Jesus, Day by Day - A Review

   Jesus, Day by Day, by Sharon Kaselonis, is a 365-day devotional which includes a one-year plan to read through the entire Bible. The daily devotions in this book are longer than many on the market today, having much more depth than a short paragraph or two can give.

    My favorite thing about this unique devotional is that, through the Old Testament readings, Jesus, Day by Day points to the presence of Jesus in the Old Testament, and then solidifies His promises in the New Testament. It teaches us to look for Jesus revealed not only in the words of the prophets, but in other places throughout the Old Testament Scripture. Each day through almost the end of September starts with a Scripture from the Old Testament, followed by a not-too-short devotional reading which lists several New Testament verses to back up the point of the day.

     I enjoyed how, once the calendar arrives at the New Testament readings, many of the daily Scriptures are a combination of the four Gospels. Reading them side-by-side is a great way to study the life of Jesus.

      I give this book 5-stars. It's a great devotional with a lot of depth. Jesus, Day by Day would make a great Christmas gift, as many readers are looking for a new devotional at the start of the new year. One could just read the daily devotion in the morning, and then read the full reading plan later in the day, or just use the book as a devotional and stick to your own Bible-reading plan. Either way, this book is a winner.

    The publishing date for Jesus, Day by Day is September 17, with pre-order available now.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from

WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley.

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

    

Stand Strong 365 Devotions for Men - A Review

Stand Strong

365 Devotions for Men by Men

by Our Daily Bread Ministries

I’m not a man. True. But through many days and nights of reading devotions with my husband, I can judge well what styles of devotional readings tickle his fancy—and which ones don’t. And just like us women, sometimes men must wade through a few uninteresting books to find one that speaks to them.

Stand Strong definitely has a masculine slant. From ants to pine cones, male friendship to obedience, the lessons in the devotional focus on examples with which men can connect. General Eisenhower, The Bourne Identity movie, one-handed football player Kris Silbaugh, a young soldier being harpooned with vaccinations, and a wife who makes pot roast are just a few of the characters used to illustrate Scripture in a way that is engaging to most men.

Another plus was the mix of daily topics. Where I enjoy devotions that run for days or even weeks with a focused theme, my husband would much prefer variety, not addressing the same issue even two days in a row. Stand Strong’s daily topics are fresh and unique each day. They are a short read with practical examples that put God’s Word into perspective for today’s world and the challenges men face.

I give this FIVE book stars. It is well written and Scripture based. I think it would make a nice gift for the man in your life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from

Discovery House Publishers via NetGalley.

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.