Heidi's Haven

This Bible from Zondervan is designed for those who want to study God's Word, but don't know how or where to start. Included thoughout are notes, Q&As, definitions, context notes, Bible truths, key verses and terms, and spotlights on individuals of the Bible, to name a few. I think this would be an awesome tool for someone who is new to the faith. I'll be handing this off to a friend of mine who told me she wanted to read the Bible, but didn't know how to go about it. I'm sure there are tons of people in that situation. The only thing that I disliked about this Bible is that it's a pretty big and bulky hardcover. So while it's very sturdy, it's really heavy and a real pain to carry around. Otherwise, this is a really nice Bible. Overall, I'm giving this 4/5 stars. *I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Settle my Should: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus  by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk is a devotional for busy women who struggle to find the time each day to connect with Jesus. For each day, the authors give a short devotional that puts something new into perspective for readers. Then a short prayer, some questions for reflection, and a little bit of space for journaling.  First of all, this book is absolutely beautiful. It's a white floral hardcover with a blue ribbon to mark your place. But I also really enjoyed reading it, too. I did a lot of journaling as I read and it really made me think.  The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that it often didn't give much room for answering the questions, sometimes only as much as 2 lines. So, if you do read this, I would have a journal nearby rather than writing in the book itself. They really should have extended the writing space onto the next page in order to allow readers the space to fully thin

In her book Joyful Surrender , Elisabeth Elliot talks about the disciplines that believers should follow in living a believer's life. She also explains to the reader how to be able to follow those disciplines. This includes having discipline over your mind, body, possessions, time, and feelings, how to overcome anxiety, how to change poor habits, how to trust God in the hard times, and how to let Christ have control over everything. Overall, Elisabeth Elliot stresses self-discipline in all areas of life. I enjoyed this book, as I've enjoyed other books written by Elisabeth Elliot. She has a way of talking to the reader in a way that is very kind, and not at all condescending. Everything she tells to the reader, she's learned from experience. She's very humble and down to earth.  Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars. *I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.