Month: January 2020

Conquering Fear 52-Week Devotional: For Superhero Kids Ages 10-12 by Julia Ball is an amazing activity book. Although it is aimed for kids ages 10-12 I think kids as young as 7 or 8 could also enjoy this book. I think that the comic book feel and colors would attract any child of reading age. The book is divided into 52 weeks. Each week has six days of devotions. The activities range from reading, prayer prompts, coloring, word searches, other word puzzles, writing prompts, mazes, drawing activities, experiments and crafts. The pictures would intrigue any super hero fan. I love how all the scripture verses stand out in bubbles like a comic book. I received the e-book version for review which made it difficult for me to show my own kids. I want to buy paperback versions so my kids can actually do the written activities. Each week, on day one, there is a Read This! section which is a short devotional with a scripture verse and Fear Buster section. The Fear Buster is a short section that explains fears and how we can overpower them through scripture and knowing who God is. Day four is like day one. There is a Read This!” section and a scripture verse but instead of a Fear Buster there is a Prayer Prompt section which asks questions and leads the reader into prayer.  Days two, three, five and six there is a “Try This!” section which covers a variety of activities geared to make kids think and apply the scripture. I think that this activity book could be adjusted to use in a children’s ministry at a church using each six day section to cover one day a week like in Sunday School. This book explains how Jesus is a super hero and how we can be super heroes too through knowing what Jesus did, following Jesus, serving Jesus, praying, living like Jesus, loving others, sharing Jesus with others, helping others, growing in faith, worshiping, singing, asking questions about God, knowing God’s plan for our lives and future, and trusting God with our future. In the back of the book is an answer key for the puzzles. I like the full color pages and the pictures though out the book. I like how this book is full of scripture and encourages bible memorization. One page stood out to me. It is a page of scripture and the reader is given the task of doodling or drawing in the margins. I think more adults should encourage kids the many ways of engaging God’s word as this book does. I suggest this book to everyone who has kids or teaches the Bible to kids. Even teenagers might enjoy this book at a faster pace.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Hendrickson Review Program. http://www.hendrickson.com/content/hendrickson-review-program/  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sixty years ago, Moody released a series called Everyman’s Bible Commentary series. This series has helped countless readers in their learning of understanding God and His Word. Written by a large variety of biblical scholars who were experts in their field. Now sixty years later, Moody has rereleased the series as “the Everyday Bible Commentary series” in hopes that todays generation can glean from the tried and tested biblical instruction that has helped countless people in their study. I was eager to review Psalms in the Moody review program. This commentary is split up into three groups Part 1 Psalms 1-50 : Songs of devotion, Part 2 Psalms 51-100: Songs of dedication, Part 3 Psalms 101-150 Psalms of discipleship. The author takes a few pages to write about each psalm explaining the history and comparing it to other psalms and other parts of the Bible. I enjoyed reading this commentary and I learned more than I expected. I am interested at looking into other books of this series. This commentary could easily be used as a devotional or study help while studying Psalms. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to dig deeper into Psalms and even look at the other books in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-review-program I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”