JILL MARIE THOMAS
Author, Teacher, Speaker
"...she's a Jesus-lovin', word-slingin'
eternity enthusiast!"
-Caleb T.
Bookstore
Twisted: Mindful Pretzel Consumption
As the great-great granddaughter of the founder of America’s first pretzel bakery, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel House in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Tom Sturgis (of Tom Sturgis Pretzels in Reading, PA - my hometown), I have a lot to say about the history of pretzel making. Central Pennsylvania is the birth bed of our modern pretzel business, and this book tells it all. The origin of the pretzel, the evolution of pretzel baking, the traditions, legends, and recipes—there’s something fun in this book for everyone.
Buy here.
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The Day My Son Fell from the Sky
This family memoir recounts my son’s powered parachute crash from an altitude above 500 feet. Miraculously he survived, and this book tells his story along with his previous flight history and the difficult recovery after the crash. The book is not only the narrative of his accident, but it also takes a hard look at trauma and how to mentally process when there are no reasonable explanations for what has happened. Every family has experienced some sort of trauma. Bad things happen to good people. We all need to find a glimpse of hope in the midst of horrific incidents.
Buy here.
Risking It All: One Woman's Adventure Giving Away Her Income and Study Guide
Several years ago I received a compulsion to give away my income for one year and to write about the experience. The book is a journal of how I did that—how I decided where to give, how I survived, and how the adventure affected me. Not everybody may be challenged to have that exact kind of giving experience, but everyone can find simple and practical ways to give should they so desire. This book provides plenty of practical suggestions and inspiration.
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Redemption Rentals: Home Away Haven
The Redemption Rentals series of fiction books revolve around several unique vacation rental properties and the management group who oversee them. The people who come to stay in these dwellings often get more than they bargained for as they encounter the local church folk and other sinister entities in the area. Some of them have the traveler’s best interests in mind; others want to kill and destroy. In “Home Away Haven” a young father running from the law finds himself in a battle for his life and the ones he loves.
Buy here.
Dissectology: Life Lessons from Jigsaw Puzzles
Just as during the Spanish Influenza (1918) and the Great Depression (1929-33), the Covid19 virus is causing jigsaw puzzles of all types to have their renaissance. In this fun book, you’ll:
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Learn about the origins of the earliest jigsaw puzzles.
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Examine the evolution of puzzle creation over the centuries.
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Consider the physical and social aspects of working puzzles.
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Read fascinating accounts of eccentric or award-winning puzzlers.
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Acquire the resources to start or continue your own puzzle hobby.
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Think about the life lessons that parallel aspects of puzzle assembling.
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Marvel at the puzzle innovations of the future.
After reading this book, you’ll enjoy jigsaw puzzling in a whole new way.
Buy here.
(Discounted group rates on all Bible study books below available. Please contact Jill for more information!)
Job: Shlobberknockered with Suffering
Studying the book of Job compels us to explore the difficult issue of God's relationship to human suffering. We will confront the questions raised by Job's suffering. Is God just? Does he run the world according to some predictable justice? Why do we suffer?
The booklet invites us to bring our pain and concerns to God and to trust that he cares and knows what He's doing.
For individual study there are 42 lessons corresponding to the chapters in the book of Job. For group study, a 13-lesson plan is provided. Additional notes, resources, articles, activities, and more are provided in this 279 page resource for individual use or leader-guided classes.
Esther: For Such A Time As This...
Have you ever felt as if you were invisible? Do you have the sense that your life here on earth is insignificant? Have you ever felt overlooked, useless, and unimportant?
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, the story of Esther will speak to you. This young Jewish girl rose from a life of total obscurity to become queen of the most powerful empire of the world and foiled a plot to eliminate the entire Jewish nation.
This study consists of ten easy-to-use lessons, one for each of the chapters of Esther. Also interspersed throughout the booklet are body care recipes from Esther's spa, articles of personal insight from the author, classic Purim recipes you can make to commemorate the Purim Festival, and more.
The Miracles of Jesus
My prayer for you as you read this book is that you'll meet Jesus and grow deeper in your love for Him. Read of His supernatural acts of love and power as He drew all sorts of people to Himself and revealed His divine nature.
This study consists of 35 lessons highlighting the most well-known miracles of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. Articles sharing the author's personal experiences are scattered throughout the booklet along with many other helpful resources.
For ease of study, the miracles are grouped- physical healings, deliverances with healings, healing of the crowds, Jesus commanding the forces of nature, miracles involving wildlife, miracles involving food and drink, and resurrections from death to life.
Philippians:
Paul's Joyful Letter from a Prison Cell
Studying Paul's New Testament letter to the Philippians will kindle a new fire within our heart to know Jesus more and to be closer to Him. The encouragements given by Paul have the ability to change each one of us so that we know exactly how to successfully live each moment of every day.
As we make our intent to become more like Jesus, we will also learn to embrace joy, even in the midst of suffering. Paul is well acquainted with suffering, and therefore, qualified to cheer us on to "run the race with perseverance."
This study contains 33 easy-to-use lessons, charts, maps, author articles, blog posts, and more.
1 Samuel: It's Always About the Heart
Why, you may ask yourself, should we "enlightened" people of the 21st century, take the time and effort to study these ancient writings from the Old Testament?
It is because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Just as He did with the people of this book- Samuel, Saul, and David- He still chooses His people, loves them beyond their understanding, and directs their lives. Studying these three men can show us so much about ourselves and point us more to our God.
This study contains 31 lessons, one for each chapter of the book of 1 Samuel. Additional resources scattered among the lessons are key Bible verses, personal experience articles from the author, recommended relevant reading, and more.
Women's and Men's Bible Study Journals
6" x 9"
Blank pages
Women's custom cover artwork in shades of purple, blue, pink, and red.
Men's custom cover artwork in shades of gold, brown, blue, and black.
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