March Quick Reviews (Children’s Book Edition 2026)

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Happy Friday!

It’s a non working holiday in the Philippines and time for my family to stay at home to chill. No work and school which gives us an extra breather for the weekend. It’s also a perfect time to post this review of upcoming books you might consider to pick up. So here’s five of them that I received as ARC from NetGalley and Edelwiess+. I hope you’ll enjoy this post and have a great weekend ahead.

God bless!

God’s Colorful Christmas: Jesus Was Born to Save by Esau McCaulley & Rogério Coelho (Tydale Kids) Just two things to highlight about this book. First, it feels out of season for Christmas—I read it in March, and the holiday vibe had clearly faded. Still, its message goes far beyond December. It tells the grand story of God coming to us and saving us.

Second, the book is written by Rev. Esau McCaulley. If you’re familiar with him, you’ll expect themes of justice and race—and they’re here. But what stands out is how carefully and sensitively he handles them. These issues don’t overshadow the story; Christ remains at the center, and that focus is spot on. It doesn’t stir you toward protest (or anything)—it draws you inward, reminding you of God’s grace toward us, lowly and undeserving, in giving His Son.

The illustrations carry the narrative beautifully. And special mention to the letterer—the use of rainbow-colored text subtly reinforces the theme of diversity.

My verdict:

5 out of 5

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The Freebie Round-Up #177

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Happy Friday!

Thank you for praying for me. I’m happy to announce that my parents and my daughter along with other new believers will follow the Lord in baptism this coming Sunday. I know this is just a start of their walk with Christ so I’m praying for their maturity and growth. Also I was able to attend our campus ministry last Friday. Coming from a tiring work week to attend this ministry is nothing compare to the joy of seeing college kids giving time for fellowship and God’s Word. Kindly pray and if you can support financially. Send me a message if you want to connect to them.

Lastly, I dont usually ask this to my readers but if you are blessed by God, would you kind enough to share these blessing to my family? We are struggling financially to pay the bills and other commitments. You can send any amount by using the payment method below. God bless you as you pray and considering to share your blessings.

Anyways, go check out these freebies:

FREE e-book How to Live Happily (William C. Brownson) – An out of print book from Words of Hope ministries now a free e-book to download.

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8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “The If That Changes Everything” (Mike Hood)

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Happy Friday!

May our Triune God bless you and your family!

I have two good news to share here before we go to the quotes. First, our BEEEF FBM and WOMISSO Fellowship was a success last February 28. We had 16 churches with 271 delegates from different part of the Batangas Province and Orriental Mindoro came to join with us. Delegates were treated with free flowers, free souvenir magnetic photos, freebies and book raffles. We had a our city mayor and councilor gracing the event and gave an encouraging message. The highlight, of course, is the talk by two guest speakers followed by a Q & A session in the afternoon. For us officers, advisor council and volunteers it was a tiring day but it’s all worth it by God’s grace. More about this fellowship with photos soon!

Lastly, after giving the last installment of a sermon series on baptism, my parents with some frequent attendees, raise their hands for baptism. Praise God! This month they will get baptized and be included in our church. Kindly uphold these new believers that they will mature and be part in whatever ministry God calls them to.

Anyways, here are some quotes from the recent book I read by Mike Hood, The If That Changes Everything published by The Good Book Company. If you like these quotes and want to get the full book, go here.

“Everybody dies.” It’s the most basic fact of human existence, something we all have in common. Yet it’s also something we don’t like to talk about. Mostly we try not to even think about it.”

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The Freebie Round-Up #176

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Happy Friday!

I’m happy to announce that your constant prayers for my family had been answered. Our pastor ask my father if he would consider getting baptized. My parents are now constant attendees of our church. For months now, through preaching of the Word, they get spiritual nourishment. They also enjoy the company of their respective small groups. This moment I’m thankful for everyone who prays for the salvation of my parents. My father, who is an ardent Catholic and also frequent listener to Bro. Eli Soriano’s teachings (of the cult Ang Dating Daan), said “Yes” last Lord’s Day to our pastor’s invitation for baptism. This coming Sunday, our pastor will open this invitation to the congregation and I expect my father to raise his hand to follow the Lord. My 8 year old daughter desires baptism and she will affirm it on Sunday. Please pray that my mother will follow too. Again, thank you for interceding for us.

Anyways, go check out these freebies:

FREE e-book Pronouncing & Translating the Divine Name: History & Practice ( Andrew Case) – This is an interesting free e-book. The goal of this book are ” Would it be better for translations of the Hebrew Bible to use some approximation of Yahweh, or a title like “the Lord”?, and “When teaching and reading Hebrew today, would it be better to pronounce his name as some approximation like Yahweh, or say Adonai (Lord)? Curious? Get this booknow.

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8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “The Desecration of Man” (Carl R. Trueman)

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Happy Monday!

It’s 27 days to go till our grand fellowship of the Fundamental Baptist Men and Womisso to be held at Batangas City Sports Coliseum on February 28. We covet your prayers and support for this event that our faith may be strengthen, edify each other and glorify God. More details to come.

In the meantime, check this upcoming book from intellectual historian and Christian Carl. R. Trueman, The Desecration of Man. If you like these quotes and want to pre-order the book, the head to this link.

“Christianity has certainly been the key source for much Western culture. But this was originally built upon the belief that the biblical narrative, especially that of Jesus Christ, was historical. It revealed truths about God and humanity, it did not simply inspire exalted and beautiful thoughts about truth, goodness and beauty.”

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January 2026 Quick Reviews (Children’s Book Edition)

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It’s mid-January and is it not too late for me to greet you guys, Happy New Year? I’m in a busy mode at work, planning for our upcoming fellowship and translation deadline of a book by Don Whitney. I thank God that I was able to squeeze in a review post for you to enjoy and check out.

Aside from the Happy New Year greeting, I would like to say, “Thank you for sticking around and reading this blog.”

“J is for Jesus: Enjoying Who Jesus Is from A to Z” (Alistair Begg, Emma Skerratt, The Good Book Company) – This is the sequel “C is for Christian” from the same author and illustrator. I used that book as a devotional to my daughter and definitely I’ll use this one too. The last book is more focused on what is a Christian, now this superb book is all about Jesus Christ.

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My Top Favorite Children’s Books of 2025

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This year was a surprise for me in reading children’s books. I was able to explore other publishing houses that rarely Calvinist like me would dare to set foot. Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss+, I got to read books from Barbour Publishing and Our Daily Bread Publishing and they do deliver! In on non-Christian children’s books, I was able to read a ton of them through Open Library. This is such a good year for me reading and reviewing children’s books.

Anyways, here are some of my favorite books that I read that fall on children’s books category.

C.S. Lewis The Boy Who Loved to Ask Big Questions by Laura Wickham & Keila Elm (The Good Book Company) –  I read the life of C. S. Lewis in various format. I have read from a book and on a magazine. The long or short of it, the essential should be there. These are the turning points that lead Lewis to Christ. I won’t list all of them here but all were included in this book for kids. Wickham is on fire with this enjoyable story even though there are some serious parts of this book. Read the full review here.

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My Top Favorite Books of 2025

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Advance Happy New Year to all! May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you today and this coming 2026!

As I reflect on my reading habits this year, I think I read less but wiser in choosing what to read. This year, I pick the books that most would benefit the ministry that I’m in charge of specifically our youth small group. Both/And Ministry by Gary Millar is a prime example of that. It became our small group lesson this year and it helped the youth alot in knowing the more about their participation in the church.

This year I ventured to books offered for review from ARC platforms NetGalley and Edelweiss+. This will help me expand more variety of books from different publishers and authors that I don’t usually get to read.

Anyways, here’s are the notable books I read and impacted me this 2025. I hope and pray that you’ll still be there with me as we pick up a book, whether it’s digital or physical, this 2026.

The Art of Disagreeing by Gavin Ortlund (The Good Book Company)-Let’s be honest no matter how good (or bad) our arguments, we don’t want people to disagree with us. So what do we do? Unfriend them in social media or blurt out ungracious things to them. What if their is a better AND godly way to handle those disagreements.  Read the full review here and the favorite quotes here.

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December 2025 Quick Review (Children’s Book Edition)

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Merry Christmas everyone! Though I maybe late in greeting you, (specially if you live in the Philippines) still I hope and pray that this season brings you festivity because of God blessings. After all, Christmas is a gift of a sacrificial God for undeserving sinners like us. The grace is overflowing not just on the good things we received but the salvation He obtain for His children.

Anyways, here are some new and upcoming children’s books that you can buy or pre-order. Hope these review serves you as guides in buying books for your kids.

Tiny Hands Hymns, Vol. 2 (Hannah Duguid Estes and Jessica Hiatt, P & R Publishing) – This is the third book I’ve read from the Little Hands series by P&R Publishing, and I’m genuinely grateful that they provided a review copy for me and my blog. This recent release is a sequel to Little Hands: Hymns, Volume 1. While I’m not familiar with some of the hymns included in this volume—Rock of Ages being the notable exception—it simply reflects the fact that these hymns are not commonly sung in my church or found in my regular Spotify rotation.

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8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “Our Savior Who Prays” (John F. MacArthur Jr.)

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Here’s some quotes from a book that I received the physical copy , thanks to it’s publisher. It’s from the late John MacArthur Jr., titled “Our Savior Who Prays”. If you find these quotes interesting and want to have your own copy of the book, simply follow this link.

“Jesus’ prayer highlights His absolute confidence in and submission to the perfect will of God, even though He knew perfectly what it would cost Him. Therefore, He prayed that the Father’s will would be done, that the master plan of redemption accomplished, and that the Father would bring to reality all the promises He had made to His disciples.”

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