Happy 2012!

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

  

HAPPY NEW YEAR NEW LIFE FAMILIES!

It may be cliche', but I LOVE being able to re-access my life at the beginning of the year and make changes for what works for our family. It's like a fresh start... and I LOVE having a fresh start. So, as I am figuring out ways to better organize my office and more efficient ways of meal-planning, I am also pondering ways to purposely focus our family's attention more on Christ in the year 2012.

One goal that I have set for our family this year is to really step up our scripture memorization. We always use our drive to school in the morning as our time to go over our scripture songs (I put all of our scriptures to cute little songs to make them more fun and easy to memorize). The kids love it and I find that it gets us all focused on the right things early in the morning. I found this really great site that gives me ideas for scriptures to memorize with my children. Check it out here at Seeds Family Worship: Verse Memorization Check-list. (If you find it hard to come up with songs yourself, or if your kids are struggling in the memorization, there are plenty of scripture memorization songs available online for you to purchase/download. Even if you have them playing each morning and say nothing, those songs/scriptures will make their way into their memory by default! Seeds Family Worship has some GREAT ones HERE)

 Another fun activity I am excited about it going through the ABC's with scripture. I did this when I was young and can still remember most of the scriptures for each letter. Here is a cute little website that will get you started (just click on each of the letters to get the scripture and some activities to go with it.) It might also work great to have the kids write out the scriptures for each letter and display them in their room or playroom to keep them reminded.

Lastly, I am starting a prayer wall for my kids. I remember Tommy and Keri having this up in their apartment when they first got married, and have wanted to do it every since. Just get some poster-board, or a large sheet of paper, and have the family keep track of prayer requests over the year on the board. (If the little ones are too young to write, have them draw pictures). It is also neat to write down when a prayer is answered and the date God made it happen! How fun to look back next New Years Day at all the things you prayed for throughout the year, and how faithful the Lord is to answer! (Here is a similar idea from "Kids Prayer" called a "Kid's Wailing Wall")

Some links for Resources for the New Year:

"One Thing" Lesson for New Year

3 Biggest Dreams Printable

3 Happiest Moments Printable

25 Day Challenge Chart Printable

50 Day Challenge Chart Printable

Progress Road-map Printable

Merry Christmas

We want to wish all the wonderful families at New Life a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy your time together.... make lots of memories... and remember God loved you enough to send His Son into the world He created. Amazing!

Here are just 2 more resources that our family LOVED this Christmas season.
{Keep your eyes peeled for after-Christmas sales!}

1.  What God Wants For Christmas. There are 7 boxes for the kids to open that tell the story of the 1st Christmas. We loved being able to read the story together and talk about what happened.
2. The First Christmas Sticker Book. This was also a very fun way to talk about the Christmas story. The kids took turns putting the stickers on the nativity scene and took turns telling the story themselves.

"In everything give thanks..."

I think it is so important, especially during this season, to always remain thankful. In fact, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, it says, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I had an opportunity to talk to my kids this month about being thankful when we had a conversation about buying presents for our AngelTree family. They had so many questions about why these kids couldn't spend Christmas with their father (he is incarcerated.) I was reminded once again, that we are so blessed and our family needs to remember the blessings of the Lord during this crazy time of "give-n-GET." One thing our family has done over the years (this dates back to when my sisters and I were very young) is go around the room on Christmas and share with everyone the things that God has done over the past year. It's such a wonderful tradition because we are reminded of how many of our prayers were answered and all the ways God has had our back. Try to make time with your family this year in reflecting on the things God has blessed you with.

Merry Christmas

We pray you have a very Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The Christmas Angel

I've talked to a couple of people who have been looking for something new this Christmas season to help remind their kids of the true meaning of Christmas.... something fun and exciting. There are a lot of ideas out there for fun Advent Calendars, but I found something a little different that I think could be a lot of fun. The Christmas Angel. It's sort-of the "Elf On A Shelf" idea, but the Christmas Angel is found everyday with messages about the true meaning of Christmas. It might be too late to do it this year, but I am going to order one for next year! You could even make or buy something and do it yourself.  Enjoy your Christmas season and remember to teach your kids why we celebrate!

Excerpt from their website:

"What an amazing opportunity we have as parents to instill values and principles into our children. The Christmas season is about a precious story to celebrate a gift that none of us deserve, but have an opportunity to receive. The birth of Jesus is the greatest example of love. So how can we show the same love to others? Simply by putting others before ourselves. We should help our children focus on giving rather than receiving, for that is the true spirit of Christmas."

Last year my kids did The Christmas Story Advent Coloring Pages. It was a wonderful and easy way to share the Christmas story with them at their age. Plus, they loved looking through the book again this year and remembering all the things we learned.

You can find the Coloring Pages HERE.

December CONNECT

Last night, we had an amazing turn out for our Family Ministries December CONNECT. We partnered with Angel Tree to help connect parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts. At our event, families received the name of the children they will be outreaching to. What an opportunity to show these kids that their incarcerated parent is thinking about them this Christmas, but most importantly that God has not forgotten them and cares deeply for them!!

We had many volunteers to help decorate our angel tree Christmas Tree to make it perfect for the night.

Enjoying our snack station:

After families received the names of the children they would be reaching out to this Christmas, they headed to our Christmas card section where kids could make Christmas cards for prisoners and encourage them this Christmas also. 

After a fun-filled night, we then got cozy with friends to watch our premier movie VeggieTales "The Little Drummer Boy" on our projected big screen.

Our youth found a room to have an intense game of spoons and other fun games.

Thank you Bob the Tomato for passing out fun games and stickers to our guest as they left!

We had a wonderful time being with our church family. Thank you to all who came out!!

Family Worship

I just received an email from Pastor Mike with a link to the Radical Experiment Website talking about the importance of Family Worship. First of all, if you haven't read the book RADICAL by David Platt, please get a copy and do so as soon as possible. This book has changed the way our family makes decisions and the way we see God's purpose in our lives.

On their website, they have a couple resources for Family Worship and all of them are very good. Please check them out!

Family Worship Guides

Simple Guide to Family Worship

Family Worship Song Archive 

The Call: Detroit

Well, it's 11.11.11 and THE CALL: Detroit is here! I am so excited that our church has partnered with The Call and many of our families are heading down to Ford Field today to pray for our city. Here are a couple of resources to use with your kids to follow up on the topic of prayer. (Just a reminder: We have "kid prayer" teachings every Friday night in the gym during our church prayer meetings for the kids at New Life)

If you are unable to get your family downtown tonight or tomorrow, THE CALL: Detroit is being broadcast LIVE on GodTV. Check it out HERE.

THE LOOP P.R.A.Y. Videos by Life Church

Kids Holiday Card Prayer Journal by Under the Sycamore

Vintage Book Prayer Journal Project by Impress Your Kids

"What Happens When I Talk To God?" book by Stormie Omartian

"Lord, Teach Me To Pray" book by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt

IDOP

 Sunday, November 13th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Here are some resources for you and your children to bring up conversations
about The Persecuted Church around the world.

Kids of Courage Downloads (Activities, Newsletters, Lesson Plans)

Kids of Courage Videos

Restricted Nations Interactive Map

Duct Tape Wristband Activity

5 Ways to help the Persecuted Church in 5 minutes

Colombian Parachute Ideas

Praise the Lord Around the World Activity

Fall Frenzy 2011

We had our Fall Connect Event yesterday. What an amazing, exciting time we had!!!! 

Set up!

Photo Booth and Check In

Candy!!!

Costumes :)

Pastor Lori x3

More Costumes!

  

Pumpkin Painting

Yummy Food!

Route 412 Greeters for Fall Frenzy!

Fall Coloring Sheets!

Hay Ride!

Inflatables!!

Getting ready to put some pies in the faces of 4 brave, crazy guys!

Pied!

Relay Races!

Thank you so much for our Connect Activities Director Nina Bunk and all the volunteers and staff for pulling off an amazing Fall Frenzy event!!! We had a great turn out and fun was had by all!!

Hidden Treasure Scriptures

This is a fun, little activity to do at your house with your toddler or preschooler to help them become familiar with some of your favorite scriptures. 

Hide envelopes around your house.

Tell your toddler you are going on a special hunt to find some great, secret treasures of the Bible. Then, have your toddler scurry around the house in search of the hidden envelopes.

When they open each envelope, they should find a blank paper with a scripture at the top.

Then, they will have to find the hidden message by using water colors to go over the blank page which will reveal the picture.

This is done by using a white crayon to draw invisible images. Your images will be revealed after painting over it with water colors!

When the picture is revealed, read the coordinating scripture.

Here were my 5 pictures/scriptures: 

House: As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Cross: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Star: You will shine among them like stars as you hold firmly to the word of life.  

Happy Thought Bubble: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Purse: My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Calling

I just wanted to post a poem by Roger Fields that we passed our to all of our Family Ministries leaders and workers at our Seminar a couple weeks ago. There are a few phrases in it that I have been pondering all month.
Remember... you are a minister!

{for a printable version, click here}

THE CALLING (by Roger Fields)
I am a minister.
I minister to the largest mission field in the world.
I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear.
My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical.
My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent.
My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine.
My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised.
And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope.
In a world of confusion, I offer truth.
In a world of immorality, I offer values.
In a world of neglect, I offer attention.
In a world of abuse, I offer safety.
In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation.
In a world of division, I offer reconciliation.
In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness.
In a world of sin, I offer salvation.
In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted.
Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back.
I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration.
I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods,
normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision.
I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad.
I will pray when things look good.
I will move forward when others stand still.
I will trust God when obstacles arise.
I will work when the task is overwhelming.
I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God.
It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge.
I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems.
And I know my God.
Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children.
This is who I am. This is what I do.

Family Ministries Fall Seminar 2011 {notes}

Family Ministries Seminar
Fall 2011/Winter 2012
Saturday, October 8, 2011

Every person has 168 hours in a week.
The average child spends 56 of those hours sleeping
...35 of those hours in school
...20 of those hours watching TV
...10 of those hours eating
...7 if those hours playing outside
...4 of those hours going potty
… and 1 of those hours at church

That hour (or hours) is the time we have been given to pour Jesus into the hearts of the children God has entrusted us with.

Colossians 3:23, 24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Family Ministries Spiritual Insight:

• This is a calling.. You are a minister.
• Any form of ministry/leadership takes sacrifice
• To some, you are the only way they will experience the tangible love of God
•  The church represents the light
• You are ministering to future ministers

Family Ministries Practical Information:

• Set-up/Clean-up/Welcome
• New parents information
• Praise in public, correct in private
• Security for parents
• Do you value the ministry to their child?
• Be prepared for “Service was AMAZING”

MYTHS debunked about working in Family Ministries…
Myth #1: I won’t be able to grow spiritually like I need to if I am in the back all the time.
Myth #2: I’m not very good with kids/ I have never worked with kids.
Myth #3: I’m not spiritually mature enough to teach others about God, I’m just learning myself.
Myth #4: I can’t do it, I am with kids ALL DAY LONG.

Think Orange

One of my favorite websites currently is a concept by Reggie Joiner (Worked under Andy Stanley as Children's Minister at North Point Community Church in Atlanta) called ORANGE PARENTS. The concept of "ORANGE" really commissions the family and the church to work together to equip this next generation for the call God has placed on their lives. 

One thing I ran across today in Joiner's book "THINK ORANGE" was this Family Time Chart. I love the way it is broken up to give us some ideas on the different roles we have with our children and ways to strategically speak into their lives.

Global Vision...Three Year Old Style

My three year old has always loved maps, directions, details. A few weeks ago she received a terrific gift- a beach ball globe! She constantly wants to learn new countries and somehow learns little tid-bits about each country...Dora, the Explorer lives in Mexico; the Eiffel Tower is in France, Iceland really is green and not so icy, China has the most people, Italy looks like a boot and they make pizza and spaghetti there.

Then last Sunday my little toddler came home from Sunday school saying she wants to pray for Africa. They apparently had talked about various countries around the world that have children who need Jesus. She went right home, pulled out her globe and wanted to know all about the people in Africa who needed prayer.

Simple concept. New vision.

Why not combine the everyday learning of little inquisitive minds around us with a "global" vision of shining the light and love of Jesus?! What an ammazing opportunity we have as parents and leaders to cultivate in our children a heart eager for prayer and spreading the Good News!

Fun Family Printables

One question I get a lot from parents is how to keep up on the extra-curricular activities their children do throughout the week, so that they can get a better handle on what their kids are exposed to.... things like internet, TV, video games, hanging out with friends, etc. One website I use a lot is imom.com. There are a lot of printables for families to use in their home with their kids. I've linked some of my favorites, but there are a lot more to choose from... anything from lunch notes, kid coupons, chore charts, etc. These printables may work perfectly for your family, or they may just spark conversation between each of you on what is expected in your family.

Family Internet Contract

This is a great contract to fill out to make sure that your entire family is on board when it comes to the computer rules of the house.

Screen Time Tracker

This is another great resource for parents needing something to help them know how much screen time their kids are getting.... TV, movies, computer, etc. 

Conversation Starters for Kids #1

Conversation Starters for Kids #2

These are wonderful questions to ask during meal time to get everyone talking. You would be surprised how these simple questions get the conversation going. You could even have the kids come up with their own 

questions to ask at the next meal time.

Family Meeting Worksheet

This little guide will help you when your family needs to sit down and make a decision.

*** Find all of the imom.com printables HERE ***

Teach us to Pray...

While preparing a lesson on prayer for class, I came upon the following article which not only talks about teaching our kids to pray, but also includes many resources with ideas to help incorporate prayer into their daily lives: 

click HERE to read.    



What We Believe

As we go through the Who Is God series the next couple of months, a book that would be amazing to read with your kids at home is:

 Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him? Biblical Worldview of God and Truth

By: Johny Hay and David Webb

 

The back cover describes this book as a family inclusive study of biblical worldview introducing young children ages 6-14 to the basic truths of the Christian faith.

Another (Free) Resource is the website dg4kids.com (Discover God for Kids). They have family ways to discover, teach and review the different attributes of God at home. The family adventures include: 

	Activities … Family Night Fun!
	Bible Times … Exploring God's Word together!
	Influencing Others … Making a difference!
	Drawing/Drama … Express who God is creatively!
	Experience … Capture the teachable moments!

 

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 22:6