My Story Bible

Author & Illustrator: Jan Godfrey & Paolo Bertolini Grudina
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Children / Bible stories
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2671-9
Pages: 142
Price: $12.99

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Children love to listen to and read Bible stories. But reading from the actual Bible text is too hard for small children, so it’s great to have a simplified version that kids can understand.

My Story Bible contains 66 of the most loved Bible stories, condensed into two page snippets that kids can read in one sitting. Bright and cheerful illustrations fill the pages, showing the happiness and love God’s people feel.

Kids can’t easily grasp the deeper meaning of Bible stories and they need to have them written in words they can comprehend. But I felt this Bible story book may have gone a little too far. Many of the names like the Prodigal Son, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments were removed to make reading easier. But in losing these titles, I felt the stories lost some of what made them unique.

Children will enjoy these stories, since they’re written in a very upbeat and kid-friendly manner. But those who revere the Bible as it’s written might have some issues with the changes made in My Story Bible to make it easier for kids to read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow

Author: Nancy Guthrie
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Christian Living / Spiritual Life / Personal Growth
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2548-4
Pages: 192
Price: $14.99

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Being a Christian doesn’t mean life will be without its share of heartache and loss. But when the pain cuts us to the core, questions naturally arise about God’s involvement. How could He allow this to happen? Does He even care?

Jesus healed lepers, caused the blind to see, and even raised the dead. Why wouldn’t He want to help us in our time of need? But a closer look at Biblical passages reveals exactly why Jesus healed, and what He would say if we asked Him why He hasn’t stepped in to fix things for us.

Nancy Guthrie knows the depths of pain, having lost two babies to the same incurable disease. She knows what it’s like to wrestle with her spiritual beliefs, wondering if maybe she’s missing something. But she also knows God’s infinite love, and trusts in His knowing a higher purpose for her life.

Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow shares Guthrie’s insights about what Jesus would say if we turn to Him and share our pain with Him. And she reassures us that His answer will comfort us, despite our circumstances.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Nine Ways God Always Speaks

Author: Mark Herringshaw & Jennifer Schuchmann
Publisher: Tyndale House
Genre: Religion / Christian Life / Prayer
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2226-1
Pages: 352
Price: $14.99

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Has God spoken to you? Would you know it was Him, if He did? Or could it be coincidence, random encounters, or even just indigestion? Authors Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann believe God can and does speak to us. Nine Ways God Always Speaks shows us how He does this, and shares stories of those who have heard Him speak.

At one time God spoke through His prophets, and His people got clear directions in making decisions. If God told them to go to war against a neighboring country, they could be certain of victory. But today He guides us in more subtle ways.

We may hear from Him through our dreams, a little voice in our heads, our conscience, or a Bible verse. Chance meetings and a comment we feel is meant only for us could also be God speaking. And some of us have heard God speak through nature.

Our infinite God is capable of communicating with us in many ways, but we don’t always hear Him. In sharing other people’s experiences in hearing from God, Nine Ways God Always Speaks inspires us to be on the lookout for our own messages from God. Some of these stories may seem far-fetched to you, and you may question if He really did speak to them. But you’ll probably also find yourself wondering if maybe they could be true, and if He may even be trying to speak to you right now.

Reviewer: Alice Berger