Here is the link to my latest article in Children’s Ministry Magazine. If you have time, take a look. Honored to be included in the article with Melissa and my good friend Kathie.
i stood silent and still in my hallway the other night as the wind began to blow. as each gust grew a bit stronger, so did the sound of my chimes.
they didn’t buckle or break as the wind battered them. as they beat together, they rang louder and louder with their sweet song of grace. see, they are “amazing grace” chimes. each metal rod is tuned to a different note that together create this classic hymn.
this analogy captivated me in its simple truth. the harder the winds of life begin to blow, the louder His grace, mercy and peace seem to ring. even in the middle of the storm, He is present with exactly what we need. (i blogged about this very truth in my first post on this blog.) we just need to remain still enough to hear His song.
as i prepare to teach a workshop next week entitled “broken, burned-out, and bored in kidmin,” we will talk about the rest, grace, mercy, and peace that are present in the storms of ministry life. and of course, i will have to mention the lesson of my chimes. (i just love it when He teaches me like that.) may we all leave with our ears a bit more tuned to the song in our storms.
what song do you hear Him playing?
one week from today i will have landed in chicago for the second ever KidMin conference. while face-timing with a friend today (that i met at KidMin last year) i said to her, “KidMin is like going home.” to say i am looking forward to it would be an understatement. actually, i am a wee bit giddy. here are just some of the reasons i am so excited about KidMin ’12.
- chris yount jones, the heart behind KidMin, is probably one of my favorite people. she is the real deal and it has been a blessing to know her and see her live out authentic faith and a servant’s heart for 15 years. with her leadership, Jesus and prayer remain central and celebrated!
- my KidMin friends – the thing is, i would love these people even they didn’t serve in KidMin. they truly inspire me to seek harder, love unconditionally, and serve with the strength only God provides. i can’t go five feet in the conference halls without seeing one of these people that feel like a part of ministry family.
- those at “home” usually seem to know you best and speak honestly to you whether you are ready to hear it or not. the keynotes at KidMin do just that. last year i was challenged, convicted, inspired, and ministered to by truths God spoke through each speaker. this year will be no exception. i can’t wait to hear beth moore speak from the perspective of a children’ s ministry volunteer. i already feel like she is a friend after getting to know her so well through so many of her studies and conferences.
- as they say in steel magnolias, “laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” well, the skit guys have practically perfected such an emotional paradox. their powerful messages can have your sides cramping from laughing one minute, then have you reaching for kleenex the next. just like life, i love that.
- next to God’s Word, nothing ministers to my soul quite like music. gungor will be there. “beautiful things”– enough said.
- the KidMin inside track team are oh so dear to me! we are all different, with varying opinions and styles, but with one common goal. even as i type these words about them, a smile breaks out across my face. i can’t wait to hug their necks.
oh, i could go on and probably will on here, on facebook and twitter all next week. all i know is, i have never looked forward to a conference with more expectancy. may Jesus have His way with us in chicago and may it all be for His glory!
i believe children can participate, contribute, and learn in corporate worship. i also hate sitting behind the desk in my office all day. how do these things go together? i call it the sermon note school lunch tour.
each week children can pick up special worship bulletins just for them. the folded bulletin addresses the same topic as the pastor’s message for the day. then, inside is a half sheet (front/back) to guide the child’s participation in worship. here are some of the things it includes:
- a picture of the previous week’s winner.
- a worship challenge. (i.e. go introduce yourself to someone you don’t know in the greeting time, as you sing the worship song think about what that song is saying about or to God, practice the church’s monthly memory verse, etc.)
- the scripture passage for the day so they can look it up and follow along.
- three to four questions, activities, opportunities to draw, apply, and share what they are learning through the sermon that day. (i get the pastor’s sermon points ahead of time so i know what questions or activities to provide.)
what does this have to do with school lunch? well, i love to meet kids on their turf during the week, but i want to be careful about “picking” kids to eat with to avoid showing any favoritism. so, each week the names of children that turn in sermon notes are put in a pile and i pick one. i make arrangements for my assistant and me to meet them at school for lunch and the rest is an adventure. the lunch table is always interesting and i enjoy meeting other children and then having some focused time with one of my church kids. these brief visits begin to foster a relationship that carries back into the church walls. honestly, it is like my favorite part of the week!!!
as children become consistent with their sermon notes we give them a celebration tag and recognize them in a church publication when they reach 25, 50, 75, and 100 completed notes. truth is, it isn’t about the number of sermons they take notes in during church. my goal is to build stronger relationships with them outside the church walls and for them, after hearing God’s Word, respond to it and apply it to their daily lives.
in my years in ministry i have never been a part of a 1st grade Bible sunday. today was my first. 🙂 i was so excited to continue in this important tradition of giving 1st graders their very own copy of God’s Word and challenging them to seek it out for His life-changing truths! little did i know what joy it would bring me to hand out Bibles and watch those sweet little hands grip them with pride. i thought to myself, do i hold as tightly to God’s Word each day? am i as thrilled to pick up my very own BIble (of which i have many translations) as these children were to receive their first copy? their fresh eyes and eager hearts were a sweet sight to my soul today. so, i thought i would share some pictures of some of my favorite parts of the morning.
