Saturday, March 16, 2013

Jesus Calling Bible Storybook: Review



Because my son is in the autistic spectrum, he has trouble handling crowds of people.  We have tried church several times in the past with him, and so far it has been very draining and difficult for him to tolerate.  I am always looking for ways to incorporate God into our daily life at home, so he is surrounded by the good news of Jesus.  

Every night we tell Bible stories before he goes to bed.  I have looked at many Bible storybooks and it is difficult to find one that seems compelling, beautiful, and easy to understand.  We just purchased Jesus Calling Bible Storybook by Sarah Young a few weeks ago, and we are loving it. 

I have never purchased Sarah Young's devotionals before, although I know they have a wonderful reputation and have been widely read.  In reading the Storybook, I understand why.  She seems able to capture God's love, goodness, and beauty in a way that inspires us and fills us with awe.  Her writing seems both simple and profound--easy to understand but compelling us to read it again and think about it during the day.  The artwork in this Bible Storybook is BEAUTIFUL and makes the stories even more captivating (illustrator Carolina Farias).

The book includes 49 Old Testament stories and 51 New Testament stories.  Here is an excerpt from the story about Christmas-- "Finally, it was time.  God was ready.  The world was ready. Stars sparkled in the sky on a night so quiet you could hear your heart beat.  If you stood still, closed your eyes, and took a deep breath, you could feel something in the air. The sky, the fields, and the little town of Bethlehem--they were ready.  The angels in heaven were ready.  This was the perfect time for Jesus to be born."  

Interspersed throughout the book are messages from God called "Jesus Calling."  Each is based on a scripture verse.  Here is an example based on Revelation 22:13.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega.  That means the Beginning and the End.  Most people call Me Jesus.  I am God the Son.  I made the heavens and the earth. Even then--long before you were born--I thought of you and loved you." 

What do you like to read with your kids?

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