Dear Sally Lloyd-Jones

Dear Sally Lloyd-Jones,

Can I call you Sally Lloyd-Jones?  Because if you told me I could call you Sally, I'd still probably call you Sally Lloyd-Jones.  It all just flows together so nicely, doesn't it, Sally Lloyd-Jones?

When you introduce yourself to moms, do they hug you and start to cry?  If I met you, Sally Lloyd-Jones, I would hug you and cry.

And, nothing against your buddy, Tim Keller, but I'd way rather meet you, Sally Lloyd-Jones.  And, that doesn't take anything away from the incredible-ness of him.

Speaking of buddies, when I find out that someone else likes The Jesus Storybook Bible, I feel like I'm good friends with them already.

I know it's kind of silly, but that's just how I roll.

Sorry, I'm kind of talking a lot before I get to the point.  I tend to talk a lot when I'm nervous.

Anyway, Sally Lloyd-Jones, thank you for writing The Jesus Storybook Bible.

If I could only pick one book for our daughters, that is the book I would choose.  We love it so much that we are currently on our second one, as our first one was losing pages left and right.  

A couple of nights ago we were reading the story with Moses and the burning bush (God to the Rescue!).  When we got to the part about the Israelites killing their best lamb and spreading the blood on their door frame to spare the lives of their first born son, it reminded me about Jesus being the Lamb of God...just like God designed it.

I got to explain to Leah, my 6 year old, how the Old Testament gives us clues about Jesus.

We turned to the story (Heaven Breaks Through) when John the Baptist says, "The Lamb of God...God's best lamb...who takes away the sins of the whole world," and we talked about how Jesus is the one the whole Bible is talking about.

But, Sally Lloyd-Jones, you should have seen my 4 year old, Maggie.  We were having the most beautiful conversation about Jesus and the Gospel. 

Granted, at one point she did ask if we could go fishing, but other than that, she was really tracking.

We talked about how when we do naughty things, we not only make the person sad who we hurt, but we make Jesus sad, too.  And how even if we sin and our mom and dad don't see, it is still a sin against God.

Then, we turned to the part when Jesus died on the cross (The Sun Stops Shining).  We talked about Jesus staying on the cross, when He could have climbed down, so that He could die for us.

For Maggie.

We talked about how Jesus loves her so much that He died in her place...to take her sin away.  

Even though she doesn't fully understand yet, our conversation was holy somehow, and blanketed in God's grace and goodness.

So, thank you, Sally Lloyd-Jones for writing The Jesus Storybook Bible and giving me yet another chance to speak Gospel truth into the lives of my daughters.

But, most importantly...

Thank you, God, for sending your Son for us.

Thank you, Jesus, for paying the price for my sins, for loving me when I was actively in rebellion against you, and for being my Emmanuel.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the way you are working in the heart of my Maggie.

Linking up with: Loved and Lovely