Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts

Friday, January 30, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Across the Lake by Barbara M. Britton

Across the Lake JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee by Barbara M. Britton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee
Author: Barbara M. Britton
Publisher: Scrivenings Press
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Genre: Biblical Fiction Devotional

Discover the life changing power of Jesus in six short stories from the Gospel of Mark. The miracles of Jesus will leap from the page in a Biblical Fiction story, author reflection, and relatable study.

Travel with Jesus as he calms a storm, heals a desperate woman, raises a dead daughter to life, sends His disciples on a minimalist mission, feeds thousands on a hillside, and shows compassion to a persistent mother.

A perfect study for your small group, personal or family devotions, or even a book club. If you know Jesus, fall in love with Him all over again.

If you haven’t experienced Jesus’s power and love, jump in His boat and engage with the Creator and Savior of the world.

About the Author

Barbara M. Britton is an author of Christian Fiction who loves to bring little-known Bible stories to light. She has taught the Bible in church and schools for thirty years. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.

My Thoughts:

This was a unique devotional that takes six of Jesus's miracles that happen around the Sea of Galilee, and in story form we are taken deeper into the miracle. There are about five chapters for each story, then we are given the author reflections and following up with discussion questions. There are some fictional characters mixed with Biblical as the author tells her stories.

This would be a great devotional for a book group, or even on your own. I like that the questions are right there and they give you time to pause and reflect on the story, the miracle, and who Jesus is. I have not done a devotional like this one before and I am glad I got a chance to try it.

I was provided a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive an Across the Lake book box which includes a paperback copy of Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee, a Hebrews 12:2 Scripture Rock, a necklace with cross and GRACE tag, a print copy of the Shelter in the Night devotional by LoRee Peery, a Philippians 4:13 notebook, and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 26, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 2, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Review, Guest Post, and Giveway: Legion by Shadia Hrichi

About the Book

Book: Legion
Author: Shadia Hrichi
Genre: Bible Study
Release Date: Oct 8, 2019

How far will Jesus go to rescue one lost soul?

Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him had no one to help him–no one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. Climb into the boat with Jesus as He heads into enemy territory. Witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul.

Through this six-week, action-packed Bible study, you will experience God’s relentless love as you celebrate the impassioned Savior Who moved heaven and earth to rescue you.

Click here for your copy!

My Thoughts:

Author Hrichi gives us another Bible study this time about a character in the Bible without his own name listed. He is just known by the demons that possessed him, Legion. But that doesn't matter as you delve into this six week study course because Jesus knew who he was and He set out to rescue this man.

Again this another very detailed study in a workbook style. Plenty of material to get through but not overwhelming. I heard a sermon once preached that really opened my eyes to the plight of this man and the extent that Jesus went to save him and show him how loved he was. I am thankful for authors who delve into the nitty gritty and pulls these characters from the shadows and shows us how loved we are.

This would make a great group or family Bible study along with doing it on your own. Very thought provoking.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

“SHADIA HRICHI is a passionate Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has a heart for seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She has received a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary as well as master’s in criminal justice from the State University of New York. In addition to LEGION, Shadia is the author of several Bible studies, including HAGAR and Worthy of Love. Shadia is often invited to speak at churches, conferences, and other events. Her insightful, witty, yet vulnerable teaching style reveals a compassion for the hurting, love for Jesus, and uncompromising commitment to the truth of God’s Word. Visit shadiahrichi.com.

More from Shadia

If there is one universal truth, it is that every human heart longs for paradise. A perfect world without death, pain, or sorrow. A world at peace, where each of us is secure, treasured, and loved. But the reality is that the world as we know it will never deliver; it cannot. Scripture tells us that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

As a result, you and I live in a broken world. A world that has been drifting off course ever since that slippery serpent enticed our first parents to reject God’s authority in that garden paradise so long ago. In that moment, they unwittingly handed over dominion of the earth to Satan on a silver platter. But this then begs the question. Why was God willing to risk rebellion in the Garden? And why would God allow His perfect creation to fall victim to the enemy’s schemes? And if God is good, why does He allow evil to exist?

Through this six-week study, you and I will explore the answers to these questions and more as we step into the fascinating story of the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him. To be honest, I don’t know why I am attracted to the hard stories in the Bible. The messy stories. I suspect it stems, in part, from my own broken past. I can relate much easier to the broken people. The ones who experienced times when they felt unseen, or unloved, or unwanted. At the same time, their stories captivate my heart because when God reveals what He is doing behind the seen, His power and glory are displayed in ways that make my spirit soar!

So I invite you to come with me as we climb into the boat with Jesus and head into enemy territory. We will witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul. Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man had no one to help him. No one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. As a result:

A demoniac becomes a disciple.

A house of demons becomes a dwelling for the Living God.

The chained becomes a champion of good news.

You and I live in a world crying out for rescue. And just as Jesus was willing to cross the sea and rescue one man from the enemy’s chains, He crossed the heavens to rescue you and me from a fate even worse: eternal chains. But praise God that through His sacrifice for sin, Jesus conquered all the forces of evil and opened up the gates of paradise to all who embrace His mercy. So come with me. Let’s rediscover the God Who Rescues Me!

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” —Colossians 1:13 NASB

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, January 21

Robin’s Nest, January 21

Genesis 5020, January 22

Older & Smarter?, January 23

For the Love of Books, January 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 24

Texas Book-aholic, January 25

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 26

janicesbookreviews, January 27

Quiet Workings, January 27

Inklings and notions, January 28

Aryn the Libraryan , January 29

Godly Book Reviews, January 29

Through the Lens of Scripture, January 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 31

Lights in a Dark World, February 1

D’S QUILTS AND BOOKS, February 1

Pause for Tales, February 2

Emily Yager, February 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shadia is giving away the grand prize package of 1 book of Legion, 1 book of Hagar and a $50 gift certificate to two winners each!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f4a5/legion-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Leaders, Nations, & God by Marta Greenman

About the Book:

Book: Leaders, Nations, & God
Author: Marta E. Greenman
Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Bible Study
Release Date: September 19, 2013

LEADERS, NATIONS, AND GOD invites readers to a six-week journey to explore the Bible’s message for the nations of the world, their leaders, and for Christians who live as citizens of those nations. By focusing on the biblical history of Israel and the United States, the reader discovers the nature of true, faithful leadership and the consequences when a leader compromises, as well as the sorts of nations that God may bless. Marta E. Greenman helps readers understand how scriptural principles apply to nations and to individuals alike.

By asking and answering these questions, the paths of humble obedience for individuals and nations become clear.

Each day’s study begins by encouraging the reader to write their prayer before they begin to examine the biblical history of Israel and/or the United States. The reader gathers insights from scripture to bring understanding of God’s ideal for nations and leaders. Questions dig deeply into lessons from the Bible, history, and the influences on one’s own life. Each day’s study comes with highlighted “Questions to Ponder” and ends with prayer.

If you find yourself drawn to explore God’s will for nations and individuals, if you wonder what biblical obedience might look like in your daily life, then Leaders, Nations, and God will meet your need for a study grounded in the Bible and focused on God’s desires for His people.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I love history, always was my favorite subject in school and I enjoy teaching my children the history of our great nation, and being reminded of what she stood for and still stands for. In this 6-week workbook course we are taken through Biblical history and how it ties into our own nation's history. Are they connected? What was our founding fathers goals for this nation?

History is important and should not be forgotten. This is a workbook that could be used for school, especially home-schooling, or a Sunday School study. It would also be a great book to do as a family devotional to delve deeper into history of our country while studying the Bible. I really liked the thought provoking questions and I think that they would make great discussions when doing this book with others.

This was a very informative workbook/study that I plan to share with my family.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

For over twenty years, Marta has traveled extensively as a missionary, evangelist and Bible teacher sharing God’s message of truth and redemption. She is a teacher of teachers. She is host of Under God Radio Show and Co-host of Refining Friends. She is the author of three Bible studies, Bound to Be Free, Leaders, Nations, and God, and ACTs420NOW. Marta founded Words of Grace & Truth in 2011 whose mission is to teach God’s Word to the nations and teach others to do the same. She has been married for over twenty-five years to Marshall and they reside in the Dallas, Texas area.

More from Marta

What a profound statement made by George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As Christians we need to learn those who have gone before us. In Leaders, Nations, and God we look at the history of the Children of Israel and America’s Founding Fathers to become men and women who understand the time and know how to navigate the troubled waters of today. We look at questions like “Who does God consider to be a leader?” What kind of nation does the Lord bless?” “Did America’s Founding Fathers really set up our country on Judeo-Christian values?”

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21

Mary Hake, October 22

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 25

Pause for Tales, October 26

Godly Book reviews, October 27

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

janicesbookreviews, October 31

She Lives to Read, November 1

A Reader’s Brain, November 2

Inklings and notions , November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marta is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed1d/leaders-nations-god-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Hagar by Shadia Hrichi

About the Book

Book: Hagar
Author: Shadia Hrichi
Genre: Religion / Bible Study
Release Date: October 10, 2017

You are ”The God Who Sees Me.”

Discover a close relationship with God–no matter the pain or suffering in your life. Witness the depths of God’s compassion through the eyes of Hagar, a runaway slave who meets the living God in a desert of despair, where she gives Him the name El Roi, ”The God Who Sees Me.”

Through this seven week study, you will find that when you surrender your life into God’s hands, your trials and triumphs serve a magnificent purpose: to draw you into the arms of the faithful God Who Sees Me.

”Deep and packed with surprising insights!” Francine Rivers

Click here to grab your copy.

My Thoughts:

Hagar is a very detailed and thought provoking Bible study on a woman who's story does not seem like a happy one, yet she is not forsaken by the God who loves her and sees her.

This is a seven week, five day study with questions to anwer and exercises to do, like looking up specific verses and answering questions. I like that type of study as a lot of times I see things I had never noticed before.

Hagar is a complicated character. I have never really thought much about her except what she was to Abraham and Sarah. Yet through Sarah's impatience with God and Abraham's compliance to Sarah, Hagar is thrust into the middle of their story not by any choice of hers.

She as a person seems used and abused and eventually she and her son are cast out. I like that there is now a study on her, because obviously God saw her, loved her, and her story has been read by many from the Bible. After this Bible study, I think you will find she is a very relatable person. Good stuff.

I received a copy of this novel from the publishers. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

SHADIA HRICHI holds an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies, as well as an MA in Criminal Justice and a BA in Psychology. In addition to numerous articles, Shadia is the author of Worthy of Love and Nameless No More. Shadia is often invited onto radio programs and regularly speaks at churches and women’s events. Currently residing in northern California, Shadia serves at Venture Christian Church and loves to visit the ocean each week for ”a date with Jesus.” Visit shadiahrichi.com.

More from Shadia

Am I known? Am I loved? Am I home?

Every human heart is searching for the answers to these questions. Yet when pain and heartache enter our lives, we feel betrayed and cry out one question: God, do You see me?

The answer is yes. He is Behind the Seen.

Because we live in a fallen world, each of us will inevitably face hard times, even painful ones. Who among us has never seen or felt the fallout of broken homes, broken lives, or broken dreams? Hagar is a great example of someone who discovered God during a difficult time.

Maybe you have never heard of her. Or perhaps you came across her name in a study of the book of Genesis. But how much do you really know about this young slave girl? We often relegate her to the backstage as a minor character in God’s redemptive story. But was she?

As I explored Hagar’s story for another book I wanted to write, God continually amazed me as we journeyed together from the affluence of Egypt, into a life of slavery, to a desert of despair. It seemed the more I studied her life, the more I discovered about God. What began as a chapter evolved into a study all its own.

Two years and several thousand hours of study and prayer later, HAGAR: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me came to be. Consider this book as your backstage pass to the life of Hagar.

I have never actually gone backstage during a live event, but I know that much more goes on behind the scenes than meets the eye. I invite you to come backstage with me and explore how God was involved in every detail of Hagar’s life. Her story has all the ingredients of a Hollywood tragedy: betrayal, loss, abuse, crisis pregnancy, abandonment . . . any of that sound painfully familiar?

Thankfully, Hagar’s story does not end in despair. God was working Behind the Seen—just as He has in your life and mine—all along. As a matter of fact, Hagar emerges victorious!

Hagar: an unsung hero if there ever was one.

Beloved, is the enemy using anything in your past to try to derail you from God’s plan, or hold you back from experiencing God’s joy to the fullest? Be assured, that is not how your story will end. Just as God did for Hagar, when He enters your story, victory is already assured.

So strap on your sandals and a grab a bottle of water. We’re heading into the desert. A place where we will rediscover the God Who Sees Me.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” —Isaiah 9:2