C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Wednesday June 18, 2025

"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse."-Song of Solomon 5:1
    
    The heart of the believer is Christ's garden. He bought it with His precious blood, and He enters it and claims it as His own. A garden implies separation. It is not the open common; it is not a wilderness; it is walled around, or hedged in. Would that we could see the wall of separation between the church and the world made broader and stronger. It makes one sad to hear Christians saying, "Well, there is no harm in this; there is no harm in that," thus getting as near to the world as possible. Grace is at a low ebb in that soul which can even raise the question of how far it may go in worldly conformity. A garden is a place of beauty, it far surpasses the wild uncultivated lands. The genuine Christian must seek to be more excellent in his life than the best moralist, because Christ's garden ought to produce the best flowers in all the world. Even the best is poor compared with Christ's deservings; let us not put Him off with withering and dwarf plants. The rarest, richest, choicest lilies and roses ought to bloom in the place which Jesus calls His own. The garden is a place of growth. The saints are not to remain undeveloped, always mere buds and blossoms. We should grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Growth should be rapid where Jesus is the Husbandman, and the Holy Spirit the dew from above. A garden is a place of retirement. So the Lord Jesus Christ would have us reserve our souls as a place in which He can manifest Himself, as He doth not unto the world. O that Christians were more retired, that they kept their hearts more closely shut up for Christ! We often worry and trouble ourselves, like Martha, with much serving, so that we have not the room for Christ that Mary had, and do not sit at His feet as we should. The Lord grant the sweet showers of His grace to water His garden this day.
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Friday, October 17, 2014

Book Review Blitz: Mini Myths Board Books by Joan Holub

About the Books
Be Patient Pandora by Joan Holub
Title: Be Patient, Pandora! (Mini Myths)
Author: Joan Holub 
Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli | 
Publication Date: September 16, 2014  
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Pages: 24  
Recommended Ages: 1 to 5


Summary: When Pandora is warned by her mother not to open a box, her spirited curiosity trumps her obedience. Pandora harmlessly touches the box, innocently leans on the box, and eventually, albeit accidentally, bursts the box open! The cupcakes that were hidden inside are ruined, except for one last vestige, which Pandora presents in the hope that her mother still loves her. Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of this physical comedy bring a lively narrative to Joan Holub’s carefully crafted text. Includes a summary of the original Pandora’s Box myth at the end.
Purchase “Be Patient, Pandora!”:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | iTunes

Play Nice Hercules by Joan Holub
Title: Play Nice, Hercules! (Mini Myths)
Author: Joan Holub 
Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli 
 Publication Date: September 16, 2014  
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Pages: 24  
Recommended Ages: 1 to 5


Summary: Hercules is not as interested in “playing nice” as he is in playing strong! But when one feat of strength destroys his little sister’s 12-piece tower, he must use his powers for good to restore the tower and seek her forgiveness. She forgives him indeed, and then shows her own strength by gleefully knocking down the stacked blocks herself! Joan Holub’s expertly focused text pairs perfectly with Leslie Patricelli’s famously humorous illustrations. Includes a summary of the original Hercules’s Twelve Labors myth at the end.
Purchase “Play Nice, Hercules!”:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | iTunes

The Buzz About Mini Myths

Patricelli’s preschool-age Pandora couldn’t be cuter, and an endnote explains the original myth in greater detail.  Genuinely funny and sweet. ~ Publishers Weekly, starred review
Remarkably entertaining . . . delightful painted cartoons in rich colors . . . the life lessons the source material inspires are spot-on. ~ Kirkus

About the Author: Joan Holub

Joan HolubJoan Holub’s fascination with mythology inspired Mini Myths, a new board book series that translates famous myths into situations familiar to preschoolers. The first two titles, Be Patient, Pandora! and Play Nice, Hercules! debut in September. Joan co-authors two other mythology series for Simon and Schuster, Goddess Girls (ages 8-12) and Heroes in Training (ages 7-10). Her picture book, Mighty Dads, was a New York Times bestseller in 2014.

Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads  |

Facebook | Facebook (Goddess Girls) | Facebook (Grimmtastic Girls) 

About the Illustrator: Leslie Petricelli

Leslie Patricelli is the bestselling author-illustrator of many adorable board books, including Yummy Yucky and Toot!
 
These are excellent books for the preschooler ages 1-5.  Chunky cardboard, with beautiful teaching messages:  playing nice and being patience.  What better message would you teach your children at this age.  You have to start some where.  There is also a page with the mythology information if you want to use it as a discussion starter. 

a copy of these books were provided in exchange for my honest review by....
  MDBR Book Promotion Services
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