Slide Show from Conference

What I learned from the NewLife Children's Ministry Conference

P.A.T.H - Passion, Attitude, Teamwork, and Honor

What we do today will echo through eternity. We are ministering to a Legacy ( this one really hit me hard). There is no time for play when you are responsible for not just the next generation, but a legacy (I'm sorry people but that is deep)!

We are laying a foundation for .... Destiny.

Our children need:

1) Acceptance, 2) Appreciation, 3) Affection, and 4) Availability. Our children have a "Divine" appointment with us when they come to church.

How do you lay the foundation :

Personal Spiritual Journey

Inward-spend personal time with the father.

Upward- fall in love with your heavenly father, worship him.

Outward- giving it away to others.

Teach your children that their voice matters to God. Teach them to know him and understand him (then they can spot counterfeit when it comes upon them).

Teach them who Jesus is. The only way we can introduce our kids to the presence of God. We need to spend time in his presence.

Be aware that your actions may effect generations to come (another deep one).

You have to have PASSION!

Classroom Tools:

When you prepare your lessons remember the following:

Invitation (invite the kids into what God is doing). What does God want them to know?

Impartation (bringing the kids into the knowledge of God). What he is saying, what his word is.

Application ( how the kids relate their hearts and minds to the message).

Impact ( letting God have all of us ).

We are not doing Hollywood here people, we are doing Heaven!

A few tips on reaching your children:

Make eye contact with them.

Greet them with affection.

When they leave you, they should walk out with one idea...(what is the main idea?)

Create ways they can share with their parents (help start a dialogue).

PASSION can produce change!

Teamwork: What does a team look like?

A group with a common purpose and goal, united. Everyone is different, but we each have a role to play. Each job supports each other.

A winning team does its job, coming together as one.

Lastly know what your "GIFT" is.

Childrens Ministry

Pastor Cheryl

Our friends Glen and Shelley looking a little confused!

Quisha and I met some great ladies ( and men ) over the weekend. The Children's Ministry Conference renewed and refreshed me in so many ways. I went looking for ideas on Children's Ministry and instead I found new friendships and a much needed word from my heavenly father. I also experienced the warmth of a church that didn't mind the fact that I was an outsider looking in. When I originally talked to Pastor Cheryl she told me I was welcome to come to the workshop even though it was for the staff and volunteers of NLP. She assured me that I would get something out of it ( boy was she ever right ). Trying to explain the last three days would be in possible ( unless you were there ). God confirmed so many things to me, it even effected my worship on Sunday morning. My families life will change in the next few months ( in what direction is still up for debate ), but thanks to the people of NLP I now have found a place in which I can relax, refresh and renew. I will post a little bit of what I learned over the weekend tomorrow.

Why?

I don't know the answer to Jessica's question, but I do know that God has a plan. Do I understand the plan? No! But I trust in the Lord with all of my heart and all of my soul so I know he will make it plain (maybe not when we want the answer or even how we want the answer). Right now the one thing I know for sure is that we need to pray for the families effected by this little ones death. Please pray for them and please pray specifically for the things that Angie has requested.

My Idea for the Summer Slump

I just had to share how excited I am about VBS this year. Its nothing fancy but the message is so good. So if anyone out there is looking for a really good curriculum for your youth and your adults then you might be interested in God's Big Backyard ( I am posting this after reading this post, and since I am not a pastor...I figure I would post it on my own blog). Its all about service....to your family, to your church, friends, community and especially to Jesus. The feedback I have gotten from the "powers that be" (LOL) is that they are looking forward to sharing the message with our congregation. I know many of the more modern churches no longer hold VBS as we know it ( not that they don't offer alternatives ). That is not an option where I am, but this year I was determined to find a curriculum that wasn't just "flashy" but that actually had a message that could reach people where they are (and hopefully make them think about God's true purpose for our lives). This will most likely be my last year as Director so I'm praying that some of the lessons will stay with our church members ( and hopefully guest to our church ) for a long time to come.

So I'm Suppose To be Who?

Which TV Mom Are You?

My Result: Marge Simpson

You are Marge from The Simpsons. You may not share Marge's blue bouffant, but you do share her animated style of mothering. Sometimes the pressures of maintaining a happy home may push you toward the edge, but at the end of the day, you believe in your children wholeheartedly, even when they're being rather, um, spirited.


You encourage your kids' creativity and individuality, whether that means watching them perform the saxophone or helping them raise exotic lizards. You may sometimes say things that sound like old-fashioned parenting clichés, but when it comes down to dealing with domestic disasters, you can be a pretty together, modern mama.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=tvmomogt&c=50652

A lot of the info is correct ( with the exception of the part about the lizard). Only one problem...I can't stand the Simpsons show!

A Good Tired

The old paint! And now the new:

I spent the day outside ( a miracle in itself ) painting my front door and the shutters on the front of our home. We have been in this home for 15 plus years and its time for some upgrades. Of course on a budget that can sometimes be an obstacle. Last year we painted the bathroom upstairs and at the same time I brought paint for the upstairs hall and the front door. I am just getting to it now (LOL). We also power washed the front of the house, the walkway and the brick stairs (man, what a difference that made)! Now I am in bed after a long hot shower and every muscle and bone in my body hurts (down to my toes). My hands even ache ( I'm thinking that is from holding the power wash). I still have to paint the garage and touch up the white trim in a couple of places but I am so glad we got this done. Marc even barbecued in between all of the other stuff we did and my Aunt and Uncle came by to see the progress. We set on the front porch...in the new chairs and ate hamburgers and chips. I told my aunt I am thinking about finding a bistro table for the space (Marc and I could sit out there in the morning drinking our coffee and tea). I honestly believe that must have smelled the food from home (LOL). It should be interesting to see what kind of condition I am in for Sunday morning service. Not sure I will have the high heel shoes on tomorrow. I will post pictures tomorrow evening ( there was just no way I was going to allow pictures of me with a rag on my head, flip flops and ashy feet.....make note to self to get a pedicure asap) !

I Love This Man

So for the last few days I have been all over the net ranting about the need for a venue for Pastors and Ministers Wives to come together (and not to just talk about the latest dress, eat a great meal or just to be pampered ....on second thought that might not hurt a few overworked , underpaid mom's I know). I'm talking about having meaningful dialogue about our purpose in ministry, and getting resources to help equip us in aiding our husbands in building healthy homes, churches and communities. I even in vision one day being able to help pull something like this together ( Hey, I'm trying to think "Big" here people). I know in reality that I don't have the resources to do this right now ( but maybe one day). I shared my frustrations with Marc, and God bless his heart my husband said....well what are you waiting for, and when do you want to start ? I love that he has that much confidence in me (even if its slightly misplaced at this time). Got to love him for believing in me though.

Prayer Request

Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. That precious baby girl and her dear brother, I can't imagine what he is going through.

tragic accident

The Next Step

OK, so my family may get a kick out of this. Nicki and I are going walking today. Now how funny is that coming out of my mouth? Maybe we will even do it on a regular basis! Now I just need to find my sneakers (LOL).

2008 Purpose Driven Community Gathering

I was given the opportunity this morning to listen in on Rick Warren's 1st session (Renewing Your Personal Life) with pastors, and business leaders at the PD Community Gathering. I really wish Marc had been here to hear it for himself. So many of the points he made were things every minister/pastor/leader needs to hear when starting out in ministry, or even when they have been at it a while. He gave 5 steps for renewing your church and community.

1) Personal Renewal
2) Relational Renewal
3) Missional Renewal

* he stated that some stop after these 3 points and because of that they may start out good, but by not implementing the next two they miss the mark.

4) Cultural Renewal
5) And then and only then can you implement Structural Renewal.
6) He also mentioned Institutional Renewal

I honestly believe this was something that we needed to hear before we can move forward in ministry (and I say "we" because I think these same principles can apply to our life, whether you are a pastor, teacher, mother, father, etc).

He then went on to explain 7 secrets of staying power ( I took a lot of notes to share with Marc after he gets off of work). There are several leaders speaking this week and several avenues in which you can keep up to date.

Live Summit Team

Extra: So I just happened to be blog surfing (yes, I know its an addiction) and noticed that Dave Ferguson just saved me from typing up the notes from the first session for Marc (lol).

Message from an Angel

Kelli sent this in an email today and it just stuck with me:

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.

It was a message Marc and I really needed to hear. Thanks my friend. By the way, please pray for Kelli and the family, if all goes as planned they may be able to travel back home by weeks end.

The Multi-Ethnic Church

Marc and I got the opportunity recently to meet Pastor Mark DeYmaz of Mosaic Church . I'm not sure how much the conference will effect our lives in the future , I just know when Pastor Dan closed the conference on Saturday and begin praying that I felt that something different and wonderful was about to happen to us (and no I am not talking about the position at our church). I think from the moment that Marc accepted his calling into ministry we knew that God had a special plan for him, and we knew that it included some of the same things that Pastor Mark was talking about in his book. The when, where and what of this doesn't really matter at this point, but it was awesome sitting in on a group of people who felt the same way about God's church.

Ready Set Go!

He may not be the hippest guy in the world, but he's mine and I love him. We are still playing the waiting game, but the one thing I know for sure is that he/we are ready for a change. Last night we were talking about the fact that he has the next two weeks off from preaching, and it hit him that he was actually going to miss it (which means he won't know what to do with himself). It also confirmed for me that he is ready to be a pastor (somewhere). Its really scary not knowing where you may be at the end of the year (job wise) but I think we both are at the point where we are OK, with just letting God lead the way (and believe me that's not easy to say or hear. And it changes from day to day). All I know is that we both want to be where God plans for us to be otherwise all of the wishing and dreaming in the world will not make a difference if we are not aligned with his plan and purpose for our life. We know where we want to be (and actually admitted it out loud to each other the other day), which is kind of funny because we have spent the last two years trying not to get our hopes up. I know that I have done a lot of growing up in the last few months (yes even at 43) and that spiritually I just don't look at things the same way (Marc called it growing up). I will be the first to admit that I am scared to death of the thought of leaving what is comfortable but it will not have been the first time and I have the assurance of knowing that God is with us (always) and he will provide (and it will be successful because it will be his hands in it). So even if Marc does not get his dream job, we will be fine. Our gifts can be used anywhere.....God does have a plan. We just have to be ready, and set to go!

Happy Mothers Day

I couldn't let the day go by without wishing my mom a Happy Mother's Day. I got to speak to her over the phone today but it was not the same as being there with her. Just wanted to let her know how much I love her. Happy Mother's Day mommy.

Congratulations "Gee"

My cousin Jen graduated from college this weekend.


This is her mom Shelly, her little sister (my godchild ) Jess and me. This picture is a great illustration of how much Shelly and I favor (especially since I got my hair cut). She has always been more like a sister then a cousin ( my mom and her dad are siblings). We grew up spending our summers together and even though we don't get to spend as much time together anymore we cut up when we are together. Now we watch with enjoyment as our daughters share that same connection.

Kelli and the Family

Just wanted to update you all on how my friend Kelli and the family are doing. Kelli and the kids (man, I can't say girls anymore...LOL) have been in Iowa for 4 weeks. They have been so blessed to have found Dr. Ponseti to help mold Abe's feet. Most of the pictures that Kelli sends now don't have him with the feeding tube in, so he is doing well. He has gained weight and is on his 7th casting. Its very painful but the little guy is a trooper. This past weekend the family participated in a walk that benefits the Ronald McDonald House (this is where the family is staying). If you are interested in helping you can go here. If you are interested in following Abe's journey you can check out Kelli's blog.

Gospel Concert

I had a great weekend. Saturday I spent the day with my girls at a gospel concert. It was my early Mothers day gift. I got to see my favorite singer Mrs. CeCe Winan up close and personal (seriously we were in the front row). There were several different singers and groups including Tye Tribbett, Beverly Crawford, Maurette Brown Clark ( who I had actually heard before in person at a Women's Conference), and an awesome choir from Dover Delaware. We also go to see Jimmy Hicks, Isaiah D. Thomas, Euclid Gray (from the famous Tyler Perry's plays), Jessica Green, and Spensha Baker.

Family and Friends

We had a great evening at our friends home (even got to spend time with my aunt and uncle). I am hoping that this year we actually get the gazebo up and finally get the patio table for the backyard so that we can do some entertaining. I know Marc would love an excuse to crank up the old grill.

Yard Sale

The Preschool at our church had a yard sale this weekend. Our Youth dept went out to support them by purchasing a few tables ourselves.