The Book That's Tattered at Our House

Jamy discovered a book years ago when Jackson was a baby.  I remember him bringing it home, thrilled at what he’d discovered.  A children’s bible storybook that tells the whole story of God and his great rescue plan.  Every single story between its pages, from creation to the flood to the new earth points to Jesus. It’s amazing. I've never found another children’s book that so clearly ties everything that happens in the Bible to Christ and His work to redeem a people to himself. 

The book, The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones, has since become award-winning and translated into over nine different languages for children all over the world to appreciate and our family favorite. The illustrations by Jago capture my kids attention and make the stories come alive. It’s so great that we’ve also bought Lloyd-Jones’ other books, Song of the Stars, A Christmas Story and Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.

  

Listen to how it begins:

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes.  The Bible is most of all a Story.  It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure.  It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne – everything – to rescue the one he loves.  It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! 

You see – the best thing about this Story is – it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, bit all the stories are telling one Big Story.  The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

So from the day Jamy happened across this amazing little book in a bookstore, we've read it to our children.  Every night, with our kids curled up beside us on the couch we pull it out. Our kids each have their own copy that's falling apart and taped up from being loved on so much. 

Here's a video of one of the stories of the events surrounding Jesus birth:

I’ll be honest.  I sometimes go to this book when I need to be reminded of the big picture. While reading the stories to Isabelle and Jackson I often get choked up and hold back tears as God pierces my heart with His truth. I know counselors and pastors who use this book as a "go to" for adults to bring us back to the centrality of Jesus and simple truths.

Rules couldn't save them.  Only God could save them.  

(Moses and the Ten Commandments from Exodus 16-17)

God will heal the terrible sickness in our hearts. 

(The little slave girl and Naaman from 2 Kings 5)

The Rescuer will come.  Look for him.  Watch for him.  Wait for him.  He will come!  

(Prophecies from Isaiah) 

Jesus is making the sad things come untrue.  He is mending God’s broken world.  

(The story of Jarius’daughter from Luke 8)

Jesus takes the nothing and makes it everything.  He takes the emptiness and fills it up.  

(The feeding of the 5,000 from Matthew 14)

And we can all can quote by memory this phrase that’s woven into the fabric of these pages and now into our hearts that describes God’s love for all of us:

His Never-stopping

Never Giving Up

Unbreaking

Always and Forever

Love