Goodbooks Partner Review: FIve Things to Pray for Your Parents by Chelsea Stanley

This book is humbling to read. As a parent myself praying for my parents and my husband's parents as we are blessed to have four living parents in their late 70s and 80s. Blessed to have seen grandmothers of mine live long lives. This book is 21 sets of scripture to pray through with topics. You can choose a circumstance or situation. Or go in order. Simple and profound encouragement to my prayer life.

Thinking about how much each day, each hour, each minute we choose to follow the Lord Our God and this side of eternity we have not arrived fully and sin can easy entangle us. And we need to maintain a mindset focused on Jesus Christ. Achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reading this book inspires me to investigate the other books by different authors for different areas of prayer. The Word is powerful. Having concepts clearly presented and thinking aloud from the author is so helpful.

Thankful to partner with the good book company and read an early copy.

Waterbrook Partner: I Love Jesus But I Want to Die by Sarah Robinson

 I have walked with many who struggle with severe depression, I have parented a suicidal child, I know that mental health struggles and exist even in people who have a deep and strong faith.  So when I saw this book available as a launch team option, I knew I wanted to read a believer's perspective on a very real struggle. 

  

I am encouraged by this book that the author reveals her real experiences, sharing the extreme examples of her self-harm, and suicidal tendencies in a different style and font, so that if you might be triggered you can skip that section and the details that don't need to be glorified of how extreme her behaviors and actions were when her brain was unbalanced and she was deeply depressed.  

I've read lots of research on trauma, on how our brains work, and how how to help heal those who have endured trauma, and have found that the proven strategies that are found to work, are founded in unconditional love, support, relationship, and connection.  But depression and anxiety can't all be managed with other people supporting and loving you, sometimes there is a need for medication and other strategies to help the brain function and the author reminds us of that, as well as how shame impacts our own self-talk and beliefs about who we are.  She references well-known research in the field.  

In this book, Sarah Robinson shares her experiences with those who lacked knowledge and awareness of mental illness, and their platitudes that hurt, but the love and acceptance that was real, and overarching.  She shares scripture throughout her story and truths to help recognize how God feels about the human beings He created.  

I appreciated her input on neuroplasticity, that as we "rewire our perceptions of God to better line up with the truth of who He is."  It makes so much sense and fits with all I have learned about how we can re-wire a brain through real relationship, which is exactly what I have experienced as I've grown to know God personally.  

I have found this book an excellent resource to inform my practice and draw closer to God, and a healthy mindset focusing on the fact that He created me and calls me "Beloved."  I have found this book to be something I can recommend to others struggling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.  I think this book would be excellent for leaders in the local church to read and learn how to be most effective when someone struggling with issues like these, seeks out their love, support, and help.  

Thankful to partner with Waterbrook Publishing and read an advance copy. 

Bethany House Partner Review: Don't Miss Out: Daring to believe life is better with the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion

 

Releasing May 11, 2021 

I enjoyed this book a lot.  I know about the Holy Spirit, but reviewing who the Holy Spirit is, and how he works in my life, and how I can trust him was just what I needed.  I appreciate how the author wove scripture, life, and other teachings on the Holy Spirit throughout the whole book.  

I also appreciated the way each chapter ended with a 'last but not least' section that had a question or two to reflect on, and a response.  Simple yet pulled together my thoughts and left me challenged with each chapter I read.  

The book has 30 succinct and easy-to-read chapters, that left me wanting to read on.  I found the book theologically accurate, helped me pursue a mindset the reflects who the Holy Spirit is in all his facets, and how much I miss when I don't allow him to work in my heart, mind, and soul.  I highlighted many concepts. 

I appreciated the author's self-reflection, honesty, and even sense of humor in her transparent sharing of her experience and growth. Thankful to partner with NetGalley and Bethany House publishers and read an advanced copy.  

Bethany House Partner Review: Bible Promises and Prayers for Children

 This book is a cute little hardback book on praying for and with your children. There are 31 days to pray through. Each day begins with a thought for the parents to read, followed by scripture verses, then a sample prayer to insert your child's name into, and then a page to share with your child that contains: ask, pray, declare, do. This aspect connects to what the parents have read.

Some observations:

1) I must admit that I didn't realize this was a 'chosen' book from Baker publishing, meaning it is their charismatic division. And I suspect because of this theological foundation, I may be missing some of the implied concepts- especially around some of their buzzwords like a declaration.

2) the book to be used with your children seems to only be applicable to children who are already believers and walking with the Lord, the premise behind the shared page, thoughts, and prayers seem to be for those who are walking in faith, which may not be the experience of all the readers who use this tool.

3) I like that each day has scripture verses to connect to the concept discussed, but I am not sure that all of the verses are accurate to the concepts when taken in the context of the passages.

4) The child's page has a declare statement- and while this is something I have taught and has been a central doctrine in my faith, as it seems to be in the author's lives, I like it. I find it very valuable for children, especially those from a hard place/trauma, when we had a child like this in our family for five years, I really developed this type of statement for him to change the lies in his head to truth statements, and it was key for him to repeat, recite, repeat them to help him change his mindset and behavior. I think that whether your faith is charismatic or not, this perspective is valuable in the world and culture we live in, that tries to subtly spread lies and twist our thinking toward sin instead of God's truth.

Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishers- a division of Baker books and review a copy of this book. I haven't finished it all but wanted to start to share my thoughts as I continue to read through the 31 days.

This is the Gospel: A kids read Truth Story & Scripture Book (From She Reads Truth) Option G

I'm still in a quest to teach littles and elementary kids the gospel with clarity, scripture, simplicity, and the needed concepts present, as we continue through the book of Acts at my local church.  Today I stumbled on a book that I love, and I'm reviewing it, even though I don't have it in my hands yet!  Thanks to Vimeo I can see and hear the entire book online, and review it while my order ships!  This reader is engaging and animating as well, I'm considering showing the video in children's church this week before I have the book!  

Teaching tip: when I find videos of books read aloud by the author or others, I like knowing how long they are so I can estimate how long reading the book aloud will take.  This is a 6 minute book without any comments.  

But this is definitely a top contender in the teach children the good news clearly search.  

What I like about the book:

• this is a hardback book, a nice size, and in the two videos I saw, you can hear the quality of the thick pages as they turn, and now it will endure little hands independent use.  
• Trish Mahoney is an illustrator, she illustrates many of the books I have reviewed, and her illustrations are simple, clear, warm, and engaging.  The text is clear and uncluttered as well. (the older I get my vision changes and this is crucial for reading aloud with ease.)  
• The illustrations express emotions appropriately and clearly- I love this as how we feel is often a concept children need help processing. 
• A scripture verse and reference at the footer of EVERY page! Appropriate, sound, well-chosen verses.  Helpful- speaking the truth with the authority of God's Word.  Love it!  
• Concepts (Doctrine) that are essential are mentioned, defined appropriately, and brought to a child's level throughout the book.    One big concept that comes through is God loves us, God is good, holy, good creation, 
• But the vocabulary is not dumbed down- it is for 4/5 year olds because it uses the bible terms like gospel, serpent, sin, separation, punishment, savior, believed, death, defeated, saved, good news, etc.  Because it shares simple explanations with clarity, the vocabulary should be implied, rephrased enough, it will be learned by most children. 
• The gospel is fully explained from the creation of man, the fall, to Jesus' life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the Holy Spirit being with us, that we need to share the Good News, and King Jesus coming back!  (making this a winner in the connect to the book of Acts series and themes!)  
• For me it hits all the concepts I've been building in our preschool lessons:
• God created the world, people.  
• God loves us SO much.  
• People sinned, separating us from God. 
• God loves us SO much- He had a plan- that plan is Jesus. 
• Jesus is God and man.  Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that we may have eternal life, be with God forever, made right.  
• We want to be King of me!  and be in control.  But that doesn't work so well. 
• Jesus is Our King.  Jesus is working on His Kingdom, preparing it for those who believe in Him.  
• Jesus loves you and me!  and I love Jesus! 
• I need to turn to Jesus (and to please Him I should stop sinning). 
• The Holy Spirit is God- and He is my Helper- to help me live with Jesus as King of me.  
• This is the Good News!  
• God's Word tells me that after I believe- I should share the Good News!  
• This book includes tips for parents and how to lead their child to Christ (haven't seen this part yet.)
• But for all these reasons- the simplicity, the friendliness for children, the direct teaching, but in a child-friendly manner- this is a must-have book for me to continue what littles need- repetition of the Word of God to know, think, and apply to their own hearts, souls, and minds, and to be better equipped to share with others.  I suspect this book will help many a grownup feel more confident in sharing their faith as well!  

What I wonder about the book:

• How will three year olds do with this book?  I suspect my class who have been growing in their listening skills all spring, will listen well.  
• How did I not find this until now? It looks like it was first published in 2018 and reprinted last year.  I'm following SheReadsTruth now, and won't miss their other products.  

If you want to purchase this book, there are limited options since it's published by SheReadsTruth.  You can purchase it through their shop and if you use my referral code link you can get $5 off your order. If your order is over $50 shipping is free.  I earn points for every use of my referral code but have no idea how it works yet.  The other options I found were amazon and christianbook.  But I found a 30% off code for shereadstruth making it the best price I could find.  And then I ordered the This is Christmas partner book as well which wasn't sold anywhere but shereadstruth.  

Easter Blocks: Beta Tester The One and Only King (Family Devotions for Holy Week)

 

What I loved about the blocks:

• Simplicity- a small book, simple reading, simple visual, easy to use. 
• Rhyming refrain and thinking question at the end of each day- Was Jesus a lamb or was He a King? And what kind of kingdom would this man bring?  I want to see the refrain put in the present tense- Is Jesus a servant or is He a King? And what kind of kingdom will this man bring?  because Jesus is alive preparing our kingdom in heaven!  (at the end it is changed to was and is-- and I guess since you are telling events from history past tense fits sort of?) 
• Teaching the about who Jesus is with the events of each day:
• Servant or King?
• Priest or King?
• Prophet or King?
• Outcast or King?
• Lamb or King?
• Dying or King?
• Son of God or King? 
• and what kind of kingdom would this man bring?  
• He was and is all of these things!
• Blocks with images to rotate each day, to enhance the daily event from holy week shared, and help us think about it more, as well as the blocks for littles to play with. 
• Flexibility in displaying this set.  Can keep the candle in the middle, can add flowers, stones, whatever the family wants. 
• Beautiful decorative visual- my daughter especially wanted to know as a little why we didn't have Easter decorations like we had Christmas decorations- and ended up with some 'egg' trees, decorative crocheted eggs, and symbols of life and spring- but Ressurection eggs are a little challenging to safely display- and now that she's 11 I've grown my resources and props for teaching and have a much better display- but this is a great holiday decor to really emphasize the meaning of Easter.  
• Short, simple readings for each of the 8 days of the last week of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.  

Children need engagement, connections, and a lot of different learning styles and opportunities to retain information with repetition, thinking, exploring, active play, movement, etc to learn at their very best.  So if your littles are getting restless, and action happens in the reading- pause and have them move- they can clap and jump for joy as Jesus arrives, they can mime/pretend to turn over tables and anger, they can pretend to pour perfume, lay down at a low table reclined to eat, paint blood on the door, walk along the road as Jesus tells the story, run in place, put a pretend crown on their head every time they hear the word, King.  Simple things to bring it together- or pause and sing a fun child song like Jesus loves me! as it applies to all the events of the week.  I teach my Sunday School littles the song that is pictured in my image above that I found at this website: it's to the tune of bingo- and we shout and raise our fists up and down as we say "Yes".   We love the name of Jesus!  

For older kids especially, questions are one of the best thinking tools to engage them in the important events that are the gospel!  I love 1 Corinthian 15 to help explain the full picture of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.  And that belief is the simple answer to this great gift.  

Potential ideas to engage your kids, plus changes/additions:

• Scripture passages, verses for each reading referenced and perhaps quoted aspects. 
• Gospel Plan included at the end and a how to help your children process God's plan of salvation. 
• Strategies to help children listen- 
• holding a block and looking at the day's image, OR
• Servant: Palm Sunday:
•  St. Patrick day clover clappers are great to play palm branches to celebrate Jesus arrival
• cutting on green paper to make a palm leaf, 
• holding a toy donkey,
• throwing their jackets on the floor to prepare the way. 
• Priest: Temple Cleaning
• gold, an animal that could be a sacrifice or coins, 
• Outcast: Leper and Women with Perfume
• Bandaid to represent healing
• fancy perfume bottle, or a fancy bottle
• essential oil bottle (fragrance to smell)
• Prophet: Tree
• toy tree (lego or fisher price), 
• a fig or toy fruit
• withered plant
• Lamb-Passover-Last Supper
• a stuffed or toy lamb, 
• bread/cup,
• a play door think lego (or a playhouse with a door)
• Dying Man
•  a Jesus figure, a  thorny twig, a crown, 
• The God who tasted death
• Guard figure 
• glasses that have duct tape over them so it's dark or a sleep mask
• heavy fabric swatch, gauze or linen swatch,  or paper to tear in half
• act out the earthquake by shaking their bodies to the ground
• or a stone any element that connects to the events.  
• The King who lives forever
• Crown
• Women figures who find Jesus
• Run in place like the women ran to tell the disciples
• put a red dot on the inside of your palm to represent the marks from Jesus on the cross
• Finger Puppets or Toys to act out the events as you read:
• He Lives Finger Puppets best price oriental trading
• Christianbook or Mardel sell this playset which has enough people to be Jesus and the 12 Disciples (and save the boat for other events.) 
• Hallmark sells wooden He lives and Jesus and His Friends sets, as well as a stuffed toy Jesus.  
• You can also find sets to print on your own.  
• Coloring Pages or Worksheets- even a version of that day's block image to color and display near the tray, or on the wall, like a review page.  
• Simple craft or experiences ideas for each day:
• Entering Jerusalem:
• cut palm leaves, let littles cut with safety scissors, or glue gree tissue onto a piece of cardboard/cardstock. 
• Temple Cleansing:
• count coins, draw coins, trace coins, coin rubbings, and talk about size and value.  
• emotions- draw how faces look when celebrated as King, then when angry in the temple
• Outcast:
• add oil/perfume to the shape of a pitcher type outline, add smiley stickers to show how she did the 'right' thing by honoring Jesus
• Prophet (go to biblefunforkids for a definition of what a prophet is)
• draw healthy and withered trees or fruit 
• leave a piece of fruit out to 'wither' 
• Lamb/Passover/Last Supper
• cotton balls can be held as pretend lambs, can be glued to a hand-drawn cloud with black legs to be a lamb
• Passover- cut brown paper leaving an edge and across in an upside-down L making a spot to fold and be a door, then make a red strip for the top side (or white and color it) the size of the top to glue on the frame.  
• glue crumbs to cardboard, and drop purple juice onto the cardboard and discuss the symbols that Jesus taught to remember Him.  
• Dying Man
• Paper plates with the ruffle edge make easy crowns- make one that you add pieces of twig, paper, or toothpicks to as a crown of thorns, and another that you leave shapes from the middle part and color gold yellow as a crown.
• google printable crowns or DIY crown of thorns for many options at many age levels- paper folding, print, and cut, etc crowns for children of all ages. 
• easy tomb-disposable or real cup, with a circle or gray paper ball or real stone as the cover, use gauze to be the covers for the 'Jesus figure' your child makes
• King who lives forever
• Open the tomb and leave the linen behind, add an angel
• make gold pictures like heaven
• hearts- for the amount of love Jesus and God have for us- talk about it, make big, bigger, the biggest heart (sidewalk chalk pictures?) 
• add notes for parents about how to share the gospel, how to answer the question- why did Jesus die?  with scripture references
• add a clear gospel message with images for any non-believers who purchase this but don't have a personal relationship with God.
• Hook the listeners by giving the devotions a narrator's perspective and have this person tell about the events- could be one narrator all 8 days- or a person from the event each day.  But more united and connected for children to ask- what will ____ teach us today about Jesus? 
• Suggest tools like resurrection eggs to go alongside this- even making your own.  
• Add a banner, with images to turn over each day for easy review. 
• Song ideas for kids- Ho, ho, ho hosanna, Stop and Let me tell you (from CEF), traditional hymns, modern-day worship ideas- to add an experience. Youtube list?  

I cannot wait to see how this tool and resource grows for next year, and have a chance to use it in our home or in my kids' ministry.  

They have adventblocks for Christmas as well! at the bottom of this page, you can find a place to subscribe and pre-order Easter blocks as well!  

Netgalley Partner Review: Where Prayer Becomes Real by Kyle Strobel and John Coe

If you want to whisper the Word, you have to internalize it.  You need a relationship, a real connection with the Author.  That only comes through two-way communication, and God communicates with us, it is on each of us to respond and interact with God.  

Prayer is a challenge for many believers, myself included.  But this book caught my eye, when I read Ann Voskamp's words on her blog, "If you have ever longed for the practice of your faith to include an authentic, intimate prayer life or if you have longed for your life to become prayer, I highly recommend their words. . ." and "Kyle and John’s new book Where Prayer Becomes Real show you how to fearlessly draw near to a holy God, pray without ceasing (and without posturing), and delight in the experience of being fully known and fully loved. Each chapter ends with prayer projects or practices to help you see a difference in your prayer life, starting now."  

I completely agree- this book is a marvelous tool to support your prayer life.  It is challenging but so necessary.  

Thankful to partner with netgalley and read a digital copy.