1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 2: This is Donna Jones and you are listening to That's 3 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 2: just what I needed. 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: Hey friend, If you've ever been in a. 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 2: Conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, that was just 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 2: what I needed, you know how life giving that can be, Well, 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 2: that's what this podcast is all about. We're women who 8 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: want to know, love, and follow God in our real lives, 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: but sometimes wonder just how to do it. So each 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 2: week we'll talk about what following God looks like in 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: the midst of daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: this isn't just what we need, it's actually exactly what 13 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: we need. Hey friend, welcome to the podcast. I am 14 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: so glad you're here. If you are a parent, a grandparent, 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: an aunt, uncle, anybody who loves kids, you're going to 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: enjoy today's episode. Before I introduce my guest to you, 17 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: I wanted to remind you that I would love to 18 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 2: connect with you on social media. If you don't already 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 2: follow me, go over to Donna A. Jones on Instagram 20 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: or Donna Jones Speaker an author on Facebook and we 21 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: can connect there. I try to post encouraging, uplifting things 22 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 2: that will be good for your soul. 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: So, Donna A. 24 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: Jones on Instagram, I would love to connect with you there. Well, 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: let me tell you a little bit about today's guest. 26 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: Her name is Amanda ca je Ass and if you 27 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 2: are interested in faith filled content that kids love and 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: that parents trust, then you're gonna love Amanda. Sometimes it's 29 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: just hard to know where to start when it comes 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: to teaching our kids about God, or sometimes we try 31 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,119 Speaker 2: out faith based books and their books are kids you're 32 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: just not interested in. Amanda is so great at marrying 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: both what kids are interested in with biblical truths that 34 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,559 Speaker 2: will help our children learn about God. Amanda is an author, 35 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: a best selling author by the way, an illustrator, and 36 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: she was the general editor of The Kids Go Bible. 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: Amanda is married, she has three daughters of her own, 38 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: and Amanda is genuinely a wonderful, delightful person. You're gonna 39 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: love my interview with my friend Amanda kjas Well, Amanda, 40 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: welcome to the podcast. 41 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 3: Hi, Donna, thank you so much for having me. It's 42 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: great to be here again. 43 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: Yes, this is round two for you, right, yeah, yes, yes, 44 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: I mean I knew i'd interviewed you once, but I 45 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,799 Speaker 2: was like, I don't think it's been twice, so this 46 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 2: is number two. And for my listening friends, I just 47 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: love Amanda and you're gonna love her too, which is 48 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 2: why I'm having her on a second time. 49 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: Well, I love you too. I love your heart, Amanda. 50 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: You have a heart for children and just they're helping 51 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: parents and grandparents cultivate the faith of kids. So tell 52 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 2: us a little bit about like how you even developed 53 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: that and kind of got into that ministry space in 54 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: the first place. 55 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, so this wasn't a world the children's ministry. Writing 56 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 4: Christian publishing was not something I set out or even 57 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 4: really like thought to do as an option. I mean, 58 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 4: as a kid, I really enjoyed writing, love drawing those 59 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 4: kinds of things, but just didn't think of it as 60 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 4: a career path really for me at least, you know, 61 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 4: as more the like, okay, let's it just whether I 62 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 4: heard it directly or indirectly throughout, it was just something like, okay, 63 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 4: well you should choose a career path where yes, obviously 64 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 4: there are authors out there people that do this, but 65 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 4: maybe I had family in the medical fields, was something 66 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 4: more that related to that or I always did love 67 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 4: kids though, and child development, so teaching and When I 68 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: got to college, I was one of those students who 69 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 4: changed my major about every other day and just couldn't 70 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 4: decide what I wanted to do. I was like, this 71 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 4: sounds fun and this sounds interesting, but I don't know 72 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 4: about this, and so ended up graduating with a double 73 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 4: major psychology and communication studies, so two of the broadest 74 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 4: majors you can have, basically, but thinking, yeah, still not 75 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 4: sure what I wanted to do. Knew I probably wanted 76 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 4: to go to more school, maybe for school counseling and 77 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 4: occupational therapy anything like that. But then because I didn't know, 78 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 4: I got a job working in higher education at a 79 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 4: college just down the road from the college I went to, 80 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 4: and realized I loved college students. So I got my 81 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 4: master's in higher education, and but within that I did 82 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 4: a lot of curriculum writing, and then I started to 83 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 4: incorporate some of that into the work I was doing 84 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 4: in higher ed as well, and realized I really enjoyed writing, 85 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 4: curriculum and creating. And I was doing this obviously at 86 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 4: the college level, but had in all the way, like well, essentially. 87 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 3: Since I was a kid. 88 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 4: Back when I was a kid, I had loved volunteering 89 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 4: in kids ministry because I love love kids, just teaching 90 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 4: them about Jesus all that. So I had been volunteering 91 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 4: in kids ministry kind of all the way off and 92 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 4: on throughout, and was doing that when I was working 93 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 4: in higher education and was working at a big or 94 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 4: volunteering at a big multi site church here in the Midwest. 95 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 4: So they do all of their own write all their 96 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 4: own children's ministry curriculum, write their screenplays for the media 97 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 4: that they do, and a job open up for that 98 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 4: role to create the curriculum as a content developer for 99 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 4: their kids ministry, and I just thought it sounded like 100 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 4: a really cool job, Like, wait, I get to write 101 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 4: curriculum much now I know that I do. I get 102 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 4: to do it for kids and bring in that love 103 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 4: for that child development, understanding all of that and kind 104 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 4: of where kids are at. And then to top it 105 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 4: all off, like the biggest thing, I get to be 106 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 4: writing and teaching them about Jesus. This is when when 107 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 4: when all across the board and I just love creating 108 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 4: resources that help kids and families and grandparents help them 109 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 4: grow in faith and connect with each other as they're 110 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 4: also connecting with their creator. 111 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: So I just think it's the most fun job. I 112 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 3: love it. I'm so grateful that I get to do 113 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 3: this work that. 114 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: Is so fun. 115 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: Okay, So a couple things as you were talking. Number One, 116 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: you were kind of giving your backstory about how all 117 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 2: of this came to be. Some of it was very 118 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: clear in terms of how you ended up. Some of 119 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: it was like kind of all over the board. I'm 120 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: laughing because that's all of us, right, and all of 121 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: us as we're trying to figure out, Okay, what's my purpose? 122 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: What do I do with my life? There's some things 123 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: that just seem clear and some are like, wait, I 124 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: don't know what I'm even doing. I'm bringing this up, Amanda, 125 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: because about three weeks ago, I spoke to some high 126 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: school students. It was a philanthropic organization that they brought 127 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: me in to speak to these high school students, and 128 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: they asked me for my bio, and I totally sent 129 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: them a different bio than I would normally send. And 130 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 2: what I said in my bio was the first time 131 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: I ever knew I liked writing was when I was 132 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: in the second grade and I want a poetry contest, 133 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: And the first time I knew I loved speaking. Was 134 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: when I was in eighth grade and I was required. 135 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: To take a speech and I'm a class on how 136 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: to give a speech. 137 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 2: And my bio I said, if you look at your 138 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 2: own life, like right now, even as a high school student, 139 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 2: you will see elements of what God created you to be. 140 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: And I'm saying that, like, nobody is in high school 141 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 2: probably listening to this podcast, but everybody in this listening 142 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: right now. 143 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: If you're trying to figure out. 144 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: What's my purpose, go back and look at, like, what 145 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 2: was it when I was a kid that really gave 146 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 2: me a spark? And if you're trying to help your 147 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 2: kids or your grandkids figure out why God created them, 148 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: be really attentive to those things where there is a 149 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: spark because and I'm bringing this up, Amanda, because with 150 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: one of my children in particular, I realized I did 151 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: not do that. 152 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: Now she's phenomenal. 153 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 2: And figured it out on her own, but I'm looking back, 154 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: and it's honestly one of my regrets as a parent 155 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,239 Speaker 2: is that I didn't pay more attention and really help 156 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: her cultivate that. So I don't know that just came 157 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: to me as you were talking. But the second thing 158 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 2: is you said something at the very end there that 159 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: I loved. You said, I wrote this devotional to help 160 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: kids connect with their creator and families connect with each other. 161 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: And I love that because a lot of times what 162 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: we as parents our grandparents do is we relegate the 163 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 2: teaching of our kids' spiritual lives to the church, like 164 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 2: I'll take you to church, or I'll take you to 165 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 2: BBS and they'll teach you all about Jesus, because I 166 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: don't really know how to teach you about Jesus. 167 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: But what you're saying is. 168 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: This book helps parents and grandparents teach their kids about 169 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 2: Jesus but also connects them with each other. 170 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: So that motivates me. I love that. Okay, so that 171 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: was a long aside. 172 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 4: No, I love it all so much well, and it's 173 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 4: so fun, Like I love how you pulled out the 174 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 4: yes how and you speaking to high school students about 175 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 4: how are created to be and even for them to 176 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 4: go back thinking about like what did you love when 177 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 4: you are seven, eight, nine years old? And that's something 178 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 4: that I've had to do as I've gotten older, or 179 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 4: like I said, even in college when I couldn't figure 180 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 4: out and after what I wanted to do and. 181 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 3: Still sometimes have those moments. 182 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 4: But because I think part of that so when I 183 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 4: was working in higher education, I didn't mention one of 184 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 4: the roles that I worked in I was a career 185 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 4: counselor so help and doing career exploration and helping, I 186 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 4: think because at that point even I was still like, 187 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 4: is this what I want to do? I don't know, 188 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 4: but like, I want to help other people figure out 189 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 4: how they're created. And now, yes, well I'm not doing 190 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 4: that with college students. In the work that I do 191 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 4: for kids, that's one of the key things and even 192 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 4: something I often say so I let my pull out 193 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 4: is I create resources to help kids grow in faith, right, 194 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 4: to grown character and to discover help discover who God 195 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 4: created them to be, both in the ways that that 196 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 4: we reflect God. Right, So we have all of those 197 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 4: kinds of things in common. The character God create us 198 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 4: to have be kind, gentle, faithful, like the fruit of 199 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 4: the spirit. We think of that, but then also uniquely, 200 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 4: how did God uniquely why you too? Because we all 201 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 4: are the same, but we're all so different. So anyway, 202 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 4: I love how you pulled that out, And yes, because 203 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 4: that's a huge passion of mine, is helping other people 204 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 4: figure out how God created them and now specifically helping 205 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 4: kids to start see that so that they can. 206 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 3: Yes, will they go on detours? Yes, almost for sure. 207 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 4: But like where are whether it's like you think of 208 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 4: it as following the breadcrumbs, right, like see this the thread? 209 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 4: Like what is the thread that we come and thread 210 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 4: we see throughout our stories? And because God has a 211 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 4: story for each one of us, we all have our 212 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 4: story that matters. 213 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 3: That's important, as do our kids. 214 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: So good. Okay. 215 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: So this book is called Adventures in the Friendly Forest 216 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 2: and it is a thirty day storybook devotional for kids. 217 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 2: And I have my copy and I was looking through 218 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: it and I love the little stories, the topics that 219 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: you have chosen to write on, like one of them 220 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: is left out or invited, and you talk about being 221 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 2: rejected or how to be a kid who includes other people, 222 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 2: And you did one unworry and I'm trying to find 223 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 2: it here. 224 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 1: Do you remember the title of that. 225 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 3: Amanda Hensley turns worries to prayers. 226 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: Yes, Henley turns worries into prayers. 227 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: So you use these friendly Forest characters to tell this story. 228 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: But what struck me was how so often as we 229 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: are reading stories, Bible stories to our kids or something 230 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 2: like this, so like little devotional that it teaches our 231 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: children something about turning our worries into prayers. But then 232 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 2: as we're reading it to our kids or our grandkids, 233 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 2: were like. 234 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: Hello, that was for me. 235 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, I need this reminder too, maybe. 236 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: More, maybe more, definitely more. 237 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 2: So we're going to take a quick break and when 238 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: we come back, I want you to walk us through 239 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 2: a couple of these things and why you wrote them 240 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 2: and how we can help our kids turn to Jesus 241 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: and also ourselves turned to Jesus as well. Okay, so Amanda, 242 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: let's talk about some of the things that are actually 243 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 2: in this devotional. What were some of your favorite chapters 244 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 2: and how did you as you were writing them? Did 245 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 2: you resonate with them? Did your children resonate with them? 246 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: Yeah? 247 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 4: I mean yes's hard to pick favorites, but yes, definitely 248 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 4: there's some that resonate more with me than others, for sure, 249 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 4: Because of course, as we're writing, we're writing from our 250 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 4: own experiences, right, So some of it's thinking back to 251 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 4: my childhood or now having kids seen things that. 252 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: They're struggling with or working on. 253 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 4: So bringing that but again, even with that, it's like, 254 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 4: oh wait, as I'm writing, I'm still working on this too. 255 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 3: I need some I haven't figured. 256 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 4: This area totally out, like practicing patients and things like that, 257 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 4: Like oh yeah, I could work on patients too. Still 258 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 4: like yes, I've come a long way, but still haven't 259 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 4: quite a ride. And that's just it, right, We're all 260 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 4: work in progress this side of Heaven, all work in progress, 261 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 4: and that is nothing we need to feel shame about. 262 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 4: It's just it's a beautiful opportunity to remind us that 263 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 4: we need Jesus and God and we can rely on 264 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 4: him because his power is made perfect in our weakness. 265 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 4: This is thirty day storybook devotional, and there's this overarching 266 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 4: theme of kind of handling change well and handling change 267 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 4: God's way with what's happening externally. So the start of 268 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 4: the story is more the external change. So the start 269 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 4: of the story because even though it's thirty individual chapters 270 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 4: or stories, they all fit together in this big story 271 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 4: about there's this big storm that blew through the friendly forest, 272 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 4: knocking down trees like all this, and then knocking down houses. 273 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 4: So like one character has to move and things like that. 274 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 4: But the forest friends, they have to come together to 275 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 4: try to save the forest, to save their home before 276 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 4: winter comes, otherwise they have to leave their home. So 277 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 4: that's kind of the overall premise of the story. And 278 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 4: then there's little stories throughout. But like I said, so 279 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 4: that beginning the first handful of stories, they still focus 280 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 4: on some of the internal change, but it's a lot 281 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 4: on that external like processing what's going on around me. 282 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 4: And the second similar to trading the worries for prayers, 283 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 4: it's the same character who struggles throughout the story with 284 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 4: fear with worry, but like day two is Hensley trades 285 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 4: fear for faith. So it's that character trading that fear 286 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 4: of like what's going on, what's happening around me, but 287 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 4: that internal change of like Okay, I feel this fear 288 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 4: inside me, how can I trade that and bring that 289 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 4: to God and turn that into faith? 290 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 3: And so then as. 291 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 4: They go throughout the story, so again it's all these 292 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 4: different essentially kind of character traits are ways that these characters, 293 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 4: these fictional characters, grow in faith. But because it's a 294 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 4: devotional it doesn't just have the fictional stories there. Each 295 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 4: day or chapter has scripture that the story is kind 296 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 4: of based off of that theme for the day. There's 297 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 4: a Bible verse and then there are questions and think 298 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 4: about it, it's like a truth statement. So those discussion 299 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 4: prompts to help kids connect the story to their real 300 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 4: life and to their relationship with God. And then there's 301 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 4: also a prayer in there, so they're really taking these 302 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 4: concepts and well, yes, just story in itself is so 303 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 4: so powerful, but because this is for younger kids, some 304 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 4: help to make that even feel more applicable and to 305 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 4: get them thinking. And then also for those families to 306 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 4: connect and have that discussion time and to learn together. 307 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 4: And all of the characters. Each character, there's five main characters. 308 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 4: They all have their own different, unique personality. They're unique quirks, 309 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 4: they're unique things. They struggle with their own strengths right, 310 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 4: just like us as people. And there are times where 311 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 4: I relate to all of them. But there are some 312 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 4: fun stories so that like I struggled throw off and 313 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 4: on my whole life with anxiety and fear, So this 314 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 4: Hensley the Hedgehog, who struggles with that, I definitely can 315 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 4: relate to her with that. Or then there's Flora the Fox. 316 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 4: I also really resonate with her a lot. There's a 317 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 4: story well to kind of what we've been talking about, 318 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 4: like what is my calling? What am I created to do? 319 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 4: The first story that features Flora is Flora finds confidence. 320 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 4: So she's looking around and seeing these things that all 321 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 4: of her friends are really good at. She's kind of 322 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 4: cheering them on, but also internally like, wow, I'll never 323 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 4: be as fast as Blaze the speedy bunny. I'll never be, 324 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 4: you know, like comparing herself and then feeling ends up 325 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 4: feeling really down about it, but her friends are like, hey, no, 326 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 4: you have your old strengths, which is awesome and like. 327 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 4: So the strength that's called out specifically is that she's 328 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 4: an encourager of others, so she gets a little metal. 329 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 4: It's as number one encourager from her friends. So that's 330 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 4: something because even though again I love what I'm doing, 331 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 4: what I get to do and being a mom and 332 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 4: wife and my work, there's still days where you just 333 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 4: feel kind of like, Okay, God, is this what you want? 334 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: Like? 335 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 3: Am I doing what you want? And it's easy to 336 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 3: look around at others and compare it. 337 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 4: So again, I've made a lot of progress since I 338 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: was a kid with some of that canteen and all 339 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 4: of that, but still can still get caught up in 340 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 4: that as adults. 341 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 3: That comparison, So that's. 342 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 4: One I mean talking about giving up Cobby the bear, 343 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 4: he struggles with perfectionism is one of the things which 344 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 4: I wrote late too, for sure. 345 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 3: But another thing he another day. 346 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 4: He gives up his it's called Kubby, gives up his 347 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 4: cozy comforts. So just that render, and I think that's 348 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 4: one that is great for kids because it's about like 349 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 4: sharing and sharing what we have. But for parents, we 350 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 4: just can all get caught up and wanting to do 351 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 4: what feels easy or comfortable. But sometimes God wants us 352 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 4: to get out of our comfort zones. With God's help, 353 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 4: we can go out into the world and show others 354 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 4: the same kind of love Jesus shows us. So I'm 355 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 4: for sure one who I love my cozy comforts, So 356 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 4: like that's one that relates to me. There's a couple again, 357 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 4: it's hard to just choose. There's a couple really fun, 358 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 4: silly ones. So Blaze the Bunny is kind of the 359 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 4: comic relief I say of the stories. 360 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 3: He's this speedy. 361 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 4: Little bunny and his speed sometimes causes him to make 362 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 4: funny mistakes and do silly things. And so there's a 363 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 4: story about him practicing patients. So they've planted these seeds 364 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 4: and they're waiting for them to grow, and he's trying 365 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 4: to get them to grow faster. So like, based on 366 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 4: like these different things, he remembers people saying he like 367 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 4: tries to do a speed dance to try to get 368 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 4: them to grow, and just stand on his head to 369 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 4: do something new. Like there's just funny things that he's 370 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 4: trying to do to get these things on. So my 371 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 4: girls especially, they love I think, all the characters, but 372 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 4: Blaize has maybe a special place in their heart just 373 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 4: because of his silliness and just some of the goofy 374 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 4: things that he does. 375 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 3: So those are few highlights. 376 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 2: Okay, as you were just talking about this, this is 377 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 2: the image that I have on my mind because when 378 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: my kids were growing up, we would read stories at bedtime. 379 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: And I'm sure a lot of our listeners read stories 380 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: to their kids or to their grandkids or whatever. I mean, 381 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 2: that's just so important to read to them. But this 382 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 2: is you know, you read the story. It's a sweet, 383 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 2: little engaging story with these fun characters. But you're also 384 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 2: talking about these character qualities like fear over faith or 385 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 2: learning confidence or patience. And then because there's questions at 386 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: the end, this isn't to me, it's not like parent 387 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 2: to child, okay, telling you you need to grow in 388 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 2: patience or be confident, where you're just kind of lecturing 389 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: your kids about developing some of the character qualities. To me, 390 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 2: this is an invitation where mom and child or grandmother 391 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 2: and grandchild. It's a way to talk about the deeper 392 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: things in a really sweet way. Where do you struggle 393 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 2: with patients? I do too, What do you think about that? 394 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: What are the way? 395 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 2: And then also I'm just thinking, in our fast paced culture, Amanda, 396 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 2: so many of us we really don't have the time 397 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 2: or even some of us don't even have the know 398 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: how how to move from surface conversation with our family 399 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 2: members to deep heart conversation. I would have to say 400 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 2: that I told you one of the things I did 401 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 2: that was wrong raising my kids. But one of the 402 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 2: things I think that my husband and I both did 403 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 2: that was right is that we always talked about deep 404 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: things with our kids and we shared our heart with 405 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: our kids. 406 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: I go, I'm struggling with that too. 407 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 2: This is what God's do teaching me or we would 408 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: ask our kids just more what's going on at school 409 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 2: and tell me about that, and let's talk about that, 410 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 2: let's process that. It was more than just don't forget 411 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,239 Speaker 2: soccer practice is today after school and all that kind 412 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 2: of stuff. So I just feel like a lot of 413 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 2: families in our busy world need a tool to help 414 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 2: them go to that deeper place where they connect with 415 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 2: their kids or their grandkids on this very real place 416 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 2: so they know what's going on in their kids' lives 417 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 2: and then they can also process these fruits of the 418 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 2: spirit and learning them together. So gosh, I can't recommend 419 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 2: us enough. So, as you were writing this and kind 420 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 2: of reading your kids these stories and discussing some of 421 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 2: these things, did you see that were you able to 422 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 2: go to maybe a deeper place with your own kids 423 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 2: as you talked about some of the questions that at 424 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 2: the end of the little devotions and tell us a 425 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 2: little bit about that. 426 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: Yeah? 427 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And yeah, I love what you're saying too about 428 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 4: we live in such a fat pace world and to 429 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 4: try to slow down enough just to remember to ask questions, 430 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 4: let alone think about take time to think about what 431 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 4: are some of those good questions you can ask where 432 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 4: do we even start here? And I say that as 433 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 4: somebody who again I love that child development and I 434 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 4: create kids ministry curriculum, and still I can get so 435 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 4: busy and like, if I'm not intentional, all of a sudden, 436 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: days or even weeks go bywards like have we sat 437 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 4: down and yeah, we've been talking, we've seen each other, 438 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 4: but have we had like a real conversation, and which 439 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 4: is so fun. By the way, being an mom of 440 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 4: elementary students, I just love, like, I mean, the little 441 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 4: little years are great, but they're very challenging. I feel 442 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,719 Speaker 4: like I'm much more wired to like getting into these 443 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 4: elementary years where they're asking questions and wanting to have 444 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 4: those more in depth discussions and to process through things. 445 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 4: And I know that just even continues more and more 446 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 4: hopefully as they get older. But yeah, I think it's 447 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 4: such a great time to be building that connection with 448 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 4: your kids as well in those elementary years because early on, 449 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 4: yes you are nurturing them and yes you're talking with them, 450 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 4: but it's just different, like developmentally, they're at a different place. 451 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 3: But once they hit that kind of like. 452 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 4: Five six seven mark, they get out of that more 453 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 4: like ego centric where that it's like all about me, 454 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 4: and they can start to think outside themselves, think about others, 455 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 4: and just process things differently. So I think, yeah, taking 456 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 4: that opportunity to and usually elementary kids like they still 457 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 4: want to like they think their parents are cool for 458 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 4: the most part, so right. 459 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, they want to spend time with mom and dad. Yeah. 460 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 4: Yes, So like starting to have those conversations and making 461 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 4: that a rhythm when they're wanting that, so that they're 462 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 4: used to that as the old er. Not that if 463 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 4: your kids are like middle school or high school and 464 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 4: you haven't started, it's not that all is lost by 465 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 4: any means. No, start where you are, Start where you're at, 466 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 4: and pray, you know, God will help you with that. 467 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 4: But I think for those who have elementary kids their grandkids, 468 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 4: it's just a great time. 469 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 3: To be doing that. 470 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 4: And yeah, I love the conversations that I have with 471 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 4: my girls, like me asking them questions, whether it's here 472 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 4: I called them with a storybook. They were like my 473 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 4: mini editors. So and then also the questions that kids ask. 474 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 4: So I think being a safe place and allowing kids 475 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 4: to ask their questions too well, so certainly asking them 476 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 4: questions to get that conversation going, but welcoming them to 477 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 4: bring their questions to the table and being okay to 478 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 4: knowing that you aren't going to have all the answers. 479 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 4: I don't have all the answers the questions my kids ask, 480 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 4: whether it's just like random questions or theological, like some 481 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,239 Speaker 4: of these deep theological questions where it's like, yeah, I 482 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 4: remember kind of thinking about that or wondering all that 483 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 4: maybe when I was your age, but haven't taken much 484 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,479 Speaker 4: time to process that. So there is some of that 485 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 4: where like you won't have all the answers, but say, hey, 486 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 4: I'm not sure about that, let's figure that out together, 487 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 4: let's research this together, or a lot of questions about 488 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 4: God and about faith, like we've had questions lately, a 489 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 4: lot of like how God has just always existed, right, 490 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 4: No one created God. He has always existed, But we're 491 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 4: created beings and that is how we think, and we're 492 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 4: time bound and he is not. And so all sorts 493 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 4: of questions about that where yes we can talk about 494 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 4: it and process it, we won't necessarily have like this 495 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 4: concrete answer that satisfies our human brains. But being able 496 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 4: to again just talk to kids out that encourage them 497 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 4: to talk to God about it too, like we've had 498 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 4: some other challenging questions and things like why does God 499 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 4: even allow sin? 500 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 3: And the bad things that happen? Why does God allowed 501 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 3: this and things. 502 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 4: Sorry, Yes, we can talk about it, process it and 503 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 4: share some answers or explanations, but knowing that one ultimately 504 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 4: encourage them to go to God too with their questions, 505 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 4: like yes, come to you, process with them, but also 506 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 4: that God can handle your questions too, and it's we 507 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 4: can talk to God about it together. You can talk 508 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 4: to God about your questions and then to also like 509 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 4: there are just some of those things. It's called faith 510 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 4: because it is it's faith. It's faith in the things 511 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 4: unseen and being okay to just have those conversations where 512 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 4: there isn't this pretty answer that's like tight and wrapped 513 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 4: up with the bow and like yep, here you go. 514 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 4: Sometimes we'll have that, but a lot of times we won't, 515 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 4: and that is okay. 516 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: And that is okay. I love that you have written this. 517 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 2: I love we were talking about before we hit record 518 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 2: that sometimes we as adults make things so complicated, and 519 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 2: I love that this devotional and just makes things so simple. 520 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 2: It's understandable for kids, it's understandable for parents, it's relatable, 521 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: it's scriptural, and really the great commission Jesus's final words 522 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 2: was like go and make disciples of all the nations. 523 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 2: It's simple because it's really just taking our faith and 524 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 2: passing it on to the next generations, whether it's our kids, 525 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: whether it's our grandkids. I mean, and when we do that, 526 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 2: we are following Jesus's instructions. And this book is just 527 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 2: such an easy way for parents and grandparents to do that, 528 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 2: to pass on the legacy of faith. And so I 529 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,880 Speaker 2: just love that you have written this with that heart 530 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 2: and mind. So, Amanda, tell us how we can get 531 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 2: a copy of your book and how we can connect 532 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 2: with you. 533 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: Yeah. 534 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 4: So it is available online at like pretty much all 535 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 4: the major retailers, Amazon, Martnes and Noble all that you 536 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 4: can also go directly to my website, Amanda k jos 537 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 4: So it's Amanda Kay just letter k jos jass dot 538 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 4: com and then I have a books page on there, 539 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 4: and then there's links to a lot of those retailers 540 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 4: that you can purchase from directly through my website. And 541 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 4: then also as far as like social media, and that 542 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 4: goes I am most active on Instagram and I'm there 543 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 4: just at Amanda k Jos as well. 544 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 1: Wonderful. We will put all of that information in the 545 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 1: show notes. 546 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 2: And Amana has lots of resources, so I recommend that 547 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:01,719 Speaker 2: you check out her website and see all of her 548 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 2: great books. 549 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: Thank you. 550 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 4: I've got some fun free resources for kids on there 551 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 4: to kids and families. 552 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you are a wealth of information and help. 553 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 2: So Amanda, thank you so much for being on the 554 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: show today. I have loved our conversation. 555 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me Donna, this has 556 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 3: been so much fun. 557 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 2: Well, I hope you enjoyed today's episode, And as a reminder, 558 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 2: let's connect on social media on Instagram that's Donna A. Jones, Facebook, 559 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 2: Donna Jones, Speaker and author, or go to my website 560 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,159 Speaker 2: Donna Jones dot org to sign up for. 561 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: My monthly newsletter. 562 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: And as always, my friend, I can't wait to see 563 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 2: you next time for that's just what I needed.