When I was pregnant I was given lots of excuses. I can eat what I want, when I want, in whatever quantity I want… It’s okay if you have a bad attitude. It’s the hormones! And I can’t tell you how many countless times I whined about being uncomfortable, even though (for me at least) it really wasn’t that bad most of the time. Granted, carrying a baby isn’t an easy ordeal on one’s body, but does that truly give me an excuses to not show Christ’s attributes of self control, patience, kindness etc.? Early in my pregnancy I was hit with this reality in a staff meeting. I was getting so irritated I yelled (I rarely yell) about pizza. PIZZA FOLKS! Yes I was hungry. Yes I had crazy hormones. But yell at others because of those factors? I had to ask myself, “If Jesus were a pregnant woman, would He yell at others?” Okay, that is a bizarre question, but one worth asking. Because my attitude was essentially saying that it was okay to not live yielded to Christ, that I had an excuse to not be filled be with the Holy Spirit. Crazy logic, right?! No where in scripture does God give pregnant women an excuse: “Be filled with the Holy Spirit… but lady with haywire hormones can have a pass.” “Show self-control… but pregnant ladies go crazy.” Not saying it’s easy to do, but we truly don’t have an excuse. Yes it will be more difficult, but that’s a promise in scripture. “Consider it a great joy, my [hormonal sisters], whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 Honestly, we are met with a difficult trial with being pregnant. It’s not easy trying to sleep with knees, feet, arms or anything other body parts belonging to another human wiggling in your lungs. It’s not fun having swollen ankles, feet and toes. It’s no picnic feeling extremely hungry or like you want to get everything out of your stomach. But these are light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17). It’s uncomfortable, but God cares more about our character than our comfort. Don’t misunderstand me, however. It’s okay to be emotional and hormonal. (One day I had to leave campus because I literally could NOT stop crying. Everything made me cry, including how pink my jacket was – not exaggerating!) But these God-given emotions should not be taken advantage of for our own sinful, selfish gain. Dear Jesus, It’s hard to have you Lord of all sometimes!! It’s hard to keep you on the throne and see people as you do – even to see myself as you do – when my body is going through an abnormal event. But you are God, and You can handle my craziness. Help remind me in times when it’s hard to trust you with my feelings that I need you more. That You are the source of life and godliness – thus I CAN look like you if I TRUST YOU! SO much easier said than done at time, huh? Oh Jesus, I suck at following you, but with You ALL THINGS truly are possible. Praise God! In Your Powerful Name I pray…
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A few years ago my kids and I spent a month praying for the THUMB people. You know about this? THUMB is an acronym for Tribal, Hindu, Unreached (or unreligious), Muslim and Buddhist. I know, it sounds super-spiritual and really holy, doesn't it? Well, if you've ever prayed with early elementary school kids, you'll know it's not too spiritual feeling. It's mainly like herding cats into a semi-quiet place and making them say more than 2 sentences that do not include, "Thank you for our food." Each day we prayed we'd use an ink pad to place a thumb print on a map I printed off the internet. My kids absolutely loved this. We were learning about different cultures, we were paying together and (most importantly, to them) we got to use an ink pad everyday! I, on the other hand, was thinking, "Well, it's a good thing for them to do, but I hope they don't get bored." Unlike delivering cookies to a nursing home or passing out waters to homeless people, there's not a big response to praying for someone halfway around the world. My kids wouldn't see an immediate payout of their prayers. Or so I thought. The day we prayed for the "U" people--Unreached people around the world, I posted a picture on Instagram of us marking our little map with thumbprints. Three days after that my brother-in-law, a missionary to Mexico posted on Facebook about an incredible day he had had three days ago while fishing with his friend. Well, it started out as a fishing trip and turned into a fishing-for-men trip! While they were walking around in a rural area of Mexico, they came across a woman who was selling soft drinks and snacks from a small hut on the side of the road. She quietly and tentatively asked them, "Are you believers?" They asked, "In what?" She replied, "Jesus." This woman had heard about Jesus from another man who had heard a pastor preach one time six years ago. She had been praying God would send her someone to tell her and her community about Jesus! That night, my brother-in-law had a meeting with 40 or so members of the village and all were saved, some healed and others felt God's presence for the first time in their life. When I saw this update, I felt punched in the gut. My kids had just been praying for people who had never heard about Jesus and their uncle was preaching to a village of unreached people that very day?! And I thought this might be a boring activity? I think about this story often. I'm a mama in the middle of the Bible belt of America. My kids barely know non-Christian people. We go to a Christian school, spend time volunteering at church and surround ourselves with the things of God as best we can. So, sometimes keeping the mission of going-into-all-the-world seems hard and totally out of reach. I feel small and like I'm not doing much for Him. Then, I remember how God works. He works through people. Even little kids who pray two sentence prayers. He used our prayers to open a door, or prompt a woman, or give my brother-in-law boldness or something so a group of people in a faraway village in Mexico would hear about Jesus. I can't explain how or why but it's a truth I cling to: God uses me where I am. Paul tells the Philippians,"...it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (2:13) My feet may not be going to the far corners of the earth, but God can use my prayers. When we pray, we are partnering with God for His purposes for the world. So today, grab a map, or a picture of your favorite missionary, or pay attention to the first country you hear about on the news. Gather your kids to your side and pray for those people. You may not see a result pop up on Facebook, but you can be certain God will use your prayers to bring people to Him! About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs Dear Moms, What stage and circumstance are you in with your child? Are you holding your newborn, packing lunches for your elementary student, navigating the teenage years, or have you launched them into the big world of adulthood? Are they trusting in God? Or are they far away from Him? I’ve been a mom for 22 years and I can tell you that one day I'm patting myself on the back as the best mom ever, and the next day I’m curling up sobbing, quite certain that I'm failing. And then there are those days that I experience both of those emotions multiple times in a day! When it comes to my children, I’m soft as a lamb snuggling with them and then I can be roaring lion losing my temper with them. I’ve taken Psalm 139, tailored it to my kids, and used it to bathe my children in prayer. As I pray it for them, I find the posture of my heart shifts to trusting God with my most precious treasure- my child! I recognize that God is in control, in all circumstances, and comforts this mom's heart! O LORD, you have searched my child and know my child! Hang in there moms! God’s got this! About LoriLori is a Global Mission Catalyst at IMB, mobilizing churches and leading women to participate in God’s global mission. She, her husband, and their 3 kids lived in Africa as missionaries before returning to plant Grace Point Church in Bentonville, AR where Mike is Sr. Pastor. She’s passionate about discipling people to see how their everyday life collides with God’s mission of making His glory known to all nations. She blogs at lorimcdaniel.org If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs You and me and our kids exist to know God and make Him known, to make much of Jesus. There's a thousand things pulling our kids hearts in a thousand different directions most of which are emphasizing this life is all about them. It is essential we are intentional to help our kids see that Jesus and making Him known needs to be the center of life. The call to make disciples means locally with their friends and family but also expands to all nations. So the more we can put God's global vision in front of our kids hearts, eyes and mind the better. Here are nine resources to help do that. 1. KidsOfCourage.com Kids of Courage resources help parents and educators teach children ages 5 to 13 about persecuted Christians around the world, and provide opportunities for the children to serve and pray for them. 2. KidsOnMission.com Kids On Mission (KOM) is a plug-in resource designed to add a global missions element into your current curriculum or ministry programming. Every KOM missions package provides what you need to get children involved in missions right where you are. An easy to use leader’s guide directs you through each missions experience incorporating videos, fun activity sheets and hands-on serving opportunities. 3. WorldChangerKids.org The mission of World Changer Kids is to raise up the next generation of Christian missionaries by mobilizing and equipping children to focus their life around fulfilling the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all peoples on the face of the earth wherever God may call them to go. 4. 4to14window.com The 4/14 Window refers to the demographic group from age four to fourteen years old, which is the most open and receptive to every form of spiritual and developmental input. The 4/14 Window Movement is a global missions movement. They help churches and families build strategy, community and resources for empowering the next generation of Christian leaders. Their goal is to support churches in every nation to Reach, Rescue, Root, and Release children into relationship with Jesus Christ and His ministry around the world. 5. Wycliffe.org Free downloadable resources to use with kids. 6. TheWildBrothers.com The video adventures of four young boys of missionaries. 7. QuestforCompassion.org The purpose of Quest for Compassion is to educate your children about global poverty and help them develop a heart for the poor around the world. When children understand poverty, they grow into compassionate adults. 8. Torch Lighters Faith Heros DVD's. Cartoon missionary tales made for kids. 9. Hero's Series. Word puzzles, young reader books, coloring pages and unit studies of famous missionaries. Two more bonus sites: 10. CaravanFriends.org Their mission is to lead kids on a journey of discovery, prayer and obedience — to make Jesus known among the nations! 11. Perspectives Journey As a student or alumni, you can now easily include your family in the Perspectives experience with The Journey. The Journey is made up of 15 biblical studies full of inspiring activities, thought provoking discussion points, and actionable ideas that correspond with your Perspectives lessons. Designed by parents, The Journey lessons are one-pagers full of ownable concepts that have been crafted to help you shape your family into World Christians. Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has five kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 13 years serving with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Easter Sunday has come and gone but with Spring breezes and beautiful flowers all around, I cannot stop thinking about the huge excitement of the Resurrection. It's everywhere--in the new grass, the new blooms, the new life of Spring! After Jesus came back to life, He appeared to His disciples only a few times. It wasn't like it was before, where they lived together day after day. And whenever they saw Jesus, it was like they didn't recognize Him. He was so changed, so resurrected--so alive! My favorite encounter the disciples have with the resurrected Jesus was recorded in the book of John, chapter 21. The disciples are clearly unsure what to do with their lives and are back in their fishing boats. They've had an unsuccessful night of fishing and I'm guessing, are pretty dejected. Then, just as He's done before, Jesus stands on the shore and tells them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. And when they do, the catch is so big they can't hold it all! That familiar miracle is when Simon Peter recognizes the Lord. He jumps in the water and swims back to Jesus. Can you imagine? Peter was probably hoping for things to go back the way they were. To be the disciple of the wandering preacher, the miracle worker. His delight in seeing Jesus takes away all pretense and fear. He just wants to be with Jesus again. After the disciples eat with Jesus (again, giving them bread and fish--so familiar!), Jesus pulls Peter aside. Peter, who denied Jesus on the day of his death. Peter who called down curses to prove he didn't know the Son of God. Jesus gives Peter three simple commands: Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep. It was as if he was saying, "Peter, it all changes here. You were my right-hand man. You followed me. You listened while I spoke, while I healed, while I argued. Now, it's your turn. You will speak. You will heal. You will argue and convince and lead. But you'll do it in a simple way: by feeding, taking care and loving my people. You'll lead all the people--from the little lambs to the oldest ones to me. This is your new normal. This is the next step." We talk a lot about the Great Commission: going into all the world to make disciples, teach and baptize. And it's easy to view it as something big and aggressive. But I love this personal little commission to Peter--and I think to us, as well. In order to make disciples and teach and baptize, we need to love and feed and take care of those around us. It's what Jesus did. It's why He came. He loves us. He wants us to show that love to others. Family Idea: Why not have a fish-and-bread picnic with your family? Grill fish or make tuna sandwiches but sit outside together and read John 21. Talk about how feeding and taking care of Jesus' sheep is helping make disciples. Think of 3 ways you can love, feed and take care of people in your life this week. About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commissioned His disciples to share the Good News. He promised them that they would receive “power” to witness. Shortly after, the Holy Spirit descended upon them on the Day of Pentecost, and we see the disciples beginning to walk in the truth of this promise. Today, are you walking in the reality of this promise? Do you read that passage and think, “Wow, look at what God did there in the book of Acts,” and then close your Bible and doubt that will ever happen in your life? Are you scared to share? Maybe you are like me. You didn’t grow up in a home where the Bible sat on the coffee table. Maybe when you started walking with Christ the people closest to you didn’t respond with joy, but instead wondered if you had become a bit of a Jesus freak. The fact is that I am a Jesus freak. Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and because of Him, I have forgiveness and healing and peace. If I am going to be freak about anything, it’s going to be about the Savior who gave it all and then conquered sin and death because He loved me so much. I also have the power of the resurrected Christ abiding inside me. I don’t need to fear what my family will say if I share the Gospel with them. I need to surrender my weakness to my God and ask Him to help me to speak the Truth in love. If your family is your mission field, you must
Ten days before she passed away, I had a divine appointment with her in her hospital room. We prayed on our way to the hospital for a chance to speak with her again about where she stood with God, and when we arrived at the hospital, I had a sweet fifteen minute window alone with her before the rest of the family arrived. My aunt assured me that she was ready to meet the Lord, and that she was praying every day on her own. She seemed incredibly at peace about her destiny, and I believe that right now she is in heaven rejoicing in the presence of her Savior. My prayer for you as you read this article is that you will not allow fear to keep you from fulfilling your calling to be a witness. May you be strong in the power of the Lord and rely on His mighty strength for the work. About LyliLyli Dunbar loves teaching. For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room. She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on her personal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs The last two weeks I've spent a little extra time with my kids after our bedtime story. No, it's not more snuggles or prayers or conversations. We've been memorizing Scripture. It's not as spiritual as it sounds. I have some Scriptures on sticky notes, we stick it to their headboards and start reading. My son and I memorized Proverbs 16:24, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." I thought this would be a good one for a brother with a big sister to know. There are lots of times a pleasant word isn't the first response! He made up his own motions to help us remember it--including blowing a kiss for "pleasant" and smacking his arms as hard as he can for "bones". He loves loves loves this extra 3 minutes with Mommy before bed and demands we say our verse even if it is waaaay past bedtime. Every night for about a week, we said this verse with the motions and now he can quote it like he's known it for years. His ability to recall and quote so quickly and easily surprised me. And that surprise stopped me in my tracks. I know kids are little sponges when it comes to memorization. I know that 90% of the verses I know were memorized when I was a kid! It made me realize all the time I was wasting. Not in a you're-not-doing-enough-do-better-mama, but in a it-only-takes-three-minutes-and-it-can-change-your-kids-life! Teaching our kids to memorize Scripture is not just a thing we should do as Christian parents. God's Word is alive, it's ready to do what God has planned for it to do. When we help our kids memorize these life-giving, double-edged sword words, we are equipping them to do big things for God. Imagine a generation of kids who have been living and breathing God's Word for their whole lives. When they meet people far from God, struggling in life or broken in heart and spirit, their first response will be to point them to God's Word. Children filled with God's Word will have a bright light illuminating their path--so bright they will be a beacon for those living in darkness! Since this little idea has been so successful, I've been scrambling to come up with some more verses that his little heart needs. I'm sharing a few of my favorites with you--great lists of Scriptures for kids including lots of free printables so you can download them and stick them on your kids' headboard! 100 Scriptures I Want My Children To Learn Scripture Stickies (pre-printed post-its!) ABC Scripture Cards (free printable!) Seasonal Scriptures for Kids (free printable!) I AM Sayings Printable (lots of awesome ideas here!) Scripture on God's Mission 70 Verses to Pray From Scripture from Missional Women Topical Memory Verses from Missional Women About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Stepping Into A New Role of Ministry During Marriage and Motherhood {Are we ok with this?}2/26/2015 I see you dear friend of mine that was created to serve, to lead and called out with God’s mission for Him. You are a visionary, and you want to give God everything you have. And then some. You feel like you have been asked to sit the bench for this season, or stand on the sidelines? You are watching your husband, your friends and other women do the work you may feel called to. And you wonder why you have been asked to be still? Many couple’s begin serving in ministry capacity together. Then life and the beautiful plan of marriage, ministry with children and busy distractions slowly creep into our lives. I have lived this common struggle of adapting to a new form of ministry, where my husband continues on the path we were on, while I am raising babies and caring for our home. And it all felt wrong. For a while. I wondered why I couldn’t do both. There really is not a good reason I could see. And so, I pressed into the work with my children tagging along and underfoot, and began to reap what I was sowing. Plain ole’ determination doesn’t reap fruit, unless the seeds have been sown at home first. This season of plowing and not planting left me like dried up and thirsting for rest and wondering how all of the other women can serve while in the thick of their motherhood season. They were doing it. But, I could see the same weary journey begin to take a toll on them. I am not saying that we cannot or should not serve while we are raising a family. What I am saying is that when we begin to think that we are not replaceable, and that God cannot accomplish the end goal without us, then we have lost our focus and our true reason for stepping out to serve Him. I cringe when I hear the word balance. This could mean something totally different for everyone. Bottom line – If you cannot love God greatly, love your husband and your children well… really well, while pursuing service outside of the home, then it might be time to give yourself permission to watch and pray and be the cheerleader for those that God can use well right now. I wish that someone had come along side me and put their arm around my shoulders to say, You are doing a great thing. Stand in the gates for your husband at this time, and remember that you are still serving him, but on a different front. Just a small hug and whispered words to me while I nursed and rocked and walked our babies back and forth would have comforted me and reminded me that serving the Lord and staying on mission can be anywhere and look different at any given time. I rejoined my husband in serving down the road, and I learned amazing things about WHY I was serving and WHO I really was on the inside. Being home when he was out sowing seeds and making decisions could have been drudgery for me if my heart was not focused on the ministry within my home. Or within the hearts of the children God gave to me. Motherhood doesn’t mean giving up your God-Sized dreams. Marriage doesn’t always call for an even-steven call to action. I consider it a calling to support my friends, my local church and other ministries in prayer and encouragement. Standing in the gates for our husbands while they continue the work for the Lord, while we raise up the next generation for the King is an even greater honor. It is not about stepping away. It is about stepping INTO a new role for a season and doing it well. God wants every little part of us. He doesn’t need us to figure out where and when. It just requires us to follow. About SeptemberSeptember lives a life of perpetual motion, loving the man that has protected her heart for 25 years, and raising 10 children to be more like their personal Savior. September has a heart for the hurting, and loves ministering to the generations. While homeschooling and keeping her home, she has written an e-book to the heart of women, titled Hula Hoop Girl. Her journey through loss has taught her to be sensitive to the_ pain in other’s lives. September is the founder and visionary of the Raising Generations Today Conference for mom’s. A non-profit ministry to reach the hearts of the generations and to encourage mom’s in their every day walk. She believes in power of the spirit as we walk hand in hand through some of life’s hardest moments and celebrating life together in grace. September also writes for The Allume Community, Mothers of Daughters, Mom Heart – I Take Joy, and For The Family. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, One September Day, Raising Generations Today,Instagram If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs When February and Valentine's Day approaches, I always wonder how to celebrate. Do my kids need another plastic toy or stash of chocolates to remind them I love them? Honestly, I think my kids are pretty set on the idea that their parents love them. In fact, I'm fairly confident they know for sure that God loves them. What I wonder is if kids can really grasp how much God loves everyone else. Does God really know about the kids on the other side of the world? Did he make them? Are they the same as me? Do those kids know what I know? Is God involved with them? What if we really thought about God loving OTHERS on this day o'hearts? Making our Valentine's Day about God's love for others turns the chocolate-flowers-gifts-valentines-gimmes down a bit, but also plants a seed in our kids' hearts that connects giving and love and God. This year, my kids and I will be doing some activities about a few Scriptures that tell of God's love for all of us. Maybe these will help you and your kids focus on His love for the world, too! "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 Make a world necklace and wear it all day! "I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can separate us. Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can separate us. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done." Romans 8:37-39 (NIRV) Play "Red Rover" with your family. Was it hard to keep your hands together when someone tried to run through and separate them? What if an angel or a demon tried to run through your hands?! Or someone with super powers? or a giant monster? or a king? Would they be able to separate your hands? Read the verse and talk about how we can't be separated from God's love---He is always holding tight to our hand and not letting go! It doesn't matter what we look like, where we're from or if anyone tries to break us away--God's love is strong for all of us! "Here is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. Here is what love is. It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10 (NIRV) Play mail carrier with some simple valentines (just a piece of paper with a heart on it). Talk about how fun it is to get mail and see who it's from. Read the verse and talk about how all love comes from God. He sent us his love, not in an envelope but in Jesus! (Here's some fun pretend Post Office ideas!) "Lord, you are forgiving and good. You are full of love for all who call out to you." Psalm 86:5 (NIRV) Play a louder version of Hide-and-Seek by letting one child hide while everyone else is "It". The hiding child is allowed to call out one word ("hello!" or "love!" or even their name) over and over until everyone finds the child. After everyone has had a chance to hide, ask if it was easy to find the hider. Read the verse and talk about how God hears us AND loves everyone who calls out to Him! “I give you a new command. Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you. If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NIRV) Make a special Valentine card or treat and deliver it to a friend, a neighbor or even a stranger! Read the verse and then talk about ways you can show God's love to people all year round. You can download a printable version of these fun activities here! Print it off and stick it on your coffee table or refrigerator and try to get through a few of these activities this month! About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs I grew up as a Pastor's kid. Well, my mom was a Children's Pastor. She was over all elementary aged ministry and somehow found a way to also chaperone Youth Group missions trips and let me have all my friends over to play cards and watch movies. I loved growing up in ministry. Walking into the church felt like walking into home. The best friends I had as a 6th grader are my best friends today. I'm serving God today because I grew up surrounded by people who loved God and served Him. So, it was only natural that I'd want go into "full-time vocational ministry", too. I went to Bible College and spent my days thinking about ministry and theology and how I was doing God's will! Even before I graduated from college, my husband and I were "children's evangelists" and would travel from city to city, state to state doing church services and special events at kids' camps and local churches. Soon, we helped start a church and began weekly ministry to elementary and preschool kids. We did this for almost seven years. And then, we left full-time ministry for full-time, normal people life. We worked regular jobs and had babies and didn't think about theology or ministry curriculum or how a service should flow. We went to a local church and volunteered in the nursery and let other people tell us what to do. It was completely different. And surprisingly, we liked it. We liked not having the weight of a whole ministry on our shoulders. We liked supporting hard working full-time staff members. We liked having non-Christian friends and discovering ministry in the strangest of places. But when our kids started getting older, we felt like they were missing something. How would they learn to love the local church? Ministry? How would they have a heart for the whole world when all they saw was their own everyday lives? You probably see the answer, but I didn't right away. I thought loving the world meant you had to be in full-time ministry. I thought doing big things for God meant doing them professionally as a job with a title! It took me a few years to understand what God-loving folks around the world have been doing for centuries outside of the four walls of their churches--they just DO. They let kids do on their level, with their own hands, out of their own heart. They talk about the world, they show kids needs and they let kids just DO for God. My kids are only 8 and 6 but as I've introduced my kids to ministries and people and the world, their little hearts and hands are excited to give. They've surprised me with their depth of understanding, emotion and desire to show others God's love. Here's a few of their favorite ways to DO for God: 1. Write letters to our kids sponsored through Compassion. 2. Pack shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts for needy kids. 3. Collect nickels for kids who need mosquito nets to sleep safely. 4. Pray for THUMB people around the world 5. Have rock-a-thons to free slaves. As my kids' hearts have opened to others, mine has too. Their child-like (or rather child's) faith sees God's hand working everywhere they go. They see ministry happening at gymnastics and at the chiropractor and even online. They see God's will as a normal part of their life. May I have those same eyes! To see God's heart for the world everywhere--not based on my vocation or my calling, but simply by being a part of the body of Christ! About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
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