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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November 2025 Quick Review

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Happy Friday!

Capping this week before Advent season, are newly released books from various publishing companies eager to replenish us with biblical teachings. I’m praying that these reviews will guide to to what book you’ll buy. I’m thankful that this blog helped in a way with your reading list.

The Gospel According to Christmas (Allen B. Nelson IV, The Free Grace Press) – Whenever Advent or Christmas approaches, we usually pull out a devotional book to help us reflect on the season. That’s not a bad thing—in fact, it’s commendable. However, many devotionals tend to focus mainly on “Baby Jesus” rather than on Christ who died on the cross for our sins. That might not sound very “Christmassy,” yet it’s the message we most need to hear—one that often gets drowned out by the busyness and festivities of the holidays. To keep our eyes on what truly matters, Allen Nelson wrote this book, diving into 1 Peter 2:24 to point us to the cross and show how it connects to Christ’s birth. It’s part devotional, part preaching—grabbing your attention and stirring a deeper desire for Christ in this season.

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Comic Book Quick Review (November 2025)

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I really miss reviewing Christian comics. I’m so glad two new comic releases came to me, to read and enjoy. So let’s dive on these two comics and if you like my review, buy a copy to support the authors.

The Picture Bible New Testament Paperback (Iva Hoth (author) and Andre LeBlanc (illustrator), David C. Cook) -I don’t really know what upgrade David C. Cook made to this edition aside from the new cover, which is clearly an homage to Marvel comic books from the ’70s and ’80s. Maybe they simply wanted to ride on the “nostalgic” feel of the book—I’m honestly not sure.

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8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes” (Jonathan Landry Cruse, P & R Publishing)

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Happy Friday!

Thank you for all who prayed for me last time. Went to Manila last Monday with my parents and got back home with a good news. My kidneys are OK, praise God! I have a tiny problem with my prostate and cholesterol. The doctor gave me prescription and free medicine. I also got to have a quick meet up with my friend, Greg. He also gave me two books. Again thank you for all your prayers and keep interceding for me.

Anyways, I’ve just finished reading Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes by 8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes ” by Jonathan Landry Cruse, published P & R Publishing. Here’s some of the highlights of that book. Review will come soon. I know I’m a bit in a back log, so if God willing, I’ll finish all my impending post before December (I’ll be resting from blogging that month). If you like what you read, go purchase the book by clicking here.

“To be poor in spirit is to recognize that there is nothing we have in and of ourselves on which we can bank our eternity. The poor in spirit know that they are empty, and also know that only God can fill them.”

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8 Favorite Quotes From the Book “The Jews and the Irrevocable Call of God in Reformed Theology from John Calvin to Thomas Torrance” (Mark J. Larson, Wipf and Stock Publishers)

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I will be having my second visit to the doctor in Manila this coming Monday. Pray for travel provision with my father and I think my mother will come along too. She needs a check up with her liver. Uphold us for healing and the medicine we will take. My parents are both strong Catholics but by God’s mercy they’re attending our church. That is also my prayer that God will save them.

Anyways, here are some selected quotes from the new book The Jews and the Irrevocable Call of God in Reformed Theology from John Calvin to Thomas Torrance by Mark J. Larson and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. If you find this book as a good addition to your to-read list, get this fresh release by following this link.

“We do not see an attitude of self-righteousness in Calvin as he contemplated the sins of the Jews as presented in the biblical canon.
Calvin acknowledged that he too had broken the law of God.“

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Women Helping Other Women

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It goes without saying, that the body of Christ, needs each other. We, the ones purchased by the blood of Christ, are not warm bodies just to fill an empty building and call it “church”. We are to be the church and be there as the church. That truth applies to every believer as we receive various means of grace to build us up and extend God’s love to each other. We should make our highest goal to edify the body of Christ. Every gift given by the Holy Spirit is for the benefit of God’s elect.

Almost all letters in the New Testament are addressed to the church, whether it be doctrine or practical living. It is written for us to know the will of God for our lives and how we should conduct it for the service of the church. This should give us a realization that God gave utmost importance for His body to grow to conform to the image of His Son.

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