Faith builders for the family

God, You Are

William R. Osborne
(Crossway 2023)

This devotional explores 20 “You are” promises in the Psalms that will build young children’s understanding of God’s character. Each entry begins with a truth about God (e.g., “God, You are my deliverer”) and a correlating verse from Psalms before offering a concise reflection and a short prayer that children can repeat. Osborne connects the Biblical truth of each statement to concepts that children can either relate to or understand, such as how God is our refuge and shelter just like the rocky mountain crevices offer refuge to the rock badgers (Psalm 104:18). The book, which features Brad Woodard’s lovely illustrations, ­concludes with a list of additional attributes of God that families can find in the Psalms. Ages 4-8

The Treasure

Marty Machowski
(New Growth Press 2023)

Machowski merges a family devotional with a read-aloud in this unique book that leads children through the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. The story, with illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino, opens with siblings Theos and Mira discovering an old journal that sends them searching for clues to the location of hidden treasure. Each story section is followed by exegesis of the two Bible books before ­concluding with a clue to the riddle. Families will want to work slowly through this nearly 250-page volume so they can uncover all the hidden treasure in Luke’s two books. The conclusion also offers a brief study for older children that connects Luke and Acts with the Old Testament. Ages 6-12

Sacred Seasons

Danielle Hitchen
(Harvest House 2023)

Hitchen provides families with a framework for using the liturgical calendar to center their annual rhythms and ­celebrations around Jesus and the pursuit of a deeper faith walk. As the book follows the liturgical calendar, Hitchen traces the history and customs of key celebrations. She includes feast and saints’ days that may be unfamiliar to Protestant families, but Hitchen writes that she has incorporated them because we are “inheritors of the great lineage of the saints” whose lives and stories serve to embolden and encourage us while keeping our eyes on Christ. Hitchen, who is Anglican, also discusses topics related to liturgical observance, such as fasting, Sabbath rest, confession, and the examen. Ages 5+

Every Moment Holy, Vol. III

Edited by Douglas McKelvey
(Rabbit Room Press 2023)

In his third volume of liturgies, McKelvey joins with more than 60 other writers to offer prayers around the theme of The Work of the People. While most of the contributors are contemporary writers, some are of old, including Dorothy Sayers, Christina Rossetti, and Francis of Assisi. Families who are familiar with McKelvey’s earlier liturgy books will be delighted with the extensive assortment of new prayers meant to ­minister amid everyday life, such as “Before Exercising,” “For Yard Work,” “Before Giving an Apology,” “After a Child’s Meltdown,” and “For God To Be Glorified in Us.” This beautiful volume would serve as an excellent resource paired with family Bible reading in the new year. Ages 12+