Browsing Category

Faith

15 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Family/ Finding our place/ Moving/ My Journey

Life is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing – Helen Keller

When we moved to Colorado, we thought we’d be staying here forever.

Ted found a good job.

We found a beautiful home.

We met so many new (and old) friends.

I began a job that I love at an amazing church.

I’ve become a writer in Colorado:

Our family has thrived here, and we absolutely love this place. There is so much beauty all around us every day. It’s soul-filling.

However, changes are ahead.

We are about to embark on a new adventure: We are moving to Minnesota.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. – Helen Keller

My husband has accepted a job with Target Corp. He will be working in Executive Leadership Development at the Target headquarters in Minneapolis.

Until a couple of weeks ago, I had never been to Minnesota.

The only two things I knew about Minnesota were:

Minnesota was not on our radar. It was not in the plan.

I guess sometimes we go off script and follow the adventure of the unknown, unfamiliar.

After I went through the stages of grief, I’m choosing to move forward in joy, trusting we will find and create beauty in a new place.

Though we chose Colorado as our place, my true place is with my family. Wherever they are is home. Where they are is my place. They are my people.

My people. My place is wherever they are!

 

My favorite quote over the last couple of weeks has been:

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Thank you Dr. Suess!

Our friend and pastor, Daniel Grothe, reminded my husband that when we moved to Colorado, we were ALL IN! He recommended we have the same attitude in Minnesota. Be ALL IN.  This is such a good reminder, such wisdom. Thank you Daniel!

I’ll be re-reading the book: This is Where you Belong: Finding Home wherever you are. I’ll also refer back to this POST: 8 ways to LOVE where I LIVE – as we adventure into a brand new place.

I’ve begun following the Twin Cities Mom Blog, and other blogs and checking out Pinterest to see all there is to do in Minnesota.

I’m looking forward to:

  • meeting new people,
  • finding a good church,
  • discovering the best places to eat,
  • learning how to stay warm in winter,
  • exploring this beautiful state!

Have any of you been to Minnesota? What can you recommend we do and see? Where should we go?

July 9, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
7 In Faith/ Family/ My Journey

GOOD NEWS!!!

Everybody expected Jesus to do what dead people usually do – stay dead. For what they intended as the end, was actually just the beginning. – Andy Stanley

Deb and Kathryn – December 2017

Today I’ve invited my step-mom Deb Freeman to write a guest post. I’m grateful for her love for me and her love for Jesus! Being a step-mom is not easy, but she’s done a wonderful job of teaching, encouraging, and being there for me and my siblings. I think it’s her relationship with Jesus that’s given her the strength and wisdom she’s needed to be a mom of EIGHT – three of her own, plus FIVE step-daugthers. This is her first guest post but definitely not her last!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

The Good News of Easter continues for all who have simply asked Jesus to be their Savior.

In the fall of 1980, my world started to spin out of control. Actually … it started to do that many years before, but now, it had reached break-away velocity, and a major UNRAVEL was taking place. I desperately needed help for a world I could no longer understand. I had come to the end of myself. I was 22, tired and exasperated. I NEEDED – HAD to have HELP to make it through the next day.

No matter how you would describe your story right now, there’s good news. Your story is not over. It’s not too late to change the story you’ll tell in the future. – Craig Groeschel

In all of the church services I had been in, all of the ruffly Easter dresses with red patent leather shoes I put on. All of the Vacation Bible school perfect attendance certificates I’d received and tucked into my desk; and all of the crafts about Jesus I had made ~~ no one had ever asked me if I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. In an attempt to ease the pain, I even tried to read the Bible. Ohhhhh my goodness ~~~ DRY and BORING…like crispy dry & cardboard boring! Three minutes of reading, turned into a great NAP.

While attending a little church in North Webster, Indiana, on Sunday, November 9th, 1980 ~ Someone finally asked. The pastor wanted anyone interested in a New Life, Peace of Mind, Salvation in Jesus, to walk forward to the altar for prayer. Well, I wanted to, so very badly, but I was petrified. I couldn’t budge from where I sat. I can still see it in my mind ~~ the altar down at the front of the church looked like it was ten miles away, and I just knew that if I walked that distance, EVERYONE in that church would know just how creepy I was. How dirty I felt. What a loser I was, every failure I had in my life…. and …. I couldn’t do it. I was frozen in fear. So I stayed in my seat.

The end.

No, not really.

Two days later that little church sent some people to my home to pray with me. A simple PRAYER changed my life. The same Bible I used to think was DRY and BORING, would now cause me to stay up ALL NIGHT reading!! Goodness, Jesus changed Me!!

That simple prayer sent me on a GREAT adventure! I’m still on it.

So. How was Church this morning? Did someone ask you if you wanted to receive Jesus into your heart? ~~ Do you? Too scared? I get it. But listen to me, the ADVENTURE is TOO GREAT, the peace is magnificent and I don’t want you to miss it !! I mean…….wayyyyy too great …
Send a message if you want more info!
Hugs, Deb

God is not in love with some future version of you. It’s not you tomorrow that He loves and delights in. It’s not you when you get your act together….If you believe that Christ’s love for you is a future love for you, then you dismiss the cross of Christ. – Matt Chandler

Deb and a few of her grandchildren

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Hey friends, it’s Kathryn again! I wanted to share this post because, just like Deb, my life has been positively impacted by having a relationship with God, my Creator!

He is my Father, Friend, Wisdom, Peace, and Hope.

If those words describe something you WANT, then tell God you want to KNOW HIM! You can have a personal relationship with Him that will fill you will unspeakable JOY and PEACE in the midst of whatever you are facing.

Send me a message so I can encourage you.

March 31, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
1 In Faith/ Family/ Free stuff/ Raising boys

EGG-ed by the EGLYs

Today the Egly boys EGG-ed their neighbor.

If you are thinking raw eggs, a mess, and upset homeowners – perhaps something you’ve participated in (shame on you!) …. You aren’t familiar with this new era of EGGING! This egging leaves no mess, wastes no eggs, and leave everyone SMILING!

This is how the Egly boys Egg-ed our neighbors:

They simply placed 12 plastic eggs on their front lawn and left a little door hanger on their door.

The note told our neighbors to find 12 eggs – 11 filled and 1 empty. The empty egg represents the empty tomb: Jesus is Risen!

My boys had fun filling the eggs, hiding them, secretly hanging the door hanger on our neighbor’s door, then watching through our windows to see when their friends discovered the surprise!

If you’d like to participate in this fun little Easter activity, it’s simple!

  • Gather 12 plastic eggs,
  • Fill 11 of them with treats or prizes and leave one empty,
  • Write a note to leave on their door,
  • Surprise a friend or neighbor!

Is there evidence to support the Christian faith? Click here to read!

March 29, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
5 In Faith/ Family/ Motherhood/ My Journey

My BAD habit…and why Mary and Martha really BUG me!

I have a hard time being “still.” My mind is always thinking and my hands are always moving. There’s always more work to be done than there is the time in the day. I have a job that I love where people depend on me. At home, the laundry and dishes are never done. There are always crumbs on the floor and hungry boys to feed. I have a really hard time sitting and being still.

This is why the story of Mary and Martha has always bugged me (Luke 10:38:42). If you aren’t familiar with the story, Jesus comes to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is the one doing all the work and Mary is just sitting by Jesus. Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus tells Martha that MARY has chosen what is BETTER!!!!

I read this and thought, “What?! Doesn’t Jesus understand?  Why did he say that Mary was making the better choice?  Mary was just SITTING down! Not doing anything productive. She was just sitting at Jesus’ feet.”

I want to say, “Jesus, that’s not fair! You wouldn’t have LUNCH if it weren’t for Martha. The house wouldn’t be clean and presentable if it weren’t for Martha. How could a person just SIT in this situation? Tell Mary to get up and HELP!!”

However,  I’m beginning to understand why Jesus said Mary made the better choice. She chose relationships over tasks. She chose people over projects.

I went from being irritated by this story to being so grateful that I follow a Jesus who invites us to rest. To sit. To listen. Jesus doesn’t need us to do anything for him. He just wants a relationship with us. Martha was doing so much, working so hard – for Him! Yet Jesus said that Mary chose what was better. Mary was sitting at his feet, listening. Growing in her relationship with Him.

That story would always sting because I’m Martha. I choose to get work done when I could be connecting with my kids. My husband comes home from a long day at work and I continue to stay focused on a task (or hand him a list of things to do) rather than just stopping to connect, to make eye contact and ask about his day.

Ouch. Sorry Ted.

I’m learning that it’s good to be still. It’s okay that the house stays messy so I can invest in my kids. The dishes and laundry will eventually get done (or not?), but people are the only things that are eternal.  My children need me to be present and engaged. My husband needs my heart and attention. Jesus wants me to ‘sit at his feet’ so that He can refresh my soul.

Mary chose what was better because she chose to stop, listen, and get to know Jesus.

Today I’m choosing to be more like Mary. I will STOP what I’m doing, look my husband and children in the eyes…LISTEN to them and TALK with them. That is the better choice.

Today I choose RELATIONSHIPS and CONNECTION over tasks.

I choose PEOPLE over projects.

Have you found yourself trying to just “get stuff done”? What have you found that helps you overcome this and just “BE STILL?”

February 28, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
0 In Book Review/ Faith

Book Reviews and Recommendations

Here are a few books I’ve recently read or am currently reading and my thoughts on each one!

 

Volunteer Revolution – Bill Hybels is incredibly inspiring. I admire his passion for God and the local church! This book shares the impact we can make when we contribute/volunteer or ‘serve’ in the church or community. Volunteering not only benefits the organization, but benefits the one volunteering as well!  I made some updates to this post after reading this outstanding book. If you are person considering volunteering in some capacity or a person who works with volunteers – you must read this book!

 

 

Speak Life – I’ve enjoyed every book written by (my pastor) Brady Boyd! His books are conversational and relatable. He writes with honesty and vulnerability. This particular book is incredibly powerful regarding our words – how we speak to ourselves, to God and others.  He gives some very important examples and things to think about and learn from. I’ve enjoyed waking up and reading a few pages each morning. I’m not finished yet, but love it!  Words have power. Use them wisely!

 



7 Family Ministry Essentials – Church is not about PROGRAMS, its about FAMILY! This book is very easy-to-read and helps us remember why we are doing ministry. The ideas shared in this book are not only good for those who serve in children and youth ministry – but for parents as well! Parents on the primary ones responsible for faith formation, but the church can partner with the family to develop that faith.

This is an excellent book for those working in student or children’s ministry. In fact, it made the “Top Ten List of Books every Children’s ministry leader should read!” When we are working with children and students – we need to think about the entire family, not just the individual.

There are 7 main principals presented in this book:
1. Empowering families to take spiritual leadership in the home
2. Forming lifetime faith that transcends childhood beliefs
3. Teaching Scripture as the ultimate authority of truth
4. Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit’s power to teach and transform
5. Engaging every generation in the gospel of God’s redemptive story
6. Making God central in daily living and every biblical narrative
7. Working with the community to further God’s will.

The authors explain each of these essentials with powerful stories. I made lots of notes and plan to use this book as a reference in my role at New Life Church. I wish I would have had this book at the beginning of my journey as a Children’s Ministry Director in 2002!

 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson – I heard Bryan speak at Willow Creek Community Church and his story was so powerful I had to get his book to read more. This is a New York Times Best Seller and has great reviews on Amazon! The book was very eye-opening at some of the “injustices” in our justice system. The book shares stories of how Bryan, a non-profit attorney, has helped children with life sentences, men who’ve been wrongly accused, and how he has served “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40) over the last 3 decades. This is one of those books that’s hard to put down until you’ve read the last page.

 

Help Club’s The Wise Woman Loves Bible Study – I start each day with a few minutes in this book. It’s a Bible study written for moms and by moms. It not only helps me understand God’s word and how it applies to my everyday life – it also contains daily suggestions of how to love my husband, my children and others.

Leave me a comment and tell me if you’ve read any of these  – or recommend what I should read next!

If you are interested, I wrote about some of my favorite books ever here and I how I find time to read here.

Subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

February 6, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
0 In Faith/ Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

The Awesome Jar

Tattling. Tattle-telling. Whatever you want to call it – it’s been around since the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:12-14). I haven’t found a way to stop my boys from pointing out what their brothers have done wrong, but my husband and I found a tool that helps them watch for a what they are doing RIGHT!

We use something called the “Awesome Jar.”

We stumbled upon the idea of the Awesome Jar and have used it in our family to help us live out Philippians 4:8. To notice and call out things that are excellent, praiseworthy, right, noble and admirable.

The Awesome Jar is just a glass container that sits on our counter. My husband and sons decorated it with stickers and some duct tape!

Awesome Jar

We use this Jar to celebrate the good things in our day. When something happens that is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, my kids, my husband or I will write it down on a slip of paper and add it to the Jar. You’d think we’d remember all these good things, but somehow we forget. This “AWESOME” Jar is a like our “remember the good” Jar. It’s a way to highlight the small wins and bright spots that occur throughout the day.

Recently on my son George’s 10th birthday we put a note in our family’s Awesome Jar that simply says: “Clark’s birthday Surprise for George.” Let me tell you about it. Clark, my 8-year-old, gathered the neighbor kids and gave them each a gift bag. Each of the kids put random (used) toys in each bag, placed them by our front door, rang the door bell, then hid. When George answered the door, they all jumped out and shouted, “SURPRISE…Happy Birthday!” George opened the silly gifts, and we all laughed about each one and enjoyed a few minutes there on our porch – brothers and neighbors. It was awesome!

Every few weeks we sit down and pull out the notes from our Awesome Jar and “relive” those sweet moments. It also reinforces to my kids what they’ve done right. It encourages them to keep thinking about these things, doing these things, and looking for times when their brothers are doing these things!

Find a container and make it your family’s AWESOME Jar. Make it a habit to add one thing each day. It might be something like:

“(My son) cleaned up the play room without being asked.”
– or –
“(My daughter) befriended the new girl at school.”

If it was a really hard day, then you have even more reason to pause for a moment, reflect on the day, and identify at least one thing for which you are grateful. Was it an event, a moment or a person? Write it down and put it in the jar.

When you look for the GOOD, you will find it! And the more “good” things you notice today, the more you will notice tomorrow. Not only YOU, but your CHILDREN as well. My sons have started to say, “Mom, did you see/hear that, it should go in the Awesome Jar!”

Do they still tattle? Yes. But they are also noticing and calling out things that are excellent, praiseworthy, right, noble and admirable! And that is AWESOME!

____________________________________________________________________________

I was honored to be asked by Homefront to write an article for their magazine. Homefront Magazine equips parents to create fun, spiritually forming times in their homes. This magazine helps re-center our focus and align our priorities to what is best! It’s filled with helpful articles and activities that equip us to become the parents that we want to be!

Check out the Homefront website for good articles, game suggestions, and printables. You can also subscribe to the magazine or buy a digital copy from their site. I love receiving my copy each month! It’s the only magazine that I read cover to cover.

January 25, 2018 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
1 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Family/ Finding our place/ Motherhood/ Moving/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado

Our Adventure on Gold Camp Road

Two and a half years ago, when we decided to move to Colorado, I had mixed feelings. Part of me was excited about the new adventure, and part of me felt fear and even dread! I didn’t want to say good bye to all the things and the people we loved. I didn’t know anyone, or much of anything about Colorado! Then I stumbled across this quote:

“Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is the ancient fear of the Unknown, and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into.” ~ Wendell Berry

Wow. I clung to this quote like I would a favorite Bible verse or security blanket.

Along with the quote was a picture of a tunnel on Gold Camp Road in Colorado Springs. I was determined to one day, find that tunnel, get a picture of it and post the quote.

On Thanksgiving 2017 – this dream finally became a reality!

We have an annual tradition of going out as a family on Thanksgiving morning. We like to spend the morning hiking or exploring. Since we didn’t have any friends or family in town this year, we decided to try to find the tunnel.  We weren’t exactly sure where it was or how far we’d have to hike/drive. Someone sort of told me where it was, and we headed off.

We drove past Helen Hunt Falls and continued up the mountain until the road became a dirt (Lower Gold Camp Road). We continued on this gorgeous road about a mile until – “wah – lah!” There it was, right in front of us. We parked and explored this incredible tunnel. It was everything I had imagined and more. Stunning, spooky, enormous, and picturesque!

 

  

I’m grateful to call Colorado Springs home. I’m glad I was able to move beyond the fear (and the dread) of leaving what was familiar and those we loved to embrace this new adventure! I honestly can’t believe we get to call Colorado home!

 

 

December 9, 2017 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
2 In Faith/ Family/ Raising boys

What is water baptism and why would you do it?

October 27, 2017 was a special night for our family. Our two oldest sons decided to get baptized!

Baptism is a way to let people know that you’ve decided to become a Christ follower. I’m SO proud of my boys for making this decision as young men. I decided to follow Christ as a young person, and that decision changed me. God is my Father, my Guide, my Friend, my Counselor – and provider of every good thing! I’m thrilled that my sons want to have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe and had the courage to be baptized at our church on Friday night!

What does “Baptism” mean?

Baptize means to “immerse” in water.

Baptism is an “outward” way to show others that you’ve made an “inward” commitment to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

It’s like SHOW AND TELL at school. By being baptized, you are showing others that you have decided to follow Christ.

It’s similar to a wedding ring. My ring is an outward symbol of a commitment I made to my husband. Baptism shows people you are a Christian like my rings shows others that I’m a wife.

.

Why get baptized?

  • After you become a follower of Jesus, this is a way to make a “public declaration’ of your faith.
  • It’s being obedient to Christ.

    Matthew 29:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  • Jesus Christ was baptized. If we are followers of Christ, we should follow in his footsteps. (Matthew 3:13-17)
  • It is a symbol of the resurrection. Just as Christ died, was buried and raised from death. We are quickly submerged under water, and come back up. We are “dead” to sin and alive to LIFE in Christ!  (Romans 6:1-7)

.

Who should get baptized?

Anyone who is a follower of Jesus.

.

What does baptism look like?

Churches do baptism differently. When I was young, I got baptized in a small pool the size of a hot tub. When I was in college in Florida, we baptized people in the ocean at the beach. When I was a children’s ministry director in Illinois, we baptized people in a local pool.  My nephew got baptized in a lake … my boys were baptized in a trough! Here is a picture of my boys getting baptized:

 

.

How often do you get baptized?

Clark loved it so much he asked how often he could get baptized. I told him once was good. However, I have been baptized twice! I did it as a LITTLE girl, around 5, but didn’t truly grasp the significance of what I was doing. When I decided to follow Jesus as a young adult,  I got baptized again. This wasn’t necessary, but something I chose to do.

If you were baptized as a baby or young child, and did not choose for yourself to get baptized, I would recommend getting baptized again. Baptism is NOT a requirement for heaven though! Only a relationship with Jesus will get you into heaven. 

Jesus answered: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV

.

Parent FAQs

My child was baptized as a baby, does he/she need to be baptized again?

Yes. In the Bible, believer’s baptism was always for people who were old enough to understand and make their own decision about being baptized.

Is Baptism a requirement for heaven?

No. There is only one way to get into heaven and that is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Baptism does not forgive your sins. Baptism is a symbol of Jesus washing away your sins and you are washed in water.

How do I know if my child is ready to be baptized?

  • My child has made a decision to invite Jesus into their life.
  • You child understands what baptism means.
  • Your child asks to be baptized (and the above two statements are true).

How do I encourage my child in their faith after they are baptized?

  • I would recommend getting them a Bible, and or devotional.
  • Read WITH them.
  • Talk to them about what God is doing in your life.
  • Point out the beauty that God created all around you.
  • Pray together and talk about times when God answered prayers.
  • Go to church together.
  • As they get older, you may consider serving together or going on a mission trip together..

Have you been baptized? Let me know when and who baptized you in the comments! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

Click here to read my recommendations for Bibles and Devotionals for kids.

Is there any proof to the Christian faith? Click here.

October 29, 2017 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
5 In Faith/ Joy

JOY or STRESS – your choice!

To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence. –CS Lewis

.

Did you know that you can CHOOSE joy? That sounds simple, but how do you choose joy? One way to choose joy is by paying attention to what you focus on!

.

“He is a wise man (she is a wise woman) who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus

.

The key is to NOT focus on what we DON’T have, but REJOICE over what we do have! This takes a conscious effort on our part because it’s easier to see what’s NOT working than to see what IS working. It’s easier to focus on what’s NOT right in this world and in our lives than than what IS going right!

You cannot think two things at the same time. You cannot feel two things at the same time. Thinking about the bad in your life makes you feel bad, while thinking about the GOOD allows you to FEEL good. Which one will you choose today? If you actively choose to think about your blessings, you are choosing JOY and will start FEELING JOY!

There is ALWAYS something for which we can be JOYFUL!

.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

.

“GOD has a GOOD FUTURE planned for YOU!” That alone is a reason for joy!

Take a minute to write down 5 GOOD things in your life. Allow these positive thoughts to REPLACE any negative ones.

.

Here’s another option:

.

This was taken from a something I wrote in The 40 Day Joy Challenge for Moms! If you are a mother and would like more encouragement, visit the helpclubformoms.com

October 26, 2017 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1
4 In Faith/ Family/ My Journey

SEVENTEEN reasons to SERVE

When I was young, the youth ministry and those serving in it changed the trajectory of my life, and I am thrilled to “Pay it Forward” by serving the next generation! I STRONGLY believe that we need to come alongside our children and teenagers – teaching them, encouraging them and LOVING them!

.

Here are 17 reasons to serve in children’s or student ministry:

.

1. When we serve children, we serve Christ himself!

.

Matthew 25:40: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me!

.

We are a “family.” Just like each person in our household has chores and responsibilities, each member of the church family should look around and say, “What needs to be done?” And then DO IT! Every person chips in and helps!

.

2. We live in an interconnected world, serving children makes a positive impact on our world.

.

.

None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others. Philippians 2:4

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10

.

3. Serving takes the focus off of YOUR problems.

.

Serving others takes the focus off YOU and your problems and allows you time to focus on others.  You’ll find that when you are encouraging others, you YOURSELF will be encouraged.

.

Bonus: You will learn that our GREAT GOD is bigger than all of our problems!

I will often be able to serve another simply as an act of love and righteousness…but I may also serve another to train myself away from arrogance, possessiveness, envy, resentment or covetousness. – Dallas Willard’

.

.

4. You will make an impact on your own children.

The Barna group recently released a statistic that shows your children are 80% more likely to continue in their faith if their parents were serving in the ministry.

Your children are watching you and learning what you value.

.

5. God has lavished GOOD on you so that you can lavish good on others!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! I John 3:1 NIV

“We are created to join God on a mission….he calls us to roll up our sleeves and join him with our talents, our money, our time and our passion. He wants his mission to become our mission.” – Bill Hybels

.

6. Serving children will have the greatest, LONG TERM impact!

Children are just beginning to develop life-long beliefs, habits, and values – we can help shape them! What gets “poured into” children will be what comes out of them as adults. When children grasp that God loves them and has a GOOD plan for their lives, their lives take on more meaning, purpose, and JOY!

.

7. Young people are highly influenced by role models, but many don’t have one.

You can be that role model!

.

8.  Spiritual development begins at age two and is usually formed by before age 13.

If people do not embrace Jesus as their Savior before the end of their teenage years, their chance of doing so later in life is slim. Children are the group of people who are the MOST receptive to the Gospel AND the most receptive to discipleship.

.

9. Our current young ones are our future leaders.

The people who are leading our country today were once young people who may or may not have had wise and caring people investing in them.

  • Christians have a tremendous opportunity to help build a better, more God-honoring world by investing in the moral and spiritual character of future leaders. – George Barna

    .

10. Being ‘in the action’ is way better than sitting on the sidelines.

You can be a spectator and watch a good service, chat with friends, go home. Or you can get in the game and be a part of the adventure.

.

11. You will learn, grow and develop skills you didn’t even know you had.

Every time I serve, I learn things that apply to my life – and I can talk these things through with my children. We reflect on the lessons together throughout the week.

“A critical component of someone growing in their faith is serving.” – Dale Hudson

Leading others forced me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to grow in areas where I would have become stagnant. We get to develop gifts we may not even realize we have! We get to be used by God in ways we never imagined!

We can learn from children:

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

.

12. It’s FUN!

We play GAMES to learn! If you need a reason to smile, work with kids – they give you LOTS of reasons to smile. Their JOY is contagious. Seeing the world through their eyes is simply delightful!

.

13. You will meet new friends!  

Loneliness is an unfortunate problem in our generation. We text more than we talk and connect with people on social media more than we do in person. Serving changes all that. While serving, you will get to know others, build relationships, laugh together, learn together, and grow together. Most of my closest friends are people who I’ve met while serving.

.

14. Serving gives us an opportunity to put our faith into action.

Serving helps us grow in our faith. Scripture tells us that:

“Faith without deeds is useless.” James 2:20 NIV

“I see Christ in others, and they can see Him in me.” – Michelle Anthony

.

15. Working with children and teens has the potential to change the trajectory of one’s life.

I’m forever grateful to the men and women who served in the church when I was young. I felt loved, welcomed, and most importantly – I learned that GOD LOVES ME and has a GOOD plan for my life! I learned that God is my Father and I could trust him. It changed my life. (Read my story by clicking here)

We get to team up with God to change the world!!!!

If children learn to love God with their whole heart, mind, strength, and soul – then larger problems as they grow will be by-passed. Strong, healthy children will grow into adults that positively impact our society. – George Barna

.

16. Children need a THIRD voice

Though the primary people responsible for spiritual development are parents; children and student’s need a THIRD (and fourth and fifth) voice speaking truth into their lives! I can name a specific third, fourth and fifth voices that impacted me, can you think of those people as well? I’m so grateful for the people who spoke to me with truth and love when I was going through the “My Parents Don’t Know Anything” stage! I’m honored to have the opportunity to be that voice in the lives of our future leaders. You can be that voice too.

17. Serving is good for your health

In the book entitled “The Healing Power of Doing Good,” author Allan Luks discovered that: Retired men who volunteer one day a week live two and a half times longer than retired men who don’t volunteer at all.

In the book, Happiness Hypothesis, the author shares this profound study:

.

Serving is like joining a gym!! (Keep that New Year’s Resolution!)

We never need to feel guilty asking people to serve our children and students. It’s not what we want FROM them, it’s what we want FOR THEM!

When I invite others to serve, I am giving them a GIFT – a gift they give and a gift they keep. Why am I so confident in this?

  1. Because of how it positively changed my life. People served and invested in me, and I will never be the same. Their service will ripple through eternity! (Click here to read that story)
  2. Because of the joy and satisfaction I’ve experienced volunteering in children’s and student ministry.
  3. Because I’ve been thanked by countless volunteers for providing them a place to grow, serve, and find fulfillment.
  4. Because of how it has positively impacted my four sons who attend children’s ministry!

What do YOU have to offer? More than you probably think. You have the gifts and talents you were born with. The passion that inspires you. The blessing of education. The skills you’ve honed as you’ve worked at home or in the marketplace. The life experiences that have matured you. The pain that has deepened you. The love that spills from God’s heart into yours.” – Bill Hybels

THANK YOU to those of you who invest in our children and teenagers! I appreciate you.

If you volunteer or serve somewhere in your community, I’d love to know WHERE you serve and WHY you serve! Please leave me a comment!

If you are interested in reading more about this topic, here are a couple of book recommendations:

  1. Sustainable Children’s Ministry – a systematic approach to recruiting volunteers; very practical

2. Volunteer Revolution – an inspiring book filled with real-life stories on the power of volunteering!

Thanks for reading!  Please share this post and don’t forget to subscribe by putting your email in the section on the right. Updates from my blog will be sent directly to your inbox.

October 22, 2017 By
Share Tweet Pin it +1