The Exclamation Point!

Easter can sneak up on you

2012-01-31T12:35:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed it on your calendar yet? April 24? It’s Easter … you know, the holiday that we celebrate because it’s the foundation of our faith. I’ve got to admit that every year I get a little perturbed at the way the church skirts around intentionally addressing this time that should be full of incredible celebration. I shiver to think of the number of times I’ve participated in a staff meeting when someone said, “Hey, guys. Did you realize that Easter’s only three weeks away?” Christmas gets such a hype and over-the-top attention, and then the death and resurrection of our Lord gets an afterthought.

Christmas has basically six units or events that are part of “the story.” But Easter … it’s an absolutely complex plethora of events! Between the time that Jesus enters Jerusalem and His resurrection, there are at least 27 significant events that take place. Because Jesus intentionally initiates or participates in each one of these events during His last days on this Earth, it only seems appropriate for us to set aside more than two weeks to pull out our magnifying glass to take a closer look. Did you realize that Jesus didn’t perform miracles this last week of His life? What it appears that He’s doing, though, is reminding His followers of important concepts. It seems that He’s saying, “Hey guys, don’t forget what I taught you about _____.” In these few days is when Jesus overturns the tables in the temple … when the woman anoints Him … when He curses the fig tree … when He gives the greatest commandment … when He responds to the dilemma about giving the coin to Caesar or to God … when He comments on the widow’s offering … when He gives us the parable of the marriage feast … just to mention some. Jesus CHOSE these specific events to be part of His last days. Shouldn’t we teach our children about all that took place that last week?

If your church is anything like the churches I’ve talked with, the celebration of Easter revolves around two Sundays. On Palm Sunday, we teach about Jesus entering Jerusalem, sending His disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, washing the disciples’ feet, giving of communion, Judas’ betrayal, and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then, on Easter Sunday, we talk about Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denial, Judas’ demise, the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and the reaction of Jesus’ followers to finding the empty tomb. Read those two sentences over. Does that sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me? And, along the way, we’ve left out everything we talked about in the previous paragraph—the way Jesus lived life in those few days in between. If we pull out only the crucifixion and the resurrection to talk about on one day (Easter), these two events hold so much significance individually that it feels like an impossible task to help a child really grasp the meaning of both. The crucifixion is deep and it’s full. It’s more than Jesus having nails put in His hands and dying a brutal death. He became sin—ugly, nasty, spitting in God’s face sin. God, because He loves each one of us, offered His Son to become the thing He despised most—the thing He could not tolerate to be in the presence of. Can we really get all that across to children and then add on the resurrection, which is deep and full in its own right?

The challenge is to handle Easter as if it were a fine-cut jewel with many facets. Each side of this jewel is expertly crafted so that when you view all the facets together, understanding how each one contributed to the beauty of the whole, then you and the children you teach can value everything our Savior did for us in His last week. Elevate Easter in your eyes and in the eyes of the children you care for. Give them a new reverence for Jesus’ last words and actions.

To help you lead kids to observe Holy Week, you can get Easter-rific! by calling 765.271.7055. Cost is $15 plus $4 S&H. It's LOADED with lots of great ways to engage kids in all that Jesus did this last week on earth. Don't let Easter sneak up on you this year!

Be Inspired

2012-01-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

I just returned from Benton, Louisiana where I led some workshops for the preschool department of Cypress Baptist Church. I spend many of my weekends providing training for volunteers who have a heart for reaching kids for the Kingdom, BUT this event was unique. I want to share just a little about the way they did this, because they stepped out of the conventional training model. Maybe this will inspire you to do something “different” when training your volunteers.

It’s a long-standing tradition at Cypress Baptist to kick off each year with training for leaders—preschool, elementary, youth, and adult—who work in Christian Education. The first week of the year it’s on the calendar! Isn’t that a great thought? You’ve come off this hurried time of Christmas … you’re re-evaluating the coming year … you’re ready to kick it in gear, but not sure where to start … and the church steps up to invest in its volunteers and provide them with motivation and ideas. It’s like the church is saying, “Put this at the top of your resolutions and we’ll help you.”

It’s on a Friday night … really! All four age-group volunteers come together for dinner and then leave to get age-appropriate training. But get this: It wasn’t over until 10:00. And, I was told that was early! In the past, they had gone to 11:30 and then shared breakfast together until midnight—a breakfast prepared by their senior pastor. This church found something unique that worked for them and each year they saw the benefits as more people were being taught the Word of God.

As I thought about just these little changes Cypress Baptist made, my mind shifted into high gear entertaining all kinds of ideas that would give just a little twist to children’s ministry training. Noting what others are doing and allowing it to inspire you produces motivation. So, look around. Talk with others who are doing ministry. Listen to their ideas and let them inspire you to do something that fits where you are.

Understanding Change

2011-04-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Last time we talked about the leadership essential of always pointing kids toward the true light ... remember the loggerhead turtle? Well, today let's look at another children's ministry leadership "must." In order to lead a team of staff and volunteers in the church, you must have an understanding of change and what causes people to buck when you're initiating it. Something that has often confused me is how a person may rave about the changes they see elsewhere, but speak loud and boldly of their disapproval of the changes that are happening under their noses. People get comfortable. They feel safe. And change messes with both of those.

No matter what the change is that you are proposing, you need to understand that there are going to be people who voice their disapprove. You're thinking, "This is a great idea! Why would anyone resist this?" Before you get too confident, let's look at some reasons that you're going to deal with opposition.

1. Some people are downright content to be where they are, doing what they're doing ... no matter what it is. Before you cause a confrontation, go to this person and ease them into the change. Offer them tiny changes to move them step-by-step into a more substantial one.

2. They distrust leadership. As much as we hate to admit it, past staff may have been responsible for creating an atmosphere in the church where leadership is distrusted. Figure out the cause of their distrust, through one-on-one conversations with them. Then, set out to prove yourself different. One of the keys here is to approach the change with great intentionality and don't catch this person off guard. Even if it seems to be none of their business, until they trust you, make an effort to let them know what's coming up. You don't want to fuel their already flaming fire.

3. Some people feel their input doesn't matter. Bring people along with you when you're making a change. Include them in the discussion. Encourage input, but what's even more important is that you use that input in some way. Even if it's not a very good idea, find a way to use part of it so this person can feel safe to offer more (and better) ideas.

4. Some people resist because they lack the vision. They just don't see it. It seems as plan as day to you, but they're not getting it. Cast the vision in lots of different ways, and always highlight the benefits of how more kids will come to know the Lord because of it. Find ways to open their eyes.

5. Then, there are those people who resist change because they have a negative nature. Jesus could recommend the change and they still wouldn't be happy. Keep any negative comments you may have, or doubts about what you're doing, to yourself. Never, never, never share them in this person's presence. Always say something positive even in the midst of their negativity. In rare instances, this person can have a change of heart about the change, but more than likely they will be an "irregular person" you just have to live with.

No matter what the cause of resistance is, the best way to combat it is through clear communication and an excitement for what will be. Don't let these nay-sayers cause you to cower or give up.

Point Them to the Light

2011-03-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend as I talked with some senior pastors about laying the foundation for a vibrant children's ministry, one of the topics we covered is what to look for in a children's pastor or the person who will take the lead as the congregation reaches out to bring kids into God's kingdom. Although we tend to look for one person to fill that roll, the position could very well be two people who will work in partnership. Whether it's one person or two, there are qualities, talents, and attitudes that need to be present. Over the next several blogs, we'll go through these qualities. You may find that there are some areas you need to work on, or maybe find someone to assist you with those strengths.

These qualities are in no particular order, but tonight, let's talk about the enormously important ability to "Point kids to The Light." A great children's pastor never fails to point kids to the true Light. Have you ever heard about the environmental problem that arose around the loggerhead turtle? These turtles come ashore down the coast of California to lay their eggs. (God must have had fun coming up with their unique hatching routine.) The eggs lay buried in the sand until one night when the baby turtles crack through the shells. Once out of the shells, they run like mad toward the ocean ... the water that will be their home. But, there arose a problem. As the coast of California became more populated and the Pacific Coast Highway got busier and busier, something changed with the turtles. When they came out of their shells, instead of running toward the ocean, they headed straight for the highway and their doom. You see, God had created this system of hatching so that the tiny turtles instinctively knew to run toward the light (of the moon). But the lights from the highway were brighter than the light of the moon, so they headed toward the brighter light ... the false light ... the light that brought disaster.

Those who work with children should always point children toward the true Light--the One we call The Light--our Savior Jesus Christ. As you communicate with children, there should never be any confusion over who is the Light of the World. Out of their confusion, they may follow another light, which will only lead them way from God and into disastrous times without Him. If you are a children's pastor, make sure you point the kids in your care toward the only One who can light their way to a relationship with God. Our job is to protect our kids from being drawn to any false light that will lead them away from the way God intended them to go.

May God drench you in His blessings as you point kids to the One True Light.

The Rocks Cry Out

2011-02-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

Luke 19:40 “And He answered and said, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!’”

An often overlooked part of the Palm Sunday story is when the Pharisees approached Jesus. They insisted that Jesus reprimand the people from expressing their praises for Him as He enters Jerusalem. It’s almost as though the praises that nature wanted to sing out were being vented through the voices of the people. If those people were forbidden to praise the Son of God, then the rocks would absolutely burst as their praises built up.

Here’s an idea that’s not included in Easter-rific! It will give an idea of what you’ll find in this collection.

Science Experiment

You’ll need to gather …

hydrogen peroxide (20 vol.)

rocks

clear vase

liquid dish soap

packet of yeast

warm water

custard dish

funnel

food coloring (optional)

Pour ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide in the vase. (Optional: put 10 drops of food coloring in the peroxide.) Then, add three squirts of the liquid dish soap (about 3 T.) Swirl this around in the vase to mix it thoroughly. Carefully, place some clean rocks in the bottom of a clear vase, just enough to cover the bottom. In a custard cup, place 3 T. of warm water and the packet of yeast. Stir to dissolve and let set for one minute.

In the meantime, ask the children to tell you things that the rocks might cry out if people did not praise Jesus. What would burst from them? What would their praises be? The rocks in our vase are about to burst forth with their praises!

Now, pour the yeast mixture into the vase. (If the vase has a small opening, you’ll want to use the funnel; otherwise, just pour the yeast in.) Step back and watch the praises flow!

If you'd like your own copy of Easter-rific! please call 765.271.7055. The books are $15 plus $3 S&H (credit card or check). Get a start on your Easter preparation now!

Easter-rific!

2011-01-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

Can you hear the squeals? My 8th book released this weekend, and it's just as exciting to me as the first! God threw some more ideas into my brain and out came
Easter-rific! I can't wait to see how it's going to be used to teach the true meaning of Easter to kids.

You and I just came off of 4-6 weeks celebrating Christmas. It seems quite the injustice to give Easter only two, especially when you consider the number of stories that actually happen between Jesus entering Jerusalem and His ascension. In
Easter-rific! I suggest at least three activities for 22 different stories. Yes, you heard me right ... 22. Did you realize that this is the week in Jesus' life that He chose to curse the fig tree, overturn the tables in the temple, tell the parable of the marriage feast, give us the most important commandment, and make a statement about taxes due Caesar? Why did He choose to make those things part of His last days on Earth? They must have been incredibly important. We cram preparation for the Last Supper, footwashing, communion, Judas' betrayal, and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane into one lesson, even though each one has its own significance and message for us. Join me in getting more intentional about our approach to teaching the foundation of our faith--the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

True to my style of teaching, you'll find a variety of learning experiences in
Easter-rific! There are science experiments, storytelling techniques, snacks, crafts, and loads of games. Each one is appropriate for kids' church, Sunday school, family devotions, or a great time at grandma's house. Spend more than two weeks celebrating Easter and have an Easter-rific! time doing it!

If you'd like a copy of the 143-page Easter-rific! you can email me at tina@kidzmatter.com with your shipping address. Then, drop a check for $18 ($15 plus $3 S&H) in the mail to:
Tina Houser
1775 Valley View Dr. S.
Kokomo, IN 46902

We've also got it set up so you can pay by credit card if you call 765.271.4900.

Linus Released His Blanket

2011-01-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

I happened to catch my favorite scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" where Linus explains to Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about. Linus walks out to center stage and begins to recite Luke 2 in his simple sweet voice. But, something very unusual happens. Linus drops his blanket! He never drops his blanket! What's that about? When he's done reciting, he picks up the blanket again and walks off center stage.

Our Christmas celebrations are over. When it got right down to what Christmas is all about, we put Jesus in the spotlight of center stage. We dropped our guard. We set aside our greed and reached out to someone in need. We looked beyond the "unique" relatives and enjoyed just being together. The worries that were normally an overwhelming presence in daily life somehow disappeared. The things that we cling to for security and the burdens that we choose to carry with us 51 weeks out of the year got the week off. Just like Linus, we let our blankets slip from our fingers and drop onto the floor.

Christmas is over. Will you continue to be like Linus and pick all of that up again? Or, will you enjoy the mindset and the lifestyle that is Christmas ... all year long. It's time to release some "blankets" and not pick them back up. James 4:10 reminds us that, "When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor."

May you live 2011 with the Christ-child in mind. Don't wait for Dec. 25 to roll around again. Drop your "blanket" and leave it there.

A Flattened B-17

2010-12-04T15:03:00.000-08:00

My son had worked hard to put together a model airplane, a B-17 that had been used during World War II. He was so delighted with the masterpiece he had created and proudly displayed it on the desk in his room. One day I was questioning the meaning and spelling of a word (before spell-check on computers), so I went to Jarad's room to borrow his dictionary, his BIG dictionary. As I pulled the big book from the bookshelf over his desk, I lost my grip and the book fell out of my control onto the desk top. It fell directly on top of the B-17 and flattened it beyond recognition. Was Jarad upset? You bet he was! And why was he upset? He had put his time, intense energy, his skills, and his understanding of the aircraft into making it a beautiful model. There would never be another one just like the one he had created. He had invested part of himself to make it just what he wanted.

This experience helps me understand and helps me explain to children the feelings God must have for us ... His masterpiece creations. We are not mass produced; He used His time, energy, creativity, and understanding of what people need to make each one of us unique. Each person holds a special place in God's heart. His heart must break anytime He sees us do something that damages His creation.

Jarad's patience and skills were tapped out. There was no way he could repair the B-17. Thankfully, that's where the parallels between this story and our God stop. God is not only the Great Creator, He is the Great Re-Creator. When we've messed up our lives, maybe even beyond recognition of what God originally intended, He can take the pieces that lay smashed before Him and make something brand new.

Be thankful that you are a child of the Great Re-Creator.

Imaginary Hugs

2010-12-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

One of the delightful parts of being in children's ministry is simply interacting with the kids, each one incredibly different from the next. One day, I was alone in the building, when a young mom came in with her three very young children. I welcomed each one and collected hugs as they came down the hall ... except for Jeff, the 4-year-old, who was wearing a moody, long face. He refused to hug me, explaining that he was ALL OUT.

Just a week or so before, a retired teacher gave me a beautiful oak treasure chest that she had used for years in her classroom. Her now deceased husband had lovingly carved it for her. I had not decided what to do with this chest exactly, and had set it outside my office until I found a place for it. Jeff finally came in my office and wanted to know what was in the box. I told him to go look. He came back to report that the box was empty. I responded with a questioning look and told him he had better check again. After the lid was carefully lifted back on its hinges, Jeff looked so far into the chest that his little feet were about all that was left in my sight. Once again he returned with the answer that the box was indeed empty.

This time I accompanied him to the chest. I told him that the treasure chest was where I kept my hugs and asked him if he would like some. Mischievous 4-year-old eyes lit up, because he definitely wanted some of my treasure chest hugs. Carefully, I reached both hands down into the chest and pretended to scoop out hugs. (Then again, was I really pretending? After all, has anyone ever seen a hug before it's given?) I flung the invisible hugs toward the little boy, who immediately pretended to catch them and rub them all down the front of his shirt.

After several scoops I asked him if he needed one for his daddy and, of course, the answer was yes. I hefted the big hug from the wooden chest which, upon attempting to catch it, knocked Jeff off balance, stumbling backward and into the wall. What a vivid imagination! It was time for the little family to go, and this time when I asked Jeff for a hug, he said, "Sure!" and readily embraced me.

Every time he came in the building he had permission to open the chest and replenish his supply of hugs. I witnessed him doing that often over the next couple of months. One day, I met him at the chest; he was looking deep inside. I asked if I could toss out some hugs to him. That's when he looked up at me and said, "You do know that there's nothing in this chest, don't you?"

Jesus sent His disciples out into the world with the mission to enter the personal worlds of those they met. He wanted them to understand their life situations. To reach out to a child, to actually serve the littlest of children, sometimes that means entering their personal world--a world that understands the imaginary and embraces the places that only thoughts can go. When was the last time you laid down your inhibitions and shared a child's imagination?

The place was my office. The utensil God used was an empty oak chest. The result was two hearts restored to joy.

You're a Sow-and-Sow

2010-10-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I want to challenge you to be a "sow-and-sow" leader of children. In ministry, the entire objective of leading children is to get each one planted, rooted, and growing in Christ ... providing them with the good soil they need to do that. In everything you do, keep sowing seeds. When you lean over a shoulder to offer encouragement as a child struggles to look up a Bible verse, you're sowing seeds in good soil. When you tenderly hold and admire a trophy that a student received, you're sowing seeds in good soil. When you take the time to investigate why bad behavior is happening, you're sowing seeds in good soil. When you wrap your arms around a child and let him hear you pray for him by name, you're sowing seeds in good soil.

As a leader of kids, you till the ground, you water the seeds, you fertilize, and you pull away the weeds every chance you get. Just as there is excitement when you notice the first shoot of a tiny plant pushing its way through the soil in your backyard garden, celebrate the indications of growth in your students. Be diligent in delighting in the spirits that are blooming under your care.

I thank my Heavenly Father that you are a "sow-and-sow"!

Next week (Oct. 23-24) I'll be at Highland Springs, Florida, leading workshops at the Florida Conference of SDA.
Then, Nov. 13 I'll be in Walla Walla, Washington presenting a full day of CM workshops. I'd love to see some of my West Coast friends there. (Cost is only $30! Whoa baby!)

I'd love for you to drop by www.tinahouser.net.

Praise at the Top of Your Lungs

2010-10-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

When our son, Jarad, was just 5 years old, we were driving in the country and he was in the back seat. The sun was going down and Jarad pointed out how beautiful the sky was, identifying all the colors he noticed in the mysterious swirls. All of a sudden he grabbed the handle that takes the window down and started cranking as fast as he could. (This is really dating me, but it was pre- car seat days and crank window controls were still standard.) He leaned his head toward the window and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Way to go, God!" We had almost missed it, or was it that we just didn't take the time to think about what an incredible feat the night sky was? The adults in the car were going to miss the opportunity to praise God for His majestic creative work, but not the little boy who was overcome by the glory of it all ... so much so that he had to try to yell loud enough that all heaven would hear his praises.

My warning today is to be careful not to limit your kids' praises ... or yours. God inhabits our loud praises, our soft praises, our praises of awe, and those of gratitude, whether they are sung in the car along with your favorite CD, or whispered as you thank Him for the family you see together in the park, or expressed by holding your hand over your heart when the scriptures stir your spirit. He even inhabits those praises that are yelled at the top of your lungs out a car window! Take an opportunity today to say, "Way to go, God!"

I'm heading to Atlanta to spend the rest of October with my son and his family. I expect to see many picturesque autumn sights along the way. If you're on my route to Georgia, listen for "Way to go, God!"

Be Part of this Fence

2010-09-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

Networking is a hot issue right now, but is it worth it? Choose one of the links in the picture ... that's YOU. You can choose to stand alone and focus on that one link, or you can choose to be part of the bigger picture. The entire picture sure looks a lot more interesting to me. Notice, I didn't choose a picture of a regular chain, because it heads in a straight line, going only one of two directions. Networking is not a chain; it's a chain link fence, where each link is connected in every direction. (The picture even looks like people standing with their arms locked at the elbows. Maybe I'm just staring at it too long!)

Who do you relate most clearly with? It's people who share something in common with you. Who do you gain encouragement from? It's people who value what you are doing. That's exactly what networking does. It gives you an environment where you can "talk shop" with people who share your heart for ministering to kids. When you network, you have the opportunity to ...

* inquire about resources

* ask for advice

* pour your experience into someone else

* encourage and be encouraged

* make some new friends

* gain affirmation

Man, am I excited to share some news with you! I want every single one of you to start networking right now, and here's your first step. Just this week, an incredible, never-been-done-before network launched online. One of the main things it will do is enable you to find people in your area who are involved in children's ministry. Right now, the base is being built, so it's critical that everyone get in RIGHT NOW. This thing is going to explode and it's going to be one of the best resources we've got in kids' ministry! Here's what you do.

- From this blog, go to www.imakidmin.com

- Scroll down until you see the map of the US. Click on your state.

- Another US map will appear. Choose a little square (pixel) in your state. Any square is fine.

- Then, follow the directions for entering your information.

- Make sure you upload a photo or choose one of the icons they provide.

- If you're not part of the cmconnect network they mention, go there and become a part of that, also @ www.cmconnect.org

I'll be watching to see if you're really signing up ... I have my ways! See you on the imakidmin.com network.

Leadership with an exclamation point

2010-09-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended the D6 conference in Frisco, Texas, put on by Randall House. The moment I walked into the exhibit area, I recognized a familiar face--Ron Hunter, the CEO of Randall House. If you didn't know Ron, though, you never would have picked him out of the crew that was working like bees in a beehive. Just like everyone else, he wore a D6 t-shirt and his blue jeans. But even more than what he was wearing, the significant thing was what I saw him doing. Ron was moving furniture, setting up registration, greeting people, and scurrying around to find the answer to the latest question. He was in the trenches alongside his people, doing whatever needed to be done. What an example of leadership! It's very evident that the people who work with and for Ron respect him tremendously ... and from what I witnessed, he deserves every bit of it. When I expressed my appreciation to Ron for the example he was setting, he said, "When it comes to D6, we all check our titles at the door." Ron was leading with an exclamation point!

Are you this kind of leader? Is there something that is beneath you to do in the position you're in? There's something very appealing to your volunteers and fellow staff when you don't hesitate to truck the garbage to the dumpster, grab a paintbrush, get a little spaghetti sauce on you, or put some muscle behind a shovel. One of the biggest relationship builders happens when people work together on a common project. That can't happen if the leader issues the orders and lets his people carry out the task completely. They'll have a great relationship with one another ... and probably be talking about you while they're working ... but you've lost out on a great opportunity.

Look for one way this week ... yeah, you heard me, just ONE ... that you can come alongside someone who volunteers under you. Help them cut something out, or hang a curtain, or scrub the glue off the table. Enjoy the conversation while you are "leading by coming alongside."

By the way, Ron Hunter wrote a fun leadership book (which he lives out) called Toy Box Leadership. You'll enjoy every chapter of it, and probably get the urge to dig out some of those old toys.

Praying for the Presence of God

2010-09-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've got to admit it, I've struggled with prayer (how we pray, why we pray, what we pray) ever since I gave my life over to the Lord at 14. For some reason, the recurring wrestling raised its head again and moved into full force this past 8 months when I really started listening to the words and the pleadings of my prayers and the prayers I heard others pray. My heart began to ache and I've apologized over and over to the Lord for the attitude that I've taken in prayer. We tend to list all the things we want God to fix and protect, like we've given Him our "to do" list. I made a major step toward clarity when I realized that praying is about coming into the presence of God and accepting His sovereignty in every situation.

You see, we don't like to admit it, but God answers every prayer. You heard me right ... every prayer. You'll hear people say that God answers yes, no, and wait. But, do you ever hear someone praise God for answering NO? What I believe God wants from us is conversation, devotion, and total trust that He is working in the situation we're concerned about. He just wants us to BE with Him.

So, if we looked at what we're doing now, how do we teach children to pray? Just like we're used to praying ourselves--in a hurry,tagged on at the end of something, a wish list, a rhyme. That's got to stop! Praying for God's presence is something we need to intentionally teach and model in front of kids so that they will just enjoy being with God. It's not about what we get out of it. It's not about getting "yes" answers to our wants. It's not about an obligation. It's about being in the presence the One who made us and turning everything over to Him to handle, no strings or demands attached.

The September/October issue of K! Magazine includes a full article on teaching kids to pray selfless, risky prayers--prayers that lead them into the presence of God. K! Magazine is a resource of KidzMatter, www.kidzmatter.com.
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Why the punctuation?

2010-09-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Exclamation Point! Since this is my first post, I thought I'd explain why I chose to call my blog by this name. About eight years ago, our worship leader asked me to stay after a dress rehearsal for a Christmas cantata to work through some of the fine-tuning last minute details. Four hours later, all the tweaking was done when Grant turned to me and said, "You're an exclamation point in my life." That was probably the biggest compliment anyone had ever given me. He shared with me that during those four hours he had been encouraged, had his confidence renewed, and was refocused on what a beautiful time of worship the next morning was going to be. His anticipation was at a new level because of time we'd spent together preparing a gift for our Savior. Wow, that blew me away! (exclamation point)

When I thought about what Grant had said, I liked the idea of being an exclamation point. That funny little mark is used when you've tried to express yourself in words and they just aren't enough. It's excitement. It's lavishness. It's passion. It's going further than expected. It's all the things that you hope people will say about you when you're not listening.

I'm going to talk a lot about children's ministry in this blog, because that's the passion God put in me ... that's the exclamation point that He placed in my life when He created me.

So what punctuation mark speaks to who you are?