Getting Over the Ugly (5th Monday Madness*)

A little over a week ago I was sideswiped with a bad case of Pink Eye.  The day I started treating it was the day before I began writing this blog post.  When I first checked to see what topic I had scheduled for this week I couldn't help but laugh as I read the title: Getting Over the Ugly. 

Having Pink Eye is the ultimate case of the uglies.  Everytime I would go by a mirror in my house and catch a glimpse of myself I shuddered at the sight of a bloodshot eye with one eyelid half shut accessorized by puffy dark circles.  Call me vain, but no pair of sunglasses were large enough or dark enough to cover the make-up forbidden, halloween ready, mess of a face.  However life went on, antibiotics took their course and after a major disinfecting spree I still had to function as 'normal' in order to keep up with life.  Even if my eyes still looked bad, I realized I was going to have to 'get over the ugly' and move on.

As children's ministry volunteers we tend to serve out of where we've come from.  For some of us we grew up in a Christian home, attended Sunday School our whole lives, got married, had kids and are still serving the Lord to this day.  Others have come from a painful past, even a childhood void of God's presence.  Some of us are still living with disappointments and even dreams unfulfilled.  The truth is we all have a little "ugly".  Whether it be from the past or present circumstances, if kept unchecked it can haunt us into thinking we don't measure up as leaders.

I'm reminded of Paul's letter in Scripture when he says: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Cor. 1:26-28).  We don't have to have it all figured it in order to serve God in ministry.  We don't have to come from a squeaky clean childhood in order to be able to set an example for kids under our influence.  When we've had a bad week or a rough month in our own faith walk it doesn't change the truths you are sharing in Kidz Church or preschool ministry on a Sunday morning.  God still has a good plan for every child's life.  Jesus' love still covers over a multitude of sins.  There is strength when we are weakest, and there is a purpose for your involvement in the lives of Lakemount kidz.  Embrace it.  Get over it.  We are not perfect people, but God has a perfect plan and you are part of it.

Is there a way you can use your life journey (past and present, good and ugly) as a launching point for why and how you do ministry? 

It's time to take off the shades...and shine.

(Note:  See last week's post for 5th Monday Madness contest guidelines)

5th Monday Madness

At our fall volunteer training meeting we mentioned that along with the launch of our new volunteer blog we would be starting a contest for YOU the children's ministry volunteer.  On the 5th Monday of the month, which happens about 4 times a year, we will be having a contest RIGHT HERE on the blog.  Here's how it works.  On the 5th Monday of the month there will a new blog entry.  Everyone who comments on that new post will get their names entered to win a prize.  To be eligible to win a prize you must:

1.  Be a current volunteer in the family/children's ministries department at LWC
2.  Comment more than just an "Amen, sista" about the topic
       ~You have more to offer and something worth saying, so let's hear it!
3.  Not have won the previous Monday Madness Contest. 
      ~Good news...this is our first one!

So stay tuned next Monday, October 31st for your chance to win a great prize.  The winner will be announced the following day so you have until 11:49pm Monday night.

Bless you and hope you have a wonderful week!
PM

Can I Get a Witness?

Okay, it's braggin' time.  I'm boasting about God so it's okay. I love it when we can boast about the BIG things happening in our littlest people's lives at church. Just over a month ago we launched the new First Look curriculum in our preschool department. The great part about this new format is that it repeats the same theme for an entire month, and rotates between three themes (using different bible stories) throughout the entire year. The key verse for last month was "I can do all things through Christ" from Philippians 4:13, and the bottom line was "God can help me do anything"

Take a look at some of the things our preschoolers parents are bragging about.

1.) One JK on the way home from Church kept repeating I can do anything with Christ. This little tyke has never articulated what he is learning on Sunday mornings...until now.

2) A child in the 2/3 room was out with his mom and kept saying to animals and people "There's power in the name!" He wasn't exactly being subtle about it. His mom asked him "what name?"  He shouted even louder: "the name of the Lord!" I guess he was paying attention when listening to the story of David who called on God to defeat Goliath.

3) Another JK was trying desperately to hook up his Wii system Sunday afternoon following church. He asked his mom for help, but she wasn't able to do it. He immediately started praying asking God to help him get it started. Suddenly he remembered how to connect the system and shouted "It worked Mommy! I prayed and said "I can do anything with God, and I CAN!"

Just when you think that no one is listening, or you catch yourself thinking "they're only preschoolers"...think again.

If you have another testimony, let's hear it!