dandibell
Author

danielle

Browsing
In kidmin

in between chapters

4 Comments

photo 1for 13 years i have stood on the safe side of change and talked to group after group of 6th graders that were entering a pivotal point of transition in their lives.  tonight is different.  tonight i stand before a group of kids that i’ve shared 95% of their children’s ministry time with, but left two and a half months shy of their 6th grade graduation.  tonight as i speak to them about their new season in life, i stand waist deep in mine.  tonight, i am not full of answers, quick fixes, perky cliches, or empty promises.  the only thing i am full of tonight is peace.

tonight as i share, i don’t want to recount the past or even dwell on this colorful cast of characters.  what i can share with them tonight is that no matter what is written in the next chapter of their stories, if their Salvation is in Christ each stroke is written by a mighty Author.

 

when they begin to experience that change is hard, they can know that the One who holds the pen has a strong, secure hand.

Hebrews 6: 18-19 “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

 Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

when they start to feel alone in the newness, i can assure them of a Savior that will never leave them or forsake them.  (whether it “feels” like it at the time or not.) 

Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

when their new adventure begins to take them to new heights that can often be scary, i can remind them that their Creator is the strength in their feet. 

 Habakuk 3:19  “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”

 

when the world seems to win and they become weary, i can remind them our God is faithful to give them a safe place to rest.

 Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 

in a world full of faces causing them to just long to be known, i can confidently say their Creator knows them better than they know themselves. 

 Psalm 138:13-16  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

 

and when it all may feel like it is not worth it, the snares are many, and the goal line distant, i can challenge us all to continue the fight.  because, when we see Jesus, this vapored life will be a no more.

 Hebrews 12:1- 3  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

 

we all have a story, and it is in the time of transition i believe we are tested to see the level of our trust.  may we each seek to become less, so that the Author of Life, Jesus Christ receives all the glory.  oh how i want a story worth sharing even between chapters.

photo 2
YUC XIV 2011-2012
photo 3
blessed to have done ministry with these sweet friends.
by
Read More
In kidmin

making the Gospel the goal

No Comments

last may i was overwhelmed with a personal sense of urgency when i read anne graham lotz’s newsletter challenging believers to “live like they were going to see Jesus.” this truth i know in my mind, but struggle daily beholding it in my heart and actions. fast forward a year, and i was challenged again last week when reminded from a friend that our time is short. this statement coupled with “live like you are going to see Jesus” struck a chord in the children’s minister in me. we don’t have much time. days are fleeting and the fraction of the week we get with the children is minimal. oh how we must be solely devoted not only with our personal walk, but with the precious time we are given to minister to children.

so, as i was wading through all we do in kidmin and how it barely fits into the time we are given, i was struck afresh at how our goal should be nothing less than the Gospel. not events, not moral truths, not just fun and relationships; our job as those privileged to minister to children is to point them to the Gospel. you can’t stumble into this. you can’t hope it happens. plain and simple, we have to be intentional.

i brought this challenge to our dawson kids investor training this past week. as i shared with them, i also asked them to help me infiltrate this goal into all aspects of our kidmin. as we grappled with this challenge, we started to flesh it out a bit. i divided the room into eight groups, each taking a slice of what makes up dawson kids ministry. their questions was, “what would the Gospel being the goal look like in the area of:” large groups, small groups, week before preparation, class prayer time, seeing kids in the hall, music – kids worship – cooperate worship, early arrival time, and seeing kids around town. with this one goal came only two rules: 1) no sunday school answers, and 2) don’t write down anything you are not willing to do.

their honest answers allowed me to see the hearts of this volunteer team i am just beginning to get to know. they so long for children to see and experience Jesus. how excited i am to see all God will do through such a dedicated team this year. i have shared their lists below and hope to hold our team (starting with me) accountable this year to making the Gospel the goal.  what ideas could you add to helping make the Gospel the goal in all areas of kidmin?

photo[2]

week before preparation
-pray for each child by name
-don’t put off preparation
-study the lesson all week (meditate on it daily)
-think of ways to introduce the Gospel
-be friendly to the children
-learn their names
-be ready to take late children and make them feel welcome
-be early to the classroom

seeing kids in the church hallway
-remember names and speak
-build relationships by asking about them
-maintain past relationships
-smile and tell them how glad you are to see them

early arrival
-ask, what has God done in your life this week? what did you learn about God this week?
-remove distractions (toys brought, if they seem upset talk to them about it)
-friendly welcome, by name. ask something specific to what the child cares about
-be early so that you are able to greet the children

large group time
-make connections between the bIble and their lives
-tie each lesson back to Jesus
-help them like sunday school
-make every child feel accepted

small group time
-tie the activity/craft into the lesson
-enforce scripture reading
-engage each child (eye contact, names)
-contact outside of church

class prayer time
-voice sentence prayers
-talk about each prayer request
-have children lead in prayer
-follow-up on requests
-positional prayers
-an open line – any time
-learn verses to help children with learning how to pray

 children’s church, music, coorperate worship
-use music that hides God’s truth in their hearts
-participate with kids in music. be an example
-use the Bible on their level. make it meaningful, applicable, and personable

seeing kids outside of church
-know their name and recognize something about them
-stop and take time to speak to them
-speak to the parent about them/brag on them
-try to attend an event they are involved in



by
Read More
In my journey

falling short

4 Comments

one of the things i noticed this summer about my 7-year-old niece’s stage in life was that she seemed to believe she was never at fault. no matter what happened, she thought she was never to blame. while she continued to point fingers, i wondered how i would be intentional about helping her see her shortcomings. without beginning to understand her sin, how would she start to see her need for a Savior? in love, i wanted to turn times of discipline into teachable moments about how Jesus rescues us in our rebellion. why did i think, even for a second, this lesson i longed to teach her wouldn’t also be for me?

it began on a morning we were late to meet someone. i was frantically running around trying to gather her things, get her to her location, and not be late for work myself. already ten minutes late, the last chore of the morning was to take the dog potty before rushing out the door. when i looked up from the backyard, i noticed not only had my niece come to join me and the dog in the backyard, she closed the backdoor that she also managed to lock. the three of us now stood in the backyard with no key, no phone, and no way to get back into the house. (looking back, i am just thankful i had us both out of our pajamas.)

what a great scenario to display grace; i just wish i could say that i did. in my frustration, i shamed her and watched her sweet face melt. as tears streamed down her cheeks, we figured out how to get another key, but the damage was done. i hurt her. when called to show mercy, i chose to sin. i was now the one needing the reminder of a sweet Savior’s grace.

the lesson i had imagined would include me pointing out her wrong, had me confessing mine and asking for her forgiveness. before reentering the house, we sat on the steps and i explained to her how badly i had handled the situation. i shared that even though i was grown, i often choose my way instead of God’s way. these actions aren’t simply mistakes, they are rebellion against God and they are sin. i told her that it is because of my sin and inability to be perfect on my own that i need Jesus. i couldn’t get those ugly moments back, but i longed to redeem them to point her to Jesus. humbly, i got a fresh few of His mercy myself.

since that week i keep singing the lyrics of laura story’s “grace.” this song (see below) so captures my heart as i continue to confront how i oh so often fall short. while i am incredibly imperfect, He continues to be all sufficient! wow!

Laura Story’s “Grace” lyrics

“My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused. I see the things You do through me as great things I have done.
And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.

Chorus:
I ask you: “How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?”
And you answer: ” My child, I love you.
And as long as you’re seeking My face, You’ll walk in the pow’r of My daily sufficient grace.”

At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged, knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job.
For who am I to serve You? I know I don’t deserve You. And that’s the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

Chorus
I ask you: “How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?”
And you answer: ” My child, I love you.
And as long as you’re seeking My face, You’ll walk in the pow’r of My daily sufficient grace.”
You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You, I’m learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary.
So, instead of trying to repay You, I’m learning to simply obey You by giving up my life to you For all that You’ve given to me.

Chorus:
I ask you: “How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?”
And you answer: ” My child, I love you.
And as long as you’re seeking My face, You’ll walk in the pow’r of My daily sufficient grace.”

by
Read More
In kidmin

clean slate

3 Comments

at first glance it may not make much sense to put pictures of my new office in my blog entitled “clean slate.”  well, in my head it makes perfect sense.  you see, i am highly visual and i am a slow learner. so i knew if i was going to make the most of this new ministry adventure God has given me, i would have to give myself a daily reminder.photo 3

i believe a fresh start in ministry is a precious gift and i want to come face to face with this truth each day.  so, the extremist in me went from bright blue, glitter covered walls with a red velvet couch to an office that is, well, white.  i simply couldn’t conceive a better palette to scream clean start to myself each day.

here are just some of the things i hope and pray these surroundings remind me of each day:

– have no agenda other than God’s agenda
– this new ministry is not the 2.0 version of the last ministry
– dream fresh, God-sized dreams
– my way is not always the best way, try something new
– learn and grow from past failures and conflicts, but don’t let them mar the new ministry
– it takes time to fill a blank canvas – be patient and purposed with each stroke 

photo 2the other important piece to my new office was one of the scriptures God used in calling me to dawson.   (pictured left)  ephesians 3:20-21, “now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! amen.”  i believe it is when i get out of the way and abandon myself to His vision and dreams, i can experience the Creator’s abundantly more!

by
Read More
In faith

expecting Him to speak

2 Comments

this morning, i tried to sneak away for a few quiet moments to work on my Bible study.  only seconds after i got settled, my sweet niece finds me and inquired about what i was doing.  i told her i was going to do my Bible study.  she then asked, “what does that mean?”  i explained to her that i was going to spend time in my Bible with Jesus to hear Him speak to me.  wow, such a sunday school answer.  i wish i would have explained more about how digging into God’s Word helps me know His character and more about Him.  through knowing Him more, i can follow Him better and hear Him when He wants to tell me something.  but, i didn’t say all that.  i gave a quick answer, so i could get on with “more important” things.  little did i know, my words would be a lesson to me.

the first thing i read in my beth moore james study was james 4:6a, “He gives greater grace.”  i was sitting quietly trying to soak it in and allow it to penetrate my hard head and heart.  what a marvelous, unfathomable truth.  the text went on to share that “He is enough.”  i read that statement twice and then the door opened.  that precious blonde walked over and stared at me with those big, round blue eyes.  “well, what did He say?” she asked believing that if He was supposed to speak, He would.  i shared with her about His greater grace and what that meant.  my study even asked me to say it aloud.   so i did so with her standing right there.  “He gives greater grace.”

she wandered back into the other room to resume her computer game, while i continued on with my study.  i was nearing the end when i was supposed to read through the following list of truths.

– “God knows everything about you and everything concerning you.  nothing is hidden from His sight.  so submit to God.”
– “He is always looking out for your ultimate good and takes our hurts personally. so submit to God.”
– “He is Holy and worthy and incapable of abusing His divine authority over you.  so submit to God.”
– “He knows when your motive was right but your mouth messed up.  so submit to God.”
– “He knows exactly how to work terrible into good. so submit to God.”
– “He loves you completely and unconditionally and will never let you go. so submit to God.”
– He knows the well-deliberated plan for your life and how all things must fall into place for you to fulfill your destiny.  so submit to God.”
– “He will never put to shame those who trust in Him. so submit to God.”

as i was reflecting on these powerful statements and which of them spoke to me the most, the door quietly opened again.  “what did He say now, dandi?”  only moments before i had told her that God speaks through His Word and now she was confident that He would.  she was so convinced that she came and asked me not once, but twice what He was saying to me.   after i shared a truth or two that i loved with her, she smiled and said, “i like that.”

she had briefly heard of His character and that He speaks through His Word.  so, she expected Him to speak.  i know and have intimately experienced His character, yet so many times i am not willing, ready, or believing He has anything to say to me.  well, He did today.  through His Word, my Bible study, and the faith of a child He spoke loud and clear.  may i always be positioned with a believing heart to receive what He has to say.

** excerpts are from beth moore’s james Bible study, “mercy triumphs.” published by lifeway.

by
Read More
free dandibell email updates
get the latest content sent straight to your email.
we respect your privacy. thanks for taking time to subscribe.