JOURNEYS WITH AN ELDER BROTHER: CHILDHOOD STORIES THAT BUILD ON JESUS AND HIS GRACE

By ELENA COSTEA

Readers of all ages will enjoy these illustrated children's stories filled with life lessons and Christian values. Parents will find inspiration for discipling their children and teaching biblical truths. A wonderful resource for family worship or children's devotions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781794775770

Book preview

JOURNEYS

WITH AN ELDER BROTHER

Childhood Stories

Which Build on

Jesus and His Grace

ELENA COSTEA

PORTLAND, OREGON

2021

Copyright © 2021 – Elena Costea

United States Copyright registration number:

1-10928789832

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Original Romanian paperback edition printed in 2004 under the title:

CĂLĂTORIE CU FRATELE MAI MARE.

2004 Interior designs by: Dragos Drumas

This book is a work of creative non-fiction.  Although names and characters have been renamed, the places, events, and incidents are actual.

Edited by: Laura Davis, Portland, Oregon

Translated by: Ana Ionesi, Portland, Oregon

Published by:

Romania Youth Ministries

2870 NE Hogan, Suite E436

Gresham, OR 97030

[e-mail]

www.romania-youth-ministries.net

ISBN (eBOOK):

CONTENTS

Dedication

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Dedication

Real events inspire everything I write.

I thank my husband especially for his exhortations, and my children, for their understanding. Thanks also to my family and friends for their prayers that everything would go well. My translator Ana Ionesi and editor Laura Davis provided exceptional support in the publication of this book.

My wish for you, dear readers, is that you will always have the Elder Brother, the Lord Jesus, by your side on your life journey.

This book is dedicated to the loving memory of my father. His love for Jesus and his faithful prayers throughout his long life were used of God to call all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to life in Jesus Christ.

Preface

My father helped me understand complex theological concepts in ways that help children better comprehend events and activities in life. In reading the Bible with my father, my desire grew to write and share these true stories, providing deep theological truths in a form that is easily understood by young minds.

As a parent, you may be wondering if your children are too young for these stories. Whether you realize it or not, children learn about God every day. We teach them about God’s power and beauty when we marvel at nature. Children learn more about God when they see people doing good deeds. Children grow in faith when we, as parents, help them understand right from wrong. These stories are full of examples of God’s mercy, grace and power.

CHAPTER 1

The Path with Fir Trees

Starting at the foot of the hill, it wound among the rocks that appeared here and there. The narrow path was guarded on both sides by fir trees, which—strangely—seemed to have been placed there by man's hand. The trail was the shortest way to the hamlet at the top of the mountain—a few houses with no fences between them, a few animal shelters, and haystacks here and there. People did not dare to leave this hamlet, for at the top of the mountain the winters were much harder than at the foot of it, and people were afraid of the wild animals. The few children who lived in this hamlet studied at a school in another town at the foot of the mountain, and they only returned home on the weekends.

It was a hard winter. In the villages at the foot of the mountain there was a rumor about a pack of wolves in a ravine in the forest. The pack was headed by a large black wolf. The black wolf was there, at Peter's sheepfold! or, The black wolf and his pack approached the village! were common rumors that stirred fear among the villagers. People would walk to and from the city in larger groups on the path between large fir trees. Although the trip was longer on the fir covered path, people felt safer there. No one dared to walk the Forest Road in winter.

One morning when Mike was in the schoolyard, he saw a few people from his village entering the gate. It was common for the parents of students to sometimes come to the school. But these people did not have good news for Mike. His father had been suffering from a cold, and it was now believed to be a case of pneumonia. No doctor had come to see him, because a blizzard had been forecast. There was no hope of him being treated by any doctor. Yet if a doctor couldn't get to the hamlet, a larger problem could develop. People knew that one case of pneumonia could be trouble for the whole community.

Mike had never thought much of his family members. He preferred to stay in the city, where there were enough children at the boarding school to play soccer or other games. He assumed that his father or mother would somehow take care of