The Greatest of These is Love

By Joyce Pike

This book has many stories; many are fun or funny. The book is written so a child will understand. When I was a child, I wanted more than anything to have everyone in my life love me. This book is about love--how to love, when to love, and most importantly, who to love the most. God is our loving father. This book is teaching children to love everyone in the degree that they should be loved. We are taught by God to even love our enemies. In John 15-12, God said, "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you."

The book also covers me as an artist and the poems I have written. God bless you all who plan to read this book.

In God's precious love,

Joyce Pike

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662457968

Book preview

cover.jpg

The Greatest of These is Love

Joyce Pike

Copyright © 2022 Joyce Pike

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-5797-5 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-5796-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

The 23rd Psalm

One-Half—Teaching the Bible to Kids One-Half—About Me

To Mom and Dad

The Sparrow

God and Me

Life of Christ

The Birth of Jesus

Baptized

Jesus Forgives Sin

The Storm

The Sermon on the Mount

God's Beautiful Temple

Triumphal Entry

Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus's Burial

The Ascension

Twelve Parables

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Ten Maidens

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

The Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee

The Parable of the Rich Man and Abraham

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

The Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Poems

The Dunes in November

God's Warrior

About Life

Looking into the Eyes of Jesus

My Poems

Tomorrow

Our Christmas Eve Raccoon

The Unbroken Chain

The Unbroken Chain Continued

On the Wings of Angels

Time Is Only for a Little While

Stories

Another Story—Teaching Kids

Just Dogs

Another Story—Homestead

The Mirror

First Day of School

Summer Camp

Portrait Class

Portraiture

My Paintings

My Paintings

My Painting in Oil

Painting in Oil

Porcelain

My Porcelain

Joyce Pike Oil Painters of America (OPAM) Master

About the Author

To all my family and to my dear friend Anita Mckee, who did all my typing and much more

Apples and Roses

Preface

Why did I write this book? To show a child what is important in life through the Bible and to help them understand how God wants us to stay close to him even when we are young. The book is full of stories that are real and that were meant to entertain, even a child. The stories can be also enjoyed by all ages. The book is full of images of paintings all done by me. I have spent my long life as a professional artist. I invite you into my life through my paintings, poems, and stories. If you are still little, have Mom or Dad read to you. Someday, when they are old, you can read to them. This is called togetherness or just love.

Introduction

Children live in a different world until puberty and should never be deprived of their childhood. This book shows them how to enjoy fantasy and fun as well as a trip to the Holy Land as seen in the paintings. Each painting was painted from photos taken by one of the ministers of the Christian church in Grove Beach, California. When he took a tour to the Holy Land, there were many photos taken for me to do the twelve large landscapes sized thirty-six by forty-eight inches. Most children will never have the opportunity to see where Jesus lived and taught. To most children, Jesus is real; but to some, he is only a character much like someone in a novel. I want to show them that Jesus is real and teach them how to love as Jesus did.

The book shows it opens with two pages visible. The photo page will have the photo of the landscape painting. Each painting tells a story from the Bible. The copy will be easy for a young person to understand. There are two sections in the book: one is the Life of Christ series, and the other is twelve of Jesus's parables in picture form, each dealing with a lesson taught by Jesus. All lessons are part of what we will encounter in life. I use stories to stimulate a child's imagination as well as fact of the Bible. They say, A picture is worth a thousand words. Just ask a kid. They will tell you how true that statement is. If you read to your child before bedtime, you will find it is a fun way to end each day with your child.

Seascape, Montana de Oro

Luke 18:15–17

Mark 10:13–16

Matthew 19:13–15

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and he laid his hands on them and went away.

—Matthew 19:13–15

The 23rd Psalm

When I was growing up, I went to a local church (Presbyterian). It was within walking distance of where I lived. My Sunday school teacher was a super great lady with so much love in her heart. Her smile looked like she was about to hug you every minute.

One Sunday, she gave us the lesson on