Worthy of Imitation

'Hands together, eyes closed.' All the children who had been listening to the pastor's message dutifully bowed their heads, brought their hands together, closed their eyes, and in unison began to echo the pastor's prayer. All except one. Last Sunday morning was only the second time that five year old Lucita had been in our church. She did not know what 'hands together, eyes closed' meant. She did not know how to pray or even what it was. So Lucita looked at the child on her right. She looked at the child on her left. She looked at the pastor. Then she put her hands together, bowed her head and followed along in unison. Lucita is learning to pray.
Who is looking at you this week? All around us, there are children who are looking, listening, and learning. Let's be ready to be worthy of imitation.
Be imitators of God. Ephesians 5:1
Listen to this 2 year old sing The Lord's Prayer

On My Team

A young mom told me a wonderful story about her three year old son who was singing the hymn 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty'. His version though was slightly different to the one that most of us know. As that little boy played with his toys, he opened his mouth and sang at the top of his lungs, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God on my team'. I think I prefer his version!
Imagine how these words are going to impact his young life! When the day comes for this little guy to join a baseball, soccer, or football team, he will be able to march out onto that field, knowing that God is on his side. Imagine the confidence that this knowledge will bring to his game!
Friends- you and I can march out onto that field of children's ministry with confidence, knowing without a doubt, that God is on our side. And if God is on my team, I know I will be a winner.
Chris Tomlin: Our God

The Amazing Journey of the Plastic Ducks....

On 10th January 1992, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 29,000 plastic ducks, turtles, and frogs destined for children's bath tubs in the USA were spilled overboard from their cargo ship and began an amazing journey. So far, they have travelled over 17,000 miles; found their very own North-West Passage to the Atlantic; have been sighted bobbing in the waters of Alaska, Japan, Maine, the Arctic and Hawaii and are now on course to invade the British beaches of Southern England later this summer, where they will undoubtedly bring joy to the children who discover them. How incredible is that!!
As we journey in our ministry, we never quite know where that adventure may take us. We never quite know how our course may be altered. But one thing we do know, like those little plastic ducks, we are destined to bring joy into the lives of children. How incredible is that?
Read The Amazing Story

Planted with Pride

The daffodils & tulips that we
planted with pride

It seems ridiculous that despite having been married for almost 30 years, and having tended 6 different gardens, my husband and I have never planted bulbs before. So it was with great anticipation that we watched our front border, waiting patiently for the first signs of the daffodils that we planted just a few months ago. One week ago our patience was rewarded! Now, every time I look out of my front window, or pull on to my driveway, I smile with pride at my dancing daffodils. They bring me joy.
You and I are planted by God, with pride, and with a purpose. As we grow, He watches us with patience and with great anticipation. And as we bloom, He rejoices. Just like my daffodils, we are bringing Him joy.
Chris Tomlin: Take My Life & Let It Be

Easter Dresses

We decorated the cross with flowers
& put it outside after worship.

Yesterday morning I joined with my church family to celebrate Easter Sunday. Part of our celebrations involved decorating a cross with beautiful, sweet smelling flowers....daffodils, irises, tulips and roses  adorned the cross, and transformed it from a symbol of suffering to a symbol of hope. Sitting wide eyed and curious were two little girls that I had brought to worship that day. If you were part of our congregation yesterday morning, it would have been easy for you to spot Romana and Lucita...they were the only little girls not wearing pretty Easter dresses. Romana and Lucita do not own pretty dresses; they have never been on an Easter egg hunt; they have never been to church before; they have never seen a beautiful cross decorated with flowers; they have never been met by so much love...and they have never heard of a man called Jesus. Friends...this is the incredible opportunity that is before us to witness! When we bring a new child to our church, we are bringing them to Christ. Who will you bring this week?
Hillsong Kids: Let the Children Come

Sitting on Hope

Click on this photo to see the goose
hiding at Reeds Lake.

Yesterday, as my husband and I strolled along a boardwalk on the banks of Reeds Lake, we were met by a loud honking. A large goose was complaining about our company and warning us in no uncertain terms to stay away. Sure enough, as we stopped to investigate, we saw what he was protecting. Hiding in the trees, a female goose was perched on top of a beautiful round nest and as she moved, we saw that she was sitting on a large, cream colored egg. Its name was Hope.

For the next few weeks, that scene will be re-enacted down by the lake. With every new passer-by, that male goose will honk loudly while the female will dutifully sit on that egg named Hope. One day, her patience will be rewarded, she will have a beautiful little baby gosling and all her efforts will have been worth it.

Have you ever thought that as you serve in ministry, you are Jesus' Hope? You are His precious nest egg... guarded, protected and nurtured with unending patience, so that you can fulfill your purpose. If you can do that, then what He did for us at the cross will all have been worth it.
A Child's View of Easter

April Showers....

When I was a litle girl, I never understood the purpose of rain. To me, rain was always a nuisance and accomplished nothing more than dishevelled hair and soggy clothing. Of course growing up in England, rainy days were as perennial as the grass. Never did I dare to venture outdoors without my trusty umbrella.
And yet as I listen to the April rain bouncing off the skylights in our home, I am reminded that rain absolutely has a purpose. Rain will replenish and renew our brown grass. Rain will water and feed the bulbs that are hiding under the dark soil. Rain will wash away the dirt from our driveway. Most importantly, rain will be the source of life itself for those living in a dry land.
God's Word has a purpose too. As we share that Word with children, in some mysterious way, and usually in ways that we will never get to see, it will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. Just like the rain, God's Word will replenish and renew, it will water and cleanse. Most importantly, it may be the source of life itself to a child living in a dry land.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and makng it bud and flourish....so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 9-11
God's Healing Rain: Michael W. Smith