Jesus Today®: Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young [Review & Giveaway - 2 winners] Release date Feb. 2

• ISBN-13: 978-0718038052
• Tommy Nelson Publisher - Ages 6-10

There is just something so sweet and special about kid's products - especially kid's products that help guide your children in their walk with the Savior.  Our awesome friends at Tommy Nelson (a division of Thomas Nelson) has a devotional just for kids.

I have recently seen a plethora of children's Bible study and/or devotional books and many are really cute (sometimes too cute). But while we want the materials used to teach and encourage children toward their walk with God, we shouldn't want them so cute as to lighten the reality of the awesome power and love of God. We need to strike a happy balance.

In this edition of Sarah Young's Jesus Today®: Devotions for Kids, this well bound, small hardcover book has a cute and appealing cover. Inside, though, it is all serious business. This book is print only on the inside (aside from border color and little bird).  The text is written in a down-to-earth yet serious tone that will get across to the child God's supreme love and power but it is in terms and phraseology that a child can grasp.

Each two-page devotion has one page of devotional text and one page of Scripture quotes. The print is sized to make the early reader comfortable. While the book is directed for the age 6-10 child, I see the younger children will possibly need assistance reading (good parent to child time). However, I believe, too, that this will appeal on upward to the 12-13 year old as well.

I think this is just a wonderful page. We know we
can ALWAYS trust God because He ALWAYS does
what He says; and if He promises, the promise is kept!

I like that there is a Scripture Index in the back of the book which is broken down by books of the Bible. I would prefer that the author had used the King James Version, but the conservative Christian author has chosen a different version to utilize. Parents can choose this opportunity to show a comparison to their child, if they so wish.

Jesus Today®: Devotions for Kids is about Jesus and His amazing Love for you.  It's also a book about hope.  Some kids may think that hoping is just wishful thinking.  But the hope Jesus offers you is something you can hold on to -- knowing it will never let you down.  Because Jesus will never let you down!  No matter what is happening -- whether you are happy, scared, angry, or sad -- God is always in control, and He is always good.

Jesus is the Friend who is always with you. Jesus Today®: Devotions for Kids will pour this powerful truth into your children’s hearts as they learn that He knows everything about them and loves them more than they can imagine.

Each devotion is based on Scripture and is written as though Jesus is speaking, assuring that He is in control, that He is good, and that an amazing future awaits all who put their hope in Him.

Adapted from ECPA Gold Medallion–winner Jesus Today®, this devotional has the same themes as the adult version, as well as written-out scriptures. It is a great choice for families to read and discuss during devotional time together.

GIVEAWAY 

#1 receives "Jesus Today" book (US/CANADA)
#2 receives a $25 Family Christian Appreciation Certificate (US ONLY)
Begins January 24
ENDS February 2 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. 

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
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Visit your local Family Christian store or shop online at FamilyChristian.com for this and other amazing products to encourage and uplift your heart.
About the author: Sarah Young's devotional writings are personal reflections from her daily quiet time of Bible reading, praying and writing in prayer journals.  With sales of more than 14 million books worldwide, Jesus Calling has appeared on all major bestseller lists.  Sarah's writings include Jesus Calling, Jesus Today, Jesus Lives, Dear Jesus, Jesus Calling for Little Ones, Jesus Calling Bible Storybook, Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, and Peace in His Presence -- each encouraging readers in their journey toward intimacy with Christ.  Sarah and her husband were missionaries in Japan and Australia for many years.  They currently live in the United States.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

The Plans I Have For You Devotional & Journal [Review & Giveaway USA & CANADA]

It is so very important that families have group devotions with parents and children present. This instills in them a lifetime habit of Bible study and prayer time. When my children were growing up, my husband and and I had regular Bible reading and prayer with our children. I also had special times when I focused on Bible stories with them. But there were not any helps for parents or children back in those days (I'm ancient, aren't I??) that could make this time more appealing to the children.

Hardcover 160 pages
Age range: 8-12 years

About The Plans I Have For You Devotional:

The devotional is an illustrated 90-day devotional written by bestselling children's book author Amy Parker and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, teaching and inspiring kids to dream about their future, to focus on faith, love, and joy, and recognize that God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us.

With today's plethora of Bible helps designed for children parents may have more success in maintaining the children's interest. Certainly with the printing of The Plans I Have For You Devotional and the accompanying The Plans I Have For You Journal those wonderful "teachable moments" will multiply.

These are colorful and very attractive books that will capture the children's interest. The focus of to bring an understanding to the child that God has specific plans for him or her. Set forth in easy to read language and variable text fonts and text size, the book is adorable. Written with rhyme and a bit of rhythm the 90-day devotionals will seat themselves in the heart and mind of the reader.

As the devotionals are read the child has the opportunity to react to his heart's and mind's feelings about God's plans for their life and record in the journal just how he is thinking and feeling.

About The Plans I Have For You Journal:

The journal prompts creative thinking and exploration of the talents and personalities that make us special, and then helps explore how God may use our unique traits to spread love and joy and make the world a better place.

About author: Amy Parker has sold more than thirty books for children, teens, and adults.  She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son.  Two of these collaborations are recipients of Christian retailing's Best Awards, and she has also won three Mom's Choice Awards.  But Amy's greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.

About illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter.  Her passion for children's books began when she came across The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats as a child in the 1960s.  Growing up in a musical family who love to sing, Vanessa's illustrations are as fun and whimsical as a beautiful melody.  Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charlotte, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.

Visit your local Family Christian store or shop online at FamilyChristian.com for this and other amazing products to encourage and uplift your heart.

GIVEAWAY - 2 Winners
(1st) The Plans I Have For You books (USA/CANADA)
(2nd) $25 Family Christian Appreciation Certificate (USA ONLY)

Begins January 10
ENDS January 23 @ 12:00 a.m. ET. 

 Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. $25 Family Christian Appreciation Certificate is provided by and sent to winner directly by Family Christian. Only 1 Family Christian Appreciation Certificate per month is allowed to be won - discretion of Family Christian.

Vendetta (The Nikki Boyd Files) by Lisa Harris {#BookReview & Family Christian #Giveaway}

About the book: No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.

My thoughts: When you crack the spine of a Lisa Harris book, you immediately begin an exciting journey enveloped in suspense and mystery. Vendetta is no different from her other books in the entertainment arena because it is a good read from the first crack.

As Nikki and her deceased best friend's husband rappel over the edge of a cliff in a wilderness trek meant to take Tyler's memory off the one-year anniversary of his wife's death, Nikki's life is literally hanging by a thread. Their day is interrupted with the message from her supervisor asking her help with a missing person case. Time is of the essence and Nikki is a willing and skilled investigator.

Crumbs of evidence can either be real or faked but follow them they must. Clues lead to the beautiful Smoky Mountain Park which is a wilderness covering a vast area.

As book one in the new Nikki Boyd File series, Vendetta will provide a good read. It is a clean and exciting read with a touch of faith and a touch of budding romance. Good read for teens and adults.

GIVEAWAY

Family Christian is providing a
$25 Appreciation Certificate for this Giveaway.

Begins November 7 
ENDS November 28 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to US & Canada addresses only!
Family Christian allows only 1 Appreciation Certificate per person/address won per month

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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Revell a division of the Baker Publishing Group to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review. Giveaway is provided compliments of Family Christian and will be mailed directly to the winner by Family Christian.