Family values in the month of love - 9

Jacob, son of Abraham’s son, had four wives, twelve sons and one daughter, and loved them all. But Jacob loved his youngest sons best, Joseph and Ben. Little Joseph was so obnoxiously proud of being Dad’s favorite, his brothers sold him into slavery and pretended he’d died. They thought their father wouldn’t mind because he had lots of spare sons. But Jacob grew older, poorer and sadder as years went by. One day he sent his sons to Egypt because they were starving. There they found God loved Joseph so much he’d made him a king, so they were saved.

breaking up is hard in the season of love - 7

Lot loved his uncle Abraham, his wife, and his God. But he found it kind of hard to live with them.

One day, Lot left his uncle and moved to greener pastures, but soldiers took him prisoner. Then God sent Abraham to rescue him. Another day, Lot left God and lived in a city of sinful people. Balls of fire destroyed the city, but God sent an angel first to rescue Lot. That day Lot left his wife as well, because she wouldn’t leave the city. So he died alone without his wife or uncle, but God still loved him.

Floods of love in the month of love - 5

God loved the world and God loved all the people in the world. But the people didn’t love God anymore. They didn’t pray to him, or thank him, or even listen to him when he told them a great flood was on its way. Instead they enjoyed their farms and produce and said how clever they were while the waters rose.

But Noah listened. Noah built an ark. And when the floodwaters suddenly poured across the valley, Noah sailed swiftly away with his family and animals, because he loved God enough to listen and obey. So God kept him safe.

Brotherly love goes wrong in the month of love - 3

Cain and Abel sort of loved each other. They fought and argued all the time, but always came home for dinner. Then they’d sit at table with their parents, talk politely about God, farming and church, and go out to fight some more. It was hard for Cain to pretend to be polite when everyone said how wonderful Abel’s farming and prayer-gifts were. Wasn’t Cain good enough? Didn’t God love Cain anymore? So the brothers fought again. Cain killed Abel and thought God would hate him forever. But God sent Cain to a safer place and loved him forever instead.

Continuing love in the month of love - 2

For love, God chose Adam from all the creatures he’d made; he saw how Adam’s descendants would grow and change, and he loved them, every one. So God made a beautiful garden for Adam, surrounded him with plants and animals, and invited Eve to share a life of love. But Adam and Eve loved themselves too much, instead of loving God. They disobeyed God’s law, and this earth, that could have been so perfect, was suddenly changed. Now science and nature war with God’s pure perfection. God’s people are only nearly good, but God really loves us just the same.

A tale of love for the month of love - 1

They say love makes the world go around, and they say that God is love. So, in the beginning, for love, God made the world and all around it. He made the universe from light, and made the planet earth for our delight. He sculpted mountains, seas and more, then fashioned plants with sweet perfumes to please us, and to clear the cloudy skies. As sun and moon looked down, God made the fish and birds and bees and led the crawling creatures onto land where he made man (and woman too); all this for love of me and you.