YOUNG WOMEN of FAITH

My granddaughter and I waited patiently for Zondervans’ NIV Bible for young ladies. This review is presented based not only on my opinion but her initial assessment.

Very few things are more important to a 10 year old girl than how things look. As we opened the box and looked at Young Women of Faith Bible, NIV she smiled. I opened the book, to no page in particular, and asked her to read the commentary: “We are family.” She understood it. My granddaughter loves this Bible.

Young Women of Faith Bible, NIVis a New International Version study Bible written specifically for girls and it is very “girlie” and very appropriate for ages 9-12. Unlike “grown up” study Bibles it is not bombarded with details that young ladies may not be interested in. By incorporating short commentaries as an outside column, in pink with a butterfly on top,concepts such as: “Bad Things Happen” within the book of Job help put God’s words in an understandable form. Journaling is another tool utilized to explain a principle, for example: Mark 4:21-23 putting a flashlight under the bed versus putting a lamp under the bed. As with grown-up study Bibles various people are identified, with less detail of course, and each book is given a brief introduction.

Young Women of Faith Bible, NIV contains a mini concordance a weekly study plan and of course maps (in color)

What a great gift for your child or grandchild. What an awesome tool. Because my daughter and I were looking for a new Bible for my granddaughter the publication is very timely. My daughter looked through the Bible and gave her stamp of approval. However, I think the greatest review comes from my granddaughter Akira who says the Bible is: AWESOME!!!!!

I definitely recommend you purchase Young Women of Faith Bible, NIV. I will be suggesting my church purchase copies.

I received a complimentary copy of in exchange for an honest and fair review.  

HEAVEN & HELL ARE THEY REAL? by Christopher D. Hudson

Recently I was having a discussion in my small group about the realities of hell. I shared a Scripture with the group about hell, later one of the other teachers stated she would not have used that particular verse, this triggered a conversation with a group of us about how to teach the realities of heaven and hell. If I had only had this book back then!

Heaven and Hell: Are They Real? is a reference book/ Bible Study about eternity. It answers questions like: “Will there be sex in heaven?” and “Will a loving God really condemn people to hell?”

Heaven and Hell: Are They Real? is more than a book about Jesus and the end times, don’t expect to read a lot of passages from the book of Daniel and Revelations. There is a life application aspect to the book which makes it very relevant to developing faith.

Technically, the book is divided into two parts: Part One Heaven with 5 Chapters that have sub-chapters addressing a particular question and Part Two Hell with 6 Chapters that have and sub-chapters addressing a particular question. And for those of you who just have to have Bible verses the appendix provides an exhaustive list!

I think this is a great book for anyone who is concerned about the way society is going today. I recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book with the understanding that my review would be fair and honest.

DARK VESSEL BY D. I. Telbat

Dark Vessel (The COIL Series) is the fourth in a series of books by D. I. Telbat that describes the missions of C.O.I.L. an organization out to help Christians in distress. It is a Christian suspense novel which means blood and gore, sex and violence are not incorporated within the pages of this ebook, nor the others in the series. Despite the absence of what most popular novelist believe are necessary to make a book worth reading, I promise you, you will not miss the absence of these “marketing gimmicks.”  I believe the lack of these secular exploits improves the flow of the story line.

As with the other books in the series Dark Vessel (The COIL Series) is filled with suspense, action and of course an exciting yet purposeful plot.

I so appreciate the writings of D. I. Telbat which is why he is one of the few fiction writers whose books I will review without hesitation. I would have been surprised if the book had been anything but exciting. I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Despite my obvious bias I recommend Dark Vessel (The COIL Series); because the book is that good.

I would have to caution you that it would be best that you read the other three in the series before reading Dark Vessel (The COIL Series) . In the following order: Dark Liason: A Christian Suspense Novel; Dark Hearted; Dark Rule then Dark Vessel. Like any book in a series it can be very irritating to read a book and then discover you like the story line and then have to play catch-up.

Available on Amazon (click on any link above) and Smashwords

THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY: A Journey To Intimate Friendship With God by Dutch Sheets

RELEASE DATE JANUARY 28, 2014

Rarely does the title of a book surmise the essence of a book as the title: Pleasure of His Company, The: A Journey to Intimate Friendship With God” by Dutch Sheets. I am a Dutch Sheets fan so I would have been surprised if this book was not a good one.

Pleasure of His Company, The: A Journey to Intimate Friendship With God reads like a devotional should read in that it is introspective. His words guide the reader into a more personal vision of who Jesus is. The traditional devotional provides a bible verse and a commentary in which the reader is free to accept or reject this book is not a devotional but a guide to an intimate friendship with God.

Upon completion of this book the reader will, at least he or she should, have a better understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship with God. The 265 pages should not be read in one day but savored. Each prayer found at the end of each of the 30 chapters should be read first then spoken but only if you mean it.

The first book I ever read by Dutch Sheets was The Beginner's Guide to Intercessory Prayer, one that I have recommended to numerous people. I also recommend Pleasure of His Company, The: A Journey to Intimate Friendship With God. As a believer and particularly if you are an intercessor you should have a copy of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book with the understanding that my review would be fair and honest.

OTHER BOOKS BY DUTCH SHEETS: 

             

COMPASS: The Study Bible for Navigating Your LIfe

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Yes; another Bible! You will never hear me say there are to many Bibles to choose from however to a novice it really can be mind boggling thus I approached this review with two question: 1) Why should anyone read Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life? 2) Who should read Thomas Nelson’s newest study Bible?

If the book of Job discusses the journey of one going through a difficult time then the book of Lamentations takes that experience up a notch. How does COMPASS treat this book? It was easy for me to choose to review this book of the Bible since I have just completed studying this book and it is one of the most difficult books for me to read, I love the book of Job.

In reading the introduction to the book of Lamentations I found the commentary agreeable in terms of its’ contextual historical perspective. The acknowledgment of who may have been the books author serves as an excellent bridge to an excellent paragraph as to how the reader can apply the words in this book to his or her life. Footnote: this is the same introductory commentary found in  The Voice Bible .

Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life is the study compliment to the Voice Bible translation, which I love, at first I thought the Bibles were identical however I was pleased to discover the differences which make this new Bible a great tool for study.365 Days through the Whole bible; Maps as well as an Index to in-Text Maps.

I like the Voice translation of the Bible, which as I mentioned the Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life is. If you are looking for a Bible to read from Genesis to Revelation for the very first time or because this is something you do every year this is a good choice. Why should you read Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life because it is a great study tool. Who should read Compass anyone who wants to gain understanding of God’s Word.

There were two things I did not like about my copy of this book, neither of which had to do with content. 1) I have had Bibles printed on similar type paper and discovered it tears easily. 2) Because my vision is no longer 20/20 I would have preferred a bigger font. I suspect the quality of the paper and the size of the font were decisions made in order to cover the cost of production, though understandable it is something that I consider when purchasing Bibles.

I understand how difficult it is for anyone to chose a Bible, particularly the first one. This Bible is well worth the purchase and so I do recommend it only if you intend on reading it.I received a complimentary copy of this book with the understanding that my review would be fair and honest.

AWAKENING FAITH by James Stuart Bell

I am not a devotional fan, however I chose to review Awakening Faith: Daily Devotions from the Early Church by James Stuart Bell with Patrick J. Kelly, because the title caught my curiosity. My first impression upon opening the book was that of happiness; there were no dates to control my reading pleasure!

Because my goal was to review the book I chose a few passages to read, however before I give you a thumbs up or a thumbs down from what I read in Awakening Faith: Daily Devotions from the Early Church I would like to point out a few tidbits.

There are 366 thoughts from various men from the past with an accompanying mini biography which makes Awakening Faith: Daily Devotions from the Early Church a great introduction to Christian history. Each thought, or entry, found includes a Bible verse,or two, upon completion of the book the reader will have read something from every book of the Bible. The index of Scripture listed according to the book in which you will find is a very thoughtful tool.

Scanning the various pages I did not find the text offensive, or condemning but thought provoking and relevant. Despite many of the passages being written over one thousand years ago each entry was easy to read and understand.
The first devotional I read was entry #160 “Stay Focused In Spiritual Warfare”. The key Bible reference was Philippians 1:9-10; within the context was an additional 1 Thessalonians 5:19 was quoted. The words by Diadochus Photice presented a practical posture for the believer to maintain and what is needed to overcome spiritual battles. I appreciated the opinion of the author and believe his words can easily be applied to lives of any individual.

After reading a few other exerts I and reviewing the remainder of the book unlike other devotionals this is one I can use. I recommend you purchase this book. I only wish I had a copy prior to Christmas because it would have made a great gift for numerous of my friends who love the Word.

I received a complimentary copy of in exchange for an honest and fair review. 

Related articles

• Review of AWAKENING FAITH written by James Stuart Bell
• Devoted

THE DANIEL PLAN by Rick Warren, Daniel Amen M.D., Mark Hyman M.D.

    The best way to explain The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life is a lifestyle makeover how to. I am not by any stretch of the imagination a “diet professional” thus it was the title that attracted my attention.  That said if I wanted to lose a few pounds this is the book I would choose to read.

    The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life reads more like a motivational book than a health and nutrition guideline. The first few chapters are dedicated to establishing the proper mindset for wanting to lose weight. Yet, these foundational words are more than preparation for weight loss it is the basis of changing the way the reader does life.

    Understanding the five “F’s”: faith, food, fitness, focus and friends help the reader realize the ultimate goal which is a lifestyle adjustment which will lead to a healthier person. 

    Admittedly I cannot tell you if the precepts were successfully for me since it takes more than  a day of reading to make the necessary adjustments. What I can tell you is that the basis of The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life  is solid and well worth investigating.  It is my intention to incorporate the principles introduced and the suggestions presented into my own life which means the book is well worth the read.

    I recommend The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life. For purposes of the review I was presented with an eBook which means that I will have to invest in a print copy for personal use.  My one hesitancy is personal,  I read numerous motivational material thus the first few chapters were a bit wordy HOWEVER  please do not let this discourage you.  xxx Marsha L Randolph

FOOT NOTE: There is a corresponding Study Guide

       

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.