Enter to win the encouraging discipleship book, “Your Mission in God’s Army” (review & GA, ends 5/30/24)

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Do you ever wonder if you really understand God’s purpose for your life; or if you know what your spiritual and personality giftings are? Well, if you have, I want to tell you about a fantastic, equipping resource. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to read this amazing book by coauthors Colonel David J. Giammona and Troy Anderson, called Your Mission in God’s Army: Discovering and Completing Your Faith-Filled Assignment Before Christ’s Return. The BlogAbout Blogger Network provided a copy of this book for me, as well as a copy to give away to one reader. (I promise you, you do NOT want to miss this giveaway!) Whether you have had a military background or not, I believe you’ll find this book to be one that you won’t be able to put down; that will bless and strengthen you in your own calling. Keep reading for more!

About Your Mission in God’s Army

From the publisher:

“Colonel David Giammona and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Troy Anderson’s new book Your Mission in God’s Army (April 2024) is a follow-up to their bestsellers The Military Guide to Armageddon (2021) and The Military Guide to Disarming Deception (2022). In it, they talk about taking inventory of your life and your talents and how to use the gifts and abilities God has given you to make a difference in the world for Him as we enter a new year.

They believe that important assignments are not always asked for. Sometimes it’s looking beyond what you know to what you believe. Says Giammona, “Soldiers always want to know the reason for their mission, for without purpose there is no motivation to move into harm’s way. It is the same for the believer. Sometimes it seems that a mission or assignment will never come to fruition, but the key is never to give up. If you are experiencing difficulties, obstacles or problems, do the next thing, little by little, and if God is directing you, you will progress and succeed.” 

My own experiences with Your Mission in God’s Army

What a powerful, deeply impactful read! Coauthors Giammona and Anderson have written a book which is in many ways a step-by-step spiritual workbook, with clear insights and Scriptural teaching. Your Mission in God’s Army is designed to lead individuals into understanding their relationships with God, the gifts and callings God has given them, and how these influence and equip readers for their daily lives. And lest these ideas sound like they’re too philosophical, let me reassure you: this book, and its message, are written in the most personal and encouraging manner. Each chapter is full of wise and practical teaching, and each builds on the one before it. In addition, at the ends of each of the book’s chapters, the authors have added “Strategic Spiritual Exercises,” which are practical and meaningful actions the readers can take to draw closer to God, examine what He might be saying, and putting godly character and Christlikeness into action in their own daily lives.

Although I’m a woman who has never served in the military, I have had seasons of my life during which I totally understood my “mission” or callings for those times. And yet, I’m currently in sort of a season of transition (as we all encounter at one moment or another), moving from one vocation of life to…what? I’m not sure just yet. But what a welcome set of voices Your Mission in God’s Army has brought to me, at just the perfect time! It has not only reminded me that God always, always has a purpose for our lives; but it has given me an excellent framework to use as I seek His voice and His plan for this new season. This book depends absolutely on the Bible, using both the Old and New Testaments to remind readers of how God worked in the lives of individuals whom He’d called (like Moses and Joseph) for purposes they’d never have dreamed of. I found Your Mission in God’s Army to be a very winsome read, even as it was powerful in both its life wisdom and its Biblical teaching. I found that using Post-It flags and my colored highlighters indispensable for marking paragraphs that I *knew* God was drawing my attention to; or that I believed He’d be using in some way in my life. I also appreciated the “Strategic Spiritual Exercises,” and made notes in my book copy of insights or actions I wanted to take.

I highly, highly recommend this beautiful book. Whether you’ve served in the military or not, you will find so much that I believe will help you to walk out your own calling and mission in this world. God loves you so much; and He created you personally for a unique, irreplaceable relationship with Him, and a special purpose which you can walk out, with Him, in this world. Don’t miss it! Get a copy of this book for yourself, and set aside time to read and work through it. It is truly a difference-maker.

Fascinating Q&A with the authors

I am thrilled to share part of a captivating Q&A session with authors Troy Anderson and Col. David J. Giammona. I can honestly say, this is not your standard question and answer moment! I was reminded as I read it of some of the most influential writings and teachers that impacted me throughout my own Christian journey. Keep reading; you’ll be fascinated!

You wrote in Your Mission in God’s Army:

“Prayer is the key to our assignment from God. The assignment is not automatic, meaning we do nothing, and God does everything. No, we are in partnership with the Almighty. And many times, we find that God places the answers to our prayers within us, once we decide to put feet to our faith.” p. 77, Your Mission in God’s Army

What is the key to any assignment from God?

• Col. David Giammona: The key to our assignment is hearing from God through prayer, reading His Word, seeking divine counsel from leaders we see lining up with the Word of God, and looking for the answers in our everyday lives that God imparts on your heart. Waiting for Him to confirm before jumping in is a big key that many people in our anxious world skip or miss. 
• Troy Anderson: Beyond discerning your mission, the key to any assignment from God is obedience, doing what God has called you to do. 2 John 1:6 says, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

What is the key to my assignment when I feel like my assignment is not important?

• Col. David Giammona: To understand that there are no unimportant assignments from God. Each assignment is given to us to bring out the best in us, to depend on Him in all things, and to search His Word to see how you fit into your current assignment. There is a reason for the season you are in and you get to discern what God has uniquely set apart for you rather than someone else.
• Troy Anderson: Throughout our lives, especially when we are young, we find ourselves in assignments that seem unimportant. Yet, we know that Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Rather than seeing your current position as an insignificant assignment, take a step back and consider what your future may hold. What incredible things has the Lord planned for your life, and how might your current assignment help you learn valuable lessons, build your character, and prepare you for your mission in God’s army?

How do we keep focused in a chaotic world?

• Col. David Giammona: Turn off all the negative media and open the Word of God, apply it to your life, and trust in God.
• Troy Anderson: As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Stay in regular contact with the Holy Spirit, praying throughout the day, asking the Lord to intervene in various matters, to deploy angels, and give wisdom and discernment in various situations—like the Apostle Paul said, “Pray without ceasing.”

What if we receive an assignment we didn’t ask for?

• Col. David Giammona: That has happened many times to me, so I speak from experience. The best thing to do in each case is look to God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, to seek Him for answers you have on a new assignment. 
• Troy Anderson: One assignment given to me was an opportunity to begin writing books on biblical prophecy. As a journalist at the Los Angeles Daily News at the time, I was concerned it could be a career-ending move. So, like Jonah fled God’s assignment and was swallowed by a whale and spit up on the shores of Nineveh to deliver God’s message, I too sought to avoid God’s calling. But I came to my senses and dedicated my life to carrying out God’s mission for me. It has not been easy, we have experienced many trials, but there have also been many miracles and instance of divine intervention, so I would encourage you to accept God’s assignment for your life. As the Prophet Samuel said in 1 Samuel 15:22, “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

How does the enemy use unbelief?

• Col. David Giammona: The enemy has several weapons that he uses against us to thwart our growth and relationship to God. One of them is unbelief. If the enemy can get you to doubt God’s Word as he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden, then he has beaten you. Remember what he said to Eve: “Did God really say?” He uses that weapon in many ways to get your eyes off God and onto your problems rather than your divine assignments.

Enter to win Your Mission in God’s Army here!

You can enter to win a copy of this exceptional and encouraging book. To enter, just click on the highlighted link below that says, “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. US entrants only; must be 18 and older to win. Giveaway closes on 5/30/24. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from The BlogAbout Blogger Network. All opinions shared here are my own.

Becky Kiser’s excellent “But God Can” will strengthen your faith and heal your soul

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Friends, I couldn’t be happier to have been introduced to author, speaker, and life coach Becky Kiser–and her exceptional book, But God Can. Reading it has been a joy, to be sure; but it has also been a remarkable tool that God has used for my own growth and healing. Amazing! Now, I get to tell you about the book and my own experiences. Plus, you can enter to win your own copy from Blessed Freebies!

About But God Can

From the publisher:

“But God Can: How to Stop Striving and Live Purposefully and Abundantly by Becky Kiser is a book that addresses the pressures and confusing messages that Christian women often face in today’s culture.

The book acknowledges that women are often told they should be able to do and be everything, while also being told to surrender everything to God. This can leave many women feeling overwhelmed and stuck, leading them to either defeat or self-help empowerment.

In But God Can, Kiser helps women realize that they were never meant to be enough on their own – that’s the gospel message and the reason why Jesus came. The book aims to help women identify the lies they’ve internalized, replace those with new truths, and find freedom through realistic, practical, and life-changing strategies.

Kiser, a Bible teacher and life coach, guides women on a journey to find freedom from lies, change how they think, identify what God says is true, remember that God is more than capable of doing anything, discover how He has uniquely created them, and propel them into the abundant life of deep purpose.

The central message of the book is that you don’t have to be enough because God is more than enough. On your own, you can’t, but God totally can.”

Chapter titles include these meaningful topics:

• You feel overwhelmed, but God sends a Helper
• You feel exhausted, but God makes you strong
• You feel lonely, but God is with you
• You feel stagnant, but God has a purpose for you
• and so many more cool and powerful ones

My thoughts and opinions about But God Can

Y’all, I did not know what this nicely-sized book with the bright fuchsia cover had in store for me. I had NO idea! Let me tell you that as I read it, I began to feel as though I was at a wellness retreat. Not the physical kind; but the kind which addressed my insides. That is, my heart, my soul and spirit. Also my mind, will, and emotions. And not only addressed them but pulled them out, showed me what was in them, shook them, mended them, and reshaped them. With the greatest of empathy, kindness, and love.

I honestly didn’t know that I was in for the opening up of my heart when I read But God Can. You know, the part of me that has my greatest loves but also my deepest pains. As a matter of fact, there was a moment when I gasped. Moments when I cried (and got tears on the pages). And times when I dug into terrible things that I wish I hadn’t thought, heard, or had spoken over me. But oh, was it worth it! Becky has gone through these very processes herself throughout her own life journey. She’s taken all her own healing and experiences, and gently and kindly designed a chapter-by-chapter set of experiences, Q&As, and biblical truths to bring life and healing for the reader (or readers, as you could certainly work through this book with a friend or in a small group). Examples of the powerful work readers will do include:

• Considering the terrible things we think about ourselves
• Looking at ALL the plates we’re keeping spinning in the air; and really investigating their worth and need in our lives
• Understanding our own faulty thinking; for example, that we are not adequate or “not enough,” but we are beloved and considered precious and worthy by the God who made us
• Learning where we aren’t loving, and how we can love others well
• With all of these and more, moving through personal healing, callings, and a renaming only because God makes them possible! But God Can!

But God Can took me on a serious journey of examining myself. And of then, comparing what I’ve seen to Scripture and to what God says. Becky’s questions, recommended actions, and prayers at the ends of each chapter set me up to really begin to open my heart, and the painful things that the Lord would wish to heal. While this book doesn’t claim to be a substitute for counseling or therapy (which I’m a definite fan of), I’d certainly say that it’s a tool that could be used alongside it. And one that God has used powerfully in my own life.

Also, I love Becky Kiser’s voice. She is so kind and empathetic–but she’s also funny and relatable. And she’s been there. Perhaps this is a book that could bless you as it has me.

Enter to win But God Can

Enter to win your own copy of Becky Kiser’s exceptional book from Blessed Freebies! Just click on the link below that says, “Enter here!” Giveaway ends on or before 5/18/24. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Purchase But God Can here

Click on the link below to go to Becky Kiser’s website, where you’ll find links to all your favorite booksellers (both print, digital, and audio), where you can purchase your own copy of this fantastic book.

Purchase here

Becky Kiser on social media

• Becky Kiser on Instagram
• Becky Kiser on Twitter
• Becky Kiser on Facebook
• Becky Kiser’s website

Enjoy–and be blessed! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own.

The “Encountering God Study Bible” from the Blackabys: a review & giveaway (ends 5/10/24)

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I have the most wonderful study Bible to tell you about; and one to give away to a reader! Momentum Influencer Network and Harper Collins Christian Publishing provided the Encountering God Study Bible for me to read and study; and to share my experiences with you. Here’s more about this precious Bible!

About the Encountering God Study Bible

Here is the beautiful introduction you’ll find on the back slipcover of the Encountering God Study Bible:

“The deepest need of every human heart is to encounter God.

People face many needs. Some are physical, others are social or emotional. Spiritual needs, however, can only be met by God Himself. Every time we open God’s Word, we have the opportunity to experience a dramatic encounter with the living God that utterly transforms us.

The Encountering God Study Bible teaches you how to have daily encounters with God in the Bible. The content will encourage you to develop a regular habit of Bible reading and study. Expect great life-change to happen as God acts to engage you in His Word.”

This Bible is available in numerous versions; hardcover, brown leathersoft, black leathersoft, black leather (the last three with or without Bible book thumb indexes. (Or indices, if you prefer.) The Bible also features these useful study helps:

• Bible book introductions
• “Encounter Notes,” which show readers how God encounters them in verse sections
• “Explanatory Notes,” which clarify ideas, people, places, and ideas in verses
• “Historical Encounters,” detailing how God encountered various Christians throughout time
• “Encountering a Creative God” articles
• “Explaining the Faith” articles on doctrine and how we relate to God
• The Blackabys’ “How to Study the Bible” method
• Word studies
• Character charts
• Written in the New King James Version (NKJV)
• and more

My experiences with the Encountering God Study Bible

Years ago, I had one of the most remarkable Bible experiences of my life. It was as a result of a small group Bible study of author and pastor Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God. It absolutely changed my life and solidified my understanding of who God was; how He cared for humanity, how He interacted with us, and how He had purposes in doing so. This literally changed my life and set me on a new course, including a completely different ministry. (Just for context, that was back in the 1990s.)

I mention this because the Encountering God Study Bible is designed by members of the same Blackaby family. Its general editor is Richard Blackaby, one of Henry Blackaby’s sons. Contributing writers include Henry as well as other members of the Blackaby family; all of whom are engaged in and committed to encountering God, and helping others come to know and follow Him. My heart melts as I read this paragraph from this Bible’s introduction:

Meeting God is life-changing. Everyday encounters are part of His plan. No one can leave His presence and remain the same. Here is what most people miss. We do not encounter God. He encounters us. And He initiates encounters with us, not in order to give us warm devotional thoughts, but to forever change our lives. As He reveals His will to us, we are compelled to adjust our lives to His activity and join Him in His work. (from the Encountering God Study Bible, p. x)

This same focus flows throughout this entire Bible, whether it’s in the word studies (where the Greek or Hebrew meanings of words are explored), the Encounter Notes, the study plans and ideas, or elsewhere–it’s all about helping the reader to meet God. More importantly, to be met BY Him.

In my brief time with this Bible, I have both read it devotionally and used it as I participate in a Bible book study with friends. I received the black leathersoft version. It is weighty, but it’s very comfortable in my hands and the spine enables the Bible to lie open as I’m reading it or engaged in study. Within the pages, there are cross-references of verses, plentiful footnotes, and so many sidebars and segments where the reader’s attention is drawn to what God might be saying to them; to what is important to note or to apply; to engage with Him. These sidebars, again and again, reflect the heart of God and His desire to interact with the humans He loves. Repeatedly, they remind us that, even if we’re not looking for Him, He is looking for us. Consider this “Encounter Note” for Genesis 42:6, concerning Joseph’s life:

“God often goes ahead of His children to prepare the way for them. This is true even when His people are unaware of His activity or are not following Him.” (Encountering God Study Bible, p. 61)

Precious ones, this is a Bible that I have loved using and that I am so happy to recommend to you, for your own use. It has helped me to make meaningful steps or decisions as I have walked with God, and helped me to reset my own focus as I’ve sought to draw nearer to Him. It has reminded me of His amazing character, and His perfect and perfectly designed plan for my life. Most of all, it has helped me to remember that this God who loves us is intimately involved in our lives. For our good!

Now that is a God that I want to follow. And this is a Bible which helps me to remember Him, to follow Him, to love Him, and to receive His love.

Where you can purchase the Encountering God Study Bible

Here are two places where you can find and purchase the Encountering God Study Bible. Just click on the links and you’ll be taken to the direct purchase pages.

Thomas Nelson Bibles (this link will help you go directly to booksellers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook, Lifeway, and the Faith Gateway store)

Amazon

Enter to win your own copy of the Encountering God Study Bible

I am so privileged to be able to give away a copy of the Encountering God Study Bible to one reader of the FINCHNWREN blog! To enter, simply click on the “Enter here!” link below. That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. US entrants only; must be 18 and older to win. Giveaway closes on 5/10/24.

Enter here!

Enjoy! And be blessed in your own journey to encounter God! –Wren

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

“Gimme Some Sugar” – Linda Kozar’s charming, Scriptural Devotional (review, plus giveaway!)

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I have the perfect Mother’s Day gift for you to give someone you love! The BlogAbout Blogger Network provided a copy of Linda Kozar’s wonderful Gimme Some Sugar: 90 Devotions to Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way. What a joy. It is so worth the read! Keep reading for more on the book plus your chance to win.

About Gimme Some Sugar

Gimme Some Sugar is subtitled, “90 Devotions to Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way.” That describes this sweet book perfectly! It’s a soft little faux-leather bound book that measures 5.5″ x 7.5,” which is perfect to comfortably hold in your hand. The cover, pages, and sewn-in bookmark ribbon are all varying shades of aqua and pale blue. (This makes the pages very easy on the eyes.) The 90 devotions start with a funny saying or meaningful quote on the left side. Then, on the right, the devotional reading begins with a Bible verse, which is then built upon by Linda’s words. The content is very life-centered; meaning that we’ll recognize ourselves or our circumstances in the author’s descriptions. Scriptural wisdom is woven into this, along with a good dose of humor, flavored with the author’s charming Southern voice. (In the best sense.)

Here are some words from the publisher that I think round out an excellent description of Gimme Some Sugar:

“As we wake to face our struggles of the day, there are two things to help us get through them: hope and humor. Good things from God’s Word can calm your soul and fill you with hope…Gimme Some Sugar offers sensible inspiration that will elevate your day, and encourage you to set your heart and mind on God’s Word while having fun along the way.

Gimme Some Sugar shows ways to add the sweetness of God’s Word to our lives, to think on the good things of God, and to fortify us to deal with our struggles. 

When we set aside time to get before God in prayer, scripture, and meditation, we are refreshed, recharged, and ready to overcome fear or anxiety with the promised goodness of our faith. Linda shares, “My unknown future is in the hands of the all-knowing God.””

My thoughts

Do you know any women who are godly, and full of wisdom to share when you need a little…plus a way to tuck in a little laugh that you weren’t expecting? I don’t know author Linda Kozar personally. But I am certain that she is this sort of person. In fact, as I was reading, I felt so comfortable and cozy. (Even when I was being exhorted!)

And yet even as Linda seems so fun as she writes, she imparts serious pearls of wisdom that are rooted in and drawn out from the Bible. I experienced all these; corrected, humbled, encouraged, blessed, reminded, taught, learning–even as I laughed. Often! And so many parts of a woman’s life are addressed. There are devotions about being pure and beautiful of speech. About old friends. About God speaking; Pilate’s wife; Lady Bird Johnson and flowers; revival; introversion; memories. And that’s just a few of the 90 devotional readings in this precious book.

Although I don’t think that Linda Kozar describes herself as a counselor, I definitely felt counseled with some of her words, which spoke to difficult situations of my own life that I’ve prayed and mulled over without conclusion. Yet suddenly, in Gimme Some Sugar, there were some defining words for me! So totally some answers to prayer that I wasn’t expecting.

Oh, how I loved this book, my friends. It blessed me. Encouraged me. Offered me wisdom and understanding. Reminded me of God’s pure and enormous love for me. And, it made me laugh. (I gotta say, any devotional book that includes quotes from Foghorn Leghorn, Calvin and Hobbes, and Hudson Taylor is a book I must have!) But truly, when I finished it, I felt loved. And seen. And like the woman I want to be, in my best moments.

This is a book that would be a lovely gift for any of your friends–your mom–your spouse–or even for yourself. (I totally recommend that!) It’s wonderful!

Some of my favorite quotes

I have many favorite quotes from this book that I’d love to share with you! Here are just a few:

• “Spending time with God in prayer, immersing yourself in his Word, and waiting on God until he answers is the way to spiritual perception. Discernment is seeing things with God’s eyes. Our own eyes deceive us. We look at the outer, superficial appearance, but God looks straight to the heart.” (Day 77)
• “At a time yet to come, trumpets will announce that God is about to do something big. While believers disagree on the timing, the rapture of the saints will occur with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of a trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). We will meet him in the air, and later return with Jesus Christ to the earth in triumph (Revelation 19:14) over all the works of the enemy.” (Day 40)
• “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Make a habit of reading your Bible every day…Read your Bible and feed your hungry spirit as well as your body.” (Day 34)
• “God kept his promise to David that he would establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). The little king, hidden at first in a closet full of spare items, was the last soul spared of the house of David. When your situation seems hopeless, trust in God instead of your circumstance. Be confident that God always keeps his promises.” (Day 20)

Where you can purchase Gimme Some Sugar

Gimme Some Sugar is available at many booksellers. I’ve included book links for a couple of them below.

Amazon

Christianbook

Now, enter to win your own copy!

You can enter to win your own copy of Gimme Some Sugar! To enter the giveaway, click on the link below that says, “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. US entrants only; must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway closes on May 15, 2024, and one entrant will be selected to win. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own.

Allison Allen’s exceptional “Seen, Secure, Free” (a review)

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Oh my friends. I have something comforting, meaningful, and encouraging for you to read. The book is Seen, Secure, Free: How a Life Hidden with Christ Strengthens and Transforms You. Allison Allen’s book is a tender, Scripture-based answer to the siren call of our culture, which we may not always realize can be pulling us to become the opposite of what Jesus calls us to be. Drawn from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, woven with the author’s own life and learning and a single, beautiful seashell, this book will take you aside, whisper God’s love to your heart, and help you to set your minds on a different call.

About Seen, Secure, Free

From the publisher:

“In a world that screams, “Be seen! Be known!” and often measures value by likes, shares and follows, it’s easy to feel invisible, unheard, unloved. But God’s Word offers a powerful and freeing counternnarative: true treasure is actually found in the “hidden” life of Christ.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve confused our level of visibility with our value. We’ve mixed up fame with fruitfulness. We’ve equated exposure with excellence. But what if we stopped trying so hard to be seen, recognized, and affirmed by the world around us? What if there’s a different way of living altogether? In Seen, Secure, Free, Allison Allen delves into Colossians 3:3, reminding us of the profound truth that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Through captivating insights drawn from nature, history, and Scripture, she invites readers to embrace a different way of living—one that transcends the relentless pursuit of recognition and applause from the world. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll discover within the pages of this transformative book:

• Let go of the pressure to be recognized and praised by others
• Release the resentment that comes from feeling unseen or misunderstood
• Find contentment in a loving God who knows you deeply
• Find security in a powerful God who establishes your identity, worth, and purpose
• Reset your motivations and goals to align with his kingdom
• Feel freed to pursue new adventures with Jesus

Seen, Secure, Free offers a timely message of hope and liberation, reminding us that our significance is not determined by our visibility in the eyes of others, but by our hiddenness in Christ. It’s a journey toward embracing the freedom, joy, and transformative power that come from living a life deeply rooted in God’s love.”

My thoughts about this book

This book is about several of my favorite things. First, healing and learning to live more authentically. Second, learning to, in all my weaknesses and foibles, draw nearer to Jesus. And third? Seashells. And the seashore. (I do realize that this adds up to more than three things!) At its heart of hearts, I believe that Seen, Secure, Free wants to help us to do these things. Perhaps not to love the sea and its shells; but, by using a little miracle *from* the sea, Allison helps us to see and understand more clearly the key themes of the book.

Allison Allen speaks to, I believe, women everywhere with her book. It takes the truths of verses from Colossians 3, which speak to freedom and to the devoted life. That verse reads:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-3, New International Version, The Holy Bible

In Seen, Secure, Free, Allison shares what we can learn from hiddenness. We might be existing in seasons of time where we are sidelined for some unknown purpose; moments where we might feel eclipsed by others’ spotlighted lives and accomplishments; or times of suffering or difficulty that feel as though they will never end. These can bring hopelessness or despair, and can actually become a feedback loop where each supposed “failure” seems like more reinforcement of painful truths we’ve been living out.

And yet. What if, instead, these moments are not at all proofs of what we perceive as our lacks of value or importance. What if they are proofs of our preciousness to God; to His continued and faithful work in our lives; that they have meaning. What if they are intended to reorient our mental compasses to “true north,” where our eyes are fixed on the things above, leaning into and onto Jesus for His definition of our meaning?

I do believe that the answers to those questions are resoundingly, “Yes!” And yet how easily we can forget them, especially in the hard seasons or even the fiery furnaces. By sharing her own struggles and story, the lives of Scripture characters whose lives were “hidden” in some way, and by verses and concepts in the Bible itself, Allison shows us the pathway to knowing God more. Trusting Him with our brokenness. And seeing His good work and faithfulness in and to us.

I’m so happy to recommend this book to you. I’ve been traveling a route of personal healing and learning to, once again, lean into and onto Jesus in recent times. This book has fit beautifully into my own stages of healing and seeking to draw near to God. And wherever you are in your journey, I believe that Seen, Secure, Free will come alongside you to help you in your healing as well.

Keep reading for some of my favorite words from Allison’s book!

Some of my favorite quotes from Seen, Secure, Free

• “Are you feeling invisible? Insignificant? Or maybe you feel overexposed and fearful? Fluttering about without a place to land? However you answer the question, you have an invitation: Come in close. Build your nest near the Father’s altar. Your Father says you get the best seat in the house of God’s goodness–the altar, where J. Alec Motyer wrote, “sinners are reconciled with a Holy God, and He unto them.”” (p. 148)
• “Joshua likely knew that every other promised land miracle, the taking of Jericho, and everything else that would follow were possible only because of obedience in the hard hidden season. What is done in the hidden place will remain. And remain.” (p. 133)
• “I know you are hurting right now, My child, but some of the things you think will help are actually hurting you…I want you to create space. Margin. You are not your social media curations. You are not what you build for consumption. And you are not what you consume.” (pp. 89-90)
• “But here is the gloriously freeing truth as I grow older, and maybe it will free you a little bit as well: we matter to the One who matters–who sees us, secures us, and ultimately frees us–and that is more than enough. We can allow ourselves to delight in the fact that no matter who may overlook us, our heavenly Father does not. Know that there are communities of His making where we can joyfully contribute and be safely seen. There are places and spaces that need, what we, by His grace, offer. So allow Scripture to wash away the wounding of the world. Allow Jesus to combat the lies we have too long believed. Though none of it is easy, it is so worth it.” (pp. 185-186)

Where you can purchase Seen, Secure, Free

You can purchase this meaningful book at the highlighted link below, which takes you to the book’s Thomas Nelson (publisher’s) page. From there, you can select from a number of your own favorite booksellers to order Seen, Secure, Free.

Purchase link for Seen, Secure, Free

And lastly, friends, be left with the beautiful thought in the image above. Remember that God is running after you!

Be blessed! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from FrontGate Media. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.

Encouraging & inspiring: “Raising Kids to Follow Christ” (review and giveaway)

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Lee Ann Mancini’s marvelous Raising Kids to Follow Christ is a book that I wish I’d had in hand years ago. Thanks to Lee Ann and The BlogAbout Blogger Network, I finally do have it–and I also have a copy to give away to one reader! Keep reading for more about this encouraging and equipping book, and what you’ll find in it.

About Raising Kids to Follow Christ

From the publisher:

“Do you want your child to love God for a lifetime? Children have open hearts and minds and are craving a connection to God. It’s up to us to show them how to be a follower of Christ.

The beauty of raising our kids to have a relationship with God is that we can be a light in the darkness we all face and show them how to be a light of who Jesus is in their lives. Even if faith is something new for your family, you aren’t too late to start building a strong faith foundation.

No matter where we are as Christians, it’s always encouraging to have someone who is further ahead in the parenting journey offer what’s worked for them, what hasn’t, and point us to what God says about how to parent our children. This is what Lee Ann does in her new book.

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God  (Whitaker House, February 20, 2024) by Lee Ann Mancini offers parents resources they need to nurture children in faith. This parenting resource offers:

• Developmental apologetics for children to adults
• Parenting strategies and techniques from God’s word
• How to model Biblical truth with your children
• Upgrading your parenting style from discipline to discipleship
• Fun ways to connect your child’s heart to Christ”

My own thoughts and experiences about this book

I’ve read many books about parenting. Yet I found that Lee Ann Mancini’s beautiful Raising Kids to Follow Christ really stands out in its gentleness, wisdom, and desire to help parents share a life of faith with their children. She shares both foundational principles for those who’d like to bring their children up carefully and lovingly via God’s Word; but also, gives specific tips, ideas, and Scriptures for how one can do so.

What are the key ideas or goals that you think are important in raising children and living in a family? I found that my own goals dovetailed with those that Lee Ann presents in her book, where she shares the “whys” of parenting with an eye to faith. But she does a remarkable job of taking the reader from having that overall “big” vision, into considering goals which will define parenting practices, to daily ideas which can help parents share Jesus with their little ones (or even their not-so-little ones!).

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children…when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7, The Holy Bible, New International Version

I love that the ideas and viewpoints that Lee Ann shares in Raising Kids to Follow Christ are practical and based on the loving God that we meet in Scripture; the triune God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. It shares, as from a wise mentor, parenting practices which will not only reveal Jesus in and for our families, but also the reasons why these will do so.

And as Lee Ann mentions early in her book,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-25, The Holy Bible, New International Version

Do you have a wise and loving mentor, who can help and guide you when challenges in parenting arise? Some of us do, and others do not. But regardless of which you are, Lee Ann Mancini and Raising Kids to Follow Christ will come alongside you to show you the whys, whats, and hows of teaching our little ones in the faith. I recommend this book with 5 stars. There’s so much in it for parents in every season of life!

About the author

Helping parents build a strong foundation of Christ in their children is Lee Ann Mancini’s life mission. She is an award-winning author and executive producer of the Sea Kids series available on Answers.tv, Pure Flix, Prime Video, YouTube, Right Now Media, and SeaKidsTV.

The Raising Christian Kids Podcast is an online avenue for parents to get up-to-date resources to live out with their children. Lee Ann and her guests talk about everything from helping your children become better listeners and healthier eaters to dealing with stress and anxiety, understanding grief and loss, methods of discipline, understanding various portions of Scripture, and much more.

Some of my favorite passages

This book is chock-full of meaningful, impactful words for us as parents (or even grandparents). Here are some that touched me deeply!

• “You Are Their First Teacher. Whether homeschooling or not, parents are their children’s most impactful teachers, and our goal as Christians is to influence our children to have a lifelong love for the Lord and serve others.” (p. 90)
• “The Psalms tell us the importance of our little ones: Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:2)…The authors of Children Matter state, “We might think of a child’s belief and love for Jesus as the embryo of faith, a most crucial reality, a beginning but real relationship with God.”” (pp. 93-94)
• “We know some days don’t go as planned. There are moments of anger, sadness, and stress when faced with an illness, death, insufficient money, or any negative life issue. Our children are watching closely to see how we act and react.” (p. 95)
• “What outcomes do we want in our lifetime–both for us and for our children? Good results rarely just happen. We need preparation and resources to help us make wise decisions…most importantly, how to raise our children.” (p. 96)
• “I thank God that He can restore whatever has been lost, as it’s never too late to start transforming their hearts and minds. I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm–my great army that I sent among you” (Joel 2:25; p. 19)
• “We have been given great gifts–our children, created in the image of God. It is our responsibility to train them well, to the best of our God-given abilities and talents, day by day and moment by moment, based upon the Word of God.” (p. 169)

Do get a copy of Raising Kids to Follow Christ. In it, you’ll find wise words, Scriptures you can take for yourself, encouraging ideas, and verses you’ll want to pray. It’s a handbook, a guidebook, a devotional for parents (in some ways), and most of all, a reminder of our sacred calling as parents, and the precious gift of our children.

Enter to win your own copy of Raising Kids to Follow Christ

You can enter to win a softcover copy of Lee Ann Mancini’s Raising Kids to Follow Christ! Just click on the highlighted link below that says, “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. US entries only; must be 18 and older to win. Giveaway closes on 4/20/24. One entrant will be selected to win. Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own honest ones.

Beautiful devotions in Sara Cormany’s “Even When” (a review)

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I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to read Sara Cormany’s exceptional and exquisite book of 40 devotions. Thanks to Sara and to The BlogAbout Blogger Network, I received a copy of this beautiful book. I’m thrilled to be able to share my impressions and reading experience with you.

About Even When:

“From award-winning author Sara Cormany, Even When is a raw and reflective devotional that ushers readers into God’s presence during difficult times and reminds us that even our hardest stories are written by the hand of a good God. 

In these uniquely challenging and unprecedented post-pandemic times, the notion that God’s goodness ensures an easy journey has been met by the unfaltering truth that life is hard. It’s not a question of if there will be trials, but when. Sara Cormany knows this reality all too well. However, through personal health complications and family tragedy, she has chosen to believe that Jesus is enough. 

Even When beautifully weaves together the inevitability of hard times with the unyielding heart of God’s goodness and inspires readers to experience His presence amid the storm in their lives. Each devotion begins with an “Even when…” statement, followed by a poignant personal story, a Bible verse, and a thought-provoking question that will encourage readers to embrace the truth that God is enough—even in our darkest moments. 

This powerful devotional helps readers to:

• Become more comfortable with the difficult truth that life not only can, but will be hard. 
• Reflect on where God has shown up in their own hardships.
• Experience God’s goodness while enduring life’s challenges.
• Explore what it looks like to “suffer well” and trust God as Jesus did on the Cross. 
• Love God and know God’s love in a fallen world. 

Vulnerable and authentic, Even When strikes a universal chord and points readers toward the heart of God’s goodness in even the most challenging of circumstances, knowing that even when life is hard, He is always good.”

How Even When impacted me

So. This book (you can even see this on the cover) is designed to be read over 40 days in devotional-sized portions. I, however, didn’t read it that way. Instead, I sat down and read…and read…and read. The entire book. In one chunk.

I’m usually good at following directions. But this time, I found an author (Sara) who spoke to my soul. And I couldn’t quit reading. Because as she spoke to my soul, she also spoke to my hurts and to my disappointments. (Have you ever seen a toddler cry, and it seems like tears are shooting out of the sides of their eyes? Yep. That happened to me as I was reading too. Although sometimes, the tears just oozed. And yes–I’m tearing up and crying again as I page through this book to consider what I want to share with you.)

Sara is a woman who has endured significant suffering. Serious suffering. And she asked herself, and God, questions. Would she still trust God—even if this (bad thing) happened? Or that (horrendous thing) happened? Was God still big enough to handle tragedies, disappointments, personal mistakes, or failings? Again and again, Sara came to her answer: “Yes.” And her answered “Yesses” (or “Yeses,” if you prefer; the Oxford Reference says both work) were not facile or surface. They came out of her deep conversations with God, or her serious perceptions of His word and His answers.

I found enormous application in this book, for my own life. To apply to my past hurts, or to my moments when I questioned God’s love for me; or to times I considered whether He was big enough to cover my own failings. Sometimes, in my past, I’ve just used my good friend “Denial” to not deal with these big questions. But guess what? Our God is big enough to deal with all of these; our questions, our hurts, our pains, our sins. He IS big enough–and He, Himself, is enough. Always.

Get yourself a copy of Even When. It will speak to you, come alongside you, comfort you, and bless you. I believe it’s a book God will use mightily in your heart and in your life. Sara Cormany, and her words, will make a difference and speak to your own hurt, pain, and faith–and you’ll be encouraged by this woman of faith.

Where you can purchase this lovely book

Here’s the Amazon link, where you can purchase Even When.

Even When Purchase Link

And to Sara Cormany, I just have to say, “Thank you!! And bless you!!”

Blessings to you! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

How to walk thru hardship with strength and grace: “Whatever Happens” (a review)

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I’ve been so thankful to have had the opportunity to read and review Robert J. Morgan’s newest book, Whatever Happens. Its subtitle tells us nearly everything we need to know about why we’d benefit from this book: “How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.” The author takes 31 chapters (making it perfect for a month’s devotional reading) and brings meaningful help from deeply examining the Bible book of Philippians–a book he has studied, taught, and preached on for 50 years. And in Whatever Happens, he brings so much to bless, encourage, and equip us for life as we read.

Sometimes I feel exhausted, lost, and chaotic too. Don’t you?”

Robert J. Morgan, Whatever Happens

About the book, from the publisher

Whatever Happens: How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World Is Falling Apart is a book by Robert J. Morgan. It is a deep dive into the book of Philippians, which the author describes as the Bible’s handbook for tackling each day with an undaunted attitude.

The book is composed of 31 short chapters that guide how to maintain faith in a world that seems to be spiraling downward. It teaches readers how to:

• Use prayer to energize their life
• Stay as cheerful as possible in all circumstances
• Let others lean on their strength
• Start everything with praise and end everything with prayer

The theme of the book can be summed up in these verses: “Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then… I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you” (1:27–28).

The book is written from the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote his letter to the Philippians from a prison cell. Despite facing dire circumstances and an uncertain future, he was determined to stand firm in his faith and live a life worthy of the gospel. The book encourages readers to do the same, regardless of what they are going through.”

My thoughts about Whatever Happens

What a rich, meaningful book. Robert J. Morgan starts with Acts 16, then in the remaining 30 chapters, examines Philippians verse by verse. And what does he cover? Standing firm. Being content. Trusting God. Cultivating the mind of Christ. Being generous. Persevering. Being cheerful.

And that’s only the key ideas in 7 of the chapters!

Perhaps you, like me, have read the Bible book of Philippians. (Maybe even many times!) I’ve read it…but I haven’t inductively, or in a verse-by-verse manner. But reading Whatever Happens has caused me to realize, as never before, just how much is in this epistle that we desperately need for daily living. Morgan pulls advice for the faith life out of Philippians and frames it for the reader in fascinating chapters which include both excellent Bible teaching as well as memorable stories from Christians that will encourage and equip. Each of the chapter titles has an encouraging word that’s drawn from the verses covered in it. I wouldn’t be overstating it to call these “life-changing” instructions. Here are a few of them. Imagine the words, “Whatever Happens,” just before the bullet-pointed instructive phrases:

• Layer Your Life with Generosity
• Remember God is Still Working on You
• Replace Gloomy Thoughts with Glorious Ones
• Shine Like a Star in the Blackened Sky
• Stay as Cheerful as Possible
• Never Think of Quitting
• Trust God with Every Single Need
• Consider Yourself Worth Millions
• and more!

This precious book is just what I needed at this moment of my life. God is still reshaping me after some significant moments of suffering, over a decade ago, that negatively impacted my faith and trust. It’s true that God is still working on me (as Chapter 5 reminded me). I totally needed to hear that–as well as many of the other instructive chapter titles. I think that there are always times in our lives that we need to be reminded of the deep truths of God’s Word and of our relationship with Him. That He loves us. That He’ll never leave us. That He is trustworthy and faithful. That we can stand firm–and He’ll help us to do it.

I recommend this book with great joy for my readers. Whether you need a great shoring up of your faith, or you just want to be reminded of the truths of Scripture; if you’re a new believer or a seasoned one; if you’re young or old, this is a book I’m so happy to encourage you to get for yourself. You’ll come away from it encouraged and strengthened. It’s wonderful!

Whatever happens, know this: Even when you’re perplexed, God is orchestrating your footsteps and your future.”

Robert J. Morgan, Whatever Happens

Some of my favorite moments from Whatever Happens

Are you ever discouraged because life seems to be confusing…or you don’t understand why things happen the way they have? You are not alone, and this book’s useful wisdom reminds us of that. Here are some of my favorite quotes from this meaningful book!

• “Gloomy thoughts come from the way we interpret the happenings of our lives. Paul knew that every single circumstance was under the providence, the sovereignty, and the control of Jesus Christ, who had turned an occupied tomb into an empty grace. Hew knew that everything worked together for the good of those who love God and are living according to His purposes. He could even see some of the benefits God was bringing about.” (p. 54)
• “The things that happen to us have a divine way of actually turning out for our good and for the furtherance of the gospel. In His own way and time, the Lord reverses adversity, overrides misfortune, and dismantles the devil’s schemes. He will do this for you. Whatever happens, you can trust Him.” (p. 55)
• “Make up your mind to rejoice based on the knowledge you find in God’s Word. Find someone who needs you to pray for them. Yield yourself to Christ and let Him fill you with His Spirit.” (p. 63)
• “Contentment is the quiet joy of knowing the eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms. We may not have everything we want or even need, but we have Him—and that gives us the inward, quiet joy that we call contentment.” (p. 202)

Where you can purchase Whatever Happens

Whatever Happens is available at numerous booksellers, both online and or in brick-and-mortar stores. Click on the buy link below, and you’ll be taken to a page that has links to many of them.

Buy Whatever Happens here

Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you can become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation, where you shine like a star in the sky as you hold forth the Word of Life.”

Philippians 2:14-25

Bless you! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.

Learn more about Thomas Nelson’s “The Breathe Life Bible” — and enter to win!

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I’ve got a rich and inspiring new Bible to tell you about–and you can enter to win a copy for yourself! FrontGate Media offered me an opportunity to read and use The Breathe Life Bible, and to share my thoughts and opinions with you. It is full of inspiring essays (on both the Bible and life), circled things to notice, and much more. Keep reading and check out my thoughts and the photos. I think that you, too, will be inspired!

From the publisher:

“The Breathe Life Bible draws on the wisdom and experience of 24 leaders who are deeply invested in addressing issues of justice with biblical truth including Dr. Bernice A. King, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. Matthew Wesley Williams, Dr. Thelma Thomas Daley, Derrick Johnson, and more.

The Breathe Life Bible invites you to experience Scripture through the lens of the BREATHE acronym: Believe, Reconcile, Exalt, Act, Trust, Hope, and Elevate. Receive practical biblical encouragement. Find answers to some of life’s most difficult situations. Discover what faith in action looks like as we pursue God’s vision of being a community where all people are valued and cared for.”

My thoughts about The Breathe Life Bible

I received the Black Leathersoft edition of The Breathe Life Bible. It has a soft, leather-like cover with an embossed design in the center of the cover, with smooth portions across the top and bottom. This is both attractive and gives you some texture to hold when you’re reading this Bible. Its name, The Breathe Life Bible, is embossed in gold, with the “T” in the word “Breathe” shaped like a cross. There are two satin ribbons sewn into the spine of the Bible, to use as bookmarks. The Bible version is the New King James Version (NKJV). The Comfort Print text and its size make the Bible easy (and comfortable) to read.

Here are the special portions that make this Bible unique, and full of wonderful study additions:

• The Sky: motivational articles which help readers engage with God’s Word so that (like this Bible’s subtitle) they can put their own faith into action.
• The Air: describes the rich introductions and overviews of each book of the Bible. These also include thoughts on how the books are meaningful and relevant to people of color in today’s society and culture.
• We Speak: provides short, first-person essays on 49 Bible figures, like Nehemiah, John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, Job, Ruth, and more. These intimate sharings of thoughts and experiences of these humans so touched my own heart.
• Life Support: In ten passages of the Bible, readers are encouraged to examine how they can put their faith into action based on what they read in the Word.
• Inhale-Exhale: offers questions with answers on the hard situations life throws at us, utilizing the BREATHE acronym (Believe, Reconcile, Exalt, Act, Trust, Hope, Elevate)
• Oxygen: inserts 98 circles with wisdom and direction straight out of God’s Word (using the BREATHE acronym again).
• Release: provides devotional readings from Christian leaders who share their own hearts and attempts to reconcile the often-challenging and difficult lives we live on earth with the truth of God’s Word.

I have been especially blessed and moved by this Bible as I have read portions of it. Here are two quotes that I found to be utterly defining of this Bible:

What follows is dedicated to those who have faced the pain of injustice and still held tight to the hem of His garment.

Michele Clark Jenkins, General Editor, Acknowledgements from the General Editors, The Breathe Life Bible

The Breathe Life Bible has been developed for those who feel they need God’s help simply to breathe in today’s suffocating world. It is for everyone–but it has been especially crafted with people of color in mind. We need God’s wisdom and guidance in every area of our complex lives. Reading this Bible is intended to help you grow in your Christian walk and put your faith in action.

The Guide, The Breathe Life Bible

The Breathe Life Bible’s most meaningful parts to me

• The “Release” devotional writings. I love the message and application parts of these essays (which are really like mini-sermons). They are both dynamic and compelling. And the prayers! They’re so powerful and full of life and truth. They’re based on God’s Word and so remind me that God’s Word is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12)
• The character studies (the “We Speak” segments). Using the “I Am _______,” these elevator speeches introduce us to 49 different persons in the Bible, from simple individuals to powerful rulers. They begin with a Bible verse that anchors the individual for us. Then, the person “tells” us who they are and why they’re a key figure in the Bible. These end with an application statement that reminds us what we can learn of this person and why or how God could use their examples in our lives. I love what I can learn from those and also how they remind me that each individual is important in God’s sight and God’s kingdom.
• I really like both the typeface and the way the text is divided in paragraphs or segments (according to what’s happening in each section). There’s a little room if you’d like to journal a bit. Even more, I found that these divisions helped me to read a bit more slowly than usual and to be able to take in the meaning of the Word, a portion at a time.
• Another set of encouraging words repeatedly included in this Bible are the Inhale/Exhale writings. They take difficult situations we might face and cause them to meet the verses in God’s Word that remind us that there is hope, that God is moving, that His promises aren’t without power or expectation. They are wonderful.

Where you can purchase The Breathe Life Bible

Click on the link below to purchase The Breathe Life Bible. The highlighted purchase link will take you to the Thomas Nelson The Breathe Life Bible website, which provides further purchase links to the Bible’s pages on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook, and Faith Gateway Store. You can also see the various softcover and hardcover options there, too. (It even comes in a purple softcover!)

The Breathe Life Bible purchase page

And, enter to win your own copy!

You can enter to win The Breathe Life Bible from Blessed Freebies! To enter, just click on the highlighted giveaway link below, and follow the directions. Giveaway ends on 3/18/24. Best wishes!

Enter to win The Breathe Life Bible here!

In closing, I want to recommend The Breathe Life Bible to you. God’s Word always has something to say to us, in whatever way the Holy Spirit wishes to use it in our lives. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17 or Hebrews 4:12 for examples!) I believe that its devotional writings will also encourage and instruct; and even help build compassion in its readers.

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this Bible from FrontGate Media and Thomas Nelson. All opinions that I’ve shared here are my own honest ones.

The perfectly named NIV Radiant Virtues Bible from Zondervan (my review)

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I am so appreciative of the wide variety of Bibles available today to the readers and Bible students. And, as someone who enjoys color and beauty, I’ve found one of those, the Zondervan NIV Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, a true joy to use. Let me show you more about it!

ABOUT THIS BIBLE

I received the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible in the Pink Cloth over Board hardback version. The Bible comes in a blue light cardboard slipcase which has its opening on the top (so the Bible slips in from the top rather than the side). The cloth over board feels a bit like canvas, and the cover has a golden design that looks a bit like rays of light beaming out from a star, accompanied by the words “Radiant Virtues” at the top left. Immediately inside the book are golden endsheets with a “Presented” rectangle for inscribing the Bible’s recipient. The pages themselves are matte paper (making them great recipients for pens, pencils, or coloring markers).

An unusual addition is a set of blank monthly calendar pages (for calendaring your Bible reading or even acts of ministry or service), followed by lined pages for listing prayers or prayer requests. Following the text of the Bible (the complete New International Version) are some lovely bookmarks and postcard-sized cards with arty verses reproduced on them, for your own use or to gift to others. There are an interesting variety of Bible reading plans (30 Days with Jesus; 30 Days of Great Faith; 60-Day Overview of the Bible; One Year Through the Bible) to capture the reader’s attention.

The idea behind the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible is to help the reader engage with the Bible in a special way; focusing on what God’s Word says about the three virtues mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13, which are faith, hope, and the greatest of those, love. The Bible has a number of ways to notice these virtues. First, verses are color-coded, so that faith verses are highlighted in blue; hope, in yellow; and love, in pink. Second, a 52-week guide provides short devotionals scattered throughout the Bible for each week of the year, focusing on each of the three virtues, placed in the Bible book where that verse occurs. In addition, there are verse art coloring pages facing the devotionals.

Each Bible book begins with an artistic page highlighting its key verse. More coloring pages are included throughout the book by various artists, as well as full-color art in sidebars. Each page has lined journaling spaces, and some have a pretty design inked at the top. There are two soft satin bookmarks sewn to the book’s headband. And the Bible ends with golden endsheets, similar to those in the front.

MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

I received the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible at the beginning of the spring semester, when our church was beginning the study of a new Bible book (Galatians) in sermon time, and as I was starting a new women’s Bible study on an Old Testament book. So I first used this Bible in church and for my Bible study. I also used it in devotional reading times and in my own personal quiet times. And I used its coloring pages just for fun, as I noticed designs that drew me to their beauty or verse sentiments.

Although this Bible is a hardback, it isn’t too heavy to carry around. I loved its sturdiness, and that when I opened the Bible its pages stayed open where I was reading or working. The art is literally stunning and quite varied and vividly colored (in fact, there are 12 artists who’ve created the beautiful verse art!). I enjoyed my coloring time and look forward to more and to utilizing both coloring pencils and markers (be sure to always test your markers, though these pages should stand up to most of them).

At a time in my life when I’m wanting to really notice God and how He is at work, I found that this Bible was a fantastic faith partner. I personally respond in a big way to art and beauty, whether it’s in flowers, clothing, or art museums; I am really moved by them and how God’s creative hand is displayed in their designs and craft. So the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible fit into that perspective perfectly. I loved the beautiful cover pages for each Bible books; and I admired the way that each book’s key verse was woven into the art. I treasured the art verses and also the variety of artwork as displayed by different artists.

A special design of this Bible that was very meaningful to me was the color coding of the faith, hope, and love verses. Suddenly, each of these began to pop off the pages to me–and there are so many pages of Scripture that include each one of these, either as a quality we as believers can display or especially as God pours these out to us. Few pages went by without these colors reminding me that God is ever, and always, at work offering His love to us. How precious!

The NIV Radiant Virtues Bible is a lovely, creative Bible that will inspire you with the beauty of God’s Word and His love. I highly recommend this to you!

WHERE YOU CAN PURCHASE the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible

The NIV Radiant Virtues Bible is available from many booksellers. I’ve linked a few of them below.

Amazon

Christianbook

Barnes & Noble

Zondervan

Enjoy! –Wren

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book at no charge from Zondervan. These are all my honest thoughts and opinions.