Tent Revival

 It was a busy weekend as our church held revival services with another local church.   We held the services on a local farm.  There is something unique that not only honors moves of God from the past but also ushers in what He is doing today like a good ole tent revival. 

I was honored to speak on a panel.  My topic was women in ministry.  Tackling a topic seen as controversial, even in today’s world, was an honor.  I pray I handled it with grace and wisdom.

It was an incredible weekend of worship, prayer, and the Holy Spirit ministering to and flooding our lives and hearts.  My family loved helping out, being a part.  We also loved allowing God to shape us during this time in our world.  

My youngest getting baptized by her father was the highlight of the weekend for me.  It was such a beautiful thing to see! 

Teen Mission

Last week my daughter participated in Teen Mission.  Teen Mission’s goal is to take local youth and serve the community right where we are, spreading the love of Christ.  

Though it looked a bit different this year from normal, this is the one activity this summer that wasn’t cancelled.  The kids were able to complete service projects for the community; such as painting houses, landscaping, and building wheelchair ramps.  

Both my son-in-law and oldest daughter also participate in Teen Mission.  They are youth leaders and their church participates in the event.  There are several local churches that come together.  What began several years ago with a couple churches and a couple dozen students now consists of well over a hundred students. 

My husband has always helped with music.  This year he was there nearly every night helping with what was needed.  

Every year Teen Mission holds a Community Day.  This year Community Day consisted of helping pass out food from a mobile food pantry, Pass out school supplies to parents, as well as offer a free lunch to the entire community.  

At the end of each night the work groups, which have been split up into various projects, meet back together for a service.  After a week of work, prayer, and time in worship and God’s Word, the kids always come home feeling closer to God and proud of serving. 

Fall Fun

Laura and Negan went with their older sister, Tasha, and her husband to visit a corn maze and hayride at their church.

They had a great time.  Megan loves being outside in any capacity and loved being with her sisters.

Laura palled around and enjoyed the relaxing fun.

Auston, my son-in-law, and Tasha live an hour away.  We love when they can spend time with any of us.  They are such a cute, newly married couple. 

I love that my daughters are also friends. This was only three of the five.  When all are together, my heart is thrilled and musical chaos reigns!

Small Adventures

I long to travel, to go on adventures, to visit other places and see sights and make memories.  But... My budget just doesn't allow me to fulfill those longing at this time.

However, I still want to make memories with my children, even if we don't get too far.  This weekend was a Harvest Festival in our town.  I personally think it's a bit early to celebrate a harvest, but it was still fun.

My husband and his band played worship for the outdoor church service that was held.  I love worship outside!  

Meggy and I walked around the little booths set up selling things.  There was one booth we fell in love with!  It held antique toys and lanterns and cameras and so much more.  Meggy loved the antique toy phone made in the 1930's.  

When I saw the antique cameras I knew my sister would love them.  She's a photographer and adores antique cameras.  My daughter knew my sis wasn't going to make it to the festival, so she purchased one of the cameras for her as a gift. 

One of the entertainers at the festival was a man with border collies trained to do tricks with frisbees. Megan loved seeing these beautiful dogs do stunts and tricks. 

We didn't stay long after the rain began to fall.  It was worth it just to go do something different from our normal Sunday routine.  One day I'll get to have some bigger adventures.  Until then, I'll look for the small adventures and cherish each memory made with my children. 

Vacation Bible School Fun

While three of my older girls have been in Alaska this week, my youngest was able to participate in a local VBS.  She loves VBS and always has a good time.

I love all the local churches that work so hard to put on VBS.  these are wonderful memories for these children.  So many hear about Jesus at VBS.  The children that already know Jesus, they fall more in love with Him with every story and game and act of love by caring adults.  

If you get the opportunity, take your children to VBS this year.

While In Alaska

My girls are in the middle of their missions trip to Alaska.  I have received random photos from them.

Kim and Jasmine, working on the coffee shelter.

They are excited to be building a coffee shelter since coffee runs through the veins of this family.  

Laura, working hard.

They have had mild weather so far, but today I heard they had a winter weather advisory... In June!  They are also dealing with 22 hours of daylight.  

Jasmine, having some private time.

They will be home Sunday.  I'm missing them and will be happy to have them home.

Laura

Commissioned To Go

In a few days three of my daughters will be going on a short-term missions trip to Alaska.  This morning they were commissioned by the pastor of my daughter's church (who is helping sponsor the trip) for the journey ahead.

This will be the first missions trip, other than local projects, that Jasmine and Laura have taken.  It will be Laura's first plane ride!  Both girls are excited and nervous at the same time. 

I will be praying the entire time for God to do amazing things on this trip.  I will also be praying for their safety and health.  

It is a bit tough to let my girls go so far away without me, but I know that they will be with their big sis.  I also know that God will be with them every step of the way.

Simplifying The Burdensome Schedule

I have a tendency to make life more complicated than it needs to be.  I have been spending a lot of time with God lately, working on my thought life.  I've even made "renewing the mind" a part of our Bible time in our homeschool.  It has been entertaining and awe-inspiring to see my girls learn about meditating on Scripture and casting down wrong thoughts.

I have noticed that our school time is taking a LONG time.  Looking at my schedules for the past few weeks, I see I have simply added too much stuff. The girls are taking piano lessons and music theory.  Some of the "extra" stuff needs to go.  The extra literature I have them reading, the supplemental Grammar with the Charlotte Mason influence, it's all too much. 

I have very specific reasons for homeschooling.  Giving my children a strong foundation in Christ is the most important.  They are getting a solid academic education also.  Why do I feel the need to add extra?  

It's insecure of me to feel that way.  In my time with God, He was pretty blunt that often my adding to an already full educational program is not trusting Him. It's fear that my children will not be "educated" enough and fail in someway later. 

But in this fear, I am sacrificing so much!  My daughters get stressed trying to "do it all."  I feel frustrated because by the time they do finish it all, they want nothing more than to veg.  They go to the park or flop in front of mind-numbing television.  They don't want to play games as a family.  They don't want to seek out their own interests.  They don't want to practice their piano.  

I've killed the joy of homeschooling for them.  And, the worst part, they rarely complain.  They are "used" to heavy workloads. A part of me knows that heavy workloads will be the norm in college, and they will be prepared.  But... If they burn out before college, I won't have helped them. 

I figured out that Jasmine would have enough credits to graduate without taking any electives next year.  All she needs is the required courses!  But... She will probably continue with music and piano and, as an edge for College, another year of a foreign language.  She has also completed her government requirement, which is normally done in 12th grade. 

Laura received some high school credits in eight grade because she did half of U.S. History, half of Old Testament Survey, and all of Spanish 1 with her sister.  

I'm not bragging.  I'm honestly thinking that they need to cut back a bit. 

So... I'm cutting some of my "Extras."  It's a full schedule with just their basic classes and current electives.  

I'm doing the same for my second grader.  When three days in a row go by with no time for reading aloud, it's time to simplify.  There are days she is unfocused and it takes her longer.  But, I've been doing two sciences with her all school year.  I've piled it on in Reading, Math, and History too.  The result?  No time for what I consider vitally important... Read aloud time snuggled together.  

Simplify, simplify, cut, cut, cut.  

Our Power Thought a couple weeks ago was, "I will not live in fear."  I asked God to reveal areas where I am living in fear.  This was a big one.  

Time to reclaim my homeschool from unrealistic standards and fears of failing my children in their education.  

Go Tell It On The Mountain

My Meggy sang her first solo today. It was not planned.  The girl that was to sing was sick.  The Pastor's wife knew Megan had been practicing and asked her to sing the first verse of Go Tell It On The Mountain. 

She did a great job for her first solo. 

Teen Mission Week

It's been a busy week.  My two teenagers have been gone, participating in Teen Mission.  Teen Mission is a local mission's trip.  Area churches band together with their youth and volunteers to help local residents with service projects.  They try to help elderly, handicapped, and other local groups with things such as painting, building decks or wheelchair ramps, landscaping, etc.  Every evening the churches band together to have a service.  The kids shower at the local high school and sleep at a different church.

My husband with Jasmine and Laura after the pool party

My girls love the week.  They make some awesome friends and are changed by serving others, by being the hands and feet of Christ daily for one week.  The evening services hold what they call "Yay God" confessions where the teens and leaders talk about what God did during the day.... Not what they did.   The evening services are also open to the public.  On Wednesday evening we had about a dozen Chinese exchange students from the local college arrive for service.  How exciting! 

Kim (center) practicing for worship

It's not all work and no play, however.  There was a swim night at the local pool. The teams head to the beach the final day.  And, for the comfort of parents, modest swimwear is a must.  Usually that means shorts and tshirt a over swimsuits. 

Laura, on the front page of the local newspaper, for a Teen Mission article

My husband was asked to play bass in a couple of the worship sets with Kim, my oldest daughter.  Kim and her husband, Caleb, are youth pastors at one of the churches that participates.  Our family got to see more intimately the heart of this mission by meeting many of the leaders.  We weren't disappointed.  These leaders have such a love for Christ, for these young people, and for the community.  It touched me greatly to know that the churches represented had many members praying for the teens involved in Teen Mission.  This crossed denominational barriers and left only room for Christ.  

Pictures from the week will follow in a separate post.  They are usually released after the work week is finished. 

Why Kids?

I am a mom of five daughters.  I homeschool my youngest three.  I teach children at church.  I am around a lot of children.

I get tired.  In fact, many times, teaching yet another lesson to children is the LAST thing I want to do.  I've gone through a whole lot of burn out several times over the years.  In fact, I've wanted to QUIT repeatedly.  I can't quit being a mom, but I've been tempted to "put the kids on the bus" and stop homeschooling.  I've been tempted to stop doing children's ministry at church.  

Who wouldn't?  During the school year, I often wonder if I'm really doing any good.  While I'm teaching academics, am I really reaching my children for Christ in our home?  Is that Bible time effective? And, if I feel like a failure with my own children, do I believe I am reaching the children that aren't mine? 

I'll be honest and admit that I don't know.  I don't feel that I have a natural affinity as a children's teacher.  I generally think the successful teachers are big children themselves.  "They" know all the hand motions to those time-honored Sunday School songs that I barely learned.  I wasn't raised in church, so my knowledge is limited. "They" have all these great ideas for object lessons that bring the Bible to life in the mind and heart of a child.   "They" naturally jump into the kid activities, and are perfect for puppet shows, magic tricks, or just to do the worm to make the children fall in love with Jesus.  "They" are great at pulling together a program for Christmas or Easter to show the adults. 

I'm not great at any of those things.  Occasionally I come up with a great object lesson on my own, but mostly I scour the internet and curriculum books for ideas.  I've never worked a puppet in my life.  I stink at magic.  If I do the worm, I'll probably hurt myself.  The thought of trying to put together a play or program for a holiday makes me a wreck.  

So, in my list of qualifications as a children's teacher, at least in church, I have few.  I think that inner child never existed in me.  I have no clue if, over the years, I've had the impact for Christ that I hope.  But I have been teaching for years.  Why?

My husband, teaching a lesson

First, I teach because I've read the statistics.  Have you?

"When it comes to church engagement, those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or as teens were much more likely than those without such experiences to attend church and to have an active faith as adults. For instance, among those who frequently attended such programs as a child, 50% said they attended a worship service in the last week, which is slightly higher than the national average and well ahead of those who rarely or never attended children’s programs. Among those who frequently attended religious programs as teenagers, 58% said they had attended a worship service in the last week. In comparison, less frequent participation as a teenager correlated with less frequent adult participation."  - barna.org

According to the Barna Research Group (BRG), the 5/13 window is the age group most prone to accept and act upon the salvation message. The research indicates that unless a person accepts Christ as Savior before the age of 14, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim.

That is why I teach children.  

You see, It isn't always easy or natural.  I love to teach.  I'm not a showman or a director, but I'm a teacher.  I love to see the children's eyes light up as I teach them about Jesus.  I may have to work hard at certain parts.  I avoid other parts like the plague, but so what?

The second reason I teach children is one that most think is a bad reason.  I teach because... No one else will. 

I've been told repeatedly how horrible it is to do ministry cause no one else will.  Well... Shame on those that refuse to step up. I know God has called others and they weren't obedient.  To those that have volunteered to teach a Sunday a month, THANK YOU!  It is appreciated more than I can say. Many of you are the natural teacher I wish I could be. 

Many times God calls those who are able, but not necessarily naturally gifted.  He does this to show His strength.  He also does this because He is so saddened by no one stepping up to teach His little ones.  It is wrong for the church to have a need and no one step up to fill it.  It isn't about a "calling".  It's about filling a need!  No one else will step up, and the cost of that might very well be the souls of your children.  That wasn't ok with me. 

There should NEVER be a lack of teachers for children. But finding teachers to teach a class, even occasionally, for children is a huge struggle!  Priorities are messed up in our churches! 

I know this might offend some, but it's important.  We, as a church, aren't grieved for the lost.  We aren't grieved for the lost at our jobs, in our neighborhoods, or in our nation. We don't look at the children in our church as lost, but I venture to say that the children are a huge mission field. If the best window to accept Christ is between the ages of five and thirteen, how many will be lost?  By the time that young, hip youth pastor meets a child, the odds of winning that child to Christ are drastically reduced.  Already the child's heart is hardening and is being filled by the world. 

The best place for a child to meet Christ and form a relationship with Him is in the child's own home.  But... If a parent won't volunteer to help a children's class or teach Sunday School, do you think the home is centered around Christ.  

This isn't about circumstances such as working parents that are scheduled and can't miss work (though my husband teaches a couple times a month after working the midnight shift the night before).  This isn't about the parent that is ill (though I've taught while fighting the urge to barf when I had morning sickness). This is about the one that would rather spend years feeding at the trough of the adult sermons, getting spiritually fat, but not feeding others.  This is about the malnourished child that is spiritually empty, and feels 

he or she isn't important enough for anyone to disciple. 

You know who you are if God has tugged on you to teach children.  Don't think you won't have a place or will step on toes.  You won't.  

In the words of Matthew West: "It's not enough to do nothing.  It's time for us to DO SOMETHING."

Our children need adults to step up to the plate and swing at the ball.  But, unlike baseball, if you are horrible and strike out, the game isn't lost.  You may learn that the best way for you to serve children is to pay to send a child to camp or bake cookies for their snack every few weeks.  But... What if you hit the ball!  (GASP) You might enjoy the children.  If you get a home run, you might win a child to The Lord and change, not just their life here on Earth, but their eternity.  That child, in turn, might reach countless others. 

We don't have teachers for our children at church because it isn't important to us.  We aren't eternally minded.  We don't think about fifteen years into the future when that ten year old will be 25, and he'll have to decide if he wants to take his two year old to Sunday School.  Or 20 years in the future, when your grandchild never goes to church because the ball games were what was important to you, the grandparent. You'll wonder how sports became the family legacy instead of loving and serving The Lord. 

We have a limited time to impact young people for Christ.  I teach when no one else will because I don't want to answer to The Lord for the children that were lost cause no one took the time to try.  I may not be a "natural", but I made myself available. For me, to ignore a need that I can try to meet is sin.   

A Missions Trip To Nicaragua

Tasha leaves this afternoon.  My little girl, now all grown up, is heading to Nicaragua on her first missions trip.  She will be gone for twelve days.

I find myself praying for her often. "Lord, keep her safe."  "Lord, keep her healthy." "Lord, bless her on this trip with more of You."  

She will be traveling with a church group, including her boyfriend.  This will be his seventh trip to Nicaragua.  He loves missions and has a heart for the people of Nicaragua. He is excited to share his love for missionary work and the Nicaraguan people with Tasha.  

I'll be waiting anxiously for their return, excited to hear all about the trip and all that God did there.  

Mother/Daughter Tea 2014

We held a beautiful Mother/Daughter Tea at church yesterday.

The fellowship hall was beautifully decorated. 

I was blessed to have all but one daughter with me.  My mom and one of my sisters also attended.  

It was a very sweet night. Megan LOVED it!  Tea parties are her favorite!  

It was a beautiful evening with many of my favorite people in my life.

Acquire the Fire Weekend

There was over thirty in our group with adults and children.  Having never been to Acquire the Fire before, my family was excited to be included!  We knew our teens would have a good time.  My husband and I never expected that we would be impacted as much as we were.

The weekend was awesome.  It held energetic worship, great speakers, and amazing bands.  Ron Luce gave a sermon about inequity that just blew me out of the water.  Of course, Audio Adrenaline was amazing!

I attended a parents' session with my husband, and was stunned.  The speaker, Doug Cherry, was simply amazing.  His heart was laid bare as he talked about his daughter and a time in their lives that was so difficult.  He helped our family greatly.

Overall, it is rare that we get to take our teens to an event such as this.  And yet, we had a great time.  My teens each got something special from their time with the Lord.  That alone made the trip with the expense.

Parenting for Christ, Keeping Children's Faith Strong

Will your child stop following Christ?

My daughter linked to this article this morning on Facebook.  I read it and thought it was quite interesting.  It confirmed many of the lessons I had been listening to over the weekend.

My husband, three daughters, and son-in-law, joined a group of adults and teens this passed weekend at the Indianapolis Acquire the Fire.  There we got to listen to some amazing speakers, including Ron Luce, and hear some awesome music.  I was excited to hear the band Audio Adrenaline live.

There were many awesome moments for me.  Amazing time in worship, hearing Ron Luce give such a powerful sermon about iniquity that my heart was deeply convicted; all prepared my heart for some incredible teaching.

I went to a parenting session that was simply amazing.  The speaker, a pastor named Doug Cherry, father of eleven, had an amazing testimony about his daughter's redemption after being targeted by a 46 year old man in an inappropriate relationship. 

This touched my husband and I deeply as we spent a couple of years fighting a somewhat similar situation in our family.  After years of not speaking about the situation, I felt a total release from the Lord to soak and blog about some of what we went through in order to help other parents in the midst of their own nightmare.  I'll blog more on that later.

My husband and I, besides being the parents of five daughters, also teach children at church.  We have helped out often in our youth group.  And the article I linked to above is very true.  It isn't impossible, for God loves defeating statistics, but it is often difficult to reach a young life for Christ in the long-term if the parents aren't Christians or are only cultural Christians. (Cultural Christians are people that go to church, but don't live the life of a Christian in the rest of their lives, such as at home and work.)

Sadly, I've seen many parents upset or angry with youth pastors and children teachers because their child eventually walks away from Christ.  Parents actually blame those working for the church instead of looking at their own lives. 

I will state that sometimes parents live the life of a sold-out Christian, and the child still rebels.  God, the perfect parent, still watched in heartbreak as Adam and Eve disobeyed. The Prodigal Son rebelled, and the Father loved and waited and watched.  Rebellion sometimes happens anyway in this fallen world.

But the ones that stay... Those are the ones from whom I want to learn.  What did those parents do that was different, that may have touched their child's heart for the Lord?  What did they avoid?

There are families that leave a legacy of faith for future generations.  While culture tends to look at seniors as old-fashioned and out of touch, there are many senior saints, grandmas and grandpas that love the Lord and have served Him with their lives, that have an incredible treasure trove of Godly wisdom to offer younger generations.

My grandmother lived her faith. Even when I wasn't a Christian, I knew she was.  I respected her faith.  I knew she believed and lived it.  Was she perfect? No... But she was a beautiful, Godly, flawed, but wonderful woman.  She was my image of what a Christian woman should be.  Despite her flaws, she overlooked flaws in us and loved us deeply. 

I see the pain in the eyes of parents and grandparents at church, deeply committed to the Lord, grieving that prodigal.  We have a lot more prodigals out there, statistically, that have rejected the faith of their parents and grandparents.  I search for why.  The article linked to above touches on just a few of the reasons. 

Parents, please pray.  Let God show you where you need to be sold-out.

Does your child feel the love of Christ in you?  Do they feel the deep surrendering of your life in every facet to the Lord?  Do they see you worship, spend time in prayer, study and apply the Word of God?  In the tough times that overwhelm, do they see you run to your King and Savior? 

Do you turn off that tv show or movie that violates Scripture?  Do you think the secret sites you look at on the internet when you think you are alone aren't noticed by your child who was behind the couch?  Do you gossip on the phone and think your child doesn't hear?

Joyce Meyer has a saying that, "You can sit in a garage all day. You'll never become a car."  The reference is to those that believe they are Christians just because they attend church.  Children spot fake.  Teens see through compromised faith. Hypocrisy is blatantly obvious to the ones that see you daily. 

I know this because it has been me.  I've been the one to hurt my own children through my actions.  I daily lay down a severe anger issue.  It is easy to gossip...and anger and gossip mixed is usually exuded by the doer as "venting".  It's not venting, it's destroying your child.  They see and either emulate or are turned away.

I am blessed that, despite many trials, God has given me chance after chance to repent and apologize to my children for my failures.  God has opened my eyes, a little at a time, by convicting me of behaviors that need to change.  I pray that He allows me to keep my children's hearts, or to regain them in the areas I've lost them.

Acquire the Fire Display

Harvest Fest

On Wednesday our church held a Harvest Fest.  It was a fun night, open to the public as a simple thank you.  I would call it an outreach, but our goal was just to hold a community event for free.  

We had bounce houses, horse rides, a hay ride, games, face painting, and even free food. 

The weather wasn't very cooperative.  Our horses and hay ride was rained out after an hour, but the children had a blast anyway.