 From the PublisherWhat do your kids know about the fruit of the Spirit? Maybe they can rattle off the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But do they really understand what the fruits look like in daily life? Christie Thomas is here to help you connect your children to the power of the Holy Spirit – and help your entire family learn a lot along the way! Each of these 100 devotionals will inspire your family with thought-provoking questions, real-life applications, and more. She also includes hands-on activities you can try when there’s time. Fruit Full offers real understanding of how God covers each of us with his goodness and love, and how the Spirit will help your kids grow in their own beautiful, Jesus-reflecting character With this book as your guide, the whole family will learn to grow abundant “fruit” together. “The most comprehensive, well-written family devotional on the fruits of the Spirit that I have ever read…A thoroughly easy-to-read, delightful devotional.” -Glenys Nellist, author of the Love Letters from God series The InterviewBrock: What was your inspiration for writing this book or series? Christie: In my 20+ years in children’s ministry, I often encountered curriculum that turned the Fruit of the Spirit into character traits we wanted to see in our kids. We labelled apples and bananas with permanent markers and gave them grape-scented stickers and magnets, but kids just didn’t understand. Worse, they didn’t grow spiritually. Finally, I figured out why. The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t a to-do list. Training our kids to "do better" at the fruits of the Spirit isn't Christian because the fruits of the Spirit aren't just nice character traits to practice. They are evidence of a life that is crucified with Christ and living in the resurrection power of His Spirit. They're fruit, not rules. When Paul wrote about the Fruit of the Spirit, he meant that when we put our roots deep down into God’s love and our souls are nurtured by Living Water and we follow the Light of the World, then, like a tree, we will grow good fruit. And the good fruit that grows in our lives as a result of being with Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a soul that is growing in Christ. Fruit Full centres around this concept: that as we spend more time with Jesus, connected to the Vine, we will grow in the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits then will naturally grow because they are the evidence of a life rooted in Christ. Brock: In three sentences what is this book about? Christie: How about one sentence? Through Fruit Full, I help your family focus on how Jesus lived out the fruit of the Spirit...and how, as we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus. Brock: But it's a long sentence, so we'll take it! What is your favorite genre to write for? Christie: I love writings stories from the Bible for kids! I’m not fussy as to whether the stories are in picture book or devotional form. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Christie: I hope families will take a few minutes each day to connect with their kids through the devotions, conversation starters, and sample prayers. I also hope families will use the hands-on learning activities in whatever way fits their family best, whether that’s doing a few in one day, one per week, or just adding them as you have time and inspiration. Brock: What do you hope kids take away from this book or series? Christie: I hope kids learn that they are deeply loved by Jesus, and that, as believers, they know they have constant access to the Holy Spirit as their Helper and Guide in life. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Christie: Since I also homeschool my three sons, I only have time to write part-time! I write in the evenings and on weekends, but usually try to make sure my kids know they are my priority. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Christie:I self-published my first book, a preschool devotional and submitted it for a writing contest. It made the short-list, so I flew to the conference on the other side of Canada. It was my first ever writer’s conference, and I gathered up all my courage to meet with an agent during the 1-on-1 sessions. To my shock and delight, his agency signed me on a few weeks later, and I’ve been slowly creating new books ever since. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Christie: I loved to write as a child, but wandered away from that dream in university, when I took a biology degree, hoping to get into medicine. However, rather than applying for med school, I ended up loving my summer job in Children’s Ministry and staying there for the next 14 years. Through my time in ministry, I wrote newsletters, skits, Bible stories, and curriculum, which heavily influenced my writing style and rebirthed my dream to be a writer. Brock: It';s time for the lightning round or unique questions! Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos? Christie: Tortilla chips. 😉 Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Christie: The Rocky Mountains. Brock: Favorite color? Christie:Purple Brock: Where do you live? Christie: I’m from Alberta, Canada, and live 10 minutes from the house my parents bought in 1978. I love living near my family, and my parents have been amazing cheerleaders during the writing process. Brock: What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Christie: I homeschool my three sons and (in the summer) putter around in the garden! I am proud to grow cantaloupe in my little greenhouse, despite how far north I live. Meet the Author I spent over a decade as the Children's Ministries Director at my church in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), but now I spend my time writing books and homeschooling my three boys. I believe that EVERY Christian mom can confidently nurture deep faith roots in her kids through tiny habits that add up over time. These tiny habits will grow like roots in your family, and they allow you to be more creative and go deeper with your kids as you develop confidence in God's faithfulness and in your leadership skills. When you join the Little Shoots, Deep Roots community, you will learn to lead your kids spiritually through little faith habits, without feeling like you have to do it all or know it all. I'm all about making family faith fun and simple so that your kids love it, and you can feel confident that you're nurturing deep faith roots in your family. Learn more at LittleShootsDeepRoots.com Book Title: Fruit Full: 100 Family Experiences for Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit Publisher: Kregel Audience: Christian families with kids ages 2-12 Genre: Christian family devotional Release Date: February, 2022 Author Name: Christie Thomas Author Website: https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/ Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristieThomasLittleShoots/ Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleshootsdeeproots/?hl=en Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/cthomaswriter/ Author Other Social Media: https://www.tiktok.com/@littleshootsdeeproots 
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