John 2 Priceless, Part 1

Contents

Note to the Reader........................ .ix How to Use is Book..................... .xi Introduction ........................... .xiii

John 1 Seen, Part 1 ................. . 1 John 1 Seen, Part 2 ................. . 5 John 2 Priceless, Part 1 .............. . 7 John 2 Priceless, Part 2 ............. . 11 John 3 New, Part 1 ................ . 13 John 3 New, Part 2 ................ . 17 John 4 Known, Part 1 .............. . 19 John 4 Known, Part 2 .............. . 24 John 5 Precious, Part 1 ............. . 26 John 5 Precious, Part 2 ............. . 31 John 6 Nourished, Part 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 John 6 Nourished, Part 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 John 7 Validated, Part 1 ............ . 40 John 7 Validated, Part 2 ............ . 44 John 8 Accepted, Part 1............. . 46 John 8 Accepted, Part 2............. . 50 John 9 Anointed, Part 1 ............ . 52 John 9 Anointed, Part 2 ............ . 56 John 10 Belonging, Part 1 ............ . 58 John 10 Belonging, Part 2 ............ . 62 John 11 Alive, Part 1................ . 64 John 11 Alive, Part 2................ . 68 John 12 Honored, Part 1............. . 71 John 12 Honored, Part 2............. . 75

John 13 Served, Part 1............... . 77 John 13 Served, Part 2............... . 81 John 14 Nurtured, Part 1 ............ . 83 John 14 Nurtured, Part 2 ............ . 87 John 15 Connected, Part 1 ........... . 89 John 15 Connected, Part 2 ........... . 92 John 16 Prepared, Part 1 ............. . 94 John 16 Prepared, Part 2 ............. . 98 John 17 Protected, Part 1 ........... . 100 John 17 Protected, Part 2 ........... . 104 John 18 Broken, Part 1 ............. . 106 John 18 Broken, Part 2 ............. . 110 John 19 Pardoned, Part 1 ........... . 112 John 19 Pardoned, Part 2 ........... . 116 John 20 Glad, Part 1 ............... . 118 John 20 Glad, Part 2 ............... . 122 John 21 Free, Part 1 ............... . 124 John 21 Free, Part 2 ............... . 128 Matthew 1 Related. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

About the Authors ...................... . 136

Note to the Reader

We have always been friends. We played dolls together as little girls, we tried out for cheerleading together as teenagers, and we were there for each other on our wedding days. We grew up together, enjoying our similarities and learning to appreciate our di erences.

As adults, we have been through celebrations and disappointments together. Over time, we have laughed and laughed and laughed, and yes, we have also cried. Just like everyone, our lives have been full of both good times and bad.

Although we have always been friends, there was a point in our friendship when things changed. In a surprising turn and at a surprising age— y something—we discovered a new type of relationship: a working friendship. In faith, we set out on a new adventure together, attempting to create something that might become meaningful. is journey, consisting of collaboration, hard work, and high hopes, began our unexpected new chapter. We put our heads together and, prayerfully, began to write. e idea of writing a Christmas devotional based on the Gospel of Luke, we hoped, was only the beginning. Together, combining Katy’s love for writing with Anna’s love for ministering to others, we embarked on this new journey and began to envision and formulate the idea of future collaborative projects. Our desire to follow Christmas Matters: How the Birth of Jesus Makes a Di erence Every Day with an Easter devotional based on the Gospel of John soon moved from our heads and hearts into our laptops.

is is how Easter Matters: How the Resurrection of Jesus Changes You came to be written. In writing this book, our greatest desire is simply to help others focus on our Savior, the Messiah, during the Easter season and beyond.