Book Review: Bible Verses for Today by Valeria Wolfl

About the Book:

How can this prayer journal help me read my bible every day?

• 37 Questions to help you discover the meaning of the scripture even if you feel that you may not have enough knowledge to understand bible verses. The questions are categorized in 3 groups:

1. Scripture Questions: to help you understand doctrines and meanings of Scripture better.


2. Life Application Questions: to help you apply what you learned from the scripture in your everyday life to improve your daily walk with God.


3. Prayer Questions: to help you set good motivates to pray for and keep you going in the walk with God.

• About 10-15 minutes reading time a day: The verses are picked to be short that can be read while you are drinking your morning coffee or evening tea.


• 365 topics: The hardest part is to decide what to read every day. The daily bible reading plan gives you 1-9 short verses put together by topics. Every day you can learn something different. Using the question sheet (take it out and laminate it) write down quick notes for each bible verse. Then move on to the prayer questions and take notes on what God revealed for you to pray about.


• Decorative elements on each page to color: Beautiful flowers and leaves to color to make your prayer journal look good and turning it to a memorable piece of art you can keep for the years to come. Also while coloring you can meditate on the Word of God you just have read.


• Large space to add planner style stickers and writing notes: Have your creative veins ready! You can prepare (print and cut) your stickers over the weekend to decorate your journal every day. This also helps you to commit for reading Bible verses daily since you already put work into preparation to make the stickers for the week.


• Three full pages with Bible verses to color.


• Large font size. Bible verses are 12 point.


• Topic index that can be used to trace your progress: You can mark the day what you've already read. Visualizing your progress may help you keep going.


• Works with your favorite Bible translation.

Purchase at: Amazon.

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My Thoughts:

I recommend the Bible Verses for Today: Daily Scripture Reading Plan, Bible Study, and Creative Journal for 365 Days for Women by Valeria Wolfl to any Christian woman who enjoys mixing creativity and Bible study. This beautiful resource supplements daily Bible reading by presenting a topic and coordinating Scriptures for personal reflection. There are 365 topics, one for each day of the year, but the journal can be started at any time. Bible Verses for Today also includes a study helps page with questions for textual consideration and life application, plus prayer prompts.

One characteristic I love about Bible Verses for Today is its flexibility. The provided topics guide, but how to glean from the given Scriptures and what to write about them is completely open to individual preference. Personally, I like to read the Scriptures for the daily topic and write out those Scriptures in the journal. Next, I note any thoughts that come to mind and color the accents on the page. Often, I finish my time with this journal feeling uplifted and peaceful.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using Bible Verses for Today: Daily Scripture Reading Plan, Bible Study, and Creative Journal for 365 Days for Women by Valeria Wolfl. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Be Blessed! Adult Coloring Book

About the Book:

Have fun with an inspirational adult coloring book that sings of His goodness and grace.

Containing 30 unique designs, each Bible Verse illustration varies in pattern, complexity, and design.

Color your own unique Christian motivational masterpiece as you relax with joy and praise.

• Perforated pages.

• One sided illustrations.

• 8 1/2 x 11 inches.

• Joyful designs with encouraging Bible Quotes.

• 30 Unique Drawings With Scripture from various books of the Bible.

This joy-filled, beautiful Christian Coloring Book for Adults and teens is designed to help you relax as you meditate on your Spiritual blessings and the Word.

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My Thoughts:

I am going to be honest: We attend church online (due to covid19) and I sometimes struggle to stay awake during the sermon.  Fortunately, one morning I had the idea to color the Be Blessed! Adult Coloring Book during the sermon. It was a perfect solution for me. It kept my hands busy, but did not require so much concentration that I couldn’t listen to the sermon.

The Be Blessed! Adult Coloring Book: Every Good & Perfect Gift is from Above features thirty well-known, positive Bible quotes. These are popular quotes, so this is not the only coloring book they will be found in, but the coloring designs are original and very pretty with lots of flowers, swirls, and butterflies. The pages are perforated for easy removal, if so desired.

I have enjoyed coloring in the Be Blessed! Adult Coloring Book and I am pleased with the product.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review & Giveaway: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls

About the Book:

Created especially for girls ages 8 to 12, this beautiful Bible provides ample space for young artists to express themselves through coloring and journaling.

Girls can get creative with the detailed, ready-to-color line art surrounding the hundreds of inspiring verses in the NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible for Girls. This Bible is a perfect gift for a special young girl in your life and will become a cherished keepsake full of personalized creative expressions of faith.Features include:

• Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art

• Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking

• Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art

• Complete text of the accurate, readable and clear New International Version (NIV)

• Easy-to-read black letter text in single-column format

• Lays flat in your hand or on your desk

• Ribbon marker

• Beautifully designed Leathersoft-over-board cover featuring screen-printing and other cover embellishments

• 8-point type size

Using the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) text makes the Bible accessible and easy-to-read for kids. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world.

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My Thoughts:

I got the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls for my oldest daughter, but I really want one for myself! The gorgeous pink with silver polka-dot cover is Leathersoft over board, giving it a sturdy, durable feel. For convenience, there is a built-in bookmark and lay-flat binding, making it easier to color. I do recommend using colored pencils, not crayons or markers. Even with colored pencils, some color will show through the pages. However, I think the publisher made a good balance between paper thickness and total weight. This Bible is fairly heavy for a children’s book and with thicker pages, it might have been too heavy.

There are many illustrations in the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls. In shorter books, especially the New Testament epistles which have many quotable passages, nearly every page spread features at least one coloring opportunity.  In the longer books, the coloring portions, while still plentiful, are more spaced out. Pages without illustrations have lines on the sides for taking notes or writing down thoughts.

As noted in the title, this Bible does use the NIV translation. It does not include any commentary or devotional thoughts. I personally like this as it omits the denominational/societal biases that sometime accompany commentaries.

I recommend the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls to caregivers of girls ages 8 and up. It would be excellent for the child who is old enough to listen to the sermon, but needs a little something (coloring or taking notes) to prevent boredom and aid focus. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) for this review. This post is sponsored by Zondervan.

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Book Review: Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal

About the Book:

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God’s leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, Tranquility will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart.







My Thoughts:

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal from Tyndale Publishers is part of their Living Expressions Collection.

Most pages feature a brief devotional thought, correlating Scripture verse, lines to write on, and images to color. A few pages have alternate activities such as drawing or making lists. The journal covers a diversity of topics: friendship, peace, worship, prayer, kindness, and more. One particular quote that stood out to me thus far is found on page 20: “Please help me to remember that peace is not the absence of conflict; rather, it's having confident assurance in the middle of conflict.” These pages are filled with good reminders such as that.

I liked that the journal can be done in any order and that some pages have lots to color while others have less room to color – perfect for the busy days! Some of the pages are partially colored, so they are already pretty, but there's still room to add in your own flair. 

If you are looking for a devotional and enjoy coloring, consider Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal. Hop over to the publisher's website to view an excerpt from Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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."

Big and Little Coloring Devotional

Big and Little Coloring Devotional, written by Rachel C. Swanson and illustrated by Jacy Corral, is my first experience with a coloring book designed for sharing between parent and child. I love that the book marries an enjoyable childhood activity with a calming adult activity. Not only does it set the stage for some quality time, but it inserts Scriptures and spiritual truths that mom and child can discuss while they color.

My five year old daughter and I sat down this afternoon to test out the new coloring book. The pages are set so that mom and child can sit opposite each other and the child can work on one page while mom does the other. Well, we decided we wanted to share a page and work together. After about thirty minutes of us both coloring, we nearly completed the page. She said the background should be colored in, but she was tired of coloring. (And truthfully, thirty minutes was plenty for me too.) I was beyond pleased with the experience. We talked, we colored, we made up stories, we spent time together. There were smiles, thoughts, and a bright coloring page to remind us of it all.

Of course, I can not leave out my two year old daughter who also likes to color and it occurred to me that this would be a great morning activity since she gets usually gets up at least an hour earlier than her older sister. Entertaining my young child while starting the day with a relaxing activity.... I'm looking forward to trying that out tomorrow morning....

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."

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood: Devotions and Coloring Book to Nourish Mom by Sarah Humphrey

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood: Devotions and Coloring Book to Nourish Mom (Abingdon Press, August 2016)

Nourishment for a mother's soul through 40 days of devotion and . . . doodling!

Wouldn't it be marvelous if mothering came with a concrete set of instructions---an easy recipe we could follow? Instead, motherhood challenges women to find their faith, their true selves, and their family through daily doses of trial and error. It is a brilliant and healing time of life that is full of joy, pain, and beauty with a small side of crisis (and humor). What mothers do not know, they learn. And through this lifelong process of learning, they nurture and care for the most precious gifts on earth: children. In a modern society where moms often have a full and busy plate, these 10 minute daily devotions focus on six key topics of motherhood:

-Self-acceptance

-Self-care

-Reconciling with grief, hope and expectations

-Generosity

-Presence

-Forgiveness

In addition to the devotions, these beautiful pages are adorned with handmade illustrations to help you refresh from long days or even occasional sleepless nights. So, grab your colors and a little quiet time for yourself while doodling at the kitchen table. You will be grateful you did!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2dPEdIC

My Review:

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey is the first coloring devotional I've done that focuses specifically on motherhood. The devotional section doesn't take long – probably five minutes or so to read, pray and respond – so I do it in the morning. The coloring pages take longer and give me something to look forward to doing after the littles are in bed for the night.

The devotionals are split into eight sections, each one containing five teachings. I found that some of the devotional thoughts were a combination of Biblical teaching and a sort of positive psychology or theory. I know that sounds odd, but I'm not sure how else to describe it. For example, in the first section, the author placed a heavy emphasis on name meanings as relating to a person's identity. I found it difficult to buy the concept that the meaning of my child's name is indicative of their strengths or potential struggles. I know that Biblical people often had names with special meanings, but I just wasn't convinced on this particular concept.

Some of the coloring portions are simple and some are complex. I prefer the simpler ones because I don't have a lot of extra time and can finish them without staying up overly late. Additionally, adding some outlining or coloring the background are possibilities to extend the coloring time if I want to. On some of the more complex pages, I had to leave a portion uncolored and return to it at a later time. In general, the illustrations were whimsical and reflected the devotion's theme well.

In conclusion, 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey was enjoyable to read and color. I wasn't on board with everything Humphrey said in the devotions, but I still liked it overall.

About the author:

Often considered a dreamer and silly heart, Sarah Humphrey uses inspiration from her most beloved career, motherhood, to fuel her passion for writing, creative movement and teaching. She has and is authoring several books and children's books. Sarah currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three beautiful, bouncy kids.

Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram

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."

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal is part of the Living Expressions Collection by Tyndale Publishers. The introduction invites you to “connect with God in a fresh, new way” through creative expression (drawing, coloring, journaling, etc.) that supplements prayer and meditation on Scripture.

The journal's cover is eye-catching and the inside pages are tastefully illustrated. Each entry is two pages long and most coordinate a prayer, a Scripture, illustrations to color, and a lined space for writing thoughts and prayers. The lined space is limited and easily filled up, but there is usually blank space that can be used for overflow. Lest the journal be too uniform, the topics vary and sometimes there is simply blank space instead of lined space or a Scripture thought with no pre-written prayer. While coloring and journaling comprise most of the encouraged artistic activities, some suggest making a collage or drawing.

A few other things I liked about this journal:

It's challenging: The prayers often express thankfulness and then ask God for personal growth (which we all know can be difficult).

It's flexible: On days that you have plenty of time, there are pages with space for a lot of intricate coloring. For busy days, there are some that don't require coloring or very little coloring. The pages and thoughts don't compile, so you can skip around as needed.

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal would make a lovely gift for a woman of any age.

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."