On Earth as It Is in Heaven- Facing change is inevitable, but when we are not prepared, change can be wearisome and challenging. Now that I am in the post-diaper-changing and minivan era, I find myself wanting more predictability and comfort. Daily tasks such as driving, laundry, and grocery shopping, become “work” [...]
Thriving in Transition- I will be the first to admit I have not always thrived in transition. Whether it’s settling into a new church as Children’s Ministry Director or going through changes in your church, transitions are hard. I have learned a few things over the years to help stay healthy in [...]
Reflection and Planning- As servants in children’s ministry, we can sometimes get fixated on detail after detail. How many supplies do we need to buy? What room will be big enough? Where will all the volunteers come from? These are very important questions, but sometimes it’s where we go first, and we [...]
Advent While Suffering- With God’s help, we remember. Advent is a special time for individual families and for our covenant church families as well. The decorations, the music, the lights, the nativity scenes all invoke a true thrill in the air. But seasons of joy are often accompanied by seasons of affliction [...]
Now the Light of Life Has Come!— “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). To live in December is to know the yearning for a spring sun and the light that it brings. The long, dark days can dampen even the cheeriest of hearts. [...]
How to Encourage Parents to Fear Not When You Are Not a Parent Yourself— Being a Children’s Ministry Director can be very rewarding. It can also be challenging. No surprises there, right? But add to that another layer, such as being single, not having children of your own, or being younger than [...]
Be Present— He repeatedly screamed at the top of his lungs, “Shut the _ _ _ _ up!!”, spitting in my face, as I did my best to hold this terrified 4-year-old stranger. His relentless violence toward me left me clueless of what to do, so I simply held him and prayed. [...]
Fear Not Suffering— Oh, the bliss of being engaged to be married. As a young Christian, I remember being surrounded by godly women who were already parents to a couple of children. They loved Jesus and their spouses and would jokingly but seriously say, “Marriage will really sanctify you. You will see [...]
Fear Not Family Worship- “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation [...]
Fortune Cookie Theology For Parents and Ministry Leaders— I love Chinese Food. Truly I do. White rice or fried rice, hot and sour soup or egg drop, General Tso's chicken or beef with broccoli—it all works for me! But my favorite part of the meal is (by far) at the very [...]