Book Review - Gabby, God's Little Angel By Sheila Walsh

This children book is about the humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God’s little ones.

Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels:

“He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 ICB).

Basically this is a heartening, delightful and entertaining book to create the awareness among little children that God loves us so much, and He sends his angels to guard us.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Book Review: Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends: Hermie, a Common Caterpillar

This attractive children book is about the story of Hermie and his friend Wormie. Hermie and Wormie have always felt common. They don’t have stripes or dots, they aren’t very strong, and they can’t find anything special about themselves. But every time they pray, God tells them that He loves them all the time just as they are and that He isn’t finished with them yet. When Hermie becomes a beautiful butterfly, he realizes just how special God’s plan is for him!

Lessons I learned:
1. Sometimes we limit God -- we had the misconception that God cannot make something beautiful out of the "common". That's when the common is placed into the palm of the uncommon God.
2. We are impatient. We wanted God to answer us, and answer us NOW! But God has His purposes for us. And He will do it in His time!
3. We wanted to be someone else other than the person God has made us to be. We are unique in our own identity and our security should rest in the confidence we have in Him. We should be comfortable in our self-image.

In short, this is a great book to be read together with my kids.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Book Review: Smack-Dab in the Middle of God's Love By Brennan Manning & John Blase

Typical of Manning's style of writing on Abba's love, this first of his children books, is a delightful story outlining the fact that God, as our Heavenly Abba, wants us to enjoy his blessings more than anything we have done for Him. His love is pure, simple and fatherly.

Nonetheless, I find this Manning's book does not really flesh out concrete enough. The core message was not really put forth clearly. Probably a little conclusion section at the end to encapsulate the core message would help.

Other than that, this book is beautifully illustrated, and simple enough for children to understand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Product Review: Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends: A Bug Collection

Volume 3 of the Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends: A Bug Collection is a delightful collection with three complete DVDs:

Buzby and the Grumblebees—it’s about bee-having.

Haily & Bailey's Silly Fight—it’s about getting along.

Milo, the Mantis Who Wouldn't Pray—it's about prayer.

These stories are truly engaging for both adults and children alike, with plenty of opportunities for great discussion on some of the learning principles a child can learn from.

I watched all three movies with my kids. Out of the three movies, I like Milo, the Mantis Who Wouldn't Pray, the most. It is about this praying mantis named Milo, who inherited a four-generation snack shack from his great-grandfather. He was an ever bust mantis and he was very proud of the legacy he inherited. Due to a sudden wind storm one day, the entire snack shack was blown away. Being the ever Type A personality kind of guy, he wanted to quickly get back to action to rebuild his business. But when Wormie and Hermie suggested to him that he should slow down and pray, that caught him by surprise. He was a praying mantis who does not know how to pray!

He asked questions like how much does it cost to pray? How much time does it take to pray?

He expressed his concerns about prayers which probably many of us can identify with.
God must be a very busy executive and therefore he should pray as fast as he can, and send God with "shopping list as much as he wanted" OR

God must be a very intelligent person, and therefore, to speak at a level that is acceptable to him, we must use certain fancy words, praying in a certain posture. OR

God must be too important person and in order to get God's attention, he must do something.

Milo also expected God to answer his prayers the way he wanted, whenever he wanted. Wrong! God answers according to His own timing, with the answer He thinks is the best - and that answer can either be yes, no or wait.

Furthermore, Milo kept looking for answers to his prayers in everywhere else when God has already answered his prayers in the form of the companionship and help from his close friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these DVDs free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Milo, The Mantis Who Wouldn't Pray

Buzby And The Grumble Bees

Hailey and Bailey's Silly Fight Part 1/3

Hailey and Bailey's Silly Fight Part 2/3

Hailey and Bailey's Silly Fight Part 3/3

Children Learn What They Live

Children Learn What They Live (1998 version)
by Dorothy Law Nolte (1924 - 2005)

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

An older version..........

Children Learn What They Live (1959)

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .

BUT

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with , he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . . .
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendlienss(sic), he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .

WITH WHAT IS YOUR CHILD LIVING?