Diane StortzRezensionen

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First sentence: Long ago, God made everything out of nothing.

This is a bible story book collection for parents to read aloud to their children. [Or perhaps Sunday School teachers to read aloud to their students.] There are nineteen stories from the Old Testament. There are twenty-one stories from the New Testament. Some of these stories are absolutely traditional and to be expected. Others come as bit more of a surprise.

Each story focuses on ONE 'name' of God. Some are more attributes and/or titles. But regardless each highlights something we can learn about God and reveals a reason to trust him even more.

Each includes a story, a devotion, a bible verse, and a prayer

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This is a beautiful Bible story book. I really like the way it is laid out, with each chapter centered around a different name of God. The pictures are very nice, too. They are slightly cartoon-style, but not so much as to be offensive to me. Some of the features I especially appreciated were the pronunciations for the Hebrew names of God, and the introduction at the end of each story, leading into the next story.
I received a free copy of this book from CelebrateLit, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

I Am is a beautifully illustrated book for children. Each of the forty entries includes passages of Scripture, stories from the Bible, prayers, as well as suggestions for learning more. This book would be an excellent book for reading with children in your life.

I think one of my favorite parts of this book is the illustrations. With the bright and vibrant colors, the pictures help bring the stories to life. I think these illustrations will help capture the attention and imagination of the children while reading this book's devotions. When our children were younger, I always looked for ones with excellent illustrations in them.

It explains who God is and why we should trust Him. So if you are looking for a devotional book for children in your life, check this book out for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

This book will immediately grab the attention of children with its attractive hardback cover, beautiful ribbon bookmark, and colorful illustrations, but the content inside is what will continue to keep their attention. Author Diane Stortz shares forty stories from both the Old and New Testament and each of them mentions a different name for God. From Genesis 1-2, when God created the world and was given the name Elohim (Creator), to Revelation 17:14, when He was proclaimed Lord of lords and King of kings, Stortz reveals a new name or descriptive title. She also includes devotions, Bible scripture, and prayers, along with the stories, to further increase understanding.

Reading this beautiful book together provides adults and children the perfect opportunity to discuss God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Even though "I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God" was written for young people, I will certainly enjoy using it myself. I also recommend it as a wonderful resource for your church library.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my honest thoughts.

I must comment on the cover of this children’s book. It will catch the eye of children with the glitter that pops out and the beautiful and vivid colors that are used on the front cover. The illustrations go perfectly with each Bible story in the book. This book could be read together as a family or for an older child that is able to read on their own. I think it would make a wonderful gift and I plan on giving it to my first grandchild who was born a few days ago. Her parents will enjoy sharing these easy to understand stories as she gets older.
I liked how the author tells the stories in a simple way they will understand. I appreciate the ribbon book mark that you can use to hold your place without having to search where you left off. The book is sturdy and will last a very long time. Wouldn’t it be nice to pass this lovely book down through generations?
I did notice that there were little changes in wordings of stories that unsettled me. I first noticed when it said, “God said let us make people in our image. In the Bible it clearly states, “ God formed a man from dust.” He never said let’s make people. The next is when Eve eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” In this book it says, “God says you can eat from any tree except from the good and knowing tree .” I read each chapter and there were minor word changes. Some of the stories probably should be read by older children and I think it is important to do the little exercise and prayer at the end of each chapter.
Overall I think the book is written closely to what the Bible says. As you read with your child notice anything that may not follow your own Bible. It is important for children to know what the Bible says. I understand that authors writing for younger children want to simplify words. I have no problem with that as long as it does not take away the meaning from the Bible.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

This Children’s Bible story book made me squeal with delight when I opened the package. I AM by Diane Stortz and illustrated by Diane Le Feyer is a perfect tool for the grandparent, parent, or church worker who wants to teach their children about God.
Let’s start with the obvious, the visual presentation, because that is what your child will see first. A hardback, with animated full-page pictures, (the cover is astounding!), the illustrations are very appealing to the 4-8 year range the book is intended for.
As a Sunday School teacher for first graders, one thing our Children’s leader taught us is that we want to focus not just on the Bible characters in the Bible story, but GOD’s PROMINENT place in the Bible story. After all, isn’t that what the Bible is all about?
So while this book contains familiar stories, starting with ”Creation”, ”A Sad Day in the Garden, ” ”Promises for Abraham,”; what is being emphasized through specially colored shapes is God’s NAME and the characteristics of God (like ”Creator, ” ”God of Truth-El Emeth, ” God All-Powerful, El-Shaddai, ” etc.
The Bible passage is listed, plus a relevant verse is written out, and there is a application part, ”What Does it Mean?” Plus, there is included a ”learn more” Bible passage and a hint of what is coming next. As I said before, I just love this book that gives 40 names for God. It reveals His character to children, traveling through the Bible with stories, words, and thoughts that will spark your youngster’s imagination and love for our awesome God.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. This in no way affects my opinions, which are solely my own.

From the moment I first opened Diane Stortz’s “I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God”, I knew that it was going to be spectacular. If you can, I recommend getting the hardcover version because the embossing on the front cover and the sparkling waves just can’t be conveyed on Kindle. There is a nice blue ribbon bookmark inside, as well. All of the pages are in full color and are gorgeously illustrated with figures and scenes that will appeal to young readers. The format is well-executed, with the book divided into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. For the former, the name of God is given in English and then Hebrew, with a pronunciation (which I found very useful), such as The Lord My Rock (Jehovah Tsuri), and for the New Testament, with a few exceptions, the English name is given, such as the Good Shepherd. This is followed by a Scripture verse and Bible story, noting which chapters of the Bible the story comes from; a key point; a What Does It Mean section that connects the story to kids’ experiences today; a brief prayer; other Scripture verses that explore the same theme; and a short What Happened Next paragraph that explains how God is working and how this story ties into the following one.

For a medium-length children’s book, “I AM” is a respectable compendium that highlights many of the main stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Some of those which are not directly focused on, such as Noah’s ark, are told in the What Happened Next sections. This is not a substitute for the Bible, nor is it meant to be, but rather a supplement that allows kids and their guardians to connect some of the many names of God with familiar Bible accounts. I learned new Hebrew names just reading it myself as an adult! Because it is a children’s book, the stories are naturally toned down and do not include all of the mature details, but they still demonstrate conflict and how God fights for us, as with David and Goliath and Daniel and the lion’s den. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to young readers and to families who are able to read it to their little ones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

This is such a special book! The sturdy board cover makes it easy for little hands to hold and the board pages are easy for little fingers to turn. Filled with bright and colorful illustrations, this is a book that will immediately capture the attention of eager little eyes and the labels will help them name what they are seeing. The simple text is easy to understand and I especially like that a short Bible verse and a short prayer are included in each selection. My six year-old granddaughter enjoys reading it for herself but it is actually recommended for children ages 1-4, so this gives adults and children a time to bond as they read it together.

I'm always eager to find faith-filled children's books and author Diane Stortz has written a book that I will gladly share with others. This Say & Pray Bible would be a great addition to both personal and church libraries and I recommend it to anyone wanting to share God's Word with the children in their lives. I feel sure that it will become a favorite that will be read time and time again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a favorable review and these are my own opinions.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that will catch the eyes of toddlers and preschoolers. The book itself is a board book that young children will be able to carry around. Inside is short sentences about a story from the Bible. I loved how the story and pictures blend together to make a pleasing presentation. The author has included scriptures that are easy for little ones to understand.
Parents will love spending time with their children as they explore this well crafted book. It would make a perfect addition to a church library as well as using it in Children's Church. I cannot wait to give this to my first grandchild who will be here in three weeks. She may not be able to read it yet, but it will make a perfect gift for her as she gets older.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I am always looking for Christian reading material for my granddaughter and I'm thrilled with this new book that introduces God's Word to little ones. The sparkly hardback cover and the colorful illustrations on almost every page will gain the attention of children immediately but it is the content inside that will keep them interested. Author Diane Stortz shares 52 different stories from both the Old and New Testament and she starts with the Creation story, 'In the Beginning, God', that is based on Genesis 1-2. As the children journey through the Bible they encounter special people and amazing events and then, in the final story, they are assured that they can be 'Forever with Jesus', as related in Revelation 21-22.

God's Words to Dream On is perfect for reading to your children or grandchildren and it is also a book that they will later enjoy reading by themselves. It has everything that is needed for family devotion time and I especially like that each of the 52 stories has Bible scripture, a Bedtime Blessing, and a Sleepy-Time Prayer. This is a book that I will gladly share with my granddaughter and it is also one that I will give so that others can enjoy it also.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly my own.

What a gorgeous book filled with God’s Word for infants and toddlers. The cover alone will catch children’s attention. There is glitter and sparkles that dance across the cover to enrich the beauty of this book. Inside is illustrated stories from the Bible that are easy to read and follow. Each page is filled with artistic designs that will keep children’s attention. I loved how the stories take you through the Bible which includes scriptures to look up and a prayer to say with children.
I am so blessed that I was able to get a copy of this book to give to my first grandchild due in six weeks. I can’t wait for her parents’ to sit with their child and delight in what each page has for them. This would make a wonderful gift for a child as one of their first introductions to God’s Word. The author has done an outstanding job of relating the stories in a way that will keep children interested in the God’s Word. I love how sturdy the pages are and how much fun it will be to see my grandchild enjoy this treasure.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Encountering God’s Heart for You contains 365 short daily devotionals. Some devotions cover a single chapter in the Bible while others are for multiple chapters. These devotions are quick to read and would be great for a new Christian or someone who wants a quick devotional to read.

This devotional is not one that should replace daily Bible reading but is perfect for a quick read. I think it would be perfect as a start to your daily devotional time. At the beginning of each day is a short passage of Scripture along with the reference for the chapter for the day. So check out this devotional for yourself.

I received a copy of this devotional for my fair and honest review.

I first want to take a minute and talk about how beautiful the book has been designed. The book is a hardcover and will last for years to come. The pages inside are filled will scripture and a walk through the Bible. The author points out that not all of the Bible is included but it is a perfect devotion to use each day. I’m glad that it is not numbered by day and month so you can begin the book at any point .
This has been a timely book for me as I struggle with what is going on in the world right now. The author includes subjects for each day and sometimes I find myself going past some pages to read a subject that God has put on my heart. I am thankful for this book and all the work the author put into it to encourage us as we discover the Bible in a year. This would make an excellent gift for someone to help them read through the Bible and discover His unconditional love.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

These devotionals take you on a 365-day chronological journey through God's Word. Through these devotionals you'll see God's story of redemption unfold in devotions drawn from most books in the Bible.

Each day has a Scripture passage and a focal passage to read, followed by a devotional thought, and prayer.

I recommend this devotional for all Christ-followers, and for new Christ-followers, in particular. All Christ-followers will find this a helpful devotional, and it will help new Christ-followers gain a good view of the chronology of Scripture.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing from Diane Stortz. I was not required to provide a positive review. Thoughts are my own opinion.

This beautiful, unique devotional book is one of the best I’ve come across. Reading from cover to cover takes readers through the whole story of the Bible, a novel approach that I personally have not encountered before. While not a substitute for the Word of God, this daily devotional is an excellent and fairly comprehensive supplement, suitable both for those who are familiar with the Bible and those who aren’t. Because each page-long entry is numbered from 1 to 365, there is no set start or end date, unlike many devotionals that are divided into month and day. Each day has a title and the books and chapters of the Bible being discussed, as well as a Scripture verse taken from that designation, and each reading concludes with a prayer. The short reading sometimes consists of Biblical context or the Biblical story, and at other times it focuses on a contemporary connection. I love everything about the formatting; while not every single chapter of the Bible is examined, the highlights are, and this book goes very well with my Bible reading plan this year, which consists of concurrently reading both Old and New Testament chapters daily and results in reading the entire Bible by the end of the year.

Diane Stortz’s “Encountering God’s Heart for You” is structured in such a way that it can serve as a supplemental go-to book for addressing and praying about specific needs or exploring certain books or chapters of the Bible. To this end, I do wish that there was a table of contents, but the chronology follows along closely enough (although not completely) to the Bible that readers should be able to locate certain books without much difficulty. There are two main sections: Encountering God’s Heart for You in the Old Testament and Encountering God’s Heart for You in the New Testament. Each of these two sections is further divided into categories. For the Old Testament these include: The Books of Law, The Books of History, The Books of Poetry and Wisdom, and The Books of Prophecy. For the New Testament: The Gospels, The Book of History (Acts), The Letters, and The Book of Prophecy (Revelation). My favorite during this read-through was The Books of Poetry and Wisdom, although I think that would be subject to change depending on what is going on in my life at the time. This is definitely a book that is going onto my favorites list and that I will refer back to frequently.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

God's Words To Dream On Bedtime Bible Stories and Prayers is written by Diane Stortz and Illustrated by Diane Le Feyer. It has beautiful glittery cover to catch the eye of any child. Each Bible story has a bedtime blessing and a sleepy-time prayer. There are over 50 stories for you and your little one to enjoy each night. It also comes with a ribbon for you to mark where you left off the night before. I really enjoyed reading some of these wonderful bedtime stories myself.

I received an ARC from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I just love this little book. Designed with the young child and very early reader in mind, it has sturdy board book construction. The book has more pages and information than your traditional little kiddie board book.

The objective of Say & Pray Devotions is to teach and enable the young child to focus on simple objects, read aloud the word, and pray about it. The devotions are focused on specifics: God's World, God's Gifts, and God's Love. Under each specific section, the child can pray about the morning, family, rain, and activities.

Each two-page spread has a short statement, a Bible verse, and a prayer. On the page objects are labeled such as on the pet page: Fish, Hamster, Cat, Brush, Water, and Dog. So the child can learn to recognize words, learn a Bible verse, and say a short prayer.

This is a superb way for the very young reader to learn about devotional time. I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my opinions which I freely give.

Baby, Baby! is a great book for connecting your young child with the world around them. Whimsical illustrations of all the wonderful things babies do — giggling, clapping, sneezing, kissing — combine with simple rhymes that lead to the final fun thing about your baby — God loves him/her! As the story progresses your child will see other babies doing all the things they do, and then the big finale — a mirror to include them in the story. Perfect for mom and dad and baby time, it is also a good way to include an older sibling in the joyous life of a brother or sister. I have just the family to share this book with — two sweet sisters and a new baby brother!

Recommended.

Audience: families with babies.

(Thanks to Worthy Kids for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

If I could give a book 10 stars, it would be this one! The beautiful illustrations complement many wonderful Bible stories perfectly. The author has brought a fresh approach to Bible reading. Each page gives lots of opportunities for children to engage with their parents. My grandson is 7 and could easily read the stories aloud. I was delighted to see him want to discuss the exciting adventures found within the pages of the gorgeous hardcover book. What I found so complete and comforting is that you'll find the Bedtime Blessing, along with the Sleepy-Time Prayer, a perfect way to end your bedtime routine with your precious little ones. Pouring God's love into their hearts and minds is a marvelous legacy for anyone, especially grandparents. My family loves the book and I highly recommend to friends.

A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO READING THE BIBLE IN A YEAR: A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF GOD by Diane Stortz is an excellent Bible Study Guide. With a "discussion guide, lists of what to look for,motivational guotes,and a week-by-week reading plan". A very delightful guide to reading the Bible. With scriptures to read and checkpoints for those scriptures and a timeline of both the Old and New Testaments. I have started using this as a guide myself and have found it more than helpful, it is also a useful tool. Highly recommended. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: NONE(BIBLE GUIDE)

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews/My Book Addiction and More½

I read A woman's guide to reading the bible in a year by Diane Stortz, in exchange for honest review from Netgalley. The book was published by Bethany House Publishing. I wish I skimmed this book sooner because I truly enjoyed reading it this weekend. Definitely am thinking about buying either the Kindle or paperback version of the book.

Second, The book starts out with inspirational stories, starting with a ladies group, who desired to read the bible in a year, focusing on three chapters per day. The group eventually broke off into multiple groups, including a men's group. The stories also included a Jehovah's witness, who desired more, in addition to a missionary, who realized she lacked familiarity with the bible, even though she taught it.

Why I chose the book: I never read the entire bible. I read the verses outlined in Church, plus a few chapters on my own. Read the book of Revelation a few times, but I never thought of reading the entire bible in a year. Definitely need to work on reading the bible more, plus memorization. Never memorized a bible verse, let alone a chapter, a day in my life, I think, except like the last verse: AMEN or JESUS WEPT. Of Course, there is In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Third, The book was very inspirational. Stortz (2013) discusses how we can find truth and love within the bible. We also can find encouragement, forgiveness, hope, understanding, accountability, appreciation, direction,healing, release, and peace. Next, Diane told her story of being born with one, fully formed, hip socket, instead of two. She was placed in full body casts around the age of one, in addition to staying in the hospital in traction. She eventually wore braces and then learned to walk. God is good. Very inspirational since my youngest son can not walk yet. He is in Early Childhood and Physical therapy. Tomorrow, he is getting a gait walker, which is to help his balance and muscular structure. God is truly blessing him with great therapists and he has made great progress since last year.

Fourth, the book provided tips for reading the book. For example, you can start anytime. The pages are not dated. You can use the guide with any bible version. You will read about three chapters per day, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is also ok if you fall behind or get confused. You can catch up or re-read anytime. Stortz definitely focuses on using the bible to develop a closer relationship with God, which affects other relationships, such as family. Diane also encourages using the book to record your thoughts as you read the book. The book also provides guidelines for group reading.

Fifth, Stortz provided a brief history of the bible (from God speaking directly to men to traditional publishing), in addition to the books of the bible. Everything I mentioned so far, is found in the first 30 or so pages of her book.

Finally, the book provides an outline for reading the bible in a year. Each section has a selected theme, bible verses, in addition to checkpoints. The author discusses each theme first, before getting into verses and questions. Each section also has questions such as name something you learned or write down a bible verse you like to remember. The sections are very short. The bible verses given for each section also has a check box, to check your progress, I assume.

Rumble! Zap! Pow!: Mighty Stories of God is a delightful book filled with Bible favorites and engaging activities.

The fun illustrations and style make each story easy to understand and highly entertaining for young children. Though it is geared towards preschoolers, my seven and nine-year-old boys enjoyed reading this book, too.

The stories in Rumble! Zap! Pow!: Mighty Stories of God show God's strong love, goodness, and power. The stories unfold in a colorful, comic-book style with elements of "power words," "mighty thoughts," and follow-up activities.

Children will enjoy Bible favorites such as the story of Noah's Ark and the Ten Commandments, along with learning about the miraculous pillars of Christianity, such as Creation and Jesus's Ressurection. Each story is presented in a manner that children will readily understand while allowing plenty of room for discussion.