Dandi Daley Mackall is an avid animal lover and best-selling writer of many animal books (including Winnie the Horse Gentler and Starlight Animal Rescue); she clearly has a gift for sharing animal stories in a unique and interesting style. Her gift comes through once again in this One Year devotion that uses animals to point to spiritual truths. Each devotion begins with a fun or interesting fact about an animal; this fact then introduces a concept of life and godliness that is reinforced by a scripture verse. The devotion concludes with an activity to do that day that relates to the devotion; there is also a sidebar with more fun/interesting facts. The animals used in this devotion range from the beloved and familiar (such as horses and dogs) to the extraordinary and unfamiliar (such as the kookaburra and the Pompeii worm).

THE ONE YEAR DEVOS for ANIMAL LOVERS

Cool Things Animals Show Us about Our CreatorBy Dandi Daley Mackall

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Dandi Daley Mackall
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4143-3171-3

Introduction

ALL GOD'S CREATURES

God could have made the world without animals. Or God could have settled on one animal-a cow, maybe. Or one type of fish-an angelfish, or a shark.

Do we really need a couple hundred breeds of dogs and nearly that many horse breeds? Was it necessary for cats to come in different colors and fur patterns or for birds to be able to sing their own unique songs?

Our Creator, in his infinite wisdom, kindness, creativity, and love, has filled the world with so many different kinds of creatures that scientists can't even agree how many types of animals exist on earth. And more species are being discovered all the time.

Each animal has a purpose in the world-to spread pollen, to dig, to fill a spot in the food chain, to keep the environment balanced ... and to teach us about God, the Creator.

If you're reading this book, you probably consider yourself an animal lover, so you've experienced for yourself how important animals are-not only to the world, but to you. Most pets show us unconditional love, gratitude, joy, generosity, compassion, and creativity-all the qualities we'd like to see in our friends, and in ourselves.

It's no accident that creation reflects the Creator. Animals can give us insights into who God is and how God works. Nobody who owns a loving dog can doubt the kindness of God. The sight of a horse galloping, the touch of a cat's soft fur, the sound of a goose honking-they all point to a God we want to get to know better.

As you read this book, you'll discover more about the animals you already love ... and more about the loving God who created them.

God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal ... livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24-25

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Excerpted from THE ONE YEAR DEVOS for ANIMAL LOVERSby Dandi Daley Mackall Copyright © 2010 by Dandi Daley Mackall. Excerpted by permission.
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