I think I can see the light…

I am SO excited about everything that is happening right now. Really, if I weren’t this busy, I’d be bored. I secretly like it. Shhhh….

 We had an awesome turn out for our MMO Open House tonight. It is incredible to think we have opportunity to minister to 28 kids and their families. I know God is going to do awesome things this school year. We have a great team of teachers, the families are great, and I am very excited. I feel a bit out of my comfort zone, but that feels good…

I am really excited about Sunday and our new classes/programs too. It’ll be exciting seeing how the kids respond to it. I am also excited to be equipping parents more with their child’s spiritual growth.

Some of us from DF are going to Anderson to Newspring for the 4:15 on Sunday. That’ll be great. I’ll have pink hair and fit right in! I’m looking forward to being in worship, having my cup filled, and learning from God’s word.

My husband is the best in the world! He came to me a few weeks ago and wanted to do a Beth Moore study with me. What?!? I didn’t know if I heard him right. I think he wants eternal brownie points with me. We’re finishing up the frst week of “The Patriarchs” and I’m learning a ton about Genesis and Abram/Abraham. It’s good and our discussion is even better!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel I think. At least for now. Fall Festival is next on the list.

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Great resource for locating sex offenders

Vision 20/20 has created a great online tool for searching for sex offenders in a given area. Visit their free online sex offender tool to search by address, see on a map where they are located, and get information regarding what offense they committed. They also show you a picture of the sex offender and give detailed information.

As a parent this is a valuable tool as well as knowing who is in your church and surrounding community. It is the church’s responsibility to provide a safe experience for all children. Awareness is pivotal to that.

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when it rains…it pours!

Why does that always seem to be true? Yesterday was the epitome of that law of nature. This week is crazy busy and stressful for our family – JD and I both have huge important things going on — he’s preaching for both the youth service this week (Wed.) and for church on Sunday. I have been getting ready for school that starts next week, training teachers, getting classrooms and supplies ready, and we have the Open House Thursday night. On top of that, as I’ve been talking about – we’re launching all new stuff this weekend for our children’s programs.  Between the two of us, we’ve also had meetings 3 of 5 weeknights this week.

Personally in our family we’ve been just as crazy — well, life is already crazy with a 3 year old boy and a 20 mo. .old boy! Our AC went out on Monday, JD’s car wouldn’t start on Friday, my car has the check engine light which just came on, and then to top it off – the boys are both sick with upper resp. crud and we were in the ER from 11:30pm-4:00am last night with my oldest having an asthma attack. Sigh!

So, needless to say, we’ll be happy when this week is over and we can start anew. In the meantime, it’s great knowing God’s promise that he will sustain us.

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Don’t miss this Sunday!

This Sunday is our new kick-off for all our children’s programs. A few things happening:

*New ages for classes birth – 5th grade

*New structure for Sunday School time in both preschool and elementary – more small group focused, not as much academic-school focused

*New curriculum – First Look for preschool & toddlers and 252Basics for elementary

*I will have pink hair – yup – the kids met their goal for offering money — here I come, unleashing my “inner-Pink”

*Family Communion Room starts

WHEW!!! To keep up to date with Children’s Ministry happenings visit www.dfkids.wordpress.com

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in a funk

Been in a bit of a blogging funk lately. I have had so much on my plate that I can’t seem to focus right now. Hopefully after the school year starts next week for us, I will return with some inspiration.

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why the same themes?

It seems like the same spiritual theme chase me down each day. They can be summed up by the overarching theme of “trusting God.” Really, when you stop to think about it – whether with your own children, your future, your ministry, or even your marriage – you have very little control. None of it really belongs to us. We work hard, put in time, effort, and a lot of energy – but it then all comes down to trusting God. I wonder if I put the trusting God part first, if I wouldn’t have to feel like I work so hard!

As I enter into bigger things in ministry – a growing school program, new, unfamilar ministry, installation of a professional playground, HUGE events — I realize that my role in them is very miniscule. God is the BIG picture of all of it. When I feel like my inadequacies are squeezing the life out of me, I need to be on my knees even more. I need others on their knees. I need to be in God’s Word, encouraging myself, finding those treasures that challenge me and comfort me.

I won’t even get into the relationship of trusting God and being a parent. Let’s just say, I don’t think I could parent two, rambunctious preschool boys without a HUGE amount of trust in God. One say “trusting God” will come naturally. It will be a way of life and then maybe the precious challenges I face won’t seem like such large tasks.

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new beginnings

Just been busy at church lately with Fall kick-off stuff. On my plate the next week:

*Teacher training for Mom’s Morning Out school year – 3 days

*Mom’s Morning Out Open House for families

*New classes and programs for all Sunday church children – totally new structure of small group/large group format, new teachers, new curriculum

*Kick-off of Family Communion Room

So I’ve been a bit busy lately. Trusting God with hiring a new teacher for Mom’s Morning Out. I don’t like this HR stuff! Know anyone in Columbia who would love to teach 2 year olds?

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one body…

I was reading Ephesians 4 for the second time this week when the following verses stuck out in my head:

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 A few thoughts:

* Am I living a life worthy of the calling I have received? What an intimidating thought! I need to be living each and every day understanding that I have been called and there are expectations that go along with that.

*A few things to be : humble, gentle, patient, loving, living in unity.

*What is unity for people who disagree? Is it possible to live in unity with someone you strongly oppose? According to this verse, we are to live in unity and keep that unity through peace. Peace meaning a state of mutual harmony, untroubled, tranquil, and content.

*”Church” should have a global mindset, not an intrinsic mindset. We shouldn’t be as concerned about our personal success as we should be about the local community of churches and beyond. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all. Those are absolutes as well.

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New curriculum is here!

Our new curriculum for 252 Basics and First Look is here. (Well, it is downloadable!) I spent a few hours tonight meeting with my preschool directors and determining our new preschool program for the Fall. It will involve new curriculum, new flow and schedule, and a new rotation of teachers. Not to mention new age breakdown to our classes.

I love the First Look curriculum by North Point. (ReThink Group) Here’s what I love so far:

• It’s downloadable and you can edit it to fit your needs!
• The scope of what it covers — it’s application of Bible stories.
• The hands-on, age appropriateness of the material.
• The ease of aquiring the materials it asks for – nothing too hard or expensive to get
• It gives a lot of activities – enough for 2 1/2 hours for us.

I think we are going to be really happy with it. We’ve taken it and structured it to fit into our format of Sunday mornings and I think it will work beautifully. I can’t wait to see what the kids learn from it!

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setting aside our own fears

Right now our church leadership is faced with a very important decision. We need to determine if an opportunity given to us is a God-given opportunity or if discernment is telling us to “caution.” If it is a God-given opportunity, we need to be able to set aside our own fears, inadequacies, and selfishness to step forward. It is a critical moment in the days of our church as we try to wrestle with this opportunity. How do you determine if you’re being given an opportunity by God and He’s wanting you to take a risk? What if that risk costs you something? Are you willing to take it? One of the bigger questions is – if it is given by God and you won’t take the risk, what will we suffer for not following Him?

How do you determine if it is the voice of God calling you to do something so far out of your comfort zone or if it is a distraction placed in your path? Does God test? When does discernment speak?

I am in prayer over this crucial decision. I am in prayer for the leaders of our church as they try to objectively look at it and see if it is of God or if not. Once again, does God send tests? If so, this is a very difficult one. Thursday night will be a nig night regarding this – so please be in prayer. Thanks!

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