Worn and Well Read

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

At halftime of our granddaughter's basketball game, a couple of boys took the floor. They practiced their shots and dribbles with a well-worn basketball. The orange color had dulled to a brown and the black grooves smoothed out. As they shot we could tell they spent hours with the ball, not just from the condition of the ball, but by the way they handled themselves on the floor.

After Billy Graham passed away, I read some articles about him. In one, the writer talked about how Billy always left his Bible open. Frequently throughout the day, he'd look at his Bible to see what God had to say. I love that picture. A wise man of God continually consulting the book of truth. Like the basketball the boys wore down, Billy wore through the pages of the scripture. Obviously, he not only read the Bible but lived it.

We are so blessed to have God's word to guide us. Think about how much more difficult life, as a believer, would be if we didn't have a reference of truth to read and study. I may not understand every word, but I know the ones I do understand are God's. I want to be a follower who not only wears out my Bible but lives by the beautiful truth of God.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. -Psalm 119:105

Bible Review: The Investigator's Holy Bible, NIV

Book Description:

Using a detective theme, the NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible explains Biblical text for children ages 6–10 using easy to understand, honest language. It also has many features that explain the essentials of each book and challenging concepts.

Have you ever used a magnifying glass? It makes everything bigger and easier to see, right? Detectives and scientists magnify things to understand them better. Well that’s just what this Bible does—it’s a magnifying glass to help children understand the Word of God better.

My Thoughts:
The NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible is a great Bible filled with information that helps the reader understand God's word in an easier way. The teaching tools featured include "The Evidence" an introduction given to each book, "The Breakthrough" which helps understand the meaning behind the words, "The Witnesses" that gives the meaning of names and "The Scene" which explains place. There is also "Check the Facts" and "Case Closed" that offer short quizzes and a summary. All of these handy tools help the reader to better understand the scriptures. I like this Bible and believe it would be a great tool for helping a child get into the stories of the Bible. I love that it gives the meaning of the people's names and a great explanation of the setting. My favorite tool is "The Breakthrough." These are sprinkled throughout each book and give great answers to hard questions. I recommend this Bible for children interested in learning more about God's word. I also think this concept would be great for any adult who is not familiar with the Bible and wants to begin to understand. Even as an older Christian, I want to look through each book and read the explanations. I can also see this being an integral source for family devotion time. A concordance, index, table of weights and measures, as well as maps round out the rest of the book. The format is appealing with touches of color. 

Book Review: NIV Holy Bible For Girls, Journal Edition

Book Description:

The NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition is the perfect way to apply Scripture to your everyday life. Designed with the thoughtful writer in mind, a whimsical cover and journaling lines inspire reflection in God’s Word. This Bible contains the full text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) translation. 

Features include:

• Lines on each page for journaling and notes
• Thick paper perfect for any writing utensil
• A presentation page for gift giving
• A “How to Use This Bible” page to get started on the right foot
• Ribbon marker
• The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) 

My Thoughts:
The hard cover of the The NIV Holy Bible for Girls is decorated in pretty mandala designs that are popular right now. The little pink butterflies and lovely blue background will appeal to pre-teens and teens. Inside on each page there's plenty of room for notes. This would be great for anyone wanting to write thoughts as they read the scripture. The product is marketed to teen girls, but I believe adult women would like it too. Another nice feature is the elastic band that keeps the Bible secure. This would be a great gift for Christmas or at baptism. With so many pretty Bible's for girls, this one stands out because of the space for journaling. I received this book free from Zonderkidz. 

Book Review: NIrV, Under The Sea Holy Bible

Book Description:

The Underthe Sea Holy Bible, NIrV is a perfect gift for children ages 6 to 10. Themes of underwater fun and sparkling fish grace the interior of this wonderful children’s Bible. The outside is covered in foil and sparkle. The interior has color inserts featuring whimsical underwater scenes with themes of God’s care and love for each of us and all of creation.

My Review:
Children will find the outside cover and the special insert pages appealing. The art work is fun, shiny, and glittery. The information on the inserts is good, but for me they didn't give enough information on becoming a Christian. I liked the pages on prayer and love. As far as the NIrV, I appreciate the explanation of how the writers came up with their version. They do refer to the NIV translation, but do some simplification of the more elaborate language to create an easier to read version. I also like the list of Bible stories and the dictionary in the back. This would be a good beginner Bible for a young person with the understanding that it is not a direct translation.

I received this in exchange for a fair review.

Children's Book Review: Big Dreams Big Prayers Bible for Kids

Book Description:

The Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible forKids, NIV includes the complete New International Version (NIV) of the Bible along with devotions, prayers, and highlighted verses to help kids pray and listen for God’s answers to their prayers.

My Review:
Sometimes prayer is a difficult concept to understand. The Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible begins with an excellent explanation of what prayer is and how to talk to God. Throughout the scripture you'll find devotions written just for kids. They speak about prayer and give great examples and explanations children can understand. In the back you'll find a list of the devotions and the page number they're on. There are also three reading plans to engage the reader in doable segments. I really like the journal pages in the back where the reader can write down prayer requests and keep track of the answers. Each Bible book has a brief information page. This is a great Bible for students age 10+. Five stars.

I received this book in exchange for a fair review.  

Children's Book Review: Super Heroes of the Bible Sticker And Activity Book

Book Description:

Bible heroes come to life through age-appropriate puzzles, activity pages, and 50 reusable stickers in this friendly and fun sticker and activity Book featuring The Beginner’s Bible classic art and simply written content.

My Review:
All the children I know love stickers and super heroes. This a wonderful book for kids who enjoy activities and like to do puzzles. The colorful format will keep them engaged as they learn about Bible characters. Great for those cold winter days.

I received this book in exchange for a fair review.  

Book Review: Faithgirlz Bible NKJV

Description:

Every girl wants to know she’s totally unique and special. This Bible says that with Faithgirlz sparkle. Through the many in-text features found only in the Faithgirlz Bible, girls will grow closer to God as they discover the journey of a lifetime.

Features include:

• Book introductions—Read about the who, when, where, and what of each book

• Dream Girl—Use your imagination to put yourself in the story

• Bring It On!—Take quizzes to really get to know yourself

• Is There a Little (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?—See for yourself what you have in common

• Words to Live By—Check out these Bible verses that are great for memorizing

• What Happens Next?—Create a list of events to tell a Bible story in your own words

• Oh, I Get It!—Find answers to Bible questions you've wondered about

• The complete New King James Version (NKJV) translation

• Features written by bestselling author Nancy Rue

My Review:

Faithgirlz Bible is the perfect gift for pre-teens and teens. I especially like the features that make the scriptures approachable. Through the "Dream Girl" segments young ladies are encouraged to think about and imagine what people went through in their time. The "Oh, I Get It" sections help girls understand concepts that can be somewhat difficult.

The pink and purple illustrations and feminine designs make the book appealing. Introductions of each book give information to help the reader understand who wrote the book, where and when the events took place, the characters they'll meet, and the lessons and connections the reader's will find.

I wish I'd had a Bible like this for myself and my daughters. I recommend Faithgirlz Bible for young ladies ages 10+.

I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

Quick Licks or Big Slurps

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

My family traveled many-a-summer to dairy whips all over the state. Mom had a favorite one near Peebles that served the best foot longs and shakes. I loved the Tasty Freeze on Route 50. I'm not sure what the name of it is now, but it's still in business. And of course, the Dairy Queen offered a yummy list of sweet treats. Whether I got a hot fudge sundae, banana split, or twist cone, I had to figure out the best way to eat it. Slow with small bites, quick licks, or big slurps. Did I savor the cool creamy desert or eat so fast I got brain freeze. Maybe something in between worked best. No matter how I ate it, I loved the sweet taste.

All my life I've been told to read my Bible. I've heard that I should go verse by verse to study. Use the Greek to decipher the meaning. Read the Bible in a year. Look at several translations at the same time. Try a study guide. So many ways to learn about Jesus. Which one is best? I've tried many of the methods. And you know what? I've learned something new from every one of them. Whether I take tiny bites and read a verse or two, or study several chapters in one gulp, I've learned from the scripture. The only times I've not gained from reading the Bible is when I haven't done it at all. I cherish the truths I've learned from God's word. They've changed my life and made it much sweeter than I could've imagined. Praise God for his word.