Rhonda's Doings !

Book Feature by author, Dave Branon Living the Psalms Life: 10 Guiding Principles for Fellowship w/God Book Description: Life can be overwhelming. We can become so consumed with commitments and responsibilities that spending time with Jesus becomes an unchecked task on our to-do list. Yet, intimacy with the Lord is what allows us to focus on what really matters. Discover ten principles from the psalmists to help you draw near to God while being embraced by His wisdom in  Living the Psalms Life . Let the stories and Scripture inspire you to a live of security, contentment, guidance. MY REVIEW:   5 Stars ***** 5/5  I love love love love this book!!!  It makes a wonderful devotional or personal study guide.  I think that it could also be adapted and used for a small-group Bible study.  It is easy to read and understand, and theologically sound.  It is  well-written.  The author is obviously well-versed on th...

Bible Workbook Vol. 2 New Testament by Catherine B. Walker Book Description: Although this workbook was originally planned for high school Bible classes meeting every day for a semester, it has found a wider use by various age groups in churches and colleges and by individuals desiring direction in their personal Bible study. The workbook was first produced as a method of giving notes and assignment questions quickly, thereby leaving more valuable classroom time for explanations, discussions, and student participation. The workbook may be placed in a regulation size binder. Separate pages can be handed in when completed. Other notes, assigned papers, and themes can be placed throughout the notebook.  This is in no sense a textbook. It is hoped that no one will make the completion of the workbook a goal in itself but that the questions and notes may stimulate and guide each student in searching and knowing the Bible. The questions do not cover all the important points in any c...

3-Minute Devotions from the Proverbs (Wisdom for Women) by Rebecca Currington & MariLee Parrish Got 3 minutes to spare? You’ll find the spiritual pick-me-up you desire in  3-Minute Devotions from the Proverbs: Wisdom for Women .  Written especially for the twenty-first-century woman, this delightful devotional packs a powerful dose of comfort, encouragement, and inspiration into just-right-sized readings for women on the go. Minute 1: scripture to meditate on; Minute 2: a short devotional reading; Minute 3: a prayer to jump-start a conversation with God. This portable package makes a fabulous any-occasion gift for every woman. MY BOOK REVIEW:   I am loving this devotional!  If you can spare 3-minutes per day, you will reap the benefits of a scripture verse from the book of Proverbs, a short devotional based on that verse, and a prayer to apply the truths learned in the two.   The devotionals are easily applied to daily ...

365 Classic Bedtime Bible Stories   inspired by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's Story of the Bible Book Description: Story Time--The Most Important 10 Minutes in a Child's Day! Your children or grandchildren will delight in this fully-illustrated storybook that brings 365 read-aloud classic Bible stories to life for impressionable young hearts. Beginning with the creation story, "God Creates the Earth," and ending with "In Eternity with God,” your children will develop faith in an almighty God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, while journeying alongside Bible characters like Samuel, Jonah, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and many more. 365 Classic Bedtime Bible Stories promises to make bedtime reading a delightful learning and faith-building experience for your kids 3 and up. My Book Review: I love reading to children from the day they're born.   Reading and looking at pictures in books are wonderful learning tools for...

Delilah:  Treacherous Beauty Book Review Dangerous Beauty #3 by Angela Elwell Hunt Book Description: A Complex and Compelling Glimpse at One of the Bible's Baddest Girls  Life is not easy in Philistia, especially not for a woman and child alone. When beautiful, wounded Delilah finds herself begging for food to survive, she resolves that she will find a way to defeat all the men who have taken advantage of her. She will overcome the roadblocks life has set before her, and she will find riches and victory for herself.  When she meets a legendary man called Samson, she senses that in him lies the means for her victory. By winning, seducing, and betraying the hero of the Hebrews, she will attain a position of national prominence. After all, she is beautiful, she is charming, and she is smart. No man, not even a supernaturally gifted strongman, can best her in a war of wits. MY REVIEW:   Delilah is often used as an example of the sort of woman one does ...

Review of The Bible Promise Book for Hope & Healing by Karin Dahl Silver Barbour’s Bible Promise Books are perennial bestsellers, with millions of copies in print. Now,  The  Bible Promise Book  is available in a brand-new hope and healing edition. Featuring dozens of timely topics—including Addiction, Rest, Peace, Forgiveness, Eternity, God's Love, Salvation, God's Power, Prayer, Comfort, and Perseverance—you will find hundreds of verses from God's Word that will speak to your daily needs. The Bible Promise Book for Hope and Healing  is ideal for personal use and for ministries. MY REVIEW:  Looking for hope and healing? This book is a wonderful resource for those who are hurting, abused, damaged, or broken.  Looking for a good devotional. This would be a nice book for that as well.  Using appropriate scripture to fit each subject, the author speaks to them in a Biblically accurate fashion.  Topics are arranged alphabetically and ...

Review of Under the Sea Holy Bible and a Giveaway!   New International Reader's Version The  Under the Sea Holy Bible, NIrV  is a perfect gift for children ages 6 to 10. Themes of underwater fun and sparkling fish grace the interior of this wonderful children’s Bible. The outside is covered in foil and sparkle. The interior has color inserts featuring whimsical underwater scenes with themes of God’s care and love for each of us and all of creation. My Review:    The cover of the Under the Sea Holy Bible, NIrV, reminds me of the movie, Finding Nemo.  I took it to church to a Bible study and showed it to several children and they said the same thing.  They really liked it too.  This is a new translation for me and it was very easy to understand.  It will be wonderful for 6-10 year old children.   There are several beautiful insert pages which are all in color and featuring the theme of "Under the Sea":  Books of the Bib...

Review of Journey to the Manger by Paula Gooder Journey to the Manger explores the New Testament's various accounts of the birth of Jesus: their origins in Old Testament prophecies, the genealogies, the angelic announcements, the journeys and arrivals, and the aftermath of Jesus' birth for the powerful and the poor alike.  Although many biblical scholars have puzzled over historical details in the accounts, Paula Gooder argues that doing this risks missing the point. Engaging seriously with biblical and historical criticism, she uncovers key similarities running through the Gospel writers' accounts and focuses on their shared understanding of the significant events they describe.  Her detailed exploration of the texts is a goldmine for preaching and teaching, and will breath new life into the familiar Christmas stories heard year after year in churches, carol services and nativity plays. Devotional reflections and discussion questions also make this ideal for per...

Review of Daily Wisdom for Women 2016 Devotional Collection by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Experience an intimate connection to your heavenly Father with the  Daily Wisdom for Women  devotional collection. Featuring a powerful devotional reading and prayer for every day of 2016 ,  this beautiful volume provides inspiration and encouragement for your soul. Enhance your spiritual journey with the refreshing readings—and come to know just how deeply and tenderly God loves you. MY REVIEW:   This book includes nice devotional collections with a scripture and short sentence prayer for each day of 2016.    The stories are applicable and Biblically sound but I would have liked to see more personal stories in the devotional readings.   The readings are short, about the length of one page each and would make a nice devotional to accompany daily Bible study time and prayer.    I would recommend adding some other scriptures to the daily collect...

Review of How God Grows a Woman of Wisdom:  A Devotional Journal  by Anita Higman & Marian Leslie  How God Grows a Woman of Wisdom  is the first release in a brand-new devotional series designed to enhance your spiritual journey. Featuring two hundred–plus devotional readings complemented by scripture selections and prayers, this lovely collection offers a powerful blend of inspiration, encouragement, and motivation for every area of your life. Touching on topics like beauty, blessings, conversation, joy, patience, prayer, relationships, work, and more, you will find yourself drawn ever closer to your heavenly Father as you meditate on each reading and open your heart and mind to God’s Word. MY REVIEW:   The price of wisdom is beyond rubies.  Job 28:18          Each devotion features a lovely piece of insight from Anita Higman and Marian Leslie along with scripture and a short prayer that the woman can use to enri...

Review of Nurturing Great Kids Devotional 365 Practical Insights for Parenting with Grace We strive to do what is best for our family, but there are many differing opinions on how to be a good parent. Truly successful parenting begins with focusing on God and making him the center of all we do. The Once-A-Day Nurturing Great Kids Devotional helps you to bring God into your parenting by providing 365 daily devotionals written specifically for parents who are seeking to build a stronger relationship with their kids and put God first in their family. These devotionals will inspire you as a parent to embrace the role that God has given you, while also equipping you with the tools you need to be a strong Christian role model for your children. MY REVIEW:  Zondervan Publishing has put together a wonderful collection of devotions for parents for an entire year.   Each day's devotion includes a Bible verse, a story to illustrate the verse, a parenting principle, and point...

Review of The Duck Commander Faith & Family Bible New King James Version by Phil & Al Robertson, executive editors The stars of the hit TV show "Duck Dynasty" are committed to upholding five core values both on and off the screen: faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom. With new stories and testimonials told from the perspectives of Phil, the Robertson family patriarch, and his son Al, a pastor with more than 22 years of experience, "The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" offers fresh wisdom on these values, what the Bible says about them, and how everyday people can apply them to their lives. With relentless dedication to sharing the gospel and expanding Christ's kingdom, the Robertson family has become a driving evangelical force of the twenty-first century. "The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" unleashes the power of their practical insight into critical faith issues, founded on God's holy Word. Features...

Review of Wanda E. Brunstetter's The Simple Life Devotional Devotional Thoughts from Amish Country Millions visit "Amish country" each year to enjoy the relaxed family atmosphere of this unique culture. What can we as "English" (non-Amish) people learn from this lifestyle? Wanda Brunstetter,  New York Times  bestselling author of Amish-themed novels, offers sixty intriguing and encouraging lessons in her devotional  The Simple Life . Each reading features a brief story of the Amish, providing a "behind the scenes" insight into their culture; a spiritual lesson, accompanied by scripture, drawn from the story; and a "bonus" of an Amish witticism or recipe. Now readers can enjoy the peace and quiet of Amish country anytime, anywhere. MY REVIEW:   Wanda E. Brunstetter has compiled a beautiful collection of stories of life with the Amish as a devotional.   I love the sweet stories based on the simple life of the Amish that is featured...

Review of NIV Once a Day Bible for Women The NIV Once A Day Bible for Women combines helpful summary information before each reading with application questions after each reading to deliver the most satisfying daily reading plan ever. It includes the full text of the most read, most trusted NIV translation. The NIV Once A Day Bible - Understand and Apply Edition for Women is a must-have Bible for any woman committed to growing in her relationship with God through the spiritual discipline of daily Bible reading, reflection and application. MY REVIEW:  This is a lovely soft-bound Bible designed for women in a beautiful shade of pink for the cover.   It is composed in the NIV, New International Version.  The NIV is one of  my personal favorites to read as it makes the Bible clear and easily understandable.  Each day is clearly marked, one through 365 for reading the Bible through in one year.   Each day's reading contains some chapters from the Old Te...

Review of He Who Has An Ear  Who The Seven Churches of Revelation are Today by Laura J. Davis More than two thousand years ago the Apostle John had a vision he received from the Lord. He was told to write seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Out of the seven churches only two received commendation from the Lord. The rest were letters of warning. The letters to the seven churches are a message for this generation during these last days. He who has an ear will know what to do and act accordingly. My Review:   This is a great resource for those who are interested in further Bible study and especially for pastors, Bible scholars, and professors.  I feel that this book would make a very nice small group study.    Laura Davis has provided in depth analysis of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.  I really like the bulleted lists included for each of the chapters and the questions addressed for the churches:   Some of these ques...