Tag Archives: prayer

Children’s Corner: Very Veggie Bedtime Prayers

27 Jan

A collection of bedtime prayers featuring favorite VeggieTales character

This new VeggieTales book of bedtime prayers is perfect for easing the daily transition from playtime to sweet dreams. These rhyming, toddler-friendly prayers will help teach little ones the importance of talking to God every day. Colorful illustrations of familiar VeggieTales characters accompany the short, easily understood prayers. This collection is designed to help children reflect on their day and anticipate the day to come, with requests and gratitude for God’s guidance. With its soft padded cover and convenient size, this book is the perfect way to teach children about prayer and the ways God cares for us through the day and as we sleep. Ages 2-5.

To purchase, click HERE.

My Impressions:

Colorful illustrations will get your child interested, but the easy, rhyming conversations with God will help foster a love for prayer. All the VeggieTale characters are involved in the day to day prayers that help in all situations. Besides those specific to bedtime, you’ll find prayers for sick friends, gratitude for family and pets, help for scary times, and praise for the Creator. Sprinkled among the prayers are scripture passages from the Psalms that even the smallest of children can memorize. You may only want to read one prayer a day, but I bet your child will want you to keep going. A great addition to the family library, Very Veggie Bedtime Prayers would also be make a wonderful gift for a new baby.

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 2-5.

(Thanks to Worthy Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review + Giveaway: Pray A to Z

5 Dec

51wn-jo7l-_sx343_bo1204203200_Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father. Whether you are praying for a friend’s adoption journey, a neighbor’s bankruptcy, or a family member’s cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A to Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.

 

arhodes-412Amelia Rhodes is a speaker and author of Isn’t It Time for a Coffee Break: Doing Life Together in an All-About-Me Kind of World. Amelia’s writing has also been featured in four Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, devotionals for the OneHope blog Undeterred and the international devotional Upper Room. Amelia has a growing speaking ministry and speaks regularly to women’s groups on topics of spiritual growth, friendship, and community, offering practical tools for living our faith in the everyday. She lives in Lowell, Michigan.
Find out more about Amelia at http://www.ameliarhodes.com.

 

My Impressions:

Community, according to my dictionary, is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. We all live in community whether as part of a small town or a large city, a remote rural area or a sprawling urban center. And even if your closest neighbor is miles away, we are all part of a larger group. I see the book Pray A to Z as a means to bring people closer together. This small book can make a big impact. Arranged alphabetically by topic, each passage begins with a verse of Scripture and then gives direction for specific prayer. Many of the topics are people and things I may not have included in my own prayer time without prompting, but are vital to the well-being of my community — court cases, foster families, eXcellence and generosity. The book is an effective resource to re-energize and re-focus personal prayer time or group prayer meetings. I also see it as a tool to compliment prayer-walking or driving as we go about our daily life.

If you want to up your prayer game, then consider Pray A to Z!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Worthy Publishers and LitFuse for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

Giveaway!

 

Learn more about Pray A to Z and how to pray for your community, and enter to win Amelia’s Guide to Prayer Prize Pack to get you started.

pray-a-to-z-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of Pray A to Z
A set of Pray A to Z prayer cards
A custom wood sign (similar to this one) made by Amelia’s friend
A prayer journal

Enter today by clicking HERE, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 20. The winner will be announced December 21 on Amelia’s blog.

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Book Review: 365 Pocket Morning Prayers

28 Sep

51hwb440qtl-_sx331_bo1204203200_Each morning when you arise, take a moment to talk with God about the day ahead. Ask Him to prepare your heart so that you can be ready to face any challenge that comes your way. 365 Pocket Morning Prayers can guide this time of life-changing conversation and help you express your needs and concerns to God. Don’t worry about what the day will bring. Instead, release your troubles and concerns into God’s care by reading and meditating on the prayers featured in 365 Pocket Morning Prayers. Begin your day in joyful anticipation, trusting that God is in control of your life and wants only the best for you.

 

To purchase this book, click HERE.

 

My Impressions:

Need more prayer in your life? Who doesn’t?! With 365 Pocket Morning Prayers you will have a great resource for spending time with God, even when you are on the go. Each day a short prayer focusing on your needs and God’s purposes will greet you along with a short scripture verse to meditate upon. There’s plenty of comfort and conviction between this book’s pages. For example, one day is dedicated to Legalism, reminding the reader that that is a problem not just of 1st century Pharisees. Other topics include Listening to God, Self-Image, God’s Patience, Truthfulness — there is something for every day and every situation. 365 Pocket Morning Prayers is perfect to keep in your purse or backpack for your morning commute (unless you are driving!) or to keep handy in your desk drawer for your morning break. Of course, it is also designed to be used first thing in the morning and is a great way to jumpstart your day or quiet time.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Pocket Prayers

28 Apr

What a wonderful opportunity I have been given to share 6 books in the Pocket Prayer series written by Max Lucado (along with Andrea Lucado, Mark Mynheir, Jennifer Hale and Betsy St. Amant). Each book in the series focuses on a particular group — graduates, teachers, friends, dads, moms and military members. Here is a little bit about each book:

519T3YrW0lL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Some friends are closer than family. They weave their way into our lives, there to celebrate the highs and comfort us through the lows. And for those special friends, Max Lucado offers forty scriptures and guided prayers that bring joy and serenity in Pocket Prayers for Friends.

 

 

 

51MwRQZJzoL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_

All the way from coloring inside the lines to calculus, teachers have given us the tools to thrive. Where would we be without them? But a teacher’s job is often a difficult one. Sometimes anxiety and exhaustion become the norm. For those in need of a little peace and renewal, Max Lucado points to the Teacher who offered just that. Pocket Prayers for Teachers contains forty scriptures and guided prayers written especially for those special people, who encourage and inspire our students.

 

514ikpgmrgL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Graduation is one of life’s most exciting milestones. It can also be a source of uncertainty and anxiety. What comes after graduation day? More education? A career? Starting a family? Often this time in life can bring more questions than answers, but Max Lucado offers hope and direction by pointing to the Answer to all of life’s question. Pocket Prayers for Graduates includes forty scriptures and guided prayers written especially for those considering their futures post-graduation.

 

51cs1rf9L7L._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Daily life for those in the military and their loved ones at home can be filled with rapid change, fear, and uncertainty. For those bravely sacrificing for our country, bestselling author, Max Lucado, offers words of hope, pointing them to the Source of faith and courage. Pocket Prayers for the Military contains forty scriptures and guided prayers that will help readers face the unique challenges of military life with courage and faith.

 

515UjRvzyHL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Dads wear many hats. From protector to playmate, confidante to counselor. No matter the role, families rely on dads to lead with strength and faith. And in Pocket Prayers for Dads, Max Lucado offers forty scriptures and guided prayers that will help dads do just that.

 

 

 

51hXE8wSXGL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_No one knows how quickly the chaos of daily life can become overwhelming more than moms. We lean on them for everything from hurt feelings to missing homework to broken bones. So, where can moms turn for peace and rest in the midst of mayhem? Bestselling author Max Lucado points to the Source of all hope and strength in Pocket Prayers for Moms, which contains forty scriptures and guided prayers written especially for all moms.

 

 

 

MLucado-261More than 120 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the writings of Max Lucado. He lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy, in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves the people of Oak Hills Church. Find out more about Max at https://maxlucado.com.

 

 

 


My Impressions:

Small books packed with big truths! That’s what you get with the Pocket Prayers series by Max Lucado. Each book is geared to a specific audience and provides all you need to begin the transformation from prayer wimp to prayer warrior! I loved the introduction to the books. Obviously written from his heart, Lucado shares the wonder, power and promises that prayer can provide if you access it everyday. Each book has 40 prayers accompanied by 40 scripture verses and is divided into helpful topics for each group. In Pocket Prayers for Friends the topics include Grace And Wisdom, Joy And Companionship, Help And Protection, Peace And Problem-Solving, Longevity And The Future and Love And Forgiveness. These books are an easy introduction to the prayer-power connection!

Highly Recommended!

As part of this tour, I had the great pleasure of sharing the books with very special people. Here they are:

CfJIjVBWIAA_NCh.jpg-smallPocket Prayers for Teachers went to my good friend and super teacher, Carrie. This mom of two elementary school-aged boys is an inspiration to many in her professional and personal life, but we all can use a little help!

CevNeUvW4AEMfFD.jpg-smallSheryl is a busy mom and my husband’s dedicated office manager. She immediately dug into Pocket Prayers for Moms. She says she loves beginning each day with a message and prayer that prove pertinent for her upcoming day.

CevNNy2WQAAab9F.jpg-smallNikki is still a newlywed. She has been married less than a year, but her husband has been deployed twice for a total of six months! She is a wonderful registered veterinary technician who received Pocket Prayers for Military Life.

 

CgSRr88WsAA44P8.jpg-smallI have a new friend and sister-of-the-heart in Carol. We have had so much fun in the short time we have known each other and I hope the adventure continues for a long time! She got Pocket Prayers for Friends.

CgZobKdW8AUSxYQ.jpg-smallSoon to be graduate (and my soon to be daughter-in-love!), Brittany is a young woman with a bright future. I gave her Pocket Prayers for Graduates for the guidance she needs to transition from college to real life!

Collins is my niece’s husband. This policeman (the reason for no picture; he keeps a low profile when it comes to the internet) and father of a blended family has stress and pressures. But becaue of his dedication to being a godly father, I gave him Pocket Prayers for Dads.

(Thanks to LitFuse for review copies of these books. All opinions expressed are mine alone)

 

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Children’s Corner: Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place

21 Oct

51hB0GsbE3L._SX362_BO1,204,203,200_Can you help Peter find the perfect place to pray?

Peter is used to seeing his mom pray in her special prayer room, and now you can help him search for his own place to pray—Peter’s perfect prayer place. Is it under his bed? Up in his treehouse? Between the pots and pans? Where can God hear him best? There’s lots of fun as Peter looks and looks, but in the end, he learns that although it’s great to have a special place to be alone with God and pray, God hears you no matter where you are—under, up, or in between!

This companion book to the movie War Room will teach young readers an important lesson about talking to God. And the fold-out prayer chart and stickers in the back of the book will let them track their prayers as well as God’s answers!

 

stephen alex charlotte_0Kendrick Brothers Productions is the company founded by Alex and Stephen Kendrick that exists to honor Jesus Christ and make His truth and love known among the nations through movies, books, curriculum, and speaking. By prayerfully blending engaging stories with doctrinal integrity, the Kendricks seek to encourage and inspire viewers and readers with resources that impact their spiritual lives and strengthen their families and personal relationships.

Daniel Fernández is an illustrator for children’s books. He is also art director and creative director. Born in Chile, he currently lives in Germany.

My Impressions:

The Kendrick brothers created a powerful movie in War Room. Seeking to spread the message of the power of prayer, they have ventured into several mediums including the children’s book Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place. With rhyming verse and detailed and colorful illustrations, this book emphasizes the need for prayer in even the smallest child. As he searches for just the perfect place to pray, Peter learns that he can talk to God anytime and anywhere. The book also offers resources for parents to teach their child the importance of prayer. Bible verses and discussion questions reinforce the message of the book, while activity pages and a poster to personalize prayer requests, complete with stickers, get kids motivated to begin and continue their own conversation with God. Children ages 3-8, along with their parents, will find this book both fun and educational.

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 3-8, with parental involvement.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to B&H Publishing for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

Instilling the habit of prayer in children is important. Do you have a tip to get kids praying?

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Book Review: Tell Me About Prayer (Train ‘Em Up)

6 Nov

396804Train ’Em Up is an interactive, fun-filled, and affordable series that uses a train locomotive theme for teaching kids core Christian beliefs and principles. In Tell Me about Prayer, a friendly train conductor, Mr. Steve, teaches kids what prayer is all about, how we should talk to God, and why our conversations are so important to Him. Through bold graphics and interactive songs and stories, Train ’Em Up makes it easy for parents and teachers to explain biblical concepts like prayer in a way that helps with attention, memorization, and recall while building a solid faith foundation. Each book in the series includes a CD with sing-along songs and narrated stories with sound effects, plus a colorful sticker sheet!

 

Stephen Elkins is the owner and founder of Wonder Workshop, located fifteen minutes from the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. For over 20 years, he has written and produced quality music products that have been nominated for Grammy Awards as well as ECDA Association Awards. He has produced products for every major Christian publisher as well as such publishers as Simon & Schuster and Random House. His books and CDs have been published in several languages and have maintained positions on Billboard’s Top 100 for over 100 consecutive weeks. Stephen lives with his lovely wife, Cindy. They have three children.

 

My Impressions:

Interactive, fun, and based on scripture — that’s what you get with Tell Me About Prayer, part of the Train ‘Em Up series of books for children. What a great resource for parents. This book on prayer includes colorful stickers, a CD of kids songs focusing on prayer, and short, to the point explanations of what talking to God is all about. I liked that each example of prayer is followed by scripture that is easy to understand and memorize by children. The train motif is an added bonus. I have a little friend who is crazy about trains – this book will definitely be going home with him. There are lots of ways for a parent to use this book to teach about prayer and to reinforce God’s promises to his children. Not a book you will want to miss!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: children ages 4-7.

(Thanks to Tyndale for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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You Might Be Interested: Live A Praying Life

29 Jul

While at the ICRS, I picked up a lot of books.  It is going to take me a lot of time to get them read and reviewed, so I thought I would spotlight a few before I read them.  Check out the author and book links, and you decide if you want to get the book.  

Here is a Bible study you might be interested in:

Live A Praying Life –– In this study, author Jennifer Kennedy Dean addresses the complexities of prayer with candor, intelligence, and insight. This acclaimed Bible study is recognized as a flagship work on prayer.

Jennifer’s best-selling Bible study series now updated and revised in an Anniversary Edition. Live a Praying Life has been called “a flagship work on prayer.” Jennifer tackles the hard questions. Her probing intelligence and her ability to communicate with clarity and authenticity has produced this classic study.

What’s New?

The book’s content does not change, but Jennifer adds an anniversary thought to each session and includes an article about her experience with her husband’s death.

The video series is new and the Leader’s Kit has new, expanded materials to help your group have the best possible experience.

A new hard-cover Live a Praying Life Journal is available separately, and as part of the Leader’s Kit. The journal includes daily quotes from Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker.

She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book, Heart’s Cry, has been named National Day of Prayer’s signature book and you will find articles and daily quotes from Jennifer at the National Day of Prayer web site. Her book, Live a Praying Life, has been called a flagship work on prayer.

Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator of the deep truths of God’s Word, Jennifer speaks all over the country calling God’s people to discover the difference between “a prayer life” and “a praying life.”

Jennifer was widowed in 2005 after 26 years of marriage to Wayne Dean, her partner both in life and ministry. They are the parents of three grown sons.

Jennifer makes her home in Marion, KY.

Jennifer is the author of such books as Live a Praying Life, Heart’s Cry, Fueled by Faith,The Life Changing Power in the Name of Jesus, and Secrets Jesus Shared. She writes for magazine such as Pray! And Spirit Led Woman. She is in demand as a speaker and has spoken in such venues as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove and Focus on the Family.

She is a member for Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a member of America’s National Prayer Committee, a board member and national prayer director for Women in Christian Media, and a broadcaster on Salem Network’s internet radio and TV sites.

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