In the Fiddle Is a Song by Durga Bernhard

This has rocketed to the front of my top favorites list for ANY age!!!! (even though it is a lift the flap board book)  Intriguing that such a trite thing has as much POTENTIAL as this little gem!

The art is beautiful and the message is amazing truth that easily reminds me of so many of God's Truth. All of the things in the book have amazing potential and there were plans for them that involved much change and transformations.  This book is a narrative of so many things that happen in nature and some of what is crafted by workmen's hands which both reflect the creativity of the Creator.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

"For we are God' workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

"'For I know the plans I have for  you,' declares the LORD. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

"And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." - Ephesians 2:22

wish, change, friend by Ian Whybrow

Precious book about change in life and meeting new friends!

Change in life is challenging and often hard to say:) The pig in this story learns how wish and experiencing change can hold limitless relational wonders!

Another book, The Bible, holds God's wishes for us, will guide us through much change as He changes us, and will guide us to fellowship with other friends but most importantly the Ultimate Friend in Christ.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." -Hebrews 4:12-13

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:14-17

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

If you've never spent much time with a toddler, this book may be just another beautifully illustrated adorable text. It is tempting to question why the bunny is so pressed to get away.  However, after a minute or so with an 18 month old darting the opposite direction of their caretaker's approach the words leap from the page and push the corners of your mouth into a knowing smile from deep within.  That toddler is wrapped up in the human condition and is wanting to determine the direction of their lives much like this bunny.

Spiritually this has happened often to me.  Before I even realize what I am doing, that independence sneaks in and I am hightailing it away from God's plan for my life.  I have caught the current of a new dream and am sailing away on my imaginations.  Unfortunately He has had to pursue me more times than I would like to admit, as this mother rabbit does.  He has always been faithful to love me when I return from having left Him in the dust.  The only glaring difference between this book and my experience with my Heavenly Father is the last line.  When the bunny concedes, "Shucks! I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny."  God's plan for my life has consistently come out far from a "Shucks!" It has repeatedly been very different from my "dirt for brains" dreams but has been more than I could have asked or imagined. "To be" His is so much more than anything else!

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
This verse is one of my favorites.  It first sparkled before my immature college age eyes as a promise that he was going to give me what I wanted as long as I delighted in Him.  As I look back with more wrinkled eyes from all the joy He has brought from a life somewhat far from what I thought it would be, I realize not only did he fulfill the desires, He actually planted certain desires in my heart of which I had never dreamed.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11