New International College Devotional Bible, by Zondervan

Title: NIV College Devotional Bible

Publisher: Zondervan

Date: February 23, 2013

Hardcover: 1408 pages








About the book:
Your college years are different from any other time in your life. You get a demanding new schedule – and it’s yours to manage 100% on your own. You make new, lifelong friendships as you spend time with other people on a similar path in the journey. You face unique challenges as you begin to see the world differently, including what your impact on the world might be.
This special time in your life is also an opportunity for you to deepen your relationship with Jesus. The NIV College Devotional Bible will help you strengthen your walk with God as you find your own way in life. It’s filled with stories that connect Scripture with the struggles, questions, and decisions every college student faces. In fact, it’s the same approach that Jesus used in his parables---taking stories from everyday life to illustrate eternal truths.

Features:

• 222 school-year devotions with daily insights and applications on relevant topics
• Devotions use a unique storytelling approach to connect God’s Word with your real-life questions, struggles, and decisions as a student
• A practical reading plan that helps you stay connected to God during the 9 months of school each year
• Quick-start guide shows you how to get the most out of reading the Bible
• Subject index for looking up topics of interest
• Complete text of the clear, accessible NIV Bible

My take:
I was extremely excited when I received this devotional Bible. I did think it would be set up a little different than it is. As you go through the Bible, you will find little devotional sections that you can engage in here and there. I personally thought that they would have geared it a little more toward the college life, than just regular devotions that one can study. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just felt like seeing how it is suppose to be geared toward college age, it should have college themes throughout. I do like how they have the story description at the top of ever section vs just at the top of the page. Another thing I felt like it was lacking were the red words to symbolize what Jesus is saying. I thought that would have been a nice touch.

In the back of the book is a page on weights and measures. After that is where all thy typical study guides are found. It has the one year through the Bible, 60-day, 20-day, and multiple 30 day study guides. Along with each of them, there is a section where it lets you mark off where you are so that you can keep track. You will also find a subject index section and a journal section.

I think this Bible can be used by anyone, even though it is stated for college age. Like stated before, there doesn't seem to be anything in here that makes it a straightforward college one.

This complementary book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers for my honest opinion.

Then Sings My Soul (Special Edition), by Robert J. Morgan

Then Sings My Soul (Special Edition), by Robert J. Morgan is by far one of the most interesting books I have reviewed so far.What a great book to own!

I was first drawn in by the very beautiful, calm picture that covers the entire book. The green rolling hills along with the sun setting behind the clouds is just magnificent. Then to see the edges of the pages, which are jagged in a way to where it makes you feel as though you are reading a book set back in the era when most of these songs were written. I also love how the actual sheet music to the songs is on one side of the page and right across from it, you have the background story of each song. Underneath the title of every song, is the year that it was written, followed by a Bible verse. Then it goes into who wrote it and why it was written. The history behind some of these songs are very enduring. It is neat to find out where and why some of the best loved hymns (along with Christmas and Easter songs) have made their way into the hearts of so many people.

Within the book you will find 150 songs. Yes that is right, 150 songs! Some of my favorite that made it in the book are as follows:

Christmas:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
There's a Song in the Air
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Easter:
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
There Is Power in the Blood

Thanksgiving:
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Great Is They Faithfulness

Patriotic:
My Country, 'Tis of Thee

Spiritual Hymns:
Amazing Grace
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
When We All Get to Heaven

This book would make a great gift or can be used as a devotional or used to sing songs with the whole family as they stand together around the piano spending quality time together. I really love this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoy singing these songs either in church or at home.

I thank Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to review this book.