Category: Devotional

Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, family devotions, Kid Ministry

5 Fun Facts from Laura Sassi about her latest release!

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Hey everyone! I have a special treat for you today! My friend Laura Sassi just released the third book in her TENDER HEART SERIES and she is here today to give us the inside scoop!

Here are 5 fun facts about her lastest release entitled MY TENDER HEART DEVOTIONS!

My Tender Heart Devotions: Five Fun Facts

Fact #1:  I originally pitched My Tender Heart Devotions as a collection of 40 devotions. As I was writing it, however, the ideas kept flowing so I asked the team at Paraclete if we could expand it to 50. My editor said yes. Then I thought, why stop at 50? Why not make it 52 so that there could be one devotional for each week of the year?  The team at Paraclete Press thought that was a great idea and so that’s why there are 52 in the final printed version.

Fact #2: This is the third in the My Tender Heart series.  Expanding on the format of the first two books, My Tender Heart Bible and My Tender Heart Prayer Book, the devotional combines fun rhyming poems, scripture, short Biblically-grounded messages and Heart Moments of response to plant seeds of faith in tender hearts. I hope and pray this newest installment nurtures a new generation that loves digging into God’s word, connecting with Him through prayer, and responding by sharing God’s love with others. 

Fact #3: Illustrator Sandra Eide and I both love dogs (and cats and bunnies and hamsters)!  One of neat little details you will notice in this book and the other two in the series is that Sandra has included adorable dogs on many spreads. There’s even a canine cutie on the cover of the book (along with a cute kitten).  As you read this book along with the other two, see how many dogs you can spot.  And if you follow us on our socials you will quickly notice that we both like to post about our cute pooches, too.  Woof! Woof!

Fact #4: This is my first book that includes an index! Because this book contains 52 devotions spanning 112 pages, I decided that a topical index might be helpful so parents, teachers, children’s ministry folk so they can more can quickly and easily find the devotion that fits the need of the moment. The index includes topics like forgiveness, patience, serving others, praising God and more.

Fact #5: There are many ways parents, pastors and teachers can use this sweet devotional to grow their children’s faith.  Because there are 52 weeks in a year, a family or class can read and reflect on one each week during a family/class Bible study time.  A children’s pastor can use selections from the book as the spark for a children’s message during a church service. But my favorite way might just be at night, as the cozy wrap up to story time so that a child’s day concludes with sweet thoughts of God’s love and a bedtime prayer.  

THANKS, LAURA!!

I received a beautiful copy in the mail and I think it is one of the best new resources I have seen in a long time written to help you impart spiritual truth to your toddler or pre-school child! Each devotion has a simple poem, a vers, a kid-friendly lesson, and a heart moment. Its engaging lessons and charming rhyme are perfect of little hearts! You will definitely want to invest in this resource for your family!

You can order the book using this link: MY TENDER HEART DEVOTIONS

Find out more about Laura Sassi at her website: LAURA SASSI TALES

#mytenderheart #familyresources #devotions #familydevotions #preschool #paraclete

Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, family devotions, Fun for kids, Giveaway, Kid Ministry, My Faith, Parent and Child Connection

Twas the Season of Advent–Giveaway for Glenys Nellist’s new release

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to be hosting a give-away for Glenys Nellist’s latest release in the Twas series entitled, Twas the Season of Advent. It is a fabulous family devotional with accompanying artwork by Elena Selivanova.

Description: This is a product perfect for family devotions along with many other settings. There are 25 devotions, one for each day leading up to Christmas, with a blend of stories from the Old and New Testament. I love that Nellist has included the story of Isaiah, as I believe it is so important to remember the fact that God promised to send Jesus seven hundred years before he was born! What a miracle!

At the beginning of each page is a poem in the cadence of Clement C. Moore’s classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. There is also a highlighted scripture, and several paragraphs to read aloud together with your child. Each devotion concludes with a heart-felt prayer that also serves to summarize the main point of the day and personalize it for the reader.

For example: I love the story of the angel appearing to Mary. This is the content of the devotion for December 6th. The title is “My Answer is Yes.” The prayer reads:

“Dear God, thank you for Mary who was so brave and trusted you. When I need to be brave, help me remember that you are with me.“

Another page that is especially meaningful is the way Nellist concludes the book:

“I wonder how you are celebrating this holy night. I hope that wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, you might come to the manger, where God is waiting to meet you. No matter if your home is quiet or noisy this Christmas Eve–in the hustle or the hush; in the chaos or the calm; in the sound or in the silence, God is waiting to meet you there.

Dear God, as we gather around the manger, help us to listen as you whisper into our heart. Help each one of us truly know that this child–Jesus, Prince of Peace, Immanuel, the Word, was born for us. Thank you for this holy Christmas Eve.“

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There is so much rich and meaningful content packed into this book! I pray that God will powerfully use it in the hearts of all who read it. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and he is also the Savior–the Messiah–the one who was born to save each of us from our sin. I am so thankful that Glenys Nellist has written this book, and that Zonderkidz has chosen to publish it. It speaks of the most important message.The message of Jesus Christ.

You will be glad you purchased this book and decided to use it with your family!!!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

I am so happy to be giving away one copy of ‘Twas the Season of Advent!

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA with a physical street address (no PO boxes.) 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @mindybakerbooks and @glenysnellist on Instagram and leave a comment on any Instagram post this weekend about the give-away.

2. You can also tag a friend on any Instagram post this weekend for even more entries. One entry per tag.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post for an additional entry.

4. For 10 additional entries, follow this blog and/or subscribe to my mini-magazine. You will receive free bi-monthly content and also be notified of any new posts.

5. You must enter by 6pm EST on Sunday, November 14, 2021. I will draw the winner and post the result here and on Instagram Monday morning, November 15, 2021.

MORE INFORMATION:

Here is a link to purchase the book!

You can find out more about Glenys at her website. She has loads of other wonderful titles!

I absolutely love how Zonderkidz produces free resources to accompany their books. There is a free Parent/Teacher Guide for Twas the Season of Advent that has daily questions and follow-up activities. You can download them at the Zonderkidz website. Check it out!

This blog post is part of a BLOG HOP. The next scheduled post will be December 15th on the Instagram of @DeeperKidmin (Brittany Nelson)

Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, Parent and Child Connection

Simply Christmas – A New Holiday Devotional by Tama Fortner

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Look what was just delivered into my inbox! It is Tama Fortner’s fresh, new Christmas devotional for busy moms, and it is a treasure!

31 days worth of inspiring devotions along with practical advice to help you keep your Christmas this year simple, yet meaningful!

I loved how Tama incorporated tips to be mindful of others (like at holiday celebrations when you are feeling self conscious) as well as shared reminders about what is really important (like quality time with your kids). Her writing has an authentic tone and is very relatable!

If you have ever compared yourself to others and felt inadequate, Tama has some insights for you from the Bible. I absolutely love the verses she selected for each day! It is such a beautiful thing to read the Scriptures and have God’s Spirit speak to your heart.

So…

This Christmas season, check out this devotional! You won’t regret it! (Scroll down for order link)

Here is the press release description:

Between holiday baking, decorating the house, shopping for the perfect gifts, and hunting for the most picturesque tree, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for moms. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult for them to find time to simply rest and dwell on the wonder of the Savior’s birth. 

Fortner’s 31 short yet beautifully written devotions offer moms an opportunity to indulge in a few minutes of calm each day as she takes them back to that long-ago first Christmas. With warmth and wit, she also shares tips for leaving perfectionism behind and becoming the “keeping-it-real mom” instead.

“When I was starting out as a mom, it seemed as if everywhere I looked, there was perfection,” Fortner says. “Perfect clothes, perfect kids, perfect meals, perfect homes. And I tried to keep up with that. And I realize now that much of the pressure I felt was self-imposed. I had to grow into feeling comfortable in my own role as a mom…and that happened as I grew in my faith and my understanding of who I am as a daughter of God.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer with more than 35 titles to her credit. As a ghostwriter, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a footwarmer. For more information, visit www.tamafortner.com.

Order the book online at this link

Tama’s Instagram

Tama’s Twitter

**Tama, I wish you all the best with this new release! I think it has the potential to touch many hearts!