“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

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When we read this famous verse without exploring the extent and intent of God’s worldwide reach, we can begin to interpret “the world” as our world, our personal space, our comfort zones. We can fail to celebrate God’s creativity in the way He designed people with intentional diversity. Differences can make us feel uneasy and cause unnecessary divisions.

However, exposing young readers to books that celebrate differences can enrich their relationships with God and others. Widening a child’s perspective empowers them to become more compassionate and open to celebrating differences in how others live and worship God.

My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God Around the World, written by Tina Cho and illustrated by Guy Wolek, offers a fun way to begin nurturing a deeper appreciation of the world God loved so much.

Tina Cho brings readers to the breakfast table where they meet children from around the world. Yellow text boxes provide brief descriptions of the foods each family enjoys, some details about the countries of origin, and explanations of various traditions and routines.

Starting with a view of Jesus eating with His disciples “on a beach in Israel,” readers are seated at the breakfast table with children around the world and even on the International Space Station.

My Breakfast with Jesus equips young readers to become globally-minded disciples and affirms the connectedness of God’s beautifully and intentionally diverse people.

As we explore the endless expanse of God’s reach, we can expand our reach and break down the barriers that limit us to the boundaries of our world, our personal space, and our comfort zones.

How have you helped your young readers become globally-minded disciples?

Fun Activity: Find recipes for some of the foods introduced in My Breakfast with Jesus and invite others to prepare the varied menu and discuss how others worship God around the world as you worship Him together through the sweetness of fellowship.

To find out more about My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God Around the World, please visit Tina Cho’s website today at: https://www.tinamcho.com/my-breakfast-with-jesus.html

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Xochitl Dixon, author of Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace (2019) and the children’s picture book Different Like Me (2020), serves as a speaker and contributing writer for Our Daily Bread (2015-Current), Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures (2018-Current), God Sees Her (2020), Moments of Peace for Moms (2020), Second-Chance Dogs (2018), and God Hears Her (2017). Xochitl empowers readers to be rooted in God’s Word while growing with God’s beautifully diverse and purposefully connected people. She serves Jesus with her service dog, Callie, her husband, Alan, and sons, AJ and Xavier, and connects with readers at www.xedixon.com.