Monday, October 23, 2017

"Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women" by Lindsay A. Franklin

Devotionals, books that aid us in our daily walk with God. Many have been written through the years, touching tough topics and encouraging the discouraged. In this new devotional, Lindsay Franklin touches the tough topics that affect young women today; a devotional that reinforces how much they are loved by God.

Pain, heartache, social requirements for beauty, social media, cyber bullying - just a few of the things that affect young people today. Young women can get drawn in to a world they never imagined due to trying to fit in with the "in" crowd. Peer pressure can make it almost impossible to resist. But in this new devotional, young women will find that they can be armed with God's Word and a short, relevant reading that puts everything into perspective. Nothing takes the place of reading the Bible, but devotionals like this add personal perspective to the reading.

I like this devotional, and think it will make a great gift for several young women I know. I like that there is a verse with a short devotional, and then there is a space for journaling thoughts. That really helps make the lesson of the day stick and become real. I recommend it to anyone with young women in your life. It is well worth sharing!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

"The Teen's Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices" by Jonathan McKee

Social Media, one of the hottest activities of our lifetime. Posting, tweeting, sharing pictures, etc. Is there danger? What should be the focus, especially for teenagers? In this new book by Jonathan McKee, teens (and others) can get 21 tips for keeping yourself safe and being wise when dealing with social media.

Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram - all commonly used forms of social media. In the blink of an eye. people all over the world can know more about you than most of your friends. Media does more than letting you engage. It also tracks your likes, your movements, your life moments. This book begins with two letters; one to parents and one to the teen. It then goes into debunking false ideas (i.e. I can delete what I post.), rules of safety (i.e. look at privacy settings, friend requests, think before you post). It is a common sense look at the world through these wonderful and dangerous apps. 

I enjoyed, and learned from, this book. It's easy to read and makes many common sense points. There are "Questions to Ponder," "Tips," and "Something to Think About," that will draw a reader in. I recommend this book to teens and their parents, along with anyone else who whats to be wiser when posting. It is well worth your time.