Pairables 2, 53 short stories that link to the Bible’s New Testament Written by Jas Lonnquist Pairables 2 is a collection of lively short stories that pair with Bible accounts – a fresh, inviting path for middle-grade children to explore God’s word! Contests, camp, crafts, danger, fun… Talia, now age 14, Mika, 11, and Chloe, 8, are back with more adventures! Through good times and challenges, they discover treasure in God’s word – truth that sets their hearts free! Each short story is a modern parable that pairs with an account in the Bible or an age-appropriate Bible history book. Because the action in the stories takes place among the children, the stories are inclusive of children in every type of home or life situation including traditional homes, foster care, single parent, grandparent-led home, and more. Pairables 2 is warmly welcoming to all children with no barriers to understanding they are precious and seen by a wonderful God who loves them deeply! How do the parables in Pairables 2 unfold? Here are three examples from the 53 stories: * In “Gift” , Talia’s best friend Seela is seriously ill – until the gift of her brother’s bone marrow saves her life. Will Seela thank him for this gift by being the perfect sister forever and ever? Pairs with: Luke 7:11-17 – Miracle for a grieving mother in Nain. Jesus restores a young man to life and returns him to his grieving mother. He offers us life, too. How do we respond to Jesus’ wonderful gift? * In “The Unfair Day”, everything feels unfair to Chloe, from being benched in volleyball to being left out of parties for big kids. When Talia and Mika offer her butter, bitter chocolate, and flour to cheer her up, she’s even more cross – until she sees how they can be mixed together into brownies. Pairs with: Gospel accounts, Jesus before the High Priest Jesus suffers lies, blows, and humiliation before the High Priest, but he knows it is part of God’s plan of salvation. God uses all of our experiences, good, bad, and unfair, to bring about good. * In “Message Gone Viral”, a video of Mika being thrown from her bike and saved by her bike helmet goes viral on social media. As it draws reactions, both good and bad, she understands the message is too important not to share. Pairs with: Gospel accounts – Jesus’ parable of sowing seed Jesus’ parable of sowing seed teaches us we have a message too important not to share. We can’t control how that message of salvation is received, but Jesus promises there will be a good harvest. Each story includes: A reference pairing the story to an account in the Bible or a Bible history book. - A verse to remember - Thinky-thought life connections - An encouraging prayer starter - A whimsical illustration by teen artist Miley Joy Also included : A topical index of Bible verses cited in the book – more than 120 in all! - A “Do you need help” page - Access to an online Bible history pairing chart - Access to curriculum plans for schools, homeschools, and Sunday schools - Access to crafts, games, and recipes from Pairables and Pairables 2 Jesus used parables to teach people because engaging stories make truth easier to understand and remember – as much as 70% better retention according to recent studies. When minds and imaginations are engaged, interest and retention soar! The Bible is not too hard, too big, or too complicated for children to understand and love. Help your child, grandchild, or students start their Bible journey today with Pairables 2 ! For stories that pair with the Old Testament, check out award-winning Pairables, 53 short stories that pair with the Bible’s Old Testament ! " Pa i rables 2 delivers another superb collection of highly impactful Word-centered devotions! The three girls once again face real-life situations that any middle-schooler will immediately relate to. Sometimes the girls make good choices, sometimes they stumble and fall. Through it all, they grow in their understanding of a God who cares so much that He sacrificed His Son to set us free! One of the great strengths of this book is how Jesus is presented. His gentleness, humbleness, and unconditional love jump off the pages! As his presence and strength surround the girls, you are reminded that he has also placed your hand in His! Parents as well as their children will look forward to the devotions where they get to know more and more about their Savior. Energy and exuberance, along with disappointment and frustration - the bandwidth of emotions covered in the devotions is extraordinarily wide. The realness and the liveliness of the stories set this book apart from so many others. I wish I had heard these devotions while I was growing up! Simply stated, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the devotions bring one closer to Jesus and an understanding of his indescribable love for each of us!" - Rev. Dr. Terry Schultz "It's Pa i rables 2 and a year has gone by since the first Pa i rables