Through The Eyes of Amos
Greetings, my friends:
It has been several weeks since I sent out my Dispatch to you, letting you know what projects are on my docket. I asked for your help in finishing the Amos book, and said I would send along another dispatch later. I think I must apologize once again for the length of this dispatch.
This is that letter and I hope you will be inspired to send me some questions that I can include in the “Going Deeper” section of the Amos project. Below is what I sent before.
Original Dispatch About Amos
This year, I plan to publish a short inspirational, illustrated story book. Amos is a shepherd in the first century, and he sees and hears the angels announcing the birth of Jesus. He and his father, along with all the other shepherds in the area, go to investigate and find the Christ Child.
Fast forward (or the equivalent in the first century) to the crucifixion of Jesus. Amos and his son are in Jerusalem and witness Jesus’ trek along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary and His death. Amos is shook up. And what does the flash of light mean two days later?
My artist friend, Melissa McConnell, is working on paintings to be interspersed throughout this book. Please pray for her inspiration.
At the end of the book, there is a section called “Going Deeper.” It is for questions, meditations and ponderings. The only problem is—I need some good questions and I am hoping some of you might have some suggestions.
Amos’ Purpose
My purpose for this short book is twofold:
- For families to read together. It’s possibly another look at how Jesus arrived on earth and the salvation He provides for us.
- To be an introduction to unbelievers in a way they may not have heard before. Always pointing to Jesus, and what He has done for us.
Section Details and Instructions
If you might be interested in being part of Amos, then I would love it if you come up with some questions for me to ask in the “Going Deeper” section. I may not be able to use all I receive, but will use as many as I can. My deadline for questions is June 30, 2021. My email is lindajoreed@gmail.com.
I am including the section here (it is in process) so you can see what I am looking for. Some queries are there to see, but I would welcome any ideas you might have. Let your imagination roam, think about how it might have been to live in Old Testament times, or be a shepherd at Jesus’ birth, or welcome Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, then watch Him be crucified, and be alive again.
“Going Deeper”
The story of God’s grace and redemption is open to everyone. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve sinned and departed from the Garden of Eden. God had already promised deliverance to them and all their descendants. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).
- Why do you think Adam and Eve had to leave the garden?
- What did God mean when he promised them deliverance?
The stories of the Old Testament give us a good idea of how badly we need a savior. Most of the world lived in pain and injustice and even the Israelites, God’s people, could not obey the law that God had given them. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
When the time was right for Jesus to be born, God sent his birth announcement to lowly shepherds. They were among the lowest on the social hierarchy of the time. Because of their humble status, we know that the grace of God extends to all people, of all time, and in all generations. God had sent his angels to them first and trusted them to spread the good news. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14).
The people misunderstood Jesus’ mission at the time and held high hopes that he would deliver them from their earthly enemies. “[They] took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” (John 12:13).
Jesus’ intention has always been to redeem all peoples of all times back to God. He died on the cross to take away our sins, and he rose from the dead to give us eternal life. “And he bore the sin of many, and made intersession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’” (Luke 24:6-7).
- How would you react if you saw Jesus crucified and then saw him alive a few days later?
- If you have never given thought to what Jesus has done for you, would you now take the next step to believe that Jesus gave himself for your sins and rose again to make eternal life available to you?
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:20-21 NKJV).
That’s it, my friends. Bless you for reading all the way to the end. I hope you will join me in this project.
My email is lindajoreed@gmail.com.
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