“Get to Know Apostle Paul” by Nancy I. Sanders

I love this book. As a visual learner, this book hit all the right notes. It focuses on the life of Apostle Paul and uses photos, maps and many visuals to help children - or any reader, understand the story of Paul’s life. I have taught Bible classes for many years and Get to Know Apostle Paul includes information that was new to me. Instead of simply relaying facts, Nancy I. Sanders packed the pages with extras like interesting facts and definitions in eye-catching boxes as well as a glossary, bibliography, and student resources in the back of the book. With additional books on Mary, King David, and Jesus available, I say, Make room!” These books should be on every child’s shelf.

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Series: Get to Know
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (July 8, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310744733
• ISBN-13: 978-0310744733

Thanks to Book Look Bloggers for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cook'n Recipe Management System

In February 2012, I posted a review of Cook'n, a Recipe Management System. My original review can be found here: http://reviewsbydonnashepherd.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-of-cookn-recipe-organizer.html

Cook'n has been the #1 recipe software program for more than 20 years, and the best way to organize your recipes. I liked the program very much, but now - a new version has been released with even more features. Are you on Pinterest? I have entire Pinterest pages devoted to recipes. I'm excited that Cook'n can even sync Pinterest recipes. Yes! 

Watch  the video for more information and visit the website for more videos and to purchase: http://www.dvo.com/. You can like Cook'n on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Recipe.Organizer

Stop by my Facebook page October 17-18, 2014 to join a party celebrating the release of Cook'n Ver.11: https://www.facebook.com/events/377143062449912/

NIV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

This is fast becoming my go-to Bible. I reviewed the Kindle version because this is now my favorite way to read my Bible. I can mark my progress, highlight passages, and make notes. Each Bible has a different format and way to navigate. After a few sessions, I found the “New Spirit-Filled Life Bible” easy to navigate.

One of my favorite features of many is the “Word Wealth.” For instance, in Ephesians 6:13, I learned that ‘stand your ground’ is antihistemi from anti – against, and histemi, to cause to stand. This suggests vigorously opposing. Like an antihistamine puts a block on histamine. In this scripture, antihistemi tells us that with the authority and spiritual weapons granted to us, we can withstand evil forces.

More than 20 denominations and independent fellowships produced this study Bible integrating Pentecostal-Charismatic viewpoints. As an Assemblies of God teacher and pastor, I heartily endorse this Bible.

Book Description

Find the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. Jack Hayford, founding pastor of The Church on the Way, has led a team of anointed scholars to produce the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible. This outstanding resource offers a fresh look at the Scriptures and the work of the Holy Spirit. This Bible addresses important issues of Spirit-filled living in the context of solid biblical scholarship.

Features include:

·                     Kingdom Dynamics—41 themes throughout the Bible that give us values as we advance the gospel throughout the world

·                     Word Wealth—More than 550 key terms defined and brought to life, pulling the language from the original Greek and Hebrew into everyday English

·                     Truth-In-Action—Charts with practical application from every book of the Bible

·                     Detailed book introductions

·                     Verse-by-verse study notes

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Writer's Nudge by by Mary C. Busha and Robert W. Busha

The Bushas have a long history in publishing. Now they are making their years of expertise available to writers eager to make their mark as writers. Covering subjects like proposals, self-publishing, agents, and more, Writer's Nudge is a valuable resource to get you started on your road to being an author.

Twirl by Patsy Clairmont

In the blurb for “Twirl,” the author, Patsy Clairmont, says she hopes to help her readers make choices that lead to renewal and peace. I figured the twirling had to do with the breakneck pace of our current culture. When I first received “Twirl” for review, I was puzzled by the image of a pinwheel on the front. I wanted a book on how to stop the dizziness of a too-busy life. Then I saw the smaller subtitle, “A Fresh Spin at Life.” Clever!

Instead of trying to stop the chaos, Patsy leads her readers to look at life in a different way, focusing on what’s important. She has a gentle and encouraging tone, and a fun sense of humor. Each chapter ends with questions for further reflection. You don’t have to read the book straight through. Pick out a title that resonates with you. I suggest using the book as a motivational tool first thing each morning and meditating on the questions throughout the day, and perhaps you and I will both find it easier to find joy and purpose – and a new spin at life.

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookLookBloggers.com book review program. The opinions I express are my own.

First Blush by Rebeca Seitz

There are a lot of people who can immerse themselves into a hefty novel. I'm not one of them. I like short and sweet. And that's exactly what I got with a novella by Rebeca Seitz. In First Blush, the characters are fun and sassy. The setting is sunny Florida. Reading about sunshine and beach time lifted my spirits. And the storyline is light, but interesting enough to keep me reading clear to the end...no, wait, not the end.

The beginning? My only complaint was that the novella ended quite abruptly. I want to know more about Elizabeth, the main character, and Nick, the mysterious Englishman, and Marcy, her best friend. Hopefully, this is just the first of many more novellas from Rebeca Seitz. I'm looking forward to the next one!

*I received a complimentary digital copy of this novella from Glass Road for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Mark Hyman

The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life is based on five essentials: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends. Any book that starts out with an “Aha!” moment in the author’s life that brought humility and conviction gets my attention. Rick Warren had such a moment while baptizing people in his congregation and that single illuminating revelation prompted him to gather together a team to help not only him get healthy, but any members in his church who wanted to join him on the journey to health and wellness. 

Now in book form, this program has the potential to help countless people who’ve struggled to find a healthy life plan. Starting with the Faith Essential, the Daniel Plan begins with the recognition that each of us needs God’s help to succeed in anything, and that includes the power to change. From that most important starting point, the book moves onto the other components of the plan with foods that heal, fitness, how to focus, and finding a community in which to gain support and strength. The book even has a 40-day meal plan to get you started. Highly recommended. 

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze®.com book review program. The opinions I expressed are my own.

The Big Picture Interactive Bible for Kids, Hardcover: Connecting Christ Throughout God's Story (The Gospel Project)

I am always excited about new ways to share God’s Word with anyone – and especially children. The “Big Picture Interactive Bible” represents one of the newer methods. Not only does the Bible have many extras like Bible verses to remember, a dictionary, and detailed introductions to each book of the Bible, but also includes a unique feature called “augmented reality.” What? I had no idea what that was, but after downloading the free app, I was as eager as any child would be to see the full color illustrations ‘talk.’ All I had to do was scan the icon in the corner of the illustration and then scan the actual illustration to hear the narrator explain what’s happening in the story. I have to say that I did have a difficult time holding the device steady enough to get the scan to work, but as we know, children today are quite adept and oftentimes quicker than adults to use technology.

I believe that the Bible is Jesus’ story from Genesis to Revelation with the Old Testament being Christ concealed and the New Testament Christ revealed. I love that this Bible has “Christ Connection” snippets all the way through the entire Bible. With maps, concordance, and a page dedicated to The ABCs of Becoming a Christian in the front, this Bible is a well-rounded tool to study the Word of God for both children and adults!

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Series: The Gospel Project
• Imitation Leather: 1350 pages
• Publisher: B&H Kids (March 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433605031
• ISBN-13: 978-1433605031

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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.”

My Brother Is My Best Friend by Nicole Weaver, art by Clara Batton Smith

"My Brother Is My Best Friend" by Nicole Weaver is a tri-lingual book with English, Spanish, and French. In the book, the text is in three different colors which make it much easier to differentiate the languages. In any language, this book is fun! It's energetic - just like the twin boys, and educational. Activities and a word search puzzle in the back of the book make it even more fun. The illustrations by Clara Batton Smith perfectly complement the active text. You can almost feel the wind as the boys zoom by! Also check out My Sister is my Best Friend: A Trilingual Story for girls.

NIV Ragamuffin Bible: Meditations for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Brokenhearted (Brennan Manning)

The NIV Ragamuffin Bible is a New International Version Bible containing 104 devotions, 250 reflections, and 150 quotes from Brennan Manning (1934-2013), a public speaker, priest, and author of The Ragamuffin Gospel. While the extra material scattered throughout the text is at times thought provoking and inspiring, in some cases, I felt that it did not relate to the scriptures into which it was inserted. For instance, this quote is on the same page as Ecclesiastes 4:

“In place of end-time agitation and thoughts of doom, Jesus tells us to be alert and watchful. We are to avoid the doomsayer and the talkshow crank when they conduct their solemn televised meetings in the green room of apocalypse.” 

See what I mean? The quotes require careful deliberation to ascertain the message being conveyed, and in some cases, without the greater context of the original writings, the quotes are quite cryptic. Brennan Manning’s style of writing demands more than a casual reading. I do not consider this Bible to be a study Bible, but one that would enhance your devotional time, especially if you are already a Brennan Manning fan.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze®.com book review program. The opinions I expressed are my own.