photo by bubblewrap
Whether it’s the beginning of a calendar year or a school year, most of us make New Year’s Resolutions of some sort or another. Perhaps you’ve decided that this is the year to get in shape, get out of debt, go on weekly dates with your spouse, be more positive, or read your Bible a bit every day.
As you ponder which resolutions you want to make for 2009, I encourage you to include your ministry in the mix. In our Sunday morning children’s program this month, we will be learning Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men.”
Since the time you spend ministering to kids, whether it’s directly or indirectly, falls under the category of “whatever you do,” why not engage in a little introspective thinking over the next few days to determine whether or not you’re working at your ministry with all your heart?
Here are a few questions you could use. Who knows, you just might discover a tip or two that will help you get even better at helping kids connect with God.
1. Do I pray regularly for this ministry?
2. Do I expect God to do amazing things in this ministry?
3. Am I interacting with God through Bible reading, reflection and prayer throughout the week?
4. Do I evaluate my ministry skills on a regular basis to identify things I’m doing well and things I could be doing better and then make concrete steps to get better?
5. Am I open to learning from others how to be a more effective leader and do I ask others for ideas?
6. Do I arrive early so I’m ready to greet kids when they arrive and/or so the program can start when scheduled?
7. Am I prepared before kids arrive?
8. Do I greet the kids with a big smile and show them I’m glad they came?
9. (For those who work directly with kids): Have I set spiritual goals for the kids I lead in the areas of social interaction, Bible literacy, prayer, and application and am I working toward those goals?
10. (For those who work directly with kids): Do I take the lessons we are presenting to kids to heart and ask God to change my life as I hear and/or teach them?
God is honored when we strive to get better at ministry, whether we’re a small group leader, greeter, nursery volunteer, storyteller, a one-on-one helper, praise team leader, tech person, attendance taker or director.
Don’t let another year of ministry pass you by without devoting a little more time and energy into getting better at whatever it is that God has called you to do. Choose one area. After you’ve made progress in that area and it has become a habit, focus on another area. Don’t make resolutions in many different areas at the same time. Instead, focus on one area, but keep changing. Twelve months from now, you’ll be able to look back and see that God has more of your heart and you are even better at what you do.
As for me, I’m starting with #2 — I’m going to expect God to do amazing things in and through our ministry this year and watch for Him to show up. What about you? What’s the first thing you’re going to do to make 2009 a better year of ministry than 2008? To share your resolution, click on the comment link.
photo by chrisB in Sea
It’s not uncommon for me to head to Signs of Life, my favorite coffee shop, on Mondays to do some work. I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee, the quiet atmosphere, and the comfortable couches. Most of all, though, I love being able to enjoy a white chocolate mocha (double shot of espresso, light on the syrup) while I work. Days when I splurge on a specialty drink are always good days!
Due to a change in employment in our family in the past year, white chocolate mochas have truly become “specialty” drinks since I can get my caffeine fix in less expensive ways. These days, I rarely order anything besides a cup of coffee.
A couple months ago, I needed to get some computer work and reading done, so I packed up my things and headed downtown. As I walked into Signs of Life, my friend, Glen, was placing his order. I overheard the barista ask, “Can I get you anything else?” Glen’s response was evidence of his generosity. “Just a minute. Let me see if Carolyn wants anything.” Then, he turned to me and asked me if he could buy me a drink – anything I wanted. He made my day!
This month in Discovery Unlimited, we’re focusing on generosity – making someone’s day by giving something away. A spirit of generosity is reflective of the heart of God, who gave us the best gift ever when He gave us His son. Not only has He given us the most amazing gift ever, but He has also blessed us in a zillion other ways, big and small.
photo by Hidden Peanuts
We tend to think we have to give big gifts to be generous, but we don’t. Generosity can be found in a cup of coffee for a friend, a quarter in the Salvation Army bucket, a box of pasta for your church’s food drive, a hot meal for a struggling family, a Christmas carol in a nursing home, a phone call to someone who’s lonely, or a bag of hand-me-down clothes for the next door neighbor’s son.
As the impact of our struggling economy hits your family, I encourage you to choose to make it a priority to teach your children to be generous with what they have–even if it’s not a lot. Sharing what we have, regardless of how big or small, reflects the character of God and is a virtue that will allow us to bless others throughout our lives.
“Be rich in good deeds … be generous and willing to share.” 1 Timothy 6:18, NIV
LKT readers would love to hear from you. What are some ways you have tried to instill generosity in your children?
I’ve been working on an Amazon store where I’ll link to dozens of books and other items that I think might be of interest to readers of Leading Kids Today. My goal was to get this store up in time for Christmas so parents and others who are fortunate enough to be shopping for a child this year would have an easy way to select Bibles and other Christian resources.
If you’re looking for a children’s Bible this year, here are some factors to consider:
- Completeness of the text
Is the Bible a verse-by-verse Bible or a collection of Bible stories? Preschoolers and early grade schoolers would enjoy a collection of stories better than the complete text of the Bible, but once children are able to read, you might consider getting them an easy-to-read full Bible. - Illustrations
Are the illustrations age-appropriate? If they are too childish, children won’t want to use the Bible. If they are too “grown-up,” they’ll bore kids. - Translation
Is the translation at the appropriate reading level? There are many translations of the Bible today, but many are difficult for children to understand well. I believe the best one on the market today is New International Reader’s Version (NIrV). For more information about reading levels of various Bible translations, check out Bible Translations for Kids: Choosing the Best One for Your Child.
- Supplemental Features
Are the supplemental features engaging for the gender and age of the child who will be using the Bible? Many Bibles for grade schooler children include short devotionals and other features. Take the time to read some of these before you purchase a Bible to make sure they will engage the recipient of your gift. - Binding
Is the binding sturdy enough for your child? Even though paperbacks are less expensive, they may not be worth it if your child is hard on books.
There are many children’s Bibles to choose from, but the Beginner’s Bibles and Adventure Bibles are my top picks.
for 1-3-year-olds
for ages 4-8
for 6-10-year-olds
for 8-12-year-olds
To get a full description of each of these Bibles, head to the Leading Kids Today store. While you’re there, you might as well check out other products for children. If the child on your list already has a Bible, you might consider getting him or her a devotional.
In addition to books for children, the store also includes resources for parents and children’s ministry leaders. I’m hopeful this will be a handy way for you to find the resources you’re interested in quickly and easily. Please take a few minutes to browse through the store, and come back often to see what’s new.
One last thing — if you have experience with children’s Bibles or devotionals, would you please take a minute to leave a comment on this post, letting other readers know what your top pick(s) are and why? Those who are wanting to get their child a Bible or great devotional this year but aren’t quite sure what to get would really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks so much and happy shopping!
graphic by meneldur
“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
Every college undergrad has either heard or said this at least once. Sadly, this statement gives teachers a bad name. The truth is that those who “can” are better teachers and those who “can’t” are ineffective teachers.
After my father-in-law retired from a long career in mechanical engineering, he joined the University of Kansas engineering faculty as an adjunct lecturer. He loved teaching soon-to-be engineers and they loved having him as their instructor because he brought practical insights into the classroom. He spoke from experience. He knew what really worked and what sounded good in theory but didn’t work practically. He could tell them how things were in the real world and how they could use the knowledge they were learning in their future jobs. His ability to “do” gave him credibility with his students and prepared them well for their future.
The same is true for parents and children’s ministry leaders.
- It’s one thing to tell your kids about God and to teach them facts about the Bible. It’s an entirely different thing to teach them the practical stuff about the life of faith: how to pray, how to trust God no matter what, how to make wise choices and how to live a morally upright life.
- It’s one thing to tell kids to be patient; it’s an entirely different thing to live a life of patience in front of them so they learn to be patient by following your lead.
- It’s one thing to proclaim, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
- It’s an entirely different thing to monitor your own words so you don’t say negative things about others.
- It’s one thing to tell your kids they need to trust God when their lives seem uncertain; it’s an entirely different thing to model for them that you trust God even when your life is uncertain.
The only way we have any hope of teaching children how to live a life of faith in Christ is to teach by doing.
This month’s Parent’s Link Live is about the importance of knowing God personally instead of just knowing about God. It’s about taking time to connect with God on a personal level before you try to teach kids about God. I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to this short talk. Then, commit to being the best teacher you can be to the kids God’s given you. Your kids, whether they live in your home or are in your small group or class at church, will thank you!
To listen to Make it Personal, click here. You can either download it as an MP3 file or listen online.
This month I’m starting something new on Leading Kids Today. Each month I’ll include a five- to ten-minute audio file, called Parent Link Live, addressing relevant issues in the home. Even though these talks are designed to help parents fine-tune their parenting skills, they also have value for children’s leaders in other contexts.
This month’s talk, by Carey Nieuwhof, senior pastor of Connexus Community Church in Ontario, is about fighting for the heart of your child. Whether you are a parent or a children’s leader, I encourage you to take a few minutes to hear what Carey has to say. Your ability to shape a child’s heart depends on your ability to live out this message.
To download this month’s Parent Link Live file, click here.
photos by
photo by cs1uk
Last Sunday in Discovery Unlimited, our 4th and 5th graders got to make individual servings of ice cream to illustrate the virtue of determination. If you ask any 4th or 5th grader who was at our church last Sunday, they’ll tell you it takes a long time to shake up a baggy of milk and sugar encased in a larger baggy filled with ice and rock salt. It also takes determination to continue shaking the baggies because your hands can get really cold.
For those kids who persisted and gutted out the cold, they ended up with some really great ice cream and left church with a smile on their faces. They also experienced first hand how important it is to keep doing what you should do so you don’t miss something good.
While the kids had a great time, the leaders, on the other hand, were left with a big mess. Our workroom looked like kids had poured pitchers of water and rock salt all over the counter and floor. As I helped some of the leaders clean up, I learned a couple things about this activity:
1. It was very messy. (DUH! I don’t know why I didn’t process that prior to Sunday.)
2. The yummy mixture doesn’t hardens well unless you have enough rock salt in the outer bag.
Even more importantly, though, I was reminded again that we have awesome children’s leaders in our church! They get children’s ministry! They understand that sometimes the best way to help kids remember a point is to allow them to make a mess. They know that when church is fun and kids are engaged, the kids are much more likely to remember the point of the lesson. They recognize that the ease of a lesson doesn’t necessarily reflect the effectiveness of the lesson. They are determined to do what needs to be done to help kids grasp the truths of Scripture. They are willing to keep doing what they should do so the kids in their group don’t miss something good.
Whether you’re a parent or a children’s leader, the next time you sit down to plan a lesson or activity for kids, I encourage you to be open to doing things that require a bit of prep, a bit of courage and a bit of clean-up. Don’t reject ideas initially because they seem too complicated. Often times, what makes the activity complicated is what also makes it appealing and memorable to kids. Engage your kids, build some memories, plant some seeds, teach some truth…
…and have fun in the process!
photo by madhatrk
Recipe for Individual Servings of Ice Cream
Put these ingredients in a pint-size Ziploc® bag and zip it shut:
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup half-n-half or whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Put 1 cup ice and ¼ cup rock salt in a quart-size Ziploc® bag.
Place the ingredient baggy into the ice baggy and zip the ice bag.
Shake until the yummy mixture gets firm. If it’s not getting firm, add more ice and rock salt and keep shaking.
NOTE: Have some towels nearby to wipe up any messes.
ENJOY!
DUH!!! We all know that regular exercise strengthens our muscles. We also know if we stop exercising, our muscles atrophy.
Did you know the same is true for spiritual exercise? If we engage in consistent spiritual training, in time, we’ll detect real spiritual growth. However, if we fail to get regular spiritual exercise, our faith will atrophy. Sadly, just like it’s easy to become physically lazy, it’s also easy to become spiritually lazy. We want to be spiritually fit but we often don’t take the effort to get fit. We want to be able to live without worry, but we can’t. We wish our first reaction to every challenge in life would be to pray, but it’s not. We know we should have a better attitude about our job or our kids or our spouse, but we don’t.
Sometimes, our thoughts, attitudes and actions aren’t reflective of God. If we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we are not always spiritually fit.
From time to time I come to the realization that I’m out of shape spiritually. I feel “fat.” My muscles feel “mushy.” When challenges come my way, I realize I’m not at the top of my game. I doubt. I complain. I forget to pray. I say things I shouldn’t say. I hate it when I get like that!
When I finally realize what’s going on (sometimes I’m a little slow to catch on), I recognize that I’m spiritually unfit because I’ve become lazy. I’ve stopped exercising. I’ve lost the ability to keep God’s perspective on my circumstances because I’ve become irregular in my training program.
The apostle Paul addresses this very thing in his first letter to Timothy, a young man he was mentoring.
Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. (I Timothy 4:7b-8)
When I finally recognize that I’ve digressed in my spiritual health, the solution I need to embrace is regular spiritual exercise. I need to get back into a spiritual training program and practice some spiritual disciplines. For me, that typically means I need to reengage in a daily time of prayer and Bible reading. I need to journal my thoughts about what I’m reading and what God is teaching me. I need to write out my prayers. I need to meditate on verses that help me get God’s perspective on my circumstances.
Your list of disciplines may be different from mine. Maybe you’ve gotten so busy in life that you don’t have time to think clearly about anything. Making time for solitude so you can reflect on God more could make a difference. Maybe you’ve slipped into patterns of indulgence and realize you’re always thinking about the next thing you want to buy. Perhaps it’s time to exercise frugality. For more information about spiritual disciplines, check out the water’s edge.
One of the great things about being spiritually fit is that it not only benefits us, but it also benefits others. As leaders of children, if we want to make a difference in the lives of the kids we serve, we need to take our spiritual health seriously. We need to exercise regularly. Paul goes on to tell Timothy,
We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe… Give your complete attention to these matters [staying spiritually fit and using your spiritual gifts]. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you. ( I Timothy 4:10, 15-16)
As summer rolls into fall, I encourage you to pause for a few moments to assess your spiritual health. Don’t let the business of the new year, the shortness of the days and the change in temperature chip away at your spiritual health. Regular exercise really will make a difference – in your life and in the lives of the kids you serve! Won’t you join me in getting into shape this fall?
“…whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Proverbs 14:31b
In less than two weeks, our church will start our Operation Christmas Child project. I love it that our church participates in this project because it’s an excellent way for everyone – from preschoolers to Sr. citizens – to get involved in making the difference in a child’s life. It’s a way for all of us to be generous, even if we don’t have a lot of resources ourselves.
What is Operation Christmas Child?
It’s a program that provides Christmas gifts for millions of poverty-stricken children around the world.
How does it work?
People like you and me get a shoebox and fill it with gifts for a boy or girl. We turn in the shoebox, along with $7 for shipping, at a designated drop-off location and from there, the box is processed and sent to a needy child through Samaritan’s Purse.
Who should participate?
Operation Christmas Child is for everyone – young and old; single and married! I strongly encourage parents to make shoeboxes with their kids. It’s an excellent way to teach your children to be generous and to provide them with an opportunity to experience putting someone else’s needs above their own wishes.
How can I get involved?
If you attend the Lawrence Free Methodist Church, we’ll have information in our lobby starting Sunday, October 26. Pick up the instructions, get a shoebox, fill it with gifts and bring it (and $7 for shipping) back to our church no later than Sunday, November 16.
If you don’t attend LFMC, you can find packing instructions and the box drop-off location closest to your home on the Operation Christmas Child Web site.
What if money is tight?
The economic downturn of 2008 has caused most of us to think more seriously about our finances and reevaluate how we manage our money. Many families have experienced a layoff in the past 12 months and are struggling to make ends meet. Even if your family hasn’t experienced a layoff, we’ve all been affected by inflation, which is the highest it’s been since 1991.
When money is tight, it’s not only necessary to cut back spending on nonessential items, but it’s also natural to decline opportunities to participate in charitable giving, not because we don’t want to be generous, but because we don’t feel we can afford to be.
If you’re resourceful, it’s not costly to make a box for a child. You may even have new items, such as pens, crayons, marker and pads of paper in your home that you could include in the box. Shop the sales. Between now and mid-November, if you give up one restaurant meal, you’re well on your way to funding the cost of a box. That’s a small sacrifice for providing a child with the only gift she will get all year and a chance to hear about God’s love for her.
If you’re a parent, involve your children in figuring out how to fund the gifts in the box. You could encourage your kids to each come up with one way they could earn a little money to contribute to the box. They may not be able to generate more income, but they would probably be willing to give up something that you’ve been buying for them and put the cost of that item toward the box. The cost of a fastfood meal for a family of four would easily cover the cost of items in the shoebox.
Won’t you consider being a part of Operation Christmas Child this year?
Rebekah, Katie and Tim, August 1992
A few weeks ago, my husband and I took our oldest daughter to New York to start graduate school. The following day, our middle daughter drove herself to Illinois to begin her senior year of college.
It seems like just a few years ago we were dropping our girls off at grade school. When our kids were little all the 40- and 50-year-olds we knew would tell us to cherish the time we had with our kids because in the blink of an eye, they would be gone.
We’ve blinked our eyes and now both our daughters are gone and our son will most likely be gone in the next year or two. The past 23 years have flown by just like the empty-nesters told us they would. Now, I’m the soon-to-be empty-nester who wants to proclaim loudly to every parent of young children…
- Cherish your kids while they are young.
- Take advantage of every moment you have to teach your kids what really matters in life.
- Model for your kids what it means to love and be loved and to know God and be known by Him.
- You will influence your children more than anyone else.
- What happens at home is more important than what happens anywhere else. It’s more important than what happens at school, on the playground, at soccer practice and at church.
- God has appointed you to be the primary influence and spiritual leader in your kids’ lives. At times, that can seem like a daunting task but God has given you His word, His Spirit and other people to help you.
For those of you who attend the Lawrence Free Methodist Church, our children’s ministry wants to come alongside you and partner with you for the faith of your children. When a church and parents work together to help kids find and follow Jesus, their effectiveness greatly increases.
I’ve decided to start including a weekly post for parents on this blog as one way for our church to partner with parents for the faith of your kids. It’s my prayer that these posts will encourage you and give you practical tips so you can leverage the time you have with your kids now for years to come.
Aside from being focused on helping kids find and follow Jesus, the backbone of any children’s ministry is its consistent, committed leaders. When leaders aren’t consistent and when they aren’t committed for the long haul, the program loses its effectiveness.
At the Lawrence Free Methodist Church, we are blessed to have so many people who have made the commitment to serve kids week in and week out! Some of our leaders have been volunteering for over 20 years and know they are exactly where God want them, serving kids for Him. Some of our leaders have just started serving kids and love it! I bet 20 years from now many of these newer leaders will still be serving kids.
I am so grateful for each person who works with children in our church! Because of them, kids lives are being changed. It’s not always easy to work with kids. Some days are amazingly fun and rewarding; other days are challenging and discouraging, but the result is SO worth it.
One of my favorite verses is I Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
This past Sunday, we showed a video in our church to highlight how committed, consistent leaders can impact the life of a child. This story is about one of the kids in our ministry, but he is just one of millions in the world! If you are a children’s ministry leader, be encouraged! Let this video remind you that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. May God bless you as you sacrificially give of yourself to share Christ with kids.