Habit Changers (Review)

This review is for the book "Habit Changers" by M.J. Ryan. This book is filled with 81 game-changing mantras to mindfully realize your goal. Each mantra is short and sweet and easy to remember, such as "Presume goodwill" or "Mind the gap". After the mantra is given, a short essay is written to help you understand the mantra and explain how to put it into play in your life. There are a lot of real-life examples to help you also. This book is awesome for business owners, entrepreneurs, and people at high levels in their companies. I had several really good takeaways from reading this book that I plan on putting into practice!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book.

Experiencing God Through His Names (Review)

This review is for the book "Experiencing God Through His Names" by Sheryl Giesbrechet. I have always been interested in the names of God and where they are found in the Bible. I was really looking forward to reading this book and being able to study the names of God. I liked the layout of this book a lot. Each chapter focuses on one name of God that is found in scripture. Giesbrecht talks about something in real life that applies to the name, and she shows scripture throughout the Bible where the name is found and used when referring to God. This book is really easy to read and I suggest reading it with a notebook beside you. I took a lot of notes because this is stuff I do not want to forget. Giesbrecht also includes a prayer at the end of each chapter that you could pray after you let the words of the chapter resonate with you. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Marry Wisely (Review)

This is the review for the book "Marry Wisely, Marry Well" by Ernie Baker. This is a truly awesome book for all couples, whether you are just now engaged, or have been married for 30 years. Obviously I would probably be more likely to recommend it to people who are thinking of marriage, because some of the books speaks on how to choose the right mate. If you have been married for decades, it's a little late to change your mate!

In this book, Baker starts at the foundation of marriage. He talks about the wisdom that God will give, and His design for marriage. There is a lot of scripture to back up what Baker says, and he ends each chapter with some really good, thought-provoking discussion questions. These are great questions to ask yourself to learn more about yourself, but there are questions for a potential spouse as well, which is so important. Honestly, it is so important to ask these questions of a potential spouse - even if just in your own head. Such as: "Is this person committed to God's purposes for marriage", "What amount of school loans and other debt does this person have?", and "How would you rate his or her communication and conflict resolution skills?" This book is so detailed and intimate, I would highly recommend it for premarital couples. It is easy to read and stands on the Bible.

I was given a copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews.

Download Your Free How-To Guide for Bring Your Bible to School Day


 

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are preparing for Hurricane Matthew to hit. For students in hurricane-affected states who are facing school closures but still want to participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day, the alternate date is Thursday, October 20.




This brings about a good point: Any day can be a day you organize your friends to bring your Bibles to school together!




By signing up during the month of October for Bring Your Bible to School Day (even if you missed the official celebration), you can download a free how-to guide for teens, parents, pastors, and elementary students. It's full of helpful information that will help you organize a day to take a stand for religious freedom and bring your Bible to school with your fellow classmates.




(Sign-ups must be received by midnight (MT), Oct. 7, in order to be automatically entered into the Newsboys giveaway.)

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.




Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

Punderdome (Review)

I recently was able to check out this really cool game called Punderdome. I love card games, I love board games, I love games that make you think, and I love family games. This one game has ALL of those things! Apparently it is based on a live game show, but I have never heard of the game show before. This game is for three or more players who are age 12 and up. You grab two prompts and then race to make bad puns that connect those two prompts. There is a judge who will decide which one is the best (worst?) pun to win the round. I guarantee this game will bring loads of laughs to your next family game night!! I received this game free of charge from Penguin Random House LLC.

See the Newsboys in Concert with Adventures in Odyssey


 

Want to be entered for a chance to win a free trip for four to hear the Newsboys, the award-winning Christian music band, in Dallas? Sign up to be a part of the movement to protect religious freedom for future generations: Bring Your Bible to School Day! Students from kindergarten to college will be bringing their Bibles to school and sharing God with their friends on October 6.




By completing the information on this page, you're automatically entered to win the chance to see the Newsboys with Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey. Don't miss out on the chance to see a fantastic band with your family!

Plus Sign Up for a Free Two-Week Trial of Odyssey Adventure Club

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.




Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

Nestle Splash (Review)

I recently got some fun stuff to review from Influenster. I received a box that included a bottle of lemon-flavored Nestle Splash water, a straw, some cool yellow sunshades, and a nifty beach ball! I felt ready for summer even though the weather was starting to cool off some!

I immediately donned my sunglasses, stuck my straw into my Nestle Splash, and started to enjoy. I did share the drink with my kids because they love trying new drinks. I am trying to drink more water throughout the day, and I always have to flavor my water to make it more bearable! I loved the chance to try a water that already had flavor included. I will say, honestly, that lemon wasn't my favorite flavor. It was a bit too much flavor for me. But I can't wait to try one of the other flavors next! I typically enjoy berry-flavored drinks, so that will be next on my list. But definitely, this helped me guzzle my bottle of water much faster than if it were just plain water!

Like I said, I did receive this product at a discount for my honest review, but this is my honest opinion of the drink.

Commit to Bring Your Bible to School October 6

Celebrate religious freedom with other students across the U.S. on October 6—Bring Your Bible to School Day! Students from kindergarten to college will be bringing their Bibles to school and sharing God with their friends in just a few short weeks. Sign up to be a part of the movement to protect religious freedom for future generations.







By signing up, you’ll receive a free guide with tips, downloadable posters, sticker and T-shirt designs, information on your legal rights, and other fun, interactive activities.




You’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win a free trip for four to hear the Newsboys, an award-winning Christian music band, in Dallas!





Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.




Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

Delilah (Review)

This review is for the book "Delilah: Treacherous Beauty" by Angela Hunt. This is one of Hunt's "Dangerous Beauty" novels. The other two are "Esther" and "Bathsheba". I have to say that I have never read either of those books, but after reading this one, I have got to get my hands on the other books in this series!

In this novel, Angela Hunt takes the story of Samson and Delilah and she adds a bit of background to the story. She uses the small portion of the story that we know from scripture, and she adds a bit of historical fiction to make the story come together. I have to say that this story was brilliant. I love how she was able to string scriptural and historical references into the story to make it seem like it really could have happened. She added a bit of perspective from Samson that included his weakness for women, and the perspective of Delilah who was mistreated and abused, and brought them together in a way that you just won't be able to put this book down.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more by Angela Hunt in the future.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts (Review)

This review is for the book "God Gave Us Thankful Hearts" by Lisa Tawn Bergren. I will be honest. We have almost every book in this series that Lisa Tawn Bergren has created ("God Gave Us...") and our family absolutely loves them. I am never disappointed with the books.

In this book, Little Pup, a fox, is bummed because he knows that winter is coming and that means hibernation time is close. His mother encourages him to think of things to be thankful for in every season. When Little Pup complains about poison ivy, his mother tells him to be thankful he knows how to avoid it. She teaches him to focus on the things that make us happy, rather than the things that don't.

This is the cutest book as Little Pup's mother and father take him through the things that seem to be disappointments and help him turn them into blessings. It's really a great lesson for all of us! I highly recommend not just this book, but any of the books in this series. They are fun to read and they teach great lessons in a really simple way.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.