KidMinspiration turns 2!

Photo Credit: priceninja.com
Photo Credit: priceninja.com

Today marks my blog’s 2nd ‘birthday’.  I can’t believe it’s lasted this long!  If you’ve followed my journey for a while, you’ll remember how fear and trepidation almost kept me from launching into this platform. (You can read all about that here.)

This past year has brought some amazing kidmin friends into my life as well as incredible honors and opportunities to expand my borders even further – it’s still a little scary! 🙂

Thank you so much for reading and sharing in my life and ministry.  I am so, so thankful for you.  I look forward to continuing to engage with you here and on social media.  Don’t follow me on Facebook or Twitter?  Click the icons at the top of the page so that we can connect.

Be blessed!

 

Scripture Verses to Encourage Your Weary Heart

Photo Credit: www.versexverse.com
Photo Credit: www.versexverse.com

A few weeks ago, I shared importance of leaders staying connected to the Vine (you can read that post here).  In that post, I shared why it’s important – and necessary – to stay connected to the Vine, Jesus.

If you’re like me, you lead a busy life.  Sometimes that busy life can get exhausting and overwhelming. Sometimes we are asking God for clarity, wisdom or direction.  Sometimes we just need to sit quietly in His presence.  Sometimes all we have to cling to are the promises of scripture.  According to bibleinfo.com, there are over 3,500 promises in the Bible.  I know when things get particularly difficult for me, I go back to those scripture verses that I’ve memorized and/or verses that I’ve highlighted in my Bible.

I thought I’d share just a few of my ‘go-to’ verses when my soul needs to be encouraged.  You can download a copy of those verses here.  Feel free to print it off, hang it up or tuck it in your Bible or journal.  Stay connected to the Vine!

What are your ‘go-to’ verses when your heart needs encouraging?  Share them below and I’ll add them to our list!

 

Mother’s Day

This past Mother’s Day was special for so many reasons. Here are a few highlights:

The morning began with a handmade photo collage given to me by my daughter, Kennedy.  The collage was a mix of pictures of her as a baby and as a teen; many of the pictures were of the two of us.  It is one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received.  My son, Daniel, gave me a Starbucks gift card.  He really knows how to speak my language (hint, hint).

Once we arrived at church, we did last-minute prep for the busy morning ahead.  Because there were six (6) children being baptized, we presented each child with a handmade prayer shawl (I’ll share the back story on this in another post – it’s a really cool story!)  In addition, we had our elementary children join us in the Worship Center during the baptisms.  Not only did they witness the baptisms, they were able to accept the charge given by our Senior Pastor to be a good example to the children being baptized and doing their best to help them know and follow Jesus.  It was such a special thing to have the children join us for this special milestone event.

I should also mention that our Senior Pastor’s sermon talked about the importance of Children’s Ministry in our church and following through on the commitment during baptisms and dedications to help parents raise their children to know and love God. It was a very compelling sermon, encouraging people to get involved and serve in Children’s Ministry.  While Pastor John was speaking, photos scrolled through on the screens of our volunteers and ministry in action.  It all tied in together so beautifully. We were even blessed to meet people moved by the Pastor’s words who signed up to serve in our ministry!

Also, we had a mini recruiting campaign that asked for a few good men to sign up to serve in our ministry as a Mother’s Day gift to the moms.  Well, we wanted to give a small token of appreciation to the men who signed up.  Here’s a pic of what we offered them:

We filled a plastic tumbler with individually-wrapped Lifesavers candies and then tied on a gift tag with curling ribbon.  A simple gift that all of the men appreciated – some even cracked it open before leaving the building!

After such a wonderful day at church, our family gathered together and enjoyed good food, fun (including games with a cash prize!) and fellowship – and a few gifts.

Overall, it was a great Mother’s Day from beginning to end.  I’m so thankful.

How did you spend your Mother’s Day?

 

Choose to Speak Life!

Photo Credit: cornerstonedelco.org
Photo Credit: cornerstonedelco.org

 

A month ago, my daughter and I began a weekly one-on-one Bible study.  We are working our way through Elizabeth George’s book A Young Woman After God’s Own Heart.  The conversations that have come out during our time together has far exceeded my expectations.  I get to hear her share more of her tender heart, her struggles, what matters to her more than I have by just asking her to tell me about her day.  Our time together gives me the opportunity to speak life into her, to encourage her, to pray over her and with her.  My time with her account for some of the most precious minutes of my entire week.

Yesterday I was reminded that some girls don’t have a female at home who cares for them and invests time speaking life into them.  One of my leaders came into my office, deeply burdened by something that a little girl in her small group asked this past Sunday.  Her question: “What if your Mom says you’re worthless?”

The girl’s leader expressed to me how speechless she was.  She (the leader) found it hard to believe that a child so young had ‘worthless’ as a part of her vocabulary.  As only God could orchestrate, I was able to look my heartbroken leader in the face and remind her that this is why we minister each and every week.  It’s more than just preparing and teaching a lesson.  We are building relationships with children from broken homes; children who are struggling to know that they matter and have worth because God created them for a purpose.

We have the opportunity to speak life into people in our circle of influence.  Whether we lead a staff, teams of volunteers, a small group of children at church or are parenting our own children, we have an opportunity to speak life.

What might that look like?

**Take time to listen – really listen.  Listen with your ears and your heart.

**Remind them of their worth in Christ.

  • He created them in a special way (Psalm 139:13-18).
  • He delights in them (Zephaniah 3:7).
  • He has a purpose for them (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10).

**Tell them how important they are to you – and do this regularly.

  • What special traits/gifts/talents do they possess?
  • What do they do well?
  • How are you seeing God work in their life?
  • What do they bring to the group?  How would the group be different if they were not a part of it?

I am so thankful to serve in a church that places a high value on Children’s Ministry.  I am thankful to serve alongside volunteers whose hearts break for hurting children.  Children today need to hear positive messages from the adults in their lives.  Our words have power.  They need us to pray regularly for them and with them.  They need us to speak life into them.

What child needs an encouraging word from you today?  Ask God to reveal that to you and then act.  Speak life!