One of my heroes is a woman named Perpetua. She was a noblewoman born in A. D. 180 in the city of Carthage in the Roman Empire. She was a woman who loved the Lord Jesus more than life. Perpetua loved her family—her father, her mother, her younger brother, and her baby son—but she loved Jesus more and paid the ultimate price for it.
I was so excited to find this lovely book on this hero of the faith. Combine a well-told, accurate story, with beautiful, colorful illustrations, and stunning interior and cover design in a sturdy hardcover book with thick pages, and you have a real treasure. There’s a real lack of quality children’s books today, but this one is definitely very high quality. And it’s not just for children. While a good book to read aloud to young children, it’s also great for the whole family. I, as a 20-year-old, loved it! I keep picking up this book and poring over the amazing illustrations. I also love that words from Perpetua’s own diary are included in the story. The glossary and notes to the reader are a helpful addition, too. Thank you Hannah and Naomi and the Carrington family for producing such an excellent book!
0 Comments
Germany, 1517 A.D.
Unbiblical practices had corrupted the church. Indulgences were offered as a way to buy God’s forgiveness. Many church leaders lived ungodly lives. And many people were deceived into believing they could buy their way into Heaven, could earn God’s forgiveness. But one young monk named Martin Luther, as he studied the Bible, began to realize that salvation is a free gift of God, given by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9). On October 31, 1517, he took ninety-five theses he had written, explaining why indulgences were not biblical, and nailed it to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. That marked the beginning of a Reformation, a beginning of the church going to the Word of God, realizing that salvation is a free gift, the common people reading the Bible in their own language… It was a Reformation that affected the whole world. Today, October 31, 2017, marks five hundred years since Martin Luther nailed up his ninety-five theses. Five hundred years ago today, the Reformation began. That’s something worth celebrating. Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Th. 5:24). All for Him, Savannah Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone! Today, I’d like to share with you the true story of how this holiday got started. Hint: It’s about a man who became known as Saint Patrick. And, even though there are legends and myths surrounding this holiday, the true story is about a man who followed Jesus Christ.
Britain, 389 A.D. Patrick was born in Britain to loving parents, both who became Christians due to the influence of Roman Christians who had come to the island. Britain was under Roman control at this time. In fact, the Romans controlled much of Europe. However, they could not conquer Ireland. Fierce warriors known as Celts were in control of Ireland and not even the powerful Roman army was a match for these fighters. Often, these Celts would make raids on Britain, taking booty and captives. When Patrick was about fifteen, they made a raid on his home village and took captives, including Patrick. Patrick was taken to Ireland and sold as a slave. He endured the hard life of a slave for six years. But God took what was meant for evil and used it for good. It was during those years of slavery that Patrick became a Christian. Even though his parents had taught him about God and prayed for him, he had never truly come to know Christ himself until now. Patrick began to pray, sometimes as many as one hundred times a day. One day, he believed God told him it was time to go back to Britain and a ship was waiting for him. So Patrick made his escape, travelling one hundred miles to the coast where he found a ship and was able to gain passage in exchange for caring for the wolfhounds on the ship. However, the ship was not headed for Britain, but Gaul, which is modern day France. After spending two years at a monastery in France, Patrick finally made it back to Britain and was reunited with his parents. He hadn’t been there long, though, when he had a dream. In his dream, the people of Ireland were asking him to come back and teach them about his God. As time passed, Patrick became more and more certain that God was calling him to go back to Ireland as a missionary. He spent several years training and preparing for missionary work and waiting for God’s timing to return. At last, he was on a ship headed for Ireland again. But this time he was going, not as a slave, but as a missionary, bringing the message of Jesus Christ to the people of Ireland. Many of the Druids (the superstitious pagans of Ireland) did not like him coming. But Patrick pressed on, enduring many difficulties, yet always preaching the gospel, speaking out against the evils of slavery, and the Druid practice of child sacrifice. God used him mightily to impact many people for the kingdom of God. He never left his beloved Ireland, finally dying there on March 17, 461, which is why we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17. His life is an example to all of us of following Jesus Christ, no matter the cost. |
Hi! I'm Savannah Jane...I'm the author of several books for children and young adults with a passion to encourage young people to live for Jesus. The third born in an amazing family of seven children, I was homeschooled all the way through. This is where I share encouragement for Christian girls, updates about my books, writing tips, book and movie reviews, and assorted other tidbits. Archives
April 2020
Categories
All
Quote"When I try, I fail. When I trust, He succeeds."
-Corrie ten Boom I'm on GoodReadsFollow my family's writing, illustrating, and publishing business/ministry.Follow my blog on Bloglovin' |