complacency

I’ve been thinking a lot about complacency lately. It’s easy to become complacent with your marriage, relationships, your job, chores, etc. I am starting to think it stems from a few things: (1) laziness – you know what you need to do, but choose not to, (2) boredom – you need something new, new life, a change, (3) forgetting to rely on the Spirit and the working of God – trying to do it all on our own.

How can we be seeking whaat God has in store for us and become complacent in that area? God is not about boredom or “same-old.” To me, Scripture reveals a God who is full of change, adventure, challenge, dreams to make us rely on HIM. If we are becoming complacent at what we’re doing, we’re dreaming too small. We’re leaving God out of the equation.

At various times in my life, I’ve become complacent in various area, like those mentioned above. We have to be careful to not fall into this trap. I think the enemy uses it to capture our best from us. It holds us back. It can also be like a disease, that unless treated, eats us and paralyzes our potential.

 Whether in your marriage, parenting, your ministry, your prayer life, or maybe just housekeeping – if complacency is keeping you from where you need to be — get up. Challenge God. Challenge yourself. Change things. Don’t let your potential for greatness be robbed.

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slammed with Summer Slam

I have a TON going on in the next 20 days (thanks Linda!). We’re into full swing planning mode for Summer Slam. I ordered our mailing today to the community, bike helmets, and posters. Got a new sponsor potentially and arranged for the local EMS to be on stand-by. But the biggest thing troubling me is the weather. It is HOT!!! So, I am praying BIG prayers. I have prayed for a cold front (yup – in July!). I also would like no rain involved in this cold front. So, if you could — could you pray for a cold front for Summer Slam? (Hey — 85 would be GREAT!)

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encouragement

I received an e-mail just a few minutes ago from a grandfather who has been bringing his 2 grandchildren to our church. Their parents are against organized religion and refuse to bring the kids. If grandpa doesn’t come, the kids don’t come. Anyways, he was inquiring about all the opportunities we have for children at our church during the summer as his granddaughter is “quite fond of me and loves the church and he wants to take advantage of that.” Later on in the e-mail he thanked me for being so good to the kids. WOW!!! I am not saying this to toot my horn or ANYTHING like that at ALL! But it brought it into perspective to me that once again, before kids care about what they know, they want to know YOU care. These kids come from a rough home life. They love the church. Praise God! Now my prayer is that they can be an instrument in bringing their parents to church.

 Don’t just administrate. Don’t just teach or lead. Put yourself out there and really connect with kids. Get on their level. Get to know them. All the high impact worship, dramas, Bible teaching in the world doesn’t matter if the kids don’t know that someone cares.

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effective children’s ministry

This was posted by Kendra Golden over at lifechurch.tv blog. Thought it had some good points:

The Kids Down the Hall

I get chills every time. The message closes, Craig acknowledges the hands, the lives surrendering to Christ, one by one. Maybe you’ve had the honor of standing in front of that human sea. Jesus promised to make us fishers of men. Here’s a challenge: Are we sport-fishing on ESPN, or are we commercial fishing?

The career fishermen Jesus called to His ministry fished with nets. The best Bass Pro in the world today couldn’t catch enough fish to make a living selling them. Jesus’ fishermen often caught fish that would get thrown back by a sport fisherman. And yet, one of Jesus’ last miracles on earth was to overflow a net so full of those little fish that it couldn’t be hauled in.

Statistically, children’s ministry is where our nets are most likely to overflow. (See George Barna’s Raising Children to be Spiritual Champions for the hard numbers.) Many church leaders I have spoken with are quick to recognize that a thriving children’s ministry “grows their church.” However, often what they mean is that it’s a draw for the children’s parents. Many of these same leaders often don’t know if the ministry down the hall from the “real preaching” is effective.

Is your church body being led to take full advantage of effective children’s ministry? Here are some hard questions:

Are your kids’ rooms painted beige, so they can be “multi-purpose”? (preferring to be attractive to adults who may share them)

Could you answer specific questions about the curriculum in your kids’ rooms?

Do you believe it’s the parents’ job to lead their kids to Christ, while they assume it’s the church’s? Have you addressed this disconnect?

Does your children’s ministry struggle to get and keep passionate volunteers?

Even if you can list the activities you offer children, can you show how they support your desired outcomes?

Do staff salaries/prestige increase in proportion to the age of the people they serve?

Are your children’s ministers regularly challenged to update their strategies? Can they demonstrate a healthy return on resource investment?

Are you satisfied with merely “entertained kids” and “satisfied parents”?

What do you think about it? Are your leaders in touch with what you’re doing in Chldren’s Ministry? Do they value it? Do they value you? Do hard conversations need to take place to esteem the children’s programs and your position in your leadership’s eyes?

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God and ladders…

So my 3 year old and I were driving in the car this afternoon and he brought my attention to the clouds.

him: “Momma are those clouds?”

me: “Yes they are”

him: “What for?” (his favorite phrase repeated ALL day long)

me: “God put them up there.”

him: “Does God have a ladder?”

me: “Why do you think God has a ladder?”

him: “He put the clouds up there!” (pointing to the clouds)

I love these little ancedotes! I can’t wait to hear more of them as he tries to figure this world out.

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children’s challenge – uh-oh…

Okay, so one of my partners in the children’s ministry helped the kids challenge our offering collected last week. They set a goal of $100 to collect before Spetember 2nd. If they achieve that goal and we do collect $100, then my end of the deal is to color my hair either green or pink. I think I’d look better in pink than green…We’ll see if they can do it and if they do, I’ll post pictures!

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slothfulness…

Interesting thought tonight from small group…

Is not sharing Christ with others an act of slothfulness? What holds us back? Why do we put it off?

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Whew!

It has been SUCH a week!

I don’t even know where to start! JD was at camp for the week as a dean for Jr. High students. I was at home with our 2 kids – 3 and 1 1/2. That exhausts a woman! I know why God’s plan is for married people to have kids! Dude – it is so hard by yourself! Anyways….Satan tried to attack camp ANY way he could. There was major spiritual warfare going on — student custody issues with parents, counselor spouses having a difficult time, injuries, thunderstorms, a boy in diabetic coma transported to the hospital and in ICU, late food deliveries, etc… I went down to visit on Wed. with the kids and Cade accidentially closed Benjamin’s head in the car door and we ended up at the dr. getting stitches. There was just SO much happening!

I am extremely glad this week is over. Yesterday we had a dead possum stinking under our house and our toilet won’t work. Whew! My man is back home today and I am SOOOOOOO glad! Now he leaves again in a week, but we’re not thinking of that right now. So, hopefully as things get back to normal, I can get back on here!

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Sunday thoughts…

It was an AWESOME day in SO many ways!

* KIDMO went great! We mixed it up a ton! The kids picked up on that quickly and I told them it was “KIDMO remix.” The energy was high, we did new worship, and although the attendance was low, I thought it was one of the best children’s programs we’ve done in a while. I had gotten complacent with what we were doing before this week. It’s good to be stretched.

* We may be getting $$$$$$ for a new playground for church!!!!!! Need to pray, pray , pray! God is SO good, and SO big! What do we continuously underestimate him?

* Worship this morning was full of energy. Dave’s message was a homerun, and there were many visiting families. We did our version of Man Day and it was great! Harleys in church, sporting good store giveaways, man food, and IBC root beer on tailgates. Hope the men felt special!

* A family we registered in our Mom’s Morning Out program was in church this morning! Awesome!!!

* Summer Slam is getting bigger and bigger. I need to pray for the Spirit to cast out all fear. We have 2 radio stations covering the event publicity wise, and coming that day, Coca Cola is coming down from Charlotte with a team to give away 1000+ bottles of flavored water, Toys R Us donated a bike and is setting up a table, we have 2 other bikes donated as well as 50 bike helmets.

* Felt we made 2 steps forward today with some things. We’ll see. Usually when that happens, we get yanked a step back.

* JD went to camp today for a week. “I will survive” is my mantra for the week. Life is rough with 2 boys ages 3 and under. Especially with one potty training. The key to the week is keeping busy!

* I’m gonna go read one of the 25 books I’m reading right now.

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too much happening…

So I am kind of on a break from blogging – just too much going on right now. I haven’t felt much inspiration to write as my mind has been a jumble of thoughts on a million other things. Random thought ahead:

* I’m praying for 1000 people to show up for Summer Slam. Specifically 1000.

*Summer Slam has gotten BIG – WNOK, our secular hit station & WMHK, our christian radio station are both sponsoring it, as well as Coca Cola sending out a team with Respect Water, and Cycle Center, a local bike shop

*JD leaves for camp in 2 days and I am with 2 boys 3 and under all week!!! I need PRAYER!!!

*Working on the plans for the Fall — have a GREAT new guy on board in the elem. dept. to tag team Kids Church with me (still hate that name! Any ideas?)

*Watched “Fast Food Nation” the other night and have since sworn off fast food. Gross movie!!!

*Tomorrow I have a meeting with my Children’s Ministry volunteers. They are the best! I just want to tell them that and to communicate to them the new changes we’re making in the Fall.

*sigh* JD needed new tires on his car today….

I know we’re on the cusp of something HUGE. Satan is attacking from the left and right and I have been on my knees in prayer just seeking God’s answers and strength. Satan doesn’t attack when nothing is happening. He is active and alert when he is most threatened. Watch out Dutch Fork! Our church is sitting on a mine of potential. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to direct us!

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