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“But Jesus said, let the little children come to me.”Matthew 19:14aBook 1

AcknowledgementsHarriet and Karen Washington and Sarah Williams for encouragement, advice and prayer support.www.thejesusstory.com© Copyright 2002 Don HammattAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

by Don Hammatt through inspiration of the Holy Spiritillustrated by Christine Anthony Tinley Park, IllinoisEdited by Jane Honeycutt, 2002 Edited by Amber Blumer, 2014 Designed by Katherine HedglinInspired by John and Lindsey and dedicated to Ashley, Shannon, John George, Charles, Edward, John, Lindsey, Ned and Isaiah D. H.With love to my 3 favorite blessings, Kyla, Erin and Robyn C . A.

God is love and He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to save us. Jesus was born in a barn with cows, horses and donkeys just like the prophet Isaiah said.

There was no baby bed in the barn so His mother wrapped Him in blankets and put Him in a feed trough.Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and call him Immanuel.”

Jesus’ mother loved Him and took good care of Him and He grew into a man.

Jesus loved children. He spent time with them. He listened as they talked to him.

Parents brought their children to Jesus. He told them He loved them. He put His hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus was a very nice man and wanted everyone to know God’s power and love so He went all around helping people and performing miracles.

He saw people who could not see, and He touched their eyes and opened their eyes so they could see.

He saw people who could not hear, and He opened their ears so they could hear.

He saw people who had fever and He touched them and their fever went away.

He saw people who could not walk, and He healed their legs so they could run and jump with their friends.

Then, some mean men came and took Jesus and tied Him to a big post. They whipped His back and made big stripes in His back that bled.

Then, they made a crown of thorns, and put it on His head and pushed it down and made His head bleed.

Then they laid Jesus on a cross and nailed His hands and His feet to it.

The nails were very big and looked like this.

After He was nailed to the cross, the soldiers picked up the cross and put it in the ground.

And Jesus died on that cross for you and me. Jesus died to pay for our sins. Sins are the bad things we do, like hitting other boys and girls or not obeying your mommy and daddy.

After Jesus died, Joseph, a follower of Jesus took His body down from the cross. He wrapped His body in sheets and put Him in a large tomb.

Three days later, just like Jesus said He would, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead.

Jesus is alive today! He lives in heaven and the lives of children and grown ups who have chosen to accept His love and forgiveness.When you choose to accept His love and forgiveness, God’s Spirit comes into you and gives you new life! Sometimes that’s hard for adults to understand but children can just believe it. What about you? Have you chosen to accept His love and forgiveness?

God has given us His holy word, the Bible, to show us how we can become a follower of Jesus.1. Understand that God lovingly created you and has a plan for you! “So God created man in His own image in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27 “I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; and my soul knows right well.” Psalm 139:14 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:112. Our sin separates us from God and His holiness. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:233. Jesusfullledprophecyandbecameoursacriceforsin. “AllthistookplacetofulllwhattheLordhadsaidthroughtheprophet:‘Thevirginwillconceiveandgive birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:14 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6

Please turn this book over and begin reading, Jesus in Me, and begin growing in your relationship with God and understand more what it means to let Jesus live His life through you!4. WecanchoosetoacceptHissacriceandloveandbecomeabelieverinJesus.“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shouldnot perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him fromthe dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9“Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:135. Jesus wants to transform your life!If you want Him to come into your life, you can ask Him right now!Simply believe what God’s holy word said is true, that Jesus did die and paid the price for your sins.Agree with God that you are a sinner and are unable to save yourself and ask for His forgiveness. TellHim that you want to receive His love and forgiveness and become His child. Then thank Him for savingyou and giving you new life!“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things havebecome new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17“IhavebeencruciedwithChrist,itisnolongerIwholive,butChristwholivesinme.”Galatians2:20

www.thejesusstory.com“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”John 10:27

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27bBook 2

AcknowledgementsMy daughter, Leslie, for her love, support, accounting and computer skills. Barbara and Pam for suggestions, encouragement, prayers and friendship. A special thanks to my pastor, Frank, for his guidance and help in numerous ways. To the prayer team for prayer support throughout this project and continuing.www.thejesusstory.comcopyright © 2005Don HammattAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.Scripture taken from the Book of Life version. Copyright 1988 by Biblica. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Suggestions for ReadersThe idea presented in this book is that Jesus died not only to pay for our sins, but He rose from the dead to give us life, His abundant life He speaks of in John 10:10. We cannot live in our own strength, which is why Jesus desires to live His life through us. The book explains not what Jesus did, but rather how he lived His life as a man and as an example for us. Jesus lived a life of total dependence on God, always waiting for God to lead and allowing God to live through Him.

by Don Hammatt through the inspiration of the Spirit of Godillustrated by Christine Anthony Tinley Park, Illinois Edited by Jane Honeycutt, 2005 Edited by Amber Blumer, 2014Dedicated with love to my grandchildren Ashley, Shannon, John George, Charles, Edward, John, Lindsey, Ned and Isaiah D. H.Dedicated with love to Kyla & Chad, Erin and Robyn. My greatest joy on earth is knowing that you all know Him! C . A.copyright © 2005

Jesus is alive today and lives in those who have received His love and forgiveness. Have you asked Him to come into your life?

If you have, just what does that mean? Is there really another person living in your body with you?

Yes, there is. The Spirit of God is now alive in you!

When Jesus left the earth to go to heaven to be with His Father, He said He would send a Helper. The Helper is the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

What is a spirit? A spirit is an unseen person, but a very real person. He wants to live through us.

Jesus wants us to know that He is with us. He also wants to use our bodies to show the world what He is like.

When Jesus walked on earth as a man, He said, “I can do nothing without my Father.” Jesus let His Father, God, live through Him.Thank you Father

It was God the Father, living through Jesus who opened the eyes of those that could not see.Thank you Father

Thank you FatherIt was God who opened the ears that could not hear.

Thank you FatherAnd it was God who healed crippled legs. Jesus did those miracles, as He trusted His Father to do those things through Him. Jesus is fully God, but He was living on earth as a man, trusting God like you and I do.

The Bible also tells us we can do nothing without Jesus. We can’t obey, share toys, or be nice and we can’t love others like Jesus loves.

Because Jesus is love, we need Him living in us to love others and ourselves like He does. When we let Jesus live through us, we can love and obey our parents and teachers.

When we let Jesus live through us, we are able to love other boys and girls who are different from us.

When we let Jesus live through us, then others can see we love and care about them.

Since we can’t love others without Jesus, how do we let Him live through us?

After you receive God’s love and forgiveness, simply believe that He came into your life.

Now, He lives in you and wants to live through you. So, just let Him!

If Jesus is living in you, will you always do the right thing? No, sometimes we try to live our lives by ourselves and do things we shouldn’t.

Then we have to remind ourselves that Jesus is alive in us and ask Him to live the way He wants through us.

When you let Jesus love others through you, they will see Him in everything you do and say.“Let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Understanding the Holy Spirit’s role in your life1. Jesus set the example of living in dependence on God. “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14:10 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.” Acts 2:222. You are a new person because the Spirit of God is living inside you. “ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:10-11

3. He will guide and teach you.“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He willteach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John14:264. God wants to live His life through you.“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bearsmuch fruit. For without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5“IhavebeencruciedwithChrist;itisnolongerIwholives,butChristlivesinme;andthelifeInowliveintheeshIlivebythefaithintheSonofGod,wholoved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, andhe who abides in love abides in God, and God in Him.” I John 4:16God wants you to grow in your new relationship with Him and has given you theHoly Spirit to help you. He promises that He will never leave you nor forsakeyou. He has also given you His word, the Holy Bible, to read and prayer tocommunicate with God at anytime. May the Spirit of God speak to you so youmay submit fully to Him and allow Him to live through you every moment ofevery day.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” Galatians 2:20awww.thejesusstory.com