Young Women of Faith Bible

When my review copy of the Young Women of Faith Bible arrived from Zondervan, my first reaction was to frown at the hardcover and paper quality. Trying not to judge a book by its you-know-what, I reminded myself that Bibles for young people will most likely be replaced by nice quality editions in favorite translations as young Christians mature.

Nevertheless, I’d rather see a nice paperback with pages that don’t pucker. And, to be even more blunt, I chafed a bit over the title of “Young Women” when teen girls are obviously the targeted reading audience. Like, can't we just call a teen a teen?

To give this edition of the NIV (New International Version) a fair view and balanced RE-view, I put the book aside, deciding to wait until I'd gotten over the dissatisfaction that often occurs from having personal preferences or almost any expectation.

During the night, however, I woke up thinking about my new blog for teens, Texting God, which has a text message for each title and a response from the Bible in the body of the blog. Although I loved the idea, I wasn't quite sure what came next.

Going into my office at home and switching on the light, I saw the Young Women of Faith Bible on my desk where I’d left it. Picking it up, I flipped to the back pages where I’d previously noticed a page entitled “Weekly Studies Index.” As I started to read, I thought, “This is good stuff!” which, translated, means that teenaged girls will surely benefit as they easily find such subjects as “No Doubt About It” with the page number listed to ease the search even more.

Turning to that page, I read a reassuring paragraph which starts, “Doubt isn’t always a bad thing,” and then goes on to provide teen-relevant examples of what to expect, do, and experience.

Above this appropriate text, I also noticed the page title, which further investigation showed to be the format consistently used for each subject in the index. Again and again throughout the book, that title clearly states: “I’m Becoming a Woman of Faith.” Oh. Yes!

And, yes, this copy of NIV is for teenage girls, but the title of Young Women of Faith Bible aptly describes the focus and overall purpose of this unique edition.

With sidebars offering “Memory Challenges,” teens grow into adults with Bible verses to guide their choices and lifestyles.

With side notes providing insights and information, young readers begin to understand that hard-to-understand passages have meaning and power.

With Bible stories highlighted as “If I Were There…,” teenage girls can gain the maturity that comes from experience – even the experience of our biblical others.

And so, as it turns out, I not only recommend this edition for teenage readers but also parents of teens, teachers of teens, and those of us who write Bible-based blogs, poems, and other manuscripts for young people on their way to spiritual maturity.


© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer

Young Women of Faith Bible, hardback


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The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV

The hardback edition of The MacArthur Study Bible in the English Standard Version (ESV) published by Crossway provides readers with a sturdy, well-made Bible with profuse study notes written from a conservative Christian perspective, sometimes referred to as a fundamentalist view.

In studying the Bible for forty years, the editor and well-known pastor John MacArthur gained a thorough knowledge of the scriptures, which he shares in almost 25,000 footnotes in the study Bible that bears his name. Although I’m personally not fond of seeing the name of any individual on the face of any Bible, the footnotes show insights and a clear understanding of the times, culture, and spiritual environment.

For example, a footnote regarding the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5:1-7:29 says, in part: “Christ plumbed the depth of the law, showing that its true demands went far beyond the surface meaning of the words…and set a standard that is higher than the most diligent students of the law had heretofore realized.” In commenting on the individual verses included in that famous discourse, we read that the phrase “those who mourn” in Matthew 5:4 refers to “mourning over sin, the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation without regret.” And, in 5:5, the footnote regarding the meek says, “Gentleness or meekness is the opposite of being out of control. It is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit.”

In addition to interesting comments in footnotes throughout this study edition, another feature I particularly liked was “The Progress of Revelation,” listing books of the Old and New Testaments in their most likely time sequence. For instance, Job probably preceded Genesis – not by the date of the subject matter, of course, but according to the time written. And, in the New Testament, the book of James was most likely written prior to the four gospels.

Another unique feature in this study edition is an “Introduction to the Prophets” with a chart showing, for example, that Obadiah ministered to the peoples of Edom around 850 to 840 B.C. Most students of the Bible know that the prophet Jonah reluctantly spoke to the people of Nineveh around 784 to 760 B.C., but as this timeline shows, Nahum did, too, over 100 years later.

In the back pages, additional study helps have been provided in the maps, concordance, list of “Key Bible Doctrines” by topics with relevant scriptural references, and an “Overview of Theology” written from a conservative Christian perspective. Apparently, these study aids by MacArthur can be found in other translations, too, but the review copy which Crossway kindly sent me uses the ESV, highly recommended for its accuracy and poetic flow.

© 2014, Mary Sayler, reviewer


The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, hardback



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The Story Bible from Concordia

In the last review we saw how My Bedtime Story Bible by Zonderkidz can be enjoyed one on one with children, helping them to connect with God’s people by establishing nightly routines of ending each day with a Bible story and a prayer. On the other hand, The Story Bible from Concordia makes an excellent option for small churches and children’s Bible classes where monies, teaching supplies, and experienced Bible teachers are most likely to be limited.

In this hefty edition, The Story Bible provides “130 Stories of God’s Love” to help children come to know, as stated in the opening pages, “The love of Jesus, our Savior. The Bible is all about Jesus and you. This Story Bible will show you how and why this is true.”

On each slick page, the beautifully detailed illustrations draw children into the text with colorful, realistic art, except, perhaps, for the consistently light-skinned people seldom found in the Middle East or Africa where most Bible stories occurred.

Despite that lament, a parent, teacher, or other caretaker can hold the book, point to pictures that illustrate the story being read, and utilize the sidebars with vocabulary words from the text along with questions and activities to Ask, Do, and Pray.

For example, “The Birth of Isaac” asks a follow-up question on “How old was Abraham when his son was born?” with a “Do” suggestion to “Count to 100. Did it take a long time? Abraham had to wait a long time for a son.” This effective format consistently helps children to connect with the information included in each story before ending with a pertinent prayer.

For another example, the story of “The Passion of Christ” as found in Matthew 27, includes vocabulary words such as “passion,” “innocent,” and “crucified” in the outer margin of the page, allowing parents or teachers to discern what their children are ready for and when. For those being introduced to Christ’s sacrifice, the prayer included says: “Dear Jesus, I am sad when I see pictures that show how people are mean to You. Thank You, Jesus, for suffering and dying on the cross to take away my sins and give me a home in heaven. Amen.”

After closing the stories with “John’s Vision of Heaven” as shown in Revelation 21 and 22, the book ends on this life-giving word from John 20:31: “These stories are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” So be it! Amen.

© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer

The Story Bible, hardcover




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My Bedtime Story Bible

When my children were young, we sang through chores, memorized Bible verses I'd written on index cards, and ended each day with a story and a prayer. Today, kids often put themselves to bed without so much as a “night, night.” Things change! But as Christians we have the power to effect change for the good.

Establishing a bedtime routine with your children, grandchildren, or other kids in your care begins with a decision to, yes, just do it! However, the strength of that resolve comes from a belief in the importance of ending each day with snuggle time and a word of blessing. What an inheritance this can be to each new generation!

Since parents who did not grow up with such routines might not know where to begin, author Jean E. Syswerda briefly addresses this in the “Introduction” to My Bedtime Story Bible with suggestions for using the book and personalizing the stories. The Bible has many, many stories, of course, but the ones selected will introduce children to key Bible characters with whom they can relate.

But, how can children identify with Adam and Eve or Noah, Joseph, and Moses or other Bible people who lived in different times and places foreign to most of us? As we grow and mature spiritually, our belief in God provides that ongoing connection, but until we’re awakened to a life lived by faith, one thing we all have in common is the need for sleep!

And so, after telling the story of Adam and Eve with word pictures and language children can understand, the author ends with “Good night, Adam. Good night, Eve. Good night. Sleep tight,” followed by a “Tuck in” prayer-thought pertinent to that particular story and a child’s bedtime needs for pleasant thoughts and a restful night. The colorful artistry of Daniel Howarth brings each story to life too, showing young readers a broad view of the Bible from Genesis through the life of Christ and the early church.

As we’re reminded to “Thank God for a warm and soft bed to sleep in,” may God help us to remember to pray for other Christians around the world and pray, too, for the restoration of the church as one Body of Christ in Jesus’ Name. Oh, what a sweet dream that is!

© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer


My Bedtime Story Bible, hardcover




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The Saints Devotional Bible

When Our Sunday Visitor sent me a review copy of this lovely edition of the New American Bible revised edition (NAB+), I welcomed the opportunity to get better acquainted with inspired Christian writers, who became known by the early church as saints because of their strong faith and exemplary lives. With the inspired writings of 200 saints highlighted in the front pages and their bios in the back of The Saints Devotional Bible, I discovered Christians with whom I identified and connected as though being introduced to timeless friends I now look forward to meeting in person in eternity.

Meanwhile, we have the good company of saints on earth as the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) refers, about 100 times, to those who love Jesus Christ, while the Douay-Rheims provides 119 such references, according to my search on Bible Gateway.

So, how do we become more recognizable as the saints we’re intended to be? Or, to put it another way, what do “The Saints and The Bible” want to tell us today? In the article by that title, we see these headings to headline our quest:

Saints Study Scripture.
Saints Memorize Scripture.
Saints Pray Scripture.
Saints Use Scripture in Spiritual Warfare.
Saints Seek Guidance in Scripture.
Saints Proclaim Scripture.
Saints Apply Scripture.

To further guide us, this highly recommended edition includes “Readings from the Saints,” a list of 94 key topics or themes, helpful footnotes throughout the text, and additional inserts, which provide “a mini-course on understanding, praying, and applying Scripture drawn from the teachings, writings, and examples of the saints.”

In the section inserted for “Saints On Scripture,” for example, I met and fell in love with St. Ephrem (306-373), who said, “The Lord has colored his Word with many kinds of beauty, so that everyone who scrutinizes it can contemplate what he loves. And he has hidden all treasures in his word, so that each of us might find a treasure in what we ponder.” Yes! Then, as St. Ephrem wisely cautions, “Let him who discovers one of the riches of his Word not think that there is nothing else in the word of God but what he has found. Let him rather realize that he has been able to discover only one thing among many others.” Again, amen!

As the Living Word, the Bible continually has more to offer to those who seek. Another favorite, St. John Cassian (360-433) put it this way: “In order to keep God always in mind, you should frequently pray this verse: ‘Come to my help, O God. Lord, hurry to my rescue’ (Ps 70:2). With good reason this text has been selected from all of Scripture as a method of continual prayer. It encompasses all the emotions that human beings can experience. We can effectively apply it to any circumstance and use it to resist every temptation. “ For example, “When a headache or drowsiness interferes with my spiritual reading, I must say, ‘Come to my help, O God. Lord, hurry to my rescue.’ When I cannot fall asleep at night, I must sigh and pray, ‘Come to my help, O God. Lord, hurry to my rescue.’” And, “When anger or envy threatens to disturb my peacefulness and embitter me, I must force myself to pray, groaning, ‘Come to my help, O God. Lord, hurry to my rescue.’” Amen, amen, and amen.

Although space and publishing rights prevent my including all of the wonders found in the “Saints on Scripture” section, the headings let you know what early Christians wrote about with saintly wisdom and inspired words unbound by time or space:

Experiencing the Power of the Word of God
Reading Scripture: Essential for Christian Living
Pursuing God in Scripture: Practical Advice on Reading the Bible
Scripture Leads Us to Eternal Life
Understanding Scripture Through Faith in Christ
The Inexhaustible Richness of God’s Word
We Need a Guide to the Bible
Scripture and Tradition
Understanding the Spiritual Sense of Scripture
Putting God’s Word into Practice
Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul
Finding Her Way in Scripture
Patterning Their Lives on Scripture
Minding Our Thoughts with Scripture Meditation
The Benefits of Mediating on Scripture
Meditating on a Scripture Verse
Praying With Scripture
The Psalms and the Christian Life
The Gospel and the Christian Life
A Method of Continual Prayer
When God Speaks to Us in Scripture
Using Scripture in Daily Life
Formed by God’s Word
From Study to Action

© 2014, Mary Harwell Sayler, reviewer


The Saints Devotional Bible, paperback




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Selecting Bible stories for toddlers

The Bible contains a wealth of stories for parents, grandparents, and church school teachers to read and discuss with very young children, so deciding which ones to include and which to omit can be a hard call, but then, a Bible lover and reviewer who’s agreed to give an honest review might have a hard time too!

In The Rhyme Bible Storybook For Toddler, I found much to recommend in the quality of this sturdy kid-sized book with its lively writing and colorful artwork. I also liked the evidence of God’s love and care as shown in the stories from Creation through Moses but found other choices either odd or inappropriate for toddlers.

For example, there’s no story of the beloved Patriarch of the Jews, Muslims, and Christians – Abraham, whose examples of faith foster faith and open lines of communication among religious peoples. So I was perplexed to see The Rhyme Bible Storybook For Toddler skip from Moses to David – but not David the shepherd with loving example of the Good Shepherd, nor David the poet and Psalmist, nor David the good king who united God’s people. Instead, the storybook chose to focus on David’s slinging a rock at Goliath and bringing down a bullying giant. Is that the message we want to give toddlers – to solve problems by throwing a rock?

Older children can understand the context of that story and also the story of Jonah, where the disobedient missionary gets swallowed by a large fish, but do we want toddlers fearing the ocean more than they naturally do?

Do we want them to have nightmares about being locked in a den of lions as Daniel was in this short book? Again, older children would find that story adventuresome and faith-building, but with so little space for age-appropriate stories for toddlers, I would much prefer telling very young children how Daniel chose to eat good food, rather than how lions might eat him!

Like all of my reviews, this one must be honest, so I have a couple of confessions to make: 1.) When I don’t feel comfortable giving books a 4 or, preferably 5-star review, I usually do not review them at all. However, this one came from BookSneeze, so I have to do an Amazon review too, which I’m sad to say will be 3 stars because of the stories selected. Obviously, I would have made other choices, which brings me to the second confession. 2.) I would love to write a Bible storybook, in rhyme or out.

I’m very happy to say, though, that this storybook ends with the point to which a wealth of Bible stories lead: Letting readers of all ages know, “Jesus Is Alive!”

©2014, Mary Sayler, poet, reviewer, lover of Christ, children, and the Bible



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101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation

When I first approach the review copy of a new Bible storybook produced by any publisher, I look for several important features:

. Bible stories appropriate to the age group

. language children can comprehend

. pleasing artwork to illustrate the text

. sturdy quality to stand up to actual usage

In addition to the above, ZonderKidz provided a poetic text to retell the creation story in 101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation. For example, “Let There Be Light” retells the story in Genesis 1:1-5 with these words:

“Long, long ago, God created the heavens and the earth. But the earth was blacker than black with darkness. And there was nothing but emptiness.”

Into this lonely place, “God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light!” Then “God gently made the earth to spin so that there could also be darkness. He called the dark ‘night,’ and the light he called ‘day’.” And God “spun layer upon layer of fresh, clean air around the earth, wrapping it in every shade of blue.”

As layer upon layer of biblical insights reveal our Creator’s care, the stories progress from God’s encounters with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other character-building favorites to “An Angel’s Visit” where a young woman named Mary hears “God is happy with you.” Later, in “Joseph’s Dream,” the angel brings news that Joseph need not fear taking Mary as his wife, “For God has chosen her and blessed her to give birth to his very own Son.”

The remaining half of the book focuses on the life, teachings, parables, and healing work of Jesus to “The Darkest Hour” where “The earth grew deathly silent, and the sky remained hopelessly dark” as it had in the beginning of time until God spoke.

This time, however, Jesus speaks as He rises from the tomb to tell Thomas and all to “stop doubting and believe. After giving every follower “A Job to Do” in telling others the Good News, “Jesus Sends A Helper,” Who brings Holy Spirit power to do that work until Christ comes again.

With its use of slick quality paper, a sturdy binding, and colorful artwork by Dan Andreasen, this well-done Bible storybook lives up to its front cover label “Perfect for Independent Readers.” Nevertheless, we moms, dads, grandparents, and church school teachers will undoubtedly enjoy hearing again these 101 Bible stories with the children God has created to bless our lives.

©2014, Mary Sayler, reviewer

101 Bible Stories: From Creation to Revelation, hardback




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