The Bible is no doubt a timeless book, but often it's seen by the younger generation as ancient and antiquated. How can we make the stories of the Bible—particularly the Easter story—alive and exciting for our children? Adventures in Odyssey has created a free activity kit for families to experience the Easter story brought to life through eight days of Christ-centered and fun activities. Click here to sign up and download the kit for free.

 

If you're looking to bring the Bible to life further during the Easter season, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

My Mother's Quilts

Inspired by thirty family heirloom quilts, each devotion depicts the enduring legacy of faith, family, and tradition. Rich, personal, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, each reading provides a lesson and encouragement from the faithful women who crafted the quilts.
Full color photographs of each quilt show the style and artistry of each beautiful work. The quilts, sewn by several generations over more than one hundred years are as unique and lovely as the hands that created them. The oldest was buried to keep safe during the Civil war and the author's mother created the newest in the last years of her life.

My thoughts: I love the idea of centering a devotion around quilts and the history that they can provide! While I am not a quilter, I do like to sew and can appreciate the work that goes into a quilt. With all handmade gifts, there is a lot of love and beauty that goes into a piece.
Quilters will be delighted with this lovely devotion, since the author does a wonderful job putting the devotions together, and the pictures are enjoyable to see. I love the history that is included!
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Good God

If we are honest, at some point we all struggle with the question, "Why does God allow pain, suffering, and evil?" Good God introduces the God we all want to believe in but have been too fearful to embrace. With the Bible as his guide, Lucas Miles takes readers on a journey, tipping over some "sacred cows" along the way, to uncover the lost and forgotten nature of the Creator of the Universe and discover a real relationship with him through the person of Jesus Christ: God's goodness incarnate.

My thoughts: Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. While I see where Lucas is going with a lot of his thoughts, that God is good and wants what is best for us, I also think that it can be a slippery slope. God is good and wants what is best for us, while Satan is the author of confusion. But, God is just and merciful, He has given us agency and will not violate that even if it brings us pain. I agree with a lot of the thoughts in this book, but not all. That said, it was an interesting read that I enjoyed. It made me think about how I look at God and His goodness and love for us.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

A Fool and His Monet

Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art--one that's surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about the art thief who murdered her grandfather. She's joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite her mother's pleas to do something safer--like get married--Serena's learning how to go undercover to catch thieves and black market traders.

When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Jones leaps into action. The clues point in different directions, and her boss orders her to cease investigating her most promising suspect. But determined to solve the case and perhaps discover another clue in her grandfather's murder, she pushes ahead, regardless of the danger.

My thoughts: While I enjoyed this story/mystery (especially Serena's Aunt Martha! She's a fun character), I would of liked for there to be more about the art and how it can be recovered. Part of the mystery seemed a little rushed, but I still found the story to be interesting and funny. It's different from what I expected, but different isn't bad.:) I look forward to reading the next book in the series! I'm thrilled that it should be coming out this Autumn.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Bedtime Snuggles

This book is an adorable book to read with your little(s) at bedtime, with it's sweet rhymes that go along with the illustrations of different farm and woodland creatures, ending with a mother snuggling her little child. My daughter enjoys pulling this book out when it is time to get ready for bed! It is a great book to help your little one wind down and prepare for bedtime.
I received this book from Worthy publishers in exchange for my honest review.

When You, then God

God loves you unconditionally . . . but could it be true that some of His promises have strings attached?In the groundbreaking tradition of "Not a Fan" and "Jesus" > "Religion" comes this provocative new book from pastor and debut author Rusty George.Beginning with the Old Testament and walking through the life of Jesus, Rusty unpacks seven core promises of God--and reveals what you need to do in order to unlock them. What is it God wants from you? "When" you do it, what can you trust He will "then" do in response? And how can you confidently move forward in life without wearing yourself out trying to guess God's will or somehow earning His unconditional love and boundless grace?Come to know all this and more in "When You, Then God"--a dynamic call to obedience, an invitation to partner in God's work in your life, and a fresh way to experience His blessings.

My thoughts: I remember sitting in on a class about the promises in the Bible and how a lot of them come with a response that we should have before the promise is evident. So, I was interested in this book when I saw it. While this book is a bit more basic than that, going into things like "when you walk with Jesus, God will help you look like Jesus" and "when you show kindness to others, God will show you grace", it was still an interesting read. The author does a great job of weaving scripture verses and personal stories into the promises that he talks about. I appreciated what he had to say about financial blessings, since I do think that sometimes the blessing in financial problems is that God is there for us. I don't believe that God gives wealth to the righteous or because someone is righteous. I don't like that some people equate riches with how righteous you are. But, I digress.
Over all, this book has some great points and is an interesting read.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: literary characters that I just can't click with

1. Draco

Just no. He's annoying and horrible, though he did have some redeeming moments.

2. Tris

I wasn't a fan of her when I read some of the books, but I especially didn't care for how Shailene Woodley portrayed her in the movies.

3. Bella Swan

I just can't abide insipid main characters.

4. Heathcliff
5. Catherine

While I love the other Bronte sisters stories, the characters in this one just do not set well with me.

6. Scarlett O'Hara

She's a horrible brat who doesn't care who she hurts in her quest to get what she wants out of life.

7. Anna Karenina

Another unbelievably selfish heroine.

8. Christian
9. Anastasia

I didn't have to read this one to know that this is another horrible couple whom I can't stand. I think this book is degrading to women.

10. Bathsheba

It's been a while since I read this one, but I remember thinking that she didn't deserve her man.;)

What characters do you have a hard time seeing in a favorable light? Or, are there characters you love that no one else seems to?:)