Susan Chamberlain Shipe, a writer since the age of eight when she and her neighborhood friend wrote, edited, published, and distributed The Manor News. Things have changed since publishing with the five and dime stamp lettering set! Today, Susan enjoys blogging, writing short devotions and short stories from the tiny house in Upstate South Carolina, which she shares with her husband of thirty plus years, Lowell. Susan can be found musing several times a week at hopehearthome.com
Susan Shipe’s 52 Commands of Jesus for Children is a 52 Week Devotional properly spaced out with each chapter centering on a particular theme. As a Sunday School Teacher, it is often hard to get good selections, age appropriate and in-depth studies. I like the study primarily because it is deep, not shallow or a collection of stories as usual. Susan takes Jesus Ministry as the anchor for creating this study which is awesome. The Bible Study is one of a kind. Unique approach to creating a workable tool for children.
In this devotional Study, you will find at least 4 questions for a week. Here, I suggest you tackle a question a day with your kids aged under 5. Work through one question thoroughly and the next day you could advance to the next food for thought. This way it is a bite size a day.
As a beautiful bonus there are coloring pages for your little ones! This is an icing on the cake. It allows the weekly study to be reinforced.
I like this Devotional book and I strongly recommend it for moms and Sunday School teachers. I hope we have more tools like this, Susan. God Bless you, Susan Shipe.
My daughter loves this book. She loves to color and anything that involves art will get her attention right away. I love that it teaches short lessons on the commands of Jesus. I have young children so the lessons seemed especially designed for their short attention spans., but the lessons can be a jumping off point for longer more in depth discussions. I recommend this book to anyone with children who love art. I was given this book as part of the Book's Launch Team, but all opinions expressed here are my own
I was given this book as part of the Book's Launch Team, but all opinions expressed here are purely my own. This family devotional is a great resource for Biblical discussions and practical learning about Jesus' teaching. Each chapter is a short study on the commands that Jesus spoke, with thought provoking questions and activities that can be used around the dinner table or before bed with your children. There are coloring pages for each chapter, and additional copies can be downloaded at the author's website. While the book is clearly designed for elementary school age children, it would be easy enough to adapt the questions or activities for a younger child. What I appreciated about the study, though, is the application of a character trait with each command. As in the second chapter where the command that Jesus spoke is to "Follow Me," based on the Scripture, "Jesus called out to them, 'Come follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people,'" Matthew 4:19, and the character trait is "Meekness." With a definition for meekness of "patient, gentle, humble, gentle and kind," the author explained that "it would take special men to trust Jesus enough to drop everything and follow him. It would take men who are meek." And while I had never thought of describing those original fishermen, Jesus' first Disciples, in that way, my heart was so moved as I pondered the truth of what Jesus saw in their hearts.This was just one thought among many that touched me, a Grandma and former Children's Church Director, very deeply! I highly recommend this book for all families with children or grandchildren in the household.
In her devotional titled, 52 Commands of Jesus for Children, Susan focuses on the commands of Jesus. Each weekly devotional includes a Bible teaching with a Scripture, questions for discussion, an action point, and a coloring page.
The book is written in an easy approach for both adults and children. Each teaching is a simple and gently presentation of the commands of Jesus which children will easily understand and embrace. She provides questions to further discuss the principles and made for lively conversation with my two granddaughters, aged 9 and 5.
Each command is paired with a character quality to be focused upon and developed in the minds and lives of your children. To instill and develop these godly qualities should be the goal of our parenting. This book provides a wonderful way to begin, and then build upon, each truth. Suggestions and ideas for discussion are provided in italics, making it easier for parents to engage their children.
This is a wonderful resource for parents, and churches, to use as each lesson comes complete. There are also additional coloring pages available: https://hopehearthome.com/52-commands...
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a 52-week devotional-journal for parents to use with their children. It is an awesome book full of relevant scriptures for today. I find it very engaging with my grandchildren ages 5-12. The author weaves great practical insights for children to grasp and apply right where they're at. Not only is Susan's word crafting great but I find the illustrations that one can print out and color of excellent quality. I especially love the graphic on dependability. This is a fun approach to training young minds to read the Bible more and more. I love this devotional and highly recommend for home and Sunday School library. Makes a great gift, too.
52 Commands of Jesus for Children is a great resource for parents with children ages 4-8. If you’re looking for a new family devotional, Susan Shipe writes with an entertaining voice, using scriptures for fun, easy lessons with discussion questions. Each lesson is brief and to-the-point, ideal for shorter attention spans. Each lesson also includes a coloring page, and extra coloring pages are available at Susan’s website. This is a good resource for families or small group/Sunday school classes.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
With a sigh of relief, I glued the last tiny piece of the decoration into place: a scattering of yellow felt hay secured to the silhouette of a brown felt manger. I’m craft-challenged, no doubt, but the adorable grandboy is two, and he’s quite ready to start making memories of an Advent tree banner with 24 Christ-focused decorations. It’s worth breaking out the craft glue again if it leads to another generation spending some time around the dining room table each day in December to celebrate one aspect of Jesus’ identity, one glorious facet of the miracle of incarnation.
Susan Shipe has opened the Gospel of John and winnowed out thirty-one unique profiles of Jesus that remind me of our family Advent tradition. Of course, even thirty-one days are really not enough to encompass the character of God the Son, but Susan has the heart of a true seeker who understands that theology is not a tool for explaining God, but rather a ladder, leaned up against the great truths of Scripture to give us a place to stand and wonder.
Susan’s re-telling of the Gospel accounts surrounding Jesus’ life and ministry slow down the narrative flow and lend a creative spark to familiar verses. For instance, did you ever notice that the story of the woman who was accused of adultery and about to be executed occurs in the same chapter with these familiar verses:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. . . Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:32, 36) Truth walked onto the scene and defended that condemned woman and declared her un-condemned. Truth sent her away free. Opening the pages of her own story, Susan shares that Jesus has walked into her life bringing with Him that same freedom.
Starting with Jesus as the Lamb of God, we learn that in order for us to be saved, Jesus had to be unsafe, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the world. Thirty-one Days in the Gospel of John profiles Jesus’ perfect life, His crucifixion, and finally the fist-bumping, post-resurrection breakfast party in which the disciples see Jesus as their Master Chef who serves up breakfast by the sea. Even better, they realize that He offers the bread of life which will sustain them for the ministry He has for each one of them.
capture
The challenge for 21st century readers of the Gospels is to see Jesus in the pages and then to know that He is not a two-dimensional Savior, trapped on the page or in the past. He is alive and active in our day, and a commitment to read about him for 31 days is only the beginning. God has given us an eternity of days to savor the beauty of Jesus, to turn the Truth over in our minds, and to let it sink deep into our prone-to-wander hearts.
Giveaway!capture
Susan Shipe has graciously provided a signed copy of 31 Days in the Gospel of John for one Living Our Days reader. To be eligible for the drawing, share your favorite story from the life of Jesus in the comments below (or just say, “Hi!”). All those who comment on this blog post will be placed in a drawing for the book. The giveaway will stay open until Thanksgiving Day and, the name of the winner will be chosen by . . . you guessed it! The adorable grand boy!
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This book was provided by the author in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
My friend Susan Chamberlain Shipe sent me this book, and I’m glad she did! I’ve read many Christmas devotionals, and what makes this one unique is Susan’s fun writing style. In her retelling of Mary’s visit with Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-40, Susan says that we all have a “favorite aunt,” and Elizabeth must have been that person to Mary. I enjoyed this book because it feels like my “favorite aunt” wrote it–the one with interesting stories who always makes me laugh and think in a new way.
I also like that these devotions are brief for this very busy time of year. Even though we’re halfway through the Advent season, this book is still a good read for the rest of December. I read it through in one setting. Each day offers interesting tidbits of knowledge about the Christmas story. Susan sprinkles in pictures and personal stories, which add dimension. She features one single reflection question at the end of each day. Short and sweet.
I enjoyed the lighthearted feel of 31 Days of Christmas. You will enjoy it too. Thank you to Susan for a free review copy of this book!
There is an October event which takes place among bloggers called Write 31 Days. For the entire month, many join in writing each day on a particular subject of their choosing. Last month, Susan Shipe wrote each day in her series and has now released it in book form.
The book presents many truths and profiles of Jesus that are sure to enrich our understanding of the life Jesus lived here on earth. In these short but meaningful devotions, Susan seeks to broaden our picture of Jesus, His mission here on earth, and the many varied ways He changed the lives of the people He encountered.
Each day includes a portion of Scripture which presents a profile of Christ, and a section called, Application for Today which is meant to be practical and soul searching. There is no better way to spend 31 days than with Jesus, the One who holds each day.
*I was given a copy in exchange for my honest review which was my joy to give.