Welcome this week’s Guest Post from Author Susan Shipe and stick around for this week’s Sitting Among Friends Linkup.

“So, why a book for children?”

I was asked that question in 2013 when I began 52 Commands of Jesus for Children. I don’t remember my answer then but now that the book is finished and on the great big bookshelf at Amazon I can clearly look back and see the “back story” of 52 Commands!

For years our pastor taught the 49 commands of Christ and the teachings impacted me with the truth and relevancy of Jesus’ words spoken two thousand years ago. And, as God does, He whispered a suggestion that the teachings in the Gospels needed to be created into a book for parents to use with their children.

Yes, Lord.

I began writing with great excitement and eagerness. I was seven commands “in” and suddenly I went dry. In all honesty, I found myself intimidated writing for children. THIS IS IMPORTANT, LIFE-CHANGING material and I felt inadequate. I have written for children before – short stories based on Biblical truth and focusing on the stories ‘between the lines.” I’ve written a story on the birth of Jesus and a story about Malchus, the man who had his ear cut off! Yet the commands of Jesus, red words from the Gospels, needed to be spot on with no room for error.

I did not want to insert my own deep doctrinal beliefs, I wanted each parent or facilitator to use her or his passion to teach the command and the character quality that coincides with it. 52 Commands of Jesus for Children is a jumping off place for parents and teachers to take the children as far as they can based on the ages and maturity of the child/children being taught.

Feeling intimidated and inadequate the material was filed and shelved. Fast forward to March 2017. I had just completed 40 Days of Lent and was enjoying a few days rest from writing. I asked the Lord to show me what was next! Because He is God and always finishes what He begins He clearly told me there would be no more books until 52 Commands was completed. I rolled up my sleeves, dusted off the file folder, and opened the Word document! With much prayer, I dug in. I am so glad I did.

The words of Jesus are powerful!

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4.12 (NLT)

Week 45 teaches the 45th command, “Watch and Pray,” with the character quality endurance. About ten years ago the Holy Spirit planted this endurance word deep within my spirit – it hasn’t left yet so He must have seriously meant it. What does endurance look like in 2017? Two thousand years ago in a garden of great angst, Jesus, the Son of God asked a couple of men to watch and pray with and for Him. They fell asleep. Their temptation? They were tired. O! God May I not fall asleep when the Spirit of the living God speaks deep things to me or, simply tells me to get out of bed and pray on my knees. I want to endure.

Parents and teachers will be challenged by the questions and suggestions in the book – are they living and breathing examples of the character qualities? Our children reflect us, whether good or bad, they do as we do not necessarily what we say!

Each lesson includes a coloring page. Additional coloring pages can be downloaded from my blog site for those who wish to keep their book unmarked and for those with more than one child.

The images will help paint that important picture of the character quality being taught.

I know how hard it is for families to create and sustain a quiet time with young children. I suggest beginning each devotion on a Sunday afternoon or evening. The lesson and exercises can be incorporated for one full week – think of the opportunities! Each lesson has three to five simple sections for teaching and sharing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for families to sit at the dinner table three times a week with this devotional book in the hands of the parent, each child with a box of coloring pencils and a color page, and after dinner they linger five to ten minutes with The Word and each other.

O! How pleased our heavenly Father would be!

Bio for Susan Shipe | Creston NC

I am an encourager with a heart for women. My devotion-journal, A Pruned Branch, was self-published in 2004 and is a compilation of 365 devotions for women in all walks of life.  APB is full of practical principles for all, from the baby Christian to the mature believer.

The Lord delivered a message of Hope deep within my soul in 2002. Jesus, the Hope-giver met me in my hour of need and my heart overflowed with hope – the theme of my life since that time has been HOPE!

I am the mother of three adult children, grandmother (a/k/a Mimzy) to 20-year old Hannah and 14-year old Simon, and I am the wife of one man and together we share our love with one awesome dog, Sam! My husband, Lowell, and I attend Community Church in Mountain City, Tennessee. I enjoy writing, reading, organic gardening, traveling, and spending time with our family.

I love the Lord with every fiber of my being and my life’s purpose is: That I may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) My life vision is: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth. 3 John 4

My heart overflows with a good theme…my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalms

 45:1 (NASB)