Reading, Writing & Pondering

    A King Washes Feet by Jessica Claire Bond releases on February 10. This book gives the reader 40 readings for a Lenten read or a Bible study. On the last night of Jesus’s life, He picked up a towel and washed His disciples’ feet–people who would soon betray, deny, and abandon Him–giving an example of what it really means to love and forgive like the King. He clothed Himself in humility, providing for us a picture of what it really means to follow Him. This book is an invitation to sit on the footwashing stool and let Jesus heal you, then kneel with the King and learn how to wash the feet of your friends  and  enemies. We need this picture–and this posture–more than ever. All around us are disappointed, disillusioned, and wounded people, covered with the grime of ambition, jealousy, self-protection, church hurt, broken relationships, and world-weary hearts. Jesus calls us to kneel before them, whether they are friend or foe, to perform acts of love, m...

  Chasing Sacred: Learn How to Study Scripture to Pursue God and Find Hope in Him •  Publisher:  Tyndale Momentum (September 10, 2024) •  Paperback : 272 pages In a culture full of chaos, stress, and confusion, we can find firm grounding in the Bible . . .when we truly take the time to understand and experience what it says. In  Chasing Sacred , Bible teacher Mikella Van Dyke breaks down the misconceptions and reservations so many of us have about what it means to study the Bible. Using her story alongside the  Inductive Bible Study Method  to teach a systematic, empowering approach, she will help you: Learn a practical, step-by-step method to understanding God’s Word Gain a fresh perspective on what it means to study the Bible for a new generation Engage in a healthy habit of Bible study that encourages confidence and eliminates shame Feel equipped to lead a small group or ministry in your community As you chase the sacred narrative woven throu...

  I once heard a preacher say that everyone is either in the midst of a problem, coming out of a problem or headed into a problem. I imagine Joyce Meyer could agree with that statement. Her latest book, Overcoming Every Problem , shares Bible promises that relate to forty problems that Christians might face as they walk with God. In Overcoming Every Problem , Meyer offers advice from the Bible on healing from hurts that others inflicted on you, healing from physical illness or injury, facing fear, healing from a negative mindset, and many more problems. I am not sure this book covers EVERY problem, but it does cover a good share of the ones most Christians face. I like that Meyer draws from the Bible and she also shares honestly from her own experiences. Meyer is so easy to relate to and understand. Overcoming Every Problem would be an especially good book for a new Christian as they start the Christian walk. I have heard Joyce share some of this information before in her other bo...

  Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Love Most Precious by Anita Higman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! About the Book Title : A Love Most Precious: 90 Devotions on the Book of Ruth Author: Anita Higman Publisher: DaySpring Release Date: October 9, 2022 Genre: Devotional Book   Today I have the pleasure of reviewing A Love Most Precious: 90 Devotions on the Book of Ruth by Anita Higman. After my review, there is also a link for a giveaway so you don't want to miss that! A Love Most Preciou s is such a beautiful small book.This book is a great size to stick in your purse or book bag or to keep alongside your Bible on your night stand. Each reading is about two pages long and includes a Bible verse from the book of Ruth, a short devotional story to go along with your Bible reading and a prayer to end the day.  The book of Ruth is a short Bible book but it sure packs a lot of great inspiration for living the Christian life. A Love Most Precious focuses ...

    Both the Prayer Journal: 30 Days on Humility and 30 Days on the Gospel were written by Erika Allen. Allen writes in such a way that these daily readings would inspire women of all ages. They could also be read by women of various denominations. They encourage you to read the Bible prayerfully--which I really like. I also like how these slim volumes are so beautifully decorated both inside and out by Ruth Chou Simmons. They are simply gorgeous besides the solid Biblical content inside. They have thick cream-colored pages inside with plenty of space each day for journaling. I haven't tried markers but pens and pencils don't bleed through and work well for both prayer and even doing some prayerful art journaling in these books.  These slim volumes are a good size to slide into your Bible case alongside your Bible or into your purse for study away from home. If you know someone who might like them, they would work well in a gift basket to cheer someone who is ill or needi...

  Is getting what you want the point of prayer? Skye Jethani answers that question in his newest book, What if Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? is divided in to six parts:  1. What Pray is(and isn't) 2. Keep it Simple (and Unceasing) 3. It's Off to Work (with God) We Go 4. Learning to Pray (Like Jesus) 5. The Truth (& Nothing But the Truth So Help me God 6. Prayer Changes (How You See) the World One of the neat things about this book is that the author has doodles throughout the book that help the visual learner (which is me) better understand the wisdom and teaching that he is trying to impart. Each of the six parts of this book is further divided into smaller teachings that include the visual doodle, a reading and Scripture along with blank space to write your thoughts. What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? is subtitled "A visual guide to the spiritual practice most of us get wrong." It is different than any other prayer ...

  Before the pandemic, I would say life moved much too fast for many of us. In Jennifer Dukes Lee's new Bible Study, Growing Slow, she encourages us to slow down and enjoy life. Growing Slow Bible Study starts out with a short chapter on how to get the most out of the study as well as an introduction to the study from the author. She then has 6 chapters to be covered over six weeks:  1. Cultivate: Turning over the Soil of Your Heart 2. Plant: Becoming a Good Soil Girl in a Fast-Paced World 3. Grow: How to Flourish under Pressue 4. Harvest: Grow. . .and Make Disciples 5. Celebrate: Let's Get This Party Started 6. Heal: Leave No Stone Unturned If you noticed, there is a trend in this study to relate to the land. Jennifer Dukes Lee lives on a generational farm and has seen land used for farming for many years. She relates that land use to claiming God's promises. Through looking at land in the Bible and in the world today, Lee relates it all to helping us slow down in life. Sh...

  Are you looking for a journal to keep track of your Bible reflections? A Bible Study Journal For Women from Barbour Publishing is gorgeous both inside and out and also quite user-friendly. A Bible Study Journal For Women starts out with 38 pages of insights from the bestselling book, How to Study the Bible. There is a lot of good information in this short space on preparing to study the Bible, various styles of studying the Bible, using Bible study helps and getting motivated to study the Bible. The rest of the book is beautifully illustrated blank Bible study pages that are ready to use. I was so impressed by the quality of A Bible Study Journal For Women. The pages are fairly thick with plenty of lines. Yet, I could see using this journal not only to write but to do some art journaling as well. I also found the brief introductory pages to be full of good reminders and information on studying the Bible, even as a more mature Christian. It has a flexible cover with a beautiful fi...

  Have you heard of Verse Mapping? This is all new to me--and I think it is a fun way to better learn about what the Bible is saying as I read it. I also learned that while this is new to me, it isn't a new way to learn the Bible. When it is defined, it is a way of getting real about studying the Bible through researching everything you can about a verse to learn more about who God is and how he is speaking to you. It is some serious studying. Because it is new to me, I have been a little slow to get started in the Bible itself. I like this Verse Mapping Bible Study Journal by Kristy Cambron because I feel like I can freely use it to learn and grow in doing this without making a mistake in my nice Bible. (Why yes, I have struggled with perfectionism at times.) I also like that the journal takes you through the process step by step. I also like that Kristy Cambron not only explains things so well, but she also explains that this study is for every day people like you and me. Also th...

  Joyce Meyer's Biblical Study series is as beautiful inside as it is on the covers. In Philippians by Joyce Meyer she shares how Philippians is one of her favorite epistles because it encouraged believers in the early church as well as addressing believers today. I have to agree as it is one of my favorite books as well. Philippians: A Biblical Study starts with an introduction by Meyer on how to study the book of Philippians using this book. She also has an introduction to the book that tells about the book and also lists the key truths in this book of the Bible. There are 14 chapters in this Bible study book that cover the four chapters of Philippians in depth. Not only does Meyer take the reader through the book verse by verse, but she also has Personal Reflection questions with room to journal about the question.  I like these in depth study books because Meyer goes through the Bible books so thoroughly and this book in Philippian s is as well done as the rest in the se...

  Do you have favorite books in the Bible? Proverbs is one of mine. I like the practical day to day advice. Today, Joyce Meyer's new book about Proverbs releases: In Search of Wisdom .  In Search of Wisdom is a straight forward book with a chapter on each of the 31 chapters of Proverbs, an introduction and a conclusion. In the Introduction, Meyer encourages readers to read each book of Proverb before reading the corresponding chapter. In each chapter, Meyers then shares commentary on verses throughout the chapter. She also asks questions to inspire you to think about how you are living your life with respect to the wisdom of the verses in that chapter. Meyer emphasizes how important wisdom is to living a life for God throughout the book. In the conclusion, she once again illustrates just how important it is. I appreciate how practical and easy to read In Search of Wisdom is. Meyer always offers straightforward commentary and does  a great job of helping readers understa...

  Are you looking for a good Bible study on the book of Ruth? The Way Home by Tessa Afshar is an in-depth study that would be great for either a group study or to do on your own.  The Way Home is a six-week study about both Ruth and relating the Bible to a life with sub-title of "God's invitation to  new beginnings." The book starts with an introduction from the author. Then the six week study sections. Each week includes five days worth of study with Bible readings, questions and prayer. I was also pleased and surprised to find a recipe section with recipes that Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz  may have eaten at this time in history. They looked to be easy to follow and fun to try--especially if you are in a Bible study group. I think it would also be fun with my family but I am a "foodie." There is also some extra sections in the back for those who are using the DVD with the study, which I did not do.  All in all I really liked this in-depth study. I found it to be help...

  I honestly don't know a lot about former President Jimmy Carter but I have heard that he has taught Sunday School for many years. The NRSV Simple Faith Bible with Reflections from Jimmy Carter is a helpful Bible if you are doing Bible study or wanting to reflect on the Bible sections that you are reading.  The foreward to this Bible is written by Jonathan Reckford, International CEO of Habitat for Humanity. In this forward, Reckford shares how President and Rosalynn Carter make a difference by putting their skills and beliefs into action helping with a house every year. The President often presents a Bible to the new home owners at the dedication service to remind us "that we are builders, not only of houses, but of hope, dignity and community." Former President Jimmy Carter has been teaching Sunday school for over 65 year, many of them at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA. A lot of the content of those lessons is used in this Bible. There are study notes throughou...

Do you like to do Bible art journaling? Or maybe you want a Bible with plenty of space to make notes in? The new Artisan Collection Bible from Zondervan is simply gorgeous both inside and out. There are a few different gorgeous cover designs available but all are created using a layered alcohol ink painting technique. I received the beautiful blue as posted in my picture above but they also have a cover done in shades of pinks and one with pastels with a bit of gold mixed in all of the colorations. The Bibles also have two satin ribbon markers and gilt page edges. Each one is unique and SO pretty. I have another Bible that I purchased a couple of years ago with pre-printed pictures to color in the column next to Bible verses. However, I have been wanting to try my hand at making my own art journal pictures. I also want to be able to write notes on the lines next to the text. For my first one, I used a picture from an art journaling help book so it isn't completely origi...

Galatians: A Biblical Study by Joyce Meyer is another gorgeous book with practical applications in her new Biblical study series. Galatians: A Biblical Study starts out with an introduction to Galatians. Meyer then expounds on Galatians in 16 chapters and concludes with some closing notes. In Galatians, Paul gives a lot of good advice for dealing with people with come in contact with on a daily basis as Christians. In this book the reader may learn why it isn't a good idea to be a people-pleaser, how to handle other people's faults Biblically, how to avoid being self-righteous, and how to best walk in the Christian Spirit from day to day. This study in Galatians could be helpful for Christians in any stage of their Christian walk but I think it would be especially helpful for new Christians as it offers so many practical ways to live the Christian life. I like the design of these books--they are easy to read, easy to understand for any layman, and they have space to wri...

Joyce Meyer's new Biblical study book, Colossians , is both a practical,helpful Bible study with beautiful design. Colossians starts with both an introduction on how to read the book and an introduction telling about the book of Colossians. Meyer then offers 14 chapters full of information from the book of Colossians written to help you keep your faith and God and live a better Christian life. She says that the first chapter of Colossians alone includes twelve different lessons to incorporate in to your life. She encourages readers to go through the book slowly, read the Scriptures and reflect and to try to slowly live out the lessons that you are learning. I like that Meyer writes in such a way that I can easily read and understand what she is saying to better learn how to apply the lessons from Colossians to my life. It is definitely a book that you will want to take your time reading and working through. I like how nicely this series is put together in that they are well-...

I have watched Dr. David Jeremiah on TV for many years. I always appreciate his Bible wisdom and how he tells a story in his sermons. I was excited to get a copy of The Jeremiah Study Bible: Psalms and Proverbs edition. The Psalms and Proverbs edition of The Jeremiah Study Bible is in an easy-to-carry-around size at a little over 5 by 8 inches. It comes in the English Standard Version and has an elegantly bond durable cover that I think is leather. Inside it is a mix of dark easy to read print and red letter for heading and Book introduction written by Dr. David Jeremiah. At the bottom of each page are study notes and there is also some cross referencing. Side Bars are also prolific throughout the book and full of good information like Why do bad things happen to Believers?, Why we should praise God, Why pray? Along with the Scriptures, Dr. David Jeremiah gives a lot of food for thought in these short blurbs. I like this two-book edition of The Jeremiah Study Bible a lot. It was...

The Basic Bible Atlas by John A. Beck is subtitled "A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible." This book truly IS fascinating. Beck brings the geography of the Bible to life and makes it interesting to the reader. The Basic Bible Atlas is divided in to two parts: Introduction to Geography and Putting the Story In Its Place. Beck says that if you are just getting started with Biblical geography that this book is a good place to begin because "it focuses on the basics and the big picture." In the second part, Beck moves from the story in Genesis at the beginning of the Bible right through to Revelation. He hopes that by the end of the book that the reader will know the lands of the Bible better as well as how geography helped shape the Bible. I like The Basic Bible Atlas a lot. Other than the maps at the back of a Bible, I've never really studied the geography of the Bible times. I found this quite interesting. Beck also writes interesting narratives...

Deron Spoo says there are 10 words in the Bible that can sum up God's plan. His new book, The Bible in 10 Words , reveals those words.  The Bible in 10 Words is divided in to chapters that mostly contain the 10 words that Spoo talks about along with an introduction and a conclusion. I can tell you the 10 words but you are going to want to read the book to find out why they are important: Light, Dust, Breath, Garden, River, Eat, Alone, Naked, Afraid, and Sweat. Spoo shares why each word is important by beginning each chapter with a Bible verse and a quote about the word. He concludes each chapter with a prayer, questions to ask yourself or others in a group setting and more verses to think about relating to each word. At first glance, The Bible in 10 Words may not sound like a very interesting book. However, Spoo is both  an interesting writer and a great communicator. He shares some fascinating stories about each word and really brings the Bible to life through this b...

The Most Important Stories of the Bible by Christopher D. Hudson and Stan Campbell lists 75 stories from the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in chronological order. I especially like that they are in chronological order and I like that they are divided in to sections: Beginnings, Patriarchs, Noah's Family Becomes a Nation, Kings and Prophets, Stories of Jesus, and Stories of the Early Church. Another really neat feature of this book are the timelines at the beginning of each section linking the major Bible events with major world events. I also like that at the end of each story summary there is an essential truth listed from each story that sums up the main theme of the story. I found The Most Important Stories of the Bible to be more than just a summary of many of the Bible stories I learned in Sunday School. I also learned better how those key stories in the Bible flowed with the world's history. I was reminded of how those key stories work together to make the Bible...