Great for God: Missionaries who changed the world by David Shibley

When David Shibley wrote the introduction to "Great for God", he gave a great summary of what this book is all about. 23 different individuals, all coming from different parts of the world, ranging from the 1700's to the  21st century, both men and women who all had a strong desire to do great things for God. David Shibley does emphasize that these people were imperfect, still human, just ordinary people with a resolve to glorify God in their lives.

The stories of each of these individuals can be read as a personal study, a small group Bible study, or even for family devotions. Each chapter begins with a thematic title, the individuals legacy or great thing they did in the name of our God, and a quote from the individual.

The last chapter gives an encouragement for the reader to go out and do great things for God. The author gives twelve characteristics that each of these individuals possessed that links them all to accomplishing greatness for God. I like how the author also gives a few warnings in attempting to do great things for God; such as, it is a definite way to get Satan's attention, you will defy the status quo so you will surely have enemies, and especially the warning to not place "ministry" over family or win the whole world in the process of losing your children.

This book was a great read and I would definitely recommend it for high school age or older, even a small group Bible study.

*This book was sent to me by Master Books , a division of New Leaf Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Life by Bob Welch

If you are sentimental like me, the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" is on your must see Christmas movies every year. It always reminds me of real life with its problems, delights, and daily moral decisions. That was why I was so intrigued when I picked up this book written by Bob Welch.

This book has a total of 52 lessons that can be learned from the movie. Each lesson starts with a quote or moment from the movie. Then a basic rundown of what happened in that scene mixed with how we can apply that lessons to our lives.
This is a christian book and each lesson has applicable scripture and spiritual implications.

I didn't realize how many lessons could be learned from this movie and felt the author did an excellent job in utilizing moments of the movie with everyday life. I completely enjoyed this book and felt it could be used as a devotional as well as in group discussion. I plan to pass this on to a friend who is crazy about the movie, and know she will definitely enjoy and benefit from this book.

This would make a great Christmas gift, book club read, devotional, or church group discussion book.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Teeny Tiny Tina Books by Rosemary Evans

I am super excited to share the next set of books for review. When author Rosemary Evans contacted me about reviewing her books I didn't know what to expect, but when the books arrived I was impressed with how she had packaged them in colorful tissue paper and stickers of her main character of Teeny Tiny Tina the tooth fairy. Lets start with a short description of each book and then I will give a summary of my overall impression.

Teeny Tiny Tina the Teeny Tiny Tooth Fairy
Slip into a tiny magical world with Teeny Tiny Tina the tooth fairy and discover right along with her; that being small is not necessarily a bad thing. Tina's sisters are bigger and have fun being tooth fairies, but Tina feels small and insignificant. She soon learns that small or big she can accomplish great things and help others. 

  
Teeny Tiny Tina and her Teeny Tiny Pet
Join Teeny Tiny Tina in her second book where she learns a lesson from her pet cat-a-pillar Kat. Tina learns that Kat will be changing soon and won't let Kat out of her sight. She soon learns that change can be wonderful and is nothing to be afraid of. 

  
The Little Princesses Magical Party
Princesses Abrielle and Annelise have a wonderful life in a castle where they play dress up and have tea parties, but they wish they had friends to play with. They decide to give a party for all the girls in the kingdom. Come with them as they display kindness,sharing and gratefulness to all the girls; and learn that every girl is a princess. 

The Adventures of the Little Prince
Little Prince doesn't think he wants to be King, he just wants to go on an adventure. Along the way he meets many different types of people in the kingdom. He displays kindness, bravery and unselfishness and learns that he would make a great king after all.   








I can not begin to rave about these books; in fact they plan to go into my permanent collection and be passed down to my grandchildren one day. I liked them all but my absolute favorite had to be Teeny Tiny Tina  The Teeny Tina Tooth Fairy. The storyline of each one is simple enough for young children to understand. Each book has a lesson or character trait to convey to the reader and does a wonderful job describing it in true storybook form. At the end of each book is a breakdown of the character trait that all but one book display in rhyme. I adore the illustrations in each book. Bright, vibrant and fairytale like; my kids and I spent hours looking at all the details. These books are a wonderful collection for sharing Christ-like character traits to children. 
I recommend these books for ages 3 and up (how high depends on the child...my 12 year old loved the books). Please check out Teeny Tiny Tooth Fairy online. Each book can be purchased there at a reasonable price and there are other products available that complement the books as well. 

*These books were given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.   

Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma

Tired of tripping over laundry lying all over the floor? Sick of dishpan hands? Want to teach your kids a sense of responsibility? Or want to have your family more unified by doing their part?
Join author Kay Wyma and her five kids as they conduct a one year experiment to decrease their sense of entitlement and teach a sense of responsibility. This book has 12 chapters, each chapter has one task the family undertook for that month. Each chapter consists of their personal experiences, lessons they learned, and  ideas for implementing the task   Tasks include topics such as: employment, laundry, bathroom, kitchen, manners and many more.
With 4 kids and a world that constantly teaches our kids that they are entitled; this book was refreshing to read. As a christian family it is very important to us to teach our children about self-sacrifice and service to others. What better place to start than at home with our families.   I did alto of laughing as Kay shared some of her family's experiences throughout this process; and just imagined what my kids would say once we start our cleaning house.
This book is great for any family who is just starting out with young kids and even those who have older kids.
Families, single parents, grandparents acting as parents, parents to be, bible study, and church ministries would benefit greatly from this book.
 *This book was sent to me by Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.
 

Asher of Bethlehem by Howard Rodney Jones

I have heard the Nativity story many times, including many fictional versions; but I have never read quite a story as Asher of Bethlehem.
Where: Bethlehem
When: During the birth of Jesus
Who: A beggar, his best friend and the birth of a child
What: God's Provision
This 119 page book is a simple read for preteen-teens. This is a fictional account of the birth of Jesus. Using a historical and biblical account of this time period the author gives the reader an account of the nativity through the eyes of one of Bethlehems teen beggars Asher and his friend Medad whos parents own the inn that Joseph and Mary come to. The main theme throughout this book  is "God will Provide".

What I liked: I felt the author did an excellent job in representing the time period in which this event took place. His description of Bethlehem and its people gave me a greater understanding of the possible characters and their roles during one of the world's greatest events. I loved the twist of an outsiders, a beggar in fact, viewpoint on Joseph's, Mary's and Jesus' stay while in Bethlehem. It was great to imagine if there had been such characters at Jesus birth that their lives would have been changed forever and that God would provide for them.

What I didn't like: Personally I believe that the wiseman did not see Jesus in the stable but a year later in fact. I realize to make this particular storyline work the wiseman's presense at the stable were required. They were an integral part to the ending of the story. That being said, overall  it did not affect the story or message at all.

Would I recommend this book? YES 
A great read for teens or adults, this book would be great for personal enjoyment, book reports, supplement to any bible curriculum or christmas study as well as character studies.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Awesome Science: Explore Meteor, Crater and Petrified Forest

Description: How do meteors, craters and the petrified forest back up the Biblical Worldwide Flood? Join 14 year old Noah Justice in this 30 minute DVD as he explores meteors, craters and the petrified forest and shows how they are evidence to a biblical worldwide flood. Beautiful video footage of the Petrified Forest National Park, Tepee formations, and a meteor crater in Arizona; along with other historical picture documentations of studies done on craters make this DVD visually stimulating. A well written and given presentation by Noah Justice appeals to young and old alike.
My Opinion: I absolutely loved the whole biblical application and use of scriptures throughout the video. A short presentation of salvation was also included. I would recommend this video for Middle Schoolers and up(alot of the scientific terminology and explanations would probably be a tad boring for the younger set). Overall, a wonderful presentation of scientific facts for the proof of Noah's Flood. I look forward to watching more awesome science videos in the future.
My Kids Opinion(12 year old): I liked this video and learn many things I never knew about petrified wood and craters. My favorite thing was when I learned about the only man buried on the moon(watch the video to find out if you don't know who I am referring to). Noah was a great host and the added blooper reel was hilarious. It helped me alot with being able to defend my belief and the truth of the flood in the Bible.
Summary: A wonderful addition to any homeschool or Christian school science curriculum. Make sure to get the Study guide along with the video(full of review questions and activities).

*This book was sent to me by New Leaf Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. This book can also be purchased on Amazon.com

The Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky by Dr. Jason Lisle

Are you a stargazer? Do you want to learn how to be one? This book is the perfect guide to exploring the night sky. Written in a christian perspective and full of beautiful photography; The Stargazers guide to the night sky will help you discover and explore celestial wonders like you never have before.
This hardback 240 page book is divided into 12 chapters which includes the best ways and times to observe the planets and stars, picking out the right telescope for star gazing, star charts and more. Any new or inexperienced astronomy lover can find detailed information on what, where and how to find and observe God's celestial creation. This book would be great for personal or educational purposes. Although there is no age appropriated designated, I would suggest a high school-adult level; possibly junior high depending on the student.

What I liked:  My favorite thing about the book was the detailed guide to picking out a telescope that works for you, star charts that tell you where and when you can find them, and the absolutely gorgeous photography throughout (I could spend hours just looking at the pictures). We are personally going to use this book as an addition to our Astronomy curriculum for homeschooling this coming year.

What I didn't like: There really is nothing negative I can say about this book. I wouldn't consider this a complete astronomy curriculum, but it is a fantastic book for basic astronomy and information  and tips to appreciate the beauty of God's universe.

*This book was sent to me by New Leaf Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review