Children's Bible Review: The Jesus Storybook Bible, gift edition

Description:

The bestselling The Jesus StorybookBible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago, is celebrating its phenomenal success with this beautiful clothbound gift edition. The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. From Noah to Moses to the great King David––every story points to Jesus. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle––the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation––and at the center of their story too.

My Review:

Sally Lloyd-Jones has done a beautiful job re-telling many of the Bible's stories. I am impressed that she's written them for children without a lot of sugar coating. Often, Bible stories get watered down and children don't learn about sin or why Jesus died and was raised. Sally does a nice job and leaves room for parents and teachers to give more explanation. The colorful illustrations liven up the pages. I imagine children will love the color and characterizations of the Bible people. This would make a lovely gift for a child or a teacher of children. You might consider giving this book as a gift to students promoted in Sunday School or who have taken the step to accept Jesus as Savior. It would also be a great for family devotional time.  

Fiction Book Review: The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser Description:

Description:
Born into a life of hard work, English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York City in 1911 with her wealthy mistress. Wide-eyed with the possibilities America has to offer, Annie wonders if there’s more for her than a life of service. Annie chooses to risk everything, taps into courage she never knew she had, and goes off on her own, finding employment in the sewing department at Macy’s. While at Macy’s Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—a pattern artist of the highest degree. As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.

My Review:

I love this book! What a treat to follow the young woman, Annie Wood, as she contemplates new adventures in America. Set in the early 1900s, I enjoyed Annie's journey through the events and turmoil of the times. Nancy Moser recreates the history of the time with a fascinating story and an excellent detailed setting. Annie meets an interesting array of friends. I just have to say, Sean is delightful! As a seamstress or "home sewer" I've made many dresses and outfits for my children and grandchildren. I've even made a wedding dress. All from patterns. So I found myself engrossed in the process and designers in the early 20th century. Whether you sew or not, this is a lovely story about interesting characters trying to make their way on the world. Along with the beautiful story, there's a bit of suspense that kept me reading. My favorite part of the book is the thread of faith and purpose the author stitches throughout. And I have to say, Sean is delightful!If you enjoy historical fiction or just a great story, I recommend The Pattern Artist. 

You Might be Surprised

Matthew 9:10-13

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus loves people. It doesn't matter who they were, where they came from, or their occupation. He took the time to sit down with the folks he met, get to know them and share with them--His Story. Yes, he talked to them about salvation because he loved them. Back in his day, tax collectors we're often cheaters who stole money for themselves from the collected taxes. They were pretty much low-lifes in the eyes of the community. And you can bet, the religious leaders of the day didn't bother to even say hello. Yet Jesus sat down at the table with Matthew.

Tax collectors weren't the only ones Jesus befriended. His disciples were a bunch of regular guys who were sometimes a bit clueless and smelled like fish. But he loved them and taught them about the new kingdom, his kingdom and his sacrifice. Then there were the women. Mary Magdalene had been filled with demons. Jesus cast them out of her, and she followed him. He loved children and protected them. He loved older people, sick people, and sinners. Jesus wasn't a push-over. He was a care-taker, one who wanted the best for everyone he met. And that best is salvation. So you might be surprised who the Lord hung out with. It wasn't the kings or queens, rabbis or teachers. Oh he spoke with them, too. But he spent his precious time on earth with regular people. Like you and me. And he still wants to, through us.

He invited regular old Joes and Janes to take up the cross and follow him. He included the lame, the lepers, and the dying into his fold. He healed and loved. Knowing how Jesus cared for people, how can I do any less? It's hard for me because I'm not exactly a people person, yet God puts folks in my path and says love them. With his help I do.

How about you? Who has Jesus called you to love? Who has he asked you to share his story with?

Faithful

©PennyFrostMcGinnis

Bible Review: The Investigator's Holy Bible, NIV

Book Description:

Using a detective theme, the NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible explains Biblical text for children ages 6–10 using easy to understand, honest language. It also has many features that explain the essentials of each book and challenging concepts.

Have you ever used a magnifying glass? It makes everything bigger and easier to see, right? Detectives and scientists magnify things to understand them better. Well that’s just what this Bible does—it’s a magnifying glass to help children understand the Word of God better.

My Thoughts:
The NIV Investigator’s Holy Bible is a great Bible filled with information that helps the reader understand God's word in an easier way. The teaching tools featured include "The Evidence" an introduction given to each book, "The Breakthrough" which helps understand the meaning behind the words, "The Witnesses" that gives the meaning of names and "The Scene" which explains place. There is also "Check the Facts" and "Case Closed" that offer short quizzes and a summary. All of these handy tools help the reader to better understand the scriptures. I like this Bible and believe it would be a great tool for helping a child get into the stories of the Bible. I love that it gives the meaning of the people's names and a great explanation of the setting. My favorite tool is "The Breakthrough." These are sprinkled throughout each book and give great answers to hard questions. I recommend this Bible for children interested in learning more about God's word. I also think this concept would be great for any adult who is not familiar with the Bible and wants to begin to understand. Even as an older Christian, I want to look through each book and read the explanations. I can also see this being an integral source for family devotion time. A concordance, index, table of weights and measures, as well as maps round out the rest of the book. The format is appealing with touches of color. 

Be Found Faithful!

Acts 7:55-56
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Jesus' disciple Stephen had preached without fear about his beloved Savior. He spoke with conviction and determination. The people who served in the Sanhedrin, a ruling body of the government, didn't like Stephen's message, so they stirred the crowd and had the young man stoned to death. Stephen wasn't afraid to die. He trusted God and he loved Jesus. He was called to be faithful and he was. Right up until the end.

Even in death, Stephen's faith made him a winner in life. He chose to follow the King, despite suffering. Because "a follower who suffers, doesn't lack faith." As our minister, Didi, preached those words about Stephen last Sunday, my husband passed me a note. The message he shared reflected Stephen's story. His note said, "Our life will never be lived in vain when we are a follower of Jesus. God has a plan for us & will use our life of faithfulness to touch & change the hearts of others."

That's right. No matter how much we hurt, how much difficulty life throws at us, or how much sadness a day may bring, faith will carry us through, because Jesus surrounds us, his Spirit fills us, and God sees us. "It's not about the pain-it's about seeking Jesus." (Didi Bacon) Replace fear with faith and go for the win. Stephen saw the King on his throne. He knew his destination, and his faith held fast, even as he was being destroyed. We're called to be faithful not perfect. Praise God for his glorious grace!

Celebrate World Kindness Day!

Children's Board Book Review: Angels in the Bible for Little Ones by Allia Zobel Nolan, Illustrated by Alida Massari

Book Description:

Angels in the Bible for Little Ones gives children a fascinating look into how powerful behind-the-scenes helpers interacted with Bible greats such as Abraham, Daniel, and Mary, acting as messengers, protectors, warriors, and more. This padded cover board book, written by bestselling author Allia Zobel Nolan and illustrated by Alisa Massari, brings eight stories from the Bible to life for little ones.

My Review:
Angels in the Bible for Little Ones is a lovely little book that introduces the Biblical concept of angels to children. I like how the author uses scriptural stories to draw word pictures of the angels who spoke to people like Abraham and the women at Jesus' tomb. She stays close to the Bible in her stories and gives the child an easy to understand message. Alida Massari's illustrations are colorful and inviting to little eyes. Even though this is a board book, it could be used in a teaching situation to tell children about God's messengers. This would be a great book to share at Easter, as well.  

Hope!

Artwork created with watercolor pencils and embroidery.

©PennyFrostMcGinnis

Naptime: A poem

I wrote this poem a few years ago after one of our grandkids told me I had a soft lap. 

Naptime

When I want to take a nap

I crawl up in my grandma’s lap.

Comfy,

Cozy,

Soft,

And sweet

Grandma’s lap puts me to sleep.

Z

  Z

    Z

      Z

©Penny Frost McGinnis

God's Gates

Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We were driving from the restaurant to my condo when my grandson, Zeke, piped up from the back seat. "Do you think God is looking at us?" My response. "Sure, I know he sees us every day. Why do you ask?" Zeke in his matter-of-fact way said, "Cause I see his gate. See it. It's where the sun is coming through the clouds." Sure enough, the sun shined between two billowing clouds. A few seconds later he said, "Me and my sister saw his big gate the other day. The sun really came down." Out of the mouths of babes.

Zeke was pleased that God was watching us. Happy that God's sun broke through the clouds and shone on us. Quite often, I'm reminded of God's love through my grandchildren. In their innocence they understand God's open arms. Adult lives can get messed up. Sin sneaks in or sometimes walks in boldly and causes chaos. Frustration rears its ugly head. Anger seeps out. It's easy to forget that God is right beside me, wanting to help if I just ask. This sweet little boy's reminder of God's presence fills my heart with joy. I praise God for his love and care. I'm thankful we have visible reminders of the One who loves us most.

No matter what your going through God is beside you. He wants to lift you up and give you hope. Just ask.

What other ways does God show himself to you?

Not Older-Newer

Have you been Binge Reading?

People binge watch television shows, several seasons in a row, one after another. When Downton Abbey was in its prime, I admit to binge watching the first two seasons so I could catch up with my daughter. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu make watching show after show easy.

Maybe you've tried this fad of binging on television, but how about books? Many authors pen several books in a series. From my experience, I love reading a whole series. One after the other. I think the first set of books I binge read were the Cat Who books by Lilian Jackson Braun. She had not written all of them at the time, but I dove into the first 12 or 13, one after the other. You get to know the characters, that's for sure.

Recently, I've read two series with great enthusiasm. Melody Carlson's Dear Daphne books follow Daphne Ballinger on a roller coaster ride as she inherits her aunt's home with some interesting and unexpected expectations. The other series I've binged on, Deb Raney's Chicory Inn novels, has entertained me for hours. I've enjoyed following the lives of Grant and Audrey Whitman's family.  I'm about to finish book four this week, then I get to complete the series with book five. I'll write a review on that one in March. I highly recommend either series for great entertainment. Both authors write excellent stories filled with heart.

Have you been binge reading? If so, what books?

Nonfiction Book Review: The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines and Mark Dagostino

Book Description:

Are you ready to see your fixer upper?

These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like—Who are these people? What's the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life? By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper, they have become America’s new best friends.

The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.

My Review:
I am a fan of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. If you're familiar with the show that focuses on a young couple who buy and flip homes for their clients, then you know Chip and Joanna Gaines. They bring a positive energy to the show and a sincere, self-deprecating truth through their story. The Magnolia Story also reflects their genuine and transparent lives. Their book shares their ups and downs in the restoration business along with a touch of their faith in God. I enjoyed reading about the way they met, their courtship, and the addition of each child to their growing family. If you enjoy a positive story about good people mixed with a large dose of reality, you'll like The Magnolia Story. For what it lacks in glitz and glamour, it spills over with hope and love. I purchased my copy from Amazon.

Hope through Restoration

John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

I've always appreciated the process people go through when they restore an old home. With each floor board they replace, kitchen they refurbish, and wall they rebuild, the contractor breathes new life into a worn and weary structure. One of the homes we moved into had been uninhabited for months. Windows were broken, animals had left behind messes, and floors were warped. The home had deteriorated into an unlivable environment. But when Tim and I walked through the house we saw potential. A place to share with our children and for them to invite over friends. After weeks of work, thanks to several of our family members, the old place took on a renewed life.

I think God views us like we saw that old house. Whether tired, broken down, disappointed, or lost in the shuffle of life, God sees us for who we are. He recognizes our potential and restores and gives us new hope if we ask. I enjoy watching the HGTV show Fixer Upper. At the end of the program they ask the new homeowners, "Do you want to see your fixer upper?" When they pull apart a giant picture of the original house that they have on wheels; a new, beautiful, and restored version of the old place stands before them. God can do the same for people. There was a time I was a broken down, weary version of myself. But after I asked Jesus to renew my spirit, he breathed new life into me and filled me with his hope and joy.

Jesus told his disciples that God created a beautiful mansion. A place for us to live in and invite our friends to. A place in heaven that will never be destroyed. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to living in one of those rooms he's prepared. I thank God for restoration and hope.

How has Jesus renewed you?

What Did Mark Twain Have to Say about Forgiveness?