Kids and Parents

2010-07-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

"If we can be more effective at engaging parents to partner in our ministries, and improve the quality of relationships in the family, we will increase the possibility of a child having a dynamic and authentic faith."
- Reggie Joiner, Collaborate

Egypt VBS - Week 2

2010-06-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

It was another great week in Egypt! These pictures show how much fun the kids are having! Make sure to look for "God Sightings" this week, and have your kids come back on Sunday with where they saw God this week.

Sunday, June 27th we are having a picnic for everyone to celebrate our time in Egypt! It is from 12:30pm - 3:30pm. There will be food, games, face painting and fun! You don't want to miss out!

Egypt VBS - Week 1

2010-06-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday our VBS began! It was so much fun and the kids had a great time! Every Sunday in June we are heading back into Egypt to learn about Joseph's journey from prison to palace. They kids are split up into family groups and they travel to crafts, games, missions, and worship each week. Check out our slideshow of the fun that we had this past Sunday.

Encourage your kids this week to look at their student newsletter and write down some "God Sightings" - they are going to help us build our pyramid on Sunday! Invite your neighbors and friends to come and join us this Sunday in Egypt!

Parent Time

2010-05-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday was our last Sunday on Patience. The bottom line was: if you don't wait, it could hurt others. Here are some questions that you can discuss with your kids this week:

- Has your impatience ever cost someone else?
- What are 3 things you can do to help yourself not give in to impatience?

This Sunday is our last KidZone until September - it has been a great year with your children!

Our VBS will begin June 6th and be every Sunday in June from 9:30am - 12:00pm. You can pre-register your kids online: www.5milechurch.org.

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-05-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

As many of you know we have been teaching about Patience this month in KidZone. It is funny how whenever I teach on patience the Lord always seems to test me in the process as well :). The story this past Sunday was about the fall of Jericho and the bottom line was: Don't miss out because you think you can't wait. Joshua had his army wait patiently each day as they walked around the wall until it was God's time. Because they waited, the wall fell with the blow of some trumpets. How awesome is that?!

Parents, talk with your kids about this question this week:
What's one of the best things you were glad you waited for?

Have fun talking about the importance of patience and waiting!

Parent Time

2010-05-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! This month is all about Patience - waiting until later for what you want now. This past Sunday the bottom line was don't get tired of doing the right thing.

This week talk with your kids about what patience means to you. What do you think are some of the best reasons to be patient?

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-04-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! I hope that you are all having a great week so far. This past Sunday your kids learned about how a good friend will make time for them.

This weekend take some time to read through the story with your child: John 21:1-14. It is the story of when Jesus goes to the disciples while they are fishing after Jesus has already come back from the dead. He tells the disciples to cast their nets into the boat and they catch all of this fish. When they come to shore the disciples realize that it is Jesus and they cook the fish and have breakfast together. Even though Jesus did not come back for the long, he still took the time to have breakfast with his friends.

Talk about the story with your children and tell them about at time when you made time for a friend or when a friend made time for you. How did it make you feel?

Have fun this weekend, enjoy the time you have with your kids!

Parent Time

2010-04-12T10:23:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon! I hope that you all had a great spring break. I love the spring, I love taking walks with my husband, opening the windows in my house, not wearing a coat, the smell of fresh cut grass and my list could go on and on. Take advantage of this weather with your kids.

This past Sunday we continued learning about Friendship during KidZone. This past week we talked about the story of Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-31) and how Jesus helped Thomas believe in who He was. Our bottom line was: A true friend will help you believe.

This week I challenge you to tell your story of how you came to know Jesus to your children. Who in your life helped you believe in Jesus and make that decision to follow Him.

Have fun sharing your story with your family!

Parent Time

2010-03-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

It is Easter Week. The last week of Jesus' life. This week take some time to read these accounts of Jesus' last week here on earth and talk about it with your child:

Matthew 26:17- 28:61
Mark 14:12 - 15:47
Luke 22:7 - 23:56
John 18:1 - 19:42

This is the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus coming down on earth to die for our sins is the reason why we can be united with Him in heaven! On Easter morning talk about the resurrection of Jesus with your children. What an awesome Father we serve!

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-03-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon parents! This past week your children continued to learn about honesty through the story of Zacchaeus. The bottom line for this week was: Truthfulness builds friendships; dishonesty tears them down.

Take some time this week during your natural rhythm with your child and talk to them about their friendships. It is so important for your kids to have good influences in their lives and also to be a good influence in the lives of others. Help your child pick one friend that is always honest with them and that they can be honest with. Have them write them a card to thank their friend for always being honest and for being a good friend. Then send it in the mail. Have fun being creative!

Let me know how it goes this week!

Parent Time

2010-03-16T12:29:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon Parents! I hope that you are out enjoying the weather today - it is absolutely beautiful outside! Take some time to go on a walk with your kids, or to just sit outside and have a snack together. This is a great opportunity for you to find out how your child is doing and what is going on in their lives.

This week for KidZone your children learned more about honesty. The bottom line for this week was: Lying to hurt someone else really hurts YOU. I have heard some great feedback from our small group leaders about this virtue this month from your kids. It seems like they are really getting it and understanding the importance of being honest.

This week take some time to tell your child about a time when you ever told a lie as a kid that backfired. Tell your child what happened, and how you should have done it differently.

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-03-09T07:31:00.001-08:00

Good morning! This past Sunday we introduced a new virtue for the month of March - Honesty. This month your children will be learning about choosing to be truthful in whatever they say and do. The bottom line from this past Sunday was - when you're not truthful, you hurt the people you should care about the most.

Sometime this week during one of your natural rhythms with your child (morning time, bedtime, meal time or drive time) talk about these questions:

- What does honesty mean to you?
- Tell a time when you were not honest and what the consequences were. Tell a time when you were honest and how you felt afterwards.

Have a great week, let me know how your conversations about honesty go this week!

Parent Time

2010-03-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

Good morning Parents! I hope that you are having a great week so far. I am loving the sunshine this week, it makes it seem like spring is right around the corner :).

This past Sunday was our last week on Honor. The bottom line for the hour was: Honor God OUTLOUD. Your kids made tambourines and danced around like David did in the streets.

This week, take some time to honor God out loud. Pray out out loud together, sing and dance together, or read Scripture together. Take time to do one of these things or all of these things out loud together.

If your child really likes the music we sing during KidZone you can go to amberskyrecords.org and click on the Family Side tab at the top of the page. You can download any of the songs that we sing during our KidZone hour.

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-02-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

Hope that everyone was able to stay safe yesterday during all of the snow :)! This week your children learned more about Honor during KidZone. The bottom line was: Honor those who are over you.

Take some time this week to talk to your child(ren) about the people in their lives who are over them (teachers, parents, coaches, etc). Have your child(ren) pick one of those people and send them a letter this week thanking them for what they do.

This is one way for your child(ren) to see the importance of those who are placed over us, and how they can encourage them for what they do.

Let me know how it goes!

Parent Time

2010-02-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

Each week your children bring home a Fridge Door card and a Godtime booklet. These are tools to help you see what your children are learning and they have activities for you to do throughout the week with your children. This week I loved the questions on the Fridge Door card, that is my challenge for you this week. Sometime during the natural rhythm of your day take the time to talk about these questions with your children:

Parents ask your children:
What could result we make it a habit to honor others and not just ourselves?

Kids ask your parents:
How do you typically show honor for others?

Have fun!

Snow Day!

2010-02-10T07:26:00.001-08:00

Good morning! I am so excited about the snow today :), I am sure that your kids are as well. If you are home with your kids today, take some time this afternoon and shovel a neighbor's driveway that hasn't been done yet. It is a way to show your neighbor that they are cared about and loved. Have a great day!

Parent Time

2010-02-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon! I hope that you will be able to enjoy the snow today and tomorrow! This past Sunday we introduced a new virtue with your children. The new virtue of the month is: Honor - letting someone know you see how valuable they really are.

The story was all about David and Goliath and how David was overlooked but God used him in a huge way. This week Shannon, our large group teacher, challenged the kids to look for someone during the week who is overlooked and share God's love with them. This can be through a conversation, inviting them to eat lunch or play a game with them, writing them a card, etc.

Talk with your kids this week about people who are overlooked and figure out a way to honor them, to show them how valuable they really are.

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-02-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

This past week was our last week on Discipline. Your children learned that if you want to know God better, make Him more important than anything. We talked about different ways to make God important in our lives - through giving, serving, praising, and reading His Word.

I want to challenge you this week to do the activity on Day 2 of your child's Godtime Card. With your child write a descriptive word for God on a sheet of paper and decorate it together. Then hang it on the fridge or somewhere you all will see it for the week.

Have fun being creative!

Parent Time

2010-01-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday your kids learned more about discipline. The bottom line this week was: If you want to know God better, talk about Him with your friends.

Each week your children are given Refrigerator Door cards to take home. This week there are two questions that I really love on them and that is going to be my challenge for you this week with your children.

Ask your kids: What do you know about Jesus that you could tell a friend?

Have your kids ask you: Who was the first person to tell you about Jesus?

Have a great week!

Parent Time

2010-01-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

This past week at KidZone your kids learned how important it is to talk to God. During our large group time we led the kids through an exercise to help them learn how to pray:

P raise - What are some things you can praise God for?
R ecognize - Recognize the wrong things that you have done and
A sk - ask for forgiveness
Y ou and others - pray for your needs and the needs of those around you

Take some time this week with your child(ren) and go through this prayer exercise with them.

Parent Time

2010-01-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

As you know this month your children are learning about Discipline. The story that was taught on Sunday was about Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The kids learned how Jesus used Scripture to fight temptation and the importance of knowing the Word of God and having it memorized.

The faith skill for this week is: Personalize Scripture (memorize and apply)

As a family this week pick out one scripture that applies to your family situation right now. Right it down and work on memorizing it all week long as a family.

Let me know what Scriptures you choose!

Parent Time

2010-01-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It seems crazy that it is 2010. This month we have started a new virtue in KidZone. The virtue for January is Discipline: doing what you need to do now so you can grow stronger.

Each week your children will be learning a new faith skill. This past Sunday they learned how to Navigate the Bible. The main idea is if you want to know God better, read His book. During large group and small group time they learned the importance of how to navigate through the Bible.

This week take some time to work with your kids on looking up these to verses:
1 Timothy 4:8
2 Timothy 3:16

Have a great week!

Christmas Break

2009-12-22T11:17:00.001-08:00

For most of you, your kids are off of school for the next two weeks. Here are some fun ideas of things that you can do with them while you have them home:

1) Have a movie night - pick a movie as a family, make some popcorn and enjoy together!

2) Go sledding (if we ever get snow of course :)...)

3) Board Game Night - choose a board game as a family

4) Walk around your neighborhood at night and look at all of the lit up decor on the houses

5) Pizza Night - Buy the supplies to make your own pizza's, let the kids pick out whatever toppings they want. Make the pizza's together and enjoy. While you are having dinner go around and say one thing that you are thankful for this month.

6) Make cards to encourage neighbors, friends, or family

7) Find a local soup kitchen and help serve a meal as a family

8) Go to the library and have everyone pick out a book they want, then go home and spend some time individually reading your "book of choice". Make some tea or hot chocolate and enjoy the quiet time together.

9) Spend some time together setting goals as a family for the next year - what are some things that you would all like to do together within the next year for your neighbors, community or church?

10) Everyone dress up warm and go outside to make snowmen and snow angels.

Let me know what fun things you do over break with your family! Merry Christmas!

Influence

2009-12-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

Influence. There are people in our lives that influence us in ways we will never forget. People who bring us to Christ, people who develop friendships with us, people who share there hearts with us, the list can go on and on. There are people in our lives that we influence ourselves through teaching, babysitting, friendships, relationships, etc.

There is one woman I want to focus on today that has made a huge influence in my life. Some of you know her and some of you were not able to get to know her. Through the last 6 years I have been able to do ministry with her, I have been able to laugh with her, I have been able help take care of her and her family, I have been able to go through sickness with her. She has this amazing heart for children and for serving. My favorite memories of her is from camp. She came every year with me to our 1st-2nd grade week, and she would have this gentleness with the children that was really touching to see. The kids just loved her.

What I admire the most about her is that she never gave up on God throughout her entire battle with cancer. Whenever I had the chance to spend time with her she always had hope and she always trusted. Deb Brown was an image of a child of God.

I am so thankful that she was a part of my life. She influenced me in ways that I can not explain. Honestly, I am jealous that God gets to have her now, but I know that she is loving it with Him.

Influence. Sometimes people influence us in ways that will make an impact for a lifetime and they don't even realize it. Deb Brown is one of those people. She will never realize the influence she had on so many.

Parent Time

2009-12-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe that it is December already!! This month we are learning about compassion - caring enough to do something about someone else's need. The bottom line for this past week's lesson is: God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?

So many times throughout this holiday season we tend to worry and think about getting the tree up, putting lights outside, getting the best deals on gifts, making the right cookies, how to pay for everything... and the list can go on and on.

This week take some time with your child(ren) to brainstorm people in your neighborhood or people that live close by that may not be able to shovel their driveway this winter, or who may live alone, or a family that may need some extra help. Figure out what you can do for those people and figure a time to serve them. It can be shoveling snow, making cookies for a neighbor, sending a card to someone in need, etc.

Take some time out of your day with your child(ren) to think of the needs of others. Let me know what you do and how it went!

BiteBack Campaign

2009-12-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

I just counted the final numbers of the money that your children brought into KidZone. Throughout the month of November we have been doing a BiteBack Campaign through Compassion International - for every $10 your children brought in it paid for 1 mosquito net for a child in Africa. Our goal was to purchase 25 nets. The numbers are in and your kids brought in enough money to purchase.... 39 NETS! Thank you for partnering with us to help your kids raise money for this cause!

Parent + Church = Greater Impact

2009-11-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Did you know that two combined influences make a bigger impact than just two influences? Did you know that you, as a parent, play a huge role in using your influence to impact our children each week? Each week you get 40 hours with your children - where the church gets about 1-2 hours a week with your children. When we combine those two influences (church + parent) and work together we can truly impact this next generation.

Just think... if you, as a parent, took a little bit of time each day to reinforce what they are taught on Sunday, how much more would your kids understand the concepts of Christianity as daily values for life? That is my prayer for you and for our church- that we can all work together to raise up this next generation to be the spiritual champions we desire for them to be.

Parent Time

2009-11-24T10:49:00.001-08:00

This week ask your kids these 3 questions each day while they are home from school:

1. What was the best part about your day?
2. What was the worst part about your day?
3. Where did you see God today?

Encourage your children as you have this conversation and figure out ways that you are thankful for what God is doing in your life.

Let me know how it goes!

Parent Time

2009-11-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

This week I love the 2 questions that are on your refrigerator door cards. I want to encourage you to talk about these questions with your kids this week:
For your kids: Why do you think it's important to God that we help others succeed?
For parents: Who (besides your kids) do you help succeed?

Have fun talking about these things this week!

BiteBack

2009-11-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

This month during KidZone we having given the kids a challenge. We are raising money for the Biteback Campaign through Compassion International (http://www.biteback.net/). For every $10 we raise we can purchase 1 net for a child in Africa to be safe from malaria. Our goal for the month is to raise enough money for 25 nets. Check out this video and the website to learn more about it. Help your kids earn money this month to bring in for KidZone.

Parent Time

2009-11-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

This week in KidZone we introduced a new virtue for the month of November. The new virtue is Cooperation - working together to do more than you can do alone. They learned about Nehemiah and all the people he pulled together to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Our kids learned that doing the undoable takes more than them. Through God all things are possible, when we allow God to use us we can do the undoable - like Nehemiah.

This week with your children look around your neighborhood and see what needs your neighbors might have - brainstorm together some ideas to work together as a family to help a neighbor. Maybe it is raking their leaves, or baking some cookies to take over, whatever it is work together to share Jesus' love with them.

2009-10-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

As many of you know I am a coffee drinker. I love waking up to a cup of coffee in the morning. Adam and I love going to coffee shops and playing cards or reading when we have an afternoon or evening free. Every Saturday morning I meet with our high school girls at a coffee shop and we share life together. This past Saturday morning while I was spending time with the girls I looked over and saw a precious sight. A couple of tables over there was a dad and his daughter who looked like she was 3 or 4. They were sitting at a small table spending some time together drinking coffee and hot chocolate. The dad looked like he was working while his daughter was coloring a picture. Every once in a while I would notice the dad look up at his daughter, praise her for her beautiful picture, and then go back to what he was doing. Every time the daughter was praised by her father she just beamed with joy. She was completely content to be there with her father. I was so caught up by this sight that I took a picture on my phone of those moments (if you want to see it come ask me and I will show you) - it really touched my heart.

There are so many spiritual lines you can draw from a seeing something like that. But I want take a different perspective on it. As a parent, you have this amazing influence on your child by your actions and words. Take advantage of the time that you have with your child, and the words that you say to your child. You have this amazing opportunity to speak Truth into your child daily. Lean into your child this week - show them how much you love them.

Parent Time

2009-10-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we were teaching our kids about Dorcas. Through this story we wanted them to recognize that they have talents and abilities that can be used to help others. This week I encourage you to talk with your child about what they are good at and what they like to do. Figure out together how they can use that to make a difference in someone's life.

All month we have been teaching our kids that they were made for a purpose and with that purpose they can make a difference. Take time to speak encouragement into your child's life each morning before the day begins.

Family Value #5

2009-10-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Widen the Circle
"Hear, O Israel..." - Deuteronomy 6:4

In this passage (Deut. 6:4-9) Moses starts the entire thing off with addressing all of Israel. Then he goes into raising up this next generation. He was talking to every parent and every leader. It is so important that we allow other adults to work in our kids lives as well. Adults who are saying the same thing that you, as parents, are trying to say to your kids. To widen the circle of influence in your kids lives.

If we are really honest we know that our kids will seek out another adult's validation on their own OR as a parent you can be a part of that process and we can pursue strategic relationships for them. Relationships that we know are healthy for them with adults that can be mentors for them.

When you are widening the circle for your kids, the goal is to have other trusted adults in the lives of your children before they need them so they will be there when they do need them. Moses was passionate about passing these values along to the entire community because he knew that it would take multiple influences to guard the faith of a generation.

Energy

2009-10-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

As a staff we are reading Think Orange by Reggie Joiner. It has created some really great discussions about the family, the church and how we can combine our influences to make a greater impact on the next generation.

Today a question came up about families that we were unable to answer, I am hoping that you can help us out.

As a family, where do you get your energy from?

Parent Time

2009-10-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

This entire month the kids are learning about the virtue: Individuality - discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. The theme is "body building" - helping the kids discover their part of the "body" so that they can make a difference.

This past week we talked about the heart and how important it is to have a healthy heart. Just like it is important to have a physically healthy heart, it is also important to have a spiritually healthy heart. We tied that into the story about Epaphroditus from Philippians 2:25-30. Epaphroditus was a messenger, a brother, a worker, and a soldier. It was about how he knew how to have a spiritually healthy heart through serving with Paul.

During one of your rhythms this week (Bedtime, Drivetime, Morningtime or Mealtime) talk with your kids about what makes people physically healthy. Then talk with your kids about what makes people spiritually healthy.

Let me know some of the ideas that you and your kids came up with.

Family Value #4

2009-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Create A Rhythm
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
~ Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Moses is explaining to his people that these commandments, God's Truth, needs to be everywhere we go. We need to talk about it with our children during the natural rhythms of our day - morning time (when you get up), meal time (when you sit at home), bed time (when you lie down), and drive time (when you walk along the road). Moses recognized the importance of not compartmentalizing the faith - to make sure that the next generation knows that this thing called faith is something that is lived out every day.

What I absolutely love about these rhythms is that they are a part of what we do every day. If you can choose just one of these times that you have with your kids and talk with them about what they learned on Sunday, pray with them, or ask your child where they saw God that day - that would be awesome. Use the Fridge Door cards and God Time cards that the kids bring home for KidZone to help begin some of these conversations.

When you spend intentional and consistent time with your family your relationships will be healthier and your children will have opportunities to talk with you about things that are going on in their lives. Your family already has a daily pattern of how you do things. Find the beat of your family and you will see over time that those moments with your children are opportunities to celebrate God's story.

Parent Time

2009-10-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday the kids learned about Onesimus (Philemon 1:1,8-21). This was one character in the Bible that I did not know that much about. Basically, Paul is writing a letter to Philemon about Onesimus and how Onesimus has changed because he became a believer in Christ. The bottom line for the week is: When you belong to God, you can make a difference. When we turn our lives over to God, He makes a difference in us and in turn we can make a difference in others.

Some time this week within the natural rhythm of your family (meal time, drive time, morning time or bed time) take some time with your child(ren) to write out some characteristics of God. Pick one that stands out to you and write it on a piece of paper. Decorate it together and focus on that characteristic of God all week. Find ways to allow God to use that characteristic in you and your children this week. If you see your child displaying that characteristic point it out them. They will be able to see how God is being displayed through them.

October

2009-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Individuality - Discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

This month your children will be learning about the virtue Individuality. These are the 3 main ideas that we will be going over during our KidZone hour:

1)God is one-of-a-kind Himself. There is no one like Him.
2)He wants us to be who He made us to be, making a difference in our individual ways. As we follow Him, He'll make an even greater difference through us.
3)When we use what we have now instead of waiting around to be stronger, smarter, or more talented, there's no end to the difference God can make through us.

Rainy Days

2009-10-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Have you every tried making anything completely from scratch and was not sure how it would turn out? I am not a "make from scratch" type of person. In fact, in my house my husband is the one who does most of the cooking :). I never really had an interest in cooking, especially something from scratch.

There is something about rainy days that I absolutely love. It is like they give you permission to stay inside and do something fun. They have a way of making a cup of tea and a good book so relaxing. Or finding that puzzle you have in the depths of your closet and deciding to put it together. Yesterday it was raining all day, we had the day off and nothing really huge planned for the afternoon. We decided to experiment by making apple sauce. It may seem like a simple thing to you - but coming from someone who can not even make Jello - it was a big endeavor for me.

We cut up the apples, put them in our crock pot, added some cinnamon and we let it cook for the entire day. When we came home last night we had homemade apple sauce :).

Rainy days... they have this way of making me try something new. What about you? What is something that you and your family like to do on rainy days?

Family Value #3

2009-09-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Make it Personal
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:6

Moses is saying that before we can ask who are children are becoming, we have to examine who are we personally becoming. To allow God's Word to be saturated into our lives. One of the mind shifts that I am starting to make personally, is to believe that one of the greatest things that can happen, is what happens in the heart of a parent. All parents will influence there children - whether for the good or the bad.

I have worked with children now for 6 years and the one thing that I love about them is their realness. They are so honest, and if I am having a bad day, or if I screw up in some way - they point it out. Humbling as it is, I love that about kids. I have found that when I express my heart to them, they respond to that and respect it.

For parents, I encourage you not to hide who you really are with your kids. Be honest with them so that they can see where God is working in your life. Allow them to see your relationship with God so that they know what it looks like. Be that positive influence on your kids and make it personal, allow your kids to see your faith in action by putting your personal and spiritual growth first. Allow your kids to see you pursuing a better relationship with God. Show your kids what it looks like to prioritize Jesus above anything else.

When you, as a parent, make it personal - it becomes personal for your kids. Some of my favorite stories that I hear from the kids in my ministry is when they talk about how their parents faced adversity and grew because of it. There is a story of redemption and restoration that God is writing for you - allow your kids to be a part of it.

When your kids see how God is restoring your life, they will see what God can do in them. That is a beautiful thing.

Wisdom

2009-09-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday our kids learned about Wisdom during our KidZone hour. The bottom line for the morning was: Wisdom is knowing AND doing. It was all about the idea that life is hard and each day we face situations where we have choices to make. We may know the wise choice but having wisdom is acting on the wise choice.

When your kids get home from school today take some time to talk with them about their day. Ask them if they had to make a wise choice today about something and how it turned out.

2009-09-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am trying out this new blog and I am pretty excited about it. If you know me at all you know that I am extremely passionate about Orange. The idea of churches (yellow) partnering with families (red) to create Orange.

This blog is an opportunity for parents to see what we are doing within our Children's Ministry at Memorial. But also for people to see deeper into my heart. I am looking forward to trying this out and seeing how it works.

Hope you enjoy...

2009-09-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

“No one has more potential to influence a child than a parent.”
~Reggie Joiner

Orange

2009-09-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

The idea of parents partnering with the church to raise their children into spiritual champions is a beautiful thing. The idea that parents take on the full responsibility of the spiritual health of their child and the church is there to guide them in that quest. Did you know that in a year the church has about 40 hours with each child, and parents have 2000 hours (that doesn’t include school, sleep, etc)? If we combined those influences, imagine how much of a greater influence we can have on the next generation. That is Orange. Combining red & yellow. Red being the heart of the family and yellow being the light of the church. This is my heart in ministry.

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