Friday, September 20, 2013

Setting up the Virtue Training Bible - and a Giveaway!

Click here for my First thoughts on the Virtue Training Bible.  I am now at Step 2, setting up the Virtue Training Bible.

It's been interesting setting up the Virtue Training Bible.  Interesting in a good way.  Originally I thought about the Bible I had stored away in the garage for setting up as the Virtue Training Bible.  It wouldn't cost anymore money and it was here in our house, somewhere.  Sadly, our garage is a mess.  The box is who knows where and it dawned on me that it would take forever to track it down.  My next thought was, well I will just go buy a new Bible at Wal-Mart or somewhere, it can't be that expensive and it would be worth it in order to get this started.  We were visiting my in laws at their home and I thought I should at least ask my mother in law, Grandma Norma, if she happened to have an extra Bible around that they don't use.  Turns out, she had bought me a Women's Devotional Bible for Christmas and had it stored away in the closet.  When I asked, and told her what it was for, she was happy to give me this gift a little early.  Yay!  I have a Bible.

It's a beautiful Bible with a pink flower and bright green binding.  Not that aesthetics matter all that much when it comes to Bible's but I did think the bright colors of the Bible would go nicely with the bright colors of the tabs and highlights.

So that night I got to work, I couldn't wait.  I read through the instructions, the first time I had done that they seemed a bit confusing, but there was a lot going on at the time.  The reality is, it's not that complicated, you just have to get started.
See how the card on top has colors wrapped all the way around it?  That is the VTB (Virtue Training Bible) key.  It is to be glued or taped into the front of the Bible.  It tells you which colors cover which virtues and where they are located.  The cards below it in this picture are called "Tabbers" by Mindy at VTB.  They are simply used for the set up.  You start with the Tabber with colors striped across the top.  You start at the binding and then work from Revelations to Genesis, back to front.  On the Tabber, under compassion, the first virtue, it has all the versus you are to look up and highlight and then mark with a tab.  Then you move on to Contentment and do the same, before you know it you are on your way.
I think my Bible's pages are a little smaller than the 9"x6" size that is recommended.  The cover is the right size but the pages are not.  So I really had to make sure the colors were tight together, even over lapping some.  You can see the red compassion tabs are really tucked into the middle by the binding.  As it gets out to the end I had to overlap Gentleness and Goodness, the purple and pink.  But it's going to work out just fine.

As I was going along I discovered a few things.  One, when the pages are open and you stick a tab even with another tab of the same color so they are all lined up, then you close the Bible, they shift with the page and aren't in line.  So you have to put the tabs in place when the Bible is in an almost closed position and just slide them in there.

Also, some of the highlighter colors are so dark when you actually highlight over the words you can't see them.  My husband said he used to underline the words.  So when the highlighter colors were too dark, that is what I would do.  Red was one of them and blue.
Here is a page with 2 colors highlighted.  You can see the red is just underlined.
I have all the top tabs done and am just beginning on tabbing on the edge.  So far it has been a great journey.  At first I thought, there is no way you can highlight verses with out reading them at the same time.  Well that's not true.  You can very easily watch for the numbers and highlight with out reading.  I have done some of it this way, but I don't recommend it.  Reading it as you go is how you get the most out of it.  I had no idea I had as much envy in my heart as I did, until I started reading the Contentment verses as I was highlighting.  I was definitely reminded to be happy with what I have.  For me, it's mostly the strong desire for comfort, not riches.  I don't want abundance I just want to be more comfortable.  But even just wanting comfort it's hard not to be convicted when Paul can write Philippians while in prison and say these words: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13

I think I can find a way to be content in my home, with my food on the table every day, my friends and few enemies, my gadgets and gismos a plenty and my beautiful family.  We all have our moments of despair, but that's the power of God's word.  It can lift you out in an instant.

Yesterday was a particularly tough day for me and my husband.  In those moments I always turn to prayer, that's easy, but I seldom turn to the Word.  Yesterday, I grabbed my half finished VTB.  I looked at the Virtues and said Lord I need a little Courage and I need a little Endurance.  So I flipped to those colors and started reading.  A few verses in I read this:  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33  A peace washed through me and I could feel the burden being lifted.  You may read this verse and you may not feel anything, but for me in that moment it was what I needed to hear and it was what God was speaking to me.  How precious a gift.  

I appreciate you taking this journey with me and reading this far!  I can't help but be long winded about this subject.  But I have good news!  Virtue Training Bible is offering a giveaway.  If you are interested in taking this same journey and having this same tool in your home please enter to win.  You won't be sorry.  

And the Winner is . . . Sandy D.  I just sent you an email, so check your inbox!  

If you aren't the lucky winner, I highly recommend you head over to the Virtue Training Bible site and order your set now, it's only $9.00.  

27 comments:

  1. I am so glad you posted about this. I often find myself in need of topic specific insight (encouragement, perseverance...)but it ends in frustration because I'm not sure where to look. I had never heard of this before and I am so glad you shared about it. I hope to get this and i look forward to gleaning so much more from Gods word. I also wanted to thank you for the "detail set up specifics," that will make the process of putting it together run much more smoothly I am sure . Thanks again friend!
    Kristy

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  2. Great first giveaway! I will share it on my blog and Facebook :)

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  3. What a great giveaway Tracy! I have been reading about this system on your blog and am hoping I win- it's always great to have a really good tool that helps you dig deeper into Scripture. Thanks!

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  4. I think this will be a great addition to our homeschool curriculum!

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  5. Would love to win one of these, have had my eye on them this month. Whoever wins will be richly blessed!

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  6. We have the CTB, I would love to have this one, too!

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  7. I would love to add the VTB to my resources to train my son to become a man of God. You know, I also have found the with the Child Training Bible I am learning from it as much as he is, and I feel it will be the same with the VTB

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  8. We also have the CTB and I have been wanting to get this one too! They are great tools!!

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  9. We have the CTB, and have been waiting for the Virture Training Bible to come out! I was super excited when it released, but we don't have the money to buy one right now. This is definitely needed at our house! We are saving our pennies to buy one :)

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  10. I LOVE this idea! I have just begun a new Bible study at church, doing Precept Upon Precept for the book of Daniel. Same sort of concept, with a lot of highlighting/marking up your Bible. This sounds like a great supplement, and I would love to have this to help encourage my children. Yes, a great tool for Bible curriculum in our homeschool adventure! Thanks for posting!

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  11. Can't wait to be able to put it together

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  12. I have the CTB & would love to win a copy of the VTB!! - Jessica

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  13. would be great to do with the kids

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  14. Thank you so much for the giveaway! I would love this kit for my girls. It just seems so fun and on their level to understand our Lord.

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  15. Would LOVE to give this set a try!!

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  16. This is such a great teaching tool and guide for ANY parent, whether children are grown or newborn. Thank you for sharing and getting the message out.

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  17. These tools are so AMAZING in teaching any child and reminding us adults. Thank you for the opportunity to win it! (I said this was under Melissa S but I forgot my google thing just says Melissa)

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  18. Thanks for the chance to win and for sharing your journey with us! I'm very interested in this bible but haven't gotten it yet. (have to get the hubs on board!)

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  19. Thanks for the chance...this would go great with the child training bible!

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  20. I have the CTB and look forward to checking out the Virtue Training Bible

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  21. I found you through a post on Facebook. I'm going to be homeschooling my youngest as she starts kindergarten next year. My oldest has graduated and my middle daughter will be graduating. My youngest (Kaylee) is special needs and I feel she would benefit more from homeschooling than through the public school system. I looked through your homeschooling posts and love seeing the happy faces! Your blog is bookmarked and can't wait to get back here when I have more time to browse around. BTW, you have an amazing name! :)

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    1. Thanks Tracy, Tracy is a good name! I feel so blessed by your comment. It has always been my hope to be a resource for someone. I try to post all the fun and all the challenges we face along the way. I am working on making my blog a little easier to dig through. Like making the homeschool tab on the top and adding the search option. I hope your browsing is successful. Please feel free to reach me using the contact option on the blog or email me directly at dandelioninherhair at yahoo dot com.

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