Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids [Hardcover]

Sarah Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2010 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 690L (What's this?)

Devotions written as if Jesus is speaking directly to a child's heart.

Based on her original Jesus Calling, this version has been adapted in a language and fashion that kids and tweens can relate to their everyday lives. 

After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down what she believed He was saying to her through Scripture. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her devotionals.  They are written from Jesus' point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling.  It is Sarah's fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers, and now young readers, with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sarah Young is quietly leading millions worldwide on a journey of intimacy with Christ. Her devotional books include the #1 bestseller Jesus Calling, the 2013 ECPA Christian Book of the Year Jesus Today, top sellers Jesus Calling for Kids, Jesus Calling Bible Storybook, and Jesus Lives. Sarah and her husband are currently ministering to a Japanese-speaking community in Perth, Australia.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 392 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400316340
• ISBN-13: 978-1400316342
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.1 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (220 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Prayer
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Devotional
  • #2 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Jesus

More About the Author

Sarah Young is quietly leading thousands of women worldwide on a journey of intimacy with Christ. Sarah has a philosophy degree from Wellesley College, a counseling degree from Georgia State University, a Master's degree from Tufts University, and studied with Francis Schaeffer's L'Abri Fellowship. Sarah and her husband have traveled around the world planting churches and counseling, and they currently reside in Australia.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#7 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#51 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#7 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#51 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 126 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good material, Strange Presentation... October 19, 2010

By Lorrie Miller

Format:Hardcover

This devotional book for kids is filled with a year's worth of devotions--one each day! They are dated with the day of the year, but not the day of the week--so it can be used year after year (a great thing, in my opinion because God speaks to us in new ways from the same passage, many times!)

The devotions contain a short scripture printed at the top and a one page message taken from the theme verse. Scripture references follow for further study--a great thing for older children, especially! I used the devotional book with my own four children and found the short verse and message appropriate for the kids aged five through ten (my three year old's attention span was much too short!) I, as an adult, also really appreciated the messages and often found God speaking to my heart through them!

The one thing I disliked about this book is that it is written from the first person--as if Jesus himself is speaking the words in the devotional thought. This was really confusing for my kids, who kept asking if Jesus wrote this or said this. It was difficult to explain that it was a woman who wrote it from the perspective of Jesus. I ended up changing it to read from the third person point of view instead and this seemed to be much better understood (and I felt more comfortable with it, too, since they really are not the words of Jesus!)

Overall, I enjoyed this book that Booksneeze sent to me for free to review!

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars not so sure about the format... September 24, 2010

By kaolinmommy

Format:Hardcover

I was hoping this devotional book would be a little more age appropriate for my five-year-old, because it is very hard to find "deeper" stuff for beginning readers. I'd say this book is more for older elementary school aged children, or perhaps even middle-schoolers. It would depend on the maturity level and spiritual depth of the child.

Each devotion (one for every day of the calendar year) has a scripture verse at the top and then a few paragraphs to illustrate, explain or apply the verse. At the bottom there is a small "Read on your own" bubble with more scripture for further reading. I liked the themes I read: casting worries on God, praising in the midst of a hard day, dreaming big but realizing God's plans are even bigger, etc. The devotions seem to be a little more personal, a little deeper, than many I've seen for children. I really like this about it. But one way in which this was accomplished was by writing the devotion from God, in first person.

Let me be clear: I believe God can and does speak to and through people all the time. And I think someone writing a devotional book for people of any age should be inspired to do so. I also found nothing questionable or in disagreement with scripture in Sarah Young's content. And truth be told, as far as interpretation of Scripture goes I'm not very conservative. But I still struggle with the implied authority her words achieved by writing as if it is God speaking. I think it might be confusing for kids to discern between scripture and devotion. It also reminds me a bit of something like "Conversations with God," and I am just not comfortable with people writing what they hear God speak to them and publishing it for others. Even if their word from God really was just that, it was THEIRS. Again, everything Ms. Young writes is solid, scripture-inspired and true, and she writes in her introduction that "the Bible is the only perfect word of God." I do not think it is her intention to put words in God's mouth or speak with God's authority, but rather to help kids to hear "Jesus Calling" in their own lives, speaking directly to them. My concern is that kids might be confused by this, especially if another book comes along not as thoughtful or scriptural as Ms. Young's.

I'm debating whether or not I'm going to hang on to this book for when my girls get older. I really like the messages, but I'd definitely have to be sure they understood who (or Who) wrote which parts. I want my girls to grow up with a love for God, His Word, and people. And I want them to question things and understand (eventually) that we don't all agree and that there are many people out there saying stuff for Jesus that I don't think He would ever say. I pray they learn to discern the difference and to find wise people and writings to help them grow, to seek Him and to try to live lives abiding in and sharing His love.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Reminders of Encouragement December 22, 2010

By Andrea VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is a book of 365 devotions, one for each day of the year. Each devotion is wonderful - they deal with things such as trusting God, not people-pleasing, knowing you're good enough, being thankful, God's comfort, God's promises, spending time with God, just to name a few.

This book is wonderful, because of all the negative impact and discouragement we all get in the world, we need to be reminded Who loves us and keeps us taken care of. There are Bible verses to back up each devotion.

Even though this book says "for kids", I feel that adults can also benefit from it. Even adults need encouragement, sometimes even more so than kids. Adults are the ones who have to worry about certain things that kids don't. And the way a lot of "adult" inpirational books are written, a lot of adults don't have the time or energy to read them. But this one is written in such a way that does not require a lot of time or energy. And, I don't think it is written all that "kiddy". An adult (or a kid) can read it at their leisure, take as many or as few "days" each day. Even if you only read one "day" a day, it will only take you a year to read the book, and get a lot of encouragement along the way, being reminded that God loves you, and you don't have to worry about anything but Him.

I love this whole book, and I could actually say that all the "days" are my favorites. But one "day" in particular that I consider one of my favorites, is September 7: "I Set You Free", in which we are encouraged to free ourselves from the guilt of our past mistakes/sins.

In this time of discouragement and evil, this book is refreshing and encouraging, regardless of your age. Kids and adults, I highly recommend this book.