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Overview
Featuring the same first-person style and easy-to-read text as My First Study BibleTM, this book is a great stand-alone devotional or story-by-story companion and reinforcement tool for My First Study Bible.
Each devotion is contained on a two-page spread and expands on a Bible story with real-life applications, fun facts, Scripture challenges, and amazing mysteries. This special book creates an environment that will help young readers develop a lifelong habit of Bible reading and quiet time.
A My First Study BibleTM Book.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781400319831 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Nelson, Tommy |
| Publication date: | 02/06/2012 |
| Sold by: | HarperCollins Publishing |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 208 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
| Age Range: | 6 - 10 Years |
About the Author
Andy Holmes was born in Memphis, TN, in 1961 and moved with his family to Abilene, TX, in 1968. Andy Holmes is the author of over fifty books, illustrating many of them as well. Andy Holmes created the internationally seen children's television series "Gerbert" and was the series' writer, performer as well as co-wrote the songs. Andy Holmes was awarded the Excellence In Children's Ministry National Award by the International Network of Children's Pastors, was nominated for an Ace Award for his work with the "Gerbert" television series, and won a Telly Award for his work on the triple-cast show "NetTalk Interactive".
Read an Excerpt
MY FIRST DEVOTIONAL
APPLYING GOD'S WORD TO MY LIFEBy Andy Holmes
Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc.All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4003-1699-1
Chapter One
WHO'S REALLY IN CHARGE HERE? Geneses 2:15–3:24
I'm Adam. And I'm Eve. The first people ever. You know our story. God said we could eat anything in the garden, except one thing. God said, "Don't eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." But we did anyway.
We wanted to make up our own minds about things and take charge of our own lives. So we disobeyed. Boy, that was a mistake!
Truth is, you have to answer that same question: who's in charge of your life? Like us, you'll have to answer that question every day. Will you do what you want to do? Or will you obey God?
WHO? ME?
Will you do what God wants you to do, even when it's not what you want to do? God builds your faith with each such challenge. Say, "Yes, Lord!" and your faith grows stronger. Say, "No, Lord," and your faith grows weaker.
BIBLE VERSE
Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in his ways and to fear him.
—Deuteronomy 8:6
Water, please?
Question: when was the first sprinkler system invented?
Answer: Before man was created.
Read all about it in Genesis 2:4–6.
DID YOU KNOW?
Adam lived to be 930 years old. Picture the candles on his last birthday cake!
CHALLENGE
What were two of the first things Adam and eve did after they disobeyed God?
Read Genesis 3:7–8.
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank You for being a loving and forgiving God! You gave Adam and Eve so much, but they still did what You asked them not to do. Help me to obey You. You know what is best for me. Help me to be thankful for what You've given me. I love You, God.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
SINK OR SWIM Genesis 6:9–9:17
Hi, ya! Captain Noah here!
No doubt you know my story by heart. "Build a big boat, Noah!" God told me. A big what? I wondered. So God told me exactly how to do it. It was a pretty tall order, er, so to speak, and, buoy, oh buoy (get it? That's boat humor!), did I get some strange looks from the neighbors—especially after those two skunks arrived!
Big jobs take big stick-to-it-iveness. Sure, I wanted to quit along the way—but I figured I had better do it with all that water coming! And I'm so glad I did. Quitters never finish anything. God needs people who'll stick with it until the task is done. god calls it perseverance. And it's a great thing to develop in yourself.
WHO? ME?
Finish your tasks. Homework? Get it done without complaining or having to be scolded. Household chores? Do them with a smile. When you make yourself stick with these little things, you're training yourself to be able to stick with bigger things.
BIBLE VERSE
And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. —Genesis 7:5
Bible mystery
what was Noah's wife's name? The Bible doesn't say. Two best guesses, according to Bible scholars, are Naamah or Emzara.
DID YOU KNOW?
Animal facts:
• A rat can last longer without water than a camel.
• An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
• Snakes hear through their jaws.
CHALLENGE
How many humans went aboard the ark?
Read Genesis 8:18 and 9:18.
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank You for giving Noah "stick-to-it-iveness." He listened to You and not other people. Help me to be more like Noah. Help me to finish the simple, everyday tasks. Then, when You ask me to do bigger things, I will be able to finish them for You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
ALL OR NOTHING Genesis 21:1–7; 22:1–19
Hi, I'm Abraham.
Do you remember what God told me to do with my only son, Isaac? God told me to sacrifice him on an altar. Whoa! Thankfully, this was no ordinary request. As hard as it was, I obeyed. And God stopped me just in time. I was so relieved!
Here's the point: God wanted to know if I loved him more than nything else—even more than I loved my precious son.
Guess what? God wants us to love Him most of all.
WHO? ME?
When you love someone, it shows. Do three things today that show you love God. Here are some ideas: pray, treat others with kindness, tell someone about God's goodness, honor your parents.
BIBLE VERSE
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "here I am." And he said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."—Genesis 22:11–12
Stargazing facts
When god told Abraham to "look up and count the stars," he would've been there a long time. Astronomers estimate that there are 100 billion stars in our own galaxy, according to It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards.
DID YOU KNOW?
Abraham was Jacob and esau's grandfather. Read Genesis 25:19–26.
CHALLENGE
How old was Abraham when his son Isaac was born? Read Genesis 21:5.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are a GREAT God! You love me more than I can even imagine. I want to put You first like Abraham did. I know that You want me to love You more than anything else. Help me to show my love for You by how I spend my time, how I love others, and what I do.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
HANG IN THERE Genesis 37; 39:1–45:5
Hi, I'm Joseph.
That's right, the guy whose father made him the colorful coat. You might recall that my brothers weren't too happy about that. In fact, they threw me into a well. Then they sold me. I became a slave, was lied about, was thrown into jail, and finally became the second most powerful man in Egypt. wild, huh?
God can use the worst of things to bring about the best of things. So don't get discouraged when things aren't going the way you want. Hang in there. It just seems like forever.
Believe me, God has a plan for your life. Every day another page in God's story for you is written. Your job in every situation is to choose the right attitude.
WHO? ME?
Pretend you're being observed by a news reporter from heaven. What would the reporter write about your attitudes? Every day make good choices so you will be proud of the article being written about you.
BIBLE VERSE
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. —Genesis 50:20
In too deep?
Some scholars think the well Joseph was thrown into might have been as deep as 30 feet. Ouch!
DID YOU KNOW?
Like Daniel, Joseph explained the meaning of dreams. Read Genesis 40–41.
CHALLENGE
How many brothers did Joseph have? Read Genesis 42:3–4, carefully.
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank You for taking care of Joseph. You had a plan for Joseph, and he trusted You. I know You have a plan for me too. Help me to trust You like Joseph did. When things don't go my way, help me know that You are still in control. I can still praise You even when I'm upset. I love You, God.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER? Exodus 2:1–10
Hi, I'm Miriam.
Do you know who my famous brother is? I'll give you a hint: he floated down the river in a basket. You guessed it! Moses!
My mother made a basket, put him in it, and I kept an eye on him as he floated down the river. Please, God, I prayed, take care of my baby brother. Then, when Pharaoh's daughter found him, I told her my mother and I would take care of him for her. I had to be brave.
Being brave means being willing to do something difficult or scary. Like being a friend to someone who's being mistreated, or standing up for what's right when no one else does.
WHO? ME?
Be a leader of good things and not a follower of bad things.
BIBLE VERSE
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your god, He is the one who goes with you. he will not leave you nor forsake you. —Deuteronomy 31:6
God works in mysterious ways
Whose face glowed so that people were afraid of him? Read Exodus 34:29–35.
DID YOU KNOW?
Moses tried to get god to use someone else instead of him. Read Exodus 4:13.
CHALLENGE
what did Moses' mother put on the basket to keep it from sinking? Read Exodus 2:3.
PRAYER
Dear God,
You are a great God! Thank You for giving Miriam the courage to watch over her baby brother, Moses. She must have been so frightened! Help me to have the courage to do the right thing even when it's hard or I'm scared. Show me ways to do what is right even when I'm afraid.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
PLAGUED WITH REGRET Exodus 2:11–15; 7:1–12:31
Harrumph! I'm Pharaoh.
King of Egypt! The boss! All-powerful!
Well, I thought I was all-powerful. Turns out, I thought too highly of myself. Was I ever in for a big lesson!
"Let my people go, Pharaoh!" Moses said.
"No!" I said. TEN TIMES! Was I foolish or what?
Turns out, I'm not the only one who lets pride get in the way. Ever feel you know better than someone else, but you really don't? Ever throw a fit when things don't go your way? Take some advice from a washed-up ruler: pride ALWAYS leads to trouble.
WHO? ME?
Don't think too highly of yourself. Be confident, but not too proud. Consider the needs and feelings of others.
BIBLE VERSE
when pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. —Proverbs 11:2
Papaw Moses?
How old was Moses when he spoke to Pharaoh? Read Exodus 7:7.
DID YOU KNOW?
This pharaoh is thought by many to be Rameses II. You can see his body for yourself in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
CHALLENGE
Read about the ten plagues in Exodus 7–12. Which of the first nine do you think is the worst? Talk about it with a parent or teacher.
PRAYER
Dear God,
You are all-powerful! You taught Pharaoh a lesson when he was filled with pride. Help me to learn from Pharaoh that pride always leads to trouble. Keep me from thinking too highly of myself. Help me to think of You first, others second, and myself last.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
DO YOU "SEA" WHAT I SEE? Exodus 14:1–29
Hi, I'm Moses.
Great news! Are you ready? God can do the impossible! Trust me, I speak from personal experience.
Need an example to convince you? Here's one: I was leading God's people out of Egypt, but when we reached the Red Sea we were trapped! The sea was in front of us, and Pharaoh and his army were coming after us. There was no escaping. What were we to do?
Then God split the sea in two so we could walk across on dry land. Wow!
God still does the impossible (and the very hard)! Got a problem you can't seem to solve? Is something troubling you? Feel stuck in a bad situation? Tell God about it.
WHO? ME?
Need help with something? god tells us to give him our worries and to let him help us through them.
BIBLE VERSE
[Cast] all your care upon him, for he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7
Something fishy?
The Red Sea is a great place to go scuba diving. It is home to 200 soft and hard corals and more than 1,000 invertebrate species (animals without a backbone). Some have really fun names. here are a few: the batfish, the bloodybelly comb jelly, the fat innkeeper worm, and the hula skirt siphonophore.
DID YOU KNOW?
Moses once went without food or water for 80 days! Read Deuteronomy 9:9–18.
CHALLENGE
What does the name Moses mean? Read Exodus 2:10.
PRAYER
Dear God,
You can do the impossible! You parted the sea and saved the Israelites! Help me to call on You when I am in trouble. You can do the impossible for me too. You sent Your son, Jesus, to save me from sin. Thank You! I love You, God.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
SERIOUS RESPECT Leviticus 10:1–7
Hi, I'm Aaron.
I have a sad story to tell you about my sons, Nadab and Abihu.
After God had given Moses the Ten Commandments, He made my family priests to help the people honor God properly. God gave all the priests rules about how he wanted things done.
My sons, to my horror, thought that because they were priests they didn't need to follow God's rules. They were wrong. God punished them severely for not following the rules.
Looking back, two things are very clear: First, God is HOLY. That's something to think seriously about. Second, God knows our hearts.
When both of my sons ignored God's instructions, they showed that they had little respect for God. Think about it. Our actions and our attitudes show what we feel in our hearts.
WHO? ME?
what do your actions reveal about your heart? Do your words sound harsh or grumbly? Do you make ugly faces when you are given a task to complete? or do you talk softly and smile when you are given a task to complete?
BIBLE VERSE
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. —Luke 6:45
Designer clothes
The priests' garments were designed by God himself and specially made by skilled men whom God had uniquely gifted for that purpose.
Read Exodus 28.
DID YOU KNOW?
Aaron was a good speaker. He did most of the speaking for Moses. Read Exodus 4:14–16, 28–30.
CHALLENGE
was Aaron Moses' cousin, brother, or uncle? Read Exodus 4:14.
PRAYER
Dear God,
You are HOLY! Thank You for knowing my heart. I want everything I do to show that I love You and others. I want to obey Your commands. Help me to listen to Your word and to love You with all my heart. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
CHALLENGE
was Aaron Moses' cousin, brother, or uncle? Read Exodus 4:14.
PRAYER
Dear God,
You are HOLY! Thank You for knowing my heart. I want everything I do to show that I love You and others. I want to obey Your commands. Help me to listen to Your word and to love You with all my heart. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
BRAVE HEART Numbers 13:1–14:10
Hi, I'm Caleb.
I'm here to remind you to stand up for what you believe. In fact, you're going to have to if you want to follow God with all your heart.
here's my story: Moses had led us out of slavery in Egypt, across the Red Sea (that was something to behold!), through the desert, right up to the land God had promised us. I was one of the twelve Moses told to explore the area.
It was everything I'd imagined it to be. "God has given us this land," Joshua and I told the Israelites. "Let's go in." But the other ten spies were full of fear. "The people there will crush us," they said. They were so afraid, they'd rather be slaves in Egypt than believe God's promise and move forward.
WHO? ME? Being a light for god means standing up for the right thing—even if you're the only one who will. Who knows, your fire might be just the spark someone else needs to stand up too.
BIBLE VERSE
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. —Hebrews 10:23
It's all in the name
Caleb's name means "bold," "all heart." And he was.
DID YOU KNOW?
Caleb risked personal harm by coming to the aid of Moses and Aaron. Why were the people in the congregation about to stone them?
Read Numbers 14:1–10.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from MY FIRST DEVOTIONAL by Andy Holmes Copyright © 2012 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
A Note from the Author....................9Who's Really in Charge here?....................10
Sink or Swim....................13
All or Nothing....................16
Hang in There....................19
Am I my Brother's Keeper?....................22
Plagued with Regret....................25
Do You "Sea" what I See?....................28
Serious Respect....................31
Brave heart....................34
So Long, Well Done....................40
Hide and Sneak....................43
Tall Walls Fall....................46
Go! Go! Gideon!....................49
A Hairy Situation....................52
First-Class Service....................55
Praying for a Baby....................58
Hello? God?....................61
Inside / Outside....................64
Giant Courage....................67
A Praise Parade....................70
A Wise Request....................73
Double Trouble....................76
Raven Cravings....................79
God vs Fake Gods....................82
Chariot of Fire....................85
Little Is Much....................88
The Boy who Became King....................91
God Denies David's Request....................94
A House for God....................97
A New Temple....................100
Rebuilding my Hometown....................103
Hooray for the Queen!....................106
Never Give Up....................109
A Truth-Sayer....................112
The Living Bones....................115
Can You Stand the Heat?....................118
The Lions Sleep Tonight....................121
Splish, Splash!....................124
Jesus Is Born!....................127
Who's Coming to Dinner?....................130
How to Feed 5,000 People....................133
Wave Walking....................136
Liar, Liar....................139
Walking Tall....................142
Storm Stopper....................145
A Jesus Parade!....................148
Searching for Jesus....................151
A Dove from Heaven....................154
Tempted in the Desert....................157
A Thankless Job....................160
Jesus and Kids....................163
Little Man, Big Change....................166
Jesus Cleans House....................169
Dead Man Walking....................172
The King of Kings on a Cross....................175
Jesus Is Alive Again!....................178
A Fishing Story....................181
Come Back Soon, Jesus....................184
Something's Up in the Upper Room....................187
Jumping for Jesus....................190
Paul Sees the Light....................193
Jailbreak....................196
A Tough Trip....................199
Paul's Murder Prevented....................202