Breathes Life into The Bible
582320
One of the hardest things I have faced when considering religion is that the characters seem very starchy, almost too good to be true,  Mary Richard's book "My Magda" puts humanity, reality and life into these characters.  "My Magda" also contains some clever jems hidden throughout, making it an easy read but certainly not shallow.  Her character Magda is no more naughty than any of us, as human as Jesus and as saintly as Peter.  People doing their best, some with more or higher help than others, making stories from the Bible more detailed, more satisfying to the mind and more dear to your heart.  "My Magda" gave me ease and hope.
3657430
This reformats the excellent ESV translation in a book like narrative (without the mamby pamby retranslating like the Message does, or being a subset of the Bible like the Story). No verses, only the verse range along the top. It is like reading a book, and  that is where this shines!
Verses and chapters were added hundreds of years after the Bible was written, to allow consistent reference, and memorization. But it breaks up the flow and even messes up the context sometimes. Take the verses out and it fixes this. AND I find myself reading more - I'm not thinking "oh I read two chapters, time to quit and do something else".
The Epistles were meant to be read as a single letter to the church. Job and Hosea come alive with literary imagery in this format, in my opinion. In the Gospels suddenly Jesus reads like he is having a whole conversation, not just quotable soundbites.
You are less likely to take verses out of context.
I cannot say enough good things about this!!
1216420
In a word - AWESOME!  Not only do I love it, but I will be purchasing it as a gift for others.  It is definitely a wonderful way to hear the words of the New Testament as well as be able to visualize the characters coming to life.  I am a bible reader, but listening to The Bible Experience adds depth, meaning, and intensity.  I'll be listening over & over and will be waiting with anticipation for the Old Testament.
4230407
Reading the Bible is important for everyone, but reading it in 90 days gives a whole different perspective. It takes a LOT of discipline, but is worth it!
4536285
the bible has words of life.  This version is very simple.  It's extremely easy to take the bible with me wherever I go.
4009913
I enjoyed reading this Bible. It includes sections of The Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament for each day. Within each section are explanations of certain scriptures and one longer one at the end of each day. This is not a devotional Bible, but an great tool for education about the Bible. I highly recommend committing yourself to reading through the Bible in a year and this is a great version of the Bible to use. The kindle version is very user friendly.
1657145
Love this viewpoint. It's like having a preacher explain the Bible to me. Definitely wouldn't read this as a standalone but as supplemental reading with a real Bible.
2061321
I absolutely love this bible. It makes the Bible easier to understand. the life lessons show the reader how and what they can do to better serve the Lord.
4085905
This is great - we pretty much wore out the binding on our Big Picture Story Bible (which we still use), and I felt like my older son who's now learning how to read now had the attention span and foundation to start hearing from an actual copy of the Scriptures. The old illustrations help him to recall the basics of certain stories, and of course reading from the ESV really helps him flesh it out.

Anyways I would totally recommend this for any future expositors out there.
1058904
The Women's Devotional Guide has encouraged me to read God's word regularly. In fact, since it begins in the Old Testament I am finding new treasures. It seems I have avoided the OT in the past but with Jean's help I am finding new encouragement and a new appreciation for God's patience and grace. Because God is just Adam and Eve He made them subject to the results of their actions. Still, He clothed them and took care of the details of their lives because He is also a loving God. Then there was Mrs. Noah. Can you imagine being cooped up in a boat for a year with a bunch of noisy, smelly animals and only your husband and immediate family for companionship? Oh my!  And then there was Moses, David, Solomon, Sarah, and Elijah - all loved by God. Then there is the way Jean has divided the readings. History is exciting and so is God.
4345374
I have been using this Bible for  a few months and really like it. First of all I will say it is a bit of a chunkster but that's ok because it is filled with several study aides that I found quite useful. The first thing I always look for is a presentation page and this Bible has it! Next the print size always determines whether or not a Bible will be used by me, and with this one the print is easy on the eye. I also like the colorful pages, which allow the different study features to stand out. Some of my favorite features include the focus articles which explore various scripture passages, their significance and their relevance in modern life. Insight articles provide information about the text or cultural context of various Biblical passages, these insights lead to clearer understanding which allow the reader to better understand what they might be reading. Place and person profiles are interesting summaries of people and places in the scripture. The Life Studies are one page biographies of sixty-six followers of God from all over the world, from various walks of life, and various times periods. I also found the section titled Themes to Study really steered me toward a few Bible studies that hadn't occurred to me. Overall, if you're looking for a Study Bible that is easy to use and will allow you to dig a bit deeper into the word I think The Modern Life Study Bible might be for you. The NKJV makes it an easy Bible to read and understand, and the 9 point text is easy on the eye.

A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided for review.
4266906
I am not finished with this wonderful book.  I read a chapter or half a chapter and then I just soak up what I have read.  I will sit and think about the points it is making and how they relate to my life now.  So far, I have found it to be excellent and have already given a copy to a wonderful friend that will appreciate it as much as I do.  It makes what I read in the Bible to come alive.
351496
Reading any Bible is usually considered a chore rather than an opportunity. As I see it, the meanings and word of God as written to match word for word in translation to English is difficult for any reader to understand in terms of present day language flow. Gathering true meaning of every verse is open to individual interpretation which turns Bible readers off. Having a Bible like this one that provides the collective insight of many Bible experts at the bottom of each page lends credibility and reliability to the actual meaning and interpretation. And that not only offers the reader interesting thoughts and insights to what they have just read, but also draws attention and memory excitement to what they have just read.

Readers remember more, are much more interested in what's next, and pay more attention when the footer clears up the confusion they have. Starting out by reading a Bible formatted without any outside coaching usually is put aside by the time they get to "Numbers",if not sooner, and never get back to reading it again. Adding some coaching at the bottom of each page is what this King James edition offers and is an incredible motivation for anyone to read the whole Bible--not just the first 50 pages.

The second great understanding is the recognition that the Bible is not meant to be read only once. With every trip through the Bible one gathers knowledge of more in-depth meanings to everything said there. At that time those readers are then able to follow God's desires and apply them much more appropriately to their own lives. I've not found a Bible format that does it any better than this Bible.
1086986
Sometimes I hear people say that reading the Old Testament is boring.  However, God speaks through His Word to us powerfully through the Old Testament.  And Deborah, the author of this book leads us through the book of Ezra and helps bring it to life by applying it to our own lives as well as digging deeper into the scripture.

There are 17 lessons total and I like how she formats each lesson as follows:

*She starts with an introduction to the lesson.
*Then, posts the Bible scripture reading for that lesson.
*Next she has a section, "Things to Think About" which offer reflection questions for personal study or group discussion.
*And she closes with a short prayer that you can personalize if you choose.

She also includes a few pictures and a map to help bring even more clarity to the study.  This is a great study for both individuals and groups - recommended!
4726387
This book puts the entire Bible into perspective for me.  The various books of the Bible, written by numerous authors over thousands of years are woven into a more meaningful and congruent historical reality of God's love for His daughters and sons.  Dr. Hahn's book has opened the Bible up for me --- taking it from a sometimes monotonous and boring read to the meaningful and living summary of salvation history.  Thank you.
1609508
I enjoyed reading the Bible in this format, it flowed beautifully.  It was a very rich experience, spiritually and cognitive
3564073
I wish I could give this bible more than the 5 stars alotted. I received this devotional bible for mother's day this year and I haven't been able to stop reading it. I have been reading the bible for years and this is the first time in a long time that my reading has seemed to fresh. A lot of this is attributed to some simple things:  1.) Each day is a manageable amount of reading. You are reading three chapter maximum and you can do it roughly 10 minutes (good for busy moms, or those who need to jump start their devotional life); 2.) The background and history given before each book of the bible, as well as the different chapters makes the passages come alive. 3.) The personal application part is very thought-provoking and simple thoughts that you can mull over throughout the day, 4.) It's the New Living Translation (NLT), which I LOVE. I have spent most of my life reading the NIV, simply because of the ease of language. However, the NLT has that same readability, but puts things in a fresh way. I don't get tired of reading it!

Overall, I have really been able to jumpstart my own devotional life by picking up this book!  It's great for the seeker, new Christian, or elder in the Faith.