Just Do It

This past Sunday, Kids Quest began its 40 Day Study on Worship. We looked at the Ark of the Covenant, how it was to be made, and what was placed inside. Our Bottom Line for the week is, "I should do what God asks me to do." That sounds like a good thing. It sounds easy enough to do; just follow His instructions.
I don't know about you, but I fail at this from time to time through an action, an inaction, or a thought not kept in check. Like Paul, I want to please God with my life, but there are times I do the things I don't want to do. It's in these times that I am reminded I need to be spending more time with God and more time in His Word. Will this help me be perfect? By no means. Will this help me live a life that is more pleasing to Him? By all means. I simply need to do what God asks me to do. He desires, above all other things, relationship with me and you.
Let me encourage you to spend time this week with God and your children. This could be at meal time, before the day gets going, or right before bed. Children will learn the importance of relationship with God and doing what He asks them to do as they see it modeled by mom and dad. That sounds like a thing we can all do.

It's A Good Thing?

During the month of January we will be looking at the virtue of Discipline – Doing what you need to do now so you can grow stronger. The word ‘Discipline’ often brings images to the mind that are negative, but discipline can be a good thing. There are disciplines, if we will value them, that will help all of us grow in our faith. This month in Kids Quest we will be sharing about the disciplines of reading the Bible, memorizing Scripture, prayer, and sharing our faith. These will be good studies for families to work on each week as well. I hope you are finding value in the God Time Cards and Refrigerator Door Cards your child receives each Sunday. These materials contain information that can aid you as you help your child discover Spiritual disciplines that will help him grow stronger each and every day. May this be a great start to a great 2010.

I'm In

I love this time of year, especially living in a part of the country that actually gets cold during Christmas. I hope you have Christmas traditions with your children. One of our traditions is to read the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2 on Christmas Eve. However, there in a passage in Luke 1 that always amazes me. I have discussed this with a few people recently. When Gabriel visits teenage Mary and shares all that will be happening, she does not understand it all but does not hesitate to say, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” In today’s jargon Mary was saying, “I don’t get it all, but I’m in.” She didn’t encourage Gabriel to look for a better candidate; she didn’t make excuses; she simply trusted God and was willing to be used by Him for His great purpose.
There have been times in my life when God has asked a thing of me, and my response was not a Mary response. I have tried to find excuses. I have tried to get someone else to do it. But here’s the thing, when God makes a request, we need to be ready to respond like Mary did, “I don’t understand it all, but I’m in.” That’s the person I want to become. More and more, when God makes a request of me I want to be the kind of believer that does not respond in any other way than to say, I’m in.” How about you?

For Us?

The Holiday Season is in full swing. I hope your Thanksgiving was a great one. As we approach Christmas, I sometimes get caught in the tension of trying to slow down, reflect, and be thankful for all God has provided in Christ and the need to visit people and complete the shopping. I love the season and being with family; I am not so much about the business of shopping and running around. Okay, I feel better.
During the month of December our focus in Kids Quest will be Compassion – caring enough to do something about someone else’s need. This is a great study for the month of December, and will help us all stay focused on why we celebrate. God sending Jesus to live with us, so he could die for us was the ultimate act of compassion. God saw our need and cared enough to do something about it. What a gift.
One way we are showing compassion as a church is through the Open Table food pantry we are starting. I hope you will be able to participate as a family. You can learn more about this ministry at gracepoint.cc/opentable.
I wish your family a Very Merry Christmas. May it be a great celebration of life and joy in the Savior.

Time, Time, Time

Adults moving around the room with their children. There is a fun buzz of young voices involved in activity. Business, but a good busy. Parents and preschool children doing activities together and talking about what God has created. Cookies were iced and extra icing was eaten or saved for later. There is nothing like sitting with mom and dad, snacking on cookies and milk while listening to the story of creation. Thank you for all who attended out Starry Night event last Friday and especially for those Preschool Leaders and teachers who made the night happen. Families had a great time making creation crafts together and being reminded of God’s goodness. I don’t know about you, but my fondest memories of childhood do not include lots of stuff. My fondest memories include card games, ice skating, and the story of the birth of Jesus while with my family. Kids like stuff, there is no doubt, but they like time with mom and dad a whole lot more. As we move into the holiday season, there will be a temptation to fill our moments with activity and shopping. Let me encourage you to carve out some family time as well, if you haven’t already. Stuff will be forgotten, but the moments spent together as a family will last a lifetime.

Does God deal with you on areas of life you need to improve? Lately He has been dealing with me on an issue. I feel bitter-sweet about these times. On one hand I hate the feeling of disappointing God and His revelation of my shortcomings. It can be painful. On the other hand I am thrilled God reveals these shortcomings to me, because in doing so, it reminds me of His love for me and that He is still molding and shaping me. When God points out needed areas of growth I become a better person; at least I think that is God’s plan. So, I continue to grow, and in doing so will continue to be reminded by God that there are things in my life that don’t please Him. On the up side, He reminds me when I do please Him as well. This is love in action.
On another note, Faith in Action Sunday was a great day, and a great tie in to what we will be studying this month in Kids Quest. In November we will be looking at Cooperation – working together to do more that you can do alone. Our memory verse will be Ecclesiastes 4:9. One way we will help our students put action to this study is through Operation Christmas Child. Your child will receive information this Sunday on how your family can participate. I know that not all families can participate, but if you can, I hope you will. I’m looking forward to Sunday already.

U Can 2

This past Sunday we used the story of Dorcas to continue our study of Individuality. Our push was, when you use what you have to help others, you can make a difference. We reminded the kids that everyone has the ability to do something, no matter how old they are. Like Dorcas, we all have things we can do to help, and in doing so, make a difference in the lives of others. On Sunday, November 1st, our church will have a chance to put this teaching in action by participating in Faith in Action Sunday. On this day, we will meet at the church (more information about times to come) and then go out in our community doing a variety of activities that will tell our community that we care. These activities will be easy to do, and very kid friendly. This will be a great way for families to live out the concept that when you use what you have to help others, you can make a difference. I hope you will join us.