web analytics

FREE Bible Study Tools Apps for Children!

FREE Bible Study Tool App for ChildrenGod saves Daniel from danger in the lion’s den.

David perseveres over Goliath, despite the naysayers.

With God’s grace, Esther made the ultimate sacrifice to set her people free.

These stories have been implanted into the minds of Christian children for decades. In 2013, those same biblical stories – mixed with the latest technology – are accurately re-told through the 4Soils’ Bible Heroes app.

Founded in February 2012, creator Lusi Chien, a graduate student in business, design, and education from Stanford, wanted to create an app that would entertain and educate young children. The groundwork for the app began in 2011 when Chien and her husband were visiting friends and noticed their friend’s toddler playing a game on the iPad for an extensive period of time. The game he was playing was fun, but was mostly mindless if not slightly violent. Based on this observation, Chien was compelled to create an app for the iPhone and iPad that was rich in biblically principles. According to Chien, children spend at least 43 minutes a day on these devices. Furthermore, many children are not engaged in games that are fun, educational, and nonviolent. The Bible Heroes app fills the void.

FREE Bible Study Tools Apps

In addition to the stories of Daniel, David, and Queen Esther, other stories include Joseph and His Multicolor Coat, Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Giant Fish, and the Christmas story. Each FREE app allows children to learn about these Bible heroes through:

 

  • Independent and guided reading of the biblically accurate stories of the characters;
  • Interactive games and virtual coloring pages engage and reinforce learning; and
  • Closing lessons which highlight key principles from the Bible
  • Sing-a-long with a song about God’s power from the Child Evangelism Fellowship

 

The Bible Heroes app also includes a parents’ discussion guide to help moms and dads who want to tailor their Bible study sessions with their children.

Chien’s series of apps have been featured in several secular and Christian media outlets, including The Gospel Herald, the world’s largest online Christian news source for Chinese Christians.


FREE bible study tools

Buy Them

While several of the apps are FREE to download with additional features unlocked by in-app purchases, a bundle of all seven apps is available. Priced at $9.99, the 7-in-1 bundle includes 143 animated scenes that invite children to read or to listen to biblically accurate accounts of the characters; 41 game levels which engage children in activities and games; and 91 color pages which all children to stretch their artistic imaginations.

The Bible Heroes app is available for download on iPhone and iPad at the AppStore. Learn more about the app by visiting www.4Soils.com.
If you enjoy the Bible Heroes apps, stay tuned for the new series on the Life of Jesus coming the first half of this year!

Bio: Tonya Whitaker is a blog writer for Bible Heroes App. This year, Whitaker enters her 15th year as a journalist. She currently writes features and columns for Inside The Pew, a nonprofit online Christian magazine. Whitaker attends church in Dallas, and resides in Plano. She can be reached at whitakereditor@gmail.com

Have you grabbed the FREE Devotional for Homeschool Mom’s yet?

Don’t forget to subscribe, so you don’t miss any homeschool freebies and ideas!

I Am Still the Light

david bowman
(drawing by David Bowman)

 

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy; they didn’t know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven.” declared a small boy. “We’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

FREE Luke Bible Study Daily Schedule and Notebook Pages

Luke Bible Study

Last year, I spent the month of December studying the Book of Luke.  It was such an inspiring study for me that I am going to engage in this fascinating book again this year.  The Holy Spirit taught me something new each morning.  It was amazing.

I want to encourage to study a chapter of Luke each day in December and end on Christmas eve.  Here is a daily schedule for Advent 2012.

You will be blessed.  And I want to hear about it, too!

Luke Bible Study daily schedule

I used the S.O.A.P. method each morning during my Luke bible study.  In case you are not familiar with the S.O.A.P. method, you can read a previous post that I wrote about utilizing the S.O.A.P. method.

I created a Luke S.O.A.P. Notebook page to keep your thoughts organized during this busy season.

I challenge you to let the Holy Spirit enlighten you this holiday season while engaging in a life changing Luke bible study!  His Word is powerful!

Satan wants to do anything and everything to keep you out of His Holy Word this year.  If you skip a day, don’t give up, just continue where you left off.

Starting December 1st, we will be discussing on my facebook page how the Holy Spirit spoke to you each day.  Please join us!  And share with others!

Have you pinned this FREE Luke Bible Study daily schedule and notebook pages yet?

Sharing with:  WFMW, WLW, Encouraging One Another,RaisingHomemakers,Hearts4Home, Show & Tell, Weekend Bloggy Reading,The Better MomMonday MusingsMama Moments Monday,Domestically Divine TuesdayTime – Warp Wife,Frugal Days,What Works,Flash Blog, Thursday, Show Me ExtraordinaryMommy Teaches, , Inspire Me MondayBig Family Linkup,Friday Favorites,Inspire Me Monday,, Thrifty ThursdayCatch a Glimpse ThursdayMake It Yourself Monday

Let.It.Go: How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith!


I am so excited to share with you Karen Ehman’s new book, Let.It.Go!  She wrote this book with me in mind!

Foreword by Candace Cameron Bure

Women are wired to control. We make sure the house is clean, the meals
prepared, the children are dressed, and everyone gets to where they’re going on
time. But sometimes our strength of being conscientious can morph into the
weakness of being a slight—or all out—control freak! This humorous, yet
spiritually practical book will help you to:

Karen’s new book will empower you to:

• Take control of your schedule yet welcome interruptions from God
• Draw the line between mothering and micromanaging
• Influence your husband instead of manipulating him
• Learn to control your emotions when you can’t control the circumstances
• Stop pursuing the appearance of perfection and start pursuing the person
of God

*A companion 6 week dvd and Bible study guide is also available.

An interview with Karen about this new project:

Karen, tell us a little about why you wrote this book. Are you a control
freak?

Ummm….yeah! What woman isn’t about at least some aspect of life? We
have so many areas that we must be in charge of—at home, at work, in the
church and community. What happens is that we let our strengths of multitasking and getting jobs done morph into a weakness of being controlling.

So, are you saying controlling can actually be needed at times?

Of course we must control our homes and schedules and such. We should
work with diligence and excellence. What we have to be careful of is going
from being conscientious to being controlling. Being conscientious is doing a
job well. Being controlling is trying to manipulate the outcome. There is a
difference and we know deep down inside when we’ve crossed that line. This
book helps women determine how to control what they should, trust God with
what they can’t, and most importantly, how to decide which one is which!

What are some areas you cover in the book where women try to run the 
show?

We try to be in control of our homes, our schedules, our kids, our husbands,
our circumstances, others’ opinions of us…..the list is long!
So what is at the root of why we women control?
We control because we don’t trust God. We think we know better than Him
just what is best for us. It is as old as the garden of Eden. Well, guess what?
God called and He’d like his job back!!

The holidays are coming up. Do they bring out the control freak
tendencies in women?

Oh yes….in fact. One whole chapter of the book is about my friend Lisa
Whelchel daring me five years ago to not make any decisions for a whole
three weeks RIGHT AT THE HOLIDAYS!! It was painful. And actually, in the
end, wonderful. I think this topic is so important that I’ve written a free five day
resource for women dealing with the holidays called From Chaos to Calm:
The LET. IT. GO. Christmas Challenge.

You can sign up for it FREE here.!

What is your prayer for the woman who reads your book?

I pray that through learning to relinquish control and let go of the reins, she
will be able to grab hold of her faith. That her relationship with God will
strengthen as she learns to stop trying to fix outcomes and get her own way
but seeks His perfect will for her life—and the lives of her loved ones—
instead.

Buy It

You can purchase Let.It.Go as Christmas gifts for 9.98.  It’s perfect gift that will bless the special women in your life.

Win It

Karen wants to give away 2 Blessed Beyond a Doubt readers a copy of her new book, Let.It.Go.  I will be picking a random winner on Wednesday, 21 at 11:59a.  Winner will be contacted via email and must respond within 48 hours.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Affiliate links may have been used in this post.  Read my full disclosure here.

I received a copy of this book in return for providing this post.  No other compensation was given.

Create a Thanksgiving Blessing Journal as a Keepsake!

Thanksgiving Blessing Journal Keepsake
Six years ago, I started a Thanksgiving Blessing journal for our family.  Each person that we celebrate and spend the day with on Thanksgiving is encouraged to write their blessings in the journal.

It travels with us.

Each one has it’s own unique handwriting they call their own.

A Thanksgiving Blessing Journal

Keepsakes that will be admired by generations.

Some entries short, some long.

I anticipate each Thanksgiving day reading and reminiscing the past blessings year after year.

It makes me laugh.

It makes me cry.

Oh, how grateful I am to serve such a mighty God who continues to bless my family year after year.

Do you have a Thanksgiving blessing you share each year with your family?

Have you pinned this Thanksgiving blessing idea yet?

Sharing with:  WFMW, WLW, Encouraging One Another,RaisingHomemakers,Hearts4Home, Show & Tell, Weekend Bloggy Reading,The Better MomMonday MusingsMama Moments Monday,Domestically Divine TuesdayTime – Warp Wife,Frugal Days,What Works,Flash Blog, Thursday, Show Me ExtraordinaryMommy Teaches, , Inspire Me MondayBig Family Linkup,Friday Favorites,Inspire Me Monday, Thrifty ThursdayCatch a Glimpse ThursdayMake It Yourself Monday

10 FUN Jesus Birthday Party Ideas!

10 FUN Jesus Party Ideas Throwing a Jesus birthday party helps teach your little ones the true meaning of Christmas.

Each year we make a big deal out of it.  Just as we make a big deal out of each child’s special day.

Here are some FUN Jesus Birthday Party Ideas

This Christmas tradition will help remind adults and children that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Read all 10 Days of Christmas Traditions and Ideas!

Do you have a Jesus birthday party at your house?

FREE Jesse Tree and Christmas Devotions!


Jesse Tree Ideas and Christmas devotions

Each year we strive to have Christmas family devotions and/or a Jesse Tree activities in order to keep our focus on Christ each evening after supper.  We light our advent wreath candles and all cuddle on the couch.  We pray after our family Christmas devotions for numerous people that the Lord has laid on our hearts.

Our favorite Christmas devotional series is Jotham’s Journey trilogy series.  We are going to read the last of the trilogy Tabitha’s Travlels, this year.

However, we have done many free Jesse Trees and Christmas devotions in the past.  And the result is the same….Keeping Jesus as the center of our busy holiday season.

I pray that you will make it a tradition to initiate a family devotional time each day as a family.

Your family will be truly blessed.

Jesse Tree and Christmas Devotions

We are all human and have responsibilities and sometimes we have to miss our evening Christmas Devotions time as a family, but we double up the next night.  The key is to keep going, and don’t let Satan deceive you by thinking your family is too busy.  He wants you to give up the Jesse Tree and Christmas devotions all together.  Don’t let Satan win!

 

May you ponder the greatest gift of them all….Jesus!

To read all 10 Days of Christmas Traditions and Ideas!

affiliate links may have been used in this post.

Share it Tuesday! Thanksgiving Blessing Journal

Thanksgiving Blessing Journal Keepsake

Read how to create your Thanksgiving journal that will be a blessing from one generation to another.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Thank you for linking up your family friendly posts.  Have a great week!

Read 25 Leftover Turkey Recipes!

 

Celebrating with an Advent Wreath

How to make an advent wreath

Each year we enjoy an advent wreath.  It’s nothing fancy but it helps us concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas. We usually just use four red votive candles and a large white one for the center.  We just place the candles around a small artificial wreath.

Here’s how it works:

On the first day begin with either a prayer or a Christmas carol. Light the first purple candle, known as the prophecy candle. The liturgical color purple is a sign of penance and longing as we wait for the birth of Jesus. With the lighting, talk about Jesus being the light of the world. Read the Advent Scripture of the day. Conclude by singing or praying. Have one child blow out the candle.

Light the same candle each day of the first week. Follow with the reading, Christmas carols or other meaningful activities. On the second Sunday light two purple candles, both of which are relit each night. The second candle is known as the Bethlehem candle.

The third week light the two purple candles and then a rose candle, or shepherd candle. Rose is a sign of joy and hope that He is coming.

Light the last candle, known as the angel candle, on the fourth Sunday. All four candles are lit each night that week to symbolize the growing brightness of Jesus’ coming.

The length of the Advent season depends on which day of the week Christmas falls on. You will have to adjust the appropriate readings to make sure the last days reading falls on Christmas day

Suggested Advent Readings

First Week

Sun. Is. 40:1-5
Mon. Is. 52:7-10
Tue. Is. 40:9-11
Wed. Gen. 3:8-15
Thu. Gen. 15:1-6
Fri. Deut. 18:15-19
Sat. Ps. 89:1-4

Second Week

Sun. Is. 11:1-10
Mon. Zech. 6:12-13
Tue. Mic. 5:2-4
Wed. Mal. 3:1-6
Thu. John 1:1-8
Fri. John 1:9-18
Sat. Mark 1:1-3

Third Week

Sun. Luke 1:5-13
Mon. Luke 1:14-17
Tue. Luke 1:18-25
Wed. Luke 1:39-45
Thu. Luke 1:46-56
Fri. Luke 1:57-66
Sat. Luke 1:67-80

Fourth Week

Sun. Is. 7:10-14
Mon. Luke 1:26-35
Tue. Is. 9:2-7
Wed. Mt. 1:18-25
Thu. Luke 2:1-20
Fri. Mt. 2:1-2
Sat. Luke 2:21-35

Have your children make an advent wreath craft.  And here’s another advent wreath craft.

Read all 10 Days of Christmas Traditions and Ideas!

Do you celebrate advent with your family?  If not, are you considering it?

Have you pinned this advent wreath idea yet?

Keeping Christ in Christmas – DIY Names of God Tree!

I diligently pursue to keep Christ in Christmas each year a midst the craziness that seems to take over our lives this time of year.

The story of Christmas is magnificent to me. Just to ponder a little tiny baby, yet so mighty and powerful to bring us eternal life for all  who believe in Him.

It still is astounding to me.

And I want my children to marvel in this miracle,  too.

And to think the myriad thoughts that must have been going through Mary’s mind.

Two years ago, we made a small Christmas tree with the names of God on it.

We printed the names of God on a white piece of paper and cut them out with decorative scissors.  We glued them on the tree with a hot glue gun.

Next, we gathered the several different fabric swatches and cut them out into strips about 4 in. long and tied them on  the ends of tree.

Of course, we had to add some “bling,” so we just threw some tinsel on it.

Simple and festive, yet still representing the true meaning of Christmas.  BTW,  the picture doesn’t do this tree any justice.  It’s much cuter in real life.

Click here to see the “Princess Tree”

How do you keep Christ in Christmas?

Come link up your Christmas Traditions/Ideas post!

Sharing with:  WFMW, WLW, Encouraging One Another,RaisingHomemakers,Hearts4Home, Show & Tell, Weekend Bloggy Reading,The Better MomMonday MusingsMama Moments Monday,Domestically Divine TuesdayTime – Warp Wife,Frugal Days,What Works,Flash Blog, Thursday, Show Me ExtraordinaryMommy Teaches, , Inspire Me MondayBig Family Linkup,Friday Favorites,Inspire Me Monday,, Thrifty ThursdayCatch a Glimpse ThursdayMake It Yourself Monday,

x<

Features Stats Integration Plugin developed by YD