In Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days, Jill Miller gives heartwarming, intimate glimpses of her life on the farm. But more than this, as Jill takes care of her animals, enjoying what the Creator has made, God takes her upside-down soul and sets it right-side up.
Designed as a 52-week family devotional, readers of all ages and abilities will enjoy this illustrated collection of stories starring Jill's farm animals and pets. Each story has an accompanying Bible verse that reinforces the story's theme, encouraging the reader to see God in daily life. Readers will be able to comprehend the truths of the Bible in deep ways, to discover and experience Jesus, and to know his amazing love for them at a new level. Through reading these stories together, families will be drawn closer to Jesus and to each other.
In writing the stories, Jill had her adult daughter with autism and her grandchildren in mind. "I wanted my grandkids to love the things I love—most of all Jesus. I believe God gave me the ideas for the stories while I was in the barn with the animals doing the ordinary things and discovering a God that cares about all things! The fun, the hard and the crazy."
AUTHOR
Jill Miller has spent the past thirty years discipling and ministering to students with disabilities and is committed to developing materials for teachers, parents, and caregivers who want to share the love of Jesus to use with them. Due in part to experiences with her own daughter, she has also started two businesses aimed at employing individuals affected by disability. Jill is a mother of six, wife of Paul Miller, Grammy of many, and lives in rural Pennsylvania. She is the author of Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days.
ILLUSTRATOR
Brad Woodard, BFA, has been illustrating his entire life, but decided on a major in graphic design at college. Post-college, while working as a designer, he rediscovered his love for illustration. Eventually and naturally, Brad's illustrating and design fused together. He and his wife now run their own design and illustration studio, Brave the Woods. In addition to working with major brands, Brad shares his expertise via lectures, workshops, and online courses.
He is the illustrator for Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days and Why Do We Say Thank You?
"I love creative, happy ways of making Christ real to our friends who live with intellectual disabilities, and Jill Miller's stellar new book has made me an even bigger fan of her wisdom and her writings! The heartwarming stories and fun illustrations will help readers find the comfort of Christ in the most difficult days. I predict that Finding Jesus on Upside down Days will prove to be a top resource for special-needs educators and parents, and I heartily recommend it!"
Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
"God has intentionally designed his world to point to him. All around us he has embedded little physical illustrations of who he is, what he does, who we are, and how much we need him. We just need eyes to see the spiritual wonders illustrated all around us. Jill Miller has those eyes, and in this family devotional she gives us eyes to see too. Jill has given us a barnyard devotional that is tender, insightful, convicting and Jesus-loving. I highly recommend this great family read."
Paul Tripp, Author; speaker; teacher
"Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days is a fun book of barnyard stories that connect everyday life on the farm to timeless truths from the Bible. Get this illustrated devotional for your family and your children won't let you stop reading; they will keep asking for more, day after day. Along the way, they'll discover what the Bible says about worry, friendship, sin, salvation, and so much more."
Marty Machowski, Family Pastor; author of The Ology, Wonderfull, Long Story Short, and other gospel-rich resources for church and home
"Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days reminds us through the stories of a charming cast of barnyard characters and friends that the gospel turns our hearts and our upside-down days right side up. The adorable illustrations and truths will bring the hope of the gospel to the hearts of families as they gather around its pages."
Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women's Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA); coauthor of Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver and Life-giving Leadership
"As a mom, counselor, and fellow animal lover, I love Finding Jesus on the Upside Down Days. Jill demonstrates how God uses everyday moments, as well as creation, to remind us of his goodness toward us. I am struck by how often God uses his creation to teach us more about himself and his ways. Read this to your children and for your own soul; it is a delight!"
Julie E. Lowe, MA, Faculty and counselor, CCEF
"Our wonderful God uses ordinary parts of life like the changing of the seasons, our neighbors, and the animals we raise to encourage our hearts in him. He's always there showing us his love and lifting us up. In Finding Jesus on Upside-Down Days, Jill Miller shows us how to look outside of ourselves (how to just look outside at donkeys, dogs, goats, and friends!) and see Jesus there giving us his good word of assurance. Are there days when you need the Lord to put your heart right side up? Pick up this book and learn from Jill."
Jared Kennedy, editor at The Gospel Coalition, author of Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission and The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible