Review of EVERYDAY MATTERS BIBLE FOR WOMEN, NLT

By: Lisa Leasure, Living Water Home Spa Shop

The Everyday Matters Bible for Women, New Living Translation, aims to provide women "practical encouragement to make every day matter". The Bible includes four features - Everyday Matters, Everyday Profiles, Everyday Q & A and Everday Reflections. These four features consist of more than 300 instructional and inspirational pieces which compliment the New Living Translation of the Bible and bring insight and reflection that help to connect the scripture with the modern day life of the reader. The features, along with the twenty-four spiritual disciplines (which are tagged with a unique icon) are placed immediately following relevant scripture. So, it is easy for the reader to connect the scriptures, the features and the spiritual disciplines for a thorough understanding of the scripture. 

The review process for this Bible was to select your favorite feature, or an "actual" one of the features. So, I decided to start the process by using the Index of Scriptural Practices in the back of the Bible, selecting "Acceptance" as the discipline. Then, I read through each of the four features and the additional scriptures of note for the discipline "Acceptance". As I marked each feature that held special wisdom for me, I noticed that most of my marks were beside the "Everyday Reflections" feature. And, one in particular, the teaching on Nehemiah 1, "The Dream Tucked Away in Your Heart" by Liz Curtis Higgs impacted my heart. It impacted me so much so I chose this one feature to review.

In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah is mourning the terrible news about the people who returned to Judah. There is great trouble, disgrace, the wall of Jerusalem was torn down and gates were destroyed by fire. So, Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted and prayed. He prayed that God would put favor for Nehemiah in the heart of King Artaxerxes. Then, in Nehemiah 2, we learn that God granted Nehemiah favor with the king, just as Nehemiah had asked of God. And, God had also given Nehemiah the wisdom and knowledge to request letters that would equip him with the needed territorial passages on his journey and the supplies to complete the journey well. God had tucked away a dream in Nehemiah's heart and when Nehemiah acted on the dream with confidence and trust in God, the dream became a reality. God gave Nehemiah everything necessary to complete the journey successfully. Nehemiah acted in faith and God equipped him to complete the dream.

When I read the Everday Reflection "The Dream Tucked Away in Your Heart", it was as if God was speaking to me about a dream tucked away in my heart. Because, like Ms. Higgs, the dream in my heart is also to be a writer. Throughout my life, God has gently reminded me that the dream is important to Him. He has used people who have recognized my gift to encourage me, yet I have repeatedly put off acting on that dream for one reason or another. But, God has never forgotten the dream he has tucked in my heart. And, it was by reading this Everyday Matters Bible for Women feature that He has reminded me, once again, that He has not forgotten the dream. However, through this teaching I have been reminded that making the dream come true will require my obedience to God. Is there a dream tucked in your heart that God reminds you of from time to time? If so, I encourage you to get the Everyday Matters Bible for Women, read Nehemiah 1 and immerse yourself in the features of this Bible. Reading the features truly helps to translate the meaning of the scriptures into a living understanding that can empower you to seek out God's heart for your purpose. 

My review is a review of only one of the Everyday Matters lessons. This Bible includes over 300 writings! If you are searching for a fresh understanding of the Word of God, and to gain wisdom on how to apply God's word to your modern day life, I encourage you to read the Everyday Matters Bible for Women!   

"The Everyday Matters Bible for Women" New Living Translation, 2nd Edition, Hardcover is AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE in bookstores and major retailers, such as Christianbook.com or at Amazon.com.   

FTC Required Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.