By and large, the Ten Commandments are boundaries.

They weren't comprehensive, but ten is a nice number, and these turned out to have been pretty timeless, intuitive rules on the short-list, not to mention that stone tablets are heavy.

The Ten Commandments were basic parameters, maybe they were minimum requirements. Most of them were about don't rather than do.

So I was wondering, what might be God's Ten Desires if there had been an assistant to carry another set of tablets down from the mountain? From what God has revealed in the written and incarnate Word, what might these be, even if they were never etched in stone?

Here are Ten Possibilities.

Oh, that you would listen.

Oh, that you would wait.

Oh, that you would worship me fully, always.

Oh, that you would seek me.

Oh, that you would know me.

Oh, that you would imitate me.

Oh, that you would live into my design for you.

Oh, that you would choose wisely.

Oh, that you would be content as finite beings with infinite possibility.

Oh, that you would fully serve the needs of everyone among you.

What do you think God might put on a list like this? Not commandments, rules, laws, but deep desires in the heart of God, for each of us?

Literally every day of the year, in under a minute, a scan of the day's news will provide plenty of fodder to pray for children.

Imagine the difference if millions who follow Jesus would pray for children every day, those near to us and those far away?

I saw this report via Amnesty International and BBC of armed gangs siezing children for ransom in lawless areas in the north Central African Republic. Parents have had to pay up to US $4,000 for their children to be freed, and some have been killed.

I don't find it very easy to pray negative things even upon bad people, but I feel it's legit in cases like this that at the very least we would pray for these people's horrible activities to be thwarted, for their plans to be ruined, and for their attempts to fail.

Please pray for the safe return of these kids back to their families and homes. Pray for those who have power to use it boldly for the right things, not the wrong things. Pray for evil plans to be frustrated. Pray that people who use their power to abuse others would lose their power.

When we pray for children, or for anyone, God also awakens our empathy and stirs in us a desire to contribute in any ways we can to a solution. Our prayers make a difference, and when we can, our direct participation in Jesus' name can make a difference too.

Not only do we adults have much to learn from the simple, trusting faith of children, but children are special to God and were obviously special to Jesus throughout the gospels.

The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- Matthew 18:1-6