Where did it all start?
Similar to the adventure story in this book, the story of this project has been quite the adventure, filled with twists and turns, unexpected surprises, and a wonderful creator who is at work all around us, directing our steps toward something bigger and better than we had the capacity to envision.
To start… we were not planning on writing a book. In fact, the thought of writing a book had never even crossed our minds.
This project did not originate from a desire to create something, but instead from a need.
Out of that need sparked a small creative writing project, solely focused on our oldest son, Henderson. We were looking for fun, creative ways to get him excited about reading God’s word. When we couldn’t find anything that quite met that need, we decided to take a stab at it ourselves. Again, solely focused on our son. We picked a book of the Bible to start with (how we landed on James is a good story that we’ll have to share sometime). We studied it and took lots of notes. Slowly, we started to turn those notes into an outline, then in to a rough draft, then started working on some fun illustrations to go with it, and before we knew it we were creating a book.
Before long, we realized that God may have bigger plans (He usually does…) for this little project of ours and we continued to work on it, seeking Him, and trusting Him with each step that we took. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” We are so grateful for that promise, and that God is faithful to meet us where we are and direct our steps.
The Great Treasure Hunt project is the fruit of seeking Him when we had a need, trusting Him when he showed us the next step (even when it’s unknown territory or seems scary), and doing what He’s called us to do, one day at a time.
Through God’s immense love and grace, He has allowed us to go on this adventure with Him, drawing closer to Him as we go. Our prayer is that you also will draw closer to your Creator as you join us on this adventure!
For more about the project, read on…
About this project…
The Great Treasure Hunt project exists to equip our kids by:
building a strong Biblical Foundation
learning to read God’s word
learning to seek out God’s truth and apply it to their lives
Why is this important?
Proverbs 2:1-22 (NASB)
"My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it."
God’s word is…
Psalm 119:105 NASB
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
John 1:1 NASB
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Matthew 4:4 NASB
But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; [17] so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
John 17:17 NASB
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Matthew 24:35 NASB
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Isaiah 40:8 NASB
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Ephesians 6:17 NASB
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Isaiah 55:11 NASB
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
Psalm 12:6 NASB
The words of the Lord are pure words; Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.
James 1:21 NASB
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Romans 10:17 NASB
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
About the authors…
Jonathan & Bailey Couch are the parents of three children (Henderson, Beckett, and Juliette) and have a heart for sharing the truth of God’s Word with the next generation.