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My testimony

No, not that doll!

Dread filled my five-year-old heart and overflowed into my tummy as I watched my father drown my favorite doll. I had accidentally broken my brother’s toy, and now my father was teaching me a lesson by ruining my doll’s voice box. But the lesson I learned that day went beyond simple toys. I learned that emotionally hurting me was okay.

In this unique and powerful memoir, Linda Schnepel recalls the routine humiliation and emotional abuse she experienced and the lies that took root in her heart during her early years which led her to believe there was something fundamentally wrong with her. Not only did she feel unloved and unwanted, but she came to believe that her very presence was repulsive to other people. By the time she was twenty, having failed at every effort to free herself from the darkness that filled her, she gave up on life and waited to die. Yet, God had not given up on her. With an intense encounter with Jesus during a movie on TV one night, her life was forever changed. Over the next two years, as she grew to know and trust Him, she began to learn who she was in Him and what it meant to walk in His grace.

Allegories for Adults

What if you could spend a day with Jesus at an amusement park? Would it be like any other day at the amusement park? Or would you expect things to be different?

That’s what Amalia finds out one day when Jesus takes her to an amusement park built with her in mind. From trusting His hand to keep her safe on the Ferris wheel to following His guidance on the bumper cars, she learns something unexpected on each ride. Over the course of the day her faith grows stronger as she discovers new depths in her relationship with Jesus one ride at a time.

Amalia represents all those from teens to seniors who want to follow Jesus but are plagued with fears, insecurities, and worries. What she learns is biblically based with relevant scriptures at the end of each chapter. Reflection questions and blank pages for notetaking are included at the end of the book making this a great devotional or small group study.
Our walk in life is not on a straight, smooth sidewalk. There are frequent bumps and turns as we try to follow the path God leads us on. Come with me as I connect the sidewalks of a quiet neighborhood to our walk with God. From detours and intersections to obstacles and danger, each analogy explains in a visual way the unseen steps we often take. Scriptures scattered throughout come alive in light of the comparisons being made. Reflection questions are provided at the end to help make further connections and to deepen understandings.
“Hey, are you okay?”
A lady’s concerned voice broke through Bella’s thoughts. Looking up at the lady, Bella answered “Yeah, I’m fine,”
“You don’t look fine,” the lady insisted.
Bella responded, “Well, I am.”
But when Bella tried to stand, pain burst through her right hip. Falling back down, she saw that her right side was red. She must have hit awfully hard to skin such a large area.
“You are hurt,” the lady exclaimed, leaning over her. “Don’t move. I’ll call 911.”
Bella raised her hand towards the lady. “But I’m not hurt. Not really. I’ll be fine.”
“Nonsense, dear. You need help, and I’m going to make sure you get it!”

As a college student, Bella did not have the money to pay for medical care so she decided to hide from this pushy lady in the nearby church, As soon as she enters it, she discovers that this church is like no other. Why is there a large fountain in the middle of the foyer? How could a church be bigger on the inside than on the outside? How could a church in the middle of a crowded city have a lake in its backyard? Bella feels drawn to this strange church, and to the love and acceptance she feels from Pastor Toby and his son, Jude. But she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t… normal about them.

Stories co-written by children

Little Howler and his mom lived behind some ferns on the porch of the Phillips family. It wasn’t a normal place for wolves to live, but then Little Howler wasn’t normal. For one thing, he was less than six inches tall. That’s very tiny for a wolf. But even more important than that, Little Howler looked just like a stuffed wolf. In fact, everyone in the Phillips family actually thought he was a toy. Everyone, that is, except Jeremiah. Jeremiah knew better because he had caught Little Howler several times exploring the yard. At first they were a bit scared of each other but soon they became good friends and sometimes even shared adventures together. But not on this day.

Follow the adventure of Little Howler as he chooses to ignore his mother’s warning and go off on his own only to end up lost. How will he find his way home? Is Jesus really with him, helping him every step of the way? And who is that blue giant that keeps following him? Collaborating with her young nephew, the author used his stuffed animals and sense of humor to create this unique book. Children will enjoy the challenges Little Howler encounters, the humorous photos that help tell the story, and the activities found at the end of the book.
Dear Diary,
Guess what happened today? Those little rascals took over MY bed!

Thus begins Hobbs’ diary as he deals with a variety of problems caused by a handful of rambunctious kittens. Along the way, he learns some important lessons about how to get along with others. Each chapter includes a Scripture connection.
This book is the collaboration between Linda Schnepel and her grandson Colin Penn, who loves cats and owns half a dozen stuffed ones along with his real cat, Hobbs. Together they answered the question: What would Hobbs do if all the stuffed kittens were alive?

Would make a great devotional

“Dear Sleepyhead,
You are so cute I can’t take my eyes from you as you sleep here in my arms. Hours go by as minutes – and still I don’t have my fill of you. I wonder what you are dreaming about, and if you feel the incredible love I have for you. Do you hear me as I whisper to you?”

Get a glimpse into God’s heart as you read through these messages, written as letters from a grandmother to her granddaughter as the baby grows from pre-born until near her second birthday. From physical pain to fears of the unknown, you will be able to relate the baby’s experiences with your own life, and sense the deep love and delight God has for you.

Each of the 32 short letters is illustrated with a photo and ends with a verse from God’s Word, making this a great inspirational or devotional book for both adults and children.

For older, elementary children

How is a stressful life like an overgrown garden? How can looking at lawns help you improve relationships with others? What does an old washed up, barnacle covered sandal have to do with God? Learn along with Casey, Brandon, Kelli, Rosey, and Mark. These five easy to read stories teach children biblical truths of God’s love and care for them, as well as how to live by Christian values. Included are comprehension questions, Scriptures, quotes, vocabulary, and connection questions.

For younger children, early elementary age

AJ and her grandmother see many birds on their walks together. Grandma uses AJ’s love for and interest in the birds to teach important concepts about being a child of God. Photographs and facts about a variety of birds are used to make comparisons between what Grandma and AJ see and what God sees. Preschoolers will love sharing these discoveries along with AJ!
From bees and flowers to chickens and donkeys, AJ learns some amazing facts while visiting a farm with her mother. As they go from one area to another, she also learns that sometimes things can feel scarier in person than seeing them in books. Will fear keep her from seeing what she wants most to see?

Following this educational book is a set of questions designed to help preschool children think and rationalize. Most are open-ended with the goal of promoting positive discussions while allowing adults to catch a peek into their thinking processes.
Nohvi wants to play with Spikee but it seems that Spikee had disappeared. With her friends’ help, Nohvi searches the yard for Spikee. Will she be able to find her? Where can she be? Inspirational and fun for preschoolers! The engaging photographs in this book enrich the text in the story to bring a fun inspirational message of God’s love. In the Parable of the Coin, found in Luke 15:8-10, Jesus told of a woman who had lost a coin and didn’t give up looking for it until she found it. With the same determination as that woman, Nohvi searches for Spikee all throughout their yard. And in so doing, she reveals God’s heart towards His people. He loves each of us and, if we ever got lost, He’d wouldn’t give up looking until He found us. Preschoolers will enjoy hearing the story over and over, and young readers will enjoy reading the simple text for themselves. Included are comprehension questions to further engage young minds, a child-friendly paragraph connecting Hide and Seek to the Parable of the Lost Coin found in Luke 15:8-10, and fun activity pages.

For very young children

What better way to teach young children colors than a trip to the beach? Each page in this book contains a color word and something found on a beach featuring that color: red algae, green seaweed, pink shell, brown driftwood, and more. The simple labels for the picture throw in a little extra science. And the last few pages give young children the opportunity to practice their new skills. Children will want to read this book over and over!
AJ loves to take walks in her stroller. So many things to see each day! Some are common, some not so common. Young children will enjoy using the simple clues to guess what AJ sees next on her walk through God’s amazing world. A page at the end of the book challenges readers to classify the things AJ saw as living or nonliving.
“It looks too scary to be fun.”

That’s what Rachel thinks when she finds a new slide in the middle of her living room. Even though her Daddy urges her to try it, her fear causes her to avoid it by doing other things instead. Finally Daddy has a little chat with her about fear and trust. Will Rachel trust Daddy’s words? Or will her fear keep her from ever using the slide?

Young children will relate to Rachel’s feelings as she faces her fear of the unknown. Adults will relate to the allegorical Christian message that we, too, are often afraid of the unknown. And just as Rachel’s trust in Daddy helped her through her challenge, trusting our heavenly Father helps us through our own scary challenges.

Included at the end of the book are comprehension questions and prayers for young children, along with some blank pages where personal prayers – and answers – can be recorded.