The development dilemma Book

What a beautiful Bible this is! Easily I can see this being a perfect gift or personal Bible for any special woman in your life. There are so many elements within these pages in addition to the Scripture written in the New International Version translation that make this a sure keeper and a great tool for every day devotion.

My version of this delightful Bible is hardcover and the imagery sets a mood for me very well. The calming blues, sage green and a lilac lavender shade are a calm vision by sight and opening the pages to a beautiful green and black/purple/blue text in a great font is only the beginning. I'm not sure what the fonts are exactly, but they are really beautiful fonts that are quite attractive to the eye. I can easily spend hours reading the text.

Part of what makes this such a great Bible in addition to it's beauty are the features. Including a descriptive book introduction at each book of the Bible and 52 Bible Studies that delve into the scriptures. These studies are set up to easily be used individually or as a group and makes Bible study for one whole year easy and right at your finger tips. One of my favorite part of these Bible Studies is that they are actually on the same open page range of the main scripture referenced. Unlike it some Bibles where the studies are just inserts. Then when there are additional scriptures to look up there is a page number as well as the reference book and chapter.

There are also "Character Sketches" throughout that really bring the women of the Bible to life examining their lives and showing them as examples of living life in the light of God. This is also made whole by "The Women in Jesus' Family Tree" found in the beginning of the appendixes that shows these special women in a near time-line as given in the scriptures through Matthew. Other study helps found in the appendixes are the generic color maps you often find in Bibles as well as a Bible concordance, a center-column reference system and two of my favorite extras... There is a page that lists Jesus and New Testament Women giving the woman's name, a sentence of what happened and the scripture reference and my top favorite thing a Dictionary of NIV Terms.

In the actual meat of the pages there are two beautiful additions. I mean beautiful in the context that the font and colors and sometimes images literally are pretty but also the verbiage and meanings are also elegant and captivating. These features are Study Notes and Quotes. The Study Notes are really the "backbone of the NIV Women of Faith Study Bible". There are almost 1700 study notes on specific verses and passages of Scripture bringing the details and events alive and off the page. Dealing with real and intimate issues found in everyday life and your walk with Christ. The Quotes are just gorgeous words on the page brought from 18th century hymn writers to 14th century mystics, poets, essayists, and so many more women that have been recording their lives and walks with Christ over the years. Such encouragement can be found in these little columns that makes them a great addition to the scriptures.

All and all this book is an encourager. It's a devotional. A Bible Study. Then it's a Bible of scripture itself. There is so much within these pages that really helps to guide any Women of Faith into a greater and stronger bound with Christ. Starting with a special presentation page including a page that allows the owner of the Bible to personalize her story and experience with her walk with Christ and ending with whatever feature and extra you choose. Really this Bible could please anyone.

I love the font, I love the features. I truly and earnestly love this Bible. This Bible is published through Zondervan Publishers, although it is a Women of Faith Study Bible as in the Women of Faith conference group from Thomas Nelson. Through and through the message is that God loves you - regardless of where you are in life. My version is a gorgeous hardcover edition, but you can also find this Bible in the perfect version for your "woman of faith" in a gorgeous paperback, bonded leather including Violet or Black and also as Italian Duo-Tone in a vibrant Meadow Green.

*Thanks to Beth Johnson of Zondervan for providing a copy for review.*