The calendar is not yet reading December 25, but I’ve already received several wonderful and generous gifts. All the gifts I’ve received have shown that the person giving them knows me personally. Every gift is thoughtful (I’m sure the word thoughtful is somewhere in the definition of gift), but some take more thought.
A few months ago I was buying a birthday gift for a friend, and my youngest son happened to be with me. He commented, “Wow, you’re putting a lot of thought into this…” This is not to say I’m the end all/be all of gift giving; I’m not, but don’t we all long to give a gift that will tell the person- I know you, I care about you, and I’m giving you something I hope will tell you just that. We all love gifts that we can tell took some thought…something that says we are known, even to the point of what brings us joy.
That brings me to Christmas. Not to sound cliché, or fall into the “Stuff Christians Say” realm, but Jesus was the ultimate expression of a thoughtful gift. God knows us. He knows our deepest desires, He knows our sin, He knows what breaks our heart, and what makes it skip a beat with overwhelming joy. He had a gift in mind that would be everything we ever needed. His gift would protect, provide, and redeem us. His gift would love us tenderly, but at the same time with great fervor. His gift would continue to give us other gifts, like hope, peace, and assurance. His gift would be a gift not for one day, but for eternity.
We will all receive gifts next week. Many of them will be thoughtful, and others may fall (or be thrown) in the ‘return as soon as possible’ pile. No matter what we get next week, we’ve already been given the ultimate gift. The Giver was thinking of us corporately and individually when He gave it. He gave it without regard to His own sacrifice. He gave out of a love that we can’t even begin to comprehend.
As I watch the people I care about open gifts next week, I will take great joy in seeing their faces light up. I wonder if God watches us this way…waiting to see if our faces will light up, or if our hearts will skip a beat, as we fully and completely comprehend the extent of His gift to us. We’ve been given the gift, but do we know how truly precious it is?
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
Drag everyone away from the tree for a little while, and join us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth together on Christmas Day at 11:00am. (*Kids, feel free to wear your PJ’s to this service)
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
This was overheard while one four year old was praying and thanking God for Christmas… “Jesus, I’m so sorry that I missed your first birthday.”
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
I’ve come to discover that traditions for this time of year vary greatly from family to family. Here are a few I’ve heard about recently: a visiting elf who watches you for Santa, special pajamas to be worn on Christmas Eve, watching “Charlie Brown Christmas” while drinking hot chocolate (this was a must!), putting reindeer food in the yard, putting the baby Jesus in the nativity on Christmas morning- but not before, believing in Santa, not believing in Santa, giving only 3 gifts, giving too many gifts to count…the list could go on and on.
Traditions were never a huge deal in my family. I don’t remember us doing anything around the holidays exactly the same every year. I don’t think this was a bad thing….we just didn’t. I remember every holiday being fun and full of family time. Maybe that was the only tradition we really needed.
I started several traditions with my boys through the years- some stuck and some didn’t. There are a few that we still continue to this day. The first is the new pajamas tradition. We take great pride in picking out our Christmas PJ’s. We all go shopping together a week or two before Christmas, and pick out just the right ones. The only rule is that they cannot match. It’s a tradition, but we’re not “that” family. The second is the Nutcracker collection. Each of my boys receives a new nutcracker every year from me. I try to find just the right one- something that reminds me of them from that year. Each one is unique to their personality, what they’ve been interested in that year, or something that elicits a great memory. For instance, Mitchell got a nutcracker dressed all in the color orange last year because he became a Syracuse “Orangeman” when he went to college. These traditions don’t add anything to the Spiritual emphasis of Christmas. They are just fun.
The Spiritual emphasis we place on Christmas doesn’t have to come with a list of traditions, it’s a tradition all its own. The faith in a Savior born in Bethlehem, who grew up to die for our sins, and then rise again on the third day is part of who we are as a family. We don’t have to add a whole lot of traditions around that to make it important to us. We don’t have to think of ways to make the birth of Jesus special…it was special then, and it’s special now- period. This is not to say that we don’t do things to specifically celebrate Jesus- we do. We read of His birth in God’s Word together, we have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake for dessert on Christmas Day, we do a “Walk to Bethlehem” somewhere around town…just to name a few.
The point is this, all of those things are good, but even if we stopped doing them, Christmas would still come. One day – maybe sooner than I want- my boys will stop shopping for pajamas with me. One day, they will display their nutcracker collections in their own homes- or at least put them in a box in their own basements. One day I will no longer sit on a couch with boys on each side as I read Luke 2. One day someone will decide that the birthday cake is no longer needed for dessert, and sadly, one day a walk around Bethlehem will be a faint memory. Despite all of that, Christmas will still come. Jesus will still be born. Jesus will still be King. Jesus will still be a Savior who loved us enough to die for our sins.
Our traditions don’t make or break Christmas. Only our belief in a very real and living God can make or break…everything.
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One little girl, trying to gain her friend’s attention, calls out, “Eleven!” The friend’s name is Evelyn. She may have wondered why the friend never answered.
One 4 year old brings his special “backpack” to church each week. This is funny for two reasons; one, it’s not a backpack, but is instead the empty case for a folding chair, and two, it is always filled with something different and unique. This week’s treasures included his sister’s polka-dotted slippers (which he put on as soon as he entered the room), and some “gold” he found in his backyard. The gold was in fact a Q-tip dipped in some sort of yellow paint. (Proof once again that we should just give our kids empty boxes for Christmas!)
Traditions were never a huge deal in my family. I don’t remember us doing anything around the holidays exactly the same every year. I don’t think this was a bad thing….we just didn’t. I remember every holiday being fun and full of family time. Maybe that was the only tradition we really needed.
I started several traditions with my boys through the years- some stuck and some didn’t. There are a few that we still continue to this day. The first is the new pajamas tradition. We take great pride in picking out our Christmas PJ’s. We all go shopping together a week or two before Christmas, and pick out just the right ones. The only rule is that they cannot match. It’s a tradition, but we’re not “that” family. The second is the Nutcracker collection. Each of my boys receives a new nutcracker every year from me. I try to find just the right one- something that reminds me of them from that year. Each one is unique to their personality, what they’ve been interested in that year, or something that elicits a great memory. For instance, Mitchell got a nutcracker dressed all in the color orange last year because he became a Syracuse “Orangeman” when he went to college. These traditions don’t add anything to the Spiritual emphasis of Christmas. They are just fun.
The Spiritual emphasis we place on Christmas doesn’t have to come with a list of traditions, it’s a tradition all its own. The faith in a Savior born in Bethlehem, who grew up to die for our sins, and then rise again on the third day is part of who we are as a family. We don’t have to add a whole lot of traditions around that to make it important to us. We don’t have to think of ways to make the birth of Jesus special…it was special then, and it’s special now- period. This is not to say that we don’t do things to specifically celebrate Jesus- we do. We read of His birth in God’s Word together, we have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake for dessert on Christmas Day, we do a “Walk to Bethlehem” somewhere around town…just to name a few.
The point is this, all of those things are good, but even if we stopped doing them, Christmas would still come. One day – maybe sooner than I want- my boys will stop shopping for pajamas with me. One day, they will display their nutcracker collections in their own homes- or at least put them in a box in their own basements. One day I will no longer sit on a couch with boys on each side as I read Luke 2. One day someone will decide that the birthday cake is no longer needed for dessert, and sadly, one day a walk around Bethlehem will be a faint memory. Despite all of that, Christmas will still come. Jesus will still be born. Jesus will still be King. Jesus will still be a Savior who loved us enough to die for our sins.
Our traditions don’t make or break Christmas. Only our belief in a very real and living God can make or break…everything.
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One little girl, trying to gain her friend’s attention, calls out, “Eleven!” The friend’s name is Evelyn. She may have wondered why the friend never answered.
One 4 year old brings his special “backpack” to church each week. This is funny for two reasons; one, it’s not a backpack, but is instead the empty case for a folding chair, and two, it is always filled with something different and unique. This week’s treasures included his sister’s polka-dotted slippers (which he put on as soon as he entered the room), and some “gold” he found in his backyard. The gold was in fact a Q-tip dipped in some sort of yellow paint. (Proof once again that we should just give our kids empty boxes for Christmas!)
Saturday, November 30, 2013
When our children are little they fear that we may leave them. As parents we don’t understand this idea of separation anxiety because we know that we would never leave our children- at least not forever. In their little minds and hearts a minute can seem like an hour, and an hour…well, that’s forever.
The season of this anxiety is daunting to us as we dread the tears, the clinging arms, and the fear we see in their little faces. But again, we know they really have nothing to fear so we walk away- a little heartbroken, maybe with even a little guilt, only to be assured when we return that they still love us- despite our leaving them.
Then the rubber band of time snaps and we are suddenly the ones afraid. When the word after the number 12 is no longer months, but years, we begin to fear they will leave us. As the 12 grows closer to 18 and beyond, we are the ones shedding tears and hanging on with clingy arms. What if they don’t need us anymore? What if they go away to college and never call? What if they move away after college and never visit? What if…they leave us?
Then once again, the rubber band of time snaps, and we find that we are needed not so much (at least for now) by our kids, but by our own parents. Suddenly, we are needed and afraid; fearful again that our parents may leave us.
This Thanksgiving week, I had the great privilege of spending time with my mom on her birthday- which just happened to be Thanksgiving Day too. My mom turned 71 this week, and is thankfully in great health. We are able to do all the mom/daughter things that we want, but it occurred to me this week that she needs me as much as I need her. It also occurred to me that I am ever so slightly fearful that she’ll leave me.
One of the many things we enjoyed this week was a lunch with some old friends. Imagine the other parents you hang out with now- forty years later…this was our lunch. My parents enjoyed great and lasting friendships with two other couples when we were growing up. All the boys played sports together, all the dads coached those boys, all the moms were team moms and scorekeepers, and all the sisters…well, we lived at the ball field with our families, occasionally working as batgirls and in the concession stand. So, these folks from so long ago, minus two of the men (one being my dad) who have passed away, got together for lunch. Besides being older, it was like we hadn’t missed a beat.
This is where I saw firsthand the snapping of that rubber band. One mom is in poor health, and even as the daughter and this mom joked about her loss of hearing and memory, what I saw was that they needed each other. I saw a daughter that is just slightly fearful of her mom leaving her. Another daughter ordered for her mom, and took care of her ailing father. They needed each other, and there was a slight undertone of that fear of being left.
We all live in this place of shifting time, changing roles, and snapping rubber bands. We cried as children when our parents left us, our kids cry when we leave them, we will cry when our children leave us, and then we’re right back where we started…beginning to fear that our parents will leave us. I guess the best we can do in any and all of these situations is to make the most of the time we have, loving with all we’ve got, saying the things we need to say, assuring each other that nothing is forever- even the leaving part.
One last reassuring thought came to mind...maybe the rubber bands don't snap, but instead stretch as they are made to do. We're constantly pulling it, but thankfully someone else on that rubber band with us is pulling too. We may stretch away for a time, those we love may stretch away for a time, but we are all pulled back in as well. So, until the rubber band stretches again, I’m going to tell those I love how much I love them, and then hang on tight for as long as I can.
This Week’s Announcements:
The Giving Tree- Don’t forget to pull an ornament (or two) from the giving tree in the church lobby. This tree will list needed items for Park Street Elementary, MUST Ministries, and Cobb Pregnancy Center. All items should be dropped off at the church by December 22nd. No need to wrap anything- just place the ornament you pulled from the tree back on the item.
Christmas Eve Services- We will have two services this year. The first one, at 4pm, will be family friendly, multi-sensory, and interactive. Worship at this service will be led by our Youth Ministry Worship team and they are amazing! So…for a fun, BUT MEANINGFUL Christmas Eve experience, join us at 4pm. If the more traditional is your style, come to the second service at 6pm.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
On the Sunday prior to thanksgiving, we spent a lot of time talking about what we’re thankful for, and how to have an attitude of gratitude. In doing so, we played a game with the alphabet. Contestants had to yell out something they were thankful for that began with the randomly drawn letter of the alphabet. They had to be quicker to yell out an answer than their opponent. In a rush to be first, one girl- when seeing the letter “O”- yelled out, “Oprah!”
The season of this anxiety is daunting to us as we dread the tears, the clinging arms, and the fear we see in their little faces. But again, we know they really have nothing to fear so we walk away- a little heartbroken, maybe with even a little guilt, only to be assured when we return that they still love us- despite our leaving them.
Then the rubber band of time snaps and we are suddenly the ones afraid. When the word after the number 12 is no longer months, but years, we begin to fear they will leave us. As the 12 grows closer to 18 and beyond, we are the ones shedding tears and hanging on with clingy arms. What if they don’t need us anymore? What if they go away to college and never call? What if they move away after college and never visit? What if…they leave us?
Then once again, the rubber band of time snaps, and we find that we are needed not so much (at least for now) by our kids, but by our own parents. Suddenly, we are needed and afraid; fearful again that our parents may leave us.
This Thanksgiving week, I had the great privilege of spending time with my mom on her birthday- which just happened to be Thanksgiving Day too. My mom turned 71 this week, and is thankfully in great health. We are able to do all the mom/daughter things that we want, but it occurred to me this week that she needs me as much as I need her. It also occurred to me that I am ever so slightly fearful that she’ll leave me.
One of the many things we enjoyed this week was a lunch with some old friends. Imagine the other parents you hang out with now- forty years later…this was our lunch. My parents enjoyed great and lasting friendships with two other couples when we were growing up. All the boys played sports together, all the dads coached those boys, all the moms were team moms and scorekeepers, and all the sisters…well, we lived at the ball field with our families, occasionally working as batgirls and in the concession stand. So, these folks from so long ago, minus two of the men (one being my dad) who have passed away, got together for lunch. Besides being older, it was like we hadn’t missed a beat.
This is where I saw firsthand the snapping of that rubber band. One mom is in poor health, and even as the daughter and this mom joked about her loss of hearing and memory, what I saw was that they needed each other. I saw a daughter that is just slightly fearful of her mom leaving her. Another daughter ordered for her mom, and took care of her ailing father. They needed each other, and there was a slight undertone of that fear of being left.
We all live in this place of shifting time, changing roles, and snapping rubber bands. We cried as children when our parents left us, our kids cry when we leave them, we will cry when our children leave us, and then we’re right back where we started…beginning to fear that our parents will leave us. I guess the best we can do in any and all of these situations is to make the most of the time we have, loving with all we’ve got, saying the things we need to say, assuring each other that nothing is forever- even the leaving part.
One last reassuring thought came to mind...maybe the rubber bands don't snap, but instead stretch as they are made to do. We're constantly pulling it, but thankfully someone else on that rubber band with us is pulling too. We may stretch away for a time, those we love may stretch away for a time, but we are all pulled back in as well. So, until the rubber band stretches again, I’m going to tell those I love how much I love them, and then hang on tight for as long as I can.
This Week’s Announcements:
The Giving Tree- Don’t forget to pull an ornament (or two) from the giving tree in the church lobby. This tree will list needed items for Park Street Elementary, MUST Ministries, and Cobb Pregnancy Center. All items should be dropped off at the church by December 22nd. No need to wrap anything- just place the ornament you pulled from the tree back on the item.
Christmas Eve Services- We will have two services this year. The first one, at 4pm, will be family friendly, multi-sensory, and interactive. Worship at this service will be led by our Youth Ministry Worship team and they are amazing! So…for a fun, BUT MEANINGFUL Christmas Eve experience, join us at 4pm. If the more traditional is your style, come to the second service at 6pm.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
On the Sunday prior to thanksgiving, we spent a lot of time talking about what we’re thankful for, and how to have an attitude of gratitude. In doing so, we played a game with the alphabet. Contestants had to yell out something they were thankful for that began with the randomly drawn letter of the alphabet. They had to be quicker to yell out an answer than their opponent. In a rush to be first, one girl- when seeing the letter “O”- yelled out, “Oprah!”
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Hey, mom…watch this!” These are words that as parents we’ve all heard. Our kids love to know we’re watching. They want to know that we’re paying attention.
At the varying stages in a child’s life, our paying attention looks very different. When they are infants, we’re paying attention to all the nonverbal cues our children give us like crying, laughing, and making faces. As they get a little older, the “watch this” or “watch me” phase starts. This phase lasts awhile, and then we hit a wall.
Suddenly our kids aren’t yelling across the playground anymore for us to watch them. We discover that it’s not us they want watching, it’s their friends. We find ourselves reverting back to picking up on some of those nonverbal cues. (Sadly, crying is many times involved again)
This is not to say that our kids never talk to us. Prayerfully just the opposite is true. It does mean that we have to pay attention even when they aren’t asking us to do it. They aren’t yelling “watch me” but they still need us- and I think want us- to pay attention. Even the child who is taller than you needs a hug, an encouraging word, anything that says, “I’m watching.”
This week a friend of mine sent me one of those circulating stories called “The Brick.” In the story, a young boy threw a brick into the road, hitting a man’s brand new car. The furious man got out of his car and asked the crying child why in the world he had done such a stupid thing. The boy told him it was the only way to get someone to pay attention and stop. His older brother, confined to a wheelchair, had fallen. He, being smaller and not strong enough, couldn’t get his brother back into his wheelchair. The story ends with the man tearfully helping the boy and never fixing the dent in his car. He wanted to remember to pay attention long before someone had to throw a brick at him.
This story is a good reminder- not only as a parent, but as a daughter to the King. I want God to see me, to pay attention. The amazing thing is I never have to yell, “watch me” for Him to do it. But…is the reverse true? Am I always watching for God’s hand, am I paying attention to the many ways He blesses and provides for me, am I anticipating His move in, through, and around me? God certainly shouldn’t have to say “watch me” or “pay attention.”
As children we don’t have to throw bricks to have our Heavenly Father pay attention. As parents we don’t want our kids throwing bricks to get our attention. Yes…we all have lots of moving pieces and balls to juggle in our everyday lives. Sometimes the “watch me” seems like an inconvenience. But…consider this, God has much more to attend to, but He watches anyway.
Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
This Week’s Announcements:
Family Dinner! Come enjoy a good old fashioned potluck dinner with your StoneBridge Family. Children in 4k-5th grade will be served pizza in 164 before going to childcare. There will also be childcare or 3k and under, but you will need to feed them dinner beforehand. *Please note: Registration for childcare closes on Monday, November 18th! Without a reservation, childcare is not guaranteed and may not be available for your children.* Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up for a main dish, side dish, or dessert, as well as childcare.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
The children are signing our “thankful” board each Sunday morning. Upon reading some of the entries, it became evident that conjunctions and punctuation do make a difference. One entry read, “I’m thankful for my brother the dog.”
At the varying stages in a child’s life, our paying attention looks very different. When they are infants, we’re paying attention to all the nonverbal cues our children give us like crying, laughing, and making faces. As they get a little older, the “watch this” or “watch me” phase starts. This phase lasts awhile, and then we hit a wall.
Suddenly our kids aren’t yelling across the playground anymore for us to watch them. We discover that it’s not us they want watching, it’s their friends. We find ourselves reverting back to picking up on some of those nonverbal cues. (Sadly, crying is many times involved again)
This is not to say that our kids never talk to us. Prayerfully just the opposite is true. It does mean that we have to pay attention even when they aren’t asking us to do it. They aren’t yelling “watch me” but they still need us- and I think want us- to pay attention. Even the child who is taller than you needs a hug, an encouraging word, anything that says, “I’m watching.”
This week a friend of mine sent me one of those circulating stories called “The Brick.” In the story, a young boy threw a brick into the road, hitting a man’s brand new car. The furious man got out of his car and asked the crying child why in the world he had done such a stupid thing. The boy told him it was the only way to get someone to pay attention and stop. His older brother, confined to a wheelchair, had fallen. He, being smaller and not strong enough, couldn’t get his brother back into his wheelchair. The story ends with the man tearfully helping the boy and never fixing the dent in his car. He wanted to remember to pay attention long before someone had to throw a brick at him.
This story is a good reminder- not only as a parent, but as a daughter to the King. I want God to see me, to pay attention. The amazing thing is I never have to yell, “watch me” for Him to do it. But…is the reverse true? Am I always watching for God’s hand, am I paying attention to the many ways He blesses and provides for me, am I anticipating His move in, through, and around me? God certainly shouldn’t have to say “watch me” or “pay attention.”
As children we don’t have to throw bricks to have our Heavenly Father pay attention. As parents we don’t want our kids throwing bricks to get our attention. Yes…we all have lots of moving pieces and balls to juggle in our everyday lives. Sometimes the “watch me” seems like an inconvenience. But…consider this, God has much more to attend to, but He watches anyway.
Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
This Week’s Announcements:
Family Dinner! Come enjoy a good old fashioned potluck dinner with your StoneBridge Family. Children in 4k-5th grade will be served pizza in 164 before going to childcare. There will also be childcare or 3k and under, but you will need to feed them dinner beforehand. *Please note: Registration for childcare closes on Monday, November 18th! Without a reservation, childcare is not guaranteed and may not be available for your children.* Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up for a main dish, side dish, or dessert, as well as childcare.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
The children are signing our “thankful” board each Sunday morning. Upon reading some of the entries, it became evident that conjunctions and punctuation do make a difference. One entry read, “I’m thankful for my brother the dog.”
Friday, November 8, 2013
I love surprises, but hate to be surprised. In the last few weeks I’ve had both the terrifying experience of being surprised (startled), and the incredible experience of surprising someone else.
It all started when my 16 year old decided to surprise me. I came home from work one day and he was hidden in my closet. As I walked into my room, he stuck his head out and very simply said, “Hello Mother.” I went ballistic, jumping 3 feet off the ground, screaming, and dare I say it…wetting my pants. (Yes, it’s true). After sometime of complete panic, I calmed down enough to laugh hysterically with him about the whole scene. Fast forward a couple of weeks to Halloween. Deciding to get him back, I hid a 6foot tall Iron Man cardboard cutout in the shower. When my son opened the curtain to get ready for his shower, there stood the intruder, scaring him so badly that he yelled and ran out of the bathroom terrified but also laughing. His exact words were, “That’s not cool, mom!” Another session of gut wrenching laughter ensued.
Surprises can be remarkable, but they can also be the things that terrify us and make us want to run (or wet our pants, I guess).
The kinds of surprises we love to receive are the ones that bring us joy, make us feel loved; the kinds we love to give elicit the same for the receiver. Don’t we love to see our kids’ faces light up when we’ve given them just the right surprise- a trip to see Sesame Street when they are 3 (one of my favorite memories with my boys), the perfect gift they thought they’d never get, a fully prepared Thanksgiving meal delivered to college when they can’t come home (a new idea for my oldest).
But then there are those surprises that aren’t so great. Our child wakes with a dangerously high fever, the school calls to say that our child may have broken an arm on the playground, someone we love is diagnosed with a scary disease, or even the simplest thing like the toilet overflowing can all be surprises we don’t want.
What occurs to me is that life is full of surprises- especially when it comes to our kids. And what also occurs to me is that life would be really boring without them. Yes, we’d all love not to be surprised by the things that scare, frustrate, or make our hearts ache, but if we didn’t have those lows, would we ever really experience the highs?
Think about this…God can sometimes surprise us too. We have an awesome God who shows up even when we’ve forgotten to ask. We have a Father who knows our needs before we put it on the wish list. We have a God who is never surprised by our highs or lows because He is always prepared. Our problems don’t surprise Him, but He can certainly surprise us with how He walks us through them, how He holds our hand, how He works all things – even the really awful things- together for good.
I love surprises and I hate surprises. Even so, I’m glad I am loved by a God that will never cease to be surprising; a God that doesn’t hide in the closet, but instead makes sure He is present when I’m scared, lonely, or just need a friend. He is a God that doesn’t hide from me, but will hold and hide me in the palm of His hand. Maybe it’s not so much that He surprises me, but more that He never ceases to amaze me.
This Week’s Announcements:
Don’t miss our church-wide family Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off this Friday, November 8th. There will be hayrides for the kids (or the kids at heart), hotdogs, games, a bonfire (S’mores, I hope!) and lots of yummy chili to sample. Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
When one boy saw his friend being a little ‘lazy’ about playing a game, he tried to correct and entice his friend to participate by saying, “Stop being a bump on a pickle!” (Maybe he knew more about pickles than logs-?)
It all started when my 16 year old decided to surprise me. I came home from work one day and he was hidden in my closet. As I walked into my room, he stuck his head out and very simply said, “Hello Mother.” I went ballistic, jumping 3 feet off the ground, screaming, and dare I say it…wetting my pants. (Yes, it’s true). After sometime of complete panic, I calmed down enough to laugh hysterically with him about the whole scene. Fast forward a couple of weeks to Halloween. Deciding to get him back, I hid a 6foot tall Iron Man cardboard cutout in the shower. When my son opened the curtain to get ready for his shower, there stood the intruder, scaring him so badly that he yelled and ran out of the bathroom terrified but also laughing. His exact words were, “That’s not cool, mom!” Another session of gut wrenching laughter ensued.
Surprises can be remarkable, but they can also be the things that terrify us and make us want to run (or wet our pants, I guess).
The kinds of surprises we love to receive are the ones that bring us joy, make us feel loved; the kinds we love to give elicit the same for the receiver. Don’t we love to see our kids’ faces light up when we’ve given them just the right surprise- a trip to see Sesame Street when they are 3 (one of my favorite memories with my boys), the perfect gift they thought they’d never get, a fully prepared Thanksgiving meal delivered to college when they can’t come home (a new idea for my oldest).
But then there are those surprises that aren’t so great. Our child wakes with a dangerously high fever, the school calls to say that our child may have broken an arm on the playground, someone we love is diagnosed with a scary disease, or even the simplest thing like the toilet overflowing can all be surprises we don’t want.
What occurs to me is that life is full of surprises- especially when it comes to our kids. And what also occurs to me is that life would be really boring without them. Yes, we’d all love not to be surprised by the things that scare, frustrate, or make our hearts ache, but if we didn’t have those lows, would we ever really experience the highs?
Think about this…God can sometimes surprise us too. We have an awesome God who shows up even when we’ve forgotten to ask. We have a Father who knows our needs before we put it on the wish list. We have a God who is never surprised by our highs or lows because He is always prepared. Our problems don’t surprise Him, but He can certainly surprise us with how He walks us through them, how He holds our hand, how He works all things – even the really awful things- together for good.
I love surprises and I hate surprises. Even so, I’m glad I am loved by a God that will never cease to be surprising; a God that doesn’t hide in the closet, but instead makes sure He is present when I’m scared, lonely, or just need a friend. He is a God that doesn’t hide from me, but will hold and hide me in the palm of His hand. Maybe it’s not so much that He surprises me, but more that He never ceases to amaze me.
This Week’s Announcements:
Don’t miss our church-wide family Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off this Friday, November 8th. There will be hayrides for the kids (or the kids at heart), hotdogs, games, a bonfire (S’mores, I hope!) and lots of yummy chili to sample. Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
When one boy saw his friend being a little ‘lazy’ about playing a game, he tried to correct and entice his friend to participate by saying, “Stop being a bump on a pickle!” (Maybe he knew more about pickles than logs-?)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Whether you ‘celebrate’ Halloween or not, you can’t mistake that the excitement of dressing up and getting candy is in the air! (Not sure anyone really “celebrates” Halloween; maybe it’s just observing it…) Anyway, kids- and many adults- everywhere are looking forward to putting on a costume and collecting a bag full of treats. I’ve asked kid after kid in the last week about their costumes, where they will trick-or-treat, and about their favorite candy.
It’s been interesting to me how many kids are making their own costumes this year. This seems new...or is it everything old is new again? When I was a kid, we always made our own costumes. And by make, I mean we looked around the house and put something together with whatever we could find. I think my brother was a football or baseball player for twelve straight Halloweens. (Age 12 was the end of trick or treating at my house!)
One girl told me that her mom has a strict rule- she buys a costume one year, and the next you’re on your own. I can respect that. Not only is it cheaper- (when did a questionable if it’s really not flammable piece of material and a less than sturdy mask become $40?!)- but it also elicits a little creativity.
In a world where everything can be bought- including the once sacred Cinderella’s gown and slippers and Darth Vader’s cape, mask, and light saber- it’s nice to know our kids don’t have to get some things off a shelf to enjoy them. In a society where screens of every kind seem to reign supreme, it’s refreshing to think that kids are actually using their brains for more than Mind Craft.
I’m not completely knocking the store bought costume; I got one once – it was a genie costume, complete with a mask framed in blond hair. (Didn’t look quite right with my very curly dark hair sticking out, but I was only 7, so what did I care?) I’ve been guilty of being talked into the store bought ones by my own children- Elvis was in the building one year, along with Spiderman.
The point is, creativity is good. Thinking outside the box- or using an empty box- is even better. Besides, when you have to actually explain your costume, then you’ve earned that Reece’s cup!
I don’t ‘celebrate’ Halloween, but I do enjoy seeing kids have fun dressing up, pretending for one night to be their alter ego, or maybe just someone who is stronger, funnier, or even scarier than their real selves. Just pretending – even if it came off the shelf- is creative.
This Week’s Announcements:
If you have a child 3mos.-2years old that you wish to publically dedicate to the Lord here at StoneBridge, then you will need to attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation classes. On November 10th at 6:30pm we will hold the orientation meant for anyone wishing to dedicate a child before our next class in May. To sign up, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under my email penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Don’t forget to list children’s names and ages in the comment section if you need childcare during the orientation.
Don’t miss our church-wide family Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off on Friday, November 8th. There will be hayrides for the kids (or the kids at heart), hotdogs, games, a bonfire (S’mores, I hope!) and lots of yummy chili to sample. Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
*You will notice that there is no curriculum listed for 4k-5th grade. This is because we did our outreach/service project for MUST Ministries last Sunday.
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
I just love it when kids mix up words, saying the words or a phrase just right enough to know what they’re saying, but just wrong enough to be oh so cute. I’ve heard a few this week that were so cute I had to share. While playing, a 4 year old said, “Stick ‘em up…it’s the DBMI!” [FBI] A cute little girl leaned over my booth at Chick-fil-A and told me, “I gonna eat some icken guggets” [chicken nuggets]. And lastly, while playing hide-n-seek, but before being found, a two year hold stuck his head out from his hiding place, and said, “Look, I found me!”
It’s been interesting to me how many kids are making their own costumes this year. This seems new...or is it everything old is new again? When I was a kid, we always made our own costumes. And by make, I mean we looked around the house and put something together with whatever we could find. I think my brother was a football or baseball player for twelve straight Halloweens. (Age 12 was the end of trick or treating at my house!)
One girl told me that her mom has a strict rule- she buys a costume one year, and the next you’re on your own. I can respect that. Not only is it cheaper- (when did a questionable if it’s really not flammable piece of material and a less than sturdy mask become $40?!)- but it also elicits a little creativity.
In a world where everything can be bought- including the once sacred Cinderella’s gown and slippers and Darth Vader’s cape, mask, and light saber- it’s nice to know our kids don’t have to get some things off a shelf to enjoy them. In a society where screens of every kind seem to reign supreme, it’s refreshing to think that kids are actually using their brains for more than Mind Craft.
I’m not completely knocking the store bought costume; I got one once – it was a genie costume, complete with a mask framed in blond hair. (Didn’t look quite right with my very curly dark hair sticking out, but I was only 7, so what did I care?) I’ve been guilty of being talked into the store bought ones by my own children- Elvis was in the building one year, along with Spiderman.
The point is, creativity is good. Thinking outside the box- or using an empty box- is even better. Besides, when you have to actually explain your costume, then you’ve earned that Reece’s cup!
I don’t ‘celebrate’ Halloween, but I do enjoy seeing kids have fun dressing up, pretending for one night to be their alter ego, or maybe just someone who is stronger, funnier, or even scarier than their real selves. Just pretending – even if it came off the shelf- is creative.
This Week’s Announcements:
If you have a child 3mos.-2years old that you wish to publically dedicate to the Lord here at StoneBridge, then you will need to attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation classes. On November 10th at 6:30pm we will hold the orientation meant for anyone wishing to dedicate a child before our next class in May. To sign up, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under my email penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Don’t forget to list children’s names and ages in the comment section if you need childcare during the orientation.
Don’t miss our church-wide family Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off on Friday, November 8th. There will be hayrides for the kids (or the kids at heart), hotdogs, games, a bonfire (S’mores, I hope!) and lots of yummy chili to sample. Go to www.signupgenius.com and search under Kim Kremer’s email kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
*You will notice that there is no curriculum listed for 4k-5th grade. This is because we did our outreach/service project for MUST Ministries last Sunday.
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
I just love it when kids mix up words, saying the words or a phrase just right enough to know what they’re saying, but just wrong enough to be oh so cute. I’ve heard a few this week that were so cute I had to share. While playing, a 4 year old said, “Stick ‘em up…it’s the DBMI!” [FBI] A cute little girl leaned over my booth at Chick-fil-A and told me, “I gonna eat some icken guggets” [chicken nuggets]. And lastly, while playing hide-n-seek, but before being found, a two year hold stuck his head out from his hiding place, and said, “Look, I found me!”
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Twice in the last week I’ve been asked, “What made you decide to go into children’s ministry?” The follow up question on one occasion was, “What prepared you to do what you do?” The setting for each of these inquiries was very different. One happened on a short weekend getaway in a conversation with a stranger, and the other as I was being interviewed for a college student’s project. Different settings…same question…same answer.
These conversations were about my job…my vocation. Today, remembering those two conversations, another thought crossed my mind. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me about my most important job…not a career, but a job…motherhood. No one has ever asked, “What make you decide to go into motherhood?” Nor has anyone ever asked, “What prepared you to do what you do?” as it relates to being a parent.
Maybe the question is not asked because it seems to be a silly one. Maybe no one asks because they figure the answer is too personal. Maybe no one asks because they too are a parent and couldn’t answer the question for themselves.
So for sake of an argument I’m having with myself right now, I’ll ask and answer. What made me decide to become a mom? That one is simple- I don’t think I ever decided NOT to become a mom. I think the first time I held a baby doll I was hooked. The bigger question - what prepared me for it? Nothing, nothing, and more of nothing.
The word ‘nothing’ doesn’t even capture how much nothingness there was in preparing me for motherhood. I had GREAT examples in parenting as my mom, dad, and grandparents were all phenomenal at their jobs. But watching someone else do it isn’t enough. There is no prep for the highs and lows of parenting. There is no study guide for the overwhelming joy that can be followed by deep heartache and/or worry. There is no cheat sheet, word bank, or Cliff notes for the lessons we’ll teach or the lessons we’ll learn as we parent.
It’s a job with a clear beginning, but no real end. It’s a job we take on every day, all day long, and yet we’re never experts. It’s a job we do when we feel like it and when we don’t. It’s a circus kind of job where balancing, juggling, walking a tight rope, taming lions, and being the ring leader all at the same time is not only necessary, it’s crucial.
My answer about my career choice was short – God called me to it. How I prepared was described at length, but two things were at the center- lots of practice and God’s provision. Now that I rethink things…it’s funny how the answer turns out to be the same for parenting. God called me to it, and even though I’m never fully prepared (aren’t we surprised every day?)- I practice a lot and God keeps on providing.
This Week’s Announcements:
If you have a child 3mos.-2years old that you wish to publically dedicate to the Lord here at StoneBridge, then you will need to attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation classes. On November 10th at 6:30pm we will hold the orientation meant for anyone wishing to dedicate a child before our next class in May. To sign up, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under my email penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Don’t forget to list children’s names and ages in the comment section if you need childcare during the orientation.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
A little guy came into my office and asked me for a piece of bubble gum. When I gave it to him, he promptly put it in his mouth. After starting on his gum, he asked if he could also have one for his mommy, daddy, brother, and sister. I obliged (how could I not?). When I told him he should put the gum for his family in his pocket for later, he put three of the four in his pocket, but then started to unwrap one. I reminded him that he already had one in his mouth, and that the rest were for his family. He said, “Oh, it’s okay…this one is my brother’s. He can’t have gum so I’ll just chew it for him.”
These conversations were about my job…my vocation. Today, remembering those two conversations, another thought crossed my mind. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me about my most important job…not a career, but a job…motherhood. No one has ever asked, “What make you decide to go into motherhood?” Nor has anyone ever asked, “What prepared you to do what you do?” as it relates to being a parent.
Maybe the question is not asked because it seems to be a silly one. Maybe no one asks because they figure the answer is too personal. Maybe no one asks because they too are a parent and couldn’t answer the question for themselves.
So for sake of an argument I’m having with myself right now, I’ll ask and answer. What made me decide to become a mom? That one is simple- I don’t think I ever decided NOT to become a mom. I think the first time I held a baby doll I was hooked. The bigger question - what prepared me for it? Nothing, nothing, and more of nothing.
The word ‘nothing’ doesn’t even capture how much nothingness there was in preparing me for motherhood. I had GREAT examples in parenting as my mom, dad, and grandparents were all phenomenal at their jobs. But watching someone else do it isn’t enough. There is no prep for the highs and lows of parenting. There is no study guide for the overwhelming joy that can be followed by deep heartache and/or worry. There is no cheat sheet, word bank, or Cliff notes for the lessons we’ll teach or the lessons we’ll learn as we parent.
It’s a job with a clear beginning, but no real end. It’s a job we take on every day, all day long, and yet we’re never experts. It’s a job we do when we feel like it and when we don’t. It’s a circus kind of job where balancing, juggling, walking a tight rope, taming lions, and being the ring leader all at the same time is not only necessary, it’s crucial.
My answer about my career choice was short – God called me to it. How I prepared was described at length, but two things were at the center- lots of practice and God’s provision. Now that I rethink things…it’s funny how the answer turns out to be the same for parenting. God called me to it, and even though I’m never fully prepared (aren’t we surprised every day?)- I practice a lot and God keeps on providing.
This Week’s Announcements:
If you have a child 3mos.-2years old that you wish to publically dedicate to the Lord here at StoneBridge, then you will need to attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation classes. On November 10th at 6:30pm we will hold the orientation meant for anyone wishing to dedicate a child before our next class in May. To sign up, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under my email penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Don’t forget to list children’s names and ages in the comment section if you need childcare during the orientation.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
A little guy came into my office and asked me for a piece of bubble gum. When I gave it to him, he promptly put it in his mouth. After starting on his gum, he asked if he could also have one for his mommy, daddy, brother, and sister. I obliged (how could I not?). When I told him he should put the gum for his family in his pocket for later, he put three of the four in his pocket, but then started to unwrap one. I reminded him that he already had one in his mouth, and that the rest were for his family. He said, “Oh, it’s okay…this one is my brother’s. He can’t have gum so I’ll just chew it for him.”
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Elegance, politeness, generosity, pleasing, freedom…not words that most of us would use to describe parenthood. Each of these words is listed in the dictionary under the word grace.
Nope…grace, at least by definition, and parenthood don’t seem to go hand in hand. Where is the elegance in cleaning the spit up off your shirt- again? Politeness doesn’t flow freely when you have a house full of boys (potty humor, anyone?). Generosity is a myth when it comes to asking an 18 month old to share her favorite toy with another. Pleasing and freedom…maybe some freedom to sleep late, eat a full meal while it’s still hot, or go to the bathroom alone would be pleasing…but who knows when you’re a parent?
We don’t regularly use the word grace to describe parenting, but maybe we should. We know as Christians that grace in the biblical sense is the free and unmerited favor of God; it’s His infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill toward us. When you think about grace in those terms, then yes…it is easy- or at least easier- to see how it matches up with parenthood.
How many times a day to we give free and unmerited favor to our kids? They spill their cup at dinner for the third night in a row. We love them anyway. They forget their math book and you have to deliver it to the school for the 2nd time this week. We love them anyway. They don’t make their beds, they yell in the house, they stomp their feet on the stairs, they cry when we want to sleep, they walk slow when we’re in a hurry, and run away when we’re too tired to chase them. We love them anyway.
We do all the same things our kids do. God loves us anyway. Grace…God’s grace…elegant, polite, generous, pleasing, and (brings) freedom. He would use that word to describe how He parents us. We should follow His lead with our kids.
Come to think of it…our children might say one aspect of being a kid is grace too. We’re not perfect. They love us anyway.
This Week’s Announcements:
Next week, 10/27 is or first Outreach Sunday of this school year. We will be joining Dana Poor in working on a project for homeless children who live temporarily at MUST Ministries. On these outreach Sundays, our small group leaders in 4k-5th grade take the morning off and we ask other adults- especially those who have a heart for outreach/service- to help us. If you are available to lend a hand on 10/27, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…make that funny things adults say:
One of our small group leaders posted this- "After a month of leading the 4k-5K class on Sunday mornings, I've learned a very important lesson: One doesn't ask an open-ended question to this crowd, unless you intend to lose all control of the conversation." Her friend commented back to her- "I hear you! I'm teaching second grade and a few weeks ago asked the kids how they define Grace. I heard a list of every woman past or present who had been named Grace." :)
Nope…grace, at least by definition, and parenthood don’t seem to go hand in hand. Where is the elegance in cleaning the spit up off your shirt- again? Politeness doesn’t flow freely when you have a house full of boys (potty humor, anyone?). Generosity is a myth when it comes to asking an 18 month old to share her favorite toy with another. Pleasing and freedom…maybe some freedom to sleep late, eat a full meal while it’s still hot, or go to the bathroom alone would be pleasing…but who knows when you’re a parent?
We don’t regularly use the word grace to describe parenting, but maybe we should. We know as Christians that grace in the biblical sense is the free and unmerited favor of God; it’s His infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill toward us. When you think about grace in those terms, then yes…it is easy- or at least easier- to see how it matches up with parenthood.
How many times a day to we give free and unmerited favor to our kids? They spill their cup at dinner for the third night in a row. We love them anyway. They forget their math book and you have to deliver it to the school for the 2nd time this week. We love them anyway. They don’t make their beds, they yell in the house, they stomp their feet on the stairs, they cry when we want to sleep, they walk slow when we’re in a hurry, and run away when we’re too tired to chase them. We love them anyway.
We do all the same things our kids do. God loves us anyway. Grace…God’s grace…elegant, polite, generous, pleasing, and (brings) freedom. He would use that word to describe how He parents us. We should follow His lead with our kids.
Come to think of it…our children might say one aspect of being a kid is grace too. We’re not perfect. They love us anyway.
This Week’s Announcements:
Next week, 10/27 is or first Outreach Sunday of this school year. We will be joining Dana Poor in working on a project for homeless children who live temporarily at MUST Ministries. On these outreach Sundays, our small group leaders in 4k-5th grade take the morning off and we ask other adults- especially those who have a heart for outreach/service- to help us. If you are available to lend a hand on 10/27, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…make that funny things adults say:
One of our small group leaders posted this- "After a month of leading the 4k-5K class on Sunday mornings, I've learned a very important lesson: One doesn't ask an open-ended question to this crowd, unless you intend to lose all control of the conversation." Her friend commented back to her- "I hear you! I'm teaching second grade and a few weeks ago asked the kids how they define Grace. I heard a list of every woman past or present who had been named Grace." :)
Monday, October 7, 2013
What keeps us up at night?
Maybe…to name a few, a crying baby, waiting on a driving teenager to get home, our job, the to-do list, financial struggles, or worrying about how we’re doing as a parent.
After reading a quote - shared with me today- from Henri Nouwen, I realized this…I’m staying up for the wrong reasons. Henri points out that the central question we should be asking is if our future leaders will be men and women of God. In the quote- at least the part I was given- said nothing about what leadership realm he was discussing, so this is what I took from it.
Are the future leaders of our families, churches, and communities going to be women and men of God? Will they love and follow the Lord? Will they love His Word? Will they allow themselves to be conformed into the image of Christ? Will they be led by the Spirit?
These questions should be the ones keeping us up at night, because those leaders are our children and our children’s friends. To be men and women who love God, love people, and are led by the Spirit doesn’t happen overnight. If it did, then we’d lose much less sleep thinking about it.
I don’t want to lie awake at night and worry any more than the next person, but I do know this- these are the things worth pondering. These are the things worth devoting more prayer to. These are the things that really matter. Academically successful kids may lead to successful adults. Athletically active kids may lead to healthier adults. Spirit-filled kids… We don’t even have to wait until they are adults to see what they can do!
So, the next time I’m lying awake because my mind is too active to sleep I will be asking the Lord this central question- “what am I doing or what can I be doing to help kids (mine and the ones in our ministry) - become boys and girls/men and women of God?”
This Week’s Announcements:
Please remember that the doors open at 8:45/10:45 for children, and are locked for security at 9:15/11:15. If you arrive outside of that 30 minute window, several things happen.
1. You may be locked out with no way in
2. You interrupt praise and worship/large group teaching that begins at 9:20/11:20 for our elementary children in 164
3. Your child will have a MUCH harder time adjusting to the room if they come in after activities have started
Please help us as we strive to make Sunday the best part of your child’s week by being on time for check in and drop off.
Red Top Camping Day:
What a fun day we had camping! There was lots of canoeing, fishing, games, and food! There was even MORE laughter! The kids were filthy and exhausted at the end of the day…the sign of a great time! Many thanks go out to Nick and Amber Chinuntdet for organizing and planning this amazing day. We’d also like to thank all the volunteers who provided canoes, drove kids to the site, and/or were onsite to make this day such a huge success.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say:
For one girl named Hannah, the something that might keep her up at night…worrying if her brother is going to “goo” her.
As one small group leader asked the question- "Tell us a time recently when you wanted a do-over" – Hannah said that goo fell on her head at home. The small group leader kept a serious face since Hannah seemed very serious. The small group leader probed a little further, but she really wasn't sure how to elaborate as to where the "goo" came from. Then Betsy- another girl in the group- randomly chimed in with the question that made everyone chuckle. She asked, "Do you have a brother?" Hannah smiled and said "YES!!" It suddenly all made sense.
Maybe…to name a few, a crying baby, waiting on a driving teenager to get home, our job, the to-do list, financial struggles, or worrying about how we’re doing as a parent.
After reading a quote - shared with me today- from Henri Nouwen, I realized this…I’m staying up for the wrong reasons. Henri points out that the central question we should be asking is if our future leaders will be men and women of God. In the quote- at least the part I was given- said nothing about what leadership realm he was discussing, so this is what I took from it.
Are the future leaders of our families, churches, and communities going to be women and men of God? Will they love and follow the Lord? Will they love His Word? Will they allow themselves to be conformed into the image of Christ? Will they be led by the Spirit?
These questions should be the ones keeping us up at night, because those leaders are our children and our children’s friends. To be men and women who love God, love people, and are led by the Spirit doesn’t happen overnight. If it did, then we’d lose much less sleep thinking about it.
I don’t want to lie awake at night and worry any more than the next person, but I do know this- these are the things worth pondering. These are the things worth devoting more prayer to. These are the things that really matter. Academically successful kids may lead to successful adults. Athletically active kids may lead to healthier adults. Spirit-filled kids… We don’t even have to wait until they are adults to see what they can do!
So, the next time I’m lying awake because my mind is too active to sleep I will be asking the Lord this central question- “what am I doing or what can I be doing to help kids (mine and the ones in our ministry) - become boys and girls/men and women of God?”
This Week’s Announcements:
Please remember that the doors open at 8:45/10:45 for children, and are locked for security at 9:15/11:15. If you arrive outside of that 30 minute window, several things happen.
1. You may be locked out with no way in
2. You interrupt praise and worship/large group teaching that begins at 9:20/11:20 for our elementary children in 164
3. Your child will have a MUCH harder time adjusting to the room if they come in after activities have started
Please help us as we strive to make Sunday the best part of your child’s week by being on time for check in and drop off.
Red Top Camping Day:
What a fun day we had camping! There was lots of canoeing, fishing, games, and food! There was even MORE laughter! The kids were filthy and exhausted at the end of the day…the sign of a great time! Many thanks go out to Nick and Amber Chinuntdet for organizing and planning this amazing day. We’d also like to thank all the volunteers who provided canoes, drove kids to the site, and/or were onsite to make this day such a huge success.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say:
For one girl named Hannah, the something that might keep her up at night…worrying if her brother is going to “goo” her.
As one small group leader asked the question- "Tell us a time recently when you wanted a do-over" – Hannah said that goo fell on her head at home. The small group leader kept a serious face since Hannah seemed very serious. The small group leader probed a little further, but she really wasn't sure how to elaborate as to where the "goo" came from. Then Betsy- another girl in the group- randomly chimed in with the question that made everyone chuckle. She asked, "Do you have a brother?" Hannah smiled and said "YES!!" It suddenly all made sense.
Monday, September 30, 2013
We live in a “not enough” world. I don’t mean that there literally is not enough stuff. Have you looked in your closets lately? If you’re anything like me, you sometimes think, “We have too much stuff.” I mean we live in a world where most people think “it” –whatever the “it” is- is not enough.
This phenomenon is everywhere. Facebook wasn’t enough to stay plugged in, so now you need a Twitter account and Instagram too. The iPhone 5 wasn’t enough so you now have the 5c. A large tea at Zaxby’s (formally 28, then 32 oz.) was not enough, and is now 42 ounces!
At this week’s BIG 45 meeting with some 4th and 5th grade boys, the conversation turned to this ‘not enough’ idea. During a discussion on Gideon, one boy pointed out that Gideon’s doubts and fears seemed to him to stem from one thing- he was forgetting everything God had done before, and only focusing on the things he hadn’t seen happen. In his words, “It was like nothing was enough for him.” Interesting perspective, don’t you think?
So here is the question for the week. Are we perpetuating- even if not on purpose- the idea that “it” is not enough? I’m asking myself this week if I’ve made decisions, and will continue making decisions, that say “not enough.” I’m asking God to show me where I’ve lived in a way that says His provision for me was not enough. I’m also going to ask the hard question- when have I forgotten all the things God has done, and focused only on the things I haven’t seen happen? As a family this week, we’re going to talk about this in terms of tangible/material things as well as the Spiritual sense. And, while we do it, I can assure you, we won’t be drinking a 42 ounce tea!
This Week’s Announcements:
Please remember that the doors open at 8:45/10:45 for children, and are locked for security at 9:15/11:15. If you arrive outside of that 30 minute window, several things happen.
1. You may be locked out with no way in
2. You interrupt praise and worship/large group teaching that begins at 9:20/11:20 for our elementary children in 164
3. Your child will have a MUCH harder time adjusting to the room if they come in after activities have started
Please help us as we strive to make Sunday the best part of your child’s week by being on time for check in and drop off.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say:
Along the ‘not enough’ theme, this week’s funny happening is from our 4k/K room. Maybe one cup of goldfish wasn’t enough snack for one little guy as he decided to try eating his nametag. This is a retelling of the incident from his small group leader: “He (to remain anonymous) chewed his name tag and then spit it out, disposing of it in my hand. One long wad of wet, blue-colored paper emerged from his little mouth.” Strangely enough, the leader found this endearing…proof that she is NOT living in the ‘not enough’ world.
This phenomenon is everywhere. Facebook wasn’t enough to stay plugged in, so now you need a Twitter account and Instagram too. The iPhone 5 wasn’t enough so you now have the 5c. A large tea at Zaxby’s (formally 28, then 32 oz.) was not enough, and is now 42 ounces!
At this week’s BIG 45 meeting with some 4th and 5th grade boys, the conversation turned to this ‘not enough’ idea. During a discussion on Gideon, one boy pointed out that Gideon’s doubts and fears seemed to him to stem from one thing- he was forgetting everything God had done before, and only focusing on the things he hadn’t seen happen. In his words, “It was like nothing was enough for him.” Interesting perspective, don’t you think?
So here is the question for the week. Are we perpetuating- even if not on purpose- the idea that “it” is not enough? I’m asking myself this week if I’ve made decisions, and will continue making decisions, that say “not enough.” I’m asking God to show me where I’ve lived in a way that says His provision for me was not enough. I’m also going to ask the hard question- when have I forgotten all the things God has done, and focused only on the things I haven’t seen happen? As a family this week, we’re going to talk about this in terms of tangible/material things as well as the Spiritual sense. And, while we do it, I can assure you, we won’t be drinking a 42 ounce tea!
This Week’s Announcements:
Please remember that the doors open at 8:45/10:45 for children, and are locked for security at 9:15/11:15. If you arrive outside of that 30 minute window, several things happen.
1. You may be locked out with no way in
2. You interrupt praise and worship/large group teaching that begins at 9:20/11:20 for our elementary children in 164
3. Your child will have a MUCH harder time adjusting to the room if they come in after activities have started
Please help us as we strive to make Sunday the best part of your child’s week by being on time for check in and drop off.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say:
Along the ‘not enough’ theme, this week’s funny happening is from our 4k/K room. Maybe one cup of goldfish wasn’t enough snack for one little guy as he decided to try eating his nametag. This is a retelling of the incident from his small group leader: “He (to remain anonymous) chewed his name tag and then spit it out, disposing of it in my hand. One long wad of wet, blue-colored paper emerged from his little mouth.” Strangely enough, the leader found this endearing…proof that she is NOT living in the ‘not enough’ world.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Summer to fall, baseball to football season…change is in the air.
As I watched two of our PathFinders get baptized on Sunday, I couldn’t help think about changes; specifically changes brought on by growth.
Changes….
Our beginning 17 kids to our current 215+
Children who were just babies when we started but are now in BIG 45
Children who were just out of preschool when we started, and are now in middle school and volunteering in PathFinders
Children who were born into the StoneBridge family, and are now in preschool
It all seems to go by so fast, and yet, these changes are really gradual.
Think about it…God spins the earth but we don’t feel it happening. Change is taking place, but it’s so gradual that we don’t realize it until we see the results. One minute your child has just learned to crawl, and the next thing you know they are walking. This is not an overnight thing, but the gradual and unrecognizable changes that take place make it seem so.
I wonder if we miss the gradual changes that God does in the hearts of our kids because we only look for the big result. Standing in front of your church family, proclaiming your belief and commitment to Jesus, and then being baptized…big result. What gradual but very significant changes took place in the hearts of those girls to lead them there?
My hope and prayer this week is that God reveals the gradual changes happening around me. I want to celebrate those just as much as the big ones.
This Week’s Announcements:
PathFinder Camping Day for 1st-5th graders. Don’t forget to sign up via www.signupgenius.com
Registration closes on September 30th.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see curriculum from this past Sunday (9/22)
This link is no longer available
Funny things kids say:
While reading and discussing the “wife of noble character” in Proverbs 31, one girl said, “I don’t get it…no woman would ever buy a field without asking her husband first!”
As I watched two of our PathFinders get baptized on Sunday, I couldn’t help think about changes; specifically changes brought on by growth.
Changes….
Our beginning 17 kids to our current 215+
Children who were just babies when we started but are now in BIG 45
Children who were just out of preschool when we started, and are now in middle school and volunteering in PathFinders
Children who were born into the StoneBridge family, and are now in preschool
It all seems to go by so fast, and yet, these changes are really gradual.
Think about it…God spins the earth but we don’t feel it happening. Change is taking place, but it’s so gradual that we don’t realize it until we see the results. One minute your child has just learned to crawl, and the next thing you know they are walking. This is not an overnight thing, but the gradual and unrecognizable changes that take place make it seem so.
I wonder if we miss the gradual changes that God does in the hearts of our kids because we only look for the big result. Standing in front of your church family, proclaiming your belief and commitment to Jesus, and then being baptized…big result. What gradual but very significant changes took place in the hearts of those girls to lead them there?
My hope and prayer this week is that God reveals the gradual changes happening around me. I want to celebrate those just as much as the big ones.
This Week’s Announcements:
PathFinder Camping Day for 1st-5th graders. Don’t forget to sign up via www.signupgenius.com
Registration closes on September 30th.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see curriculum from this past Sunday (9/22)
This link is no longer available
Funny things kids say:
While reading and discussing the “wife of noble character” in Proverbs 31, one girl said, “I don’t get it…no woman would ever buy a field without asking her husband first!”
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
“Parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the hardest thing in the world to do.” This statement from a popular blog is just about the truest thing I’ve read all week. We’re all guilty of it at some point- judging other parents on their parenting skills-or lack thereof. God’s Word tells us very clearly- “judge not, yet we be judged.” This is true in so many areas of our lives, and parenting is no exception.
At the very least, we’ve all wanted to give another parent the benefit of our experience and opinions. At worst, we’ve had fleeting thoughts of how we could “do better” when it comes to someone else’s children. Our judgments can range from the benign like how to get kids to clean up their toys to more serious moral dilemmas.
The bottom line is this, God chose us to parent the children we have. Whether our children come to us naturally, through adoption, or in a foster care situation, they are ours to parent- for a lifetime or for a season. It’s my opinion that because God has chosen to give me the kids I have, then somehow, someway, I have something they need; I am equipped to be the best mom I can possibly be to the ones in my care. One day, I will have to answer to God on how well I stewarded the lives of His creations in my care. Because of that, answering to anyone else about my parenting skills seems really silly. And…even sillier- and downright presumptuous- is to think that I could parent someone else’s child any better than the one chosen to do it.
This Week’s Announcements:
Our 4th (or is it 5th?) Annual Camping Day at Red Top Mountain is October 5th! This event is open to children in 1st-5th grade. The cost for the day is $20 per child and includes transportation, lunch, fishing, canoe rides, crafts, games, and S'mores by the camp fire! We will leave the church by 9:15am, spend the day at the Pioneer Camp Site, and return to church by 4:30pm. Registration is open now, but will close on Monday, September 30th. Medical release forms and permission slips (available in the PathFinders area) must be turned in NO LATER than Wednesday, October 2nd. To sign up, visit www.signupgenius.com and search under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org.
What God is Teaching Us:
Check out the link below to see last week’s curriculum.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Say:
A small group leader asked his 3rd-5th grade boys what exciting things they had done the past week. After a few minutes of no responses (can you hear the crickets chirping?)- one 3rd grader finally raised his hand. His answer, “I watched paint dry…in my mind.”
Not exciting, but very funny!
Judgment Gone Wrong:
As a parent of a 3 year old and an infant, I was sure of very few things; however I could do this- make sure my children were dressed “properly.” One day while at Target, I witnessed a family- mom and three kids- all entering the store barefooted. In my mind, I thought, “How redneck is that…they are all going shopping with no shoes. That mom could at least dress her children before leaving the house.” Well less than a week later, my baby boy woke from a nap with a bad case of croup. I rushed to get him and his older brother in the car to drive from Marietta to Roswell to the doctor’s office. Once in the parking lot, I looked down to put on my shoes (I drive with no shoes a lot in the summer), and guess what…I had none! I frantically searched under seats and in the trunk for a stray pair of flip flops or anything else with a sole. No luck. So, yep…I judged someone else, not knowing their circumstances or story, and there I was …going into the doctor’s office with two children (dressed properly), but no shoes for myself. I saw the judgmental eyes of many moms that day, asked forgiveness more than once, and have prayed many times since that I wouldn’t judge another parent so harshly.
At the very least, we’ve all wanted to give another parent the benefit of our experience and opinions. At worst, we’ve had fleeting thoughts of how we could “do better” when it comes to someone else’s children. Our judgments can range from the benign like how to get kids to clean up their toys to more serious moral dilemmas.
The bottom line is this, God chose us to parent the children we have. Whether our children come to us naturally, through adoption, or in a foster care situation, they are ours to parent- for a lifetime or for a season. It’s my opinion that because God has chosen to give me the kids I have, then somehow, someway, I have something they need; I am equipped to be the best mom I can possibly be to the ones in my care. One day, I will have to answer to God on how well I stewarded the lives of His creations in my care. Because of that, answering to anyone else about my parenting skills seems really silly. And…even sillier- and downright presumptuous- is to think that I could parent someone else’s child any better than the one chosen to do it.
This Week’s Announcements:
Our 4th (or is it 5th?) Annual Camping Day at Red Top Mountain is October 5th! This event is open to children in 1st-5th grade. The cost for the day is $20 per child and includes transportation, lunch, fishing, canoe rides, crafts, games, and S'mores by the camp fire! We will leave the church by 9:15am, spend the day at the Pioneer Camp Site, and return to church by 4:30pm. Registration is open now, but will close on Monday, September 30th. Medical release forms and permission slips (available in the PathFinders area) must be turned in NO LATER than Wednesday, October 2nd. To sign up, visit www.signupgenius.com and search under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org.
What God is Teaching Us:
Check out the link below to see last week’s curriculum.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Say:
A small group leader asked his 3rd-5th grade boys what exciting things they had done the past week. After a few minutes of no responses (can you hear the crickets chirping?)- one 3rd grader finally raised his hand. His answer, “I watched paint dry…in my mind.”
Not exciting, but very funny!
Judgment Gone Wrong:
As a parent of a 3 year old and an infant, I was sure of very few things; however I could do this- make sure my children were dressed “properly.” One day while at Target, I witnessed a family- mom and three kids- all entering the store barefooted. In my mind, I thought, “How redneck is that…they are all going shopping with no shoes. That mom could at least dress her children before leaving the house.” Well less than a week later, my baby boy woke from a nap with a bad case of croup. I rushed to get him and his older brother in the car to drive from Marietta to Roswell to the doctor’s office. Once in the parking lot, I looked down to put on my shoes (I drive with no shoes a lot in the summer), and guess what…I had none! I frantically searched under seats and in the trunk for a stray pair of flip flops or anything else with a sole. No luck. So, yep…I judged someone else, not knowing their circumstances or story, and there I was …going into the doctor’s office with two children (dressed properly), but no shoes for myself. I saw the judgmental eyes of many moms that day, asked forgiveness more than once, and have prayed many times since that I wouldn’t judge another parent so harshly.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
24 hours…
….in a day.
….stomach virus.
…isn’t enough time.
When we think about time as it relates to God’s Word, I have no doubt many of us think about the “time” verses in Ecclesiastes 3, where it is pointed out that there is a time for everything. When you read that section of Scripture, does it ring true in your life? Is there really a time for everything or do you live in more of a “there isn’t enough time” state?
If God gave us only 24 hours in a day, and only 7 days in a week, then that must be enough. Enough time to work. Enough time to worship. Enough time to play. Enough time to rest. Enough time.
I think we not only do ourselves a disservice, but our kids one as well when we say things like “there isn’t enough time.” I’ve recently wondered if I’ve unknowingly set my kids up for stressful living by living at such a hurried pace myself. They’ve heard me say on more than one (okay, MANY more) occasion that there aren’t enough hours in the day. How absurd those words are, and honestly, they don’t honor God. His timing is perfect and His time is enough.
My favorite verse in that section of Ecclesiastes is Verse 11 which says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” He makes everything beautiful in its time. The least we can do is try to make the time He has given us beautiful.
This Week's Announcements/Reminders:
- In case you missed it last week, PathFinders (all ages) has officially been moved up to our new space! Please check in all ages in 164.
- Speaking of a time for everything…Children’s rooms open 15 minutes before each service time. Doors are locked for security at 15 minutes after the beginning of each service time. Please check in children within that 30 minute window.
- Now that all PathFinder rooms are up the street, nursing moms are welcome to use the “old” nursery room A in the main space. There are two rocking chairs in that room and it will be open for use if you need it during the service.
What God is Teaching Us:
Below you will find a link to view a copy of last week’s curriculum. To decode our titles: “Toddler…” is for children in nursery room C (16-23 months), “TT…” is for children in nursery room D (2-3year olds), “PS…” is for children in 3k, “PF-4k&K…” is for children in our 4k/Kindergarten small groups, “PF-1st&2nd …” is for children in 1st and 2nd grade small groups, and “PF-345…” is for children in 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
Funny things kids say:
When the teacher was getting ready to tell the kids a story, she told them the story would be excited, that it would be amazing, and that it would be true. She told them that the person in the story was incredible…that He could do miracles. She then asked the kids who they thought the story was about. Many of the children yelled out, “Jesus!” Confirming that they were correct, one little voice in the front said, “Really!? Not Him...again? We always hear about Him!”
Yes…we do. There is a time for everything, and there is always time for more of Jesus.
….in a day.
….stomach virus.
…isn’t enough time.
When we think about time as it relates to God’s Word, I have no doubt many of us think about the “time” verses in Ecclesiastes 3, where it is pointed out that there is a time for everything. When you read that section of Scripture, does it ring true in your life? Is there really a time for everything or do you live in more of a “there isn’t enough time” state?
If God gave us only 24 hours in a day, and only 7 days in a week, then that must be enough. Enough time to work. Enough time to worship. Enough time to play. Enough time to rest. Enough time.
I think we not only do ourselves a disservice, but our kids one as well when we say things like “there isn’t enough time.” I’ve recently wondered if I’ve unknowingly set my kids up for stressful living by living at such a hurried pace myself. They’ve heard me say on more than one (okay, MANY more) occasion that there aren’t enough hours in the day. How absurd those words are, and honestly, they don’t honor God. His timing is perfect and His time is enough.
My favorite verse in that section of Ecclesiastes is Verse 11 which says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” He makes everything beautiful in its time. The least we can do is try to make the time He has given us beautiful.
This Week's Announcements/Reminders:
- In case you missed it last week, PathFinders (all ages) has officially been moved up to our new space! Please check in all ages in 164.
- Speaking of a time for everything…Children’s rooms open 15 minutes before each service time. Doors are locked for security at 15 minutes after the beginning of each service time. Please check in children within that 30 minute window.
- Now that all PathFinder rooms are up the street, nursing moms are welcome to use the “old” nursery room A in the main space. There are two rocking chairs in that room and it will be open for use if you need it during the service.
What God is Teaching Us:
Below you will find a link to view a copy of last week’s curriculum. To decode our titles: “Toddler…” is for children in nursery room C (16-23 months), “TT…” is for children in nursery room D (2-3year olds), “PS…” is for children in 3k, “PF-4k&K…” is for children in our 4k/Kindergarten small groups, “PF-1st&2nd …” is for children in 1st and 2nd grade small groups, and “PF-345…” is for children in 3rd-5th grade small groups.
This link is no longer available
Funny things kids say:
When the teacher was getting ready to tell the kids a story, she told them the story would be excited, that it would be amazing, and that it would be true. She told them that the person in the story was incredible…that He could do miracles. She then asked the kids who they thought the story was about. Many of the children yelled out, “Jesus!” Confirming that they were correct, one little voice in the front said, “Really!? Not Him...again? We always hear about Him!”
Yes…we do. There is a time for everything, and there is always time for more of Jesus.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Making the Moments Matter
Ever have one of those days when you seem to get nothing done? We all have them...you do work on the computer, and then the printer doesn't work. You finally load the dishwasher, only to discover you're out of dishwashing detergent. You're helping your child finish his school project, only to find out (at 10pm!) that you forgot to pickup the poster board he needs. There are days that just don't work out.
So...even on those days, how do we make moments matter...how do we make them count? We make ourselves available, that's it. As I told our volunteers at training, kids don't really care that much about our abilities, they care about our availability. I think the same is true for our own children. My son says I'm the best mom in the world. This is true only in his world which is the world that matters. My abilities are not great...I'm an average cook, I'm an okay housekeeper, I don't have the June Cleaver gene. None of that makes one ounce of difference to my kids. They know I'm available to them; I listen, I talk, I pray, I love.
This year's theme in PathFinders - "Make Every Moment Count" - is meant to remind us all...parents and children's ministry leaders- that we have a very finite amount of time to influence our kids. For a child born this month, there are only 920 weeks until they turn 18, for a 5 year old- 659 weeks, for a 10 year old- 398 weeks, and for a sixteen year old (like the one living with me)- 89 weeks. Need a visual to make it real? Every marble represents a week in the life of a child at each of the ages I mentioned.
That last jar is empty, and the question is this...did we make the moments count? We're committed to making every moment count for your kids...for our kids. We believe that all the moments we make count will lead kids to the game changing moment we all pray for... when they accept Jesus as Lord.
This Week's Announcements:
- PathFinders (all ages) has officially been moved up to our new space! Please check in all ages in 164.
- Open House for new space: We will have an open house/orientation to the new space for parents this Sunday at 1:30pm. We will start in the 164 space. Please plan to attend so that you and your children are informed and feel comfortable about our new surroundings.
What God is Teaching Us:
It's all about getting to know each other this week! With all the new space and new leaders starting, we will be doing lots of activities to get familiar with our new surroundings and each other.
What Kids are Saying: "Momma, are there lions in heaven?" (Mom)- "Yes, I think so...and if there are lions in heaven, they will be gentle and sweet." (After thinking for a minute) "Well, mom...I think you should hold me in heaven...up in your arms...just in case." (Mom) "Okay, I'll hold on tight...until my arms fall off." (Child) "Yep, that's a good plan...good deal."
That was just a moment...but it counted.
Ever have one of those days when you seem to get nothing done? We all have them...you do work on the computer, and then the printer doesn't work. You finally load the dishwasher, only to discover you're out of dishwashing detergent. You're helping your child finish his school project, only to find out (at 10pm!) that you forgot to pickup the poster board he needs. There are days that just don't work out.
So...even on those days, how do we make moments matter...how do we make them count? We make ourselves available, that's it. As I told our volunteers at training, kids don't really care that much about our abilities, they care about our availability. I think the same is true for our own children. My son says I'm the best mom in the world. This is true only in his world which is the world that matters. My abilities are not great...I'm an average cook, I'm an okay housekeeper, I don't have the June Cleaver gene. None of that makes one ounce of difference to my kids. They know I'm available to them; I listen, I talk, I pray, I love.
This year's theme in PathFinders - "Make Every Moment Count" - is meant to remind us all...parents and children's ministry leaders- that we have a very finite amount of time to influence our kids. For a child born this month, there are only 920 weeks until they turn 18, for a 5 year old- 659 weeks, for a 10 year old- 398 weeks, and for a sixteen year old (like the one living with me)- 89 weeks. Need a visual to make it real? Every marble represents a week in the life of a child at each of the ages I mentioned.
That last jar is empty, and the question is this...did we make the moments count? We're committed to making every moment count for your kids...for our kids. We believe that all the moments we make count will lead kids to the game changing moment we all pray for... when they accept Jesus as Lord.
This Week's Announcements:
- PathFinders (all ages) has officially been moved up to our new space! Please check in all ages in 164.
- Open House for new space: We will have an open house/orientation to the new space for parents this Sunday at 1:30pm. We will start in the 164 space. Please plan to attend so that you and your children are informed and feel comfortable about our new surroundings.
What God is Teaching Us:
It's all about getting to know each other this week! With all the new space and new leaders starting, we will be doing lots of activities to get familiar with our new surroundings and each other.
What Kids are Saying: "Momma, are there lions in heaven?" (Mom)- "Yes, I think so...and if there are lions in heaven, they will be gentle and sweet." (After thinking for a minute) "Well, mom...I think you should hold me in heaven...up in your arms...just in case." (Mom) "Okay, I'll hold on tight...until my arms fall off." (Child) "Yep, that's a good plan...good deal."
That was just a moment...but it counted.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Welcome Parents and Families to our new blog dedicated to keeping you informed about all things related to Children's Ministry at StoneBridge!
I hope that this tool will be another avenue for us to be in partnership with you in the Spiritual growth of your children. I know full well that your job is a big one. Just when you think you've mastered one phase of life with your kids, another one starts...and that's if you had only one child. Juggling the ever changing phases when you have a brood is another thing altogether. Through this
blog, I hope to encourage you, be encouraged by you (your comments and questions are welcome!), keep you informed on what God is leading us to teach your kids on Sundays, and maybe even make your job a little lighter...even if that happens just because you know you're not alone in the process.
The journey through parenthood is a wild ride-sometimes a roller coaster, other times a bumper car, with the occasional day on an easy merry-go-round...but at least you're not riding it alone.
So...let's get started!
This Week's Announcements:
- Sunday, Sept. 1st: Since it is Labor Day weekend, all children in 1st-5th grade will attend the adult service with parents. Children in Kindergarten and under will go to rooms as usual.
- Sunday, Sept. 8th: This is our new projected date to kick off in our new space. If this date sticks, we will do an open house/orientation to the new space, and we will promote (finally!) all the kiddos who have been sticking it out all summer. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR CONFIRMATION ON THIS OPENING DATE.
What God is teaching us:
- 2's/3's and Preschool/Kindergarten will hear and experience the story of Jonah this week. (9/1)
*In future blogs, you will find a link to open a copy of the previous week's curriculum.
What kids are saying:
"I know I'm God's favorite...but so are you!" (One 6 year old to another while playing with Legos)
Today your parenthood ride may be bumpy, crazy, scary, or just plain fun. I hope that whatever you're experiencing today, that you know one thing for sure...
God chose YOU to parent your children. He thinks you've got what it takes (and more) to take care of His special creations. He is with you in the que-line of every ride you'll take, He is on the ride with you, and when the ride is over...He says, "you did it!"
I am just thrilled that I get to be somewhere on the ride with you! And by the way, occasional screaming is allowed.
Penny
I hope that this tool will be another avenue for us to be in partnership with you in the Spiritual growth of your children. I know full well that your job is a big one. Just when you think you've mastered one phase of life with your kids, another one starts...and that's if you had only one child. Juggling the ever changing phases when you have a brood is another thing altogether. Through this
blog, I hope to encourage you, be encouraged by you (your comments and questions are welcome!), keep you informed on what God is leading us to teach your kids on Sundays, and maybe even make your job a little lighter...even if that happens just because you know you're not alone in the process.
The journey through parenthood is a wild ride-sometimes a roller coaster, other times a bumper car, with the occasional day on an easy merry-go-round...but at least you're not riding it alone.
So...let's get started!
This Week's Announcements:
- Sunday, Sept. 1st: Since it is Labor Day weekend, all children in 1st-5th grade will attend the adult service with parents. Children in Kindergarten and under will go to rooms as usual.
- Sunday, Sept. 8th: This is our new projected date to kick off in our new space. If this date sticks, we will do an open house/orientation to the new space, and we will promote (finally!) all the kiddos who have been sticking it out all summer. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR CONFIRMATION ON THIS OPENING DATE.
What God is teaching us:
- 2's/3's and Preschool/Kindergarten will hear and experience the story of Jonah this week. (9/1)
*In future blogs, you will find a link to open a copy of the previous week's curriculum.
What kids are saying:
"I know I'm God's favorite...but so are you!" (One 6 year old to another while playing with Legos)
Today your parenthood ride may be bumpy, crazy, scary, or just plain fun. I hope that whatever you're experiencing today, that you know one thing for sure...
God chose YOU to parent your children. He thinks you've got what it takes (and more) to take care of His special creations. He is with you in the que-line of every ride you'll take, He is on the ride with you, and when the ride is over...He says, "you did it!"
I am just thrilled that I get to be somewhere on the ride with you! And by the way, occasional screaming is allowed.
Penny
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