This week I’m going to be sharing a few things to consider giving to a recent grad who is now college bound! I know summer is often a time for vacations and relaxing, but it can also be a time of preparation for the next phase of life for many young adults. For Christian young adults, there’s nothing more important than a reliable study Bible, and I highly recommend the CSB Worldview Study Bible.
To order a copy of the CSB Worldview Study Bible leather touch cover on Amazon, click here.
Here is the description from the publisher: “The CSB Worldview Study Bible features extensive worldview study notes and articles by notable Christian scholars to help Christians better understand the grand narrative and flow of Scripture within the biblical framework from which we are called to view reality and make sense of life and the world. Guided by general editors David S. Dockery and Trevin K. Wax, this Bible is an invaluable resource and study tool that will help you to discuss, defend, and clearly share with others the truth, hope, and practical compatibility of Christianity in everyday life.”
This is my new favorite Bible, and it currently sits on my nightstand for easy access. Not only is the leather touch cover comfortable to hold in my lap while reading, but the size is great for every day use without being too bulky. The design on the interior is very subtle, with mainly gray shading to help offset the extra content. A few images that evoke a universe theme are included on the Old Testament and New Testament pages and the concordance cover page. I like that the design is neutral and not too distracting. The content and the text are the main focus.
The 130 worldview articles spread throughout the text are helpful for discerning relevant topics in our culture. Written by over 120 scholars, the topics span from the practical to the intellectual. Some article topics include creation, science, gender and sexuality, language, other religions, music and recreation, technology, church and state, a biblical work ethic, just to name a few.
The over 5,900 study notes also provide extra guidance when reading certain passages. The notes are offset in a light gray box at the bottom of each page. The scripture text is double column, with a cross-reference center column.
Each book of the Bible begins with a two page spread that includes book introduction and information, Worldview elements, and a timeline. The Worldview elements for each book are “Teachings about God,” “Teachings about Humanity,” and “Teachings about Salvation.” Having this common them throughout helps to tie a Christian Worldview together throughout all of Scripture.
The CSB Worldview Bible is thought-provoking for helping Christians form a biblical worldview. I highly recommend this Bible! It would make a great gift for a recent grad or great gift to self.
To order a copy in the Navy leather touch cover on Amazon, click here. For another great study Bible for young adults, see my review for the CSB Apologetics Study Bible here.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission when you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. B&H/Lifeway sent me a copy of this Bible in exchange for my honest review. All pictures and opinions contained in this post are my own.
Lifeway was kind enough to send me a copy of the new 
This new study Bible is an update of a previous version, The Study Bible for Women (HCSB), originally published in 2014. The same editor team of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley are part of this updated 2018 version, which includes a new design, expanded concordance, and a new layout for the study content within the text. The text itself is the updated, highly readable and highly reliable Christian Standard Bible translation. This study Bible is written by women for women.
At the beginning of this Bible is an introduction and an article on how to study the Bible. I love that this article encourages women to study the text deeply for themselves, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s word, the resources included in this Bible as well as outside resources. This Bible isn’t about devotions and emotions, it’s about study God’s word to know him better. It gives lots of great suggestions about how to have personal Bible study and engage with the word of God.
The design and color palette in this Study Bible is feminine without being too “frilly.” The color scheme reminds me of the She Reads Truth Bible, which is done by the same publisher (read more about the She Reads Truth Bible 
Major female figures throughout the Bible are highlighted in Character Profiles. Other study features include Doctrine, charts and graphs, Word Studies, Biblical Womanhood articles that highlight different topics concerning women, Hard Questions, a features index, a large concordance, and maps in the back. The study notes included at the bottom of the scripture text help explain further the context and meaning, as well as helps to aid the reader to study further on their own.
One thing that I want to note about the content of the study material in this Bible is that the topics of womanhood, marriage, and motherhood are written from a strong complimentarian viewpoint. I took some time to read a few key passages and the corresponding notes and articles pertaining to these topics, and I found them to be more conservative. I felt it was worth mentioning for those who may hold different viewpoints, and as with any Bible or Bible study material, I always encourage you to read for yourself to decide if this is right for you.
Overall, I think the CSB Study Bible for Women is a great resource for women wanting to learn how to study the Bible deeper. It may not be the right Bible for every woman, so feel free to explore my other Bible reviews listed 
I will be hosting a giveaway for this Bible on my Instagram 
To continue the series from last week of Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, I have a pattern you can crochet as a gift: the Miss Priss Hat. This Hat pattern is one that I designed 10 years ago in April 2008, and I have revised and updated the pattern to improve it. New features include all 3 sizes in one pattern, toddler, child, and adult; new recommended yarn; new hook sizes; and a new bow pattern (Southern Style Bow by Southern Day Crochet, which can be found 
I was also able to partner with Oak Viking Designs to create several custom polymer clay crochet hooks to coordinate with the pattern. These hooks are featured in the pattern, and you can purchase your own custom hook for yourself or as a Mother’s Day gift through her shop 
The Miss Priss Hat has a special place in my heart because it was designed for my sister, Heather, as she underwent cancer treatments. This was her favorite hat, and I made her at least 8 in different colors so that she would have many options to wear while she was bald. The hats were soft, washable, and breathable since it was summer in Arizona when she was going through chemo, but her head still got cold. This hat makes a great chemo cap for those going through cancer treatments. Everyone who saw Heather wearing a Miss Priss Hat loved it, and it has been one of my most popular requests in the last decade. Sadly, the above photos are the only ones I have of her wearing her pink Miss Priss hat, but I’ll never forget what she looked like while wearing them. This pattern is dedicated to her memory, Heather Nicole 1987-2009.
Give your mom the gift of handmade this Mother’s Day! Each Miss Priss hat is handmade with lots of love and care. If you purchase the pattern to make your own Miss Priss Hat on Ravelry 
All the proceeds from patterns and items purchased in my shop go towards my daughter Ellie’s autism care. She was recently diagnosed, and we have some expenses that we need to raise funds for. Thank you so much for your support when you shop through the links on my blog posts! If you would like more information on how to donate directly to our cause, click 
My third recommendation in this blog series for Mother’s Day Gift Ideas is the amazing book 
In Bloom is part memoir of Kayla growing up in the 90s, part stories about navigating how to raise her daughter to be a confident woman of God, and part call to action to put aside insecurity once and for all to finally bloom into the confident woman God created you to be. This book not only was touching and witty, but it put into words many things I have felt myself, especially having grown up in the church in the 90s in a culture that viewed “biblical femininity” one way that I didn’t exactly feel like fit into.
If you have ever felt out of place or that God got it wrong when he made you, then run to go read this book! Kayla writes: “When we imagine ourselves before and after, we think of the end of one thing and the beginning of another. But that’s where I think we get discouraged because we assume change means becoming someone completely different. Maybe we’re looking at change all wrong. It seems to me that if we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the beginning, then our renewing isn’t meant to keep changing us from one old thing to another totally new thing, over and over again. It’s meant to liberate us of our shame, enhancing our gifts and adorning us in grace” (page 142). Kayla’s writing in this book is so relatable and accessible, and I was flipping through chapter after chapter, not able to put it down. I think one of the biggest messages of this book other than confidence is that you don’t have to live in shame. What a liberating truth that God does not want us to live in our shame, but instead he wants us to be liberated through Christ to use our gifts and bear fruit!
This book is more than just a story. It’s a guide to help identify your sources of inadequacy and insecurity that have bombarded you throughout your life, and replace them with affirming truths from God’s word that you are accepted, loved, and filled with purpose. The text is saturated with biblical truth without being imposing and judgmental. Instead, In Bloom is a celebration of being a confident woman and embracing who God made you to be.
I enjoyed this book so much that I had to bring some of the lessons I learned into the margin of my Bible. I journaled this page in my Thrive Bible in Psalm 92:12-15 “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”
I’m also having a giveaway over on Instagram 
For Day 2 in my Mother’s Day Gift Ideas series, I’m going to share this sweet little book titled 
The style and design of this book is very beautiful and feminine, with the pink and gold colors being carried throughout. It was designed with gift-giving in mind for women who love to use devotionals, especially daily ones. The writing style reminds me of that used for the daily devotionals included in the Thrive Bible (review 
The devotionals themselves start with the date, a key passage of scripture to explore for that day, a paraphrase of the passage written by the author, and a section at the bottom of the page for reflection. I will admit that I typically like my devotionals to dig deeper into scripture than this type of book, but I appreciate what the author is trying to communicate by paraphrasing. She’s trying to help the reader experience the truths of God with fresh eyes. The author has specifically chosen those verses which are often all too well known, and tries to reinvigorate the reader’s experience with the text.
From a Bible journaling perspective, I think this book would make a great supplement to help guide you through a year of scripture to explore further with journaling. Since each entry is fairly brief, it leaves room for further exploration in your Bible. It makes a great guide for choosing a daily passage , as well as guiding the reader to further reflection.
I think this book would make a great gift for moms who may feel discouraged or disconnected from their daily devotional time, or have a busy life with a demanding schedule. God’s Call to a Deeper Life is the perfect little daily push to reconnect with God and the Bible, without being too overwhelming. You can order God’s Call to a Deeper Life as a gift for the mom in your life on Amazon 
I know sometimes it can be hard to shop for moms, especially ones who seem to have it all, so I will be doing a blog series all week long about some of my Mother’s Day gift ideas that you may not have thought of! My first recommendation is for the 
The reason why I recommend a journaling Bible, even for moms that aren’t necessarily interested in art journaling, is because it’s a personal gift that anyone can use! You can write notes or prayers in the margin, lightly color the illustrations, and just enjoy reading through this Bible. You don’t have to be an artist to use a journaling Bible. This Bible is both functional and beautiful.
What is a One Year Bible though? It’s a Bible that has the entire New Living Translation text divided into 365 daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. By organizing the text in this way, it helps guide the reader through the entire Bible in one year in a format that is more conducive to a busy life, or for those who need the visual ease of having it organized this way instead of having to flip all over the place with a traditional bible and reading plan. Each section is dated from January 1st through December 31st.
This bible has 2 inch margins that are either lightly lined or contain a preprinted illustration. The pages are cream, the text is arranged double-column, and the page thickness is the same as the original 
The illustrations on the inside front and back cover are unique to this Bible, and the presentation page is absolutely beautiful! It would make a lovely gift for your mom or wife to color the presentation page and write a note to her. This would also be a great place to let children or grandchildren color for mom or grandma, creating a personal and special gift that she will cherish.
Also included in the front of the 
The hardcover is a soft touch cover with floral detail and etching. The endpapers are printed with a beautiful pink, green and teal floral print. The Bible also includes 2 ribbon bookmarks, which I absolutely love when publishers do this. It helps to have multiple bookmarks if you are reading different sections, or want to go back and reread a passage while still keeping your current place. The bookmarks match the colors of the pink and teal cover.
I did color one page of this Bible using gel pens, just to make sure the paper was the same as the Inspire Bible (it was). As with all gel pens, you do have to be careful to not color over the same spot too many times or it will bleed through. As long as you aren’t too heavy-handed with coloring, they do shadow but don’t bleed. Add a set of colored pencils and/or gel pens when giving as a gift (I recommend Crayola Twistable colored pencils 
Order the One Year Expressions Bible as a Mother’s Day gift on Amazon 
The newly redesigned Penelope Infinity Scarf knitting pattern is now available for sale! Grab your copy on Ravelry 
Penelope Infinity Scarf is a loop of fun that is a perfect transition piece for Spring, when the weather starts teasing you of warmer days, but it’s still a little chilly. Wrap yourself up with this soft scarf that feels so squishy around your neck! Penelope Infinity Scarf uses one skein of Caron Cakes yarn. Learn how to cable without a cable needle with a picture tutorial included with the pattern.
As the mother of two small children, I know someday that I will be in the market for some good kid Bibles. Right now they are at the age when 
Lifeway sent me a copy of the new CSB Kids Bible to share with my readers. As soon as I received this Bible, I noticed the bright colorful exterior of the hardcover version (there are several other color options). The bold design carries over onto the endpaper edges and makes for an eye-catching Bible that would be great for a boy or a girl. The size is not too bulky either, especially for being a hardcover. It’s bigger than a thinline Bible, but it’s still a nice portable size.
The more I read the CSB translation, the more I like it. I think it makes a very readable translation for kids as well. The text itself in this Bible is a nice large font and double column. The highly reliable CSB version is one that I would feel comfortable letting my kids read as they learn to study scripture.
Although this is not a traditional study Bible, it does include supplemental material in the front and back with special pages throughout. The front pages have special features like explanations and questions to ponder and quizzes for Bible knowledge. Throughout the text is colorful pages that explain the parts of the Bible and some of the main characters. In the back is an index called “Where to Turn” that gives a list of verses based on specific topics like “when I’m sad” discouraged, bored, angry, etc.
Based on the overall design of this Bible, I would consider it a great starter Bible for elementary aged kids through preteens. Since it includes the full text of scripture, it really can be used by anyone of any age, but it’s marketed to the 8-12 age range. Depending on the reading level of younger kids, I would recommend this for kids as young as 5 or 6. I like that this Bible comes in multiple cover designs so I can pick different covers for each of my girls. I’ll definitely be saving this for my daughters when they get old enough to use it. I am hoping to have the opportunity to review more Kids and teens Bibles in the future, so make sure you’re subscribed to my blog to be notified when new content is posted.
The season of Lent begins early this year, so I spent a lot of time in January thinking about what study guide or plan I wanted to use during the 40 days leading up to Easter. Then I remembered that Tyndale had sent me two new coloring Study books from a series called Drawn In Bible Study by Eugene Peterson using The Message translation, and I realized going through one of these books would be perfect! I received the studies on 
You can order Drawn In Bible Study: Mary on Amazon 
Here is the description of the series from the publisher: “Color with friends. Be drawn into scripture. Deepen your friendships as you gather around Scripture for coloring and conversation. Drawn In offers simple four-week Bible studies―perfect for groups or personal devotions. Coloring quiets your heart and mind so you can enter fully into Scripture’s stories. The Bible’s passion and personality come through in The Message, surprising new and old Bible readers alike. Discover the delight of being Drawn In.”
Each book contains 4 sessions that are designed to be used over 4 weeks. It can be used on your own for personal study or as a group bible study guide with additional suggestions in the back for group discussion suggestions and ideas. The study content is written by Eugene Peterson, a well-known author who also created The Message translation of the Bible, which is the scripture used in these books when quoted throughout. The full scripture text is not provided, so you will need your Bible in order to study along with these books.
The illustrations themselves are a highlight of these books. Spread throughout the entire book, they are both full page and partial page designs. The style is reminiscent of that used in 
There are lots of questions with space to write at the end of each 6 sections within each session. That gives you six days during the week to work through a session of you decide to do one session a week. I haven’t had a chance to read through the questions, but I’m excited to go through Drawn In: Mary for Lent. I’ll be able to break it up into the smaller sections for a daily reading to get me through this season, with a few days for catching up, which I’m sure I’ll inevitably need.
I think these little books would make a great individual or group bible study tool. The study itself isn’t super in-depth, but there is a ton of thought-provoking content and space to meditate and color. If you’re interested in going through the Mary study with me, you can order your copy on Amazon 
When I received The Apologetics Study Bible (CSB) from B&H/Lifeway, my original intention was to review it and then pass it off to my husband. And then I started reading it, the opening articles drew me in, and I couldn’t stop. What started as skimming for the purpose of a review has turned into a desire to devour everything about this Bible.
The publishers describe The Apologetics Study Bible as a Bible that “helps today’s Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in an age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. This revised and updated edition includes new articles and extensive apologetics study material from today’s leading apologists to reflect and provide deeper understanding of the relevant apologetics issues and questions being discussed today. Includes commentary from over 90 leading apologists, including: Ted Cabal, Lee Strobel, Chuck Colson, Paul Copan, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, J.P. Moreland, Ravi Zacharias, and many more — plus a lead article by Lee Strobel ( The Case for Christ). 
Features include: Presentation page, Book Introductions, Study Notes, Apologetics articles from leading apologists, “Twisted Scripture” explanations for commonly misunderstood passages, Profiles of Christian apologists, Two-color interior, Two-column text, 9.75-point type size, Smyth-sewn binding, Ribbon marker, Full-color maps, and more. 
One of my favorite features of this Bible is the clear study notes at the bottom of the pages. These notes help provide insight to historical customs and context, times when a person chose to sin instead of follow God, and the purposes and meanings behind things like genealogy and numbers. Another feature that I enjoyed while reading the text is the “Twisted Scripture” blurbs spread sporadically throughout. These small sections help illuminate ways that certain cultures, religions, or people groups have taken a certain passage of scripture and twisted it to mean something that distorts the original intention.
Of course the main draw of this Bible aside from the biblical text is the articles themselves. The articles are highlighted throughout with a distinctive gray design on the pages. This helps to distinguish the added articles from the scripture text itself. These articles are in no way adding to scripture but enhancing it, as well as exploring various topics that are controversial and relevant to today’s Christian. There is an index included in the front that lists the title, author, and page number for every article, so if you’re searching for a specific topic, you can find it with ease.
The design of The Apologetics Study Bible is clean and simple, creating a distraction-free reading experience. I will say that due to the content of some of the articles, it can get a bit academic and feel like reading a textbook. However, this doesn’t bother me as I enjoyed reading textbooks in college, but I wanted to mention that these are not light, fluffy articles. I think the hardcover version also adds to the feeling of a textbook, but luckily it’s not so thick that it’s too cumbersome to hold in your lap to read.
As graduation season approaches, I think this Bible would make a great gift for high school or college graduates looking to explore their faith on a deeper level, and it will equip them with intellectual tools to aid them in the defense of their faith. Since the articles are written by a variety of experts, theologians, and apologists, it appeals to a broad age range, as well as both men and women. I highly recommend this Bible, and I’m looking forward to reading more from it throughout the next year as I read the Bible in a year.
Kountingsheep 