Where Jesus Slept by Norma Lewis Book Review + Giveaway

 * Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Flyby Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

A new picture book about the Nativity of Jesus, with a lively cumulative story structure.

This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept. From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants in and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the charming illustrations and the engaging repetition in this Nativity tale. Ages 4-7.

My thoughts-

The first thing that grabbed my attention about Where Jesus Slept is the gorgeous cover. I loved the similar artwork throughout the book. I love books written in this particular style for pre-school and young school age readers. Each page building on the previous page and the repetition cumulative stories create using this pattern are great tools for kids this age to work on their reading skills. 

This book is a great way to introduce or remind your children of the story of the birth of Jesus and all of the events that took place in the days leading up to his birth, the tale of the Nativity. I think this would be a great book to wrap and place under the tree to be opened and read as a family Christmas eve. I recommend this book to anyone who has young children.

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When Calls the Heart Season 2 Premiere + Win a Season 1 Box Set!

*Disclsoure of material connection- I was provided earlier access to watch the When Calls the Heart Season 2 premiere from Word TV via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the show-

When Calls the Heart the television series is inspired by Janette Oke's best selling book series about the Canadian West. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) a young teacher born into high society and used to many creature comforts being thrust into her first teaching assignment in Coal Valley, a very small and simple coal mining town. Coal Valley has experienced a huge tragedy at the mines recently, leaving most of the town's women widoows. Lori Laughlin plays Abigail Stanton, one of the widows and Daniel Lissing plays Jack Thornton, the Constable who sees Elizabeth to town. Living in a turn of the century coal town, Elizabeth must learn to adjust to living in the rural west all on her own.

My thoughts-

I have been watching When Calls the Heart since it first premiered on the Hallmark Channel. It has has been difficult to wait for season two to premiere, but the time has finally arrived!  One of the reasons I am a huge fan is because this is a family friendly show. I can watch When Calls the Heart with my 7 year old around and know that she will be viewing a wholesome show with no inappropriate surprises. I also love this series because I am a big fan of period dramas and this one is different than anything else on tv right now. There are definitely not any other shows set in the Canadian West in a small coal mining town! I always find it interesting to learn about other time periods and watching this show is like hoping in a time machine and joining Elizabeth during the turn of the century as she figures out life in Coal Valley. I love that the premiere is two hours long! It is like catching up with an old friend and really sets the mood for the rest of the season. I don't know why it was more noticeable to me in the premiere than in season one, but the scenery on this set is majestic. I love seeing the beautiful mountains in the background!

The season 2 premiere is full of drama, romance and intrigue as we pick back up where season 1 left off. It looks like there may be some twists and turns this season! It also seems like we may see more of Elizabeth's family life and changes in Coal Valley as well. I can not wait to see what the rest of season 2 has in store for not only Elizabeth, but handsome Canadian Mountie Jack, Elizabeth's friend and confidante Abigail Stanton, and the other interesting people of Coal Valley!

When Calls the Heart Season 2's two hour premiere will air at 8/7c Saturday April 25! Be sure to tune in!

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The Lumo Project: Gospel of John- Now on Netflix!

Disclosure of material connection- I received early access to watch The Gospel of John via FlyBy Promotions in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the film:

FOUR GOSPELS. FOUR FILMS. ONE JESUS STORY. FOR EVERYONE.

A ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels.

The Lumo Project is a ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels: redefining the standard of visual Biblical media. The Lumo Project presents four films – one for each Gospel account – that will revolutionize the way we all experience the story of Jesus and the world of First Century Palestine in which he lived.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

The Gospel of John takes the story of Jesus from John’s gospel with its own unique characteristics. For John, Jesus is the Word of God made human. John is clear that that when encounter Jesus, we encounter God.  The gospel writer points to the miracles (the ‘Signs’) and teachings as evidence of Jesus’ special relationship as the divine Son of God.

This full-length feature film about the life of Jesus takes the actual Gospel text as its script, word for word, unedited. Five years in the making, this epic production has been critically acclaimed by leading religious scholars as a unique and highly authentic telling of the Jesus story. Narrated by leading British actor David Harewood (‘Homeland’, ‘Blood Diamond’, ‘Merchant of Venice’) it is based on the latest theological, historical and archaeological research. With specially constructed sets and the extraordinarily authentic villages and countryside of rural Morocco, it immerses the viewer in the world of first century Palestine.

My thoughts-

When I heard about the Lumo Project and that the Gospel of John was going to be available on Netflix, I was intrigued. I love that they have it in both the King James version and the New International version so you can hear it in the text you are used to or more comfortable with or even watch them both to better understand both versions. I thought it was a great idea to have a narration of the gospels playing as actors act out all of the verses and chapters. Sometimes it can be hard to sit down and continue to just read such long texts, especially when you have done it many times in the past, but to have it come alive right before your eyes as you hear the verses really helps all of the words and stories really sink in. It really is a great way to really learn the gospels word for word. I always love watching movies set in Biblical times because I find it fascinating to see and think about what people lived like then and how it might have been to live during the same time as Jesus was around. I thought that the Lumo Project did a very good job making me feel like I could be there and to help paint a beautiful picture of what that time period might look like. I also think it is brilliant to place these movies portraying the gospels on Netflix since they have billions of viewers. Our prayer should be that these movies will reach the hearts of the lost and I truly think they will. I enjoyed watching the Gospel of John and I will look forward to watching the other three when they are made available. You can watch the Gospel of John right now on Netflix. Be sure and pass along the word!

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A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas Book Review + Giveaway

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

You believe your marriage has eternal purposes. You long for it to reach beyond your home and encourage others. But what does it look like to have spiritually intentional relationship in the midst of dirty dishes, work deadlines, and car pools.

In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas showed us that God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy. Now, in A Lifelong Love, Thomas gives us the practical tools to craft our marriaes into inspiring relationships that breathe spiritual life to others.

Whatever season of marriage you are in, A Lifelong Love  gives you the practical help you need to infuse your marriage with a spiritual passion that will not only change you but will change the world around you.

My thoughts-

I try to read books about relationships and marriage whenever I can. I definitely believe that marriage is a learning process through each season of our relationship. A good marriage is a constant work in progress and A Lifelong Love is a great resource. This book can be applied to a newlywed couple or a more seasoned couple, so it is a great one to have in your home library. The pages are full of sage advice and examples of living your life and treating your marriage beyond the bare minimum. It teaches you not to just go through the motions, but really work at making it into something lovely, something sacred, There are even examples of things that are common occurrences in marriages or things that are different between women and men to help us understand why our husbands might act one way or to explain to our husbands why we might react a certain way to a situation. At the end of each chapter there are wonderful questions designed to really get you thinking, as well as prayers for your marriage. A Lifelong Love is the kind of book that you can revisit and get something out of each time. I know I will be reading this again and I am sure that I will gain something new with each time I read it!

A Lifelong Love is available on Amazon.com and other retailers nationwide.
About the author-

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RAGAMUFFIN (Based on the Life of Rich Mullins) Movie Review + Giveaway

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Flyby Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not require to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

RAGAMUFFIN is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation. An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love. As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

My thoughts-

I admit that before this movie my knowledge of Rich Mullins begins and ends with a few of his better known songs. I think most of us have heard and sang "Awesome God" countless times in church. I was very interested in learning more about the person behind the song and I am so glad that I watched this movie. It is always interesting to learn about people who are in the spotlight. Famous people are often held to an unattainable standard, and I think that is probably especially true of famous Christians. Ragamuffin gives us a look at one such person and shows us that he is a real person, flawed just like the rest of us and unapologetic about it to boot. Watching this movie gave me a new respect for Rich Mullins for several different reasons, but one of those reasons was him speaking his mind on his views of the church and how he felt about certain things. He liked to talk and he had important things to say. Ragamuffin also shows us that Rich had his own struggles which were not pretty and how he handled becoming famous. His struggles are not sugar coated, but neither is his message. I think it is important that this movie covered all aspects of Rich's life to help us better understand the man he was. Ragamuffin also introduced me to several songs by Rich Mullins that I hadn't heard before that I plan to add to a Spotify playlist very soon! If you enjoy movies based on real life or if you are a Rich Mullins fan or just want to learn more about very interesting people, I recommend Ragamuffin to you. About Rich Mullins-

Singer and songwriter Richard Wayne “Rich” Mullins was best known for his worship song “Awesome God” which has been embraced as a modern classic by many Christians. His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon’s Call, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, John Tesh, and Hillsong United. Mullins’ musical career formally began with Zion Ministries in the late 1970s, where he wrote music and performed with a band called Zion.  Mullins first solo hit, “Awesome God,” appeared on his third album and brought his music to a wider audience. Rich Mullins was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association on April 29, 2014. Connect with RAGAMUFFIN on Facebook
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The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Gary Chapman Review & Giveaway!

Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of the book via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.


About the book:

You can picture the perfect marriage in your mind, but re-creating it in reality doesn’t come easy. Trusted counselor and relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman reasons that the most sought-after ingredient in any marriage is true oneness. In The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, he presents expert wisdom and common sense methods to establishing that true unity on emotional and practical levels. Discover the wit and insight that makes his worldwide presentations and marriage conferences so popular. Are you trying to change your spouse? Do you know what it means to really love someone? Do you feel ignored or even alone in your effort to improve your marriage? Dr. Chapman has answers and action steps on topics from expressing your emotions to managing your money, all in a format that will have you and your spouse talking and learning with every page.


My thoughts:

When my husband and I were preparing to get married, one of the best things we were asked to do during our pre marital counseling was to read The Five Love Languages. I have read a lot of books about marriage and that one has still been the most useful and made the most sense to both my husband and to me. Clearly Dr. Gary Chapman knows what he is talking about, so when I see a book by him, I am always interested in reading it. The Marriage You've Always Wanted is divided into 9 chapters that each focus on different things that will come up in a marriage. Many of the chapters I found would be more useful for a newly married couple, but there were several that screamed out to me "Oh yeah! That is a fantastic idea!" or "That makes total sense!". Even the advice that I found would be more useful for newlyweds were things that we could all use reminders about.  I think the best advice in the book is about how we all want to have a spouse that's understanding and kind, but that we don't always act that way toward them and that the best way to have a spouse that is understanding is kind is to BE a spouse that is understanding and kind. I am paraphrasing, but you get the idea. It is not a novel idea, but I am afraid it is something most of us need to hear for it to click. I know I certainly do! Something I really liked about this book is that at the end of each section there are discussion questions for reflection. These questions are thought provoking and meant to start a conversation between you and your spouse. One of the greatest things about this novel, is the plethora of books and website links at the end to even further your journey of a happy and fulfilling marriage. There were several I know that I will be adding to my bookshelves. The Marriage You've Always Wanted would make a great wedding gift and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their marriage.

You can purchase The Marriage You've Always Wanted on Amazon.com or Christian retailers nationwide.

About the author:

Dr. Chapman is the author of the wonderfully popular The Five Love Languages, as well as numerous other books about marriage and relationships. He also is the host of a nationally syndicated radio program and holds various marriage conferences throughout the year all over the country.

Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.


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Bash and the Pirate Pig (Book Review) + Giveaway!

*Disclosure- I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via Flyby Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the Book:

Bash and the Pirate Pig, by Burton Cole, is the story of a cranky city kid named Raymond "Beamer" Boxby who must spend summer vacation at his younger cousin, Bash's, farm. 

Beamer prefers air conditioning and video games. He can't see what good can come of this so-called country fun that includes riding cows, river rafting with a pig, or playing with skunks. 

But hang tight, Beamer, because Bash's zany adventures with his "Fishin' and Farmin' book" (The Bible) just might lead to the coolest discovery of all.

My thoughts:

Raymond is what I would call a typical kid these days. His idea of a good time is being indoors, doing something mindless like playing video games. His parents decide to send him off to his aunt and uncle's house for summer vacation. This means he has to spend his summer with his younger cousin. On a farm. He is less than thrilled, but once he gets there and goes on some adventures with younger cousin Bash, he actually finds that he enjoys himself on the farm and in the presence of his cousin. He also learns some pretty valuable lessons through Bash and even comes to make a really important decision in his life.

Overall, I thought this was a cute book. I like the Biblical lessons presented through adventurous Bash who refers to it as "The Farmin' & Fishin' Book", a cute way for a little guy to think of the Bible. I liked seeing Raymond begin to like where he was and who he was with after being so against it in the beginning. I did cringe almost every time the word "stupid" showed up in the book. I felt like it was overdone, but I do think that it can be a teaching moment for us parents to our kids about having a good attitude and using appropriate language. A really neat feature of this book is the discussion questions in the back of the book called "Parent Connection" meant to get parents and kids talking with one another about the book and about the Bible. This is a good way to open up a discussion with your child and see their thoughts on the book on what they might have learned in the process of reading it. I also really enjoyed the playful and animated illustrations by the very talented Tom Bancroft. I would recommend this book to middle to upper grade elementary age kids, who I think would enjoy it the most.

About the Author:

Burton Cole is a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist with thirty years of experience and more than fifty humor writing awards to his credit. He grew up on a farm in northeast Ohio and attended a small-town church with a slew of cousins and buddies. That same boyhood inspires his colorful stories today. 

About the Illustrator: 

Tom Bancroft has more than twenty years of experience in the animation and illustration industry and worked with Disney on films including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin. Other clients have included DC Comics and Big Idea Productions.

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