About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Monday, May 12, 2025

NIV Application Bible: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World by Zondervan




ABOUT THE BIBLE

Learn What the Bible Means. Discover What it Means for You.

Featuring thousands of study notes drawn from the bestselling NIV Application Commentary series (over 2 million copies sold), the NIV Application Bible helps you understand Scripture and apply it to your life in a whole new way. This study Bible guides you in discovering how the ancient truths found in Scripture relate to your experiences today using insight from trusted evangelical scholars, paired with timely biblical application principles. Throughout the Bible, Original Meaning Notes help you explore the meaning of the biblical text while Application Notes make it personal, helping you to integrate the Bible’s teachings into your everyday life.

The study notes found in this Bible follow the well-established format of the NIV Application Commentary series, bridging the world of the Bible and contemporary times by distilling and applying the timeless truths found in God's Word. The notes are paired with other helpful features that will help you better understand the events, characters, and stories of the Bible, including book introductions, People to Know articles, and Character of God articles. The Questions for Growth found in every chapter encourage reflection on how these elements connect to your personal experience. The features are laid out using an engaging, full-color page design that also includes maps and charts that help illustrate biblical locations and timelines.

The NIV Application Bible pairs a deeper understanding of the ancient biblical text with contemporary application of the lessons found within it, offering you a new way to understand what the Word of God means for your life today.

Features:

  • Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
  • Original Meaning Notes help you understand the meaning of each passage in its context.
  • Application Notes help you integrate the teachings of the Bible into your daily life.
  • Book Introductions provide perspective and application for every book of the Bible, plus timelines, reading guides, and more.
  • People to Know articles show the good and bad of Bible characters’ lives, how God accomplished his purposes through them, and lessons we can learn from them about living a faithful life.
  • Character of God articles explore aspects of God’s character and what these mean for our lives as believers.
  • Questions for Growth in each chapter of the Bible encourage reflection on how to apply Scripture to life.
  • 45 full-color in-text maps help you visually follow along with the locations of biblical events.
  • More than 50 in-text charts make complex information quickly understandable.
  • Chart Your Course includes topical, annual, and three-year reading plans to help you study at your own pace.
  • Engaging full-color page design makes the features pop within the text.
  • NIV Dictionary-Concordance
  • 16-page full-color map section
  • Words of Jesus in red
  • Two satin ribbon markers
  • Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface
  • Print Size: 9.5


MY THOUGHTS.....


This is an awesome Bible! It has a must-read introduction, Old and New Testament chronologies, and a chronological arrangement of fulfilled Messianic Prophecies. Many Bibles have maps, but this NIV Application Bible takes it to a higher level, with maps of countries, regions, and EVEN cities! The font size is easy to read, there are two ribbon bookmarks, and the Words of Christ are printed in RED. This is always a PLUS for me! I appreciate the abundance of learning tools, including footnotes galore, a Dictionary-Concordance, Character of God notes, and numerous charts scattered throughout. Two reading plans guide you through reading the bible in one year, or at a leisurely three-year pace! An extra perk is the QR code that provides FREE access to the NIV Application Bible Companion Mobile App. Imagine having this bible in your pocket via your mobile device.




The Life of Christ


This timeline chronicles Jesus's life from Childhood until After the Resurrection. 
It is one of many timelines in this study Bible.











This is a map of Jerusalem during the ministry of Jesus. It is one of 45 full-color in-text maps!  







I often struggle with gift-giving, but what could be better than the gift of God's Word? This meaningful gift is perfect for moms, dads, birthdays, and those special graduates.

The NIV Application Bible is a wonderful resource, and I recommend it to all longing to increase their knowledge of God's Word. It's a valuable resource for both novice and seasoned Christians.

I received a copy of the NIV Application Bible from Zondervan Publisher via the FrontGate Women's Blogger Network. There was no obligation for a positive review. All thoughts shared here are my honest opinions.

@nivapplicationbible #zondervan #niv #nivab #nivac

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). They are a part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. and has multiple imprints including Zondervan Academic, Zonderkidz, Blink, and Editorial Vida. Zondervan is the commercial rights holder for the New International Version (NIV) Bible in North America.


Have I convinced you that this ia a Bible you need to own? Click this Purchase Link to get your own copy of the NIV Application Bible.










Saturday, May 10, 2025

Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure by Yvonne M. Morgan: Review with Celebrate Lit Book Tour



About the Book

Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure

Author: Yvonne M Morgan

Genre: Children’s Early Reader

Release date: February 1, 2025

A Kenya Adventure

Are you ready for an adventure in Kenya? After singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” in Sunday School, Mary has many questions about children in other countries. When her parents learn about a mission trip to Kenya, they decided to experience another culture as a family. Mary encounters many trials on her Kenyan adventure. In the end, she learns that she and her new friends aren’t different, and Jesus loves all children.

Through colorful illustrations and engaging storytelling, “Mary the Missionary” teaches important lessons about acceptance, empathy, and love. As Mary meets children from different cultures and backgrounds, she learns to see the world through their eyes and understand the unique challenges they face. Along the way, she also discovers the unifying power of faith and how it transcends all barriers.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

MY THOUGHTS.....


Mary the Missionary is perfect for young readers, but it's also a book that families can enjoy together. What better way to initiate a discussion about God's all-encompassing love than reading a story about a young girl who gets to travel with her parents to Kenya? Mary is given a first-hand view of a life entirely different than hers---living in mud huts, eating the intestines of goats, and trying to balance buckets of water on her head as she carries it from the river. Mary's mission trip is an eye-opening experience for her and a poignant suggestion for us! We must never forget how blessed we are!

Yvonne M. Morgan's engaging story is a powerful reminder of God's love for ALL of his children, and it's a wonderful way to teach children about the different countries and cultures in our amazing world. Mary the Missionary: A Kenyan Adventure is ideal for families and a perfect addition to church and school libraries.

I received a digital copy from the author via Celebrate Lit. There was no expectation of a positive review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


About the Author

Yvonne M Morgan takes readers of all ages on a journey of faith, hope, and love with encouraging words. Her captivating storytelling will inspire readers to trust in the Lord and give them hope. Yvonne’s insightful reflections will resonate with anyone who wants a deeper relationship with God.

 

 

 

 

More from Yvonne

As my grandchildren grew, I started writing children’s books. I wanted them to read engaging, faith-based stories filled with fun illustrations and valuable lessons that would nurture their faith. As the children grew, I wanted to continue their lessons, tailoring them to their expanding interests and abilities. The book, “Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure,” shares the message of God’s love, and how we are all his children despite our differences.

 

The memories of my mission trips to Kenya, filled with the warmth of the people and the beauty of the landscape, led me to choose it for Mary’s visit. I loved the vibrant tapestry of cultures and the welcoming smiles of the people I met during my visits. To help your children explore Kenya, I’ve added free resources to my website; these include downloadable activity books and captivating information. Here is a link to those resources: https://yvonne-morgan.com/mary-the-missionary-resources.




In Kenya, Ugali is used as a fork to pick up their food. Ugali Recipe to try with your children:

Ingredients:

1 cup maize meal / corn meal

2 cups normal water

Instructions:

Heat water over medium heat in a deep pan. Make sure you use a pan with a handle.

Add the maize meal or cornmeal and keep on stirring with a strong wooden spoon.

Keep stirring and pressing the mixture against the sides of the pan to break up the lumps.

As the mixture becomes thicker, it becomes more difficult to mix but keep mixing and breaking up the lumps.

The mixture with begin to come away from the sides of the pan.

Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes.

At this point transfer the ugali to a platter. Place the plate over the pan and turn it upside down.

Or you can transfer to a small heatproof bowl. Pat it down into shape. Place a plate over the bowl and turn it over.

Enjoy piping hot ugali with your favorite stew or curry.


Rural School in Kenya


Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, May 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4

Texas Book-aholic, May 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 6

Lots of Helpers, May 7

Mary Hake, May 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 8

Leslie’s Library Escape, May 9

Older & Smarter?, May 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 11

ABBA’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 12

For Him and My Family, May 13

Fiction Book Lover, May 14 (Author Interview)

Roads to Everywhere, May 14

Labor Not in Vain, May 15

Lights in a Dark World, May 16

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Yvonne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54212


View all my reviews