Christie Thomas - Fruit Full: 100 Family Experiences for Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

So often, I find it is a struggle to make abstract, spiritual concepts real and relatable to kids. But Christie Thomas has done exactly that in Fruit Full: 100 Family Experiences for Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit. By combining Bible stories with some of her own personal adventures, Thomas has created a resource that is both biblically sound and fun to read. She goes beyond explanations to encourage children to look for the Spirits fruits in their own lives, as well as to seek a deeper connection with Christ. With just the right amount of humor to keep kids engaged, Fruit Full is sure to be a sweet experience for your familys devotion time.

Tama Fortner, award-winning author of more than forty books, including Simply Christmas: A Busy Moms Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays

Christie Thomass approach to helping children grow in Christ exhibits everything youd want in a devotional: depth, warmth, and surprising insights.

Marianne Hering, author of the Adventures in Odyssey: The Imagination Station series

In this devotional, Christie does a fabulous job of making big virtues accessible to little people. This guide is practical and relationaleasy enough for a tired parent at the end of the day, but deep enough to produce real conversation and a better understanding of who Christ is and who he has created us to be.

Danielle Hitchen, author of the Baby Believer series

Christie Thomas provides a tremendous resource for families. Through this kid-friendly, comprehensive study, children will learn how to be rooted in Jesus in order to experience continual spiritual growth.

Crystal Bowman, best-selling, award-winning author of more than 100 books for children including Our Daily Bread for Kids, and I Love You to the Stars: When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers

Would you like the fruit of the Spirit to be a reality in your childrens lives and your family life? Pick up this outstanding book and let it guide you!

Diane Stortz, author of I AM : 40 Reasons to Trust God

Fruit Full is grounded in Scripture and refreshingly contemporary. This family-focused devotional is sure to bring you and your kids closer together.

Brock Eastman, author of Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop, Bedtime on Noahs Ark, and The Quest for Truth series

When Christie was the Childrens Director at the church I served as Lead Pastor, I witnessed firsthand her passion for ministry, her love for God, and her deep concern for the children and families she served. Now she has given us a book about the fruits of the Spirit that is beautifully Christ-centered and grace-filled. I cant wait to recommend Fruit Full to the families in my church.

Tom Baird, Lead Pastor, Maranatha Church, Belleville, Ontario, Canada

Fruit Full is the most comprehensive, well-written family devotional on the fruits of the Spirit that I have ever read. Using stories from Scripture and her own examples from everyday life, Christie Thomas not only explains the nine fruits of the Spirit in ways that are meaningful and accessible to children, but also includes 100 practical ideas for families to participate in together. A thoroughly easy-to-read, delightful devotional.

Glenys Nellist, author of the Love Letters from God series, Snuggle Time, and Good News series

As a pastor and father, I often ask myself how to have more Spirit-filled conversations about Jesus with my kids. Fruit Full highlights that growing and vibrant faith emerges from families that commit to daily rhythms of sitting, playing, and receiving the gift of Gods freedom. I recommend Fruit Full to any parent seeking practical ways to have fun and learn more about Jesus with your kids. Not only will your kids be blessed by the love and intentionality in this resource, but you will too.

Cris Harper, pastor of Bethel Community Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Fruit Full: 100 Family Experiences for Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

2022 by Christie Thomas

Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel Inc., 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in reviews.

Distribution of digital editions of this book in any format via the internet or any other means without the publishers written permission or by license agreement is a violation of copyright law and is subject to substantial fines and penalties. Thank you for supporting the authors rights by purchasing only authorized editions.

The author is represented by the literary agency of Credo Communications, LLC, Grand Rapids, Michigan, www.credocommunications.net.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ICB are from the International Childrens Bible. Copyright 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Cover art and illustrations Luke Flowers

ISBN 978-0-8254-4728-0, print

ISBN 978-0-8254-7776-8, epub

ISBN 978-0-8254-6929-9, Kindle

Printed in the United States of America
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To the one who feels like youre always striving and never growing: may you find freedom in Christ.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

(G ALATIANS 5:2223)

Dear Parent,

We dont know each other, but I think we probably are more alike than we realize. Have you ever tried to become more patient? I tried to grow in patience for years, and I discovered something about God along the way. He does give sudden supernatural patience occasionally. But more often, he gives us a child whose tantrums get on our last nerve.

Oh, was that just me?

Maybe youve tried to become more gentle and kind, only to have a child who asks for snacks 80 million times a day, causing your brittle temper to crack and your words to spill out, unkind and ungentle. Or maybe that was just me too.

Sometimes it seems like growing spiritually is like trying to roll out pizza dough. I squash it with my rolling pin only to have it snap back to its original shape. I roll it again and it snaps back again, but this time its a little bit wider. It takes a lot of tugging and rolling to get that pizza dough to conform to the pan.

Growing spiritually is similar because we tend to grow a bit, then snap backlike that elastic pizza dough. Then the Lord tugs and rolls our souls again, and we grow a little only to ooze inward once more.

But its worth letting him work in us, kneading and growing and rolling our souls, because in the end, the pizza hes making is a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Maybe with a mushroom garnish.)