There are few things that make me truly happy besides my God and my family. Teaching the children at our church, a huge VBS each summer, and having a packed children's department on Sunday mornings are a few things that do go a long way to making me happy. Today as I went from room to room and saw how each one was full of happy kids and teachers, my heart was warmed. I was filled with excitment that lasted all day long.
There is just something about seeing those kids actively engaged in learning and enjoying being at church that makes a wave of excitment sweep over the whole department. Having five new visitors just added to the whole experience. Teachers were smiling and thrilled. Games were going great. Lessons were going great. Yes, it was a great day! (Well there was this one little girl who decide to try and find her mother all by herself. But, that's another story.)
I love this feeling. I wish that I could hang on to it, have it every Sunday. But ministry is not always exciting and sometimes is down right hard. I wouldn't trade this for anything though. Next Sunday I will arrive with a sense of anticipation. Will that excitment fill our children and teachers? I pray that it will. There is nothing that compares to serving our Lord.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Passing Thoughts
My brother-in-law passed away one week ago today. He was diagnosed with Alzheimers in February of this year. He had progressed so fast that his wife was about to have to put him in a nursing home. She had called and started the admitting procedures, but he died that very evening. I regret that he passed away and left his family. However I am so grateful that he is no longer suffering. He won't have to live in a nursing home. That is a great comfort to me and my husband.
Our three-year-old granddaughter ask what happened to him. Not knowing exactly what to say to her, I just told her that he was asleep. Later on during the service she was sitting on my lap as a PowerPoint slideshow began to play on the screen at the front of the church. She looked up at the pictures of my brother-in-law and said, "OH! He woke up!" "Yes, he did." I thought to myself. He really did. He went to sleep here and woke up in heaven.
At times like these my faith is a great comfort to me. I believe the Bible and what it teaches us about Heaven, God, and Jesus. I know that someday I will also go to Heaven because Jesus is my Savior and he died to pay the payment for my sins. I will see my brother-in-law again as well as all those I have known who have passed on before me. I will also see my Jesus and thank Him for all He has done for me.
If you have any questions about my faith, just ask. I will do my best to answer. This same comfort is available to everyone.
Our three-year-old granddaughter ask what happened to him. Not knowing exactly what to say to her, I just told her that he was asleep. Later on during the service she was sitting on my lap as a PowerPoint slideshow began to play on the screen at the front of the church. She looked up at the pictures of my brother-in-law and said, "OH! He woke up!" "Yes, he did." I thought to myself. He really did. He went to sleep here and woke up in heaven.
At times like these my faith is a great comfort to me. I believe the Bible and what it teaches us about Heaven, God, and Jesus. I know that someday I will also go to Heaven because Jesus is my Savior and he died to pay the payment for my sins. I will see my brother-in-law again as well as all those I have known who have passed on before me. I will also see my Jesus and thank Him for all He has done for me.
If you have any questions about my faith, just ask. I will do my best to answer. This same comfort is available to everyone.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Connections
I love to read. Recently I read "Visioneering" by Andy Stanley and "A Journey to Victorious Praying" by Bill Thrasher. That may seem a strange pair without any connection. I would agree--until. Until I had finished both the books and saw how the book on prayer would actually help me with the visoneering.
In the book "Visioneering" I was lead to develop a vision for every area in life--not just ministry. A vision is just how you want your family, your job, your life, your whatever to be. Then you take steps to realize that vision. In the book "A Journey to Victorious Praying" I learned how to take trials, temptations, and struggles and turn them into opportunities to pray. Like when I am tempted to eat even when I am not really hungry (emotional eating), then I stop and pray for people all over the world who are hungry even starving and people who don't have enough to eat. My temptation then becomes an opportunity to pray.
So, here's the trick. Whenever I begin to worry about people or situations that I cannot change, I turn to the Lord in prayer and pray for that person and situation. When I am discouraged about minsitry, I pray for the children and parents to which I minister. I pray for the ministry volunteers. I add in a little prayer for myself too! :) These prayers will help me realize my visions.
Try this, it really works!
In the book "Visioneering" I was lead to develop a vision for every area in life--not just ministry. A vision is just how you want your family, your job, your life, your whatever to be. Then you take steps to realize that vision. In the book "A Journey to Victorious Praying" I learned how to take trials, temptations, and struggles and turn them into opportunities to pray. Like when I am tempted to eat even when I am not really hungry (emotional eating), then I stop and pray for people all over the world who are hungry even starving and people who don't have enough to eat. My temptation then becomes an opportunity to pray.
So, here's the trick. Whenever I begin to worry about people or situations that I cannot change, I turn to the Lord in prayer and pray for that person and situation. When I am discouraged about minsitry, I pray for the children and parents to which I minister. I pray for the ministry volunteers. I add in a little prayer for myself too! :) These prayers will help me realize my visions.
Try this, it really works!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
What's Really Important
A few years ago I traveled to Lima, Peru on a mission trip. I met a wonderful Christian lady there who was ministering to the children in her neighborhood. She would pay their bus fare so they could attend church when she could. Other times she would teach them in her tiny home on a dirt hillside. That is where I met her, with her house full of kids and tracing color sheets with a pencil and carbon tracing paper one at a time. Her only other equipment was her Bible.
That was where I learned what was really important. It wasn't the huge children's ministry building with fantastic themed rooms and hallways. It wasn't the huge resource closet or the technology. It wasn't even the large numbers of kids who attend some churches who have those things. It was, however, the willingness to love those kids and see their lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was the willingness to be used by God and to use what He had already blessed our ministry with to the fullest extent of our abilities.
God has blessed us with some resources that I never thought we would have in our ministry. We still have no building or themed rooms. We use what space we can. We do our best with what we have. I believe because we do, that God will bless us beyond our wildest dreams. We are keeping our focus on what is most important--that kids know Jesus as their Savior and they follow Him.
That was where I learned what was really important. It wasn't the huge children's ministry building with fantastic themed rooms and hallways. It wasn't the huge resource closet or the technology. It wasn't even the large numbers of kids who attend some churches who have those things. It was, however, the willingness to love those kids and see their lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was the willingness to be used by God and to use what He had already blessed our ministry with to the fullest extent of our abilities.
God has blessed us with some resources that I never thought we would have in our ministry. We still have no building or themed rooms. We use what space we can. We do our best with what we have. I believe because we do, that God will bless us beyond our wildest dreams. We are keeping our focus on what is most important--that kids know Jesus as their Savior and they follow Him.
Monday, July 19, 2010
What's God Up To Now?
A few years ago at a Ladies Retreat, I was challenged to "step out into deeper water with God". The speaker meaning to challenge us to surrender to whatever God may want to do in our lives if we would only allow Him. I responded to that challenge and, as they say, life has never been the same. I have been to places and done things that I could never even imagined. God is constantly pushing me beyond my comfort zone.
Last night our Student Minister challenged our congregation to "not be scared" to do what God wants us to do. I had to confess that I am scared to do some things that God wants me to do. Funny, it's the little things that scare me--not the big things like traveling to a foreign country or speaking in front of a large group of people. Confessing this to God in my prayer I also told God that I didn't want to be scared to obey him and miss out on opportunities that He has for me.
I know that feeling. That feeling that I get when I can tell that God is up to something. I know it's coming. I don't know what or when, but it is coming. I will be scared. I will also seize the opportunity because I know that afterwards I will love the adventure. The thrill will be just like a rollercoaster! That's my Heavenly Father--never a dull moment.
Last night our Student Minister challenged our congregation to "not be scared" to do what God wants us to do. I had to confess that I am scared to do some things that God wants me to do. Funny, it's the little things that scare me--not the big things like traveling to a foreign country or speaking in front of a large group of people. Confessing this to God in my prayer I also told God that I didn't want to be scared to obey him and miss out on opportunities that He has for me.
I know that feeling. That feeling that I get when I can tell that God is up to something. I know it's coming. I don't know what or when, but it is coming. I will be scared. I will also seize the opportunity because I know that afterwards I will love the adventure. The thrill will be just like a rollercoaster! That's my Heavenly Father--never a dull moment.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Good News and Bad News
I have just returned from a week of Youth Camp. Our group went to a children's home where we did several landscaping projects. We also spent time with the young people living there. Our youth worked really hard and I am very proud of them. It really was a great week! That's the good news.
As I was catching up on emails and blogs that I read regularly, I came across a post that really bothered me. One of the really good blogs that I have recently come across is ending, perhaps. That's the bad news. She wrote that she was no longer going to post because she proclaimed her self a failure at children's ministry. Her church and in particular her department has sharply declined over time. She just feels that she has nothing further to offer. Such a shame because I have gotten several good ideas from this site. I hope she will reconsider and continue encouraging and equipping others in children's ministry.
We all get discouraged sometimes. I know I do. But we must stay the course and be faithful to the call God has placed on our lives. Sometimes these times come to us in order to force us to re-evaluate our priorities. Sometimes these times come to make us check up to see if we are still depending on our own selves instead of God. Sometimes they come to make us stronger. Regardless of the reason, stand firm in faith and keep on moving down the path God has placed before you. Remember, "He that hath begun a good work in you shall complete it...."
As I was catching up on emails and blogs that I read regularly, I came across a post that really bothered me. One of the really good blogs that I have recently come across is ending, perhaps. That's the bad news. She wrote that she was no longer going to post because she proclaimed her self a failure at children's ministry. Her church and in particular her department has sharply declined over time. She just feels that she has nothing further to offer. Such a shame because I have gotten several good ideas from this site. I hope she will reconsider and continue encouraging and equipping others in children's ministry.
We all get discouraged sometimes. I know I do. But we must stay the course and be faithful to the call God has placed on our lives. Sometimes these times come to us in order to force us to re-evaluate our priorities. Sometimes these times come to make us check up to see if we are still depending on our own selves instead of God. Sometimes they come to make us stronger. Regardless of the reason, stand firm in faith and keep on moving down the path God has placed before you. Remember, "He that hath begun a good work in you shall complete it...."
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