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God of All Creation: Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
--MATTHEW 6:26
God of All Creation recounts how a miniature dachshund taught her owner, James Robison, profound insights about life, faith, and God's care for all of His creation. A devoted dog lover and co-host of the television program Life Today, James shares how the antics of his own dog, Princess, as well as observations from all animals in creation, reveal "expressions of God's love, lessons of His grace, warnings about sin, and other eternal truths."
Heart-warming stories and winsome line drawings bring to life the lessons James has learned from his pets and creatures living in the wild. And through his inspiration and spiritual insights, you, too, will learn to know God's voice, to submit to Him, and to trust Him with your every need.
"I love that James did this book!" --BETH MOORE
"You are about to read some poignant lessons we can learn from pets and all creatures--a clear revelation of the love God has for each of us. I share what I've learned as I've watched, held, and loved our little Princess and as I've watched wild animals in nature. Only a God who truly loves us as individuals could bless us with such treasured moments with our pets and wildlife, if we will just take notice...
"A friend once said, 'If you can't see God in everything, you won't see God in anything.' In this book we will explore...eternal truths as we consider our pets and other awesome residents of God's vast creation."
--JAMES ROBISON
--MATTHEW 6:26
God of All Creation recounts how a miniature dachshund taught her owner, James Robison, profound insights about life, faith, and God's care for all of His creation. A devoted dog lover and co-host of the television program Life Today, James shares how the antics of his own dog, Princess, as well as observations from all animals in creation, reveal "expressions of God's love, lessons of His grace, warnings about sin, and other eternal truths."
Heart-warming stories and winsome line drawings bring to life the lessons James has learned from his pets and creatures living in the wild. And through his inspiration and spiritual insights, you, too, will learn to know God's voice, to submit to Him, and to trust Him with your every need.
"I love that James did this book!" --BETH MOORE
"You are about to read some poignant lessons we can learn from pets and all creatures--a clear revelation of the love God has for each of us. I share what I've learned as I've watched, held, and loved our little Princess and as I've watched wild animals in nature. Only a God who truly loves us as individuals could bless us with such treasured moments with our pets and wildlife, if we will just take notice...
"A friend once said, 'If you can't see God in everything, you won't see God in anything.' In this book we will explore...eternal truths as we consider our pets and other awesome residents of God's vast creation."
--JAMES ROBISON
176 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2012
12 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
James Robison
111 books18 followersJames Robison is an American televangelist and the founder and President of the Christian relief organization Life Outreach International.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 8, 2012
What can we learn from our pets and other animals that come into our lives? In this new book, James Robison takes life lessons from the things we may not really pay attention to when we are with our pets, and shows how we can easily adapt them to our lives.
A miniature dachshund named "Princess" has brought so much joy into the lives of the Robisons. But she has also brought spiritual reminders that we can all learn from. We all know that dogs are loyal, protective, and lovable, but, they also teach us lessons on things like persistence, obedience, purpose, thankfulness, and making the most of the time we have. One of the stories in the book deals with Princess getting a "sticker" in her paw. Many dogs wouldn't want to have anyone touch it, but Princess trusted James and not only let him remove the main sticker, but also a thorn that was left. We can apply this to our Christian lives by totally trusting God to take care of us and completely remove the "stickers" when they come along. He is so faithful to us! Another area of our lives that sometimes needs reinforcement is boundaries. Why are they important and what harm can there be from pushing them? Read the story of "Hershey" and you will discover the way those choices affect everyone. There are many other devotional type stories in the book to read and enjoy while reinforcing basic principles of our lives.
I really enjoyed this book (and will keep it handy for continued encouragement) and am recommending it to my friends. It is encouraging and full of teaching moments, but all is done in an easy to understand manner. We have a dog that is part dachshund that has brought great joy to our lives. But, I also am now finding myself paying more attention to the things he does to see if God is trying to tell me something. Pick up this book and enjoy the stories. You may find some life changing truths. I received my free review copy from the Blogging For Books Program in exchange for an honest review.
A miniature dachshund named "Princess" has brought so much joy into the lives of the Robisons. But she has also brought spiritual reminders that we can all learn from. We all know that dogs are loyal, protective, and lovable, but, they also teach us lessons on things like persistence, obedience, purpose, thankfulness, and making the most of the time we have. One of the stories in the book deals with Princess getting a "sticker" in her paw. Many dogs wouldn't want to have anyone touch it, but Princess trusted James and not only let him remove the main sticker, but also a thorn that was left. We can apply this to our Christian lives by totally trusting God to take care of us and completely remove the "stickers" when they come along. He is so faithful to us! Another area of our lives that sometimes needs reinforcement is boundaries. Why are they important and what harm can there be from pushing them? Read the story of "Hershey" and you will discover the way those choices affect everyone. There are many other devotional type stories in the book to read and enjoy while reinforcing basic principles of our lives.
I really enjoyed this book (and will keep it handy for continued encouragement) and am recommending it to my friends. It is encouraging and full of teaching moments, but all is done in an easy to understand manner. We have a dog that is part dachshund that has brought great joy to our lives. But, I also am now finding myself paying more attention to the things he does to see if God is trying to tell me something. Pick up this book and enjoy the stories. You may find some life changing truths. I received my free review copy from the Blogging For Books Program in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2012
For somebody who wasn't raised in a religious household, this book was interesting to me. While being spiritual is important to me, I've never participated in organized religion. I like Robison's analogies of pets to God and how Christians should live according to the Bible. I feel like this was very creative on his part. The book didn't flow as well as I would've liked and the chapters felt disjointed to me. Overall, it was worth a read.
November 30, 2012
Texas televangelist James Robison shares 28 lessons he's learned from animals and pets--most notably his miniature dachshund Princess. I had highish hopes for it, on account of the Beth Moore blurb on the back, but the end result is just ok.
Robison's lessons are pretty straightforward and simple--nothing earth-shattering or mind-blowing here. The chapters are short (the whole thing is less than 200 pages), and would likely make a decent devotional, albeit a fairly fluffy one. The writing is nothing special and borders on sappy, which is to be expected in a book like this, I suppose. Robison's relationship with his dog has clearly taught him a lot about how to relate to God--recognizing His voice, enjoying His company, obeying His commands, trusting Him with our hurts, etc. And there are some cautionary tales as well.
Which leads me to my main issue with this book. There seem to be only two categories in Robison's book: good dogs and bad dogs. Good dogs are happy and have a good relationship with the master. Bad dogs ... die. I'm not kidding. The two most pronounced examples of bad behavior end with the death of the dog. One chased cars and eventually caught one, to her detriment, and another had a talent for escaping and getting into mischief and also meets his demise at the hands (wheels) of a car. I understand the cautionary nature of these tales (and certainly a dog has less capacity for long-term sanctification or improvement than a human), but the end result feels more law than gospel.
Looking at my own life, I am a bad dog much more often than I am a good dog. Reading this book, it felt like I was doomed to death for my bad behavior--bad dogs die. And that's certainly what I deserve. But the beauty of the gospel is that what I deserve was meted out to Christ, and what He deserves is now credited to me. And while Robison does mention the gospel, his stories do not illustrate it.
Which seems like a missed opportunity. In my interactions with my dog, I've learned a lot about the gospel. Like any dog, he screws up--he eats something he shouldn't, and makes himself sick, or hurts his teeth chewing on something he shouldn't. He does things he knows he shouldn't do, and in the process he ends up hurting himself and making a big mess. But I still love him. I clean up the mess I didn't make, and I care for the injuries he's inflicted on himself. And when I get frustrated at him, I am reminded that I do the exact same thing. I know what sin is, and I know it is damaging to my soul--and often to my very life. But I do it anyway, and then I look up at God from the midst of my despair and self-inflicted pain, and I ask him to help me. And He does. He doesn't like what I've done. He doesn't say it's ok that I did it. He hates it--even more than I hate doggie vomit or ... other things. But He washes me in the blood of the Lamb, and cleans me up so I can be in fellowship with Him. And even as I (sometimes) strive to be a good dog, I am sustained by the knowledge that, at the end of the day, I just have a good master. That's the source of my hope.
Maybe Robison's experience is different. Maybe Princess was only ever a good dog. But the overall tone is more legalistic than I think Robison intends it to be. I think he wants to encourage us to live well, and that's great--but it's not the whole story. I think it would have been a better picture of the gospel if he'd included some redeeming, hope-filled stories for bad dogs who want to be good (at least some of the time)--for bad dogs who've been adopted by good masters.
Robison's lessons are pretty straightforward and simple--nothing earth-shattering or mind-blowing here. The chapters are short (the whole thing is less than 200 pages), and would likely make a decent devotional, albeit a fairly fluffy one. The writing is nothing special and borders on sappy, which is to be expected in a book like this, I suppose. Robison's relationship with his dog has clearly taught him a lot about how to relate to God--recognizing His voice, enjoying His company, obeying His commands, trusting Him with our hurts, etc. And there are some cautionary tales as well.
Which leads me to my main issue with this book. There seem to be only two categories in Robison's book: good dogs and bad dogs. Good dogs are happy and have a good relationship with the master. Bad dogs ... die. I'm not kidding. The two most pronounced examples of bad behavior end with the death of the dog. One chased cars and eventually caught one, to her detriment, and another had a talent for escaping and getting into mischief and also meets his demise at the hands (wheels) of a car. I understand the cautionary nature of these tales (and certainly a dog has less capacity for long-term sanctification or improvement than a human), but the end result feels more law than gospel.
Looking at my own life, I am a bad dog much more often than I am a good dog. Reading this book, it felt like I was doomed to death for my bad behavior--bad dogs die. And that's certainly what I deserve. But the beauty of the gospel is that what I deserve was meted out to Christ, and what He deserves is now credited to me. And while Robison does mention the gospel, his stories do not illustrate it.
Which seems like a missed opportunity. In my interactions with my dog, I've learned a lot about the gospel. Like any dog, he screws up--he eats something he shouldn't, and makes himself sick, or hurts his teeth chewing on something he shouldn't. He does things he knows he shouldn't do, and in the process he ends up hurting himself and making a big mess. But I still love him. I clean up the mess I didn't make, and I care for the injuries he's inflicted on himself. And when I get frustrated at him, I am reminded that I do the exact same thing. I know what sin is, and I know it is damaging to my soul--and often to my very life. But I do it anyway, and then I look up at God from the midst of my despair and self-inflicted pain, and I ask him to help me. And He does. He doesn't like what I've done. He doesn't say it's ok that I did it. He hates it--even more than I hate doggie vomit or ... other things. But He washes me in the blood of the Lamb, and cleans me up so I can be in fellowship with Him. And even as I (sometimes) strive to be a good dog, I am sustained by the knowledge that, at the end of the day, I just have a good master. That's the source of my hope.
Maybe Robison's experience is different. Maybe Princess was only ever a good dog. But the overall tone is more legalistic than I think Robison intends it to be. I think he wants to encourage us to live well, and that's great--but it's not the whole story. I think it would have been a better picture of the gospel if he'd included some redeeming, hope-filled stories for bad dogs who want to be good (at least some of the time)--for bad dogs who've been adopted by good masters.
August 24, 2012
With only 160 pages divided amongst 28 chapters it's a small(er) book. At first glance, skimming the pages I see several sketches and lots of bible verses and God references.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”—MATTHEW 6:26
"Heartwarming stories and winsome line drawings bring to the the lessons James has learned from his pets and creatures living in the wild. And through his inspiration and spiritual insights, you, too, will learn to know God's voice, to submit to him, and to trust Him with your every need." ~Taken from the back cover, this paragraph had me excited to read this book. From the very first chapter James jumps right into comparing lessons from pet to God;
"Often times, only my voice keeps Princess ({his mini dachshund}) from getting into trouble. If she listens and obeys, she will come back to the safety and provisions of her home. If not, all manner of trouble awaits............the same is true with people. Really, the question is not weather we will go astray. We will, because it it in our nature to do so. The question is, what we will do when God calls us back to His care? And, even more important, will we know God's voice when He does call?"
Written extremely well, a very easy read, this book stands out amongst all other "life lessons from pets book,". Why? James has a way of taking everything and relating it to God, his creative writing takes a simple thing and relates it so strongly to God, that you can't help but take his word to heart...Each chapter you not only enjoy James's relationship with an animal, but also how that animal can teach you so much about God, His amazing creation, and His love for you.
Being an animal lover I feel like this book has given me a better insight to the love, power, and wonder of God. Though not written as a Christian living book, I feel like this book can easily stand amongst that shelf (as well as the animal shelf).
If you've never read any type of "life lessons from pets" type book, I would advise you start here. A must read for all- even if you're not an animal lover like me, just give this book a chance.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was asked to give my honest review on this book. This is my honest opinion of this book, if I didn't like it I would say so, it just so happened I really loved this book.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”—MATTHEW 6:26
"Heartwarming stories and winsome line drawings bring to the the lessons James has learned from his pets and creatures living in the wild. And through his inspiration and spiritual insights, you, too, will learn to know God's voice, to submit to him, and to trust Him with your every need." ~Taken from the back cover, this paragraph had me excited to read this book. From the very first chapter James jumps right into comparing lessons from pet to God;
"Often times, only my voice keeps Princess ({his mini dachshund}) from getting into trouble. If she listens and obeys, she will come back to the safety and provisions of her home. If not, all manner of trouble awaits............the same is true with people. Really, the question is not weather we will go astray. We will, because it it in our nature to do so. The question is, what we will do when God calls us back to His care? And, even more important, will we know God's voice when He does call?"
Written extremely well, a very easy read, this book stands out amongst all other "life lessons from pets book,". Why? James has a way of taking everything and relating it to God, his creative writing takes a simple thing and relates it so strongly to God, that you can't help but take his word to heart...Each chapter you not only enjoy James's relationship with an animal, but also how that animal can teach you so much about God, His amazing creation, and His love for you.
Being an animal lover I feel like this book has given me a better insight to the love, power, and wonder of God. Though not written as a Christian living book, I feel like this book can easily stand amongst that shelf (as well as the animal shelf).
If you've never read any type of "life lessons from pets" type book, I would advise you start here. A must read for all- even if you're not an animal lover like me, just give this book a chance.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was asked to give my honest review on this book. This is my honest opinion of this book, if I didn't like it I would say so, it just so happened I really loved this book.
October 4, 2012
Can God's creatures provide us with inspiration and spiritual insight? Are there lessons we can learn from our pets? Author James Robison seems to think so, for that's the entire message of his book, God of All Creation, a collection of short devotions based on lessons he learned from pets and wildlife. Robison recounts profound insights about trusting in the Master, listening for the Master's voice, heeding directions, being on guard and so much more. Each story is entertaining and educational.
I first heard about Robison's book through a friend who was reviewing it. She wanted to let me know how much the book reminded her of my own devotional book, 'Paws'itively Divine: Devotions for Dog Lovers. After reading just a couple of chapters, I, too, noticed the similarities. That being the case, I immensely enjoyed the book. I'm ever mindful of the many lessons I've learned from my two dogs, so I can totally relate to Robison's accounts. God has created a huge world for us to enjoy but also to learn from. There are no accidents or coincidences, so I firmly believe that there are lessons all around us to be learned. Sometimes we just need to pay better attention.
The short nature of each devotion made it easy to read a little each day. But no matter how much or little I read, I always walked away with much to meditate on. I also thoroughly enjoyed the picture sketches throughout the book. They added life and character to the pages and enriched the heart-warming tales. All in all, this book was an inspiration, and I highly recommend it, especially to animal lovers.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I first heard about Robison's book through a friend who was reviewing it. She wanted to let me know how much the book reminded her of my own devotional book, 'Paws'itively Divine: Devotions for Dog Lovers. After reading just a couple of chapters, I, too, noticed the similarities. That being the case, I immensely enjoyed the book. I'm ever mindful of the many lessons I've learned from my two dogs, so I can totally relate to Robison's accounts. God has created a huge world for us to enjoy but also to learn from. There are no accidents or coincidences, so I firmly believe that there are lessons all around us to be learned. Sometimes we just need to pay better attention.
The short nature of each devotion made it easy to read a little each day. But no matter how much or little I read, I always walked away with much to meditate on. I also thoroughly enjoyed the picture sketches throughout the book. They added life and character to the pages and enriched the heart-warming tales. All in all, this book was an inspiration, and I highly recommend it, especially to animal lovers.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
January 1, 2013
God of All Creation is about the love of God found through the touch of pets and their unconditional love. James Robison and Betty Robison have a miniature dachshund named Princess. Through watching his lovely dog, he has learned that God has the best interests in mind for us. He will chase us even when we choose to try and run from his leading and calling. Princess loves to hunt and chase deer, rabbits, armadillos, badgers, and squirrels. James doesn’t care if Princess wants to chase rabbits and squirrels because they can’t hurt her. He also has witnessed how he wants to be good to Princess and he loves riding her around in his truck. God revealed to him and made recall how his children longed to do good because good was good and it was how they were raised. God has given us His word to display how he desires us to live and love.
I immensely connected with the animal fable James Robison shared about a wolf getting caught in a trap. A human found the wolf but the wolf refused to receive help from a human. He could have rescued him and saved his life but he couldn’t bring himself to trust a human. This story is told to convey how much Jesus wants us in Heaven with Him. But in the end, it comes down to us choosing to believe in Christ. He won’t force us into a relationship with Him.
I would recommend this fantastic novel to anyone who is an enormous pet lover. If you enjoy loving on pets of all kinds then this book will benefit you and you will be able to get a lot from it. I have grown up loving dogs and have had four dogs through my lifetime so far (I’m only twenty-two) and will most likely continue. It will assist you in learning about how much God truly loves His people. Each of the stories is about four pages long and can be read like a devotional. This book would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys nature and pets. God truly loves you and wants the best for you this book is a great reminder of that.
“I received this copy of God of All Creation for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
I immensely connected with the animal fable James Robison shared about a wolf getting caught in a trap. A human found the wolf but the wolf refused to receive help from a human. He could have rescued him and saved his life but he couldn’t bring himself to trust a human. This story is told to convey how much Jesus wants us in Heaven with Him. But in the end, it comes down to us choosing to believe in Christ. He won’t force us into a relationship with Him.
I would recommend this fantastic novel to anyone who is an enormous pet lover. If you enjoy loving on pets of all kinds then this book will benefit you and you will be able to get a lot from it. I have grown up loving dogs and have had four dogs through my lifetime so far (I’m only twenty-two) and will most likely continue. It will assist you in learning about how much God truly loves His people. Each of the stories is about four pages long and can be read like a devotional. This book would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys nature and pets. God truly loves you and wants the best for you this book is a great reminder of that.
“I received this copy of God of All Creation for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
April 3, 2016
When Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging Group extended me the ability to review this fine book, "God of All Creation~Life Lessons From Pets & Wildlife" by James Robinson in exchange for my honest opinions I pounced on this. I awaited in excitement and anticipation because of my personal experiences with our cairn terrier which was given to our family as a gift. My very first reaction when we were given 'Lincoln" was that the last thing we needed was a puppy in our brand new house and I put a struggle up during the first few weeks. My patient spouse on the other hand was like a school boy voting for the dog and trying to get me to see his side. Long story short, I became physically limited in the last few years and many days I am in dier pain and the one thing I can count on daily to lift my spirits is our pet, Lincoln. He took a liking to me right away and would follow me like a little sheep and cry when I wasn't in sight for him. I could never figure how he latched onto me, the only one who really didn't want him but Oh what love and loyalty. It didn't take him too long to melt my heart and now he is constantly at my side and momma's boy. Nobody can tell me that pets don't know when you are sick or down because they do...he is a constant source of joy and I can't imagine life without him. James Robison compares our love of our pets to God's love for us in a very sweet way throughout the pages of the book. The author goes on to say that '" If a dog can be trained to act according to it's purpose and not get sidetracked , how much more than should we learn to live the kind of life God designed for us?"' This is the underlying thought throughout God of Creation and the author gives us numerous examples of how well each animal species obeys it's call. l found delight reading and learning much about God's creation. The illustrations are stellar. Yes, I would highly recommend especially for pet lovers.
September 18, 2012
God of All Creation:
Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
by James Robinson with James Randall Robinson
Drawing on lessons he learned from his miniature dachshund Princess and other animals both domestic and wild James comes up with parallels to our relationship with God.
Often, we, like our pets, want to follow a certain course of action that could be harmful. God, just like a loving owner, steps in a directs us away from the danger. But there are times we just refuse to listen or learn and we get hurt.
We, like animals, need to watch out for traps. The traps set for us are various and can include love of money, lust, fears, worldly wisdom, and words(spoken without thought or in anger). Traps never look that bad until we have been caught.
We should be like our pets and desire to be with the one who has taken us into His family and opened His home to us. Jesus pointed out the Father's care of animals as an assurance that He would also care for us if we will just accept His love and care.
From page 4 of God of All Creation: "Jesus, the greatest person who ever lived, said, “Look at the birds” (Matthew 6:26), and Solomon, the wisest man, said, “Take a lesson from the ants” (Proverbs 6:6). Both our Savior and the man renowned for his wisdom understood the deeper truths that God reveals through His creation..." God of All Creation indeed shows us how true this is.
The delightful cover illustration of Princess made me want to read this book. Within the book are several other illustrations not enough to say it is illustrated (10 or 11) but they just add a little something extra to the book. The book is broken down into 29 chapters that are between 3 - 6 pages in length making it perfect for short devotional.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review but opinions expressed are my own.
Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
by James Robinson with James Randall Robinson
Drawing on lessons he learned from his miniature dachshund Princess and other animals both domestic and wild James comes up with parallels to our relationship with God.
Often, we, like our pets, want to follow a certain course of action that could be harmful. God, just like a loving owner, steps in a directs us away from the danger. But there are times we just refuse to listen or learn and we get hurt.
We, like animals, need to watch out for traps. The traps set for us are various and can include love of money, lust, fears, worldly wisdom, and words(spoken without thought or in anger). Traps never look that bad until we have been caught.
We should be like our pets and desire to be with the one who has taken us into His family and opened His home to us. Jesus pointed out the Father's care of animals as an assurance that He would also care for us if we will just accept His love and care.
From page 4 of God of All Creation: "Jesus, the greatest person who ever lived, said, “Look at the birds” (Matthew 6:26), and Solomon, the wisest man, said, “Take a lesson from the ants” (Proverbs 6:6). Both our Savior and the man renowned for his wisdom understood the deeper truths that God reveals through His creation..." God of All Creation indeed shows us how true this is.
The delightful cover illustration of Princess made me want to read this book. Within the book are several other illustrations not enough to say it is illustrated (10 or 11) but they just add a little something extra to the book. The book is broken down into 29 chapters that are between 3 - 6 pages in length making it perfect for short devotional.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review but opinions expressed are my own.
June 11, 2013
Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife—the subtitle accurately portrays the basic topic of this book. I would add that they are life lessons for Christians about God, how to hear His voice, how to trust Him and things like that.
From the very beginning I found this book to be delightful to read. I’m sure that is in part because I am an animal lover.
It was also easy to read. No big vocabulary words to stumble over. No deep theological mumbo-jumbo to get confused about. The truths shared were simple, but yet profound.
I also found this book to be “safe” to read. That is, it was not in the least condemnatory. Who wants to feel condemned or guilty? This book is free of that type of talk! Instead it is full of the love of God and His creation. Did I mention it was delightful?
You don’t have to be an animal lover to like this book and get something out of it but I suspect that animal lovers will be more likely to love this book so if you’re an animal lover go out and get yourself your own copy.
To purchase your own copy of this book go here: God of All Creation: Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 225: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the very beginning I found this book to be delightful to read. I’m sure that is in part because I am an animal lover.
It was also easy to read. No big vocabulary words to stumble over. No deep theological mumbo-jumbo to get confused about. The truths shared were simple, but yet profound.
I also found this book to be “safe” to read. That is, it was not in the least condemnatory. Who wants to feel condemned or guilty? This book is free of that type of talk! Instead it is full of the love of God and His creation. Did I mention it was delightful?
You don’t have to be an animal lover to like this book and get something out of it but I suspect that animal lovers will be more likely to love this book so if you’re an animal lover go out and get yourself your own copy.
To purchase your own copy of this book go here: God of All Creation: Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 225: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 1, 2013
I recently got to read God of all creation by James Robison through Blogging for books and I was so happy I got to read it. This book makes for a really nice devotional with short chapters and lots of them , I read 2 each day to start my day and I love the wisdom and insights that James Robinson has.
This book is a teaching book in a small compact volume that easy to read and study. I loved the way James Robison was able to apply some of the things he saw his dog doing in a way that can also be applied to our relationship to the Father. This book would make for a great edition to any Christians library or for a wonderful and insightful book for a new believer or non believer.
I had the kind of dog that James Robinson has and though she has been gone a long time the book really brought back memories and I could remember Doxie as she was years ago.
Every Chapter in God of all creation has a wealth of useful teaching in them. I know that I will be reading it over and over because it really had a way of making me think.
I Know you will absolutely love it and be happy you bought it because its sure to be a classic in Christian literature for years to come. So if you are looking for a really nice little book for your devotional time that you can learn from and smile over I hope you give it a try. Thanks for looking at my review :)
This book is a teaching book in a small compact volume that easy to read and study. I loved the way James Robison was able to apply some of the things he saw his dog doing in a way that can also be applied to our relationship to the Father. This book would make for a great edition to any Christians library or for a wonderful and insightful book for a new believer or non believer.
I had the kind of dog that James Robinson has and though she has been gone a long time the book really brought back memories and I could remember Doxie as she was years ago.
Every Chapter in God of all creation has a wealth of useful teaching in them. I know that I will be reading it over and over because it really had a way of making me think.
I Know you will absolutely love it and be happy you bought it because its sure to be a classic in Christian literature for years to come. So if you are looking for a really nice little book for your devotional time that you can learn from and smile over I hope you give it a try. Thanks for looking at my review :)
September 21, 2012
This was one of those books I sat down with and read cover-to-cover within a couple of hours. I love dogs and my 3 are like my children. The fact that James Robison has learned so much about God's love through his miniature dachshund, Princess, touches my heart. It is so true, though. If we put ourselves in our dog's (or cat's) position and put God in our position, we can learn a lot about His love for us. We take care of our dogs. We feed them, love them and make sure they stay out of harm's way. Isn't that what God does for us? One of my favorite lines from the book is "If you can't see God in everything, you won't see God in anything." This is something that I need to work on more. I loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone, teens or adults.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review. Otherwise, I was not compensated. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review. Otherwise, I was not compensated. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
November 23, 2012
It's interesting how our sweet pets are at our mercy to care for them, and yet they seem to teach us a great deal in return. The book starts with an overview of how Princess, a miniature dachshund came into the author's life and in the following chapters we read how their loving relationship continues to evolve with meaningful and valuable character changing lessons. The author makes numerous parallels of his dog's natural instincts, along with wildlife, to our own human tendencies and beautifully weaves scripture throughout the story to give the reader glimpses of our God's shepherd-like heart of love towards people. It's a sweet book, easy to read, with warm pencil drawings. I love books about animals, so naturally I was drawn to this one. Princess has a personality that is delightfully personable and you just want to get to know her better, while reading along.
July 6, 2013
If you’ve ever watched James Robison and his wife Betty on Life Today, you know that they love God and they love their pets! This book is a culmination of those loves. In a word, this book is adorable! Pet lovers everywhere will enjoy the stories that the author shares. These stories will make you laugh and make you cry (get out the tissues!) I love how the author expresses the fact that we can learn more about God through His creation. These stories convicted me, encouraged me and just helped me ponder the truths and teachings of God in a whole new way!
I highly recommend this book to animal lovers, pet lovers, nature lovers, God lovers!!!
This book would make a wonderful gift!
There are also cute pencil sketches throughout.
I highly recommend this book to animal lovers, pet lovers, nature lovers, God lovers!!!
This book would make a wonderful gift!
There are also cute pencil sketches throughout.
Read
September 26, 2012Do you have a dog, or do you love them? If you answered yes, you'll most likely enjoy "God of All Creation." It's a series of short devotions based mainly on Robison's relationship with his dachshund, Princess, although other dogs and even a few other animals play roles as well.
Pencil sketches throughout add to this small book's charm. These devotions would be a nice way to start or end your day. The book reminded me a lot of "'Paws'itively Divine" by Dana Rongione.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for a review copy of this book.
Pencil sketches throughout add to this small book's charm. These devotions would be a nice way to start or end your day. The book reminded me a lot of "'Paws'itively Divine" by Dana Rongione.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for a review copy of this book.
Read
June 30, 2012FQ
October 1, 2012
I learned a lot about God and the bible while reading this amazing book and will be rereading it many times in the future!
September 15, 2012
I came across this book in a Goodread giveaway, and found this book to be very insightful on animal kingdom and their connection with God. I enjoyed reading James Robison.
October 21, 2012
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I appreciated the points the author made. It was something of a sermon. I was expected a bit more adventures for the dog. It was a mundane book.
January 4, 2013
An easy read with touching stories about pets. I enjoyed the book.
May 15, 2016
Delightful book of seeing God in pets and wildlife. This collection of short insightful passages is fun to read and full of wisdom.
October 13, 2016
It widens your understanding of God's craftsmanship :)
October 30, 2016
These stories can be used as a devotional -- or just read for enjoyment. James Robison uses his dog Princess as an object lesson on the things of God.
January 27, 2020
It is little surprise that people would look to animals for spiritual insights. Such phenomena are well known from the Bible itself and go back thousands of years at the very least. Some three thousand years ago, after all, Solomon told the sluggard to go back to the ant and the obscure Agur was pondering the insights to be gained from obscure animals and their behavior in the book of Proverbs, to give but a few examples of this common phenomenon. It is therefore to be expected that a Christian writer who was at least somewhat observant to the animals around him and interested in exploring the glories of God's creation would seek to write a short book like this one where he explored the relevance of animals to contemporary spirituality and came up with generally unsurprising conclusions. That is not necessarily a bad thing, and given the sort of material that can be written about spirituality as it relates to animals, certainly far better than the floor in such matters, but I was hoping for a discussion of the question of God's care for animals and its possible implications for the world to come. Still, this is a book well worth appreciating.
This book is about 150 pages long and is made up of 28 short chapters that average a bit more than 3 pages apiece. These essays examine the spiritual implications of animals from a Christian perspective in several ways. At times the author draws abstract messages from his own interactions with pets, as when he talks about God's voice calling us the way that we would call an errant dachshund (1), or the fact that God will chase us (2), or that we were created for a purpose (3). The author talks about stickers (4) as well as the importance of making God look good (5) and being good for goodness' sake (6). The author comments on being sensitive to every sound (7) as well as the dog that refused to learn (8), the insights gained from a blind dog (9) as well as the whipped puppy (10). There are discusses of a beloved animal habit of tilting one's head, something I do myself (11), as well as warnings (12) and traps (13) and living under the hand of God (14). Other chapters discuss incomplete loves (17), why we don't feed foxes (18), and the dangers of baby rattlesnakes (19), strays (20), and the short life of mayfly (21), as well as the dangers of chasing cars (25) and dealing with the death of beloved animals (28).
By and large this is a book that is easy enough to celebrate. If the author's thoughts are not particularly unconventional or striking, they are certainly solid reminders of the way that the animals around us can help prompt us to recognize spiritual insights. If these insights are not always daring that does not mean that they are not important. Understanding the compassion of God to use despite the wide gulf that exists between him and ourselves can help us to be more understanding with animals and to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Gaining insight and perspective from seeing the struggles and foibles of animals helps us to become more reflective and humble people, and that is a very worthwhile goal to attain. There is enough wisdom in life that we need to learn and that we often lack in our lives that we should not look down on any source of gaining that wisdom, even if it is small dogs or animals that we encounter in the wild and whose ways we are a stranger to. The author stands in a long line of successful writers who have drawn insight from the animal world, and that is worth appreciating.
This book is about 150 pages long and is made up of 28 short chapters that average a bit more than 3 pages apiece. These essays examine the spiritual implications of animals from a Christian perspective in several ways. At times the author draws abstract messages from his own interactions with pets, as when he talks about God's voice calling us the way that we would call an errant dachshund (1), or the fact that God will chase us (2), or that we were created for a purpose (3). The author talks about stickers (4) as well as the importance of making God look good (5) and being good for goodness' sake (6). The author comments on being sensitive to every sound (7) as well as the dog that refused to learn (8), the insights gained from a blind dog (9) as well as the whipped puppy (10). There are discusses of a beloved animal habit of tilting one's head, something I do myself (11), as well as warnings (12) and traps (13) and living under the hand of God (14). Other chapters discuss incomplete loves (17), why we don't feed foxes (18), and the dangers of baby rattlesnakes (19), strays (20), and the short life of mayfly (21), as well as the dangers of chasing cars (25) and dealing with the death of beloved animals (28).
By and large this is a book that is easy enough to celebrate. If the author's thoughts are not particularly unconventional or striking, they are certainly solid reminders of the way that the animals around us can help prompt us to recognize spiritual insights. If these insights are not always daring that does not mean that they are not important. Understanding the compassion of God to use despite the wide gulf that exists between him and ourselves can help us to be more understanding with animals and to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Gaining insight and perspective from seeing the struggles and foibles of animals helps us to become more reflective and humble people, and that is a very worthwhile goal to attain. There is enough wisdom in life that we need to learn and that we often lack in our lives that we should not look down on any source of gaining that wisdom, even if it is small dogs or animals that we encounter in the wild and whose ways we are a stranger to. The author stands in a long line of successful writers who have drawn insight from the animal world, and that is worth appreciating.
March 3, 2022
This is a book to be savoured, a marvelous collection of reflections on our relationship with creation and Creator, offered without pretense or agenda. The author draws our attention in fresh ways to scripture as life-affirming and loving, filled with deep and abiding love. Yet, one does not need an institutional religious framework to enjoy it. One needs only a heart that is open to wonder and to the subtleties of nature's teachings to begin; the rest falls into place.
I was expecting either cute animal stories or ponderous reflection -- instead I was delighted. Those with dogs in their family already know that dogs are a gift, sent to teach us to become better people. Yet for all of us, there is joy within these pages.
I was expecting either cute animal stories or ponderous reflection -- instead I was delighted. Those with dogs in their family already know that dogs are a gift, sent to teach us to become better people. Yet for all of us, there is joy within these pages.
July 6, 2024
A sweet little book of short stories, basically devotionals, using stories about dogs and other animals to demonstrate and illuminate lessons from the Bible. Some good lessons, and some painful... demonstrated by a couple of very sad stories. :(
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