Dream Team Retreat

Just got back from an awesome weekend retreat with the "Dream Team". The D.T. is a group of people from our church who I have invited to dream and plan with each year for our Family Ministries Department. They are the masterminds behind our family fun events, and the detailers of our parenting seminars, and sometimes even conferences. I love this group of women because they are honest, upfront, ambitious, discerning, and love Jesus!

Our retreat took place at a cottage in the Haliburton area, where we enjoyed the beauty of God's nature, and the ability to step away and just plan all of 2010. It was a great reminder of how wonderful it is to 'do ministry' alongside of others. Forget this 'Lone Ranger' mentality, that so many of us get trapped into. It's wonderful to see how much can get accomplished, but more importantly how much we can pour into each other, as we just experience life together.

Keep your eye on the blog for some soon to come video testimonies from the team, about what God showed them through this retreat.

Trapped in Chapters....in the Kids Section Again!

Okay, so this has to be a quick one.
I just spent what was suppose to be 10 minutes in Chapters, and it turned into at least 40! I started leafing through a few children's books in the kids section , and then I had to open another. And another. Then another. I LOVE CHILDREN'S BOOKS!
What is it about a story that you can read in six minutes, that's beautifully illustrated, and often rhymes? I can't get enough of them. If there was any store I would love to be trapped in, it would have to be Chapters, and it better be in the kids section. That's all I'm saying.

Now that I'm back at my computer, I couldn't help but think about why we are drawn to short stories. It's not that surprising that Jesus spent most of His public speaking time, telling short stories, a.k.a Parables. I think if Jesus were here today (you know what I'm saying), and He was asked to publish His stories...He would probably choose to write some children's stories. A few great paragraphs that paint a dynamic picture and then leave you with a thought that's life changing. After all, He also said we are to be like little children...so kids books would be great!

He would probably have the best pictures too.

That's all:)

Fall Vision Casting Afterthoughts

So it was the morning after the big fall kick off training for our children's ministries. A total of 15 people out of about eighty had shown up despite promoting the date prior to summer starting. Being the pragmatic and dramatic that I am, I went to a few hasty yet untrue conclusions, including: 'maybe people aren't on board' and 'it's geographics.. people just won't come out to mid-week meeting when they live 20 minutes from the church'. None of that pity-partying or reasoning really matters now. I'm reminded in my heart that Jesus only shared His vision with twelve people, and look where it went-everywhere!

My heart is so full of rich thoughts of all God wants to share about why and how we do children's ministry. I am by no means an expert. In no way do I have it all figured out. That's what makes it all so real, because I too am being shaped by the impressions of God's heart and the importance of doing what we do 'beyond expectation'. He has kept my dreams, and nursed my disappointments, and yet He so lovingly still dares to entrust me every once in a while with His plans and purposes. All I can do at this point is simply obey.

Welcome to my blog.

From the time I was a little girl, I knew God had a good plan for my life. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was seven, learned to serve in the church as a teenager, and went off to bible college as a young adult ready to do or be whatever God wanted me to be. Not too surprisingly, I was placed in a role in children's ministry. An area I knew well, and a place I know holds a special priority in the heart of Christ. It has been almost ten years now since I started 'professional' ministry. There have already been some major highs, and a few lows along the way. I realize now more than ever that there is a heart song that rings through my soul and it was written by a Saviour. It's to Him I owe everything I am, and will ever do or be.

When I was a teenager, a friend signed a letter she wrote me, and quoted Jeremiah 29:11 at the bottom. It read: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That has become my life theme verse, and the anchor I go back to time and time again. He has never failed me. I have always held His hope in my heart, and the future....it can't look any brighter.

Thanks for checking out my blog. I have no idea why I'm writing a blog, except it just feels right at this stage of my life...so I'm going to try it.

Enjoy.