All Creatures Great & Small: The Beatitudes of Creator’S Son, Jesus

By Linda Read and Rebecca Harrison

All Creatures Great and Small is a collection of nine charming allegories set within the Creators forest. As each story unfolds, the happenings and mishaps of its furry and feathered characters illustrate each of the nine beatitudes of Jesus. All Creatures Great and Small seeks to paint a beautiful picture of all that believers might hope to be through following the teachings of Christ.

Linda Read has a precious heart after the Lord. Her book on the beatitudes illustrates Jesuss core sermon with lovable characters in a way that children will understand. I pray that many parents will read this to their little ones and teach their children about Gods heart and His Kingdom from a very young age. In Mozambique, we have discipleship with the children each week and read stories about Gods love, power, and glory. Our children will be the world changers, walking in the legacy we pour into them and in even greater things than we have seen. We look forward to reading this story with our treasures and we hope that you will enjoy it as well.

Heidi G. Baker, PhD

Co-Founder and Director of Iris Global

What an honor and joy it has been to read Lindas first childrens book! In the stories I could see the heart of God portrayed so beautifully through the lives of the animals. My prayer is that all the children, teens and adults who read Lindas book will have their eyes opened to the loving God who desires to have a relationship with us, just as He did with the animals in the stories.

So, grab a tall glass of iced tea and enjoy a new perspective on the beatitudes.

Carol Boening - Life-long friend and Director of AWANA,

First Baptist Church, Yoakum, Texas

As these animals live daily life in the forest, they teach lessons that both children and adults often face. These delightfully quirky animals handle many different scenarios in a Biblical and valuable way.

This book is written in such a way that it will appeal to both children and adults. As Leah the eagle finds love, and Benjamin Beaver discovers the value of his spiritual presence in others lives, children learn how to handle difficult emotions, and discover their Christ-centered identity, and adults are reminded where true identity comes from. In reading this book to their children, parents will open up a world of possibility and discovery. It will also allow room for conversation and growth of relationship.

Randy Turner - South Campus Pastor,

Beltway Park Church, Abilene, Texas

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512714302

Linda Read

Linda Read has known the Lord since she was five years old and has been ministering to youth for most of her life. Several years of working as one of the children’s pastors at First Assembly Church in Yoakum, Texas were followed by five wonderful years as a youth pastor with her husband, Jimmy, at New Life Fellowship Church in Seguin, Texas. Aside from youth ministry, Linda also has a deep passion for ministering to the Lord through song and has served as a praise and worship leader in churches and conferences throughout the world. For the past ten years, she and her husband have served in Mozambique, Africa as missionaries with Iris Minstries. There, they loved and ministered to orphaned, abused, and abandoned children. They have six Mozambican sons and continue to minister and write full-time.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 Linda Read.

Illustrated by: Rebecca Harrison

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1431-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1430-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015915960

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/23/2015

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Contents

Thank You

Introduction

Prologue

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Epilogue

About The Author

THANK YOU

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for four very special women who have had profound impact in my life:

1) I am so thankful that I was born the granddaughter of Rose Nollkamper. Even though Grandma died when I was just 10 years old, her storytelling inspired and fueled my imagination from a very early age. I can still remember adventures of Pedro with his large sombrero and little Chihuahua who found themselves in all sorts of predicaments! And Teeny Hausenphepher (Grandma’s nickname for me), a young German girl who was mischievous and very funny. Someday I will put her stories into printed form so that other children will enjoy them as much as I have.

2) My mother, VernNelle Nollkamper Gould, always believed in me, always encouraged me, and always inspired me to be the BEST me! I love you, Mama, and miss you every day of my life!

3) My mother-in-law, Barbara Gould who upon hearing how this book had been a project in the works for almost 20 years encouraged, pushed and helped to get the book into printed form. Thank you so much Barbara! You get the first printed copy! And thank you from the bottom of my heart for raising the man of my dreams!

4) My lifelong friend, Carol Armstrong Boening. Carol, I appreciate your friendship more than I can say. You have loved and encouraged and supported our ministry in Africa, even visiting and painting an orange kitchen! Thank you for your editing advice, your notes were invaluable. I love the fact that we are still such wonderful friends after 50 years! Here’s to the next half century!

Thank you to the man who still makes my heartbeat quicken and in whose arms I feel completely at peace! Babe, you’re my Life Partner and I thank God everyday that He has allowed me to share my life with such an incredible man! Even after 20 years of marriage, it feels like we’re newlyweds. I love you, Jimmy Darrell Read, and look forward to writing that book on marriage with you!

And finally to my Lord and God, the Creator who spoke the universe into being…and who knows my name. I love you, Lord and give all glory and honor to You for anything good that comes from me.

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Creator’s forest. I hope you’re ready for an amazing adventure!

We’d like to introduce you to a kind-hearted deer named Deidre, and a selfless beaver known as Benjamin. And if you listen carefully, you’ll hear the rumbling laughter of Caleb the elephant but also the sad cries of Boaz the bear cub. Now look up to the sky and watch Leah the majestic eagle soar overhead. Take time to know Owen the wise owl, and Nightsun the young wolf. Follow Penelope the trusting possum to the edge of the pond and Savannah, the curious cat as she gets lost!

Get ready to see Jesus’ beatitudes come to life in the haps and mishaps of these endearing forest animals. Every one of them has a story to tell, and by the end of each chapter, every one of them will look you in the eye and proclaim how great and kind, faithful and true our God is.

Whether you are the little one being read to, or the one doing the reading, don’t be surprised to find yourself laughing out loud, … or holding your breath! … or even crying at times. As I read through my wife’s stories one by one, I certainly did. Sometimes I cried for joy because I remembered how God wants us to love, and just how beautiful that looks. Other times I cried in sadness at how badly we all treat each other, and found myself repentant and renewed. But one thing’s for sure, as you read these following stories you will find hope. Hope in the Creator’s unwavering faithfulness, and hope in His wonder-filled plans and purposes for us all. I believe that was Jesus’ intention in the beatitudes – to stir us toward Kingdom holiness and greatness. And that is Linda’s intention as well, that we as parents might inspire our children to desire and seek out the character of Christ, and that at the end of the day, we might all reflect a little more brightly His exquisite and irresistible love to our own corner of the forest.

Jimmy Read

PROLOGUE

Suppertime! Hey, you three, come and get it! Leah laughed softly as the three baby eaglets came scurrying toward her from different directions. This was the first year that she had laid more than one egg. Taking care of three little ones was much more work than just one, but as always, Ethan helped so much to protect and provide for their family. Leah’s heart was always so full of joy and happiness at this incredible life she had been given! She sang softly as she fed and groomed the babies. They were all growing up so quickly!

"Mama, how come you’re always