Gold Fish and Silver Kisses

By Linda Carol Masters

Book Overview

Gold Fish and Silver Kisses is a heartwarming and ingenious collection of 101 five-minute children's sermons/devotionals. Each sermon includes a title, Bible verse, theme, and prayer, and is illustrated with a small token. For example, "A Kiss for Silver" uses Hershey's Kisses, and "De-Bark" (the Zacchaeus story) suggests giving pieces of bark from a sycamore tree. Other suggestions are given in that lesson for those who don't live around sycamore trees. "It's Easy to Burst A Bubble" has the theme: Words are one of the most powerful forces in the world. It goes on to teach that hurtful words can "burst someone's bubble". The presenter is encouraged to blow bubbles with Bubble-stuff and have the children see how easy it is to pop them. The parable of the four soils is taught in "A Dirty Story" and its theme, plant yourself in God's love and care, is perfect for giving each child some seeds to plant. Each sermon has an alternative devotional ending without the use of tokens so that the lessons can be used at home, in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Christian schools, chapel, and Christian camps. The first edition of this book is even being used in nursing homes because if its unique way of appealing to children as young as 2 and adults as old as 102. The sermons have been catagorized to include those for any time, special services, special occaisions, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christ the King Sunday, and for those out of the ordinary times like when a pastor, teacher, or loved-one leaves or retires. Children, youth, college students, adults, and seniors have used and loved this book. This second edition treasure is out by popular demand.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976832917
• ISBN13: 9780976832911
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Sawdust Publishing
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

We Only Keep the Things We Give Away

Linda Masters has created a clear-minded, exuberant body of work obstensably for children; this is a work that might equally be called "Spritual Parables for Adults" as well as "Gold Fish and Silver Kisses." More than art, her work is a gift to all who read it. It encapsulates, without airless theological retoric, the lessons, trials, and ultimate rewards of the strivings for a truly meaningful and moral life. Learing to have life more abundantly is the real Christian message, a message Ms. Masters sends to all children and adults willing to see their world anew.

Beautifully written, doctrinally sound

Gold Fish and Silver Kisses, How to Talk to Children about God, is a beautifully written, doctrinally sound book that puts important Biblical concepts into easily understandable language. Mrs. Masters "puts the cookies on the bottom shelf so the children can get at them." Each short devotional ends with the suggestion of small gift to give the child as a reminder. For example, in the story of Gideon, "Armed with God's Trumpet", she suggests giving small plastic trumpets.This book would be extremely useful to Christian parents, grandparents, homeschoolers, youth workers and pastors.

No home with children should be without

A must for every Christian, or simply moral, home. The sermons are written for the average child to understand but more importantly to internalize. They are spiritual, moral lessons based on scripture (with specific Bible verses and prayers) designed for meaningful family times, Sunday school classes, Christian schools, children's sermons at a church of any Christian denomination. I have personally seen groups of children (and their parents!) mesmerized by the author's presentations. The suggested tokens add an extra dimension to the lessons and act as memory enhancers that really work! Excellent for newborn gifts, grandparent gifts, gifts for yourself! This is a book that will be around for generations to proudly pass down and enjoy sharing together for decades.

An Instant Classic!

This book is really a classic! And there is nothing else like it available for parents. Linda Masters has written 101 "sermons" for toddlers and pre-school children about the Bible and God; they are all charming, the style is warm and loving and she offers tips and techniques for adults about how to use these "sermons" in any church setting. This book would also be a welcome gift at baby showers, at baby christenings and at early birthdays. Or just to give to parents of young ones. Donating this book to churches in memory of relatives would also be worthwhile. "Gold Fish and Silver Kisses" is simply a wonderful book!