This past weekend I spent a relaxing two days camping with my church family in Reeds City, Michigan. On Saturday morning, we were organized into work crews and assigned different tasks to help clean up the camp. I was part of the crew that chose to work on clearing the River Hersey, so that it would be ready for those who would go paddling on it later in the afternoon. Our crew took several kayaks and canoes, and paddled downstream, picking up trash, and clearing debris along the way. As we came around a bend we saw a huge tree that had fallen across the width of the river. This was too large of an obstacle to move without a chainsaw, but several of the team managed to clear the branches from one end, so that the kayakers after us would be able to navigate around it. By the end of the morning, our canoe was full of trash, but the river was clean, and ready for those who would follow us.
As we journey along the river of life, Jesus has already gone ahead of us-
to clear the way, to pick up our trash, and to help us navigate around those obstacles that fall across our path. What a wonderful lesson to teach our children. Life is never obstacle free. But He prepares the way. We just need to be prepared to follow.
I will go ahead of you. Matthew 26:32
Yesterday I attended a farewell service for
Rev. Laurie Haller, who has served as our District Superintendent for the last six years. Laurie's message to us yesterday was much like her ministry -one of encouragement, challenge, and inspiration. She preached from Habakkuk 2, where God instructs the prophet to 'write the vision' that God would show him. One of the first comments Laurie made was: 'you cannot be what you cannot see.' What a challenging thought!
Do you have a vision for your children's ministry? Have you prayed that God would show you what His plans are for its future? Have you written it down, so that it is plain to see? Do your co-workers know the vision, so that you are each working toward that common goal? Laurie shared four important points about vision: write it; wait for it; work toward it, and stay on course. Friends...work on your vision, because if we can see it, we can be it!
Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance.Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.
Habakkuk 2: 2-3
Read Laurie's message on her blog.
It was 4.30 pm. In our little classroom Kevin was sleepy, and rightly so. This little guy had been up early that morning. He had already completed a full day of school; had dutifully listened to his teacher; participated in activities, and worked hard to complete all his daily tasks. He was ready to go home and take a nap. But instead, he had to sit still again, listen again, focus again, and pay attention to the teacher again. It was all too much. He closed his eyes, and in the midst of 20 other loud and lively children, he fell asleep. And then the cry went up. "Miss Glenys, Miss Glenys, Kevin's asleep again!"
I gently nudged his shoulder, and Kevin jumped. Was he in trouble? Would he lose his sticker? His tired eyes looked up at me. "Stand up Kevin." I said. He got to his feet, came over to me, and for the rest of the lesson Kevin stood by my side, leaning against my shoulder. As long as he was standing, he could not sleep.
Friends, when ministry becomes all too much for us; when we are tired; when we feel like we have given all we can give, it's then that we need to stand. But we never stand alone. We can rest our head on our Teacher. We can lean on Him. We will not be in trouble. We will not lose our hope. We just need to stand and lean on Him. Because as long as we are standing, we cannot sleep.
Dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
1 Corinthians 15:58 The Message
When I was about ten years old, I owned a small wooden treasure box. The trouble was, I had no treasure to put in it. So one day I decided to fix that. I made up my mind that instead of eating any candy or chocolate I had, I would put it in the box and save it.
It took me several months to fill my treasure box. Sometimes I worried about what would happen if the candy rotted away. Sometimes I worried in case my brother found it and tried to steal it. But one of my greatest joys was to occasionally allow myself to peek inside that box, just to get a glimpse of the treasure I was storing away.
Finally, the day came when I could stand it no longer. Self restraint was thrown to the wind. I lifted my treasure box down from its hiding place, opened the lid and devoured all. Candy had never tasted so good!
One day, I will open another treasure box.
But this one will not contain candy.
This box will contain all the spiritual treasure that I have been storing whilst here on Earth. I hope that my treasure box will be overflowing with all the love, and joy, and hope, and encouragement that I have tried to instill into the lives of the children in my world.
You and I are engaged in storing up eternal treasure; treasure that can never rot or spoil; treasure that no one can ever steal; treasure that will never fade away. If you were able to peek inside that box, to see just a glimpse of what you are storing in heaven, wouldn't that bring you joy?
Be encouraged today...the work you are doing for our children is stored in heaven. And your box is probably overflowing.
Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Matthew 6:19 The Message
