The Meaning of Easter with Phil Vischer

Great news!  What’s in the Bible has created a powerful 11-minute video to help explain the meaning of Easter using scenes from Vol. 10 and its FREE!  Check it out below and then SHARE it!

The also have a GREAT DEAL going on.  You can get $5 off your purchase of their latest bundle of Volume 10 "Jesus Is The Good News!" and My Jesus Journal (the print version).  Use coupon code MJJ5. Expires 4/1/13.

More about My Jesus Journal

My Jesus Journal is designed to guide your family into a richer understanding of who we are, what Jesus did for us, and how we are to live in light of the truths of the Gospel.

Even though My Jesus Journal wasn’t specifically created for Easter, my family is planning to use the tips they provided throughout the book to use it now during the Lent and Easter season.

What You Do:

• As a family-  you’ll build a mustard tree, with the resources provided, to record the ways you are seeing God work in your lives.
• Each kiddo – will learn about Jesus and learn to know Him through individual activities in their very own My Jesus Journal.

What It includes:

• Instructions to make and use your Mustard Tree
• Family Activity List (use to fill in your Mustard Tree)
• Instructions for each child to make their own My Jesus Journal
• Activities for My Jesus Journal, broken down into 3 sections  (Who Am I? Who is Jesus? How do we live because of Jesus?)
• Remembering the Cross Family Activity
• Additional Family Activities
• Online Access to videos and additional resources

When To Use It:

• It can be used anytime your family wants to spend time learning more about Christ and who He is. 
• You could also use it if your children have questions about Jesus, or when they make the decision to follow Christ.
• And as I mentioned above it provides a sample schedule of how you can use it the weeks leading up to Easter.

After reading through it these are the things I think I’m going to love about using What’s in the Bible? – My Jesus Journal:

1. I’m know my son is going to love making his own My Jesus Journal and completing the activities it provides. Although, he may be a little young for some.
2. I love the online videos they provided and I know it will be a great resource to help illustrate and reinforce the lesson of the day.
3. And lastly, I love that everything is provided for me, making it easy for me to just enjoy being together as a family learning about Jesus.

We are really looking forward into digging into this resource, especially since our son has been asking a lot of questions about Jesus.  I’ll let you all know how it goes and my final thoughts when we finish it.

A Mommy Talks Review Disclosure: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by What's in the Bible?  All opinions expressed are my own. I am an affiliate, so if you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family…thanks!

What’s in the Bible- Jesus is the Good News {Giveaway}

We can’t get enough of this series.  They have been a real life saver.  They have helped my son to better comprehend terms that are hard to understand by providing fun and entertaining visuals.  They’ve helped me by making it a lot easier to talk to him about faith topics, such as sin, by bringing in things we saw in the video during conversations.  Some big topics that have come up these days are getting to heaven and how Jesus takes our sins away, so you can imagine how excited I was when our What’s in the Bible Vol. 10 – Jesus is the Good News came in the mail! It was perfect timing.   

  

My Thoughts

Like I’ve already mentioned our family loves What’s in the Bible! But, WOW, Volume 10 is really special.  Here’s my three favorite things:

• Thorough - As always a good bit of background is given around the life of Jesus and how God sent his son at the opportune time in human history.  Plus, it  provides information on each of the writers of the gospels and how they wrote them.
• Relevant - I was amazed by how well the crucifixion scene was done.  It made it understandable for my son, while also still tugging on my heart strings.
• Reverent - It melts your heart when the characters all remember the crucifixion. They stand in silent reverence while a choir sings the hymn "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" It really is a touching moment from a cast of puppets.

Overall, this is a DVD you must add to your collection.  And guess what, you have a chance to get it for free!?! I’m teaming up with What’s in the Bible to giveaway Vol 1: The Beginning AND Vol 10: Jesus is the Good News!  If you’d like a chance to win just keep reading!

About the DVD

It contains two 25-minute episodes:

Episode 1: "God's Perfect Timing" Buck Denver and crew learn about the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments and how Jesus arrives at just the perfect time.

Episode 2: "The Messiah has come!" Learn about the life and ministry of Jesus - how he died for us and rose again to launch the kingdom of God in the world and in us!

Run Time: approx. 60 minutes

Here’s a little promo for it.

(Can’t see the video? Don't miss out, head over to the post.)

Want More? 

• Video Clips- If you’d like to get a better glimpse into this new DVD you can check out several other clips on What’s in the Bible’s website.
• Coloring Pages- They have a whole bunch of coloring pages available for this DVD. To download them them just click the image below. 

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The Giveaway
One lucky reader will receive a copy of Vol 1: The Beginning AND Vol 10: Jesus is the Good News!  This giveaway is OPEN FOR US Residents ONLY. Ends March 23rd at 12:01 am EST.

Don’t want to wait? 

• Purchase it directly through What’s in the Bible for $14.99. 
• Don’t have any of them yet? Grab their bundle at 20% off with BUNDLE10

ENTER by using the Rafflecopter widget below and make sure to grab some extra entries. (Feed/Email readers you’ll have to click over to the blog to enter). Before entering make sure you look over the Terms and Conditions. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mommy Talks Review/Giveaway Disclosure:  The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by What's in the Bible?  All opinions expressed are my own. I am an affiliate, so if you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family…thanks!

The Story

One of my goals for this month is to get back on the bandwagon with daily devotionals and verse memorization with the boy.  I’m actually really excited about it because our church is in its year of jubilee.  And to celebrate we will be reading through the bible in chronological order, using The Story by Zondervan.

The thing I’m really excited about is our whole church family is going to be on the same page.  We never ALL do the same thing.  This means the kiddos (preschool, elementary, middle and high) will be learning about the same stuff we’re learning about in “big” church.  On top of that my husband and I will also be digging deeper into the same stories during our weekday bible classes.  I am so excited!! 

It is going to be great and I’ve already got all the tools I need right at home to work with the boy.  Here’s what we will be using:

Beginning with God Series

Buck Denver asks… What’s in the Bible?

The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible

I’m expecting God to do some amazing things in my family this year, as we “find our place in His story by discovering the bible in a brand new way.”

Sale Today Only: TRUTH in the TINSEL

I have some exciting news for you!!  Truth in the Tinsel is running a "12 Days TIL Christmas" sale for 20% off the book PLUS a free 12 day alternate schedule featuring the best 12 crafts!!! (A link will be included in the download.) It will be 24 hours only with code 12DAYS.

So, its not too late! For those of you who didn’t have time to get everything ready or you just weren’t able to start on Dec 1st (like me), now is the time to jump in! Get your Truth in the Tinsel today! 

Need More?

• Check out my review post.
• Get a free day just by spreading the word.

Don’t Miss Out:

• BUY IT!  20% off regularly price of $4.99 with the code 12DAYS! Today only! (12/12/11)
• PARTICIPATE.  Join other families as they go through the book by sharing your experiences on the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page.

 

Disclosure:  I am an affiliate, so if you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family…so thank you!

Save 50% on What’s In the Bible!

I had to share this great deal with you!  We love What’s In the Bible! Right now they are having a huge Christmas deal, where you can purchase the first set of  6 DVD’s for $37.95, which is 50% OFF their retail price!!!!  They usually run about $12 each!! This is an amazing deal! 

These DVD’s are the real deal mommies.  With humor and tact Buck Denver and his puppet pals cover everything from why each book of the Bible was chosen, to subjects like idol worship, original sin, and ceremonial law.  These are topics I didn’t learn about until I was an adult!  Some of you still may be learning them!  The fun thing is you will learn right along with your kiddo. 

Here’s a little more info from the creator himself:

Grab this deal while its hot! It is sure to be a favorite among the Christmas gifts!

 

I did not receive this product to review, but wanted to share it because we love it.  Please note, that I am an affiliate with What’s in the Bible.

God Gave Us You {Review}

God Gave Us You, is another simple story, by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrator Laura J. Bryant, featuring the polar bear family seeking to answer some of life's biggest questions. I'm reviewing the board book version released just this year.

Storyline
This storyline is a familiar one. Mom's everywhere can relate to each point in the story. Follow the polar bear parents to be as they visit the doctor and listen to their baby bear's heartbeat. Watch mama bear as she adjusts to her ever growing belly. Then reminisce as mama bear recalls the first time she held her new baby. The plot points are the same for nearly every new mother.

Illustrations
As always the watercolor illustrations in this book vary from full-page to inset. They are colorful and detailed. Amazingly Bryant is able to make the bears faces so expressive while keeping them realistic.

Engaging, Interactive, Inspiring?
What child hasn't asked where they came from? In that regard this book is very engaging. I think it will also provide another opportunity to tell your child about their birth story (not that you need one). Your child may have not realized how much love they received before they were even born until you share this story with them.

Final Thoughts
If you're a fan of Bergren and Bryant's work you won't be disappointed with this book. They have stayed true to their style and delivered another pleasing story. This story lends itself to the board book format and I appreciated that fact. I think you'll like God Gave Us You.

 

A Mommy Talks Review Disclosure: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for the sole purpose of product testing. I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. All opinions expressed are my own.

When God Created My Toes (Review)

Author Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrator David Hohn have teamed up once again to create a children's book featuring an inquisitive little girl. When God Created My Toes  follows the mischievous girl as she goes about a busy day with her parents. She makes a mess of the back yard, wobbles around in roller skates and even makes time for tea and dress up.

 

Storyline
The little girl asks questions about what God knew when he made her different body parts. She wants to know "When God created my knees, Did he put bones in 'em? Did he know I'd skin 'em? Did we sing our ABCs when God created my knees?" With each page we find her getting into some trouble, goofing off with her parents, or just being a kid.

Illustrations
Hohn's illustrations, as always, are superb with realistic perspectives and engaging expressions. On one page he shows the little girl doing a flip off her father's chest. The next page you're put in place of the living room wall where she is diligently finger painting a masterpiece. Big bathtub bubbles and blow dried hair are some of the examples of Hohn's mastery of the realistic.

Engaging, Interactive, Inspiring?
Most any child will relate with the mischief and play the main character engages in. Once again Mackall uses questions to drive the book forward. It's not a story book, but it does follow a consistent theme that I think most kids will find engaging. Our son hasn't gravitated to this book as much as others, but he did seem to enjoy it.

Final Thoughts
When God Created My Toes  is a nice book. It's not as good as others I've seen from this pair, but still a keeper. As always Mackall begins with scripture and celebrates the work of the Creator throughout. I don't rate this one as high as others, but still worth a look.

My Rating
/5

 

A Mommy Talks Review Disclosure:  The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. for the sole purpose of product testing. I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. All opinions expressed are my own.

Say What?

This last week we learned all about the Tower of Babel.  The focus of the lesson is about how God is the greatest, not people.

Lesson 5: The Tall Tower

Our memory verse was:

Every Wednesday evening we review our bible studying as a family by doing a craft or playing a game. (Check out our weekly bible study schedule.) Last week we built our own tower.  As we built our tower we talked about the story and our memory verse.  Of course when you build a tower you have to knock it down.

During the week we did another mini-book turned into a sequencing events activity from Christian Preschool Printables.  We got our coloring page from Calvary Chapel. 

Additional Resources & Activities:

Here are a few more links to some of things I found. 

Tower of Babel Craft from Little Blots.

Build a graham cracker tower. 

Tower of Babel song from Danielle's Place.  Scroll down a ways to find it.

Play a game of Jenga.