Child Training Boot Camp

Child Training Boot Camp

A Thirty-Day Bible Study

Pam Forster

 Life can get crazy busy with little ones running around. Moms often find little time alone to spend in study. But God loves mothers and has a special message of hope for them in His word. The author has put together short studies on motherhood and child rearing that can be taken a few minutes at a time. They each end with Bible verses and thoughts that can be shared with the children to draw them into the study.

I'd previous reviewed one of the Busy Mamas Bible Study and really enjoyed it. So I was really looking forward to this book. But the format was completely different. It was all done through a website that I found slightly confusing. Unless the reader has a tablet they will find themselves at a desktop using this study. And that really doesn't work for me. I went ahead and did most of the studies, but found that the difficulty of navigating the website and trying to read all of the instructions in the book distracted me and made it difficult to focus. The material was good, but I got so lost in the details that I missed so much. It was also not as easy to move my quiet time to the desk, which is in the middle of our open concept living area. I would have preferred to take the book and my Bible to my quiet place on the back patio. Perhaps if I'd used a tablet this would have been slightly better. Overall, I think this would be a great little Bible study had the author followed the same format as the previous books.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

The Gift of Rest

The Gift of Rest

Crickett Keeth

 God knew what he was doing when he created a day of rest. Our bodies are designed to work and then recharge. But today so many people are rushing around frantically trying to fit everything in. And they never seem to take a rest to recharge themselves. The author has created an eight week Bible study to show us the gift of rest that God has given us. Each week takes a different aspect of rest and wraps the daily study around it. Each chapter has four sections - Looking to God's Word, Looking Upward, Looking Reflectively, and Looking Deeper. Scripture texts, thoughts from the author and other Christian authors, and a well laid out plan make this an interactive and thought provoking study.

I enjoyed this book. There were a few things that I felt were off a bit in the theology. But that aside, the book was well laid out and presented the topic in a clear, concise, and logical manner. The book isn't large, but if taken one day at a time will leave the reader with a knowledge of how God intends to bless us through rest. This would make a great gift or would work well in a small group setting.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

Raising God's Girl

Raising God's Girl

Rich and Mary Lou Graham

Our daughters are a gift from God. We have a responsibility to them as their parent to show them the right way to live. How can we do this without bruising their spirit or giving them a negative view of themselves in today's world? The authors have come up with a scriptural way that worked for them and their four daughters and have shared their knowledge and experience with us.

This book was a fun and informative read. While the authors packed a lot of information into each chapter, it was presented in an interesting way so I didn't feel bored or bogged down. It's very clear that they have the experience necessary to talk about raising daughters, since they have four of their own. Their insightful and helpful tips and thoughts were a blessing to me. An interesting aspect of this book was that they pulled their daughters in to help write from the daughter's perspective. So not only do you hear about parenting advice, but you see how it worked or didn't work from the daughter's view point. This is a book that I'll be keeping and referencing often while I'm raising my own daughter. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has or plans on having a daughter.

I received this book free of charge from Book Crash in exchange for my honest review.

What a Bragger!

What a Bragger!

Lee Ann Mancini

Melissa likes to brag. She's always comparing everything she has to everyone else and announcing that what she has is better. Her friend, Corey, is angry and frustrated with Melissa. But his mom reminds him to pray for Melissa and treat her with kindness. Corey learns that Melissa is bragging to cover up her poverty. So when the teacher plans a birthday party he enlists his friends to help him make Melissa feel loved and special. As an added bonus to the story, there is a little fish symbol that children can look for on each page.

The bright, colorful illustrations fill each page. The vocabulary fits well with the intended age group. The story is sweet and entertained my children. The messages were faith based and my children were discussing them long after the book was finished. I also enjoyed the book, but especially appreciated the message of Christ-like love that was mixed in with the story. The story is rich with teachable moments. Parents and teachers will be able to use this book to teach messages about people who are different from us, having compassion, treating others with kindness regardless of their actions, thankfulness, and so much more.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

Group Hug

The No-Homework Women's Bible Study: Group Hug

Christine Tate

Many women complain about lack of time and busy schedules. So the author has put together a small and inclusive Bible study that women can use in a small group setting to get to know each other and the Lord without the stress of homework and lots of reading beforehand. Each chapter consists of an icebreaker, lesson, commentary, discussion questions, and the personal challenges. The lesson is the only section that has scripture.

The book is a lot smaller than I'd anticipated. There really isn't any additional reading required.  This study would work well for someone who is a bit intimidated about starting a small group study since the lessons are outlined and structured. It would appeal to someone who doesn't want something that is in-depth or heavy or someone that is mixing denominations in their group.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

Why Dogs Are. . .

Why Dogs Are. . .

Tana Thompson

 Brian can't hear and he can't see. His family tells him they love him by touching him. But how can God tell Brian that He loves him very much? He sends a dog. Dog didn't have a name so God named him Dog, because dog is God spelled backwards. Dog can show Brian how much God loves him by keeping him safe, letting Brian hug him, and helping him walk. And if dog does a good job, God will send other dogs to earth. Dog does such a great job that God sends lots of other dogs to tell more people about him.

My children enjoyed this book about Dog. The vocabulary fit well with the intended age group. Because of the large print, older children will be able to read the story for themselves. The illustrations are fun and bright. The story is whimsical and heartwarming. It draws the reader in and evokes feelings of compassion and love. The story mentions love, forgiveness, and trust. Children will be able to relate and it will open up discussions about God's love and how we can show this to people around us.

I will say a word of caution. This is a work of fiction. It doesn't follow the Bible at all. Most of what this book says is not scriptural. So if your child is old enough to grasp this, go for it. It's a cute book. But if you think your child would take this for gospel, hold off for a while. My children are 5 and 8 yrs old and they recognized right away that something was off. They asked me if it was fiction, because they know that God made dogs at creation, Adam named the animals, and God isn't limited in His ability to touch our hearts.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase here.

Bible Study for Busy Mamas

Thirty Days in 1 Corinthians 13

Bible Study for Busy Mamas

Pam Forster

Most moms are incredibly busy. We barely have time to breath, let alone spend time reading. So the author has designed short little study sessions that are concise, but deep. Each lesson begins with the assignment. The assignment is for the mother and usually takes about 5-10 minutes. But each minute is packed with some serious contemplation and Bible study. The next section is a bit longer, but is for the mother to do with her children. These sections vary in complexity, but can easily be adapted for any age child.

I really enjoyed reading through this. The depth of the study really drew me into the chapter and helped me focus on things I missed just reading it through. I've incorporated several of the assignments for children into our evening worship and the kids loved it. The author has taken a simplistic approach that works well with anyone who has a busy schedule. The appendixes in the back are packed with additional resources and ideas for further study. The author also writes about how to make the time to study more, a truly great resource for those of us in a time crunch. These would make great gifts for that busy mother in your life. The author has several other Bible studies that I look forward to checking out.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

There's Reason to be Encouraged

There's Reason to be Encouraged

Paul E. Murrell

If you've ever felt a moment of discourangement, loneliness, or doubt, then you'll enjoy this little book. The author has mixed together short little devotional thoughts, poems, notes of encouragement, and personal stories about himself. The style is a bit like a devotional, but more personal. It felt like I was reading through a scrapbook of thoughts from the author and getting to know him better while also learning more about God.

I want to clarify something before I finish my review. I have no idea who this author is. While our last names are the same, I've never met him and to my knowledge he isn't closely related to my husband's family. His name didn't affect my opinion of the book in any way.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The stories about the author were a nice touch and made the thoughts he brought out at the end more personal and applicable. The book is divided up into eight main sections that talk about different aspects of Christian life. The author had some really great points that spoke to me and encouraged me. I will be keeping the book to read again sometime.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

To purchase on Amazon click here.

Purposeful Design

Purposeful Design

Understanding the Creation

Jay Schabacker

Our world was created in seven amazing days. Often we glaze over what really happened on each day of creation. We mention the stars and moon, but we don't really realize all that went into each step in terms of science. The author has taken day of creation and expounded different scientific elements to create a fascinating coffee table book for all ages.

I was incredibly impressed with this book. I enjoyed reading it, but my son really enjoyed it as well. Each page is filled with lots of bright, colorful pages, Bible verses, and science facts about creation. The book ends with the seventh day of creation - the day of rest. My only complaint, and it's a tiny one, is that the Sabbath wasn't given more time. There are quite a few studies that show the benefits of rest on the body. And the author only briefly touched on the last day with some Bible verses. But this didn't keep the book from being a solid 5 stars in my mind. With so many wonderful things about our earth to chose from, I felt the author did a great job of compiling the best things into each day. The book would be a great addition to any school or home library. It would also make a beautiful gift.

I received this book free of charge from Book Crash in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase the book here.