Dialogue with Jesus

Experience God’s love through conversations Jesus had with Nicodemus,the Woman at the Well, Martha, Zacchaeus, Peter, the Roman Centurion, the Rich Young Ruler, Simon the Pharisee, the Adulterous Woman, and more.

Dialogue with Jesus is fifty-two devotions for families, written to teach children how to pray. Bible stories come alive and inspire questions, acceptance, love, and faith.

A book for families, but it can be used for teaching by home schooling mothers, Sunday school teachers, and in mentoring relationships.

Each devotion includes:

• A retold Bible story with Jesus' words in red
• A "Think About It" section, which applies Bible truth
• A "Pray About It" section with simple prayers kids can learn.

This book is a work in progress, born in the Mentoring Track at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Find similar devotions on my Talking with Jesus blog. 

Please leave your suggestions how I could make this a great devotional book for families.

Do Not Covet--The Tenth Commandment

Do you want things your friends have? Do you see things you want when shopping with your parents? Do you dream about having stuff in the commercials on TV? This is called coveting and it's #10 on God's Big Ten list. Do you know what the cure is for coveting? It's being content with what you have. Don't dwell on wishing for things you can't have. You may think stuff can make you happy, but it can't. Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," (Matthew 6:19-21).

Think About It
David wrote, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4

Pray About It
Thank you, Father God, for all the ways you love us and bless our lives. Help us to recognize what you have done instead of thinking about stuff that we don't really need, because we know you are in control and you will give us what we need. Amen.

Do Not Lie--the Ninth Commandment

What if our noses grew every time we told a lie? What if our ears grew? What if our feet grew? Maybe people wouldn't lie so much. Did you know lying is problem of the heart? Yes, our hearts are the heart of the problem. So what is the solution?

The solution to lying is the same as for all other acts of disobedience to the Ten Commandments. It is God's love. He loves us so much He gave His only Son to take the punishment for our sins so we wouldn't have to. When we believe that with all our hearts and accept God's love, our lives change. We won't want to lie anymore.

Love rejoices in TRUTH. (1 Corinthians 13:6) Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," (John 14:6) and "If you love me, you will obey what I command. I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of TRUTH," (John 14:15).

Think About It
So is it ever okay to lie? Check this out in Proverbs 6:16-19.
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him.

1. Haughty eyes
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil
6. A false witness who pours out lies, and
7. A man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Pray About It
Lord Jesus, help us to accept your love and not the ways of the world. Help us to honor you with our mouths by telling the truth. Thank you for sending your Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to help us live for you. Amen.

Real Girls of the Bible-A Review

I loved reading Real Girls of the Bible, a devotional book by Mona Hodgson. It is part of FaithGirlz series by Zonderkids. Mona told each real girl's story according to her place and time in the Bible and made Scripture come alive for me. I especially enjoyed the application as the Bible girl might have talked with today's girls. The book is filled with history lessons, "check this out" pages, and Bible verses that expand the life and meaning of the Bible girl's story. This is a great book for the young girl in your family, sure to build her faith and deepen her relationship with God.