365-day devotional journals from Ellie Claire: Peace Begins With Me, The Earth is the Lord's and Everything In it, and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Beautifully crafted devotionals / journals will help you turn your heart toward God on a daily basis.

Three beautiful journals that will take you through the entire year ahead. Each has a different "theme" or focus that allows the user to select the devotional journal that appeals visually but more importantly on the focus of the thoughts delivered.

Any of these would make cherished gifts for those on your list. Seek them out online or at your favorite store.

The Earth Is the Lord's, and Everything In It: 365-Day Devotional Journal (Devotional Journals) 

ISBN: 978-1633261709

My thoughts:  Each daily read begins with a Scripture selection and a titled devotional thought for that day. Beautifully written to lead our thinking and assist in our grasp of the Scripture, the text concludes with a prayerful thought asking for God's help to achieve the day's lesson.

These thoughts on our Lord's beautiful Earth and His being the Creator of it all are expressed so well.

After reading, thinking, and praying over that day's message the reader has an opportunity to use the few blank lines to record their thoughts, goals, and prayer.

This makes a beautiful (isn't the cover absolutely stunning?) gift for someone to use who loves God's creation - this beautiful world we live in.

About the book: A devotional journal exploring God's magnificent creation.

From the small whisper of a snowflake to the large circumference of a baobab tree, all of nature is the creative expression of God. When we embrace His creative nature by taking the time to stop, notice, and connect, our hearts are encouraged and souls refreshed. Respond to the devotions, add your own creative writing, or keep track of prayers on the journaling lines.

Peace Begins with Me Journal: A 365-Day Devotional Journal (365 Devotional Journals)  

ISBN: 978-1633262072

My thoughts:  A few years back there was a song "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me....." A lovely song but really not expressive of the peace that is given to us by our Lord. In the Peace Begins With Me devotional journal the reader has the opportunity to mentally engage with Scripture and thoughts that lead to true peace.

The simple, uncluttered cover is peaceful and graceful and very classic. It exudes peace. There is such a lack of peace in the world and in our own lives. To seek peace and to find it is a gift from God.

This makes a wonderful gift for someone you know who wants to find peace.

About the book: We pray for peace. We beg for it from others. We make speeches about it. But in the end, the only peace most of us can control is that little portion we display for the world to see. If we are at peace, the chaos around us seems to calm down. Our peace affects others. And the Giver of peace awaits to give us the gift that can change our world. It begins with a prayer. It begins with me.

FEATURES
• Archive quality, non-bleed paper
• Acid-free paper and ink
• Daily devotional with lightly ruled space for responses, lists, or journaling
• Full-color interior design
• Presentation page for personalization
• Lay-flat binding
• Foil, ribbon
• Closure band

 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (365-Day Devotional Journals) (Lifestyle Journals)    

ISBN: 978-1633261808

My thoughts:  In this beautifully crafted devotional journal, the goal is to direct one's attention, heart, thoughts to Jesus.  This journal uses well crafted text and Scripture to lead the reader in the goal of setting their sights on Jesus.

What better way to either begin one's day or to end the day than to turn your eyes upon Jesus. This sweet journal can help you do just that.

The lovely rose floral design of the cover is repeated as small decorative touches inside the book. Pleasant to your eyes just as the joy of turning your eyes to Jesus is pleasant.

A lovely gift for someone who wishes to pursue a closer walk with Jesus in their daily lives.


About the book: A 365-day devotional journal to help you spend time with Jesus through quiet time, prayers, and reflection.

When life gets busy, it's easy to forget to spend time with God. This 365-day devotional journal offers encouraging meditations to help you spend a few moments turning your eyes on Jesus before your hectic day begins. After short devotions and Scripture for each day of the year, you will also find light journaling lines and ample space to record your thoughts, hopes, and prayers -- just what you need to start each and every day with the reminder that God is always by your side.

In this "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" devotional, the reader learns about protection from the storms of life that Jesus provides. "God is our stronghold - our rock, fortress, and deliverer. No matter how fierce the storm appears, we can trust in Him."

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of the three devotionals from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

Ellie Claire journals: Faith & Lettering, The Illustrated Word, and Illuminate Your Story

I had no idea how lovely these journals were till I actually had them in my hands and they are simply  Beautiful! The three interactive journals are listed below with some observations of mine on each of them. Personally, I am not one that takes pen to paper and journals. I admire anyone who does this and see great value in it for them individually at the moment they journal and then in the future for themselves or perhaps for their family in later years. Journaling has tremendous historic value.

These journals not only provide a beautiful source in which you can record your thoughts, but they have instructive value in forms of art that will help develop the artist hiding inside of you.

Faith & Lettering

This beautiful cover is embossed and has gold gilt emphasizing the letters and designs. The touch-feel of the embossing is luxurious. The very nice binding begs for you to pick up this journal and look through it. When you do, you'll see opportunities to grow your skill at creating artistic lettering and sketching that you color to release or develop your love of creativity. 

The paper is very nice and the space for writing whatever your heart desires is adequate and spaced nicely between opportunities to be creative.

This journal has a more modern look and design as do the art and lettering styles. A super gift for yourself or someone you know that journals or is a budding artist. And as for the actual writing you might do..... Well on one page it has the verse beautifully lettered..... "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4 and next to that is a blank page. What an opportunity to bare your heart on that page.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/FaithAndLettering-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/FaithAndLettering-BN

Illuminate Your Story

This journal is a little smaller than the other two in the group. The quality is superb and sturdy. There is even a little elastic band to help hold your place. What is so special, though, is the opportunity to have excellently guided directions and examples of beautiful illuminated lettering such as was used hundreds of years ago to decorate Holy Scripture.

The art of Scripture Illumination such as is featured in this journal is an almost lost art. The Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC has some beautiful manuscripts that were the inspiration for this journal. There is even a short History of Illuminated Letters at the beginning of the journal.

Tucked into the back cover of the journal is a little "Keepsake" pocket. What would you tuck away inside it? A note from a beloved spouse? A child's note attesting to his or her accepting Christ into their heart?

Your story can be written within these pages and your skill developed as you draw and color your letter to illuminate it. The technique to create your own illuminated letters is clearly given with practice areas in the journal. When pages for you to write begin, there is a quote - sometimes Scripture and sometimes from an individual. These are good for getting those thoughts flowing from your pen.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-BN

The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal

The cover of this journal is stunning. The embossed effect of the flowers and scrolls is expertly and meticulously done. The binding is quality through and through with high end paper.

The cover is embossed and texturized with gold foil and the colors of the exquisite art bright yet in excellent taste. Again the Museum of the Bible has lent beauty to this book with the use of the forty illustrations from manuscripts from hundreds of years ago. Each of these illustrations is titled and sourced.

This is a journal in which you can write and your art would be the coloring of pages such as the "I Am God" shown below. A beautiful book and an opportunity to see small bits of beautiful, ancient art that graced ancient manuscripts.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-BN

I see these as wonderful gifts for special people in your life. Or perhaps one is especially appealing to you.

DISCLOSURE: I received these 3 journals from Worthy Publishing on behalf of Ellie Claire to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own and are freely given.

The Daily Question For You and Your Child: A Three Year Spiritual Journal by Waterbrook

My thoughts:  This is not a book of instruction, study, or devotion. It is a journal that can be used over a period of three years with your child. Each day's page has a question and you record your child's answer to that specific question for the day. Then one year later, you use the second set of blank lines to record the same child's answer to the same question. You repeat this the third year recording the answer in the third portion of lines.

The volume is hardcover and has very sturdy binding so it will most likely last through daily use for three years. The cover design will appeal to either boys or girls. And a means of personalization of the book is provided via the square in the cover in which a picture of the child may be inserted.

The concept of providing a means to address your child's development of emotional, spiritual, and social thinking is certainly worth trying and the recorded comments for each day's question will certainly be a future treasure.

A plethora of questions is available and they run the gamut from "What game do you like to play?" to "What is your favorite thing God created?". I do not think there are any Scripture verses in the book so the Spiritual aspect of this publication will be the emphasis or application that parents insert on their own as the subject arises. Teachable moments exist and one must always be ready to avail themselves of it.

In multiple child families, this would be a nice family exercise, providing the child/children can all write and express themselves. Each child can have his own book in which they write their own thoughts. Family discussion can be held but for the book to be unique to the individual child, the discussion should state that each opinion is worthy of expression.

For those willing to try a project with their child that would last three years, this is certainly worth pursuing.

About the product/book: A fun, thought-provoking 365-question guided journal and keepsake that sparks daily interaction with your child to create a memory book capturing your child's life, personality, and faith journey.

This interactive prompted journal allows a parent to create a keepsake of three years of their child's life. By answering each of the 365 questions together on the same date each year, readers will get a unique and precious picture into their child's feelings, development, and personality. Some of the questions focus on spirituality and the child's heart, while some are meant to capture their creativity, spirit, and sense of humor. All questions spark conversations and memories that span well beyond the pages of this book.

DISCOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from WaterbrookMultnomah to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and are freely given.

Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle God's Promises by April Knight (Coloring Devotionals) from David C. Cook Publishing

With inspiring exercises and prompts, this unique interactive guide introduces readers to a creative connection between Bible study, artistic expression, and worship. About the books:  More than a coloring book, ScriptureDoodle is a combination of Bible study, creative expression, and artistic community with artwork shared online at #scripturedoodle. Exploring topics such as being generous, finding rest, and facing grief, ScriptureDoodle gives the heart the creative space it needs. This book stimulates the reader's imagination and helps integrate God's Word into everyday life.  ScriptureDoodle God's Promises refreshes believers who are feeling burned out or stuck in a rut in their relationship with God. Each of the creative worship prompts in this interactive guide includes biblical encouragement and ideas for worship through art. Artist April Knight includes creative lettering tips, color ideas, and completed examples to inspire readers to respond to promises in Scripture related to trust, faith, and the power of God's Word in all circumstances. My thoughts: These delightful books are part sketch book and part devotion book. Using the tips the user/reader has the tool for the act of Worship with Art by taking time to draw and express oneself. It can open your time to connect with God. The brief devotions relate to art ideas. There are art tips and suggestions for actual drawing. This provides a visual reminder of God's goodness and is a great way to help your teen (or as a gift for another teen) become engaged with God's Word. These books provide a tool tht will bring Scripture to life in full living color. This would be a great gift set - the two books, and are perfect for middle schoolers or preteens and up. About the author: APRIL KNIGHT is a worship artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. Knight's work includes live worship painting and leading ScriptureDoodle worshops online and at conferences and retreats around the country and internationally.  More information and reviewes - click here DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of ScriptureDoodle books (2) to facilitate this review of my opinions. I was not compensated for this review.