Devotions from Genesis {Book Review}

In our family my mother is the one who is keeper of the family tree.  On her journey to create our families heritage she discovered that somewhere far back we are from Jewish decent.  Ever since she shared this with me I have had a deep seeded desire to know more about the Jewish people.  So last month when I heard about the Devotions from the Torah series I couldn't wait to take up the opportunity to use them.  I received a digital copy of the first two books in the series: Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One.

To meet the author and read an interview be sure to pop on over to Grace-Filled-Moments and read: Meet Nicole Vaughn, Author of Devotions from the Torah

Isn't that an amazing thought ? "God is the only one who ever took absolute nothing and made something." I love knowing the meanings of words and digging deeper.  Nicole says: "When we look at Genesis Chapter one in the light of the Hebrew translations of our English words, we can see intricate details that have often times been overlooked, details that expound upon the character of our Creator."

Within the first pages of this devotional she welcomes you in as a friend, it has an easy conversational tone which is not at all 'preachy' but is as one friend sharing a deep and meaningful insight with another.

The book of Genesis is divided into the following sub-sectiions of study

• Chapter 1-11 Learn to see into your own heart as you look at the lives of those from Adam to Noah.
• Chapters 12-36 Walk the journey of faith. See how God grows your faith through the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
• Chapter 37-50 See the foreshadowing of Christ in the life of Joseph.

In Devotions from Genesis Nicole encourages you to first read your bible then go to the devotional.  It is not scheduled in any way so there is no pressure to read from one item to the next to keep up. I am a busy Mom, Wife and Blogger but my hearts desire is to have hours a day to dig deeper. One of the things I have appreciated is that this devotional is not set up in sections to read.  There are no dates or days of the week with set amounts to read.  I could read from one devotional to the next or simply choose to read one page and meditate on what I had learned.  No pressure.  No feeling like I was getting behind in the "schedule"  I appreciated that Nicole encourages you to follow the many references presented and see how Scripture interprets Scripture. Nicole helps you to discover the heart and character of God as you study and dig deeper into the book of Genesis.

Each devotional is finished with a prayer.  These prayers are different from the traditional one or two line prayers you find in five minute devotions.  These prayers are heartfelt and full of scripture (and their reference points).  They help you to see who God is.  They help your heart and soul to worship and abide in His presence.

Author Nicole Vaughn is the Children’s Ministry Director at Shiloh Baptist Church in Somerville, AL. She is the co-administrator of CrossRoads Christian Academy. She is the founder of Proven Path Ministries. She has also lead inductive Precept Upon Precept studies, has served as an advocate for her local crisis pregnancy center and has shared the testimony of Christ throughout her community and abroad. Nicole is a woman who is dedicated in her faith, devoted to her family, and driven to share the truth of God with others. She and her husband, Patrick, currently reside in Decatur, AL with their two youngest children.

Devotions From Genesis takes you from creation to the bondage of the children of Israel

• ISBN-13: 9781616631505
• Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, L.L.C.
• Publication date: 7/6/2010
• Pages: 216
• Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 8.10 (h) x 0.50 (d)
• Available from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon Kindle

Devotions From Exodus Part One will take you from the bondage of the children of Israel to their freedom. Devotions from Exodus

• ISBN-13: 9781625101082
• Publisher: Tate Publishing
• Publication date: 10/1/2013
• Pages: 220
• Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 0.50 (d)
• Available from Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble eBook, Amazon, Amazon Kindle and Christian Book

Connect with Nicole

• Proven Path Ministries Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Google+
• YouTube

Thank you to Nicole for the opportunity to use these books and dig deeper into the word of the Lord with a Jewish insight.

Blessings
Chareen

Our Reviews 2013

Coming Soon

• Tales of Wordishure, Book II A Book of Children's Stories by Mick McArt  {March / April}

Apps {Educational}

• Squeebles Spelling Test by Key Stage Fun
• Wet Dry Try by Handwriting Without Tears {February}

Books

• These are reviewed weekly on Tuesdays in my weekly Tuesdays Treasures. These books are not compensated reviews they are about books I have used from the library or personally purchased for my own library.
• The Christian Parenting Handbook
• The Force
•  Devotions from Genesis
• Seed Sowers a gospel planting adventure {September}
• YWAM Jim Elliot - One Great Purpose  (book and Study guide) {October}
• If You Were Me And Lived In ... {Review}
• Homeschool Mom's Devotional Bible {October}
• At Home in a Dogwood Mudhole {November}

Curriculum

•  Schoolhouse Teachers.com by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
• A+ Interactive MATH by Tutorsoft {February} 
• TouchMath {March}
• Children's Music Journey {March}
• A Journey Through Learning {March}
• Math Rider {April} 
• Homeschool in the Woods {May} 
• See The Light {June} 
• Christianity Cove - Lord's Prayer & 10 Commandments {June}
• Global Art - Geography, Art {August}
• Time 4 Learning - Math, Social Studies, English, Science {September}

Personal

•  Personalised Planner by Personalised Planners.

HSMJ - A Date in Melbourne with Sir N

In my life this week…

It's so very good to be feeling better.  It's been an exciting week getting to know the new ladies on the crew with me this year and seeing the upcoming vendors that have asked the crew to review their products.

I've been learning heaps about Google+ and even been drowning in email notifications ... That took a little detective work but I learned how to deactivate those!

This year the crew will be combining their collective homeschool knowledge on some great Pinterest boards and I'm looking forward to seeing some excellent encouragement and support this year specifically for Homeschool Mom's.

Sir N and I enjoyed a special date in Melbourne

In our home school this week…

• We jumped back into math triple digit addition and multiplication this week.
• Plenty of Jotham's Journey reading and family traditional wafer eating all around.
• We made a nativity from a pack and created a hand print wreath
  

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• 5 Christmas Picture Books That Will Point Your Kids to Jesus over at The Busy Mom.
• Here is an online game for teaching sentence structure in Primary School Sentence Play
• Loving this new blog called Children's Books Daily
• The Schoolhouse Review Crew are on Google+
• Our Top 6 Favorite Chapter Read-Alouds have you read any of these ?
• 10 Coloring Pages Of Thanks  over at Angels of Heart
• Spotlight on Five! Using Apps in the Homeschool 
• Learning About Christmas Around the World  6 Day Mini Study

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• This week Sir N and I have felt well enough and strong enough to resume our Tennis and Kelly Sports activities.
• We attended a play group
• Had fellowship with a family from church
• Oh and the best of all is I took him on a surprise trip into the city of Melbourne by train one night to see the laser show and Myer Christmas windows.  It was fantastic.  We got home at midnight and were both very tired the next day!
• A 21st birthday celebration

My favourite thing this week was…

• I really enjoyed looking at these photographs These 20 Photos Are Going To Make You Cry. But You’ll See Why It’s Totally Worth It.
• I was remided of just how radically blessed I am when I took a look at this photo essay Chinese Families with All Their Stuff In A Single Photo By Huang Qingjun (12 pics)

Questions/thoughts I have…

• Thinking about the rhythm of this blog and wondering what sorts of things you would like to see here next year ...

Things I’m working on…

• This week it's a busy one :)  The Schoolhouse Review Crew BLOG had a total make over and the new crew year has begun.  I've met some lovely ladies who are joining me on the crew from Australia and New Zealand.  Please pop over to their blogs and say hello
  A Moment In Our World
  Be Thou Exalted
  Homemaking with Heart
• It's also Christmas activity time and I share about Upcycled Nativity in the Virtual Fridge.  There are some great craft / art ideas this week in the linky so far.
• I also shared Our Top 6 Favorite Chapter Read-Alouds I'm always on the look out for great books and would love to hear about yours 
• A Unit Study on France ...

In Bloggy world I’m reading…

• I love advent :)  one of my favourite times of the year Advent is Here! Beginning My Walk with the 40 Days of Seeking Him and Sharing about Keeping Christ in Christmas
• It's sad how this is happening and makes me appreciate being born into a family living in a country where girls are wanted The reason 200 million girls have 'vanished'
• This is so true Marriage and other taboos (a frantically written plea) even in the church there is the hidden that holds people in bondage
• This is so frustrating to read Homeschool Organization Joins Fight After Court Orders Children to Attend School for ‘Socialization’
• Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid This was an encouraging read some great advice.
• Man this saddens me ...  Not aborting a person with a disability is now a personal injury in NZ
• South African icon Nelson Mandela, a 'giant for justice', dies aged 95 “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." ~Nelson Mandela
• 10 Reasons To Put Down Your Morning Latte... And Pick Up A Delicious Alternative!
• Man survives 60 hours at bottom of Atlantic Isn't God good ?
• Oh Wow Oh Wow What Happens When A Mugger Randomly Sees His Victim On Facebook? Not What You’d Expect.
• Do you have a DSLR you want to learn to use ?  Have you seen this ? “Oh, Snap! Learning My DSLR Camera!” ~ A 30 Day Series
• When I read stories like this I get so frustrated with the "SYSTEM" Albanian mom with three American kids makes desperate bid to stay in the U.S. after she's given 24 HOURS to leave the country
• Fascinating Babies Remember: The Birth Story 
• A 300 Year Old Poem for Bloggers  

I’m cooking…

• Nothing new this week. 
• The Secret To Perfect Cauliflower Pizza Crust 

On Pinterest I found...

• Sayings
• Eternal Truth
• Bible Verses

I’m grateful for…

• See The Beauty - Melissa Ohden - Abortion Survivor

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Angels We Have Heard on High by The Piano Guys

Blessings

Chareen

Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor