NKJV Study Bible- Full Color Edition

By: Melissa Baker

I have had the privilege to begin studying with the NKJV Study Bible. And I must say, It is AMAZING!! I think this is my most favorite Bible I have ever read. There is just so much information in it. It is the ultimate study tool weather you are a beginner or an expert at studying the Bible. The cover is very elegant and the binding is high quality. The colors are very vibrant and clear. Each book begins with the introduction to the book, which explains who the author is, what the background of that specific book is and gives a timeline of events. As you read, you will notice that the top half of the pages are the chapters like a regular Bible. But the bottom half of the pages literally break down each scripture and explains it further. It makes everything you read so incredibly easy to understand. There are maps and pictures throughout the Bible that help you understand and visualize what you are reading. In the back of this Bible, there is a table of monies, weights and measures as well as a section called "The Bible as History". The "Teachings and Illustrations of Christ"  section basically lists out where you can find scripture about certain topics. For example, it lists out different things you go through like anxiety, anger, etc. and lists where in the Bible you can read about it. There is also a chart of the "Prophecies of the Messiah Fulfilled in Jesus Christ"as well as "The miracles of Jesus Christ". It is extremely interesting to read all the extra  and in depth information that we normally would not have had access to in a regular Bible. There is also a subject index and a concordance followed by several useful maps. 
There is so much information in this Bible and it is wonderful. I would highly recommend this Bible for anyone who really wants to understand in depth what the Bible says. It is a wonderful tool and I would encourage everyone of all ages and walks of life to get a copy of this Bible. It will forever change the way you study your Bible!

About the Bible:

This beautiful full-color Bible provides a complete resource for study, and is a great choice to help you understand and deeply engage with Scripture. With more than 2 million copies sold, the NKJV Study Bible is a proven and reliable guide for your journey into God's word. An array of curated notes, articles, charts, maps and cross references combine to create the ultimate single-volume study experience. Contributed by top evangelical scholars, these Bible study tools are the perfect complement to the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. This edition features Thomas Nelson's NKJV Comfort Print and an all new full color design, making the NKJV Study Bible an ideal choice for deeper engagement with Scripture.

Features Include:

• Full-color design
• Over 15,000 verse-by-verse study notes
• Bible times and culture notes
• Word studies with Strong's numbers
• Extensive cross-reference system
• In-text maps and charts
• Book introductions, outlines, and timelines
• Full-length articles, a concordance, and color maps
• Clear and readable Thomas Nelson NKJV Comfort Print®

Check out this amazing Bible in the video below!

Strengthening Our Spiritual Health

By: Melissa Baker

We are getting to the end of the first month of the new year. Those who have made new years resolutions might still be hanging on, while others have either achieved their goal or have given up. A common resolution that people often make is to lose weight or get healthy. I know that this is something that we have been working on in our home as well. We are trying to eat right, trying to exercise everyday and trying to make good and healthy choices. We are trying to strengthen our physical bodies. And although our physical health is really important, our spiritual health is even more important. 

Just like we work hard to strengthen our bodies, we also need to strengthen our minds and our faith. We need to gain wisdom on how to achieve our spiritual goals, and grow our faith just like we grow our bodies. Staying in the Word of God is one way to strengthen our spiritual health. We must read our Bibles if we expect to strengthen our faith and grow in our walk with the Lord. We must feed our minds with the "food" it needs to nourish it. There is so much wisdom in the Bible, as well as important information we need to be able to walk the Christian walk. It is literally our instruction manual for life! So dig in everyday!

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

2 Timothy 3:16

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4

Another way we can strengthen our spiritual health is to attend a church. Not only will we get to fellowship with other Christians, but we will hear the word of God in sermon form, as well as get closer to God as we worship Him. Our family attends services on both Sunday's and Wednesdays at our church. We start the week off with our Sunday service, and by Wednesday, we need to refuel! We need that mid week connection with other believers and to hear the word of God. We need that mid week refuel to gain spiritual strength to finish the rest of the week. So if you don't already attend a local church, I encourage you to find one! 

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25

Prayer is another very important step to strengthening our faith. It is our direct communication with our God. If we don't speak with Him, how can we communicate and grow our relationship? For example, if we don't talk to our husband or the people in our lives, how will we get close with them? How will we even have a relationship? It works the same with God. If we don't communicate with Him, there is no relationship. So prayer is a MUST! 

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:16

'Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is

God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.'

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

All these things will help us grow closer to the Lord and strengthen our faith and spiritual health. Let's not just focus on our bodies and other worldly things this year, lets renew our minds as well. It is so incredibly important to have a relationship with Jesus! And reading our Bibles, praying, attending church and worshiping Him will draw us ever close to Him and He will move in our lives like never before. We just have to be intentional about it, and actually let Him move! So weather you make new years resolutions or not, lets make a resolution right now to be intentional about strengthening our spiritual health and our relationship with the Lord. 

Once Upon a Time Bible and Storybook Bible

By: Melissa Baker

I have have had the privilege to read and introduce my kids to the Once Upon a Time Bible and Storybook Bible. My 3 year old preferred the storybook the best and my 6 year old loved the Bible.

The storybook Bible is filled with colorful pictures and the wonderful stories of the Bible that we have all heard and love. Every story begins with Once Upon A Time and ends with a Happily Ever After ending. I truly enjoyed reading the storybook to my sons. I would recommend the Storybook Bible to younger children who are just learning about the Bible but children of all ages will benefit from it and enjoy it.

The Once Upon A Time Bible is in the New International Readers Version (NIrV). There are several pictures throughout where it tells about specific stories. This sparked my sons interest because it's not just all words and reading. It helped him to visualize what is happening, which I find crucial in studying the Bible. Kids are visual beings and if they can see it or visualize it, it is more real for them so they can better understand what they are reading. I would recommend the Once Upon a  Time Bible to children who are able to read.

Official Website:

http://www.zondervan.com/once-upon-a-time-storybook-bible

http://www.zondervan.com/nirv-once-upon-a-time-holy-bible-hardcover

• With the popularity of fairy tales and Disney animation, and especially with the new release of Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast on March 17, Zonderkidz wanted to publish a storybook Bible and full -text Bible (Holy Bible offered in hardcover, and pink leathersoft editions) that would resonate with children and families who loved those types of movies, and loved reading a great story.

• The art will captivate Disney lovers with similar looking characters and color palettes

• Zonderkidz wanted to capture fans of this genre, but introduce young children to the word of God, and introduce them to the great characters of the Bible. It’s important to note that this brand serves to resound the theme that the Bible is NOT a fairy tale, but every great Bible story happened once upon a time. The Bible is the ultimate Happily Ever After story!

• What Christian parent doesn’t want to tie in Bible learning fun with what their kids already love, but also have the opportunity to teach them that the real heroes and stories of our faith come straight from God’s Word.

The Storybook Bible utilizes even more of the captivating art style and beautiful narrative to tell the major stories of the Bible (http://www.zondervan.com/once-upon-a-time-storybook-bible) , and the Holy Bible (http://www.zondervan.com/nirv-once-upon-a-time-holy-bible-hardcover & (http://www.zondervan.com/nirv-once-upon-a-time-holy-bible-imitation-leather) includes the full-text of the bestselling New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) translation, and highlights 6 great stories of the Bible in full-color tip-in pages.  (there will be 6 stories, and each story is told on 4 illustrated pages.)

BUY LINKS:  http://media.harpercollinschristian.com/page/onceuponatime

 Available where books are sold!

Journal the Word Bible- Review and Giveaway!!

By: Melissa Baker

I have recently had the opportunity to dive into the Journal the Word Bible. I really love this Bible. It is large print, which is always a plus.  And there is plenty of space in the margins to journal or write notes as you study the Word. I have recently started journaling as I read, and this Bible allowed me to do just that. The quality of this Bible is excellent.  I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone who wants to get into God's word and be able to journal as they study. 

About the Bible:

NKJV Journal the Word Bible and KJV Journal the Word Bible  (Thomas Nelson, September 2016) is a new, sturdy hardcover Bible that we are presenting to bloggers this month. Each page has lined spaces on the left or right margins of the text and leaves ample room to journal or draw outside the text as you read. It's a great way to practice the concept of creative note taking. By taking notes as you read the Bible it can help you to center your mind on certain words or verses to better remember them. 

Complete with an elastic band around the Bible for holding down pages as well as a ribbon marker, it allows you to creatively express yourself everyday with plenty of room for notes or verse art journaling next to your treasured verses. This single-column edition features thick cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God's Word and enhance your study.

Journal the Word Bible is excellent for personal use or for someone else. It can also be a cherished heirloom to pass on to future generations with your personal writings inside!

It's perfect for Bible art, studying, or reflecting on your thoughts while reading the Bible. Plus it will lay flat when you hold it in your hands or set it down on the table.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!
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