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danielle

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dwelling.

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summer in children’s ministry is inevitably an event driven time for me.   i can literally hear my brain switch gears at the conclusion of one event in preparation for the next.  for example, on the way home from my first camp of the summer, my mind is flooded with to-do’s, ideas, and excitement for vbs that is right around the corner.  those that work with me know it, because emails, phone calls, and dream sessions all become a reality once i have completed the proceeding event.  although i am a self-described multi-tasker, my heart is a bit simple in its effort to pour passion into one event at a time.  but after last week at my 6th grade servant camp, something is different.  oh i have plenty in front of me: promotion, 6th grade transition and goodbyes, etc., but my heart seems settled and longs to marinate in the Glory of God we experienced last week.  instead of rushing ahead to the next “thing”, i can’t shake the awe of the God that was and is in our midst.

last week we took 33 6th graders and 14 adults to the 100+ temperatures of memphis to serve from the time they woke up until the time they went to bed.  one of the goals of the trip was to stretch them completely out of their comfort zones so that they could experience what God alone could do in and through them. (funny when you plan that for your children, it has a way of stretching you as well.) we said all week, “it’s not about me” and for one of the first times i can honestly say that the majority (if not all) of the group so removed themselves, their desires, their comfort, and their plans for the week that God was able to show up in mighty ways.  we remained in His presence.  we were broken for our sins and wandering. we were pushed to the end of ourselves and we saw His Glory.  the camp was quite organic, but our God was Almighty and changed hearts and lives forever.

my heart longs to dwell there.  while much planning went into last week, i ache for the simplicity of when i simply got out of the way and God showed up, took over, and met us each so personally.  so as i return to the office this week, i am praying that i never “switch gears” and move on to what is next.  may the God who challenged me and exceeded my expectations last week be allowed to infiltrate every ounce of my planning and ministry.  i’m weary of my ways and choose today to cling to the Vine and dwell in His glory!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5

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In kidmin

conference conversations

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i just returned from my first orange conference and i am delighting in many conference conversations that God placed throughout my time in atlanta.  i am a people person. i thrive in community and God is faithful to place people in my path to encourage, equip, challenge, and listen when i need it most. last week was no exception.

one person i couldn’t wait to meet was amy fenton lee.  amy, a special needs blogger (www.theinclusivechurch.com), had been pivotal in my ministry before we would even meet face to face.  she was so sweet to take time to talk me through one of the most trying times i have had in ministry.  she not only listened and encouraged me, she researched and sought information on my behalf.  so needless to say, i couldn’t wait to hear her heart and passion for special needs ministry.  even though her workshop was practical, helpful, and Christ-centered, it was my casual conversation with her that blessed me most.  her talked matched her walk (blog). she was just as passionate out of the spotlight as she is in front of a group of thirsty children’s ministry leaders.  her humility was refreshing. she freely admits to not having all the answers, but as she says that you sense her desire to do all she can for special needs families and the Kingdom!  i for one am so grateful, not only for her ministry, but for the authentic conversations i have had with her.  i look forward to many in the future.

then there is donna harris, a KidMin leader i met through twitter and only knew through one phone call.  how fun to spend time with her as we both sought information and encouragement at the conference. not only did we talk “ministry”, i was also blessed by the wisdom she shared as i was transparent about where i am in ministry now.  our conversation time was such a gift for the weary parts of my heart.  i am also always blessed to spend time chatting with jenny funderburke.  her face and words radiate the joy she has in serving in ministry.  i can’t help but smile when talking to or about her. God is doing amazing things through her and i look forward to hearing more and more about them.

all this talking has me thrilled about KidMin in October where authentic conversations are central to the culture of this new conference.

“The speakers and leaders at KidMin are here to interact with you the entire time. We talk, we share, we listen. It’s a time to bond and connect with speakers and other kidmins on every level.”

this brings me to gina mcclain, who is one of the people i am most excited about hearing at KidMin.  through conversations i have had with gina since meeting her this year, i am always impressed with her humility and frank honesty.  she is such a great mix of the heart of ministry and the practicality we all know that must be addressed when serving/working in the church. she is the real deal.  you won’t want to miss hearing her heart, but also the chance KidMin offers to really interact with her as one of the conference leaders.  i think we will all be blessed. is it october yet?

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experience made me a believer

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“there is nothing like it”

“you just have to experience it.”

“it is more about relationships and ministry than just
a show.”

these are all things i had been hearing from those who had attended SYMC.  i was trying to learn about this conference since it is kinda like the big brother of the new KidMin conference.  well, i am hard headed and hearing wouldn’t be believing for me. i needed to experience this conference that created so much buzz.

while packing to head to chicago this march to spend some time in the KidMin booth at SYMC, i was wondering if this conference would really live up to the hype.  to make matters a tad more intriguing, here i was a children’s minister diving into the waters of the youth conference world.  surely i would feel out of place and leave without any connections to this older area of ministry.

well the SYMC experience made me a believer and has me even more excited about KidMin this october.  here’s why:

  • it’s true, there is just something about the culture there.  people were connecting and encouraging one another.  i passed countless conversations where people were investing in one another.  there didn’t seem to be any sense of competition, just all for the One and Only, Jesus.
  • i made friends!!!  now i can talk to a wall so making friends is not usually too hard for me, but for some reason i doubted that i could connect with those in a ministry that honestly intimidates me.  day after day i met people from all size ministries from all over the country.  i was also blown away by a couple relationships i established that are still encouraging me even today.  (literally – i was on the phone today with my new sweet friend kim from new mexico.  i was able to be transparent and honest about some ministry frustrations.  she was there to listen,encourage me, and even followed our conversation up with a text quoting scripture. )
  • i experienced Jesus.  i sat in the back during louie giglio’s talk and felt like God had a message personally for me.  it wasn’t a flashy talk with unreachable goals and ideals.  i was simply encouraged to make much of Jesus.  that was medicine for this ministry leader’s soul.
  • i never once missed the the “exhibit hall” experience, but loved walking through the halls seeing people relaxing in sack chairs.  these simple elements and a diverse schedule with many options provided an atmosphere of refreshment.  after four days, i left renewed and re-charged, not overloaded and weary.

i was grateful to be a part of SYMC 2011 and love that they deliver what they promise when promoting the conference.  attending this conference and knowing all that KidMin has gleaned from their experiences makes me proud to be a part of KidMin 2011.  i am excited about how this unique, new conference for KidMin leaders will make its own mark on many ministries, hearts, and hopefully on eternity.

click here to go to the KidMin website.  there you can download a brochure,  learn more about the conference, and register!!

here is a video of christine yount jones sharing the heart of the KidMin conference – Christine talking about KidMin

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In faith

rather haves…

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my favorite movie ever is “steel magnolias.” one of my favorite lines and also my senior quote was when shelby (julia roberts) says to her mother malin (sally field), “i would rather have thirty seconds of wonderful, than a lifetime of nothing special.”
so after several days of movie line quoting and being awakened early with a  delightfully full heart, i began to ponder my list of  “rather haves.” have you ever thought about yours?  here is what i have so far:

i would rather…

  • know people instead of places.
  • savor transparent talks instead of worldly treasures.
  • devote myself to a life of God- surprises instead of a comfortable routine.
  • collect treasured relationships instead of trivial fame.
  • seek to know a little about my big God instead of much about the trappings of this temporary home.
  • wait on God’s greater yes instead of settle for my finite solutions.
  • be Divinely corrected instead of self-righteously right.
  • finish strong with a semblance of integrity instead of start passionately filled with pride.
  • learn to listen more intently instead of hollowly ramble to fill the silence.
  • err on giving away too much time instead of guarding it selfishly.
  • see myself as my Savior sees me instead of how the enemy tries to define me.
  • rarely laugh hard at something pure, instead of laugh often at cheap humor.
  • dare outwardly trying instead of dying inwardly with regret.
  • be content in being still instead of discouraged in an abundance of activity.
  • focus more on inner beauty instead of outer appeal.
  • constantly celebrate the little things instead of rarely enjoying the big ones.
  • fill my mind with the Truth of scripture instead of my head with the empty promises of man.
  • know few people’s hearts intimately instead of many people casually.
  • be Sovereignly challenged instead of personally protected.
  • fail in the hands of grace instead of succeed in the eyes of man.
  • completely succeed in a couple of things on this list instead of barely scratching the surface on them all.
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good – my nemesis to great

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i had been told by several people that the more i run, the more  illustrations/lessons i would have to relate to my own spiritual walk.  well on our long run day of 8 miles i was hit square in the gut (literally) and right in my spiritual heart.

we were a little over 6 miles and we only had .10 of a mile before we were to turn around and head back to the start.  one-tenth of a mile and i was almost home free for the day.  that’s all, one-tenth, but that is where i hit a running brick wall.  i had done so good in my long runs up til then, but to cap this day off with a great run, i needed to get through .10 of a mile that seemed to have me beat.

usually a tenth of mile it seems like nothing, but on this long run day, it was everything.  i didn’t have it in me and as i began to give up my attitude got ugly.   i was mad and pleading with my coach to skip this tenth and just go ahead and turn around.  how could this tenth be so important that we had to run it completely?  my coach didn’t budge.  actually she told me if i focused more energy on running instead of whining, i could conquer this tenth.  i didn’t.  i choose to continue the onslaught of complaints and questions for what seemed like miles.  (i am still not convinced that my coach didn’t stretch out this tenth, just to teach me a lesson.)  i threatened to quit numerous times, and even tripped on a wooden bridge when i resorted to making childish faces at my coach.  mature right?  everything in me wanted to skip this last short distance and begin a new direction, but it wasn’t coming until i persevered to the end of this tenth.

then it happened.  after hours (i exaggerate… mere minutes) we were able to turn around and head home with one last mile to go.  my demeanor immediately changed.  i was downright pleasant, because i could see the light at the end of this long run tunnel.  i refused to congratulate myself, because quite honestly i had made a fool out of myself about very little that day.  as i meditated on these events the following week, God gently, yet clearly related it to my spiritual walk and ministry.

i am consistent in going just far enough for good while refusing to push through to the great He has for me.  it gets tough and i threaten to quit or  i beg to run in a new direction.  if i don’t get my way i pout, whine, and yes act quite childish.  my persistence grows frail and my passion proves weak.  time after time, i settle.  but, i serve a God who promises “exceedingly, abundantly more than i could hope for or imagine” and He longs for me to push through the pain, endure til the end, and seek Him as my prize.

so before i start running a new direction, i want to faithfully run out the last tenth He has for me in each personal and ministry path.  with His help i long to lay down my grumbling and complaining and just put one foot in front of the other.   He is worthy.  He is faithful.  He is the Great I AM to run after.

what about you?  do you ever struggle to finish strong, because of the last difficult bit of journey?  am i the only one that can throw a childish temper tantrum, because i rely too much on self to finish strong?  where has good won out to His great in your ministry or walk?

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