studies. Sharing thoughts about how you sensed God’s presence in a challenging time, a challenge God helped you overcome, or a time you had to wait patiently for an answer. These moments of sharing give you a chance to connect with each other (if studying with others) or to gather your thoughts in preparation to learn more.

From that time of sharing, some background information is given.

I like how Ms. Hofman wrote up her study, with scripture on one side and questions next to it.

After looking at scripture, a time of discussion, of looking deeper into each woman and her life is given.

If you need help in answering these discussion questions, answers are provided on the pages immediately following.

A time of prayer closes out each lesson. These are written out in poetic form. I love how they grace the page, I find it draws me into paying attention. 🙂

Should you use Women in the Bible as a bible study?

I haven’t had time to use all of Marina Hofman’s bible study Women in the bible personally yet, but I love how she put it all together. Directly including the scripture with questions alongside walking us through the story of these women. I love how she includes videos as it’s an added element in learning.

As is prone to happen with many studies, it’s easy to interject your life into the study. I found at times I didn’t quite get an element out of a story that Ms. Hofman did. This doesn’t decrease the value of the study. Instead it helps me to look deeper, not only to see if I am missing something, but to better understand people around me. It doesn’t mean I have to accept what the author finds if I don’t find it at all. Rather it means that I have an opportunity to better understand God’s word. That’s the point of bible study isn’t it? To better understand who God is and how he acts in his people?

This would be a nice addition to a homeschooling unit as well on understanding women of the bible. Perhaps helping highschool students gain some deeper understanding of God’s action in our lives.

Roar Like a Lion

September 22, 2021 By Annette1 4 Comments

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing this product/product information (Roar Like a Lion) for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post. Affliate links will be used in this review, no cost to you but it encourages me in my blogging. 🙂

Are you looking for a way to teach the stories of the bible to your children? Tommy Nelson has provided 90 devotions within the cover of Roar Like a Lion to help us develop a courageous faith in our children. Now who wouldn’t want that? Written in a conversational tone to engage his readers, Levi Lusko has a heart to develop faith in children.

The Basic Details of Roar Like a Lion

Roar Like a Lion holds to 192 pages which contain 90 devotions, information about the author and illustrator, along with a challenge to find anchors. If you can’t find them all… he gives the answer to that challenge as well. Published by Tommy Nelson, I was contacted by Momentum Influencers for the purposes of this review.

The devotions cover such topics as

peer pressure
working hard at what you do
bullying
handling difficult emotions
depending on God
and understanding how we fit into God’s great story.

Written by Levi Lusko and Tama Fortner. Mr. Lusko is a pastor of a church in Wyoming where he lives with his family. Ms. Fortner is an author and ghost writer, she lives with her family in Tennessee.

Catherine Pearson is a Swiss illustrator who likes to create playful illustrations.

Talking about the Basic Set up

Within the pages of Roar Like a lion you will find these cute illustrations gracing every devotion. Each illustration spoke to the devotional it was representing. Isn’t this sloth adorable?

Each illustration is followed by a bible verse taken from the ICB, NCV or NIV bible versions.

Then you come to the main devotional. Written over a two page spread, containing a prayer and either a Get Read to Roar sidebar or a Did you know sidebar (more on those later). The devotional itself contains fascinating stories and is written in a conversational style. Imagine you were listening to a children’s story at your local church, that is what these devotionals read like.

Every other page you’ll find one of these two sidebars.

You’ll either learn, in the did you know sidebar, some interesting fact about the moon, or some animal, history, nature, people or whatever. Some fact that is like HUH, I never knew that. Cool connection.

Get ready to roar gives a variety of calls to action, like prayer asking God to help you cope with loss, or making cards sharing the good news of God, talking with your parents, or even a place to call your own to journal. Steps of action that children of all ages can do mostly without help.

Closing with Prayer

As most devotionals do, Roar Like a Lion is no different, it closes with prayer. Simple prayers that speak to the heart of a child reaching out to God. Do children need simple prayers? No. They can and do listen to long prayers. But you know what? Most adult devotionals that I read have super short simple prayers closing out a day’s reading as well! I found that, even though I did not read every page, those that I did, the prayers were on target with the day’s lesson.

No devotional does everything perfectly. What I like with this particular devotional is that the art draws you in, interesting facts show a broader picture, and the action steps. Get children out busy for the Lord… it’s a great thing to do.

Now… Roar like a lion is doing a giveaway. It is ONLY open to USA folks (sorry my fellow Canadians but my guess they don’t want to ship here!). You have to comment ON THIS REVIEW POST by Sept 25th or you won’t be in. I know, short turn around but I got to work with what I’ve been given! What would win? A physical copy of Roar Like a Lion. Make sure I have your email so I can holler at you if my son draws your name out of a hat.

Hashtags: #RoarLikeALionMIN #roarlikealion #tommynelsonbooks

Should you get it?

Well, like with all devotionals you have to approach them from the vantage point that people are trying to help children understand the bible more. Devotionals are often a mixed bag. Some devotions will be spot on, others will take scripture out of context, and yet others will oversimplify concepts, and some will mix it all up within the same reading! It’s hard to please everyone when it comes to devotionals.

Roar like a Lion is no different. Some of the readings are excellent, others I kinda wondered where he was going, and others were a mixed bag. That’s why parents read them with their children. Then you can take the time to correct what needs correcting and even from a young age start teaching our children discernment.

You can purchase it here. The bright colourful images, the calling of children to prayer, and the desire to help children become more like God… it’s good that!

Shine Bright

July 24, 2021 By Annette1 2 Comments

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Shine Bright) through Nuts about Books. Affiliate links will be used, thank you for the encouragement this offers which costs you nothing in the end. 🙂

Shine Bright is a new devotional that runs for 60 days. it is “designed to encourage you in your relationship with God and equip you to shine bright for His glory.” (p.9) It take six weeks to develop a new habit. So why not use a devotional to help you develop the habit of spending time with God?

The Basics of Shine Bright

Shine Bright is a devotional published by BakerBooks. Nuts about books offered me this way to know God better for review. I received a hardcover copy. 60 days, each devotional 2-3 pages in length. Total pages 208, a small hardcover easily tucked away in a purse. Written by sisters Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal.

Digging Deeper

The layout of each devotional is a singular bible verse, followed by a reading, followed by either a bible passage or a singular verse to read, along with questions to think deeper about it. THOUGH, occasionally no follow up scripture was provided and just questions to ponder.

You’ll find this devotional esthetically pleasing. The layout is predictable of 2-3 pages per devotional, with what I thought, a pretty chapter heading.

As I view as a book for girls, or perhaps, very new believers, the questions were light. Something to help you think deeper about a variety of issues affecting our Christian belief. They did do some self-promotion within the devotional readings which I disliked. Save that for the close of the book please.

Some tough topics were covered and it’s HARD to know how to talk about such things sensitively. Overall, I think they did okay with some of those tough issues. By no means perfectly, but when you are writing with girls in mind, you do need to be careful right?

This devotional was lacking a bible verse index at the close of the book.

Should Shine Bright Be in Your home?

Do know that I have not read every page of this devotional Shine Bright. I haven’t had it long enough to do so. But I tell you this so you know I can’t attest to every word written. It’s not an in-depth devotional, but I find that most devotionals are not. The goal… to get people learning a new habit (at least that’s my assumption!) of spending time with God daily. The cover makes me think that this devotional is not geared toward adults, but rather toward teens as honestly, at almost 56 years old, most people wouldn’t be saying to me “Girl, you gotta do this”. 🙂

The chapter on hospitality left me feeling like it should have been more. Not just focused on throwing a party, but on the different ways people can show hospitality that still honours that gifting. So showing how a person who is gifted in a less “not throw a party” manner, but in a quieter opening up the house manner. This particular devotion, in Shine Bright, felt shallow.

So do I recommend it? Truth can be gleaned. I’ve read worse devotionals that made me want to throw them away, or left me feeling “icky” for lack of a better word. This devotional, though some parts were shallow, also had truth, and good questions to ponder. If I were rating it on Amazon… I’d give it three stars, which is what I’ll do on Goodreads.

Review: Julie Naturally

November 18, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

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.

Romans and Philippians are excellent books to study don’t you think? At Julie Naturally, you will find bible studies suited to individual as well as small group endeavors. Julie Naturally focuses on homeschooling & unschooling, holy living and wholistic health. Come along as we learn more about her faith journey bible studies.

What I am Reviewing

Julie Naturally, produced by Julie Polanco, comprises the two studies that we are reviewing today. They are Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Romans bundle which continues video and PDF studies and Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Philippians which just has PDF lessons. Romans is an 8-week study, Philippians is four weeks.

Both studies are promoted as appropriate for more mature believing moms. Hard-working mom can, over the course of a week, complete each lesson. Each daily exercise contains 3-5 questions each day.

What do you get?

The Romans study comes with video along with the bible study that comes as a PDF file. The Philippians study, though it mentions video, at this time only comes as a PDF bible study.

Program highlights include

Bible verses that are dated per week, and set up to be cut for easy placement in a wallet or elsewhere for putting God’s word deeper into your heart. The verses are short and easy enough to memorize.

At the end of each week in both studies, a colouring page is provided. Romans used words, Philippians hearts.

Each week is broken into six days. Each day has scriptures that must be read. Often there is a brief explanation that highlights key details. Following the explanation are questions that require you to not only think about the verses but to apply them in our lives. You can do the studies as expected (six days per week) or complete them all in one sitting. Each day’s work does not take long to complete.

The Romans study also provides videos to go with each weekly lesson. The videos are about 10 minutes each. The video for week four was missing for me. Occasionally it seemed like something was missing from the video.

You can purchase the Philippians for $8.49 as a digital download. The study is 45 pages long. Romans costs $24.99, and is 97 pages long.

How did I use Julie Naturally?

I predominately used the Romans Study, listening to the video as I was sat on my stationary bike.

Then over the course of the week I would work on the bible study. I loved that I didn’t have to print it off and could write my answers directly on the computer. It made it so easy to take 5 or 10 minutes to learn something more about God’s word.

My Thoughts

I LOVE that the PDF’s are fully editable. This means I don’t have to print out the study in order to use it. I would need to do so if using for a group bible study but on my own, just being able to type in my thoughts, gold!

The Faith Journeys bible study in Romans or Philippians would be ideal for women looking for an introductory study. The mix of textual and personal questions will be edifying. The videos may be hit or miss, Julie had good information to share, but didn’t always organize her thoughts well.

For middle or high school students, these studies would work quite well. Helping these young women to dig deeper into their faith, learning to question their attitudes and actions, in the light of scripture.

One thing that Ms. Polanco brings is a fresh perspective. Every bible study a person engages in always brings something new to the table. These studies are an affordable option for seeing something new in God’s Word.

Where to Find Julie Naturally

Website: https://www.julienaturally.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julienaturally
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/julienaturally
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successful.unschooler
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/julienaturally
Podcast: https://crunchychristianpodcast.com

40 members of the review crew took in the Romans-Philippians bundle from Julie Naturally. Click on the image below to read them.

Studies in Malachi

May 25, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

The theme this week with the Homeschool Review Crew is something old. I was pondering what this post could be on and then thought… you know what? The bible is the oldest book and it tells the oldest story. I got to thinking about how as I study through books of the bible I am engaging in “something old”. The desire to know God more. My studies in Malachi started on April 28. I will be finished probably May 26.

What is Malachi all about

I started my studies listening to Peter Baker. He summed up the history of Israel before Malachi came on the scene. You can view my entire playlist should you wish to.

I love this idea you know. That discipline starts from a place of love. God demonstrates his love for us. Stating his love for us BEFORE he exercises discipline. We should be like this with others in our lives don’t you think?

I was captured this week by a recurring thought in Malachi 2. How do we honour God? If we don’t go to church expecting to meet God and just go through the motions… how does that honour God? If we fail to consider the one that we call our Lord and Saviour throughout the day… how does the honour God?

We need to consider who God is as we go about our faith duties. Perhaps duties is the wrong word, but how we live out our faith matters! In James, we were oft reminded that if we didn’t let our lives be changed by the words we hear we are merely fooling ourselves. So if God’s word doesn’t cause us to honour him more… what are we really doing?

I don’t want to be seen as offal in the sight of God…the gross bits of cattle, goats and sheep when they were sacrificed to God. Do you? I want God to be pleased when he sees me, to know that he makes a difference in my life. I want God to see the respect I offer to him, as insufficient though it be.

Opinions Abound

Occasionally the comments that made me think caused others to think as well, sometimes with strong opinions. This one on tithing was one such post. The point with tithing though is this… doesn’t matter what you give to God. Other things are much more important. First, we have to remember it’s all his in the first place. Second, our giving needs to be done joyfully and generously. Third, 10% is a basic amount, a good starter for saving for yourself, for encouraging people in ministry and for helping to grow the kingdom of God.

One of the speakers I was listening to made this statement “Our spouses are like a garment”. I was fascinated by that idea and almost forgot to listen to the rest of the sermon! 🙂 But it made me think of how some women need to dress the part or their spouses are looked down upon… even if the wife has no part in her husband’s work. Then I got to thinking about how my hubby doesn’t care about what I wear, if I dress up or down, but how if I dress up, his eyes smile. Kinda like my eyes smile when I’m wearing something that I particularly like to wear. Smiles are worth it, even if it causes you to do something you’d rather not. I keep thinking I might be missing something but for now, isn’t it an interesting thought?

Excellent Sermons

On my second last day of listening to Malachi Sermons I watched this video below. I loved the message of his sermon. Malachi is a book of God calling his people back, offering hope instead of wrath. A call to see something deeper, that something more is offered. Which has people looking forward to the New Testament where Jesus’ birth is the first thing talked about!

Oh…and that depiction of cattle when released from the barn for the first time after winter! Brings back memories from my childhood of crazy cows and heifers delighting in freedom. We should delight in the same way!

Have you written a post about something old? Share it in the linky below!

James Living through Crisis

April 28, 2020 By Annette1 4 Comments

Our pastor started to preach from James just as I finished going through Deuteronomy. I thought it would be a nice short book of the bible to go through before starting another book. It also would be great to learn from James alongside my pastor. 🙂 James is a practical guide to living through crisis and walking in faith.

Unexpected Appreciation

One of the things that surprised me was how much I enjoyed listening to different pastors preach on the same verses. The overlap was so interesting as each pastor would emphasize different parts of the text, or sometimes have different interpretations.

I also discovered a new pastor that I enjoyed listening too. David Guzik often pulled up quotes from people of faith that spoke adroitly to the text at hand. Good quotes that often made me think.

My Methodology

Most of the time I do my devotional time while walking on the treadmill. I have my youtube playlist and just work my way through it. As I listen along I read along on my phone, I use the ESV bible app. Then I copy and paste passages to facebook. I don’t listen well unless I can take notes to help me remember so I share those thoughts or questions to facebook as well. Then I can go back over the course of the day as I ponder what I learned.

I normally open up my overall study time with a video that gives an overview of the book I am studying, and then more specific videos by chapter or verse groupings.

Some of what I learned

So have you considered what it means to have joy in trials? How does one DO that? After all, trials tend not to be fun events. Through James, I learned that the joy in trials comes from knowing the result of going through trials. The result of going through trials, particularly if you do so with a God-focus, is that you grow in wisdom and the ability to remain steadfast in the face of difficulty.

Being tempted is not sin. Sin is when we act upon our temptation or linger on it. For instance… I was at the grocery store once and had forgotten that I plunked an onion in my pocket as I was swiftly walking through the store picking up whatever. Got to the car and it’s like OH>> there’s an onion here I didn’t pay for. I briefly considered just going home, but then returned to the store and apologized for walking out with it and then paid for it. It wasn’t sinning to walk out with it, or to briefly think about going home. It WOULD HAVE been sinful to go home with it. This doesn’t mean I can’t regret or repent of the sinful desire to skip out with it once I remembered.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 We need to have our lives impacted by the word of God. Listening to what God has to say and then living it out. If all we do is listen by don’t act, we are just fooling ourselves. God’s word needs to matter. God’s word, as it tells us in James, helps us living through crisis.

Does keeping yourself from being polluted by the word mean you need to remove yourself from it, much like the Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish do? Or does it mean something else? I’m tending to think it’s a bit of both.

For instance, going to see a show that glories in death, or a singer who promotes sexual immorality is not something we should be doing. But refusing to visit a neighbour just because he’s not a believer, or turning my back on a wayward family member, how does that draw them to the Lord? One of the pastors I listened to mentioned that it’s what our focus in on. Is it on God, or is it on what’s around us? Is our focus God-centric or people-centric (often self-centric)? If we focus on God, the pollution of the world will be much less able to influence us.

James, a practical guide

Can you see how, if you take the lessons from James to heart, that you will have a practical guide to living through crisis?

Trials put us in a place where we need to ask God for wisdom. This draws us deeper into his word. As we do so we learn to put his word into action. All of this deepens our faith.

This makes trials a matter of joy.

Just because, trials are a matter of joy, doesn’t mean I still LIKE trials. If I change my perspective on them from the now to the later, it helps in the immediacy of whatever situation I am in.

Don’t you also find this to be true?