Five Minute Friday is one of my favorite blog hops. Each person who submits a link has 5 minutes to complete a post. The posts are (usually) short, easy to read, and full of hope and joy in writing. Blessings to you and yours! Marie
God wants to mend our hearts, minds, and souls. He wants to repair what’s broken in us. James 5:16 says we are to confess our sins and pray with one another. When we do this, we bring our deepest hurts into the light, and healing can begin. Praying then becomes an act of restoration that allows God to begin the mending process.
We are reminded in the same verse that healing doesn’t happen alone. As believers, we are to pray for one another. In doing so, God can use those prayers to heal any kind of brokenness, be that physical, emotional, or spiritual. Over time God renews and restores us fully.
The Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, offers a unique way to engage with scripture. It is perfectly suited for those who appreciate both artistic expression and journaling. It arrives packaged in an easily wrapable box, making it giftable without much fuss. The Bible has a lovely pink faux-leather cover. It is a very usable Bible in that it can lie flat on a hard surface making it easy to both journal and color and it curves and bends comfortably on your lap during your quiet time.
The interior encourages active engagement with the text. You will find sufficient space to record thoughts and prayers with journaling lines at the side of each page. There are numerous pictures to color match the message of the Bible stories, which creates a visual connection to the scripture. Please note that the Bible features small print, which is typical of Bibles that have extra features. This is definitely an adult Bible intended for home-based study.
Overall, this is a premium, beautifully constructed tool for deepening one’s faith and knowledge through creativity and contemplation.
If you would like to have a copy of The Beautiful Word Coloring Bible I am gifting two people. All you need to do is hop over to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10231487595909861&set=a.2108327384582 – and say YES in the comments section of the post. (I can only mail to United States addresses.) Winners will be selected by a random number generator. Your opportunity for a free copy will end on November 30, 2025.
Blessings and success to you and yours!
Marie
The book begins in Winter, which is when you face the cold, hard truths of a difficult diagnosis. Spring, a time of growth and hope, helps you emerge from the cold, uncertain days.
Summer brings weariness and exhaustion. This is when you realize things are changing again, and you must learn to cope with the heaviness of the situation. Lastly we come to Fall, a time for acceptance, even when dealing with big changes like finding a care center that can do the things you no longer can or saying the final goodbye to the one you love. The great lesson throughout all the seasons is that the strength you need always points back to your Father, who loves you both.
This book is a must-read for anyone taking care of a family member or friend. The main message is that you are chosen by God to do this important work, and when the feelings of doubt, fear, or extreme exhaustion hit, you can whisper or shout out His name to find relief.
The author also gives truly great advice for daily life. First, she reminds caregivers they have to take care of themselves, too. It’s okay—and necessary—to prioritize your own well-being! She also teaches you to focus on the right things—not the constant little requests, but the loving reason you are serving. Also, caregivers must let others know their needs and accept their help. Ask God for what is needed, expect Him to act, and let Him do the rest.
This mix of life story and devotional will help anyone in a caregiving role find their new normal and discover that true strength, stability, and relief can be found in their faith. It is all about embracing a spirit of gratitude and finding hope in each moment.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a caregiver. It will lift your spirits and keep you mindful that you’re not doing this alone.
If you would like to have a copy I am gifting two people. All you need to do is hop over to my Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/marie.bungard and say YES. (I can only mail to United States addresses.) Winners will be selected by a random number generator. Your opportunity for a free copy will end on November 30, 2025.
Look for my next review. I’ll be gifting a copy of The Coloring Bible (for adults) to two lucky people.
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
The poem in the picture above is a Haiku. The simplicity of this Japanese poetic form has been an unexpected gift in my meditation and prayer time. It helps me clear my scattered thoughts and focus on a specific word of God’s Word and applying it to my life.
For me this is a deliberate act of submission. It helps me take a broad and powerful truth from God’s Word and make it into a focused, crystal clear declaration.
When I rise from my quiet time to go on with the pleasures and pressures of the day my focus remains on what God has said to me in this sweet moment of clarity.
If you would like to use this in your own quiet time here is an outline:
A Haiku is a powerful little poem that helps clear your mind. It follows a strict 3-line structure: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. We use this structure as a spiritual filter to capture God’s truth, not our own thoughts.
5 Steps To Creating Your Own Haiku
Find the Core TruthBegin by reading and meditating on Scripture.
Distill to One ImageTake that spiritual truth and find one concrete image that represents it.
Submit to the StructureUsing the 5-7-5 syllable constraint, draft your three lines.
Bring Clarity to the MessageEnsure the lines connect but also create a moment of insight in the third line.
Pray and ActRead the final haiku aloud slowly. Do not over-edit it.
A Satisfied Spirit 