Do Your Kids Know God’s Ten Commandments?

With Hand Commands, kids can learn God’s Ten Commandments using simple hand motions. It’s a fun way for all ages to discover how to LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS!

Ann Interviews with Kregel about Hand Commands

Kregel Publications: Where did you get the idea for putting together a children’s book that teaches the Ten Commandments through hand motions?

Ann: Actually, my husband, Jon, was out on a prayer walk one day, and strongly felt impressed that I should put these Ten Commandment hand motions into a little board book for preschool children. That very day, I took some spontaneous photos of our own little kids—just out in our front yard—added the simple verse, and originally titled it Oh, How I Love God’s Law! It took a long time to find a publisher—and I almost gave up—but during this waiting time, the concept was refined and retitled as Hand Commands. Surprisingly, the final book includes most of the original photographs taken that first day, along with a few other new favorites—including a photo of a little Ugandan boy from Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village orphanage.

You are a home-schooling mom and have experience with children’s ministry. How has that contributed to the concept of Hand Commands?

Years ago, I was asked to teach a ten-week series about the Ten Commandments to the children at our home church. However, as I began to prepare, I realized that I actually didn’t know them all—especially in order. Eventually, I wracked my brain and finally came up with all ten in some random, hodge podge order, but I was very frustrated at myself—especially because I grew up in a wonderful godly family and rarely missed a day of church throughout my entire life. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t really know something as vitally important as the Ten Commandments; and over the years, I’ve found that many other God-fearing people are in this same situation. We discuss the importance of keeping God’s Ten Commandments visible in public places, yet we haven’t always kept them in our hearts. . . .

In my frustration, I earnestly asked God to help me create a visual method to remember the Ten Commandments in a way that I could easily teach kids—and I believe He helped me. As a long-time homeschooling mom, I’ve used these Hand Commands to teach my own seven children, and as a kids’ minister and international missionary, I’ve used them to help share about “sin” and our need for the Gospel. As a mother and a teacher . . . I enjoy children’s books that convey a sweet tenderness (especially those that share the love between a parent and a child), and I appreciate books that convey the spiritual capability in children to deeply love God. In writing Hand Commands, I attempted to convey both.

Will your book help children with different learning styles learn the Ten Commandments?

Yes! The book’s hand motions work well for visual learners, and also for those who benefit from kinesthetic activities. It’s geared for very young children, yet I’ve actually used these same hand motions to teach older children, teens, and even adults. The photos in the book are engaging, colorful, and vivid; the wording is simple, yet thought-provoking; and the hand motions are easy to remember. It’s just a little board book, but this concept for teaching the Ten Commandments really works!

Are you hoping that kids will also gain knowledge of the “spirit of the law” as well as knowledge of what they are?

Absolutely! It’s not enough to just know God’s laws in our head. Instead, God wants us to personally know HIM as our loving Heavenly Father and our closest Friend, and He wants us to want to follow His purposes for our lives. Through this little book, I hope both children and adults will sense my deep love for God and His Word, and that they will be encouraged to obey His commands.

Why did you design Hand Commands to have parental involvement?

As teachers and ministers, we can impact the lives of children in a profound way; however, we need to remember that God has actually given the primary child-training responsibility to the parents. When I share in church or school settings, I do my best to make a lasting difference; yet, I realize that my influence as a teacher is more temporary and limited than that of the children’s parents. One of my greatest passions is to inspire and encourage parents, because as moms and dads, they have the greatest potential (for good or for bad) to influence their children. If a parent commits to godly child training, that influence can continue day-after-day and year-after-year. It isn’t limited to school hours on Monday-through-Friday or to service times at church. A parent’s influence continues all throughout a child’s life and even—as future grandparents—into the next generation.

There’s something special that happens when a mommy snuggles up on the couch with her little one to read a godly children’s book, or when a daddy lifts his kids onto his lap to share from his heart about why he loves God.

Can Hand Commands be utilized in a school, Sunday school, or VBS setting? How?

I’ve shared these Hand Commands in many settings—in elementary schools, family camps, Vacation Bible schools, and in churches. They’re very quick and fun to learn, and easy for all ages to remember. Each hand motion is mentally connected to the “concept” of the commandment (not to our English words), so these motions can even be used in cross-cultural settings. They’ve worked in remote African villages and with hundreds of inner-city kids in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve used them to teach adult Bible college students and pastors (you’d be amazed at how rare it is to find people—even among faithful church goers—who can recite all Ten Commandments in order). These Hand Commands “connect” each commandment with its particular number so children and teachers can always remember them—both in and out of order. Quick! Do you know the sixth commandment? What about the third? As a Sunday school teacher, VBS leader, or elementary school teacher, the Ten Commandments are always appropriate, and with these easy-to-remember finger motions, a teacher will always have a quick “stash” of instant lessons (with ready-to-use “visuals” and hands-on student interaction) if a class time goes unexpectedly long. These Hand Commands can be reviewed quickly—at a moment’s notice—or a teacher can take time to expand upon each commandment.

How can parents help the Ten Commandments take root in their children’s hearts—not just their heads?

When I began to write this little book, the words, “Oh, how I love God’s law!” from Psalms 119:97 were ringing in my mind. I wanted to convey something much deeper than religious legalism with its “do’s” and “don’ts” and endless regulations. Instead, I wanted to convey—to both children and adults—an attitude of deep love for God and a heart desire to want to follow God’s word and His ways. Living for God is not just following rules or trying to not get caught when we do something sneaky. As parents and teachers, we should encourage children to live their whole lives (even when no one is looking) to bring God pleasure and glory. Jesus summed up all the law with just two commandments: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself”; but even these two simple rules could never be continually kept without God’s help. God gave His law to show us His will and how we’ve all missed it—and to reveal our desperate need for His salvation. In fact, that’s why Jesus came to die on the cross. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our disobedience to His laws. We’re all saved by God’s grace—not by merely “knowing” the rules in our heads and trying to keep them.

In Hand Commands, you use Proverbs 7:1, 3, which says, “My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands…bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Why did you choose that verse?

I got so excited when I found this verse—and it actually served as a motivating Scripture that kept compelling me to share these Ten Commandment hand motions in a book form! This verse conveys the central theme of Hand Commands—of instilling in the hearts of our children a heart attitude that sees God’s Word and His commandments as incredibly precious. We all need to “treasure” God’s commands, and as parents and teachers, God wants us to convey this heart attitude with our children. I think it’s wonderful how God wrote His law—with His own great hand—on tablets of stone, and now He wants us to keep His law written on the “tablet” of our hearts. I also love how this verse says to “bind” God’s commands “on your fingers” because Hand Commands teaches finger motions to remember the Ten Commandments.

What is the one thing you hope Hand Commands accomplishes?

As with every area of my life, I hope Hand Commands will bring glory to God. I’d love to see the idea of these simple hand motions spreading like wildfire to help parents and ministers to teach the Ten Commandments—and to help share why we all need God’s salvation—because we’ve all fallen short of God’s laws. I also hope parents and teachers will catch my passionate love for God and His Word, and the importance of instilling this passion into the next generation.

Hand Commands

The Ten Commandments for Little Ones

By Ann Dunagan – Kregel Publications

Board book

“Oh, how I love God’s Law!”

“God’s mighty words He wrote on stone,
Carved with His own GREAT HANDS,
And with ten little fingers, you can learn
God’s mighty TEN COMMANDS!”

Original location of Ann’s interview with Kregel
A Review of Hand Commands by Eclectic Homeschooling

You can find Hand Commands at:
Christianbook.com, Kregel Publications, and Amazon.com

Can you find time to pray? – Part II

Recently, I have been thinking about the importance of personal prayer within families . . . behind the public front door of each home and behind the public “image” each family displays.

How can we follow Jesus, and know His will for our lives and for our families, without taking time to be with Him? How can we minister God’s life-changing presence to our own children . . . and to our extended families and our local communities . . . and to our world, unless we take time to know Him?

As Christians, we have been given a tremendous honor and an amazing invitation to spend time with God every day. At the beginning, a new lifestyle of daily prayer will require consistent personal desire and discipline; but eventually (by God’s grace, not merely self-effort) your time with the Lord can become the delight of your day and the greatest strength of your family life and your ministry to others.

Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

In a spiritually-healthy God-loving family, a lifestyle of prayer includes praying with others at church, praying together as a family, and praying (or “interceding”) for the needs of others and for the needs of the world; yet, nothing is more spiritually beneficial for families than a lifestyle of personal private prayer. Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

As God-loving and Bible-believing families, we all know that prayer is important.

As Christians, we tell our kids that it’s good to pray (or our pastor mentions the fact often enough for our kids to get the message . . . and for us as parents to feel a bit guilty). Perhaps we pray before mealtime (during those special yet unfortunately dwindling occasions when our far-too-busy family can actually gather our hands around a sit-down dinner). Perhaps we pray for our kids at night (during those special times when we remember to tuck our little ones in bed before they fall asleep).

Yet how many of us, as moms and dads, are a bit lacking (or majorly deficient) in our own daily personal prayer lives? As each dad, and mom, and child and/or teenager develops his or her own personal relationship with God through a regular quiet time with the Lord, the effect is powerful.

Be a spiritual example to your kids . . . by having a regular time and place for prayer

As parents, one of the greatest ways to instill in your kids the foundation of life-impacting faith is for your kids to actually “see” you reading your Bible, (on a regular everyday basis, not just at church), and for your kids to “see” you taking time to pray by yourself.

Establish a PLACE for PRAYER

I believe it’s helpful to establish a regular “place” to meet with the Lord each day:

• perhaps a comfy chair in a spare bedroom
• perhaps in your home office
• perhaps on the couch in your living room
• perhaps on a trail outside your house or a quiet walk around your neighborhood

Establish a Regular PLACE for PRAYER

If you haven’t been praying, it’s also a good idea to begin by setting aside a particular new “meeting time” with God:

• perhaps set your morning alarm a bit earlier
• perhaps establish a new habit of reading God’s Good News, the Bible – instead of the morning newspaper – as you’re sipping your morning coffee
• perhaps take time for the Lord during your noontime lunch hour
• perhaps before bed in the evening
  

“Round-up” a few items to help establish a consistent time with God

If you decided to establish a new habit of physical exercise, such beginning to start jogging a bit each day, you would probably take a few minutes to “round up” some running shoes and perhaps dig through the back of your closets to find some sweats or shorts. If you wanted to add some meals to your cooking, you would need to “round up” some new menu ingredients, or search for some new recipe idea. The same idea holds true for establishing a new habit of spiritual discipline and daily prayer. If you haven’t been taking the time to consistently pray on a regular basis, it’s helpful to “round up” a few quiet-time accessories or “spiritual” items and to have them set aside and waiting for you in your designated new quiet-time place.

Here are a few suggestions for helpful “QUIET TIME” items:

• your own Bible (with a marker to remember where you are reading)
• a daily Bible-reading chart
• a journal or notebook, with a pen and a highlighter
• a devotional or “meaty” spiritual book (to challenge your walk with Christ)
• a world map, and missionary newsletters
• a CD with quiet worship music
• possibly even items for holy communion (with wafers, a cup, and grape juice) for a personal communion time (see I Corinthians 11) perhaps on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, to remember the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice

Remember to be flexible . . . and walk with God throughout each day!

Along with consistency in prayer, it’s important to be flexible. In the life of every family, there will be different seasons and changing schedules. What works today may not work tomorrow; yet even so, we need to faithfully guard our time with God. If what you’re doing right now, concerning your personal daily prayer life, is working, by all means keep it up; but if it’s not working, please ask for God’s help and His grace (along with His unlimited creative ideas) to make a change!

Living a life of prayer is simply walking and talking with God. It’s vital to acknowledge God’s presence right beside you and with you all throughout each day.

As individuals, and as families, we can welcome the presence of God’s Spirit into every dimension of our lives. God cares about everything (whether little or big, silly or significant, everyday or eternal), and we can welcome His presence into every decision and every activity. In our families and in our daily communication with God, there should not be a barrier between what is “holy” and what is “common”; instead, God desires for every dimension of our lives (at home, at school, at church, at work, and even at play) to be lived in constant fellowship with Him.

Will you “plead” for orphans and souls?

Completely surrendering to God is more than merely asking Jesus to “come into our heart.” Instead, it’s coming into “HIS LIFE” and allowing the heart and passions of Jesus to flow through us.

iPlead [i-pleed]

VERB: to allow GOD Himself to make an earnest and urgent entreaty through me, perhaps in emotional terms, on behalf of another person or a specific need, and to willingly argue for His justice in support of someone or something, especially for SOULS.

In our hightech world of ipods, itunes, and iphones — in a world that needs God more deperately that ever — comes a new mission word we recently combined.

The word is “iPlead” and this fresh yet timeless theme sums up so much of our heart . . . for reaching SOULS with the Gospel, for helping orphans and people in need, and most importantly, for loving GOD.

Just think of the word “I.” Have you ever wondered, “What difference could “I” ever make?” or “How could “I make an impact for God, when the needs are so huge?

But the exciting point and focus of this new word is that the “I” in “iPlead” doesn’t represent us. The only “I” we should care about is the Great “I AM” . . . not ourselves or our personal lives and selfish ambitions (me, myself, and I).

When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, He declared, “I am that I am” was sending him. It was God Himself who spoke to Pharoah and to the children of Israel. (Remember the words, “Thus sayeth the LORD…”?) And today, God wants to speak through you, and through us, and through all Christians. To literally “plead” through us for His purposes.

II Cor. 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Prov. 31:8-9 tells us to “plead” the cause of the poor and the needy. And Esther was challenged to “plead” for her people before the king.

Wow.

Those words “plead” and “implore” are passionate and intense, and how much more-so when I realize that God wants them to refer to pleading for HIS purposes, on HIS behalf.

God is giving me a bigger passion to plead for precious orphan children, and to plead for the lost.

In the world today, there are over 143,000,000 orphans in the world (which is more people than the entire population of Russia, now at 141,800,000), and too many of these precious children are in desperate need. They need the basic necessities of life . . . something for their tummies, somewhere for them to live, and something for their nakedness; yet more importantly, these little ones are “people” who need love . . . specifically to know their Heavenly Father’s love, and to be shown the eternal life God has provided for them through the only way of salvation: JESUS CHRIST.

In the world today, literally billions of people are so lost, and they’re totally oblivious to the forever-punishment they deserve. Because of sin, there’s a guilty charge against them, that’s completely impossible for them to pay . . . without God.

So this is the question I’m asking myself? “Who will plead on their behalf?”

“ipead” is about being God’s ambassador and submitting to His purposes. Following God is more than simply “asking Jesus to come into our lives.” Instead, it’s surrendering into “HIS LIFE” and allowing God’s heart to flow through us.

There’s a lot stirring in my heart along these lines. For now, I’m simply responding to what I believe the Lord (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is asking of me:

He’s asking, “Who will plead for Us?”

And I’m responding, “I will.”

iPlead.

Ann

So, here’s a question to consider: What about you? Will you allow God to plead through YOU . . . for the specific assignment that’s from His heart, through yours?

Feel free to share your comments . . .

God’s Heart for Orphans

We appreciate all of our friends who help us to care for hundreds of precious children at Harvest Ministry’s two orphanages, Osanidde Village and Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center.

The Lord has such a heart for orphan children . . . and so do we!

God calls us to care for orphans…

• Learn to do good; Seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17, NASB)
• Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)
• When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:21, NASB)

God’s justice will cover the orphans…

• Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. I f you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exodus 22:22-23, NIV)
• He executes justice for the or phan and the widow.(Deuteronomy 10:18a, NASB)
• Woe to those who…rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans. (Isaiah 10:1a-2b, NASB)
• Do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow. (Jeremiah 22:3b, NASB)
• Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against…those who oppress…the widow and the orphan. (Malachi 3:5a, NASB)

The Bible says evil men take advantage of orphans…

• They drive away the orphan’s donkey and take the widow’s ox in pledge. (Job 24:3, NIV)
• They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans. (Psalm 94:6, NASB)
• Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge. (Job 24:9, NASB)

God promises His love and protection for orphans…

• Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. (Jeremiah 49:11a, NIV)
• I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18, NIV)
• You have been the helper of the orphan. (Psalm 10:14b, NASB)
• You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. (Psalm 10:17b-18, NASB)
• For in You the orphan finds mercy. (Hosea 14:2c, NASB)

God blesses those who are obedient to care for the needs of orphans…

• When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19, NASB)

For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. (Job 29:11-13, NASB)

These verses were compiled from the These verses were compiled from the facebook group, “A Heart for Orphans.” Photos from Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village orphanage.

The Challenge: DAY 20 – Beatitudes #5

The PERSECUTED

Welcome to DAY 20 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today, we are finishing-up our memorizing of the BEATITUDES from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, continuing with Matthew 5, verses 9-10. Today, our mission-minded emphasis is being a PEACEMAKER (we bring the “Gospel of Peace”) and being willing to be PERSECUTED for righteousness.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Teaching With God’s Heart for the World, and Voice of the Martyrs – be sure to sign up for their FREE newsletter, and check out their FREE book, Tortured for Christ.
• “I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light” – Missionary Quote by John Keith Falconer. Among missionaries, Falconer’s life is often overlooked; yet he greatly impacted the development of early twentieth-century Christian mission to Islam – (1856-87).
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: REVIEW
  OCEANS & CONTINENTS, ASIA,MIDDLE EAST,AFRICA,
• Memory Verse: Matthew 5:9-10
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 19 – Beatitudes #4

The MERCIFUL

Welcome to DAY 19 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

As we are continuing with our memorizing of the BEATITUDES – with a mission-minded focus – from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, continuing with Matthew 5, verses 7-8. Today, our mission emphasis is being MERCIFUL and PURE in HEART.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  The Mission-Minded Child, The Mission-Minded Family

• Missionary Quote by Ralph Winter – U.S. Center for World Missions
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AFRICA
• Memory Verse: Matthew 5:7-8
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 18 – Beatitudes #3

The MEEK

Welcome to DAY 18 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s focus is on being MEEK and being HUNGRY and THIRSTY for righteousness. Throughout this 4th week, we are working through learning and memorizing the BEATITUDES from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, continuing with Matthew 5, verses 5-6.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources: The Mission-Minded Child, The Mission-Minded Family, and our FREE – M.A.P.S. for KIDS – Vacation Bible School Curriculum.
• Missionary Quote by Hudson Taylor Also, special feature video about the importance of Bible translation – by Wycliffe Bible Translators
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AFRICA
• Memory Verse: Matthew 5:5-6
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 17 – Beatitudes #2

Those who MOURN

Welcome to DAY 17 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s focus is to realize our total need for God, by being POOR IN SPIRIT, along with having a godly heart that will MOURN for the needs and injustices that grieve the heart of God. Throughout this 4th week, we are working through the BEATITUDES from the Sermon on the Mount, continuing with Matthew 5, verses 3-4.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resource: George Mueller – The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans – From YWAM’s Christian Heroes Then & Now Series George Mueller is also featured (with a Missionary Monologue Skit) in The Mission-Minded Family
• Missionary Quote by Bob Pierce – Founder of World Vision. This insightful article by Christianity Today, focuses on Bob Pierce’s mission life and eventual downfall: “Imperfect Instrument: World Vision’s Founder led a Tragic and Inspiring Life”)
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AFRICA
• Memory Verse: Matthew 5:3-4
• Today’s 5-minute online video

A few questions for feedback:
Ask your kids if they understand what it means to be POOR in SPIRIT? And as a family, what types of needs in the world do you MOURN about? Or do you realize that you don’t really care as much as you should? If so, how can you stir up more compassion for specific needs and injustices in the world?

The Challenge: DAY 16 – Beatitudes #1

The DISCIPLES

Welcome to DAY 16 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

During this fourth week, we’re going to focus on memorizing and studying the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today’s focus is Matthew 5:1-2, and the difference between being a “disciple” of Jesus, or a “disciplined” one who follows hard after God, rather than merely “one of the multitudes” in church.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resource: William Carey – Obliged to Go – From YWAM’s Christian Heroes Then & Now Series and also The Mission-Minded Family
• Missionary Quote by William Carey
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AFRICA
• Memory Verse: Matthew 5:1-2

A few questions for feedback:
Would you say your family leans more toward being one of the multitudes, or are you growing as disciples (or “disciplined ones” following Jesus)? Think about each member of your family; how is each person (parents and kids included) growing and maturing, right now, as a faithful disciple of the Lord?

Good Friday – His Passion for Harvest

On the cross, Jesus Christ displayed His deepest passion, and there He fulfilled His ultimate destiny–to provide the ONLY way for us, and all people, to be saved from our sins and reconciled to God.

In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible tells us to look unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross.”

How could there be any joy in such a brutal cross? How can we refer to that day as “Good” Friday?

It’s because we know how the story ends!  Through Christ’s atoning cross (meaning, His death “atoned” or “paid for” the penalty of our sins) and His glorious resurrection, our Lord destroyed the power-hold of sin and death in our lives, and He opened the door for us to receive God’s salvation.

It’s because He died, that we can live!

As Christians, we need to be challenged and “moved” by the cross. We need to remember all that Jesus endured, and continually remind ourselves of the purpose for His willing obedience.

Your Passion for Harvest

A Song of Prayer, by Ann Dunagan

Your passion for harvest, O Lord Your love for the lost

For the JOY set before You, O Lord You took Your cross

Now Your love compels me, for You died to save me

May I live only for You, and . . .

Your passion for harvest, I need Your love for the lost

For the JOY set before me, O Lord, I’ll take my cross

For Your love compels me, for You died to save me

May I live only for You, for You.

Jesus Christ willingly surrendered everything, and took up His cross; but it wasn’t only for us.

Our Lord’s precious blood was shed for the entire world. Yet even now, 2,000 years later, over 1.6 BILLION people have still never heard of Him. As Christians, we must be willing to surrender . . . everything . . . to take up our cross (God’s desire and will for our lives). We need to pray. We need to give. And we need to open our mouth and share our faith with others. We need God’s love and His passion for the harvest.

“I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galations 2:20).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

This year, as we remember our Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection, may we all be filled with more of His purpose and more of His tremendous love.

In His Harvest,
Jon & Ann