Dislcosure: I received a copy of these journals in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

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Have you ever tried Bible journaling?  When I see examples of how other people do it, I am always inspired.  However, I am somewhat at a loss as to how to do it myself.  Today I am reviewing three different Bible journaling books from Worthy Publishing that might help you along in the Bible journaling journey.

Each of these books has a distinct style and offers different journaling methods.

The Illustrated Word is an adult coloring journal.  This journal appeals to me because coloring is definitely something I can do!  There is something relaxing and meditative about coloring, and the intricately illustrated verses in this journal are really beautifully done.

Description: Create your own masterpiece with this journal that has forty glorious illustrations from ancient manuscripts that have been recreated as line drawings. Just as medieval monks brought Scripture to life through intricate inked illustrations in handwritten manuscripts hundreds of years ago, you can now create your own stunning keepsake that will be treasured for years to come.

Illuminate Your Story is a unique journal that teaches you how to create fancy lettering that will add an artistic flair to your writing.  This is another book full of pretty lettering and pictures.  Although it is not really my style, I can see how others might find it helpful and inspiring if they like the classic look.

Description: Use the almost-lost art of illuminating letters to enhance your writing, Bible journaling, or sermon note-taking. Rich illustrated manuscripts in the Museum of the Bible’s collection inspired these gorgeous letters. Easy to follow instructions, practice pages, and encouragements guide you through the creation of amazing start letters, flourishes, and more.

Out of the three journals, the Faith & Lettering Journal is my personal favorite.  It has a more modern feel and is a combination of lovely illustrated verses, blank pages and step-by-step lettering guides with space to practice.

Description: New from professional letterer Krystal Whitten! With guides, instructions, and tutorials, this is a fun and inspiring way to create beauty with words. It is the perfect place for journalers to practice Bible journaling, lettering quotes and verses, or decorating a page with original thoughts and plans. Exploring your God-given creativity has never been so rewarding.

Any one of these journals would make a wonderful gift this Christmas season.  Bible journaling is a special hobby because it is a way to record special memories, along with our walk with God.

Disclosure: I received this book as a Moody Newsroom Blogger.  All opinions are my own.

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You might be familiar with the classic hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”.  There is a part of the song that states:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. 

Born to Wander is a new book that takes a closer look at the times in our lives when we feel like we are wandering and have lost our sense of purpose.  Or for some, maybe that sense of purpose was never there to begin with.  The author, Michelle Van Loon, believes that all humans are born to wander.  For some, hard times push them into what seems like an endless period of wandering.  Van Loon looks to scripture to show that Christ is the answer for people who find themselves in the desert of life.  The Bible is full of examples of people in exile who have been uprooted from their homes and are searching for a place to settle down.  As believers, we can be secure in knowing that our ultimate home is with Jesus.  No matter where we might roam, He will guide us “home” if we follow Him.  This book shows how we can look to examples of God’s work in other peoples’ lives (both in the Bible and those around us) and to not lose hope when it feels like we are just aimlessly wandering through life.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post myhonest opinions. Compensation for this post was
provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

Did you know that today is National Read A Book Day?  I think reading a book should be done everyday, but it is nice that there is a day to celebrate its importance.  National Geographic Kids publishes a wide array of educational books that make reading fun for kids.

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Weird But True is a popular series published by National Geographic Kids.  We had the chance to review the tenth edition.  Just like the books before it, it is filled with interesting factoids such as “Research found that babies cry more in Britain, Canada and Italy than anywhere else in the world.  They cry the least in Denmark, Germany and Japan.”  Who knew?

The National Geographic Kids Almanac is another series that my kids have really enjoyed over the years.  It is filled with facts and photos about everything from animals to weather.  Even though a new edition is published every year, they keep the content fresh and exciting for curious young minds.

Many people associate National Geographic Kids with non-fiction books, but we just discovered that they also have a selection of fiction books.  The Nebula Secret is Book One of a new series called Explorer Academy.  This book is about a 12-year-old named Cruz Coronado.  Cruz and 23 other kids from around the world are enrolled at the Explorer Academy where there are in training to become world-class explorers.  Cruz must figure out clues to a family mystery and figure out why someone would be out to get him.

My son was very excited to read this book.  After he read the first chapter he said it was the best book he has ever read!  However, as he read on, he said there were some scary parts so I advised him not to read it at night.  Although this book is recommended for ages 8-12, I think it might be more appropriate for kids on the upper half of this spectrum.  I do appreciate how the book is inspired by real National Geographic explorers.  There are also secret symbols, codes, and puzzles hidden throughout the book, which add to the adventure.

To celebrate the launch of Explorer Academy, one lucky family will experience a spectacular ship-based expedition, just like the students at
Explorer Academy. The grand prize is a family trip for four to Alaska’s Inside Passage from National Geographic Expeditions. Enter the sweepstakes at exploreracademytrip.com.

Finally, 1,001 Ways to Be Creative is a fun book to spark the imagination.  This book is for anyone who is looking for a source of “everyday inspiration”.  Life as an adult can become monotonous unless we make a conscious effort to infuse creativity into it.  Sometimes we think being creative is only for artists or those who have dedicated their lives to a craft.  However, this books shows the reader that being creative can be as simple as changing the order of our meals for one day.  (Personally, I am a big fan of breakfast for dinner!)

I hope that this list of books inspires you and your kids to read together and celebrate National Read A Book Day!

Disclosure: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

According to Deuteronomy 11:18, we are to “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”  Therefore, it is never too early to start reading Bible stories to your kids!  100 Bible Stories For Children, recently published by Tyndale Kids, is an excellent resource for parents looking to introduce or reinforce the lessons of the Bible with their children.

The stories in this book are told in the order of the Bible.  The first 53 stories come from the Old Testament, and stories 54-100 are from the New Testament.  According to the back cover description, it is geared to ages 5-8, but I think it would keep older kids engaged as well.  Each story is a couple of pages, so this book would make a good read for a daily devotion.  In addition, the illustrations that accompany each story are beautiful works of art and help to bring the Bible stories alive for young readers.

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Note: I received this book as a Moody Newsroom Blogger.  All opinions are my own.

I have read a good number of relationship books, but few have made as lasting an impression as Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages.  I cannot remember if the first time I read the book was before our marriage or in the early years in our marriage, but it made an impact.  The concept of people primarily responding to and expressing love in one of the five love languages (Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service, & Physical Touch) made so much sense.  I related to the examples and recognized the similarities and differences between me and D.  Because D is also familiar with the book, we both try to make a conscious effort to speak each other’s love language and our marriage is stronger as a result.

Therefore, I was excited to find out that Gary Chapman has also written A Teen’s Guide to the 5 Love Languages.  The basic concepts are the same, but it is written in a manner that is more relevant to teens.  The book talks about all of a teen’s relationships: family, friends, and dating.  I was not sure how much this book would focus on the dating part (and if it is too early to share it with my 11 year old daughter) but I found it age-appropriate (with maybe the exception of one page in the “Touch” chapter).  The first five chapter are each dedicated to one of the five love languages.  The other five chapters delve more deeply into certain relational issues.  At the end of the book is an easy quiz to help you determine your primary love language profile.  This is a quick read (126 pages) that would help all young people navigate the relationships in their life, both now and in the future.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

My son really likes to learn about animals.  It all started with watching a few episodes of Wild Kratts–ha!  I am always on the lookout for books about animals for him to read.  How to Survive as a Shark is a fun book for the young animal lover in your life.

First of all, it is a beautiful book.  The illustrations are so bright and colorful and really draw the reader in.

The story is about a grown up pirate shark teaching baby sharks about themselves.  This pirate shark has a sense of humor!  There are also a ton of facts about sharks interwoven in the story, as well as in separate “fact bubbles” that pop up throughout.

I work in a kindergarten class, and I thought this book would be perfect for the teacher’s sea animal book collection.  Doesn’t it fit right in?

D recently bought us a hammock for our backyard.  I envision many reading sessions occurring here this summer!  Do you have any animal book recommendations?

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Although the works of A.W. Tozer have been around for a while (he lived from 1897-1963), it seems like just recently I have been hearing more people mention his books.  Tozer’s books are considered Christian classics, and now three of them have been combined into one volume: The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God, and God’s Pursuit of Man.  This was my first time reading Tozer, and I can see why he is considered one of the greatest Christian authors of the twentieth century.

Let me say upfront that this is not “light” reading.  The spiritual truths that he explores are weighty and profound.  It is simply amazing that he is a “self-taught theologian” without formal training.  Although some of his prose could be considered old-fashioned, the subjects he covers in these books are timeless.  For example, in The Pursuit of God, Tozer addresses the busyness of life and urges us to be still in order to personally experience God.  This 471 page book would be a valuable addition to every Christian library.

Note: I received this book as a Moody Newsroom Blogger.  All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.