Parent + Church = Greater Impact

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.