I spend a good deal of time with junior high and high school students in our church. I'm always a little surprised and a lot disappointed when we're in a small group and none of the students are willing to pray out loud. Prayer is a tremendous gift, a treasure, and an honor. Praying in a group is by no means more meaningful or powerful than praying individually, but I would love to see children and youth so comfortable coming before the Father, that they are eager to pray whatever the occassion. Corporate prayer builds unity and allows us to encourage one another. We read in Acts 2:42 that the early church met often to pray together. Matt. 28:19-20 reminds us of the value of gathering two or more together to pray. It's a blessing for us to come before the Lord in a group as we pray together. I'd love to see the Children in our Children's Ministries learn to LOVE prayer!
The link below is to an article from Children's Ministry magazine that has a few great ideas for teaching your child how to pray. Blessings!
Teaching Kids to Pray - Children's Ministry
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
40 Days of Prayer & Fasting for our Nation
Have you heard of the Manhattan Declaration and signed it? A brief synopsis on this important document:
Visit www.manhattandeclaration.org to read more and to sign the Declaration.
I can't help but think about the young children I work with and the significance of these real issues for their lives. We must do our part in seeing this nation return to the Lord and healed by the power of our great God.
Beginning at 7:14 am this morning, a group of Christians has begun 40 days of prayer and fasting for our nation. They will continue their fast and commitment to prayer until 7:14 am October 30. WOW!
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Would you join me and many others across the country by committing to pray and consider some level of a fast as well? For more information on this, visit www.prayandact.org. Click here for a prayer guide that will help you know how and what to pray each day for 40 days. I will be using this prayer guide and spending time in prayer over the next 40 days, as well as fasting for a portion of each week.
Father God, we need you. You see how we have turned from you and the evil of our selfish and sinful desires has left us in a state of disarray. Please move in our country over the next 40 days as we commit to this prayer and fast. We love and trust you.
A CALL OF CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family. It was in this tradition that a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration on November 20, 2009 at a press conference in Washington, DC. The 4,700-word declaration speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.
Visit www.manhattandeclaration.org to read more and to sign the Declaration.
I can't help but think about the young children I work with and the significance of these real issues for their lives. We must do our part in seeing this nation return to the Lord and healed by the power of our great God.
Beginning at 7:14 am this morning, a group of Christians has begun 40 days of prayer and fasting for our nation. They will continue their fast and commitment to prayer until 7:14 am October 30. WOW!
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Would you join me and many others across the country by committing to pray and consider some level of a fast as well? For more information on this, visit www.prayandact.org. Click here for a prayer guide that will help you know how and what to pray each day for 40 days. I will be using this prayer guide and spending time in prayer over the next 40 days, as well as fasting for a portion of each week.
Father God, we need you. You see how we have turned from you and the evil of our selfish and sinful desires has left us in a state of disarray. Please move in our country over the next 40 days as we commit to this prayer and fast. We love and trust you.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Brothers & Sisters are Precious Treasures
August, 2010 - Cari, James, Kelsey, Mike
My family is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I want to pour that blessing out as praise, and I hope this little glimpse into the importance of siblings will serve as an encouragement to you!
I count my siblings - Mike, James and Kelsey - among my best friends. I've looked up to my brother Mike my entire life. His faith during his high school years is what challenged me to make my faith real. The couple of years we spent in high school and then college together shaped my life tremendsously.
My brother James has the BEST heart - i admire him like crazy! He loves and cares about people and he has such integrity! My faith deepens just by being able to watch James love on young children. The years I spent with James during high school and college also molded me. Having conversations with my brothers on car rides to high school every morning and between Drake and home during college are dear memories. They may never admit it, but we shed tears together (ok, maybe most of the tears were mine), we laughed hysterically, we problem-solved, we reminisced, we prayed, we debated, we talked about life.
Then there's my Sister, the baby of the family, sweet sweet Kelsey Leigh. I think Mike, James and I would all be quick to admit that Kelsey's faith is a real challenge to us all. Her Savior Jesus is the love of her life and she is spending herself on behalf of making him known in her world. Wow! Kelsey is a prayer warrior and the best person to pour your heart out to because she's quick to always offer a biblical perpsective on life's trials.
...sorry for the long intro with lots of details on those three, once i started, i just couldn't stop...
Over the course of my life, I have been asked countless times "How is it that you and your siblings are so close?" or "What did your parents do to make you and your brothers and sisters end up liking each other?" I am not attempting to answer that question - none of us (neither my siblings nor my parents) would even begin to say that we somehow did something right to become the family we are. No - it's completely by the grace of God, a free and beautiful gift of God
Every family is formed and created by the grace of God, a free and beautiful gift of God, and it is only by His grace that we can develop meaningful and real relationships. The uniqueness of your family is a gift that should be treasured and cultivated.
With that said, I believe we should hold this priceless gift with both hands and treat it as the valuable gift that it is. My heart is blessed as I see brothers and sisters that enjoy one another and show each other respect. My heart breaks when I see brothers and sisters fostering hatred and bitterness towards one another.
Since brothers and sisters are in our lives forever, (whether the thought inspires or haunts you) we should pour extra effort into developing these forced relationships into chosen friendships. I think this means parents should reinforce the value of siblings to their kids, encouraging their togetherness with one another as much as possible.
Pastor Harald has mentioned a few times lately that we're quick to write people's sinful tendencies off as "the way they are." Saying, "Oh so and so has always been like that and there's nothing we can do about it." In doing so, we neglect the reality that through Jesus we have the power to overcome the old self. All too often it seems we assume that children have a natural disdain for one another that there is nothing we can do about, so we ignore it and cross our fingers hoping they'll grow out of it one day. That makes me nervous.
I want to do my part to encourage the children in my world to LOVE and CHERISH their brothers and sisters as beloved gifts from their Father God. That means I won't listen to their complaints and unkind words about siblings without reminding them of the blessing in the trials. It means I'll work to cultivate sibling relationships by creatively designing opportunities for them to work together and enjoy each other's unique gifts.
There are so many GREAT examples within our Kids of Faith ministries of siblings that treasure each other - that does my heart a whole lot of good!
Weigh in on this for me - parents, what steps do you take to encourage your children to have great friendships?
how to leave comments
Your feedback is SO VALUABLE to me. I really do LOVE hearing from you! Anytime you're browsing through this blog, please take a second to leave a comment and let me know what you're thinking.
It can be a little tricky, so let me explain...
Click on the title of the article, so the article will appear on its own page. Below the article you'll see a space to leave comments. Type your comment and be sure to add your name to the bottom of the comment. Next you'll choose from a drop down menu next to "Comment as". Choose "Anonymous." It will ask you to type the letters that you see appear for security purposes. Type the letters, and then click Post! It's that simple!
Can't wait to hear from you!
It can be a little tricky, so let me explain...
Click on the title of the article, so the article will appear on its own page. Below the article you'll see a space to leave comments. Type your comment and be sure to add your name to the bottom of the comment. Next you'll choose from a drop down menu next to "Comment as". Choose "Anonymous." It will ask you to type the letters that you see appear for security purposes. Type the letters, and then click Post! It's that simple!
Can't wait to hear from you!
How to Communicate?
hi Parents!
I want to hear from you! It's really important to me to make sure you are always well informed about what is going on with Kids of Faith ministries at Faith Baptist Church. If you were at our KidStuf or TrendSetters kick-off last week, you'll know I asked "What's the best way to communicate with you?" I'd love to hear some feedback on this. Let me know how you'd like to hear about what we have going on.
Email, Text, Phone Calls, Mail...what's your preffered method of communication? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Cari
I want to hear from you! It's really important to me to make sure you are always well informed about what is going on with Kids of Faith ministries at Faith Baptist Church. If you were at our KidStuf or TrendSetters kick-off last week, you'll know I asked "What's the best way to communicate with you?" I'd love to hear some feedback on this. Let me know how you'd like to hear about what we have going on.
Email, Text, Phone Calls, Mail...what's your preffered method of communication? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Cari
Saturday, September 11, 2010
GREAT new resource for parents
Hey Moms & Dads -
Check out www.orangeparents.org for some great information and encouragement. The site is called "orange" parents because it's based on the strategy that families (red) plus the church (yellow) can combine influences to make a greater impact on the lives of children. Families and churches are able to make significant influences standing alone, but the influence of the two combined is powerful!
Check out www.orangeparents.org for some great information and encouragement. The site is called "orange" parents because it's based on the strategy that families (red) plus the church (yellow) can combine influences to make a greater impact on the lives of children. Families and churches are able to make significant influences standing alone, but the influence of the two combined is powerful!
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